chiron_survivor: (reporting for duty)
Adia Costas ([personal profile] chiron_survivor) wrote2019-01-04 09:10 pm

A special visitor. ((for [personal profile] rogueinladysclothing))

On the day that Amelia is supposed to visit, Adia spends more time than usual cleaning up the cabin, outpacing even Caspar as she bustles about their tiny home to make sure everything is in its proper place. This is the first time she's having a Nexus friend see where she lives, and she wants it to look its best.

Caspar sweeps the floor methodically. Even a little sluggishly. He's been quieter than usual since the New Year began. Maybe it's because he hasn't a good glass of wine since the Solstice; Seth's attempt at sparkling apple cider didn't go much better than his previous attempts at brandy.

Or maybe it's something else. She's been giving him the chance to tell her in his own time. Regardless, she hopes Amelia's visit will improve his mood.

The coordinates she sends Amelia are not for the inside of the cabin, even though that would be the most cautious. Instead, they teleport her to the garden behind it. It's dormant now, the perennials resting until it's their turn to blossom once more, but there is plenty of evergreen forest further in the distance to give the landscape some color. From this spot, Amelia will get a lovely view of her friends' cabin, made of wood but surprisingly modern in its design, with a slanted roof and a large, open-air patio attached.

"Hi, Amelia," Adia greets her when she arrives. "Welcome to Atlantis."
rogueinladysclothing: (Happy Smile)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-01-29 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Wouldn't be the first time I'd been scaling something dangerous in the dark," she jokes. At least if she came to Atlantis to pick apples, she wouldn't be doing something illegal. Maybe not something that's a great idea (getting caught on a world she shouldn't have access to according to the locals seems a bad thing), but definitely an improvement over law breaking for profit. "I hope you're able to get the cart, though. It sounds like you definitely have a use for it."

Adia's offer of visiting the barn gets a shake of the rogue's head. "I'd much rather see your home. It's beautiful on the outside, and I'd love to see all of the work you've told me about on the inside. Besides, I don't want Caspar to think I'm taking too much of your time for my own while I'm visiting." She smiles and gestures toward the cabin. "Let's head back and see what he and Princess are up to."
rogueinladysclothing: (Dreamy Smile)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-02-06 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
"You know how to find me if you want the help," she jokes with a laugh. Not that she should come back and help, but Amelia's never one to rescind an offer she gives to her friends.

When they reach the cabin, Amelia takes a moment to take in the sight of everything. It's as homey and comfortable as Adia's described it to be and makes her feel as if she's been invited into her friends' most treasured space. She smiles warmly as she takes it all in. Stepping further into the cabin, her cheeks flush a light pink when she spots the solar system picture she gifted the couple. Even if she should've been expecting it, to see it on display makes her feel good about her choice for her friends. Sighing happily, she turns to Adia, her smile almost impossibly bright.

"It's perfect. I can't imagine a place more you, both of you, than this one." It's incredibly endearing to see and draws out a happy sigh from the rogue. "I'm honestly humbled to be invited into a place that's so..." She hesitates, searching for the right word. "So intimate."

She's not sure if that's the right way to phrase her feelings, but it's the best word she can think of. This place is them and there is nothing so precious as the space that a person keeps only for themselves. To see Adia and Caspar's home, one they've built together as a couple? It makes this moment feel more impactful than any time the rogue invited someone to her room at the in.
rogueinladysclothing: (Curious)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-02-08 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
She smiles as she gives Adia's hand a return squeeze, then turns to Caspar with a smirk. "This is far better than the inn room I lived in for several years. I think you're downplaying how well you have it when this place is so nice." She laughs softly before adding, "Your excellent taste certainly makes up for anything your home might lack, though I think it has everything it needs to make it a happy home."

Before she can ask about the work they've put into their home, Ana steps in to fill the gap. Amelia hasn't had many interactions with cats since coming to the Nexus, but she hopes it's enough to prevent her from doing something too awkward for the kneazle. "Hello there," she murmurs softly, kneeling down so that she can gently pet the cat between her ears. "You're Anastasia, right? It's nice to meet you."
rogueinladysclothing: (Casual)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-02-09 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't mind it either," she jokes with a small laugh. Amelia has no problem with continuing to pet Ana as the kneazle leans into her hand. This is definitely going better than the last time she interacted with a cat in this manner! It probably helps that she's not trying to take notes and presenting an enticing moving object to play with.

She's distracted enough that when Adia comments about opening up something, it doesn't immediately occur to Amelia what her friend is talking about. Looking up, she smiles and nods in affirmation. "Please. And then let me know if you'd like to use what's inside today."

Slowly, and with an apologetic smile to Ana, the rogue withdraws her hands and rises to her feet. She quickly notices the change in shoes as she removes her coat, and quickly looks over to Caspar. "Would you prefer I take off my boots?" she asks. "I don't want to break house rules by wearing them."
rogueinladysclothing: (Happy Smile)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-02-10 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
She's glad to see that Adia is so happy with the ribbons. It had taken her quite a while to decide on the color, width, and length, and even then she could only be somewhat certain her friend would like them. "Then we'll get to a lesson whenever you'd like," she promises. "It's plenty warm in here and I have no other plans for my day."

