She turned toward him and preened herself for spinning an almost believable tale; if he was going to force her hand like that, she was going to take him down a peg. Even if the shopkeep didn’t believe everything, Juniper had least put doubts in her mind and the next time she saw him she might do a double take. That was all that mattered at the moment; she wasn’t going to allow him any upper hand if she could allow it, even if she’d caught him in her web of lies to begin with. When he fixed her mistakes saying she was lying June smiled through her teeth as she blinked up at him before offering a coy smile.

Then he pinched her! She nearly jumped from the pain that lasted just as quickly as it had appeared, but instead tightened her arm around his. Juniper glanced at him from the corner of her eye as she clamped her mouth shut, allowing him the final words to the shopkeeper. She looked satisfied enough to move on about her day without picking up a quill to write to her stepmother, which she was thankful for. She nearly breathed a sigh of relief, although she knew there was still the other matter of what his price was.

There he was then, saying her name like he owned it and wrapping his arm around her waist to steer her outside. Juniper leaned into him. She moved to protest - she had come in here for a reason ! -  but she followed himself outside the building, lacewing flies forgotten without much fanfare. Her father would owl her some if she was desperate.

As soon as they were outside June tugged away from him in favor of reaching to pinch his hand, her eyebrows furrowed together. “What may I call you? Though I can keep calling you Igor if you like.” She didn't wink, her face wrinkling for a moment to keep herself from doing it. Then she wet her lips and smiled at him, taking a small steps closer. “Thank you, even if it didn’t come from the goodness of your heart. One favor, no conditions.”

She could only hope he wasn’t a creep. But then again, she did knew a hex or two.

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