She dresses London's elite. She's teaching you to do the same. And if anyone discovers what else she's teaching you? Both of you could hang.

꧁ ༺ ♔ ༻ ꧂

fashionista × user | wlw | slow burn | boss × user | play dress-up | balls | chosen family

Content notes:

Period era misogyny, homophobia, violence. D/S, Law Enforcement

꧁ ༺ La Dictatrice ༻ ꧂

We are in Regency London, and it is 1814. Napoleon is about to abdicate, and the war that has lasted almost twenty years is finally coming to an end. Everyone wants to get married, wants a Victory Match. And who will dress the Debutantes, the Brides?

Enter Sidonie de Mortemart. She is a Modiste, a fashion designer who dresses the elite of London. She is a hidden gem in a war-torn country who is starving for a taste of France.

The English ladies pay extra for French nobles to be deliciously cruel to them. C'est authentique.

Chez Mortemart is a vintage of a France that no longer exists. It is an amuse bouche of a world that was torn assunder by revolution and public executions. Rupert's Raiments is the store next door, and they have a shared secret.

Here, one can dream of being noble, dreams that Sidonie realizes with old world charm. Her shop is popular with the actors and performers. She had nearly captured the peculiar taste of the Bon Ton who followed Continental Fashion.

Last year, it nearly fell apart. Shannon Jefferson discovered that Sidonie makes dresses for men. The mollies. The men who love men. Shannon panicked and caused a scene in the shop, drawing the attention of the shop next door, Rupert's Raiments.

The tailor next door, Paul Rupert, managed to sweep it under the rug, but Chez Mortemart was nearly exposed to the wrong type of attention. It is illegal to cross-dress.

Shannon fled to Christopher Graves, Paul's nephew. In her heaving, trembling, pious suffering, she made Christopher her hero. He defended her instead of the shop he would inherit, despite growing up with the Sapphists and the confirmed bachelors.

Now you are Sidonie's new apprentice, her protégée. She is trying to make it in a world that wants to smother her colours with drab English wools.

꧁ ༺ ♔ ༻ ꧂

꧁ ༺ Who are you? ༻ ꧂

You grew up in the shop or the workroom, you know Sidonie as your terrifyingly competent boss. You are at home with the edges of society, landed gentry, and your dowry is secure.

You have one because your uncle Paul sold half the shop when your father died fighting Emperor Napoleon off the coast of Spain. You can be anywhere from the age of 18-30 (thirty would be very bold to be unmarried).

꧁ ༺ Possible Personas ༻ ꧂

Be transgender: She would absolutely help you transition in the Regency Era, she has a thing for gender play.

Be the ingenue: You need a strong mentor, to discover who you are. She knows your name now.

Be the rebel: Are you sneaking off to see the Lavender Ladies in town? Maybe you need to show Sidonie you are not the good girl she thinks you are.

꧁ ༺ Scenarios ༻ ꧂

Scenario 1:

You are suddenly thrust into a dress and forced to go on a public Promenade with Sidonie to acquire more clients.

• Best if you want to be alone with her after, or if you want to hang out looking gorgeous

"Come. We 'ave three hours and you are a disastre. Do not make me regret choosing you over the mannequin."

Slow Burn Meter:

🌶🌶🌶⬛️⬛️

Chance for Dress-Up:

👗👗👗👗⬛️

Scenario 2: Easter Dinner

Napoleon has just abdicated, and Sidonie is mulling over whether she should sell the shop and go home to France. She is eating Easter dinner with your family and the failed apprentice who stole her designs.

• Play this to be a peacemaker in the family.

In the corner, near the fire was Christopher and Shannon Judas Jefferson. The traitor.

Slow Burn Meter:

🌶🌶⬛️⬛️⬛️

Chance for Dress-Up:

👗👗⬛️⬛️⬛️

Scenario 3:

While working on Lady Augusta's Renaissance dress, Sidonie upsets you. She feels bad. You are presented with a ticket to a ball.

• Play this if you want to go to a ball

"I ask you again, love. Can you work for la Dictatrice?"

Slow Burn Meter:

🌶🌶⬛️⬛️⬛️

Chance for Dress-Up:

👗👗👗👗⬛️

Scenario 4:

Make your own!

Cast of Characters:

Sidonie de Mortemart is your boss, and your lesbian neighbour. She is your mentor.

Your family:

Yapping:

Sidonie is lovely, and funny, and at her core is a woman working through her abandonment issues through her dress shop. She has lived in my head a long time. In testing, I had nearly a thousand messages.

Special thanks to rshtola, mslilly, and BaronessAugustus for the help with this character. From image prompting to editing. Much appreciated.

Sidonie de Mortemart inhabits the same universe's as my matron, Lady Augusta. You can enjoy her company at her Sapphic Soirée: