diff --git a/chapters/chapter-02.md b/chapters/chapter-02.md index a4d622d..0ab55e4 100644 --- a/chapters/chapter-02.md +++ b/chapters/chapter-02.md @@ -22,49 +22,57 @@ Galadin watched her until a trio of mechanical vehicles roared pass, obscuring e "Gal! Wait for me!" -He turned as Kalir, one of his new friends, bounded up the stairs. He wore a leather jacket with an embossed symbol of the Tarsan Navy. Unlike Galadin who was to marry up into High Society, Kalir had already gotten his foot past the threshold with a letter of commission as a junior officer. He had to be married before he gained more than a few ranks and the presentation balls were the best place to find a wife. +At the sound of Kalir's voice, Galadin smiled to himself. He and Kalir had met on the first day of their lessons at Dorin. -Galadin smiled brightly. Dance lessons next to Kalir were one of the highlights of his day. The young man was handsome and attractive. He had a beautiful smile though his interests were focused directly on the ladies of their dance lessons. +About the same age as Galadin, Kalir was a fit young man who had a promising future. He also had a smile that caused Galadin's stomach to flutter and his cheeks to blush. -"How are you doing? Usually you beat me here," asked Galadin. +Galadin turned around. -"Well, I want to claim Missun's hand for practice." +Kalir wore a leather jacket with an embossed symbol of the Tarsan Navy. Unlike Galadin who was to marry up into High Society, Kalir had already gotten his foot past the threshold with a letter of commission as a junior officer. He had to be married before he gained more than a few ranks and the presentation balls were the best place to find a wife. -Galadin shrugged. He had no interest in Missun or her sisters. "You can dance with whoever you want." +Galadin smiled brightly. Dance lessons next to Kalir were one of the highlights of his day. + +"How are you doing?" asked Galadin. "Usually you beat me here." + +"Well, I want to claim Missun's hand before you got your fingers on her. I'm sure she has eyes for slender, delicate men like you." + +Galadin shrugged. Missun and her sisters were attractive, but they didn't fan any flames. "You can dance with whoever you want." "But she's the prettiest." -He couldn't explain that he had no interest in either of the girls that took classes with them. They were nice and friendly, but he didn't find his eyes drifting toward them when they weren't looking. Nor did he want to talk about their bodies as often as Kalir did. +He couldn't explain that he had no interest in either of the girls that took classes with them. They were nice and friendly, but he didn't find his eyes drifting toward them when they weren't looking, not like Kalir did. Instead, it was Kalir that drew Galadin's sly attention. "You can have Talin," Kalir said patted Galadin's shoulder. "She's pretty enough." -Kalir ran his hand through his thick hair and smiled. Galadin could see why both Missun and Talin teased him. +Kalir ran his hand through his thick hair and smiled. -A surge of guilt rose inside Galadin and he looked away. He knew he was supposed to be flirting with the girls. He spent his time watching Kalir instead. When his cheeks began to grow flushed, he cleared his throat to distract himself. "Usually you beat me here" before he realized he had already said that. +Galadin blushed faintly. Then a surge of guilt rose inside Galadin and he looked away. He cleared his throat to distract himself. "Usually you beat me here" before he realized he had already said that. "I got distracted and almost forgot to show up." Kalir glanced over his shoulder as a second man started up the stairs. "I almost didn't come." -The newcomer was just over six feet tall. He had a hunch to his movements, magnified by his hands buried deep inside a pair of plain, functional trousers. His deep tan possessed a hint of red; he appeared to be someone who had spent much of their days out in the open. He wasn't quite slender nor was he fat, just thick with the flex of muscles with every step he took to join them. He also wore a Navy jacket, though this one also had a First Lieutenant insignia. +The newcomer was just over six feet tall and gorgeous. He had a casual grace as he walked up the stairs, his hands buried deep in a pair of plain but functional-looking trousers. He had an open navy jacket, not unlike the one Kalir wore, but it had the insignia of a First Lieutenant and a single gold bar underneath it. The new man shared Kalir's smile, but somehow it was brilliant and stunning, refined by age and confidence. -Kalir twisted his face and gestured to the door. "Come on, we're late." +Galadin's throat grew dry. He was standing in front of a fantasy. -The other man chuckled and then gestured for Galadin to go ahead through the narrow door. +Kalir twisted his face into a scowl and gestured to the door. "Come on, we're late." -Galadin stared at him for a moment, a strange fluttering growing in his stomach. The second man had much of Kalir's handsome features, but they were refined with age and a sense of grace. "Um, I'm Galadin." +The other man chuckled and then gestured for Galadin to go ahead through the narrow door. He had large hands that were heavily tanned, no doubt from hours in the sun. -"Benard, Kalir's older brother. Though I think I'm also the more heroic one at the moment." He smirked. "I like that part." +Galadin stared at him for a moment, a strange fluttering growing in his stomach. "Um, I'm Galadin." -Kalir glared before storming inside. +"Benard, Kalir's older brother. Though I think I'm also the more heroic one at the moment." He smirked. "I like saying that part." -Benard grinned. "I'm afraid my younger brother doesn't care for me. Whenever I'm around, he's sour toward everyone else. Don't take it personally. I think he doesn't want to be seen with me." +Kalir glared before storming inside and slamming the door behind him. + +Benard grinned. "I'm afraid my younger brother doesn't care for me. Whenever I'm around, he's sour toward everyone else because he isn't allowed to slug me. Don't take it personally. I think he doesn't like me anymore." "Oh," Galadin said before he headed up the stairs. "Why?" "Probably the same reason most of my family hates me: I prefer the company of men in my bed instead of women." Benard waved his hand nonchalantly. -Galadin froze when he heard words that reflected his own thoughts only moments ago. Love between men was forbidden which is why Galadin kept his own desires hidden. +Galadin froze when he heard words that reflected his own thoughts only moments ago. Love between men was forbidden which is why Galadin kept his own desires hidden. To hear it spoken casually and openly shocked him. Whatever Benard had done to be a hero obviously gave him the confidence to be open with his forbidden interests. -To hear it spoken casually and openly shocked him. Whatever Benard had done to be a hero obviously gave him the confidence to be open with his forbidden interests. +"I'm just tired of keeping it a secret and messing around. That is why they sent me to the Navy, to keep their dirty secret hidden. But then I had to go and save a ship." He grinned and shoved his hand back into his pocket. "I-I...." Galadin stammered. @@ -84,7 +92,7 @@ Benard gestured again. "Please, don't worry about it. Let's enjoy an afternoon o Inside the studio, Dame Dorin paced back and forth. Her neat bun of light brown hair had a few strands peeking out like a fan. "Three, only three? I can't work with only three gentlemen. Why couldn't at least some of the ladies come? They can't all be indisposed." -Kalir looked disappointed. He turned and peered out the window. +Kalir looked disappointed. He turned and peered out a nearby window toward the street. Dorin grumbled for a moment. "They aren't coming, Besire Kalir. They appear to have a case of... bad food and are too sick to learn how to dance. Damn the Couple, I can't reschedule this. There are far too many lessons before the balls." diff --git a/chapters/chapter-03.md b/chapters/chapter-03.md index 622f537..9e137ca 100644 --- a/chapters/chapter-03.md +++ b/chapters/chapter-03.md @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ summary: > Galadin had to concentrate on his dinner for the first time. His mind spun furiously with all the rules of how to hold his fork, where to put his hand, and even where he was allowed to look. There seemed to be exceptions to every rule. -His mother had insisted on a formal dinner arrangement at home. Galadin could see how she held her utensils with exaggerated care. He suspected the last time she ate formally, it was before she married his father. More than once, he saw her reach for the wrong fork only to change her mind and pick up the correct one. +His mother had insisted on a formal dinner arrangement at home. Galadin could see how she held her utensils with exaggerated care. He suspected the last time she ate formally, it was before she married his father. More than once, he saw her reach for the wrong fork only to change her mind and pick up the correct one. On the other side of the table, his father worked his way through his meal efficiently and without grace. He used the same fork and knife, shoving the rest of them to the side as he stared down at the table in concentration. His other hand moved in gestures that mimicked the symbols he used for his job as a civil mage. @@ -24,17 +24,17 @@ His mother's grip on her fork