'A week? Why not make it two?' The cleansing of body and soul. A tricky subject, and one that Gruki felt she was not qualified to handle. Well, not wholly, at least. 'I do like the green,' she said, rubbing her chin in thought. 'Can't go far wrong with red and gold, though.' The she-ork smiled as she took a seat at the foot of Saskia's bed, her braid brushed forward in order to convey her meaning.

'I think Reed will be pleased t' see you, regardless o' what you decide to wear.'

She wasn't exaggerating either. For all the clothes in her wardrobe, the dusker could've shown up in full battledress and it still wouldn't have made a difference. Not to Reed, anyhow. The clickity clackity of shifting plate might prove a bit off-putting, admittedly, but there were workarounds.

'Go for whatever yer most comfortable in, Sassy, an' forget all the rest.' Loose lips sank ships, or so she had heard it said. Fortunately for Saskia, the nearest ocean was a farcry from the monastery, and the gossiping tongues she so feared would soon find other topics to wag about, regardless of the night's outcome.

'If you're still not certain, then allow me.' Setting aside the box, Gruki swept to her feet, adroitly tiptoeing her way around the cluttered room til she reached the magic box that was Saskia's second wardrobe.

Honestly, why someone would need so many clothes is beyond me.
 
Her eyes followed her friend, a slight pout to her lips as she shoved the dresses she had been looking at back into their spot in the wardrobe. The hangers missed the rod a few times, granted that she was distracted by curiosity of what Gruki would put together. She turned her head long enough to see the dresses now hanging up in the wardrobe, and now she was free to stand back and watch as the second wardrobe was released of holding back the several garments she stored inside.

It was humbling to have someone see the entire collection Saskia had in terms of clothing to wear. Most were made by her hand, entirely too frivolous for a knight residing in the monastery, but that did not mean she wished to be a princess or noble lady. Knights could be pretty in dresses, just as nobles could be noble knights.

"Just... not this one." Saskia dashed forward, pushing aside a soft pink number before Gruki could hold onto it in her perusal. She took it out from the wardrobe, throwing it behind her as she began to look at what else she could omit from contention.

A gold dress, a terracotta corset vest, a blue skirt that shimmered in pearls, all thrown behind her.

"Oh, this is pointless Gruks. I may as well just wear trousers and whatever tunic. Like you said, it doesn't matter what I wear."

But to Saskia, who had two full wardrobes of choices, it did matter.
 
Two wardrobes and not a single inkling of what she was going to wear. Gruki almost felt dismayed by the number of dresses Saskia owned; the silks and brocades and the cute, frilly little numbers that probably weren't suitable to wear in public, let alone the Knoll.

'Exactly, Sas, exactly!' The wardrobe doors closed with a soft thump, and the orkin span about to face Saskia, hands on hips. 'If you can't pick 'n' choose what you want from this lot, then I fear yer beyond my help.'

Whenever the gang planned on going out, she usually threw on whatever came to hand first. Shirts and hosen and her oh-so small collection of trusty tunics. Most of her efforts she directed towards her hair and accesories; torcs, earrings, ribbons, rings. Silver, ivory and gold. A bit of flash to accentuate the rest of her outfit, simple as it oft was.

Saskia's tastes on the other hand varied wildly. Skirts, corsets, and cotehardies, a necklace or two.

'Y'know what? I love ya, but I'm gonna leave you to it.' Retrieving her package from the foot of Saskia's bed, Gruki made her way to the door, stopping briefly to plant a lil' good luck kiss on Saskia's forehead. The dusker was sure to need it.

'I'll see you at the Knoll later. Might'n visit the baths beforehand,' she sniffed, feigned a grimace. The latch opened with a click.

'Don't be late now, y'hear? Otherwise I'll get Albert on t' case.'

With one last goodbye, the door swung close, leaving Saskia to contend with her stylistic demons.
 
As frustrating as it was to pick an outfit, Gruki was not wrong about a bath. Saskia had scrubbed herself quickly and made quick work of washing her hair before returning to her room, where she rubbed in some of her lovely scented oils she kept. A little fragrance here and there, and Saskia was once again facing her wardrobes.

The outfit came together, with some careful styling and haphazardly navigated the floor where many discarded options laid in wait for her to dust off and return to their spots in their wardrobe.

By the time she arrived at the Knoll, Saskia glimmered.

She had gone the option of trousers, a deep brown that paired so well with her crushed velvet blue tunic. It was more of a feminine fitting, and hand embroidered stars and constellations caught the light of the Knoll to bring attention to the golden thread used. Even her hair had a golden shine to it, the long length of blonde braided down her back. Simple, but Saskia looked just as lovely with her touch of fashion to an otherwise normal outfit.

