Welcome to Gaia! ::

Aile would give a small chuckle and look down. "So, I'm dealing with a scholarly genius then." She ran one hand through her hair and grinned. "Alright then. And on the matter of asking for help... It's partially pride, that this is my problem to deal with and that they don't need to get involved, and partially the fact that I never told anyone that I come from a noble family... I was afraid of what everyone would think, that they'd see me in a different light. So, I kept quiet about about it. Why ruin a good thing, right?" She sighed and shook her head.

"And as for what we can do..." The woman grabbed a turnover from the pile of pastries and munched on it, looking over Clara's outfit. "Hm... You want to go looking for better fitting clothes in Lumiose? My treat, obviously. And I should still know one or two places that would have good clothes. Maybe a small shopping spree in general. I kinda want to see if that archery shop is still around, actually...."

Aile would chuckle, a large smile growing on her face for the first time in ages. "Archery for me is a good way to clear my mind. You have to focus to be able to pull the string back to the distance you need, to aim the arrow and get it where you need it. If you're outside, you have the wind to factor in, and you have to do all of this measurement in your head to get it dead center of the target." While she spoke, she imitated holding up a bow, pulling back the imaginary string with her left hand. "It really clears your mind. Going back to it since I've been here is the reason I've stayed relatively calm throughout this... until the Chateau, at least." She ended her mime, taking another bit of her turnover. "So, at least for me, it's a calming thing. Though, I am still a bit rusty from not practicing for over six years..." The woman shrugged, finishing off the turnover, chasing it with the last of her tea. "I haven't lost as much as I feared, though."

“Hopefully, yes. It’s really only been a year or two since I last was in Lumiose, during the last time we were in Kalos. Things do change within that span of time, though.” Aile finally got up and opened the door to the study, looking around. “I had a feeling. How much of that did you hear, Amelie?”

“Enough, my lady. You can relax, though, I chased off the others.” She looked down to the floor, looking slightly ashamed. “I hadn’t realised you still felt strongly about that group, or the reasons behind your return. Pardon me, my lady.” The elderly maid bowed deeply. “Is there anything I can get for you?”

Aile had a smile on her face as she replied. “You must have the sharpest ears outside of the birds here, honestly. I forgive you, just… please don’t go gossiping like you usually would, okay?” She would get a nod back in reply, her maid rising from her bow. “Merci. Now then, we’re planning on heading into Lumiose.”

“Not a problem, my lady. Let me get a vehicle ready.” Amelie would hurry off, occasionally scolding a maid who was staring at Aile instead of working on their chores. Aile, in the meantime, would turn back to Clara.

“That woman… Bless her heart, she is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. You know, she’s worked for our family since my mother was a teenager. And we’ve tried to get her to go into retirement, a good one at that. She refused it, every time we’ve tried.” She shook her head, smile still on her face. “Oh well. Come on, it shouldn’t take that long for her to get everything set up. Everyone listens when she speaks and barks orders.” First, before leaving, though, she’d put the charred SNAG back into the drawer she got it from, then finally left the study, waiting for Clara to make sure she didn’t get lost throughout the mansion.

Aile was bracing for a heavy question when Clara started on with it... only to be taken aback by the question about favorite ice cream. "I... huh? Um..." She ran her hand through her hair, actually a bit befuddled. This was something she hadn't even thought of in a long time. "When was the last time I even had ice cream?..."

"My lady, the car is waiting out front," Amelie smiled, holding out a small bottle of eye drops, "and these are for your eyes. If you don't mind me saying, they look like a fire's surrounding a forest in a perfect circle. Do you require someone to go with you outside of the chauffeur?"

"Ah, merci. And, no, we should be fine, Amelie." Aile would take the eye drops and begin to put a couple in her eyes, blinking each time one went in.

"Just like your father, always willing to do things yourself. Very well, then. Enjoy your time out, ladies, and stay safe. " She'd curtsy and begin to walk off, stopping at Clara briefly and whispering, "At least as a child, she loved chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream."

"Huh? What was that?"

"Nothing, my lady!" Amelie would continue on after that, a large smile on her face.

"Riiight... Anyways, shall we?" Aile would open a closet door and grab a small purse and a dark green jacket, though this was nothing like what she'd wear in HQ. "Oh, what size shoe are you," she'd ask, pulling out a pair of thick, one inch heeled black boots. "She still kept these? Cripes," she'd comment to herself, beginning to put them on.

Aile would wait until Clara had the shoes on before opening the main doors, revealing that there was very nice looking four door sedan waiting for them, with the chauffeur opening the door when he saw the two come outside. "When ever you are ready, my ladies." Aile would nod and wait until Clara was in before entering herself. When the two had entered, he closed the door and made his way to the driver's seat. "Where to, my lady?"

"Vernal Avenue, if you would, please."

"Certainly." The chauffeur would turn on the car and start off for the city. The ride would take about fifteen to twenty minutes, but once they got there, he'd pull over on the side of the road and let the two out. "Here we are. Is there anything else you need me to do while we're here?"

"No thank you. The time is yours until we call you to leave."

"Merci, mademoiselle." He would tip his hat and smile before driving off. Once he was gone, Aile would turn to Clara, nodding her head towards the shops.

"So, here we are. And it does look like some familiar names are still here. Shall we?" The woman would head over to one of the shops and start to enter, waiting for the teen. When she finally entered, she'd notice that this would have a lot of casual clothes in it, but well made, as well as a good variety of clothes in most all sizes, except the extremely large. There should be plenty for Clara to choose from, however. "Go ahead and pick whatever you want. I mean, don't go buy out the store, but don't worry about prices much at all, either. We'll be able to afford it."

Aile was splitting vacantly watching Clara pick out clothes to staring at other racks of clothes, obviously lost in thought. She was tapping one finger on her leg and was ever so slightly biting down on another finger when Clara came up to her with the top. "Hm? Ah! Um..." She shook her head slightly, getting back into the here and now. "Sorry, just was lost in thought. Too many things going on, honestly. Now, what is this?" She'd take the garment and look at it, turning it once. "Hm. I'll go ahead and try it on. If you want to try on your stuff, make sure everything fits, that can work, too." The woman would head over to the fitting rooms to try on her own shirt. She'd come out a couple minutes later and look at herself in the mirror. "Hm..." The shirt in question was dark green in nature and of a halter top style, loose with a low back and a low v-cut, which happened to reveal a golden chain with a small ornate pendant on it. A smile would slowly grow on the woman's face as she turned around, inspecting how she looked from all angles.

Aile had a grin on her face as she nodded when Clara left the dressing room a second time. "You look great, Clara, honestly." She gave the teen a huge hug. "Honestly. Now, anything else you want to get or try on," she'd ask as she let go of the girl.