How Green Becomes Wood

"Here, you can try this one on next," Xander said, handing over something shimmery, purple, beaded, and feathery. "It's definitely wow-worthy."

Alec turned to Claire and said quietly, "I found one that... well, I think it would look really pretty on you. I thought I'd show you?" He held up the lavender dress to show her. It was made of a lot of gauzy material, and the bodice was darker than the skirt. The bodice was strapless and had a sort of seashell-like design that winged up toward the shoulders. Light sparkles and a few sewn-on beads caught the light, as did the rhinestone belt accessory in the middle. Alec tensed, waiting to be told it was very weird he'd picked out a dress for Claire.
 
"Oh, wow," Sloan replied, turning the fabric over, "This is intense, I'm a little scared."

"You picked a dress for me?" Claire asked curiously, and while she was trying to figure out how she felt about that, Sloan turned and said:

"That's so funny, I actually also picked a dress for Claire!" and handed her a light purple shimmery dress.
 
"You don't have to try mine on. Sloan's is probably way better," Alec stammered, backing up a fee steps.

Xander indicated the changing rooms. "There's more than one room. You and Sloan can both climb into your dresses and see how the other looks."
 
"I'll try on both," Claire said, a faint blush on her face, "If I'm putting one on, I may as well try both."

"Perfect," Sloan replied, nudging Claire slightly for support before going into her dressing room.

Once Claire was in the dressing room, she went back and forth about which one to put on first, definitely overthinking what that choice would mean. Finally, she just flipped a coin on her phone, which had her change into Sloan's first.
 
Xander considered teasing Alec about picking out a dress for Claire, but when he glanced over at his brother and saw him nearly hyperventilating from concern, he decided that maybe it wasn't the best time. Instead, he distracted Alec with sequins. The pair didn't go far from the changing rooms, but Xander pointed out a couple of ridiculously sparkly accessories on offer.
 
Sloan and Claire left the dressing room at around the same time, and quickly began discussing each other's dress.

"Xander..." Claire said slowly, trying to figure out how to politely express her opinion.

"I feel like Liberace."
 
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Alec covered his mouth as he watched Sloan move. "Wow," he said in a strained tone. "That's... What the hell?" he finally demanded of his brother.

Xander grinned. "It's one night. Might as well make a splash!"
 
"Come on, Liberace, let's see you strut!" Xander invited, waving his hand for Sloan to walk.

Alec finally looked away from Sloan's wild outfit and caught sight of Claire. He felt like the air left his lungs. "Oh," he whispered, eyes wide. "Wow."
 
Xander clapped for her. "Honestly, I'm most impressed by the fact that you can walk in that thing."

"It is absolutely gorgeous, and it looks like your color," he told her. He looked closer at the top and blushed, realizing how much visibility there was in the corseted waist area. He tried to look at the skirt instead, feeling awkward. Being around Daizi and Ivy had helped to relax some of the certain warnings drummed into him by his mother, but some things still remained highly uncomfortable. Like admiring a girl's - woman's - body. Not that he didn't want to on a natural level, but it was something he'd have to learn to get used to.
 
"Honestly, I'm impressed too," Sloan chuckled. "I'm changing out of it now, Claire I'm trying on your green one."

Claire blushed, seeing the way he was looking at her and turned slightly to the side, "Thank you. I think it's really pretty... I don't know if it's quite what I'll go for next year, but I like it."
 
"Shut up," Sloan rolled her eyes, going back into the dressing room.

"Thank you," Claire replied, fiddling with the ends of her hair, "It's not too bad, actually. I mean, the corset is more for style than cinching, it doesn't really do much. I think I'd get cold in it, though, I'm always freezing, you can ask Sloan."
 
"I'm not buying it," Claire pointed out, "So I may as well go and try it on." So in the dressing room she went, and as soon as the door was shut she silently screamed in excitement at how Alec behaved when he saw her in this dress.

Sloan, meanwhile, stepped out in a green off-the-shoulder dress with slightly more tulle in the skirt and a tasteful amount of sequins arranged in a floral applique. The fabric itself had a slightly shimmering quality to it, and it had a slit to the thigh.

"I don't know if it's just because it's not that last dress," She said slowly, "but I think this one is really nice."
 
"Oh, not bad. Very chic!" Alec approved of the dress. "I like the sleeves. And those sequins are perfect! So delightful."

"It looks like a flashing hazard," Xander said, noting the slit. "Other than that, yeah, that's a good dress."

"And not just because it's not the last dress," Alec snickered. "Are you ready for my last pick?"
 
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