feat: drafted six and seven

2019-06-09 16:28:46 -05:00 · 2019-06-09 16:28:46 -05:00 · 9ad90270e2
commit 9ad90270e2
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--- a/chapters/chapter-06.md
+++ b/chapters/chapter-06.md
@ -2,12 +2,108 @@
 title: WIP
 ---
-Their carriage came to a rattling stop but Galadin's mother made no effort to get out. Instead, she sat primly on one padded bench and stared straight ahead.
+Their carriage came to a rattling stop in front of a relatively nondescript storefront with a crowded display area filled with feathered hats, a milliner's. Galadin leaned against the side and peered at the darkened store wondering why they had stopped.
-Galadin squirmed nervously. He didn't know why she had demanded this carriage, nor the reason for them going across town to one of the crafter regions. He was half afraid they were heading to the docks to throw him on a boat.
+Outside, rain splattered loudly across the carriage, drumming across the wooden roof until it rolled down the glass in crystlaline rivulets. He could see it streaming down the gutter, picking up garbage in a stately procession.
-"Are you sure?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.
+He glanced around the other windows, half afraid they had headed the docks to throw him on a boat as an embarassment. The rest of the surrounding buildings were clothiers, milliners, and shoemakers. It didn't look or smell like the docks.
 "Are you sure about this?"
 Galadin jump at her sudden question. He looked to see his mother sitting primly on her bench. Her straight back revealed her discomfort. She didn't want to be there.
-Galadin got out of the carriage and looked around nervously. They were in one of the crafter area of the twown but one he had never been to before.
+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.
 She glanced at him, her eyes red-rimmed.
 "Please?" he finally said.
 Maran sighed. "If you do this, you can't go back. You can only come to the presentation once, as a woman or yourself. If you come to your senses, you'll have to leave forever."
 "Leave?"
 "Town," she said sharply. "You will have to leave."
 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.
 "This is the finally 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.
 Maran sighed and shot a glare at Galadin before she unlatched the door. "Last chance, don't do this."
 The other man opened the door with a bow. "Good evening, I am Kendrick bo Martin. I was sent out to escort you to the lovely Lily bo Martin."
 Beyond him, the sheeting rain suddenly stopped. Galadin looked around in surprise. It continued to rain everywhere including the top of the carriage, only the area around Kendrick was still.
 Galadin's mother sighed dramatically. "Come on."
 She allowed Kendrick to help her out.
 When it was his turn, Galadin hestiated. It was tradition to have a man help a woman out of carriages. He held out his hand and then pulled it back, unsure of how to ask.
 Kendrick smiled and then held out his hand.
 Galadin held his breath. When Kendrick winked, he hesitatantly placed his fingertips along the broad palm and let himself be drawn out. The little action brought a thrill coursing through the younger man's veins. It felt good, it felt right.
 Kendrick favored him with a smile and then lead 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's
 >
 > An Emporium of Fabrics and Colors
 >
 > Comprehensive Coordinator of a Lady's Fashion
 There wasn't a single suit on display. Galadin stared in shock, his mouth opening slowly as he stared at beautiful dresses. He could feel a sob of joy rising up in his throat.
 "Get inside before anyone sees you," muttered his mother.
 Galadin ducked his head and went inside.
 Two women greeted him. One was slender with small breasts, blonde hair so brilliant it looked white, and a elegance that made Galadin instantly jealous. He could have sworn he was looking at one of the many pictures that hung on the ball walls. She was almost exactly what Galadin fantastized about becoming.
 The second woman was fat and beautiful. Her dress threatened to burst out of her top, the deep valley of her clevage no doubt drawing the attention of any man nearby. Her wide hips swayed with her steps as she came up to Galadin and his mother. "Welcome to Lily's. I'm Mindil da Kasin ne Pavin."
 Maran pulled a face and jerked her attention to the side. "Lily?"
