closed RP: Camilla and Susan go shopping.

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Traveling had always made Camilla nervous. Her parents had both died in a car accident when she was almost too young to remember; the dangers of travel weren't just statistical abstraction. Her quest to bring Henry back from the dead had made her intrepid in comparison to what she once had been, but she still couldn't get onto a train, or into an airplane, or even take a car ride of more than a few hours, without real trepidation.

She'd been delighted to learn that wizards could Apparate. Her safety wasn't reliant now on the vagaries of machinery or of other travelers, only on her own talent, and she'd proven quite talented indeed, which came as little surprise to her. Splinching was the only danger, and she knew she wouldn't splinch.

About Susan, she couldn't be certain. The greater the distance, the more difficult the Apparition. Even if Susan didn't splinch, Camilla wanted to be certain they ended up in the same place. Fortunately, she'd made a point to learn Side-Along Apparition, when she'd first hired tutors, long before Henry had arrived. She wasn't sure what he'd be capable of doing if she were able to resurrect him. The ability stood her in good stead now.

They had to Apparate into an inconspicuous place, and take taxis from there. Camilla's planned destination was Knightsbridge, but along the way, she wanted to stop at a rather obscure rare-book dealer, and that was nowhere near the shopping street. Brisk, all business -- they had to get all this done in a day! -- she towed Susan along.

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[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

Camilla was smart. It took a great deal to unnerve Susan sufficiently to make her panic, but Harvey Nicols' might just do it. She followed, trying not to stare like an idiot tourist, but she rather failed.

Quite fortunately, Susan was shocked that her hair couldn't move. She'd quite forgotten about it in any case; when faced with so many new and strange things, the idea of sentient hair was rather shoved onto the back-burner.

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

The afternoon passed in an absolute blur. Camilla handled everything and everyone, charming sullen clerks into deferential eagerness, paging through hangers upon hangers of garments the proliferation of which must have been unlike anything Susan would ever have seen. A blur, but not a rush: Camilla moved quickly, but it was very decidedly at her own pace. Almost immediately she'd ruled out the idea of red and decided that Susan's hair meant it would have to be either white or black clothing; "and you can't wear white to someone else's wedding," she told Susan, "so it'll have to be black, though that's not always the nicest thing -- you don't want it to seem mournful."

They looked for everyday things, too, for both of them, and each found several things she liked; but the major project was The Dress. As Camilla had predicted to herself, they found the right dress (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/zoom.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2050094381&productCode=2072165&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1213) quite early on. Soon it became a process of weighing any new find against that one, until they both agreed it was futile to keep looking, because, as Camilla said, "that's clearly it." Then the battle over shoes began. Susan wanted boots. Camilla was appalled by the notion. They finally compromised (http://www.shoes.co.uk/default.aspx?scid=a2GSpnDbruIad1913d&wcid=a2GSpnDbruIad1913d&wscid=a2GSpnDbruIad1913d&pid=eKhgChGwc2gad1913d), though Camilla did not look too pleased about it.

She was happier when she took Susan up to the perfume department. Camilla had worn the same fragrance for years (http://www.escentual.co.uk/acqua_di_parma/colonia.html), ever since Henry had brought her back a bottle from Italy. For Susan, she was less certain, except that Acqua di Parma was definitely not right (even if she'd cared to share her signature scent), and she wasn't sure what was. Cue much spritzing, much sniffing of paper strips, much inhaling from little cheesecloth bags of coffee beans to clear the figurative palate, and finally Camilla thought she had the right one (http://www.aedes.com/product.php?product_id=1827). "What do you think?" she asked Susan.

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

Susan, for her part, had never experienced such sheer sensory overload. She could not remember when she'd come to Hogwarts, and so didn't know if she'd had the same reaction then; however, looking at everything around her, she doubted it. Hell, she doubted anything she'd seen before could have matched Harvey Nicols'--it was a very, very good thing Camilla was guiding her, because she would have been utterly at sea by herself. She'd never seen so many clothes ready-made in one place before, either; so far as she knew, there wasn't anything even close to comparable on the Disc.

The dress, however, she quite liked--she'd never owned anything like it, but that was part of its charm. Susan had gotten used to wandering around without sleeves (sometimes because they'd been ripped off, or half-burnt, or any number of other things), so it wouldn't feel awkward. And hey, it was black. She was at home in black, even if she'd never worn anything with a train in her life. The boots, too, were good enough; she'd wanted a nicer version of her high-topped boots, but Camilla had firmly vetoed that.

Now, loaded with parcels, she found herself staring almost dazed at a scented paper strip. She leaned in, sniffed, and nodded. "That one. Definitely that one." Susan had never worn perfume in her life, but apparently it was a good thing to wear with such a dress, and so must be done. This one was the only one that had really grabbed her; the rest had all seemed a bit...meh.

