Rath the Monkadin of the Holy Order of Eclairs, bows "Ladies... please to enter."
He gooses Suny as she goes by, eliciting a yelp. He smiles wickedly, "Just shopping."
Sunys' eyes 'pop' open wide for just a second as she bounces forwards into the small space occupied by Alis, causing her to hug the other Elf closer as Ravarath and Lureene also move in with them. Entangled amongst her friends as she, is Sun can do little more than glance back at Ravarath. Though it is clear that there is an intent of some form of mischief or mayhem in her large blue eyes as she looks at Ravarath's smile.
Lureene, with a wicked gleam in her eyes, looks at Suny, and says, "Well, it looks like we found a man who likes to shop, he heheheheee. A first for the male race, I do believe!"
Lureene, with a wicked gleam in her eyes, looks at Suny, and says, "Well, it looks like we found a man who likes to shop, he heheheheee. A first for the male race, I do believe!"
Rath enters the box after everyone else and closes the strange lattice. "Been told recently, by good friend" he says looking pointedly at Alis, "that I need practice." He looks innocently at Lureene, "May shop you too, if you are not careful. Even angels need a little devilry from time to time, no?"
The lift starts to rise...
Between Lureene's wings and Alis' bell-shaped dress, it is a tight fit for everyone to fit into the small chamber, but there don't seem to be too many complaints. In a small, squeaky voice, the short man says, "Going up..."
Suddenly there is a creaking sound (not unlike that of carriage wheels), and you momentarily feel heavier as the entire room moves. After a moment, you realize that the entire alcove is ascending thru the building as evidenced by the windows lining the sides of its shaft which give you an increasingly spectacular view of the city.
A few dozen heartbeats later, and you feel your stomachs lighten as the chamber halts about 4 stories above the patio. The short fellow opens the gilded cage and you find a marble foyer outside. On the far side of the foyer, a balcony overlooks a vast chamber two stories high and taking up the entirety of the third and fourth floors. Contained therein are dozens of pale statues of both men and women garbed in finery the likes of which you have only seen in illustrated fairy tales.
Marble steps curve down from either side of the balcony to the floor below with sunlight streaming thru large windows in the upper half of the large fashion studio. The way the light cuts thru the air almost puts you in mind of looking down upon a jungle populated by exotic birds and butterflies.
"Fourth floor, Aernelóth Fashion Studios..." say the short one.
Suny playfully pokes the tip of her tongue out at Lureene,
"Well, he c'n be havin' my share then. I all ready know whut I want..." And the simmering gaze she levels at Ravarath may-hap raises the temperature within the small confines of the space every one is in.
"My people dunt shop. We hunt." She purrs huskily. Then squeaks in surprise as the whole room moves, causing her to clutch Alis a little tighter in her shock and surprise.
As the doors to the 'cage' open, Suny walks slowly across the open space. Her gaze ignoring the riot of colour around her that she walks through as she steps up to the window and gazes longingly out at the sea.
Havelock enters the elevator and enters the elevator, ignoring the looks between Suny and Rav for decency's sake.
"May shop you too, if you are not careful. Even angels need a little devilry from time to time, no?"
The lift starts to rise...
Lureene leans over to whisper huskily in his ear, allowing her perfumed scents to engulf him, "Promises, promises."
The she puts on a very badly faked innocent look for Suny's sake, before giving her a wink. She is not bothered by the lift rising, being a flying creature, but she does take hold of Suny's arm, murmering "Relax hun. I won't let anything happen to Rath-hun. Unless...you give your consent....and just between you and me, I would never hurt him."
She notices Suny move away to look at the sea, and all of the sudden things click into place, the aversion to clothes and shoes, and thinks, Hope Rath-hun likes to swim, he he.
"It is a beautiful view, isn't it?" Alis says to Suny. "Is your home also by the water?"
The lift starts to rise...
Rath is brought up short by the opulence of this 'shop'. He goggles at the view with Suny and Lureene, saying "Only thing more breath-stealing than view is sight of you two here." And in a blatant attempt to lighten up, he adds, "And this marble floor... feels great on feet!" He does a tumbling pass down the main aisle.
Then, he tumbles back... ending with a double somersault.
Lureene watches his form with undisguised admiration, and with a sigh of relief, as he almost tumbled out the floor window into the ocean! I wanted him to sweep me off my feet, not the other way around! She briefly wonders why Suny hasn't said anything, but judging by her quickened breathing and dialated pupils, words were probably not on her mind right now.
From behind you, you hear a slight chuckle and a clear elven voice asks, "If you have come to enjoy the sights, the view is much better from the rooftop than the elevator..." he looks at the slippery marble floor and then gestures to the window, "or pavement."
