The Exploits of Misfit Company

While Kasha gets the sense that Yvan is being genuine about being nervous about the party, there is definitely more to it than just that. It is incredibly unlike him to lie. She can tell he is holding something back from her and the others, something that is making him be dishonest. What it is or why he's not saying anything, she doesn't know.

The goliath is taken aback when Kasha asks to see his hands, hesitant in the offer, but eventually he lets up and lets her see them briefly before hiding them underneath his cloak again. "Yeah... I was in a hurry and forgot to grab it. I... I didn't want to make Stella wait for me..." When she views his hands, she can tell that he didn't do a very good job at getting out all the splinters and such, but other than that they looked fine. His face twists into a look of confusion when she asks about what the firewood was for. "... For fire?"

Kasha stared at him for another moment, unconvinced. She soured up, thinking about all the things that could have happened. She became protective, defensive. Yvan was a rock. He was the pillar of strength, honor, discipline. He was a good man. Loyal. Honest. He took care of Kasha when they first met. Taught her things. Showed her things. Concepts and ideas to make her less of an animal and more a person.

He was hiding something. Something happened. He didn't want to talk about it. Fine. I'll respect that. He has his right to privacy. But, if someone hurt you, Yvan. If someone made you do bad things, i'll find out. And it won't be all chocolate and peanuts for them. 

"Ok, Yvan." she said, smiling slightly. She slowly turned back to the girls with their dresses and let it go.

He was a terrible liar. There was reason why he didn’t do it. He hated the guilt and dishonesty that came with lying, especially when it came to lying to the ones he loved. But he needed to, he told himself, just until after the party, when the party was over he could be honest, he could come clean. He just needed to be patient.

Yvan releases a breath he didn’t realize he was holding when Kasha turned away, his gaze on her softening into a more apologetic one. “Thank you,” He would say quietly then look back to Stella and the tailor when they agreed on a type of suit for him. All they needed to do was measure him and get to working on it.

Alys would feel a sudden wash of anxiety hit her the moment she walked into the store. Her eyes darted frantically over all the array of colours, styles, sizes and textiles. It made her head spin. She’d slink away to hide off in a hidden corner so it didn’t look as obvious that she was completely at loss of where to start. The elf would poke away at the rack in front of her but would be peering and peaking over at what Vastra would look at. Other times she’d go up on her tiptoes to look at what Stella was helping pick out for Kasha. And of course what she picked was beyond perfect.

The elf was slowly moving her way over when Kasha would twinkletoe over to her and dance circles around her. Alys couldn’t help but smile, taking a breath she needed to calm herself. The wizard would admire the dress with some ‘ouus’ and ‘ahhs’, even reaching over to pick and fluff at some parts of the skirt. She was a big fan of the asymmetrical look, and of course the colour complemented her skin. The wizard would straighten herself up to try to think of something clever to say, but nothing came to mind. 

Alys was trying to muster up the courage to ask Stella for some help when both Stella and Kasha would turn their heads. She too would look to see Yvan standing there with Obsidian. With his shy wave, she would notice the bandages on his hands and her heart would sink a little. And of course she wanted to head to his side too, but he was in better hands, Stella and Kasha’s. She didn’t need to be crowding their space. The elf would stand awkwardly in place, trying not to stare, her eyes flitting off too and fro. Finally she’d pad her way over to a different section to try and focus on what she was supposed to be doing. Finding a dress.

With Vastra and Kasha having picked out their outfit, Stella no doubt already has one on standby or at least in mind... Even Yvan was getting fitted. Meanwhile, she fretted. The elf will groan and literally just blindly start walking forward until she slipped into a random rack of dresses, burrowing herself in the centre and plopping herself on the floor. This reminder her of the last time... She never liked it then... She didn’t like it now. Alys would bury her face in her hands.

 Slipping from its hanger, a dress would fall onto Alys. The fabric was soft and light, but something tickled her skin, making her look up from her hands, pulling it onto her lap. It was a long flowy gown. Nude in colour that faded to white where feathers flowed from it. It was adorned at the shoulders and waist with gemmed leaves. A soft gasp would leave her lips as her fingers inspected the dress. It reminded her a lot of that dress, but this one would be hers...

Already feeling awkward for being in there as long as she was, Alys still had to emerge from the wrack of dresses she disappeared in. She sighed to herself, but would slowly pick herself up to poke her head out. “I think I found one...”

"Young lady, you've done it now!" the man yelled at the girl. "Can't I go anywhere around town without you doing something awful!?"

The girl looked up at him. At only 8, she didn't understand much, but her long brown hair was a mess and her green eyes shone with a otherworldly brightness, as if not from nature - but within it. Her father was exasperated with her behavior. For years, he had to raise her alone. She was unruly, mischievous, naughty, disobedient - you name it. It's almost as if she wasn't meant to be a part of this world. Ever since her mother left, it was just her, and him. His reputation as a carpenter was definitely tarnished, not to mention the fact he was a laughing stock for the sudden appearance of the newborn and the wild story of her birth - that no one would have believed. Who mates with fey in the forests??

Even now, she wasn't paying attention anymore. "Kasha!" he yelled at her. "No dinner for you tonight. It's going to take a tenday for me to pay for the damage you caused!" he took her by the arm and she giggled, not understanding. Angered and frustrated by her behavior, he kept his word and sent her to her room without supper.

That night, Kasha's father cried himself to sleep, wishing and praying that her mother would return, and again, wondering why he was cursed with such an unruly child.

And just like the all the nights before, she never did.

Kasha would turn and gasp. It was indeed a lovely article of clothing. "Barnacles! Look at THAT! Put it on! Put it onnnNnNnNnNah!" she'd sing to Alys, encouraging her.

Stella nods in agreement, smiling at Alys. "It look absolutely lovely," she tells the half-elf.

