It Was An Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Chainmail-Woven Steel Bikini

    Having made a (somewhat) earlier promise to Gwen to do some modeling for her, Fuka figures it's time to get started on her repayment! Of course it also involves Haru, and the artificer has promised to meet up a little later, so for now it's just the Sylph coming. But of course Fuka is utterly shameless so where's the fun in her showing up to do this alone?!

    Just call Fuka Miss Chief, because she decided on a cunning plan. "Uta, I have a mission to take care of and it'll be much more fun with two people. Want to join me?" she'd asked, not giving any specifics. Only saying it's in Alne and shouldn't take too long, and she doesn't expect any actual mayhem or even any hard work. Just a lot of boring standing about for which she'd really prefer to have a friend along to pass the time!

    With that done, Fuka leads her bestie in to a rather familiar shop. Heywaitaminute...

"Of course! You know me. I never say no to a Friend!", Uta replied, excited, making all sort of promises of loyalty and determination and Responsibility towards Friends.

One notable thing is -- Uta seems to have a new accessory: a smooth mechanical looking necklace that lays flush to the wearer's body. Some sort of faint glow seems to come from it.

It's been nonstop chattering the whole way to the store. "Is this about the Palance Lands Adventurers? I will never allow a takeover. Sure, I know they're overpowering us, but I will pour all of my being, every last tick of my HP bar, every last drop of mysterious red light, every tiny speck of whatever gaming abstraction represents the thin thread of life, to make sure this shall never happen-whhaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh"

Uta lets out a high-pitched whimper as she turns to Fuka. "I thought we were dealing with a takeover, not a makeover!"

Gwen has several people who owe her for a favour, it's time to collect and Gwen has ideas for outfits. Today she would not be in her normal outfit. Uta would be the only person here who would have seen it before. Gwen looks like she's ready to be the main character of an action platformer about a Gini from the looks of the 'desert' outfit she has on and she'll clap her hands together and smile widely. There's not a bit of malice in her eyes. As she moves the various decorations upon her outfit.

"Hey good to see y'all. I was just making a few tweaks to my desert gear!"

She just beaming and happy Gwen's in a good mood and she looks to Uta.

"Well I have some ideas for you Uta, I was wanting to design you some gloves that could resist the corrosive effect of slimes."

She bounces a bit in place excitedly.

https://i.imgur.com/lnE0PI7.jpg (OOC Gwen's as she is right now)

So yes Gwen's pretty much in something akin to a Harem outfit today.

Ayame looks slightly amused, and slightly annoyed, as she consults some papers as she walks, and talks to Miyako. "I'm going to be trying to check over the refugees around Eas" She explains with a sigh "I want to see if I can pick out any signs any of them are affected by the Crowns, and develop procedures to isolate those who are before any more little events take place"

The secretarial sylph does not skulk or slink along, but strides smoothly with sleek steps, absently walking around people as she adjusts the half-moon spectacles. Her shield is worn on her back, her wand in her hair, and she rearranges the papers with a little sigh, shaking her head and finally looking up. And pausing.

And glancing to her left. Then to her right.

Then up, at a familiar store sign, with a reluctant sigh from across the street, and a touch of the bare arms between her gloves and the little puffed sleeves of her shirt. Hmph. Then a look to Miyako again "I guess a coat would be sensible" She says reluctantly, referring to earlier discussions

Haru has made a promise. And a promise is never broken. Bended, perhaps, with the noodle of arms, but never broken! He catches the verrryyyy last glimpse of Fuka and Uta before they slip into the shop. It brings two viable tactics: Does he run at full speed or does he sneak? Sneak.

The white haired Artificer arrives at Gwen's shop. Now Haru isn't exactly in urban camo. He has a deep navy blue jacket and grey slacks. Sneak sneak sneaky steps. Exaggerated sneak steps. He pops his head up on the window, a tuff of white hair, a blue eye, a monocle. Of course people are walking by and point at him because he is peaking into a store called 'Chain Mail Bikini +1'. A flaw in his plan.

    Miyako nods to Ayame. "Yes, just a bit," she says. "We should pick out something nice. I need a new outfit myself, anyway." She reaches over to link arms with her friend as they walk along. "I think you could do with something new, too," she decides.

    And then she pauses, eyeing the .... odd fellow... if somewhat familiar... peering into the window of the shop. She turns to Ayame and taps her lips, a request for quiet while they sneak up on him....

    "It'll be fun!" Fuka had said. And that was no lie. For Fuka that is, and possibly Gwen. Maybe not so much for Uta. "And it's about us getting stronger and maybe better equipped! Also it's about Haru, and I want to do something nice to help him. I'm sure he'd appreciate you being there too!" Fuka adds.

