| An Ordinary Non-Kidnapping Shopping Trip | ||
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Summary: Iridescence takes Shizuko shopping to swap her wardrobe to a more gothy look!   |
Not in this city. With Basil having something else she's doing, Shizuko is on her own today. Honestly, it's not a bad thing: Basil can be... a *lot* sometimes, and having a relatively quiet walk home can be a good thing every once in a while. And sometimes Shizuko just assumes that means something *else* is going to go wrong, like that one mafioso that keeps trying to kill her. Yeah, Shizuko is watching her back. It's true one can't ever be too careful around the city. But luckily, at least for now, it seems the only thing that's going to happen to Shizuko is her cell phone is going to ring! With whatever ringtone she's set on it, or vibrate, off it goes, demanding attention from her! If she has caller ID, she'll see in big words IRIDESCENCE OBRIMOS. There was a slight jump as Shizuko's phone goes off, and she fumbles for just a moment in the pocket of her skirt (seriously, why is *that* a fictional element? more pockets = more good! You can even hide them in a pleated skirt easily!) before pulling it out. Oh, she already knew who it was from her AR implants, but she prefers to not look like she's just talking to the air while in public. Yeah. A little too concerned with her outward appearance sometimes, this one. Still, she's somewhat confused by the ID, and wanted to look at the phone anyway to confirm, as if it would say that her AR implants were joking with her and it's just her mother calling. "...What?" is all she says at first. She almost lets it ring long enough to go to voicemail, part stunned, part assuming it's some scam caller or something, but no, she picks up. "H-hello?" she says with a confused tone. "Heya!" Iridescence's voice comes over the call, nice and crisp. It helps that she owns some of the satellite network that helps run the cell phone service. Not the whole network though, Big Sister wouldn't let a company have a monopoly on it, but these kind of business decisions were more something her parents cared about and setup. Now she just takes advantage of it all. "Shizuko! My babe! Where are ya and what ya doinz?" 'My babe'? The name didn't ring a bell with Shizuko initially. The voice, however... that brought it into mind just who it was calling her. Oh. Right. Her. "I'm... just out of school for the day and was about to head home? How did you get this number?" Well, she wasn't entirely dismissive of this. She always could just hang up on Iridescence, but she didn't. A part of Shizuko wondered why she wasn't doing just that, honestly, but another part wanted to see just what this Iridescence that she got into that little adventure was really like. Why was it that Shizuko seemed to attract rich people? She was dirt poor (partically because of the money her mother was dumping into her education, but she wasn't aware of that), so why were these people from Richside latching onto her like this? Shizuko always assumed the super-rich liked to keep to themselves before she met Basil. And now Iridescence. Iridescence laughs with just the slightest edge of mischievousness in it that probably means she didn't mean any harm, but also likely shouldn't have been doing what she was doing. "Had my techie dudeoz find it for me. I guess it's not hard if you know what you're doing? But ya, ya, hey, out of school, that's -perfect-." Her voice gets slightly distance for a moment. "...yeah, make sure there's sniper nests in position. Just triple the norm amount..." She comes back to full volume. "I figure, hey, our last date got totes interrupted, and I promised I'd get you some awwwwesome goth clothes at the mall, ya? So...what do you say? I can come pick you up, and I'm guaranteeing no kidnappings this time." Shizuko says, "D-date?" Shizuko blinks almost audibly. Yeah, of course someone as rich as Iridescence could find her number. She wasn't really surprised. "Wait, sniper nests?" Now she's looking around, especially at nearby rooftops. No, of course not." They're not set up *yet*. "Goth clo-" Shizuko had to remember a moment... it's been a few months, afterall. "Oh. Right. I'd kinda forgotten about that, honestly." She pondered a moment. Shizuko... was not one to like handouts from the rich. It felt too much like begging, and she already had that powered armor just *given* to her. She owed far more to life than her balance overall should be, in her eyes. But on the other hand... Iridescence is the one that got her kidnapped and injured. Wait, she was directly responsible for her having gotten injured with that lightning strike, wasn't she? So yes, Iridescence actually *does* owe her something for all that mess. A set of clothing would do fine... it's not like she was injured enough to get medical bills or anything. There was a tired sigh, and then Shizuko fully relents. "All right. Promise no kidnappings?" Yeah, that part was said in half-jest. Iridescence laughs. "Fwuh, for sure. I've setup precautions this time." There's a light pause. She's not completely ignorant that school kids have limited schedules. "Less you have homework to do? I'm an okay study partner." And she can make a call and get the answers if she doesn't know them. She tried not to pay her way through her private schooling too much, but sometimes the tutors were just so annoying, and who needs to know SO MUCH MATH after all? Better to play with magic and shoot guns anyway. Shizuko shakes her head before she realizes that won't be translated over the phone. "Not much today. As long as I get home at a decent hour. My mother works this afternoon and evening." Yeah, Shizuko is generally allowed to stay out before going straight home, at least since she started having actual friends to hang out with. Hoenstly, Shizuko was surprised her mother gave her that much of a window, she's been... a bit overprotective since they moved to Sentra. But also Shizuko is not quite sure how old Iridescence actually is. It would be a bit odd using someone out of school as a 'study partner' to Shizuko. For some reason she doesn't see it as odd to just hang out, but then again, Shizuko sneaks off into the Usual every once in a while, and she's usually the youngest person there. "Uhhhh, so how do you want to meet up?" she asks tentatively. Shizuko glances down at her phone. Right. Iridescence probably has tagged her location through this already, hasn't she? That's absolutely correct. In fact, if Shizuko is paying much attention to her surroundings, she'll see Iridescence's hoverlimo coming down along the road towards her. "Sure, surez. We'll get you home before Silvae the wicked crone tries to make us lay eggs for embracing awesome fashion." She giggles. "Oh, uhh...strange enouuuuugh, I happen to see you right now! Guess my driver's got some good luck in him." She laughs, "Kk, see you in a sec." As if on cue, the hoverlimo whines loudly as it accelerates. Likely because the mage gave him permission to stop pretending to be just driving around randomly and actually move towards Shizuko. Shizuko's face falls into a completely flat expression as she spots not a sniper, but said limo. Well, the inquiry as to her location earlier was, in fact, completely rhetorical. It took her that moment for her to register what Iridescence said about Silvae the wicked crone. "What? Eggs?" Hey, it's nowhere near that season, she wasn't expecting a reference to Egg Day. "Yeah, real strange. So lucky. Wow," she then stated at a dead pan. She sighs again and adds in, "See you in a minute," with a tired tone before hanging up and just waiting for the hoverlimo to get to her. She did look around, however... was anyone from her school looking? And would that be a good thing or a bad thing if they were? The hoverlimo hovers to a stop next to Shizuko, and a pale skinned guy with an assault rifle across his back gets out of the passenger door, opening up the back side of the limo and nods at Shizuko. It's not like there's a TON of rich people that drive around in hoverlimo's. It's a good way to get shot down, targeted for ransom, and whatnot, but there's a few school kids who've stopped to see what it's stopping like that. Some of them have recording tech out too, because you never know what you might miss if you're not recording it! At least it's not as prevalent as the