Le Paon Mode (open)

[albinotanuki]

This roleplay mostly centers around Aunt Regine's fashion Boutique Le Paon Mode and Aunt Regine is looking for inspiration for a new fashion line and even models.

Rules

PG-13
Anyone can play
No God moding

[pompeybot]

Characters:
Gregor monsterinparis.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=charasrpg&thread=330&page=1
Elspeth monsterinparis.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=charasrpg&action=display&thread=329

Gregor tugged his hat down nervously, making sure that the brim still covered the extra eyes that lined his brow. Being out in broad daylight on a busy street put the giant scorpion on edge, as did the fact that he was currently being herded along said street against his will by a stubborn seamstress with a bee in her bonnet.
"Will you hurry it up, Greg? I want to get our materials before noon, and we've barely covered any ground!"

On the contrary, Elspeth had been shoving Gregor around at a brisk march all morning, her one eye scanning the storefronts eagerly as they rushed past. It as though she planned to see every square inch of France during her short visit, and was following through with alarming determination. The giant scorpion caught hold of a shop door and held fast, bringing them both to a stop and turning to address his companion plaintively. "B-but...I don't need a new 'outfit!' I already have this one, and I like it just fine."

Elspeth eyed Gregor's clothes with disdain. Sure, she'd been the one to make them in the first place, but is there any critic more harsh than the artist herself?
The vest was getting frayed and dingy from constant use, not to mention the hasty patch-job running up both sides of the garment - if you like it so much, try not to shred the thing every time you need your arms free. The formal cape that covered his tail looked absolutely ridiculous - honestly, what was I thinking? Elspeth sighed, already compiling a mental list of improvements she'd have to work into her next designs.

"Gregor, dear, you DO realize that most people own more than one set of clothes, right? You can't stay in Paris and wear the same outfit every day! It's just...wrong."

"Don't you at least want to look inside some of the shops? We haven't stopped at a single one all morning!" Most of Gregor's shopping experience consisted of leisurely trips to the butcher's, or the book store - this "clothes hunting" was a new horror, one that seemed to never end.

"Don't be silly, Greg. You're talking to a professional! I know exactly what I'm looking for, and I'll tell you when I see it. I just haven't-"

Elspeth froze as something in the shop window caught her eye. Cautiously, Gregor loosened his death grip on the door of the boutique. "What...what is it?"

[albinotanuki]

It was a rather slow business day for the boutique, Le Paon Mode; much slower actually since usually the store would at at least get one customer in around noon. Lately, the shop hadn't been seeing many customers, and it was making poor boutique owner Regine worried.

"I don't understand! Le Paon Mode is one of the most popular shops in all of Paris; why would people stop coming?"

"Calm down, Auntie." Regine's blind niece, Adeline placed a hand on her shoulder for reassurance, "People are probably busy doing other things right now; I know most people love your work.

"But what if I'm out of style? What if people are looking for something new?"

Aunt Regine whaled as she clenched one of her designer dresses.

"I've spent my entire life to become a fashionista and now I'm washed up!"

"Aunt Regine, you're being silly; you're a great clothes maker... admittedly, some of the work is a little uncomfortable, but its great work none the less."

"Are you suggesting I go for Pret a Porter?!" the middle-aged woman raged, "My work is true Haute Catoure; If I make my clothes comfy, I won't be in style!"

All of a sudden, she noticed a figure, no, two, peaking in through the window and with excitement, Regine rushed out the door to greet them.

"Bonjour! Welcome to Le Paon Mode. I am the owner and designer of these fabulous fashions you see here if you're interested in buying them."

[maddlythedumbass]

Edith sat up in her mess of a bed. Her hair resembled that of a rat's nest. She stretched and yawned, then put on some day clothes, a jacket and her long brimmed hat to top it off. She smirked at herself in the mirror and then blew herself a kiss on the way out. Maybe I'll find some inspiration in this crazy, big city today she thought to herself.

[pompeybot]

Elspeth had always had her finger on the pulse of the fashion community, it was true...but her personal tastes had always run more along the lines of the days gone by. "Fashionably unfashionable," she called it. Coming to Paris, getting to see the home of so many designers, had always been a dream of hers, but she couldn't deny that her tour of the fashion districts thus far had been...well...uninspiring. She had been so keen on giving her dear friend a real, proper makeover, but every single shop they'd passed had just been so...boring. Everything was just so...similar...so bland... and she'd be damned if she let a friend of hers go about looking anything short of magnificent. That was the least she could do for him, after he'd been forced to flee London under such awful circumstances.

