genessia | Autumn, November 7th - Say Yes To The Dress

Video

[ Ayame appears on the video wearing a simple yukata, sitting alone in an office of sorts designed in traditional Japanese fashion, but with spools and spools of rolled fabric all over the place. She looks to the camera with a calm expression, even as her hands were blurred by the sheer supernatural speed it was moving, and sewing together a dress it seemed ]

Hello, Genessia. I will make this quick, but if you are interested in attending the upcoming masquerade ball and have nothing to wear yet, perhaps I can be of assistance. I will make your attire in exchange for a bit of money. Less than one would normally pay elsewhere, and just to cover the costs of the fabric I bought. Or in exchange for a simple favor I could ask for in the future.

[ The corners of her lips tugged to show a hint of mischief in her words but it was brief and subtle. She finishes the dress in her hand, giving people a preview of her skill. Having had fashion businesses here in the past, Ayame certainly knows her craft, which she hoped to be evident in how the dress is put together ]

If you are interested, just come to Amatsu Inn in Fayren. Where I will be for the rest of the day and evening.

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[ A sigh of relief; Ayame sets aside her choices of fabric in her hands on the floor next to the short-legged table she was using as a workspace. ]

Dresses.

[ Beat ]

Or at least, for the most part...

[ She waves her hand, hiding some "drafts" of other clothing items. Modern tops, pants, coats... even a kimono or two, all hiding behind the dresses ]

[She nods, possibly being a little presumptuous and touching one of the finished pieces.]

They are beautiful. This seems sudden though.

[Y u do dis?]

[ Tomoe's comment got a sheepish laugh out of Ayame, who blushes slightly and glanced away in shame for a brief second ]

Yes. Inspiration struck me at random. The idea and the talk about the masquerade ball didn't help matters. It only made me want to make more...

[ Ayame didn't know it about herself, but after living in Genessia long enough, she realizes that she has some poor impulse control ]

Do you plan to attend? It would be a good change of scenery for you and your husband.

[ She plants the idea. A night of dancing is romantic even in the Meiji-era mindset, so Ayame wants to have Tomoe go and rekindle the old flame she had with Kenshin, and to help her heal from the past and move on while she's here in Genessia ]

Masquerade? [She had overheard some talk... and hadn't she received some sort of invitation that she had initially disregarded?] I had not really considered it. [She looks at another dress, spreading the skirt a bit.] What is entailed at such an event?

[She was fairly sure Kenshin would prefer to decline. The walls he put up at fifteen were different from the walls he put up now, but there was no mistaking the fact that they were still there--they'd just morphed from a cold halting scowl into a deflecting false smile. But she was also sure that if she asked him to go he would not hesitate to comply.]

Dancing, drinking... It's a social event. I recommend attending it; not only it is good for you to relax, it is also a good source of exposure to other cultures. Who is to say you might meet new friends in there, too.

[ Ayame puts her tools down to stand up, wincing at her sleeping leg that she gently strikes wit her fist to put some blood in it. She walks towards Tomoe, sizing up the young woman with a loud hum ]

I'm going to make you a dress...

[ Ayame proclaims, fully decided that she will do it even if Tomoe expressed no interest in attending the ball just yet ]

What is your favorite color?

I see.

[She has no outright objection. She wouldn't have thought to go herself, but she has no real reason to refuse either. She doesn't talk much but she does like to observe social interaction even she she herself doesn't really... interact.]

I am fond of blue and purple... though red seems appropriate for something like this, wouldn't it?

[She's not going to argue with a woman who made this whole place essentially by hand, a dress shouldn't be too difficult.]

Ah, excellent choices. Those colors are among my favorites as well, it's nice to know you have good taste.

[ She chuckles, bragging a little along her compliment ]

Very well, hmm... Before we get into the formal ones I want you to try this one.

[ Ayame grabs a purple bodycon dress and holds it in front of Tomoe, one without sleeves and with a skirt that only reaches down to the top of Tomoe's knees ]

[Oh haha Ayame, very funny.]

This one does not seem to be complete.

No it's complete. It's a modern type of dress for a modern woman! A liberating attire for a more liberated age!

[ A beam of pride is emitted from Ayame as she puts her chest out and plants her fists on her hips. She may be wearing a yukata at the moment but it's obvious she still prides herself as a modern woman ]

They are... liberated from their clothing?

[ That question felt like it pierced her heart. Ayame didn't expect such a response, so she was momentarily stunned by it. Jaw slackened for a second, she clears her throat. You got her good, Tomoe. ]

No...

[ Shaking her head with a chuckle, she continues ]

It is an artistic reflection; a statement inspired by women's new found freedoms from the stifling societal traditions and expectations brought to us. In your days, women aren't expected to become anything important apart from raising children and caring for their husbands. Politicians, adventurers, owners of corporations... In the modern times where I came from, women can be any of those. Women can choose what to show off and what clothes they find appealing. Like these.

[ She knows she can't change Tomoe's mind. Decades of cultural conditioning would take a lot of time to break. So she's got a lot of other options for Tomoe. But dang it, she still wants to see how well a short dress would fit her friend. ]

You have nice arms, so something like... this one would be interesting.

[ It's a sleeveless dress that she made hover toward them, with a skirt that covers the toes. It stills contours around the wearer's body, but not tight like the other one. ]

[oop, she was trying to make a joke, but ok. She's so deadpan it's hard to tell when she's trying to be funny.]

[Not that there was any way in hell she was wearing that first dress.]

Yes, I would be amenable to something like this...

[You can show off her arms or her calves, not both.]

[ Hearing that Tomoe was at least willing to brought some glee back on Ayame's expression, lightly clapping her hand as she offers the dress to Tomoe to try on. ]

Good! Try it on and see how it feels.

[ Ayame is still getting used to Tomoe's deadpan humor that she didn't quite catch the other woman's attempt of a joke. And Ayame can be a little socially awkward herself ]

Not right now, but later when you're in your quarters.

[ Now that Tomoe's picked some from the currently made ones, Ayame's offering some of the similar ones; that are sleeved but only reaches down a little below the knee, or with a skirt that reaches the floor but has short or no sleeves. Ayame glances at Tomoe while she was picking some clothes on display, remembering the other woman's plight of having to live again. She didn't want to bring it up, and instead offers something that she thinks might help. At least as a distraction. ]

Perhaps sometime I can teach you how to make clothes, so you can make ones that are more to your personal tastes.

[Oh, look at all the pretty things she gets to try on! She doesn't look excited, in fact she may even look a little bored, but she is, in fact, looking forward to this. Hell, if she was going to try them on in the privacy of her own room she'd even try on the "unfinished" one.]

I can sew.

[She drapes another dress over her arm.]

I keep meaning to buy fabric. My husband is in desperate need of new clothing. [Not that he agrees, but it looks like a strong wind will blow that threadbare kimono and hakama right off of him--and she could use a change of clothing herself.]

Autumn, November 7th - Say Yes To The Dress

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