tightened. "Really?" she said in a wary tone. "Dame Dorin da Kasin watched over all three of us." -His father stirred and leaned toward Galadin's mother. "I thought there were two boys in the class." +His father stirred and leaned toward Galadin's mother. "I thought there were only two boys and three girls in the class." His mother glared at him. -"What? I was paying attention," his father said with a wry smile. His eyes followed a heartbeat later as he smiled wider and the edges of his eyes crinkled. +"What? I was paying attention," his father said with a wry smile. "There were." She turned back to Galadin. "Who was the third? The dame?" "No, um, his name was...." Galadin knew he was stalling but couldn't let her know. "Benard kia Kasin." -His mother's face paled. "No," she said. +His mother's face paled. "No," she said. "Not him." Looking up, his father stared at the ceiling for a second before resuming. @@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Looking up, his father stared at the ceiling for a second before resuming. "No, you don't do that. Storan, he can't do that." -"Who? Take lessons with Benard? Why not? He's a Kasin hero." His father shrugged. "He just granted a commission? Something about saving a fleet from some fire mages? Made First Lieutenant on the spot. They've been talking about that for days down at the dock office." +"Who? Take lessons with Benard? Why not? He's a Kasin hero." His father shrugged. "He just granted a commission. Something about saving a fleet from some fire mages? Made First Lieutenant on the spot. They've been talking about that for days down at the dock office." "That's beside the point! Your son cannot dance with that man!" @@ -56,15 +56,15 @@ Maran folded her napkin into her lap. "Then I'm going to pull you from those les She took a short breath. "Besides, we need to get you fitted for a proper top hat next week. Tomorrow, your suit should be done. We will deal with that." -Galadin fought back a wave of disappointment. Benard was the only thing he enjoyed about the day. Everything else reminded him that he was being forced into a role he didn't want. Why did he have to go to the dance in a suit? Why did he have to find a woman? +Galadin fought back a wave of disappointment. Everything else reminded him that he was being forced into a role he didn't want. Why did he have to go to the dance in a suit? Why did he have to find a woman? -He wondered about Benard's words. Was that a possibility? Could he just like men like Benard? The thought warmed him and gave a little hope. +Benard was the only thing he enjoyed about the day. His pulse quickened at the memory of feeling Benard's palm against his own, the way the stronger man would twirl him around as they danced together. His mother pointedly look at her husband. "Well?" Storan didn't look up. -"You are useless," she announced before leaving the table. +"You are useless," she announced before storming away from the table. Galadin watched her leave, the edge of her maroon dress catching on the corner before being pulled into the hall. He remembered the touch of the fabric, it was rough but delicate at the same time, like how silk changed when he brushed it one way verses another. diff --git a/chapters/chapter-04.md b/chapters/chapter-04.md index cd81b5e..e6190de 100644 --- a/chapters/chapter-04.md +++ b/chapters/chapter-04.md @@ -82,11 +82,11 @@ She stepped back, one hand on her chest and her face paling. Sniffing, Galadin knew that she would do it. A thousand jems would mean nothing if he did what she wanted. But it still wouldn't be what his heart wanted. He thought about his father's words from the night before. If he wanted to be happy, he had to make the choices for his life. Heart pounding and his stomach twisting, he spoke quickly, "I don't want to wear a suit, Mother. It doesn't matter how it's made, it's the suit itself. It's the role that I don't want." -He gulped. "It's a body I don't want." +He gulped and gestured to himself. "It's this body that I don't want. I want to have one that fits in a dress." "But... a dress? Why? Why would you do that to me?" -He glanced at the green dress. He worked his mouth while shaking his head. He pointed to it and then to a debutante walking in front of the glass with her mother. "That's me. That's what I want." +He glanced at the blue dress in the front. He worked his mouth while shaking his head. He pointed to it and then to a debutante walking in front of the glass with her mother. "That's me. That's what I want." "No." Maran shook her head. "No! I will not allow it!" diff --git a/chapters/chapter-05.md b/chapters/chapter-05.md index dc5b7bb..dd5d342 100644 --- a/chapters/chapter-05.md +++ b/chapters/chapter-05.md @@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ She let out a choked sob. "You were such a pile of shit when we first married." "But, he's a boy." -His father smiled to his wife. "Let's change that. We can pull favors. My mother might take a bit of convincing after getting that invitation but I'm sure all three of us can convince her. We make a new list, find new instructors, get a dress." He smiled broadly. "That is something I'm very good at doing." +His father smiled to his wife. "That is mutable, that can be changed. We can pull favors. My mother might take a bit of convincing after getting that invitation but I'm sure all three of us can convince her. We make a new list, find new instructors, get a dress." He smiled broadly. "Coordination is something I'm very good at doing." She sniffed as the tears rolled down her cheeks. "Just like that?" diff --git a/chapters/chapter-06.md b/chapters/chapter-06.md index 7cfc01d..06e8ba3 100644 --- a/chapters/chapter-06.md +++ b/chapters/chapter-06.md @@ -10,43 +10,51 @@ Their carriage came to a rattling stop in front of a relatively nondescript stor Outside, rain splattered loudly across the carriage, drumming across the wooden roof until it rolled down the glass in crystalline rivulets and splashed to the cobblestones. Below, garbage floated past in a stately procession. -He glanced around the other windows, half afraid they had headed to the docks to throw him on a boat as an embarrassment. The rest of the surrounding buildings were clothiers, milliners, and shoemakers. It didn't look or smell like the docks. He leaned back with a soft sigh of relief. +He nervously glanced around the other windows. The rest of the surrounding buildings were clothiers, milliners, and shoemakers. It didn't look or smell like the docks. He leaned back with a soft sigh of relief. -*POINT* +Society had a way of pushing away the undesirables. Benard was one example, gay man were frequently pushed into the navy to keep the family's reputation secure. Many of them never returned, either by choice or dying. -The relief with filled with a strange excitement, a hope that had began to bubble up as - -*POINT* +When his mother demanded a late night carriage, he was afraid that was his own fate. "Are you sure about this?" Galadin jumped at his mother's sudden question. He looked to see her sitting primly on her bench. Her straight back revealed her discomfort. She didn't want to be there. -He turned to her. He knew she wanted him to agree to go back, to pretend to be a man for her sake. It didn't feel like an option anymore, he finally had a chance and his heart ached for the chance. +He knew she wanted him to agree to go back, to pretend to be a man for her sake. It didn't feel like an option anymore, he finally had a chance and his heart ached for the chance. -She glanced at him, her eyes red-rimmed. +She glanced at him, her eyes red-rimmed. "Why are you doing this to me?" Her low voice cracked. -"Please?" he finally said. +Galadin cringed. "I'm not doing this to hurt you." -Maran sighed. "If you do this, you can't go back. You can only come to a presentation once, as a woman or yourself. If you come to your senses, you'll have to leave forever." +"But every time you follow your father's foolish plan, it feels like you are stabbing me with a knife." She rested her fingers on her left breast to illustrate. -"Leave?" +He stared to his lap and blushed. The last few days had been a whirlwind of activity, terrifying in how fast everything was moving, scary in how much was left unknown, but also exhilarating. It was the promise that kept him going, the hint of seeing a life that he didn't think was possible. -"Town," she said sharply. "You will have to leave. We have to leave." +Maran gave an exasperated sigh. "If you do this, you can't ever go back. We can't pretend that I suddenly have a daughter, then have her disappear again when it turns sour. Once this happens, then you have to disappear." -Tears began to burn his eyes. He desperately wanted to do it but he could also feel doubt rising. What if he had made a mistake? Would he ruin everything? He sniffed and wiped his eyes. +He tensed. She was talking about being forced into the navy or sent out to the country estates. In either case, he wouldn't be able to return home. -"This is the final chance to---" +Galadin thought about Benard and a hint of a smile crossed his lips. There were ways back, though he would never be as handsome as Benard. + +Wiping the smile from his face, he nodded. "I know." + +"I-I could lose you, Gal. Forever. Do you understand?" + +He nodded again, blushing as he stared at his lap. Then, screwing his courage, he looked up and said, "Please? I want this. I need it more than anything I have needed before." + +Tears