Home to a variety of cultural backgrounds, Lamenolai is a citadel city with stone walls that encompass the whole city and stone 'guardians.' It is also home to the Headquarters of the Purines, an opposing organization to the Imperialists of Lambastia. (+2 Defense, +2 Fame)

Moderator: Retired Staff

Return to Lamenolai, City of the Guardians

Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby ToxicShadow » 11/11/2013 1:57 AM



"Thank you so very much for your interest in our brand," the young, female cashier of the extravagant name brand clothing and accessory store, Equinoxx, chimed with a brimming smile toward her client. Undoubtedly, she was well informed by those above her, as she had spotted the model from the moment they strolled into the store, the large women's sunglasses he wore doing little to conceal his identity.

Despite his effort to not entirely stand out, Jezden carried himself in such a way that eyes of men and women alike were invariably drawn to him, retaining a commanding and charismatic aura that could not possibly be ignored. He was the bane of some women's existence, being born a man, with such beautiful, delicate facial features that, when coupled with his peculiar choice in fashion, lead everyone to believe he was a woman at first, second and even third glance. The general populace, without being told several times, had no idea that Jezden was a man, not a woman, when they laid eyes on him and, frankly, he didn't care one way or another. He gave little regard to any ill opinions that may have been thought about him as, one way or another, they were thinking about him no matter how nasty their thoughts were. Actively, Jezden was a symbol of strength to those that were different from others. His existence was practically dedicated to those he wished to give strength to.

"Please take a look around. We just recently recieved our newly released collection. If you need anything, I would be happy to help," the cashier continued to half fawn over the model. "Oh, yes, and please take this!" She enthusiastically held a small card out to Jezden, which he politely received with a brilliantly charming smile.

"I'll do just that. Please take care of me while I'm here." Even his silky smooth voice didn't quite betray his gender.

With only these simple words, the peculiar person began to peruse the shop, stopping frequently to admire the wares. If anything, Jezden had an eye for craftsmanship when it came to these sorts of things and, over all, he was impressed by not only the creativity of the designs, but the quality was excellent as well. He was well aware that this particular brand's lines were always limited releases. Once something was out of stock, it would be impossible to find it again, which made every item irreplaceable and, thus, invaluable.

While it may have come off as shocking and unorthodox to most in the industry, the young man voluntarily came to the shop in order to make the decision for himself if he wanted the company to sponsor him. Jezden could have easily sent a representative to make the decision for him, but that wasn't his style. He wanted to actively be a part of the decisions of every aspect of his career, which likely was something of a hassle to his manager, but Sabrina had long since accepted her younger brother's wishes and whims. If he did accept this company's sponsorship, he would be modeling one of their collections currently still in the design stage.

As he browsed through the first display of dresses, admiring each down to the stitching, lace, and sometimes accentuating crystals, he overheard a pair of women, a mother and daughter, commenting on his appearance.

"Mother, look how beautiful she is!" The daughter exclaimed, while the mother agreed. "She's lovely, all right, but she shouldn't have done that to her hair." Her tone showed both admiration and distaste, which only caused Jezden to chuckle gently to himself.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but you should reconsider your prejudice." He abruptly addressed her, looking over his shoulder at them, and smiling in his charming way despite confronting her. "Although my hair is a starling shade of pink, dying hair is nothing to look upon with such disdain. You should reconsider your stylist as, even with that natural shade, it is painfully obvious that your hair color is not natural."
Image


ImageImageImageImage
User avatar
ToxicShadow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 2824
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:43 AM
Location: I'm not sure if it's Wonderland or Neverland. xD;

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby Flame » 12/14/2013 1:04 AM

Image
[Reference]
(Just for features)

Nessa was at a loss.

Of all places, a fashion store for exclusive designer brand clothing – at least, one which sold anything besides business attire – was a generally safe bet as one of the locations where she would ordinarily not be found (along with clubs, the movies, and fast food restaurants). She was the kind of woman who lived a very particular and impeccably organized lifestyle, and although she was only in her early twenties, she found that spontaneity was becoming less of an adventure and more of an unwelcome inconvenience as the years went by. Of course, her parents had always told her that she was growing up too quickly for her own good, but how could anyone blame her for wanting to make sure her life and career were on track before finding time for herself? True, she hadn’t attended any dances, parties, or beach vacations back when she was still in school, but that was because she thought her time would be better spent at violin, figure-skating, and horseback riding lessons (to name but a few), and of course, homework. It wasn’t that she didn’t have the desire to have fun…she just figured that if she figured out her life first, well, the fun would come on its own in its own time.

Nevertheless, here she was, a 24-year-old lawyer, graduated top of her class, youngest and one of the most brilliant and successful in her profession, widely sought-out for her services, making top dollar…in a clothing store. Of course, this was no ordinary clothing store – in fact, everything about this place screamed exclusivity and extravagance. The sort of place that most people could barely fathom even existed to begin with. If you were looking for a one-of-a-kind gown entirely embroidered out of fabric imbued with gold (and by that, we mean real, 24-karat gold) and encrusted with an extravagant design made of real diamonds…well. You’d certainly come to the right place.