 Lily, the slender blonde, inclined her head and smiled. "A pleasure to meet you, Maran da Kasin de Kamer."
 "Thank you for staying up past your normal hours. If it wasn't a delicate matter, I wouldn't have asked."
 Lily glanced at Galadin who flinched. "Your daughter?"
 "Yes, he decided he wanted to go as a debutane," she said with a sound of disgust.
 Galadin flushed and considered running away.
 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 '32?"
 Maran looked surprised at the vingte. A bit of the frown on her lips faded as she let Mindil lead her to the comfortable-looking chairs in the front.
 Lily gestured for Galadin. "And what would you like to be called?"
 "G-Galadin" he answered automatically and then realied she had asked a different question than he expected. "I... I never answered that. Do you think you could call me Glorias?" It was the name he always dreamed of having.
 She didn't seem to hestiate. "Oh, that's a lovely name. Are you planning on going as a girl or a boy dressed as 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.
 "I'd like to be a girl."
 "That won't be a problem, Beautiful. Do you want me to walk you through everything?"
 "Please?"
 Lily lifted her hand to Galadin's short hair. "Would you like longer hair? I have a stylist friend who can lengthen them and I'll color it to match."
 Galadin smiled, tears in his eyes. "May I be a blonde? A pretty one." He blushed. "I always wanted to be one."
 She reached up and stroked his hair. There was a soft smle on her lips as she moved for a moment. With her other hand, she gestured toward a full lenght mirror.
 He peered at himself. When he saw a brilliantly gold hair on top of his head, a stark contrast to the dark brown, he let out a choking gasp. "It's beautiful."
 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."
--- a/chapters/chapter-07.md
+++ b/chapters/chapter-07.md
@ -1,3 +1,121 @@
 ---
 title: WIP
 ---
 After years of fantasties, Galadin's first presentation ball exceeded everything he had hoped for. For the last hour, his dance card had been filled with one partner after the other. He enjoyed every moment on the floor where is long green dress swirled and flowed along with the others.
 He knew that his mother had selected the partner as ones who weren't likely to continue their affections. It was her only sticking point, no one could know his secret.
 Galadin didn't care. He was dancing as a woman, the one thing he desperately craved. Every time one of the partners would kiss the back of his hand or the sweet words brought an intense rush of excitement. He couldn't stop smiling as he carefully worked his way along the box step, guided by an older man looking for his second spouse.
 The song ended too soon.
 "Thank you, bedame, for the lovely dance."
 Galadin curtseyed. "My humble thanks for your company, sire."
 He escored Galadin to the edges of the dance where Maran sat with a circle of friends. He bowed deeply to Galadin's mother. "I bring your daughter safe to your side," he intoned the ritutalistic words before slipping away. From what he said while dancing, he had his name on two more cards before the evening ended.
 Galadin gave his mother a nervous smile. It froze on his face when he saw a strange look on her face, an expresion he had never seen before.
 "Glorias!" It was the seamstress with three others. Lily wore a brillaint dress that looked like a thousand feathers, each one the procribed green of the dance yet somehow different each panel looked like a different color.
 On one side, Kendrick walked next to her with her fingertips resting on his elbow. On the other, a man she didn't recognaize held Mindil's hand. The second man looked slender compared to his wife but it was obvious they were in sync with the way all four of them stepped in harmony.
 Lily pulled Galadin into a hug that wouldn't risk marring either of their makeup. "You look beautiful, my dear."
 "Thank you," Galadin whispered back.
 "How does it feel?"
 "Like everything I ever wanted."
 A sob startled her. He looked over to see tears on his mother's face. She was smiling as she held a piece of silk to her lips. "Mother?"
 "You are so beautiful," she said through the tears.
 The world spun around Galadin as he looked at his mother. "Really?"
 "Y-Yes!" She staggred up out of her chair. Stepping around the table, she grabbed Glroious. "My baby."
