Finishing up your stretches and the rest of your morning wake-up routine, you begin to ponder where to get the clothing you want. Loose-fitting lightweight robes are common enough on Oasis that you aren't worried about a footman getting the wrong size or anything like that. You pull out a piece of parchment and mark down your general requirements: sizes, various colors, lightweight, loose-fit. Cotton acceptable, steel thistle silk if available. You tap the pen top against the table as you think about formal clothing. You have so few opportunities to use it, as you rarely get off-ship much. Oasis is an exception, as is Dagda. Viking, less so.

As you contemplate, you realize that you don't know of any dressmakers or shops on Oasis. Particularly ones that can produce reliable results in a short time-frame, that would suit your needs. Faunia might however. As you reach for your microbead, it chirps with an incoming message. Bemused you answer. "Navigator Dannan."

"So formal Ethna?"

"Faunia! I was about to call you! I'm in need of a new dress or three and I have no idea where to get one made up in the next day or two before we depart again. Help me out?"

"We've a few more days than that. You got us here in time for Founding Day, and Odin had tapped me as a guest of honor in the celebrations, alongside our new Bishop."

"No way for me to fade into the background?"

"Not a chance Lady Dannan! Not with aunt Yasha off somewhere. I was going to ask if you had a dress to wear instead of your usual robes, but you already answered that question! I'll meet you in the Green Room. East Wing, second floor, green door."

"Hey! Not my problem if I like comfortable over flashy! You try sitting in the same brocaded abomination for sixty something hours non-stop!"

"You got me there. Green Room, half hour. See you then!"

Faunia hangs up before you can get in another word. With the size of the Von Sebastion / Dannan compound, you will have to start walking soon if you want to get to the Green Room in time. You swish off, moving quickly through the halls. Servants are scurrying about, clearly preparing for the upcoming festivities.

You make it to the green room with a few moments to spare. On entering, you see Faunia being fitted for a new dress by a team of three seamstresses. You have to stifle a giggle when you get a look at her face. From her expression, she clearly would like to be elsewhere. "Not looking forward to the upcoming festivities Faunia?"

She flexes one well-muscled arm away from a seamstress long enough to wave at you. "And hello yourself Ethna. It's not the festivities I mind, it's the interminable speeches."

You find a vacant stool to sit upon. "At least you don't outgrow your clothing every few months anymore."

"No, it’s only about once a year or so now. And mostly due to muscle growth, which should settle out in another year or so."

"Just in time for your thirtieth birthday then?"

"About then yes."

"Your pardon Lady Faunia, but we have all of the measurements we need. Skuld will help you pick out the design, just over there on the table. Lady Dannan, we are ready to assist you."

You cock an eye at Faunia. She grins back. "Don't worry, Urd does good work, and I can help you with picking out a pattern if you get stumped."

You roll your eyes, but refrain from sticking out your tongue at Faunia, and glide up onto the stool in front of the two remaining seamstresses. To their credit, they don't flinch at your fluid movements, too smooth to be quite natural. The third seamstress starts taking measurements with a cloth tape measure while the one who spoke, Urd presumably, eyes your frame up and down. "Are there any peculiarities we should know about Lady Ethna? Movement patterns, physical damage to be covered over, things like that?"

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You ponder for a moment, raising your arms to let your chest be measured. "Freedom of movement is my only major concern."

Urd nods, and helps you remove your robe for more detailed measurements. "That should not be a problem Lady Ethna. It will limit some pattern choices, to be sure, but it is no burden compared to Lady Faunia's scars."

A few moments later, Urd helps you put your robe back on again and leads you over to the table next to Faunia to help pick out a pattern. You glance down, and promptly mentally discard the designs cut to the hip, or with extraneous cleavage. You are a professional Navigator, not a three-for-a-Throne Harlot out to improve her standing by bedding the right person, after all. Faunia groans and flicks a sketch aside. "Too much damn brocade and velvet and floof. I'm going to look like a damn house in half of these."

You study the sketch she flicked aside. It shows a multi-layered dress and petticoat assembly, topped by a heavily-embroidered vest and overly-plumed hat. "I agree on that score. Perhaps it is time to use your status to set fashion instead? I might be a little clueless, but we do have three professionals here to assist us."

Urd nods, "I've been telling Lady Faunia that for a year or three now. Verdandi can come up with a new design in no time flat, and we can have it run up and fitted in the week we have before Founding Day."

Faunia scrubs one hand against her chin. "I don't know..."

You turn to the third seamstress, Verdandi. "Hmm, How would you design a dress for either of us. Forget about current fashion and just maximize the assets we have."

Verdandi clicks her tongue in an 'I'm thinking' mannerism. "Have to keep to a dress for a civilian outfit, but forget about the petticoats. Steel thistle silk, of course, long and flowing. Vest is still a good idea, for pockets and to anchor weapons-belts, probably of hai-skin suede. No hat for Lady Ethna, a new 'kerchief instead, color to match the dress. Beret for Lady Faunia, white for a starship commander or colored to match her dress. Dress would be House primary color, vest the secondary, of course. White-silver and blue for Lady Faunia, cream and jade-green for Lady Ethna"

You watch Faunia from the corner of your eye. She slowly starts to nod as she visualizes the dress. "That sounds like it would probably work. Can you have a sketch ready by sometime this afternoon for me to evaluate?"

Urd drops a curtsy. "Not a Problem Lady Faunia. And for yourself Lady Ethna?"

You cock a crooked grin. "I have eminent faith in your skills miss Urd. When would you need me for fitting?"

"Tomorrow afternoon, if your schedule will permit."

"It will. Do you need any information on the particular pattern of kerchief I will require?"

Urd drops another curtsy. "No mam, we sew Lady Yasha's when she requires them. Steel thistle silk, the usual particulars on threads and patterns."

"Thank you. Lady Faunia, I do believe we had a luncheon meeting to attend?"

Faunia's brow furrows. "Oh? With who?"

You roll your eyes and lead the way out the door. "Me silly! Fifteen years of catching up doesn't happen in one formal dinner!"

Several hours of conversation and good food later, you are sitting with a cup of tea when Faunia brings up an old disagreement between the two of you. "So when are you going to get a maid?"

You roll your eyes. "This again? Why would I get another person just to order them around?"

Faunia rolls her eyes right back. "Oh please. Even I have a steward to keep my schedule, remind me of appointments, keep my uniforms organised, and help clean up. The Ignis may have automated cleaning bots, but they don't touch the Navigator's or Astropath's quarters for obvious reasons. If nothing else, a maid would cut down on your chores and let you get a good night's sleep between warp transits."

You all but gape in surprise. "You have a steward? Miss I can look after my own secrets?"

Faunia shrugs "Lepa came with the Ignis, and she has been a great help in all of those regards. I'm actually ahead of my paperwork without all of the extra chores. So when are you going to get one?"

"Hmm, I'm not so sure. Who would you recommend if I decide on accepting the services of one?"

"Her sister Canala would suit you well. She'd be prone to fuss over your appearance, but you could use some help in that regard. You probably still have that ratty old brown robe"

"I do, and it's the most comfortable robe I have!" You take a sip of tea to buy time to ponder Faunia's suggestion.