IC Day One, 1 January 1857

[Philulhu]

"Well, I am in need of a new shirt," replied Granville. "The boarding house told me to seek out Mrs. Bandhura in Bow Bazzar Street. Perhaps I could trouble you for directions?"

[Mr. Handy]

"It was nice meeting you, Ensign Michaels," says Julia. "I'll see you later." She steps into the shop, glancing back at Arthur Dodgson.

[Lammomedes]

"Well, I am in need of a new shirt," replied Granville. "The boarding house told me to seek out Mrs. Bandhura in Bow Bazzar Street. Perhaps I could trouble you for directions?"

Anoushka thinks for a moment, then yells inside to one of the girls, speaking rapidly in this Indian dialect. She nods and then turns back to face Granville. "This shop my girl knows of. If you are willing, Sahib, she will escort you to the shop. She will wait and then bring you back if you wish, or she can perform shopping if you not need her service." A young Indian woman, perhaps 17 years of age, appears, wearing a saree. She smiles politely as Anoushka introduces her to you. "Her name is Priya. Not much English she know. Some, but not much."

[Gaffer]

Arthur Dodgson

Arthur touches his whip to his hat brim with a smile, as Miss Kaye enters the shop, "I'll return in an hour or so and escort you home, Miss Kaye, with your permission. Perhaps I'll partake of some of your refreshments then, Miss Anoushka."

He turns to Michaels, "I'll walk along with you, Michaels, if you've no objection. I see you're Royal Engineers. I served with the Sappers and Miners in Crimea, seventeenth man into the Redan with Lt. Elphinstone and Colour-Sergeant MacDonald the day they won their VCs."

[Mr. Handy]

"Of course," says Julia. "I'll see you in an hour." Arthur's mention of the Redan brings back sad memories that she quickly supresses. Henry had gone into the Redan as well, though he hadn't made it back out.

[markh]

Thomas Wakeham
Finally turning his horse's head back towards the barracks, he contemplated getting that uniform seen to. It was a while since he'd been in Calcutta, and he tried to remember where he'd taken his blues last time.

Ah yes, he recalled that Harcourts would do a decent job for a fair price. The busy Esplanade wasn't really a street to take a tired horse down, so Thomas stabled him close by before heading towards the Esplanade and then Dalhousie Street. Passing through a side street, he fancied he heard the sound of pipes.

[Philulhu]

Anoushka thinks for a moment, then yells inside to one of the girls, speaking rapidly in this Indian dialect. She nods and then turns back to face Granville. "This shop my girl knows of. If you are willing, Sahib, she will escort you to the shop. She will wait and then bring you back if you wish, or she can perform shopping if you not need her service." A young Indian woman, perhaps 17 years of age, appears, wearing a saree. She smiles politely as Anoushka introduces her to you. "Her name is Priya. Not much English she know. Some, but not much."

"That is most kind, thank you," replied Granville, smiling warmly at Priya. "Pleased to make your acquaintance," he says to the young woman.

[Lammomedes]

"Of course," says Julia. "I'll see you in an hour." Arthur's mention of the Redan brings back sad memories that she quickly supresses. Henry had gone into the Redan as well, though he hadn't made it back out.

Julia finds the ladies who work for Anoushka to be not only quite efficient but also stunningly chatty, even if she couldn't understand one word in 20. They motioned for her to move this way, that way, lift her arms, turn her body in this bend, then that, and by the end of the first 15 minutes, she was sweating slightly, but they seemed to have used their tape measures to almost "whip" her into shape. They took numbers and debated a series of clothes, showing Julia bolt and bolt of silk fabrics. Anoushka watched and oversaw the process as the women moved about her like fluttering butterflies. However, one of the older women who had been observing everything quietly spoke in a deep raspy voice. All of the girls came to a halt, and it was so quiet that a they all heard a single pin pin drop and bounce on the floor. Miss Anoushka spoke softly to the older lady who nodded her head and then she came and spoke to Julia. "Memsahib, we can get you at least two dresses done in about 6 hours. That would give you plenty of time to be ready for tonight's ball. But Mrs Tripti, memsahib, point out that dress would be more India then European. That becomes awkward Memsahib with your" she looks for a word, then says something in her native tongue before shaking her head and then touching Julia's corset. "This becomes problem with Indian saree dresses we make. Not work right, become even very unflattering. We provide support, but not with these...stays? However, Mrs Tripti say you English women not seen without stays. We say you modern enough woman to look good over cruelty."

Julia could see one of the girls translating Anoushka's words for the other girls, and all were looking at her waiting for an answer.

