Never in her life did Blackberry picture herself in such a situation, several frilly dresses resting over her folded arms. She had also never felt so.. helpless. It wasn’t like her to have such little control over anything without being capable of easing right on through it. Even so, her expression did not change; within the mirror, all she could do was look.. neutral. Her chest twisted with a smidge of worry, but her eyebrows refused to do so much as shift.
Thirty-seven.
Blackberry had tried on thirty-seven dresses. That was not including the other twenty outfits she went through, all returning to their place on hangers cleaner than they were before. She had mismatched skirts and blouses and would continue to do so until the sun sank, but by then..
“The party.. is going to start soon.” She breathed a near-silent sigh, voice on the cusp of lament. What was she going to wear? She had never been to a party in the Hollyberry Kingdom. She only vaguely grasped the fashion: loose-fitting dress shirts or floor-length skirts with at least ten petticoats. Though she greatly respected the country she was visiting, she knew she would not survive the heat in such attire. Even her own was demanding, her underclothes much more relieving in the brutal warmth.
Why can’t I be.. different? Blackberry asked herself inside of her head, holding her favorite dress in front of her chest in the mirror. I have always dressed like this. Why am I afraid?
If there were several things Blackberry knew about herself, one was that such a feeling was unfamiliar. These things did not bother her. She was used to lurking behind Adventurer, his shadow at his every beck and call. In this kingdom, she was.. alone. He was out on an exploration, requesting she stay behind and..
..Relax..
Relax? She could do that perfectly fine with him. She could find a way to brew tea in the jungle, listening to him ramble with every sip of hibiscus and rose. She could watch the sun rise and begin putting away their camp as she’d done so many times before. Ensuring he was safe was how she relaxed. She did not know how to spend time without thinking of Adventurer at least every now and then.
“So,” the relaxed voice of the man in her head repeated. “Find out! It’ll be good for you to unwind.”
I think that was him trying to get a bit more freedom..
If it was an order, no matter what it was.. she’d do it. Yes! She was going to.. party! She was going to drink tea, or maybe have a plate of a few cheese cubes! She was going to do all the.. things. She was going to chat it up and tell stories. She began to rehearse one in her head, looking through the tops all over again.
My employer is a very, very interesting person. He is oddly flammable.
The other day, there was an odd cat following me.
I’ve found that oolong tea brews well when left over ice in the refrigerator.
“Hm..” she whispered, fastening the buttons of a frilly blouse over her chest. “Hollyberrians.. like alcohol.. right?”
What alcohol stories do I have..? She did not drink. Adventurer would occasionally have a shot or two of bourbon, but that hardly did a thing to him rather than loosen him up. Her train of thought was interrupted just as she started unraveling a story about a friend of theirs that quite enjoyed wine. Three knocks in quick succession, followed by the door just creaking wide open.
“Blackberry!” the shrill voice of Princess echoed, excitement flowing throughout the room in bubbles. She almost slammed the door behind her (likely upon realizing Blackberry was only wearing a half-fastened top and her bloomers) and produced a skirt.
Ah, that’s right.. Those outside of this narrative shook their heads at such a lack of detail.
Princess.
Princess Cookie was, well.. the princess of the Hollyberry kingdom. One day, she would be its head, for better or for worse. She was well loved by the entire kingdom, having a good heart and a bold mind. She would run barefoot after something before her army could so much as stand up straight. In the absence of Blackberry’s.. interesting employer, she could at least have some chaos to rely on. Her day wasn’t complete unless there was the sound of a vase smashing or some sort of rude table manners.
That was the way Blackberry liked it, after all.
She had met Princess at a party quite some time ago. Adventurer had left her side. In an attempt to search for him, she’d run– quite literally– into her. She could still recall it as if it were yesterday, apologies shaky and dresses drenched in wine. She had offered to clean her ruby-red gown, guilt squeezing her heart.
“It’s alright! You can’t even see it.”
“The wine is close in color to your dress, but it’s darker where it hit..”
“Nope! Nothing to worry about. I’ve had worse on me, and no one’s said a word!”
“It is still the least that I could–”
“Don’t worry, okay? Hm.. As the princess of the Hollyberry kingdom, I order you to chillax. There!”
“You are.. a princess..?”
“The princess, dear. Now, c’mon! I think we should get some more wine.” She grabbed Blackberry’s slim, working hand. Without hesitation, she led her away. They disappeared into a crowd of people, much to the bewilderment of the noir maiden.
