kingdoms_of_auradon | We Can Make A Dress So Pretty

Who: Gabriel and anyone, but especially those who'll be participating in his fashion show (Open with one closed prompt)
Where: The Auradon prep Home Ec room
When: A few days after the holiday party
What: Taking final measurements for those in the fashion show, general socializing with the awkward fashion nerd for others
Warnings: Shouldn't be any besides maybe some feels? Will add more if need be.

Final Measurement Appointments

Most of those in Auradon would know Gabriel as being a bit awkward, but those who visited the Home Ec room today would find him in his element. A tantalizing glimpse of a rack of partly finished dresses- and one child-sized suit- could be seen peeking through the gaps of a curtained off area, while finalized design sketches of the same outfits decorated the bulletin board. Meanwhile Gabriel stood ready with measuring tape and notebook as well as a sturdy step stool for those who were on the shorter side as he awaited his prospective models.

Any knocks on the door during the expected timeframe would be met with a warm smile. "Ah, welcome," he said. "Please, come in and we'll get started."

Wonder Twins?- Closed to Nagihiko

Gabriel smiled down at Nagihiko. "I'm glad you were willing to help out," he said. "I understand why the situation would feel a bit awkward to your sister, but thankfully at this age there shouldn't be too much difference between the two of you." That would all change once puberty happened of course, but for now, one twin's measurements should suffice for both. He may have to do a few quick stitches for Nadeshiko on the day, but that would be a simple matter. "If you could take off your hoodie and any other bulky clothing, we'll begin."

General Socializing

Measurements taken, Gabriel could be found hard at work, finishing up the outfits for his new line. Whether tightening up the waistline just so, adjusting the length of a hem, or letting out the sleeves just a bit, he'd do his best to make certain every detail was perfect. Agreste originals demanded nothing less. But that didn't mean he would be especially averse to visitors. And honestly it may be a good idea for someone to poke in on him from time to time, lest he miss a meal or two.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He shook his head. "I'm not going to stick around watching someone else live my dream, live my life. I'd rather just... not be there. And she feels the same." A deep breath then a slight tiny little smile. "Neither of us are good at losing."

This conversation had quickly taken a rather disturbing turn. "Where would you go, though, at your age?", he said. "Would you stay with a friend, or perhaps go to some sort of orphanage?"

"At my age?" He was so confused, then shook his head. "They won't make the choice until we're adults. Probably not until I'm twenty or older. My dad is nowhere near to retiring."

"Oh...", Gabriel said as the explanation made the situation seem a good deal less dire. "Yes, that... makes a great deal more sense." He smiled awkwardly. "My apologies; I was under the impression that the choice was immanent back in your world, not that it would occur when you grew up."

He cleared his throat equally awkwardly, attempting to change the subject a bit. "In any case, I likely should put that suit back on the rack now. Then, I believe, we'll have time for that short dance lesson, if you're still interested in giving it."

"It is only dire in that every day is another day we are in competition, that we have to prove ourselves. And like I said, neither of us are good at losing. No matter the cost," he added lip twitching slightly.

Rhythm laughed, rocking back and forth on the air.

In the pile of clothes, the other egg, hidden, also rocked slightly.

He'd already made his feelings on their level of competitiveness clear, so he opted to stay quiet about it this time, as he helped Nagihiko off with the suit. There were a fair number of pins still in it and he didn't want the young man to stick himself or damage the unfinished garment by accident.

He returned the suit to the rack with the other unfinished outfits. "You can go ahead and put your normal clothes back on now," he said. "Then, I believe we have time for that dance lesson you promised me." He pulled his phone out of his pocket and brought up the music player. "I know you said you didn't necessarily need music, but- oh!"

Distracted by his phone, he bumped into the chair where the small pile of Nagihiko's clothes had been sitting; the chair tipped over and the clothes fell to the floor. "I'm sorry," he said, righting the chair and bending down to help retrieve the clothes. "Though this shows why I'm not espcially-"

He cut off in mid sentence as he picked up the boy's jacket, revealing a small pink egg sitting in the remaining pile. "Another Chara egg? And it's pink, just like..." He paused, glancing over at Nagihiko. "But if this is your sister's then why do you have it? And why is her little friend in the egg and not with her?"

Nagihiko paled, panic in his eyes. Why did this happen to him? If it happened to Nadeshiko, she'd know how to handle it. But Nagihiko... had no clue... He looked slowly to Rhythm who seemed to consider, then grabbed Nagihiko's phone and dragging it back over. Numbly Nagihiko took it. "What...?" Rhythm floated over and clicked through and Nagihiko started choking. "I don't think that's going to help!" he cried, strangled sounding.

There were several possibilities that he could think of for why Nadeshiko's Chara would be here in an egg and not with her. However, Nagihiko's panic narrowed it down to just one. Leaving the rest of the clothes on the floor for the moment, he walked over and crouched down so he wouldn't be looming over the boy. "Nagihiko," he asked gently, "you don't actually have a sister, do you?"

It took a moment of shaking before Nagihiko finally a tear rolled and that seemed to break something. "Please... Please don't tell anyone. E...Especially Utau..."

He reached out to rest a reassuring hand o Nagihiko's shoulder. "I won't tell anyone," he assured him. "Not without your express permission. Though I'm curious why you'd go through this elaborate deception at all."

He took a deep breath, clutching his phone. "It... is tradition. In order to be the best dance instructors in the world, the heir to the Fujisaki dance studio has to be able to teach men and women and young girls and young boys equally as well. So whatever gender the heir is, they spend the first twelve years of their life as the other gender, then usually a few years abroad, then come back to Japan in their birth gender as their own sibling or cousin and their past identity just fades away. But... I... I came back earlier than I was supposed to. I was only gone a year... But everything had changed and I... I still... I don't know how to be Nagihiko," he sniffed. A few tears started to roll down his face as his shoulders hunched in. "Nadeshiko knows how... how to talk to people, how to make them smile, how to make them do whatever she wants them to do. She knows how to play and how to have fun and how to help the Guardians. And I... until I got here... Rhythm hadn't even hatched. I was the only Guardian without a hatched Chara. And... And the only one who couldn't Charanari..." Nope, that word... did not translate. Because there was no exact translation for it on any other world. Though if there was... it would have sounded very familiar to Gabriel...

(I hate that I don't have the right icons for this thread, but no point in reupping the paid when I am about to be on slowstatus >.<)

Gabriel had thoughts about parents who would intentionally put their child through something like that. But now was neither the time nor the place to share them. "It's entirely natural to be confused and upset in a situation like yours," he said. "Frankly I think you're handling it better than some your age might. But the good news is that you've got plenty of time and space to grow, especially here in Auradon. And you don't have to try and handle it all by yourself now."

"Though if you don't mind my asking, why did you come home earlier than planned? And what does 'Charanari' mean? I'm afraid I've never heard the term before."

He hesitated, squirming a bit. "I... I mean Nadeshiko... well... me too I guess... we were worried about Hinamori-chan. And we had to help fight Easter. But without my Charas..."

"Charanari is when we help our children transform!" Rhythm said, happily.

Nagihiko nodded, looking at his feet. "Charachange is when we have a small change and they take over a little. But some of us, like Hinamori-chan... can fully transform like a superhero. But when I went back... everyone else could, even the new Gaurdians. But I didn't even have a hatched Chara anymore. I... I think Hothori-san only made me a Guardian because he was told the truth..."

We Can Make A Dress So Pretty

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject