Getting our act together

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

I had returned from Camlach, to find Raegan's note and the joy of seeing her again had made me light headed for days, until I'd realized my usual garb would not do for the coronation, so the thrifty matter of buying clothes became a concern of importance, and I made for the Clothier's district.

I entered the first shop I saw, and started sifting through the available jackets.

[Maël de Pons (I)]

After finishing the painting I had been working on, I looked down at my shirt. I had gotten paint all over it, yet again. I walked to my closet and found that my clothing supply had dwindled. Looking through, trying to find something clean to put on, I thought of the coronation fete. I had planned on going and just now thought about how I had nothing to wear.

I think it's time to buy some new clothes, I thought to myself. And mise as well pick up someting nice for the fete while there.

Once I arrived at the clothier's district, I went into a store and saw some people browsing. I walked to a rack of jackets and started browsing along side another man. "Hello," I said.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"Hello," I replied without interrupting my sifting, but glancing a smile towards the man who'd greeted me.

I grunted, looking at a horrible jacket in a color I could never name, but which reminded me of bird's waste. I sighed. I am not one for social occasions and shopping.

[Maël de Pons (I)]

I found one jacket, a nice shade of blue. It would go good with one of my only pairs of pants left without paint all over them. I grabbed it and placed it over my arm.

Continuing to browse, I looked to the man beside me. He had just looked at an awful jacket. I couldn't imagine anyone ever wearing it. "Why would they ever even make that color?" I asked laughingly.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

I smirked. "Just what I was wondering, in fact. What disturbs me is the thought that one poor soul could wear it."

I eyed the blue jacket. It looked great, the color vibrant and virile. "That one, however, is very acceptable," I said, pointing at it. "I'm Siegfried de Strasbourg, by the way," I said, extending my hand to him.

[Maël de Pons (I)]

I laughed at his remark. Completely agreeing with him.

"Maël de Pons." I said. Grasping his out stretched hand.

[Gillermo Stregazza]

While it was obvious I would have to wear ceremonial garb at the Coronation of Princess Sabrina de la Courcel, I had a mind to fit myself in the latest d'Angeline fashion, albeit for the Fete.

I had heard of the Clothier's district's efficient services. Pressed for time, I entered a shop which appeared of adequate standing. I immediately addressed the clerk, an older lady with eyes like an hawk answering to the name of Madame Bernier, and she set out to prepare various sets for me to choose from.

She left me to my own devices and I noticed two peers, one impressively tall, and obviously of foreign origin, the other, a remarkably short and lean D'Angeline. They made an uncanny duo, and I sifted absently through some shirts, very amused at their sight.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"Shopping for the coronation, I suppose ?" He had a good grasp, this Mael de Pons.

My eye was distracted a moment. One very handsome and elegant foreigner, probably a Caerdicci, was apparently looking for a shirt, closely followed by the largest dark skinned man I'd ever seen. No, wait, the only dark skinned man I'd ever seen.

My eyes still on them, I said under my breath, "Now there's something you don't see every day."

[Maël de Pons (I)]

"Yes, that and I need to restock my closet. I've gotten paint on most of my wardrobe."

I casually turned around to see what Siegfried was looking at. When I saw I tried not to raise my eyebrows. I had never seen a person with such dark skin. I wondered where he was from. I turned back around maybe a little to quickly in the attempt to not gawk.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

I chuckled. I am usually the source of reactions such as Mael's, espescially from the older D'Angelines who lived the Skaldic invasion. Just like Mael, they were somewhat astounded, and tried to hide it.

"He is indeed quite impressive," I conceded under my breath, "but he is probably an honorable man, most likely his retainer," I said as I pointed to the Caerdicci with my eyes.

I looked at Mael again. He, indeed, had a large purple stain on his shirt. "You're in dire need of a new shirt, minimally. How did that happen?"

[Maël de Pons (I)]

"Yes, I bet he is. I've just never seen anyone with such dark skin."

I looked down at my shirt. There was indeed a stain on this one too. "Shoot," I said. "I thought I had found a clean one." I laughed at myself. "I think this one came from when I was painting a carriage last week."

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"Oh, an artist," I said with a smile. The closest person I knew to be an artist was my friend Joie, and she was in fact more of an intellectual then an artist, though her paper cranes were masterpieces. "Do you take commissions?"

[Gillermo Stregazza]

So To-Biko had made quite an impression on the pair, I noted. I had never quite considered the fact that his skin color would stand out. To me, he was To-Biko, my retainer and companion, a Jebean Cassiline if any ever existed. It was amusing that the tall man, a Skaldi, perhaps, though I couldn't imagine how a Skaldi could be so courtly, had reacted to To-Biko. He probably attracted quite a bit of attention himself, I mused.

A tap on my shoulder distracted me from my observations and musings, and I followed Madame Bernier to a small stand by the pair, where she had set some ensembles.

[Maël de Pons (I)]

"Yes, I paint mostely. Sometimes sketch. And yes I sometimes do take commisions."

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"That's good to know," I noted. "I don't know very many painters, and may have a need for a commission eventually," I added.

Turning to the rack of jackets, I asked "Seeing as you have a good eye for jackets, any suggestions? I'm at a loss, here."

[Christelle de Dimitri (I)]

Being new to the city, I wanted to make a good impression at the coronation. I had some nice dresses I had looked at but found nothing I thought was suitable. I decided I needed a new dress. It had to be stunning. Maybe a nice red. Or maybe a pearl blue. It had been so long since I had a new dress, I gathered Pierre before I overloaded with excitement.

