A new adventure

[Seanna nó Valerian(D)]

Darien had told me to take it easy, but I felt too excited to just stay home. I dug around in my drawer until I found a little purse of coins. I had saved it from patron gifts. I took the purse and headed to the clothier's district.

The first shop I saw looked way to expensive. It never killed anyone to look, I thought. I went in and was immediately drawn to a gown of light brown silk that shimmered when the sun hit it.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I'd been somewhat bored since D'antoine had come by the house, and although I did have my dress for the coronation (I'd had it for weeks now), I couldn't resist going to look for a shawl to go along with it. Heedless of pricing or anyother consideration, I went in the first shop I found. It was near empty, save for another adept who seemed to be hypnotized by a golden gown set by the shawl rack. I started sifting through them, thinking about how lovely the dress would look if I managed to hide my unfinished marque.

I'd shared my discomfort with other adepts, and they'd all told me the same thing. Showing it was distasteful, something I hadn't quite thought about when I bought the dress. I had come to the shop with the resolve to either get it altered, or to otherwise adress the issue. Distasteful was not something I wanted to be.

[Seanna nó Valerian(D)]

I looked up from the gown and saw another adept, by the looks of her, enter. I politely said, "Hello." Then returned my gaze to the gown, unable to draw it away. It had a slightly low yet modest back that would hide my marque, and an equally low yet modest dip in the front. If only I could afford it.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I replied warmly to the adept, "Hello," my smile echoing my voice. Distracted a moment from my sifting, I looked up. "Well, you've been looking at it long enough. You should try it," I offered amicably.

[Seanna nó Valerian(D)]

"Oh, no. I couldn't." I said shyly. Looking at it again. "Well...maybe." I smiled up at it. If I use the extra coins I didn't show the marquist, I might be able to afford it. I wouldn't get a new pair of shoes but I do have those nice little gold ones. Oh Elua, I deserve it. "I think I will try it on." I said happily, having made my desicion.

I took down the dress and walked to the back of the shop to a room and took of my dress. I pulled the light brown one over my head, it was so soft! I walked back out and looked in a mirror.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I'd just been touching a shawl and finding it rather pleasant to the touch, when the other adept came out of the dressing room, a lovely figure of a woman in the guise of sunshine as it shows on a temperate day.

"You look lovely in it, if I may offer an opinion," I said softly. "Are you pleased with what you see?"

[Seanna nó Valerian(D)]

"Oh yes. Very much so. I apsolutely love it." I mumbled loudly. Looking at myself in the mirror. It was so soft and sleek. Definetly the most expensive gown I'd ever had on.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I looked at her again. She was a bit younger then I was, she might have just had her debut, I thought. A pretty girl, though she was. She would not be lacking assignations.

I smiled at her enthusiasm. "I'm Geraldine nó Heliotrope. As long as I am going to intrude on your shopping, I might as well introduce myself."

[Seanna nó Valerian(D)]

"Seanna nó Valerian. Nice to meet you." I said. "And it's no intrusion, it's always nice to meet new people." I smiled and then said, "If you don't mind me asking, what brings you here?"

[Géraldine Grangier]

I shrugged. "My poor judgement, really. I made a stupid purchase, and now I have to make do of it. I fell in love with a dress that shows my unfinished marque, and bought it without a second thought. My Dowayne realized I would wear it at the coronation, and sent me out shopping. The thing is, I have no other dress. It's that one, or the one I wore at the Longest night."

I then realized I'd babbled on, and took a moment, "I'm sorry - I've been ruminating this all morning. It's good to be able to tell someone."

[Seanna nó Valerian(D)]

"Oh, well yes that is a problem." I said. Thankful that the dress I had on would cover my marque. "I guess that's why your looking at shawls. Is there anything anything there that would match your dress?"

[Géraldine Grangier]

I looked at the shawls, and sighed. "Its color is a bit... strange. Tha't why I loved it so much for starters." I held out three shawl, one black, one petroleum, and one a deep midnight blue. "The fabric shimmers between these three colors. It's difficult to pick."

[Seanna nó Valerian(D)]

"Hmm, I wish I could help you," I said with a frown, "but I seem lost for ideas. I don't exactly know much about matching colors. I would say pick the closest one but that's not very good advice. Sorry."

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Maybe this isn't the place after all," I thought to myself aloud.

The clerk must have heard me, because she strode over confidently. "Oh, but it is, I assure you. Let me see what can be done. Do you have the dress, by any chance?"

I frowned at her overbearing manner, but she was trying to be helpful. Just as well, I thought. "As a matter of fact, I don't, but I could show you the model." I strode over to one of the mannequins. "It's similar to this one. The problem is that the cut is too low at the back."

She paused thoughtfully. "Let me see talk to our head seamstress," she replied.

Smiling, I turned back to Seanna. "Nothing to worry about, really. I just hope I can fix this. I just can't afford a new dress."

[Mirielle Bellamont]

The night had been long for me. I'd stayed up half of it, pouring myself into my books and ledgers to escape the harsh reality of actually feeling anything, and I ended up being woken by one of my servents and physically carried to my bed after falling asleep at my desk. I loathed it, and had woken up the next morning with the same dress still on that I had worn the night before. I tore it off and bathed, then fled my house once again.

The coronation and fete were fast approaching and my attire not fit for them, or so I told myself. My carriage bore me to the clothiers district without delay, and with instructions to wait around the bend so I didn't have to hire another ride back home, I went inside a wealthy-looking shoppe.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I was about to ask Seanna about her plans for the Fete when a remarkably pretty peer entered the store, her lovely features heavy with what seemed to be some unpleasant thoughts. I interrupted myself to curtsy as she passed by, my eyes averted in sign of respect still following her trail in earnest curiosity.