    Never trust Fuka when she's not answering you straight. On the other hand it's not like she needs to evade. She just has to let Uta get the proverbial bit in her mouth. Adorable. "HI GWEN!" Fuka cries out with much hype as she grabs Uta by the arm to keep her from running off. "I brought a dear friend who says she'll help out too! You don't mind if all three of us help out for what we owe for Haru? I'm sure you don't mind the additional help of us two lovely ladies!" she beams, waving a free hand to indicate herself and Uta in case there might be doubt as to the lovely ladies she's referring to.

Ayame nods, grins faintly, and obliges. She even shifts her stance to walk on tiptoe as she moves behind Miyako, falling quiet and avoiding the tap of her heels on the paths as she assists the bard in sneaking up on the peeking Artificer!

"I mean, better equipment is good, yes...", Uta concedes to Fuka, if reluctantly.

There is a lot of squirming and tensing on Uta's part. Until the gloves for slimes are mentioned. Wings go *ping*, as might her pointy ears, and her interest is piqued. "Oh yes! Enchanted Monster Handling equipment! Rylen said I should get me some of that."

She seems to relax further. "Oh, it's for Haru, for a moment I thought-" She turns to Fuka and casts a look of confusion at her. "Wait, what?"

Gwen sees more people coming in and she seems even more excited. "Come in! Come in!" Her wings flare out a bit as she looks over everyone and she grins. "Hello Fuka it's good to see you and Haru after all it's time for the payment is it not? I would be delighted to help you all look amazing."

She looks at Ayame she looks at the outfit and runs an inspection on her.

"...how do you even tank in that skirt you need to be able to move! Welcome to the Chain Mail Bikini +1 and I'll be happy to help all of you with your fashion needs."

As a more basic Lander points at him, Haru ducks. No. This is perfectly normal... for Haru. He points to his eye and monocle with his hand and then points at the Lander. The universal 'I see you!' gesture. He is missing out on all the good conversation and context. Fuka said something sweet and also ensnared Uta into a good time. He returns his peaking pose. What the hell is Gwen wearing? Wait. Don't ask that. Where is Morri? Scoot scoot. Different window.

    Miyako nods, grinning at Gwen's description of Ayame's skirt. She leans in so she's right... over... Haru's ear... and then, cheerful and bubbly and -loud-, answers. "I KNOW! I KEEP TELLING HER SHE NEEDS SOMETHING EASIER TO MOVE IN BUT DOES SHE LISTEN?"

    Then she stands up straight and, grinning, drags Ayame into the shop. "Something a bit more... interesting. Flowing. Maybe hanfu-style?" she considers. "Or just a nicer skirt, at least!" She has... a -few- ideas. Of her own tastes. Which she's not quite sure if Gwen shares. But she'll find out.

Ayame gives a little groan at Miyako's ... enthusiastic loudness, the Sylph's ears flattening back, before she adjusts the little sheaf of papers and tells her "Really, it's absolutely, fine, it's not like it's floor length, or anything -"

Then she lifts her head politely to Gwen. And pauses.

And flusters.

Huh. Turns out those ears can go from pale to - yes, you'd need to put her head next to it, but it's the same shade as that outfit Gwen proudly wears. That's a blush! She clears her throat again "It loosens a little, but really - ah, well. I'd been thinking about a coat or something, but ... hey, what's wrong with this skirt?!" She asks Miyako. Or huffs. Then looks to Gwen again. "Honestly, I've managed so far. Just about. Why, ah, what were ... you thinking ..."

    Better equipment! Not that Fuka wears much in the way of cloth armour, but she knows both Haru and Uta do, and Fuka herself adds a bit of cloth both for the sake of fashion and to hide just how much steel she's got on her body. She's not wearing full articulated plate or anything like that, but she's normally got plated-mail on under a nice-looking longcoat, so the only armour showing is greaves and bracers. The combination looks fairly nice but does add a bit of thickness to her. Which, considering how slender her petite sylph frame is, just manages to balance things out a bit!

    Fuka relaxes her grip as Uta seems to be calmed down by Gwen's timely announcement. She grins and flashes a quick thumbs-up to Gwen. Then turns back to regard Uta. "What what?" she asks. "Did you think I brought you here for some nefarious scheme?" she asks, going wide-eyed and innocent at the same time. Utterly insincerely of course. "Oh Gwen! Be sure to use us both thoroughly! We want everyone to be happy right?"

"Wait, uh, armor? Is this some sort of present for completing the Shield training?" Uta blinks. "Oh, Fuka, you shouldn't have! And I got you nothing for completing your Physical training... I'm a terrible Spriggan!", she exclaims.

A blink. "Oh, hi, Ayame! Hi Miyako! What leads you here?"

She seems to have missed the first part of the conversation, it seems. And then back to Fuka, "It's a surprise party of sorts? You shouldn't have!" She looks around. "Is there cake? Wait, no, I think it might be impolite to ask if there's cake at your own surprise party."

Silence. Fidgeting.

"...Is the cake armored?"

Gwen says "Nothing is wrong for it with casual daily life but in a dungeon or exploring you need more moblity than that."

Gwen is sounding serious here. "I have a few things that could work for that and coats? I could think of a few I know how to make that could work wonderfully also if you let your hair down..."

Gwen is plotting she look to Uta and smiles.

"No we'd have issues eating it and there ws an old Mario game that had a man eating cake as a boss. When we're done I'll cook up something for everyone! Miyako I think I have something that I'd worked on for Ayame for a while. One moment."

She will head to the back to fetch it. CLICK wait did the door to the shop lock somehow? Yes outside Morri has put a key in and locked it smirking.

    Miyako grins. "Hey, Uta! We're shopping, what else? Ayame here convinced me I need a fancier outfit, so I told her she had to let me pick one out for her, too." She grins and reaches her arm around Ayame to pull the girl closer. "Something in a nicely elegant look but something a girl can -move- in, you know?"

    She hmms and nods. "Alright, Gwennicles, show us what you got."

"All cake is armored, Uta. It specialises in Water magic" Ayame tells the surreptitious Spriggan with a smile "That's why it has frosting" And she winks.

No, she hasn't quite lost the blush yet. "It's not actually the first time we've met" She tells Gwen politely "But it's scandalous we've not seen more of each other. Ah. Oh, you know what I mean" She waves the little flub off, shaking her head "I suppose you named the place appropriately"

And then she looks back to the door. And then back to Miyako with a faint, pained grin "Have you been talking to her?" She asks defensively, lifting a hand to the prim bun with the wand stuck through it, as her hip bumps against Miyako's as she's pulled in "And I didn't say fancier. I said you should consider something flashier for large performances."

    "Nothing wrong with that skirt." Fuka notes to Ayame. "Oh, hi Aiyaa!" she adds cheerfully, as if noticing the woman for the first time. Which might well be the case. Fuka's easily distracted. "You don't have to move around much to tank, not if your defense is all a big thick shield. Movement's more for those who dodge and parry!" she claims, demonstrating by waving her arms about as if blocking attacks from a dozen imaginary foes with those thick vambraces of hers, all the while holding her hands close together as if wielding her Chopstick. As a combat display it leaves something to the imagination. As interpretive dance? Well, in that case it's got some merit perhaps.

    Abruptly Fuka blinks, stopping her dancing about as if struck by an idea. "Wait. FROSTING!" she cheers happily. "Yes, and also we do deserve cake!" she claims. Her momentary guilt at tricking Uta fades in her decision to do something nice for Uta, possibly something involving cake. Or maybe buying her some slimeproof gloves. Not that she needs much persuading to do either.

"That makes a lot of sense," Uta comments at Ayame's nonsense about frosting.

"Light armor, maybe. Heavy armor does not really fit my style, but I guess that some light armor would? Hm." She puffs and taps one cheek, in thought. "Or, I suppose, I could... hm... wait, what was that noise?", she asks, at the sound of a door locking.

    Miyako nods to Ayame. "The frosting's the best part," she insists. "Fancier, flashier, same diff. I still get something new, and you're paying for it since it was your idea." She takes a long look around the items on display, hmmming casually, tapping a fingertip against her chin.

    "And there's nothing wrong with armor making you look -good-," she insists to Uta. "But the prim librarian look just -doesn't-." She waves her free hand at the be-hugged Ayame. "See?" She pauses, blinking in surprise. "Wait, did you put your hair back up? I thought I showed you that it was great down!"

"Hello, Fukaziroh" Ayame says with a certain stolid acceptance. She gives a little grin and nod to the woman "And that's right. And *thank* you. Someone accepts we don't need to split everything to the thigh" She chuckles and smiles to Uta

"I guess not" She tells her, musing "But you should at least be able to take a glancing hit. Just stiffened things over parts that don't bend, perhaps? Bracers, greaves - not to slow you down at all."

She takes a moment to look Miyako over, and then chuckles weakly "I did. Sorry. It's just a convenient place to carry a wand, or a pen, when I don't want to send it back to my inventory!" She nods a little "But if you insist" With a sigh, removing the wand and tucking it into her glove, and then letting that pinned bun down. The bobby pins could be better used for someone with an interest in Legerdemain

Gwen can be heard working for a bit in the back as she comes out carrying a dress and other parts to go with it, boots and the like which she'll beam at and hand to Ayame. "Here try this on you can use the menu to equip it."

