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Pre-Ball Shenanigans with the Treyburns!

Started by Ivory, October 29, 2013, 03:41:43 PM

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Ivory

This outfit was positively stifling!  Cherie gave an unhappy tug at the material, earning a swat from the maid trying to put the ensemble together.  The poor woman had been unfailingly patient, but it was only Dahlia's supervision and direction that kept Cherie from wandering away to do something more interesting than getting dressed for a ball she had no interest in attending.

Old habits died hard, after all, and with so many people quietly supporting her interest in things better left to men, it's little wonder she hadn't grown out of them!

At last, however, and with a final pin, the outfit was in place.  Cherie had become a butterfly (also something she did not care for) with lovely, bespeckled wings that almost glowed with a life of their own upon her back.  The colorful ensemble, primarily whites and reds, seemed to swirl about her person, emphasizing, fashionably, that she was indeed a young woman...

So much so, in fact, that had Redly not been lounging near the foot of the stairs when she made her appearance, he might not have recognized the girl!  She was usually so...anti-feminine and dirty that it was a surprise to see her, for once in her life, looking like a woman.

"Dahlia, I think you've outdone yourself," he complimented with a broad grin, even as he set aside his drink to clap.

"How long do we have to stay there?" Cherie chorused in a near-whine, already planning her escape, clearly.

Brisinger987

"As long as the damned politicians want us there. If Braxton has his way, that is, with our dear Mother telling him when and how to breath, assuming it suits her for him to do that..." Janette leaned against the doorframe, smiling at Cherie, the only sibling Janette actually cared for.

Janette had chosen a rather expensive dress which had seemingly come at a low cost.

Of nothing.

In truth, she had stolen the money from many a fellow noblewoman's purse, and piled it all up to pay for the gorgeous dress, which she intended to keep.

The dress itself was dark grey, with blue trim, and a necklace (also stolen) of pearls and a sapphire.

"And you look beautiful by the way Cherie..." She conceded a compliment to Cherie, and smiled sweetly. Janette turned to Redly, and grinned.

"Look, it's the ghost! Quick, everyone act like he's not there."

zozee9

Illi ran out into the main hall, her hair flying behind her and her dress all messed up. Quickly turning around, she stopped and shouted, "I'm not letting you change me! Goodness, why did Ma said a BUTLER to change me?! A BUTLER?! That is insane!" With a deep breath, Illi turned back towards the direction she had been running in. But then her eyes passed by her little sister.

Running straight up to her and giving her a giant hug, she exclaimed, "Cherie! What a beautiful thing you have blossomed into! You know, it's always good to dress up like this every once in a while... and you had the sweet Dahlia to change you. Ah! She must be done then! Maybe I can have her help me, instead of this man!" She smiled wholeheartedly before hearing the steps of the butler, Eric, who had finally caught up to her. With a frown, Illi quickly added in, "And I like your dress, Janette! Nice pearls!"

The butler who was now right in front of Illi was a dashing fellow, in a nice suit and neatly combed hair. But she would have none of it. She wouldn't be changed or seen without even her top clothing by anyone other than her true love. Eric raised his hand as if to grab her, but she instead snatched the big gold poof of a dress out of his hands and ran up the stairs. The butler then shrugged, sighed, and walked away in hopelessness.

Illi entered Cherie's room with a wide grin on her face. Dahlia hardly seemed phased by the sudden entrance, which was probably due to how loud Illi had been downstairs. With a sigh of her own, Dahlia motioned for her to stand in front of her. Illi happily complied and handed her sister the dress.

Dahlia had never seen the thing—for it had just finished being custom made that day. But she managed to redress Illi in a matter of minutes. Dahlia sat her down and put her hair in a gorgeous braided bun. Normally Illi would have asked about the kids and how she had been doing, but she was way too excited about the party. So instead she asked Dahlia about her own costume, and whether or not she thought that Illi would finally find the man of her dreams. And, of course, they talked about books.

Dahlia placed a big gold crown atop Illi's hair and brushed on some light make-up while responding to Illi's small talk. After putting on her intricate, gold, lace mask, Illi stood up, gave Dahlia a big hug, and thanked her. Then she turned and headed back downstairs. This time she was a lot more peaceful and graceful. Her big gold dress fit her slim figure perfectly, and made her look like royalty... which she was. Even the person she was dressing up as was royalty. A figure unlike any other, Illi was dressed as the first true queen of Connloath. She was renowned not only for her beauty, but also for her revolutionary quests for land and knowledge. She was considered to be one of the most important figures in Connloath history. But if someone asked, she would probably just say that she was dressed as a queen. Just a simple queen.

Her family, of course, had heard all of Illi's ranting about the queen she was. The looks on their faces as she climbed down the steps, however, made it clear that they hadn't expected Illi to look quite as elegant as she had. Which was a surprise to her, considering that she knew she was one of the Treyburn girls who was most likely to overdress on an event like this.

Once she had finally reached the bottom, Illi gave Cherie another hug and exclaimed, "Now we're beautiful together!" Then she hugged Janette and Redly, mostly out of custom.
Characters: Alycia | Sky | Kayala | Elaina | Alexandra | Piper | Gage AND Heather | Zeina | Elizabeth | Mera | Darya | Fiara | Tanya | Meki | Vivian | Lali | Nyimi | Jillian | Cedric | Jana | Duncan | Zara | Marie | Rora | Koraq | Xiana | Sevda | Nava | Na'il | Bambina | Micheovi | Nitya

Art Thread: Here! | deviantArt Profile: Here <3

If I owe you a post (which I probably do), sorry... I'll get you one as soon as I can! <3 Message me if you're in a rush or want one.

Brisinger987

"I would have let the guy undress and redress me personally..." Janette mumbled to herself as she stood upright, watching the butler leave, and smiling.

When Illi hugged her, Janette actually felt like wrecking her dress. It was sickeningly elegant, with no attack to it. Just some self contained sense of royalty. It was disgusting, and vile, and had no place near a girl like Janette. A hardened, street wise girl like Janette.

It was odd of her to think that she was street wise, considering that she came from nobility, and her family hadn't disowned her yet. In fact her whole predicament was rather odd. She didn't want to have money that was hers. She wanted to take other people's money and spend it for them. She wanted to live as a challenge to survive and to thrive.

Not to be scooped up every so often with her sisters and sent to some masquerade ball. It irritated her so much that her mother seemed to invite them all to events that they shouldn't go to.

Rather, she shouldn't go to.

Too many rich, hot, young noblemen to bed, and not enough time. That was her opinion.

"So is Ma coming, or can I misbehave?"

kleineklementine

((Har har, Dahlia did so many things before I even read all of this thread! :P))

Dahlia barely had the time to mouth a 'thank you' to Redly before she was whisked away again by Jillian. It had been at least a year since she'd seen her family, and Dahlia found them easier to deal with if she kept herself occupied. She had to admit to herself, though, that it was amazing to see the girls transform into women. Jillian had only been nine when Dahlia had married and left home, but Cherie had still been a baby! Had this not been Cherie's entrance into society, Dahlia wasn't sure if she would have come at all. But her mother-in-law and children ganged up on her; it was time for Dahlia to actually go out and live again.


She'd been in the kitchen when the last shoe dropped, baking a cake for no reason in particular other than that the act calmed her. Like always, she and everything else was covered in flour when Riley, her youngest son entered and asked if she was going to go to the masked ball the Grand Duke was holding.

"I dont't know. Your grandmother thinks I should," Dahlia had answered, putting down the bowl and spatula and turning to face her son. She raised an eyebrow at him, "What do you think?"

Riley considered for half a second, then nodded. "I think so, too." He looked meaningfully at her flour-covered countenance and barely kept a smirk from his face when he added, "You need to get out more, Mom."

A flour battle followed his smart remark, rendering them both white as ghosts. When a truce was finally called, Riley said something more that almost broke Dahlia's heart. "But Grandma says that a lady should never go to a ball unescorted by a gentleman," he began, feigning pomp, but clearly uncertain. "And now that... I thought I could take you."

