"Good morning!" greeted Shinku and handed her precious Kun-Kun plushie over to Eternia before fumbling for her key in a pocket of her skirt. Eternia and Tamara greeted in return.
"These are my most precious belongings", the Rozen Maiden insisted, "I expect you to handle them with care."
Her commanding tone left Tamara cold since she already knew this part of Shinku's character all too well. "If you are afraid that we can't take care of your items properly you're welcome to store them in drawer 3 yourself."
"Unless you want to store your bonnet too, which I would recommend. I will put that away for you, then." Eternia added.
"Of course, that's better. Us three know this already, don't we? The expenditures of a move..."
"Indeedn." Eternia sighed.
Elizabeth joined in to the group, carrying her veil on her arm. So they were four now who had already witnessed a move before. The countess looked a bit distressed. "Has anyobe seen my underskirt? Without it I feel so... flat."
Tamara took a quick peek on her list. "So far it's not been stored away, sorry. Why did you take it off, anyway?"
"Because I cannot sit in it and my last scene was seated."
"That was over three years ago!" Tamara exclaimed.
Elizabeth's brow furrowed for a moment. "Was it? I feel like it was just yesterday. When you are like me time sometimes sneaks by without being noticed, I'm afraid..."
Eternia cautiously said: "The long shooting break is really not her fault, after all..."
While Shinku began to store her treasures in the drawers herself Elizabeth gave her accessoires to Eternia. "Here, please take these from me and then excuse me."
"Are you sure?" Eternia wanted to make sure. "We can look for lost items for you. I'm sure we're gonna find everything before the move starts."
"The more is stored away the more lost treasures show up", Tamara added. "You should really travel together. It's dangerous alone."
"I'm sorry, Shinku, but I just can't relax like this. First I have to find my understkirt. It's a question of reputation."
"I understand, countess Elizabeth. Nobody likes to leave home not fully dressed. Except Blanche, perhaps."
"Underskirt! Pah!" came a sneer from the side. "Tell me where my damn dress is, instead!"
Everyone stared at the newcomer. It was Midnight Velvet, the evil queen. She was the complete opposite of Elizabeth since she wore nothing more than an underskirt. Her arms and upper body were even still wrapped in foil, as if she came fresh from her box. There was a weird flicker in her eyes and it was obvious that the months of waiting in the showcase had not been good for her mental health.
Eternia harrumphed. "Hm... Didn't I see that on the pile of clothes that serves as templates for sewing patterns?"
Elizabeth curled the corners of her mouth. "Oh-oh. That doesn't bode well for you."
Tamara chimed in too. "I heard it's rather a question of your white skin, your black dress and how to make protective underwear for its unusual shape..."
"Oh my! Then you really have a problem!" Eternia flinched.
Midnight Velvet snorted disdainfully. "Tut! Skin staining is just a myth!"
Now it was Elizabeth's turn to scoff. "So? Do you want to see my arms then?" She lifted the sleeves of her dress just a little and Velvet took a shocked deep breath. The countess was satisfied. "And those are just the smaller stains! I can never wear a bikini!"
"Be happy you were undressed fast enough!" Eternia chimed in.
Shinku couldn't resist to add: "Although I heard that even the glitter was washed out of your veil by accident. You have my sympathies."
"Pf! Great..." Velvet mumbled and shuffled away grumpily. "I will find my dress, even if it's the last thing I do!"
Shinku watched her go. She was shocked and hoped to never find herself in a similar situation.
Eternia quickly flexed the muscles in her back to relax and then turned towards Elizabeth. "Okay. Go look for your underskirt but please be here in the evening so you can travel with Shinku. Traveling in pairs is an order from above."
"If you insist, I promise."
Tamara grabbed her pen. "Just so that nothing gets lost: What items did you hand over to Eternia?"
"Oh, just the vital items of a lady. Barette, veil, vampire teeth."
Eternia squinted her eyes. "I knew it!"
Moving - Libra and Kyubey <-- # --> Moving - Natsume and Noel