While Nessa was no stranger to fashion, this…this was a little out of her expertise. After all, there weren’t many occasions which called for her presence in a luxurious evening gown of any sort. Most of her life was lived – and she would argue, quite comfortably – in business slacks and a form-fitting blazer with a crisp, snow-white blouse, and so she was dressed as she slowly made her way through the store, amber eyes perusing the wares with an expression somewhere between wary and daunted. Her chestnut hair was tied back in a silky ponytail, not a hair out of place as she wandered from dress to dress. As such, she was not the kind of person to “let her hair down”, per se, but it seemed that exceptions always existed, including literal ones. Just a few days ago, she had agreed to take on a unique case, and although she hadn’t thought too terribly much of it, she knew that her client was both very affluent and influential. With those kinds of people, that generally meant that everything went the way they wanted it to, and she could be sure there would be an entire team backing them to ensure exactly that happened. Upon accepting this case, of course, she knew that it meant becoming some part of this entourage herself, but as usual, she planned on taking as objective and removed a position as possible in her relationship with the client.

Nessa’s first meeting with him was only a week away, but his agent had gone to the painstaking effort of notifying her that she should “dress to impress”. Apparently this wasn’t just any fancy dinner restaurant. As the popular media liked to call it, it was not just any place, but the place to be if you were anyone of any significance in this city, and even they had to make reservations months in advance. The fact that this meeting was set up on the fly told her that whoever this client of hers was, they weren’t one to be trifled with. But being a professional among professionals, this wasn’t a fact that concerned her. She’d done plenty of dealings with celebrities, and she was quite happy to say that she got along with all of them just fine. However, the one catch was what brought her about to the quandary she was in now, wandering alone in this fashionable store. She made an effort to remain inconspicuous, as she didn’t want to make it blatantly obvious to the associates that she had no earthly clue what she was doing, but she knew that before long, it would become painfully apparent that she was well and thoroughly a fish out of water here.

Pausing by a particularly eye-searing sequined gown comprised of more colors than she knew existed in the world, she heard a snatch of conversation from nearby. She didn’t have to hear much of it to know it was an exchange in which she wanted no part – after all, female cattiness was another one of those feminine concepts which made her distinctly uncomfortable, much less that she had any desire to take any part in. Instead, she turned her attention back to the dresses at hand, wrinkling her nose lightly at the silk-embroidered rainbow barf before moving on to the next display.
User avatar
Flame
Well-Traveled Specialist
Well-Traveled Specialist
Pets | Items
Keystones: 6027
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:41 AM
Status: Optimistic

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby ToxicShadow » 12/21/2013 3:39 AM

The woman that had insulted Jezden's vibrant, nearly eye popping choice of hair color only responded with an offended, "Well I never!" when he, in turn, politely insulted hers. For all intents and purposes, his natural hair color was startling pink. Though it may have been dyed, it was the color his hair always was, the color that he was happy with. It suited him. Aside from that, despite the dyes in his hair, he hair was not frazzled, frayed or damaged. The model took every step required to keep his hair healthy despite the use of somewhat harsh products to change the color. His body, after all, was not entirely his own. He had to keep up his appearance to please his fans. Working as a professional model, he couldn't behave recklessly or stop caring about his health or image. If he started not to care, it would negatively effect his work, and that was not an option. Oh no, Jezden took pride in his work.

She and her daughter shuffled off, not wishing to combat the stranger. Although the mother was especially a prideful sort of person, the superior vibes that she received from the evidently younger woman made her rethink the actions she considered taking. Once they had gone, Jezden sighed. It was such a shame that such people existed in this world. Were insults, judgements and prejudice things that humans really needed? He decided not to waste time lingering on those thoughts, though, as he had already learned that, no matter how many people could come to change, there would always be someone that thought it was okay to judge someone else without knowing them first. It was a sad reality, but a reality, nonetheless. No one couldn't change everyone, but that wouldn't also stop him from trying.

As they had left, he returned to pursuing the shop, taking the time to inspect and admire each of the available dresses. This eventually brought him next to another woman, whom, when he glanced at her briefly, appeared rather out of place in such an extravagant shop. She seemed like a businesswoman judging from her attire, if he was not mistaken, not that there was anything wrong with that. He didn't really sense from her any sort of confidence while in such a place, however, which drew is attention.

"Excuse me? I so hope that I'm not a bother, but are you looking for a dress for yourself or as a gift?" When he asked her this, there was friendly sort of smile present on his face. Normally, this sort of thing was something that someone working in the store would do, but he really didn't mind helping someone out. In fact, he enjoyed giving fashion pointers and assistance to others. "Perhaps I could be of some help?" He then offered, without missing a beat.
Image


ImageImageImageImage
User avatar
ToxicShadow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 2824
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:43 AM
Location: I'm not sure if it's Wonderland or Neverland. xD;

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby Flame » 12/21/2013 6:43 AM

Nessa slowly and systematically worked her way through the store, taking inventory of each dress she had looked at and a general idea of what she thought of it. Not that she really gave any credit to her critiquing abilities. After all, she didn’t really have much idea about what styles of dresses looked good on her, and what colors matched her complexion or brought out her eyes (or whatever it was that designers always said). She could grill a person up and down and for days on end if necessary in a courtroom to get the results she wanted, but that expertise was of no help here. However, she knew that choosing a dress for this event would ultimately be inevitable, so while she floundered, the act of going through the motions at least made her feel like she wasn’t sitting back entirely helplessly. Even if in all honesty, she might as well be sitting at home reviewing her cases instead right now, for all the progress she was making.