It's a dress with a partially open skirt, dark blue3 and an armoured shoulder and arm. It looks a bit steampunk like but it would sit within Yamato and its fashion if barely. (OOC https://imgur.com/a/j0fxPCc )

Try it on!"

Once it's handed off she'll look to Miyako for a moment. "I think this should fit the bill. It's also made for tanking as well when you check the stats."

She'll look to Fuka for a moment thinking over her's and Haru's fate. Uta's fate is already done as she pulls a light armour out which has slime etched into it in various places as a theme and she'll hand it to Uta.

"Oh I think you'll like this Uta!"

She now takes a long gaze at Fuka and Haru.

"Oh that sound is nothing to worry about, Uta."

Uta beams at the appearance of a present! AND LOOK, IT'S GOT SLIMES!

Insta-sell. "Oh, wow! It... it... it..."

Uta.exe has crashed?

"It's got SLIMES!"

Ah, there it comes.

It doesn't take long for Uta to swipe through the menu and equip the item, which will adjust to her physique. If needed. Knowing Gwen, it was already a perfect fit, but, hey, the menu saves the time of changing clothes.

The previous gi/nurse's unform shimmers out of Exitence, and the light armor shimmers in!

Uta looks down, in the T-pose, wings aflutter with excitement, and-

The wings stop.

She looks up to Gwen. "Uh... what next? This is my first armor. Am I supposed to... uh... ask someone to stab me or something?"

    Fuka beams with happiness for Uta's new look. Slimes just make it all better... at least for Uta it does! "Uta, you should ask for dinner and flowers before demanding someone stab you." she admonishes, though she's grinning fiercely nonetheless.

    Alas, now it's her turn. Fuka likes looking good AND being well-protected from attacks, hence her current armour. She nods along to Miyako's criticisms of Ayame's style, mostly because she loves upsetting those she sees as way too repressed. And, in honour of that, she sighs and begins unbuttoning her coat, stripping it off with a dramatic gesture.

    Those who think this is going to lead to something lewd are sadly in for disappointment. Underneath the coat, Fuka wears a suit of plated chainmail, going from neck on down to a metal-plated skirt, the plates all integrated with the chain to allow the little Sylph full mobility with decent protection against anything that happens to make it past her guard. Not as much as a fulltime tank perhaps, but then she's not a fulltime tank. "Gwen, I don't know if you want me to slip into something a little more comfortable, but this is my current gear." she notes, quite deliberately sounding entirely businesslike, letting her suggestive commend sound almost accidental. Almost.

    "Just tuck it in the bow I gave you," Miyako assures Ayame. "I'll have to show you how to tie it properly, I guess." She shrugs and pauses to linger over an outfit on display that catches her interest, still hip-to-hip with the Sylph. Then Gwen comes up with a moderately snazzy number in blue. "That looks good. Go try it on," she encourages Ayame, releasing her.

    Then she paues. Armor. For Uta. This is going to be either wonderful, or...

    Did Uta just /squee/? She didn't, did she? Miyako is sure she mustn't have. It would be ... wrong.

    Or oh so very right. Depending on perspectivee.

    "Well, if you've got something in mind, Gwennicle, I'll be glad to give it a try," she finally decides. "And Fuka's right, stabbing is definitely not first-date material."

"That's ... very showy" Ayame says, taking the outfit and studying it. Then she wrinkles her nose, glances at Gwen and her lack of outfit, and nods, sighing and bringing up the menu to change her outfit - a shimmer, and suddenly in split-to-the-hip skirts and a halterneck. She shifts the armored shoulder, steps slowly to settle things, and considers "I suppose it's a little freer ..." She allows with a faint smile and a sidelong glance at Fuka as she emphasises the last two words "But it's a lovely set. Thank you, Gwen" She gives a little smile up to the taller Sylph

"Fine, fine ..." She tells Miyako, lifting her arms and extracting a ribbon from her inventory. Black. She ties her hair back loosely with it, flexing her fingers - out of her usual gloves, after all - but letting it spill down her back instead of being pinned up "It's just practical" She tells the Spriggan with a small smile "But it seems to mean a lot. So alright. Better?" She teases, just a touch.

"Don't ask people to stab you" She suggests to Uta "But offering some light prodding or tapping to test the stiffness is at least appropriate" She continues to twist, move, in the floor-length skirts, seeing how it moves with her

Uta looks around at all the comments.

And flails.

Armflails, wingflails, the works.

