CRACK! The match between Rory's thumb and index finger ignited sharply. She watched as the fire consumed the wood for a moment and then shook it out. A growing pile of used matches was beginning to fill her window sill. Kylee watched Rory out of the corner of her eye. CRACK! Another watch was struck, extinguished, and then thrown to the pile. Kylee continued to rummage through a truck that Rory swore was not there a few days ago. CRACK! Kylee spun around and gave Rory the signature 'blue-eyed-stare-of-doom'.
"You're going to burn either a, yourself or b, this room if you keep at that. What ARE you doing with them in the first place!" she snatched up her wand from beside the truck. "Accio Matches" the huge matchbox flew out of Rory's hands and into Kylee's. She shoved it under her bed and then continued to go through the truck.
Rory sighed and turned around to lie in her bed. She stared at the canopy as Kylee sifted through whatever was in the trunk. Kylee gave an audible sigh and Rory heard her climb into her own bed. She shut the trunk with a foot and then rested her feet on the lid.
"You okay?" Kyle asked, concerned. Rory's mind was closed again, and Kylee couldn't reach her. Either it was because she was thinking really hard or she just didn't want every telepathic in the room to know what she was thinking. Rory craned her neck to look at her friend.
"Yeah, just thinking," Rory began. She turned on her side, "What would life be like if we had never met?" Rory asked. Kylee pulled her loose and slightly damp hair into a pony tail and tugged her legs back onto her bed. She sighed again.
"Boring. Different. I enjoy your company, Rory. Not to mention I need it sometimes," she laughed shortly, almost awkwardly," Rory nodded and sat up. She swung her legs over the side and went to clean up the pile of matches at the window.
Kylee lay down and thought seriously about what her friend had asked. Rory went through a change her first year away from home. Kylee may not say it out loud, but a transformation consumed her when she met Rory. Rory was naturally funny, crazy, and independent (mostly); there were only certain people that Rory would let control her; Kylee being the first on the list. Rory had her flaws too like her obsessive worrying, overpowering pity, and her slight insecurity with herself and her emotions. Kylee was much different; she was a little more introverted, not wanting to stand out much; she blended in, and it suited her. She people walk all over her, afraid to say 'no'. Rory had really rubbed off; Kylee had more confidence and was more assertive. Rory learned control. Kylee had a short fuse, but kept it suppressed with a great amount of energy. Rory always had a bad habit of channeling a strong emotion in the wrong way; directing it towards people she loved and ended up hurting them. If not for Rory, Kylee would still be in shadows; without Kylee, Rory might even be dead. Kylee shuddered. Rory dying was not a good thing to think about while the thoughts of supposed-werewolves swam in her already over-crowed mind.
"The ball is tonight and Marcus and I still don't have costumes!" Rory grumbled and plopped back on her bed, making the springs screech and whine.
Kylee turned and grinned mischievously, "O'Malley and I are going as Romeo and Juliet!" She turned to the dress that hung from top of her canopy. It was a medieval gown made of blue and purple satin. Folds of fabric and intricate swirls adorning the waist and the sleeves gave it a fantastical feel. The lace-up corset bodice and the elegant gathered satin at the top looked as if the dress had been stolen right of the wardrobe of Juliet, herself. The purple sleeves were cotton, but they were tight and came to a point at her middle finger, there was loop that one would slip around that finger to keep the points in place. The cape was attached by two spiral-shaped clips on either shoulder and could be taken off later, if desired. The Ball would be outside this year and Scottish Octobers were not warm, so Kylee thought it was appropriate to keep the cape on. There was a spiral headband that matched the purple of the dress. Kylee had spent an hour earlier in the day fixing her hair at least fifty different ways to see which way made the head band look the best. Since Kylee had no bangs she would put the headband around her head and she would pull a layer out over it and then curl it. Rory approved this style but then made Kylee take another shower because flakes of hairspray could bee seen at her roots and Rory would not have that.
"I KNOW! This is only the 6th time you've told me in the past 24 hours." Rory rolled her eyes sarcastically. She had rarely seen Kylee so excited over a ball. Though, she seemed to fawn over the dress more than the actual ball. "You think you could, uh, use that amazing trunk of yours to remedy my situation? Hmmmmm?" Rory gestured to the trunk near Kylee's bed.
The trunk itself was a worn, light brown leather, the wood showing in many places from where the leather had fallen off. 'KYLEE C.' was printed in faded gold letters on the lid. Kylee nodded at Rory's question and ran her hand over the printing fondly. She pictured the trunk's old position in room back home; she shook those thoughts from her mind. She threw open the lid and the first thing she pulled out was a pair of handcuffs.
"WOAH! Too much leather! EW! NO WAY am I letting you or Marcus go to the ball in this," she tossed the handcuffs back into the trunk with disgust, shut the lid with a slam, and sat on it. She took several long, deep breaths and concentrated. She then leapt up and threw open the lid. She smirked at the contents of the trunk and turned halfway to Rory.
"So how to you feel about the whole 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' Theme?" She asked dramatically and whipped the first outfit out of the trunk.
Rory's first thoughts were, GOOD GOD! It's so blue! She wasn't wrong, and there was not a trace of black in it; this would be Rory's first masquerade costume not to have some black in it. Kylee didn't tell Rory, but it was most definitely purposeful. After getting over the shock of the cerulean and navy blue invasion, she noticed that everything was outlined with gold trim. She touched it; Silk. Kylee held it out for her, Rory hesitated for a moment and then snatched it away to try it on.
She looped the last button on the collar and then spun around to see what it felt like. The sleeves were long, shoulder to wrist. There were lengths of fabric that trailed out from the elbows and the wrists that fell past her ankles and dragged on the floor when her arms were relaxed. Gold bands were over the sleeves at her wrists and just below her shoulders, bunching the fabric a little, but they made a nice touch. Rory found it surprisingly easy to move it, almost like a second skin, though she wasn't the skinniest girl in the world, it fit her like it had been made for someone of her build. The top was unique; it started like a kimono-tight and intricately embroidered with different vines and swirls. It rounded off just above her sternum and then a tight stretch of silk covered her chest. The torso part of the costume was much more exotic. A grid of gold thread squares separated with the same cerulean blue silk, covered from her breastbone to her waist. Four thick silk cords tied in the back secured the rectangle to her torso.
The pants were probably the best part of the outfit. The came cerulean/navy they were long and flared, barely covering the matching ballet flats that went on her feet. The belt looked solid gold; Rory had learned enough at school about precious metals and this belt was painted with real gold, but whatever it was made of was very light and flexible. It hung at her waist and served more of a decorative purpose. On her right pant leg, stretching the entire length, from waist to ankle, was a Chinese dragon. Embroidered with gold and cream colored threads the design looked so real, it seemed as if it would start to move and slither off it's camouflage of the pants. Rory touched it and admired how intricately it was done.
"Looks like it came straight out of a warrior's closet, does it not?" Kylee said looking over Rory as she turned. She had to admit, it was pretty swell. She looked in the box; an outfit for Marcus was laid there, wrapped in brown paper as if meant for Rory not to see. Kylee took it out and set it on her bed. She then pulled out what looked to be a huge samurai sword. She grinned and unsheathed it.
At least three feet long, the sword would have sliced anything and everything into two pieces. Kylee examined the blade expertly. Rory watched uneasily; Kylee was scary enough with a wand, let alone another sword. Rory's eyes darted to the hilt of the sword that peeked out from behind the curtains on Kylee's bed. The one she had taken from Aaron had not moved from its place since she had sheathed it properly and stuck it there.
Kylee let her thumb touch the blade, she drew back, blood showing. She nodded with approval and laid the sword across the trunk. She wiped the blood on a towel and sighed at the long red stain that would never come off. Rory looked at her fingernails self-consciously. Damn color. She thought with half-anger; but was hard to be angry and wear the costume at the same time.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the sword is real," Kylee informed Rory with confidence. Kylee looked through the trunk again and pulled out the last few things in it. A few throwing daggers and what looked like claw-gauntlets distracted Rory. She handled the claws carefully. Steel; it was almost like her brain was spitting out facts from past classes every few minutes. She slipped on one of the gauntlets. The yelped with surprised when fused to her knuckles. It didn't hurt, but Rory no longer felt the weight, it was like they were a part of her. She put on the other one and was prepared for the heat that formed when they fused to her hand. She stepped back from Kylee and made a few sharp movements with her fists clenched.
"Kind of like one of the X-men," Kylee muttered to no one.
"Who?" Rory asked, puzzled.
Kylee grinned and shook her head, "Nevermind, they're wonderful, I say you take them," she said and touched Rory's knuckles. The gauntlets fell off. Rory screeched again and took a few deep breaths.
"How did you know how to do that?" Rory asked, popping her knuckles loudly. Kylee shrugged.
"I guessed. Anyway, now to get ready! What on earth are we going to do about your hair?" Kylee asked circling Rory like prey. Rory's eyes followed her.
"Must you stalk me like that?" Rory said nervously and messed with her collar.
"Well, you did when you were approving my hair," Kylee said calmly. She stopped behind Rory and scratched her head.
"Good point," Rory said ran a nervous hand through her hair. It was really greasy. She grimaced. "I think my best bet is to get it clean," she said with a laugh. Kylee grinned and nodded then turned back to the truck and shut it. She turned it on its side and shoved it under bed where it seemingly blended in with wood and the green bed clothes.
"We can figure it out later. I'm going to change," Kylee took her Juliet costume off of her four-poster. She laid it out on her bed and sighed, envying Rory's for minute. It suits her personality, I won't be jealous. Besides jealousy has always been her strong point. Kylee laughed in spite of herself. Rory had gone and a few minutes later Kylee heard the pipes lurch. She was sure that with so many students taking showers, the pipes would moan for days. Being in the dungeons didn't help one bit. Marcus still needed to know what he was wearing. Kylee got up and went to find him.
A note from the author...for those of you who have played JADE EMPIRE you will notice that Rory's outfit sounds greatly similar to Scholar Ling's...I take no credit for the design for this garmet.