She had just paused to linger on a single shoulder-strapped black gown when she noticed that she was no longer alone. The voice, raised in an offer of help, alerted her to the presence of another person standing just a little ways away from her. Looking up, Nessa caught a glance of black boots, fishnets, and clothing (‘racy’…was that the correct term to use in this situation?), but the thing that immediately drew the eye – as she was sure the wearer was perfectly aware of – was the brilliant shock of luscious pink hair swept back with what looked like meticulous carelessness. She was certainly caught by surprise for a moment, not so much by the woman’s appearance but by her unexpected arrival. After all, she thought with just a twinge of guilt, she had been under the impression that she was doing at least a decent job of avoiding all of the store associates. Apparently her ruse was up though (not that it could have lasted forever), and she gracefully resigned herself to admitting her ignorance.

“Hi,” she responded, finally turning all the way around to properly face the woman. “I’m…actually here shopping for myself,” she finally managed, knowing that there was no point in lying to a complete stranger, or to herself any longer. Glancing up at the sunglass-shrouded face, she offered a small, somewhat embarrassed, almost apologetic smile. “The catch though, happens to be that I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing in here, exactly. If you couldn’t obviously already tell.” A small, sheepish chuckle escaped her lips, the stoic, professional facet of herself dying just a little on the inside. This strange woman didn’t seem to mean her any ill will; in fact, her goal seemed to be the opposite. While Nessa had no idea who she was, she got the impression that this individual knew what they were talking about when it came to fashion. As long as they didn’t suggest anything along the lines of what they were wearing, she couldn’t see any reason to deny the offer of help. After all, she needed all the help she could get, and even if she didn’t like the advice, she could always choose not to take it.

“To be honest, I would be so grateful if you could lend me a pointer or two and give me some tips on picking out a dress.” The smile that she offered this time was less wavering and more friendly as she came to terms with the fact that she was asking for help. “After all, it was inevitable that if not for you, one of the store associates would have found me sooner or later anyways.”
User avatar
Flame
Well-Traveled Specialist
Well-Traveled Specialist
Pets | Items
Keystones: 6027
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:41 AM
Status: Optimistic

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby ToxicShadow » 01/10/2014 6:45 AM

The pleasent, expectant smile remained on Jezden's face as he awaited the woman's response. "Oh, I see," was his simple, initial response, his way of prompting for further information without nessicarily prodding for it. Whether he was miskaten as one of the store's associates or not, the possibility of it didn't occur to him, nor did he care. No one had offered their assistance to this woman, which was really such a shame. Perhaps he would bring up such matters in his discussion over a contract with them later. "Am I correct to assume that you haven't before had the need to acquire such a glamerous dress?" He asked, although he didn't really need to. Given her current business woman attire, the behavoir she exhibted while moving around the shop, and her words, it was all very clear.

Jezden delicately lowered his dark sunglasses just enough to peer over them, exposing his glamoursly shimmering pink and black accented eyes and revealing his perfectly manicured nails. In regards to femininity, he was overflowing with it. He openly eyed her up and down, scrutinizing any and all details that he could and couldn't see, before moving the sunglasses back into place. A different, knowing smile broke onto his face then, as if he was eager to assist this woman. "Let's start by saying that you could find something much more suitable for you than that." He motioned with his head vaguely toward the dress that she had paused at. "Your features could be greatly accentuated with a more fiery shade rather than a solid black. You would make a great impact. You have an excellent natural elegance, it is all just a matter of bringing it out. Although, if you have a black dress in mind, I'm sure we could find something perfect for you. The colors tend to send different messages."

"If you'll excuse me, I believe that I have a few dresses already in mind for you. Would you please wait here for me?" He dismissed himself with those polite words, venturing around the store until he procured a selection of dresses that he had seen while he was perusing and scrutinizing the wares. When he returned, he was carrying a selection of various different dresses, although they retained a similar style to one another. "I believe anything in styles similar to these would suit your body type well. I had a theme of longer, elegant ensembles in mind with my selections. Or would you rather have a shorter cut or perhaps something more outlandish?" He hadn't waited to hear of the specific occasion that she would need the dress for, nor had he asked of it, but taking a blind shot in the dark was always an experience. "Does anything here seem to suit you?"
Image


ImageImageImageImage
User avatar
ToxicShadow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 2824
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:43 AM
Location: I'm not sure if it's Wonderland or Neverland. xD;

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby Flame » 01/10/2014 4:04 PM

Well, it seemed apparent that her ignorance, despite how much she had tried to hide it by dodging around displays, had been pretty obvious, judging by how quickly the woman had pegged her. While Nessa knew that it was perfectly alright and acceptable that she might not be the guru of fashion, she still couldn’t help but feeling abashed nonetheless. It had never been something she had been concerned with up until now, but in the presence of this confident, stylish (in her own way, even if it was extremely different from Nessa’s tastes) woman, she was suddenly struck by the feeling that being this ignorant was a little strange. After all, weren’t all little girls supposed to go through a ‘pretty dresses’ phase at one point or another. Apparently, that stage of development had completely bypassed her – she’d always been a little too career driven to consider thing such as fashion, at least outside of the sharp and practical. It was all she needed in the courtroom, after all.

