[Nice] Masquerade (Sofie)

Whenever Sylvain thought that things could hardly get any worse he was in for a surprise. He had thought that accompanying his mother to Paris to get her wedding dress was a torture of a gigantic dimension. However, now that his mother faced him with the fact that he needed to get himself traditional dress robes for the wedding he suddenly found looking for a bridal dress okay. Admittedly he had fled from the shop when his mother had just been trying on the second dress but still. He could hardly flee prematurely from a shop when he was the one who had to find something.

His mother even kindly offered that he could go to Paris to look for fancy dress robes but Sylvain didn't want that. In fact he didn't want it because his mother made the offer sound as though he should be happy about it. Getting dress robes for her wedding with this man was no nice business. It rather felt like an insult. Instead of feeling flattered that his mother wanted him at her side for her wedding, Sylvain felt humiliated. Did she have to make the this horrible day even more horrible? Sylvain had actually hoped he could hide from the wedding ceremony instead of having to be right in the centre of it, pretending to be happy for his mother.

Taking the money his mother had offered him for the dress robes, Sylvain made his way into the old town of Nice. He liked strolling through the narrow streets. Even the muggle areas of the old town were magical in their own way. He loved his city and even though the old town was quite filled with tourists and souvenir shops, he felt like it was charming. Besides on a hot day like this the old town offered some shadow which was much appreciated.

Sylvain wore grey linen trousers and a blue t-shirt, fitting into the muggle surroundings nicely. Nice did not have a particularly large wizarding community but there was a small alleyway with a handful of shops. While it was impossible to find any school equipment in any of these shops, there was a comparably large second hand shop with a good choice of used but high quality robes. Sylvain thought that if he had to buy something for this occasion it was absolutely sufficient if it was second hand. From the spare money he could then maybe get a new telescope. He would sell his old one and with the additional money he might be able to get a better one. That, at least, was a soothing idea. With this plan on mind, Sylvain made his way to the shop.

As he entered the old shopkeeper, Madame Plamondon, approached him at once. She was always eager to be of service and used pet names for her customers. Sylvain usually avoided the shop for exactly that reason. A forced half smile was all he managed to offer the obliging saleswoman. "Bonjour Madame Plamondon, I need dress robes for a wedding. Do you have something like that here?" His voice was rather low and he had blushed. This was just an awkward moment.

Madame Plamondon walked to a clothes rack and held out purple velvet dress robes, telling him that they were made by a famous wizarding designer and that they should surely suit him well. Sylvain didn't agree. Not in the least. If he had to wear these tasselled robes on that horrid day that was bound to come in the not too far future, he'd kill himself. That much the Ombrelune decided at once. However, it seemed like Madame Plamondon was not going to let him try anything else if he didn't try these robes before. He tried to argue, told her that he didn't like purple, velvet and golden tassels, but Madame Plamondon insisted that he'd try these robes on and if he really didn't like them she'd show him others.

Sylvain's face was red like a tomato as he stepped out of the changing room and approached the mirror. The golden tassels were swinging as he turned around to check his appearance. He felt like he was wearing a costume rather than elegant robes. "Really, Madame Plamondon, these robes are not for me." He tugged at the sleeves that were even a little to short for his arms and shook his head. "I would really like to try on something else."

Just as he said these words, the door flung open and a girl he knew from Beauxbatons stepped in. Sylvain gasped in horror. It was not possible that anyone would see him in this attire. He quickly hid behind the nearest rack, hoping for her to leave again rather than to take a look at the clothes in the shop and possibly discover him. Hopefully Madame Plamondon would not betray him to her either.

Sofie had been in Nice for the weekend to go school shopping for school, and being that she was going into her final year of school, she decided that she needed the perfect pair of dress robes for this year's Yule Ball, her last. Sure, she could wear one of the many dresses she owned, but she wanted something truly magical, and her mother had handed over her ATM card for the new "adult" to do what she'd needed to on her own. Sofie didn't think her parents should've let her loose on the French mainland, but she took this display of good faith and ran with it. With a pocket full of galleons she'd exchanged at a kiosk, Sofie made her way into the shopping district in Nice, stopping, first, for bite to eat and a glass of wine. She had all day, why not treat herself a bit?

