Backposting: The Present (open thread)

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I had come here, about a week before my cousin Naia's natality, to find her a suitable gift. It would be difficult, and I wanted to speak to the jeweler about anythign that might have already been commissioned for Naia, sicne it woudl be extremely bad taste to buy her a copy of something.

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

It was a chilly day, close to midwinter, and I wanted to find a nice necklace to wear with my costume. It was a bit last minute, and so I had scraped together the last of my coin and come down to the jewelers, hoping that he would have something in my price range.

The jewelry store was most empty when I arrived, save one other customer, a Shahrizai by the look of her. It made me wonder if that was irksome to them, to be known on sight by their tell-tale blue locks and icy blue gaze.

I paused near her to peer into a case, then looked up and hoped that she was friendly. "Good afternoon, mademoiselle." I said, "Are you looking for something for the masque too?"

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I glanced up when the bell over the door rang, and turned to watch as a very pretty blonde woman entered the shop. Turning back to the earbobs I had been looking at , I frowned, unable to decide.
A moment later, I heard the other woman speaking to me, and looked up again, a slight frown of displeasure still on my face. It was quickly replaced by a smile as I shook my head. "No, unfortunately. That is a good idea, though. I'm actually looking for a natale gift for my cousin." I glanced at the case she'd been looking at, "But I can't decide which earbobs look the best." And it went without saying that I had to have the best. Nothing less would do for a Shahrizai.

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

"Oh, I see." I said, peering at the earbobs that she was looking at. They were both breathtaking and probably cost more money that I would see in a month of assignations. "Well, for what it's worth, I like those ..." I gestured toward one of the pairs, "Though I'm not expert in fine jewelry," I laughed softly.

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I turned back to look at the pair she pointed out, and thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Do you think I could get those in white gold? I'm sure Naia has too much yellow gold already." I glanced up at the salesperson behind the counter, including him in my question.

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

"Good choice," I said, then peered down at the case of necklaces before me. I could not afford real gemstones, but perhaps something with crystals? "If you don't mind my asking, what do you think of this one?" I pointed into the case at a necklace with a silver chain and a small crystal butterfly pendant.

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I smiled, glad that my taste in jewelry was still up to par. But when I looked down at the necklace she pointed out, I shook my head. "Everybody likes butterflies.... And everybody likes butterflies." I looked ate the other necklaces in the case, then pointed out a different one, one with a very pretty stone that shined with vari-colored light depending on how you looked at it. "That one is excellent."

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

"Good point," I laughed, glad to have another's opinion. "I think I will probably be seeing more than one of these at the masque." I looked at the other one she pointed out and smiled, liking the way the colors of the stone shifted. "Oh, now that is beautiful."

Waiting for the shopkeeper to ring up her purchase, I mentally counted my coin and wondered if I would have enough left for something to eat after this excursion.

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I nodded. "I wouldn't at all be surprised if there were a hundred butterflies at the masque." I spoke again to the salesperson, and he told that they would indeed be able to make the earbobs I wanted, in white gold. I hoped Naia would like them, and when I turned back to Vivienne, I smiled. "What goddess are you going to be?"

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

I realized with that question that she must have taken me for another noble or peer. Well, why not, it is not as if I went about with my marque showing for all to see!

"Oh, I'm an adept, the Night Court theme this year is colors, so I shall be going all in gray. Do you think this necklace will complement that color?"

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I raised one thin eyebrow, and gave the blonde woman a second look. Nodding to myself, I thought that I should have known. Her skin was creamy perfection, her face fine and unflawed. And the way she carried herself... I nodded agin, and my smile returned. "Of course you are, darling." I glanced back down at the neckleace I'd pointed out earlier, and rethought my choice.

"Grey, with your skin and hair? Ach," I made a disgusted sound in my throat.

"If you must, yes, I think that necklace would add some color." I looked at the necklaces again, "Yellow gold, not white. Maybe a pale pink stone." I looked at her again, then nodded. "Yes, a nice pink gem would be perfect." I pointed out a very nice set of matching necklace and earbobs, gold with pink topaz.

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

I chuckled at her response, "I quite agree, but unfortunately the color was chosen without my input."

"Oh, those are pretty too," I said, leaning over and tapping the case softly. Hopefully these things wouldn't be too far out of my price range. "It's a good thing you're here, this would have taken me all day on my own," I laughed softly.

