68th of Summer
"Straighten your shoulders when you walk, Amelie. You are a Craven, and a Craven does not slouch." Madeira pushed back her own shoulders, bared as they were in an off-the-shoulder dress, to emphasize her point. With that simple adjustment the sharp angles of her prominent bones turned into strikingly elegant shapes under her skin. "Nobody must mistake you for anything but a lady."
Zintia was bright and bustling under the golden light of sunny late afternoon. Madeira had to hold tight to her daughters hand so as not to lose her in the tide of shoppers going about their business. From the mountain peaks a cooling breeze pulled cheekily at the long billowy white skirt of her magical garment, and set the konti-like scales sewn into the bodice to rattling. But nothing was quite as chilling as the small, gruesome ghost that lead the way. Emma had a way of parting a crowed that Madeira found just as useful as the girl's sense of direction.
"Once we fit you for a dress, I have a surprise for you." Madeira smiled down at Amelie, giving her hand a squeeze through her gloves and many rings. They were headed for the Silk Palace, where she was going to buy her ever growing daughter a new dress. But after that little necessity they had a whole evening ahead with just the two of them, and Madeira planned to make the most of it. It was with a slight tint of desperation that the spiritist endeavored to to learn from her own lonely childhood and avoid the mistakes her narcissistic father made.
"Were here!' Emma announced ahead of them, presenting the little white washed fabric shop with enthusiastic jazz hands, like she conjured it herself from thin air.
"Thanks, kitten. Wait here for us." She smoothed her imbued hand over the girl's hair and pressed forward into the cozy store.
"Welcome back!"
"Miss Craven!"
Two red-headed twins welcomed Madeira and Amelie inside with big smiles and little curtsies, summoned by the tinkling of the little bell over the door. The space inside was surprisingly small for a retail store. There were actually no goods on display at all, simply a long desk and two chairs on one side, and a pedestal and dressing screen on the other. But everything about the place, from the fine furnishings to the padded chairs to the faint waft of fine Lhavitian tea, spoke of comfort.
"May we bring you some tea?"
"Or water?"
"Please, have a seat!"
This was not Madeira's first time at the Silk Palace. Their willingness to cater to her very un-Lhavitian sense of style has made a very loyal customer out of her. As a result they had all of her measurements on file, but this time she was not there for herself. She wrapped an arm around Amelie's shoulder and pulled her to the front.
"Actually, I need a dress for her."
The twins switched speeds immediately, at once conjuring a cup of tea for Madeira and ushering Amelie onto the pedestal. Suddenly the air was full of the snapping of measuring tapes as the twins got to work.
"What kind of dress-"
"Would you like?" the twins asked, looking between Madeira and Amelie.
Madeira just looked to her daughter with a smile and a raised brow, prompting her to make the decision for herself.
Zintia was bright and bustling under the golden light of sunny late afternoon. Madeira had to hold tight to her daughters hand so as not to lose her in the tide of shoppers going about their business. From the mountain peaks a cooling breeze pulled cheekily at the long billowy white skirt of her magical garment, and set the konti-like scales sewn into the bodice to rattling. But nothing was quite as chilling as the small, gruesome ghost that lead the way. Emma had a way of parting a crowed that Madeira found just as useful as the girl's sense of direction.
"Once we fit you for a dress, I have a surprise for you." Madeira smiled down at Amelie, giving her hand a squeeze through her gloves and many rings. They were headed for the Silk Palace, where she was going to buy her ever growing daughter a new dress. But after that little necessity they had a whole evening ahead with just the two of them, and Madeira planned to make the most of it. It was with a slight tint of desperation that the spiritist endeavored to to learn from her own lonely childhood and avoid the mistakes her narcissistic father made.
"Were here!' Emma announced ahead of them, presenting the little white washed fabric shop with enthusiastic jazz hands, like she conjured it herself from thin air.
"Thanks, kitten. Wait here for us." She smoothed her imbued hand over the girl's hair and pressed forward into the cozy store.
"Welcome back!"
"Miss Craven!"
Two red-headed twins welcomed Madeira and Amelie inside with big smiles and little curtsies, summoned by the tinkling of the little bell over the door. The space inside was surprisingly small for a retail store. There were actually no goods on display at all, simply a long desk and two chairs on one side, and a pedestal and dressing screen on the other. But everything about the place, from the fine furnishings to the padded chairs to the faint waft of fine Lhavitian tea, spoke of comfort.
"May we bring you some tea?"
"Or water?"
"Please, have a seat!"
This was not Madeira's first time at the Silk Palace. Their willingness to cater to her very un-Lhavitian sense of style has made a very loyal customer out of her. As a result they had all of her measurements on file, but this time she was not there for herself. She wrapped an arm around Amelie's shoulder and pulled her to the front.
"Actually, I need a dress for her."
The twins switched speeds immediately, at once conjuring a cup of tea for Madeira and ushering Amelie onto the pedestal. Suddenly the air was full of the snapping of measuring tapes as the twins got to work.
"What kind of dress-"
"Would you like?" the twins asked, looking between Madeira and Amelie.
Madeira just looked to her daughter with a smile and a raised brow, prompting her to make the decision for herself.
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