[Lammomedes]

Thomas Wakeham
Finally turning his horse's head back towards the barracks, he contemplated getting that uniform seen to. It was a while since he'd been in Calcutta, and he tried to remember where he'd taken his blues last time.

Ah yes, he recalled that Harcourts would do a decent job for a fair price. The busy Esplanade wasn't really a street to take a tired horse down, so Thomas stabled him close by before heading towards the Esplanade and then Dalhousie Street. Passing through a side street, he fancied he heard the sound of pipes.

Yes indeed there were sounds coming from down this side street. Wakeham had been told by the stable lads that this was a shortcut, but was it the street before this one, or the next one up the block? However, a glance down the deserted street revealed a European gentleman standing before a snake charmer and two large serpents. The pipe music continued to play, and the snakes swayed back and forth, and the European gentleman standing there (Lovell), who by the cut of his dress was likely another Englishman despite his deep tan, seemed equally amazed by the scene.

[Lammomedes]

Anoushka thinks for a moment, then yells inside to one of the girls, speaking rapidly in this Indian dialect. She nods and then turns back to face Granville. "This shop my girl knows of. If you are willing, Sahib, she will escort you to the shop. She will wait and then bring you back if you wish, or she can perform shopping if you not need her service." A young Indian woman, perhaps 17 years of age, appears, wearing a saree. She smiles politely as Anoushka introduces her to you. "Her name is Priya. Not much English she know. Some, but not much."

"That is most kind, thank you," replied Granville, smiling warmly at Priya. "Pleased to make your acquaintance," he says to the young woman.

"Very pleased to meets you Sahibs. I good Priya Ghosh, Sahib. I lead you to shop, yes?" She guided Granville and Dodgson through the streets, until they arrived outside his shop. Watching her nubile hips sway as she walked, the silk caressing her form, and her shy glances as she pointed out the sights, well this is why young men came to India in the first place. Granville and Dodgson both also notice that more than a few Englishmen were making wolf whistles at the girl, who placed her head down until they passed by the ooglers. "I wait for Sahib?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, that's true," says Julia. "I wouldn't have come to India on my own if I weren't a modern woman. Corsets are good for support, but they are a bit restrictive. I might feel more free in a saree without a corset, and it would certainly attract attention." She smiles. "Yes, I can do without the stays." She undoes her corset's fastenings and removes it.

[markh]

Yes indeed there were sounds coming from down this side street. Wakeham had been told by the stable lads that this was a shortcut, but was it the street before this one, or the next one up the block? However, a glance down the deserted street revealed a European gentleman standing before a snake charmer and two large serpents. The pipe music continued to play, and the snakes swayed back and forth, and the European gentleman standing there (Lovell), who by the cut of his dress was likely another Englishman despite his deep tan, seemed equally amazed by the scene.

Thomas strode down towards the scene, intruigued. Walking up to Lovell, he watched the snakes "dance" for a few moments, then started to dig in his pockets for a small coin.
"A strange spot to choose, eh?" he opined in Lovell's direction. "He'll not gather much dhan in such a deserted spot". Thomas used the Hindu word for money, confident that any man with such a deep complexion must have been in country for some time.

[Lammomedes]

"Yes, that's true," says Julia. "I wouldn't have come to India on my own if I weren't a modern woman. Corsets are good for support, but they are a bit restrictive. I might feel more free in a saree without a corset, and it would certainly attract attention." She smiles. "Yes, I can do without the stays." She undoes her corset's fastenings and removes it.

As Julia begins to awkward unlace her corset (and without a lady's maid, it is no easy process), several of the young women come to help, and in a jiff, Julia is left in only her bloomers. Anoushka smiles and Mrs Tripti laughs. "You look proper Indian woman now." However, one of the girls smiles and leads Julia behind a screen where they actually help to remove her undergarments. Once she is naked, they hand her some silk Indian undergarments, and then fit her with most of the material that once sewn and fitted, will be her saree for this evening. She is led before the shop's pride and joy: a fully modern silvered glass mirror in a large wooden frame, showing 3/4th of her silhouette. They then take more measures with their marked tapes and make chalk markings before getting Julia out of outfit one. Then then repeat with outfit two, the whole process taking about an hour. It gets quite warm in the darkened shop, with all the twirling, moving, wrapping and unwrapping of silk from her body. But it is soon done.

As one of the younger girls brings her a mug of milky but strong tea, and another silk dressing gown, Julia notices some of the girls sketching out images of her European clothes onto paper. Anoushka comes over to her. "Memsahib, we will get you redressed soon and have your very silk sarees ready for this evening. Is there anything else we can do for memsahib?"

