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Elasia is standing near some curling vines in the atrium, absently trying to decide if one of the vines just waved or not, when she spots the C-contingent arriving. Smiling brightly, she waves, "Afternoon, and a lovely one outside."
Clara comes barreling down the stairs at a fairly breakneck speed, then pulls up short to weave about diplomats towards a taller woman. "Ela...sorry I'm late. I got held up at work." Over her shoulder, she glimpses Corian and grins. "Hi, hello, and good afternoon."
C is for Clara and Corian as well as cookie, yup. She exits the stairs somewhat more sedately. She's not late. Of course not. Heck, she's lucky if she knows what time it is. "Good afternoon," she replies pleasantly, with a smile for the pair. "Are we all ready to go, then?"
Elasia shakes her head, stepping away from the vines. Clara's high-speed, Corian's moving sedately, she's somewhere in between, a decided lightness to her step. "Don't worry about it Clara, I think you're right on time." She nods to Corian with a smile, "I am at least, if y'all are? This should be amusing."
Fairly chipper herself, Clara snaps an ident card from her back pocket with a wicked grin. "Ready to do credit damage, aye ma'am," she replies, then tucks it back into the pocket. "Shall we invade the quarter then? Or did you have somewhere else in mind, Ela?"
Corian chuckles very quietly at the ident card flourishing, and adds, "I am ready as well--wherever you both would like to go. You have been here somewhat longer than I, after all."
Elasia tucks her hands behind her back, grinning, "The quarter sounds like our best bet to me, from what I've been told. Honestly, I've not really been much of anywhere else, besides the quarter and the business district. I'm sure there will be someplace."
Clara waves a hand towards the arch leading out, grinning impishly. "Lead on, oh bride-to-be. We shall follow dutifully," she promises. See, Clara's not a big fan of shopping. Horrid. Agony. Riiiight.
Corian casts a brief smile of amusement towards Clara. Oh, what a martyr. "The quarter will certainly have something, of course," she agrees.
Elasia flashes another smile, nodding and heading for the door.
[Off to go shopping!]
Elasia does -not- skip, but everything about the way she walks suggests it. She's not at work, things are good. Surveying the potential shops she gestures to one, "This look like a good place to start?"
Corian nods amiably, a hint of amusement in her smile as she watches Elasia. Ah, to be young. "That looks fine to me, yes--I have not yet had a chance to explore it."
Clara eyes the mannequins in the window approvingly, not that she has a single clue how to actually go about shopping. She just enjoys it. "Looks good to me," she agrees. "Neither have I," she agrees with Corian.
Elasia nods cheerfully, she's in a -terribly- cheerful mood in fact, and pushing on the jinglyfied door, she steps inside.
Elasia walks towards the Shop.
Corian walks towards the Shop.
You walk towards the Shop.
Shop
An oasis of peace and beauty in the Java Quarter, this shop obviously caters to women. Music plays at all times, just loudly enough to be heard, but not so much that it hinders even quiet conversations. The decor is light and airy, and the products themselves are organized in a logical fashion. While it can't be said that -any- type of clothing that a woman would want is available here, which is unsurprising considering the variety of clientele that shops here, there is still a wide assortment, both in style and kind. Dressing rooms are available at the rear of the store.
Corian glances about the shop with a nod of approval. "This certainly seems like a good place to start," she says, with a quick smile. She avoids the salespeople, but they don't seem to be too evil. Maybe they don't work on commission.
Elasia pauses a moment, once inside the store, surveying the various racks a moment before taking a daring step into the various racks of clothing-age. "It does indeed, goodness. Wow, a lot of things."
Clara pause for a moment, then shakes her head wryly. "No uniforms," she observes rather cheerfully. "This is good. What kind of dress are you looking for, Ela?" Commission is evil. Commission is bad.
Corian glances over at the question to Elasia, turning her gaze from something blue.
"A white one," Elasia answers as she moves around to a section of semi-appropriate dressery. "Not that that's much of an answer, I know. Something really simple, we're getting married by the lake, I really don't want anything terrible to hike down there in."
Aliana walks here from the Java Quarter.
Clara can't stifle a laugh at the initial answer, moving to shuffle through a row of lighter green dresses. "That's going to be absolutely lovely, too. I guess that means sensible would be good," she muses, regarding something tight and strapless before shaking her head firmly and shuffling it away.
Corian's eyes hold a gleam of mirth at the answer as well. She considers Clara's choice for a moment, then shakes her head. "That would be... somewhat difficult for getting to the lake," she observes. Catching sight of Aliana, she offers a pleasant smile.