Dahlia had still been shaking off laughter from the flour fight, but her son's offer stopped her short. She wanted to either burst into tears or scoop up the boy into a bear hug. But she didn't let her children see her upset, and Riley was just entering that age where being scooped up in hugs risked embarrassment. She'd cried about it later to Helen - about the sweetness of the gesture, how proud Kerry would have been, how much she didn't want her son to have to escort her anywhere - but in the moment she just agreed. "Well, alright," she told Riley with a sly grin, "but only if you keep all the bad dancers away from me. Oh, and it's your aunt Cherie's coming out, so we have to go see my family first."

Now it was Riley's turn to stop short. "...
all of them?"


Dahlia pushed the memory away as she worked on Jillian's hair. After taking a deep breath to clear her mind again, she spent the rest of the time asking Jillian about what the girl was up to these days, what good books she'd read recently, and other similar things.

Jillian left the room in the same bluster she entered, and Dahlia hung back a moment as to not ruin the girl's entrance. She hadn't changed herself yet, but she wasn't in quite the same rush as the young women were. She slipped quietly back into the main room a minute or so after Jillian, coming over to stand next to Redly.

"Have they always been such a handful?"

Paradox

Braxton was still in bed when his mother arrived outside his door, knocking on the door, "Braxton! Are you in there?"

He said nothing and snuggled his wife, something he hadn't done in a long time with her. "Ignore her," He whispered.

"Braxton! I know you can hear me!"

Leanna sighed, "She won't stop until you answer."

"Yeah, ma?" Braxton called out.

"You're not even dressed, are you?"

"Nope. I was rough riding the wife like-"

Lennna smacked him on the shoulder. Hard and shot him her usual warning glare.

"I mean, uh. We're getting ready, ma , so calm down! It's not good for your heart!"

"Your father was never late-"

"I'm NOT my father!" Braxton snarled defensively, "Ansgar's balls, woman! I'll be ready when I damn well feel like being ready and not before!"


((Apologies. If the language feels like it's a bit much for PG-13 , let me know and I will tone it down. I'm not always the best at gaging such things.

So Braxton will probably be the last to show up. Feel free for the kids to chatter and skip 'my turn' so long as you don't go too far ahead without me, you know? If anyone feels that it's time for my character to show up, just send me a PM or tell me in ooc here or in the Treyburn plotting thread! Until then, I'll probably make a couple more posts similar to this to show you how much Braxton likes to drag his feet and how much women have to nag him to get anything done and done right!))

Brisinger987

((Janette will interject with comments on things, and most likely start a shenanigan when the time is right, so don't count me as a posting order person till that happens, lol))

"Fine. No-one answer my question. I'll assume every guy I see is fair game then..." Janette was about to say more but then she heard Braxton shouting at her mother, and realised that Ma was coming too.

"Or, Braxton can answer it indirectly... KEEP IT DOWN FOR THE LOVE OF VESKOS!" She walked over to the part of the room directly beneath the bedroom and knocked, suddenly having an idea.

"All of you, keep Braxton in his room. I wanna go get something." With that, she rushed off to her own room, grinning joyfully.

Ivory

(OOC: I think that's everybody, except for teh Loosh (who is on hiatus)!  I feel like Gandalf counting dwarves.  For those of you who know me, you know I do not use that phrase lightly!)

Cherie blushed lightly at the string of compliments, looking down at her feet and fidgeting.  "Um, thanks."  She wasn't accustomed to either attention or compliments -- in part, because she could never keep any of her clothes clean for very long...  It soon became apparent as to why as she missed a step and went careening down the stairs.  Fortunately, Redly was at the base of the steps to catch her!

"Careful, now," Redly advised, fervently hoping there wouldn't be many stairs at the ball.  Setting the youngest Treyburn back on her feet -- on the floor -- he glanced around at the assembled parties, doing a silent headcount.  Dahlia would be looking after Illi -- he had never seen the girl so excited! -- and that meant they were only missing two -- Braxton and their surprise guest.

'Keep an eye on her,' he mouthed to Janette with a gesture to Cherie.  Janette certainly would -- and, hopefully, she'd also keep Cherie from retreating to a corner to be by herself.

"You cannot misbehave," he answered his sister sternly, looking all too much like a parent.  "This is Braxton's first public appearance as Lord Treyburn and Cherie's first public appearance as a young lady."

Cherie spoke up, then, adding brightly, "Well, if it's boring..."