But this! This shop was different. She eyed the dress that the shopkeeper was currently weeping into. Here, at last, was a place buzzing with offbeat ideas - the home of a true genius. Here, at long last, was the inspiration she had been searching for! A few hours of browsing in here, and she'd probably have enough ideas to make an entire wardrobe.

Meanwhile, Gregor leapt back, claw-arms pinwheeling, as the shop's rather excitable matron burst forth without warning. The faintest sound of ripping seams could be heard, as his long-suffering vest strained to contain Greg's numerous arms. He desperately longed for the refuge of a nice, quiet library. Oh, if only he'd put up more of a fuss when Elspeth had "offered" to get him some new clothes! (Gregor made a silent vow to learn how to put up a fuss; maybe there was a pamphlet on the subject...) He could have his head buried deep in a book right about now, listening to Marcie bicker with her brother, anywhere but here, with this wild-eyed stranger pouncing at him. Gregor lifted his tail in agitation, lending him a hunchbacked appearance, as he edged closer to Elspeth, gripping her shoulder for comfort. She, at least, seemed to be having fun.

Elspeth's uncovered eye was wide with admiration. She patted the hair covering her scars nervously, and fussed with her dress - a frighteningly yellow ensemble of her own creation. "You mean you designed all this? Oh, this is really quite an honor!" She was caught between wanting to talk shop, and suddenly wishing that she had worn something a little less...Elspeth. Surely, such an accomplished designer would scorn her and her amateurish handiwork. Keep your cool, Els...she doesn't have to know you're responible for these awful clothes...she thinks you're just another customer...
Swallowing these thoughts, she turned to the scorpion brightly. "What do you say, Greg? Think we can find something for you in here?"

Gregor scanned the shop timidly, unsure of what to say. Why was Elspeth asking HIM this? He didn't know a thing about clothes, except that they restricted his movements and made it hard to exhale through his spiracles. And that Elspeth loved making them. "Th-these are v-very nice...? I think? B-but I like your designs e-even more! You're the best tailor in London!" There. That answer should please everyone present!

Elspeth froze in horror, her cover blown. So much for that plan.

((OOC: Typed this in a rush as I'm getting ready to leave town - will fix any errors when I get back!))

[albinotanuki]

Regine's ears perked up when she heard that this young lady was in the fashion career as well.

'A well respected seamstress likes my dresses.' the old woman thought to herself, 'It maybe risky, but perhaps in forming some sort of alliance with a younger fashionista in the know of the latest fashion might be able to benefit my shop.'

"Well it is such an honor to meet you." Aunt Regine complimented, "Say, how would you like to work at my boutique? We're always for fresh new faces to showcase their talent."

[maddlythedumbass]

"Did somebody say...FRESH faces?" Edith swung the doors open and waltzed in, almost as she were in a daze. She promptly stood in front of the two. "Good morning. I'm looking for a church hat, as this one is a bit too dusty," she said, tapping the rim of her dark blue, velvet sun hat. She smirked and rolled her eyes from Gregor to Regine.

[albinotanuki]

Regine turned her gaze over to the other young lady (whom she judges is a little bit older than the first) and her face lit up when she heard her ask for a new hat.

"Oui! CERTAINLY, madamoiselle; I'll fetch you a hat right away!"

As Aunt Regine rushed back into the shop, her niece, Adeline, was curious as to why she was hearing her aunt shuffle through so many boxes so frantically.

"Aunt Regine, is something the matter?"

"Everything's fine, my niece; just found ourselves a new customer. Now, would you be a dear and see if you can find me that lovely Prussian blue hat?"

"Auntie, I'm blind, remember?"

But before she was able to listen, Aunt Regine finally came across the hat she was looking for in the stack of boxes and then rushed back outside to show her customer.

"I think this lovely hat will satisfy you."

[maddlythedumbass]

The raggedy middle-aged woman's face lit up when she saw the hat. "Perfect!" she giggled and pushed it over her head, covering her eyes. She gave Regine a toothy grin. Her facial expression then twisted into a more quizical one. "Hmmmmm...." she tapped her chin, "I know! How about I take you for a drink to show my thanks!" She snapped her fingers.

[pompeybot]

Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear.

It was immediately apparent that Gregor had made a grievous miscalculation, judging by the glare Elspeth now trained on him. If not for the fact that it was physically impossible, he might have wondered if her eyepatch were about to catch fire from the intensity of El's glowering. a diversion was his only hope now, and it arrived in the form of a dishevled woman who tottered onto the scene with a flourish and a whiff of cheap wine. to listen for a moment.

