-O-
Picturebook Romance
A Trolls fanfic
By Dreamsinger
Chapter Fifteen
Pretty Boy
I never realized there were so many different styles of underwear. I liked the briefs and boxers, but I didn't like the odd little scrap of cloth I tried on, even though the Satin said it looked good on me. I'm not sure she understands the point of underwear.
Working with Satin, I'd been able to secure four outfits that I felt good about. Wearing them gave me confidence.
"Say, I look good," I said, unable to keep a note of pride from my voice. Wearing the fanciest of my new outfits, I slowly turned to admire myself in the triple set of tall mirrors surrounding me.
"Well, of course you do," Satin agreed, with a touch of her usual arrogance. "Between your good looks and my incredible fashion expertise, you literally cannot look anything but fantastic. Even if some of your choices are so bland and unoriginal."
"'Bland and unoriginal?'" I echoed. "What do you mean?"
"You have a chance to wear something really out there, something totally 'now', but instead you just…" She sighed. "Seriously, Branch, for someone so strange, your taste in clothes is boringly pedestrian."
"Well, excuse me for wanting clothes that will stay in fashion for longer than 'now'," I said in mild annoyance, curling my fingers into air quotes. "And what do you mean, 'strange'? Everything I do makes perfect sense."
"Sure, Branch." She rolled her eyes, but underneath her exasperation I could sense her affectionate tolerance. Was this what it was like when she and her sister quarreled? It felt kind of like when Poppy and I argued, but less intense, somehow. Like some vital element was missing.
Maybe because I wasn't in love with her? Very few trolls could get me as furious or upset as Poppy could, but then, very few trolls could also make those bad emotions go away just by smiling at me or taking my hand in hers. Poppy was one of very few people who was allowed through the careful barrier I maintained around my heart. And no one could touch me deeper than she could.
Speaking of Poppy… I'm pretty sure she'll like at least one of these outfits, but she's been known to wear some pretty offbeat outfits herself. It couldn't hurt to cast my net a little wider, could it?
"Okay, Satin. I'm game. Show me something a little more unconventional."
"All right!"
I crossed my arms, relaxing into a mellow smile at the way her face lit up before she dove back into the racks.
-O-
"Hey, Branch, are you ready yet? There are other trolls wandering around outside the tent who look like they want to come in and get Satin's and Chenille's help."
"Yeah, I'm just about done," I called back. It had taken me a lot longer than I'd thought. I'd assumed I'd be done first, but in fact, Poppy finished before I did. Then again, she did have a lot more experience than I had when it came to choosing clothes.
"Should I go first, or do you want to?" Poppy asked me.
"Eh, it doesn't matter to me." I tried to sound casual, even though I was actually just as eager as Poppy sounded to show myself off in my new finery. "They're just clothes. You can go first."
Actually, the more I had focused on them, the more fascinating they'd gotten. I could see why clothing was an entire industry all by itself. So many colors and patterns and fabric types. So many styles, each with its own messages and history. I had spent far longer than I'd imagined making my choices, and wondering which would appeal most to Poppy.
Satin handed me a plain brown robe to cover up the outfit I was currently wearing so Poppy wouldn't see it before it was my turn. I put it on and stood next to the pink twin as she pulled a camera from her hair and cheerfully said to me, "So after you've seen all her outfits, you'll decide which one is your favorite, and Poppy will do the same for you when it's your turn. Then each of you will announce the winning outfit, okay?"
"Sure," I said agreeably. When she wasn't wearing the traditional troll garb, or her royal robes, most of Poppy's clothing looked fairly similar; cute, frilly dresses that always made her look pretty. I was expecting more of the same.
As Poppy stepped out from behind the wooden panel, Chenille announced grandly, "She'll have fun in the sun in this cute little number, a bright orange spaghetti-strap top decorated with a spectacularly large rainbow-hued heart made of nested rows of fuzzy puffball beads. Note the attractive pine-green shorts, spunky orange-and-green sandals, and orange hairband, all with matching puffball beads."
"Super cute!" Satin gave a thumb's-up.
I glanced at the enormous heart on Poppy's front and said a little awkwardly, "Right. Real cute." Yeeaah, can't get much more blatant than that. She might as well have just gotten a t-shirt made that said 'Hi, I'm Poppy, I'm Queen of the Trolls and I'M IN LOVE!'
I raised an eyebrow. And is it me, or is Chenille talking less about Poppy and more about the outfit itself?
I watched my bright queen move through several crowd-pleasing poses while Satin's camera flashed, her perky topknot bobbing cheerfully as she skipped around and waved at me – at the camera, rather - and couldn't help adding mentally, But you know, she really is cute.
When Satin was done taking pictures, Poppy changed behind the wooden panel, and emerged as Chenille began her next introduction.
