The cold weather of November and light brush of snow has smothered the streets well into chillier mornings come December, and only threatening to layer more the deeper into the month it gets. For now, the snow it...somewhat manageable; shovelled and pressed down from the busier streets by foots and hooves, and the market stalls are determined by how daring the sellers are feeling, and if luck is on their side.

Mostly, it's the time of the month when you have better luck owning a store front, putting out a light that you're accepting customers, and hope they come to you for the month.

A certain group is. Or a certain group will try. Heading to their meeting spot in the Wilful Machine is at least easy when using lamp travel, meeting them at the canals that will certainly lose their business for the month and the water freezes. Some busy work was done beforehand to find out potential visits that would be keeping their doors open, and to gather a variety in selection for tastes to be explored. After all, how can you know what you like when you don't have options?

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CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
→ The catalogues have been changed to match the season, cloaks and warming outfits illustrated in their pages, with some examples on display and available on a rack, if you can fit into them. Tailors are all too happy to help in sharing how they can offer different colours, certain bloodstones to add warmth, or to make certain cloaks lighter, but no less effective in keeping off the cold; and oh, are you thinking about secret compartments for your blades? There's plenty.

There's always something for everyone: modest skirt-pants, turtle-neck dresses, stylised jackets, and even more colourful options. And are we going to miss out on the boots and more boots shopping? Please. Don't forget to accessorise too, from necklaces, bracelets, and whatever else might catch your eye.

HAIR, NAILS, AND SKIN
→ Finding the right outfit is good, but we can't forget the other essentials in dressing up: Yourself. Getting your hair recoloured on the spur of a day out might be too much--or, is it? There's options, from short buzz cuts to examples of what's in fashion. Some products even have paleblood in it to give hair that extra wow in the dark (and you bet hey loved the glow of the blood last month!). The same goes for the nail polishes, the selections ranging from bright to night-black to luminous. Those who offer nail products also offer to do nails right there, and even with a hand massage; and even those who will do your make-up will throw in a relaxing facial beforehand, if you find the right spot (and are willing to barter the right goods).

There's no one style for all in these establishments, with the only limits being what you dare to try and your imagination. Feeling gender-neutral today? Well, aren't you in luck.

FOOD, DRINKS, AND DANCE
→ There's the cafés along the way during this day out that may catch one's (or a few) eyes for a quick drink to warm one up, a certain smell to draw a person in (is that freshly cooked herby bread? Heck yes). But as the day goes on, the night drawing in earlier these days, there is a place to put an end to this shopping trip (and once purchases have been securely put away): dinner, drinks, and a floor for dance. People are free to come and go as they please with the group, but there's a table waiting for any to come in a nice cosy tavern, for people to show up again in their newer outfits, should they please. It's a good time for chatting, relaxing, to do it off their feet; to get rosy off some drink if that's their flavour.

And then the end of it will take them to one last stop: into Cellar Door. Their cheeks might be freezing by the time they get there, but the dance clubs are always warm and alive, buzzing as soon as you walk in. It might be busy on the dance-floor, but there's booths available, spots where those unused to the activity can get up their courage, ... or take advantage of the very pretty drinks they serve here.

Maybe it's not your scene, or you can give anything a go once -- in the end, what matters is that you had fun.