Wardrobe Dock. . .
Change Room. . .
"Thanks for helping me do this up Jiya." Lucy said gratefully as Jiya stood behind her, lacing up her stay over top of her shift.
"Not a problem. Not sure you should be thanking me thought, this looks incredibly painful. So what's the difference between a stay and a corset again?" Jiya asked, tightening the laces suddenly as Lucy inhaled sharply.
"Sorry!" Jiya apologized.
"Don't. . .worry . . .about it. . .Just. . .takes some. . .getting used to." Lucy managed to say, taking a few deep breaths before continuing.
"Stays were essentially a precursor to corsets. Like corsets, stays were pieces of garments that women would tighten around their torso to give the body a certain shape. Unlike corsets, stays were more rigid as they were lined with hard material like bones, wood or metal. This gave the stays a more cylindrical shape rather than the hour glass shape that's associated with corsets. As you can see. . ." Lucy began as she turned around to face Jiya.
". . .it gives the body more of a V shape, forcing the waist in while flattening the stomach and bust." Lucy finished, Jiya's eyes going wide at the sight.
"Holy crap, you've got like no waist. That cannot possibly be comfortable, aren't you squishing your organs in that thing?" Jiya asked.
"It's definitely not something I'd want to wear everyday that's for sure but I shouldn't be in it too long so I'm not too concerned." Lucy replied as Jiya rolled her eyes.
"The things women did for beauty." She said as Lucy smiled wryly at her.
"The things women do for beauty. We still do this to ourselves in this day and age, only we call them waist trainers." Lucy said as Jiya scoffed.
"Stupidest "trend" ever. They didn't know any better three hundred years ago. Today we know better and yet women continue to willingly put themselves through this torture? Ridiculous." She replied.
"Tell me about it." Lucy answered as Jiya let out a sigh.
"Alright, I should let you go. Do you need help with anything else?" Jiya asked as Lucy shook her head.
"No, I think I've got it cov . . . ." She began as there was a sudden knocking at the door before it opened, Wyatt peeking his head in.
"Hey Lucy, got a minute?" He asked as Lucy's face flushed.
"Wyatt, I'm changing! You can't just barge in here!" She said as he rolled his eyes.
"Relax Lucy you look fully clothed to me. Besides, I've seen you in much less before." He said, a smirk on his face as he watched Lucy's flush turn into a full on blush, her face reddening. He couldn't help himself he loved it when she got flustered and panicky. It was pretty damn adorable. . .
Jiya's eyebrows shot up at the comment as she looked from Wyatt to Lucy.
"Am I missing something here?" She asked.
"No!" Lucy replied hastily as she walked over to the door, looking at Wyatt.
"I will deal with you in a minute." She said firmly.
"Yes Ma'm." He replied as she rolled her eyes before closing the door on him and turning back to face Jiya who had a grin on her face.
"Oh wipe that smile off your face." Lucy grumbled, grabbing a petticoat that was lying on a chair as she continued to get dressed.
"Someone's a little touchy. What was that all about?" Jiya asked as Lucy let out a sigh.
"It's not a big deal. Our first mission out we got captured and thrown into a jail cell together. In order to escape we needed to pick the lock and the only thing available to pick the lock with was the underwire in my bra." Lucy explained.
"Wow, he got you out of your shirt on your first mission? Impressive." Jiya said, grinning at her as Lucy leveled her with a glare.
"It wasn't like that." Lucy retorted.
"Uh huh . . .and there's nothing go on between the two of you? If there was I wouldn't blame you. I mean, that man's eyes alone. . ." Jiya began as Lucy finished tying up her first petticoat before turning her attention back towards Jiya.
"Alright, that's quite enough of that. Thanks again Jiya!" Lucy replied, grabbing Jiya by the shoulders and gently pushing her out the door, closing it behind her before Jiya could say another word.
"Finally some peace." Lucy said as she quickly finished dressing, putting on another petticoat, the gown over top of the petticoats, an apron over top of the skirt of the gown, a white collar around her neck and finally a linen cap on her head.
She took a quick look in the mirror and once she was satisfied with her outfit, she exited the room, closing the door behind her as she looked around the Wardrobe Dock for Wyatt.
"Wyatt?" She called out, watching as he appeared from around a corner, catching her first glimpse of him in his outfit.
He was wearing a doublet with large white cuffs, a pair of breeches that went to his knees, stockings that were held in place by garters, a pair of black loafers with large buckles on them, a white collar around his neck and carrying a felt hat in his hand.
"I look ridiculous." He complained as she smiled broadly at him, walking over to where he was standing.
"Just wait until you put that hat on." She added as he let out a sigh.
"Where's Rufus?" She asked.
"He's already gone down to the Lifeboat, getting it ready." Wyatt said as she nodded her head.
"You had something you wanted to talk to me about?" She asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"Yeah, I. . .here." Wyatt began as he handed her a piece of folded up paper, the smile fading from her face as it was the one that contained the name of her father.
"You dropped this outside and judging by that look on your face right now, this is what's been bothering you. You know you can talk to me, right Lucy?" Wyatt said gently as she looked up at him, his blue eyes full of concern.
"I. . .it contains the name of my biological father. My mother gave it to me almost a week ago but I just haven't been able to bring myself to look at his name." Lucy admitted.
"Wow, that's huge. Look, I understand you're scared but you're going to have to knock on that door eventually. You don't have to do it alone though Lucy, I'm here whenever you need to talk about it." Wyatt said as she shot him a grateful smile.
"Thanks. That means a lot." She replied.
"Anytime. Now let's go stop Flynn so that when we come back, you can focus on finding your father." Wyatt replied as she nodded her head, the two of them heading towards the Launchpad. . . .
The Lifeboat. . .
"I hate climbing into this thing." Rufus turned around to see Lucy gathering up her skirts as she climbed up the ladder into the Lifeboat.
She plopped down in her seat, skirts whooshing all about her as she let out a frustrated groan.
"Don't worry, I'll help buckle you in." Wyatt said as he climbed in right behind her, taking a seat across from her.
He reached over as he swiftly buckled up her harness before buckling himself in as well.
"So anything else we need to know before we get going?" Rufus asked.
"Right. We need a backstory because the three of us don't exactly blend in." Lucy replied.
"Easy enough. We're married and Rufus is. . .well. . ." Wyatt trailed off uncomfortably.
"Your servant? Surprise, surprise." Rufus replied.
"Sorry Rufus but it's the only thing that made sense at the time." Lucy said apologetically.
"Fine but you two are going to owe me for this." Rufus grumbled.
"You realize if we're married, you're the one who is going to have to do most of the talking right?" Lucy said as Wyatt shrugged.
"I'll manage." He said as she smiled at him.
"Well I hope you've brushed up on your Early Modern English." Lucy replied.
"Wait, what?" Wyatt asked, panic beginning to creep into his voice.
"Did either of you read Shakespeare in high school?" Lucy asked.
"Oh no. . . all the thee, thou, thine crap?" Rufus asked as she nodded her head.
"Yeah. We can't talk the way we normally talk. I'll go over a quick rundown of how to speak when we get there." She replied.
"This just gets better and better." Wyatt muttered.
"Alright, ready?" Rufus asked as Lucy let out a deep breath, looking at Wyatt.
"As we'll ever be." She replied.
"Hold on tight." Rufus said, flipping a switch as the whole machine began to shake.
Lucy clutched at her harness, closing her eyes as she always hated this part.
Seconds later, they were gone. . .