Turning around, you see a thin elf, with long, dark hair and crystal blue eyes gazing at you with an amused grin on his face. He stands about two inches taller than Suny and is dressed in comfortable yet functional clothing. Black pants with spacious pockets are tucked into a pair of fancy thigh-high black leather fencer's boots. He wears a loose-fitting shirt with a banded collar spun from blue and silver silks that accents his eyes. The motif of silver trillium flowers is repeated on the black leather bracers and tall belt that he wears over the silk shirt.
"Welcome back, Alissariel Princess," he says. "Did you bring some new friends to be fitted?"
Indicating Lureene, he says thoughfully, "I see at least one of your friends already sports my wares..."
Rath, pleased with the tumbling run, almost misses the feeling... he turns around and both Lureene and Suny are looking at him with a peculiar intensity. Why do I feel like a prey animal. It is a look he has seen very rarely in his life. He walks up to the ladies, mock seriously. "You are both not too tall. Can't see view well. Would like to change that. Please to turn around and see view. Promise I will not shop." Not particularly trusting him, they turn around but keep a wary eye on him.
Rath slides between the ladies, wraps an arm around their lower calves for support and cradles their feet gently, and then stands up - lifting both women so that their feet are about 4' off the floor.
Rath, for convenience's sake, carries the two ladies over to where Laithoron is speaking with Miss Alis. He nods politely and gently puts the ladies down. "Please forgive if tumbling was inappropriate. You have amazing shop."
"It's no problem at all, just having a bit of fun. If you would all like to enjoy the view from the rooftop, I can go about fitting Alissariel for this commission she has delivered while you do so."
The tall elf then nods to the lift operator indicating you have permission to visit the penthouse lounge if you like.
Rath frowns in consideration, "I am curious to see hm process if may, but will follow these ladies' *indicating Suny and Lureene* hm preferences."
Suny gasps and giggles as Rav shows off his 'muscles' again by picking herself and Lureene up. While she seems quite happy with the attention, once Rav has put both of the women down, Suny immediately begins to drift back towards the large windows facing the harbor again. More looking absent than seeming to be deliberately ignoring people.
Coming back to Alis' side Suny whispers,
"Home be surrounded by th' ocean. All o' th' clan holdin's be. Th' peoples live on Islands scattered across th' sea." She sighs. "Th' biggest thing we know that t'oher peoples know about is a huge storm whut roils aside th' coast o' a large amount o' land, ways off'n um....east." Suny has to think carefully for the correct human term.
"Some times we gets ships come stragglin' in, all battered an' beaten up by some o' th' larger errant gusts and breezes th' un-endin' storm lashes out with. But home? Home be safe an'....." Her voice trails off in memories.
Rath follows Suny at a respectful distance as she drifts from the windows to Alis, trying to understand her mood. Hearing what she says to Alis, he approaches her and holds her hand, "Suny, are you OK?"
She glances to Rav, but her gaze quickly gets dragged back to the visa beyond the glass,
"Ravvy....d'you ever get..a...need...?" Are Sunys' only whispered words.
"Need for what, Suny?" He holds her shoulder gently and tries to see what she is seeing, and guesses, "... to return home? To return to the Sea?"
Suny takes Ravaraths' hands and wraps them about her waist, hugging them to herself, seeming to draw something from the strength and warmth of the embrace.
"No...not like that..something..." Rav can see Sunys' face scrunch into a frown and a pout. "I dunt know how t' say it t' ye in yer speak..." She sighs and Rav can feel her body move in his arms, "...But seein' th' ocean...even from here...I feel a need, some sort o' want." She sighs again.
She thinks for a moment, "Hmm, that doesn't sound like any of the seas we've sailed. Greengold is on the eastern shore of Lake Encarthan while Cassomir is along the northern shore of the Inner Sea. If I've ever sailed beyond The Arch then it was when I was still a little girl..."
Rath holds her close, concern registering openly on his face. "A want to be in the ocean? or sail away? or something else? The sea is close - maybe we should walk down there."
She thinks for a moment, "Hmm, that doesn't sound like any of the seas we've sailed. Greengold is on the eastern shore of Lake Encarthan while Cassomir is along the northern shore of the Inner Sea. If I've ever sailed beyond The Arch then it was when I was still a little girl..."
"I know little geography but is there a storm by the Mwangi lands and aren't there islands around it?"
Geography Aid Check 1d20 ⇒ 1
Noticing that Suny seems to be enthralled by the sea, Alis nods knowingly, "Since my mother was human, I don't feel it quite as strongly, but for we elves who are most strongly associated with the sea, it holds a certain... lure to our souls. I think that's part of the reason why Alexis and I love to sail as much as we do — to challenge the horizon where sea and sky meet..."
She turns to Havelock and apologizes, "I'm sorry, this sentimental elf-talk is all probably quite boring to you. Are you doing alright?"
