Entralling Bloom

25.) Dressage (part 2)

Rosalind

Getting fitted by Alouette had been a bit of a grueling process. Having her measurements taken was nothing strange to Rosalind, but conversing with Alouette was like navigating a maze- in that it was difficult to follow the direction of the conversation.

As soon as Albedo left, the atmosphere in Alouette's boutique turned almost intimate, like a girl's night out or a slumber party.

Or at least Rosalind assumed those were apt comparisons. Her parents had never let her sleep over at a friend's house after all.

But certainly, fawning over outfits and dressing up in front of one another were go-to slumber party activities?

Alouette gushed over Ros' features as she ran her measuring tape over her figure.

"You have such dainty hands!" She'd simper.

Or- " Your nose is so quaint! Why it's cute as a button!" She'd praise.

Though Ros wasn't one for flattery she'd politely nod or laugh, unsure how to respond.

Mme. Alouette is probably just trying to make me feel at ease, Rosalind concluded.

It didn't take long for Ros to waver on that conviction...

After Alouette had taken her client's measurements she wasted no time bombarding her with sketches and mockups to sift through.

There were copious options, and Ros didn't know where to start, so Alouette helpfully chose her favorite designs and ushered Rosalind into the dressing room to try every one of them on for herself and Lisa to see.

Each time Rosalind emerged in a new (often scanty) outfit she would earn gentle claps and applause from Ms. Lisa and a litany of honeyed words from Alouette.

Ros continued to be unsure of how to respond to all the attention and compliments, but she politely smiled and checked herself out in the mirror nonetheless.

"Oh, you look just darling in that one!" Alouette cried in awe when Ros entered the foyer for the fourth... no...fifth time? Rosalind was beginning to lose count.

Alouette's designs were -yes- patently sexy and revealing, but they were still lofty evening gowns specifically tailor-made for elegant occasions.

So naturally, they each took a while to get in and out of.

"Yes, the color suits you quite well," Lisa agreed.

Rosalind was beginning to sweat from the effort of her extended modeling session. With every assuring word from her audience, she tittered between feeling appreciated and appraised. Like a performer trying to gauge reactions as they pulled off stunts and parlor tricks.

"Hmm," Alouette murmured as she perused the mock-up racks in her arsenal. "This one! You simply must try this one on!" She said brandishing a silky white halter.

Alouette thrust the garment into Ros' arms and gave her client a giddy push towards the dressing area.

Rosalind stumbled over the skirt of the dress she had on and practically fell into the changing room.

"Good choice. The white silk and her dark hair and skin will go together beautifully" Ros heard Lisa say.

The sweat that was accumulating on Rosalind's brow dripped onto the silky fabric in her arms.

Her usual response would be to politely fret over tarnishing something she had borrowed, but for once Ros' anxiety didn't make an appearance.

In the small closed-off room she was in with the prattling of dresses and smocks echoing from the corridor Ros felt claustrophobic all of a sudden. There were all too many things surrounding her. Too many noises too, many garments, too many memories and thoughts swelling in her mind.