"Not even if it's boring," Redly answered flatly.  "Give Brax a break here."

Illi's entrance, then, momentarily distracted the crowd.  Letting the girls fawn over one another, he smiled in response to Dahlia.  "Well, you're the one who'll be stuck with them tonight.  You are going, aren't you?"  He was vaguely concerned she might try to back out at the last minute...

Hearing that she wasn't brought Redly's usual grin back, and he nodded.  "Good.  Before you go, though, I have to warn you someone else is tagging along."

And now was as good a time to give them the heads up before their mother came back down...  He cleared his voice for attention, having to try several times before everyone, at last, quieted down.

"There's one more reason you have to behave tonight."  This was addressed towards Janette and Cherie, who, he knew, wouldn't purposefully misbehave -- it was just her way to be contrary.  "Jana's going to joining you, and you all know what it would mean if she were discovered."

"Really??" Cherie asked brightly, excited, as usual, to see the outlaw.  They had only met a handful of times...and it was always a secret from their parents, from the law -- from everyone but each other.

(OOC: *nudges the scene forward some*  Paradox, I'm assuming Redly would have informed Brax about this previously, as he'll be the one in charge of the whole thing!)

kleineklementine

Dahlia had been about to say something about how she certainly was not going to be the one responsible for keeping the younger girls out of trouble. The whole idea of a ball in the middle of this war was, in her opinion, entirely preposterous. Let them get into a bit of trouble. Not to mention that she knew better than to think she could keep Janette out of trouble even if she wanted to. But she closed her mouth when Redly said that 'someone else' would be joining them. Her gray eyes sharpened at the comment, something about the way he said it...

And then Dahlia had to close her mouth again when Redly made the announcement of who would be joining them and her eyes widened in disbelief. But, unlike the bright Cherie, Dahlia looked far from happy about the news. In fact, some of the color might have left her face.

"Redly," she interjected, her voice flat, "you have to be joking." Still next to her older brother, Dahlia kept her voice fairly low, but her tone was serious. It wasn't that Dahlia didn't, necessarily, want to see her sister. But this wasn't the same as Jana discretely showing up at a birthday party or a family event. This was a public ball thrown by the Grand Duke!

Dahlia didn't say anything more at the moment, not surrounded by their younger siblings, but the look she gave Redly clearly said, You're insane. She's going to get killed.

Brisinger987

Janette came back holding Megraph.

"I saw this in the back garden earlier, and thought it would be cool to prank someone with if it stayed!" In reality, the snake was her best friend. The unconditional love was just something they had, and naturally, Megraph protected Janette.

"Go..." Janette ran upstairs, slowing to a tip toe when she reached Braxton's room, then seeing Ma there. I don't care, why should I? Janette thought to herself.

Ma gasped slightly as Janette walked up to her holding the snake. "Get that filthy thing out of my home! NOW!" Janette simply smiled and ignored her, ever so slightly opening the door, and letting Megraph go through, waiting to hear the sounds of panic as the snake explored the room casually.

A little morning prank never hurt anyone.

"That thing is disgusting Janette, get it back, now!" Ma looked rather disgusted as Janette walked back downstairs to wait to hear the sounds there instead. Ma would never touch something as filthy as a snake, especially since she thought it was wild.

zozee9

Illi saw what Janette was doing, but let her younger sister do as she pleased. She wouldn't listen, anyway. And there was much more exciting news: Jana.

The sister of mystery.

Illi was too young to have grown up with Jana, but she loved the visits. And she loved fantasizing about the stories. She knew that her sister had cross-dressed. And she loved it. Books with girls cross-dressing to be in the army were great. And none of those girls joined the army just because they had to. That's the story of guys. Girls joined because they truly wanted to fight for their country, or because they were protecting someone else, or because they were running away. It was great. Those books were also forbidden in Connlaoth. She liked to imagine Jana's story, anyway. Especially because it involved murder.

Unlike Dahlia, Illi was elated. And she didn't plan on hiding that. "Oooooo!" she squealed. "That's so exciting! I can tell her about all of my new books. About the one with the man and the dragon and also the one with the princess and of course the one about the dog! Ahhh this will be great!" She started mentally ordering the books that she wanted to talk about from most important to least important. After all, she knew that Jana wouldn't listen to her about all of the stories. If any.