“Yes, as shocking as it may seem for a woman of my age, this is actually the first time I’ve gone out looking for a fashionable dress for myself.” She chuckled lightly, still working on the process of coming to terms with asking for help. Being as fiercely independent a woman as she, it was certainly a humbling experience. She had always thought that if she were to be shown up, it would have been in the courtroom and by a worthy adversary in the business of law, but there was certainly a first for everything. Before she could defend herself further though, Nessa suddenly found herself bombarded with a stream of descriptions containing many words she understood conventionally, but wasn’t entirely sure she grasped in the context in which they were being used. Before she even had a chance to respond or ask for further explanation, the woman was gone in a blur of pink and black and with the purpose of a hunting predator. Needless to say, Nessa was rather taken aback, and more than just a little overwhelmed by all of this, but she did understand that the woman was off to help her, so she settled for staying where she was (so she wouldn’t get lost) and looking aimlessly at what clothes currently surrounded her.

Luckily for her, the woman was back almost as quickly as she had left, her arms full of the fabric of the lucky dresses which had caught her eye. As each dress was displayed to her, Nessa had to admit that the lady certainly knew what she was doing, even to the fashion-uneducated eye such as her own. Of the selection, she saw a few that she would not be averse to wearing, although to her, choosing a dress was something of a challenge – after all, she was not used to wearing such…revealing clothing. However, the customer was always right, and in her case, she wasn’t the actual customer, but rather the man she would be meeting in but a few nights.

“I…think I like the blue and perhaps the orange or red dresses best?” She couldn’t help but still look a little lost as she perused her choices. “What do you think a man of fame and importance would like to see?” She couldn’t have known just how uncanny it was that she was asking this woman (who was actually the very man she would be meeting and working for soon) this very question. If there was one person to ask for an accurate answer, would it not be the very person themselves? “I’m sure you’d have a much better idea of what would look good on me than I would.” She smiled at the woman, clearly already acclimating to her presence. If she'd been in a more comfortable situation, she might even say that she was beginning to like her.
User avatar
Flame
Well-Traveled Specialist
Well-Traveled Specialist
Pets | Items
Keystones: 6027
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:41 AM
Status: Optimistic

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby ToxicShadow » 01/10/2014 5:27 PM

Jezden had the habit of sweeping in like a whirlwind and carrying everyone else along with him on his course, or tearing through them if they resisted, this case being no different from the rest. It hardly occurred to him that this woman was having some reservations when it came to seeking help, but whether she was having them or not, it wasn't important to him. She was far from the first woman that he had met that was out of sorts when it came to the more glamorous side of fashion. He wasn't about to say that she wasn't fashionable, he approved of her selection of business attire, but that sort and this sort were two entirely different things. With experience, he was certain that she would find her footing. With his exuberant passion for style and fashion, he had found himself doing this sort of thing frequently, even if it wasn't specifically his job to be the stylist, but it was job to wear those clothes and make them sell.

After displaying all of the dresses that he had selected for her, he donned an expectant expression, hoping for a shred of positive feedback. Even if she lacked a sense of knowing what would suit her, he didn't doubt her abilities to appreciate the wares. "The blue, the red and the orange...?" He repeated to himself, as she laid it all out, explaining what she would need the dress for. Folding the dresses so that they could sit without dragging on the floor, he set the others aside on a conveniently and conventionally placed cushion. Even the material of the seats for the guests was of high quality, something that he mentally made a note of for his own purposes.

"So you're meeting with a man of fame?" He confirmed, although his reason for asking was more out of purpose than out of needless curiosity. Where he came from, meetings with famous or important people happened all the time, so it was hardly something to bat an eyelash at. It also wasn't like him to pry for details, not liking when others intentionally stuck their nose in his own private business, so he respected others in the way that he wanted to be respected. Of course, he was entirely unaware that her business was actually his business, having no idea that he would soon be meeting with this woman for a reason far different from discussing dresses and fashion.

He scanned over the three remaining dresses with an expert eye, eventually setting the orange one aside as well. When the blue and the red dress were left, he approached the woman, holding a dress in each hand, and holding them up to her, alternating between the two as he seriously pondered over his decision. "I must say, you seem to have very good instincts when it comes to fashion," he praised. That said, he set the red  dress aside as well. "If it's a meeting with a man of fame, I would say that the blue dress would be to die for. The dress has sheer elegance. The length is concealing, more reserved in that aspect, but reveals just enough skin to draw attention. I believe it is a look that would suit you well. More importantly, it is more diverse than the other two, something that can be worn for many occasions."
Image


ImageImageImageImage
User avatar
ToxicShadow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 2824
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:43 AM
Location: I'm not sure if it's Wonderland or Neverland. xD;

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby Flame » 01/10/2014 11:52 PM

Nessa had to admire the woman as she bounced from option to option, clearly extremely comfortable and at ease in her current environment. She moved with the effortless grace and ease of a swan (a vividly-colored, extremely vivacious one at that) through the store, which made Nessa’s head spin just to watch. She wondered how the woman even processed all of that visual information so fast – it was as if she didn’t even have to half look a dress over before moving on to the next. The poor lawyer, on the other hand, had to painstaking spend minutes at a time pondering over even the most basic of gowns, and even then, she had no idea whether her verdicts were at all acceptable according to popular culture. It was part of the reason why she had chosen this particular store – she’d at least heard that their wares were extremely limited and fashionable, so she figured it would at least cut her chances of failure.

