I Am The Sea || Choi San

garment

Fjorda, unlike many other trading towns, accepts all kinds of merchandisers, peddlers, and barters, including pirates and buccaneers.
When the Inception makes port in Fjorda, the sun is high in the sky.
Hongjoong sends Seonghwa and Wooyoung with Theo this time, and Theo is flooded with relief that San will stay behind.
She did not dare be around him ever since he found her accidentally looking through his personal things, too scared and too ashamed.
And too angry. Too hurt.

It's true that the two of them haven't spend that much time with each other, but after Theo had uncovered San's secret talent for the violin, she had thought that moment had bonded them somehow. That it had sent them on a path of slow familiarization with each other.
However far they had gone down on that path, however, yesterday had set them back completely.
Theo had apologized, had explained herself, and San had still chosen to belittle and degrade her like a child. She is not ready to swallow her anger just yet.

The streets of Fjoarda are busy, buzzing with people like a beehive, but Theo and her companions find what they're looking for without a struggle.
The dressmaker.
The windows are large, showing mannequins draped in rich velvets and airy silks, topped with massive, feathered hats. The door is painted in a vibrant purple, a sign above it reads, "Fräulein Cecilie's Dresses and Hats".
Wooyoung excuses himself, saying his interest in women's clothing is not very existent, and decides to check out other stores while Seonghwa and Theo do their business inside the shop.

It smells like lavender soap when they step inside. Seonghwa's face lights up with wonder as he takes in the stacked rows of fabric rolls and dozens of flared hats displayed on mannequin doll heads. His fingers gingerly trace a lace brim on a summer sun hat and chuckles lightly.

"Ah, welcome," the shopkeeper emerges from another room separated by a curtain, "I am Fräulein Cecilie, what a pleasure to meet you."
Fräulein Cecilie is a slender woman with raven hair that falls down to her lower back and beautiful, tawny skin. The most surprising thing about the woman are her eyes, though, as they gleam in a vibrant fresh green. Fräulein Cecilie is an ageless woman, walking with the grace of an experienced dancer, smiling like a young child.
"How can I help you today?"

Theo bows her head slightly in greeting and answers, "Good day, madam. I am in need of a dress for a ball."
Fräulein Cecilie clasps her hands together in joy and then reaches for Theo, to pull her deeper into her shop.
"You came just at the right time," she exclaims, "I got a beautiful delivery of new silks today. French blue, magenta, and even freesia yellow!"

Seonghwa follows them, clearing his throat to remind Theo that they did not have time to have a brand new dress manufactured and sewed. When Theo mentions such to Fräulein Cecilie, the shopkeeper cocks her head to the left.
"Oh, how unfortunate. My topaz satin would be perfect with your skin tone," she says slightly regretfully, before clapping her hands, "But do not dismay, I have a beautiful collection of finished examples. Will the gentleman have a word of influence in the matter?"
"Yes," Theo answers, "The gentleman is very well informed about the tastes and preferences of the ball's host. I'll need his input."
Seonghwa chuckles, though he tries to hide it with a cough.

Fräulein Cecilie leads the two into another room that is lined with racks on each wall. A small changing room is cut off by floor-length curtains.
"Do you have any thoughts about the color of the dress? Perhaps a luscious evening rose or dark ochre?"
"I'd rather take a light purple or maybe a sky blue," Theo answers as she takes in the dresses hanging from the rack. "Lighter colors might be a better fit for the occasion, seeing as it is the summer season."
"Right," Fräulein Cecilie walks the room and pulls out a few dresses that she hangs over her arm, before she ushers Theo into the changing room.

Seonghwa takes seat on a chair across the room, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. Theo doubts he has been in such an establishment before, but she appreciates that he is here with her.
Fräulein Cecilie pulls the curtains closed and starts unhooking the buttons of the first dress she has taken off the racks.
It's a beautiful shade of water lily white with a long train and wide sleeves. To Theo's surprise, none of the dresses Fräulein Cecilie has chosen come with a hard shell corset. Instead, the corsets are shorter and softer, as if it had been sewed into the lining of the dress' top.
Theo unties her leather vest and takes off her skirt and shirt, before slipping into the dress.