Thread: Bright Young Thing ::: {Prince of Smut & Ariamella}

RE Bright Young Thing Prince Ariamella Ouch! Mary, be gentle. The goal is to shave my legs, not cut me to ribbons! A frown turned down Scarlett's lips as the maid girl huffed and gave some half-assed apology, and she tensed her calf in response to yet another nick on her skin. They weren't bleeding, but they still stung even when Mary applied more of the shaving lather to the sensitive skin. Shaving had really only become popular when hemlines became shorter and dress material became sheerer, and Scarlett was not one to miss out on the world's newest fashions. After all, she did study the art abroad in Paris, so she was always kept up to date on the newest styles, even if they were a bit more jaw-dropping than the last batch of clothing trends. As such, shaving became a priority, as no woman wanted the feel of hairs poking out from underneath her stockings, but still it was left as a taboo subject to talk about in public- it was assumed that if a woman shaved her legs it was because she wore short dresses, which made her indecent, a flapper and a tramp. As soon as Mary was finished with both her legs and the work of putting her long dark red hair in an intricate updo, she slipped on a simple cream dress and went to fixing herself in the mirror. As with all business dinners, she went for the appearance of a demure, well-behaved 22 year-old lady who was so thankful that her father could raise her well now that her mother was gone. Unlike the night before, she went with a neutral look that accentuated her features. A light pink wash of rouge on her cheeks made for a youthful glow, a slightly darker pink on the lips gave them a fuller appearance, and last came the new eyelash product from the local Chicago company Maybelline. A bit of the cake mascara darkened up her lashes, widening her eyes in a way that was sultry but not downright indecent for a young socialite. She sighed, knowing that a majority of the night was probably going to be spent listening to her father and whoever else talk about politics. Maybe if she was lucky she would get a break and be able to listen to some sports talk, but even that thought seemed so unappealing to her, the same way a man might find women's talk and gossip to be a bore. Scarlett was surprised to see the kitchen staff prepare quite the meal, and she raised her eyebrows at the prepared dishes lamb medallions, a succulent roast chicken, various greens and potatoes a la hollandaise... Whoever was coming tonight was someone her father obviously wanted to impress for whatever reason. It wasn't all too uncommon, but it happened so rarely that she could remember each time it happened. It was usually for some government official higher up in he political world, and the thought dampened her spirits even further there was no way she'd get out of the political talk now! A solid knock on the door brought her out to the foyer, where she saw the butler and her father waiting to open the door. You look lovely, darling, her father complimented, beaming down at his daughter. Scarlett just nodded and faced the door, a smile plastered on her face that was fake as it was beautiful. The butler opened the door and Justice Phillip Westin let out a hearty laugh as he made his greeting. Agent Grady! Right on time, just as professional on your down time as on your job, I see. Ah, well, that is to be expected of such an accomplished young man! He stepped aside as the butler offered to take the guest's suit jacket, and he put an arm around his daughter. It was obvious now where Scarlett had inherited the cool, blue-grey eyes from, but everything else from her shapely body to the mahogany locks were a spitting image of her mother. This is my daughter, Scarlett, Judge Westin introduced, pushing her forward slightly, She's my whole world, my jewel, and just as beautiful as her mother, wouldn't you agree, Brian? He nodded to a couple of gold frames on the nearby wall that showed one colored painting and another black and white photo of the late Gemma Westin, whose looks translated directly onto Scarlett, save for a slightly more delicate face and light brown eyes that seemed captivating in their own way. The redhead kept her expression neutral as she held a hand out in the greeting one might expect from a high-class lady an extension of her arm that was slightly turned downward so a gentleman might kiss her hand rather than grasp it for a handshake. Now that she saw him up close, she was able to see how striking his features were, especially the blue eyes that were just a tad warmer than her own. She kept her eyes on him, wondering if he might recognize her from the night before, but... maybe not. After all, it had been dark and she had been caked in makeup, almost like a completely different woman from the show she was putting on now.