surveillance systems over in Synthatek. Though of course that's all for everyone's safety, right? Anywho, Iridesence is sitting in the hoverlimo, waving Shizuko in as well. It's quite roomy, with plush leather seats and a mini bar. Shizuko watches as the man with the assault rifle steps out, then looks past him at Iridescence to say at a complete deadpan, "Gee, for promising no kidnapping, you managed to make this look like a kidnapping." She lets out a sigh as she spots someone holding a phone up in a manner that looks like she's now being recorded. Great. Good for her social image or not, she's decided she'd rather not have her privacy removed like that. Well, too late now. She never should have gotten involved with Iridescence. OH WAIT, THAT WASN'T HER INTENTION TO BEGIN WITH. Whatever. Inside she goes. Who knows? maybe getting to know more rich people will turn out to be, you know, a *good* thing. She's fairly certain most of her classmates would think so. Especially ones as glamorous looking as Iridescence. Somehow Basil doesn't have that same air about her, instead looking like a normal person who happens to have filthy rich parents. Iridescence... just *oozes* 'I'm wealthy and stylish' to Shizuko. So in she slides to the hoverlimo. It's more like sliding into a comfy couch than a vehicle! It's definitely nicer in here than her tiny two-bedroom apartment, in fact... "...Is it larger inside than it is outside?" One of the first times today Shizuko hasn't sounded almost sarcastic. Iridescence laughs. "I think that a lot too, it seems like that, ya?" She shakes her head though, her colorful ponytails swaying about. "I want to delve into Space magic, but I don't want to lose focus on my lightning elemental." The limo door is closed, and soon the hoverlimo takes off, though the inertia barely registers for how fast they take off and are going. Thing probably has inertia dampners, or shielding in place. Iridescence doesn't even know what it is or how it works, just that it makes the ride way more comfortable. The rich mage holds up a glass that has a blue liquid inside of it and offers it over towards Shizuko as she settles in. "Fwuh, want a drink? It tastes like blueberries and rain." And sure there's a little bit of alcohol in it. It's not like there's laws to stop underage drinking, though the school probably has some in place about it. Shizuko nods. Of course Iridescence doesn't know the full details... she probably has PEOPLE that selected what limo to get and what should be in it for options. Still, it's a much nicer, smoother ride than even anything she'd ever ridden even in Synthatek. The sheer luxury of everything around her manages to cow her a bit, however, and she has that whole imposter syndrome creeping in. What the hell is she doing *here*? She's just normal, even on the poor side, why is she in a place this *posh*? She's not able to keep that feeling off her face, either, as she suddenly looks a lot more nervous. So no, no comment about lighting and lack of focus causing that friendly fire incident. "U-uh, it's, not, uh, alcoholic, is it?" Yeah, the school has rules about it, but more importantly... her *mother* has rules about it. And Shizuko has *no* idea if she could hold any alcohol or not, since she's never had a remotely strong enough desire for alcohol to overcome the fear of possibily getting found out. Iridescence blinks then looks at the drink. "Oh, yeah, totes does. No good?" Are there rules about it these days? Huh. If there are it's not like anyone is informing her. Sure when she HAS to go to a meeting or something, so has one of her dudeoz whisper info in her ear or comm so she knows what the afterlife is going on. But not so much in this kind of sitch. She puts the drink down on a table next to her seat, which apparently has some gravity tech in it, because it hovers just above the table and as the hoverlimo turns, it maintains its upright position so the liquid has no hope of getting free of its glass chains. She hums lightly as she digs into the mini bar. "I think I had some kind of grape...yeah!" She pulls out a large first sized...grape? No wait, it's just some kind of glass material that's been forged to look like a grape, and at the top is a little spigot from which one can drink. She offers it to Shizuko. "This is like, some kind of grape drink that is supposed to be the best around Distant Oceans." That reminds her, she should see if Lillia can get some more of it. Thankfully glass blowing and grape juice making isn't something the borders between continents would stop. Well, as long as it's old school juice making with people mushing things by hand and whatnot. "All natural. That's my last one." Aaaaaand there's the sweatdrop, tearing right through her nervousness. Well, good thing she asked. She nods once to confirm, yeah, 'no good.' Maybe if she manages to somehow become actual friends with Iridescence and stays that way a couple of years she'll take her up on that grape rain drink... assuming it's still stylish enough for Iridescence. Shizuko has no clue. Her prior rich people experience is more with the traditional sort, which Iri... was not. She actually watches the drink just sit there for a moment before looking to see what her host is getting. Oh, it's not like it's tech that's new to her, no, it's just that it's been put into a vehicle just for getting around town. And then the strange drink container it offered to her, which she takes gingerly. "Uwah?" Yeah, her mother's family comes from over there a few generations back, but she's never really partaken in much from that continent. And she's handed what looks to her to be fragile glass from a far off land(no, not really farther off than Synthatek, but it *feels* farther off to Shizuko.) "Um, thank you," she says timidly before figuring out how to drink from it and, well, doing so. "So, uh... are we going back to the mall, or is there some, uh, fancier place you were thinking of going to?" True to its container, the drink has a fresh taste of grapes squeezed just from the vine. It's even cold, likely due to the mini fridge Iridescence pulled it out of. So yeah, super tasty! The multi-colored haired mage retakes the drink she offered Shizuko earlier and has a drink. Big happy yum smile afterwards finished, she grins. "The mall! I don't really like the weird attention some of the exclusive shops do. Feel like they're just catering most of the time. Though one of them did convince me to buy into their umbrella and parasol business." She shrugs and brushes at her skirt. She did get that one custom tailored. It's surprising how hard it is to find outfits with a side waist cape, they're so kewl. Shizuko blinks again at the taste. Well, she doesn't know why she was expecting something beyond grape. But it certainly was very... grape. "Yeah, well... I kinda assumed that was the point of them..." She's trying to bring the spunk out that she knows Iridescence already knows she has. She saw her fight, after all, and Shizuko was nothing but snark and trash talk towards that enemy. And probably a bit at Iridescence after the friendly fire, Shizuko doesn't actually remember... there was a lot of 'heat of the moment' going on then. "You just... bought the business?" Yeah, Basil's family is rich, but they aren't *that* rich. Once again Shizuko's head swims just a little at the scale of wealth Iridescence is putting on display. Good thing she turned down the alcohol. Iridescence blinks and tilts her head, then laughs! "Yeah, I guess that is what they're for." Huh. Realizations bouncing through her head she takes another drink. That sweet taste of rain, almost like it's raining out, which it isn't. At least not at the moment. She nods. "Oh, yeah, well, she wouldn't stop talking about it, and convinced me that parasol's are going to be all the rage soon, and that I should be using one when I go out in the sun if I want to keep my skin all gothy pale." She glances out a window where pedestrians are clearly -not- using parasols. "Fwuh. Maybe I should talk to the accountant soon and see how it's going, but who wants to bother." She sits back in her seat as the hoverlimo ascends, cutting through the upper skies of the city to bypass some traffic. Sure there's traffic in the sky, but there's way -less- of it. "So Shizuko! How are you? What's been happenin'? Got any outfits picked out in your head? I think we need to get you in at least one dress." Shizuko tilts her head slightly. "I... imagine they're more popular among the rich than among the... well, what you see out there." She turns to peek out the window at everyone out there. Yeah, she's never seen anyone with a parasol. "But, uh, yeah. It'd help keep you pale. She was right about that." It never was a look Shizuko was trying to go for herself. That seemed like... too muuch effort, even for her. As long as she was even toned, that was good enough for her. "I mean, it sounds like it's important, but... I mean, I guess it's a small thing for you, isn't it..." Well, if Iridescence's goal was to intimidate with wealth, it was certainly working. Shizuko blinks as the attention is brought to her. "Me? Oh! Uh... Well, I got in a lot of trouble for coming home beat up like that. I think someone was about to mug me on the way home, but..." She can only imagine the look she gave the guy when she saw him casing her. He certainly backed away quick. "...Had that one guy try to kill me again. Basil tried to get me to turn into a guy to spy on the SSSS football team with her and Nina..." A thought that, from the shudder, was very much something Shizuko was against doing. And then there was that woman Shizuko wasn't sure wasn't homeless that tried very hard to hit on her, but there is a limit to what Shizuko was going to tell this super-rich person about. "Picked... out? No, not really. Uh, I... didn't think you were actually going to get back to me on this, honestly, and I don't have the budget for it myself..." Iridescence isn't really sure how important her pale skin is. She likes it pale, but walking around with a parasol. Well, a lot of them have her face and name on it in a stylized logo. She doesn't care if attention gets drawn to herself, but she's also not trying to create a fashion line either, and walking around with your name on a parasol seems a little craving attention heavy. But hey, time to listen to Shizuko talk about herself. She nods here and there, tsking at someone trying to kill her. She knows what that's like. But... "Why is someone trying to kill you?" Maybe she heard this before, but it has been some months since they met, and she doesn't write things down in a journal or anything. "And a guy, huh?" She wrinkles her nose and grimaces along with Shuizuko's shudder. "Yah no." Nevermind the possible dangers spying on SSSS might bring, but maybe that was meant to be part of some kind of fun? She blinks and tilts her head sideways, her ponytails spilling over her shoulder. "Why not?" Referring to her not getting back to this. Shizuko sighs and slumps slightly before shrugging. "I kind of... shot a hole in his face when he tried to mug me and someone else. I was still getting used to that tech I fight in when it happened, so I forgot to set it to stun. Apparently he took it really personally. He's attacked me like... three times now?" At least she's fairly certain the guy won't go after her when she's with Iridescence. At least not when they're in the limo. She just... nods simply at the reaction to Basil's plan for wacky hijinks that Shizuko had... just noped right out of without even considering. She finally looked back up to Iridescence at the questioning of why not. "...I don't know. I guess I figured you... had a lot more important things to do than find me to dress up." No, she really assumed that she would be promptly forgotten about. Shizuko doesn't exactly have the highest self esteem when it comes to what people high up on the social ladder think. Iridescence raises an eyebrow at the frequent attacks. Why hasn't Shizuko killed him for it? Maybe she has qualms about ending life. There's a lot of people like that. She herself doesn't like killing people if there are other avenues, but hey, attempts on her life? Fwuh, get ready to have her dudeoz fill you with bullet holes, or maybe she'll throw some lightning at them. That kills just about everything. "I've seen you can take care of yourself, but maybe you should deal with him more permanently." She downs the rest of her drink and sets it on the table, not wanting more than that. She'll probably got a really slight buzz, maybe. "People try to keep me busy, but they know I don't like to be busy with important things. Well, what they consider important." She winks then stares at Shizuko for a long moment, biting her lower lip. "Maybe you don't know this, but fighting encroaching god entities with someone and accidentally endangering their lives because some gang decided they could get something out of me, forms a bond, least for me." The hoverlimo veers down towards the mall shopping center. Looks like it's going to land on one of the few roof parking spots. The mall seems busy as usual from this vantage point, but there are noticeably multiple squads of pale skinned dudez with assault rifles hanging out. Some in the parking lots, some on the roofs. The grimace on Shizuko's face at the suggestion of permenantly ending that mafioso's life should tell Iridescence clearly enough that it's definitely qualms about ending a person's life. Shizuko didn't grow up in the lawless Center City, she grew up in the much more structured and law-filled Synthatek. Even in self defence, killing people could get you into a lot of trouble there. At least get you stuck in uncomfortable questioning for a long time. Shizuko's father made sure she knew she was expected to not get into that kind of trouble there, and it's stuck with her even to here. No, she makes no comment, and is releived when the conversation changes subject. "Ah... uh, Y-yeah, I guess it would." Maybe Shizuko hadn't fully remembered Iridescence's name, be she knows she'd never *not* recognize her if she saw her. Even if Iridescence didn't have such a unique look. She almost wants to apologize to Iridescence for the trouble, but then remembers that the situation really is the other way around. So a figurative biting of her tongue instead, and a look out the window. "...There aren't normally that many... guard looking guys on the roof here, are there?" It's not a question, it's a statement. Once again, Shizuko is taken aback by just *how many* people Iridecence has under her employ. Iridescence nods and winks at Shizuko in a mildly flirty fashion. "They say trauma makes relationships form. but I think it's the follow ups that truly create something special between people. Like this guy named Menma I met. We fought a kraken together. I haven't seen him since, but if I do, for sure we'll want to talk about how crazy that was." She rolls her eyes. "Honestly, because my mansion has easy access to the beach, the locals started asking my security forces to help with it, I'm not jaded, I totes went and helped, but maybe call the hero hotline or something." She blinks. "Is there one of those? If there isn't there should be. I know there's the merc agencies you can call and have people help you, but it costs money. Still, you can just go in debt with them if it's really life threatening." The hoverlimo finishes its landing and parking, and the door is opened by one of the dudeoz. "I guess that can lead to slavery though." She hops out of the limo with a flowing of skirt, hair, ribbons, and a light spark of lightning traveling from her hair onto the car door. "Yah, I pulled in a ton of my dudeoz to keep the mall secure and discourage any more kidnappers. Anyone who tries anything is going to get shot." Shizuko jerks her head back lightly in surprise at the wink. Relationship? Oh, she doesn't mean like that, from what she was saying about the other guy. Shizuko wasn't sure if she was releived or dissapointed. "Um... I don't... think so? I've never looked into it, admittedly. I'd not call on the mercs, personally..." She pauses, then finally gives a light smile. "...for multiple reasons, really." Both she can handle herself and.... yeah, she's kinda on the broke side. More quietly, less confidently, she reiterates, "I can't afford to go into debt like that." And that was even before the mention of slavery, which just gets an outright wince from her. Her own exit from the limo is... less flashy. Yes, Shizuko's favorite outfit is fairly elaborate, but it has nowhere near the flash of Iridescence's. "Well... that's good. I'm not sure I have it in me to go through that again." She's already coming up with excuses for why she would have a brand new outfit when she gets home... mostly revolving around Basil, honestly, since she's *really* unsure of how her mother would feel about Shizuko hanging out with someone like Iridescence. Especially when her mother doesn't know about the whole... 'magical' girl thing. Secrets secrets! Iridescence nods in agreement. She doesn't enjoy fighting gods or krakens, but if she has to, might as well do it with friends. The kind you don't buy and aren't hanging around because you have money. So far Shizuko def doesn't seem the type. Usually she can get a good read on peeps. Usually. "We won't. Because if it does, I'll really have to rethink how I hire my security forces." She looks over at the guy holding the door open for them. "All kewl?" The guy nods. She smiles. "Thanks! I don't want a com in my ear so just have people come talk to me. Or I guess make it beep if it's -really- critical." She then holds a hand out towards Shizuko. "Shall we?" Yeah, hold hands while they walk into the mall, why not? Maybe she's flirting with Shizuko, but maybe she just wants to have fun. So far, if anything, Shizuko has seemed reluctant to take handouts, yes. It probably wasn't difficult to read that Shizuko was a little reluctant to go shopping with Iridescence. If anything she seems *less* intent to hang out with Iridescence because she's rich. But perhaps that just makes Iridescence want to befriend her more? These things really aren't on Shizuko's mind at the moment, she's just more or less being herself. "Oh. Yeah, I... I guess so." That's... a lot of mooks around. Even with how friendly Iridescence is, Shizuko can't help but be intimidated by them all. Yeah, intellectually she knows that they're effectively her bodyguards as well from her proximity to Iridescence, but... well, tell her subconscious that. The offered hand, though, *that* took her off guard even more. "Uwah? Uhhh, okay." Reluctantly, almost shyly, she takes the offered hand and is lead on towards the mall. Between that and the wink earlier, Shizuko's brain is scrambling to try to interpret if Iridescence is flirting with her or not... it's certainly not as obvious as it was with that woman in the Usual if she is flirting. Iridescence leads Shizuko through the mall, holding hangs, because it's better than not doing such! Something noticeably different than normal for the Mega Mall, there are pale skinned dudeoz with assault rifles in groups almost every fifteen feet. Shoppers are keeping their distance from them, which is exactly what they should do! Iridescence just ignores their presence, but she knew they'd be there already! Every now and again Shizuko gets a very light tingle in the hand that's being held, not quite a static shock as there's no pain or anything, but some kind of mild electrical current occurs. "Should we go to the Right Stuff or find one of the clicky side stores, ya think?" She actually hasn't gone proper shopping in awhile, unless you count the kidnapping episode that happened. Iridescence flashes a cheerful smile. "Ahyah, totes magoats." She looks Shizuko over, nodding. "Mm, mm, yes. Let's hit The Dark Side. I've been there a few times and I -know- they're going to have stuff we can get you in to make you scream goth fashion." She'll shift direction in the mall, though she's careful with her pacing to not be pulling or dragging Shizuko with her. It also gives some of her dudeoz time to move forces, a couple small squads moving a a light jog ahead of them. They're not exactly clearing a path, but its definitely a disturbance to the flow of traffic. Many of the mall shoppers get out of the away, but there's a few that just look really irritated. Multiple murmurs and whispered complaints start to spawn among the crowds. Once again, Shizuko wonders why Iridescence is so sure she will pull off the goth look. But really... the part bothering her the most is the irritated looks coming her way. "I, uh... Are you sure you didn't, um, go a bit overboard this time?" She's having a hard time really blaming Iridescence, however, considering what happened last time the two were here at the same time. Still, at the same time, she's... attempting to imagine herself in goth clothing and... yeah, no, all she's really coming up with is how she usually dresses but all black and with black lipstick. A part of her is looking foreward to seeing what is going to happen... but just as much of her is dreading it. The multi-colored hair girl blinks. "Fwuh? With what?" She looks about as they walk and actually pays attention to her surroundings. It's surprisingly easy for her to tune out and focus, because there's usually someone keeping track of anything that might be dangerous. And it's not like she's out near The Conglomeration where she should be on guard. An older man grumbles. "One of those Richside couples messing with my mall walking." And issues the multiversal gesture of up yours to the two. Iridescenc laughs, which doesn't make things better. "It's fine. I mean, if mall security had prevented our kidnapping last time I wouldn't need to do this. And I made a promise, no kidnapping of either of us. It was either this or I buy the place and empty it, so thinking of it that way they should be grateful." She winks. Is she joking? They reach the store, The Dark Side, a large clothing store playing some low beat tones with dark lightning and rows upon rows of fashion, most of it aimed towards goths, punks, and cyber styling. There's also knicknacks spread throughout the place, the shop owners hoping for some impulse buys. Shizuko avoids any eye contact with the irritated people... no, she's very much back to being a very shy person, not the embodiment of spunk that she was when she and Iridescence got kidnapped. Still, she can't help but /hear/ them. . o O ( Couple?! Is that what people are thinking when they see us? ) Aaaand cue the face going a bit too red for appropriate for the... decidedly monotone store they're arriving at. "I, uh... yeah, I suppose this is... also making what happened last time less likely, too..." No, she won't forget that people /died/ when those nutcases first showed up. And there it is. A store that Shizuko has never even seriously glanced at when passing by. Yeah, she'd noticed it was there, but the whole 'all black' thing was never her style... well, time to try it out anyway. "Oh, defz." She heads into the store and as if summoned by a command spell, a store clerk appears. "Iridescence! Welcome back, it's so good to see you here." Iridescence pulls up short. "Fwuh?" She checks this area of the store over. She doesn't see anyone else she knows in here. It's possibly her security went ahead and announced her coming. It's not like she's a big celebrity. Yeah people might know her name, but not her face. Oh well! "Thanks! Just getting a new outfit or two for Shizuko here." She'll raise Shizuko's hand that she's holding to point her out even though it's obvious. Shizuko as well pauses, once again with that 'deer caught in headlights' look. Well, of course Iridescence is recognized in a place like this. Then again, there was that odd look around that Iridescense gave around the place at the announcement. Shizuko's hand is raised for her and she's once again very aware that yes, Iridescence is /still/ holding her hand. "I, uh, this is a new style for me," she manages to get out. Yes, she still is a little red in the face... especially as she looks around at how revealing a lot of the outfits are here. Thankfully not /all/ of them, but who knows what Iridescence is going to dress Shizuko up in? The clerk smiles. "Oh how marvelous. Would you like me to take you around?" If Iridescence's own outfit is anything to go by, she isn't concerned with showing a bit of skin here and there. "No third wheel please." She winks at the store clerk who nods and steps away. Iridescence walks over towards an entire wall that's dedicated to multiple gothic combo outfits, ranging for satins, silks, cottons, and leather. It's quite the display. "This is new from last time I was here. Wicked." For the first time she actually let's go of Shizuko's hand, reaching out and feeling the hem of a skirt. Whispering off to the side, you hear the clerk talking to another of the corporate enslaved. "Yeah, that's her. She bought out more than half the store a few years back." As her hand is finally freed, Shizuko takes it back and holds it in her other hand somewhat