LONDON CALLING

Ruby watched as Angus walked into the kitchen when he spoke she smiled and placed down her cup. " what tea" she said chuckaling as she then stood up as he spoke. about when he was a child and his grand mother would forget the corkscrew. " bet that was fun." she said with a chuckle as he spoke of wether he'd packed one " Im sure there will be one on the boat if you have." she said smiling.

She heard him mention grabbing the bags and nodded " I just have a small duffel bag." she said " told you I travel light." she smirked at him. " first thing I want to do is slip into that bikini and dive into a body ..of water." she chuckled .

He laughed at her teasing about the bikini and diving into the body of water.

"Come on," he said slipping his arm around her waist. He took out the portkey for the outfitter in Venice. "Hold tight."

In a moment, he was standing outside the old fashioned looking little shop. The exterior looked the same as it had been for over a hundred years. The clothing however, was not. The clothing was top rate, and it was the outfitters the team had used for a long time now. The owners, Giles and Diane Wentworth, had been there for as long as Angus had been coming. The Wentworth family had had the shop for over 70 years, and Giles had been there, as the latest generation to run it, for 12 years.

"This is where we get our clothes," Angus told her as they arrived. "It's not all that easy to find unless you have a portkey because it is a bit off the beaten track. Giles and Diane run it, and I think you'll find some things you like. If you don't, though, tell them what you do like, and they'll either get it or make it. We'll get you measured and then we'll get you properly outfitted with your own things."

Angus went in, and Diane was thrilled to see him.

"Angus! Oh my goodness, it's been too long!" she gave him a warm friendly hug. "Giles was just asking about all of you."

"Good to see you too. Diane, this is Ruby Tyler. She's new to our crew. Ruby, this is Diane Wentworth, and her husband Giles does most of the tailoring here," Angus explained. "Diane, Ruby needs everything. Can you get her outfitted?"

"Of course," Diane said. "So what's your position? Fighter? Healer? Potions? I'll know what mission wear you need by what your position is. We'll start there and then add all the other wardrobe pieces."

Ruby smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist " never letting go" she said softly as she felt him port them away. Looking at the shop she felt it was like coming home. A quaint homly shop that had that personal feeling. she watched as the owners greeted Angus then her "Pleasure to meet you Mrs Wentworth." she said then looked to the gentelman "Mr Wentworth." she listened more as Angus and Diane spoke.

When she was asked what position she was she looked at Angus " I.I trufully don't know, I can fight, but Im more of a lover than a fighter, I worked for the Department of International Magical Co-operation before meeting Robert and perminantly put under his guidance." she told her " But I guess just cooking?" she said looking from Angus to her and back then shrugged as she'd not realy given it much thought.

"Call me Diane," Diane said to her. Giles came up from the back and when he saw Angus, his face lit up.

"Well, it's about time you showed up," Giles said, hugging Angus. "How many months overdue are you this time?"

"Several, "Angus laughed. "This is Ruby Tyler, a new team member."

"And, she has nothing, right? Why is it your team members only have the clothes on their backs?"

"We're just lucky that way," Angus laughed. When Ruby said she was a cook, Angus looked at her and then back at Giles and Diane. "She'll need some fighter wear, for certain. She's early into her training, so she'll need plenty of athletic wear, I'm sure." And, since we're headed for a beach holiday, can you make sure she has everything she wants for that?"

"Of course," Giles said, getting a quick quotes quill and a pad of paper. The quill wrote the list as Giles dictated it. "So, Miss Tyler, you're going to need athletic wear, jeans, shorts, capris, tops, probably a couple dresses, a couple skirts, dress slacks, tops, jackets' accessories, evening gowns, trainers, heels, sandals, a good all weather trench, socks, lingerie, sleepwear, beach cover up, swimsuit....Have I missed anything from the initial allocation, Angus?"

"It's a good start. Probably wraps to go with the evening gowns, jewelry, handbag, clutch and all those little hair thingys..."

"Yes, yes. You're right. Alright, that's enough to get started."

"And anything else she wants or needs that we forgot," Angus said. "It goes on Robert's tab."

"Certainly," Giles said. He snapped his fingers and a teal colored measuring tape jolted up from the cash counter. "Measure," Giles commanded. The tape proceeded to measure Ruby and the quill wrote down the measurements.

Ruby stood and listened to them both then looked to Diane " wow no skirts, im not a skirt kinda woman" she said sheepish" though trousers like jeans and capris as well as leggins sound comfortable." she couldn't help chuckle as Angus rattled off everything she'd need feeling a stool appear behind her she sat down. " um.. yeah I think thats all, and I ushaly travel light you know get in do the job get back out kinda thing" she told them then looked to Angus again " guess that will have to change , and a ball gown? realy?" she asked " when will I ever use that."

When she saw the tape mesure come at her she stood up her arms out streched as it seem to know what it needed. as it mesured her waist she jumped slighty " wow ticklish there" she told it and quickly looked to Angus as she spoke again " don't even.." she left it hanging with a smirk to him.

"The Lupins go to far more formal affairs than you've paid attention to, clearly," Giles said, laughing, "Jess was the same way when she started, and we've done several gowns for her over the years. Robert's team goes wherever they're needed. It's hard to be inconspicuous at a formal dinner everyone else is in evening wear and you're the only one in jeans. You're going to be surprised at all the places you'll go and things you'll see now. Better to have a gown or two than to need one and not have one."

"Giles, I think she should try one of the copper colored gowns. With her skin tone, she'd be stunning," Diane said. "What do you think?"

"That could definitely be impressive," Giles nodded. "Alright. I have the measurements."

"Let's go look at the racks and see if you see anything you like," Diane told her.

Ruby couldn't argue with Giles logic " hum,can't argue with that logic" she said She stood up and followed Giles into the back where she saw several racks of gowns. " oh boy" popping her head back out she looked at Angus " if Im not out in ten send in the rescue party, its like a fruffru party back here" she joked  then walked over to one rack and began looking. some were too frilly others to revealing then she stopped and pulled one from the rack.

"may I try this one on?" she asked then moved to a changing room that he motioned to. changing into the dress she smiled then walked to step out. Stepping out she kept her eyes on Angus. " so you think the copper color was a good choice?" she asked him. she turned around and then swirled letting the light fabric lift as she did.

(Rubys dress)

Angus had picked up a couple of black leather hats and was trying them on when she came out in the copper gown.

"Yes," Angus nodded. "Looks like it was made just for you. The copper is a perfect color for you. They're right. I like it--definitely."

"I agree," Diane said. "And I know just the accessories for it." Then she looked at Angus with the black hats. "No, no, no. Those aren't your style."

"But I need a wider brimmed one. The black fedora isn't practical. It's fine if I'm going to a formal dinner, but for mission wear, no. The fedora sucks rocks with mission wear." Diane burst into near hysterical laughter.

"He's right, though, Diane," Giles said. "We'll find you the right hat before you go. You taking your swimsuit with you today, Angus?"

"No," Angus said firmly with a scowl. "You can send it right back to Michael--and make it two sizes too small, would you?"

"Michael bought him a speedo as a gag gift for Christmas," Giles told Ruby, trying to hide his pure amusement at it. "Angus refuses to pick it up. You heard what he wants me to do with it."

"

Ruby blushed at Angus's reaction and smiled at him "Then I'll take this one." she said and paused at mention of a spedo " wow, for real" she asked and saw Giles spke again and laughed out loud " oh we should get him back for that one" she said moving into the back and quickly changing into her normal clothes. With the dress draped over her arm she walked out still smiling " I don't blame you for not wnting to wear it." she told Angus as she placed the dress on the counter.

" But I do belive this vacation we'll probably not need swim suits" she said smirking tesinly at him knowing she ment that becuse nobody will be with in eye sight of them they could skinny dip if they wanted off the side of the boat. Ruby chose some semi high heels to compliment the dress and a small clutch bag. It was now that her stomach gave a loud growl. " oh I'm sorry guess its time we found the boat so I can cook dinner hey" she said " and no your on vacation Im cooking tonight."

Now happy with everything she waited for Angus to be done her eyes watching out side the store at the people passing by. Looking back at him she smiled knowing she was the luckiest woman right now.

"You haven't picked out anything towards the rest of your initial wardrobe, though," Angus said to Ruby. "How are they going to know what colors and styles you like if you don't ..."

"Why don't I put together a holiday bundle for her with things that I think will be practical for your beach holiday in colors that I think will look good on her?" Diane said. "I'll send that with you today, and then we'll work on the rest of her wardrobe and send that on ahead. I have some new stilettos for Khaat to try anyway."

"Well, just so you know, Marcus is back working for us again," Angus replied.

"Oh, no," Diane sighed, rolling her eyes. "He just obliterates some of her nicest shoes."

"I'd send her some fletching flats if I were you," Angus said.

"Khaat Lupin does not believe, first of all, that there is such a thing as a fetching flat shoe, nor would she ever wear them," Diane said, and then she waved away the thought. "I'll send the stilettos anyway." She bustled about and picked out some things for Ruby--shorts, jeans, a beautiful white crocheted beach cover up, some sandals, a few tops, a couple of dresses that were versatile enough to wear on the beach or dressed up with some accessories for a summer supper date in town. She tossed in lingerie and a pair of summer pajamas, a short robe, and a couple of exceptionally lovely sarongs. She accessorized it all, and packed it well for Ruby, with an illustrated brochure on a wide variety of ways to wear a sarong. Angus gave Diane Ruby's bag that had Khaat's clothes in it, and Diane merged Khaat's things and Ruby's new things together by shrinking them and packing them efficiently in a new weekender bag that was a bit larger than the one Ruby had.

"I'll send your evening gown with the rest of your new wardrobe to the estate," she told Ruby.

And all the while, Angus was still trying on hats, looking for the right thing. He hadn't found it yet. Giles brought out a couple black leather pinch front wide brimmed outback hats, and Angus finally liked one that had a matching braided black leather band. Giles magically adjusted the fit for Angus and then stood back and looked at him.

"I think you're right. I think that's the one," Giles said. "Shall I send it ahead or will you take it with you?"

"Send it ahead, please," Angus said. "I don't think I'll need it at the beach." He signed the invoice for their initial purchases and then, on impulse, he picked out a pair of aviator sunglasses for himself and added them on, putting the glasses in his shirt pocket. He picked up the bags, using the shoulder straps for both bags and slung them on his shoulder, and then he reached for Ruby's hand.

"Should we have lunch here in Venice? Or would you rather we pick up and boat and go straight on to the island. My brothers are supposed to have fully stocked the kitchen on the island for us so I'm sure we could fix something when we got there. And I do appreciate your idea to do the cooking tonight, but why don't we do the cooking together? Who knows? We might find out that we can make some pretty great things happen when we're together."