Shopping Spree

It's a comfortable spring afternoon, albeit a bit windy, and the adventuring trio has finally arrived at town. It was a rather unexpected trip, filled with unexpected events, and had a rather abrupt unexpected ending with some yummy food. But that was the past, and now there was only the future. Or the present, whichever.

--

Standing barefoot in the middle of the busy intersection, a rather tattered and dirty dress draped on her, Seliana surveys the different direction. Up the hill towards the more expensive side of town lines a street with the tradition stores, each with their own building and most displaying their wares in the windows prominently. Down another road was the general market where a variety of vendors had setup temporary booths and calls could be heard even from the intersection as they advertised the quality of their products.

Turning to her travelling companions Seliana's blank unmoving stare and frown was at a slight contrast to energy to finally get something new. "Whis, I want to check out the tailors in the upper town at some time" and she points up the one road "but was there anywhere you had in mind? What kind of new clothes would you like to get? I think I've only really seen you in a mishmash of seemingly random items."

For some reason Att Syne seems to go mostly unaddressed at this particular juncture. Although Seliana does occasionally glance his way to make sure he is keeping up.

Sister in at least bare-footed square-standing, Whiskey Sour and her hodgepodge of robes, shawls, and coverings has not thinned or improved since the pair have met - or since Att had recruited her. In frigid caves and spring days, her outfit largely is 'some awful collection of crafted or dropped garbage'.

"We can check whatever tailors you like..." Whis deadpans, before rubbing her cheeks. "Eugh, I've had my head under fumes for hours starting up the latest project. I don't want to even see a pestle for an hour or I'm going to die. My wrist is going to fall off." She complains lightly, left hand extending from her sleeve to rub her right mid-sleeve.

"I just wear what drops. The stats are what's important, right? I've got some belts and stuff I wear..." She lifts her arms, looking down at her waist from inside her hood. "I guess under this layer. For the physical buffs."

She shrugs. "You know, normal stuff."

She speaks as if this is the most normal activity. That dressing herself is filling every slot with `numbers`.

It's because he's the stereotypical packmule. It's okay. He understands, even if it's mostly unnecessary, inventory management being what it is.

Or, no, maybe it's because Att "@" Syne is stopping for a snack. One of the many enterprising children accosting travellers at the edges of their community is doing it with an armful of fruit, and Att is scrutinizing the lot of it with exaggerated care. He's crouched down by the side of the road, haggling in a low, serious voice with the youngster, who seems determined to get the best deal he can. Eventually, Att hangs his head in defeat, and passes over a couple coins.

He catches up, munching on something apple-adjacent, his armored footwear making his approach fairly obvious. "Stats are important, but there's nothing wrong with having a social set, or picking from competitive gear based on what looks good, either. It's too bad we're too low level for most of it," he sighs. "Or to re-do the raids that drop it..."

Att looks both up and down the roads. "I wonder if the vendors have any rare reagents," he muses aloud.

"You bought fruit from a child?" Whis seems offended.

"Att I'm *right* here. You showed off your hunting skills during that escort quest. I suppose your ability to finance a lunch isn't in question." She needles as he clomps up in his armored boots.

"You wear clothes to feel good or look good. You wear gear for stats." She half-repeats, re-explaining the concept for Att's benefit.

"I like to support small business," Att says, munching philosophically. "And their design was too adorable not to interact and see what the scripting was about."

Crnch, crnch. "You can do both. What are clothes I-R-L except gear for social stats?"

Pretty much as soon as Whis gave her consent to go along to where Seli wanted the frail grey haired girl started to move down the street towards the shops she indicated interest in, continuing to listen as she goes and when there is a pause she comments. "You work hard, Whis, I'm sure your project will be a big success. But clothes.. It isn't just about feeling good or the stats."

Turning to look over at the two "The clothes you wear is your expression to the world, and is large part of how people will respond to you. Kind of like what Att says with stats, I guess. Ever hear the saying 'Dress like you belong' or something similar for when you go to an interview? It's kind of like that but always. Dress for the kind of life you want to have." She says flatly. "Who do you want to be? How do you want to be treated? That sort of thing."

Turning back to the look over that the stores as they pass by she points over to one. "Lets check out that shop to start." Then looking back "It's kind of how I've always lived anyway. Life is like your job. Sorta.." Then she is silent for a bit seeming to stare into space as she reflects.

"Okay, but, I don't belong." Whis decides, tapping a finger against her cloth-covered collar as they move. "You can't wear what makes you fit in better if you can't fit in. And what if you don't want to? I'd rather be wearing some pajamas, but this is close enough. A lot of it is just so much effort. For what? To look like someone else? This way I can look like me, and also, not think at all. Saves brainpower for other stuff. Currently: like chemistry."

Seliana gets a bit of a fangy grin that is largely aimed between her and Att Syne slantwise. "At least both of you know that my clothes have nothing to do with how I want to be treated. I don't need help telling people. There's other better ways than clothes."

Her smile warms and brightens. "That's why I'll just let you take care of it instead. Unfortunately, I have a lack of style to maintain, so, don't try to pick an outfit I'll reject."

She snorts laughter, a different sort than the almost-saccharine giggles that she drops in public parties.

Public Party Whis is like a lightswitch flick to a largely different persona. What is currently seen is that low-power Whis that lets some of the contrasts in.

"Life is like your job? What kind of wagie garbage is that? Life is how you express it. I'm expressing disinterest with showing skin for all the internet perverts out there."

"Mmm... I don't know about that." The expression thing, that is. Att tilts his head back, looking up as he plods along the pair. "I guess I don't know much about clothes, though. It was never much of a priority. Business-casual for anything official, a suit for the real hardline traditional scenes, tee shirts and sweatpants for bumming around the house, swap in jeans or slacks when need be. Having a gear set for appropriate challenges, and otherwise, go with what you like." He chomps more of his apple.

"Life is like a box of chocolates..." Att mercifully trails off, admitting, "I don't know the rest of that line."

He shoots Whis a sidelong glance. "Kind of a weird question I guess, but have you had to deal with that particular slice of humanity much in here? I for one sort of expected more anarchy than we got after the initial shock wore off. Seems kind of topically adjacent."

As they enter into the shop there is a light chime noise from above the door. Seliana looks around briefly. It appears to be a tailors shop mostly oriented towards women with a variety of modern Lander styles for the merchant class, mostly everyday clothing but with a small section with much more ornate display dresses that look like they could be for a ball. The major focus of the center of the shop appears to be mirrors and open area in front for display and taking measurements. The smartly dressed Lander with a clipped mustache pauses slightly at the sight of them, but after what was probably an INSPECT he gives a curt nod and lets them know he is available to take measurements if they see anything they are interested in ordering.

As Seliana starts to look through the garments on display she continues the conversation. "Pajamas? That makes it sound like you value comfort, and it is possible to have both comfort and style. But I understand the sentiment about saving your energy. It's true there is only so much energy, it is good to prioritize." As she looks over the different items of clothing the red in her eyes seems to evaporate until they are a pure white.

"I have some fond memories of going shopping with my mom or one of my old best friends before she got overly distracted. Maybe it is easier when you have someone to give you a second opinion." Then giving Whis a bit of a side-eye. "You just want me to try pick for you?"

"I was.. I was just saying how clothing is like an expression." She hums in consideration as she pulls out a red dress and then waves to the tailor, passing it over to him before turning to look at Whis with her still white eyes. "It sounds like you want to push away.. others? Those unknown?"

She then turns to Att. "I always kind of felt like guys had it a bit easier. Like everyone was fine with them looking like copies of each other. I've been a bit jealous at times.. Still, I did feel like the ones that put in a little extra often did stand out. Kind of like the bright red pants effect I guess."

Whis enters the clothier in a more relaxed posture, but as she notices the Lander - and the mirrors, seems more reluctant, her chin coming in as her eyes drop, the floor becoming very interesting. "I know my own measurements, it's fine. I can pick stuff out. I don't..."

Her left hand comes up, sleeved, to hold her right bicep. "Need help with that. Just pick some styles. It's fine, it's for wearing with you anyway."

A specific choice of words, but overall innocent. Isn't it shared outfits? That's a safe assumption. A dangerous one, overall, but safe in context. Death game context.

"What happened to the 'friend'?" Whis asks, before talk gets to Men's Fashion.

"Yeah, that's... I mean, the goal is to not be trashy, but guys can wear anything and if it looks they gave the barest hint of a care about what was going on, look fine. All my little brothers look fine in whatever they wear, but they're always bothering me to dress more proper."