nervously. She looks over the options as well... Hrm. Skirts, nice. She does have a fondness for them over pants... usually. At least when she's trying to be fancy in any way, and if she's going out looking goth, well, that's a type of fancy, isn't it? Leather, though... that's not something she's dared try. Even the materials of some of these items just scream 'expensive' to her, and she blew a quarter of her yearly allowance on one outfit before. To be fair, that maroon tartan skirt with the long boots look is one she /really/ likes. Speaking of which, she's seeing plenty of long boot options... as well as some heels that she's not sure she could actually /walk/ in. The latter of those puts her in a bit of dread, but at least she's used to the former. There's a quick look back at the workers before looking back to the selection Iridescence is looking at. "Um, what do you think would... look good on me, then?" Shizuko asks with more than a little nervousness. Iridescence rolls her eyes internally as she catches the store clerks whispering. No wonder they ambushed her. But whatevz, she's not worried about the service here one way or the other. A big grin flows across her features as she looks at Shizuko. "Yeah, with your body, everything babe." Buuuut, she's here to find something nice and punchy that'll really make Shizuko seem like she was born goth, so she points her finger first at a black leather top with white stripes running down the front and detatched sleeves with belts securing them around the upper shoulder. "This, and this." She points at a matching black pleated skirt that's...pretty short, but not indecent at least. She's decided the time of pointing is at an end and grabs both items, holding them up against Shizuko unless she backs away or somefin. Shizuko blinks at the way Iridescence responds to her... Okay. Now she's fairly certain Iridescence is at the very least flirting with her. And once again she goes a bit more red. Somehow this manages not to feel quite as pushy as that woman at the Usual the other day... despite the fact that she was dragged into a limo and driven to another location. "O-o-oh," she manages to stammer out. Yes, well, she's eager for the distraction of OH LOOK CLOTHES TO TRY ON. Luckily she's used to shorter skirts... though she's coming in from school right now, so that's not the case at the moment. Detached sleeves, too, is something she's actually had experience with on her favorite outfit. So no, no backing away. "Uh... probably should have... Over knee boots? Or at least long stockings..." Hey, don't let it be said that she doesn't have her own sense of style as well. Iridescence nods. "Exzaply." She hands off the top and skirt to Shizuko, as long as she'll take them. If not she'll set them aside. "And a belt, maybe two. Sometimes you want to criss-cross them, or let one hang at an angle." Talking the essentials here! "Long stockings and short boots will look great with this as well." She steps back and eyes Shizuko up and down, "Hold the rain though." She says and reaches over Shizuko's shoulder, pulling another leather top, this one also has detatched sleeves, but rather than lines down the front is solid black, and is accented with a short red tie. "This is gonna totes match your hair ribbon. But now that we have red we can't leave the skirt." She starts swapping things out, taking the skirt from Shizuko and leaving her with the new top. She also doesn't put things back where she got them. It's not that she's rude, she just doesn't understand that it's a problem to make shopkeeps come clean up after her. "No, too long." She says, then, "Ahh! By the Great Scavanger this is it." She pulls a leater black pleated skirt, but it has a red frilled hem. "Yahhhhh." She hands that one over next! Woo! Shizuko nods once at the belt suggestion. Makes sense. She already does that sometimes with a non-functional belt on her favorite shorts. "Ribbons are changeable," she says quietly, but no, moving on towards having a splash of color... well, perhaps it'll better match the color her face keeps turning from time to time today. Soon she has both primary items of clothing, looking over them. "I... can work with this, I think." Again, not a material she's used to, but, well, time for new things, apparently. Lots of new things. She glances once at Iridescence again, then looks around. "Changing room..." Once spotted, she's on her way with perhaps a little too much haste. Yes, a part of her is wanting to hide again. Iridescence arcs with a a spark of lightning as Shizuko heads to the changing room. There's the lightest bit of thunderclap. "You're going to look ah may zing." She starts following Shizuko. Is she going to the changing room with her?! Before it becomes a concern she diverts off to the side, looking over a few non-clothing items. There's a lot of good clothes here, but she wants to focus on getting things for Shizuko today rather than herself. After all, that's the whole point of the trip! She's all smiles though. No kidnappings and her comm hasn't even beeped. She should have grabbed some drinks before they came in. Well, maybe on the way out. There comes the red face again at the compliment. Really, if Iridescence hadn't called Shizuko 'babe' after saying everything would look good on her, she'd probably be having an easier time with this. She takes her time in the changing room, making sure she's gotten everything adjusted correctly. Finally she steps out, more self-conscious about the shortness of the skirt... She isn't wearing her long boots today and the short skirt is just... leaving too much bare leg for her liking right now. "So, uhh... I think this is working?" Well, she doesn't quite have the attitude for the goth look at the moment, looking far too bashful. She looks at a mirror again and turns to her side to get a better look at herself before slightly adjusting the right sleeve. Iridescence has a small black bag in hand now having bought something while you were changing. She comes to see though and shakes her head in the 'can't believe how good that looks' way. "Ohhhhh yah, it's like waves on the beach, something you always want to see." She winks and walks around Shizuko, mmhming and nodding repeatedly. "I knew it. I knew you'd look breathtaking." She puts her hand to her chest and heaves in a breath and sigh, a little spark flickering in her hair. "Now let's get you in a dress. But I'm thirsty too." She looks around and sees a store clerk. She's easy to spot since it seems like her job right now is to watch Iridescence and Shizuko and see if they need anything. "Ahyo, go grab me a sparkly alcohol thing, and Shizuko here a fruity non-alcohol thing." The clerk blanches, confused, and opens her mouth to protest, one another indentured worker rushes over and puts a hand over the other clerks mouth. "Of course Miss Obrimos!" And drags the clerk off! Shizuko manages to avoid eye contact through this... yeah, the compliments aren't helping her confidence. It's more like she just doesn't know what to do! Yeah, she's pushed off people that she just has no interest in plenty of times... But she's still just not sure how she should handle Iridescence. So... avoiding eye context and trying to just... keep going. "Dress? But-" already one outfit? "...They aren't... this isn't..." She sighs and hangs her head, redness going away as exasperation takes the place of self consciousness. Best to just move along, it's really not her place to correct Iridescence when the staff seems to be playing along. Dress is coming. She looks around the place at the dresses and... once again worries, though not quite as much. Sure, there's a lot of skimpy dresses, but none match the skimpiness of some of the outfits she had been fearing the first time. There are -some- pretty skimpy dresses, but most of them are more showy than skimpy. Iridescence will try and take Shizuko's hand and guide her among the dresses. "Now there's lots of different kinds, do we want something for when you go to the theater, or something for a fancy dinner, or wearing around the house. Hm." She taps her lip, looking over the options, though she tends to linger her gaze on Shizuko a bit more than before. There's more calculations when picking a dress, obviously! Or she's enjoying Shizuko's goth look. Mebbe. Shizuko's fears are slightly lessened as they seem to be looking at the less