Shopping- Leon & Fion/OPEN

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

Earlier that morning we had stopped by Joie and sir Quinn's townhome to pick up the rest of my things and share the wonderful news that Leon was courting me and, as I had expected, Joie was... well, overjoyed. I smiled at the memory. Sir Quinn had been very nice too, congratulating me by kissing my cheeks and shaking Leon's hand. I'd hugged Joie tightly, a few tears making their way down my cheeks; she was the only family I had, and she meant so much to me. After promising her I'd visit, we were off to go to the shops to commission new dresses for me.

I smiled at Leon as we walked along the sidewalk in front of the shops. I had never seen anything so beautiful; it was much prettier and tidier than where I usually went to explore, which was Night's Doorstep. But now, walking along with my arm threaded through his, I felt a bit like I belonged.

"Thank you again," I said quietly as we walked. I felt so happy, as if I were floating on a cloud. This man wanted me, was courting me. We were together.

He led the way, I didn't know where we were or where anything was. I was too busy looking around, trying not to let my awe show through.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

Joie and Quinn's reaction to our news had been very reassuring. Any doubts I might have had concerning the choice I'd made dissolved in their seemingly genuine happiness for us. So it was with a light heart that I took Fion out to buy some new dresses, both for regular wear, as well as for more formal occasions.

Leading her down the street, we were heading to the shop of a clothier that had been suggested to me. "For what, my love?" I asked her when she thanked me, not knowing what in particular she was referring to. Whatever it was, she was most certainly welcome for it, in my eyes, but I was curious what had occasioned the words.

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

"Oh... For wanting me. For wanting to court me, to tie yourself to me this way. I..." Nervously, I glanced up at him, hoping he'd understand what I meant. "For loving me, really. I'm so glad I'm the woman that gets to be with you."

I was sure I sounded ridiculous, but I couldn't help it. I felt the need to thank him and anybody else necessary for the wonderful life I was leading. It was certainly a far cry from where I was last year at this time. I was grateful for whatever gods and goddesses had brought me to this point, and I meant to cherish every moment with Leon.

"So," I said happily as we strolled, "Where are we going first? I've never seen such beautiful shops, I can't imagine what must be in them!"

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

"Love, you are more than welcome. Elua, but you are welcome," I told her, smiling tenderly into her eyes, "I am grateful, myself, to have found you, and think I am very lucky to have you with me." It did feel wonderful, knowing that we were working toward a life together.

As we glanced around at the shops we were passing, I heard her question and told her, "We can explore a bit before we go home. I have made an appointment with a clothier, though, so we should probably head there first."

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I smiled adoringly up at him as he spoke of his feelings for me. I could so easily spend the rest of my life with him, and I would be happy and contented for the rest of my days. As we walked along, I moved closer to him to rest my head on his shoulder for just a moment.

Leon led me to an ornate door that I deduced must be the clothier's shop. As we stepped in, I gasped softly. I was overwhelmed at the level of opulent beauty in the shop and I scooted nervously closer to Leon. "Promise me you won't leave my side, even through the measurement-taking... This overwhelms me. I've never been in a shop like this, and the clothier may not understand me. Promise?" I looked up at him, trying not to panic as I moved so close to him I was halfway behind him. I didn't know why I was so frantic. Perhaps it was that this was the first time I was officially out with Leon as the woman he was courting and I simply wanted to make a good impression.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

When she began to cling to me so tightly, I could sense her nervousness, and I nodded at her request for me to not leave her side. "I promise, my love, I will not leave you alone. But you need not worry. They are trying to sell to us, after all; they will not want to offend."

Just as I finished speaking to her, the proprietor of the shop came out, a woman in her middle years, and curtsied to us before introducing herself, "I am Madamoiselle Durant, and this is my shop, my lord, my lady. How may I be of service?"

I inclined my head toward her slightly before answering her, giving Fion's hand a gentle squeeze as I did, "We are looking to commission dresses for my lady here. Several for daily wear, and a few formal ones, to begin."

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I sighed in relief at Leon's reassurance, some of my nervousness fading. As the proprietor came out from the back room, I stepped out from behind Leon to make my presence known and squeezed his hand in return, so grateful for his assistance. He spoke for me, much to my continued relief.

