Throughout all this, Penny had of course grown increasingly embarrassed and flustered.
Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner:
"It seems I am a bad influence. If you are going to do this experiment, you should at least get the variables right."
'Variables?' How many times and in how many ways did such an experiment need to be performed?
Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner:
"I am your friend, right? You want Ian's attention, and I can help you. Now watch me." She sat up, shoulders back, breast thrust out but she turned her body slightly at the waist. "Note the lines here," she drew her finger across her shoulders, "and here," another from chin to bellybutton., "are straight but I am slightly off center."
Penny was growing a little confused and warm by Alice's demonstrations, but, regardless, perhaps unthinkingly, she'd shifted ever so slightly to imitate her movements. It was not unlike fencing training.
Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner:
"Now buttons, no less than three, my dear. If our experiment is to be successful you must show at least the hint of cleavage. Men LOVE cleavage, they cannot help it, the mere sight of the line between a woman's breasts makes a man's mouth water."
'I've been to a ball, I am aware.' Penny managed to mutter testily, aware how fashions in the ballroom could be rather more... French. Not her fashions, of course, but others.
'I know of décolletage and the... elevating effects of corsets.'
Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner:
"Now when you are at dinner, the experiment will need to focus on your subject, in this case Ian. Ian is indeed a man who appreciates a comely woman, and you Penny are comely. You have pretty features, and a nice figure."
'I do? But—'
Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner:
"You must maintain eye contact, even when his eyes drift downward, and they will drift, he cannot help it, men are like that. This experiment is not to judge his reactions but your own. If you enjoy his attentions, then you know what you like. If not, then the experiment is still a success as you will be able to alter your behavior accordingly. I believe, though, that Ian's attention in particular with make you feel warm, here" she put her hand on her belly, "and here," lower to her pelvis, "which is natural. Your body will be responding to him like...it does for the doctors. Don't be afraid Penny, you are taking a wonderful step. I am glad I am here to help you."
Penny had by now turned as red as a tomato, but her widening eyes and mouth, slowly opening and closing in protest, rather more resembled a fish suffocating in air.
'But—'
Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner:
"At dinner, do something innocuous, like drop your napkin or a spoon. When you go to pick it up make sure yo are watching him because he will be watching you. Now git girl, and have fun. I know your ... I know Kate would approve, she is a master at this."
Since Penny had been born out of wedlock and a hundred years too early, the Victorian-raised woman wasn't so sure this was a compliment.
She straightened her skirt over her wobbly knees, and finally found voice enough to respond fully to Alice, however irritably.
'While I am sure your advice will be useful if ever I need to... make a pretence in a case,' she conceded, yet remaining doubtful it would ever really occur. Back-pedalling frantically, she was back to being a prim and proper Victorian lady.
'Such is not my plan with Ian tonight. In any case, the poor man still mourns Coira... No, I believe there is a haunting in the dining car, and I wish for us to hunt the ghost together.'
That was, after all, a Hunter's idea of a date.
She rose and efficiently collected her weapons from the overhead luggage compartment, and bravely lifted her skirt to slip her pistol into her garter holster, which held up a weapon as well as lacing stockings on shapely legs. She put her EMF meter in her purse.
'Wish me luck.' She strode out the door...
...then back in again to declare
'For your information, the angel Castiel appeared to me when I was in the shower. I have felt warm.' That, that was entirely for the sake of competition. She marched out again, a woman on a mission, just not the one expected of her. Outside, she hastily rebuttoned her shirt, then undid three buttons, then shook her head and rebuttoned them all. Madness.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:36, Fri 26 Jan 2018.