Dresses for success

Log Info

• Title: Dresses for success

• Emitter: Schara

• Characters: Schara, Slixvah

• Place: The Prestigious Moon

• Summary: Schara needs to purchase a dress, and having no first hand experience, requests the help of Slixvah, who is more than happy to help with visiting a clothing shop. The egalrin uses magic to make themselves take the shape of a human that is the same body shape as Schara, which seems to bother the artificer some, but it is moved past as the two work on figuring out what to wear. Schara's idea inspired by Slixvah's prior success wearing a flamboyant dress to sell amulets which shield against the cold weather is dismissed, with the egalrin suggesting clothing which Schara would likely feel more comfortable in. The two discuss various topics around choice of attire and confidence, as well as some of the artificer's past and various other topics.

Prestigious Moon, later afternoon.

Schara couldn't rely on Slixvah's help forever, which was why at this moment, she was relying upon the egalrin again. The artificer hadn't entered the shop yet, and was instead waiting outside by the door. The elf had a thick winter coat and their cloak which was normally worn over their armor, which made it look oversized without it. The artificer was passing the time reading a book, a metal stylus tucked into the corner of their mouth used to nudge through the pages.

Oh my gawd, did someone say SHOPPING?

Nyoooooooom!

A winged figure soars overhead, doing an aerial before plummeting to the ground. A tight spin encases them in red and white feathers, robe acting like a cocoon before it pops open! And a human woman lands with a three point landing! "I! Am! Here~!" Human-Slixvah grins, throwing her hands up to the air and all but hopping towards Schara. An arm loops around the elf in a side hug. "Heeey!"

Schara looked up, blinked once, and on realizing the flying object was coming for them, takes a step back, catching the book they were reading with their teeth before dropping it into a pocket of their coat. "Hello, Slixvah, I am glad you could make it. I understand it was short notice and I hope you did not overly exert yourself to arrive here." The artificer greets, raising their right arm and returning a rather stiff side hug. "What is your reasoning for looking like a human this time? I believe the shop is big enough for Egalrin."

"Because!" Slixvah pops back, hands on her hips with a huge smile. She hip checks the door open. "I gotta copy ya body shape if we lookin' for clothes! Ain't got certain assets ya know bein' just me! Now c'mon! I love clothes shoppin'!"

She all but reaches out to try and drag Schara in.

"Ah, I see, in that case." Schara nods once, doing her best to give a small smile back. "Though if it was that, you could have just made yourself look like me. It is only fair given my past actions, but I don't know if your magic is capable of recreating prosthetic limbs. Actually, you having functioning hands and arms is probably a good idea." The elf muses, before realizing they were continuing to talk at the entrance. Schara follows the not egalrin in, stopping out of the way of the door to look around. "I did notice that you wear a variety of different garments, so I thought you may be able to help. I require a dress that covers a minimal amount of surface area, one which looks impractical for wearing outside in the winter. I was hoping you might be able to help me, but I don't know if egalrin wear dresses, actually."

Human Slix just laughs. "I just copied your body, sugar," she winks, turning around to show off that- yep, same. "Besides, I like this face! And yours is cute enough. Aaaand, I don't like turning into my friends."

Inside the shop proper, she heads on over to one side, seemingly have been here a number of times. "Okay! First off we-"

What was said catching up to her. Slix blinks, her face dusting crimson. "SCHA-Scha! My goodness!" she fans herself in a joking manner. "So bold! Egalrin don't all the time, but I like wearing them. So! Ah, you comfortable with this? I don't mean ta sound rude, but that sort of style- ya know, showing off lots,- don't seem like something ya style?"

"Ah, I see. A copy of my body?" The elf notes, looking to Slixvah, stopping to unabashedly stare at heir friend, namely their arms. Something which even they realize they're doing, Schara shaking their head and swiping the sleeve of their coat awkwardly across their face once.

"Right, is there something wrong with this?" They respond with one tilt of their head. "It's not a matter of comfort, most of those dresses seem uncomfortable by nature, much like shoes with overly elevated heels. It is to sell things, so I can accept the practicality in that way, however."

Slix notes Schara's staring. She grins, putting her hands on her hips and leaning forward. "Mhmm. Eyes up. Anywho!"

She laughs, turning to start rifling around for dresses on the racks. "Naw. Some are comfy, nice and airy, light. I see you don't particularly care about showing off. Some folks are picky about that. I was just notin' this doesn't seem your style."

The human pauses, raising a brow and looking back to Schara. "... to sell thi- Scha Scha! Are you doin' this just ta copy what I did that one day? Why not just wear shorts an' a thin shirt?"