"She'll look sweet as sugar in this lovely white sundress and its adorable matching sunhat. Made of lightweight cotton, this sundress is covered with a soft white lace overlay embroidered with small pink roses, with matching pink satin roses on the slender shoulder straps and gracefully curved neckline. This enchanting sundress is also sprinkled with delicate crystal beads that create little rainbows that shimmer magically in the sun."
"The white sunhat is also adorned with a spray of matching pink roses and rainbow-making crystal beads. With its airy knee-length skirt and delicate sheer flutter sleeves, she looks so dainty and feminine she's sure to be every boy's dream girl!"
You got that right. I gazed at my love, smiling dreamily at the beautiful picture she made as she sauntered elegantly across the room, giving me coy, sidelong glances that brought out all kinds of warm feelings in me. The topknot I had fixed for her had been exchanged for a few long, loose curls that framed her pretty face to perfection. I expected something like this, but somehow she looks so…special. Like a fairy sprite. All she needs is the wings…
"So, what do you think?" Satin asked me over the shuff of her busily flashing camera.
I tried to shake off the spell Poppy had cast on me. "Oh, she looks nice. Really beautiful. Like – like a flower shining with morning dewdrops, an ethereal being, her radiaaance…" I caught myself, looking back and forth at the three girls, all of whom had stopped to listen to me wax poetic. I crossed my arms and looked to the side, trying to hide my embarrassed smile at their wondering stares. "I – I mean, she looks nice."
After a long, awkward moment, Satin went back to photographing, and Poppy went back to posing, although now my girl stepped even more lightly, more of a dance than a runway walk. Her filmy sleeves and skirt floated becomingly on the breeze as she twirled on her toes, her arms drifting in graceful arcs, no doubt influenced by the tender words that had flowed quite naturally from my lips at the mere sight of her.
Unable to take my eyes off her, I sighed longingly, wishing in that moment that I could tell her all the things she made me feel. I still could, I suppose; it's not like Satin and Chenille don't know I'm a poet. But I don't just want to praise her beauty, I want to say the things to her that make her give me those soft, loving looks that melt me inside…
I felt a pang of disappointment as my girl ended her presentation, curtseying beautifully and lifting her eyes to meet mine. I clapped warmly, smiling but not saying anything, just in case I got started and couldn't bring myself to stop. Although, as she went off to change, I mentally rehearsed the words I'd said, committing them to memory until I could get them down on paper.
"And now, for a change of pace, we would like to present 'Nature Girl Poppy'!"
My eyes lit up as Poppy walked out. Chenille continued, "Poppy is sporting a green furry sleeveless tunic decorated with bright, cheerful flowers. With her green camo leggings, brightly flowered headband, and flowery belt, she's ready for a hike in the woods – or a fun game of hide-and-seek!"
"Fantastic!" I flashed a double thumb's-up, not even bothering to hold back my grin as Poppy pranced around, posing cockily with her fists on her hips and a sassy grin of her own. Her hair was back to its normal, everyday style, attractively decorated with even more flowers and thick blades of fuzzy grass. "Awesome outfit, Poppy."
The next outfit was even more notable.
"Glamorous and chic, next we see Poppy in a close-fitting black velvet unitard, with a pert little velvet skirt decorated with tiny silver beads at the waist and hem line. Matching silver beads embellish her wrists and neckline and then glide inward, spiraling into graceful swirls designed to please the eye. To add the perfect finishing touch, her hair is arrayed with this delicate silver-beaded garland. Doesn't she look just fabulous, people?"
"She sure does!" Satin cheered, as I stared with my mouth open. Satin elbowed me.
"Dazzling," I said breathily, my voice wavering, never taking my eyes off my queen. Her brilliant magenta hair was collected into a neat upsweep except for a few strands curling artfully in front of her ears, against which the bright silver-beaded metallic garland sparkled like dewdrops.
She winked at me as she began to flex herself in a series of slow, flowing yoga poses, all lithe grace and curves, and I swallowed.
Okay, that I did not expect. She's so sleek, so supple... And that color! I never would have guessed she'd look so fantastic in black. It's not a popular color in troll village; I should know. But just look at her - pink and black are awesome together! I grinned. Just like us.
Chenille's tone was warm with affection as she announced the final outfit. "You can't help but smile at the sight of our favorite girl Poppy, who is wearing a beautiful light yellow blouse and perky short skirt. From the topline of this attractive off-the-shoulder blouse falls a set of two-tiered ruffles that flutter gracefully as she moves; light yellow on top and bright green underneath, both edged in delicate pink embroidery. A sweetly meandering spray of cute leaf-shaped beads flows down the left side of this lovely blouse in a pleasing gradient of greens, from pine to seafoam."
