St. James Boutique

Artemis follows dutifully along, a step behind. Clothes shopping usually holds little interest for her, as her daily attire is almost totally unchanging. With the Chalet completed, however, her opportunities to wear other outfits are increasing. Who knows, she might even buy herself something today.

She halts with Naoki, and follows her inside when she is ready.

The seamstress had been in the back room, packing away an order she had received by missive. When she heard the chime of the door, she turned to look in a mirror pegged in the back room to make sure her golden blonde hair was still mostly in its elegant chignon. Whisps of her blonde hair framed her handsome face, and when she was pleased with the look, she held her pale green-and-ivory floral skirt in one hand and exited into the room.

She all at once recognized Skarlet, and it was obvious that Genevieve was very happy to see her. Her blue eyes warmed, and the seamstress' smile was infectious as she approached Skarlet with open hands.

"Ah, bonjour!" she responded back, air-kissing both of Skarlet's cheeks in the way of Gauldin. "It is so lovely to see you again," she spoke in Common, as was polite, as was expecting, and with her Gaulish accent light and dancing on her words.

She turned to regard Artemis and Madame Naoki with that same smile, an air of safety and warmth about Genevieve's slender shoulders and within her cozy little shoppe as well.

"Have you come with Skarlet? How can I help you today?"

Her gaze flittered down to the silver box, slightly open, within one of Naoki's bags. She knew it, of course. Every single piece that Genevieve sold from her store was unique, and sort of like a child to the enchantress herself. A gentle frown came over her face.

"Oh non! Did one of my purchases not come to satisfaction?" She asked, slightly concerned.

Naoki raises her unoccupied hand in greeting, nods to Genevieve, and proceeds to introduce herself. Her demeanor is relatively flat, but still friendly. In reality, she is pre-occupied, but doesn’t allow it to have a significant effect.

“I am Madame Naoki, head of the Treasury Department, owner of The Midnight Sun, and Skarlet’s adoptive mother. This is Artemis, my associate. Presumably, you are Ms. Genevieve, whom I’ve heard so much about. Many of my friends, Skarlet included, have sung the highest praises of your work. I’ll get directly to first of my matters, as not to waste too much of your time.”

She hefts the bag in her hand, indicating the silver box within.

“I received this dress as a gift, and am quite satisfied with it, please don't’ read me the wrong way. However, I have rather unique needs, when it comes to garments, that you could not have possibly accounted for in creating this excellent dress.”

To illustrate, Naoki raises her tail, twitching it about some to draw attention to it. It is- what would seem to be- the tail of a cat; colored to match her hair and ears, sleek and well-groomed, but otherwise unremarkable. After a moment or so, after she’s sure Genevieve has ample opportunity to take note, she allows it to drop back down behind her, where it proceeds to sway idly.

“I came to see if it would be possible to alter this garment to account for this unique feature of my physiology. It should be as simple as cutting and hemming a small hole or flap, and I would have done it myself, as I have for the rest of my wardrobe, but thought it better- since I saw that you were back in town, to ask you to make the alteration.”

“Of course not. I usually cut holes that are about five or six centimeters in diameter, but the placement is important.”

Moving first to the seating area, Madame Naoki places her bag down next to the table, careful to ensure that it sits upright and doesn’t spill. After that, she proceeds to the dais, stepping up and taking a moment to demonstrate the practical aspect of her non-standard appendage, moving it to easily regain her balance atop the dais without any waving of the arms or teetering. From her newfound vantage, she takes a moment to examine her own reflection in the mirror, before shifting focus to look through the mirror behind her, out over the rest of the shop.

Naoki is cooperative, and Genevieve would likely find it reasonably easy to take the required measurements, and in doing so, would also see an example of an article of clothing already modified. On the seat of her pants, just at her high hip, the tail protrudes at a downward angle though a small aperture cut and hemmed neatly for the task. The material cut to form the hole was left attached at the top, and has been cut partially to leave a sort of half-flap that rests on the upper portion of her tail as it leaves the garment, presumably to preserve a bit of modesty. Though the tail sits just above the undergarments, if the flap were not there, it would be possible to see a small portion of her lower back just above the tail.

Skarlet would take a cookie and then sit down. Looking around the place with keen eyes.

"Is such a event coming to Isra?" she asked. She wasn't very social other than her usual needs from the market and providing for her customers. She had never had a beau since her move to Isra, and in fact, had never had a friend invite her anywhere. She had only customers and the random drop-bys of beasts, dragons, and royalty.

Genevieve finished up shortly and stood, her skirts rustling quietly around her legs as she put the tailor's tape in one pocket and drew a small notebook and pencil from the other, jotting down Naoki's measurements before she forgot them. "It will take me about a day to make the alterations, and of course, I will want you to come back and try it on to make sure it is all correct."

She gave a graceful gesture that Naoki could come down from the dais and gestured back to where Artemis and Skarlet were waiting. Genevieve herself wouldn't reach for the gown, and was content to wait until Naoki handed it over, not wanting to go through the customer's bags.

She noticed Skarlet eating a cookie and smiled. "Odette made the madeleines herself," the blonde enchantress spoke with obvious affection and pride. "How do they taste?"

“Hard to say, I’m not sure what exactly she has in mind, she alluded to something in passing when she gave me the gown. I can’t say that I imagine her planning a city-wide event, though. She was probably referring to a special dinner or something of an equally personal scope.”