She caught sight of Gruki and Albert, to whom she winked at the former and blew a kiss to the latter.

Her own nerves threatened to show, but Saskia also had a few sips of whisky that Lou had left behind one night. The liquid courage helped Saskia walk right up to the bar where a finely dressed Reed awaited her.

"Good evening, Reed. How nice t— is that chocolate cake? The same that your mother makes famously?"
 
Early evening in the Knoll and the place was packed with knights, squires and those select guests admitted into the monastery by those set to guard it. Reed and Albert had arrived together, one dressed to the nines, the other comfortably. Gruki had welcomed them both just the same, exchanging hugs and the usual how-do's. Before long, Reed had headed to the bar to wait for Saskia, and perhaps in order to buy himself some courage for the night ahead.

'Never known 'im to be so quiet.'

Taking a seat, Gruki looked to Albert, eyes half-lidded, almost suspicious. 'Oh yeah?' Smiling, the tavernkeep's son fell into the chair next to her. 'Oh yeah,' he nodded. 'Barely said a word, other than "hello" and "wish me luck". I think he's nervous!'

'Y'don't say.' Gruki grinned toothily. 'S'pose you'd be calm as a summer's day?'

'Without a doubt.' Albert grinned back, somewhat sheepishly. 'Well, maybe not entirely. Saskia's a beautiful woman and beautiful women are intimidating at the best of times.' A pause as his words settled between them. 'I see.' Gruki smirked. 'Do I not intimidate you, Albert?' The she-ork watched as he turned red as a beet. Squirmed about a little. 'Why, of-of course,' he stuttered, chuckled, placed hand to nape. 'I didn't-... I wasn't... Oh! I see what yer doing!'

'What's that?' The orkin smiled knowingly.

'Makin' me all tongue-tied an-' He drew up straighter as something caught his eye. Following his gaze to the entrance, Gruki felt her mouth go dry and her jaw threaten to come off its hinges. 'My, my, don't she scrub up nicely! Shadow Knight, my ass!'

Saskia.

Beautiful, intimidating, winking Saskia. Swathed in stars and skylight, and surrounded by a halo of polished gold. No wonder Reed was so quiet. Gruki herself was having trouble speaking. 'Akmal, lend thy hand, and build of this moment something breathtaking,' she murmurred, softly and to herself. The hand that tapped her shoulder didn't belong to Akmal, alas.

'Evenin', Gruks, Albs!'

Jasper and Pyp. No Tomlin to speak of, which was a bit odd. Normally, the three were inseperable. Gruki sat up straighter. 'Fellahs,' she nodded greetings. 'Come to join us?' A shuffle and clatter as they took up seats. 'Told ya we would,' Pyp squeaked, setting down four tankards of beer. 'Here,' he slid one across to her, 'that's for you. Don't tell Saskia!'
 
Saskia felt a slight triumph in seeing the reactions from Gruki and Albert, especially the latter as it often was hard to stun him. She glanced back at them before their table grew in number, but Reed had pulled attention back.

"Yes, I... thought we could share it after dinner." Sweet boy he was, Reed gave her a smile so genuine and nervous, it made the Shadow Knight feel... flattered.

Or this was the whisky making her feel things she was not used to.

"Oh, that is... a good idea..." Her eyes strayed to behind the bar, spying the ingredients to a fancy and indulgent cocktail that would go nicely with dessert. Suddenly, she wished they could skip the main meal and have dessert and be done with this date.

Saskia cleared her throat, reaching for two menus from behind the bar and handed one to Reed. "Then I suggest the turkey. Or the roast lamb."

Reed stared at his menu, where there were only five dishes. "What's wrong with the chicken?"

"Nothing is wrong with it." Saskia answered promptly.

She set down the menu, confident in her choice and waited for someone at the bar to come and take their order.

"Right then... I think I will go for the turkey." Reed turned around, waving to Gruki and Albert, and Pyp and Jasper. Then his arm slowly fell. He cleared his throat. "Wow... is it just me, or is everyone staring?"

Saskia frowned, scoffing. "They cannot all be..." But her eyes, so deep in their blue, found almost every knight looking at her. Some waggled their brows, others gave her shit eating grins. Many raised their drinks, toasting her grumpy face staring back at them. "Oh, hells." She sighed, crossing her arms and turning her back on the rest of them.

"I.. I think it's sweet they all look out for you."

She made a face, looking to Reed with a grimace. "I... have never gone on a date... well, with anyone new... actually..." And to have the entire Knoll watching her meant she would have to hear all about it once Reed took his leave. "Well... I need a drink..." The thoughts of this being a bad idea were coming back to her.

Saskia looked right, then looked left. Then she leaned over the bar and swiped a bottle. "Don't worry, I will pay for this one..."
 
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