most ardently [reader x spencer reid]

I

Flowing dresses, glittering chandeliers, harmonic orchestral music...

You longed to be immersed in a time where those were part of your everyday life. Unfortunately, modern times involved none of those things.

Sweatpants, harsh LED lighting, the cacophony of traffic outside your window...

It's easy to find beauty in another time period when you were not also there to experience its horrors. You knew you were overly romanticizing it.

You yawned, stretching your arms above your head in an over exaggerated motion. You were always philosophical in the mornings. The newborn sunlight shone into your bedroom, illuminating your furniture. The bookcase on the wall opposite your mattress shone especially bright, the spines of the novels glowing as if they knew the complexity of the wisdom they possessed. This was the kind of light that made you want to do something, everything. It made you want to be someone special.

You felt the softness of your silk sheets slip against your skin as you got out of bed. Though you lived in a small apartment in Washington, D.C., you tried to make the little things luxurious.

Today was going to be an especially luxurious day. Your entire body lit up just thinking about it. You dressed quickly, putting everything you would need for your errands run in a small crossbody purse.

Before leaving, you made sure to grab two things. First, a small piece of parchment with gold lettering, and second, a book. Not any book, it was your copy of Pride and Prejudice. The cover was a worn navy blue, a color which reminded you of your favorite pair of jeans. You slipped the parchment inside the front cover of the novel for safekeeping. In this moment, those two things were your most prized possessions.

~~~

You arrived at your first location for today's errands: Delia's Dresswork.

Delia greeted you warmly before steering you to the back of the dress shop.

"I made some adjustments since the last time you were here. I took your suggestions and added a few more details that I think you will love." She told you, smiling.

"Great." You smiled back at her. "I'm excited."

She handed you a garment bag and led you to a dressing room. Inside there was a small white stool where you set down your purse.

"Come out when you're ready." She said, pulling the thick purple velvet curtain shut.

You undressed in record time before slipping the white fabric over your head and down your body.

Outside the dressing rooms was a large three pane mirror bordered in swirling gold vines. You did a double take at yourself in the reflection.

Delia sighed. "You look... perfect." She breathed out, coming up behind you. "The fit of the bodice is impeccable. How do you feel?"

You were silent, your mouth slightly open in awe as your eyes traced up and down your figure in the mirror.

The dress was white. Not blindingly white, like fresh snow in sunlight, but an effortless white. The fabric fell in similarly effortless folds, perfectly accentuating your body. The cap sleeves were sheer, and the same sheer white material lined the low neckline. A silky sash pulled it all together at your waist, above where the fabric flowed down to your ankles.

You spun a little. Yes, this will do perfectly for dancing.

"I feel... beautiful." You replied, mid spin.