I curtsied as he spoke of me, smiling shyly at Madamoiselle Durant. She looked quite pleasant, smiling back at me as she looked me over. "I would be happy to be of service," she said kindly. Perhaps she could sense my nervous state. She glanced at Leon and offered, "Won't you please come into my workshop so that I may take your measurements?"

I nodded and walked forward and pulled him with me. She turned and stopped, eyeing him and then me. "Would you like him to wait out here, dear?" She asked quietly. I shook my head in the negative. "No madam," I said in the clearest d'Angeline I could manage. "I would prefer him with, please." The woman nodded and simply led the way to her workshop, where there was an open space. She kindly instructed me to stand in the middle and, with a warm smile, said, "Strip."

I nodded, at ease with it. I had been measured before, the day I met Leon, and I didn't mind since it was only another female and my beloved. I took my dress off and laid it over a nearby chair and stood, my shoulders back, waiting for her to finish the measurements. It was warm in the room and so I was comfortable in nothing. I imagined it must be that way in all clothier's workrooms.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

I followed the two women into the room where the measurements would be taken, standing aside when Fion was asked to strip. She may have had no trouble with being nude before the clothier, but seeing her naked with anyone else around caused my cheeks to color faintly. Still, I smiled at my beloved softly, reassuringly.

The woman went about her work efficiently and diligently, and it was not long before she had the measurements she needed. "You can get dressed again, if you like. Now, have you given any thought to colors or fabrics, my lady?" madamoiselle Durant asked Fion then as she rose to her feet again. For my part, I waited to see if my love would need assistance in answering the woman.

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I thought for a moment as I slipped my dress back on and, buttoning it quickly, shook my head. "No, madam," I said clearly once more, hoping she would understand me. "I hadn't thought about it. Have you any suggestions?" I asked her, glancing at Leon to simply see his face for reassurance.

The woman nodded-- she must have at least mostly understood me-- and motioned us over to the high table she used for her workstation, and pointed to a few different sketches. "All right then my dear, how about this and this for formal gowns, and what is your preference for day dresses, dear?" she asked me kindly.

I raised my eyebrows. "Well," I said thinking once more, "I like the lower-cut styles and I don't like things impeding my arms and sitting on my chest, so the thinner the straps the better," I told her. "As for colors, well," I looked at Leon and then back to the clothier with a smile. "You two can decide those; I have no preference. Whatever isn't unflattering, I suppose."

I was simply relieved that I could carry on a conversation with someone without Leon having to act as my translator.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

I followed as well, and looked at the sketches the clothier pointed out, liking them, though I looked back and forth between them and Fion a few times, trying to picture the designs on her. I remained quiet, however, until talk turned to colors, and my beloved left the answers to myself and Madamoiselle Durant.

"Well, I think she looks good in...earthier tones?" I said, unsure of the exact term, before I clarified, "Browns, reds, darker greens. That sort of thing." It had to have been clear that this was my first try at dress shopping.

Madamoiselle Durant, bless Elua for her, just smiled and nodded, and then said, "Yes, I understand. Something that compliments her lovely hair and those eyes. If that sounds good to you as well, my lady, I will be happy to get started at once."

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I watched as Leon glanced at the sketches, and then at me, and then back at the sketches. Grinning, I shook my head. He was adorable, the way he acted sometimes. I wasn't sure how I'd look in the gowns, but they were beautiful and I knew how I'd feel in them; like a princess.

As Leon told Mademoiselle Durant his preferences for colors, I stored it away in my mind for if I ever had to commission a dress on my own. I didn't really ever have color preferences, and so I was glad to learn of his for me.

"Yes Mademoiselle, that sounds wonderful, thank you," I said with a curtsy. I stepped closer to Leon and slid my hand into his once more, happy to be next to him once more.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

The proprietress of the shop curtsied back to Fion, then gave the price for the dresses, seven of them in total. I nodded at the price, and counted out one quarter of it for her, as I'd been told that was what the deposit would be, with the rest to be given upon delivery of the dresses. After telling her where to deliver them to, Fion and I were able to take our leave.

Once outside, I gave her hand a squeeze and leaned in close to ask her, "Now, was that so bad, my love?" Smiling into her eyes a moment, I turned my attention to the path in front of us so that we could walk down the street safely.

