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WhimsicalCow Vice Captain
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 Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 8:47 pm
*half to herself* 'Tis really not so hard as I thought it might be . . .
*She smiles up at him for a moment, and then looks away, flushing slightly, and nods* Ehm . . . aye. *she refocuses her attention on the store in front of them*
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 9:09 pm
*They enter Marshalls. The interior is lavishly decorated with lights and glitter. The department store is huge and packed with shoppers. The store is a bit overwhelming. Bard chews on his lip*
Hmm.... I'll be back in a moment, Maggie.
*He wanders off to a customer service counter, leaving Maggie quite alone*
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WhimsicalCow Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 9:21 pm
*Maggie looks around with wide eyes, turning towards Bard as he speaks only in time to see him walking away* Wait, I-- *She takes a few steps after him, but she's at a loss as to how to navigate through the sea of people bustling about*
*She twist her hands together nervously and plants her feet, deciding perhaps it's best to stay right where he left her . . . but she's clearly uneasy about being left here by herself*
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:02 pm
*Bard is just barely visible fromwhere Maggie is standing, but over the noise of the crowd and the piped in Holiday music, he can't be heard at all. chats with the girl at the service desk. She gives him a look of utter incomprehension. She shakes her head, but Bard smiles and tries explaining again. She gets on the service desk phone and shortly thereafter a balding gentleman in a suit appears. Bard shakes his hand, talks to him briefly, points in Maggie's direction. He fishes into his pocket, pulls out his wallet and brandishes a silvery credit card. The gentleman accepts the card, smiles and shakes Bard's hand again. He turns to the girl at the service desk, and she nods, still a little surprised.*
*Bard returns to Maggie with the girl trailing at his heels*
I'm sorry to leave you, Maggie. This is Jill. She'll help you pick out some good skating clothes while I get something for myself. I've arranged it so we can wear the clothes out, so when you find something to wear, just change in the dressing room.
*he smiles sheepishly* I hope that's okay with you? It'd be awkward if I tried to help.
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WhimsicalCow Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:58 pm
Aye . . . *Maggie reddens a bit and nods in agreement, then makes the effort to swallow back her nervousness and smile towards the girl, dropping a curtsy out of habit* Good eve te ye, Jill.
*Jill raises her eyebrows, but recovers quickly, putting on a professional smile and gesturing in the direction of the Ladies clothing department* "If you'll just come right this way with me, we'll get you all set up."
*Maggie pauses, then nods again and follows after Jill as she leads the way. She glances back over her shoulder once or twice, still uneasy about being seperated from the one person she knows in this time*
*Once they reach the ladies section, though, she turns her attention back to Jill, trying to answer the girl's questions as to her clothing size, and preference of style and colors without revealing her total ignorance, telling her finally that she'd just like whatever would be most practical*
*Jill shrugs, but her smile stays in place. She takes a minute to eye Maggie up, then sifts quickly through the various racks and displays, grabbing a few options in what she estimates to be the right size, and then leading Maggie off the the dressing room to see what fits*
*after some time, they emerge again, with Maggie now dressed in warm layers beneath a fuzzy white sweater and a pair of jeans, her face so red it's almost glowing. Jill seems to be trying to reassure her* " . . . really, here in America, women wear pants all the time. It's not a big deal at all."
*Maggie still seems uneasy, but looking around at the other shoppers only confirms what Jill is telling her, so she gives in with a nod. Jill starts to lead her back, but then pauses as they pass by the winter accessories* "You just need a few finishing touches . . . " *She considers the options for a minute, then grabs a red-and-white striped scarf, draping it around Maggie's neck and then handing her a matching pair of gloves to put on* "And one more thing . . ." *After further consideration, Jill selects a pair of white earmuffs and puts them on for her* "There. Perfect." *Maggie looks a little baffled, but Jill is quick to assure her* "Trust me. You look great."
Ehm . . . *Maggie's still not sure about all this modern day attire, but she smiles anyway, looking at least less embarrassed than she did before* Thank ye for helping me.
