OOM: France, 2005

[ikissdhimbck]

[Third OOM]


Kate wakes to sunlight poring into her room, the shadows of Chêne-liège leaves dancing across her eyes. She breathes in deeply, stretching her legs against the cotton sheets, and rolls over. Her hand smooths over the mattress, searching.

And then she remembers.

Eyes open to an empty bed, her tanned hand resting against stark white sheets. For a while, she doesn't move. She dares to wonder when she'll wake up to something other than the vice-grip ache in her heart.


A knock comes at her door, light but insistent, like the determined birdsong outside the french doors.

Comments

[ikissdhimbck]

"What's... that?"

[betagainstme]

"Piece of plastic my husband hates me to have." Alice grins. "I'll show you how it works. C'mon."

[ikissdhimbck]

She refrains from asking more questions, or letting the worry that Jasper is going to kill them for this later bother her too much, and follows after.

The town is 'quaint' by most American standards -- unless you're from the 19th century. Then it becomes quite the spectacle.

She takes in every shopfront and vehicle with wide eyes and parted lips, staring dumbly at passersby.



"Goodness."

[betagainstme]

Alice laughs again and then grabs Kate's hand and drags her through the first shop she sees.

Luckily it's one of pretty dresses and fancy shoes.

"Oooh!"

[ikissdhimbck]

...Well, the economy has changed considerably since Kate's time.

"Alice," she hisses, pointing to a price tag. "How many of these squiggly things make a dollar?"

[betagainstme]

"They use the Euro here," Alice whispers back. "It's best to not look at the price tags and just try them on and hand them to me."

She grabs a floofy dress that resembles a cupcake. "Ooooh try this on."

[ikissdhimbck]

At least it's not a hoop skirt.

"Really?"

On the ten-foot walk to the fitting rooms, she acquires four more dresses. Each as ridiculous as the last.

[betagainstme]

It's better than Alice's pile of clothes. Which totals up to fifteen by the time they hit the dressing rooms.

"Okay, if you like any of these enough to want them, let me know please!"

[ikissdhimbck]

The corner of her mouth twitches.

(She thinks, absently, that Bela would approve of Alice's tactics.)

"Can't imagine where I'd wear 'em. Outside of the bar, there's nothin' but sand and sky, and ridin' a horse in this--" 'This' being a pink ballet skirt, "--might be uncomfortable."

[betagainstme]

"Just keep 'em for the bar. Or for parties. That I will throw for you."

[ikissdhimbck]

She laughs quietly.

"What on earth are y'gonna throw me a party for?"

[betagainstme]

"Birthday? 'You're Awesome Let's Celebrate?' Do I honestly need a reason?" Alice gives her a :| look.

[ikissdhimbck]

Another laugh, this time a bit stronger.

"I draw the line at any type of affair that's like the shindig y'threw at the bar."

She takes off the frosted cupcake ensemble, and tries on something in blue that comes well -- well -- above her knees.

To her credit, she doesn't faint.

[betagainstme]

"You look so pretty, I knew you would!" Alice says from the other room. Yeah. She's future telling :|

[ikissdhimbck]

"Where's the rest of it?"

[betagainstme]

Alice starts laughing.









And does not stop.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate feels mildly exploited.

There is a very good chance this particular dress is not going to make it into her 'yes' pile.

However, if the goal was to get her to forget about things back at the bar, in that much Alice has succeeded.

[betagainstme]

Spoiler: it was.

Alice tries on her dresses...and they all end up in the buy pile.

"Find anything to keep?"

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate nods.

(It's silk, and it's ridiculously form-fitting, and there aren't nearly as many layers as she's used to; but it's gorgeous and feels like heaven against her skin.

And it's just for the bar. Like Alice said. Yes.)

"Your card of credit's gonna have t'be magic, too, if you're gettin' all that."

[betagainstme]

"Just watch." Alice grabs the dress from her and wanders up to the cashier. A few moments of rapid French and a swipe of her card and they are the proud owners of some new clothes.


:D?

[ikissdhimbck]

:O!

"That's it?"

And they're on to the next store?

Oh, no wonder Jasper hates that thing.

[betagainstme]

"Oooh this store sells only shoes." Alice plasters herself against the window. "Let's go in heeeeere."

[ikissdhimbck]

"How are we gonna carry all these bags?"

When she agreed to go in, she didn't think they'd come out with half the store.

And it's still only eleven o'clock.

[betagainstme]

"We'll get someone to bring them back for us." Alice decides, popping back into the shoe store, only to come out a few minutes later with a man, who they laden down with their bags.

In rapid French, she explains where they live, and the man nods enthusiastically; he knows exactly where it is...and he's holding a crisp 100 euro bill in his hand.

"Merci," Alice sing-songs before turning back to Kate. "Are you hungry? Or...do you wanna just wander around and take a break?"

She's doing this for you, Kate!

[ikissdhimbck]

She is rather speechless.

"I wish I understood what y'say to these fellas. They all act so perfectly obliged to do what you ask."

She smooths her hands down her bare arms, glancing down the street.

She sees a confectionery shoppe.

"Um. Can we go in there?"