Dress for Success
Title: Dress for Success
Author: darkentwisted
Rating: PG
Length: 562 words
Spoilers/Warnings: Somewhere between Series 1 and 3. Just a hint of slash if you squint.
Pairings/Characters: Much, Allan,
Original Character: Bernard Palmer Esq. (Original character created by mods at nottinghamshire used with permission.)
Summary: Much and Allan find themselves trapped in a tailor's shop with only one way out. This is the RP sample I submitted for the RPG game Nottinghamshire.
Dress for Success
by
Darkentwisted
The gang was on the run again after a piteously failed attempt to secure riches from the sheriff's tax collector. They split up in different directions through the streets of Nottingham.
Allan and Much were running at top speed but the soldiers were catching up. Suddenly Much smiled and tugged on Allan's sleeve. "I know this place! In here, quickly!"
Unlike most of the shops on the dirty alley, this one was brightly coloured and well lit inside. The smell of dye and perfume was almost choking. It was eerily quiet but pretty as they found themselves surrounded by mannequins in all sorts of fancy dress.
"Not bein' funny but it figures you would pick a place like this," Allan supplied as he fingered one of the dresses sleeves.
"It got us away from the sheriff's men did it not?" Much snorted back. "Besides I know the owner. He was a friend of Robin's..."
A tall stout man parted the curtains and sized up the two outlaws, "Help you gentlemen with anything?" Upon seeing the state of dress of the two men his tone changed and his nose wrinkled. "No offence boys but I only dress titled gentlemen." I believe Charley the tailor on the next street would better suit your needs." He started to walk back to his workroom.
"Master Bernard, you may not remember me, I am Much, former manservant to Lord Loxley."
Bernard turned with an amused look, "Robin? He turned outlaw did he not?" His expression changed to one of pity. "Oh Much, my dear boy, what happened to you? You used to be one of the best-dressed manservants this side of Nottingham." He looked up, "And what is that dreadful thing on your head?"
Much selfconsciously swiped his skullcap off his head and ran his fingers through his dirty blond hair. He could feel the grin from the other outlaw who was immensely enjoying the fact that the tailor’s interest in his friend was obviously more than platonic. “Things have gotten a little hard for us sir.” Much stymied.
“Nonsense, appearance is everything!” The tailor tutted, "A man’s dress is his first impression.”
“A bit fancy, this one is.” Allan muttered under his breath as Much shushed him.
Bernard examined them in amusement his dark blue eyes glittering, “So what does one of my former best customers require of me?”
“Actually we were just -“
“Soldiers!” Allan shouted.
“You boys didn’t say you were on the run!” Bernard spat, as he looked out the windows at the men in black armor running around the shops and ripping open doors.
“I was getting to that after the wardrobe critique!” Much replied bitterly.
“I can’t have you boys caught in here. I’ll be ruined. You have to leave, now!”
“Not bein, funny or nuthin but it’s a little too late for that.” Allan said as he peered out the window at the two guards coming in their direction.
“Oh lord!” Bernard was in near panic as he looked around his shop. "Nothing to bar the door with but…” A wicked grin came to his face. “They wouldn’t dare disturb a couple of ladies during a fitting.”
Allan looked at the dressmaker in total disgust, “You’re joking.”
Much gulped, “Certainly you are not saying…”
Bernard grinned salaciously at the two outlaws, “You do not want to get caught do you?”
FiN?
Want to know how the story ends?
Join the game! @ nottinghamshire
http://www.nottinghamshire.proboards.com/