World War Dress Rehearsal

[14:10:51] <~Oxford> A soft, warm breeze carries the scent of fresh laundry in through the open window of the sitting room. The room has been converted, for the time being, into a fitting room, and heaps of dresses, in various states of construction or destruction, litter the chairs and sofa.
[14:13:41] <~Oxford> At the center of the room stands Lily, as still as she can manage, wearing a ridiculously over-wrought lavender monstrosity. Henriette circles in silent disapproval. Something seems wrong about this one. Something like everything.
[14:14:23] <Lily> "Am I goodgreatamazing~?"
[14:15:00] <Lily> She gives a twirl in place, along with a smile
[14:15:36] <Bridget> "Eh...Aev' saen baetter" the pink haired princess lounging, tail lightly flicking.  She's teasing, probably, a smirk on her face.
[14:16:22] <Henriette> "Ma belle, surely... another dress would suit you better?" Henriette says hesitantly. "Votre type de corps needs more simplicity, non?"
[14:16:57] <Loewin> Loewin looks on from a chair in the corner, simply nodding with Henri's statement.
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[14:20:06] <Lily> "Simplicity?  Oooooh, something closer to my natural state, then~?"  She tugs at the collar of her dress, and before any of the girls can object the dress is pulled off in one fluid motion.  One has to wonder if Lily has practiced undressing out of complicated dresses for some reason or another
[14:20:16] <Bridget> "Ae'm gonna waer pants. " She smirks.  "Ae laev paellin rank"
[14:22:14] <Henriette> Perhaps she's a practiced exhibitionist. She seems the type. I mean what? Henriette grimaces. "Well, non. What I mean is do wear something, ma belle, mais not something gaudy, s'il vous plaît?"
[14:23:20] <Lily> "Does that mean I can wear my usual sundress, then?"  She tugs at one of her brastraps, whether from nervousness or as a plot to undress even more unclear at the moment.
[14:23:42] <Loewin> "I should see no reason you can't..."
[14:27:17] <Henriette> "To un événement officiel? Mais non!" She eyes Lily carefully for a moment, eyes picking apart angles and curves and colors with expertise. "Something to flatter a trim figure, mais not homely." Brushing aside a lock of hair from her face, she sorts through the dresses on hangars nearby and selects one, a halter-top with a slanted line theme.
[14:30:45] <Lily> "Ooooh, goodie!" She lets Henriette help her put it on, smiling.  "I like these~!"
[14:31:31] <~Oxford> The dress is, of course, only part of the equation. Hair, shoes, corsage... not to mention a proper escort. Which, thus far, only half of the party has managed to secure.
[14:35:12] <Henriette> And une spécialiste de la mode like Henriette isn't going to leave those details unattended to- the accessories, anyway. The date she can do nothing about. "I think you say that just to pacify me, ma fleur," she chides.
[14:36:53] <Lily> "Nono, I like them because they're not all stuffy on the shoulders!  Your last dress made my shoulders super poofy, I don't think I could've raised my arms without putting my poofy shoulder in my face!"
[14:37:11] <Bridget> "Mmmf, dae Ae haev ta' gae?" a mmmf.
[14:38:57] <~Oxford> Across the room, she can see the dress Henriette had preemptively selected for the royal scion. Needless to say, it doesn't meet a single one of her requirements. No pants, for a start.
[14:40:12] <Bridget> The devilish girl hmphs as she gets up in a smooth motion, walking over to it and feeling it.
[14:40:16] <Henriette> But it is deserving of a person with regal bearing! The bodice is an intricate web of golden thread, specifically designed with the Albaean crest and Bridget's family coat of arms. A badge worthy of a queen, even!
[14:40:30] <Bridget> "...Ae cannae maev in this"
[14:41:33] <Henriette> "Mais the dance will be traditional! Waltz, ma belle! Waltz."
[14:44:06] <Loewin> "I hope you also designed a sheathe for her sword." Loewin chuckles at the thought of Bridget in such a dress.
[14:44:28] <Bridget> "Aye! "m bringin' 'Ma claymore!"
[14:45:02] <Henriette> The only response Henriette can give is a horrified expression of why?
[14:45:36] <Lily> "What'll you be chopping up at the prom?"  Lily asks this without a trace of sarcasm
[14:46:24] <Henriette> "Her escort, I am sure." The sarcasm is a little out of place for the normally emotive Gaulian, but she's mostly irritated her expertise is going to waste on the royalty.