The offer of the spare slippers is one Amelia's vaguely uncomfortable with - wearing clothes that aren't hers, even shoes, is something she has very little experience with. But her boots are dirtied from the walk through the orchard and her feet will get cold on the hardwood floors even with the fire going, so she sets aside her slight anxiety to be polite. "I appreciate that, Adia. Thank you." She smiles at her friend briefly, then removes her boots and sets them by the door next to Adia's shoes before stepping into the spare slippers. They're a little tight on her feet, but still more than comfortable enough for wearing while they sit around.

After hanging her coat by the door and adjusting her scarf to hang loosely about her neck, she takes a seat at the table next to Adia. "It's so comfortable and warm in here," she notes with a smile. With a small laugh she adds, "I forget sometimes how far along technology of every kind has come since the kind of age my world is in."
rogueinladysclothing: (Discussion)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-02-10 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
Adia's eagerness earns a small laugh. "Of course. If you have a brush, it would be good to have on hand in case you accidentally tie knots into your hair." Which she may or may not have done in the past while she was learning... Her smile warms as she reaches over her shoulder and pulls her braid around to the front of her body. With her hair not fully pinned up, its full length can easily be seen. It appears the rogue's thick hair goes over halfway down her torso when it's let down.

"Open hearths and wood burning stoves, mostly," she explains as she removes the ribbon from the end of her hair. As she loosens her braid and begins combing out her tresses, her eyes focus on something that's not on the table in front of them. "My family's home was made from a combination of stone and wood, which helped retain some amount of heat, but kept smaller ovens throughout the house to keep it warm. We also kept the fires going in the living room and kitchen to keep the bedrooms directly above them warmer during the cooler months." She never thought much of it when she lived on Kairn, but it makes sense to her now that she's lived in the Nexus for so long.

Shaking her head a little, she undoes the last few locks of hair making up her braid and smiles at each of her friends in turn. "We also kept rugs on bedroom floors and bought fur lined blankets for our beds. Winter was never really that harsh, though, which I think made it easier for us. We never had to worry about bitterly cold temperatures or ice building up on the roof like towns further inland did."
rogueinladysclothing: (Curious)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-02-11 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
The comment about her hair gets a small smile. "My mother would chastise me for letting it get so long," she jokes. "A lady should never let her hair be so long as to let it be unmanageable, or some such nonsense." A beat, and she shakes her head a little. "I've always preferred it tied back or pinned up, so I don't mind the extra length." That, and she always prefers to wear her hairpin. It's hard to work with it in braids, though, and so it stayed safely locked away in her apartment for this particular visit.

The bathroom gets a quick glance from Amelia, but her focus is mainly on Caspar as he asks after her world. "Techniques in carpentry must have improved, then. I don't feel a single draft, and that was a commonplace thing even in the most well made houses." She laughs softly as she works out a stray knot in the ends of her hair. "After some reading, I've determined my world's technology most closely relates to that of Renaissance Europe on most versions of Earth. We traveled by ship or by horse, had only a few cannons on city walls for protection, and were still harnessing the power of explosives. Medicine isn't all that advanced either, but blacksmiths were quite well versed. Several of my friends were able to make weaponry from meteorite without any struggles, despite the higher temperatures and extra force required."
rogueinladysclothing: (Playing Along)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-02-12 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Amelia can't help but laugh at Adia's story. "Mothers must be similar everywhere in the multiverse. You'd have thought I was the youngest in the family with the way she fawned over my hair for the first few official functions I attended after my father was initiated into the nobility. She only stopped when I came back wearing my hairpin one night after she'd spent almost an hour braiding my hair before sending me and my father off."

She's about to ask about insulation - what did they use in their cabin and was it easy to make? - when the question about the meteorite comes up. The rogue's face turns a little more somber and she shakes her head as she turns her gaze to the unnecessary task of straightening the ribbon from her hair against the table.

"No, there was never any recorded history of meteorites that large before my city was struck by one the size of a large cart. There wasn't any record of four raining from the sky all at the same time either." She sighs and tucks her hands in her lap under the table so she'll stop fidgeting with her ribbon. Come on, Amelia, lift yourself up from the sadness and focus on the weaponry.

"Most of it was kept under lock and key by the city guard, but several of my friends wanted to work with more of it than the small pieces they were able to recover after the city was safe again. I wasn't directly involved with the... acquiring of the stone, but I helped misdirect a few people and get some copies of keys made for them." Her lips tug into a brief smile as she looks up at her friends again. "I honestly wasn't expecting anything from them in return, but the two blacksmiths worked together to make my rapier for me. My hairpin came later when my inventor... friend asked what I wanted for my birthday. It was the first proper piece of jewelry I received as a lady."

...dreams, talking about home and the best and worst parts of it isn't ever going to get easier. Amelia exhales a small, silent breath and then sits up properly again, forcing herself to let go of the pain to focus on the moment.