"Ah, yes, right. Sorry, Slixvah. Your mention of copying me just had me wondering, but it is not important right now." Schara apologizes, moving to watch some of the dresses being moved around. "I don't care about showing off, it is true, most of my clothes are practical in some way or another." The artificer agrees, before she ralizes the question. The elf coughs once, and nods. "That is one part of it, yes. There is no denying that your choice of clothing likely helped with sales, and I could do something similar." They admit. "And while something like shorts and a shirt may work, I do not believe they would help as much, and I am already lacking your charisma and ease of speaking, so I believe I need every bit of help possible."

Slixvah purses her lips, raising a brow. Filing that away for later, but it was neither here nor there. "Hm."

She pulls a sundress off the rack and turns towards Schara. It's got a strap to loop around the neck, and a runs the length of the body with a flowy violet. "Look. Gonna keep it real wit'cha. If ya wear somethin' like I did, ya gonna just look silly. Like armor, ya gotta know how ta work the clothes, yeah?"

She offers the sundress. "You wanna try this on? It's more casual, but gets the point across. Plus, it'd look cute on ya. When I was helpin' ya, I maaaaaaaaaay have been persuading people pretty heavily," she winks.

"I see. You're right, I probably wouldn't look right in something like that. That is why I am glad you came with me here, I need your judgement on things like this." Schara sighs, nodding once to the egalrin's assessment. "I don't know how to work clothes, I'm assuming that the process is different from leather. I attempted to walk in some high heeled shoes, and it was a struggle not to fall over."

The artificer picks up the dress with one flat hand, and holds it up to look at. "You think I would look cute in this? I do like the color for certain. I just can not deny that your persuasion was effective."

Slixvah grins. "Exactly. It's a show! But if you can't put on a show, then don't do a show! You wouldn't wear your artifice armor if you weren't going to do something with it, right?"

She beckons Schara to follow to a changing room. "Totally! Let's get you in this. You just gotta get the point across that it works. And don't sell your stuff short! You want me to help you into this?"

"I am not an actor, I can't put on a show." Schara nods. "I would wear my armor more often if it was not so exhausting, but that is not the point you are making, there."

The artificer looked back at Slixvah, tilted their head once, and shrugs. "I would appreciate your help, if there are any fastenings to make I may need your assistance, I doubt that the owner would appreciate me using my mouth to tie anything off."

Slix chuckles. "Yep yep. Clothes are tools too! That's th' point I'm makin'! Don't think there's much fasteners, but I'll get 'em fo' ya. Now c'mon, get in there. Try it on, I won't look!"

The egalrin-turned human offers assistance putting the garment on her friend, should they need it.

"I don't know how you're supposed to help if you aren't looking, but I appreciate your aid regardless, Slixvah." Schara nods, changing into the new dress. A process that takes some time attempting to do so with their non artifice prosthetics. The limbs were held on with a cup to the shoulders, and a few leather straps visible from the back of dress. Along with a ring of red marks around the the edge of each prosthetic where it was attached.

"It does seem much more reasonable to move in than what you were wearing, Slixvah." The artificer remarks. "To be honest, most of my clothes back home were for farmwork. I never had a dress like that, so I was curious."

"You know what I mean," Slix mentions, stepping in after Schara to assist in donning the attire. A few ties here, a glance to the prothsetic attachments here, and she steps back. She smiles. "Heyyy, ya look pretty nice in this! Course it is."

She tilts her head to the side. "Ya were a farmer? Didn't know what. Ya know, if ya wanna be more curious about other stuff, we can throw ya in them ta see how ya like it?"

"No, I don't know what you mean, that's why I'm asking." Schara huffs once. "Regardless, thank you. I can see the value in appearance, and this does look nice."

"My family are farmers. I don't know if I am, given how little work I could actually do." The artificer sighs. "But that is not important. Throw me in what to like? I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about there, either."

"I'm not going to look at your ass," Slixvah bluntly says, rolling her eyes playfully. "Glad you like it."

She shrugs. "I mean hey, sometimes farming is a bit mo' than just doin' labor. Lotta knowledge goes in it. But ah- hah. By 'throw ya in' I mean try on different dresses and stuff. Or suits. Whatever ya wanna try on."

"Oh, I see. Well, I did not expect you to regardless, though, judging by the fact that you were able to copy my proportions already suggests you have at some point. Not that it matters at all, but you're likely watching people more closely than you let on." The elf notes, taking a look in a mirror at the dress and smiling once gain. "We are already here, so why not? Maybe I can not wear what you can, but there may be other things I look nice in. Though I see little value in having more than a few, given a limited amount of use for them."

Slixvah opens her mouth. "I did no-" She squints. Her face flushes faintly. Caught. "ANYWAYS."

She steps away to look at Schara in the mirror. "See! You look great!" Slix chirps, patting Schara on the back before adjusting some of the dress to sit better. "Eh, I wouldn't wear what I wear. But I can /totally/ figure out what looks good on ya!"

