Page 179 of Night's Fall
He likedIhad good friends.
It was safe to say,Idid too.
“I’m sending you my thoughts.I’vedesigned three looks,”Lancetsaid, then warned, “Thefirst one is my favorite, so you better pick that.”
The little screen he was on in the corner of my tablet shifted to the pic of a gown, soIsaid, “Enlarge,” and it filled my display.
I gasped.
“I knew you’d love it!”IheardLancet’svoice crow over the vision of the gown.
I didn’t love it.
I’d begunliving for it.
A massive skirt of impossibly rich amethyst ombréed up to the strapless bodice of crystal-encrusted lilac.Theprecisely corrugated folds of the skirt, as well as the front of the bodice, were adorned by spikes of intricate, sparkling silver filigree.Therewas a narrow crystal belt at the nipped-in waist.Butthe showstopper was the dozens upon dozens of little butterfly appliqués that danced along the hem and up the skirt in every hue from the deepest amethyst to softest lilac.
It was ridiculously feminine.Utterlyfantastical.
It was the fantasy dream dress of every little girl who grew up not expecting much, but in the end she found her prince and became a princess.
Best part, the theme for this year’sMasquewas “Soaring,” andLancet’stake on that with the butterflies wasgenius.
“Look at the mask,”Lancetsaid, and my display changed to a mask that appeared like he intended it to be made of actual silver.
One side was an elaborate butterfly wing adorned with amethyst jewels.Theother side was just the eye mask, but it was covered in shimmery purple scrollwork, save for a swirl of latticework that burst out of a corner.
“This gown needs to be handmade,Laura,”Lancetwarned. “NoSeam-Stitchcould do it justice.Soit’s going to take weeks.”
With that elaborate of a gown,Ididn’t doubt it.
ASeam-Stitchcould usually pump out any number of items of apparel in just hours, depending on the difficulty of the pattern and the capacity of the unit.
The studio had an industrial levelSeam-Stitch.
I had a mid-level business unit at my studio (andIwas probably going to need to use it as backup to get some of my costumes done).
Lancet,Iknew, had an artisan level, which was slower, but not that slow.
All that said, nothing beat handmade.Notever.
“And then there are fittings,”Lancetwent on. “Ineed to start immediately.Andthe metalwork on the mask also needs to be handmade.I’vemade inquiries, and the craftsbeingIwant says it’ll take at least two weeks, but probably longer.”
“Get started,”Igushed. “We’redone.Ilove you.It’sperfect.Idon’t know where you got the butterfly idea, but it’s life.I’mactuallylivingfor those butterflies right now.I’dmarry you if you weren’t mated, andIwasn’t too.Ican’t believe you pulled my fat out of the fryer on this one.I’llnever forget it.”
The gown disappeared andLancet’sface came back on my display.
“You’ll never forget it when it comes to your wedding gown?” he hinted.
Aleksei grunted.
Hmm.
“Aleksei kind of wants me to design that.”
I watchedLancetfrown.
“In a couple of days,Ihave to stand in a garden or somewhere for our engagement announcement and do an interview after.Youhave anything for that?”Ioffered.
