Private Tales Light After Dark

[Audreyn]

For a spark of a second she wanted to go into Genoa's. If just to defy a bit of their system that was already starting to bother her. Imagine her. Getting fitted like a noble. Ha.

She didn't suggest it, but the temptation was there, her gut still churning at their exchange.

"Okay," was all she said. When really wanted she wanted to ask was, 'And do they knooow you're no longer noble?' She gave a heavy sigh and fanned herself relentlessly, her pace becoming slower and dragging.

"....Think we can sell this dress for a lighter one?" She asked as they entered the square and were greeted by the cool sights and cooler shade. She touched the top of a porcelain doll, its white face stained by exposure to the elements.

 

[Gerrard]

"We can buy a lighter one and keep that one for the road," Gerrard replied. "Or winter. The seamstresses and tailors are both artisans and fountains of knowledge and gossip about the upper classes. Things which I do not have the time or inclination to carry any of. Actually I think Pinoa's is just around here."

They turned a corner and half way down the next street hung a wooden sign with a crisp painting of a pair of scissors. With so few able to read almost all shops had signs that displayed their brand with pictures.

"Once we're done with this tedium I'll show you how to make an acoustic flare," he said with a chuckle. "That always manages to entertain."

 

[Audreyn]

"Acoustic flare?" She echoed, already entertained by its very name. They entered the shop and all at once she was struck silent. Clothes of every color stood displayed for eager eyes. Heavily embroidered dresses with large hips and low cut bodices sat on manikins around the walls. The shop pushes further back, the seating lavish velvet and walls finely decorated with pillars and gold decals.

She didn't move spare when Gerrard bumped her, and only then did she slowly step in. She barely heard as one of the workers approached Gerrard. She barely saw the faces of another group-- a well formed girl with lavish hair being fitted while her mother observed the dress with a critical eye.

It all felt surreal. She cast Gerrard a wide eye look as a shop keeper took her by the shoulders to lead her away. To be fitted, no doubt.

But wait, she wasn't wearing any underthings.

Awkward...

 

[Gerrard]

"Just the one for a fitting?" an exceptionally well dressed and well spoken man asked Gerrard. An explanation of the spell would have to wait.

"Both of us actually," Gerrard replied.

"Occasion?"

"I'm in a bit of a bind actually. Just returned to the city and invited to an event by Baron Ostland. It's tomorrow night."

"Oh the Wintrahl Gala." The man pursed his lips. He looked particularly frail yet stood tall and proud. "There will be a surcharge as I will have to move some work to fit for tomorrow."

"Of course."

"Any particular style?" he asked. Gerrard assumed this might have been Mr Pinoa himself.

"I'm one of the greatest mages the western continent has ever seen. My time for considering fashion is limited. I would appreciate your expertise." Gerrard might have lost his titles but he had a force of will that more than made up for them.

"Of course. And your colleague is..." Pinoa's eyes fell to Gerrard ringless left hand.

"My apprentice."

"Excellent. Right, come with me and we'll get your measurements."

Gerrard expected the man's plans would have changed had he said daughter, cousin or mistress. Nobility and their customs of dress required more effort to keep up with than he cared to offer. There was a clear divide between the gentleman's section and the ladies section. He was led off to the left hand side of the shop.

 

[Audreyn]

What felt like an hour later, Audreyn escaped from her handlers in a very fluffy, blue dress. She was a moving ball of plumage and rustling fabric. She skirted over to Gerrard and stopped in quite the huff.

"It's a fire hazard!" She protested, yanking on the girdle that sent the fabric out away from her hips. "I look like a table and, and-" She leaned forward, hissing-- "My breasts are exposed."

They were indeed. Lifted up and smushed to overflow in a way that suggested she was more than ripe for childbearing. She covered them with her hand, cheeks utterly red.

"Tell them no!"

 

[Gerrard]

Gerrard rather quickly averted his eyes. She managed to spread that flush to his own cheeks. She must have been upset not to immediately laugh at his own clothing. His doublet was a deep burgundy with gold bracing. The chest and upper arms were puffed out. Meanwhile his leggings were very, very tight. Gerrard hated fashion.

He brought up one hand for calm and tried to keep his gaze high.

"No need to worry, I'll have a quiet word about a little more modesty around the, erm, bust. You do actually look quite stunning Audreyn, but I'm sure they can do less...yes. Alright?"

 

[Audreyn]

"Stunning? I could knock people over if I turn too quickly," she grumbled. But his words were appreciated and a peace was brokered. Just in time for the seamstresses to come gather the salacious young woman in the men's section. Already, she had caused quite a fuss.

As they grabbed her arms and began to guide her away, she seemed to notice what he was wearing for the first time. As was evident but the entirely shocked expression that quickly disappeared around he corner.

Another thirty minutes later and they were brought together for the first time, Audreyn put together in a deeper blue ensemble. The flare in her hips was brought down to a much more natural level, but was compensated for by a heavily embroidered bodice that brought all the attention into her shockingly small waste. The chest line was raised, no longer dancing with the possibility of a nip slip. All in all it was a much more modest but exquisite piece. Suitable for the occasion. As Audryen was brought to him, she couldn't help but to stroke the material fondly and give him a shy look.

"Well she'll need jewelry of course," buzzed the worker, fluttering around her and tugging at this and that. "And a proper bath. But all an all I think you will find this suitable for Gala in Bastion's (??) name." Pity about the lack of hips though, he practically seemed to say.

 

[Gerrard]

Gerrard offered her a warm smile to try and belay her remaining anxieties. It wasn't a common expression, but it suited him. It smoothed out the hard lines of his face managing - for once - to make him look less judgemental.

He had to remain fairly still or else get caught by the multitude of bone pins that had been stuck into his fabric to help them finish fitting the outfit later.

"Yes, she will need some jewellery," he confirmed.

"Would you like me to have Mrs Hinton fetched from her store down the street with some samples so you can see them against the piece?" the seamstress asked.

Gerrard turned to Audreyn. He turned carefully to avoid being pricked by pins.

"Are you happier with this?" he asked of the outfit. "And would you like to try some jewellery now or shop around later?" he asked. Even if her new outfit wasn't quite as fashionable as the last he thought the slightly more form fitting line suited her well.

 

[Audreyn]

"Happy?" She echoed, a small laugh catching in her breath. She fingered the bodice, tracing the jewels and embroidered designs. "This is unreal." And too much, too much to take from him.

She gingerly sat down besides him, her posture quite improved with a corset in play. "I trust your judgement," she told the shop worker, believing there was no way he could overdo a simple necklace ... right?

She held out her arm, amazed by such a long sleeve, and then her attention fell to him. She blinked, dropping it all and turning his way. "Is that what you're wearing?" There was no escaping the amusement in her tone. He looked like a bird.

 

[Gerrard]

"Either the fashion has slightly shifted from when I was last here or I'm being mocked," Gerrard replied.

"Never sir," said one of the tailors who had returned with more pins. Gerrard winced in anticipation. "The higher hemline helps a man to show off his legs and sir has very long legs worth displaying."

"Fetch the jeweller," Gerrard almost groaned.

 

[Audreyn]

Auderyn dissolved into a pile of giggles. Until one of the pins stuck her and she winced, sitting up straighter again.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, catching the arm of the woman who brought her in. "Can I get an less..." she gestured down to herself, " one to wear out. It's so hot. Just-- whatever." The woman furrowed her brows, but nodded slowly. "Course, Miss." They didn't do 'just whatever'.

At least Gerrard was in for a laugh of his own by the time they went out.

Audreyn stood, unable to help the slight pacing she adapted. At least it was practice for moving at the Gala.

"Being wealthy is very hard," she told him, anxious if just by the cost of all this.

 

[Gerrard]

"I'll comment on that when we're back at the house," he replied with a chuckle. He didn't want to point out that many nobles didn't do a day's hard work in their life here.

The tailor had finished working with him. They would work rapidly to make one outfit from what he had on and a second in a deep green later in the week. There was always the dreaded possibility of being invited to another event that he couldn't escape.

"Perhaps just one more day outfit here and then we'll find somewhere else for some more warm weather clothes," Gerrard suggested politely. A full wardrobe from here could just about bankrupt him, but something more formal might do if someone requested them for a lunch.

"Did they not offer some dress shoes in a fabric to match?" he asked Audreyn.

 

[Audreyn]

Audreyn gave him an odd look. "I really don't need anything else. And- we can even sell this after tomorrow night." She practiced walking, glancing down at her bare feet as they popped out.

She frowned. "They did, but I have my boots, it's not like you'll be able to see them underneath all this fabric." She grabbed it and hefted it up, swaying to move it a bit.

"Are you... sure about this? This all seems like a lot. You know, I really don't have to get a lighter dress either. I'm sure I'll get use to the heat. And if anyone cares, well, I'll just light them on fire."

The tailor looked up, abruptly alarmed.

 

[Gerrard]

Gerrard snorted and shot the tailor a calm glance.

"People will see your shoes when you dance. You will need shoes. And you'll need some more clothes for the summer, but there are other shops for that."

He tried to convert 'more affordable shops' with his eyes.

"And yes, when we leave the city I'm sure we can find some minor country gentry who would be more than happy for some second hand fashion from the city.

He dared the tailor to contradict him with a glance. It was common practise among the nobility to, but clothes tended to be passed down to less affable cousins in the countryside. At least it was considered acceptable to wear the same outfit more than once. They had peculiar social rules here, but they were not too wasteful.

At almost exactly the same moment one of the women returned with several options for shoes as the jeweller arrived. They were white, but came with fabric swatches that could match the dress. Another box was held open before her with three options for matching knecklaces and bracelets to go with the outfit. There had been a fourth but Mrs Hinton immediately hid them with a cloth of fabric deciding that they wouldn't work.

"Anyway, an acoustic flare in really just a colourful orb that changes to sounds around it," Gerrard explained. Someone had handed him a cup of wine. He couldn't sit without stabbing himself twenty times over. He decided a little magical talk would keep the staff quiet and keep Audreyns mind off the cost.

 

[Audreyn]

A single glance at the jewelry had her whimper in distress.

She was about to protest further, but his distraction did it's trick. She perked, turning away from the jewelry altogether. "Really?" She asked, half shocked. "But that's .. amazing. Oooo," she cooed, connecting dots.

"And with the music! Teach it to me," she insisted, eagerly stepping closer. "What is it? What are the words?"

 

[Gerrard]

"I think we'll practise that in a park," he chuckled, taking a sip of his wine. The jeweller stepped behind Audreyn and alternated between necklaces, draping them loosely over her in turn.

"It requires a lot of concentration so its a good exercise. Remember how you held the ball of fire? It's like that but more...refined. And then you have to let it be affected by the sounds around it whilst keeping it stable.

"But mostly it makes a pretty light that changed colours and keeps drunken nobles entertained for hours."

 

[Audreyn]

Her excitement diminished considerably. She looked down at the necklaces being draped across her with dimmed acknowledgement, her thoughts still stuck on how to get him to let her try that spell.

The shoes were raised to her vision line as well. All at once she felt abruptly overwhelmed, a sparkle of magic entering the air. She clenched her fist. He couldn't like this any more than her...

An idea struck her.

"I'll... tell you what. Yoooou tell me the spell now and I'll pick out this stuff as you do. And we can go-- ten minutes tops. No more pins in your armpit."

 

[Gerrard]

"Works for me," he said. He fell silent into though a moment after. It was one of those spells that was best taught practically step by step. It would not do well for his reputation to burn down such a respected establishment.

"I like the double strand necklace myself," he said, to a nod from the jeweller. He couldn't help but feel the tremor in the ether of magic.

"Building an orb of light is the first step. Which is obviously useful on its own. Reading at night if you've not bought enough candles for example..."

 

[Audreyn]

She glanced at the necklace, a trill of excitement hitting her.

So much money. So beautiful. "O-Ok." She caved, puling her attention from the set to come sit herself down so they could work out shoes. He had mentioned her needing a day dress, but what that meant to her she wasn't sure. Different from the light dress she had requested? Oh crap, she needed to cancel that. She could tell he wanted to get those at a cheaper location.

Her thoughts were spinning, the ordeal a lot for her. But she could trust him on this, right? She reminded herself not to make issues where there were none.

She murmured the request for the light dress to be canceled, coaxing herself into a calm that made the magic in the air disappear. She gave him an apologetic glance as her feet were measured out.


"The orb's like the fire, right? Just have to concentrate and..." Her palm was face up in her lap, her brows furrowed in a tell tale way. "Visualize it." She grunted, a ball of light appearing in her palm before dispersing in a loud flash.

 

[Gerrard]

"I would respectfully request that magical lessons are conducted...outside?" Mr Pinoa asked, looking slightly shaken.

Gerrard raised a silver eyebrow, clearly amused. "We will stick to the theoretical until we are done," he said. His lips twitched in obvious amusement.

"But very good, exactly the same. We won't do the next bit until we are outside though. The more you try and mentally juggle the harder it is. But I'm sure you'll have it down before tomorrow night."

He turned towards Mr Pinoa. "My most naturally gifted student," he remarked.

"Of course," the shop owner replied. He was more accustomed to demanding, petulent youth than people practising magic.

Gerrard held his out out and a small white sphere appeared. He clicked his fingers next to it and it turned a deep scarlet, the smooth surface suddenly having sharp ridges.

"Please, Mr Duvont..."

Gerrard didn't apologise, but the acoustic flare winked out of existence.

 

[Audreyn]

Audreyn pressed her lips together to mask her amusement, easily abashed and chastised by the man's discomfort.

Wordlessly, she pointed to a pair of sample shoes with the lowest heal, internally wondering how they could have this all made in time by tomorrow. She was use to buying second hand pieces at markets-- much cheaper than anything made from scratch at a tailors. And while they had samples here and she suspected spares on hand for moments like this ... they were taking an awful lot of measurements.

Her number of questions were building again, but his remark left her internally pleased. Gifted student. She'd take it.

She stood, the work done and props being whisked away.

"I thought you said folks here weren't scared of magic," she commented as Mr. Pinoa left to escort the jeweler to a room where the purchase could be made after they redressed.

 

[Gerrard]

"Difference between being scared of magic and having a genuine concern about your business being set on fire by a novice's lesson," Gerrard laughed. He passed the empty glass back to one of the tailors who whisked it away.

"Well then, see you again in a few minutes," Gerrard said. He walked back towards the male side of the tailors. With less layers to get through he was back to the main desk first. A scribble on a credit note would have the establishment heading to his back to take the funds directly. It was a long way from the most he had had to pay before, though he was surprised how much more a woman's gown cost.

"Shall we break for some lunch?" he asked Audreyn when she emerged. He found the whole process exhausting.

 

[Audreyn]

Audreyn never thought she'd be relieved to be back in a simple wool dress, but she was. The heat had nothing on corsets and layers. Hell, she felt just as hot now as she had in that meeting room.

She smoothed down her hair, giving the paper before him a nervous glance.

It would be nice if she could read numbers. Then again, she wasn't so sure she wanted to know. Stuff of nightmares, for sure. She grimaced, telling herself that Gerrard had made it more than clear this was okay. It was okay.

She tried to memorize the shapes of the scribbles for future reference.

"Sure. But please don't make me pick. I think if I ever have to make a decision again, I'll up and die." She took his arm, looking no less exhausted as she walked out with him and back into the busy square.

She skimmed the area, feeling a few set of eyes on them as they emerged.

 

[Gerrard]

"Unfortunately I am not a fashionable young lording," Gerrard laughed as they walked away. "My decisions on such matters should not be treated as authoratative!"

There was even more heat accumulated in the stone roads than there had been earlier. He turned them towards an arrangement of chairs and shade providing canopies just around the corner.

"Lunch, some day clothes for you, then gather some more food for the house. Then, I promise, we'll dedicate some time to the little trick. Even though that gave them a little shock, you see how much more acceptable magic is here?"

 

[Audreyn]

She fanned at herself, moving slowly again. "Yeah, I guess..." She admitted, not entirely convinced on the matter.

She sat down with him, slumping and splaying across the space now that there was no boning to keep her up straight.

"I want to do more than a little trick though, I wanna be- I wanna be-" she struggled for a word, but once again found she didn't have one. She frowned, never coming across that problem at home.