tampered | Log; Ongoing; Backdated

Log; Ongoing; Backdated

When; December 22nd, morning/date
Rating; G/PG/totally innocent
Characters; Emma (

jumbo_gal)
Summary; Emma and Rain go dress shopping at Risa's store, although Emma's hunting for more than just the perfect dress...
Log;

Emma waits eagerly outside of Akindo for Rain to arrive. While she does not live for shopping the way many ladies her age and social class do, a new dress is still an exciting thing, as is a ball and new friends. But if Emma is honest with herself (which she tries to be, although it rarely works), it is not the prospect of a ball or a new dress that excites her. It's finding Rain a husband.

The dress is just an extra benefit.

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Rain made her way to Akindo and looked around a little shyly to see if she could spot Emma.

Emma waves eagerly to her newest friend. "My dear Rain!" she says. "Thank you for agreeing to come with me today."

"Oh gosh, I don't mind," Rain said. "But I don't know what help I'll be."

"You shall be excellent company," Emma says, "and that is all I could ask for. Come, let's get inside."

She threads her arm through Rain's and enters the little shop, looking around for its proprietor.

Meanwhile, Risa had just finished laying the few choice dresses she had found in the stockroom for her expected guests when she heard someone else come in. Business was still booming so close to Christmas, it had been practically non-stop! Nevertheless, though it had been a bit of a strain on her and her two friends/employees, things had gone fairly smoothly thus far.

Straigthening herself out, she walked away from the changing rooms to greet the new customers, reminding herself again to duck from the low hanging decorations, lest to pull them down. It was times like these she remembered why she really didn't like being over five foot eight; she wasn't mocked as being an amazon and totempole for nothing, that was for sure.

"Can I help you?" she chimed, not really getting a good look at the new onlookers right away.

Rain looked nervously at Emma, deferring entirely to her.

Emma was quite accustomed to being deferred to; in fact, she thrived on being in charge. She gave Risa a friendly but polite smile -- as sweet as the young shopkeeper seemed, it was important to remember that she was a shopkeeper.

"Are you Miss Risa, the shopkeeper?" she asked. "I am Emma Woodhouse. I believe you are expecting me?"

Risa blinked in question for a moment, before realizing who was in front of her. It was always so strange meeting new people for the first time outside the communication system. With people changing, leaving, arriving and forgetting so much so often, the novelty of the first meetings never wore out.

"Oh, that's right, nice to meet you at last. Welcome to Akindo, both of you." the teenager chimed with a friendly tone. "I've left a few things out for you to try on, if you'll follow me." she smiled, directing them through the busy crowds of people to the back of the store where the changing rooms were.

Rain nodded and with a glance over at Emma, followed the shopkeeper towards the back of the store.

"Thank you, Miss Risa," Emma said, following the young shopkeeper to the back of the store. Rain was certainly very quiet -- whether this was characteristic of her, or whether she was simply shy, Emma couldn't tell.

"So, Rain, tell me about the dress you are wearing to the ball," she asked. "I am simply dying of curiousity!"

"My friend, Tony, is letting me borrow it," Rain explained with a shy smile. "He said he was experimenting with a new fabric and had someone make a dress out of it and wanted to see how it held up. It's like a fairy tale dress."

"I look forward to seeing it!" Emma said. "I wonder what manner of dresses are here." Much of the clothing seemed quite strange to Emma's eyes, but that was hardly surprising. Still, Emma wasn't sure she would feel comfortable wearing any of it, and hoped that Risa had something more suited to her.

"Everything's pretty new to me," Rain admitted. "I've mostly only see dresses like these in pictures or read about them in books."

The shopkeeper just let the other two females talk, she didn't want to butt in after all. When they got to the back of the store however, she quickly busied herself with the preselected dresses, turning to the two young ladies.

"Well, here you go. We have more, but I picked out the ones I though you would like the best." Risa smiled, hanging the four gowns out next to each other to compare.

She had tried to find dresses that were a little more traditional, since she knew Emma came from a time were computers anc comunnicators were not used. How far back in time she was from she couldn't be sure, but well, Risa hoped she had picked ome good dresses for her to choose from.She wanted them to have a little sparkle of the modern world in the too. Maybe the other would settle into the changes of a new period of history better that way.