"The flared, pink-embroidered skirt has matching yellow and green tiers, with a beaded-leaf waistband. As anyone who sees her will agree, this bright and happy girl will bring sunshine into your life."
She sure does. As Chenille had said, just looking at my radiant Sunshine brought a smile to my face and a shining light in my heart. And I couldn't imagine a time when the sight of her would bring me anything but joy.
Poppy did a twirl on her heel and flipped backward in a rippling arc of lemon and leaf before she landed with a foot extended to the side, toes-up, with her other knee bent and a hand on her hip. She thrust the other hand into the air, beaming.
The twins cheered, "Whoo! Awesome!"
"Work it, girl!"
I grinned at her as she bowed impishly. "Nice choice."
"Why, thank you, kind sir." Poppy curtsied grandly, and I noticed that her hair was back in the topknot I liked so much.
"All right, thank you for that fabulous lineup." Satin made a shooing motion. "Everyone, let's switch places now."
-O-
Poppy grinned as she passed Branch in his nondescript brown robe. "I'm seriously excited right now!"
"You really love this kind of thing, don't you?" he said with a smile. "Well, you won't be disappointed."
As he went behind the wooden panel, she thought she heard him say in a more subdued tone, "I hope."
Satin served as Branch's announcer, while Chenille took on the role of photographer. "Today's first outfit features our intellectual and sophisticated Branch wearing this cozy-yet-fashionable cream-colored cable-knit sweater, with a refined, v-neck shawl collar."
"It's paired with handsome tweed trousers, which, you will notice, may appear at first glance to be a simple dark caramel in color but in fact they have flecks of many other beautiful colors hidden within their subtle herringbone weave. Embellishing these quaint, old-world trousers along their outside seams is a row of exquisite coin-shaped rose-gold beads whose domes are engraved with a beautiful filigree design. For a final touch, hipster-style accessories include a trendy tweed flat cap with matching rose-gold beads decorating the hatband, and elegant tan suede Oxfords with rose-gold eyelets."
Under his cap his hair had been brushed back and tied into a neat ponytail with a slim, cream-colored ribbon. Pleased at the charming picture he made, Poppy praised, "I like it. Conservative, yet dressy. Nice choice, Branch."
A light flush of lavender betrayed his pleasure at the compliment, and she clasped her hands together in front of her, her spirits soaring with giddiness. Aw, he's so cute when he's embarrassed!
As Branch strolled smoothly through the small space, he seemed to exude a curious allure that intrigued her. What is it about a brainy guy that's so fascinating?
As if he could hear her thoughts, the purple-haired troll raised an eyebrow and gave her a sly little smile before resuming the dignified, gracious air that had Chenille cheering him on in delight as her camera flashed.Then Branch lifted his head and squinted slightly, his care lines deepening as he gazed off into the distance. He looked like a troll on a quest for knowledge, searching for some deeply hidden mystery of the forest. One ear tilted a bit, as if listening thoughtfully to some sound only he could hear.
Poppy felt a tingle pass through her. Her hands twitched. Wow. He's really good at this. He seems so much more mature somehow, more competent, more cultivated. I feel so much more respect for him now.
As he finished posing for Chenille's camera and headed back behind the panel to change, Poppy mused, You know, it may not seem like it, but Branch actually has good taste. That outfit is a really accurate reflection his personality, or one facet of it, anyway. Maybe this will encourage him to add a little more variety to his wardrobe.
"And now," Satin announced, "for a classic look that never goes out of style, next we see our beautiful boy Branch sporting a simple white cotton t-shirt, with an unbuttoned white, purple, and blue plaid long-sleeved flannel shirt and dark blue mid-rise jeans. This is a super-versatile outfit that can be worn for either work or pleasure! Our troll is lookin' mighty fine, wouldn't you say?"
"He sure is," Poppy agreed. And man, she wasn't just being polite!
As he strode across the room, showing off his charisma - among other things – her boyfriend gave her a confident grin and a hitch of his shoulders, making his shirt flare out and drawing attention to his strong, sturdy frame. The full-length straight-legged jeans made his legs appear longer, and their snug fit accentuated his body in all the right places. His hair was back to the slightly more flared version of his usual style, which made her glad. Maybe he was getting used to it.
Busily snapping photos, Chenille cheered encouragingly, "That's it, Branch! The camera loves you!"
Poppy gave a low whistle, tilting her head to look him up and down. "Look at you. Smart and good with your hands." She sighed contentedly. That's my guy.
Her guy showed yet another facet of his intriguingly complex nature with the next outfit. Poppy's eyes widened as Branch stepped out from behind the panel while Satin cheerfully declared, "Let's change it up a little with this whimsical grass skirt, accented with a long white flower necklace, and a white flower hair-crown. It's easy, it's breezy; it's an outfit that says 'I'm just here to have fun!'"
