[open] we need no reasons

[declamando]

Who: Maria and you!
When: July 2nd-3rd
Where: Nuada Airgetlám's temple, various malls in Tokyo, and a music store.
What: Keeping house, and the results of having finally found a job.


[A: Nuada Airgetlám's Temple, July 2nd]

[The curious or the interested on the Far Shore might have noticed a particularly odd little temple that's been around for a little while now. Or some parts of it, at least - like the mouth of the cave that leads in to what seems to be an enclosed grotto, or the uppermost branches of the treehouse sticking out of the large hole in the cavern roof, rooms and balconies very visible even at that height.

Normally, the larger area of the grotto is quiet and unoccupied, but today, sounds of splashing echo out of the cave mouth. Anyone who decides to investigate will be met with the sight of a certain pink-haired woman doing laps where the grotto's stream empties into a relatively still pool at the foot of the temple.

She's not impolite enough to ignore anyone entering, though, and she finishes off a lap and stands up out of the water, reaching up to undo her hair from the tight bun it's been in for the duration of the swim.]

Sorry about that, I wasn't expecting visitors today.

--

[B: Malls in Tokyo, July 3rd, morning]

[After a good amount of searching, Maria finally managed to settle on a job a week or two ago, so it's time to finally do some of the shopping she's been putting off. Pooling her new income with her previous funds has given her a respectable starting amount for buying some new clothes, and anyone also happening to be doing clothes shopping in Tokyo that day stands a chance of running into her. She's going through the shops at a pretty good pace for someone casting such a trained eye over the options, though that doesn't mean she won't need help.

As such, any likely-looking people might be pulled aside by her momentarily, a slightly apologetic smile on her face as she compares two items of clothing - perhaps it's two pairs of boots, or two short, frilled skirts, or even two coats despite it being entirely the wrong season for that sort of thing.]

Sorry to impose, but which of these do you think looks better?

--

[C: Music Store, July 3rd, evening]

[Said job that Maria found recently happens to be in a very large music store on the Near Shore - because if she can't perform here, then she may as well put herself in a position where she can lead people to music. It's the kind of varied place that sells both CDs, records and similar as well as a small range of musical instruments, and as such, Maria's experience in the industry serves her well.

She's just leaning over a customer's shoulder for the moment, suggesting a CD for them as they listen to a selection on the sample headphones.]

With what else you've picked out, I think you'd like this style as well. I'll leave it here for you to try, and you can tell me how you feel about it later.

[With a soft smile, she sets the CD down on their pile and turns to her next customer - which may just be you.]

Busy today, isn't it? Can I help you with something?

Comments

B

[smilingbullet]

[ He's mainly at the mall to find a couple shirts (preferably with some color) and maybe a pair of jeans, though technically he's not very fashionable. (He'd like if shinki needed to wear uniform, honestly.)

But he'll still look at the skirts with a serious expression, as if he actually knows what he's doing. Maybe he's learned the color wheel lately but that's not really enough. ]

Mmm, the frillier one? Frills are cute.

[declamando]

[It's not like Maria's asking for a professional opinion, at least. Honestly, the less experience the better, because if someone who doesn't know much about clothes has a clear favourite, there's probably a reason for that.

While the suggestion might be more a matter of personal taste, Maria's smile becomes a little more genuine as she looks over the skirts again.]

I do wear a lot of frills, but I sometimes worry how that's going to hold up in a fight. It's not like I'm not used to fighting in these clothes, but it's a little annoying to have to consider it all the time. [Still...] I might have to try it on to see how well it works for me.

[smilingbullet]

[ He looks between the skirts again, a bit more thoughtful, thinking more about the function part of the clothes. ]

That’s a good thing to consider. I don’t know if the amount of frills makes a difference but I don’t know if I have any experience with fighting in frills. What matters is if it’s not too tight or restricting in that case, right? So you can move your legs properly and stuff.

[declamando]

[Whether the amount of frills makes a difference is actually an interesting thought, and Maria seems to consider it somewhat seriously for a moment as well as she looks over the skirts herself.]

More frills would add more weight in fabric, but I'm not sure it would make any difference other than that. But yes, not restricting movement is the most important thing, and also that it's a tight enough fit that harsh motions in combat won't make it slip. [There's a soft laugh.] So really, most of those things are questions that could be answered with trying them on.