Alys’ face will flush completely at Kasha’s burst of excitement for her to try it on. If there was anything she hated more than shopping for dresses, it was trying them on. She wanted to slip back into the rack of dresses and hide. Her eyes would dart frantically to everyone who was in the store. She’d return a shy smile and mouth Thank you, to her.Should their Druid continue to be excitable and insistent, she’d have to pull her into the change room and the elf would refuse to leave it with the dress on. 

Insight: 16

"Alright, everyone, we'll be right back." Kasha said smoothly to the group. "No peekingGgGgGuh!" she'd sing, and take Alys into the changing room with her - and Kasha was still wearing the dress. She closed the door behind them both. "You don't like doing this, huh." she'd say in a hushed tone, in a loving and teasing way. "Tell you what. I'll turn around and close my eyes. I won't watch. I promise."

“No...” Alys would sigh in response. She’d turn to be back to back with Kasha to begin changing. Through the silence Kasha could get the sense of how much Alys was resisting this. It wasn’t that she wasn’t excited. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to spend time with everyone as a group. No. It was just resistance to the act of dressing herself up. Any time Alys had to do this in the past, it felt like she was being put on display and flaunted around for something she never believed in. She went through the motions of what was expected of her... and loathed it. Even felt ashamed of it. There was no confidence, no joy. It was as if someone literally let the air out of a party balloon and it was just empty, hanging by a string of anxiety.

”Okay...” Alys would turn back around with the dress on.

“You look so beeeyootiful!!” Kasha said, after turning around. She patted the dress, smoothed it out, looked Alys over. Gosh. She was really pretty. Ok focus. “Wanna show the others?” she offered gently. “You look really gorgeous!”

“Thank you...” Now Alys’ ears were flushed too. She’d hide her face in her hands thinking no one would want to see her in it. “They’ll see me tonight right? So if it’s Kasha approved we’re good right?” She’d muffle out shyly before slowly uncovering her face. In an attempt to redirect their sweet druid Alys would continue, leaning in closer to Kasha. “Don’t I still need to do your hair? We still have lots to do!” This time Alys would reach to tickle Kasha, leading her out of the change room. The elf would wink at the halfelf before closing the door quickly behind her before Kasha could pull her out with the dress on. The elf would change quickly so they could move on to their next task. 

“Yeah you do!“ Kasha nodded, excited to get her hair done. “I like it w-WHOOPhaha!” But she was tickled and led out of the changing room. Gosh she was shy, Kasha smirked, and turned to the girls, giving them a big smile and a thumbs up.

When the tailor was done taking his measurements, Yvan gives a respectful nod to them before rejoining with the others, still mindful in keeping a distance from them, but gets just close enough to grab Stella's attention as they waited for Kasha and Alys to emerge from the dressing room.

"Thank you... for helping me, Stella," He begins, cheeks a bit flushed. "I... I like what you chose for me. Hopefully it gets done in time..." He sounds a bit doubtful, but he had confidence that Stella was able to make sure the tailor made it their top priority in finishing it by tomorrow. Just as he was about to ask her something, the door to the fitting room had opened, and he had anticipated to Alys come out to get opinions on the dress she chose, however it just turns out to be a giggling Kasha being taken out before the door closes once more.

For a brief second, he looks to be disappointed, but seeing Kasha's beaming smile gets him to crack a crooked one of his own. "... Guess it was a good one, huh? Kasha approved and all?"

Vastra set down a few hundred gold to pay for her outfit that she was wearing, as well as ensure that the tailor would have Yvan's finished by tomorrow. "It's a very nice outfit. I think that you'll look very nice in it, Yvan. As I'm sure that Alys will look good in whatever she's chosen." She says as Kasha walks out of the changing room.

Alys will change quickly, redonning all her layers before rushing out to catch up with the others. Not expecting everyone to literally be standing right there waiting for her, Alys would stop abruptly and want to shrivel away on the spot. Still with pink cheeks, the elf will hold her dress to her chest “Oh-I-Oh. Uh. I’m ready!” Her eyes would stare at their feet.

Vastra looks at the dress that Alys is holding up and mentally imagines her wearing it tomorrow night, maybe having a little bit of herb in her system to make her less anxious than she is right now. And she really likes that image. "It's a very beautiful dress, Alys. You'll look good in it."

Stella gives Yvan a smile. "No problem, Yvan. And it will be ready by tomorrow." She shoots the tailor a Look. As Alys comes out, Stella gives her a warm smile. "That's a gorgeous dress, Alys. And I think I have an idea of how to do your hair to go with it really well, if you want to come to my room before the party."

"Gosh, I can't WAIT to go to the party." Kasha said, genuinely excited to everyone. "We're all gonna look so nice! Is it hair time?" She ran her fingers through her hair. "It's not all tangled up this tiiimmmmeeeee-muh!" she sang, bobbing her eyebrows at Alys and Yvan. 

"Oh, Obsidian!" she squeaked, happy to see the cat. "There you are! I have a secret for yyouUuUuUUu!" she sang the last word in opera. She picked him up, and looked at the others as she made her way out. "Excuse us for a moment. Privacy, please?!" she trotted out and picked the cats ear up just a teensy so she could whisper directly in it. Through painfully strained attempts not to giggle, all that could be heard was hushed whispering and snorting stifled giggles.

She came back inside. "Ready!!"

Yvan is sure to give appreciative nods to both Vastra and Stella in assuring him it would look good and it would be done in time. He then turns his attention to Alys when she rejoins the group, she shyly showing the dress she chose to them all. His gaze softens a bit. "I like it. It looks... good."

When Kasha asks about if its hair time, Yvan tilts his head to the side a bit. "I'm glad to see your hair with no knots for now, but... shouldn't you do it tomorrow...?"