"Braanch," Poppy commented, deliberately raising her eyebrows, her tone somewhere between surprise, delight and amusement. "How unusually capricious of you."
He went lavender, his hand coming up to fiddle with the flowered necklace that lay against his bare chest. "What? I just threw this in for the heck of it. I thought it was cute."
"'Cute' is the word, all right," she agreed. "And I'm not just talking about the outfit."
All three girls nodded, delighted at how the aquamarine troll put a hand to his cheek as if trying to hide his delightful blush.
Aww, he's all self-conscious now. He's so adorable.
The downy fibers of the long strands of lavender-green grass whispered against one another as Branch walked and turned, posing a little stiffly this time with his shoulders slightly hunched and his arms straight down at his sides.Poppy's eyes were drawn to the visible tension in the lightly rounded muscles that were knotting in his shoulders and upper back.
Suddenly she wanted to touch him, to stroke his tension away, to stop everything and give him a good, thorough massage right there. She took a step toward him and stopped, biting her lip as she glanced at their friends. Somehow I don't think he'd want me to do that in front of the twins.
Wait, didn't he tell me he feels different when he sings? Maybe, like a lot of us, performing brings out the best in him.
"Hey, Branch, let's have some fun with this. Why don't you give us a little dance?" Poppy gave him an encouraging look as she made ocean waves in the air with her hands.
"What?"
"Come on, please?"
"Oh, yes!" Chenille chimed in from behind her camera.
"Please, please!" Satin begged. She and Chenille began to hum a two-part harmony, something slow and romantic and just a little bit playful.
His eyes widened as he looked questioningly at the twins and then up to meet her gaze. She nodded and beamed at him. He hesitated a moment longer, looking to the side, then rolled his eyes with an obliging smile. "Fine."
Her boyfriend put his hands on his hips and started swaying back and forth, his shoulders unknotting as his rigid stance gradually loosened. The flower crown suited him, she realized, its white blossoms setting off his deep purple hair splendidly.
She also realized something else, something that had been resonating somewhere in the back of her mind ever since she'd seen his newest outfit. You know, that crown sort of reminds me of my dad. It feels weird…but also right. Like I've settled down inside a deep, cozy cloud of comfort and security.
Poppy began to hum along with the twins, improvising a gentle counterpoint to their tune as her own body began to sway in growing rapport with his. Branch's eyes shone as he gazed fondly at her, allowing his feelings for her to emerge right there on his face for anyone to see as he moved closer to her, his arms floating as if on the currents of a wind only he could feel. His healthy, agile body flexed smoothly, an undulating river of living bone and muscle with just enough softness to ease his masculine angularity.
Poppy swallowed as her heart squeezed tight in her chest. She couldn't have looked away even if a raging bergen came trampling through the village.
At her obvious entrancement, Branch seemed to come to life. From then on, the aquamarine troll danced for his queen alone, his ardent gaze both a challenge and a promise for their future. And Poppy matched him, mirroring every step, the twins and their camera forgotten.
Eventually the dance came to a natural end. Poppy became aware that she and he were nose to nose, their breath mingling, pressing their palms together just as they had on one magical day when a troll queen discovered her lifelong partner just when she needed him most.
"Beautiful…" Satin murmured, reminding Poppy of their audience.
"That was great, guys, but could you, uh…" Chenille swished the back of her hand at Poppy.
"Oh, right." She let go of him and stepped back out of the way.
Satisfied and serene now, Branch did a leisurely spin, the soft grass fanning out around him. He tipped his face to the sky as his body arched back and his arms and foot came up, fingers and toes pointed high as he rose up onto the toes of his other foot, quivering, as if he were a wild bird about to take flight. He held the breathtaking pose for a long moment, long enough for Poppy to think how glad she was that Chenille was getting all this on film before opening his eyes and dropping his foot to the ground.
"So, you like it?"
"Oh, yes!" all three of them replied without hesitation, then looked at each other.
Branch chuckled lightly. "I meant the outfit."
While the twins enthusiastically assured him that his outfit was terrific, Poppy eyed the sisters curiously, finally acknowledging the pattern she'd been ignoring up to now. You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd almost think they had a thing for him.
Then she shrugged, not really worried. She knew her boyfriend. Whatever else he was, Branch was constant, and while that occasionally could be incredibly frustrating when it nudged over into the 'unreasonably stubborn' category, it also meant that he was unlikely to respond to romantic overtures from other trolls.
Besides, I'm actually kind of glad if he has other admirers. It's good for him to see that other people besides me find him attractive. I still feel kind of bad that I didn't realize that before.
