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[... Well. He's going to be there. And there will be people there who are dressed absolutely ridiculously, according to him. Maybe she can slip in under the radar.

And she does want to try more of his food...]

i guess you might be right. i do want to try what youre making for it anyway

its okay if i show up just for that, right?

Sure, no one's going to stop you from doing that. It's not like anything here costs Mora anyway.

It'd be a more fun if more people showed up wearing something weird though.

[...... surely he isn't... surely he wouldn't...]

i cant! definitely not me! im sorry im just

already too low class for stuff like this so i dont want to make it even more obvious

[ah.

She didn't really...

It's so easy to accidentally say things to him, since he doesn't seem like the type to make a fuss. But even so... It's not really fair for her to put her burdens onto him like this.]

[Another text follows hastily.]

i mean im a regular girl, you know? i like to wear pretty things to parties!

[If she owned any pretty things, she'd totally feel that way, she thinks.]

[ Ah. So that's the source of her anxiety. He didn't think she'd admit it so easily, but then again, she's surprisingly honest most of the time. Now that he thinks about it, he's seen some signs of this concern, with the way she tended to fluster when called out on her manners.

The reply comes after a few minutes of thought. ]

Then we'll dress you up for it.

[ This time, he's directly offering. ]

Edited 2023-11-21 01:25 (UTC)

[...?

She has to read the text twice over. He's... offering?

At first, she feels--embarrassed. Sheepish. Ashamed, a little, that she put this on him, when she should just smile and handle it herself. But...

He's so competent. Maybe he's competent in this, too. And if she's going to the party anyway... wouldn't it be nice to show up dressed like she belongs there?]

you really dont mind?

Stop questioning me. I have nothing better to do, anyway.

[ She knows what he's like. He wouldn't offer if he didn't want to do it. And while he doesn't have any real expertise in the style of wear they're probably looking for in the gala, he does know a thing or two about high quality clothing, banquets and the like, from his experiences as a Harbinger. It's better than Altria walking in completely blind. ]

[Right. He's always been that way, right? She hasn't known him that long, but he's always been consistent about not going back on the things he says.

.....]

right okay. then id really like that.

thank you.

should i meet you somewhere

[ The only response she gets from him is a map pin to the shopping mall in District 2. ]

[Peak Wanderer, honestly.

So she heads that way, embarrassed still but determined to see exactly where this is going--and if, perhaps, with his help, she can actually dress like she belongs at a gala.

It's doubtful, but... it's a nice thought.

And so, eventually, she shows up at that mall, peering around as she walks inside, trying and failing to not look as anxious and wary about this whole thing as she is.]

[ The shopping mall is eerie in its emptiness. The lights are all on, and it's strangely clean for a building that caters citizens long gone missing. It's sizeable, but thankfully, the drifter is near the entrance she walks in through.

He's peering curiously into the windows of one of the stores, which appears to be a store selling home decor. Upon hearing Altria's footsteps, he turns to look at her. ]

Still worried?

I don't really want to call it that...

[It's embarrassing enough that she's worried about something like a ball or a gala. She's been to them before, it's just...]

Sorry for all of the trouble.

[ He sighs loudly, annoyed. ]

I just told you I have nothing better to do. Why are you apologizing?

[ He turns to set off deeper into the shopping mall, expecting Altria to follow. But as he walks off: ]

People like hearing thanks more than sorrys. Why don't you try that sometime?

... But you don't seem to like hearing thank yous either...

[It's just said quietly, though, before she shakes her head to herself and trots after him quickly.]

Well... um, thank you, then! I really do appreciate it. And I appreciate you for all the help you've given me all this time.

I'm just helping because you look so pathetic on your own, diving head first into this city without even considering the dangers.

[ Plus, she's convenient as a food tester. That's it, really. Nothing more.

They eventually arrive at a shop that seems to sell a variety of higher end clothing. The racks are lined with all sorts of sleek dresses and office wear. ]

This city's fashion sense is lacking, but this store looks like the best fit for a gala.

[... See? Bad at thank yous.

But she just keeps her amusement to herself, instead turning her attention to the fashion store.

He may think it's lacking, but her eyes are as wide and round as dinner plates.]

Whoaaaaa...! Look at that dress! And that one over there! And the fabric on this one!

[She is already agog and she's only looking at the ones in the display window...]

[ He's working on it! ~~Not really~~

He watches her with amusement for a bit before taking a few steps into the store. ]

You gonna just stand out there and goggle at the display all day?

[!!!!]

W-well...! M-maybe I will!