burned in his eyes. He sniffed and wiped them with the back of his hand. + +His mother spoke in her low voice, "This is the final chance to---" Someone knocked on the door. Both of them jumped. -Outside, a man with a bowler stood outside. He peered inside. "Maran and Galadin von Kasins?" He had a low, rumbling voice. Despite wearing a black suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly, he had the appearance of a sailor with a deep tan and weathered lines on his face. His appearance reminded Galadin of Benard, though the new man was much older than Benard. +Outside, a man with a bowler stood outside. He peered inside. "Maran and Galadin von Kasins?" He had a low, rumbling voice. Despite wearing a black suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly, he had the appearance of a sailor with a deep tan and weathered lines on his face. His appearance reminded Galadin of Benard, though the new man was much older than Benard not any less attractive. Maran sighed and shot a glare at Galadin before she unlatched the door. "Last chance. You don't have to do this." -The other man opened the door with a bow. "Good evening, I am Kendrick bo Martin hio Kasin. I was sent out to escort you to the lovely Lily bo Martin." +The other man opened the door with a bow. "Good evening, I am Kendrick bo Martin hio Kasin. I was sent out to escort you to the Tadame Lily bo Martin." Galadin was surprised, it was rare for someone to leave the Kasin family to join another family and yet still remain within the city. The "bo" indicated that there was something about Kendrick and Lily that made them desirable to both families. @@ -64,7 +72,7 @@ Galadin held his breath. When Kendrick winked, he hesitatingly placed his finger Kendrick led both of Galadin and his mother down the block to the only store that still had lights on. The front was filled with elegant dresses with matching hats and shoes. They were arrayed in a rainbow of colors. The graduation from yellow to purple was almost perfect. -> Lily bo Martin hio Kasin's +> Lily bo Martin hio Kasin > > An Emporium of Fabrics and Colors > @@ -90,38 +98,134 @@ Lily glanced at Galadin. "You mean your daughter?" Galadin flinched. -*POINT* - -"Yes, he decided he wanted to go as a debutante and not as a proper man," his mother said with a sound of disgust. She took a deep breath and let it out with a grunt. "I'm willing... to allow his I'm willing to allow this deception, but I'm not entirely happy with it." - -*POINT* +Maran's lips tensed. "He... Galadin wants to attend the ball as a debutante instead of a proper besire. I have decided that he gets a week, the third week of the Season, to see if it works out." Galadin flushed. He glanced at the door to the store and wondered how far he would make it before someone caught him. A tremor coursed along his hands as he pressed his palms to his side. +Lily smiled broadly. "Of course." + +Galadin breathed a quiet sigh of relief. + +His mother took a deep breath of her own. "I am willing to go along with this deception but I'm not entirely happy with his desires. I am willing to pay a premium for your discretion. I heard that you..." She paused as her lips tightened again. "... understood the need for silence." + +"Of course, Dame Maran. I am nothing but discrete." + +Mindil smiled, her lips curling broadly as she glanced at Kendrick. + +"Whatever you can do to make him less of an embarrassment would be appreciated." + +Galadin blushed hotly. + The smile on Lily's lips didn't move. She gestured to the back room. "Why don't we get you measured. Mindil? Please get the dame a bottle of the Kaber '32? I heard that she enjoys that vintage." Maran looked surprised. A bit of the frown on her lips faded as she let Mindil lead her to the comfortable-looking chairs in the front. She shot one last look at Galadin before sinking down. -Lily gestured for Galadin. "And what would you like to be called?" +Lily gestured for Galadin toward a door in the back of the store. "And what would you like to be called?" -"G-Galadin" he answered automatically and then realized she had asked a different question than he expected. "I... the invitation was for Glorias. My father... helped me pick it." +"G-Galadin" he answered automatically and then realized she had asked a different question than he expected. "I... the invitation was for Glorias. My father... helped me pick the name." -She didn't seem to hesitate, not even a twitch in her smile. "Oh, that's a lovely name. Are you planning on going as a girl or a boy dressed as a girl? There are subtle differences in how I cut your dress." +She didn't seem to hesitate, not even a twitch in her smile. Her arm slipped around his waist and gently guided him through the door. "Oh, that's