"Ruby."
said Barry, Ruby's modeling agent, his monotone voice ringing heavily in her skull as she struggled to tighten her corset. The smooth silk laces digging into the skin of her hands.
"Yes Barry? Can you not see I am still getting ready?"
Ruby said as she struggled to tighten the contraption; the white and gold garment pushing her body inwards and crushing her organs giving her an unnatural, some would say uncanny waist. Ruby's panting and flushed red face is evident of her severe struggle, her thin bony arms refusing to cooperate with the strings. And her thin fingers not gripping the strings tight enough.
"allow me."
Barry said plainly before taking the strings and pulling harshly. pulling Ruby backwards before she stabilized herself on the edge of an ornate wooden table.
"Thank you Barry."
Ruby says panting with wet eyes and a sunken malnourished face evident with pain.
Ruby walks to the gilded mirror, her thin spindly legs carrying her the best that they can.
'I could stand to lose a few inches but this will do.'
Ruby says looking into the shiny surface and tracing her hands on her waist and ribs.
'You look perfect Ruby.'
Barry said with a little more admiration in his voice than ruby thought was genuine.
"don't, just don't Barry. mother could fit into a corset 5 inches less than mine with some wiggle room still!"
ruby said with clear frustration in her voice. She walked to a dressing table with makeup and hair care products sprawled out on it. She sits down on the cushioned chair and applies a heavy moisturizer and thick base makeup to help and cover her dry skin, the makeup enhancing how pale her once olive skin had gotten. She hands the plate back to Barry. He hands her a small glass of water as she takes out a small pouch of brilliantly blue powder and adds a pinch of it to her glass. she chugs it with a look of disgust on her face. "it never gets better." she says holding back a gag and gets up to walk to her closet.
The massive room would put some houses to shame. She picks out a simple high waisted pair of white pants. And a small waistcoat made of white silk intricately embroidered with golden swirls. The entire outfit contrasting nicely with her vivid purple bun. Taking one look at the clock she walks out the room as fast as her thin frame will allow.
'Ruby you still have 30 minutes!'
Barry yells, walking at a brisk pace to catch up with Ruby. She makes her way through the ornate hallways of her house, the vibrant green wallpaper with its floral motifs passing by unnoticed and the rich brown window frames letting in a pleasant breeze. She proceeds down the old wooden stairs and looks pleasantly warm. Barry is sweating profusely in the summer heat. Ruby was cold most times but she thrived in summer. the warm air allowing her to wear more scandalous and avant garde clothes. One such example is pants, she had popularized the advent of women wearing pants. The whole thing had caused quite a stir and she had gained her popularity from then on her career as a fashion model and designer had taken off. She pushes the heavy wooden door open to her vast estate.
Her garden is filled to the brim with blue and purple flowers, the white stones cracking under her feet as she strides down the path. The sweet and mildly nauseating aroma of the flowers reaches her lungs, she exhales, taking another deep breath to hide her exhaustion. She couldn't walk very far due to her severely thin frame. When she breathed in you could see her ribs through her blouse like fingers gripping her lungs and crushing them with burning pressure. 'Ruby for someone so dainty you sure are fast!' Barry says so mildly exasperated that he seems only to take only one extra breath.
"I'm a model, it's my job to walk."
ruby replies coldly, walking at her usual faster-than-normal pace.
She stops at her carriage, the wooden vehicle having gold ornately weaving in and out of the wood, the brilliant shine blinding ruby as she steps inside. The small cushioned interior is as expensive as money can buy. The interior is just as ornate as the exterior but it's a brilliant cyan on the inside, some of the enchanted magenta wires giving it a unique lighting. It whirs to life, the wires on the underside of the small beast glowing the same bright magenta. The coachman sits atop his perch like a bird of prey as he presses various complicated buttons and levers.
The heavy metal gate screeches outward as the carriage leaves the estate. The carriage drives onto a road littered with horse carriages and a few enchanted ones like Ruby's, although none were as intricate. The cobbled road makes the ride mildly unpleasant as the multiple bumps and turns nearly make Ruby's hat fall off. She grips the walls with a gloved hand,the road starting to calm. It slowly transitions to a dirt road, one they traverse for many hours until it is about three pm. The warm sun is just starting its descent, the blue sky is going a beautiful mix between blue and orange, the colors dancing gracefully in the sky. The carriage screeches to a halt.
Ruby leaves the vehicle and is greeted by about a dozen fidgety guards. The only employee Ruby had ever hired full time was Barry - all other services were one time only, and she wouldn't pay them if they didnt do a good job. She had hired many of them for this job to hopefully find a permanent bunch. It had taken her a few years worth of agents and butlers to find Barry after all.
She was tired after such a long journey so they had picked her up gently and walked her into the city she was modeling at. This specific job was paying a very generous sum so she had made sure she was there early to greet the generous sponsor. She is carried further into the city until they reach a small fountain area.
The whole place exhumes an old beauty, older than the oldest living landmark in Ruby's home city of parworth. She sits at the edge of the old stone fountain, the green inside of it seemingly glowing under the sunlight. The years of algae and lilypads had helped the fountain show its age.
A charming, old voice speaks up, Ruby's cold sharp eyes lift towards the source.
'Hello, good to see you are just as drawn to this area as I once was. Pleasure to meet you at last, Ruby Crackstone.'
the man says, his voice not fully showing how old he truly was. His once youthful skin betrayed by age.
'You must be my sponsor, good to meet you. Now where will I be modeling?'
ruby says still enamored by how old the man looked.
'Right here actually, everyone else will be here soon, may I borrow your guards for a moment?'
the old man says, smiling sweetly, revealing a warmth that is only increased by age.
'You may, and thank you for your funds and kindness.'
she says smiling, her lips almost entirely unfamiliar with the concept so it looks a bit awkward.