+ [open post]

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh my God," Kade murmurs when Susan shows up at his door, knocking briskly. It's quiet, practically subvocal, but she can still make out the words distinctly. He wipes his hands on his trousers and extends one. "Susan Pevensie. Hi! I'm Kade. Kade West."

"I know," she says, glancing at his hand for a moment and then shaking it. "You're our tailor. I'm afraid I've been delinquent in introducing myself." She's been busy, but in the wake of all of the Mansion's most recent spat of strangeness, she decided it was high time that she conspire to meet him. She needs some sort of change-up to her days, which have become rather routine and increasingly feel uninspiring. Not that she wants more Mansion-driven mischief, just that... it was nice, to have a little adventure, once she set her worry for Lancelot to the side. "But you worked wonders for Lancelot's wardrobe."

A bright grin flashes across Kade's face as he takes in her pointed tone. His teeth are extremely white and, frankly, unsettlingly straight. "You want I should give you a makeover, too?"

Susan glances down at herself. She's back in mourning black, one of her everyday dresses. It feels more comfortable than color, sometimes, but... in truth, she misses being eye-catching. "If you'd be so kind," she says, briskly. "I haven't got a particular look in mind. I'll try whatever you think might be interesting."

Kade's smile broadens. "You're giving me a blank check?"

"I shan't wear it if I don't like it."

"Of course, of course," Kade says, and opens his door wide. "C'mon up. Tell me about your Worlds. I'll get you all sorted out."

---

Three days later, Susan decides she might as well try debuting the first outfit Kade selected. It's all black, so it seems a good gateway to the more colorful options, especially as she's not convinced of trousers - she's ever so used to the skirts and garters and stockings she defaults to day after day. And, she finds, as she checks the outfit in her mirror, it's strange to wear a top with meagre built-in supports but no brassiere. The red heels he chose, though... those, she loves. He'd recommended curls and a bold lip with this look, but she doesn't like the fussiness of curling her hair and instead leaves it loose and smooth down her back.

She can't deny that she looks phenomenal. The trousers, though they feel uncomfortably tight, look flatteringly as if they're painted on. She has, delightfully, gained some weight since arriving here, especially now that she's off her grief diet, and her figure is truly striking. The top is on the verge of indecent, with a low neckline and sleeves that fall off her shoulders, and she considers throwing on the jacket Kade suggested just for some degree of modesty across her decolletage... but that would go against her purpose of trying something exciting and different and new. So she shrugs, leaves the jacket on the edge of the bed, pats the spot where usually she would have her pocket and her notebook, fetches a handbag so she might still carry her notebook along with her (she wants a change, but that's no reason to be unprepared!), and sets out, Regina at her heels.

Susan has no way of knowing this, but anyone who's been to Earth after the late 1970s will recognize that Kade has put her in a perfect recreation of Sandy's greaser outfit at the end of Grease.



People who will find this hot and/or striking and/or familiar in some way are obviously welcome, but also anyone who wants to touch base after the AU days and/or meet Regina are encouraged to tag in too!

Comments

[sagramore]

"You were kind. That does matter."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, I know, and it would be ever so reassuring to know they have regular access to necessary supplies, but... they were so weary. And envious, I think, of your house. It would be awfully cruel if they came back and couldn't stay again."

[sagramore]

"Then I hope they don't," quietly. He really does feel as if he's seeing Susan more fully than he ever has before, and grasping her capacity for gentleness and care.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes," she agrees, with real regret, but the regret fades a little when Regina shifts again, nearly rolls off Sagramore's shoulder, and then starts loudly expressing her myriad concerns at the state of worldly affairs to the both of them.

[sagramore]

"Oh! Hello, my queen. Accept my apologies for being a failure of a mount."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Regina's scolding grows louder, and then she head-butt's Sagramore's ear, and then, exhausted, she curls up again, digging in her claws, and yawns.

"She's still quite young," Susan says, again on the verge of sounding apologetic about it, and then, because things seem to be going bizarrely smoothly, tries for a joke: "And nearly as opinionated as her human."

[sagramore]

He laughs. "Is it possible to be as opinionated as her human?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I suppose we shall find out," Susan says, with grave good humor. "She's giving me a run for my money."

[sagramore]

"What hast thou to be opinionated about?" he asks her, laughing again, and reaching up to scratch her chin again. "Sweet girl, sweet girl."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"It's a characteristic of the breed," says Susan, over another loud burst of chatter from Regina.

[sagramore]

"Of cats? Absolutely."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"She's Siamese."

[sagramore]

"Right! I just found out the other day that cats have breeds, I hadn't actually realized."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, there's loads," says Susan. "Perhaps not as many as there are dog breeds, but still a fair few."

[sagramore]

"Is it something that interests you?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Cat breeds? Not particularly," she admits. It's more that she doesn't really know what to talk about with Sagramore, but he's got her cat on his shoulder, so she's making an effort. "I read up a little when I found her."

[sagramore]

"I've been meaning to, but I've got a terrible memory. Asmodean told me in his world there are cat shows, which I have to admit I find astonishing."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Cat... shows?"

[sagramore]

"That's what I said! Cat shows, for judging the conformation of cat breeds."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"To what earthly end?" Susan asks, bemused.

[sagramore]

"Entertainment, I suppose? It does sound ridiculous."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I suppose it takes all kinds."

[sagramore]

"It would seem so!"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Frankly," says Susan, "I always fancied myself as slightly more of a d-o-g p-e-r-s-o-n before I found her."

[sagramore]

Sagramore laughs. "I understand. I don't particularly care for cats myself." He's still scratching Regina's chin.