Mel, Jay, & Hope | Très Chic
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xp_logs(Backdated to January 28) Mel needs a new Easter dress. Jay needs Worthington-worthy clothes. Hope ensures everything is in good taste.
Mel was having the time of her life.
She was in a very fancy department store in New York City with the very nice Ms. Hope and Jay. There were so many dresses in so many different colors and fabrics! It was like something out of the daydreams she would have when she was younger of being Cinderella. She almost felt afraid to touch them, moving them aside on the rack by the hangers instead.
They had already looked at quite the collection of dresses. Ms. Hope had a very keen eye and Mel had decided to ignore the price tags. She’d heard enough about Jay’s boss where she didn’t feel fussed about it being “charity” like he was. Warren was donating to a good cause. Cora-Mae Cabot would lose her shit if Mel rocked up to the Easter service in one of these.
A green one caught Mel’s eye. Embroidered with little white flowers, it reminded her of the church blouse Mama used to have. She stroked the fabric cautiously. It was soft beneath her fingers.
She looked to her brother and Ms. Hope. “What do y’all think of this one?”
"You'd have to wear a sweater with it," Jay said, hands shoved in his pockets- the posture of big brothers dragged dress shopping for their credit cards and bag-carrying ability everywhere. Still, he didn't condemn it. He knew Mel looked good in green- she and Mama both did. He decided that he wasn't gonna say no to anything based on price 'til she tried it on unless it was too much. How much could one dress cost, even at a place like this? Even if it was a hundred dollars, his big-time Worthington salary could take it- and he'd had it pointed out to him that there was no reason he couldn't use some of that clothing budget Warren had given him for it. Never was specified the clothes had to be for him. He had his clothes for work, and some new shirts and a jacket he could wear with his wings out- he didn't need anymore.
Even with his new job, that he was still learning at that, he felt out of place in this big fancy department store. He tried not to let it show and ruin Melody's day. He had his wings bound (without pain, and wasn't that a shock) so at least he knew that wasn't drawing more attention to them.
"Hmmm..." Hope tapped her chin with her finger, narrowing her eyes at the dress. "A sweater or a cardigan is not going to work with this dress, especially with the drapery at the back of it. Even a shrug would look strange with it. For church, we might want to go a touch more formal as well. But its color would look excellent on you and it would serve you very well on a summer picnic or another outing. Would you like to try it on?"
“Sure!” Mel grinned, “even if it’s jus’ for fun.” She could count on one hand the amount of times she’d tried a dress on in an actual store. So what if she wanted to have her chick flick shopping montage moment? Sue her.
"Let us find you an appropriate dress for Easter at church as well and you can try on both. Afterwards we do need to redirect our attention to finding some suitable clothing for your brother." Because while Warren didn't mind if she would buy Melody one, three or ten dresses, he would whine terribly if she did not get Jay dressed to some measure in his standards. "But first, tell me, do they commonly also wear hats and gloves with you Easter looks?"
"Only little girls and the old women," Jay said, answering Hope's question. "And I don't need nothing. I got some clothes that work well enough for work now." Okay, he had three outfits but if he treated them well, he didn't need anything else, and he really had only agreed to go shopping for Melody's sake. "And Mel- how many dresses do you need?"
“Jus’ one for Easter. The blue one I’ve been wearin’ was Paigey’s an’ I’m taller than her now so it don’t really fit right anymore.” It was more to Lizzie’s tastes anyways, though Mel had been saving up to buy her a new dress for her graduation. So she really only needed one dress. But trying on one or two or twelve more couldn’t hurt. “An’ I’ve seen yer closet Jay. It don’t exactly scream fancy pants assistant.”
"I got two suits and some nice shirts now," Jay defended himself before thinking about just how tall Lizzie was getting. If the blue dress didn't fit Mel it probably wouldn't fit Liz by Easter. "Pick something out for your sister too. She's pert-near taller'n you already."
"You are going to need more than that, Jay." Hope quietly interrupted the siblings. "Nor will what you have now match the quality Warren expects from his employees. Believe me, if we do not find you some suitable clothing, he will just keep going on about it till he wears you down or uses even more persistent tactics."