Stepping down from the dias, she casually begins to make her way over to the seating area, still speaking.

“That’s not a bad idea, though. We don’t have very many national holidays here in Isra; we could use a few festivals. Which actually makes for an excellent transition into the next thing I have to speak about, in a roundabout way.”

Bending down at the knees, Naoki reaches down into her bag, and pulls out the silver box containing the gown. Before departing for the Chalet, she had taken a moment to wipe the ink from the bottom of the box, though not all of it had come off. A few smudged ink-stains remain, but they have since dried, and are only on the bottom of the box. Removing it carefully from the bag with two hands, she offers it to Genevieve, or would place it somewhere upon suggestion.

“You see, you’ll have plenty of time to complete the alterations, as I’ll be out of town. This time tomorrow, if all goes to plan, I’ll be in Le Palais Royal. At the recent emergency session of the Assembly, I was selected, through a combination of understaffing issues, my proficiency with the language, and… a fair amount of persuasive wording on my part, to lead a delegation to the sovereign nation of Gauldin, and attempt to establish positive, mutually beneficial, and prosperous diplomatic ties. I would like to consult you, obtain your advice, and perhaps even an outfit that would be… fitting to wear for such an occasion. Though I am familiar with Gauldin as it pertains to world politics and trade, and have obtained a functional understanding of its culture and customs, my understanding does not extend to its high fashion, and I can’t think of anyone who would be more well-versed than yourself.”

Madame Naoki nods, smiling. She didn’t exactly think that Genevieve would deny her advice, and fully expected her to have an outfit perfect for the occasion, but even in observing the expected result, she can’t help but feel pleased. Probably some effect of the magic, she muses.

“Excellent, thank you. I’ll be here.”

Without too much more to do, Naoki seats herself on one end of the sofa, and samples one of the scones, finding herself pleasantly surprised with it. Very well made. She casts a glance sidelong at Artemis, using an eyebrow to indicate a silent inquiry.

When the owner of St. James Boutique picked out a garment for a customer, it was not just a random choice. It was not thoughtless, or hasty, or quick; it was not chosen by price, or even by color or shape, although as a stylist Genevieve did bear these thoughts in mind, but no.

No, what made St. James Boutique unique was the magic crafted into every single item, the fate that was wound into each thread as it was built and constructed, by hand, by the lovely enchantress herself. These were not items that had been previously made with a charm thrown over, hoping that the magic might stick to the threads -- these items were made enchanted from the very beginning, as Genevieve poured her skill and power into every stitch that was made, every button that was sewn, every detail of the garment.

It was not just as simple as picking a dress, nor as easy as going for just, whatever. Genevieve came to have an excellent read on her clientele and buyers, and had a talent for picking the exact item in the store that had already been calling to the customer as soon as the chime rang above them.

So when Genevieve looked to the boudoir of dresses that she did not put out onto the floor, her gaze fell upon a deep, elegant, wine-coloured confection that made her cheeks warm and put a little tingle on her skin just to look at it.

"Oh, mon petit morte," she said, reaching for the gown. It was a deep rich color, made of velvet, and tailored to fit to a perfectly toned, hourglass body with breasts that were neither too big or too small, and hips of the same statute. Its neckline was wide and scooped, decorated simply with a scarlet-and-gold pattern. The sleeves were tight upon the upper arms and flowed out from the elbow, and it's skirt was long and luxurious. Indeed, as she was making this gown, she had thought of how the woman wearing it would look like a languid, intoxicating, sensual drink of summer wine, that beckoned to sultry nights and a carnal taste to savor.

The gown itself was not overtly sensual -- its neckline wasn't low, there were no thigh slits, no shocking bare of the back -- but it's shape, the cling of the material to the torso, and the woman who filled it just so would no doubt make those of a lesser-will almost salivate. After all, one's imagination could be far more wicked, and the woman who wore this dress would be no mere courtesan. She would be a woman of self-possession, who knew the value of her worth, and would know that others would instantly look at her and agree with that price.



In short, Genevieve knew that this gown was enchanted for Madame Naoki, and no one else. It would be especially conducive to her travels to Le Palais des Ailes in regards to her negotiations and treaties with the people in charge there. They would be liable to give the woman whatever she wanted, while they imagined how beautiful that dress would look around Naoki's feet.

Genevieve had to fan herself a little at the vision and glanced in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed. It had been a long time since sensual thoughts had even entered her mind, and perhaps that was why this dress in particular was packed with so much sexual suggestion.

Taking a breath and putting herself to as much rights as she could, she quickly packaged the dress in another silver box, folding it in paper, and putting the lid upon it. Out of sight, she felt much more of her composure come back, and the bow she wrapped around it was cinched perhaps tighter than she had the others.

Then, she moved back out. Of course, Naoki would not be able to see it, but Genevieve was hoping she could convince her. Clearing her throat lightly so as not to rudely interrupt whatever conversation might have been going on between Naoki, Artemis, and Skarlet, she gave a smile to Naoki.

"I have chosen your dress. It is of a deep cabernet colour, created to outline the curves of your torso and flow freely from your hips and elbows. I think you will be very pleased, but please, I recommend that you try it on at home." She handed the box over to Naoki, a light blush touching her cheeks. "I am very sure that you will be pleased with it, but if you are not, you can return it when you come back from Travere."