Sofie began making her rounds at noon, and by the time she entered the shop that she had what she was looking for, she already had two bags in each hand. Taking a quick look around, she saw the shopkeeper bustling around, and Sofie offered a quick hello before minding the women's wear in front of her. While she browsed, her blue eyes happened on a set of brown ones. Someone she knew?

"Bonjour, Sylvain!" She said cheerily, straightening out excitedly. They'd never had a lengthy conversation, but he'd never done her any wrong. She smiled brightly, approaching him to see what he was up to.

Her overbearingly friendly approach to her acquaintance signaled the shop owner, and when Sofie got a good look at what Sylvain was wearing, she gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth in surprise.

"Goodness," She squealed, looking at the thing that the shop owner had, she imagined proudly, put him in. "What is this?" Her eyes were wide with amazement. Sofie looked up to the boy in dress robes designed for the wizard born in the 1940's and stuck in the 1960's, golden tassles and all. She reached out to examine one of them, looking him over again with a quirked brow.

Turning to the shop owner, Sofie showed the other side of her that was just as prominent as her excessive loving kindness -- her sense of entitlement. Being terribly spoiled did have it's downsides.

"I don't think these robes are for him," She shop owner furrowed her brow, and Sofie shrugged. "I go to school with him, and I know he wouldn't want to be seen there in these." She pointed at a rack, and walked over to pull a more modern set of dress robes, cleaner cut and somewhat simple, and lifted it from it's resting place. With less embellishment and finesse, they were less expensive, but that was the type of robes that he belonged in. "Try these." She walked them back over to where he was standing, hoping he would be excited to take those window drapes off of him...

She had spotted him. Sylvain wished he could just disappear now. How embarrassing this was! He would not allow her to make fun of him or to humiliate him. He shot an angry glance at Madame Plamondon. While not a violent person, Sylvain would have loved to inflict pain on this damned shopkeeper now. Really, he should have insisted that he didn't want to try on these weird robes. Why had he let her talk him into trying them on? His heartbeat quickened and he was not sure if it was because of the panic of being discovered or because of the fact that Sofie knew his name. Of course, they had talked a bit before, but they had never been close enough that he thought she bothered to remember his name.

"Salut Sofie," the boy said, his voice clearly reflecting his confusion.

As she approached him, Sylvain ran his hand through his hair, making it look even more dishevelled than it had already been before. Sofie took a scrutinising look at him and while her reaction was natural and kind, it bothered Sylvain that she judged the robes he wore. What if he had chosen to try them on? What if he actually liked them? The boy frowned slightly and looked down at her hand which was touching the tassels. He felt almost feverish, seeing her hand so very close to his body. Somehow breathing felt hard now and he could hear his heart pounding.

When Sofie addressed the shopkeeper and told her how she disliked the choice of robes for Sylvain, the boy's eyes widened in surprise. Why did she think it was any of her business? He observed as she picked robes for him with a rather bemused expression. He was not her doll! Then again the robes she chose were quite the kind of clothes that he had been looking for. He felt torn. Torn between telling her she didn't have to help him and gladly taking the robes she suggested and trying them on.

He stared at the robes in her hand for a moment. Then he offered her an apologetic smile. While he did need robes for the wedding he was not going to talk about that with Sofie. He assumed that she would feel sorry for him if he told her about this horrid marriage between her mother and Alphonse. He felt his wits returning and straightened his back. There was nothing wrong with a lie if the truth would just lead to an awkward moment. After all, he'd rather want her admiration than her pity.

"Sofie, that's so kind of you but I'm afraid... while these robes are rather pretty, they aren't quite what I'm looking for." He paused, looking at her and wondering what she was thinking now. "In fact, I'm looking for robes for an old play that we're going to reenact in the theatre that hired my father. I'm getting a small role there so..." he shrugged and grinned sheepishly. Now what would Sofie say to that?