She paused for a moment, glancing over the various mannequins. "Melody, what do you feel about something like this?" Hope gestured at a tweed-knit sheath dress that was available in a variety of plaid patterns. "The black and white one and the red one are probably a bit too bright for your coloring, but this one would be lovely."
Mel eyed the pale green, cream, and rose plaid. It was very pretty. Too short for church, but still nice. “It’s real smart lookin’ Ms. Hope. I wouldn’t mind tryin’ it on.” She noticed a plum colored midi dress on the rack and checked the tag for size. “An’ Lizzie’d like this one I reckon. She’s always looked good in purple.”
Hope gestured to the saleswoman hovering nearby to gather one of each of dresses in two or three likely sizes. "You mentioned you had already graduated, but suitable smart attire is always a good resource to have, either for an interview, internship or any other path you might wish to follow. But let us focus on the Easter dress for now and then we will move on to your brother."
Jay nodded to his sister about the dress for Lizzie and shrugged at the dress Hope had picked out for Mel. "It looks real nice, Mel," he said, hoping to get this done sooner rather than later- but then he didn't want to have to get clothes for himself. And he knew Melody was enjoying this, but this was a lot more shopping than he was used to. This store seemed to have all the clothes in the world.
Sensing her brother’s discomfort, Mel took his hand and squeezed. “Thank you for bringin’ me here,” she whispered with a smile.
He squeezed her hand back before pointing to what, on the rack, looked like a nice daisy pattern. "You still wear flowers or is that too young for you now?"
“I'll never be too old for flowers Jay.” Despite his protests, Jay did have a sense of fashion, or at least knew what Mel liked. The dress was green and had buttons down the front and a bit of frill at the collar. Mel took it off the rack reverently. “It’s perfect… What d’you think Ms. Hope?”
"Hmm..." Hope studied the dress a little closer, running a critical eye over how the patterns matched at seams and other details. "The craftsmanship seems good. And it would work well for both Easter at church, but also for any more festive occasions you might have this summer... Now, it looks like you have three dresses. I believe it is time to try some on. And then we can get to work on your brother."
Mel nodded in excitement and was whisked away to a fitting room with a few sizes of each dress. She found what was about her size in the first dress. It was really pretty and felt even better on. Walking out and doing a little spin so that the skirt twirled, she asked “So?”
"Ya look real nice," Jay said, and it struck him how happy his sister looked. And how she she looked like a real adult, and not his kid sister- when had she gone and grown up behind his back?
"The dress indeed looks good on you." Hope eyed the dress again critically. "Though I would suggest taking up the hem just a tad. It falls to a somewhat awkward length right now. But that is easily solved with a little tailoring. And possibly a small alteration with the armholes so the dress will sit a little better."
Mel beamed. “Sure thing. I’ll try the other ones on an’ then we can find some things for Jay?” Mel was equally excited for that part. Jay deserved some nice things to wear for his new job, even if he insisted he didn’t. Jay deserved nice things period. She only wished that one day she could be the one giving them to him.
~~~~~
Jay was holding what seemed like a hundred dresses and he had hoped Mel would forget about her desire to use him as a Ken doll. "Alright, you all picked out now?" he asked, trying to herd her to the front of the store, giving a desperate look to Hope. He knew he was spoiling his sisters a little- he'd suggested Mel pick stuff out for all four of them- but he had the money now and had always wanted to have the opportunity to.
Unfortunately for him, Mel was not so easily swayed from her goals. “Ms. Hope, wouldn’t this jacket look smart on him?” She pointed to a dark reddish purple blazer on a mannequin and shot Jay an impish smile.
"It is certainly an interesting color." Hope stated tactfully. "It stands out but in a fairly subdued and elegant way. However, it all depends on the notes of red in the jacket though and how they play with your hair, Jay. Is it something you would like to try on?"
"Oh come on now, Mel, I don't need nothing like that," Jay insisted. "I'll be standing out enough as it is." He had also yet to fully decide if he would have his wings out at work, and the concept of getting a jacket that nice tailored for wings sounded like too much of a hassle. He turned to Hope. "I'm okay, really."