From that point on, the music box released its wound-up lever. A sweet ballad of honeyed springs and crisp autumns echoed throughout Hollyberryian ballrooms. Princess’ special guest, she learned to dance. Of course, Blackberry was clumsy. She wasn’t any good at all, but Princess didn’t mind. Through the months they had come to know each other, their visits felt less like coincidence. Their letters grew longer. Blackberry and Princess seemed to be joined right at the heart.
Quite the detail to omit.
“Look-lookie! It’s mama’s! It looks just like something you’d wear!” Unfolding it, she held the waistline in both hands. Quickly, it displayed itself to her. It was akin to that of a wrap skirt, edges lined with light lace. Most appealing to Blackberry, however, was its attractive black.
“This is.. party appropriate?” Blackberry couldn’t help but wonder. Even so, her tone betrayed her; it had done more than just catch her eye.
“Of course! What did you think we wore?”
“Well..” Now that she was looking at Princess, Blackberry couldn’t help but feel her face flush with a smidge of embarrassment. “That skirt’s length might reach my knees. But.. from what I have seen, Hollyberryian women always wear these puffy ball gowns..”
“Oh.” Princess understood at once. At least.. she thought she did. “Do you not like any of the ones in here? I can find some more—“
“No, wait.” Blackberry apologized quietly for interrupting, her voice a hollow melody. “I.. just didn’t think it was my style. I didn’t wish to be an.. eyesore.”
“An eyesore?” The crown’s voice softened. “Blackberry, you will be no such thing!”
“You are.. certain?”
“Certain as I am the crown!” Eyes flicking, they returned to their bright state. In one swift movement, Princess hooked her arms around Blackberry’s legs and went ahead and lifted her. It absolutely startled the poor maiden, her stoic face scrunching up. Her nails dug into her shoulders as she held on for desperate support. Before she knew it, they were spinning. “You’ll fit right in! You’re so cute and pretty and everyone will just love you oh so much!”
“Wh– Princess–”
“Now, c’mon!” She stopped sharply, Blackberry’s whole body nearly lurching right over. “Let’s get going.”
“At..” Blackberry’s head still spinning, she steadied herself all she could. “At least let me get the skirt on…”
Waves of exhaustion ruptured Blackberry’s muscles, a yawn in her throat. Porcelain hairbrush in her hand, she tidied up her hair in a neat effort to tame it. It had been a long time since she had tired herself out as so, names and introductions still buzzing about in her mind. She was sure that she had met at least a hundred people. Some complimented her beauty in French, others asking her for a dance. She was unused to receiving so much attention; at first, it worried her. She had always liked being in the shadow of others, particularly the goddess she was trailing in a beautiful crimson ball gown.
But, now.. the night was quieter. For the night, she was soon to sleep. However.. this room was not her own, not the guest quarters loaned out to her and Adventurer. Setting the brush down on the vanity, she wandered to the balcony. From there, she took a breath of fresh air; the stars above and the kingdom below warmed her heart in unison.
“Princess?” she called into the room behind her, nightgown lightly swishing in the breeze.
“What’s up?” a bold voice returned from her massive bed. Princess placed a bookmark in her novel just in case, scooting to the edge.
Blackberry couldn’t fight it. She felt the tiniest curve of a smile grace the edges of her mouth. It was only there for a moment, missed by all with untrained eyes. What she tried to cover with a stoic face only came to be betrayed by the fluttering in her heart.
“I was just wondering if you were ready for bed.” She closed the thin glass doors to the balcony, locking them tightly. Steps light, she took what she deemed ‘her’ place on the other side of the bed.
“Mm--hm. Come here,” Princess whispered, setting her book on the nightstand. She fluffed up the covers, Blackberry nestling beneath them. As if they’d done it a hundred times, she took her in her arms.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
It was simple. It was mundane. It was just how Blackberry loved it, loved her. She loved it when she could treat life like she always had been: ready to care for it at a moment’s notice. She and Princess had been having private affairs almost since they’d met. She was not used to the simple closure of getting to drift off to sleep, but by the Divine she knew she loved it. She was determined to make her feel safe, even if she knew she didn’t need it.
Her hangover would be more bearable with someone by her side. She felt herself drift off, Princess’ warmth alluring and hypnotizing.
Visits to the Hollyberry Kingdom were always her favorite.