"NOT IN THAT SENSE!", she blushes. She attempts to tug at the hem of her jacket to regain some sort of composture, except that- is she even wearing a jacket right now? PRobably not. And to be fair, she hasn't been wearing one in forever.

"So. Uhm. Prodding, huh?", she says, and proceeds to poke at various armor parts with a finger.

Poke, poke.

...Is she poking -specifically- at the parts with the slimes drawn on?

Gwen smiles widely at Ayame as she does seem to warm up to the outfit. "You'll keep kicking ass as a tank and look good at it." Gwen is bubbling at this point and seems to be really happy. She'll then zip behind the counter to come back with another outfit wrapped in a parcel. "Fuka here is your outfit."

OOC https://gearsets.eorzeacollection.com/crafted/leveling/ilvl403/atrociraptorskin-casting/female-front.png

It seems to be once opened a moderately armoured but highly mobile outfit perfect for a Spell Blade like Fuka at least that seems to be Gwen's home.

She now turns her gaze on to Haru what to put the Enchanter in then she snaps her fingers and will return later with an outfitting package for him which seems somewhat related to the outfit Ayame got from Gwen. This one is also seemingly steampunk-themed.

"This should work for you I think though I'm not sure about the hat. Still, it is in there."

https://gearsets.eorzeacollection.com/crafted/leveling/neo-ishgardian/neo-ishgardian-healing/male-front.png

Haru stops hiding outside of the shop after all of this. A little bit of it is fun. TOO much of it is more than a bit. Fashionably late is how you are meant to enter a fashion store, right? "Hello Nurse!" he says in a sort of wacky cartoonish sort of way to the flailing Uta.

His introductions and othersuch happenchance will have to wait as he is sniper shot with an outfit. "Hey hey, I like it," he says, "it says 'I am fancy, but also I deal with delicate equipment that put out a whole lot of power'." Is he talking about mechs? Must be a mech. A smile as he takes it. Promise fulfilllleedd. He settles next to Fuka and waggle eyes at her, "But there is only one changing room." Waggle.

    Fuka inspects her new outfit with deliberate intent, with almost as much intent as she inspected Uta squeeing over hers. Adorable, honestly. And her new outfit's good! It goes well with her armour and gives her a certain martial aspect without compromising on fashion. Quite nice in fact.

    She snorts indelicately at Haru's suggestive comments, amused. "But H, if we both try to use the changing room at once, we might get STUCK in there! Together! Imagine what everyone would think!" she teases. Then activates her inventory selection. It's honestly the only way, what with her wings and everything. The outfit forms around her, complete with proper outlets for those wings. She tugs on it for fit and to be sure everything's in place, then she spins delightedly, letting the skirts flare outwards. "Wonderful!" she beams, striking a martial pose.

Ayame just gives a little sigh, smiling and continuing to browse a touch as the others chatter and consider and tease. To Haru, and Fuka, she grins "At least there'd be plenty of room in there for you to stay out of each others' way" She winks to them both, and then gives a small sigh, finding a spot to perch. And study herself, considering, pursing her lips a little, before she nods reluctantly "It's good" She tells Gwen with a small smile "Let me know how I can pay you."

    "You sure of that?" Miyako asks of Uta, grinning impishly. Or was it Spriggan-ishly?

    She turns to look at Haru and Fuka's new outfits, as she leans against the counter, folding her arms across her chest. "Hmm, hmm, not bad, not bad." She considers it again, then nods, and turns to wait and see what Ayame's looks like when it's actually on her.

    And she smiles again at that. "Definitely looks good on you, Ayame-chan," she decides. "And it shows off your legs. Very nice." She winks at the Sylph, mulling over some of the outfits she'd had before the Black Wave, considering trying to recreate them.

    "So, Gwennicle, you said you had something in mind for me?"

Haru winks right back to Ayame. Or he blinks. Its hard to tell when someone wears a monocle and you can only see on of their eyes. He opens up his inventory for the steampunk outfit, being a hooman and could dawn it trasitionally but there is this thing with all the fance and belts. If he could, it would still take a while. "What /would/ people think," he asks Fuka, waggle. "Pure and wholesome thoughts like 'man, this outfit has a lot of buckles.'. Which is good. I like buckles." The young man then equips the clothes. They flash on, giving his body that white 'glow' flash for a moment before they morph and change to the right item.

"Man, this outfit has a lot of buckles," Haru praises, hand tapping the one at his side and the one across his chest. Look, its buckle fashion, it isn't Lulu's dress though. "Hat," he looks up at it. "No hat," hat begone! He holds out his orb and ponders it, looking thoughtful in the outfit to juxtapose the martial pose. "Fancy," the man with a monocle says.

