Septimïe entered the room, not noticing Mariana's presence at first, having had to stoop slightly to get in the door. "Irveska-" she cut off when she noticed Mariana, a smile breaking over her face, "I do not care vhat 'e did, but 'e es an idiot!" She moved to Mariana and placed a hesitant hand on the beautiful Tiefling's shoulder, glad to see her but also shy. Long months had forged a sort of friendship with Irveska- but this woman, with her flaming skin and shining smile understood her in a way her incredible but terrible companion never could. She pulled her hand back suddenly, unsure and awkward. Marina was lovely, yes, and yes, she understood exclusion. Septi would have to watch herself- she'd come close to a broken heart before and had no intention of encouraging any crush on a straight friend. Even one who understood loneliness. "Selfishly I am glad you are 'ere. Two's company, but three's a crowd!" She smiled at both of them, clearly misinterpreting the turn of phrase.

As she looked at Irveska, her gaze fell to the outfit she held in one hand. "Vhat is zhat?" she asked, confused. "You already look lovely- es zhat for Mariana?" Her cheeks tinted a light rose- the closest the icekarl maiden came to a flush- as she considered Mariana, afraid she might have been misunderstood. "I mean, you look vonderful already, of course..." trailing off, she shrugged "I do not know vhat women do vhen toge'ser, but my father's wives vould occasionally dress each o'zer up. Is zis zhat?" The women had, on occasion, even seen to dress Septi- although the honour of actually doing anything at the ritualistic feasts and holy days that required good clothing were the reserve of the daughters from higher wives. The liklihood of Septi being called upon was minimal; for Octilla, Nona or the others from the eighth or ninth wife it was pretty much non-existant until the older, higher daughters grew up and became eligible for marriage.

"You think so? Thanks!" Mariana gave Septie a hug and laughed, handing her the outfit. "No, silly, it's for you. Irveska got it for you and I agree you'd look really great in it." She smiled.

"And yes I got stood up. His lose. Besides, now we can all hang out. And you don't have to pull your hand away like that. I don't mind at all." The last bit sounded almost flirty.

Septi regarded the outfit for a few silent seconds. "I am not vearing zhat," she said flatly. "It's all... feminine. Barely zhere. I look enough like a man in drag as it is!" She shook her head vehemently. "Besides, I dressed up!" This was such an exaggeration it was flirting with a lie- all Septi wore was her usual outfit but with her jacket and weapons removed, and a clean(ish) white shirt pulled on over her leather layered-strips undershirt. Yes, the shirt was her best shirt, and even had slightly impractical sleeves that billowed out before narrowing to the cuffs buttoned tight around her wrists, but it was barely covered by the definition of dressing up. "Sank you Irveska, it is very kind of you, but I must say no." She glanced at Marina and smiled. "Besides, Mariana would fill it out far nicer than I ever could."

Mariana's tail was swaying with what Irveska and Septie could intuitively tell was happiness. "No, no, you wear it!" She laughed, pushing the clothes towards Septie more. Besides, I have a tail so those shorts probably won't fit on me." She smiled, happy in her irrefutable logic.

"Right Irvy?"

Septi rolled her eyes and leant towards the Tiefling, overtly and exaggeratedly (and appreciatively) examining her rear. "You could simply 'ave zem ride low under eet!" She moved to face Mariana, standing daringly close. Her enthusiasm and happiness infecting Septi, making her bold. Softly she ran a finger down the other woman's cheek, and then winked, clumsily trying to pass the impulse off as a careless, humorous gesture. "Zhat's icekarl for 'You should wear zis and show your skin'. "

Mariana smiled, clearly liking the attention. "But my skin is red, it won't look good with my complexion." She reached, trying for something else. "Now quit arguing and accept Irveska's gift."

Septie raised an eyebrow, "I cannot conceive of some'sing zhat would not look good on you- even mud vould look good on you!" She paused and considered, "No, I am wrong. Mud vould look very good on you. You should wear mud sometime." With that blunt pronouncement she took the outfit and glared at it. "Eef it would make you happy, zhen fine. I vill wear it. 'Sank you, Irveska." Making a face, she headed into the bathroom. After changing, she stared at herself in the mirror. She looked exactly as she'd known she would- no- worse than she'd known she would. Muttering under her breath about doing anything a pretty face and kind voice asked, she re-entered the room. The shorts, she had to concede, did not look overly bad. Although muscled, her height spread her muscles so they were lean rather than bulky, and even pale and looped with tattoos she could appreciate that her legs were kind of not too bad. It was her top half she found ridiculous- flat as a man, she was, and with the shoulders and arms to match! Her exposed stomach was taught, yes, but it was the ridged, angular taughtness of a man's. She had no curve- too tall, too rangy for that. Hands on her hips, she regarded the women. "Satisfied?"

Mariana was beaming, tail quickly darting from left to right. "You look great!" She grinned, practically clapping her hands in happiness. She smiled as she circled around Septimie. "Your butt is cute too! See! You were just being negative."

She smiled. "And thank you for the compliments. Maybe I will wear mud for you sometime, Septie." She purred, her voice clearly flirty this time, before laughing and smiling. "Are we ready to go out, ladies? I'm still sober and I find that problematic."

Septimïe blinked, wrongfooted by Mariana's sudden overtness. When it had happened before she's assumed it to be an accident- her own desire's twisting the kind words. But that was overt enough even for Septi to notice it. Mariana was... flirting? She had no idea what to do with this- subtlety wasn't exactly her strong point. "Mariana, you are very attractive and very lovely and I am finding zhat I like you very much and am glad I met you." Well, it wasn't subtle, and she wasn't certain it counted as flirting, but eh. It did, at least, get it out there. "And yes, I'm ready if you are."

"Thank you. If you keep complimenting me, you know, it'll all go to my head." Mariana laughed and ran a finger along one of Septie's muscular arms. "And you're attractive and lovely, and I'm glad I met you, too, Septimie." She smiled at Irveska. "We ready?"

Septi looked Mariana and laughed, "Eet's supposed to go to your 'ead! Ve wouldn't vant eet to go to your foot." She watched the finger, reflecting that only a few short months ago anyone who tried that would have gotten the fingers bitten off. Instead the contact sent a thrill of desire through her, pale eyes darkening with it. She pulled at the hem of the 'top' Irveska had given her, self concious. She wasn't used to this. Her hips felt empty without the reassuring weight of her greatsword and morningstar. After a moment she picked up her belt and slid off the shethes for her morningstar and sword, leaving her axe. She put it on, feeling much better now she wasn't completely unarmed.