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I simply raised a brow at the first part of her statement, then nodded. "Of course they are pretty. I have excellent taste." I laughed, then glanced at the salesperson, and back again. "What's your rank in your House, darling? With looks like yours, I imagine you must be near the top somewhere." Ilooked her up and down, a smile playing across my face. I knew she couldn't be a Valerian or a Mandrake. I'd never seen her in either House. "And what House do you belong to, with all your pale blonde beauty?"

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

Trust a Shahrizai to make me blush a bit! They were all so self-assured and had so much presence, I'd often found it hard to be in the same room with them. Luckily it wasn't a situation that I found myself in much.

"I am the Second of Camellia House, my lady," I answered, proud of my position and my House both.

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I smiled at her blush, then nodded. And once again, I thought that I should have known she was Camellia. Perfect skin and hair, an elegant bearing. "Well, congratulations. That's a very good thing to be, and I'm sure you must be a favorite. Camellia House is very lucky to have you."

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

"Thank you, my lady, that is a great compliment from one such as yourself." I meant it, she was lovely, with the telltale blue black locks of her kin, the blue eyes that seemed an almost unearthly shade.

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I smiled and nodded, graciously acknowledging her compliment. Glancing back down at the display case, and the jeweled set we'd both boeen so recently admiring, I thought for a moment, then looked back up, "Are you going to buy it, then? I really do think it goes quite well with your coloring."

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

"Yes, I do think I will." I made a little face and jingled my purse lightly. "It's a splurge, but midwinter comes but once a year, I think I deserve a little gift!"

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I smiled delightedly, and felt like clapping my hands to applaud her choice. "How true that is, darling. And in fact, I do believe I may buy myself a new set of finery just for that occassion." I glanced sideways at her, "You've inspired me to continue shopping, for which I am sure the shopkeeper will be most grateful." I laced the latter part of my statement with obvious meaning as I looked up at the salesperson, who nodded.

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

I moved closer to her to peek down in the case where she was standing. "What are you thinking of? Have you decided who you are going as? I admit, I'm a little envious, dressing up as a Goddess is so much more fun than simply wearing a shade you didn't even choose. As you say, gray is not my most flattering color!"

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I laughed lightly, then gave a delicate shrug, "I thought perhaps a Goddess of autumn. I'm still working on ideas."

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

"Oh that sounds lovely," I commented wistfully. "I can see it now: bright oranges and yellows, maybe some muted browns... a crown of golden leaves. I am sure you will come up with something amazing." I peered down into the case and noted a necklace of a reddish gold, with a pendant that was shaped like a green apple, made of jade, I thought. "Something like that would be lovely." I pointed out.

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I found myself imagining what she was describing, with a few differences. I nodded and smiled, then my eyes fell to the necklace she pointed out. I tipped my head this way and that, considering it.

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

I watched her contemplate my choice, and my eyes wandered across the case to a row of diamond rings so large they would have cost my entire marque and then some. Who on earth would spend so much coin on a bauble? I reminded myself that to some people coin flowed more freely, that it was not everyone who needs must pinch and save to have coin to spend.

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I thought about it for a minute, then shook my head. "I'm not sure that tint of green would go very well with all those yellows and golds. It would look nice with a black gown, though, so I may buy it for that reason alone."

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

"It would," I nodded, impressed with her fashion sense. Myself, well, let us just say that it was a good thing I dressed simply and had friends who knew enough to tell me if I did not look put together enough. It was a said trait in an adept, but there it was.

"I'm sure there must be something here that would be stunning, but perhaps you need to find your costume first?"

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I nodded, and abruptly changed my mind about buying the green apple pendant. "That's probably the best idea. I should go talk to my couturier first." I looked up at her and smiled.

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

I wondered what it would be like to have a personal couturier, rather than simply scraping together coin to buy a dress from a shop. Still, I wasn't the type to be overly concerned with material concerns, so the thought didn't stay with me for long.

I nodded, "Yes, unless you see a piece of jewelry you want to build your whole costume around, it does seem like it would be easier if you had the costume first."

[Avril Shahrizai (I)]

I smiled and nodded. Her suggestion made the most sense. I looked up at her then, and raised an eyebrow, "You have to wear grey, you say. Is there some sort of ban on colored accessories?"

[Vivienne nó Camellia]

I considered her words, tapping my forefinger against pursed lips. "I don't think so, the Dowayne didn't mention it anyhow. As long as it's complementary, I suppose it would be fine."