[14:46:25] <~Oxford> Loewin, on the other hand, already has a dress. It was sent to her by courier in a rose-scented box, with a note inside from Arthur. The dress now hangs on a manikin next to Bridget's. The note's wherabouts are unknown to any but Loewin.
[14:48:07] * Bridget grins at Henri, bounding over and wrapping her in a hug.  It's teasing, impish, very happy.  "Dannae yer' waerrin', Ae won' break yer' dress.  's nice."
[14:49:10] <Henriette> A pat and a sigh of relief. "Thank you, ma belle. I am certain you will have many a head turning."
[14:50:49] <Lily> "So who are Bridget and I going with, anyway?  Are we going together?  Do you think we can go together, considering our reproductive systems are incompatible?"
[14:51:59] <Bridget> "...Ae caeld find oos naeblemen"
[14:52:57] <Lily> "Could you!?"  She claps her hands together
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[14:56:44] <Bridget> "Aye.  's nae waerries.  Ae'll call me' Pa."
[14:59:17] <~Oxford> It's an open question. A nobleman willing to escort the seventh-in-line to the throne of Albaea, certainly. One that still would, knowing this specific seventh-in-line's peculiar affection for swordplay? Well, they /are/ supposed to be courageous in the face of certain death, after all.
[15:01:05] <Bridget> Maybe.  But do they know she's got horns, fangs, pink hair, golden eyes, and a tail now?  Well, they did say her mother was almost a demon; it's only fair that her daughter seems to "inheret"
[15:01:21] <Henriette> It's inherit.
[15:02:29] <~Oxford> The educational system in the Albaean highlands is, incidentally, the frequent subject of ridicule among the southern academia.
[15:02:39] <Bridget> Shush!
[15:02:49] <Loewin> "I'm sure they will at the very least have an...interesting time."
[15:02:55] <Bridget> Shush your Gaulist face! :<
[15:03:38] <Henriette> It's Gaulian.
[15:04:29] <~Oxford> There is a light knock at the door, almost at the edge of hearing. After a short and embarassed silence, the knock comes again with just a touch more force.
[15:05:18] <Lily> Lily straightens out her dress a little, making sure the straps aren' crooked or anything, before walking over and opening the door.  "Yes?"
[15:07:06] <Bridget> "Aye?"
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[15:12:15] <~Oxford> On the other side of the door, a fresh-faced young man in the black duty uniform of a provost answers. "Ma'am, I've been asked to-" he begins, but stops as he sees the girl who opened the door. "Asked to ask...to tell you, that is... arrangements for your completement have been complemented." He blinks, and his clean-shaven cheeks flush red.
[15:12:27] <~Oxford> "I mean, your complement has been completed. For this weekend. The plans."
[15:12:41] <Bridget> Bridget bounds over.  "What'choo mean?"
[15:17:07] <~Oxford> He clears his throat. "Madame. The escort detail to accompany you to the formal on Saturday. We've drawn up plans that should allow us to remain unobtrusive while still responding to any likely scenario." Strangely, Bridget doesn't seem to have the same effect on the young provost.
[15:19:13] <Henriette> "It seems a shame that a young gentleman like yourself is not permitted to enjoy the evening..." Henriette adds. School dance or no, it seems cruel to her that anyone should have to watch others enjoy a formal function like taht.
[15:20:28] <Bridget> "Me?"
[15:20:35] <Bridget> "Or Lily.  Lily's tha' one tha' needs it"
[15:22:32] <Loewin> Henriette's words remind Loewin of poor Mister Fortaw, presumably stuck chaperoning while reminded of Stranahan's departure, and her smile breaks for a bit.
[15:23:13] <~Oxford> "No need to worry, ma'am. I'm happy to serve my, uh...Lily, you said?" He trails off again, mumbling, "...like the flower...," to himself.
[15:27:41] <Lily> "Yes, it is~!  Do you like flowers, sir?"
[15:31:35] <~Oxford> He blinks quickly and straightens up his posture. "Um, yes. Yes I do. Actually, I grew up around them; my parents own a flower shop, so..." He begins to trail off, and then clears his throat. "I mean, yes'm."
[15:32:04] <Bridget> "Aye, she's raelly praetty"
[15:34:02] <Henriette> Henriette smiles slyly to Loewin, but the notice of her discomfort slides the it off her own face. "What is the matter, ma belle?"
[15:34:22] <Lily> "Are you part of that complement, sir?  Do you think you could..." She winks. "Serve in a somewhat different manner?"
[15:37:07] <Loewin> "Hm? Oh..I'm sorry, I did not mean to dampen any spirits. Your designs are quite pretty." Top-tier question evasion.
