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Post by Gemma Ridean on Sept 2, 2007 5:20:39 GMT -5
After rummaging through her closet for the 10th time, it became clear to Gemma that she had nothing to wear for the SeeD Ball, which was taking place this evening.
I guess I can always wear my SeeD uniform...After all, some people do...
//Actually, those people are the just Triple Triad Card geeks who never find dates.//
Oh hush Caly. Don't remind me
It's just a dance, she repeated to herself. Just a stupid dance. Tomorrow, we can all just forget about. A small sigh escaped from her. She was, after all, a girl. Every girl wants to be asked to the ball by her prince charming.
But no use dwelling on that fact. She was going to the Ball, with or without a date.
Now then...as for the dilemma of a dress..
Thinking thoughtfully, she picked up the phone and began to dial the extension number for Stella's room.
Hmmm...she's not picking up.
"Here comes the beep. You know what to do."
Always the smart-aleck.
-BEEP-
"Hi Stella. It's Gemma. I was wondering if you are free this afternoon...I need some help finding a dress...."
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Post by Stella on Sept 2, 2007 5:26:08 GMT -5
Stella was in the bedroom when the phone rang. She got up and dashed for the main room tripping over a cord on the way there. Just as the answering machine picked up she hit the floor.
"wait!" she called out scrambling for it even though she knew whoever it was wouldn't hear her. Gemma?
She grabbed it up just before it clicked off.
"Hello, hello? Sorry about that, I'm here.. Gemma?" she said into the phone.
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Post by Gemma Ridean on Sept 2, 2007 6:02:29 GMT -5
"...and well you know that I'm no good with that kind of stuff, so.."
A voice suddenly cut in.
"Hello, hello? Sorry about that, I'm here.. Gemma?"
Slightly startled, Gemma was relieved to hear that is was Stella's voice.
"Hello? Stella? Oh thank goodness. For a moment I thought--"
She frowned as she could hear heavy breathing on the other line.
"St-Stella? You sound as if you just came back from a jog. Are you alright?"
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Post by Stella on Sept 2, 2007 6:06:26 GMT -5
She took a deep breath trying to calm herself. Gah talk about stupid moments. Oh well it could have been worse. It could have been someone like... Seifer Almasy on the phone. Then she would have just died. Melted right into the floor until there was only a puddle left over.
"Nope, nope I'm cool was just rushing to get to the phone. Was worried I wasn't gonna make it" Stella said with a little grin.
"Whats up?" she said trying to sound nice and calm.
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Post by Gemma Ridean on Sept 2, 2007 6:13:05 GMT -5
"Nope, nope I'm cool was just rushing to get to the phone. Was worried I wasn't gonna make it. Whats up?"
"Er..well...how should I start.." She was starting to pace back and forth across the floor, gripping the phone tightly in one hand while curling a piece of paper in the other.
"You see, I have a bit of a problem here. I know you and I haven't talked to much in the past, but I've known you the longest out of everyone here so I didn't know who else to turn to, except for maybe my brother, but that you know is not a option. Ok, I'm going off an a tangent here so I'm just going to get to the point."
She practically whispered into the phone.
"C-can you help me find a dress for tonight?"
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Post by Stella on Sept 2, 2007 6:23:48 GMT -5
Aww she was just so cute. How could Stella refuse? Besides she needed to pick up a few things herself. It would be much more fun if she had someone to go with. Besides she needed some friends around this place if she was going to survive.
"Sure, if we hurry we can catch a train into town. We'll pick you up a dress at one of the boutiques there. If you don't mind tagging a long while I pick up some shoes and new shampoo" Stella responded.
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Post by Gemma Ridean on Sept 2, 2007 14:42:11 GMT -5
"Sure, if we hurry we can catch a train into town. We'll pick you up a dress at one of the boutiques there. If you don't mind tagging a long while I pick up some shoes and new shampoo."
"Of course I don't mind!" She couldn't keep the smile off of her face. "I can be ready in 15 minutes! Um...how much Gil do evening dresses usually cost? Oh nevermind, I'll bring my whole stash! I'll meet you outside your room then? Ok, bye Stella!"
She was practically skipping, even clicking her heels together in mιd-skip as she grabbed her purse and headed out the door. It wasn't until she realized that a couple cadets were staring at her that she stopped. Fixing her skirt and looking around to see if anyone else had seen her, she continued walking, with just a small bounce in her step.
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Post by Stella on Sept 3, 2007 4:05:22 GMT -5
Stella hung up the phone with a little squeal. She grabbed her purse and checked that her new shiny SeeD issue credit card was in it, Oh yes this was absolutely going to be more fun then going alone.
She dashed out of her room and peered down the hallway spotting Gemma coming her way. Grinning she headed towards her both of them looking a bit like fools with a little bounce in their steps.
"Hey Gemma" Stella said with a grin as she approached the other girl.
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Post by Gemma Ridean on Sept 3, 2007 4:31:17 GMT -5
"Hey Gemma." Stella grinned.
"Hey Stella." Gemma smiled back.
It was unfamiliar territory to her, the idea of "hanging out" with friends, or as a matter of fact, even having friends to begin with. The life of a mercenary doesn't often include the luxury of close relationships. Some people like Jun and Rayden seemed to attract the company of others. While others-like her...well they needed to work a little harder.
And so, she couldn't quite describe this feeling of finally...belongingas the two of them walked out the gates of Garden, arms linked together like little school girls going out to play.
They managed to catch the 11:00 train heading towards the shopping district of Balamb. As soon as she stepped off the copper steps of the station, Gemma felt overwhelmed by the sight of, what seemed like, hundreds of colorful boutiques and shops, lining both sides of the road filled with passerbys and street vendors and cars zooming by in all directions--a mass of color, all spilling together like a melting rainbow. It was almost making her dizzy.
"Well..." she threw up her hands, turning towards Stella. "Where should we start?"
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Post by Stella on Sept 3, 2007 4:37:21 GMT -5
Stella just stared at the mass of colors and lights. It was almost as bad as Deling city. Who would have guessed there would be so many little shops in one area?
"I.. I don't know.. I've only been stationed at Balamb for a few months" she responded after realizing that Gemma was actually speaking to her.
"Let's just go in one" she grabbed Gemma by the arm and dragged her into the nearest shop. Looking around she headed over to a rack of dresses.
"Let's see... what colors do you like?"
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Post by Gemma Ridean on Sept 3, 2007 4:43:20 GMT -5
"Let's see... what colors do you like?"
Staring at the rack of glittering gowns, Gemma blinked a couple a times, completely dumbfounded.
"Uh..well, something not too onstentatious--say like red of instance" she swallowed, thinking of herself in Blaze's revealing dress. "But I guess black would be too boring..." Taking another glance at the dresses, she shrugged her shoulders. "I don't care for a particular color. Just so long as it looks...tasteful."
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Post by Stella on Sept 3, 2007 4:49:15 GMT -5
"Right, tasteful" Stella said with a grin as she started pulling dresses off the rack and loading them into Gemma's arms, "we can do that"
"Yes this one, and that one... ew no not that one" Stella mumbled as she piled the dresses high in Gemma's arms. There were all sorts of dresses from the plain to the overly gaudy. Giggling to herself Stella pondered if this would be her hardest mission yet.
"There, off to the dressing room" she said turning Gemma's body in that direction and giving her a cute little push.
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Post by Gemma Ridean on Sept 3, 2007 5:08:16 GMT -5
"All right, all right!" she laughed as Stella marched her into one of the dressing rooms. "I'm going!"
Dumping all the dresses into one corner, Gemma stared at the pile, wondering which one to try on first.
They all look so...so..sparkly..
Closing her eyes, she reached a hand into the pile and fished out a lavender halter-top dress. Checking to make sure the door was completely locked (Gemma was always worried that someone could see her changing from the outside) she carefully undressed and slipped on the thing.
Surveying herself in the mirror, Gemma frowned as she tugged on the excess material that collected on her chest.
Definitely don't have enough boobs to fill this.
Next, she tried on a tangerine (the color looked appealing) chiffon dress that...only went up to her mid-thigh. Ok, that one was certainly going into the "no pile."
And so it continued. It seemed she could always find something wrong with each dress.
This one shows way too much cleavage..
Too many rhinestones...
It's going to rip after one dance..
The 'No' pile was growing bigger and bigger.
This was going to be a long afternoon.
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Post by Stella on Sept 3, 2007 5:14:43 GMT -5
Stella flopped around in the big cushy chair outside the dressing room. All the other chairs were occupied by bored looking men who were obviously here with their girlfriends or wives. At least the chair was comfortable.
"Geeeeeemmaaaaa, found any good ones yet?" she called out towards Gemma's dressing room. She glanced around the shop and noticed a gaggle of SeeD cadets has just come in laughing and giggling loudly. Stella groaned and slapped her hand to her forehead. This was going to be a long day.
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Post by Gemma Ridean on Sept 3, 2007 14:24:19 GMT -5
"Geeeeeemmaaaaa, found any good ones yet?" she heard Stella chirp from outside.
"Uh....not exactly.."
At that precise moment, Gemma was trying to untangle herself out of the strappy mess of particular gown. Somehow, she had managed to get her head caught in the wrong loops so that her arms were now permanently raised above her head. Seeing that her arms ahd been rendered useles, she kicked open the dressing room door and hobbled out to face Stella.
"Stella, if you could just.." she said desperately, "um..I could use some help getting out of this."
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