 Galadin let out a gasp and then hugged his mother. He could feel her crying, the soft sobs shaking her body as they held each other tightly. "Thank you. Thank you so very much."
 His mother kissed him sweetly. "You are so beautiful."
 Lily and her friends excused themselves and left mother and son behind. After a few minutes, the two broke their embrace and sat down at the table.
 Galadin glanced at his dance card. There were two more lines for the final two dances but both where empty. He was disappointed but at the same time happy that the three other lines were filled in. For someone who had presented himself as a woman only a few weeks ago, the fact that three found him appealing brought a smile.
 "Do you want to stay?"
 Galadin nodded with a smile. "Yes, even if I don't dance. I just want to enjoy this evening. I don't want it to ever end."
 His mother pushed a glass of wine over to him.
 He smiled to himself and then carefully dabbed the tears from his eyes. "This is everything I hoped for."
 "Do you want to keep going?"
 "Can I?"
 "Aren't you already thinking of yourself as a debutane?"
 Galadin hesitated. As much as he loved wearing the dress, he still thought of himself as a male. It wasn't quite a full transition, but he could see the possiblity. It felt like walking out into the sunlight for the first time.
 "You can, if you want. I'll help."
 "Really?"
 She nodded with fresh tears glistening in her eyes. "Yes, I promise." She chuckled. "Your father was right, I knew this day was coming for years. It just... took me a while to realize it."
 Galadin started to say something but someone's presence interrupted him. "Excuse me."
 It was Benard. The Navy officer was dressed in a sharp black suit. He stood next to both of them.
 Galadin's heart beat faster as he looked.
 "I wasn't aware that you had a beautiful daughter coming to this affair, Maran da Kasin ne Kamer." He bowed deeply. "I would be honored if I may have her hand for a dance."
 Galadin whimpered, his face growing flushed as he stared up.
 "Glorias?" asked his mother.
 Galadin didn't know if Benard knew who he was asking about. He almost said no, but then he remembered the electric touch when they touched during their lessons. "I... yes," he whispered.
 Benard bowed again and held out his hand. The song was about to start.
 When he took Galadin's hand, an electrici touch coursed through Galadin's body. He felt exposed and bared, every part of his nerves on fire with anticipation.
 Benard guided him to the floor, turned around, and then slipped his hand around Galadin's waist. It was firm and strong.
 With weak knees, Galadin turned into the first position.
 "What do you think about these dances?"
 Galadin laughed nervously. "I haven't had enough less---"
 With a start, he clamped his mouth shut. He didn't want to reveal that he already knew Benard as a different person. His heart pounded in his chest as the music swelled up.
 "I know what you mean. I feel like I should have been practicing far more with some of these ladies. They were very formal and tense. Not my type of partner." He winked and drew Galadin around.
 Galadin's stomach clenched. He knew exactly what Benard wanted. It couldn't be found on the dance floor.
 The dance brought them in a circle. Galadin's dress swirled out in perfect harmony with the other dancers. He felt like he was in one of the paintings that he admired for years. It brought tears  as he felt more complete than ever.
 Too soon, the music slowed and came to a stop. When a ripple of applause filled the room, the dancers began to drift away.
 Galadin didn't want to leave. He looked into Benard's eyes, wondering if there could ever be anything between the two of them. New fantasties rushed through his mind, setting his skin on fire and quickening his heart.
 "I don't want to leave," Benard said quietly.
 The musicians started up a quieter dance for the intermission between the formal ones. Normally it just filled in the silence but this time, Galadin wanted to keep dancing.
 Benard ran his hand along Galadin's arm bfore clasping their hands together.
 Galadin's breath locked in his throat. He trembled as he looked up.
 "I know we took turns before, but may I lead this dance?"
 With a happy sob, Galadin nodded. "Yes."
 "Good, because I would be honored to fill your dance card for the rest of the evening, Bedame Glorias dea Kasin."