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I laughed and shook my head. "No, I suppose it wasn't," I allowed teasingly as I squeezed his hand affectionately in return. I was still a bit dazed at the number of dresses and what it had cost. I didn't think I'd ever had that much money on my person, other than fleeing Skaldia, and funds dwindled quickly. I had barely any of that left.

"Leon, I'll find some way to repay you for the dresses," I said, glancing up at him as he kept his eyes on the path ahead of us lest we bump into someone. It wasn't that I minded that he'd paid for them; I didn't want him to think that I was simply going to use him for his money, like so many other women were prone to do. "I'm sure I can find a job," I continued. "I know a lot about horses, so a stable would be ideal...." I trailed off, losing myself in my thoughts.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

At her talk of paying me back, I frowned slightly, and stopped so that I could turn to face her more fully, taking her other hand into mine as well. "Fion, I don't want you to pay me back for the dresses any more than I want you to for the ring. I'm courting you, and because of my title, that means that I will want you to come with me to places where such clothing will be necessary," I explained to her in soft tones, so that passersby could not hear so easily, "It wouldn't be right of me to expect you to pay for them. So please consider them a gift, and one I am happy to give you, because I am."

I was not even going to get into the fact that, if we did end up marrying, that she would be entitled to such dresses, and whatever other comforts she could think of. I knew that such things were not really important to her, and that she loved me for who I was, rather than what.

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I blinked up at him as he spoke, and realized that he never thought I wanted him for anything other than him. Blushing lightly, I nodded. "Then thank you, Leon. The dresses and gowns are lovely, and I very much appreciate them. I'm just..." Shaking my head, I put my thoughts in order. "I'm so used to working for everything. I'm going to feel like I'm... simply with you for your money. At least for awhile, until I become accustomed to it," I explained. "I don't ever want you to think that I am going to waste your money on frivolous nothings that I- or we- don't really need."

Frowning, I tried to think of another way to explain it but, of course, the words in d'Angeline eluded me. "Leon, you really are going to have to teach me more of this language," I mumbled, frustrated at my lack of communication skills. I knew I could switch to Cruithne any time I wanted and Leon would be more than happy to speak that with me, but that wouldn't help me when we went to a formal dinner or fete and no one spoke Cruithne but us.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

"I know you would not waste money, your own or mine. I'm probably far more likely to do so, myself," I told her with a soft chuckle, "But as to me teaching you more d'Angeline, we can work on it whenever you like. That goes for reading as well." We'd worked on it a bit, but I had not pressed her on it, figuring she would come to it in her own time, and in the meantime we could communicate well enough in Cruithne.

Leaning in, I pressed a light, brief kiss to her lips, something I still felt slightly awkward doing in public, but to comfort her, I was more than willing to endure it. Once our lips parted, I released one hand, and set off down the street, telling her, "If anything catches your eye, love, just let me know."

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I smiled tenderly up at him after he kissed me, adoring the affection. I knew he would probably feel a bit strange doing it, and so I appreciated the gesture. Sooner or later he would be used to it, I was sure. This was all rather new to him as well as me.

Laughing at his words, I shook my head. "After how I just said I'd feel bad spending your money, you tell me to point out anything I like?" I teased him lightly, nudging him as we walked. "How about, if anything catches your eye that you think I may like, you let me know? Honestly, many things catch my eye but I wouldn't know what to do with any of them, I'm sure," I joked. I wondered what he would choose for me if he saw anything. I thought perhaps it might be a nice way to see how he viewed my tastes.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

Chuckling softly at her joking, I responded a bit playfully myself, "Well, if you don't know what to do with it, you could ask. I might have some idea." It was a lovely spring day out, and it felt nice to be out of the house, with her at my side. As we passed various booths and shops, I glanced around, looking for things that either I thought interesting myself, or that I thought she might find so.

Eventually, we passed a booth where they sold leather thongs, similar to the ones that I had seen Fion use for tying up her hair. Similar, but these had pretty stone beads on them, polished to a shine. Slowing down, I began to lead her over to the booth, and as we got closer, I realized that some of the beads were of precious stones; no diamonds or the like, but I saw jet and opal, among others. When we were close enough that she could tell where we were heading, I looked to her, to see what she thought.