The only place Nessa could even hope to achieve that sort of proficiency was in a courtroom, which she took to like a fish in water. For now, she was quite content to simply watch as the other woman bustled about, accomplishing more in five minutes than Nessa had in an hour. The dresses were set aside one at a time as a critical eye was cast over them, and she was glad that the woman was making this process much easier for her by taking the hardest parts out of the process. At the question directed at her, she nodded in response. “Yes, he is. He is quite a prominent figure in society, and from what I’ve heard, quite well-versed in fashion. I would hate to show up at such an important meeting inadequately dressed for the occasion.” She smiled up at the woman, almost apologetically. “After all, first-impressions are important, wouldn’t you agree?”

As the woman approached her with the two remaining dresses which had passed her initial inspection, Nessa stood obediently still, straightening so that it would be easier to gauge her frame against the gowns. The compliment on her fashion instinct was certainly unexpected, but she took it in stride well. “Well, it’s certainly much easier when the selection was first hand-chosen by you,” she chuckled. She knew full well that there was no way she would have known what would or wouldn’t have looked good without the woman’s help. It took only a moment for the woman to come up with her final verdict, and as she held up the dark navy dress, Nessa perused it once again.

“I’ll take your word for it,” she said. “However, if he doesn’t like it, I’ll warn you now, I’m going to hold this against you.” She laughed, clearly joking. In all honesty, he found that she quite liked the dress she had sort of chosen, and she had a good feeling about it. It almost felt as if this dress had been meant for her, and that meeting this woman and finding it was no occurrence of happenstance…but that would be silly. “I can’t begin to thank you enough,” she said, turning to her new friend once again, gratitude plain on her features as she smiled warmly at her. “I don’t know how long I would have been stuck in here wandering around aimlessly if you hadn’t come to my rescue.”
User avatar
Flame
Well-Traveled Specialist
Well-Traveled Specialist
Pets | Items
Keystones: 6027
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:41 AM
Status: Optimistic

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby ToxicShadow » 01/12/2014 1:42 AM

"He sounds like an interesting man," Jezden had commented when the woman had described the person that she would be meeting while dressed to impress. He could easily understand why her dress selection was so important then, especially if the other person was known for being well versed in fashion. Briefly, it crossed his mind, wondering if he had ever met the person that she was to be meeting in the near future. If they were in the world of fashion, chances were that their circles had eventually collided and their work coincided. There were a great many number of influential people that he had met during his life, much thanks to his career choice. Still, it wasn't really his business.

"Although I may have made this easier for you, you still ultimately chose the dress on your own out of what was offered to you. That's a brilliant step in the right direction. Everyone must start training their eye in fashion starting somewhere." His words were meant to be encouraging, reassuring the woman that she was capable in these sorts of matters, even if she doubted it, herself. As far as he was concerned, despite his help, he had some faith in her. There were no doubts in his that she would manage to get the hang of a broadened variety of fashion. If she wanted to, that was. Hell, there was the possibility that she could even excel at it, given the appropriate amount of time.

Once decisions on the dress were finalized, there seeming to be no qualms about the one selected, Jezden held the dress out for her to take. "If he doesn't like the dress, then I might say that he isn't quite the fashion expert that he is made out to be." These words came with a warm chuckle, as a response to her joke. "I'll take full responsibility if he doesn't like it, no worrying about that. There is no problem about throwing me under the bus when you meet him, in the worst case scenario, no?" This came with a wink, even though it was difficult to tell, behind the sunglasses. He wouldn't be offended if she pushed the blame onto some stranger that wasn't otherwise involved if the man tried to criticize her for her choice of wear, though he had the feeling that she wouldn't do something like that to save her own skin. He suspected that she was an admirable person. "Anyway, there is no real need to thank me. I'm just glad that I could be of service," he assured her.

Sweeping back his vibrant hair, he offered his final smile, this one apologetic. "I'm afraid I have to be on my way." It was better that he get out of dodge now, before there were any inquiries regarding his identity. Evidently, the woman had no idea who he was, and he intended to keep it that way. She could think of him however he wanted, but it was in his best interest not to draw unwanted attention to himself by declaring his name and she possibly recognizing it, even if she didn't recognize him in person. That was always the trouble with being famous: he had a great amount of difficulty enjoying himself out in the world without having attention unnecessarily directed his way. Fame and fortune came with a price. Even if someone didn't recognize him by looks, it was common that his name was out there in the world, a topic of gossip that went around, so they could at least recognize the name as someone of importance. "Unfortunately, I have a lot on my plate today. I do hope that your meeting goes well."

As he spoke, in preparation to take his leave, he dug around in his pocket until he secured the card that had been handed to him earlier by the cashier. Without so much as a hint of hesitation, he reached out and took a hold of her free hand carefully, pressing the little card into it. "Here, take this. You would be able to make better use of it than I possibly could." That said, he took a step back. "Well, I must be on my way. Good luck! I'll let an attendant know that there are dresses that need to be returned to the displays here."

Just as he had appeared, Jezden was off on his way, not allowing her the time to inquire for his name, or even to explain the gift hat he had passed onto her. When she would take a look, she would find that it appeared to be an ordinary business card for the shop that they were in, only on the back it was declared in writing that the card could be used to redeem a complimentary outfit, which went on to include not only her dress, but shoes and up to three additional accessories. It had been intended as a gift from the owners of the brand to help persuade his decision in working with them, but Jezden didn't particularly have a need for a free outfit; if there was something he wanted, he had no reservations about spending his own money to obtain it. She could put it to better use.