Gwen is beaming now at this as she looks to everyone here and then to Ayame. She'll list off a price in gold that's pretty fair for the gear. "As for Uta's that was a present for all the help and the others well they owed me a favour remeber to say where you got it if someone asks. Now for you Miyako...let's see here." She'll vanish into the back once more.

    Confused, Fuka looks over at Ayame. "Why would we avoid each other? That takes all the fun out of it!" she explains. "Also hey wait did you make a short joke? I was distracted by you letting your hair down, and wasn't expecting you to have a sense of humour!" she teases. Well, that and Fuka was generally being distracted by lovely people getting lovely fashion.

    Speaking of, she casts a critical eye at Haru and all the buckles. "Looking hot, H!" she finally assesses. "Maybe I *will* consider letting you trap me in a changing room sometime." she flirts. "And thank you, Gwen! I'll be sure to show it off and make sure everyone knows to come here if they want to look amazing!" she promises.

Ayame flushes a little at Miyako "You don't have to point it out" She protests a bit "I'm going to wear this with leggings, I think" She mutters to herself, sitting and holding the skirts closed over her leg, swinging her foot "But thank you. How about you? What sort of thing do you normally go for?" She asks with a little smile.

She nods to Haru "Definitely a lot of buckles. You'd better let Fuka make sure they're all attached to the right ones." She tells him with a grin

To Gwen, she nods, extracting money and then pausing as she vanishes into the back, calling after her "I'll leave it on the counter!" with a little grin "Not like she has pockets in that outfit anyway" She gives a small laugh, moving to put the money down

"It was only a small joke" She tells Fuka with a smirk, moving to sit back and cross her legs again, one hand pinching the skirts closed over her thigh "And don't be too distracted. Hey. Think we can switch hairstyles by just equipping or unequipping ribbons?" She blinks

"Buckles are good," Uta nods. And then blushes at all the comments. By proxy? "Guys, get a room! Seriously! What's with all the innuendo?", she flails at Fuka and Haru. And then, *ahem*. "I am told that hats are an important status symbols among adventurers. Are you sure you want to go hatless?", she asks, with concern. "There is a reason why I always wear my nurse's cap... well, that's because it comes with the outfit Gwen gave me. Ok, there are -two- reasons why I wear it. The second being, hats are important." More nodding. "Mikage said so."

Uta looks around at everyone else, "Amazing indeed." She seems not to pay attention to her own appearance -- no looking down, no looking in mirrors. "...And comfortable. Dang comfortable." She sounds a bit annoyed at how comfortable things are. Well, there's her own situation.

The ribbon question! Does one's accessories impact the style? Accessory Crafter Haru Nox on the scene, ready to find out. "They /caaan/," Haru offers somewhat helpfully, "a lot of accessories do minor alterations to existing items. Like when I make hair pins it equips onto a default pair of the hair. It can get very /very/ comical when people have short or no hair." Like a bald blacksmith somewhere out there. "But then it saves the default position."

There is a little jingle jangle as Haru walks. The boots have this very nice western weight to it. "Ooh," he says. Nothing like a good stride in some new boots that go up to your knees. He gives finger guns to Ayame for the belt comment and then one to Fuka. "I mean I need my belts /properly/ inspected, Fuka. It could take a /long time/ to inspect all of them. A trapped changing room's amount of time," he says academically, running a finger along his monocle's silvery side as if to add in 'as proven in the scientific journal of Noodle Arms Monthly'.

"We are," Haru says in a 'but of course' intead of the light-hearted flirty tone he has been taking, "a changing room, specifically." Ponder. Ponder. He takes out his Wave Arte orb and looks at it. Ponder. "I always feel better without a hat on. Like, maybe my hair can feel the elements and hat on I'll dampen the sensitivity." He looks to Fuka, "What do you think? Put a hat on, less sensitivty? Or no hat, and feel the whole thing?" Its an important topic in Enchanter Life.

    Fuka snorts at Ayame's response, deciding she's not the only one flirting around here. Well, her and Haru aren't. She even decides to take the 'little joke' in stride because she's in a particularly fine mood. "Hey, if you have legs to show off, show off legs!" she claims cheerfully. "And if you have really nice b...uckles, show them off too!" she smirks.

    She looks over at Haru. "Nice buckles!" she comments, for no reason in particular. Then considers his question. "Some people LIKE wearing hats." observes Fuka. "And yes, it can be important for status. But if you're really proud of your ..." she pauses, considers Haru, examines his words carefully. "... your head, and like showing it off, then you probably don't want to wear a hat!" she finishes. Then shakes her head. "I'm going to need a bath." she complains to no one in particular about no one in particular. "Still, I'm usually a fan of not limiting your experiences. If it feels good, I say why not go for it?"