skimpy options. "...I... can't say I really ever go to anything fancy..." Understatement. Shizuko isn't exactly high society. She's poor. Or at least that's her thinking. No, she doesn't seem to realize that she's getting multiple connections with people from Richside... she actually is worming her way into high society without even realizing it. "But, uh, most of what I'm seeing here I think my mother would question me wearing 'around the house.'" Feeling Iridescence's gaze on her, she glances at the rainbow-haired one. "...Uh, what are /you/ thinking?" "Well, you def have an everyday outfit right there." She nods at your current motif. "So something more fancy, touch of exotic if possible." She starts scanning the plentiful display, shaking her head at some. "A lot of these would look great on you. Maybe I should buy them all and you can have a whole wardrobe to choose from." It's what she did last time she was here when she couldn't pick just one. The clerk comes back and hands over the drinks, probably fetched from one of the nearby stalls that are scattered around the megal mall. "Thanks!" Shizuko looks down at herself and the outfit she's wearing. It was certainly not what she would call an 'everyday outfit'. Well, apparently it 'definitely' was for everyday use in Iridescence's eyes. Shizuko lets out a sigh before looking back at the dress selection again. "Sure. I suppose that makes sense," she says instead of actually voicing her actual thoughts. The second part did make more sense, after all... that the dress should be fancier and perhaps... /more/ exotic somehow. Thankfully Iridescence makes her suggestion of 'buying them all' before the drinks come, because Shizuko likely would have choked on hers. "Please don't," is all she's able to really say. "I, uh, don't have that kind fo wardrobe space?" And she'd /never/ manage to work her way through all those options, anyway! "Let's... n-narrow it down to one... for now." The last part tagged on to keep Iridescence from thinking they definitely should get a whole bunch at once... though Shizuko wonders if it's a mistake to make it sound like there's an expectation of doing this again. As she's handed a drink, Shizuko gives an apologetic smile to the retail worker. "Thank you... and sorry," she says quietly. The clerk smiles back. "Oh, of course, anything for the two of you." Seems Shizuko is now included in the take very, very, good care of this customer category now. "Can I get you something else while you browse?" Iridescence ohs! "Right, of course! I hadn't thought of that." It makes sense, not everyone has tons of wardrobe space. Although it depends on where you live. She's pretty sure some of the kingdoms spread around this continent have plenty of space! But Shizuko's a city girl. She thinks. Actually. "You live in the city? Where's your house?" Something she didn't have checked by her peeps ahead of time. She eyes a dress of satin, that's a combination of a kimono, long flowing sleeves, but has a shorter skirt style too it, heavy on the black, with a few trails of blue running down the arms. "Maybe this!" She holds it towards you. Right. Shizuko is going to have to avoid coming to this store by herself now, isn't she? They're going to expect deep pockets from her, aren't they? "N-no, thank you," she says with more than a little exasperation. Looking back to Iridescence, she ponders her answer. "We don't have a 'house,' really. My mother and I live in a two bedroom apartment... a small one. In the Neko Neko Apartment building." Honestly, the way things have been going, she's honestly surprised Iridescence didn't already know that... considering she geotracked Shizuko's phone to find her earlier today. She takes the short kimono dress as it's handed to her and looks it over before holding it up in front of her while looking in a nearby mirror. "Hrm," she says. "Well, let's give it a try?" Honestly, the kimono style wasn't something she was considering, but... perhaps this was going to work on her? "Let's! The great thing about goth fashion is combining it with other styles to make something unique." She flicks at her waist cape in emphasis, a small spark igniting between her fingers. "Oh, Neko Neko. Who owns that nowadays? I remember a long time ago someone telling me that they managed to roll protection money for local gangs into the rent." She doesn't think -she- owns it. Unless her parents bought it before they died and it never got mentioned to her. Doubtful though. Real estate isn't always a solid investment. Well, unless you have a large group to backup your claim. Wait, her mind is wandering. Dresses! What else should they try. Maybe something with more leather instead of satin. She walks down the line, sipping at her drink. She makes a little face. Not properly mixed! Shizuko looks over the dress again, then at the ones still hanging. "...Combining with other styles," she says thoughtfully before being brought back to the subject of her apartment building. "Oh, uh... I have no idea. I... didn't ask any questions like that... My mother just... found the place and we moved in..." aaaaand Iridescence is going back to looking at leather again. She already has something in leather and... oh, perhaps Iri was thinking the same thing, judging from the face she made? Sure, let's let Shizuko think that. "Let's get... a couple different styles for me to try, and we'll see which one is best... Nothing wrong with a little modeling, right?" Iridescence can't decide if she wants to even drink this anymore. Fwuh. She sets the drink on top of a display nearby. "Right!" She moves on, eyeing more styles. "Billow sleeves are fun, because you can hide your hands in them if its cold." She waves her own sleeves and then folders her arms and tucks them in to demonstrate. "Looks wicked too, who knows what I'm holding now." She winks and lets her hands loose. "Maybe something more Distant Oceans." She moves to more bordering on ballgown gothic styles. "These are great at parties, and they'd work on both continents. Not that I usually continent hop." Shizuko's eyes linger on the ball gown style as well, then she shakes her head. What's the point? She's never going to have any reason to wear something even remotely that fancy. It might as well just be a costume... An incredibly expensive costume that her mother is sure to hound her about. "...I don't exactly get invited to many parties... and the few I have... these would be really out of place in." There's a frown at the mention of 'working on both continents'. "I... don't think I'll be going over there, ever." Spoken like a Synthatec born girl right there. "No? I getchya. Why go anywhere but Senta, it has the best of everything." Minus the law and order, but Iridescence doesn't have to care about that since she has her own security forces. "I'll try to throw more. I'm planning on a big Crashmass one down on the beach, although it's not like there's a dress code, but..." She pauses in front of a satin black dress. A sleeveless design with open back, and a small slit running up the middle to show not an indecent amount of skin. The neck piece is linked by a small blue flower. The lower half has tiered frills at the hem, shorter at the front to show off the legs with a full down to the ground train behind it. A twin set of blue flowers adorn the right side. "This, oh this will like fabo on you!" She holds it up, turning it up a bit and pushing it against you, nodding her head in a swirl of colored ponytails. Shizuko doesn't quite nod in agreement on the 'why go anywhere but Senta?' remark, because, well, she wouldn't mind too much going back to Synthatec. She /does/ have to care about the 'law and order' part. "On the beach?" she asks, mostly because it's really not the season one typically thinks of going to the beach on. "Well, I mean..." she was about to say something about 'not like I would get invited to fancy parties like that,' but even she realizes that... there's a decent chance that's not true. "...but a dress like this would still be appropriate?" she asks instead as Iridescence looks at it. As it's thrusted at her, Shizuko can't help but think she /does/ like the style of it. "...Okay, I'll try it on," she says, not quite sounding as reluctant as she intends. Iridescence smiles. "Ohya, you got to babe. You'll look like royalty for sure." She winks. "Never a bad thing to be a gothic