-------------- Time Skip --------------


Merely a few days later, the famous model had arrived in advance for his afternoon appointment. When he approached the host of glamorous, high class restaurant that normally had to be booked many months in advance, he was well received without even having to breathe his name. It had become a place that the idol frequented, so it was only a matter of pulling a few strings to get what he wanted. He'd only made his reservation a week ago and, yet, he had effortlessly obtained a private room for him and his "date." Meeting a lawyer could hardly be considered a date, but it was a business date, at the very least. To the outside, the unsuspecting eye, their meeting was actually arranged to give the appearance of a date, so that his other matters would remain private. Meeting up with an eloquently dressed woman was less of an issue than it getting out that he was meeting with a lawyer.

He was lead to the second floor of the restaurant, away from the main dining hall, to the room where the restaurant staff had already taken the liberty of setting up. There was a single table in the center of the lavishly decorated room, complete with a centerpiece made up of an array of flowers. Jezden had specifically requested a simple set up, in comparison to the more complex packages that they had offered to him. There was no need for mountains of roses and a candle lit environment.

The host had taken his leave after asking if he required anything else, to which he assured that he was perfectly fine, only making a reminder of his original request, "I must say, once again, that you do not inquire the lady for her name. When she speaks of her reservations under my name, please be so kind as to just lead her here. I trust that is not an issue? I'd rather not have my private life be leaked to the public, especially not in my favorite restaurant." Jezden's polite words came with an emphasis of a hidden threat. The host, of course, would adhere to the request in order to retain the model's favor for the restaurant.

Jezden, today, had taken a different appearance than what had been witnessed some days prior, a look different from what he used when tending to work specific ventures. Occasionally, it had been referred to as a borderline appearance, something that could belong to either gender. It consisted of all black, something that was his general preference when dressing himself, as it made his hair color pop. He wore a feminine sort of top, that was covered by a highly accentuated long coat with mesh sleeves, tight black pants, with heeled, lace up, boots that went up to just below his knees. Additionally, there was appropriate jewelry in the form of complex necklaces and rings. His hair was pinned on one side rather than loosely styled. However, his signature dark glasses remained, this time covering his eyes that were done up with dark eye liner and smokey eye shadow, rather than glittering pink.

Legs crossed in a way that most identified with a woman's habit, he sat comfortably, beginning to peruse the menu with one elbow on the table, his hand resting his cheek while the other held the hard covered book. He was the picture of relaxed, even in his complicated choice of clothing and in such a restaurant that he didn't quite seem to fit into. He had no intention of ordering until his mystery date arrived, instead looking it over as something to occupy his time with while he awaited her appearance. He hoped that, whomever she was, that she had followed his manager's request, dressing for the occasion. Otherwise, this matter could become problematic. More than that, however, Jezden seriously hoped that this woman was as skilled and talented as she was made out to be. Trusting in a lawyer was difficult enough for him, which is why his manager had done extensive research on which lawyers to contact and, once they had agreed to this "Miss Nessa," why they had gone through the trouble of making these extensive, secretive meeting arrangements. Jezden would find out for himself whether or not he would hire this lawyer to launch his case.

(Clothing style references, though none are exact, these are the sorts of things that are near to what I have in mind for his more male style. One, two, three, four. For his hair style, refer to last version in his original appearance reference. And for fun, eye make up reference.)
Image


ImageImageImageImage
User avatar
ToxicShadow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 2824
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:43 AM
Location: I'm not sure if it's Wonderland or Neverland. xD;

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby Flame » 01/13/2014 5:35 PM

It had been but a few days since Nessa’s adventure to the land of fashion (where she had felt thoroughly out of place) and where she had found unexpected kindness from a complete stranger, but the encounter, however brief, had left a lasting impression on her. She saw a lot of greed, evil, and selfishness in the world thanks to her job, but this chance meeting had given her a brief, refreshing breath of air which gave her hope in human nature once again. The extent of the brightly-color-attired woman’s kindness didn’t stop with just much-needed fashion advice though – it wasn’t until after she’d flurried out of the store that Nessa had gotten the chance to actually examine the small card which had been pressed into her hand. She’d thought that it had just been a business or reference card at first, otherwise she would never have accepted it. To her great surprise, it was actually a voucher for no less than an entire free outfit, and to be entirely honest, she was floored and at a loss for what to do for a good few minutes. The notion of running out of the store after the woman briefly crossed her mind, but by the time it had, she was sure the lady was already long-gone.

Nessa agonized over her predicament for a good while, sitting on one of the velvety-cushioned seats with the beautiful dress in one hand and the card in the other. She hated the idea of taking things from others (especially of this sort, considering the dress alone was a few hundred dollars), but since she hadn’t even gotten a name from her savior, she couldn’t even feasibly think of a way to get back in touch with her. However, she reasoned that the woman had had good reason to want to pass on the voucher to her, so she figured she might as well use it. Needless to say, if she ever came across that kind soul again, there would certainly be a lot of repaying on Nessa’s part to do – that much was non-negotiable. Perhaps after she worked up the courage to come back to the store, she would inquire after the woman’s identity and seek her out to properly thank her. In the meantime, she had a fancy affair to prepare for.