Poppy turned to her happy boyfriend, admiring the way the care lines crinkled at the corners of his eyes, adorably pleased with himself. "That was fantastic, Branch. And you look really, really good. I can hardly wait to see the next one," she told him earnestly.
His face lit up. "And I can hardly wait to show it to you."
When he stepped out from behind the panel, Satin said, "For a look that says casual comfort, here we see Branch wearing a chic, pale pink silk vest and white twill shorts. Note the attractive purple-and-green scrolled-leaf design embroidered in glossy bright thread along the edges of this lightweight silk vest. The shorts have neat rolled cuffs that end just above the knee, and just look at that cute little heart made of tiny pink beads on the back left hip. Yes, people, this outfit is perfect for enjoying a simple, laidback day spent with someone special."
Poppy felt her mouth curve in a smile.This outfit…it looked right on him,stirring a hint of nostalgic comfort, although it took her a moment to realize that it was basically a recreation of his own favorite vest-and-shorts outfit, with his hair still in the more free, Poppy-inspired style.
But what a difference it made, when the fabric was fresh and new and expertly stitched, beautifully tailored to show off every curve and crevice to maximum advantage! The silk vest curved in slightly at his waist and draped smoothly over his hips, giving him a longer, more streamlined shape, and the shorts sat a little lower on his hips and hugged his bottom just right. His own shorts were shapeless and bulky in comparison, and while his leaf-vest was cute, it was a little too short and had a tendency to bunch up in an unflattering way sometimes.
This new outfit gave the impression of a strong, lively, fun-loving troll with a down-to-earth, caring nature - and a quirky sense of humor, too! And doesn't that just describe my best-friend-turned-boyfriend to a T!
"Wow, it's really you, Branch," she declared as he posed with his back to her. Teasingly he canted his hip to show off the little heart on his butt, looking at her over his shoulder and making pouty kissy-faces that had the twins gleefully egging him on while Chenille busily snapped photos from every angle.
Poppy had to laugh. What a ham.
Poppy was thoroughly enjoying herself, and from the looks of her boyfriend, so was he. For most of his life, the only time Branch had ever seemed to want attention was to pass along grimly foreboding messages that for the most part, no one really wanted to hear. Even Poppy had eventually gotten to the point where she disregarded most of what he said, dismissing his fears as unfounded, and because of that, it had been hard not to dismiss him, too.
She had often regretted encounters with him later. Her vague sense of guilt was one of the reasons she'd gone to such elaborate lengths to craft specially tailored invitations for him. But now…
I'm so glad we're past all that now. Everything is going to be smooth sailing from now on. I just know it!
Satin's dramatic tone set the stage for Branch's final presentation.
"All eyes will be on him as he passes by wearing this dapper light-coral suit, white jacquard dress shirt, and sky-blue silk necktie that brings out the pretty eyes of our charming man. The stylish two-button jacket and matching slacks are made from beautiful lightweight linen with a subtle, pleasing texture, just right for catching someone's eye. He looks like a real dreamboat, doesn't he? Classy white wingtip brogues and a matching light-coral fedora complete this elegant picture."
Elegant. Poppy had never really thought of Branch as elegant. Strong, yes. Smart, of course. Handsome, most definitely. He was her best friend; a quirky, caring buddy, but although he had his own unique style, it certainly wasn't the kind of style that impressed people.
But today…well.
My my my. Clothes really do make the man.
If he had been Cloud Guy, he couldn't have glided by her any more smoothly. The very air around him seemed to shimmer and sparkle, marking his suave passage in a way that literally made her shiver with awe and delight.
The soft peachy-pink color looked beautiful on him, enhancing his fine aquamarine skin so that it shone with a heathy warm glow. His deep purple hair was swept back into smooth wings on either side of the dashing fedora, gracefully merging behind his head into a soft tip. He was cool as mint and hot as spicy nachos.
She sighed longingly. Their official first date was still two long days away…
Branch had a faraway look in his eyes, as if musing on the big questions in life. He slid a hand into his pocket, his stance easy, aesthetic and absolutely enchanting. Then he smiled, just a little, and her breath caught in her throat. How captivating he was!
"How do I look?"
For the first time in her life, the queen of the trolls found herself without words. She could only look at him, filling her eyes and her heart with his wonderful presence, mutely appreciating the way he'd so steadfastly committed himself to becoming such a big part of her life no matter what he had to do to stay by her side.
On the surface it seemed only he had changed, but she knew that she had grown, as well. Thanks to him, she was not the same person she'd been a year ago. In coming to know the former lone wolf, she had learned new depths and ways of caring that she might never have known.
"Poppy?"
Branch was looking at her uncertainly, his forehead wrinkling. She had to hold back a powerful urge to kiss him on the nose.