"You are the one we originally came here for, Jay. And if you want to survive the circles Warren moves in, you are going to have to step up your game. Appearances count for a lot there." Hope flicked through some of the options in front of her, finally pulling out options in a cool brown, a nice forest green and a shade or two of blue. "What do you think of these options, Mel?"
Mel scrutinized Jay for a moment. “Hmm. Green always looks nice with red, an’ a blue would make his eyes pop. But if he actually wants something more toned down the brown is nice as well.” Jay could be boring if he wanted to, but Mel was still going to make him try on the green.
"Green and cardinal red? Mellie, you'll have me lookin' like Christmas mornin'," Jay teased, wings tensing slightly in their sling against his back. He hadn't been sure until that moment but he was leaning towards having his wings out at work. (If Julia had been brave enough to be her authentic self at her schooling and work, this was a way he could honor her memory...) "Brown ain't bad."
“Yer gonna go wings out? You gotta tell me these things Joshie, this changes the whole color scheme!” Mel tsked, mostly playful. This meant alterations for any jackets, but she figured Ms. Hope or Jay already had that covered. She tried to ignore the anxiety nagging her in the back of her mind. This wasn’t back home. Jay would be fine.
"I didn't have my mind made up," Jay said, embarrassed. He had his own anxieties too, but no one knew him here. This was a place to do something this fool hardy. He lightly punched Mel in the shoulder and smiled to reassure her.
"Either option is fine, Jay, though it might have some implications you want to carefully consider if you decide to display your wings openly." Hope offered a gentle caution. "But if that is the path to go, I definitely have a tailor or two who will be able to adjust your clothing on speed dial."
He nodded. He had mulled it over ever since he agreed to the job, but part of him wanted to do something this reckless and potentially life-changing. It seemed to him to be a lot less destructive than other options he had. And again, Jay felt he owed it to Julia to live authentically. "I think I'm sure," he said. "So you best keep that in mind picking clothes out for me," he added to Mel.
“Yeah yeah yeah,” Mel smiled. She eyed a blazer on a mannequin with a dragonfly embroidered on the collar. “Either way I’m taking pictures for Cissie. She’ll get a kick outta this.”
"Fine," Jay agreed, willing to put up with being a Ken doll if it made his little sisters happy.
Mel was having the time of her life.
She was in a very fancy department store in New York City with the very nice Ms. Hope and Jay. There were so many dresses in so many different colors and fabrics! It was like something out of the daydreams she would have when she was younger of being Cinderella. She almost felt afraid to touch them, moving them aside on the rack by the hangers instead.
They had already looked at quite the collection of dresses. Ms. Hope had a very keen eye and Mel had decided to ignore the price tags. She’d heard enough about Jay’s boss where she didn’t feel fussed about it being “charity” like he was. Warren was donating to a good cause. Cora-Mae Cabot would lose her shit if Mel rocked up to the Easter service in one of these.
A green one caught Mel’s eye. Embroidered with little white flowers, it reminded her of the church blouse Mama used to have. She stroked the fabric cautiously. It was soft beneath her fingers.
She looked to her brother and Ms. Hope. “What do y’all think of this one?”
"You'd have to wear a sweater with it," Jay said, hands shoved in his pockets- the posture of big brothers dragged dress shopping for their credit cards and bag-carrying ability everywhere. Still, he didn't condemn it. He knew Mel looked good in green- she and Mama both did. He decided that he wasn't gonna say no to anything based on price 'til she tried it on unless it was too much. How much could one dress cost, even at a place like this? Even if it was a hundred dollars, his big-time Worthington salary could take it- and he'd had it pointed out to him that there was no reason he couldn't use some of that clothing budget Warren had given him for it. Never was specified the clothes had to be for him. He had his clothes for work, and some new shirts and a jacket he could wear with his wings out- he didn't need anymore.
Even with his new job, that he was still learning at that, he felt out of place in this big fancy department store. He tried not to let it show and ruin Melody's day. He had his wings bound (without pain, and wasn't that a shock) so at least he knew that wasn't drawing more attention to them.