"I would not say that I look great, but it does not look bad, at the very least." Schara nods once, taking a look at the mirror in a few different spots, and stopping to frown slightly. "If you wouldn't wear what you wear, then why would you wear it? That doesn't make sense Slixvah. I should get something to cover my shoulders however, I do not like having them exposed."

Human Slix raises a brow. "Wuh? Naw, I mean, I wouldn't want ya to wear what I wear. Lots of sleeves, ya know? Lotta things that'd get caught in ya arms. Besides, /I/ think ya look great!"

She rubs her chin. "Hmmm, I understand, and I know a solution!" she chirps, skipping off to a clothes rack to rifle around. The witch pulls free a shawl. "Voila! Goes ova ya shoulders, covers it riight up!" They amble back, tossing the garment over the elf's shoulders.

"Well, that makes sense. You wear a lot of different things, and have many different places to tie off ribbons at." The artificer nods again in understanding. "Thank you for being supportive Slixvah, it is quite kind of you to do so."

Schara looks at the shawl, and shrugs their shoulders a bit to get it sitting right. "This would be much easier if I could get my artifice prosthetics working without that armor." The elf sighs.

Slixvah grins. "Of course, sugar. Everyone deserves ta look cute! And I like lookin' cute in different ways!"

She side steps around Schara, her reaching out to get the shawl resting evenly. Her brows pinch. "That why ya was readin' tha' book in the library? Get it workin' and all that wit' dat neural interface stuff?"

"Different ways as in trying many different things? Or different as in wearing things to look cute different from other people?" Schara asks curiously as she adjusts the shawl a bit more. The question makes her pause and frown, and the artificer shakes her head once. "Partially, Slixvah. I would like to get them functioning without any armor, but there are numerous challenges to solve. The fact that they require support from the armor, and the, well, I would rather not talk about all the concerns while I am currently enjoying myself."

"Yes to all the above!" Slix giggles. "I just like trying all sorts of stuff. Clothes, food, different forms, tons of fun! Great experience!"

The human clicks her tongue. "Ah, gotcha. Alright!" she chirps in a plussed manner, pivoting easily as she grabs a few more dresses off the racks. "So! We've got a bunch more here to try on! And while we're here, we can see about getting you a cute winter dress to boot! I'll get that one for you, my treat!"

"Different food, too? I guess I haven't tried a lot of the different things here." Schara seems to muse to herself for a moment, pushing any prior thoughts out. "I should set aside some money to do so."

And then, more confusion. "A winter dress? How thick would that have to be to function, the looseness interferes so much with proper insulation. I'm curious to the function and, wait. You would get it as a treat for me? How expensive would something like that even be?"

Slix nods. "Tons of fun food to try! Variety is the spice of life, as Momma told me once!"

The human blinks, rolls her eyes and playfully reaches up to pinch Schara's cheek. "Oh you! We're friends! Don't worry about it! It ain't that pricey!" she giggles. "Just a lil' mo' padding and some lovely jackets ta help wit' keepin' th' heat in!"

"The spice of life? You will have to explain that at some point. You still need to explain to me other things, but I don't forsee myself being out of town any time soon, so their is no rush for that." The artificer notes, squinting once, and looking confused. "Are friends supposed to buy things for each other? I am sorry if I haven't done that enough, I will keep it in mind for the future. Thank you Slixvah, I will trust in your judgement for finding some more things to try. I might pick up some of your reasoning and ideas in the process, so that sounds good, but I don't want that to replace coming out with you and looking for things, as it's nice."

Slix snickers. "It just means tryin' new things makes things fun in life. Hence 'spice'. Eating food is fine. Eating food with good spices makes it fantastic. See the analogy? But you give me a long list of stuff I gotta explain and I'll find a way ta explain it fo' ya."

The robed human woman is looking for a winter dress, her peering over at the artificer. "Hmm? No, friends don't have to. It's not an expectation. I just like givin' people stuff! Especially my friends!" she coos. "Bah, it'll come with time. You're fun ta spend time wit'! Anywho' get back in tha' changing room, we got mo' ta try on!"

"I think I see what you mean. Even if the way it was said is different, it sounds like my parents. They were always encouraging me to try new things, which makes sense. I'll make a list for a few different things. I hope it will not be too long for that." Schara notes

"Alright then, Slixvah." The artificer nods, smiling to the not-egalrin before returning to the changing room. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you pick out. Perhaps I can learn some more ideas on padding placement from whatever you pick out, in addition to it looking nice."

The not-bird woman laughs. "Sounds like wise folks, and I look forward to it! Now!" She follows behind Schara, sing songing along the way, "Let's get you comfortable and fashionable~!"