Author's note:

And finally, after several months, here is the chapter that I previously mentioned suffering from writer's block on.

Ironic really, seeing as this chapter actually comes literally straight from the ask-cleo-and-deuce blog itself.

Sixth Month 9th Day

Deuce took me out to the Maul today, and to make a long story short, he bought me a truly golden pair of new shoes.

However, should any historians, scholars, biography writers, etc. ever come across my diary, I shall also include the long version, for accuracy's sake:

Today was the last day of one of the Maul's "Sales Weeks", and I had called for Deuce to come and accompany me there.

My father has a new rule that neither I nor my sister are to use the car without him present, and as much as I love my father, I don't necessarily agree with his idea of 'fashion' – or, for that matter, think he really agrees with mine. Now Deuce, of course, doesn't have the use of a car currently either, but the weather today has been grey enough for us to walk and the Maul isn't too far to make the experience unpleasant; plus, I have great faith in Deuce's ability to carry my shopping bags.

Now, I don't know whether this season's clothing was just unappealing to me in general, or if I missed out on some of the better items through being in school for the majority of the sales, but there were very few items that piqued my interests. I only managed to fill four bags, and didn't even max out a single one of my credit cards!

Anyway, that is beside the point.

We were in one of the Maul's several shoe stores when I saw a pair of black-and-gold heeled sandals that I knew I simply had to have, and I asked Deuce, very nicely, if he would buy them for me, as a sort of a shopping date gift. His expression – and his snakes – fell as soon as I said it, and he told me that he couldn't right now because there was something that he was saving up for himself; a camera of sorts, a Gorgon-proof one that he wouldn't have to worry about breaking if something happened to his shades.

Now I was annoyed at this. Not, in hindsight, justly, but I was annoyed none the less. Wanting to buy something for himself is all well and good, but did he have to have already started saving money now, during Sales Week?

I made a rather… elaborate… public show of storming out of the store with my iCoffin, but by the time I had reached my father's number in my contacts list, I had already formed a much better plan that simply calling to be taken home.

Once he had answered, I explained the situation of Deuce's camera to my father, and asked if he might be able to pre-order the item especially for him. Now, knowing dad's feelings on my relationship with Deuce, I hadn't expected to have him agree quite as quickly as he did. Perhaps he felt as though being able to speak to Deuce effortlessly over webcam chat would mean that the two of us would be seeing less of each other offline, or maybe he just wanted to see me return home with a smile on my face, it's hard to tell. Either way, though, Deuce no longer had to worry about saving for anything.

Which meant that he was completely free to buy me those shoes.

I suppose that leads to the question – why didn't I just buy the shoes for myself in the first place? I had plenty of money to do so; in fact, I usually have plenty of my own money whenever I ask if Deuce will buy something for me.

Really though, the answer is simple. I have always had, and always will have, the means of buying anything that I want for myself, so after the first few purchases, it starts to mean a lot less. Deuce, though, doesn't have the luxury of splashing out on absolutely anything, at any time, and yet he so often chooses to spend what money he has on me anyway; so really, having something bought for me, by Deuce especially, helps me to appreciate it that little bit more.

As ever, I hope you've enjoyed the latest chapter!

I'm running low on ideas, so feel free to make any suggestions :)