Though Salamacia had proven herself to be a hardy person, enjoying hikes as well as sparring matches and exercise, she carried a trait that was stereotypical for women - a love of shopping.
Sena wondered why on earth her wife thought she needed more things. Though Sena had never lacked for anything she needed back on the Silver Isles, her family seemed almost like paupers compared to the lifestyles she'd seen of the various family members of House Aracon. It'd been only almost a week, but Sena already had a very good idea of how the dragons lived, and now, since she was an Aracon by marriage, she was now technically a dragon, and apparently expected to live like one.
"Salamacia, I don't see why we need all of this!" Sena argued quietly as she sat on a chair of upholstered gold fabric as Salamacia finalized an order from the owner of the furniture shop. Surrounding her was various pieces of completed furniture, and more in varying stages of completion in the workshop in the back. She and Salamacia had walked through this workshop while Salamacia pointed out this or that, a design she enjoyed, what color and what kind of fabric to upholster the furniture with, what kind of wood, and what kind of finishing touches needed to be applied.
In her estimation, there was an ample amount of furniture in their apartments, not just for them, but a good amount of guests should the blonde woman decide to have a private party or gathering. "Is this meant as a gift?" she asked. Salamacia smirked as she jotted her signature on the work order, and the old man retreated before she turned back to Sena.
"Why, certainly it's a gift. To us."
"I don't understand, are we getting rid of the furniture in your apartment?" the dark-haired woman queried.
"You will see," Salamacia replied cryptically. "Come along, we have plenty more shopping to do."
Deep ones, preserve me, Sena thought sourly.
o0o
"Though your Silver Isle clothing may be appropriate for some occasions, you do need to present a proper image of a member of House Aracon at certain occasions," Salamacia said as she examined several bolts of varying shades of red and materials. She might have passed some of her dresses to Sena to borrow, but the younger woman simply did not have the figure to fill out such dresses. It was almost comical that despite being the one closer to the designation of 'wife' in this relationship, Sena's figure was almost boyish, especially when attired in more casual and hardy clothing.
The young woman in question looked as if she would rather be anywhere else than this place, and didn't seem to give one single fuck about the pretty accessories the seamstress had waved in front of her - lace, ribbons, gold or silver thread, and other things that women liked to accent their dresses or hair with.
"A practical woman, hmm?" the middle-aged woman observed, putting away these fripperies. "There is something to be said about modesty, and it's usually good." She offered Sena a smile before showing her several dresses. "Which one do you like best?"
Sena pointed to the simplest of the dresses, a dark gold one with dagged sleeves and a narrower skirt. The woman turned back to Salamacia and grinned a little. "Well, at least you won't be given as much grief as your cousin Jaime, eh?"
The two of the laughed, and Sena glanced at them with some confusion.
"Oh, you met him and his wife last week, remember?" Salamacia asked. Sena nodded. "Well, remember how she was dressed?"
Sena paused for a moment before she gave a brief nod. "I recall she had a lot of jewelry, and her dress had more gems and embroidery on it than I'd ever imagined possible."
"She goes through dresses like others go through tissue paper," the older woman explained. "Then she will tear up the dresses she doesn't want anymore so that no one else can wear them." Salamacia rolled her eyes.
"At least she keeps me in business," Bertrande replied sagely as she set the dress of Sena's choice aside to look at again later.
"Don't you already get enough business from the rest of us?" Salamacia shot back. Bertrande gave her a cheeky smile. A distant cousin of the current Aracons through a bastard child of a sister of a long-dead lord, Bertrand showed none of the trademark physical features of the noble House. However, the stout, dark-haired woman had a keen business sense and a borderline ruthlessness that Salamacia could not help but admire. She'd turned her mother's modest tailoring business into a prosperous business, and did brisk business with many of the residents of Dragonslair. The members of House Aracon looked after their own, and despite Bertrand not being an official or recognized member, she still had the protection of Dragonslair, something gained not through mere blood ties, but through a proven work ethic and quality of product.
"Does a dragon ever have enough?" Bertrand shot back, and Salamacia chuckled.
"Point made. Shall we get back to my wife?"
"Of course." Bertrande turned back to Sena, showing her some more dresses in varying styles. Some were for winter, others for summer. Inevitably, Sena would select the plainer and more modest dresses.
"Come now, Sena! Live a little! And besides, you're going to want more variety in your wardrobe, especially come summer."
"What do you mean?" Sena asked.
"Summers can get quite hot in the Southlands, and you're going to want to dress accordingly." She picked up one of the dresses Sena had rejected. It was a silk dress without sleeves, the hem ending halfway between the knee and the ankle.
"That looks more like something you sleep in!" Sena said, staring at the garment. Salamacia had to bite back a smirk as she imagined Sena in such a garment, showing off her arms and lower legs. Many women within Dragonslair, lady or servant alike, would wear such garments, with little or no sleeves, their ankles visible. Common sense overrode strait-laced modesty in such weather, at least for most people.
"I can assure you, many women dress more skimpily when it gets really hot. Trust me, you will be glad for such a dress come high summer."
With Bertrande in obvious agreement, Sena could only surrender. Maybe there's hope for you yet, Salamacia thought as they continued discussing the items Bertrande or her assistants would make for Sena.
"And what colors would you like?" Bertrande asked.
"I like green," was the automatic reply.
