RP:The Hilde-Bear & the Snow Maiden Fair
Frostmaw Tavern
Hildegarde stood there with her shoulders hunched as Drargon tried his best to stifle a grin, while Kenway perched on the bar, "Don't you dare laugh," she warned them both, much to their amusement. Kenway tried to reassure her as his serpentine tongue flickered lazily, ~Hilde, it's not so bad, really!~ which was only meant with a lamenting groan from the dragon. Here, the knight stood in a dress that was ill-fitting: she was too tall, for one, and far too muscular, it looked about ready to burst under the strain of keeping all of her in it. "This is horrendous," she muttered unhappily, a few scars dusting over otherwise pale and smooth skin. The dress itself wasn't much, made of cheap fabrics and by a poor seamstress. Drargon coughed to cover up his laughter - yet it didn't do much, what with his booming laugh - and Hilde threw her arms upward in dismay and irritation, only to hear a mighty tearing noise as the fabric at her back and side tore from the stretch. "Gods above! I am a woman who likes armour, not these fabric dresses! Give me mail, not these useless things," she lamented to the pair.
Satoshi enters the tavern with her head turned back, speaking over her shoulder to someone behind her, "Honestly, if this claim turns out to be another one of your tall tales, you're swimming in Lake Frysta. How did a -bear- get in the tavern to begin with, and who would be insane enough to stuff it in a dre--" The magus cuts off her words as her gaze flicked forward to find Hildegarde standing there, exasperated and, "in a dress. Huh. That... that's a new look, Mithril." From around Satoshi's neck, the tiny cerulean head of Emielle rears up. The couatl's black eyes are aflame with curiosity and interest as she tips her head to one side. ~But where is the bear? Did you slay it and take its dress? That is a most brave thing to do.~ Emielle's mental-tones are completely innocuous, she honestly believes the story about a bear in a dress having been in the tavern. Satoshi bites her lip in a poor attempt to keep her face straight, although a half-choked laugh still escapes.
Hildegarde had been mistaken for a man in her mail before, so it would be no surprise to her that people thought she looked beastly or even more so in a dress. "M'lady," she said, offering a bow that only resulted in another loud tearing noise as she grimaced. Kenway's iridescent wings shuffled as he took in the sight of his sister, wings fluttering as he perched on Hilde's shoulder; affectionately bumping his head against her cheek as they often did. He knew her better than most people did, he knew that she took such comments to heart and tried her hardest to hide her own shame, ~It's okay, Hilde,~ he offered her, before he dipped his serpentine head lowly to Satoshi and Emielle, ~M'ladies.~ His politeness and courtesy made Hilde smile some, pleased that he maintained his cheery and polite attitude at all times. "M'lady Emielle," she said in greeting, "I have not slain a bear for some time, nor do you find them wearing dresses. It is, however, commonplace to mistake one such as myself for a bear, as large and brutish as I am," she said, as if it were a matter of fact. "I take it word is spreading of a bear in a dress?" she asked, attempting to make her tone light and warm, yet it was stiff and a little forced, but always polite and courteous.
Satoshi's features regain their composure at hearing the undertone of unhappiness in Hildegarde's voice. It's one thing to poke affectionate fun, another to do it at the expense of a knight she respected. "Apologies, Mithril. Dear Alesahr Viriwind here," at this, Satoshi's arm reaches back to drag forward a stumbling young Wood Elf, eyes wide and unfocused, and hands clasped before him nervously, "has had far too much to drink, and far too little courtesy hammered into his head." Alesahr flinches at this, putting on a sheepish grin as he tries to retain his compromised balance--it's only Satoshi's claws on his shirt collar that's keeping him standing. Clearly, the Wood Elf is well intoxicated. From the outdoor cold of Frostmaw and his frantic run to Satoshi, much of the ale-induced redness of his face has faded to an unhealthy yellow, with just a tinge of green. Emielle spots this and observes mildly, ~I did not know elves could be those colors.~ It's enough to get Satoshi's alarmed attention, and she's hasty to guide him to Drargon, leaving the elf there with a simple, "He's your trouble now." before the drunk begins retching over the side of the bar. Studiously trying to ignore the sounds--while Emielle draws herself higher to get a better look--the magus looks once more at Hildegarde, whiskers twitching up with a slight smile. "My dear, that dress does you no justice. I should have a word with your seamstress. I know one who could weave you a dress to make you look like a warrior queen, and feel like one too."
Hildegarde was ready to shrug her shoulder, but realised it may well tear the gown more and that might well end badly for all patrons in the tavern! "It is fine, m'lady. I have heard worse said of me and many have confused me for a man before," she said with a sheepish smile, "so I suppose being a bear can be a compliment. I am stronger than one, after all," she said in an attempt to keep the mood light. Kenway lifted slightly and peered over at the elf who was vomiting loudly, obviously a little bit curious, ~Hilde, didn't you leave your armour behind the bar?~ which was only met with the knight closing her eyes and inhaling slowly. "Indeed," she replied. At the mention of another dress, her silvery scales rippled across her face in some embarrassment, "M'lady, I would rather not be in a dress altogether. I mean, well, I'd rather be in my mail! I…" she sighed, "My mother is insisting I wed a suitor, so I am having to meet him," she said sullenly. It was obvious this was not what the dragon wished for, it was so terribly against her wishes!
Satoshi arches a brow delicately, a gesture that makes her foxish appearance all the more cunningly vulpine. "A knight should have formal wear." She's about to continue, when Emielle's coils tighten around her throat from the couatl attempting to stretch further. Emiur's daughter is insatiable when it comes to observing the world, even the parts where some poor drunk is coughing up his ale. With a dutiful sigh, the kit untangles Emielle and sets the blue serpent upon the bartop, where she can watch in peace without strangling Satoshi. As she returns from this, the magus uses it as a chance to give Kenway a light scratch upon his head in silent hello. "As I was saying~. A knight should have formal wear, and a lady knight should have formal wear that is a dress," she lets this linger a second, fairly certain Hildegarde will grimace at the idea, "However, nobody said a dress could not also have chainmail, non~? You're a knight of Frostmaw, you're expected to be prepared for battle at any moment, and so this dress inhibits you. The seamstress Iintahquohae could create something far more suitable to you, I do believe~." If Inks could stitch closed the sky, then there's no reason she couldn't design an outfit that is both formal and functional for the uncomfortable knight.
Hildegarde did indeed grimace at the mention of having formal attire, yet she did her best to stifle it. After all, this was her Queen; commander and more importantly her friend (or so she liked to think!). She watched as Emielle was placed on the bartop and instantly felt Kenway tense, he was worried something might happen to his sister, even though she was in a safe environment with two fine humanoid protectors. He leaned up into the scratch, before fluttering to the bar to perch next to his sister in an effort to guard her and keep her company; trying to display his abilities at being a knight and a protector. "Indeed, m'lady. But I would rather not have m'lady Inks go to all the trouble of designing and creating a most wonderful dress for me to wear it but once and then hide it away forever." She sighed softly, "Even so. Rogatus is a kind enough man, but his family and mine shall take it as a slight to see me dressed in knightly wear. My father and mother may have been proud of me, but since Calhoun… They think differently. Rogatus and his family are honourable, yet they would not be inclined to let me be who I am, and I am certainly not inclined to chain myself down to that sort of life," she said with a small snort of disdain.
Satoshi echoes Hildegarde's sound of disdain with her own small sniff. "Honorable? And what greater honor is there than to be a lady knight of Frostmaw? Besides, I did not say to meet him in platemail. I am certain Lady Stitch and I could create a design that would produce a dress worthy of a ball," a gleam of an idea comes into Satoshi's eyes with this, "while also being armor worthy of combat. You shall have the best of both worlds, and if this suitor has objections to that, he has objections to Frostmaw itself!" A firm nod punctuates the sentence before Satoshi looks pointedly at Hildegarde's hands, where she knows defining runes were etched same as herself. Family and Faith. Slowly Satoshi brings her hands out in front of her, palms up to expose the softly glowing azure symbols. Ice- cold and unrelenting, soft as snow, pristine yet cracked, heartless Winter, belovedly celebrated Solstice. Death- the unknown, the inevitable, the undefeatable, fear and shadows, endings and beginnings alike. Satoshi has stared at the two runes for hours on end, and every time, she discovers a knew meaning in their fathomless depths. A new facet of herself, some of them she loves, some of them she wished were not true. "Do not forget what marks we carry, Hildegarde. These symbols are as much our strengths, as they are our weaknesses, our shortcomings. Love and honor your family, but do not let them sacrifice you for their own beliefs--that does not love or honor you."
Hildegarde shook her head with a smile, "There is no greater honour, m'lady," she said with an unshakeable certainty and belief in those words. Although Hilde dearly hoped he had objections to this, that meant it was highly likely he would refuse her as a match, so it wouldn't be so terrible or 'selfish' of her to solely reject him. As the Queen looked at her own hands, the knight felt compelled to do the same; extending her hands to stare at the deeply carved runes that often reminded her of best forgotten things, "These marks are unforgettable, m'lady, they seem not only to lurk on her hands, but in our hearts," she confessed. "I love my family, yes. I honour them as much and as often as I can, but I shall not allow them to sell me like some kind of chunk of meat. I am a knight of Frostmaw, not a slave, not cattle, not meat to be sold. My own honour and feelings are worth more than that of his," she said, somewhat lowly. "Besides, I do not think I'd enjoy living in some lair of a Golden dragon." It was true, the Golden dragons were much respected by their kin for being the makers of an empire; for being the wealthiest and the strongest of their species, the intelligent ones who could divide up the species and keep them happy without bloodshed or war. Hilde's supposed suitor was descended from a great line, yet this did not appeal to her much at all. "Mind you, m'lady, I will not believe I won't look ridiculous in any dress until I see this!"
Satoshi's face splits into a wide grin. Hildegarde just said the magic words. "That settles it, then! We're making you a dress!" Oh ho ho, if it took Satoshi having to steal the divine silk from a Goddess' back, she would, to ensure the right blend of dress and armor was crafted for Hildegarde. The very idea is enough to make Satoshi giddy with delight, going as far as to dance a little circle where she stands. Emielle, coiled beside Kenway, turns her head to watch this with the same steady observation in which she regards all the world. Dancing with legs is a concept still quite alien to the couatl, although she has an impression in her mind of her kin's own method of it: twisting, twining, looping, and diving through the sky and among the clouds. Self-consciously, the couatl draws her colorless wings closer to her body. While she could flutter at this age, she cannot yet properly fly--she's strong enough to now, but afraid to, and ashamed to see her wings exposed. Emielle has learned well how to hide these thoughts from Satoshi, however, so that the magus is oblivious as she grins up at Hildegarde. "I'll write to Lady Stitch immediately! She's in Frostmaw, in fact. We can make a trip of it, as much to talk dresses as to let the couatls have a playdate~."
Hildegarde realised as soon as she saw that grin, that she had basically handed herself up on a plate to Satoshi; now a little doll for the Queen to dress and model to her heart's delight! "As you command, my Queen," she said, not really sure what else to say, as the Queen could quite rightly command her to do this anyway. The Queen could command her to strut around in a bikini and she'd do it. She glanced over to the couatl siblings, seeing Kenway nudge his sister as she brought her wings closer to her body, as if he felt something amiss with her. The Silver smiled to Satoshi, "I think they would enjoy spending more time together, m'lady. Plus, it would be nice to spend some more time with yourself and Lady Inks."
Satoshi follows the gaze toward the pair of couatl, smiling in turn--and frowning slightly, recognizing Emielle's silent, withdrawn body language. The couatl might be able to shield her thoughts, but masking the lines of tension on a body is an entirely different matter. She'd have to speak to Emielle about it later, in private. Again. Inwardly sighing, yet outwardly smiling, the magus nods once more to Hildegarde. "Soon, then, we'll get together and see this through. Then, you'll be able to believe a dress can also be armor and comfortable~." She sends a rueful look toward where Alesahr sits slumped half-behind the counter with his head downturned, Drargon nearby and grudgingly cleaning up the mess the Wood Elf created. It would be a bit before Hildegarde's armor could be called 'comfortable' again. "At least you have the dress for now?" Satoshi offers with a half-smile.
Hildegarde turned her gaze along with Satoshi's, watching as Kenway seemed to nestle into his sister in an effort to try and comfort her and show his support. He was an affectionate sort, like his partner, and he was obviously concerned about his family. But Hilde's attention returned to Satoshi, "Yes, m'lady. I am sure I will! Perhaps such a dress will allow people to see me as a woman and not a bear," she said with a glance to Alesahr. Certainly, she did not begrudge the opinion, but she was not a woman who thought highly of herself and this was a rather well-known fact amongst those who knew her. "Indeed, m'lady, but right now, I think I shall scrub my armour out and get back into it. Or at least, my leather underclothes and chainmail," she said with a fond smile.
Satoshi nods in understanding as she collects Emielle from the countertop--the couatl returning her brother's nudges with equal affection. Once the little serpent is back in her usual place, Satoshi heads for the door. At the threshold, she stops and half turns her head to say in diabolically sing-song tones, "Oh, and Mithril~. Do be sure to practice your dancing. You gave me a wonderful idea, and so I've decided Frostmaw will be having a proper ball soon." With this, the foxkin leaves, chuckling darkly to herself.
Hildegarde stood there, frowning... "M'lady...? M-M'lady?!" she said, but the Queen was gone. She looked to Kenway with a clear expression of fear.