[Mirielle Bellamont]

Two lovely girls, both having the distinct looks of either low peers or adepts to them, stood in the shoppe as I came through. One curtsied, and I attempted to shake my brooding thoughts off, giving her a warm smile. "Oh no no," I said softly as she rose, eyes averted; an adept, then. "Please, don't. It makes me feel silly."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I allowed my eyes to rise to her level and smiled a bright smile. "My Lady is too kind." I eyed her a little longer, less discreetly this time. "I assure you, you do not look silly at all."

[Mirielle Bellamont]

"Good," I said, my smile coming easier to my lips. "That way I don't look as I feel."

I began searching the dresses, looking from one to another, before glancing up to her. "How are you and your companion today?"

[Géraldine Grangier]

I blushed, embarrassed that the peer had distracted me, and made me forget about Seanna. "I guess as well as can be on a shopping day, My Lady. The choice here is lovely, and the staff is very helpful."

I hesitated before I continued "Shall we introduce ourselves?" I looked at Seanna, and she did not look adverse to it. "This is Seanna nó Valerian, and I am Géraldine nó Heliotrope."

[Seanna nó Valerian(D)]

Nervous at the presence of the beautiful peer I stood back and let Géraldine do the talking for me. I stood with my head slightly down and me eyes averted. Running the fabric of the dress I had on through my fingers.

[Mirielle Bellamont]

I gave both of them a smile as they were introduced, relaxing from the tension of the last twelve hours for it. "A pleasure to meet you," I said, pausing in the rack with a finger to mark my spot. "I'm Mirielle Bellamont. Are you looking for something for the fete?"

They'd shine like newly minted ducats, I had no doubt, for they did so already in this pretty little shoppe.

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Doing damage control, more likely, My Lady Bellamont." I blushed a little. "The dress I had purchased requires some alterations, and I am waiting to see if they will be able to help."

I turned to Seanna, smiling to put her at ease. The blond noble seemed of the friendly and gentle sort, and she would be very likely so a kind companion. "My friend here, though, just bought the most lovely dress." I smiled to her, "Seanna has great taste."

[Mirielle Bellamont]

"That she does," I said warmly, directing my wording to Seanna and not Geraldine. "If that is it, it is lovely indeed. You'll make a few hearts melt I have no doubt." Her head was down, eyes averted still, though I didn't try to pressure her to raise them. Something about Seanna whispered at a delicate demureness, and I feared it'd be agaisnt her nature to look up just for me. Then again, I mused, maybe not for a Valerian.

Glancing back to Geraldine I smiled. "You too; with your eyes you could wear rags and still be a belle to envy."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I beamed at Lady Bellamont's compliment. Between my disappointment on Longest night, my strange interaction with the marquist and the more then troubling time I'd spent with my last patron, my confidence had been somewhat eroded.

"My thanks, My Lady," I replied, blushing a little. "The compliment must in all earnest be returned, for you are truely of a remarkable beauty." I paused a moment, just long enough to let her savour my words.

"Were you going to shop for the Coronation yourself?"

[Mirielle Bellamont]

"Thank you," I said softly, giving her a smile. "I am shopping for it, actually. One for the coronation and one for the fete following, though I'm not sure what I'd like." My nose wrinkled a little as I gave a slight grimace, looking back down to the rack I was sifting through. One dress after another was looked at and disregarded before I finally plucked one out, looping it over my arm before looking onward again. No point in going to the dressing room for one item.

[Géraldine Grangier]

When Lady Bellamont dove into the racks, I glanced in amusement in Seanna's direction. She had some energy to spare, I thought. Maybe a patron for Seanna?

I turned around to the clerk. She did not have good news. "I'm sorry, Madam," she said, "This dress is not of our make, so there is nothing we can do about it." I sighed.

"Well is there any other idea you might suggest? I'll pay for it, dearly if I must. I need the dress for the Coronation Fete, you see."

She frowned again. "Let me see what I can do." And she disappeared again into the back of the shop.

I sighed. This was not auspicious.

[Mirielle Bellamont]

As much as I tried not to, I overheard the small exchange between the clerk and the adept. With a small, sad look to Geraldine, I kept my nose out of it and continued to look, choosing out another dress before going to a second rack.

[Seanna nó Valerian(D)]

Listening to the lady and Géraldine talk made me feel more at ease. It seemed I was amoung friends and I lifted my head slightly. I waited a moment, and speaking to Géraldine I said, "I'm sorry about the scarf. I hope the clerk comes up with something." I felt rather selfish for it seemed I had found my perfect dress and Géraldine couldn't seem to find the thing to make hers perfect.

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Thanks, Seanna. I hope so too. I'm not sure what else to come up with. It's really a matter of hiding my marque. It's fairly well along, and I'm grateful for it, but buying celebration gowns is becoming more difficult," I thought for a moment, and stepped over to the rack where I'd shown the model to the clerk.

Going around it, I verified the back of the dress. It was much higher then mine was. By my estimation, it would probably do the trick. Pursing my lips, deep in thought, I walked back to the counter as I waited for the clerk to return.

"So, are you going to the Fete with anyone?" I asked to Seanna, although I wouldn't mind if Lady Bellamont joined in, something I let her know by asking the question somewhat in her direction, but not in an overly loud manner.