platinum and diamond

[go_meta]

They get to Casasha. Shara gets her cream puff and her fruit. Strangers incline their heads to her and call her "pennon"; a few recognize her personally or just know that there aren't any other Swanpennons her age and call her "princess". Casasha is pretty densely populated - there's farmland in parts of it, but the place the wilds spit them out in isn't it; it's a largish city by the source of the river they've been following, and after they spend a night in an inn there - and their horses are more thoroughly seen to than is possible on the trail - they'll be proceeding on a well-trafficked highway to the royal household.

Comments

[alicornucopia]

Then the maid asks if they're going to be attending the heir's announcement party and informs them that if so they're going to need formal wear. There is heavy emphasis on formal: she obviously doesn't believe these people have laid eyes on a sufficiently formal garment in their lives.

[try_me]

Zeviana looks at her, coldly.

She's low born, certainly, she's pretty sure she hasn't seen a garment formal enough in her life. But despite that - the way she's looking at the maid, she's a fucking queen.

"If I go anywhere," she says archly, "you can be damn sure I'll be dressed for it."

[alicornucopia]

"Excuse me," says the maid. "I only wanted to know if you needed something spare tailored for you."

[try_me]

"Right," growls Zeviana.

[in_tatters]

"That would be great, we'd love to go," says Adarin, awkwardly. "Uh - something spare tailored, please?"

[alicornucopia]

"All right then," says the maid, and she produces a tape measure and measures various parts of Adarin and then looks expectantly at Zeviana.

[try_me]

Zeviana sighs, and then lets the maid take measurements.

[alicornucopia]

The maid measures her and then goes away again.

[pleating]

Kayam, in a change of clothes - out of the riding outfit, into an outfit that is less durable but still features pants instead of a skirt - swings by their hall a bit later. "Hi, guys!"

[in_tatters]

"Hey," says Adarin.

[try_me]

Zeviana is over in a corner, looking annoyed, but she says, "Hi."

[pleating]

"You okay?" Kayam asks Zeviana.

[try_me]

"Meh. Feeling a bit insulted, the maid was rude."

[pleating]

"Oh, did you get her name? I know the housekeeper, I can get you assigned somebody else if you want."

[try_me]

"Didn't get her name. She was all - looking down on us, though."

[pleating]

"Well, get her name next time, otherwise I can't do anything. How do you like the palace besides that?"

[try_me]

"All right. The palace is - okay. Pretty."

[pleating]

"Shara's party's going to be in four days to allow time to invite a few hundred stuffy pennons and other important personages and if I should happen to faint dead away when I see her in that dress they've got socked away for the occasion please claim that I had been neglecting to drink enough water to all witnesses," sighs Kayam.

[in_tatters]

Adarin's confused. "... Why would you faint upon seeing her in a dress?"

[pleating]

"Oh, am I that good at being subtle about it now? I am pining for the princess of Casasha who is tragically straight. She knows, but I try not to make it weird, I do want to still be best friends regardless."

[in_tatters]

"Oh," says Adarin. Awkwardly.



"I guess I have company, then."

[pleating]

"Well, you don't have my little anatomy problem, you should just kiss her."

[in_tatters]

"I - mean um. I don't think she feels the same way, so."

[pleating]

"Adarin, her crush on you is the size of this entire continent."

[in_tatters]

He peers at her, confused. "What?"