"Sorry, um, you look-" She gasped for air. "Good. Really, really good," she babbled, a silly, nervous laugh bubbling up and spilling out of her mouth. "Who are you? I mean, I know who you are but where have you been hiding all this time and why can't I stop talking and-" She covered her mouth, staring at him with big eyes, the corners of her wide, foolish grin peeking out from behind her hand.
Through her verbal waterfall his expression went from concern to surprise. Then a sleek dark eyebrow lifted and he gave her a knowing little smile. His stance relaxed and he turned to give her a coy glance from the corner of his eye; a perfect three-quarter view that he obviously knew would let her see him in his best light.
Chenille jumped at the chance, her camera popping like popcorn as the chosen one of the queen of the trolls strolled grandly through the small area, his presence somehow making it seem like a much larger space, moving with the kind of dignity and grace that Poppy herself still had trouble achieving. Suddenly she saw him as he would be in his middle years, poised, stately, vigorous, with a twinkle in his eye; his care lines framing a confident face made ever more handsome by years of experience.
"Oh. My. Gosh!" Poppy gushed, bouncing up and down. "Branch, you are -" one gorgeous troll "- I can't even." She fanned her face with her hand, as if he were too pretty to look at, and he and the twins laughed.
After Chenille had exhausted all possible shots of Branch, including ones where she had him holding props and standing in front of a fan that made his hair and clothes move becomingly in the breeze, Satin asked, "Okay, Poppy, which outfit do you like the best?"
She opened her mouth to gladly praise the beautiful creature standing in front of her and then remembered his look of pride from earlier outfits. "Gee, you guys have made it really hard to decide…"
All three of them looked pleased at that.
"But if I had to choose…" She twiddled her fingers, her eyes flicking back and forth in the air as more memories emerged. "Ooo, gosh, I loved all of them!" She danced in place, her indecision visible. "I can't decide."
Branch exchanged glances with the twins. "Well, thanks, but you kind of have to. I can't exactly wear all of them."
She brightened. "Hey-"
"And I'm not going to spend the entire day changing outfits," he said firmly, crossing his arms. In his fine new suit, even that pose looked cool.
"Aw…" She pushed out her lower lip for a moment, then sighed. "Okay. Then may I see the pictures you took of the other outfits?"
The sisters gave her a set of pictures from each photo session. "Keep them. We took plenty."
There were enough pictures for both Poppy and Branch to have a set. She handed him his stack, which he tucked carefully into his hair, and that reminded her of something. Poppy pulled out the scrapbook she had begun earlier that day and lost herself for a few minutes in her favorite hobby.
I'll do a pair of us per page. Let's see… Scholar and Velvet. Plaid and Puffball. Grass Skirt and Nature Girl. Silk Vest and Frills. And finally…Elegant Pastel and Twinkling Rose Sundress.
She admired her work for a moment before looking up to find her friends patiently waiting.
"Huh?" Satin blinked and leaned over to look at the front of the scrapbook. A loud pop was heard when her heavy beaded dress made her lose her balance and fall into her sister's flouncy balloon dress.
Chenille pushed her back upright, scowling. "Satin!"
"Sorry," she said, sounding distracted. "Poppy, why does it say 'ice cream' on the cover?"
"What?" Chenille's rainbow-colored balloons bobbled as she bent down to look at the cover, which had a simple woven-wool ice cream cone with two scoops made from shiny pink and turquoise satin.
Satin continued, "Shouldn't it say 'Our First-"
"Bead Festival'," Chenille glared at her sister, who shrugged.
"Oh…" Poppy exchanged a glance at Branch, who gestured at her as if to say it was up to her whether she wanted to explain. She looked at her friends' curious faces and remembered the promise she and Branch had made that morning.
'If anyone asks us outright if we're dating, we'll say yes.'
But the twins didn't exactly ask that…
She had thought she was ready to share their secret, but that same strange reluctance - to hide the joyful news from her good friends, the very people who were most likely to make a big deal out of it - rose up to cut off her words. I'm not. I'm not ready. She didn't want to let go of the precious newfound sense of intimacy with Branch just yet.
"It's sort of a joke," she said abruptly. "One of those 'you had to be there' things. You understand."
The sisters exchanged slightly puzzled frowns before Satin smiled gently at the new couple. "Of course."
"We understand," Chenille agreed.
"So, which one will it be?" Branch grinned cheerfully at her, clearly in a good mood now, and she was reminded anew that his smiling face was one of her favorite sights. His new suit framed that sight beautifully.
She smiled back. "I'd say you saved the best for last. Dreamboat Branch wins."
"Yes!" Satin and Branch high-fived.
"But…" She pressed her knuckles into her chin, holding her elbow with her other hand as a new thought occurred to her.
"But?"
"This outfit is almost too fancy to wear to a bead festival. Maybe you should save it for more formal events, like grand balls and weddings-" As she met his eyes she couldn't help but blush, and watched his own eyes widen before he looked away bashfully, his cheeks touched with lavender. "And…other special occasions."
He took a deep breath, and she got the sense that he was trying to cool off, his emotions all stirred up now. "Well then, which outfit would be most appropriate for today?"
Poppy smiled down at their 'Unofficial First Date' scrapbook, giving him a chance to collect himself as she slowly turned the pages. She knew that each outfit had been carefully chosen to highlight his best traits. Scholarly Branch. Cool Branch. Fun Branch. Dreamboat Branch.
And then…there was the Branch who was her best friend.
"You know, it's a little warm out today. How about something light and breezy?"
"Light and breezy, eh? So, either the grass skirt or the vest and shorts combo," he determined, sounding much more like himself.
Poppy nodded. "Frankly, I'm kinda leaning toward the grass skirt, but from past experience I know that they can get itchy after a while. They're really better for short-term events, not all-day festivals. Besides, this outfit-" she pointed to the picture of Branch in the silk vest, "-feels right. Like it represents not only who you used to be, but also whom you've become."
He brightened. "I like that."
"So do we," the twins chorused.
Branch nodded decisively. "Vest and shorts it is." He looked happy with the decision.
He'll be more comfortable in an outfit more like what he usually wears. Poppy grinned impishly. And if the wind should happen to frequently blow that lightweight silk vest open, well, I certainly won't object to the view.
"Your turn," she said to him cheerfully. "Which outfit am I wearing today?"
"May I?" He reached out a hand toward the scrapbook and she passed it to him.
He spent some time studying the five pages before commenting, "Tough choice. You look fantastic in everything."
"Aww…" the twins cooed, hands pressed to their faces.
"Thank you." Poppy swayed back and forth, pleased.
"But if I had to pick…" His face softened and he ran his fingers gently down the image of his love wearing the enchanting white dress that twinkled with rainbow lights, and then looked up at her. "I'm gonna take a page out of your scrapbook and say that for today's festival, I like what you've got on right now."
"Really?" She blinked. I thought for sure he'd pick that white sundress. I mean, he was saying poetry and everything…
He saw her surprise and explained, "I love you in your white dress, but like you said, it might be a little too fanc-ahh!"
Poppy leaped higher than Branch as the twins let out matching earsplitting shrieks.
"What in the world-" he demanded, his voice all high-pitched and breathy, one hand over his heart.
"What's wrong?" Poppy demanded anxiously at the same time.
"What you said!" both twins shouted unhelpfully, jumping up and down with glee. Or rather, Satin merely jiggled in place as much as the weight of her dress would let her, but Chenille made up for it, a mass of colorful balloons springing halfway to the top of the tent.
"What?" Poppy looked at Branch, who shrugged with frustrated bewilderment as he handed her scrapbook back to her. Poppy stowed it in her hair as Branch turned back to the twins.
"Please make sense," he pleaded wearily.
The sisters beamed at one another before Satin said, "Oh, don't mind us. We just get excited sometimes."
"Yes, Satin is very excitable."
"Hey! You jumped higher than I did!"
"That's only because of that anchor you call a dress!"
Poppy groaned. "Girls! Please." She resisted the urge to drop her forehead into the palm of her hand, then gave in, pressing the heel of her hand against the tense ridges between her eyes to smooth them before they turned into a headache. Sometimes the twins could try even her patience.
A large warm hand began to soothingly rub her back. For just a moment, she let herself lean into it, feeling all her tension melt away even before she looked up to meet his gentle smile. "Thanks, Branch."
"Anytime, Poppy," he said warmly. "I've been there."
She smiled back, silently vowing to return the favor the next time he needed to be soothed.
"So, Branch, why did you choose this outfit?" Chenille said suddenly, gesturing at the yellow and green ruffled blouse and skirt Poppy wore.
Poppy instantly missed his warm touch as he pulled his hand away, looking a little flustered, as if he'd forgotten what they were doing.
"Um, the sunshine outfit?" He shrugged. "Well… It's dressy, but not too dressy, if you know what I mean. I figure it will go nicely with my outfit."
"You have unexpectedly good taste, Branch," Chenille either didn't notice or pretended not to notice the sour look Branch sent in her direction. "I would have expected you to go for Nature Girl."
"Oh, believe me, it wasn't an easy choice. But I liked the way we looked together on this page." He held up the scrapbook, which was turned to the Silk Vest and Frills page. Then he shot Poppy a panicked look. "Not that it matters what we look like together!"
"Right, right, it's not like we're going for matching outfits or anything!" She gave a flustered laugh.