Aliana pads in, looking like she would much rather be elsewhere as she looks longingly at the door. Finally she squares her shoulders and walks towards the first rack of dresses. Her expression definitely takes an upward turn as she sees Corian, "Good Afternoon!"
It's a good thing Ela's tall, or she would be altogether hidden in the tall racks of white dresses in the back. Undaunted, she begins looking through the available selection. Coming across a particularly skimpy one she shakes her head, "Now while Niko'd probably approve, I don't think I do. I swear, he suggested spray paint." Hearing Ali's greeting Corian, Ela turns and smiles to wave a greeting.
Aliana looks much happier as she looks around and sees the others. Clothes don't quite seem to be her thing. She pads towards Corian and asks, 'Looking for anything special?'
Clara nods in definite agreement with Corian. "It would making walking at -all- difficult, actually." She rifles through, considering others after flashing Aliana a bright grin. "Afternoon, Ali," she calls, then dissolves into snickering. "Worse, Ela. He mentioned it to Riley. Men are frightening at times."
Corian blinks at that "Spray paint?" she inquires. "Goodness, -both- of them?" She seems torn between amusement and embarrassment. "Goodness," she repeats. "What brothers I have." At Aliana's question, she shakes her head, with a gesture towards Elasia, further back in the dresses. "Elasia is looking for a wedding dress," she replies, with a smile.
Aliana starts to ask, but then decides some things are best left unknown. Turning to Elasia, she asks, "Have you set a date then?'
Elasia regards another dress at length, considering it. At Clara's words she glances up in amused dismay, "Spreading the evil? Goodness, I swear. I do not believe I will ever understand the male of the species, as much as I love Niko." She nods to Aliana, smiling, "Or at least a generality of one. The beginning of the month. It's tricky for everyone's schedules to work out."
"Maybe you could just ask that the complex be shut down for a day?" Ali suggests half seriously as she starts to scavenge through some of the dress racks.
Clara drifts almost unerringly towards a row of scarlet, then visibly steers herself back towards more modest colors to sort through a few in navy, a grin touching her lips at Ali's question. "I doubt they'd shut down the Complex if the Chairman himself were getting married. I like the idea, though."
Corian, shuffling through the racks, locates a white dress with fairly simple lines, but, after a moment, tucks it back in the rack. See, it's the sort of thing that -she- would choose (read that as 'conservative') so she apparently decides that Elasia wouldn't like it. "Ah, that would be nice," she says, at Aliana's words. "Unlikely, but very pleasant."
Elasia chuckles quietly as she shifts through dress after dress, discarding most of them as simply being too fancy. "They'd never do such a thing, certainly. The Complex -never- stops, not even when it supposedly does. I'm amazed often at how business continues at all hours."
Aliana seems drawn to one of two colours...red or black, it seems she has a rather limited taste. A rather close-fitting black dress is pulled out and peered at, nose wrinkling slightly. Finally the dress is set back and she nods to Elasia, "I see delegates working at all hours."
Clara holds up a slate blue number of almost dismaying modesty with interest, shrugging. "They do work at all hours. Each of the departments stays open all the time, too. It gets fun at times," she notes with a grin. "Is Niko wearing his dress whites, Ela?"
Corian nods her approval of Clara's dress, moving around to that blue dress she'd seen earlier. She takes it from the rack, then shakes her head, replacing it. Sleeveless, fearsome, no way.
Le lovelorn sigh. This would be Ela's response to Clara's question, which probably means yes. Elasia confirms this by nodding as she takes a couple of dresses from the rack to regard them. "He is, yes. The tastyness factor will be very high indeed."
That elicits a puzzled look from Ali, "The tastyness factor?"
Clara wrinkles her nose in a delighted grin, setting aside the more modest dress for one a bit less modest in sage velvet. "Riley too," she agrees with undisguised appreciation. "It's a -wonderful- uniform." She peers over her shoulder at Corian. "Will Tarrant be there?"
Corian shakes her head at the others' reactions to the uniform, looking rather amused. She eyes that sleeveless dress once more, then glances over to Clara. "I am uncertain. Perhaps? It is dependant on several factors."
Elasia grins in a bemused fashion at Aliana, "Have you ever seen a man in navy whites? It's...not something to miss out on in life." She nods to Clara, "Really a wonderful uniform indeed." She ducks behind a curtain with the two chosen dresses to set about actually, *gasp*, trying them on.