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

"I thought so," said Camilla, vindicated, and had the clerk ring it up.

Then she pronounced it time for lunch, a rather late lunch. "I'm starving," she said. "There's a nice restaurant here." Which there was, with a prix fixe menu that oughtn't to baffle Susan too much (http://www.harveynichols.com/files/pdf/MARKET%20MENU%20D%20%2022.04.07.pdf). A few choices for each course, simple enough to navigate.

She eyed Susan over the rim of her water glass. Was she tired? Excited? Both? It was hard to tell, honestly. "Makeup after this, and lingerie," she said, "and then we'll be done, I promise. Oh, and it'll be gorgeous, all of it put together." She really meant it. She was sure it would. Whether it did what Susan wanted it to, or not.

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

"Me too," said Susan, grateful for a chance to sit down. She actually managed the menu with little difficulty, though she didn't recognize half of what she'd just ordered.

Susan was tired, and excited...and nervous. So much so, on all three counts, that it took her a moment to register Camilla's words.

"Wait, makeup?" She'd never worn makeup, ever. "And--lingerie?" She'd definitely never bothered with that--a simple nightdress had always sufficed at home, and at Hogwarts she had her collection of T-shirts, most of which had been bought for their novelty (read: shock) value. Makeup unnerved her, but she didn't see the point of lingerie--assuming she even got, ah, where she wanted to get, there was no way of making sure that it wouldn't truly be just once. Besides, she thought--for she knew Stephen quite well--he wouldn't notice what she wore. Hell, a large part of her current nervousness was born of wondering whether he'd notice the dress, diary entry notwithstanding.

Susan didn't doubt it would be gorgeous, and that was something in and of itself--even if it...didn't work...she could at least say she owned a few nice things. She was coming to dread the idea of tomorrow, for a whole variety of reasons. And, most uncharacteristically, she said so.

"I just wish I knew this would work," she sighed. "Or even if it's the right idea. Stephen is...unpredictable and, well, intractable. I've got good reason to think he'll notice, but...that's not a guarantee. I've got to initiate the whole thing, too, because I know he wouldn't." And she had no idea when, or where, or how to do such a thing.

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Camilla set down her fork and reached across the table to touch Susan's hand, comforting. "Everything's come together beautifully. If he doesn't notice, he's blind, and you should go with the man who does notice."

To her, it made perfect sense. Susan was preparing for a transitional, liminal event. If Stephen didn't rise to the occasion, someone else would.

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

Camilla's words might have been meant to comfort, but if it wasn't for Susan's utter self-control, she would have gaped. Though the thought--fear--that Stephen wouldn't notice had occurred to her, the idea that someone else might had not. Even if it had, there was just...no. Susan didn't operate like that. If she couldn't have Stephen, she wasn't about to go with anyone else. And that didn't just mean after the wedding; as she'd realized (http://community.livejournal.com/hogwarts_hocus/1312663.html?thread=66771607#t66771607) while out drowning her sorrows (and a few brain cells) with Shaun, this was not simple attraction. She knew that she didn't do anything by half-measures; 'if not Stephen, then no one' was a terribly accurate statement in so many more ways than one.

But she couldn't tell Camilla that. Camilla's mind operated in a whole different sphere, as far as these things were concerned, and Susan had a feeling Camilla would no more understand Susan's point of view than Susan understood hers. "I hope he's not blind," was all she could say in response to that. "I...this is going to sound like a completely ridiculous question, but...how will I know when? To, ah, initiate anything?" Was there some kind of instinct? People did this sort of thing all the time, so it couldn't be that difficult, but that thought wasn't as reassuring as it ought to be.

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Camilla, who had picked up her fork again, thought as she chewed a bite of lamb. It was very good lamb. After another sip of water, she said, finally: "You'll be alone, of course, and he'll look at you a certain way. It'll be different -- you'll know it, when you see it."

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

Susan was about to protest, to say she had no idea how she was supposed to tell, when something from Stephen's and her shooting practice (http://community.livejournal.com/hogwarts_hocus/1312663.html?thread=66771607#t66771607) came back to her--Stephen had looked at her very strangely then, and she hadn't known what it meant. She had a feeling she did now, especially after the diary...thing (http://community.livejournal.com/hogwarts_hocus/1317513.html?thread=67043465#t67043465). She'd know that look again anywhere, and that gave her something to go by; if he looked at her that way again, she'd know.

"I think I know what you mean," she said slowly, neatly cutting her own lamb--she hadn't had food like this since before her parents had died. "About the look. That...makes it all easier." The fact that he'd given her it in the first place was...relieving.