With a wide smile, Illi gave Redly another hug. "When will she be here? Will we recognize her?" She paused and hesitantly added, "... what about Ma?" She then realized that maybe Dahlia's worries weren't stupid. After all, her sister did have a crazy high bounty on her.

That's part of the reason that Illi loved her sister. She came to visit even though getting caught meant almost certain death. But she had never risked going to an event like this—one with so many people. Illi knew she was risking it because it was a milestone mark for both Cherie and Braxton. But was the danger really worth it? Well, no good novel didn't have a fair bit of danger...
Characters: Alycia | Sky | Kayala | Elaina | Alexandra | Piper | Gage AND Heather | Zeina | Elizabeth | Mera | Darya | Fiara | Tanya | Meki | Vivian | Lali | Nyimi | Jillian | Cedric | Jana | Duncan | Zara | Marie | Rora | Koraq | Xiana | Sevda | Nava | Na'il | Bambina | Micheovi | Nitya

Art Thread: Here! | deviantArt Profile: Here <3

If I owe you a post (which I probably do), sorry... I'll get you one as soon as I can! <3 Message me if you're in a rush or want one.

Paradox

Braxton and Leanna were getting dressed – actually, it was more like Leanna was fussing over her husband's outfit when the snake slithered into their room. Braxton saw the snake first and made the mistake of showing surprise in his expression because that look got his wife's attention and he knew that when she looked in the same direction that he was that this was not going to end well! 

Janette was about to hear the screams that she was anticipating as Leanna came streaking out of the room in her nightgown, shrieking in terror. Following his wife came Braxton's booming voice that snarled like an angry bear that had been abruptly stirred from its hibernation, "JANETTE ! I SWEAR BY ANSGAR'S FLAMING SAC THAT I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Janette, you roguish little witch! If it were legal, I'd throttle you in public and the people would rejoice. Wait. Maybe it is legal...or maybe I could write to the Grand Duke asking him to change the laws .... Braxton contemplated.

Muttering a string of volatile curses to himself He stripped one of the sheets from the bed and  then went over to the wall and got a poker hanging by the fireplace in the room. "C'mon, ya slitherin' bastard. " The snake had never attacked him before, but even so he was wary of it. It was big , it was a snake and it could kill him if he wasn't careful. He goaded it into the sheet and then wrapped it up like a burrito and carried it out of the room.

Once outside, he let the snake go and then turned to Ma and his wife and smirked as if he thought the whole ordeal was some big joke. His expression flattened a bit when he noted the livid expression on both of their faces.

Women.

  (( Ivory, let me know if you feel that I need to move things along some more and I'll add to my post!))




Ivory

(OOC: Okay, kids, new round.  That means you guys can post in any order -- but only the once.  So choose your posting timing carefully!)

Redly grinned boyishly in response to Dahlia's concerns.  "It'll be fine.  Everyone will be dressed to the nine's and wearing a mask, so no one will know her from the Grand Duchess herself.  Brax already knows, too, and he's fine with it." More or less.  "She'll be on her best behavior.  I promise."

"As for Ma..."  Redly shrugged slightly.  "She doesn't need to know."  That was simple as that.  "I don't even thi--"

That was all the further Redly got before Brax's voice boomed into the room, as loud, it seemed, as though he had been standing at the top of the stairs and preceded by feminine screams of terror.  Had Brax not used Janette's name, Redly would have bolted up the stairs three at a time to find out what was happening and if he could help.  The use of Janette's name, however, only made him sigh tiredly and mutter, "Of all the nights..."

Cherie stared towards the noise a moment, as if trying to decide what to make of it.  Coming up empty, she instead turned her focus to her older sister.  "When are we going to see what you're wearing, Dahlia?" she asked brightly.

"She's right," Redly put in with a glance towards the clock.  "Why don't you go get dressed?  And don't worry about Jana, alright?"

Brisinger987

Janette burst out laughing, unable to control herself as Braxton shouted. She couldn't physically stop, and ended up rolling on the floor laughing.

"LOVE YOU TOO BRAXTON YA' WIMP!" Janette yelled back up before Megraph came and joined her on the floor, slithering over her and flicking her with his tongue, making her laugh even more as the forked tongue tickled her face.