Whis smirks. "After a few blows they get wise. 'Dealing' with guys is a lot easier too. I'm fluent in gorilla."

Talk of clothes must've fallen by the wayside. "I... ... Look, I'd rather wear a robe, okay? They look fine. Support-y."

Her right arm, bicep still gripped, slips into her hood to work at the back of her neck.

Att is the visibly armed escort rather than the person to try to make sales to. He lingers near the door, nodding politely to the mustachio'd Lander, and then promptly putting him out of his mind.

"Don't worry," he says vaguely, while they gradually drift away from the front door. "I'll please take care of you." He gets a little bit of a quizzical look from one of the Landers, but they don't actually ask him what he means. Probably for the best. Imagine having to explain Whis to some NPCs.

"Guys aren't usually super attentive to things like clothing choices other than with the binary state of 'looks good-slash-looks bad.' You wanna be clean, you don't wanna smell, and you wanna wear whatever's comfortable, speaking to casual interaction." Att peers at some of the more elaborate dresses, clearly meant for ballrooms more than day-to-day. He scratches absently at his recent beard while he largely disinterestedly window shops.

Att straightens, hooking a thumb into his sword-belt. "It's mostly posturing to figure out where your limits for physical, verbal and emotional rough-housing lies, after that. It's easier in the prep, but it can be pretty exhausting in the execution sometimes."

To the wayside it goes. He frowns, glancing at Seliana and then back to Whis. "Sure. Makes sense. Do you think little inside pockets expands inventory capacity?"

Looking closely a couple more dresses in the local fashion Seliana picks out a more simple white one and again waves the tailor over to take it. As he again leaves she looks at Whis with her static slight frown. "I don't think they use the same measurements here as they did back in the real world. But lets not worry about that for now, we are just looking for styles we might be interested in first."

"Common, lets look at some options more like you are talking about." Then Seliana will try to take one of Whis's hands, and if she does walk Whis over to where there is travel clothing. Cloaks, robes, half capes, and the like. As she starts to flip through these she explains about her friend. "It's pretty simple really. She was a good friend for many years, but she got married and moved and we started to lose touch. She never even finished her degree. It was pretty shocking at the time how fast things seemed to change, but things continue on. It's been awhile since I've caught up with her, I hope she is doing well... Did you ever have a best friend you did stuff like this with?"

Finding a mossy green robe with a mantled cowl she pulls it out, it is clearly too large for either of the girls. "What do you think about this style? Might blend in while in the forest a bit?" It seems a bit of a probing question.

"All your brothers? How many do you have? I only had a little sister, and we didn't really get along all that well. I used to think it would have been better if I had a little brother instead." Then looking over at Att. "Att, do you have any brothers or sister?"

Then back to considering mens clothings "You think it can be exhausting in the execution? How's that?" and then she looks over to the tailor which is casually watching them from a little counter area in the corner. "Do high levels of a skill basically make it magic for stuff like that? Is that why your statue turned out so good?"

"Pockets are the best." Whis' response is immediate. And emphatic. She wears a belt full of pockets electively! As for the rest?

"When they're brothers, enough force to dissuade is enough. Being unassailable is a skill, and the reward is peace." She reasons through.

"But - lots of brothers." She finishes, before she's stolen by Seliana, off to talk about deep, dark truths. Realities.

Friends getting married. "That's weird." Whis asides with genuine tone while picking dissatisfied with something that's eighty percent lace by volume to see where the actual cloth is: The secret is that there's very little.

"When the girls I know got married, largely they just kept doing whatever it was they liked doing beforehand. Sometimes it was mahjong, or business, sometimes the husband..." She shrugs, with a casual sigh of 'it can't be helped'. "People do what they think will make them happy. I don't have that much to give to people like that, so I don't make many friends."

She's interrogated about her Brother Situation. "Oh, lots. Three close ones, plus a few more before the ones who joined or married. Why?"

Whis snickers once the sights shift towards Att. "It's becuase he's not perfected his resting villain face. Mine's perfect."

"Only child," Att asides. "Moved around a lot; guess my parents figured it was already tough enough with one kid."

Att leaves the extremely poofy dresses alone, apparently having satisfied his curiosity. He's now instead examining some of the much more limited collection of menswear up close, Inspecting each piece, frowning vaguely without any real feeling. Talk of real life drifts past him. Friends growing up, getting married, drifting apart... heavier stuff than fiddly little pockets can easily hold. He stows his feelings on the matter in his expansive inventory instead, to be found the next time he needs to do a bag slot purge and sold for a few coppers.

