Rowaini Musketeers: One For All and All For One

[Shayuri]

Jacen, for all his shyness, is nearly unrecognizable at first glance. His good looks, a bit androgynous even in his natural dress and style, carry over surprisingly...even disturbingly...well in female garb. Once one looks past the long hair and the dress...a high necked modest piece that probably wouldn't have fit the boy once he'd finished his growth, but with the corset gave him a figure that wasn't far from Marie's...one can see Jacen is still there, but with makeup and everything else...he's actually not bad looking at all.

It's enough to make one want to 'make sure' of one's paramours before advancing too far, in fact.

Jacen, for his part, is clearly uncomfortable in the corset, and a little sullen at all the frilly things, but he carries himself with poise...not wanting to make Marie feel bad.

"So," he says...and he's clearly pitching his already tenor's voice a bit higher, though it doesn't sound falsetto or unnatural. "How do I look?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Tres jolie," Sabine laughs, "Hold on a second, let me touch up your eyes."

*Tommy enters the room.*

"So, you're ready, Sister? Or should I say 'Sisters'?" he shakes his head, smiling but still a little bit embarrassed about Jacen cross-dressing as Marie, "About Father...Do you think it is possible that he agreed to let us try if he agreed that the disguise was good enough just so he could look like he was being more reasonable? It's possible that he might just have such a bias or fear of failure that he will deny any disguise. Just in case, I have a suggestion. Jacen, you stand out here with Sabine, and Marie can go into the other room. Then I will go tell Mother, Father, and our brothers that you and Marie are finished with Jacen, and that Jacen is in the other room waiting to come out for their appraisal. If Father doesn't spot that the 'Marie' waiting out here is actually Jacen, then that proves that the disguise is sufficient, no? Do you think you can do that Jacen?"

 

[Shayuri]

Jacen grins.

"I am game, sir. If I can't fool her father, what chance have I against the dreaded Crimson Pumpernickel?"

He looks at Marie quickly to get a feel for how her face 'rests,' then does his best to imitate that expression.

 

[Rystil Arden]

*After Tommy gets Marie, Jacen tries to copy Marie's expression, and Marie heads into the room. Richard and Guillaume appear before Tomas and Natalie. When the Baron enters, he gives a cursory glance and then turns to Sabine.*

"Okay, you can bring him in, daughter. But I'm not sure how realistic it can be."

"Well, we'll see," Sabine replies with a smile, moving up to the door to the room where Marie waits, "Alright Jacen, or I mean 'Marie', come on out."

*Marie sashays into the room femininely, turns about to display all sides, and then curtsies to Tomas.*

"Hmm...well, I have to admit it, it's more convincing than I thought. But I'm afraid it just isn't going to work. I'm sorry, but we can't try it."

"Really? Quel dommage! But where have I gone wrong, mon pere?"

"Hmmm, well there's a few things. For one thing, he's just a little bit too fat to be Marie. Can you do anything about that?"

*Marie gasps and then starts crying, and she runs back into the room and slams it shut.*

 

[Shayuri]

Jacen plants his face into his hand and goes to the door to knock on it.

"Marie...it's just...people only see what they're expecting. You're not even the slightest bit fat!"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"I...my own father..." Marie sniffles, "Jacen, are you sure I'm not fat?"

(OOC: Meanwhile... )

"I see..." Tomas furrows his brow, "Very clever. This still doesn't mean, you know, that..."

"Doesn't it Father?" Tommy asks, "If you could think that Marie was Jacen pretending to be Marie, while thinking Jacen was Marie..."

"Well, I wasn't paying close attention to Jacen," Tomas admits, "But how can we not assume that the Crimson Pumpernickel will not try to take a...closer look?"

"Jacen will have to find a way to make this fiend expose the Tear before that happens. And then, of course, he will find that 'Marie' is not as helpless as 'she' appears."

"It will be putting the lives of the whole family at risk..."

"Well, Father, I was thinking about it. If you are correct and he has no idea about...that thing, then what if Jacen-as-Marie tells him? He wants to take Marie for his own, so he won't want her to die. Even if he doesn't believe it, if he is afraid that it is true, he might hesitate. And besides, I would be willing to risk my life to say my baby sister."

"I will...think about it," Tomas finally acquiesces, "Is Marie doing alright?"

 

[Shayuri]

"Of course you're not fat...let me in, Marie. I can't keep yelling through the door."

He gives Tomas a look and nods.

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Marie unlocks the door to let Jacen in. She is looking at herself in the mirror. She isn't crying any more, but her eyes are still wet.*

"But Jacen, that's what my Father said when he thought I was you so he didn't have to be polite...Maybe I need to go on a diet, or exercise more."

 

[Shayuri]

Jacen closes the door and goes over to Marie.

"You're usually wearing one of these....nnngh..." he tugs at his waist, "...corsets when he sees you, or at least a dress that pinches you around the middle."

He grins.

"No one looks this skinny if they're comfortable. Trust me."

The grin fades though as he looks at the door and lowers his voice.

"Marie, I don't mean to change the subject, but I've been doing a lot of thinking about this Pumpernickel thing. It's just not adding up. I need to know something from you."

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Marie thinks about Jacen's explanation and nods, instinctively rubbing her waist in remembered pain as Jacen mentions it. Then she hears his last thoughts*

"Not adding up? What do you mean?" Marie asks.