Closed | Ladies Adventuring League #1

[coquettish_trees]

WHO: Evie, Freddie, Lexie, Gwen, Sonia, Wysteria
WHAT: Genteel ladies on their Nancy Drew + Tomb Raider + Babysitter's Club + Booze game
WHEN: Early Harvestmere
WHERE: A small ruin an hour's ride from Kirkwall
NOTES: Rated PG13 for some scenes of mild peril and rough unladylike language

One morning, it had been generally agreed upon that Kirkwall was a dour place that really could not be looked upon anymore that day lest a terrible ennui descend upon every single pair of delicately sloped shoulders.

And so, after a brief council, it was decided that a ride into the countryside for a picnic in the lovely crisp air was precisely what was called for. Baskets packed by servants, horses saddled by stableboys—or, in the case of the intrepid, by themselves—a procession of ladies departed the town in search of somewhere properly picturesque to spread themselves out and enjoy the day outside the grey walls.

Being as all are daring and fancy-free, the road is soon abandoned for the grassy low hills of the area, and it is at the top of one of these that a small and curiosity-piquing half-structure of stone is sighted, low enough between two hills that setting themselves up within it would save them from even having to see Kirkwall on the horizon. Besides, dear Freddie likes ruins, does she not? What lucky circumstance!

And so, the horses are tied in a small grove nearby, the blankets spread within the shelter of the ruin, the light repast unpacked, and perhaps most importantly, the wine poured. It promises to be precisely the kind of excursion that had been called for.

Comments

[heirring]

Couldn't you have some braziers?

[Wysteria had brought a book with her, but is using it as a place to rest her cup instead of for reading. In counter to Lexie's steadfast avoidance of the sun, her broad brimmed hat hangs against her back held there only by the emerald ribbon still about her neck. She's eating a fruit tart, quietly shedding crumbs onto her skirt and surreptitiously sweeping them away at steadfast intervals.]

A cousin of mine had his wedding in a dancing hall in winter, but even indoors it was really quite cold enough that I wish they'd just done it outdoors and had little fires going.

[aventuriere]

Or go fully rustic and have a great bonfire in the courtyard [ is Freddie's helpful suggestion, from where she is reclined on the blanket opposite.

She's brought a book as well and appears to be actually reading it, occasionally even drawing a tiny nub of pencil from behind one ear to make some sort of note in the margin. She's doing so now, speaking without quite looking up. ]

You are marrying an elf, after all, surely some sort of primitive woodland theme would not be considered any more inappropriate than the rest of the affair.

[elegiaque]

Quaintly aesthetic, ( she proposes in a drawl, off freddie's suggestion—that sounds like something that iorveth would probably like if it were suggested less patronizingly, and that thranduil would not, and it is immediately entertaining.

the moreso for the fact she isn't actually going to be terribly involved in this sort of decision-making. )

As long as I'm not cold, I'll be happy, but I think the liquor will help with that first and foremost.

[coquettish_trees]

Liquor is most efficacious that way. [ Lexie's hat agrees amenably. ]

Is it only cold that can make inroads on your happiness, or shall we be on guard for other such miseries?

[heirring]

Terrible music, perhaps. [Wysteria supplies helpfully, hurrying to catch an especially large crumble of the tart.]

Though I'm not actuallt sure spirits help with that one much, come to think of it.

[elegiaque]

Well, I've never wished for an identical twin who could stand in for me more, ( laughed, reaching for her wine. ) Fucking weddings.

[coquettish_trees]

If that worked, I am sure dear Evie would have had me stand for her ages ago, [ says the hat, with wry amusement, ] if only to escape from the fraught and terrible world of our Lady Mother's parties and letters of horribly disguised entreaty and to the comparative tranquility of the battlefield.

[heirring]

Oh!

[It's such a bright, sharp interjection, even delivered around the very last of the fruit tart and from behind Wysteria's hand.]

Are you and your sister twins? How perfectly lovely. --But surely you tried it at least once, didn't you? To switch places, I mean. Oh, if I had a twin I'd want to trade out with her all the time. I imagine that's something you'd have to coordinate from very young; like, say, both of you dressing in a very particular color or being known for a favorite ribbon. That way people would know to look there first and not question anything past it--

[A pause. She clears her throat.] But yes. Fucking weddings.

[bouclier]

Lexie always liked dressing up as me more than I liked dressing up as her.

[ Evie adds in from where she stands with her horse, feeding him one of the apples from their picnic and scratching him under his chin. ]

We haven't switched places as adults in quite some time. I don't know if we could pull it off any longer.

[heirring]

Oh I'm certain you could. Take myself for example - the way you do your hair and the style of your clothes is so very different that I'm not sure I fully recognized how exactly you duplicate one another until this very moment. I'm certain if you emulated the other's dress and way of speaking that no one would be the wiser. Not for some time anyway. I guarantee you could get away with it.

[Which is, frankly, a delightful idea in her book.] Really, you should at least try it and see what happens. If I had a twin sister, I would insist on trading places constantly.

[coquettish_trees]

[ Lexie sits up, pulling her hat to her breast excitedly before replacing it—with some minute adjustment—back on her head. ]

Oh, Evie, let us be each other for Satinalia! Do say yes. I shall even promise not to kiss anyone.