Nabiki's eyes were huge and for good reason.
Nabiki was used to spare change. Gambling on a high school level, loan sharking for people who still had allowances, minor petty things that to her were wealth.
Now plop the same girl who thought of 8000 yen (about $36.37 US Dollars 1992 exchange rate) as a big deal into this situation, and see if you can understand the "little fish suddenly finding herself in the ocean" sensation hitting Nabiki.
Huge soldiers wearing gleaming armor. Gold vases that she estimated weighing in at about 23kg (50 pounds) and statues of the same material easily 227kg (about 500 pounds). Artwork that screamed TASTEFUL and EXPENSIVE at the same time. The palace -the main building of which was more than three times the size of her school.
Huge rooms (she didn't realize that this was because some of their guests tended to be outright huge) with wall hangings and tapestries that looked ready to come to life on a moment's notice. Elaborately engraved stonework. Thick plush carpets that practically begged to be run barefoot through.
The three daughters were shown to an elaborately appointed room where an old seeming woman with pointed ears and a couple of pixies waited to measure them for their formal gowns.
Oh. Sure. She'd pawn this unwanted boy off on her younger sister. Yeah. Right. Uh huh.1
"Here in town for the Prince's ball, dearie?" The old elven seamstress smiled at the young humans. "Hold out your arm like so dear."
"Uhm, yes." Kasumi held her arm out as the two pixies checked sizes with a knotted string. "I didn't even know about the Prince until earlier today."
"Well enough, well enough," said the elf. "Straighten up, child. Good good. Do you have a favorite color?"
"Uhm, peach?" Kasumi didn't actually have a favorite color but was trying to come up with "meet your future husband" colors.
"Peach? Hmmm. Peach with two shades gold, I think." The elf nodded and went to do the same thing with Akane.
Kasumi stepped closer to an open window and peered out.
Pegasi flew overhead, the glittering silver of their riders' armor gleaming in the evening sun.
A dragon that she at first had thought was sculpted entirely of bronze lifted its head and returned her scrutiny after a moment.
Kasumi cleared her throat delicately and one of the pixies stopped and regarded her.
"Might I see the kitchen area?" requested Kasumi, who was curious as to what kind of food could be found here.
The pixie nodded and headed for the doorway.
Akane twitched once, when her breasts/hip/waist measurements were taken, and then again when the old woman asked her if she had a favorite color. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing now?"
Nabiki answered her sister. "Akane, you're wearing a gi. You had gotten all sweaty and hot from jogging and working out. Don't you think that bathing and a change of clothes before attending a formal party celebrating the 'coming of age' of this 'prince' might be appropriate?"
"Hah! He's just a pervert!" Akane replied. Aristocrat + male = pervert. Okay, she was making a basis off of an example of one - Tatewaki Kuno.
"Prince Ranma? A pervert?" The one remaining pixie and the old elf stared briefly at Akane as if they couldn't believe it.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The pixie laughed and rolled around in the air with a sound like bells chiming. The woman merely held herself up by leaning on a dresser.
Akane slowly turned red. Boys were perverts. Look at Kuno. Look at the rest of them! None of them were a real man like Doctor Tofu! "I'll bet he's just a typical perverted boy!"
The bell ringing noise increased slightly. The woman slowly straightened, a grin showing. "Oh. Really. My goodness child. You're what, ten years of age? And already the expert on princely behavior."
"Sixteen," grumbled Akane.
"Child, I'm seven hundred and fifty two years old," said the elf. "The prince manages to surprise even me. Trust me. There is little typical about him. Now, if you two will follow me. You can bathe while your clothing is prepared."
1- If you believe this, you are entirely too obsessed with Akane.
Meanwhile:
(Posted Fri, 21 Feb 2003 12:26)
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