Rose has a problem

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Date: May 16th, late afternoon
Location: Raphael's room
Status: Private (Rose and Raphael) - Complete
Summary: Rose addresses a dressing problem

Rose sighed before she knocked on Raphael's door, invitation in one hand, her one and only dress over the other arm. It was a sleeveless dress in royal blue, knee length, with silver buttons down the front. She had packed that one because the fabric wasn't as thin as that of most of her sundresses and because she could shrug out of it after opening only three of the buttons.

Comments

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael was just about to change into his suit when he heard the knock. Turning, and hoping it wasn't Belial coming to scare him, he moved to answer it.

His trepidation melted away upon seeing Rose before him. "Oh! Hello, my dear! What can I do for you?"

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose smiled up at Raphael.

"Hi. Um, it's just... you wrote formal wear on the invitation and I don't have anything formal."

She held out the dress for the angel to see.

"This is the only dress I have. It isn't very formal and I don't have shoes to go with it so I'd have to go barefoot. Would that still be alright?"

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

"Of course, of course," He smiled warmly at her. "Feel free to wear..."

He noticed his curtains were the same color as her dress. And he had scissors in his dresser. Grinning, he asked, "Would you like to come in? I think we can come up with something before it starts. Just stand here, and I'll get everything we'll need."

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose stepped into the room and closed the door, confused.

"What exactly are you going to do, Raphael?"

What did he want to come up with? Why was he grinning like that?

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael tugged the curtain from his window and pulled some pins from his drawer. As a Healer, he had been excellent at stiching up injuries. When he was with Doctors Without Boarders he had sewed simple garments for orphaned children using whatever fabric had been readily available.

"Just stay standing there," he said, wrapping the dark fabric around her torso. He brandished his scissors and lay the fabric on the floor. "Are you okay with a strapless?" he asked, carefully snipping and somehow knowing exaclty where to cut.

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose's eyes grew big when Raphael started wrapping her in the fabric, just putting it over her jeans and shirt, and then wrapped it of again.

"Strapless is alright. Just don't make it too difficult to get out of. What exactly are you making?"

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

"Here..." He bit off the bit of thread and spread out the newly-created garment. "It isn't finished yet, but I need you to put this on. It was a simple blue strapless dress, shining beneath the sunlight that now streamed in through the bare window.

"Put this on, and then I'll lace up the back with some ribbon. I can hem it up if its too long, it should stop halfway up your calf." He chewed onthe pins in his mouth as he looked the garment over thoughtfully. "And I think I might be able to help you with the shoes, too."

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose wasn't sure what Ms Hodges would say to this treatment of the curtains. And most probably she herself should have protested but she'd just been too surprised to do anything but watch the angel. Well, someone would have to explain it to Ms Hodges and she really hoped it wouldn't be her. It wasn't her room that was missing a curtain now, after all...

But still, she just couldn't keep quiet while she took off sneakers, jeans and shirt. She never wore any underwear if she could help it.

"I don't know what Ms. Hodges will say to this, Raphael. And I really don't want to anger her, I need this job..."

She didn't care that she stood there naked. To her it simply didn't matter.

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael plucked a spool of sheer ribbon from a box and set it aside. Then he pulled some leather sandals and some dye. He wasn't even phased by Rose's appearance as he ripped the straps from the sandals and opened the bottle of dye.

"Those are my own curtains," he assured her. "Ms Hodges original curtains are in the closet. I bought them while I was out shopping." He pulled a needle from his lips and began sewing the ribbon to the sandal. He motioned to the dress Rose had brought with her. "Would you mind if I took off the buttons from that? I promise not to do anything to it that can't be reversed."

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose looked at her own dress and shrugged. Buttons could always be sewn on again, after all.

"If you don't mind me borrowing needle and thread from you to sew them back on tomorrow, no, then I wouldn't mind."

She took the dress Raphael had made and put it on without any difficulties. Then she held the fabric in place with her hands to wait until Raphael could lace it up in the back.

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

"Just bring it by and I'll sew everything back," he told her, taking the spool and cutting the length he needed. He moved behind her and began threading the ribbon through the loops in the back. "If I had more time I'd use a zipper. When you're ready to take it off, just pull the end here and it will unravel. In the meantime, I'm going to give you a pin so that it doesn't come undone accidently."

He placed the pin in and straightened the hem. Then he moved to get the sandals. "You lace these up the same way," he told her. "I used that quick-dry dye, so it dried practically as I was putting it on." Plus he maaaaaaay have manipulated the air a little to help it dry faster. "It laces up your leg, like... Well, like ballerina shoes." He set them aside and rose to his feet. Fishing in his drawer he turned back to her and placed something in her palm. It was shaped like a star and made out of polished stone.

"It's a hair-pin," he went on. "They said it was an actual moonrock and rather it was true or not I'm not sure. And you don't have to ever wear it of course, but I was shopping yesterday with Aziraphale see... I bought a bunch of stuff... and when I was at this little antique shop I saw it and thought you would like it." He hoped she didn't think a moonstone hairpin was too much of a clue about who she really was, or that he was trying to reveal her secret. Raphael gave a gentle smile. "Do you like the dress? You're free to wear your other one of course, I'm just happy to have you come at all, even if it's in sneakers and sweats." There was only honesty in Raphael's dulled green eyes and sincerity in his words.

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

The dress felt nice and it was a reassuring thought that she would be able to drop it after only loosening that one ribbon. Rose wasn't too fond of the idea of wearing sandals but it would probably look better than being barefoot. And she didn't want to let the work Raphael put into the outfit be in vain.

When he handed her the pin her jaw very nearly dropped. She didn't care much for accessories and jewelry and so on - only more pieces to take off before being able to change form, after all - but this was a present and it was beautiful and just the fact that Raphael had thought of her when shopping... She would have brought him a freshly hunted rabbit as a thank you if she'd thought he would appreciate that gesture. But most non-wer didn't like that kind of presents. Add the fact that Raphael had a pet bunny and it didn't sound like a good idea.

"I like it. I just don't know how to best put it in my hair. I normally just leave my hair the way it is considering I have to get out of every single piece of clothing before I can change. But if you show me how to put it in my hair without losing it I'll wear it tonight."

Rose didn't think she'd need to change form tonight, and if she'd managed to sit in school throughout the day without changing form then she could manage to wear a dress and shoes and a hair pin to a banquet to pleasethe one being in this house she truly considered a friend. Sure, she liked others as well, but nobody else knew the truth about her, only Raphael. And he seemed to like her still.

"And the dress is beautiful. I wouldn't want to wear it every day but I think it's ideal for this occasion. Thank you. And thank you very much for the pin."

She'd keep it and when she had enough money to go back to her pack it woould always remind her of Raphael even if she never wore it again.

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

He showed her the back of the pin. "It has a clamp, so it would go in like this..." He twisted a lick of hair and slipped the pin a few inches above her ear. It shimmered in the sunlight. "Now then, if you need to change form, the dress turns inside-out and you can put your things in it and then close with the ribbon. The fabric washes easily so don't worry if it gets dirty." He shuffled in a drawer. "I have some earrings, but they're mainly for wing-piercings, so they may be a bit heavy. You're welcome to wear them if you wish. And don't forget..." He dropped his voice low. "If you get stuck, my offer still stands. There's a spare key hidden below the outside window, low enough that you could knock it down, though I usually keep my room unlocked."

He stepped back and smiled at her. "You look beautiful, my dear. I do hope you enjoy yourself, I put steak on the menu for you, but you are of course welcome to the other dishes."

What exactly will he need the buttons for? ;)

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose couldn't help smiling impishly at Raphael.

"Wing-piercings? Does that mean you can adorn those gorgeous wings with jewelry to make them even more beautiful?"

She slipped into the sandals and laced them up, still talking to Raphael.

"Thank you for your offer, really. And for this dress. For everything. If there's ever anything I can do for you, don't hesitate to tell me."

Straightening up again her eyes got a wistful look.

"Steak? Can I get it rare? I mean, I know I can't eat it raw and short contact with a frying pan adds deliciously to the flavour, but steak is just so much better rare than well done..."

You'll see :3

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael fished through the jewelry in the dish. "Well I have a few cuffs, like the kind that I wear on my ears, only larger so they go around the edge of my wing." He slipped it on to show her. "And I have these that kinda tuck into to edges, like this..." He showed her every piece of jewelry and where they go, until his entire wing was adorned with bits of gold and emeralds. His cheeks colored a bit as he began plucking them off, though he left the cuffs on. "It's probably vanity, but I like them."

Smiling at her, he added, "Rare it is. I thought you would want it raw, but I was going to at least warm it up. Also..." He moved to the dress she had brought, the silver buttons already carefully removed and the armholes stitched up. "If you get cold, you just wrap this around your shoulders like this." He slipped it around her, looping it fashionably at her shoulder. "If you bring it by tomorrow, I'll fix it back to the way it was."

Re: You'll see :3

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose watched Raphael decorate his wing. Maybe she should be grateful to the London pack for teaching her about things that looked good together and things you mustn't ever wear together. Not that she'd liked those lessons but at least now she could honestly tell Raphael:

"That jewelry looks good on you. I don't know if it's vanity to like beautiful things, but it really looks good. Will you keep the cuffs on for the banquet?"

Her stomach had reacted to the notion of raw meat. But that would raise questions she wasn't prepared to answer.

"I like raw meat but most humans wouldn't. If I eat the steak raw there will be questions. It's much better to eat the steak very rare. Not everyone likes it but it's normal enough. Thank you for the offer though."

She moved her shoulders a bit to see if her impromptu cape would slide down but it didn't. Good. Rose smiled at Raphael.

"Thank you very much. I'm really looking forward to the banquet now. I suppose I should leave so you can change into formal clothes as well?"

And it really was a question. She wouldn't mind staying and talking but most people outside her pack weren't comfortable with being naked around others, even if it were friends. And she hadn't forgotten Michael miracling clothes onto her...

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael gave a shrug as he moved to pull his garment bag that held his suit. "You can stay if you'd like to talk. It's up to you." He fluttered his wings a bit, the gold cuffs glistening. "I might keep the jewelry on. Since its a special occassion."

And it was, it really was... It was just a way to say thank you to his new family, to most it would simply be a dinner party. But for him... He had researched everyone's favorite foods and drinks, and he and Aziraphale had carefully prepared each one. Maybe they would come, maybe they wouldn't. Either way, he was happy to be doing this for them.

"I'm glad you're coming," he smiled, untying the golden cord around his robes.

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose grinned at Raphael.

"Good. I'll stay. And thank you for the invitation. I'm looking forward to it, and not just because of the steak. I like being with you, you know? You know who I am, what I am, and you're still friendly, normal towards me. With all the others I have to be careful not to give anything away."

There would be others at the banquet of course, but Raphael had invited her and not going would have meant being rude to her one real friend here.

"How's your bunny by the way? Has it settled in alright with you after your rather eventful arrival here?"

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

"I enjoy your company as well, my dear." When Raphael said things like that, it was always spoken in truth. One never had to wonder rather or not he was simply saying things to be polite. He slid into his pants, completely unfazed that he had been momentarily undressed in front of another. He was not shy about his body, and as a Healer he was used to spontaneous nudity.

"Fella is doing well," he said, pulling his dress shirt from a hanger. "You see that fuzzy pillow next to the pink one? It's not a pillow."

As if somehow sensing it was being talked about, the bunny pricked its head up, black eyes peering at them both. Raphael laughed and moved to scoop him up, stroking the animal behind the ears. "Would you like to hold him? He trusts me, so he won't panic if I put him in your arms." The trust Raphael had in her was unspoken... He knew she wouldn't intentionally hurt his pet, or his wings, or him. He trusted her and his actions showed it strongly.

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Raphael telling her he enjoyed her company made Rose smile. It was a nice feeling, having a friend. And it wasn't easy to make friends if you always had to hide your true nature. But here she didn't have her pack and thus got lonely sometimes.

Watching Raphael change drove those thoughts from her brain for the angel seemed to miss certain body parts. Her curiousity was piqued although she knew of course that it at least humans thought it rude to look and even ruder to talk about those body parts.

She worried her bottom lip between her teeth, weighing curiousity agains good manners, when Raphael showed Fella to her. The bunny seemed calm today so meeting it before with Raphael there seemed to have helped a lot. Rose looked down her body and then shook her head slightly.

"Normally I might but I don't want to ruin all your great efforts with this dress."

In any other situation she wouldn't care one bit about her outfit but Raphael had made this dress for her and she would got to the banquet in that dress and she didn't want to embarrass him. So she just stroked the fur on Fella's back with one hand, deciding not to say something like 'I like your bunny' considering the fact that she'd like any bunny, just not in a way Raphael would appreciate. And she didn't want him to get the wrong idea. Just because wer didn't have pets didn't mean she couldn't respect other people's pets...

