[CLOSED-ISH (people can be bumped into!)] it's shopping time, girls

[strongroots]

Who: 2B (robussy) and Chizuru (tealeafs) , and their pals (including Robby's (strongroots)): Scorpia (cuddlery), Vi (faceblocks), Jinx (opheliac), Tory Nichols (abornfighter), Saeri (inkedspell), Ruby Rose (onekindsoul), Ezra (ezra_of_lothal),

--and whoever the else wants to come along, it's ok i'm not watching the door to this thread, feel free to bump into the shopping gang if u really want!!

What: We're going to BUY SOME DANG CLOTHES AND NAIL POLISH AND DO OUR LASHES!!
When: 2nd December
Where: Starting in Wilful Machine and ending in Cellar Door!
Content Warnings: N/A, will be added if/when relevant.
( toplevels: scorpia - vi - jinx - robby - 2b )

The cold weather of November and light brush of snow has smothered the streets well into chillier mornings come December, and only threatening to layer more the deeper into the month it gets. For now, the snow it...somewhat manageable; shovelled and pressed down from the busier streets by foots and hooves, and the market stalls are determined by how daring the sellers are feeling, and if luck is on their side.

Mostly, it's the time of the month when you have better luck owning a store front, putting out a light that you're accepting customers, and hope they come to you for the month.

A certain group is. Or a certain group will try. Heading to their meeting spot in the Wilful Machine is at least easy when using lamp travel, meeting them at the canals that will certainly lose their business for the month and the water freezes. Some busy work was done beforehand to find out potential visits that would be keeping their doors open, and to gather a variety in selection for tastes to be explored. After all, how can you know what you like when you don't have options?

---

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
→ The catalogues have been changed to match the season, cloaks and warming outfits illustrated in their pages, with some examples on display and available on a rack, if you can fit into them. Tailors are all too happy to help in sharing how they can offer different colours, certain bloodstones to add warmth, or to make certain cloaks lighter, but no less effective in keeping off the cold; and oh, are you thinking about secret compartments for your blades? There's plenty.

There's always something for everyone: modest skirt-pants, turtle-neck dresses, stylised jackets, and even more colourful options. And are we going to miss out on the boots and more boots shopping? Please. Don't forget to accessorise too, from necklaces, bracelets, and whatever else might catch your eye.

HAIR, NAILS, AND SKIN
→ Finding the right outfit is good, but we can't forget the other essentials in dressing up: Yourself. Getting your hair recoloured on the spur of a day out might be too much--or, is it? There's options, from short buzz cuts to examples of what's in fashion. Some products even have paleblood in it to give hair that extra wow in the dark (and you bet hey loved the glow of the blood last month!). The same goes for the nail polishes, the selections ranging from bright to night-black to luminous. Those who offer nail products also offer to do nails right there, and even with a hand massage; and even those who will do your make-up will throw in a relaxing facial beforehand, if you find the right spot (and are willing to barter the right goods).

There's no one style for all in these establishments, with the only limits being what you dare to try and your imagination. Feeling gender-neutral today? Well, aren't you in luck.

FOOD, DRINKS, AND DANCE
→ There's the cafés along the way during this day out that may catch one's (or a few) eyes for a quick drink to warm one up, a certain smell to draw a person in (is that freshly cooked herby bread? Heck yes). But as the day goes on, the night drawing in earlier these days, there is a place to put an end to this shopping trip (and once purchases have been securely put away): dinner, drinks, and a floor for dance. People are free to come and go as they please with the group, but there's a table waiting for any to come in a nice cosy tavern, for people to show up again in their newer outfits, should they please. It's a good time for chatting, relaxing, to do it off their feet; to get rosy off some drink if that's their flavour.

And then the end of it will take them to one last stop: into Cellar Door. Their cheeks might be freezing by the time they get there, but the dance clubs are always warm and alive, buzzing as soon as you walk in. It might be busy on the dance-floor, but there's booths available, spots where those unused to the activity can get up their courage, ... or take advantage of the very pretty drinks they serve here.

Maybe it's not your scene, or you can give anything a go once -- in the end, what matters is that you had fun.

( ooc: hey gang, hope this write-up helps with making toplevels!! please feel free to bring up any fashions or styles, the above pics were just examples. There's no real set places being visited, and your character doesn't have to be around for every single thing. 👍👍 )

Comments

[strongroots]

Surprise us -- you're the artist. [ A tattoo artist, but it's a lot more artistic than he's been in his life. It comes after a moment of raised brows to her attention caught, a hum in his throat that's amused.

But he sees her calculating, assessing. Maybe it's not hesitant, but Robby picks up the folder for the shorter hairstyles and holds it up, opens to have a look of eyeing the photos. ]

You tell me when you've got some colours in mind, and I can give you two minutes, tops. Good enough for you?

[faceblocks]

[you know what? she will. and that's all the answer she needs - it's a good one - so she gives him a nod, and sets her eyes on the dye behind the counter, just a casual as you can be browsing look before she turns her attention to a coiffed mannequin head, running a finger through a curl.]

Guess I'm full of surprised today, then. Two minutes, you're on.

[show her what you've got. it's a bit of friendly competition and teamwork all bundled into the shopping.]

