Something Beautiful
While I've no hope of making blackout, here is another offering :) Enjoy!
Myshuno Prompt: Ettie trying to be ladylike and failing peasant007 (I'm not sure if this is what you were looking for with this prompt but it's just what came to mind. hope you like it anyway)
Characters: Ettie Oxley and Fabiola Davies
Notes: Some future spoilage
Word Count: 1034
Fabiola Davies was beautiful. That was Ettie's first thought when she laid eyes on the young woman who had invited them all to tea. Barry had always spoken highly of his favored cousin but he seemed to have forgotten to mention just how lovely she was. And fair. So very fair. Nothing but the perfect tint of rose on both her cheeks and lips to break up her flawless complexion. Never had Ettie seen such a handsome combination of fair skin and raven hair.
Fabiola, or Bee as both Barry and Bobby referred to her, was also the most graceful human being Ettie had met in real life. A soft pleasant voice and her movements were as gentle and flowing as satin in water. Straight out of a novel she was. Ettie had been most anxious when Barry told her about the invitation. The three of them were students at Sterlington while Bee attended Weatherton Finishing School. After years of hearing Barry go on about the lovely Miss Fabiola, Ettie wasn't so eager to meet the fairest one of all. Face to face, it was far worse.
Tea was excruciating. There couldn't be a God in the heavens with sense of humor enough to place poor clumsy, awkward and plain Ettie Oxley at tea with the perfect, beautiful and gracious Fabiola Davies. Ettie had difficulty holding a tea cup properly at the best of times. Now she could barely suppress the trembling in her limbs. Her heart was racing and she found herself tripping over the simplest of conversation. Then again, she'd found this phenomena to be regularly occurring when in the presence of Barry.
It was Fabiola's perfect laugh that finally did her in. Like the tinkling of fine crystal so elegant it was. Bobby told the joke which caused Barry to both laugh and lean forward, his arm brushing Ettie's own and oops, went her tea all over the only afternoon dress suitable enough for such an occasion. Ettie watched the pale fabric stain in mortification.
In that moment of silence, with everyone staring, before her mouth could even cry out, Fabiola had left her seat and was gently tugging Ettie out of the room with a gracious “do excuse us, gentlemen.”
Ettie found herself up the stairs and ensconced in a cozy and well furnished bed chamber. She was placed in a luxurious armchair and Fabiola was sifting through a large elegant wardrobe before her power of speech returned.
“I... I apologize for making such a spectacle of myself.” Ettie muttered ruefully. “I fear I've ruined your lovely tea.”
“It was but an accident. You've ruined nothing.” Fabiola reassured gently. “Though you may want to remove your garment. The stain will set if it isn't soaked right away.”
“R-remove my... you wish me to get undressed?”
“How else shall we soak your gown? Not with you in it, surely.” Fabiola offered a sweet smile and pointed a delicate hand to a decorative screen in the corner. “I wouldn't prevail upon your modesty.”
Too numbed by uncertainty, Ettie made no further complaint as she stepped behind the ornate screen. “I'm uncertain what this will achieve. I've nothing else to wear. It would be best if I were to simply leave...”
“I'll not hear of it.” Fabiola gently reprimanded. “I've a frock you may procure for yourself. I'm not quite as slight as you but I'm certain no one shall notice and you may have it refitted at your leisure.”
“Oh, I couldn't possible keep something of yours.” Ettie grunted as she fussed with the nearly unreachable fastenings of her dress. She startled as two hands delicately brushed hers aside and began to efficiently unbutton her.
“But of course you may. As your hostess I'll hear nothing else.”
Ettie glanced over her shoulder at the human embodiment of a china doll standing behind her and flushed. “You are too kind.”
Fabiola smiled as the stained gown was removed and produced a pale green gossamer promenade dress. “I believe this shall compliment the lovely auburn of your hair.”
Ettie turned in surprise at anything about her person being described as 'lovely'. Looking down at the dress, she gingerly fingered the fabric. “It's so very dear.”
Once the dress had been fitted over Ettie's head, she stood before the mirror while Fabiola fastened and made adjustments with a set of pins. “It suits you just I wished.” Blue eyes observed Ettie's admiring expression slyly. “I imagine my cousin shall find it quite pleasing as well.”
Ettie's head jerked round. “Wha...? Your cousin?”
“Barry has always had an appreciative eye for beauty.”
“Beauty?” Ettie scoffed and stared back at their faces in the mirror. “Not I.”
“There are many forms of beauty.” Fabiola finished pinning and began brushing Ettie's fine red locks. “And dear Barry has an uncommon ability to appreciate them all. My, your hair is like liquid fire. Is it any wonder you affect him so?”
“Me? Affect Barry?” Ettie whispered.
“He has admired you since his boyhood.” Fabiola smiled fondly. “I wouldn't wish to speculate about another's feelings but I imagine that should you wish it, he would follow you throughout the world.”
Ettie gasped and stared at Fabiola's reflection, tears in her eyes. “I-I never dared to dream he would take notice of me. I hadn't even realized it mattered...” Her voice broke. “He is so fine and I've nothing to offer. I am awkward and plain and...”
Placing gentle hands on trembling shoulders, Fabiola forced Ettie closer to the mirror and lifted her chin. “It has been said that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. That's stands to reason if the beholder is one's beloved, then what does it matter what others see?”
Ettie gazed at herself taking in the pale complexion freckled by the sun, stormy gray eyes and the mane of silky titian that flowed down her back. The green of the dress did compliment her well. Was it possible? “And what could Barry see?”
Fabiola smiled kindly. “I imagine he sees you and all that you are; your intelligence, your spirit... your inability to drink tea in his presence.” A soft smile. “He sees something beautiful.”
