goodtimeannie:
Ann shrugged. Personally, she didn’t care what other people did. They could be running or out after curfew or off their Joy; as long as they didn’t drag her into anything she didn’t want to be dragged into, she let people do what they wanted and pretended to know nothing if asked. In regards to Sally’s thoughts, however, she did feel the need to protest. “Nonsense. If you don’t like it, then what’s the point?” she murmured. “See, this is why I don’t like you working with those other cads in this business. They could give fuck all about you but I like treating my models like people instead of mannequins. If I wanted mute mannequins without opinions, I would get mannequins and I wouldn’t let anyone stop me from doing so.”
Maybe it was because of Ann being an intense extrovert. “Besides, how do I know if what I’m designing is even good unless I get actual input? Now, if you won’t give me that, at least tell me truthfully if you hate any of them, and choose three that you like. Keep in mind, I still need to tailor them properly to your figure and add the final touches. Do you more like simplicity or extravagance? Also, if my rambling starts to annoy you, feel free to politely tell me to shut it.”
Almost all the pieces were dresses, since it was what Ann almost exclusively designed. However, there were some skirts and blouse ensembles, some with eye catching color, some that were black or white or grey, or a combination of any three. Some outfits were simple, elegant, while others varied between glamorous, lavish, or gaudy.
Sally gave Ann what might be considered a look rather full of pity. Perhaps she should envy the ones who simply did as they were told and swallowed a joy every hour on the hour. But she simply could not bring herself to desire, on any level, in any form, a life so devoid of truth and meaning. It took all the ... well. The joy out of being alive. They were just the living dead, shuffling through the damp streets and thinking this was real happiness.
It was sad. No, the ones who she envied, deep down, in a place she’d never admit, a place not to be talked about at parties or examined closely in the light of day, were her sisters. Gone before the whole place went to hell. She liked to think that something like heaven might exist somewhere out there, and they were there now, laughing and throwing down flower petals and thinking what a fool she was, that she was stuck in this wasteland without a family or a direction or a sense of purpose.
“I think all the fashions stopped being different a few years ago. Have you seen the trend board in the office lately? It’s all the same colors and-and tweed.”
She shuddered at the last thought, and carefully popped a Sunshine between pink lips, the shape and color of the pill hidden by glove-clad hands. “I just keep coming back because hardly anywhere else pays anything anymore. Got to stay in my milk and fresh meat, after all.” She offered a half-hearted smile and placed her hand over Ann’s on the bar top. “But if it’ll make you feel better, I promise I’ll have a sitting with you before the new season. Come up with something gorgeous, absolutely brillo. Cross my heart.”