"Oh, it was my pleasure, really." *and together they head back towards the entrance to meet up with Bard*
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:59 pm
*Bard is chatting with the store manager at the service desk when he sees Maggie and Jill return. He now sports red and white sneakers, red and white socks, heavy blue jeans, a yellow sweater and blue winter coat. a ski cap has replaced his Santa hat, and a red scarf has replaced his bow tie. His formalwear and longcoat are tucked in boxes on the counter.*
Maggie! You look lovely! We'll make a modern girl of you yet.
*The manager arches an eyebrow.*
She's a former Menonite. *Bard says to the manager. The manager and Jill nod as if this explains everything*
*They process the bill, run Bard's card. The register releases two lengthy receipts with a happy sigh. As Bard leans in to sign one, he asks* Do you offer holiday delivery?
"Of course, Sir!" *says the manager, looking confused.*
*Bard removes a business card.* Would you deliver my coat and the young lady's dress to this address? *He produces another card and scribbles an address on the back* And the fur, hat,and tuxedo to this address?*
*The Manager smiles plasticly* "For you, Sir, it'd be our pleasure..... Did you, err... want giftwrapping? Or a note of some kind?"
*Bard grins wryly* Giftwrap the fur and tux... The note should read,
"Dearest Linda,
Thank you for the Merlot. Sadly it didn't agree with me, so I'm returning the unused portion. Please also accept this dust rag, with my blessing.
Cheers!
Bard.
P.S. Do read my latest book. I had you in mind when I wrote it."
*Jill scrambles to jot this down. The Manager says, * "They'll go in the mail in the morning, Sir."
Thank you both, and Merry Christmas.
*he turns to Maggie* Ready to have some real fun?
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WhimsicalCow Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 12:09 am
*Maggie smiles and nods, relieved to be reunited with him after her little shopping adventure* Oh, aye. I'm quite curious te see what ye're about with all this.
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 12:20 am
*They exit the store and walk along State Street*
I'm going to take you Ice Skating. It's a very very old passtime. And very popular in my time, though I don't think they did it much in your time.
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WhimsicalCow Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 12:25 am
Ice skating? *she thinks for a moment, then shakes her head* Nay, not that I know of.
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 12:36 am
*Bard grins* You'll love it. It's a little like dancing, a little like flying.
Now... There are three things necessary to ice skating...
One... Ice.... which they will have... in plenty....
Two... skates.... which they will also have....
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WhimsicalCow Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 12:38 am
*Maggie smiles at his description, then looks at him curiously* And the third thing . . ?
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 12:47 am
*Bard stops in front of a sidewalk vendor* Hot chocolate with marshmallows!
Two please. *he hands the man a five. The vendor fills two styrofoam cups and hand them to Bard*
*Bard hands one to Maggie* Careful! It's very hot.
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WhimsicalCow Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 12:55 am
*Maggie takes the cup cautiously, giving it a little time to cool before raising it to her lips, blowing on it to cool it further and then taking a careful sip* Mm! *she smiles, pleasantly surprised by the taste* 'Tis very good, especially in the cold weather.
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 1:09 am
*Bard sips his hot chocolate carefully* It'll keep you warm on the ice.
*With a start, he turns his attention to the window display of the store behind them: the downtown Borders. On one side of the window is a cardboard standee of Linda all ghettoed-up in tarty pop diva clothes. The sign reads: GLO - Bad Street Girl - In Stores Now! Across from it is a stack of hardcovers with "CAROL ANN HASTINGS" written in huge swirly letters. The title, "Red Queen" appears below in smaller text*
Irony, Maggie, is proof that God exists and He has a sense of humour.
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WhimsicalCow Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 1:19 am
*Maggie looks over to see what's caught his attention and blinks at the display, not at all sure what to make of it*
*She turns back to Bard, ready to ask for an explanation, but after their earlier encounter with Linda she's hesitant to pry. Still, her puzzlement is written all over her face*
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