"Is this so, Suny? Do you feel a... longing for the sea?"
Rath grabs Suny's hand for a second before she gets away, and says seriously, "OK, Suny. We look for dresses and enjoy day now. But I want you to know that I am good listener and will talk about this matter when you are ready. If this important to your happiness then I want to make it happen for you... regardless." Then he lets her go.
"Is this so, Suny? Do you feel a... longing for the sea?"
Suny twists to look at Ravaraths' face and sees the emotions swirling there. She smiles, both wistfully and reassuringly.
"Longing" She repeats the word, seeming to test its fit against what she is feeling within herself. "Maybe..then agin..that word don't sound right t' m' ears fer whuts' runnin' through m' head." Her smile widens. "Ye neededn't worry yerself about me fallin' in't th' sruf an' gettin' lost in'a waves, luv." She hugs him. "I made folks hree a promise, din't I?" She winks. "Whut sort'a freind would I be if'n I let nature drag me all over th' place, hey?" She giggles,
"C'm on! Lets join in'a fun!" She takes Ravarath by the hand and saunters back into the show room, the view of the ocean behind her seemingly forgotten.
Rath stops dead for a second, "Suny, are there butterflies in your homeland?"
Rath stops dead for a second, "Suny, are there butterflies in your homeland?"
Suny blinks at Ravs' question.
"O' course they is? Dif'rnt Islands has lots a difr'nt butterflies." She looks puzzled at Ravs' question. "Why d'ye ask?"
Suny blinks at Ravs' question.
"O' course they is? Dif'rnt Islands has lots a difr'nt butterflies." She looks puzzled at Ravs' question. "Why d'ye ask?"
Rath listens to her response and then his brow furrows in concentration. After a moment, the look passes. He looks out at the sea, then at Suny, and runs the back of his hand across her cheek looking wistful. He gives her a smile but will say no more about where the question came from, why he asked or what the answer meant to him. "I think you are a wise woman, Suny, we should enjoy the day."
While Suny and Rath converse, Alis heads downstairs with Havelock and Laithoron to start getting fitted for the special order Miss Nell is placing for Alexis.
The elven tailor leads the princess past the dresses over to the fitting room and says, "If you want to change out of that, I'll show the gentleman escorting you some attire he might like to try."
With a smile and a nod, the princess disappears into a spacious fitting room.
Suny and Rath join the main party, seemingly no worse for the conversation they had. Lureene grabs Suny's hand "Come'on Hun, feel these fabrics... aren't they fantastic?"
Rath asks, his humor returning fully, "Master Laithoron, do you have any golden curly haired wigs?"
Suny frowns. "I dun't think that's even close t' funny." She remarks and wraps Ravs arms about herself again. "I in't lettin' ye go till ye promise that's all it were, neither!" She declares.
Rath asks, his humor returning fully, "Master Laithoron, do you have any golden curly haired wigs?"
Looking up from a slick 3-piece suit with a flared collar, folded cuffs, tapered waist and long tails, that had drawn Havelock's interest, the elven tailor replies, "I believe the only golden curly hair you will find here is quite attached to the lovely ladies accompanying you. Wigmaking is not among my talents, although I could direct you to a few contacts who could assist you with such a request if you like."
Smiling at Ravarath and Suny's antics, he helps Havelock try on the suit jacket while calling out to Lureene, "Miss, if there is anything that catches your eye, let me know. My assistant is gone for the afternoon but you won't be neglected, I assure you."
He looks around the room as he continues, his gaze indicating different types of fabric he has in stock. "Satin, linen, cotton, modal, leaveweave, cashmere, velvet, jacquard, brocade, wool, twill... <about 2 minutes pass> ...and lastly chiffon, doupioni, charmeuse, and other silks. Not all of them are suitable to every design, but I try to be flexible."
"There," he says indicating a nearby mirror to Havelock, "how do that waistcoat and jacket fit?"
Rath squeezes her tightly and, in a surprisingly public display for a painfully shy man, he nuzzles her neck and whispers in her ear, "I promise, Mera Dil, I promise... NOW, unless you want to get thoroughly shopped by me, you better get to finding some pretty fabrics or maybe some jewelry that will look pretty on you when you are just in your skin."
People cold be mistaken, but for an instant it almost seemed as if Suny growled at Laithoron. Ravarath's comments are more than enough to completely change Suhys' disposition.
"Ooo yeah!' She exclaims with enthusiasm. "Lets go an' see all'a shineys they's got t' show!" She looks now to Laithoron with almost avarice in her large blue eyes.
Rath asks, his humor returning fully, "Master Laithoron, do you have any golden curly haired wigs?"Looking up from a slick 3-piece suit with a flared collar, folded cuffs, tapered waist and long tails, that had drawn Havelock's interest, the elven tailor replies, "I believe the only golden curly hair you will find here is quite attached to the lovely ladies accompanying you. Wigmaking is not among my talents, although I could direct you to a few contacts who could assist you with such a request if you like."