Aliana pauses for a moment, her smile definitely moving into the sappy zone, 'I have just seen Rhys in his...It is nice...very nice.' She adds for emphasis, 'But then I have yet to see him when he hasn't looked perfect.'
Clara edges over towards the waiting area outside the fitting rooms, offering a sympathetic smile to a -very- bored looking man there, obviously waiting for his wife. The red dresses still call to her, although the sage one is still under her arm. "Air Force has the dress blues," she agrees with Ali. "Those're entirely spectacular too. Ours are black. Dull as mud," she emphasizes.
Aliana follows Clara's glance at the red dress...Then notes, 'That would look good on you'
Corian suggests to Clara, with a quick smile, "It very likely could be worse than it is, though." She's likely referring to the dullness factor. With a glance to the red dress, she adds her own affirmative. "The lines of it are lovely." She casts a glance towards the curtained area, to see if it's time to ooh and ahh yet.
Rummage, rustle, rustle, rummage. Elasia tries on the first of the two dresses, and from the quiet, 'ick' noise, it can be guessed she doesn't much care for it. The rummaging ensues again instead as she sets about trying on the second one instead.
Clara purses her lips slightly in sympathy for the 'ick' sound. It's likely a feeling every woman knows. Her gaze goes somewhat wistfully to a crimson number hanging in display on the wall as she nods slowly, then sighs. "I have two red dresses already though. Anyway, it's a bit of a racy color for a wedding," she adds reasonably.
Corian casts a quick smile to Clara. "You need not wear it to the wedding," she suggests. "And even if you do not buy it, what would it hurt to try it on?"
Elasia slips out of the dressing room, rather quietly and altogether shyly. The dress is exceptionally simple, but it suits her well. Instead of silk or some fancier substance, it is made of bleached white cotton, light and airy. The bodice is close, but meets with a full skirt descending in delighted disarray to her ankles and cheerfully inappropriate white canvas tennis shoes. The hem is hung with a single rimmed layer of cotton eyelet lace in an almost whimsical pattern. The neckline is low, not so low as to be daring, but low enough to make obvious the contrast between bleached cotton and olive-toned skin. The sleeves are comprised simply of a double row of the same eyelet lace as the skirt's hem, and fall gently just past Elasia's shoulders.
Clara regards the dress a moment more, then grins quickly at the others. "Maybe just to-..." The words cut off as a flash of white catches her eyes and she turns, one hand still on the disputed dress as she catches her breath. "Oh...heavens...Ela, that's gorgeous," she breathes.
Corian regards Elasia for a moment, a slow smile crossing her face. "That is absolutely lovely," she says quietly. She moves to the younger woman's side, to get a better look, then nods approvingly. "Just beautiful, dear. You look beautiful."
Elasia looks rather relieved, brushing slightly at the skirt, settling it. "It's okay then? It looks kind of like something you'd find back home, which has a decided appeal to me."
Clara takes just long enough to settle the dress under her arm on a rack before following Corian to regard the dress more closely, eyes wide with appreciation. "Oh, yes," she agrees emphatically. "Besides," she adds, looking up with a warm smile. "You're marrying someone from back home. Do you think he'll like it?"
Corian nods firmly to Elasia's question. "It seems more than okay, to me." Clara's observation and question elicit a short laugh. "If he has eyes, he certainly should. This seems much better than spraypaint."
Elasia offers Clara an bemusedly wry look, amused past shyness, "He'd probably rather I wore spraypaint, but I don't guess he'll object."
Aliana considers the dress critically before adding her soft ooh, 'That is very beautiful.'
"He'd probably prefer spraypaint, because men only ever think of two things," Clara counters with a grin. "House repairs and chocolate, of course." She steps back to peer at the dress from another angle, beaming. "Do you like it, Ela? I mean, despite the fact that we're all in awe..."
Corian laughs very quietly at Clara's observation. "Of course, of course," she murmurs. Her gaze shifting back to Elasia, she adds, "It really is lovely."
Elasia mutters something under her breath about butterscotch and breakability, but regards the dress in the mirror a moment, half smiling. "I do like it, yes. For all that my sisters will despair of it, but then I've never been given to excessive frilliness. Thank you all for your kind words." She smiles, ducking back into the dressing room to change back.
Aliana grins at Ela's words, "Frilly belongs on babies...when they have no choice whatsoever on their clothing"
Clara folds her arms, shifting her weight to one leg to look after the disappearing vision in white as she grins. "Niko's a very, very lucky man," she notes to the others decisively, then sighs happily and returns to dress hunting before snickering at Ali. "Neither do military personnel. We should wear frills?" she teases.