Myshuno Prompt: Ettie trying to be ladylike and failing peasant007 (I'm not sure if this is what you were looking for with this prompt but it's just what came to mind. hope you like it anyway)
Characters: Ettie Oxley and Fabiola Davies
Notes: Some future spoilage
Word Count: 1034
Fabiola Davies was beautiful. That was Ettie's first thought when she laid eyes on the young woman who had invited them all to tea. Barry had always spoken highly of his favored cousin but he seemed to have forgotten to mention just how lovely she was. And fair. So very fair. Nothing but the perfect tint of rose on both her cheeks and lips to break up her flawless complexion. Never had Ettie seen such a handsome combination of fair skin and raven hair.
Fabiola, or Bee as both Barry and Bobby referred to her, was also the most graceful human being Ettie had met in real life. A soft pleasant voice and her movements were as gentle and flowing as satin in water. Straight out of a novel she was. Ettie had been most anxious when Barry told her about the invitation. The three of them were students at Sterlington while Bee attended Weatherton Finishing School. After years of hearing Barry go on about the lovely Miss Fabiola, Ettie wasn't so eager to meet the fairest one of all. Face to face, it was far worse.
Tea was excruciating. There couldn't be a God in the heavens with sense of humor enough to place poor clumsy, awkward and plain Ettie Oxley at tea with the perfect, beautiful and gracious Fabiola Davies. Ettie had difficulty holding a tea cup properly at the best of times. Now she could barely suppress the trembling in her limbs. Her heart was racing and she found herself tripping over the simplest of conversation. Then again, she'd found this phenomena to be regularly occurring when in the presence of Barry.
It was Fabiola's perfect laugh that finally did her in. Like the tinkling of fine crystal so elegant it was. Bobby told the joke which caused Barry to both laugh and lean forward, his arm brushing Ettie's own and oops, went her tea all over the only afternoon dress suitable enough for such an occasion. Ettie watched the pale fabric stain in mortification.
In that moment of silence, with everyone staring, before her mouth could even cry out, Fabiola had left her seat and was gently tugging Ettie out of the room with a gracious “do excuse us, gentlemen.”
Ettie found herself up the stairs and ensconced in a cozy and well furnished bed chamber. She was placed in a luxurious armchair and Fabiola was sifting through a large elegant wardrobe before her power of speech returned.
“I... I apologize for making such a spectacle of myself.” Ettie muttered ruefully. “I fear I've ruined your lovely tea.”
“It was but an accident. You've ruined nothing.” Fabiola reassured gently. “Though you may want to remove your garment. The stain will set if it isn't soaked right away.”
“R-remove my... you wish me to get undressed?”
“How else shall we soak your gown? Not with you in it, surely.” Fabiola offered a sweet smile and pointed a delicate hand to a decorative screen in the corner. “I wouldn't prevail upon your modesty.”
Too numbed by uncertainty, Ettie made no further complaint as she stepped behind the ornate screen. “I'm uncertain what this will achieve. I've nothing else to wear. It would be best if I were to simply leave...”
“I'll not hear of it.” Fabiola gently reprimanded. “I've a frock you may procure for yourself. I'm not quite as slight as you but I'm certain no one shall notice and you may have it refitted at your leisure.”
“Oh, I couldn't possible keep something of yours.” Ettie grunted as she fussed with the nearly unreachable fastenings of her dress. She startled as two hands delicately brushed hers aside and began to efficiently unbutton her.
“But of course you may. As your hostess I'll hear nothing else.”
Ettie glanced over her shoulder at the human embodiment of a china doll standing behind her and flushed. “You are too kind.”
Fabiola smiled as the stained gown was removed and produced a pale green gossamer promenade dress. “I believe this shall compliment the lovely auburn of your hair.”
Ettie turned in surprise at anything about her person being described as 'lovely'. Looking down at the dress, she gingerly fingered the fabric. “It's so very dear.”
Once the dress had been fitted over Ettie's head, she stood before the mirror while Fabiola fastened and made adjustments with a set of pins. “It suits you just I wished.” Blue eyes observed Ettie's admiring expression slyly. “I imagine my cousin shall find it quite pleasing as well.”
Ettie's head jerked round. “Wha...? Your cousin?”
“Barry has always had an appreciative eye for beauty.”
“Beauty?” Ettie scoffed and stared back at their faces in the mirror. “Not I.”
“There are many forms of beauty.” Fabiola finished pinning and began brushing Ettie's fine red locks. “And dear Barry has an uncommon ability to appreciate them all. My, your hair is like liquid fire. Is it any wonder you affect him so?”
“Me? Affect Barry?” Ettie whispered.
“He has admired you since his boyhood.” Fabiola smiled fondly. “I wouldn't wish to speculate about another's feelings but I imagine that should you wish it, he would follow you throughout the world.”
Ettie gasped and stared at Fabiola's reflection, tears in her eyes. “I-I never dared to dream he would take notice of me. I hadn't even realized it mattered...” Her voice broke. “He is so fine and I've nothing to offer. I am awkward and plain and...”
Placing gentle hands on trembling shoulders, Fabiola forced Ettie closer to the mirror and lifted her chin. “It has been said that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. That's stands to reason if the beholder is one's beloved, then what does it matter what others see?”
Ettie gazed at herself taking in the pale complexion freckled by the sun, stormy gray eyes and the mane of silky titian that flowed down her back. The green of the dress did compliment her well. Was it possible? “And what could Barry see?”
Fabiola smiled kindly. “I imagine he sees you and all that you are; your intelligence, your spirit... your inability to drink tea in his presence.” A soft smile. “He sees something beautiful.”