Nessa had found her way to the restaurant without much issue – after all, it was a very well-known and highly spoken-of joint, and most certainly a place of high class. She had been here before on more than one occasion, since many of her clients were of the higher social caste, and she herself was known for being one of the higher-tiered lawyers in this city (at the very least). However, this was the first time she had come here under these particular pretenses. Sure, it was for business, but the way she was dressed most certainly did not allude to that fact. Clad in the stunning navy dress which she had chosen (with a large measure of assistance), she entered the lavish building, the click of her sparkling, strappy silver stilettoes as quiet as she could manage. Sure, she was no stranger to heels, but certainly not ones of this make. While she was the picture of elegant confidence on the outside, it certainly didn’t reflect the self-consciousness she inwardly felt. It was the first time she’d worn something this…revealing, even if the dress pulled it off in a tasteful, sophisticated manner. Occasionally, a flash of smooth, bare leg would peek through the gap in the satin curtains, but that was about as risqué as this outfit got (aside from the strapless top). Her long, dark curls were done up in a simple, elegant updo pinned back with small, crystal flowers. Again, she’d needed guidance from her stylist for a hairdo for this occasion, but it had turned out beautifully, although it revealed quite a bit more skin than she was used to.

This meeting was a crucial one, so she spared no detail in the preparations (in a very Nessa-like manner). After all, she wasn’t one to half-ass anything, least of all a meeting which would dictate the dynamics of a future partnership, or whether there even was one to begin with. In all honesty, the actual encounter itself didn’t faze her at all – she’d had plenty of meetings such as this one (albeit under different circumstances) in the past. She knew the importance of allowing her potential client to feel comfortable in their normal environment, and if this was “Mr. Jezden’s” sort of place, then so be it. Walking up to the podium where a well-dressed host was waiting, she flashed him a small smile, making a conscious effort not to swing her silver clutch around. Such impractical things, clutches. She’d barely managed to fit the things she required for this meeting in it, but she made do. Last thing she wanted was to walk in to this “date” in a gown and carrying a briefcase. “I’m here with a party, table booked under the name ‘Jezden’,” she said, her voice polite yet unquestioning. She had no doubts the proper arrangements had been made.

Without missing a beat, the host flourished a hand, bidding her to follow him through the main dining hall and up a flight of stairs to a much quieter, less occupied – save for one table - room. Ah yes, there he was, the man of the hour. From this distance, she couldn’t make out much of him yet aside from the sheer black of his outfit and the dramatic lines traced by his dark makeup, but it was enough for her to identify him, at least from the file she’d read on him. Donning her well-practiced smile, with just the right amount of warmth and formality, she approached the table, the sounds of her stilettoes echoing quietly in the still room.
User avatar
Flame
Well-Traveled Specialist
Well-Traveled Specialist
Pets | Items
Keystones: 6027
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:41 AM
Status: Optimistic

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby ToxicShadow » 01/13/2014 11:38 PM

With the sound of heels clicking against the hard floor resonating throughout the quiet room, Jezden's natural reaction was to smile to himself. It was a sound that he strangely enjoyed and it signified two things. Firstly, the mystery lawyer had arrived and, secondly, that she was donning an appearance appropriate for the occasion. Rather, she was donning an appearance appropriate for what the occasion was supposed to be made out to be in the eyes of strangers. Regardless, something about the situation was thrilling. Would he be impressed by her appearance or disappointed?

As she had undoubtedly approached, there was a notable moment of pause, then he lowered the menu back into place on the table and rose from his seat in one refined,  lithe movement. Without making eye contact, he moved around the table to pull the remaining chair for her, hands lingering on the back of the chair as his gaze shifted to regard her. His eyes met with a familiar face, familiar body structure, and an all too familiar gown. All of these things, Jezden recognized immediately in the woman before him, having a talent for remembering these sorts of things. She was done up completely different from when he had met her days prior, but he made no mistake in identifying her as the same person he had offered his assistance to previously.

His initial warm smile twitched and changed to a smirk, suddenly finding this situation all the more interesting, rather than feeling unnerved by the unexpected turn of events. Whatever the chances were of this happening was uncertain, but it was not something Jezden would have been able to anticipate. Would she be able to recognize him as the same person she had met only a handful of days prior? "This is interesting, indeed," the model remarked quietly, to himself, though it was  likely loud enough to be heard. He would suspect that this woman had seen him as a woman when they had met, when he had unsuspectingly assisted her in selecting wear for this very meeting, but she knew this person, the person before her now, to be an influential, if not radical, man. With the conflict in gender association, would she easily recognize him, in turn, and make the connection?

Deciding not to really wait and find out, he behaved in a manner that she would likely recognize, and possibly serve to wash away her doubts, if she was harboring any, when it came to his identity. "Miss Nessa, I presume? It is a pleasure to finally meet you." Shortly following his pleasant greeting, he leaned forward a bit, as if to get a closer look at her, and lowered his dark glasses just enough to peer over them and appraise her. When they were replaced back over his eyes in a short moment later, a wide smile lit up his face. "I must say, that dress does look brilliant on you. Even better than I would have anticipated. You make quite an impact."