Corian casts an amused smile at Aliana, moving back to look at the other dresses, then nods at Clara. "Certainly, you should," she says, with utter seriousness. "That would be exceedingly practical, after all."
Aliana nods her head in agreement, "Frilly lace all over and wide skirts."
Clara tilts her head in the midst of regarding a simple dress in dark rose, then dissolves into laughter, having to lean on the rack. "I'll have to tell Riley and Niko that. They'll be thrilled at hearing about their new, dainty uniforms."
Elasia returns after a few moments, dressed in her former outfit. Hanging back the rejected dress, she grins. "And pink, pink with frills," she adds in helpfully as she goes to speak with a clerk about purchasing the dress.
Corian says thoughtfully, "Pink would certainly suit them." Then, finally, she laughs quietly. "The poor men. They really do not stand a chance."
Aliana doesn't so much as crack a smile as she adds, "With high collars, that fit close to their neck.'
Clara is still snickering as she rifles a bit to find the proper size, vastly amused. "And accessories. Maybe fringes of ruffles about their bolter holsters?" she suggests.
Elasia returns shortly with the dress in a dress bag, and she slides onto one of the chairs near the dressing area with a grin. "Hair bows," she adds. "Large ones."
Corian drifts back to that first dress, studying the blue floral pattern with a thoughtful look. "And flowers," she suggests. She doesn't suggest makeup, but Kathlyn would. Too bad she's not here.
Clara finally finds the proper size after several moments of hunting, smirking broadly. "Of course, you'd have to toss some pink satin in somewhere. I'm not quite sure where, but it would be vital. So fashionable for today's Security."
Elasia looks decidedly amused, shaking her head. "They'd probably get all exasperated that we were simply suggesting this." Gee, what evil males, not to want to be dressed up like dolls.
Aliana finally does giggle before noting, "but we are simply looking at softening the image of the Officers.'
Corian makes an inquiry of a surprisingly helpful clerk-type, looking a bit disappointed with the results. Casting a convincingly innocent look to Elasia, she says simply, "They are my brothers, so it is required that I exasperate them from time to time--especially Niko. There are years of exasperation that I need yet attend to."
Clara tugs out two dress of rather similar style, sleeveless and just above the knee linen with simple lines, one in dark rose and the other in sage green, and holds both up. "Professional female opinion, ladies. I'm not qualified to decide on colors. There's these, and there's one over there in navy blue," she adds, then grins at Corian. "I don't have any siblings. Can I help exasperate just for fun?"
Aliana doesn't hesitate as she points to the dark rose, "I like that one much better."
Corian nods to Clara. "But of course. One cannot have too much assistance, when it comes to exasperating one's siblings." She considers the dresses, then says, "I would like to see how you look in the green, Clara. It would suit you, I think, with your eyes."
Elasia chuckles quietly, looking altogether delighted at the thought of random Niko-torture. "Exasperating Niko is certainly a laudable activity." She grins at the color choosery, "Should I suggest the blue just to confound the issue further?"
Aliana grins at Elasia, 'I prefer red hues...so I am biased.'
Clara utters a heartfelt, melodramatic groan and covers her face with both dresses, laughing merrily from beneath. "Never mind. I'm wearing fatigues," she declares, then snags the blue dress as well with a smirk, nodding at Ali. "Red is great so long as it isn't hair," she offers, vanishing through the door.
Aliana chuckles softly, as she goes back to considering dresses.
Elasia shakes her head in sheepish amusement, although she adds, "Red hair is wonderful though, I'd considered dying mine on a number of occasions, if I thought it would turn out."
Corian casts an amused smile after Clara, then turns back to that blue floral dress. "Perhaps with a wrap over it," she murmurs. Glancing back to Elasia, she says, "But you have lovely hair. Goodness, I would trade mine for it any day." Except that she would look very bizarre with hair that dark.
Aliana nods her head in agreement, 'It would be a shame to colour it.'
Clara would look decidedly odd with blonde hair. Heck, she likely looks odd with red hair considering her skin-tone. A soft cough is heard from the dressing room, following by her voice noting, "I think the pink isn't going to work. I think I just turned orange."
Elasia considers the dress that Corian appears to be considering, "That would suit you well," she perks up with, not of course knowing Corian's distaste of viewable bodily parts. She grins at Corian, "Thank you, and growing up I'd've taken you up on that. Where I grew up, well, I hardly stood out at all to say the least."