a lovely name. Are you planning on going as a girl or a boy dressed as a girl? There are subtle differences in how I cut your dress." -He stopped in shock, stunned by a second question in a row that came easily off her lips. She didn't seem bothered by Galadin's desires at all. +The door closed behind them with a click, separating him from his mother. They were in a room filled with fabrics, dress forms, and large tables. A bottle of wine misted on a table along with four glasses. There was also a small tray of crackers, cheese, and fruits. -"I want to be a girl." +He stopped in shock, stunned by a second question in a row that came easily off her lips. She didn't seem bothered by Galadin's desires at all. The answer was easier though, he had been thinking about it for most of his life. "I want to be a girl. I've always wanted to be one." -"That won't be a problem, Beautiful. Since this is new, do you want me to walk you through everything on my side? Your mother has commissioned me for all of your outfits this year." +It was a rush to finally say it, to hear it echo against the walls. -"Please?" +"That won't be a problem, Beautiful. Since this is new, do you want me to walk you through everything on my side? Your mother may have just said a week, but the payment she had delivered was for the rest of the Social Season." -Lily lifted her hand to Galadin's short hair. She stroked her fingertip along his hairline and then down to ear. "Let's start with this. Do you want longer hair? I have a stylist friend who can lengthen them and I'll color it to match. It will change your appearance and the difference will make it harder for anyone in your old life to connect to your new." +Galadin looked in surprise. -Galadin smiled, tears in his eyes. "May I be a blonde? A pretty one." He blushed. "I always wanted to be one." +"Are there others involved?" -She reached up and stroked his hair again. A warmth rippled along Galadin's scalp. He didn't know what to do, so he remained still until she gestured to one of many full-length mirrors surrounding the back room. +"M-My father and his mother. And Tadame Potsur down on Ash Street, she's teaching me how to dance as a girl. I don't think anyone else knows. We haven't really figured out everything." -He peered at himself. When he saw brilliantly gold hair on top of his head, a stark contrast to the dark brown, he let out a choking gasp. He loved it. If it was longer, then it wouldn't be Galadin in the mirror anymore, it would be Glorias. "It's beautiful." +Lily guided Galadin to a corner. There was a simple cream dress hanging from a bar. "Well, I've been hired to handle all of your fashion. With everything going on, we are going to focus on you entering the events during the third week. This year, the color that week is Dawn on the Summer Sea, which is a lovely green color. As a debutante, your dress will be mostly cream but the green will be used for accents, shoes, hat, and trim." -Lily smiled before pulling out a long length of tape. "I promise you, by the time you show up at that ball, you are going to steal the show." +As she spoke, she ran her hand along a red ribbon. A green spread out from her fingertip, running like paint. In seconds, the entire ribbon had changed color to match. + +Galadin looked in surprise. + +"We all have talents. I'm good at color. Mindil will ensure that you and I can talk in privacy. In fact, anything you say will remain in here unless you decide to share it. Do you have a talent?" + +Every adult had a magical talent of some sort. His father had one of the rarest, the ability to channel magic into spells that could do almost anything. For the bulk of the population including his mother, magic was more focused into a single ability such as his mother's ability to clean anything with a touch. + +"I don't." + +"It will come, it always does. Mine came out when a duel two men were having over me set fire to my mother's house." + +Galadin's jaw opened in shock. + +Lily winked. "Don't worry, both Kendrick and Hasan have apologized many times." + +"K-Kendrick? The man outside?" + +She smiled happily. "My husband. Hasan is Mindil's. It was a journey though, but in the end, no matter how painful it was, it brought me great joy." + +Lily hugged him lightly. "I have no doubt that yours will be the same." + +Nervous and blushing, Galadin reached out for the dress. "Do I need to wear this?" It was light and airy. He loved how it felt along his fingertips. + +"It's a fitting gown. Light material but transparent. That's why you are back here alone. It will help me make measurements but give you some..." Her voice trailed off when she looked at Galadin stroking it. "Do you want to put it on?" + +"I-I can?" He gripped the