009 }{ VIDEO

[mrsnose]

[Lo and behold, Sophie Hatter's struggle with high heels has begun this morning. And she has endured, because she's endured a lot of things in life, but -]

I almost broke my neck again! Honestly, is this the modern fashion for women? Why would they torture their feet this way?

I prefer the sevel league boots - no, wait. I prefer the snow in summer to this.

[Slumping down on a chair, all but pouting right now. Her poor unsued-to-this-torture feet. They are unused to this torture.] Why won't they come off?

Comments

[conesoldstober]

I can't say I object greatly to this particular curse. Although yours are a great deal nicer than mine.

[mrsnose]

You walk better in yours than I do in mine. How is this even possible?

[conesoldstober]

Superior natural elegance?

Private

[hellinhigheels]

[ Why do women wear heels? ]

Enhances the leg-line. Perks up the rear. Puts a little strut in the stride.

[ Says the shapeshifting vampire. ]

[mrsnose]

Have you done this before?

Private

[mrsnose]

I don't want my rear to be perked up.

Private

[hellinhigheels]

Not enhanced legline or strut either?

action;

[minigolfandsushi]

[Peter strolls into the room, midori bottle in hand, and looks at Sophie.]

I'd offer you a drink, but it'd probably only make it worse.

[He, of course, is wearing a pair of hotpants in lieu of his usual tight leathers, the better to show off his cursed boots, in which he's walking without a trouble in the world.]

[conesoldstober]

Stag do. Don't ask.

[mrsnose]

...yours?

action;

[mrsnose]

[See, that is not fair! Look at him.]

How do you do that?

Private

[mrsnose]

I strut just fine without them.

Private

[hellinhigheels]

Care to demonstrate?

Private

[mrsnose]

When I get them off, maybe.

Private

[hellinhigheels]

But the whole point is to strut while wearing them.

Private

[mrsnose]

Yes, but I just said I could strut just fine without them, and you asked for proof. How could I give proof when they're on?

Private

[hellinhigheels]

Improvise.

They won't come off until midnight after all.

Private

[mrsnose]

Then I suppose you won't find me strutting.

Private

[hellinhigheels]

Such a tease.

Private

[mrsnose]

I wasn't teasing.

action;

[minigolfandsushi]

[He sprawls across a chair.]

Practice. It's all about your pelvis, really. That and your ankles. Do you do ankle exercises?

action;

[mrsnose]

Ankle exercises? [Walks over there, and - tries not to limp. Her toes hurt already, and this is dreadful. Dreadful enough that sitting down next to Peter is perfectly acceptable.]

[conesoldstober]

I haven't been married, Sophie. And the fact that you think I would hide such a thing from you wounds me.

[mrsnose]

You're right - you're right, I'm sorry I ever assumed something deviant of you. [Wait did that sound like a proper apology? Probably not. She's too busy chewing her bottom lip to focus on it.]

Not married. Well, I suppose that's good to know...

[conesoldstober]

Was there anything else which needed clarifying?

[mrsnose]

[About whether or not he's been married? No. Everything else is common knowledge, too.]

How do I take care of the pain if I can't take them off?

[conesoldstober]

The easiest thing to do would just be to stay off your feet for the day.

1/3 i need elypses to express this

[mrsnose]

...

[mrsnose]

Sit down?

[mrsnose]

The whole day?

[conesoldstober]

If you're worried about becoming bored, I might offer a few antidotes.

[mrsnose]

[Bored? More like agonizingly inactive.]

What antidotes exactly?

[conesoldstober]

[He hooks her chair over by one leg and pulls it in a little closer.]

I could keep you company. If you'd like.

[mrsnose]

[Well, that...is smooth, Howl. Very smooth of you.]

No, I dread every moment of your company.

[conesoldstober]

[She gets his best pout.]

In which case, I'm not certain I'll ever be able to trust again.

[mrsnose]

[He gets a smile for the effort. A pat to his cheek, as well.]

Alas.

[conesoldstober]

[He catches her wrist and uses it to tug her up on her feet, heels be damned.]

[mrsnose]

[If he's expecting grace, he should've asked it of someone who has worn heels higher than an inch her entire life, because Sophie only stumbles in his general direction at that.]

Howl!

[conesoldstober]

[He loops one arm around her waist, holding her steady.]

Yes, my dear?

[mrsnose]

I'm going to fall, don't yes my dear me! [Of course she's not going to fall, but she was about to, just seconds ago! Practically almost happened.]

[conesoldstober]

I wouldn't let such a thing happen to you.

[Despite his own pair of heels, she's a little closer to his face than he's used to when they're both standing, and he makes use of it by leaning his forehead against hers.]

[mrsnose]

[Her expression softens a little at that, and she sways forward and lets him hold her stead instead. Her feet hurt less this way.]

It'd a little hard to call you my hero when you're also the antagonist, you know...

action;

[minigolfandsushi]

You know, strengthen the muscles of your ankles. Otherwise they'll give out and you'll fall over.

action;

[mrsnose]

And I suppose you've dominated the technique, what with your sprawling everywhere...?

action;

[minigolfandsushi]

I sprawl by choice, thank you very much.