Of Pontus and Pontus

"You have to be kidding me." Kabek said looking at the outfit Nelly's team had prepared him. Nelly smiled and picked up the leash and collar. 

"Isn't this why you sent me this gift?" Nelly said and threw them in his lap. They both were standing inside a cargo shuttle, a solid distance from the Opera house where the Black Market event was going to happen in a few hours. 

"No, I didn't send anything like this." Kabek said and threw them on the floor. 

"No use denying pet. Its a critical part of our costume today. You'll be my young and handsome cavalier. I'll be dressed up as an older lady." Nelly said and showed her out of date, and trying way too hard to hide excess weight dress. 

"Nelly I…"

"Put it on before I use my powers." Nelly said and sat down on a bench. Kabek didn't reply, neither did he try to rebel or show any sign of dissent in general. He turned around, pulled his shirt off and revealed a massive tattoo of a wolf on his back. It was on one hand a bit tacky, on the other it was very well made and did match the bad boy vibe Kabek had going for him. Just about the only thing he had going for him. 

His back muscles might be the most striking part about him, she thought and lost herself in their small movements. Nelly came back to this planet when Kabek turned around, collar around his neck. She couldn't hold back laughter, from the miffed and meek expression on Kabek. He couldn't have looked more out of place, with all his confidence gone with the wind. 

"Stop looking so funny or you'll ruin my makeup." Nelly said and laughed some more when Kabek tried to pull a mean, angry face, but failed miserably. He was wearing leather pants, shoes and a spike collar. "Yes, lets get you that emo look before we leave."

"Theres more to this?" Kabek said genuinely horrified. 

"Girls!" Nelly said, getting Green and Red to show up. Red gave a wide smile to Nelly and a sly wink. The maids were carrying make up and other costuming gear. "Remember the key details, color his hair black. Make it all spiked and glossy, and I want a heavy, and I mean heavy emo makeup on him." 

There had never been such a broken look on Kabek's face before. Nelly was going to enjoy this night. After all the annoying things he had done, it would such a joyous occasion to turn the tables on him. Nelly chuckled to herself as she left with the dress to get in her own old lady getup. 

 ***

Every few minutes Nelly had to hold back a chortle when Kabek turned to look at her. He was caked up, both physically with his well trained posterior, and the cartload of makeup on his face. Nelly was pretty sure that even his mother would refuse to believe it was her son, no matter how much time she was given. It wasn't only that he looked ridiculous, but it was a man whose soul had vanished. 

They had to walk a while and take another elevator to get to floor 309, and immediately after the elevator you could notice the different air. If there had been any delusion that Doves weren't on someone's payroll, the amount of people out of place in this off the beaten path area confirmed it without a doubt. 

Nelly saw hundreds of men and women clad in outrageous getups, some to claim anonymity, some just simply flaunting what little they had. Right in front of them a perfect target materialized. An older woman, a woman who had passed what she herself considered her best age. Her age was fine, but she herself was very vain and couldn't handle not being a youth anymore. And to round out the deal, with her was a sorrowful sight of a man, a short and stubby one with equally little soul left as Kabek. 

Nelly yanked lightly at Kabek's leash and pointed at the two. Kabek nodded and sped up his steps toward the pair, Nelly matching his. 

"How great to see you here again, we met a few months ago at that event!" Nelly said jovially and quite loudly to the couple. The woman frowned trying to place Nelly, but did return the cheek kiss greeting Nelly went for. 

"Of course, its great to see you again." The woman said, and Nelly knew she had her hoooked. 

"I'm such a klutz, I deleted your contact information on accident." Nelly said and leaned in closer to whisper conspiratorially her next line. "We were going to talk further about that thing you mentioned." Nelly looked meaningfully at the husband who was smiling awkwardly a few steps away. 

"Ohhohhoo, of course how could I forget." The woman said and received Nelly's phone, putting in her details. 

"Thank you so much, that you still wish to talk to me after I didn't contact you for so long." Nelly said, and her phone buzzed moments after it returned to her hands. The Sharp information unit was quick with the update. The woman in font of her was Margravine Bastille, a very minor noble Nelly had never heard about. 

Another set of moments later the Margravine's phone rang, she excused herself and answered. Her smile dropped within the first few words. "Pontus, we have to go Millie has climbed a tree and isn't coming down." The woman yelled and grabbed the sleeve of her small soulless Pontus. He was dragged along, completely at the behest of his wife. 

"Yes honey," The man said with no as much energy you could expect.

"Call me later Ma'am" Bastille said already several steps gone.

"Lets go Pontus, we have a Black market to enter. Lets not let poor Millie's sacrifice be in vain." Nelly said, restarting her steps toward the Opera. 

"You killed their cat?" the newly appointed Pontus said. Nelly stopped and glared at him until he understood his assignment. "Yes honey."

"No we just lied, get your braincells in order." Nelly said and wondered how this man passed the test to join MASKS.