[15:39:02] <Henriette> "Ma belle, somehow I do not think that is what I asked. You have a gown of your own, after all. It becomes you, I think, mais what is troubling you?"
[15:39:51] <~Oxford> The young provost tilts his head in confusion for a moment before his eyes open wide and his ears turn a deep red. "I'd lov- I mean, be deligh- that is, I shall serve in whatever way is required of me." He gulps, and his Adam's apple bobs up and down. "That is, by my commander. Um. Good day, ma'am." Almost instantly, he disappears down the hallway, not even pausing to close the door properly.
[15:40:53] <Lily> Her perfectly long (did they grow?) eyelashes flutter as she blinks, but then she nods and leans out into the hallway, yelling "Be sure your suit matches my dress~!" as the young man runs.
[15:42:31] <Loewin> Sigh. "It is...Fortaw was...smitten with Stranahan. Thus I am afraid the dance will be nothing but misery for him, especially with us attending as reminders."
[15:45:06] <Henriette> "Mais..." She fiddles with the hem of her skirt. Pragmatism be damned. "Could we not let her know he would like to see her? She must be able to visit not in une capacité militaire, non?"
[15:45:42] <Lily> She closes the door and walks back into the room, smiling.  "Well, now I have a date~!"  Then frowns at the current conversation.  "Mr. Fortaw and the Major?  Oooooh~!"
[15:47:40] <Loewin> "That...could work...I suppose." She taps her chin as she considers it. "At the very least, it couldn't hurt. Though I believe we'll have to go through Vaughn to contact her?"
[15:47:54] <Henriette> "Or perhaps Elsa?"
[15:48:26] <Henriette> "Mais the Colonel seems as though he would be receptive now..."
[15:56:27] <~Oxford> Indeed, Vaugn has been practically bending over backward to see that the girls are getting what they want. He's even started making breakfast in the mornings, beyond his usual toast.
[15:59:49] <Loewin> "Very well..." Loewin rises from the chair. "I shall go ask him!" She walks to the door, checking back to make sure Lily is properly clothed, before slipping out to hunt a Colonel.
[16:01:12] <Henriette> Likewise, Henriette has been spending much more time helping Vaughn out with his automotive work- among other things- and diligently maintaining a more militaristic neatness in her room. It's the least she can do to show appreciation, she feels.
[16:03:24] <Lily> Lily's still wearing the halter-dress that Henri gave her.
[16:07:42] <~Oxford> Loewin finds Col. Vaughn in the conservatory, hunched over an ironing board and electric iron. A heap of laundry is in the basket next to him, with a few neat stacks of folded clothes on the other side.
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[16:09:00] <Loewin> "Sir!" She salutes and waits patiently to be addressed.
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[16:10:14] <~Oxford> "Loewin," he replies, smiling and looking up from his work. "Mind helping me with this? You fold, and I'll iron."
[16:12:35] <Loewin> A nod as she begins systematically folding clothes. "Sir, I wished to know if you might help us in getting Major Stranahan to attend the party."
[16:16:23] <Henriette> "Lily, come over here. I think I have a pair of silk gloves you could wear as well. A soft leather would be more flattering, but you might object, non?" Henriette says, still sorting through drawers for accessories.
[16:17:41] <~Oxford> "Maj. Stranahan?" The Colonel's bushy mustache sweeps from side to side as he considers it. "I believe she's a captain, now, but I think she's assigned at HQ. Is there a particular reason you'd like her here?" He frowns. "I know you had a good rapport with her, but it might raise...difficulties."
[16:18:27] <Lily> "Soft Leather?  You mean from cows?  Eeeeeh, I don't mind, actually!"  She jumps up.  "If people are going to use cows for food, they might as well not waste the rest of the body!"
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[16:22:50] <BigTentacruel> "Oh? I had assumed you would oppose harming animals at all. My mistake, ma fleur. I have these white calf leather gloves that would suit that dress well!"
[16:23:51] <Lily> "
[16:24:23] <Lily> "Humans are animals, animals need to eat other animals to survive!  or I should say 'living things', as that would include plants and fungi!"
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[16:26:32] <BigTentacruel> "You are right, of course. My apologies, Lily," she says, handing the gloves to the girl, the cream color matching the dress.
[16:26:48] <Lily> She inspects the leather gloves, nodding, then puts them on, testing moving her fingers.
[16:28:53] <Lily> "Not bad at all~!"
[16:29:50] <Loewin> "Well sir, it's uh...it's just for our teacher, Mister Fortaw. He was enamored of her. There isn't really a...GOOD reason other than that."