Then Janette decided she should probably send Megraph back to their room.

"Megraph: home. Go, shoo you lovable lizard..." Janette got up just in time to hear (or rather process) Redly stating the words "She'll be on her best behaviour."

Then Janette laughed again, pointing at Redly. "I hope that's not me you're talking about Redly! I'm not planning on behaving at all. I'm itching for some fun..." Then she realised they were discussing Jana and decided to get with the conversation.

"Come on Dahlia, go and get your dress on!" Janette reached for the mask with she had looped through her rather delicate blue belt, and waved it around for reasons unknown even to her.

kleineklementine

Dahlia stared at Redly in disbelief and poorly-veiled offense. "Why don't you go get dressed?  And don't worry about Jana, alright?" Dahlia had not particularly cared for Redly treating her like a child when they were growing up, and she certainly didn't appreciate it now. In fact, if they weren't with everyone else right now, she might just hit him for it. With that option closed, it took a few moments before the baleful look at Redly turned into something softer (just) when she remembered the question had originally been posed by Cherie.

"You're right, Cherie," she admitted with a not-entirely-convincing casual air, "I ought to get ready now that you and Jillian are dressed."

But Dahlia barely took her eyes off Redly when she gave this answer and, as she left the room, she stopped half a foot from him. "Our country is at war, Redly," she told him sharply, but low enough that only he should hear all of what she said, "and if you think fancy dresses and masks exempt any of us from that, you're an idiot." She started to leave, then paused and added, "And don't' treat me like a child."

With that Dahlia left, leaving a noticeable chill in her wake. Riley, already smartly dressed and carrying his feathered falcon mask in the crick of his arm, entered just in time to see his mother's departure. He watched her leave with a knowing look; as much as she might try to hide them from her children, all three could recognize their mother's moods now.

"She's a bit on edge," Riley said matter-of-factly and to no one in particular. "Milo finally left for the army last week." This was information, unbeknownst to him, that his mother had thus far been keeping from her siblings.

Rather than elaborating on this, Riley looked to the mask Janette was wildly flailing about. The boy was, in general, a bit intimidated by his aunt, but plucked up his courage to ask, very politely, "What's your mask, Janette? Are you dressing as anything in particular?"

zozee9

Too much arguing.

That is what Illi decided.

So the second after the conversation about Jana seemed to cease, she took off for her room. Less than a minute later, she returned. Reading. All the voices were tuned out—even that of the sweet Riley, who she normally loved to talk to. Of course, books about knights saving princesses were much more exciting. Especially when they involved politics... politics that weren't part of the real world.

Illi easily managed her way to a wall, where she leant against and continued to read. She would stop reading once the fighting ended. If that ever happened. Her family fought too much... in fact, the whole world fought too much. That's why she loved to delve into books. They took her to another world.
Characters: Alycia | Sky | Kayala | Elaina | Alexandra | Piper | Gage AND Heather | Zeina | Elizabeth | Mera | Darya | Fiara | Tanya | Meki | Vivian | Lali | Nyimi | Jillian | Cedric | Jana | Duncan | Zara | Marie | Rora | Koraq | Xiana | Sevda | Nava | Na'il | Bambina | Micheovi | Nitya

Art Thread: Here! | deviantArt Profile: Here <3

If I owe you a post (which I probably do), sorry... I'll get you one as soon as I can! <3 Message me if you're in a rush or want one.

Paradox

Braxton's two eldest children, Ethen(18) and Carleigh(17), were ready to go forty minutes before their parents. The pair of them slipped quietly into the room where most of the other Treyburns had assembled; neither of them appeared to look very happy because their costumes fit a lame theme that their father had selected (probably just to embarrass them!)

"I still don't know what you're so cross about, Ethen," Carleigh told her elder brother quietly, "at least your costume makes sense. I don't get this," she shook her head, the curly locks of her golden wig bobbing. Ethen smiled a little and his sister narrowed her eyes at him, daring him to laugh. He snickered and she whacked him on the arm with her mask.