"Hmmm..." Hope tapped her chin with her finger, narrowing her eyes at the dress. "A sweater or a cardigan is not going to work with this dress, especially with the drapery at the back of it. Even a shrug would look strange with it. For church, we might want to go a touch more formal as well. But its color would look excellent on you and it would serve you very well on a summer picnic or another outing. Would you like to try it on?"
“Sure!” Mel grinned, “even if it’s jus’ for fun.” She could count on one hand the amount of times she’d tried a dress on in an actual store. So what if she wanted to have her chick flick shopping montage moment? Sue her.
"Let us find you an appropriate dress for Easter at church as well and you can try on both. Afterwards we do need to redirect our attention to finding some suitable clothing for your brother." Because while Warren didn't mind if she would buy Melody one, three or ten dresses, he would whine terribly if she did not get Jay dressed to some measure in his standards. "But first, tell me, do they commonly also wear hats and gloves with you Easter looks?"
"Only little girls and the old women," Jay said, answering Hope's question. "And I don't need nothing. I got some clothes that work well enough for work now." Okay, he had three outfits but if he treated them well, he didn't need anything else, and he really had only agreed to go shopping for Melody's sake. "And Mel- how many dresses do you need?"
“Jus’ one for Easter. The blue one I’ve been wearin’ was Paigey’s an’ I’m taller than her now so it don’t really fit right anymore.” It was more to Lizzie’s tastes anyways, though Mel had been saving up to buy her a new dress for her graduation. So she really only needed one dress. But trying on one or two or twelve more couldn’t hurt. “An’ I’ve seen yer closet Jay. It don’t exactly scream fancy pants assistant.”
"I got two suits and some nice shirts now," Jay defended himself before thinking about just how tall Lizzie was getting. If the blue dress didn't fit Mel it probably wouldn't fit Liz by Easter. "Pick something out for your sister too. She's pert-near taller'n you already."
"You are going to need more than that, Jay." Hope quietly interrupted the siblings. "Nor will what you have now match the quality Warren expects from his employees. Believe me, if we do not find you some suitable clothing, he will just keep going on about it till he wears you down or uses even more persistent tactics."
She paused for a moment, glancing over the various mannequins. "Melody, what do you feel about something like this?" Hope gestured at a tweed-knit sheath dress that was available in a variety of plaid patterns. "The black and white one and the red one are probably a bit too bright for your coloring, but this one would be lovely."
Mel eyed the pale green, cream, and rose plaid. It was very pretty. Too short for church, but still nice. “It’s real smart lookin’ Ms. Hope. I wouldn’t mind tryin’ it on.” She noticed a plum colored midi dress on the rack and checked the tag for size. “An’ Lizzie’d like this one I reckon. She’s always looked good in purple.”
Hope gestured to the saleswoman hovering nearby to gather one of each of dresses in two or three likely sizes. "You mentioned you had already graduated, but suitable smart attire is always a good resource to have, either for an interview, internship or any other path you might wish to follow. But let us focus on the Easter dress for now and then we will move on to your brother."
Jay nodded to his sister about the dress for Lizzie and shrugged at the dress Hope had picked out for Mel. "It looks real nice, Mel," he said, hoping to get this done sooner rather than later- but then he didn't want to have to get clothes for himself. And he knew Melody was enjoying this, but this was a lot more shopping than he was used to. This store seemed to have all the clothes in the world.
Sensing her brother’s discomfort, Mel took his hand and squeezed. “Thank you for bringin’ me here,” she whispered with a smile.
He squeezed her hand back before pointing to what, on the rack, looked like a nice daisy pattern. "You still wear flowers or is that too young for you now?"
“I'll never be too old for flowers Jay.” Despite his protests, Jay did have a sense of fashion, or at least knew what Mel liked. The dress was green and had buttons down the front and a bit of frill at the collar. Mel took it off the rack reverently. “It’s perfect… What d’you think Ms. Hope?”
"Hmm..." Hope studied the dress a little closer, running a critical eye over how the patterns matched at seams and other details. "The craftsmanship seems good. And it would work well for both Easter at church, but also for any more festive occasions you might have this summer... Now, it looks like you have three dresses. I believe it is time to try some on. And then we can get to work on your brother."
Mel nodded in excitement and was whisked away to a fitting room with a few sizes of each dress. She found what was about her size in the first dress. It was really pretty and felt even better on. Walking out and doing a little spin so that the skirt twirled, she asked “So?”