princess, who knows who'll fawn over you." A beep comes from her pocket! Her smile gives way to irritation as she fishes in her skirt pocket and pulls out her ear com, rolling her eyes. "Wha?" She listens for a moment. "Ya just pay the fine, I don't want to bother with a gang war today. Tell them I'm not trying to take over the mall, I'm just shopping in peace because last time they let bozos nab me." She rolls her eyes at Shizuko and mouths 'oh brother', then grabs another dress, at random?, and gives it to her as well, affirmatively nodding that, yes, she should try this one on after the other as well. Shizuko frowns at the thought of supposedly being mistakable for royalty. Her? No way. The 'who'll fawn over you' line just gets an eyeroll... an eyeroll that turns into a look away from Iridescence entirely when she realizes what the call is about. All this mess over just going to get her some outfits? She hates the idea that she's inconveniencing that many people! A blush of guilty embarassment comes across her face as she takes the next dress without even looking at it and scurries off to the changing room. Three dresses, better get moving on trying them! Okay, first dress. The short Kimono style one. It takes her a while, mostly because she's really not entirely sure how to get the obi right. "I don't know, this one... What do you think? I'm not sure it's really 'me.'" The com in the mages ear is back in her pocket when Shizuko comes back out. She hates that thing in her ear. "Sorry for the call." She assess' Shizuko, nodding and stepping over to adjust it a bit at the shoulders. "You're joking, because this looks totes great on you! Adopting a gothic fashion style is all about showing off your features. And your face and figure work in that." She holds her up hands in concession. "But if ya don't like it, I don't want to force this one on you." The other ones...maybe. Shizuko shakes her head. Nope, trying not to think about the reasons behind that call. She'll blame herself, and she just doesn't want to think about that now because she doesn't honestly think she can do anything about it and it would just make her feel miserable. "...I just am offput by the fact that there's... way more sleeve than skirt. Is this... is this /wider/ than the skirt is?" She holds it down to compare, grabbing one end with her other hand to compare. No, not quite, but it still feels... off balance to her. "...I don't think the whole wide sleeve thing is for me." She hates to sound ungrateful (which is always at odds with the part of her that hates handouts), but she nods with a frown once. "I'll, uh, go try the next one." One that Shizuko had more hope in from the start... Yes, she's more optimistic about this one. Still, it takes her a bit with it. At one point she almost wants to call for help... but she can't wear her bra through all this due to the open back styles of... everything but the kimono, so she's more than reluctant to actually ask. Once she does get it on, though, she's happy to find it's not actually so long on the back it drags on the floor. When she steps out, it's clear she's far more pleased with this one than she was with the short kimono, looking in the full length mirror and spinning around once. Oh look, she's actually smiled. Iridescence thinks big mega sleeves are the way to goooo, but maybe they're not for everyone? It's not like she's taking someone shopping a gigazillion times. Not since before her parents were alive and she was a kiddo. "Fwuh!" She claps lightly as Shizuko comes out and does a little spin. "All right, maybe some things look more drop dead gorgeous on ya than otherz." Little lightning strikes zip around her hair as she walks to your side, taking a look from all angles. "So elegant! Let's get you a pair of short heels to go with it." Ohlook, she has a pair sitting on a shelf next to her, obviously not where they belong. She must have grabbed them when Shizuko went to change. She offers them over! "For realz Shizuko, you look amazing." Shizuko nods once as she's looking at herself in the mirror still. For once, she's not disagreeing with Iridescence... She /wants/ this dress. She would save up for this dress. She /will/ find reasons to wear this dress. Shoes handed to her? Oh! Right! Shoes should go with them! She definitely didn't see that Iridescence grabbed them from a not-shoe section. "Yeah..." she says, then blushes fiercely as she caught herself sounding just that /vain/. "I mean, yeah, it does look amazing on me." Maybe it's the distant resemblance to her 'magical girl' outfit? No, the leather combo she was trying on (and was likely going to keep) resembled it even more. This is just... the elegance she lacks in her normal life, the elegance she /wants/ to have. All the things that make her glad to be a girl... and speaking of which, yes, let's put on the heels, something she just needs a seat for and not going back into the changing room. It might be better for Shizuko's health if she's not looking at any price tags. But Iridescence is paying for all of this surely. At least that's what the goth girl has been implying this whole time. "I knew you'd get into this." She nods in approval with a cheerful smile. Who DOESN'T want to look like a gorgeous gothy princess? Okay, maybe some of her dudeoz, but whatevz. "We should get a little wrist bangle for you too." She points at an assorted display of said items, with varying degrees of bows, skulls, and other such decorations on them. Indeed, Shizuko is trying very hard to avoid looking at the price tags. She does not want to happen to see that this dress would cost her two years' worth of her allowance, no. She focuses on the shoes for a moment before even considering the selection of wrist accessories. She steps over, intentionally swaying her hips just to feel what the dress /feels/ like. Looking over them, she frowns at the more true goth options. No, skulls and bats and other vampire or horror motifs will never be for her, so instead she gravitates more towards a frilly ribbon one, black to match the dress. "What do you think of this one?" She's finally sounding a little less shy, and definitely more confident. Sometimes the right clothes can change a person a little. The lightning mage's eyes linger on the dress swaying just a tad longer than proper before she redirects her mental attentions to Shizuko's selection. A smile ripples over her face. "Yah, that'll be perfect with it. It'll match the tiered look on your hem!" Another convert, though it took the dress to really get her into it. But surely this'll make her want to wear the prior outfit more often as well! "Good eye, good pick." She winks, a little spark of lightning crackling out from the edge of her eye. Shizuko tilts her head slightly at the lightning from the wink, but doesn't delay before putting on the bangle now that it's approved of by the goth style expert. Yeah, she didn't notice the lingering gaze, either, a little absorbed in the dress itself for the moment. "The dress itself was the good pick," she says as she walks... no, sashays to the mirror to take a look at herself. Even making a few modeling poses. Yes. She likes this dress. She likes it a lot. Maybe it would ahve been better with a little more color? No, probably not. Or if it did, she'd be less likely to have Iridescence offering to buy it for her, so this definitely will do. She turns, or rather half spins, to face Iridescence again. "So what now?" she asks, actually smiling. Wait, no goths are supposed to frown, not smile, right? Well, too bad. Iridescence also breaks a lot of the moody goth personality types. Really she thinks the fashion is what it's all really about. Although overcast weather is generally superior to sunny weather. She offers a clap at the poses and half spin. "Fwuh! You wear that really well, you already know how to move." She drums her fingers on her hip a moment. "What do you think Shizuko? You want to try and find another dress? Another outfit? This is only the beginning of your new goth wardrobe." She holds up one hand in a passive acceptance palm open gesture. "But if you're at your limit today, you can set your own pace for the future." Shizuko poses once more at being complimented for knowing how to move... A little bit of magical girl energy in that particular pose, rather than goth energy. Well, Shizuko would agree on fashion over mood. The offer to 