"I may take you up on that - perhaps after they've been cleaned."

Lucette can pick out an option that's both less voluminous and light - it will be a bit odd to wear similar outfits later in the year, but for now it won't be. She can similarly select stays and undergarments intended for lighter weather.

That's so many layers but she can suss out how their counterparts on Lucette work and refrain from complaining about it.

She is going to need help putting on at least the stays.

"I'm sorry I don't have sisters, so I am not exactly practiced at this."

"I'm not in a hurry, I just hope I'm not keeping you from anything."

"I'll have to reschedule my reorganization of my grandfather's library but there's not actually a deadline on that."

"Thank you."

"It really isn't any trouble."

Lucette ties the stays' laces, her fingertips briefly grazing Annie's upper back as she does so.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

(Annie doesn't say "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa". But she does make a noise and doesn't realize she's doing it.)

"Is everything okay?"

"- yes, why wouldn't it be?"

"You made a sound and I thought perhaps I had tightened the stays too much or something."

"Oh. I can't hear non-word sounds I make so I didn't know. It's not too tight, I don't think."

"Mm. If you say so."

Lucette finishes off the remaining laces and provides Annie with the dress.

"I noticed something though," Annie goes on. "I'm not sure what exactly - probably another artifact effect and it felt optional so I guess it's a benefit."

"You noticed it when I was tightening the laces - oh, was it when my hand touched your neck?"

"Yeah. It must require direct touch or something to work."

"Do you think you could make additional progress in identifying it with more time to do so?"

"Maybe? I'm reluctant to test it, especially on you, but I could see if it - lends itself to examination."

Lucette provides a hand to touch.

Annie's hand stutters a little on its way but then gently clasps and -

"- yes, I think I could - give you my artifact effects, and then take them back again, if I tried, only that would be very risky because one of them sent me here and one of them does mind control and one of them is very uncomfortable and I don't know which drawback goes with which benefit at all."

"Is the temperature one the very uncomfortable one?"

"Yeah. It's not painful but it's uncomfortable."

Nod.

"When in your private quarters you can wear fewer layers. It's just that right now we'll be visiting my grandfather, and it's important to make a good first impression, I think."

"It's not going to kill me. I just wouldn't want to do it to you."

"Mm... I'm confused now about exactly how unpleasant it is."