sageprincess | AEF INBOX

[Was Zelda, by any chance planning to completly ignore the masquerade and remain in her room, possibly practicing her magic during that time? Not on Marie's watch. Zelda will not be doing any studying today, the tiny Queen of France will make sure of that!

So there she was, dressed in an extravagant and heavily decorated red dress, knocking on the other woman's door. She was holding a package for the other queen which she initially was just going to leave at Zelda's doorstep, but it would be better to stay and make sure everythin goes according to plan. Just in case]

Are you in there? I know you are! It's time to get ready for the masquerade!

[She was, indeed, planning to ignore the masquerade several days ago. Her Bonded, however, quickly squashed any hopes of doing that, because Marie is not the only funtime bully that she knows. An elegant, if conservative and on the simpler side, suit lays spread out upon her bed as she opens the door, though the princess herself doesn't show many signs of being in a big rush to prepare for the event.

Her eyes widen as she takes in Marie's outfit. Someone certainly goes hard on parties like this.]

My goodness, what a gorgeous dress you've found, Lady Marie!

[...]

... Ah, but it is still a few hours away, is it not? [She... doesn't think she'll need quite as much preparation...]

[The suit does not go unnoticed by Marie. So Zelda was not going to skip the masquerade at all! This was a good sign. Marie was fully prepared for having to convince her that skipping one evening of magic training was absolutely okay, but it seems like someone else did that part for her. Nice!]

Oh, of course we still have time. However, this is exactly why I am here early! In case your costume turns out to be a poor fit, there will still be time to have a tailor make some corrections!

[Marie was rather sure it would fit Zelda well, but you can never be too cautious]

[...

Slow blinking.]

... I am sorry, I fear I do not understand what you mean. "My costume"?

[Oh right. She forgot to tell her before.]

Your outfit for the masquerade, of course! I am sure it would fit you well, so please try it on!

[Marie hands Zelda the package she's been holding all the time. Inside, the princess will find a heavily decorated white suit, adorned with silver thread, shoulder pads with tassels and red ribbon. It is a lot. It is definitely much fancier than what Zelda was planning to wear]

O-- Oh...

[The owlish blinking continues as she pulls the outfit from it's packaging, brows raised nearly to her hairline with how ostentatious it is.

And yet--]

This-- You could not have possibly simply found this in a tailor shop. You... had this made for me?

That's right!

[Well, to be specific, the suit did come from a tailor shop. It was the fruit of labor of its employees, made with attention to tiniest detail in Marie's design]

I wanted the three of us to match! You, Lady Scathach and me... We live under the same roof but I do not contribute much... So I wanted to say my thanks through something I am familiar with and had these masquerade outfits custom made.

[She gives Zelda a warm smile]

Do you like it?

[For a while she just kind of... stares at Marie, occasionally dropping her gaze back down to the suit in her hands like she's uncertain if it's real or not.

She... wanted all of them to match. Not just herself and Scathach; Marie wanted to include her as well. It's a strange feeling, that. One that she doesn't quite know what to do with.]

I-- I admit, it would not be something I would pick out for myself. But it is lovely, and I am... grateful you thought of me as well.

[She considers for a moment more before shrugging lightly.]

... I suppose there would not be much harm in being a little bit more extravagant for one night.

[And this is exactly what Marie was hoping to hear from Zelda!]

Does that mean you are really going to wear it tonight? I cannot wait to see you in it!

[She means it and is genuinely excited!]

Actually... Could you try it on? Right now?

[Goddesses, who can resist a face like that? The tips of her long ears go a little pink at the edges in the face of Marie's enthusiasm, but she does nod.]

Yes, I suppose it would be for the best to ensure it fits sooner rather than later. One moment, please.

[And Zelda is a royal who has been dressing herself for much of the past seven years, so when she ducks behind her door once more, it's without inviting Marie inside. Though a few seconds later the Queen will be able to hear a muttered--]

... Oh, there are more pieces to this than I had anticipated...

[--through a crack in the door left in the princess' wake.]

[Marie is a very polite girl who has been taught only the finest manners. She would never think of peeking on a woman changing, no matter how cute she was. However, Zelda was taking such a long time getting changed into the outfit... Maybe she needed some additional help?

She knocks on the door.]

How is it going? Does it not fit, after all?

U-- um. I am not certain that is the problem, exactly--

[Though she does sound a little troubled. And... muffled?]

Perhaps I could use your assistance...