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I giggled myself, happy to simply be near my beloved. He was opening up more to me and the teasing was a sign that he was comfortable with me. It made me happy to hear it, to know he was comfortable. I knew once more that I had chosen aright when we'd met that first day. He was perfect for me.

We walked through the market, simply enjoying the beautiful weather and each others' company, and it wasn't long before Leon stopped in front of a booth with strips of leather thongs that had what looked to be beads of some sort on them. Looking closer, my eyes widened and I blinked. They weren't beads at all, but precious stones! "Leon," I murmured in Cruithne, not wanting to offend the proprietor of the stand, "Why would a woman put precious stones in her hair? Wouldn't one rather have them on a ring? Aren't women afraid to lose them?" I figured they must be anchored on quite well, but thread broke, and sometimes the strips of leather were lost, as they were usually thin, although long. "If I had one with something so precious on it, I'd be afraid of losing it!" I said, an incredulous smile on my face.

They were quite beautiful though, really, and I was particularly drawn to one with red stones, the color of Leon's hair. I didn't know what always drew me about the color red, but I had always thought it the prettiest of all. I supposed it was my favorite.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

"Well, I imagine these are not for everyday wear, love. Probably only for special occasions or something like that," I suggested as we drew closer, smiling as I watched her take in the sight of all the leather strands. When I saw her eyes settle on one strung with beads of sponge coral, I could not help that my smile widened. I also made note of a missive I would write later, when we got back home.

"But I've seen women adorn themselves in various ways with jewelry. In their hair, on their toes, around their waists. If you'd like one, it would probably be perfect for a fete," I offered, knowing that when it came to such events, clothing alone was often not enough for a woman. I'd certainly heard my mother bemoan that enough since I was a child.

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I blinked. "Oh, that's probably true. Good point, love." I bit my bottom lip, glancing up at him. "I... I rather like that one there, with the red stones," I said softly, gesturing to it. "It reminds me of your hair, which I seem to have some sort of addiction to, I think." I laughed softly. "But I don't know that I would only be able to wear it to fetes; it's simply too beautiful to not use. Do you think, if I were ever to get one, that I could wear it more often than that? Or is that not proper?" I asked him. I had no idea what was tolerable and what was frowned upon in the upper echelon of society.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

I chuckled softly when she mentioned having some sort of addiction to my hair. She did seem to love playing with it, but I adored the way it felt when she did. "Well," I told her, smiling softly over at her, "I've seen some noblewomen walk around wearing plenty of jewelry, even every day. And, well, if things continue the way they are...you are going to be a Comtess." I was fairly certain she was already considered noble through her relation to Joie; that was something we would need to inquire about eventually. That aside, it was the first time I had so directly addressed what it meant that we were courting, and I could not help the color that rose to my cheeks.

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I blinked hard a few times as what he was saying sunk in. "Me? A Comtesse? Oh, gods and goddesses above, you're a Comte; I'd completely forgotten. That means I would be titled too, if I... If we get... married," I murmured, in a bit of shock. I supposed I had always known that that would be the result, but I'd never really thought on it at all. I was simply happy to bask in our shared love and live every day out in the happiness that was always abound, especially when was near.

"Well," I said, composing myself, "I can honestly say that I would love nothing more than to be your Comtesse, Leon." I smiled up at him, love in my eyes as I gazed into his sapphire ones. "You know however you'd prefer to have me outfitted, as long as it's not too over-the-top, I'm happy to adorn myself thusly."

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

"Well, I can't imagine anyone else I would rather have as my Comtess, love," I responded, smiling tenderly down into her emerald eyes as I spoke, "And since we are courting, some will begin treating you as if you already are. But I want you to have some say in how you are adorned...you are so beautiful, and the way you are dressed, the jewelry you wear should be an extension of that beauty."

After a moment, I turned my attention from her, and picked up the strand she had been looking at, telling the merchant, "Excuse me, messiere, but I would like to purchase these. How much are they?" As expected, he gave me an offer quite a bit higher than what they were worth, and I shook my head. Traveling merchants, the ones who typically set up such booths, were infamous for gouging their prices, particularly when nobles were trying to buy from them.

"Come now, the stones are not worth half that," I responded, "Its sponge coral, not ruby, after all." I didn't want the man thinking he was dealing with a fool, after all, nor was I completely ignorant of the value of money. After a few exchanges, I had him down to what was almost a reasonable price, and then gave in, paying him for the beaded leather thong and handing it to Fion.