Rath sighs over-dramatically, doing his best vocal imitation of a Taldane fop, "Well! I suppose I shall never look like a Paladin now! Egads!"
Ravarath's comments are more than enough to completely change Sunys' disposition.
"Ooo yeah!' She exclaims with enthusiasm. "Lets go an' see all'a shineys they's got t' show!" She looks now to Laithoron with almost avarice in her large blue eyes.
Rath watches her with admiration. Ah, what an astonishing woman.
"Ooo yeah!' She exclaims with enthusiasm. "Lets go an' see all'a shineys they's got t' show!" She looks now to Laithoron with almost avarice in her large blue eyes.
"Shinies are that way, miss." He tips his head to the north wall which is aglitter from the light of the afternoon sun shining thru the upper windows.
"Shinies are that way, miss." He tips his head to the north wall which is aglitter from the light of the afternoon sun shining thru the upper windows.
It takes no more than showing her the direction and Suny off off, skipping hurriedly across the room to stare and oggle the display arrayed upon the walls and cabinets, along with lots of 'Ooos' and Aahhhs' of appreciation for their art and styling.
"Lookin' at all a this stuff reminds me o' why t'is a good time t' be had by all a folks back home when some o' th' nastues whut get blowed a'shore be 'orrible, pirate-y types o' people." Suny comments absently to Ravarath as they peruse the baubles upon display.
Rath lags behind Suny on her quest for 'shineys' despite the almost magnetic pull she has on him. He wants to be delightfully surprised by seeing her wearing them later on.
To occupy his mind, he recalls a snippet of an old Vudrani poem that seemed, in some small way, to fit the beguiling Suny:
What could have made her peaceful with a mind
That nobleness made simple as a fire,
With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind
That is not natural in an age like this,
Being high and solitary and most stern?
Why, what could she have done being what she is?
After a few minutes, Alis emerges from the fitting room clad only in a long chemise and a rather tight bodice. Upon seeing her emerge, Laithoron excuses himself to Havelock and sets about taking down the princess' measurements and making other notations on the papers that were contained within the scroll case Alis delivered to him.
Next, they remove the bodice and begin trying on a number of different styles: 3-panel, hour-glass, buckled, and more. In each case, Alis attempts to perform a number of limber movements like jumping, running, executing flips and rolls while reporting the ease of difficulty of the maneuvers in each style. Several minutes pass before she apparently decides on a 3-panel front-laced style with adjustable shoulder straps. They they repeat the process with several styles of skirts, dresses and even breeches before they are satisfied on a type that looks like a skirt but is actually divided into broad pant legs that could be drawn tight if need be.
At long last, Laithoron comments, "Alright, I think I should be able to work something out. It should be ready this time next week. Now then, what are you looking for?"
Lureene lets Suny and Rath-hun share some quality time together, allowing the couple to talk about things. She watches Laithoron assist Alis with her, until he question her about what she would like.
She stammers for a moment, "Well, I am not sure, to be honest with you, I think all of your outfits are just fantastic though, especially this one I am wearing! I think you did a wonderful job on it!" giving the elven tailor a smile and a wink.
"If money was no object, this would be much easier, but I do need another nightgown, and also a performing outfit, because I do like to dance a lot!"
She turns to Alis, and asks, "What do you think, hun? You are much better than I am at this."
"I think a dancing outfit is definitely in order. By the time we're done here, the Black Boar will be serving lunch and I was thinking it might be fun to perform together — myself on vocals, you dancing and the pub's musician on the harpsichord. Oh, and don't worry about money," she winks, "it's no object."
"Laithoron," she says, "what do you think?"
Lureene giggles at the prospect of the performance later today, and this evening. "Then, you had better made the dancing outfit extra specially fitted for me!"
She looks over at the jewelry and other accessories, for the hair and other body parts, and realizes she has never had a 'makeover'. She always had worn her hair down, and it did tend to get unruly at times, but others rarely noticed. She mentions to Alis, and Laithoron, "Maybe some jewelry, and makeup would also be good...and I need to do something with my hair, any advice? I would like to look like an angel, for real."
Lureene giggles at the prospect of the performance later today, and this evening. "Then, you had better made the dancing outfit extra specially fitted for me!"
Rath chuckles quietly at this news. I hope the Taldane patrons of the Black Boar wear looser pants than the Taldane norm... otherwise I suspect there will be some uncomfortable constrictions happening.
"Both of you would be attractive no matter what you're wearing. Still, I'm looking forward to your performance tonight all the same." Havelock looks over the suit again. "This is a fine suit. How durable is it, if you don't mind my asking?"