There was absolutely no denying that the out of place business woman that he had encountered in that name brand shop had transformed beautifully. In truth, she was absolutely stunning, and likely could have floored many men, or left them without words. He had already thought that the woman he met was beautiful, her features, her hair, her skin, even her figure, even though it had been well hidden before, was all so very lovely. She could make many women jealous, with those attributes alone, regardless of whatever clothes she wore. Made up as she was now, the transformation brought all of that out, tenfold. He could truly admire and appreciate her beauty.
Image


ImageImageImageImage
User avatar
ToxicShadow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 2824
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:43 AM
Location: I'm not sure if it's Wonderland or Neverland. xD;

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby Flame » 01/15/2014 12:28 PM

Nessa’s first and foremost priority as she entered the room was to ensure that she didn’t manage to make a fool of herself off the bat. Although she was the picture of composure, she was actually concentrating harder than usual on looking natural (ironically). After all, the last thing she needed was to stumble and roll an ankle in front of her new client. He’d no doubt seen plenty of much more beautiful and confident women than she in his life, so the least she could do was at least achieve an acceptable performance. As a lawyer, she was a very adaptable person, as wont to be if one was to be successful on the floor in the courtroom – she was used to having curveballs thrown at her, and as such, assimilated to new environments well. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until she’d basically reached the table that she really let herself take a good look at her “date”. After all, she expected to see the person she’d seen in the few snapshots she had of him in her file for this case.

She noted that he’d gotten out of his seat and had graciously pulled her seat out for her, which shielded his face from her view for the moment. “Thank you,” she said courteously as she took the proffered seat, carefully sweeping the material of her dress out of the way of her feet so that she didn’t step on it as she sat. When she had finally settled herself stably enough to be sure that she wouldn’t do something ridiculous like fall out of her chair, she delicately crossed her legs beneath the table, clasping her hands lightly on her clutch in her lap. Only then did she allow herself a proper look at the man she was meeting, finally seeing him for the first time (or so she thought) in person. As her deep, scarlet eyes fell upon him, she couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of déjà vu. There was definitely something familiar about him, although she was quite certain she’d never met a man quite of his make before in her life. His wardrobe choices aside, as he began to speak, she almost felt as if she knew him from somewhere. The voice was unsettlingly familiar, as was the air he wore about himself, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it, even as she puzzled over his somewhat archaic words.

“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Jezden,” she responded in kind to his greeting, her nature entirely cordial and pleasant as she dipped her head graciously before returning to her task of observing his features. The moment he leaned forward to tip those sunglasses down though…that was when the revelation hit her. At least, it was more of a very certain suspicion than an actual revelation, as she couldn’t be entirely sure yet either. If she wasn’t mistaken, judging by the extravagant and unique style of clothing (albeit of a different gender now), his demeanor, and the way in which he addressed her, this ‘Jezden’ was none other than the very ‘woman’ she had met just a few days prior in the high-end clothing store. Although it took her a beat to register that information, it only flickered briefly on her face; with the given information she had about him, she wouldn’t put it out of the question that he might be a cross-dresser. It was just that she hadn’t considered the notion until this very moment. However, she wasn’t about to address him – possibly incorrectly – without first getting some solid evidence that he was actually, indeed, the woman who had come to her rescue in her moment of need. Perhaps her friend was actually a knight in shining armor in reality.

His smile, accompanied by the unquestioning statement he made next, directly addressing her gown and the circumstances under which it had been attained, washed away the shadows of doubt which still lingered in her mind. A warm, sincere smile of recognition and gratitude lit up her face, dissipating the air of formality she wore for a shining moment. “Why, it’s nice to finally meet you,” she said, this time meaning it differently, but he would know what she meant. She extended a hand across the table towards him to shake - a small, gentle gesture which somehow managed to convey all of the emotions which were currently running through her mind. “Properly.” Without a doubt, this certainly altered her previously neutral view on her new client, now that she had a past character-reference (and first-hand, at that) to refer to. Perhaps now she would finally get the chance she wanted to repay him for the charity and kindness he had shown to a complete stranger. “Let me begin by saying that I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me that day. Needless to say, you certainly have fine taste in clothing.”
User avatar
Flame
Well-Traveled Specialist
Well-Traveled Specialist
Pets | Items
Keystones: 6027
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:41 AM
Status: Optimistic

Re: Coincidence or Destiny? [Private - Flame and I]

Postby ToxicShadow » 04/19/2017 4:47 PM

"Indeed, the feeling is mutual," he responded to her second introduction, undoubtedly understanding her meaning, as he reached to shake her offered hand. Her genuine feelings were conveyed through it and, it seemed, Jezden was genuine, too. It was certainly a pleasure to meet her once more, especially under such circumstances. She, the lawyer he was to meet with, being someone he had once met before, put him more at ease. He even was able to witness, firsthand, the effort she put in just for the meeting, in meticulously preparing an appropriate dress for the venue. "I must say that it was really no trouble at all. Besides," he glanced her up and down once more, but not in a malicious or perverse way, only appreciating her beauty aesthetically, smiling. "It seems that I reap the benefits, being able to behold such a stunning sight. Who would have thought that I would be your client and, you, my lawyer?"

Once he'd released her hand and settled comfortably in his chair once more, the peculiar man reached for the menu laid out on the table before him, and made a gesture for her to do the same. "Please, feel free to order anything you would like. I'm sure someone will be coming to take our orders soon, since you have arrived." In other words, it would be best to wait few moments to begin discussing private matters, so as not to be disturbed once they began. And, for the sake of their charade, of this not being a meeting related to business, eating lunch while at the restaurant made perfect sense. "Or shall we just order a meal for two?" While they offered individual menu items, there was also the option to follow a set tasting menu that was several courses of smaller, elegant dishes. Normally, there was not an occasion for him to bother with such things but, perhaps, they would enjoy themselves by giving it a go.
Image


ImageImageImageImage
User avatar
ToxicShadow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 2824
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 12:43 AM
Location: I'm not sure if it's Wonderland or Neverland. xD;


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


cron