"So, what (http://www.cybernetplaza.com/images/itempics/12883_burgundy.jpg) do (http://www.nexteve.com/images/D/F6238A.JPG) you (http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x170/starina_2007/6564a.jpg) think (http://i3.iofferphoto.com/img/item/341/847/31/1c38_1.JPG)?" she asked, waiting to hear what they thought of the selection.

Risa's taste was indeed impeccable. Emma had not expected to feel such a thrill as she admired the dresses.

"They are absolutely lovely," she told the shopkeeper. They were not entirely like the gowns at home, but there was still an elegance to them. She fingered the fabrics -- first rate. Risa had chosen well.

"I love them all, truly," she said, "but I think the last one would suit me best. I have not shopped for pre-made dresses before -- how do you handle sizing?"

Nodding politely, Risa carefully removed the last dress - a dark and flowing gown with gold embroidery - from the line up, holding it carefully for Emma to check over if needed. It was certainly one of the most elegant outfits in the shop, and it looked like it was going to a good home and fashionable owner, which pleased the young girl to no end.

"Well I can do some altering if need be, but from the looks of things, this is about the right size anyway. It'll only be minor work I'll need to do if any at all, but of course that's up to you. Would you like to try it on?" she asked.

"Try it on?" Emma asked, shocked. "Here?" She had never undressed in a shop before; even when having her measurements taken, the seamstress had always come to her home. The idea of stripping publicly was quite shocking.

It is a different world, she reminded herself. And when in Rome...

"Is there a place I might change in private?" she asked stiffly.

Not quite realizing she had caused offence, Risa did feel a little more tense with her customer now. She hadn't meant to be inappropriate, but she knew sometimes she could say things without thinking them through first. (Something her boyfriend pointed out all too often) She only hoped to any deity listening that she hadn't done something really bad to insult Emma.

"Well sure, we have a dressing room right here." she smiled, though a little more nervous than before. She gestured the females towards the nearest one, unlocking the door and pushing it open for them.

She was really glad now that she had asked a friend to build nice, spacious changing rooms into the place before Akindo openned. With Emma being of one of the particular customers she had encountered, Risa really wanted to avoid upsetting her more. The room was fair spacious with a bench (to sit on or lay clothes), hooks to hang garments, and full length mirror on one side. The storeowner could only pray this was suitable.

Emma was aware that she had made Risa feel uncomfortable, but...well, what was there to be done about it? She herself was uncomfortable with the sometimes crude customs of this place.

"Thank you," she said, still every inch the regal aristocrat. "And is there someone to help me put it on?"

Well, this was something. Help? To put on her own clothes? Then again, looking over Emma's current attire, she supposed the other female was more familiar with getting aid easily. The clothes she wore did look tricky to put on by yourself, especially with all those layers and decorations westerners wore. Then again, Japanese kimono's could be a royal pain to get on too. She might have understood more about this is she had paid better attention in history class. Hopefully the gown she picked out would be easier to put on than emma first assumed it would be.

Regardless, Risa didn't say anything, but just decided to try and be as helpful as possible. It was her job after all. And well, she would just try not to stare too much...

"I can help you if you like." she smiled, a little bit more relaxed now as she moved to hang the dress in place before standing smartly as possible to wait for her customer to come in.

"You are very kind," Emma said, and entered the dressing room. After a moment's embarrassed hesitation, she began removing her gown -- an awkward but not impossible feat. Her dress was simple, and having a servant to help put it on was more custom than necessity.

"Could you get that button, please?" she asked. Then, to make conversation: "How long have you had this shop?"

Smiling, the shopkeeper closed the door and locked it, before turning to the other female, waiting till she was needed.

Nodding on hearing the request, the tall girl reached round and undid the button, while her eyes trailed over Emma's clothes. Well, now she understoof a little why the other might have needed help. She knew for a fact she probably couldn't get into this thing on her own. Risa was used to much easier garments, ones you just had to pull on and off. The most complicated part might have been have been to pull up a zip if required, but that was it. Come to think of it, her own modern, casual clothes must have looked as strange to Emma as the customer's did to her.

She dispersed this train of thought on hearing the others question.

"Oh, let's see...if I remember right, we opened at the start of May last year, so we've been in business nearly eight months." Risa replied cheerfully.

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Log; Ongoing; Backdated

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orz I'm sorry Emma's such a snob

No worries, she might have to learn to adapt with the times though. XD

The City will eventually beat it into her

Re: The City will eventually beat it into her