Sofie had, once again, done her best to make other people happy in the most overbearingly bright way possible. With a toothy grin, she looked Sylvain up and down. She knew he was shy, but surely he thought this was just as hilarious as she did. With a quick glance to another spot in the room, her eyes landed on a scowling shopkeeper once again. Sofie would apologize later, but right now, she needed to focus on the friend before her, even if he was a little quiet.

When he responded to her with actual, real conversational words, Sofie felt a bubbling of excitement in her chest. New friends were her greatest delight, and he was here speaking to her now. That was the first step! Soon, they would be happily on their way to all of the other wonderful things that came with friendship - birthday surprises, listening ears, and advice givers.

Wading through her excitement to listen more closely to what he was saying, Sofie's face changed, now showing a different shade of excitement. A play!

"Wowww!" Sofie gasped, her expression pulling into a wide grin. She was certainly impressed. Looking at his robes once more, she shoved the robes she had suggested back on to their rack with haste.

"In that case," She began, turning to face him again. "Those robes would be amazing!" She clapped her hands onto her cheeks, continuing to speak before he could offer his own input. "I wish I could see it! I bet it would be really cool!" She had a strong urge to ask what the play was about, what his role would be, and any other information he'd be willing to offer, but decided against it for perhaps the first time in her life.

Instead of prying, Sofie took a step backwards. She wouldn't admit that she was slightly embarrassed by her own behavior, but now she was imagining escaping the harsh gaze of the woman who owned the place. Sofie offered him another smile before speaking again, wanting to see if she could wiggle her way out.

"I'm going to ask you all about it when school starts in the Fall!" She wondered if he would continue the conversation and let her go with her embarrassment and forget any of this ever happened. He must think she was the nosiest, bossiest girl in the world.

It was amusing how excited Sofie sounded and Sylvain showed her a wide smile. While he was not half as bubbly and cheerful as she was, he couldn't help but find her cute. Her excitement and readiness to accept that maybe there was something he was good and successful at, was flattering. He almost wanted to hug her to say thanks that she reacted in such a naive and sweet way. However, the boy was hardly one to do such a thing. Although... No, now she was taking a step backwards. He had missed his chance. What a shame!

He was close to telling her he could get her tickets for the show but there was still the problem that there was no play for him this summer, especially not an old play for which he could use these horrid robes. He suppressed a sigh. That was the drawback with lies like that - you could only go so far until you reached a dead end. A bit of Sofie's cheerfulness seemed to have vanished and the Ombrelune felt sorry about that. However, before he could try and make the girl smile again, he'd have sort out his own problem. Sofie and the shopkeeper expected him to buy the atrocious robes. If they were cheap and if his mother didn't expect him to bring elegant and modern robes back home, he'd even purchase them. That way he could keep up the lie and make things easier for him. However, the robes were rather expensive and his mother would kill him if he came out without the money and without decent robes.

"I'd be so happy to tell you all about it!" Sylvain said, trying to make his voice match hers when it came to excitement. Then he paused, skeptically looking at his reflection in the mirror. "While I agree that these robes quite fit the purpose, I'm not sure purple is my colour," he finally said. "The sleeves are rather short too, aren't they? I might still find something better. Would you like to help me pick something else?"

With these words he apparently attracted Madame Plamondon again. He gave a warning glance, but it was too late. "Dear boy, didn't you say you were looking for dress robes for a wedding?"

What an annoying old hag! Sylvain racked his brains to come up with a response but it was hard to manoeuvre out of this situation. The worst about it was what Sofie would be thinking. She probably didn't know Madame Plamondon from earlier visits or so he hoped. He could accuse the shopkeeper of lying but that would probably lead to further conflict rather than resolve the situation. Maybe there was another way to wind himself out of the crisis in a charming manner...