At long last, Braxton Treyburn emerged from bedchambers dressed smartly in his military uniform. Over his face he wore a mask that resembled the snarling visage of a bear. Pausing at the top of the stairs and looking down at his assembled family he...released a fart and then grinned wolfishly down at them,  "Papa bear's here, kids! Let's get this show on the road!" He announced as he stomped down the stairs. As he moved down , he turned his head to should back over his shoulder, "Come on, honey! You look fine!"

(( I didn't want to hold you guys up so you get a short, cruddy post. ;_; ))

Brisinger987

((OOC: I wanna start this round, lol))

Janette smiled when her nephew asked about her dress. Maybe she could show off the small bit of the dress that was her favourite. Maybe.

"Well Riley, you'll see in a minute. Just wait here a second. I have to go and sort out Aunt Illi." Janette stepped over to her older sister, and paused, tapping her foot, and putting on a rather unimpressed face.

"Illi. Give me the book, or go and put it in your room. This is a social event, and we all need to get along... So for Angsar's sake, get yourself sorted, and be sociable!" Her tone was mocking of Ma's tone when she scolded Janette for refusing to go to the ball earlier this morning.

Then just like that, Janette didn't push it any further, knowing that a book had to better than a family get together, and walked back over to Riley.

"So you wanted to see what I'm going as?" Janette put the mask on, the clearly reptilian face seeming rather lifelike. Then she took the dress straps off her shoulders, reached into the back of the dress, and pulled a cowl-like piece of fabric out, putting it on, revealing the fully patterned cobra hood that a friend had beautifully sown and created for Janette.

"SSSSS!" She made a childish scary pose towards Riley, before putting the cowel back and setting herself back to just how she was.

Ivory

Riley's face fell at his sister's chastisement.  He hadn't meant that.  He hadn't meant any of that.  "Dahlia..."  But it was too late; she was already gone.

He blinked in alarm at Riley, then, and his face softened.  "Oh."  But he said nothing more as he turned his thoughts inwards.

Cherie, on the other hand, only looked sad.  She glanced around airily, then, after taking a moment to kick off the heels that had nearly killed her once already, bounded up the steps after her sister.  She burst in after Dahlia, exclaiming breathlessly, "You helped me, Dahlia!  It's my turn to help you!"  Although, certainly, Dahlia could do it on her own...and would probably be better off for it, really.  Still, she did not want to miss the opportunity to give her sister a chance to vent, in case she needed it.

kleineklementine

Dahlia looked straight ahead into the mirror as the maid who had dressed Cherie began to do up the long row of buttons up the back of her dress. She saw Cherie enter in the mirror a moment before her sister announced herself. With a small nod of her head, Dahlia excused the maid. When the woman was gone, Dahlia gave her sister a smile through the mirror, not turning around. She might still be upset about Jana and the ridiculous manner Redly had announced it, but she wasn't upset with Cherie, and she certainly didn't want her youngest sibling to see her flustered.

Anyway, more than anything, she was just tired. Tired of fighting, tired of pretending everything was okay, tired of the war.

"Alright," she agreed, "you can finish the buttons. It's a bit snug, though." The dress was sleeveless with a ribbed bodice and fell around Dahlia's feet in a small train on the floor. The dress itself was black and Dahlia wore long silk, black gloves that came past her elbows with it. The whole look would be rather solemn if it weren't for the bright, billowing sheaths of red and yellow silk on each side that connected from the top of the dress bodice at her ribs to the wrists of her gloves.

Dahlia watched Cherie carefully through the mirror and finally gave her a sly smile. "So will you be looking for a husband tonight?" she asked teasingly, certain that the girl would hear enough about this by now from their mother. "I was married by your age, you know. And you were only a baby! Shouldn't let the fruit wither on the tree," she clucked, and grinned into the mirror at Cherie.


Meanwhile, Riley blinked at Janette's snake dress. "Hm," he nodded, not otherwise reacting to Janette's display. "I like that," he said soberly, then added, holding up his own mask, "mine is a falcon."

Done with that interaction, Riley walked smartly over to Jillian. Leaning next to her against the wall, he peered over to her book. "What are you reading, Illi? Is it good?"

Riley looked at Braxton with wide eyes as he made his grand, flatulent entrance and muttered to Illi, "You think that was meant to be a bear growl?"

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