Finding Clothes for the Capital- Marie and Chris

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I had wanted to take both Marie and Henri out for a day by themselves, and try to catch up on a little of the time that we had lost. Today was Marie's day. Now, I was not slow. I remembered only too well how it felt to arrive in the capital after growing up in Camlach. It could only be worse for my sister, for she was older than I had been and a woman. Both of which made her more acutely aware of how... fashionable the residents here seemed.

So I took her to Bella's, the carriage ride short from the townhouse. "Here we are," I said when we arrived, helping her down from the cab.

[Marie Legard]

The way things had gone the day of our arrival had lingered on me and I’d found myself not doing nearly as much exploring as I had thought I would once we got to the City. In fact, I’d not been off the property since we arrived. I was sure it made Pierre happy, but I was beginning to wonder whether I had been right to want to come at all.

Christophe’s fiancé was overwhelming. She was sweet and nice to me, but she was so beautiful, so graceful, she seemed unreal. She seemed to go about everything with such ease. Christophe was different too. Nothing about it was bad, he was just different. And now there was no one left for me to talk about things with, not since Henri hurt me so.

I’d watched through the carriage window as we went through the streets. The people here seemed so foreign, most of all the d’Angelines. It was like I had come from much farther away than just Camlach.

“I don’t know if this is a good idea,” I said, glancing at the shop at then back at Christophe. “We should just go home. I’ll make you lunch.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I looked at her, then raised a brow. "I thought I might treat you to lunch after some shopping," I replied as I stood on the ground beside the carriage. "What's wrong Marie?"

[Marie Legard]

I wanted to tell him, wanted to be able to confide in him like I’d used to, but as I was learning things weren’t like they used to be.

“Nothing,” I said, taking his hand and stepping out of the carriage. “Thank you for taking me out.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

It was a lie, but I let it go. "Well, I want to get to know you again sis," I told her with an honest smile. It was not far to the entrance, and the bell chimed as I held the door open for her.

[Marie Legard]

He smiled and I felt a knot ease inside me. I’d always thought Christophe had the most amazing smile. It was still there, maybe not everything had changed.

I smiled softly at him as I stepped through the door and then to the side so he could enter as well. It was a good thing I had done so before I stopped or I would have blocked the doorway as I gasped softly at all the dresses in the store.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

She returned my smile, and I relaxed a little inside. I had counted on Marie being herself, but she has been very quiet since arriving. At least she was still smiling. "I was hoping you'd like it," I said with a grin at her reaction.

[Marie Legard]

“Oh Christophe,” I said softly, tearing my eyes from the gowns to look at him. “I’ve never seen so many beautiful things.” I glanced back at the dresses and then at him. “I can have something from here? Really?”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Of course," I told her with a smile, then teased her. "Think you can find something?"

[Marie Legard]

“Oh yes,” I answered. All the unhappiness and worry I’d had before vanished and with a wide smile I stepped deeper into the store.

My eyes roamed from one dress to another, hardly knowing where to start.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Then dive in," I said, grinning still. "What's your favourite colour?"

[Marie Legard]

“Blue,” I answered, smiling at him. “Same as ever.”

I stopped in front of a gown, my eyes going a little wide at the plunging neckline. I reached out and caressed the soft fabric. “Is this the popular style here?”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Not all women have your personality to reel them in," I told her with a wink. "And some do and still like to show off their, um, assets."

I found a few blue gowns, and held up one that I thought she might like for her inspection. "What about something like this? No low necklines to distract the poor fools already hooked," I said with a teasing grin.

[Marie Legard]

I looked up the gown he held and over next to him in a heartbeat.

“Oh Christophe, it’s beautiful,” I said softly. I had never even tried on anything so lovely. I’d never worn anything that would bare my shoulders either. The thought of being out with that much skin showing sent a thrill through me.

“Do you think I might try it on?” I asked him, smiling wide as I looked up at him.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

She was over so fast I would have missed it had I blinked. It made me chuckle. "Of course sis. That's why we're here. Shall I get them to start a room for you?"

[Marie Legard]

“Yes, thank you,” I said, nodding and looking at the dress one more time before stepping back to give him room. I trusted him to know how things worked here. I’d never been to an actual dress shop so I would follow his lead.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"You can pick out whatever you'd like to try on, and they'll save them in a change room for you so that you can try them on one after the other. Much more efficient than running back and forth," I explained with a grin. I knew they had nothing like this anywhere near the farm. "I'll be right back. Get as carried away as you wish."

I headed to the back, handing the dress to the shoppkeeper and having a few quiet words with her, explaining Marie's newness to the City and who would be footing the bill.

[Marie Legard]

I nodded and when he turned away I went back to looking at the dresses. There were so many with low necklines and or open backs. I dallied with the thought of trying those on, but I decided perhaps here with Christophe was not the right time. I didn’t know how he’d react to me looking like that.

I dismissed a few other dresses, not liking the colors or thinking they looked too old for me. Then I found another one I liked very much. I looked up to see if Christophe was near to see what he thought.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I came back to find Marie contemplating a gown not far from where I had left her. I didn't mind. We could be in here all day and it wouldn't bother me. As long as I could duck out to fetch snacks while she was trying things on. An empty stomach would bother me.

"Carried away yet?" I asked with a smile.

[Marie Legard]

“A little,” I said, chuckling. “Part of me wants to try every single one on just to have done so.”

I showed him the dress that had caught my eye. “What do you think of this one?”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Pretty but practical. I like it," I said with a smile, looking it over.

[Marie Legard]

I looked back at the dress, my brow furrowing a little. Practical would never have been a word I would have used to describe it.

“Is it not in style?” I asked. Perhaps I should just let him choose some for me.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Oh no, it's stylish. It just looks like you could actually move in it. That's what I mean by practical. Some gowns are so tight they look uncomfortable," I said, explaining myself.

[Marie Legard]

“Oh,” I said, my brow smoothing. “I’d like to try it then. I like the way the colors are.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I held my hand out for it. "Here, I'll be your moving clothes rack," I teased her with a smile.

[Marie Legard]

“Thank you,” I said, handing him the dress.

I moved on to a red dress, but it was so tight and form fitting. “I’ll never look good in something like that,” I commented, chuckling wryly.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

She pointed out a dress that looked more like something Malabelle would have picked out, and I smiled. "Why not?"

[Marie Legard]

I gestured to my thin form. “That is meant for someone built very differently.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I looked at her, then looked at the dress again. "You couldn't wear that particular one. But you could still wear something like that, given the correct cut. If you wanted to, that is," I replied with a smile. "If you do, I'll take you up to Eglantine, and we'll have one made for you."

[Marie Legard]

The idea of having a dress made for me by an Eglantine adept stopped me in my tracks.

“Oh no, we couldn’t,” I said. “I could never accept something like that Christophe. I can’t imagine what that would cost.”