It took Elspeth a few minutes to process what the shopkeeper had said to her. Me? A two-bit costume-maker, working in a real Parisian boutique? The idea was too preposterous and wonderful to comprehend. She stopped sending Gregor dirty looks long enough to blink speechlessly at Madam Regine, before a boozy velvet blur sashayed up and requested a hat. Momentarily lost in the bustling that followed, Elspeth mulled over her options. She hadn't really come to Paris intending to stay, and she had her obligations to the theater back home...but the job offer was far too tantalizing to dismiss outright. She followed the two older women into the shop nervously. When it came down to it, she wasn't sure if she even had the nerve to discuss her designs with a seasoned pro. She was accustomed to working alone in the wings, making bold clothes for people much bolder than she. The big leagues were out of reach for someone like her. Right?

Elspeth came back to earth as she recalled Regine's exact wording..."Fresh faces" Right. She frowned. Her mangled visage was anything but fresh. She made up her mind to slip out quietly, while the others were busy. If she literally lacked the confidence to show her face in public, how could she ever hack it as a designer? She sighed. Meddling was a lot more fun when she was the one doing it.

Curious, Gregor stuck his head into the shop, ducking low so that the door frame didn't knock his cap off. Elspeth was coming his way, and she didn't look terribly happy. His heart sank. Seeing one of his best friends so down was worse than any reproach.

"I know! How about I take you for a drink to show my thanks!"

Hm.

"Y-you should join them! I'll, er, stay and help mind the shop!" He blurted it out without even realizing he'd done so. Elspeth narrowed her eye at the scorpion, currently thwarting her exit. Again.

He did his best to meet her gaze. If she could drag him around Paris, then he could jolly well nudge her towards an advantageous business meeting. Probably. Maybe. So long as he apologized later.

Elspeth's eyes narrowed further.

Definitely apologize later.

"Greg, you DO realize that 'minding the shop' means talking to strangers, right? Besides-"

But before she could go on, the shop's matron had a hand on her shoulder.

[maddlythedumbass]

"The more the merrie----"
Edith glanced up at the matron

[albinotanuki]

Aunt Regine was a bit surprised to be offered a drink, especially this early in the day. Even with one of her new acquaintances offering to look after the boutique made her nervous that something could go wrong.

"I thank you for the offer, but I just can't leave the shoppe."

Adeline the meanwhile, was listening to the dialogue her aunt and the guests being made outside the boutique when her ears perked up when Aunt Regine said the following sentence.

"Besides, I can't leave of my blind niece alone while I go out on the town for a drink."

With a glimmer of light in her unseeing eyes, Adeline figured this was the perfect time to be able to get away from her aunt's constant coddling, so she walked over to the doorway.

"Aunt Regine, its alright, you can go and spend time with your friends."

"But Adeline, mi petite--!"

"I'll be fine here looking after the shop. Besides, Monsieur Gregory said he'd help, so I won't be all alone while you're gone."

Aunt Regine looked over at her niece while she thought over the offer. True, her niece had certain needs most other girls don't have to be attended to, but than again, she was 18 and probably needs a LITTLE dependence and time to herself. Besides, it had been a long time since the old woman had some time off from the shoppe.

"Alright Adeline; I'll go. Just be good while I'm gone and don't get yourself into too much trouble."

Aunt Regine wrapped her arms around her niece and kissed her forehead to show her affection.

[maddlythedumbass]

Dec 28, 2011 13:27:13 GMT -5 albinotanuki said:

Aunt Regine was a bit surprised to be offered a drink, especially this early in the day. Even with one of her new acquaintances offering to look after the boutique made her nervous that something could go wrong.

"I thank you for the offer, but I just can't leave the shoppe."

Adeline the meanwhile, was listening to the dialogue her aunt and the guests being made outside the boutique when her ears perked up when Aunt Regine said the following sentence.

"Besides, I can't leave of my blind niece alone while I go out on the town for a drink."

With a glimmer of light in her unseeing eyes, Adeline figured this was the perfect time to be able to get away from her aunt's constant coddling, so she walked over to the doorway.

"Aunt Regine, its alright, you can go and spend time with your friends."

"But Adeline, mi petite--!"

"I'll be fine here looking after the shop. Besides, Monsieur Gregory said he'd help, so I won't be all alone while you're gone."

Aunt Regine looked over at her niece while she thought over the offer. True, her niece had certain needs most other girls don't have to be attended to, but than again, she was 18 and probably needs a LITTLE dependence and time to herself. Besides, it had been a long time since the old woman had some time off from the shoppe.

"Alright Adeline; I'll go. Just be good while I'm gone and don't get yourself into too much trouble."

Aunt Regine wrapped her arms around her niece and kissed her forehead to show her affection.

"FAAAAAAAANTASTIC!" Edith cried enthusiastically. She grabbed Regines armed and started to drag her out the doorway in a hazy, hung over manner.