Another Image with a story XD, Matilda's usually pretty scruffy so drawing her like this was a nice change ^_^.


The Charity ball
Albert was once agin busy in his study, piles of papers stacked high either side of him, plans and phone numbers and catering directions and invoices and banquet layouts sprawled before him. Rubbing his face he made the final calls to the catering companies and entertainment groups that he had booked, checking that everything was all decided and set in stone for the weekend. His mother was throwing a charity ball for the whole of Gloomshire, with everyone invited to attend, and he'd been lumped with arranging most of it while she was gathering her contacts and pulling in some of the big wigs their family had ties to. Partly it was an effort to make a name for Gloomshire, which, as historically vibrant as it was, it had been losing a lot in revenue from tourism and the fall in the economy, the county was in need of a pick up. Lady Oakchain hoped that throwing this ball would not only lift peoples spirits, but also it could do a lot of good in raising money for the various local charities working within the area, such as the Tombs housing charity and the Critter Protection charity, that looked after the wildlife of Gloomshire.
Once he had verified and finalised all of the arrangements, he looked to the clock; five forty five, he had just enough time to grab a quick shower and be at Spinsters to meet the girls for six thirty.
They were already there by the time he arrived, sat in their usual booth, each with an ice cream sundae in front of them, and third waiting for him in his usual spot. "Hey Albert! we ordered you one already." Zoey chuckled. "What took you so long?"
"I can see that, thank you, and I was just finishing up all the organising and final checks for saturday night. You two are comming aren't you?" He sat down, taking to his sundae with a smile.
"I am! I'll be bringing some one else too." Zoey poked at the eyeball decoration on her glass.
"I can't.." Mumbled Matilda.
"Aww how come?" Albert asked, looking to her.
"I don't have anything to wear, and I can't afford to buy anything for it." She'd sigh a little. Her waitress salary wasn't up to much, and after zoey had dragged her shopping, she didn't have much left for frivolities.
"That's a shame, I was hoping you'd go with me." Albert gave a light smile, pondering a moment. "How about if I bought you one?"
"What? No I couldn't let you do that. I'll just, have to save up for the next one."
"We don't know if or when there will be another one 'Tilda." Zoey said, nudging her. "I'll take her shopping Al', we can go tomorrow and get you all kitted out."
"But, but"
"I insist, I don't want you left out, everyone in Gloomshire was invited, and It'd make me happy to have both of you there, they can be exceedingly dull things on your own." Albert smiled, digging into his sundae.
The next evening, Zoey would turn up at his door, a wide smile on her face.
"Did you two have a good time?" He asked, smiling.
"Oh yes, got Matilda all sorted, and um, you gave us too much, I don't know how much you think dresses cost but, there's a lot left over."
"Well you keep it."
"How about I drop it into the charity bucket?"
"That works." He'd chuckle, it was hard enough trying to buy for Matilda, since she really didn't like people paying for her, but Zoey was even worse, then again Zoey earned enough to keep herself comfortable, and was rather proud of that fact.
"Right then, I have to pop off again, see you saturday!" Zoey would head off again down the manor path.
Come saturday, Albert was rushing around trying to make sure everything was set, there was enough food and all the plans were running smoothly, he almost didn't notice Zoey trying to grab his attention.
"Ah, sorry Zoey, just going over last minute preparations and checking itineries and..." He paused, blinking a bit to the girl following along behind her, it was Matilda but it took him a moment to recognise her, she was dressed up in a silk and satin embroidered high collared ball gown, with delicatly adorned elbow length silk gloves, all in a deep luxurious violet with gold accents, her hair had been smoothed, glossed and done up in some very fancy ornamental bun, with part of her hair cascading down the side in shimmering curls. Zoey was beaming, evidently the hair was her work, and it seemed she'd been the one to pick out the dress for her. Matilda gave a shy smile, she wasn't used to wearing anything so formal, or glittery, most of her wardrobe consisted of hand me downs, basic casual wear and thrift shop bargains. Albert almost completely forgot why he was there, looking between the two; Zoey herself was dressed to impress, one of her own creations, formal with a metalic, gothic flair, a little more modern than how she'd kitted the werewolf out.
"Wow.. you guys look beautiful..." Albert felt himself smiling widely. "Umm I still have some things to check, why don't you two meet me in the west ballroom, that's where everythings starting out." He'd smile as the girls headed off, he himself going back to checking everything was in place.
He'd soon be joining them, wandering in just as the welcoming speech began, finding the girls, and the gentleman Zoey had brought along as her date; a tall, leathery looking aquian (Known to humans as a "lagoon monster") dressed similarly in style to the Patchwork, he'd recognise him as one of Zoey's Gearhead buddies, whom she often went to robot events or motorcross with. Smiling to Matilda, he stood by her, listening to the speech, which thanked everyone for comming, explaining what charities would be benefitting and personally thanking some of the larger supporters. After the speech, music began to play, performed by live musicians, while everyone was invited to attend the buffet meal that had been laid out. There were raffles and auctions and competitions to take part in to raise money, huge baskets of goodies and luxury items as prizes. Matilda was looking over some of the raffles, even though she couldn't afford to give much, she had a go at a couple of them, figuring that she should do her little bit to help.