[16:30:06] <BigTentacruel> "Oui! And with your coiffure curled up about your head, you will be sure to have that poor officer stammering, won't you? He seemed quite taken with you!"
[16:31:31] <Lily> She tilts her head.  "Coiffure?  Um...that's my hair, right?"
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[16:31:49] <Henriette> "Oui, your hair."
[16:32:10] <Lily> She bites her thumb.  "My hair..."
[16:35:32] <Henriette> "Is something the matter, ma belle?" Henriette's own long locks are curled up in a Gaulian braided style, tied very close to the scalp. It's meticulous and practiced for sure.
[16:35:53] <~Oxford> The Colonel frowns, but doesn't stop ironing. One by one, the wrinkles in the uniform disappear under his firm, even strokes. "I see," he says, thoughtful. "While I don't think there's much hope of getting her back here in a military fashion, there's no reason why she couldn't come down on leave. I can contact her for you, if you like."
[16:36:37] <Lily> "C-can't I keep my hair the same as usual?  M-maybe use a hairband to keep it back..."
[16:36:57] <Loewin> "That would be great! Thank you!...uh..thank you, sir...I mean." She continues folding, a grin on her face.
[16:38:12] <Henriette> "Mais it is the style to have your coiffure up! You would be like... like the fae people! Delicate yet graceful and dangerous all at once!" As she speaks, she sweeps across the floor, skirt twirling about her hips.
[16:38:41] <Lily> "Y-yeah, maybe..."
[16:42:26] <~Oxford> Vaughn keeps ironing as well. The clothes feel warm and fresh in Loewin's hands, as if they've soaked in the clean light of the spring day and are radiating it back to her.
[16:47:00] <~Oxford> After a moment, he speaks, without looking up. "What was it, exactly, that made you get along so well? If you don't mind my asking, of course."
[16:49:06] <Loewin> "With Maj- er...Captain Stranahan? I suppose it was...the support? I believe we all expected the kind of superior that would scream till he was red in the face and required everything to be perfect, but instead we had...well she was kind of like a mother."
[16:54:37] <~Oxford> "A mother," he says, smiling. "I'm not sure. My mother was quite the stickler herself. But I suppose there's all types." Vaughn finishes the dress slacks he was working on and passes them to Loewin to fold. "Did you get on well with your parents?"
[16:58:29] <Loewin> The slacks slip from her hands as he asks the question. "My parents..." She quickly retrieves and folds them, a mite slower than normal. "I didn't know my mother. My father was...is great. He is supportive, I suppose, but...a little distant..."
[17:02:42] <~Oxford> The officer frowns sharply, angry at himself. "My apologies; I wasn't thinking. Your father's condition - is he improving? I only saw the newspaper article."
[17:03:17] <Loewin> She shakes her head.
[17:10:51] <~Oxford> Still frowning, Vaughn looks up from the socks he's ironing and turns toward Loewin. He sets a hand gently on her shoulder and gives it a firm squeeze before letting go. "I'm terribly sorry. If there's anything I can do, I'm at your disposal. You're going to get through this."
[17:13:06] <Loewin> Her body tenses up at the touch of his hand. "Of course, sir. If there is nothing else then?" She turns to leave, averting her gaze.
[17:14:46] <~Oxford> "No, I can finish up myself," he says quickly. He puts his hand in his pants-pocket, certain he's overstepped. "I'll try to call Stranahan later today."
[17:15:42] <Loewin> "Thank you, sir." Loewin returns to the other girls, wiping at her face as she walks.
[17:20:31] <~Oxford> She returns to find Henriette and Lily in the midst of experimenting with different hairstyles. Half of Lily's head is covered in curlers, while the other is piled in an elaborate bun.
[17:22:51] <Henriette> "He won't be able to take his eyes off you," Henriette is in the midst of saying as she enters. She prods a curler gently, gauging the stiffness of the hair. "A little longer, I think?"
[17:24:17] <Loewin> Loewin raises an eyebrow. Her own hair, growing abnormally quick, is quite in need of a trimming, but this... "A bun AND curls...a bold choice."
[17:24:56] <Henriette> "It is efficient to see both at once!"
[17:25:57] <Lily> Lily is grimacing, but not saying anything.
[18:15:37] <~Oxford> Managing a smile, Loewin steps into the room and closes the door. Soon after, the sound of a spirited three-way conversation on hairstyles, boys, and the various merits of each is seeping out into the hallway. For just a few moments, if one could look past the patrolling provosts and the uniforms flapping on the clothesline, they could almost be mistaken for ordinary girls.
[18:15:43] <~Oxford> /session