Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Retail Therapy

Posted by Lieutenant Tandra Mika (Counselor) in Retail Therapy

Posted by Civilian Jal’na Sherko of House Noggra (Head of Physical Therapy - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Retail Therapy
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Eela ran her hands down to hips. “Thank you,” she said, unused to all the compliments, at least in recent years. “I think I’m taking this dress for sure, but I don’t think it’s right for the auction.” She moved to one of the chair, feeling at ease and rather glamorous, all told. “Okay, next!” she said, lowering herself into the seat and crossing one leg over the other knee, which allowed the slit to reveal a whole lot more leg. She wanted to enjoy this feeling and, well, there was a certain attaché’s opinion she was very curious to have about this dress. The thought made her actually giddy and she couldn’t remember the last time she had felt like this.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Sharah caught herself before she asked Eela who she was thinking about. Instead she focused on the dress, “Wear that for your evening out.”

Eela chewed on her lower lip. “Maybe. I’m not sure it says avid Patron-of-the-Arts, but we’ll see.”

Yavia grinned, “I vote Sharah next.” She grabbed a blue dress made of satin and and sequins the created a subtle pattern across the bodice. It had a back the dipped low enough that it didn’t have a back and a skirt that ended just above the knees. “This one.”

“Ummm…no.” Sharah’s response was quick.

“Oh come on, you would look gorgeous in this.” Yavia held it out to her. “Just try it on.”

“I am not doing anything that fancy. No I am not wearing that on Saturday.” She turned to Jal’na. “Jal’na help me out. I will steal Yavia’s spoon.”

Jal’na slapped her chair, “No. Go try it on.” Sharah took the dress that was put in her hands as Yavia tugged her up and pushed her toward the dressing room. She looked back, “Mika? Help....?”

Sharah

Mika didn’t seem to be entirely paying attention. She was looking at the dress Yavia had suggested, and Sharah, and she did not immediately respond when Sharah addressed her. After a moment, she looked up at Sharah, “What? …Oh, no, you have to try it at least, it’s a beautiful dress. I think it’ll look amazing on you.” Her tone of voice, and the way she was looking at it, conveyed that just fine on its own.

~ Mika, CNS

Sharah looked at Mika, “I thought you were my friend…” Yavia rolled her eyes, “Get in there you.” Yavia sat down while Sharah closed the door. She pulled out a micro padd and grinned. “I am totally getting pictures of this.”

“It’s just a garment, Sharah. No one is saying you have to take it if it’s not you, or wear it to the event if it doesn’t feel right,” Eela said gently with a warm smile.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Sharah’s voice came through the door, “I knew you you would back me up, Eela.” Then there was a lot grumbling and maybe cursing from behind the curtain.

“Sharah, how can you face man eating plants and not flinch, but act like you are dying from death by cotton!?” Jal’na grinned. “Come out here or I will come get you.”

The door opened and Sharah was as red as the dress was blue. Yavia forgot for about 19 seconds to take her picture. The blue was dark but the material had a sheen so the color kind of flowed from her black curls. Large shoulder straps led to a gently but deep scoop neckline and the back…well it gathered softly and barely started where it should to protect her modesty. The skirt ended with an inverted V just above her knees giving it an asymmetrical length. The sequins were designed to draw attention to all her curves in just the right way. “I am NOT wearing this.”

Jal’na laughed, “Oh you should. You will bring a great many warriors to their knees.”

Jal’na

She had Mika at her knees, if Mika had been standing, that was for sure. The dress was gorgeous, if a tad revealing, and fit Sharah perfectly, accentuating her body type. “Oh… Yeah, there won’t be anyone who isn’t looking at you if you wear that.”

Then she came to her senses, blushing a bright red with the embarrassment she now keenly felt, mixed with a painful stab of guilt that combined into a terrible sort of shame. Not because she felt bad for being attracted to Sharah, her friend was very attractive after all, but because she wasn’t even over Aili. She glanced away from Sharah, smiled and shrugged, “I mean, if you really don’t like that one, there are plenty of other options we can try.”

~ Mika, CNS

No one seemed to be aware of Mika’s embarrassment. Certainly Sharah didn’t, she was too overwhelmed by her own embarrassment. She did NOT want everyone looking at her. It was one thing to be wild and flirtatious with someone she felt utterly safe with, but in front of countless strangers? And the event was ikely to draw a lot of media attention. That was good for the charity, but this was just outragously not enouogh clothing. People were going to see her later and they would remember this dress, there was no way not to. And that stupid live feed from TWF and Jessie showing it to everyone. Sharah had thought that dress was tame, simple…No she really did not want more attention. It was bad enough with the workers for the deck making things uncomfortable at home. She had just been working with her flowers. No, no, too much attention. She could NOT do this. Sharah was going to do something totally embarrassing and hyperventilate.

Eela rose from her chair, the brace whirring slightly as she had to adjust her balance in the heels. Moving over and behind Sharah, she set her hands on her friend’s shoulders, exuding warmth and understanding. “You look lovely. But on Halii we have saying, Ou asala nem so kivo. The cloth is woven from the skin. This is just a garment, but when you wear it, it is you because that is the Sharah you are putting forth into the world. If you feel uncomfortable in it, if it doesn’t feel like an extension of your body, it’s not right for you and that’s okay.”

She dropped her hands and tapped her dress. “This dress is not something I normally wear around here, but there are many sides to me and I’m turning sixty-four next month. I’m newly divorced. And I look damn amazing in this. I wear the dress, it doesn’t wear me. So if this isn’t the outfit, find the one that you wear, and you’ll be set.”

~Eela

Ah but Eela knew who she was. Most days Sharah wondered who she was…well not as much as she used to wonder. But no, and looking in the mirror she saw how good she looked, she couldn’t do it. “No,” and when all else failed, fall back on what she did know, “I don’t think this is the kind of reputation we want to give the hospital.”

Jal’na had to agree, “I don’t think it’s the hospital that is the problem. The CCDA agents would never let certain people forget it.”

Yavia threw some kind of round fruit at Jal’na which Jal’na caught, “If you and the rest would stop spreading rumors it wouldn’t be a problem. Gossipy old bitties.” She looked at Mika, “Watch out for them.”

Jal’na laughed, “Gossip maybe, but it’s all true.”

Sharah smiled her thanks at Eela, “I don’t even know what I’m doing, this may be too fancy anyway. And I have to decide and tell Shrin, or she will pick.” She shook her head again, feeling that panic welling up again as she looked in the mirror and tried to figure out what she was doing.

Shara