'find another dress' gets a pause, however. "Beginning? Oh... oh, no, I couldn't. I mean... I'm probably already going to have to... come up with some sort of cover story for how I got /these/." For the first time, she ponders telling her mother the truth... or at least the truth that the person from Richside that was responsible for her injuries before bought them for her. Sure, Shizuko can just... /imply/ that it's because of compensation for what happened before, rather than what Shizuko suspected was going to happen the first day if they hadn't been attacked and kidnapped. Whatever, it's Shizuko's actual excuse for accepting the dress and the leather outfit. She hates handouts, but this is /compensation/ for damages done. Sure. Shizuko adds, "I mean, I also don't... really have that much closet space..." Future... as much as Shizuko would love to have a collection of dresses of this caliber... it really isn't something she sees as reasonable. Iridescence blinks, processing that for a moment. "Cover story?" She's trying to think of why anyone would need one. What could it be? "Because your landlord might jack up your rent if they see you wearing awesome clothes? Humummum...they're...a gift and compensation for the traumatic experience you went through." She nods aggressively, sending her ponytails swirling. At the closet space though. She forgot about that. It makes sense, she might only have one or two rooms for wardrobes instead of an entire floor. And they're probably full of her prior clothes. Her brow furrows as she tries to think of a solution. Shizuko blinks at Iridescence's thought process on the landlord. "No, I mean my mother can be kind of str- Oh my goddess, I didn't even /think/ about that!" It's a horrifying thought since her mother is already barely scraping by with the bills as it is. Really, her more usually worn tartan skirt combo was a major splurge as it was. "But... yeah, that's... what they are." Her confidence is fading, alas. If only she knew what Iridescence was thinking... rooms? Just one little closet. Iridescence nods! "I'll get a gift letter written up by one of my peeps and have it mailed to your apartment and a copy sent to the Neko Neko management so there's no confusion." She taps her cheek. "Although if someone intercepts them or they get sold to a gang it might make you a bigger target for kidnapping from being associated with me. Fwuh...this has become a puzzle." Generally she doesn't consider many of the consequences and side effects of her actions, she can just throw people or money at them if she needs too. It's a weird thing to try and wrap her head around. "Ya know we're probably overthinking it all." She waves it away dismissively. Shizuko sighs and hangs her head. This is getting complicated... but on the other hand, "Really, I'm not worried about gangs. One's already targetting me anyway, having this added won't make much of a difference." Because for some reason she still won't just... /kill/ the guy, even if he's clearly out to kill her. "Probably," she says as she straightens up again. "But again, I'm more worried about getting a lecture from my mother." She looks at herself in the mirror again, blushing slightly this time. "...I need an excuse to wear this," she says quietly before quickly shaking her head and looking abck to the changing room. "But, um, yeah, uh, this and that first outfit and we're even, okay?" Iridescence ohyeahs. She thinks she remembers Shizuko talking about that with her and not killing the guy or somesuch. "A lecture? For wearing amazing gorgeous clothes? I bet your mom will wish you had even more." She winks, but can see that she should let Shizuko have her way as far as more clothes goes, for now. "Rawk. Even. Next time we'll have to go out on a date where I don't owe you for endangering your life." That can totes happen. Look how peaceful its been here in the mall thanks to all her dudeoz running security? Not that she wants to do this every time because some of the gangs and organizations will start thinking she's making moves on their turf. She heads over and settles up with the store clerk. Kachingchingchingching goes the register. Yeah, this stuff is expensive, not that Iridescence cares to notice. Shizuko just gives an exasperated look at the thought of her mother wishing she had more. "Yes, I appreciate the whole 'not endangering my life thing." That said, she's already making her way back to the the changing room now. No, she indeed is /not/ planning on walking out of the store in this dress... though when she steps out, she's back in the other new getup. "Thanks, and... like I said, now we're even." Something else is creeping up on the back of her mind, however. Something Iridescence said that didn't quite conenct with her conscious self... "That looks so wizard on you." The goth mage says, admiring the outfit once more. Mm, just good taste! "Even. Done." She claps her hands loudly to emphasize the point and then heads out of the store, snagging the small black shopping bag she had acquired during Shizuko's first clothing change. Once they're out of The Dark Side itself and back on the main Mega Mall floor, she reaches in and pulls out a small softball sized black cardboard box and offers it over. "Got ya this. Present, not owed." Assuming Shizuko opens it, she'll find inside a small crystal stand, on top of which is a black crystal heart that has a gentle red pulse within its depths. "Can't believe they had this in there, and it was so cheap. It's a health and emotional state soother! For real! They had it as a -mood heart-, but it's not just that, the crystal its made of has a natural chillaxing effect if you hold the heart against you. I found some once near the Conglomeration. Had to have it and give it to you!" Leaving the store. It's like a new page turned over in Shizuko's book of life or something. So strange a feeling, walking out in something this nice while having your normal clothes in a bag... and something even /nicer/ as well. "Eh?" she says as the new box is given to her, looking at it more warily now. She carefully takes the box, half expecting some other thing to drop now. Just a bit of pessimist nature shifting through. Gingerly, eyes narrowed slightly, she opens the box to see the crystal inside. "Uwah?" She looks back to Iridescence in confusion, a look that... doesn't really change with the explanation of what it is. She just wants to ask 'why' but at this point... no. Well, surely Iridescence has seen the nervousness in Shizuko through a lot of this. Seen her worry, see her pessimistic nature. Maybe Shizuko really does embody a lot of Goth elements. A strangely thoughtful gift... Somehow that was the most surprising thing of all of this. This is no 'using Shizuko as a dress-up doll' like she was expecting - and let's be honest, that /did/ happen. "Thank you," she says quietly, unsure of how the heck she's supposed to feel about all this... No, she's not going to try it out right now. She carefully closes the box again and... well, puts it in one of her bags. It /is/ the most convenient way to carry it. There's no laws against using people as dress up dolls, that's what Iridescence lives in Senta and not Synthatek. Okay she doesn't know if there are clothing laws over there but she doesn't doubt it somehow! "Totes!" She thinks she likes it? Hard to tell with the hesitations setting in, but no matter! "This has been -awesome- fun. I haven't done this in a real long time!" She'll reach over to try and take Shizuko's hand again, planning to head to the limo and drop her off at the Neko Neko apartments, or wherever else she wants to be dropped off. Shizuko's hand is grabbed and she is pulled. Nope, not fighting against it, apparently they're headed for the exit this time so... yeah, better or worse, looks like this unexpected shopping trip is at its end. Well, better than last time, that's for sure. She considers a moment before nodding and smiling once again. "Yeah. It /was/ fun!" she decides aloud. The time truly does come to an end, and Shizuko is dropped off... no, not directly in front of the place, that would cause too much of a fuss. >.> So Shizuko steps out and offers a bow towards Iridescence. "Thanks... It was... nice." With that she turns around, takes a step forward and suddenly freezes as she hears the limo taking off again. "Wait... did she say 'date' for next time?" | |