[She knows that doesn't make any sense, which is why she then hustles her way into the clothing store, quickly enough that she almost bumps into the nearest clothing stand.

Whoops. Ahem. She straightens, calming herself down and smoothing down her skirt.]

... Where do we start?

[ He looks over the store. There's plenty to choose from—almost too much, actually. The mall was filled with stores that offered so many products, it was mind boggling to think how it might have all been produced. But from what little he's seen, the quality doesn't match the best boutiques he's seen before. The clothes here seem like cheap, mass produced outfits that are pre-sized and not tailored for buyers.

It's been a theme in this city. Mass produced, cheap and middling to terrible quality goods. But it's not likely the gala is going to require they wear the highest quality clothing, if it's just the riffraff of kidnapped people attending it. ]

Start by picking out what you like. Don't worry about if it'll fit you, if it suits you or if it matches what they want at the gala. Best to figure out what style you like first.

[Right... picking out a pretty dress. This is something she has never done before; even just looking around at the racks and racks of stunning clothing makes her feel a little dizzy.

... What would Cnoc na Riabh look for? Something elegant and classy. Maybe in dark brown, with pink.

Those aren't really Altria's colors, but she pictures it in her mind as she walks, trailing her fingers along the sleeves of the dresses, allowing the fabrics to drift along them. Satins and velvets (cheap or not, she can't tell the difference, she's never touched real velvet in her life), sleek outfits and gaudy ones...

How nice, she thinks. Cnoc na Riabh would've really loved this. She would've scoffed and rolled her eyes at Altria's hesitation and shoved a dress at her and told her to shine brightly in it. In a sense, maybe that's what Wanderer is doing too.

So she tries. She meanders from rack to rack, staring at the dresses thoughtfully. And finally, she does pick something out. She brings it back over to him, practically hiding behind it, but nonetheless:

(Learn to carry yourself in a manner befitting the Child of Prophecy.)]

... I think I like this one.

[It's not terribly fancy, and the fabric is just fine. But it's frilly, and the deep red brings to mind things she likes, and the bow is girly, just as she'd hoped.]

[ The drifter watches as Altria peruses the shop's selection, noting how her expression changes as she beholds certain dresses. At the very least, by the time she picks out a dress, it does look like she's not hesitating in picking out something she prefers, rather than something she thinks would fit the occasion. Good.

He eyes her selection, his eyes flickering between the dress and her, despite her best attempt to hide behind her choice. He had been thinking of La Signora when he thought of elegant dresses, but that's certainly not Altria's style. This fit her cheerful personality better.

But they're not here to settle on first choices. He's here to help her shine, and be confident while she's at the gala. So he wants to know how far her comfort level goes. ]

Not a bad choice. But before we settle on that, let's pick out a few other dresses.

[ He browses the racks, ignoring all but the red dresses. Eventually, he pulls out two dresses. He raises them towards her. ]

What do you think about these two?

[Altria knows that Wanderer agreed to help her find a dress, but somehow, she wasn't actually expecting him to delve so deeply into finding her one himself.

... He's so honest, isn't he? He said he'd help her, and here he is, helping her to the greatest extent of his abilities. It's so--kind.

She smiles a little to herself despite her embarrassment at this all being for her, and when he picks out a few dresses, her eyes widen. He went fancier than she did--of course he did. He doesn't have the same reluctant qualms she does, where she doesn't think anything too fancy suits her at all. His dresses are better picks for a proper gala.

But he went with red. Because that's what she picked out, right...? Somehow, that makes her heart feel really warm.]

They're... so pretty.

[Really, just absolutely stunning. And while she doesn't think they'll suit her at all....... she doesn't want to do him that sort of disservice when he has put in so much work on her behalf. So instead, she takes a deep breath and tries to put aside all of those thoughts, at least briefly. Briefly, she tries to think she could be the kind of person who would wear dresses like that.]

Can I... try them on?

[ He looks at her for a moment, eyes sharp as he observes her expressions, but he hands the dresses to her without comment. Then he gestures towards the back of the shop. ]

They have change rooms in the back.

[ She seemed to like the dresses, but he could see some hesitation in her expression. But she's not going to get over this without confronting her insecurities, and it's a good thing she's willing to try. ]

[She takes them, careful and cautious, and then looks towards the back of the store. Right, okay. She can see the sign.

A deep breath in... and out again.]

Right. ... Right! I'll go try them on, then.

[And without waiting for a response, she trots off to do so.

... He's probably going to be stuck waiting for a little while.]

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