"Mm? Oh, well, I mean... having friends that are rowdy when you aren't, and having them get the idea that your personal tussling level is about here," he holds a hand up at a moderate height, "and they've got the meter set about here," and then he moves it upwards significantly. "Or how tolerable pranks are. Or even more personal stuff. Who you like, how you handle it, how much straightforward talking-things-through either of you are comfortable with, how many pints it takes to get there."

Att can't help but grin. "I spent those skill points on stern sensei expressions instead. I always figured I could just wear a cool mask for villainy."

"She married into a family that pretty much means she doesn't have to work if she doesn't want to, just the guy lived up in Aomori Tohoku. She seemed happy, just it made things difficult. I would have kept just working. Heck, my mom was the main reason my family was well off. I never even considered doing the old traditional path." She says in a flat voice and a bit of a shake of her head and mutters something unintelligible under her breath.

Seeing the looks of disinterest she decides to move things along and walks over to the tailor who then directs her to stand in front of the mirrors while he pulls out a marked string to take measurements with. With practiced ease Seliana follows along with any directions he gives while continuing the conversation as the red color seeps back into her eyes.

"Gosh, what in the world do you mean 'don't have that much to give people like that'? People that want to be happy?" She opens her mouth to say more and than closes it and considers. "Wait.. Do you mean you don't make people happy or something? That would be silly, you've helped me a lot already and you're cute so it isn't looks either." Then she considers again. "I think I'm just not understanding your meaning?" The tailor is dedicatedly ignoring the conversation as he works.

Then looking over at Att "I never really had many close friends. Kind of just the one. I had 'acquaintances' but I always felt pressured by them to act all goodie goodie. I guess the closest thing I can think of is how I could be more rude about stuff or complain more about things more. Now though.. I just kind of don't hold back." She says without any facial expression or inflection.

"Sure. I've got lots of other skills. I can make numbers go up, for one. Went to school for finance, but in the game? Nah. Out there, people are people. Everyone's got their con, and you pick and choose which you buy into and which you avoid. In a game, you're playing a role."

Her face picks up at the corners, into a bright smile, and she brings her hands to a heart-shaped meeting over the center of her chest. "I'm a support player! Please take care of me."

The lightswitch in the on position.

"I'm 'not trying' right now. The game's too close to real life. It's got everyone confused."

Her hands drop, but the words don't leave her confident. They don't engender a shove, verbal or otherwise.

More awkward eye-avoidance. "I don't really have the energy to care about my appearance. If you say I helped you, though, I'll believe you. It'd be pretty crap of me to go 'nuh uh', wouldn't it?"

Her hand reaches up for a moment, tenses, and closes into a fist that drops back to her side. "Seli, if you've gotten to the point you 'don't hold back', then just pick some stuff. I'm sure it'll be fine."

Her gaze pans to Att. "Besides, Att's totally paying for it. I've seen him spin a coin, he can't escape now."

Whis shrugs, leaning back against a table of men's shirts. "Go wild, maybe we'll get something wearable out of the exchange for both of us."

Now facing the mirror Seliana looks back over her shoulder at Whis, "Finance? I got my degree in economics. I'm an accountant now, err, was. But for games, I've not been that much into virtual games before ETO, so I don't know about the whole roles thing. I mostly played just to dress up or blast things with magic to let off steam, I never really played with other people.." She turns back to look at herself in the mirror.

Now with measurements done she gestures to the white dress which the tailor brings over and she holds it in front of herself while looking in the mirror, then mentions a few points to alter out to the tailor about the neck of the dress and the arms. Then as she passes it back and waits for the next she drones "That set of potions really helped. I've been starting to practice meditating, but that seemed to, umm. I'm not even sure how to describe it, but it's like things clicked. I can see a little more of what's going on with some effort. I'm sure there is more.." she trails off then seem to remember why she was saying it. "So yeah, you did help."

Looking between Att and Whis she doesn't comment about who will be buying, but Att would have to be pretty persuasive to make it a gift. Seliana likes buying her own stuff, but if Whis is thinking of wearing anything of hers or picks something just for herself that's another story.

Still, this was only the first store. It was going to be quite the afternoon.