[strongroots]

[ Robby raises his brows up, a sly look as he closes the book and backs on his steps. He turns to find the woman, who's quick to have her attention on the both of them. ]

Hey, I'm wondering if you could help me? I haven't had my hair cut in a while, but I've never had it cut in Trench?

[ --And he puts on the sheepish new customer voice well, the book of haircuts held well like there's interest, a look taken around before walking to where the long counter is, at the edge between it and the window, as if picking the best place for light.

It puts his back to Vi and the rest of the shop, but also the woman's. The others in the shop are still occupied by their customers, but Vi will have to test her luck, and how quickly she can move around before anyone else moves first. ]

when i catch my typo up there and just STARE at it

[faceblocks]

[the self conscious newb voice is a good one, and vi casts one more glance at them before she saunters purposefully toward the counter - if she looks like she belongs then it's less likely to attract other attention - but she's careful to hold her head up, should she make eye contact with any other customers she'll give them a little nod, a how are you today - a how do you know i don't work here sort of air about her as she casually slips behind the counter and grabs a few bottles.

she's swift about pocketing two, but starts moving the others around on the shelf, bringing them up to the edge in an attempt to make the whole display look uniform. as she does this, a customer approaches with questions after seeing vi take up the position of obviously i work here - and with her pink hair, it could be legit. vi grabs a bottle of blue off that shelf and hands it over to the customer for his inspection, nothing that green would be a good choice, too, or maybe a mix of both. would he be interested in that?

let's move over to the window to check it out in natural light, yeah?, she says as she escorts him away from the counter. in that light, both look great. he should buy both.]

i looked but couldn't see it, therefore it does not exist

[strongroots]

[ Robby never looks in Vi's direction, even if there's instances that he could. He doesn't want to show interest to the counter, to any colouring attempts; those would make the woman turn, when it's better to bring the book down on the side, point to some potential idea while touching at his fringe in an uncertain manner.

He doesn't need to look to know when Vi's done, when he hears her talking, coming close to where they are. Both look great, you should buy both--

Robby takes it as a cue to look up from the book, looking over to the pair, a glance at Vi before the man. Oh, what colour are you getting? Oh, man, you're going to get that? said in an impressive voice, and the stylist he's with looks over to Vi and the pair, perhaps momentarily confused, but Robby asks, doesn't allow time to think, Do you do stuff that'll wash out if you just want a colour for a week?

But oh, yes, they do, and Robby will listen to how they have a selection just for that, nodding his head with a sure brow. Looking to Vi, a cue as he says: ] I think I've got a lot to think about, yeah. We should figure out a day and I can come back closer to the date.

[ The day, a date. All which means: this is a good time to make our leave. ]

[faceblocks]

[she's already waiting on robby's voice - whether he speaks up in conversation or in warning (thankfully it's the former. for now. hopefully for ...as long as they're here.)

a sure, yeah, they can sort you out up at the counter and an aww, no i'm just filling in for someone, but i'd like to work here and one it'll look great later, she's moving toward the door at a regular pace, idly checking to see if any of the group is outside as she steps out, ready to offer a wave or a bit of conversation.

she never turns back to robby - if this goes badly she's not going to indicate he was in on it, because you don't rat out your crew like that - that's just uncool and not done.

what she does do is make her way just past that shop and peers into the window of the next one, hands in her pockets and giving the jewelry in the display a bit of consideration as she waits for robby to emerge - or for the sounds of any kind of kerfluffle. she gives it two minutes, counting down in her head until she decides to go back in - if she's gotta do that, she'll make a purchase.]

[strongroots]

[ Robby is a good leaving (future) customer, asking last second about their opening times, and do they do bookings? Yeah on the bookings? Great, perfect. A pleased potential. As long as Vi's moved the bottles just enough to not make the ones missing easy to notice, the hairdressers are unlikely to notice for a while. There's real customers to be seen to, floors to be swept.

He comes out before the two minutes, and doesn't make a show as he pinpoints where Vi is and starts to walk in her direction, taking out his gloves to slip back over his hands like any regular person would. He only stops as he comes close, with the air of bumping into someone on the road.

His face gives away nothing, even the edges of his small smile behaving. ]

Fancy seeing you around here. Think I heard you getting them a customer in there.

[faceblocks]

[a little nod, a feigned bit of surface surprise in her eyes as she turns her attention toward robby - as if none of that back there had ever happened.]

I think I hooked one. Buying two colors, last I checked.

[she doesn't say more just yet, that'd just be unwise, but if they walk a little ways she'll offer the following.]

One pink, one purple. [a silent question there: good picks or nah? and a bit of an appraising, sidelong look.] That was some slick work in there. Guess we've both got all kinds of moves.

[a pause as she breathes out for no other reason than to see her breath in the air - the weather's bewildering but also welcome, and she's in no hurry to duck into another shop just yet. but soon! because there are a lot of things to do, and a lot of people to talk to. she's still not sure how she feels about the bit of theft, but it's easy to backburner it when there's so much else going on, and when it's so second nature.]

You know, tattoos aren't the only doodling I do at Ursula's. The face-painting kind of stuck around, and I'm thinking of trying hair stuff, too. Like, color, mostly. Maybe braids?

I dunno, I'm just tossing ideas around for now.