"I'm not sure how many others were able to get their hands on enough to make weaponry or armor, but my band of five hand plenty between us. Arrow heads, plate mail, a hammer, a rapier, and the sturdiest wrist crossbows I've ever seen." Her smile turns a tough wry, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Everyone we went against had a right to fear everything we brought to a fight."
rogueinladysclothing: (Rueful Smile)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-02-17 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
The small break to supply Ana with a distraction is a welcome one for Amelia. Her smile softens and she's able to take a slightly less pained breath before Caspar asks about her favored weapon. It's a good question, but it makes the rogue laugh softly.

"There was no way to do something like that on my world," she offers as an explanation for her laughter. "Or if there was, my friends never explained it to me." Her shoulders rise and fall in a half-hearted shrug. Testing for the purity of a material before using it for a blade or armor makes sense, but Amelia's not certain anymore if it makes sense because of what she knows of blacksmithing or because of knowledge she's picked up in the Nexus. Her lips tug into a small frown as she shrugs again. "I never thought to ask after something like that either."

But this is hardly the reason for her visit and they've been distracted long enough from the braiding lessons she promised. Turning to Adia, Amelia manages a small smile as she nods to her friend. "Are you ready for our lesson? It'll be a bit of show and tell, and then a lot of practice so you can get the feel for it while I'm here to offer advice."
rogueinladysclothing: (Hands)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-03-03 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"I could," she agrees. Not that she ever thought about doing so ...ever before now, but it's certainly an option in a place as vast and varied as the Nexus. It seems unlikely that she'll ever exercise the option, but there's always a chance it may be of interest enough to have her go out of her way to check. "Maybe someday."

With Adia on board for their lesson, Amelia smiles briefly and then sweeps her hair back over her shoulder. As she settles it down her back, she shifts to give the other woman a better view of her hands. "I'm going to explain what I'm doing as I show you the first time, and then you can give it a try. It may take a few attempts to get the basics, but I'll be here the whole time to help, I promise." It's a skill few take to with ease the first time, but Amelia has confidence that her friend will pick it up without too much trouble.

"To get started with the most basic style of braid," she says after a moment, "you'll need to separate your hair into three separate sections. Each should be as close to the same width as the other two." She pauses for a moment to demonstrate, taking a few extra seconds to show how she checks to size of each section and how she judges one against another. "Once you feel good about that, pull each section tight, and begin pulling the outside locks of hair over the one in the center, switching the side you pull from each time. Keep your hair pulled tight as you do this to avoid the braid twisting in on itself or turning over part way down." As she explains, the rogue's hands work effortlessly to weave her hair into a tight, perfectly symmetric plait down her back. She takes care to go slowly for Adia's sake, but as she nears the end of her braid, she pulls her hair over her left shoulder with one hand and turns to face her friend with a smile.

"When you get to the end," she continues, "you can decide how far down you want your braid to go. You can weave your hair until the very bottom, or you can stop a few inches up. It's all a matter of preference." She smiles, and then takes the end of her hair in one hand as she takes up her ribbon to tie off her plait with a neat little bow. "Make sure you pull your ribbon tight, and the braid will stay in place without trouble." Of course, Amelia realizes she makes it look very easy with how much practice she has, but she knows that everyone could do as well if they'd had as many years of practice as she has.

After checking over her work and giving her ribbon one last tug, she smiles at Adia. "Ready to give it a try?"
rogueinladysclothing: (Shy Smile)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-03-07 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Amelia allows her friend to work in peace, wanting to see how Adia works before she offers any tips. When the woman finishes with her braid, the rogue smiles.

"Pretty good," she says earnestly. "The start of your braid is a little loose, but that's a trouble many people have. Be sure to keep a tight hold on each lock of hair as you pull them into place and, with a little practice, you'll be able to do it without having to think about it." And that is the true sign of any master, as far as Amelia's concerned.

She hesitates for a moment, fidgeting with the ribbon in her hair before asking, "Did you want to try again? Or would you like to see something else? I have a few other styles I could teach you if you'd like something a little more complicated to show off."
rogueinladysclothing: (Subtle Grin)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2019-03-11 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
If the teasing between her friends means something more, Amelia doesn't pick up on it. Friends and lovers tease each other all the time, from what she's been able to glean from watching others in their successful relationships, so the rogue assumes it's just that. It's not like she has any experience to lend her further insights here.

She is, however, quite impressed by how quickly Caspar takes up the task of braiding Adia's hair. His precision makes it seem as if he's had practice before, but she has a feeling it's not that. Whatever the case may be, the finished braid earns a pleased smile from her.

"Well done," she tells him, a hint of surprise and pride in her voice. Given how well both of her students have taken to braiding, Amelia can't help but be proud of the work they've done. "I'll have you doing braid crowns before the end of the night if this is how well you take to the most basic braid. Adia's hair will never be anything less than fashionable if she lets you take care of it for her."

As she lets down her own hair again, Amelia makes a mental note to find a book of braids for the couple. She has a feeling they'll both enjoy it after these first braids.

"Now, who gets to try the next one?" she teases, setting down her ribbon on the table. "I promise to make it more of a challenge for both of you."

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