Pierre and I walked to the Clothier's district. I walked into a shop and started browsing. Out of the corner of my eye I saw two men talking. An odd pair of men I noted. My eyes were drawn also to tall man. By the looks of him Caerdicci. I made my was closer to him and continued browing on a rack of nice looking dresses.

[Maël de Pons (I)]

"I'd be glad to do a commision for you sometime." I said smiling.

"Well, let's see about a jacket for you." I moved around him to the other side of the rack. I found a nice red one but I didn't think it would go with Siegfried's skin tone very well. "Hmmm," I thought out loud. "How do you feel about green?" I said as I picked up a nice dark green jacket. "Or maybe a lighter green?" I inquired. Picking up a lighter one. I thought both would look good. I held out both for him to look at.

[Gillermo Stregazza]

Madame Bernier had prepared several ensembles, and I reviewed them.

The first one, a costly jacket of Aragonian leather, I deemed would be too hot if I intended to dance at the fete.

The second one, Alban wool, perhaps, looked shabby and boring.

The third, a courtly jacket in a dark crimson lined in black silk, kept my attention, and I had Madame Bernier set it aside.

The fourth was an awful bird's waste green, and I realized it had come from the rack where the uncanny pair was chatting.

The last outfit was a deep blue velvet with a silver trim. I had doubts, but it was original, so I set it aside as well.

A pretty, dark haired thing was in the vicinity. Interesting. I eyed her discreetly, wondering what she would pick for herself.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

I considered the two jackets Mael was suggesting.

"Both were interesting choices, but I had my mind set on blue, to be sincere," realizing I was being very conventionnal as I said so.

On the tone of confidence, I added, "I never attend fetes, and I'll admit I'm not even sure what is customary."

[Maël de Pons (I)]

"Well anything in here would be customary. And if you'd like a blue," I said hanging up the green jackets and moving around him back to the other side where I had found the jacket I was holding. "I would recommend this one." I said. Picking up a blue one of a hue slightly darker than the one in on my arm. "It has a nice cut." I said. Holding it out. "What do you think?"

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

I eyed the blue jacket appreciatively. He may spill paint on them, but Mael did know how to pick clothes.

"It could do, but I'll need to try it on," I replied.

[Maël de Pons (I)]

"Well, here ya go." I said handing him the jacket. "Tell me what you think."

I walked back around him to the red jacket. The more I thought about it the more I liked it. I picked it up and put it over my arm with the blue one.

[Calista nó Valerian]

Perhaps it was foolish, and likely it truly was, but rather than putting all of what the Duc de Morhban had given me for assignation I'd had with him on the Longest Night towards my marque, I kept some and squirrled it away, holding it for a time where I felt like shopping.

The House was abuzz, albeit quietly, with talk of the coronation fete, and it got me itching to wear something more than what would be supplied for me. Taking my purse from where I'd stashed it, I tied it to my belt and headed off to the clothiers district, slipping into one of the first shops that crossed my path.

The lighting was surprisingly good in here, likely to attract customers looking for something to wear to the celebration, and I moved with a quiet, demure step. A few people were already here and browsing; a small, lithe man next to a greater one, a woman alone, and a polished man looking at garments. Glancing away before they could catch me staring, I began looking through a rack of dresses, sifting through them with an apparent joy.

[Christelle de Dimitri (I)]

Amoung the rack I found a dark red dress. It was made of a fairly light material and I thought it might do well for the fete. I picked it up and held it out in front of me. It was low cut but not low enough to not still be sutble. I wanted to make an impression but not be overly dramatic. I held it up to me and looked in the mirror. Through the mirror I saw the Caerdicci man picking through clothes. He seemed to have rather good taste, not that I was surprised. What he had on right now was stunning.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

I strode to the changing room and found an empty booth to remove my coat. I slipped on the blue jacket and stepped out, rolling my shoulders to test out the level of comfort it afforded me.

"Well, what do I look like ?" I asked Mael.

[Maël de Pons (I)]

I turned from the rack and looked at the jacket Siegfreid had on. "Wow, it looks really good. That trim suits you." I said, impressed. "How does it fit?"

[Calista nó Valerian]

A deep crimson dress caught my eye, studded around the low neckline with faint, small beads that gave it a sparkle. With a sigh I put it back; it was not only out of my price range but I wore red to the last event I attended. Flipping through again I looked from article to article; every one of them were too long for me, though that was to be expected. I always had to have my clothing altered to fit my lack of height. With a glance to assure myself I didn't inadvertantly run into the woman browsing the rack next to me, I continued my searching, finding a quiet peace in it.

[Gillermo Stregazza]

Requiring for the pieces to be held out before me, I gauged the cut and size of the Aragonian leather, the dark crimson lined in black silk, and the deep blue velvet with a silver trim.

I would need to try them to see, I realized, and so I made for the gentlemen's booth while Madame Bernier assured herself that the three outfits followed.

The dark-haired beauty was still there, and I could not resist looking at her more closely. She wasn't painful to look at, I judged as I continued on to the booth, and neither was the quiet adept at her side.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"It's pretty comfortable," I said as I twisted to the side. "Thank you, you have a very good eye, Mael de Pons."

Looking at the red jacket on his arm, I asked, "Weren't you going to try it on?"

[Christelle de Dimitri (I)]

The dress seemed to be just a little too simple. I wanted something simple yet still...still... Oh I don't even know. I guess I would know when I saw it. I looked up from the rack to see another lady browsing next to me. She had just put down a dark crimson dress. "Do you mind if I look at that one?" I asked her, motioning to the dress.