Dress shopping

[Roll: 13]

"Oh, this dress is much too nice for someone like me, I shouldn't even try it on," Runa had said at the sight of the pale white gown displayed on a mannequin in front of her. But her protests were ignored, and now she was wearing said gown, and gasping as the corset was being pulled into place.

There was a slit up the side that came up to her thigh, a compromise to ensure she could move comfortably while in the dress, but the corset seemed to defeat the purpose of that decision. "Too tight!" Runa complained.

Patience, who was standing behind Runa and the seamstress, shook her head. "Not tight enough, actually," she said.

The seamstress agreed. "I'm afraid she's right, miss. Can't look unbecoming if you're accompanying Lady Calmwell." She pulled on the strings of the corset once again, then tied them off at the back. "There," the seamstress sighed. "Well, if it's any consolation, I'll be making some adjustments to the dress, so it won't feel as tight the next time you wear it."

She took out a measuring tape, as well as a pen and notepad, and took some quick measurements and wrote them down. "Now hold here a moment," she said, running off.

"Is this entirely necessary?" Runa asked when they were alone.

"It is, I'm afraid," Patience replied. "Anything less will make you stand out in a bad way. I don't mind taking a blow to my reputation if people find you unfashionable, that's just petty social standing. But if you want to sneak off and explore, you'll need to be able to pass yourself off as a lost guest. Getting found by a guard can be a slight embarrassment if you dress like this, but could be a lifetime imprisonment if they believe you to be an intruder."

Runa tried to sigh, but could not gather enough air to release one. "I'm not enjoying this."

"You aren't meant to. But if it's any consolation, I've been wearing one all day," Patience said.

That was certainly true.

Before Runa could reply, the seamstress returned. "Alright, I'll be able to have this ready for you with time to spare. Let's get you out of that so I can get to work."

"Finally," Runa cried.

It didn't take long to free her from the dress, and then she and Patience left the shop. "That's one concern down, anything else?" Patience asked as they climbed into her stage coach.