Gwen will come back from the back of the shop with another package this one is handed to Miyako. IT seems like a active combat battle mage sort of outfit nice looking enough with locks of pcoekts ouches and places for potion vials to be easily accessed. (OOC https://ffxiv.eorzeacollection.com/gearset/battlemages) She grin and will scoop up the money seeing everyone is just about served now. "So I did promie you all a bite to eat.

Ayame nods to Haru, taking a moment. Ribbon is gone! Hair is back in a bun after a few moments. Then out of the bun. Then back to the single ribbon "That's really handy" She tells him cheerfully "It's annoying to try to put it up or down all the time. Thank you!"

"The buckles are just fine" Ayame tells Fuka with a little scowl "But I'll leave it at that. I won't be showing off any more. Besides, you're just the right height to examine those b - uckles" With a chuckle.

She nods to Gwen, and smiles a bit "If you did, I missed that. I can't think why. Something was distracting me. More than ..." A hand waves. Taking in everything. The various new outfits, and everything

    Miyako hmms softly and glances over at Uta. "You like the buckles, hmm?" she asks. Then pauses, considering. "There is a certain aesthetic appeal. There are other ways to achieve the effect, though." She starts to consider which other options to suggest, then Gwen returns with an outfit for her and she has to turn and check it out.

    "Well now," she says, tapping a finger against her chin. "I'll admit hats do have their advantages, and... well, Ayame's 'buckles' are quite nice, yes..." She hmms again as she focuses on the outfit. "Not bad, not bad," she continues, pacing a half-circle. "Some nice touches. The way the coat hangs... hmm, might want to slide the potions bandolier a bit lower... maybe tie the sash outside the coat?" She continues thinking about it as she paces. "Uhm. Don't like showing the stockings like that, framed by the big floppy cuffs.... that's just not right. Maybe lose the cuffs off the pants and have them tuck into the boots?"

    She pauses and produces an outfit from her inventory which she offers to Ayame. "This one's a special gift for you, I had it made by a Spriggan tailor up in the Tower." It's a rather... -abbreviated- dress, with a modest neckline and quite short hemline, wide sleeves, calf-high boots, and a lot of cris-crossing red ribbons where one would normally expect seams to be sewn.

    (OOC: https://i.imgur.com/BxniimX.png )

Meanwhile someone has been peeping in the Window watching everyone and Morri rubs her hands together with a grin on her face as she finds a looming shadow over her as a tall Sylph Man comes up behind her and looks down.

"Morri? What are you up to."

"Oh hey honey, I'm just getting ideas."

Uther sighs

"Your going to turn out Daughter into a Nun if you keep this up."

He'll then drag Morri off whose flailing as she does so.

Gwen meanwhile looks at the outfit that been picked out by Miyako.

"That's a pretty bold one there."

Haru comes up from his deep pondering while asking Fuka. He walks behind her to see how stark the height difference is between them. The steampunk human rests his head atop as he goes to wrap around and hug around her waist. "A short girlfriend a blessing," he informs Ayame in all their buckle talks. The man looks down, "Thanks! Glad you like them. You may touch them if you like. Full buckle privileges, one Fuka." Looking up to Gwen he observes, "And Gwen. She kinda made them so thats implied." So long as Morri doesn't hear that and take it out into left field. They are handling left field just fine on their own right now!

On a helpful note, Haru says, "If you ever need accessories made, feel free to throw me a chim. I'm going to work on spyglasses in a bit, but would much rather be working on Slime Lab equipment or fashion accessories." There is an oooh to Miyako there. "Stockings! Now there is an idea. Cuffs. Yes. Cufflinks." But the ribbon bits get a nod. "Excellent." Bold and Excellent. Excellent, bold and italicized.

Ayame just *looks* at Miyako as she talks about buckles. Then she blinks, looking at the dress and only half reaching out "That's ... well, it's really, ah, really striking" She says hesitantly, letting Miyako press it to her hands as she studies it "And it was thoughtful of you. What's the occasion, beyond 'you wanted to see what you could get away with?'" She manages a faint little chuckle , studying it, and tugging on the ribbons, seeing how it shifts the hang of the dress

She smiles a touch to Haru "Thank you. I think. I won't ask, but I haven't ... delved into the crafting side of things much. I'm starting to work on my legal work around Eas. The outfit I had when I came in is actually what I came into the game with. I haven't bothered much with it at all - I wasn't much of a gamer. My sister was" She laughs a bit "So I never ... I've just been helping out here and there, not diving into the mechanics of things"

Gwen gets a faintly confused look at the bustling around, and looks at the two outside, then back to Gwen. Just ... a sigh, and a shake of her head "Do I even want to know? I'm not sure anyone in ..." A gesture "Could be considered nunly at all! What would she consider rakish?"

