ladylike; in form and manner both [halloween event; open!]

[regalduchess]

Duchess goes to sleep on her velvet chair and wakes on the floor. The castle has seen fit to provide her with a plain white slip and nothing more, and so-- she's seen Madame Bonfamille, in one, but never in company-- sets about to searching for clothes.

Sh comes across a lovely dress, tailored to her size, and puts it in a few minutes. It takes a while (she's trying to get used to clothes! They feel quite constricting.) and a few tries, but finally she's able to search for a mirror fully clothed.

She's a human... all but for her head, which still looks reassuringly feline.

It's time to debut her new form. She walks to where the play set is and looks around, eagerly searching for anyone to talk to-- and finds them.

"Oh! My dear, look at what the castle has done now!"

Comments

ME SHRUGGING i don't have and human icons so we're even

[regalduchess]

She puts a paw-- a hand, now-- over her mouth and giggles.

"Thank you, my dear! I am quite enjoying it, although balance is..." she pauses. "A bit of an issue. How do you balance with only two feet on the ground, and no tails?"

All of a sudden, Madame Bonfamille's preference for the elevator makes sense.

"You certainly look different. What might you be?"

[itstheend]

"'m a ghost," they say, twirling a little in the air. They don't seem all that bothered by this; they're just as dead as usual, only with more perks.

They drop down towards her, putting a hand to their mouth in thought. "Hmmm, we don't really think about it, I think. I think we use our arms? Like this," they hold out their arms like an aeroplane, "or this." They float as if walking down the stairs, swinging their arms in time. Their own tail gives them difficulty in demonstrating the alternating nature of the exaggerated movement.

Said tail flicks in interest when they come to a stop. "Does that help?"

[regalduchess]

Duchess covers her mouth with a dainty hand, smiling. That is cute. "Oh yes, very helpful. I will try it next time I walk."

But for now, she's lowering herself into a chair; crossing her ankles, placing her arms on the armrest and surveying the room as well as Chara.

"I suppose it is something I will have to learn."

[itstheend]

Frisk close-eyed smiles and gives her a thumbs up, before shifting closer to her.

"Yeah," they say. It would have been nice if everyone had been able to choose this. They came out okay, but watching all the flesh melt off Chara wasn't a great experience, for either of them. "You've got plenty of time to practice, though!"

They put a finger to their chin, looking thoughtful. "Do you still like being petted?"

They've momentarily forgotten they can't actually touch her.

[regalduchess]

"...well..." Yes, of course; she is still a cat, even if she's gained human characteristics lately.

"I think it would not be appropriate. Unfortunately. "You are welcome to pet my head, though."

[itstheend]

Petting her head was entirely what this child meant, mainly because that was the still catlike part of her, so there's an initial disappointment before a mild confusion. With a happy sort of hum they reach up and... their hand goes through her head entirely. It probably feels rather cold.

They withdraw their hand immediately, snapping it back to their chest. "Sorry!"

[regalduchess]

Duchess feels like she's been splashed with cold water once the child touches her... or rather, phases right through her. It's strange, and uncomfortable, and she reflexively flicks her ears as if to shake nonexistent water from her fur.

"It's fine, my dear."

She rubs at her fur, smoothing it back down. "Some other day, perhaps."

[itstheend]

"Sorry," they whisper again, looking down. This state hasn't bothered them until now. "Yeah," they say, going from quiet to cheerful with a practiced air. "Some other day!" When they've gotten better at moving physical objects, maybe. They still don't know if this is temporary or permanent.

"Look," they say, excited to show her now they've thought of it. "I can make this move!" They flick over to one of the swings and push. They end up going right through it, but it does swing back and forth a little. They look at it with a flat expression before turning back to Duchess. "I'm getting better at it."

[regalduchess]

...That's a possible issue. What if this is the castle working further magic? She could... be stuck like this forever. Maybe even turning fully human.

Oh dear.

Her attention is snared by the ghost phasing through a swing, and setting it into some weak swinging.

"That's impressive, for someone who doesn't seem to have much... substance."

[itstheend]

Frisk puffs themself up a little in pride, before looking down at their hands, and the way sunlight moves through them. They... it's not that much of a secret is it, the little they're about to tell?

They fly back over to Duchess, circling her before moving away to do a pirouette in the air.

"I can't usually move things on my own," they confess. "Or... do anything on my own. It's nice."

And then they wink at her, doing double fingerguns. "Not as impressive as you!"

[regalduchess]

Duchess waits patiently for Frisk to explain themself fully. She does know that the two children have a... complicated relationship, every incarnation of them running around this castle and likely in their own universe.

"I do hope that you enjoy yourself." And then--

"Oh, you flatterer." The fingerguns are slightly lost on her, but she does know that it's not bad. "Thank you, darling."

[itstheend]

"It's not flattery if it's the truth!" they say, nodding. "No problem!"

"I'll try," they say, as if they are determined to have fun, placing their hands on their hips. "And you too!"

They return to trying to move the swing, frowning in concentration.

[regalduchess]

Duchess decides to leave Frisk to their swinging. She watches carefully first, though, to make sure thst they won't fall off. Even if they are quite poltergeisty, they're still a child.

"Have fun, darling! I'm going to go try and walk a little more."

[itstheend]

Frisk waves at her in farewell. "Good luck!" They say, and they mean it. Halving your number of legs must be hard.

They turn back. They're determined to beat this swing.