Aliana just icks, "Orange is not good."
Corian glances over to the curtain area with a faint grimace. "Perhaps one of the others will work," she suggests. Turning back to Elasia, she inquires, giving the dress a dubious look, "Do you really think so?" She considers the younger woman for a moment, murmuring, "My hair on you would certainly make you stand out, yes. But you are lovely as you are."
Elasia grins at Ali, and then nods to Corian, "I think it would do quite well, yes." She grins, "And you are lovely as you are, but you still said you'd be willing to trade."
Clara comes out just enough to lean against the doorframe of the dressing room and wearing the sage green dress, peering over at the dress Corian's looking at and nodding as well. "You all three are," she notes affably. "Part of the reason men stop and stare. And that blue would go splendidly, Corian," she offers.
Elasia regards Clara and the sage green dress with a smile, "That looks splendid, it goes quite nicely with your coloring."
Corian casts an amused smile to Elasia. "Too true. The saying about the greenness of the grass is true, I suppose." Glancing back to Clara, she nods thoughtfully at the dress. "It does look nice with your eyes. And the same could be said of you, of course." With a brief smile, she turns back to pondering that blue floral number. Ah, the agony.
Aliana considers the dress for a moment, then a smile fills her face, 'That really does look nice, Clara.' Her attention goes to the dress Corian is holding, "You should at least try it on."
Clara glances down thoughtfully, muttering something about combat boots not quite being appropriate, then slips back into the dressing room to leave the others to decide.
Elasia can't quite restrain an impish grin, "Do it Corian, try it on. What's the worst that could happen? You could look so stunning in it the clerks will pass out? They'll get over it, don't worry." She grins at Clara, "I don't know, if they're comfortable...I'm a firm believer in comfortable shoes." Which according to my grandmother means she's a nurse or a prostitute.
Corian glances between the others, then relents, with a short laugh. "After Clara is finished, I will, all right." Of course, she doesn't say she's going to let anybody -else- see her in the dress.
Clara is a doctor? "Jump on in, Corian, the water's fine!" she urges from somewhere within the depths of the dressing rooms amidst the sound of rustling cloth...which is better than rustling cows. "There's more than one little area in here, you don't have to wait."
Elasia looks rather bemused, grinning at the general goings on and looking altogether pleased.
Aliana giggles softly, see...it's okay, she isn't the one trying things on...that would be bad. Instead she encourages Corian, "You don't even have to come out and show us.'
From Corian's expression, it's Aliana's words that finally decide her. "All right, I suppose it cannot hurt to try." With that, she takes the dress and disappears beyond the curtain, to another little area.
Clara comes out a few moments later with a wry grin, only to hang both the blue and pink dresses back on the rack. "Pretty, but gosh it's easy to turn odd colors," she explains, then moves to make her purchase.
Julie walks here from the Java Quarter.
Aliana sighs as she picks out yet another black dress...this one cut much fuller. Her nose wrinkles as she holds it up to herself. But then she sees Julie and she waves, 'Hello!'
Corian, a bit of rustling heralding the clothing-changing going on in the curtained area, is quiet for a moment. "Well," she murmurs, voice just carrying beyond the curtain. "It is... interesting, at least." Hey, maybe she -is- related to Niko, somehow.
Julie spots the wave as she steps in, and returns it with a slight smile of pleased surprise. She changes direction to head toward the others, offering nods and murmurs in greeting.
Aliana grins as she calls over the curtain, "But interesting in a good way?'
Clara rejoins the others with a plastic covered dress over one arm, tucking her ident back into her jeans pocket and offering Julie a warm smile. "As the Complex raids this poor shop," she claims, then lifts her brows in interest. "Let us see, Corian?"
Julie casts a curious look toward the curtain, coming to a halt near Ali. "Shopping spree?"
There's rather a long silence before Corian emerges, pausing -just- beyond the curtains, the better to flee quickly. The dress itself is made of that broomstick-skirt fabric, and clings lightly to her, which likely explains her hesitance. She really is that thin. The color suits her very well, though, white with blue flowers, and tan leaves.
Aliana hmmms softly, "Well...I was looking for a new dress...I think Elasia found her wedding dress...and Clara and Corian are looking for dresses."
"Have credit, will travel," Clara adds to Julie wryly, then looks back towards the emerging Corian, faint crinkles appearing at the corners of her eyes in a warm smile. "It suits you, mon ami. