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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 23, 2007 18:00:35 GMT -5
I entered the shop with only one retainer, and every intention to have myself dressed in the purest d'Angeline fashion, though none whatsoever, to look anything below my station, and so I smiled, and met the owner, who understood quickly that I would be a faithful client.
He left me a moment, to browse some articles, and I took in the wide variety of selections, taken aback, somewhat, by the beauty of the fabrics my eyes met.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 23, 2007 18:37:14 GMT -5
The weather was changing, and I decided it was time for a new spring dress. Accompanied by Robert, I walked down to Night's Doorstep. There was a shop in which I had never looked, and the rich fabrics in the window drew me in. There was already a customer there, tall and handsome and certainly not D'Angeline, so I waited quietly by the door, admiring the wares.
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 23, 2007 18:52:30 GMT -5
A subtle movement caught my eye, and I looked up, smiling as a reflex to the newcomer, though my movement stopped. D'Angeline to the bone, and a richness of hair that was beyond sublime, and an air of intelligence that would undoubtedly remind me of other women I'd met, the Aragonian and the Ruskovian princess both, but the demureness of sweet Cascata. Ah ! To be D'Angeline.
I gave her a nod, an engaging grin, but still somewhat concerned of my last encounter in the clothier's district, I respectfully averted my gaze, looking instead at a rich, rather rich shirt of red velvet.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 23, 2007 19:06:37 GMT -5
The man nodded and smiled, and I was struck by his utterly foreign, but warm beauty. His skin glowed and his eyes were like those of a cat. Respectfully, I curtsied to him.
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 23, 2007 19:21:44 GMT -5
She curtsied and it was lovely and graceful, and I bowed back, noting she had a vague air of nobility to herself, though it were unlikely she be of royal blood. Nonetheless, she had smarts and beauty, and the sheer power of her sex, and it beckoned for respect, though I was tempted to tease her.
"Will you come in? The establishment is large enough for two, no doubt," I said with mirth in my voice and in my voice, even as my D'Angeline was imperfect and heavily accented, though provenance, for all my travels, would likely be difficult to trace.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 23, 2007 19:25:27 GMT -5
I took a small step further into the shop, smiling bashfully. "My lord is waiting to be helped," I said. "I was only waiting for my turn." His accent was not one I had ever heard before, but from where he put his accents and the way he pronounced some letters, combined with his looks, I guessed Akkadian, or perhaps Umayyati.
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 23, 2007 19:31:51 GMT -5
"Oh, I am in dire need of assistance, My Lady," I said with a teasing grin, my hand on my heart. "For truth be, I am out of Fashion with the city, and rather unaware," I confessed.
The clerk at long last came about, and presented to me a wide selection of shirts, breeches and other things, and I looked at it all, somewhat baffled.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 23, 2007 19:33:46 GMT -5
"If I may?" I asked, approaching the pile of clothing.
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 23, 2007 19:40:38 GMT -5
"Yes, please," I replied, sighing in relief that she had understood my quiet plea for salvation. She was wearing a beautiful dress in raw, brilliant colors, and it became her. For one thing, she did seem to have good taste. "That is very helpful, My Lady...."
Oh, I hated to ask this way, but was there ever a way to ask a lady's name, that wasn't insanely awkward?
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 23, 2007 19:44:45 GMT -5
"Mauvais," I said quickly, embarrassed that I hadn't introduced myself before. "Avive de Mauvais."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 23, 2007 19:48:35 GMT -5
"I am honored, My Lady Mauvais," I replied, though I strained on her name, to my shame, and added, "I am Walid Habib Mas'ud bin Kasseem el Kadar al Wahed, Amir al Sa'ud," and as I said my horribly long name, I winced. I really needed to find ways to shorten it.
Mauvais... and no station. I noted it mentally, though the name was unknown to me for now. I would have to perhaps look into this family, if it were pertinent.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 23, 2007 19:51:45 GMT -5
"My lord Amir," I said, picking out the title at the end. "The honor is mine."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 23, 2007 19:57:31 GMT -5
"Oh, but please," I said, finding a strain of discomfort, the one that always came with my title. "My house name is Al Wahed," I clarified. "I am from Umaiyyatt," I added, "and very baffled by the garments of Terre d'Ange. Would you save me, please?"
Arwa ! I had once again made a blunder, had I not?
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 23, 2007 22:15:35 GMT -5
I chuckled at his D'Angeline, before picking up a loose linen shirt. "This shirt is a good one, Amir," I said. "It can be worn in almost any situation when paired with certain other items. Like this for example." I picked up a vest of heavy red velvet and gold brocade. "This one might wear to court, or to a fete, over this shirt. but if one were to wear it with these," and here I gestured to a pair of plain breeches, "it would be considered quite casual."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 23, 2007 22:25:36 GMT -5
She was young, but patient, though I did wonder what she was chuckling about. I almost asked, had I said something? and chose instead to ignore it - it were likely a sign of weakness.
I nodded, smiling. "And so is it not customary to buy new attire for every fete? In my country, showing in something one has already worn to a event would be...." I sought out the word a moment, spitting it out in Caerdicci and then in Aragonian, and in Ruskovian, before it came to me at last, "... distasteful."
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 23, 2007 22:30:31 GMT -5
"It is customary for the very formal fetes," I said, "but if you are going to a fete with people who have not seen a particular outfit, especially if you can't afford a new outfit all the time, it is all right to wear something again."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 23, 2007 22:33:50 GMT -5
"I understand," I replied affirmatively. With that, I ordered the clerk to pack the doublet, the shirt, the pants, both pairs, and added, "did you have any... suggestions?" both to his attention and to Lady Mauvais, seeing as she was right there.
I chuckled to myself, though I kept my thoughts on the matter. I would likely never been seen twice in the same outfit. I could afford, it, and it would be unsightly for a future ruler to be seen as anything less than regal, though it seemed my current garments did not give me away.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 23, 2007 22:42:37 GMT -5
I shook my head. "No, Amir," I said. "What you have picked is very nice."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 23, 2007 23:25:17 GMT -5
"Many thanks, My Lady," I replied amicably, before I ordered another dozen of those outfits be prepared, in various shades, and delivered to my adobe. I thanked the clerk, and said, "He is all your, Lady Mauvais."
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 24, 2007 22:56:24 GMT -5
"Thank you, Amir," I said. To the clerk, I said, "I would like a spring dress please, in a light color." He nodded, and disappeared to the back of the shop. I peeked at the prince. "Would you like to help me pick one?" I asked.
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 25, 2007 9:15:01 GMT -5
I grinned. "I can certainly give you my opinions," I said, "But truthfully, I'm not much educated in matters of D'Angeline wear." I tilted my head to the side, curious. "Were you intending this for a particular occasion?"
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 25, 2007 23:14:27 GMT -5
"No, Amir, just for day-to-day wear," I said. The clerk returned with an armful of dresses in shades of pink, pale green, yellow and light blue. Examining a cotton dress in lavender, I held it up. "This will keep me warm on the cooler days of spring," I said, "but will breathe on the warm ones."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 27, 2007 20:19:11 GMT -5
“I understand,” I said pensively. I looked at her, and said, “Is this your usual color? It seems a bit… pale, for you?”
She had come in strong colors, and they befit her. I wasn’t convinced of the light tone of the dress she was contemplating.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 28, 2007 14:56:51 GMT -5
"No, Amir," I said. "It is my habit to wear dark colors, you see right. But with spring in the air, I decided I wanted a dress that fit the season."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 28, 2007 15:05:58 GMT -5
I nodded, smiling. "I understand. Won't you try it on, then?"
I was curious of women's garments in Terre d'Ange, and I wondered at their build. I had a vague recollection of Cascata's... but it was in La Serenissima, and I thought mayhap it was different.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 28, 2007 15:20:49 GMT -5
With a small blush, I nodded. "I will, my lord," I said. Picking up the dress, I was directed to a small fitting room. Shedding my dress, blue, I put on the lavender one. The shape was certainly flattering; the bodice laced up in the front and the short cap sleeves were edged in cream colored piping. The neckline was rounded and low, but not too low, and skirt was full, but not too full, and it felt very light. I was only unsure of the color.
Stepping out, I curtsied. "What think you, Amir?" I asked.
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 28, 2007 15:25:50 GMT -5
She was a vision. Well, to be more precise, she looked like everything female and woman, with just this much youth to give her innocence, just that much savvy to belay that.
"The shape is..." I paused, looking for the word, and finally said, "very becoming, very... enticing. But would it not be perfect, a shade darker?" I didn't really care, though. She looked stunning, one way or the other, and no doubt, my expression, my eyes did not belie my opinion on the matter.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 28, 2007 15:48:10 GMT -5
"Thank you, Amir," I said, examining myself in a mirror. His assessment was quite correct, and I turned to the clerk. "Do you perhaps have this dress in the same style, but perhaps a bit darker, and more bluish?"
"My lady, I think I have just the one," he said, and disappeared to the back. When he returned, he was holding a dress of periwinkle, but not so light as to wash out my skin tone. Rather it was just dark enough to still be considered springlike, but light enough to emulate the flowers of the season.
"This color is lovely," I said. "What think you, my lord?"
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Oct 28, 2007 16:02:52 GMT -5
"Much better," I replied. "The other one... as lovely as the cut was, it didn't bring you out so much, did it? I think you should try it on as well, though," I added, thoughtfully.
She hadn't as much as hesitated in asking for advice, requiring the new dress. Likely, my station didn't impress her. I was curious.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Oct 28, 2007 16:05:24 GMT -5
"As it pleases you, my lord," I said, stepping back into the fitting room. After a few minutes of undressing and dressing, I reappeared. "I think I like this one much better," I said examining myself in the mirror again.
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