[There's no small amount of embarrassment in her voice as she asks that, and if Marie should respond by checking in on her, she will find the princess has gotten herself stuck in the jacket somehow, her head halfway through the collar but her arms trapped and lost somewhere in the bodice.]

... I feel I may have missed a clasp somewhere. [Maybe?? She's hoping this is not the proper way to get this thing on.]

[Having received permission from Zelda, Marie opens the door slightly and peeks behind it. Oh, this surely did not look good. She surely could have used a bit of help here.]

Are you not used to putting these kinds of outfits on? I would imagine that you had servants to help you with your royal outfits, is that so?

[She enters the dressing room and approaches Zelda. Alright, let’s figure this out somehow!]

Oh, um.

[Zelda goes very still, ostensibly to allow Marie room to assist, but beneath the frills and glimmering of the masquerade outfit, her blood runs cold.

Marie is kind. Marie probably wouldn't judge her if she told her the truth of her adolescence. But that level of trust isn't quite there yet, and so she finds half-truths spilling from her lips instead.]

Well, Hyrulean fashions lean slightly more towards the simpler side, compared to much of what I have seen here. Less, ah... cinching and tying, and so on.

I see. So a lot of fashion is completely new to you, is that so? In this case, I apologize for leaving you to face this on your own. Let me help.

[Here is one missed clasp, a missed button... Marie undoes them quickly to give Zelda some breathing space. The belts could also wait until they have adjusted the outfit, so she unties them as well]

Alright, it should be a bit easier now? Let me know how it fits.

[It was a bit strange, attending to someone instead of being attended to herself]

N-- no, you need not apologize. I can usually do well enough on my own...

[She assures, mildly thankful that Marie's attention remains on her clothes rather than her slightly flushed face, and very thankful that she doesn't ask for much in the way of clarification. Her assistance is also appreciated, of course, and the princess breathes a heavy sigh of relief once the pressure created by the improperly-worn jacket is released.]

Ah, yes, that is much better. [She quickly snakes her arms through the sleeves once she's able to, shaking her shoulders to get the piece to settle into position.] It certainly seems properly measured, now that I am not being bound by it... I must admit I am both surprised and impressed.

[How did Marie even get her measurements...]

[Marie has good eye for clothes related things and that extends to guessing measurements as well. However, just to be sure, she asked a friendly Witch to lightly enchant the outfit so it would fit the wearer better.

Now that Zelda was properly wearing the outfit Marie brought her, Marie knew one thing and it was that she looked absolutely gorgeous in it. Marie smiles, happy that her keen eye for fashion did not fail her.

However...]

The most important thing is, how do you like it, Zelda?

[How does she like it... what an odd question. Fashion isn't typically something she thinks about in terms of enjoyment; it's a tool to shift people's opinions of her. As an elegant princess or a rogue Shiekah minstrel, it hasn't mattered what she personally thinks of her clothing, so long as it has the intended effect.

But as she looks at herself in the mirror, the flush doesn't quite fade from her face.]

It is... different, than I am accustomed to, definitely, but... not in a bad way, I suppose.

[Forgive her, Marie, this sort of thing is difficult for her. She shrugs her shoulders a bit, watching how the garment shifts over her form.]

... I do look a rather gallant, do I not?

[Oh, so it looks like Zelda has a lot she can learn about fashion. Marie will gladly be the one to teach her, as long as she expresses such a wish]

I am glad to hear this! I think you look really lovely, Zelda - but it only matters if that's how you feel as well.

[She smiles]

You could dress like that more often if you ask me

Oh, I do not know about that...

[She ducks her head, bashful. The idea of wearing something like this casually in her day to day is a bit much to handle right now, but...]

But, for special occasions, it will work well enough, I think.

[That's about the closest anyone's gonna get to getting her to admit she likes something, anyway. At least the way she looks at herself in the mirror - shoulders back, turning this way and that to see how the outfit fits - is a little more honest in her approval.]

I cannot wait for these special occasions then!

[Marie smiles brightly as she places a hand on Zelda’s shoulder and stands next to her. She takes a look at their reflection in the mirror]

Seeing you in these kinds of outfits will definitely be a treat to the eyes!

[But there’s more to that. Zelda looked beautiful, of course, but Marie was just glad to spend time with her, as a friend. Perhaps as their bond deepens, they will have more occasions like this one? Marie certainly hopes so]

AEF INBOX

action, 11/8

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wrap this here?

sure!