fabric and tugged on it. + +"It will make it easier to measure you. Don't worry, just go behind that screen and change." + +Galadin's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped behind the screen. He shook while he stripped down, pulling off his masculine clothes and carefully folding them on a small table. Clad only in his small clothes, he rubbed the delicate fabric of the dress for a long moment before pulling it own. + +At the sensation of the delicate touch on his skin, he let out a moan of desire. His fantasies were coming true and it felt right to feel it settle over his shoulders and tickle his thighs. It was shorter than he expected but felt good. + +Nervous, he paused to catch his breath. His cheeks were burning and tears blurred his vision. He tugged on it, pulling it one way and then the other. + +"Come on," Lily said in an encouraging voice. + +Embarrassed, Galadin inched out from behind the screen. + +Lily handed him a glass of a pale wine. "You look beautiful." + +Galadin glanced at his hairless chest, the flatness of his skin caused the front of the fitting gown to sag. There was also nothing in the hips, no flare or narrowness. "It doesn't fit very well." + +"Thankfully," Lily said with a grin, "I'm very good at fixing that. Come on, over to the mirror." + +This time, as Galadin stood up on the platform in front of the mirror, it wasn't a feeling of dread that filled his body. It was excitement and hope. He smiled and wiped the tears from his eyes. + +"There's a pretty lady," Lily said. She had measuring tape coiled over her shoulder and one around her neck. It was similar to the tailor, almost surreal, but a world of difference to Galadin. + +Lily started with Galadin's left arm, measuring everything from the length of his fingers to the distance between his wrist and elbow. As she did, she asked light questions about the designs that Galadin liked, the patterns and styles that caught his attention. + +He could answer clumsily at first. He didn't have the names but she seemed to understand what he wanted. But after a while it was easier just to picture what he wanted and describe that. + +When she started to measure his neck, she stopped to brush along his short, brown hair. "Do you want to change this?" + +"What? What do you mean?" + +"Short isn't really common in High Society." + +He sighed. "I know, and neither is brown." + +Lily smiled brilliantly. She ran her hand through the short strands and color began to flow them through. In a matter of seconds, he had a head full of honey brown. + +Galadin's knees felt weak. He thought about the stories in his journal, his illustrations of his ideal body if he had been born a girl instead of a boy. "Any color?" + +"Of course, I am the comprehensive coordinator." + +"Could you do brighter? Like Suar de Pun?" + +Lily's eyebrow raised. "Suar's? About fifteen years ago?" + +He thought about one of the paintings he had walked into as a younger child. It was a beautiful image that stole his heart away and started the longing. + +"*A Dance Among the Swans and Roses.* I always loved that painting, I have a copy of it in my journal." + +"A very beautiful choice." As Lily spoke, Galadin's hair turned to a bright blond with a few platinum streaks. "I recall that she had a gorgeous dress in that painting. Would you like me to make something like that?" + +Galadin couldn't talk. He lifted his hand to his hair and stroked it along his fingers. He felt hot and tingly across his entire body as he imagined himself dancing in the famous painting. His eyes blurred for a moment and he almost swayed. + +"We'll have to get your hair lengthen to pull that out. I have a discrete friend over on Bone Flower's Road that will do that." + +He didn't say anything as he pictured the painting and himself. Everything was happening faster than he expected as he rushed toward his fantasy instead of away from it. + +Another tremor coursed through his body for a moment, a shiver of anticipation and flush of excitement. + +Lily lifted up her measuring tape again "I promise you, by the time you show up at that ball, you are going to steal the show." diff --git a/language.json b/language.json index f5120d3..d1fb819 100644 --- a/language.json +++ b/language.json @@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ "Glorias's", "Glorin", "Hasan", + "Kaber", "Kalir", "Kalir's", "Kamer", @@ -24,12 +25,15 @@ "Missun", "Missun's", "Moonfire", + "Pavin", "Penelop", "Potsur", "Potsur's", "Rach", "Rilar", "Storan", + "Suar", + "Suar's", "Tadame", "Taladame", "Talin", @@ -40,13 +44,16 @@ "bedames", "besire", "besires", + "bo", "da", "de", + "hio", "jems", "kia", "sigils", "tadame", "taladame", - "tasire" + "tasire", + "von" ] } \ No newline at end of file