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

"Does it really?" Camilla found this a happy surprise. "Good. It's a bit difficult for me to generalise, here. I haven't had that many lovers, only two." Well, or during the bacchanal -- "Maybe three, we can't really say for certain."

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

Susan nearly choked on her lamb. "You...can't say for certain?" She considered this; the 'we' hadn't escaped her, either, and it made her wonder very much under what circumstances this had come about.

"...Life certainly sounds more interesting where you're from," she said. Part of her was almost jealous--to have been so uninhibited that you honestly couldn't remember.

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

"An altered state of consciousness," Camilla nodded, as if this explained everything, which to her it did. "It's not what you want, unless you've changed your mind. You wanted to remember it."

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

Altered state of--? Ah. The only things Susan knew of that could alter consciousness were drugs and mushrooms; perhaps it had been through one of those. Certainly her mushroom experience made her believe people could do almost anything while under their influence.

"You're right," she said, shaking her head. "I do want to remember it." Provided it goes well. If it didn't...well, then she'd just feel stupid. Very, very stupid.

She shook her head, getting back to business. "So, is there anything I should or shouldn't do?" she asked, quite matter-of-factly. "I realize that in this world it's a bit ridiculous to be, ah, inexperienced at my age, but there you are. Never went past snogging with anyone."

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

"... Should or shouldn't?" Camilla found this a strange question. She was as out of her depth in this conversation as Susan was in the subject thereof. There were things one shouldn't do, perhaps, but if so, she'd never had occasion to experience them. Everything had been perfect with Charles because they'd known one another forever; everything had been perfect with Henry because Henry made it so. "What exactly do you mean?"

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

What exactly did she mean? She had a rather, uh, creative imagination, but, having no experience, she didn't know what would work and what would...not.

"I don't know," she said aloud. "I just have this hazy idea that...well, that some things are good, and some are...not good." Because that was helpful. "Oh, hell. Hopefully I've got instincts."

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

"He's a good bit older than you are," Camilla pointed out helpfully. "I'm sure he'll have some idea. It's not as though you're both going into it blindly."

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

The unfortunate thing about Susan's complexion was that, when she turned red, it was fairly obvious. The odd birthmark on her cheek half seemed to glow.

"True," she said. "And I already know he knows how to kiss," she added thoughtfully--she'd not thought of that before now. "Meaning I don't have to know what the hell I'm doing in that department, at least."

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Most sensible people would take this remark of Susan's as itself indicative that Susan really had nothing to worry about. She'd already kissed the man. He wasn't likely to reject further advances.

Kissing didn't quite carry the same meaning for Camilla as it did for most sensible people.

She shrugged. "And you liked that, didn't you?"

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, she'd already kissed him (more than once), but since the tally was two in the name of science and one while high on truth potion, she wasn't sure those counted. Oh, and on the second one both their eyebrows had incincerated. Because that was romance with a vengeance.

As to Camilla's question...at the time of the second 'quest for science', she'd been too busy dealing with blistered eyebrows to notice. Possibly then she wouldn't have thought of it anyway, but then again, given all the recent...developments, issues, whatever you wanted to call them...it wasn't impossible that she'd have realized all this much sooner.

"I did," she said, knowing there was no way to explain. I did months after the fact, and how wrong is that?

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

"It'll take care of itself, then," Camilla said, just as she'd suggested to Henry when they'd discussed Susan's project. She pushed a bit of courgette around her plate idly, not particularly interested in eating it, and considered the situation.

"It isn't really feasible to map it out in advance. Not with that type." If Stephen was indeed similar to Henry, Susan was likely in for her share of surprises.

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

Susan smiled--she might have almost no experience in this area, but she knew Stephen quite well. Camilla was right; you really couldn't plan anything, because no matter what you planned, they were sure to react in almost any way other than what you'd anticipated. "No, it's not," she agreed. "It'll happen as it's meant to, I guess." Unlike Camilla, Susan didn't like leaving things to chance, but with this there wasn't really anything else she could do. It would work, or it wouldn't. And that was really all there was to it.

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

"Exactly." Camilla favored Susan with what was, in all honesty, a truly breathtaking smile. "That's what I've been trying to tell you. You'll have to let me know how it goes."

Henry would want to know.

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

Susan laughed. "Well, I hope I've got something good to tell," she said. Because something bad would be not only bad, but...embarrassing. "I'll let you know, either way."

It was a good thing Susan didn't realize Henry would want to know. If she realized it wasn't just Camilla who was curious as to the outcome of this, she might not have had the nerve to go through with it at all.

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Camilla shook her head. "If he doesn't like you in that dress, honestly, he probably doesn't like women," she said seriously.

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

Susan snorted. "Oh, he'll probably like me in the dress," she said. "That does not, however, mean he'd like to get me out of the dress. Stephen is...Stephen. You just never know."