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I blushed as he told me I was beautiful, the tone in his voice making my heart leap. It leaped further as he picked up the strip of leather with the red stones on it and, in his lilted d'Angeline, he asked the price of it. Even I raised my brows as the outrageous price the man announced. I expected Leon to put them back but he surprised me by arguing it. He wasn't rude or loud, but he was firm and serious, and the look on his face suggested that, although he may have quite a bit of money, he wasn't ignorant of the value of it, nor would he pay more for it than was necessary. For some strange reason, the sight of him being willing to argue with the merchant over something as simple as a strand of coral-beaded leather thong was rather arousing to me. Seeing him assert himself thusly... It must be something to do with the Showing we'd seen awhile ago. For some reason, seeing his dominant side outside of our bedroom just did that to me.

I smiled up at him tenderly as he handed me the strand of beaded leather, proud of him in that moment. "Thank you," I said softly in Cruithne, honored that he'd argued over the strip just for me. I swept the top part of my hair back and tied the thong around it so that the top half of my hair was held back but the bottom half hung free.

"What do you think, love?" I asked him. "Does it suit?"

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

As I handed her the beaded thong, I noticed the way that Fion was watching me. It was a look I was used to only seeing when we were alone in the bedroom, and how I kept from blushing, I was not sure at all. "You are very welcome, love," I whispered back in Cruithne, then watched as she pulled half of her hair up into it, leaving the lower half loose about her shoulders.

The red coral beads stood out against her brown tresses, calling attention to the long strands of silken, shining hair. "Yes, it definitely suits, Fion," I responded, my sapphire eyes drawn to the movements of that dark curtain that fell behind her so appealingly.

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

I blushed and smiled shyly up at him. "That was quite impressive, how you haggled with that merchant," I said quietly, still speaking Cruithne so that my next words wouldn't be understood by the general public. "It's arousing, I've just found, to watch you assert yourself in other places than our bedroom." I blushed slightly, wondering what he would think.

We walked along several more stalls until I noticed a stand full of what looked to be glass of different colors, lined with wrought iron and in different shapes. There were dozens of them, animals and celestial shapes and even scenes of places and houses. "Leon, look; aren't those beautiful?" I asked as I went over to the stand. Laughing, I pointed delightedly at one of the shapes. "Love, look at that!" I exclaimed with mirth. It was so perfect and so beautifully wrought, I could not believe it.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

Knowing that it had not just been my imagination, that she had been looking at me that way, caused me to blush, but also sent a surge through my loins that I knew I would have to wait to satisfy. "Thank you," was all I could say in response before we continued on.

When the booth with the stained glass pieces caught her eye, I happily followed along, and looked through them with her. It was delicate work, especially such small pieces. When a particular one came to her attention, I looked at it, and could not help but grin. A harp, with a shamrock; the instrument I played, and a commonly recognized symbol of her land.

Gingerly, I picked it up, and asked the merchant how much it was. Thankfully, this time, it was only slightly overpriced, as I didn't wish to haggle over something so perfectly suited for us. Gladly, I paid the price outright, and then told her, "I think it will look good hanging in the parlor, somewhere near my harp, don't you?"

[Fionnula mab Bevin]

My eyes sparkled as he spoke, and I nodded in full agreement. "I believe that window behind the harp is calling for a decoration such as this, I said happily, unable to curb my utter enthusiasm for how we'd agreed on the simplest of things.

"What will you now, love? Are you hungry?" I asked him in earnest. I found myself a bit famished suddenly, and feeling slightly dizzy for some reason.

[Leon Charles d'Essoms]

Nodding at her question, I realized that, in our rush to get to Joie and Quinn that morning, we'd neglected breakfast. "Yes, I am rather hungry, now that you mention it," I responded, then glanced around the marketplace, looking for someone who was selling food. There were any number of vendors, but the one that caught my attention was one selling hot meat pies. In Night's Doorstep, I might have been worried about what sort of meat, but here it was likely beef or lamb.

I led her over toward the man, and paid him for two of the pies, handing one to her, then found a nearby bench where we could sit and eat. Just as we were sitting, my stomach rumbled rather loudly, and I grinned at her.