"Oh! Which reminds me!", Uta exclaims, rushing over to Haru. She swipes her menu open, and a glowing, mechanical looking necklace materializes back on her chest. "This is the necklace I found..." More menu swiping. Other item shimmers into her hand, a necklace, with a hook-shaped pendant, an amber-colored gem, and exquisitely scuplted songbirds. "...and this is your pendant. You said you could adapt it, right?"

Miyako gets a mumbled, "I like a lot of things... well, I'm easily pleased, I guess."

Ayame gets a, "I wore my starter outfit for the longest time. Then Gwen happened."

Uta glances into the other room. "I should probably go quiet down your parents, and-slash-or keep them busy..."

    Ah dilemmas. Fuka shouldn't let anyone get away with calling her short without reminding them she's also dangerous! But at the same token, Haru's being sweet and affectionate and she hardly wants to discourage that. So, you know, Ayame gets to be the butt of the joke this time. "Big people are great! So much within easy reach!" she says agreeably, holding out one hand to waggle her fingers creepily. While being embraced by Haru. And neither seeming upset nor embarrassed about it.

    She mutters something under her breath. Haru, being close enough, will know all she was saying was literally "Something something inspecting buckles something something"... but the rest of the room should only hear the part she said slightly louder than the rest. The 'inspecting buckles' part.

    Miyako grins. "Go big or go home," she answers Gwen. "Bold is Beautiful. What can I say, she'd be gorgeous in it."

    Then she pauses at Haru's comment of 'full buckle priviledges', and just shakes her head. "Striking is what I always go for," she tells Ayame. "You want to stand out. Unless you're a spy, then you want to fade into the crowd. But not too much. Being too nondescript can be memorable by itself." She shrugs.

    "Oh, and stockings are great with a short skirt, or maybe even shorts, but with pants like those? Nope. Nope. It's the cuffs, honestly, I think. One or the other, pants or boots, not both. Lose the pant-cuffs, tuck 'em into the boots." She grins and holds the dress up to Ayame to compare it to her figure. "C'mon, give it a try, live a little," she urges the Sylph.

Gwen takes a look at the Necklace Uta has and fins that really neat as she look at it. "That's wome seriously nice work I really do need to learn to make accessories at some point." She muses She look to Ayame and then just grins at that. "I'm glad it did."

Uta will be able to unlock the door and go to keep The Pendragons busy or distracted as possible. Though she may fall prey to some scheme of Morri's or another in the process. At thmention of Law Gwen nods.

"Don't be shocked if you start getting strange feelsing when the Law is broken."

"I think they were getting at being a hyper prude and ... just ignore my mother don't feed her attention...."

"Maybe." Ayame says, and then blinks, glancing outside and squinting a moment, judging something "But I should probably get going" She smiles a little "It's been good to just ... hang out a bit. See normality, you know?" She chuckles and nods to Gwen "I do a bit anyway. I want to look more into it. But I do need to get moving" As she drops to her feet. Hair still down, at least, and she gives Mikayo a smile "Next time" She promises

Haru makes sure the something something skit completes. "Something Something Complete," Haru whispers back to Fuka, with the 'Complete' being well heard. It is not the Dark side. Perhaps the nerdy flirty side. Buckles are probably involved.

"If you ever need a teacher," Haru says to Gwen, knowing of only two other accessory crafters besides himself: Gig and Tian. Its a niche forging area, but one he enjoys very much. Being able to share that with others is a win in his book. On that note he looks to Ayame, while his head is still atop the short Sylph's, "Next time." It applies well all around. They had a good little fashion hour!

    Miyako sighs and shakes her head as Ayame decides to leave. And actually /pouts/. "I -will- get you to see how good you can look, one way or another, by hook or by crook!" She reaches up with her free hand and taps on her menu, and then she's wearing that same dress!

    (Or is it? She's still holding the one she offered Ayame. Did she have -two- copies of that one?)

    She poses in it, twirling about, showing off her legs and how good the dress looks on her. "One day, my pretty. One day you'll join us Sexy Sexy Spriggans." She winks at Ayame, but doesn't try to stop her from leaving.

Ayame chuckles just a little at the various comments, and she lifts a hand as she makes her way out, smiling politely as she slips away with the final comment of "There's a sylph there who's ready to fill out any position you all" She tells Mikayo, thumbing towards Gwen with just a flick of a smirk "have fun!" And out she goes!

Meanwhile, Kotono was here... Just in the background. But she was here! You just couldn't see the Spriggan ninja!