"Oh Madame Plamondon, the play is about a wedding or well, my part is in the wedding scene," he tried to offer the shopkeeper a warm smile although he could tell that he did not manage a genuine one. Hopefully this nasty woman would not question that an actor had to buy himself robes for the play. Maybe he should give an explanation before she would spoil everything by asking. How did she dare interrupting his conversation with Sofie anyway? "Well, I think I'll change back into my own things first and maybe I'll just postpone the robes hunt... After all, the theatre has robes for the scene but I really do not like them. They are black with silver linings and tassels and I think they just don't work well for a wedding scene..." he said this, ignoring Madame Plamondon who he knew was listening anyway.

Looking at Sofie, he wondered if she'd stay when he went into the changing room to get back into his own clothes. Could he ask her to stay? Could invite her to a drink? He stayed put for now, afraid to say or do something that would drive the girl away.

This really was a strange turn of events... Usually it wasn't Sofie who did the nervous backpedaling, but the people she tended to overwhelm. In fact, she might've pegged Sylvain for being the type of person who she might make nervous. However, it seemed like the only person who could really cause this reaction was herself. Sylvain was lovely and kind and interesting as she was sure he always was, but it was her who was nosy, pushy, and overbearing; She had created this embarrassment for herself. She was doing him a service by escaping now...

Sof hesitated a moment, feeling momentarily guilty about her own behavior. Sylvain had caught her backing away by doing nothing more than glancing in her direction again... She probably looked strange, cowardly, silly, but now he seemed enthusiastic enough! The usual, excited smile came back to it's home on her lips, and she clapped her hands together, moving back towards him in response to his encouragement.

"I like the purple!" She interjected, laughing. Of course, some men had trouble wearing purple with confidence, and she could understand the struggle, but she would insist he wear something he was more comfortable in. "If you don't like it, I agree. There could be something better..." She brought a hand up to her lips in thought, cocking her head to look at the robes again. They certainly would be flashy and exciting for the theater-goers... But was that the effect he was going for? She needed more details to give her best opinion, but was fighting an internal struggle. 'Don't be pushy,' she told herself while formulating an answer to give him. She wanted to tell him that she would even help him find dragons if he needed an extra hand... She couldn't resist making others happy.

"Of course!" She settled on a still-enthusiastic response, but the warmth of the moment she was basking in was cut off by the voice of the shopkeeper.

He was in a wedding scene?!? How exciting! With the slightest hint at romance, her interest was piqued anew! The tanned blonde glowed, feeling almost as if she might sprout wings and begin levitating, turning into Cupid!

"Weddings are amazing!" She gushed quietly, allowing the excited little thought to slip past her lips while joy overflowed again from her pink cheeks and bright eyes. She listened thoughtfully while he divulged a little more information on the subject of the play's wedding and the robes provided to him. It sounded like he would be a groom! With every wedding that she'd attended (though they had all been of the non-magic sort), the groom was always in black, and she thought that the silver embellishments might be nice, even a little fancy! She wondered if he would have to kiss someone... How exciting and terrifying! She would get around to asking him that, for sure, as soon as he got changed out of the purple robes.

[[ @Sylvain Chéret I'M SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG <333 ]]

Sylvain was relieved that Sofie agreed that there could be better robes than the ones he had tried on now. After all, he could hardly pay this much just to support a lie. The boy wasn't quite sure what to make of her enthusiasm as it seemed rather strange to him. However, it was quite pleasant to deal with a girl so positive and gleeful. Somehow Sofie's presence put a smile on his face as well. If only he really was really playing a role in a play this summer... The thought of her sitting in the front row cheering for him after a scene was just too appealing.

So the girl liked weddings. Well, Sylvain thought that most girls did and if they didn't there was something odd about them. It was like a genetic defect that females dreamed of a wedding and endless love. They seemed oblivious to the fact that real love was just an illusion. He knew that, of course. His parents certainly hadn't expected that their love would fade and that they'd seperate when they first felt attracted to each other. Now they barely spoke anymore and his mother was even naive enough to try and find love with another man. How could she think that things with Alphonse would be different? And why did she have to marry him? Wasn't it sufficient to spend time with him without making it all official?