Looking at Raphael to gauge his reaction brought her curiousity from earlier back.

"Um, not to be rude or something. It's just, I saw you change and I wondered, are all angels like this? Without a belly button and genitals I mean."

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

"Depends on the angel." Raphael snapped on his suspenders and adjusted the lengths. If he had been embarrassed by her question it didn't show. In fact, he seemed as uneffected by it as if she had asked about the weather. "Some alter their bodies for such things. I prefer not to, as I really have no use for them."

He slipped on his coat, threading his massive wings through the slits. He decided to keep the jewelry on them, since it was a special occasion. It may not have been a holiday or an important event but for Raphael, gratitude did not need a special reason.

Raphael turned to his friend, holding up two ties, a green one and a red one. "Which do you think will go best?" he asked.

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

"So, you don't ever go swimming or something like that?"

Rose looked at Raphael with a furrowed brow. She guessed nobody would get suspicious as long as the angels didn't wear tight clothes. Or walked around naked.

"Wouldn't it be easier and safer to just imitate a real human body, all parts attached?"

Looking from one tie to the other Rose made a quick decision.

"I'd say wear the green one, should go well with your green eyes. But I'm really no expert, I'd walk around naked if that wouldn't draw suspicion..."

Maybe her time with the London pack did have good aspects after all. She wouldn't have had the slightest idea of which tie to choose otherwise. Now she at least knew the smallest bit about dressing for formal occasions...

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

"Honestly I would walk around clothed only in Light if I could," he said, looping his tie. "Clothes can be rather uncomfortable and they always tear when you need to pop your wings out. I don't like the way fabric feels against the roots." The skin around the roots were very sensitive; new feathers, soft and downy, poked out like tiny unfurling flags.

"I don't wear really tight pants." He motioned to the workjeans neatly piled on his bed. "Or even underwear. I mean, why bother? But anyway... The only thing that really distinguishes me right now from being human are my wings." He let them curl around a little, adjusting the gold cuffs on the top edge. The red feathers reflected off the gold and made it appear as if a tiny hearth were embedded right into the jewelry. He smiled. "I'd love to go swimming sometime, but I have found that humans do not like naked people in their pools."

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose grinned understandingly.

"Yes, clothes can be pretty uncomfortable. Back home, it gets quite hot in the summer. But clothes always bother me. They prevent me from changing form so they make me feel trapped. But not wearing any would make humans suspicious. So I have to wear clothes..."

She went to Raphael do straighten a feather here and there that got a bit ruffled when he slipped on the coat.

"I mostly went swimming as Cloud. My younger cousin, Shadow, still likes to hunt frogs in the pond. He's barely more than a cub still. But nobody thinks farmdogs splashing in the pond strange..."

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael smiled at that. "Wings get fairly heavy when wet. The feathers retain water and as it is showering is quite difficult." He motioned to the dress. "You'll be able to get out of those quickly. There's a pin keeping the ribbon from unravelling, but you just take that out and pull the ribbon. Same with the shoes."

He stretched his massive fiery wings to their full length as if he were a cat stretching in the morning. "I'm looking forward to being able to do this," he grinned, eyes shining. "Aziraphale and I cooked and prepared all day. He is an amazing cook, let me tell you..."

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

"Thanky you again for the dress. For everything. I'm looking forward to this evening."

She began picking up her clothes and shoes.

"I'll put these in my room. And I'll see you at the party. There's a steak with my name on it waiting for me."

Rose grinned, but her rather affectionate tone made clear that the steak wasn't her main reason for joining the party.

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

"I look forward to seeing you there. And I'll have that steak as rare as possible," he added with a wink and a soft purr.

He was beyond excited and it radiated from him like a tiny sun, warming everything it came in contact with.

I think we can close with your next post?

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose winked back.

"Thank you. See you later..."

With these words she turned to the door and left. She'd use the time until opening of the banquet to get used to moving in this dress. Maybe she'd manage to look as if wearing such a dress wasn't something new to her...

Okay! :3

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael watched her go, then turned back to the mirror. His gaze shifted to the dresser, where the invitation with Belial's name written in calligraphy stared up at him. He reached over and held it in his hand, contemplating what to do.