Albert would have to go and make checks on things now and then, Matilda seemed happy to follow him and help carry things if needed and stand quietly when Albert was addressed by some of the guests, some chatting in length with him, others sort of just talking at him about how much they thought the ball was a good idea and how it should do "so much for the community as well as the charities". There were a few toffish guests who threw remarks like "wasting money on all this instead of just directly donating." to which Albert had to explain that the amount of money gained would almost entirely go to the charities, and that the ball was also for the Gloomshire community as a whole, not just the needy. He'd eventually get a break when the dancing began, Matilda pretty much dragging him by the wrist into the ballroom; the music was traditional, a piece of music that resembled a morose waltz, to which most people were familiar with. People all within the hall took their partners for the dance, Matilda sort of beaming at him. "Dance with me!" With a smile, he'd take her hand and her waist, leading into the waltz. He'd spot Zoey and her date; he never did catch his name, dancing a little ways off amidst the crowd. Matilda was smiling widely, he could tell her steps were off, but under the dress she wore no-one would notice too much, not that he cared, as long as she was having fun. Ballroom dancing was something he had been taught in his schooling, and he'd gotten rather good at it, the three of them as youngsters used to dance around the ballroom when it was empty, playing pretend like it were some huge party. Dancing with Matilda brought back some very fond memories indeed, she had always had difficulty getting her feet right, even though she knew all the steps. Matilda had a very happy look on her face, she giggled and leant in a little. "Reminds you of those rainy days as kids huh?" Seemed she was feeling a little nostalgic as well in the waltz.
"That it does, you're much better now than you were back then, I remember falling flat on my face after we tripped up."
"Aheh, yeah I remember that, I remember Zoey trying to build a dancing machine so that there could be an even number of us."
"Oh hallows... didn't that thing go beserk though?"
"No,no, she just cound't get it to keep to a rhythm, the one that went beserk was her room tidy robot, the one that almost destroyed her project room" Matilda chuckled.
"Ah now I remember, I'm glad she sticks to vehicles these days..."
"And sewing machines."
"Well to be honest, those things look evil too." Albert smiled, slowing the dance to a stop as the piece ended, and more modern, dance and disco type music started blaring, the hall suddenly heaving with excited, rather tipsy by this point, guests. Matilda would spring into dancing, she was much happier with modern dance, she could wiggle and flail as much as she liked. Albert however wasn't much of a fan, he didn't like all the bouncing and making yourself look silly doing idiculously comical dance moves. He'd tap Matilda's arm gently. "I'm just going to check things for tomorrow, I'll be back soon."
"Aw Ok!"
He'd head up to his study, booting up his laptop and waiting for it to load, he wanted to check timetables for meetings with the archivie Directors the next day, and to make sure he had the right times for another meeting with the historical curator of the local museum, who had been asking him about writing an article for a publication the museum was planning on producing. He'd get a bit tied up and distracted by some e-mails asking for information that he'd have to search his family's library for, collecting it and replying to the e-mails. He'd not noticed the time go by until he heard soft footfalls aproaching his door. "Albert, you up here?"
"Oh, in here Matilda.. sorry I was just-"
"You got distracted by work huh?" She'd wander in and smiles, plonking herself in an armchair by the bookshelves.
"Yes, sorry..."
"It's ok, people are starting to calm down and head off though."
"Sorry, I didn't realise the time, I um.. Sorry, I'm not a very good host am I?"
"Pssht, I had fun, and technically your Mother is hosting this, you kinda just got lumped with lackey work." She'd giggle.
"I'm glad you had a good time, did you win anything on the raffles?"
"Nah, Zoey did though, she won one of the gift basket things, the blue one."
"That's nice." He was looking through his e-mails again, one had just pinged back requesting yet more information. "Ugh, Why don't I just let him borrow the Damn book... it'd stop all this faffing around." He'd make a reply much in that effect, shutting his laptop off with a sigh. "So how come you're up here and not with Zoey?" He asked, blinking as she was fiddling with the skirt on her dress.
"Oh, she's gone home with .....what was his name?"
"Not a clue, I don't think she ever actually introduced us... what are you doing?"
"Hrmm? Oh just trying to wiggle my toes."
"....Why?"
"It's stuck in my sock, see?" *She'd lift up the hem of her dress showing off black and orange toe-less socks over her pawed feet, one of her toes had gotten tucked into the end of the sock, and she wiggled it back out again.
"You wore stripey socks under the dress?" He gave an amused smile, resting his chin in his palm.
"Sort of, stockings, not socks." She'd lift the skirt a bit more, they did indeed go all the way up, well at least as far as she'd show him, just to over the knee anyway.
"May I ask why?"
"I felt kinda naked under the dress so I compromised with stockings." She gave a slightly derpy expression, producing a small laugh from Albert, it probably had been the first time she'd ever worn a proper dress, she was never one for skirts either, always preferring jeans or trousers.
"So what do you have planned now?" She'd ask, dropping her dress skirt again.
"Honestly, I was thinking of going to bed, I was up early this morning starting on all the preparations and such, and I've nt really had much chance to sit down or rest all day. I'll walk you home first if you like." He'd stretch and gets up, offering his hand.
"Sounds like you need it. Don't worry about me, it's not far to go, and everyone's going to be heading home anyway. I'll be fine, you get some rest." Taking his hand, she'd stand up again, hugging him tightly. "Thank you for inviting me, and for the dress. I had a really nice time."
"I'm glad. Are you sure you'll be ok getting home?"
"Mmhmm! I got here ok didn't I?" She chuckled and headed back out of his study, making her way home. Albert would at least see her to the door, smiling as she left, heading back to check on the cleanup procedures before retiring to bed, dozing off almost as soon as he hit the pillow.

Art/Albert/Matilda/Zoey (C)  astrofenn