OOC,You can decide whatever color you want for these sarees. It will turn heads among more proper European women for you to appear in a saree to the ball, but it is not entirely unheard of.

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says Julia, sipping the tea and inhaling the steam that rises from it. "You've done a superb job. There's nothing further that I need. At what time this evening should I come to pick up the sarees?"

OOC,I'd like the sarees in purple and blue.

[Lammomedes]

Anoushka smiles. "If Memsahib wishes, they will be ready by 5 of the clock. If, however, Memsahib would rather have them delivered, we shall do so. It is only service we provide. However, memsahib, much as it pains me, we must talk price, yes?"

The negotiations are vigorous or simple, depending on how Julia wishes to approach the offer Anoushka makes. Both sarees, of Indian silk, plus accoutrements and accessories comes out to 2 pounds, 10 shillings when the negotiations are finished. Once the negotiations are done, the girls will help Julia redress in her most proper English attire, accompanied by a few giggles from the younger girls, one of who asks. "Memsahib faint often in cocoon, yes?" Pointing to the layers of clothing she is being bundled into once again.

[Mr. Handy]

Julia giggles too. "No, not really," she says, "but I suppose I've gotten used to it. I would like the sarees delivered to my boarding house when they're ready, please." She gives Anoushka the address. She readily agrees to the price and pays her once she is again fully clothed.

[Philulhu]

"Very pleased to meets you Sahibs. I good Priya Ghosh, Sahib. I lead you to shop, yes?" She guided Granville and Dodgson through the streets, until they arrived outside his shop. Watching her nubile hips sway as she walked, the silk caressing her form, and her shy glances as she pointed out the sights, well this is why young men came to India in the first place. Granville and Dodgson both also notice that more than a few Englishmen were making wolf whistles at the girl, who placed her head down until they passed by the ooglers. "I wait for Sahib?"

Granville is feeling distinctly hot under the collar. He recalled a late-night conversation with his grandfather prior to his departure when the older man had spoken fondly about some of the rare beauties he had seen whilst in India. Surely, Priya must be one such beauty. Her natural movement was so sensuous...

Granville swallowed hard and shook himself. He looked around and scowled at Englishmen. "Have you no shame, Sir?" he called out to one. "How would you feel if your sister were to be treated in such a way?"

[Gaffer]

Arthur Dodgson

Dodgson lays an avuncular hand on Granville's shoulder. "Now now, lad, that won't answer," he says in a soothing tone, "They'll never understand what's wrong in it. Can't see the correspondence, don't ye know. You go in and get your shirts and I'll stay out here and see to it no harm comes t'th'young lady. Off ye go. There's a good gentleman"

Arthut steps up on the porch and sits down in a rattan chair. "Priya," he says once Michaels is safely inside, "Come sit here by me an we'll take a little snooze in th' heat o' th'day."

[Lammomedes]

Julia giggles too. "No, not really," she says, "but I suppose I've gotten used to it. I would like the sarees delivered to my boarding house when they're ready, please." She gives Anoushka the address. She readily agrees to the price and pays her once she is again fully clothed.

Anoushka accepts the money and slides it into a metal lockbox she keeps in her office. The girls help her get dressed, and once they are done, Julia can either wait in the front of their shop, or wander the streets if she wishes and then come back when the men arrive. Or...

[Lammomedes]

"Very pleased to meets you Sahibs. I good Priya Ghosh, Sahib. I lead you to shop, yes?" She guided Granville and Dodgson through the streets, until they arrived outside his shop. Watching her nubile hips sway as she walked, the silk caressing her form, and her shy glances as she pointed out the sights, well this is why young men came to India in the first place. Granville and Dodgson both also notice that more than a few Englishmen were making wolf whistles at the girl, who placed her head down until they passed by the ooglers. "I wait for Sahib?"

Granville is feeling distinctly hot under the collar. He recalled a late-night conversation with his grandfather prior to his departure when the older man had spoken fondly about some of the rare beauties he had seen whilst in India. Surely, Priya must be one such beauty. Her natural movement was so sensuous...

Granville swallowed hard and shook himself. He looked around and scowled at Englishmen. "Have you no shame, Sir?" he called out to one. "How would you feel if your sister were to be treated in such a way?"

One of the men stops, an Englishman of middling years, with light brown hair, mustache and hat, wearing a light grey coat, black pants, and a white shirt, cravat and black vest. A monocle is in one eye. "I say chap, if you are going to be walking around with a swarthy vashya, you should have a thicker skin, eh? And I would never allow my sister to come to such a land in the first place."