C

[rainbowmaster]

[With how quiet his temple is without company aside from his Duel Monsters, Johan decides that searching for music on the Near Shore might help in with the silence.

He was checking some nearby CDs when he's addressed, looking over and smiling.]

Oh, I was just looking around.

[declamando]

[Both this guy's appearance and the ease with which he addresses her back is a good sign that he's someone else from the Far Shore, and Maria offers a bit more of a welcoming grin.]

Are you one of the recent arrivals? I'm sure I could recommend you something if you need the music for anything in particular. [Training, ambience, focus...Maria knows intimately that there's a wide variety of reasons someone could be searching for music, so it only feels right to ask.]

[rainbowmaster]

I am.

[Johan tilts his head to the side, thinking.]

How about music just for the sake of enjoying it?

[declamando]

Well then, welcome. As arrival days go, that one was...honestly one of the better ones.

[Not that Maria looks entirely comfortable saying that, with the temple fire and all, but it is true. After a moment or two, though, she lets a smile back onto her face as she goes back to the subject of music.]

Then I'm afraid you might have to give me some genres you like for me to help fully, unless you want me to recommend you some ambient or instrumental music.

C (for Celebrity)

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki doesn't recognize any of these record labels. That will make securing a contract for her idols more difficul...

...aaand here's the competition, ambushing her in the middle of her investigation. Good thing she's in her Clever Disguise as a Music Fan, dark glasses and scarf and sweater (despite it being July) and all.

This perfectly anonymous individual turns to Maria and smiles. ] Thank you. I'm just looking.

[ It's not like she has an instantly recognizable curly ahoge voice or anything. ]

[declamando]

[It's a bit sad that it doesn't even take Maria a moment of hesitation to recognise Hibiki. It's certainly not her usual dazzling dress, but the voice and the hair are both extremely identifiable and not at all hidden by the "disguise" - which it clearly is, with those glasses and colours like that, and the need for it baffles Maria a bit.

Nonetheless, she offers a polite and welcoming smile.]

I'm afraid they don't keep anything we made in our worlds, though it would be a bit strange if they did.

[Particularly for any shinki who might've been in that industry before their deaths.]

[priforprince]

[ --Identified already?! What gave her away??

Well, nothing for it, then. Hibiki removes her sunglasses - they were in the way, anyway -- and swaps them in her back pants pocket for her checkbook. How much is this classical CD, anyway...? She'll get it, and these electronics parts she'd picked up for her goat... ] We would be out the royalties.

[ Said with the calm confidence of someone who has never had to count her money in her life. Who is flipping open her checkbook -

To find only

one

check left inside it.

Hibiki has frozen in place. ]

[declamando]

[That wasn't Maria's first thought, but it's also not wrong, and she laughs a little.] I suppose you're right.

[The more Maria thinks about it, the more she realises the idea of any music created by them existing here would spawn all kinds of strange questions, so she shakes her head slightly to banish the thought, and turns her attention back to Hibiki...

...who has apparently been frozen up by the sight of her deteriorating checkbook. Maria leans in almost over her shoulder, looking somewhat confused.]

Is that a checkbook from your world? [Because...yeah, Maria's pretty sure that shouldn't be valid here regardless of how many she has.]

B

[very_goodman]

[Why is Barry out clothes shopping with Maria? Because she's his most talented performer, that's why! He has a responsibility to make sure the idols of Sparkle Motion shine as bright as they possibly can.]

The knee-high brown leather ones, definitely.

[declamando]

[Having a second opinion is always helpful when it comes to buying clothes, so Maria was never going to object to that offer. At the suggestion from Barry, she lifts up the boot in question, turning it a little to check out the details like seam quality.]

You sound confident in that. [There's a faint amusement to it, but she also doesn't sound like she's questioning the choice.] They are rather nice, though at that kind of price I'd want to make sure they'll last.

[very_goodman]

Definitely. Idol fans love high boots and short skirts.

[Gotta have that Class A zettai ryouiki, after all.]

Only one way to find out, right? C'mon, try 'em on, see how you think they'll hold up.

[declamando]

[Well, that is one reason for the choice, and Maria laughs a little.] I can't say I don't dress that way even without my fans around, so I suppose we both win in that case.

[It's definitely right that she needs to try them on before they get any further, though, so Maria starts looking around for a seat. After a moment or two, she spots one peeking out at the end of the aisle, so she starts heading up that way.]

I really should have brought socks for this, but stockings will do.

B

[kokuyoyo]

[Things Chikusa would like to know: how he keeps ending up in a situation that involves a girl and clothes shopping.]

[Still, he.... doesn't immediately just walk away, and instead blinks at the choice of skirts she's holding up.]

...The blue one?

[He doesn't sound to sure, but, listen, the boy is wearing a beanie hat in the summertime, what do you want from him]

[declamando]

[Honestly, Maria wasn't expecting Chikusa to have much of an opinion, so it's nice to get an answer out of him at all...even if it sounds uncertain. It does lean the same kind of way Maria was thinking here as well, though, and she holds up the blue one to have a look over it again.]

It is the right shade to go with my hair, I suppose. I do like the design of the other one better, but it'd be a nightmare to match with anything. [Given it's an extremely vibrant shade of red.

After a moment, Maria smiles somewhat sympathetically.] You don't do this sort of thing often, do you?

[kokuyoyo]

[To the surprise of no one, he shakes his head.]

I…. don’t really understand fashion. I just choose whatever is practical… [A pause, because he’s been called out on this before.] And hats.

A - July 2nd

[pure_radiantics]

[ Kairi's just been flying over the Far Shore today on Nimbus, the orange cloud that makes silly noises she borrowed from Goten, carrying about her errands. Right now she even has a bag next to her as she sits side-saddle on the cloud and observes Maria doing laps. She didn't exactly recognize her, but she does remember who Maria is once she pops up. Interestingly, the last time Maria came up was in talking to Natsuru about her god, so Kairi doesn't mind literally swooping by just to say hi between her other efforts. ]

Hi Maria! I didn't mean to disturb you. What a cool temple...

[declamando]

[Maria waves a hand a little, dismissing the worry.] It's fine, it was about time I got out anyway.

[And that she does, stepping out of the water and picking up a white towel that's been sitting neatly folded next to it. In one smooth motion, she shakes it out and wraps it around her chest - it's wide enough that it drapes down almost to her knees. A little belatedly, she glances up at the treehouse with a fond smile.]

It is rather nice, isn't it? Not what I was expecting when people started talking about temples, but I'm quite fond of it.

[pure_radiantics]

[ Kairi has to laugh a little. ]

You often have guests arrive by flying in because of all the water, then?

[ She didn't seem surprised by it. ]

And the treehouse too, wow...

[ That strikes her as a wonderful place. ]

I bet Nanako and Goten would get a kick out of it.

B, please ignore my late if you can ;~;

[thirdbeauty]

[Unlike many other people Maria may encounter on her shopping trips, Natsuru was actually invited to come along. She's been really excited about shopping with Maria too, hoping to get lots of input from the clearly more experienced woman about all kinds of things! She's so excited, she doesn't even let herself get in her own head too much about Maria asking her opinion about things.]

Oh... I like the purple one!

[Which should be obvious since, in picking up and examining every cute (and short) skirt that catches her eye, she's ended up with the exact same skirt somewhere in the pile of 'maybes' in her arms. Whoops? Someone should probably start trying some on already... but she's slightly nervous about outright suggesting they both go and try things on. For reasons. So clearly, the answer is to let Maria initiate on that instead...]

it ok o/

[declamando]

[It had been a bit of an obvious question given that Maria can see the copy of the same skirt in Natsuru's arms, and she laughs softly as she takes a closer look at the one she has in her own hands.]

It is a nice skirt...but then I'd have to ask if you'd feel awkward being seen in the same skirt as me. [She points to the bit of the purple skirt visible in Natsuru's pile.

Skirt issues or not, it is nice to finally be able to go out with Natsuru like this. It's something Maria's been planning to do and talking about basically since Natsuru became her shinki, but her lack of a job had put an extended damper on it.]

[thirdbeauty]

Huh?

[She glances down at that one particular skirt also in her arms. She hadn't actually considered that at all!]

Oh! But... if it looks good on both of us...

[Now she's thinking about it more than she probably should. Is she breaking some kind of social convention by looking at the same skirt as Maria? ... Would she even look as good in the same clothes as Maria?!]

E-Even if we don't get them, we could still try them on and see how they look! Right?

[Help, she doesn't know exactly how she'd feel about wearing or being seen in the same skirt as Maria anymore. It should be a good thing that they both picked it out! They have similar body types, and maybe it means they both have good taste. But still...]