Maybe, if Sofie was really that much into weddings, she'd like to support him on that horrid day of his mother's wedding, Sylvain thought. However, he could hardly ask her now that he had told her that he was looking for robes for a theatre play, could he? Maybe he had been a bit too quick with his lie after all. "I'll go and change then," he muttered and disappeared to change back into his normal clothes. While neither Sofie nor the shopkeeper could see him, the boy took a moment to consider how he should go on from here without making his situation any more complicated. He could just invite Sofie to have a drink or some ice cream with him and hope that she'd forget about the robes. After all, he really didn't have enough money to buy the robes he was supposed to buy and robes to support his lie. Yes, he'd invite her to a drink, that would probably be the best plan and that way they'd even get rid of Madamme Plamondon.

He glanced in the mirror briefly, before stepping out from behind the curtain, feeling that he looked much better in his normal clothes than in the flashy robes. Offering a rather sheepish grin, he took a step towards Sofie. "You know what, I feel it's rather stuffy in here and I could do with a refreshment. How about yourself? Can I invite you to a drink or some ice cream?"

Sofie hadn't expected to many any new friends today, but was suddenly overwhelmed with the excited feeling surging through her body in regards to this connection to Sylvain. Sure, she thought it was immensely impressive that he was going to be participating in a play, but her attention was attributed to a keen curiosity about the boy. She knew so little about him, and he spoke so little in school. It was amazing that he appeared to be opening up to her like this.

She replayed their short conversation in her mind, intertwining her fingers in thought while he stepped out back to change back into his regular clothes. Allowing a quick glance over at the shopkeeper, Sofie noticed the sour look on the old woman's face in response. Her immediate reaction was to stick out her tongue at the old hag, but instead she stuck her nose in the air. It wasn't her fault the robes were tacky and outdated...

Sylvain reemerged from the dressing room looking like the boy she knew from Beauxbatons, and Sofie couldn't stop herself from emitting a soft giggle. She stopped herself from commenting on his improved appearance, glancing hesitantly over at the shopkeeper once again.

She was surprised when Sylvain invited her to accompany him, but it didn't put even the slightest damper on her unabashed enthusiasm. "Of course!" With a twinkle in her eye, she disregarded the urge to hook her arm in his in a display of friendly affection, citing his personal space and their lack of proper acquaintance. But he was giving her the time of day, and that was exciting in itself! She hoped that he enjoyed her company!

"You'll have to lead, I'm not extremely familiar with the area." With a sweet smile, she readjusted the bag slung over her shoulder, and shot one last warning glance at Madame Plamondon in her departure.

It was a little confusing that Sofie giggled as he stepped out of the dressing room and for a moment Sylvain felt self-conscious, thinking that he was wearing his shirt inside out or something like that. However, he had checked his appearance in the mirror and it had all seemed fine. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down. There was no need to feel awkward, was there? Sofie was friendly and she was probably not laughing at him.

When she agreed to accompany him and have a refreshment together, the boy was surprised. He'd thought she'd say no but it felt like a confidence boost that the pretty Bellefeuille said yes. A wide smile spread across his face and he couldn't hide it even if he tried.

She asked him to lead the way and Sylvain nodded eagerly. Nice was his hometown, he knew every street of the old town and loved it dearly. He'd go to the Cours Saleya with her, he decided. It was a lively place and it was close to the sea. If things turned out well, they could take a walk on the boulevard after they had a drink.

Leaving the shop, he said "bonne journée, Madame Plamondon," and then guided Sofie down the road. The air was hot and there were many people, mostly tourists, meandering the old town, looking at shops that sold clothes, soaps, souvenirs and textiles.

"Have you ever been to the Cours Saleya? Today there's a market wit all different kinds of antiques. They have like everything there. Even if you don't buy anything, it's always quite interesting to take a look at the things. Besides the beach is not far from there..." his voice trailed off as he thought that Sofie should make her choice whether she wanted to take a look at the market or rather go to the beach.