All The Stars to Sail

Chapter 8: Deadly Fashion Accessories

Amelia stood in front of the mobile full length mirror that stood in a corner of the fitting area of the tailor's shop as she checked her brand new tailored uniform. Her eyes took in the sharp creases in the material, the boots polished to a mirror shine, and the gleaming rank insignia that adorned her epaulettes. It was the finest piece of clothing she owned...and it made her feel slightly embarrassed. There was a slight rustle of cloth behind her and Jane appeared in the mirror beside her, smiling, and resting her hand on Amelia's shoulder. "You look so...amazing." Amelia looked at Jane and she too smiled as she studied the young woman. Jane was dressed in a red off the shoulder dress, her hair bound in a matching piece of scarlet cloth that bound her hair into a loose ponytail. The captain reached out to wrap her arm around Jane, her left hand resting on the other woman's bare shoulder as regarded Jane. She smiled and canted her head to look into Jane's face. "If I was more of a poet I could easily wax lyrical about how you look now, Jane."

Jane blushed at the praise as she turned to look back at Amelia, a slow smile spreading across her face. "You are quite wonderful, you know...and if I were more bold than I am I..." she paused, and then lowered her voice" "I would kiss you...right now." Amelia's eyes glittered as she moved her head closer to Jane, her left hand lightly caressing Jane's shoulder, as she spoke equally softly. "I have seen you be bold before..." Jane's arm slid around Amelia's shoulders, stroking the captain between her shoulders, as she smiled and chuckled softly. "Mmm...I believe I prefer this kind of bold behavior.." The two women laughed softly and then Jane moved her head up, raising herself slightly, as she moved her lips toward Amelia's own...

"Oh, -do- excuse me..!" said a voice from the doorway. Amelia's reflexes were the only thing that prevented Jane from cracking her head on Amelia's chin as the captain raised her head up suddenly and turned to look toward the doorway. The dressmaker, a redoubtable woman of middle years, crossed the room briskly and came to stand in front of Jane, eying the dress critically, as she exhaled slowly and snapped her fingers. "Sara, if you would please pull the young lady's dress at the back...I am not entirely convinced it has been fitted properly." There was a pause while the dressmaker critically examined Jane's waistline before she leaned to the side and peered past Jane at the girl still standing in the doorway. "What is the matter, you silly girl!" The assistant Sara, whose face was quite crimson, tore her gaze away from Jane and Amelia and looked toward her employer. Her face reddened even further as she hefted the basket she was holding and scurried across the room, her words flowing out in a torrent. "I'm sorry, Mrs. MacGregor, so sorry!" She placed the basket on the ground besides the dressmaker and knelt down behind Jane; she pulled back the fabric at the waist of Jane's dress before staring fixedly at the floor.

"Very good! Thank you, Sara" said the dressmaker in mild reproof as she studied the dress with a critical eye. "Mmm...yes, I think..." she reached into the basket, not tearing her eyes away from Jane's midriif, and began strategically placing pins into the material. "I think...yes, here...and here...turn just this way, will you? Thank you...and...there." MacGregor stood up, brushing her hands, as she looked at Jane and Amelia with a pleased expression on her face. "Yes, I think that should do nicely. If you would just be so good as to -Sara, -do- let go, child!- remove the dress I guarantee it will be ready for you this evening. Shall I have it sent on to your hotel?" Jane nodded as she carefully stepped down from the platform, an appreciative smile on her face as she took Amelia's proffered hand, before she turned to look at the dressmaker. "That would be ideal, thank you." She then turned to face Amelia, a faint blush tinting her cheeks, as she spoke. "I also must commend you on your work with the captain's uniform...it suits very well indeed."

MacGregor's face remained professionally impassive as she turned to regard the captain herself; Sara, meanwhile, was blushing even more fiercely than Jane herself was. "Yes, it does appear adequate; I will send it along with the dress once the alterations are complete." Jane tore her eyes away from Amelia to face MacGregor again as she worked to force her expression into something less expressive, throwing in a polite smile into the mix for good measure. "Thank you again, Mrs. MacGregor...I will be sure to let my family know that I've seen you. My mother still regrets that you left Earth...she swears that she can't find anyone else as good as you anywhere else on the planet." MacGregor smiled in quite appreciation of the praise as she inclined her head slightly. "Ah, but I've not forgotten her! Do come back before you leave: I have been saving some fabrics for her you to take back!"