"Ya look real nice," Jay said, and it struck him how happy his sister looked. And how she she looked like a real adult, and not his kid sister- when had she gone and grown up behind his back?
"The dress indeed looks good on you." Hope eyed the dress again critically. "Though I would suggest taking up the hem just a tad. It falls to a somewhat awkward length right now. But that is easily solved with a little tailoring. And possibly a small alteration with the armholes so the dress will sit a little better."
Mel beamed. “Sure thing. I’ll try the other ones on an’ then we can find some things for Jay?” Mel was equally excited for that part. Jay deserved some nice things to wear for his new job, even if he insisted he didn’t. Jay deserved nice things period. She only wished that one day she could be the one giving them to him.
~~~~~
Jay was holding what seemed like a hundred dresses and he had hoped Mel would forget about her desire to use him as a Ken doll. "Alright, you all picked out now?" he asked, trying to herd her to the front of the store, giving a desperate look to Hope. He knew he was spoiling his sisters a little- he'd suggested Mel pick stuff out for all four of them- but he had the money now and had always wanted to have the opportunity to.
Unfortunately for him, Mel was not so easily swayed from her goals. “Ms. Hope, wouldn’t this jacket look smart on him?” She pointed to a dark reddish purple blazer on a mannequin and shot Jay an impish smile.
"It is certainly an interesting color." Hope stated tactfully. "It stands out but in a fairly subdued and elegant way. However, it all depends on the notes of red in the jacket though and how they play with your hair, Jay. Is it something you would like to try on?"
"Oh come on now, Mel, I don't need nothing like that," Jay insisted. "I'll be standing out enough as it is." He had also yet to fully decide if he would have his wings out at work, and the concept of getting a jacket that nice tailored for wings sounded like too much of a hassle. He turned to Hope. "I'm okay, really."
"You are the one we originally came here for, Jay. And if you want to survive the circles Warren moves in, you are going to have to step up your game. Appearances count for a lot there." Hope flicked through some of the options in front of her, finally pulling out options in a cool brown, a nice forest green and a shade or two of blue. "What do you think of these options, Mel?"
Mel scrutinized Jay for a moment. “Hmm. Green always looks nice with red, an’ a blue would make his eyes pop. But if he actually wants something more toned down the brown is nice as well.” Jay could be boring if he wanted to, but Mel was still going to make him try on the green.
"Green and cardinal red? Mellie, you'll have me lookin' like Christmas mornin'," Jay teased, wings tensing slightly in their sling against his back. He hadn't been sure until that moment but he was leaning towards having his wings out at work. (If Julia had been brave enough to be her authentic self at her schooling and work, this was a way he could honor her memory...) "Brown ain't bad."
“Yer gonna go wings out? You gotta tell me these things Joshie, this changes the whole color scheme!” Mel tsked, mostly playful. This meant alterations for any jackets, but she figured Ms. Hope or Jay already had that covered. She tried to ignore the anxiety nagging her in the back of her mind. This wasn’t back home. Jay would be fine.
"I didn't have my mind made up," Jay said, embarrassed. He had his own anxieties too, but no one knew him here. This was a place to do something this fool hardy. He lightly punched Mel in the shoulder and smiled to reassure her.
"Either option is fine, Jay, though it might have some implications you want to carefully consider if you decide to display your wings openly." Hope offered a gentle caution. "But if that is the path to go, I definitely have a tailor or two who will be able to adjust your clothing on speed dial."
He nodded. He had mulled it over ever since he agreed to the job, but part of him wanted to do something this reckless and potentially life-changing. It seemed to him to be a lot less destructive than other options he had. And again, Jay felt he owed it to Julia to live authentically. "I think I'm sure," he said. "So you best keep that in mind picking clothes out for me," he added to Mel.
“Yeah yeah yeah,” Mel smiled. She eyed a blazer on a mannequin with a dragonfly embroidered on the collar. “Either way I’m taking pictures for Cissie. She’ll get a kick outta this.”
"Fine," Jay agreed, willing to put up with being a Ken doll if it made his little sisters happy.