The twins sensed the sudden tension, but just as Satin began to open her mouth Branch blurted out, "Well I'm gonna go change now!" He disappeared behind the wooden panel, leaving Poppy to stand there awkwardly trying to pretend that his strange behavior was just Branch being Branch.
-O-
I changed as fast as I could, sliding the four outfits I wasn't using into my hair. It was a good thing troll hair could hold a lot more than it looked like it ought to. Not for the first time, I wondered about the physics involved – did each troll's hair generate its own virtual cloud, a sort of pocket universe? For all we could tell, the space seemed infinite, but then, we carried trollings in our hair without losing them, so there had to be more to it…
As I let my hair lift and fluff out into its new, freer hairstyle, I let my mind muse over the last hour. I had enjoyed choosing clothes with Satin. I had enjoyed the photoshoot, too, but I think what I really enjoyed most was all the warm, positive feedback. It was still new to me, and very much appreciated, to know that other trolls did more than just benevolently tolerate me. It made me feel as if I was finally earning my place among my fellow trolls.
I finished getting dressed and joined Poppy just as three Hug Time bracelets went off. Both twins threw their arms around me, leaving Poppy to hug the three of us. I was a little disappointed to not get another exclusive hug from my girl, but I loved hugging my friends, too, especially after sharing such an unexpectedly awesome experience with them.
Satin's beaded dress was kind of hard and stiff to hug, and Chenille lost another balloon by the time the flowers closed. I suppressed a smile. At the rate she's going, she's not going to have any balloons left by the end of the day.
As the hug ended, we all let go and Poppy thanked the twins for all their help. "The outfit you chose for me really was the perfect one," she told Chenille, then turned to head outside. I added my own heartfelt thanks and began to follow.
"Hey, Branch?" said Satin.
As I turned around, I felt again a gentle pinch on both cheeks. Fortunately, the cheeks above my shoulders, this time. The twins had kind of weirded me out last time, almost like they were touching me the same way Poppy had yesterday, but now they were back to normal. I guess they'd just been surprised to notice the difference in me and wanted to indulge their curiosity.
I looked from one to the other as they smiled kindly at me.
"We just wanted to say, whoever you end up with is going to be one lucky troll."
"Yeah, you're a real pretty boy."
With a self-conscious smile, I put a hand up to rub the back of my neck. "Thanks."
Author's Note:
For the final outfit, the light coral-colored suit, I was picturing a typical anime scene such as when a student everyone admires practically sparkles as they walk past their classmates into school while everyone swoons. The 'spicy nachos' thing was a reference to the episode 'Branch Bum' when Branch freaks out because he gets covered in nacho cheese and Poppy tastes it and gives him a disdainful look worthy of Branch himself as she points out, 'It's not even spicy." Makes me laugh every time. :D
For the winning outfits, I chose typical 'date' outfits that were also fairly similar to their usual clothes, in order to most accurately reflect their personalities. Of course, Branch also liked Poppy's because it reminded him of his favorite nickname for her! I didn't want their outfits to be too-obviously matching since our favorite couple is still on the fence about letting people know they're dating, but I did give them matching leaf-themed elements.
I bet you can guess why the twins were flipping out, but I don't want to say anything definite until we get to a certain scene I've got planned that takes place the next day (in this story).
Man, this chapter took a lot of research to write! I had fun, though. I found some beautiful pictures online of light pink and coral suits for men. I actually ended up looking at doll outfits, too, because trolls are built proportionally more like children, and also because I found a set of Branch and Poppy stuffed toys that I couldn't resist. I discovered that they were the right size to wear standard 18" doll clothes such as those for American Girl dolls, and spent weeks having fun looking at thousands of different outfits, online and in stores, including two little local shops that had beautiful hand-made doll clothes.
It was actually harder to choose clothes for Poppy because there are so many styles out there for girls, which is why I had a big long list of potential outfits for Poppy in the last chapter.
For Branch, I knew I wanted at least one offbeat outfit, and in keeping with the trolls' culture, I decided that no one would care if a male wears the color pink, or a skirt. I very much support the creators' messages of tolerance and acceptance, and also I honestly think pink goes beautifully with most shades of blue, purple, teal and aquamarine, so I knew I wanted that to be the color of the winning outfit. Branch is only embarrassed because it's a very whimsical, playful sort of outfit for someone as practical as he is.
I got the idea for the cute little heart on his butt from the Care Bears and the My Little Pony shows.
When I got to the writing part, I discovered that writing what amounts to appealing advertisements took much, much longer than I thought it would. It's not as easy as marketing people make it look!
How'd I do? Does the language seem natural, or out of place? Did you have trouble picturing what things looked like? Which outfits did you like best?
