a taste for fashion

Alastor was sitting in his lavishly decorated room, looking over some documents with a meticulous eye. His cane was placed to the side, and his polished boots gleamed in the soft light. The only sound was the faint crackling of the radio in the background-until a distinct rustling noise broke his concentration.

He turned his head sharply, his eyes narrowing as he saw Audrey, sitting cross-legged on the floor, her tiny hooves resting against the fine carpet. She was chewing something with evident gusto, her little face focused on the fabric in her mouth.

Alastor's gaze quickly shifted to his crimson pinstripe coat, specifically the sleeve, where Audrey was contentedly gnawing at the delicate fabric.

"Audrey," Alastor's voice was deceptively calm, a hint of tension underlying the cheerfulness. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"

Audrey, oblivious to her father's growing frustration, looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes, her mouth still full of fabric. A small, muffled sound of contentment escaped her as she chewed away, completely undeterred.

Alastor's eye twitched. "That is my favorite suit, darling," he said through gritted teeth, his voice a mix of both fondness and mild irritation. "You know, suits like these require the utmost care-"

Audrey paused, tilting her head as she chewed, clearly having no clue about the importance of the garment. She then swallowed and grinned up at him, her red pupils sparkling with innocence. "Mmm... it tastes funny, daddy! Like... like food but... different."

Alastor sighed deeply, his smile never wavering but his eyes narrowing with growing exasperation. "Well, that's quite the novel commentary, but I would rather you refrain from sampling my clothing, my dear. Please."

With a dramatic flick of his wrist, he stood up, gliding over to her with ease. He gently pried her tiny hooves away from the suit, his touch surprisingly tender despite his earlier sharp tone.

"Here," he said, pulling out a small, delicately wrapped snack from his coat pocket. "This is much more fitting for you, I assure you."

Audrey's eyes brightened, and her hands immediately reached for the snack, but she still seemed distracted by the suit. Alastor let out a small, exasperated laugh, but his tone softened, as he gently lifted her to her feet.

"I'll need that suit looking pristine for a very important occasion," he said, brushing off the imaginary dust from the fabric. "But for now, enjoy your proper meal."

Audrey, now happily distracted by the treat, eagerly began eating, her earlier antics forgotten.

Alastor watched her for a moment longer, his protective side showing through despite the irritation. There was something oddly endearing about the way she didn't understand the importance of his attire-or perhaps it was just her childlike innocence that made the situation oddly charming.

"Now," he murmured to himself, his gaze drifting back to his ruined suit sleeve. "Perhaps I'll need a backup for the next time this happens..."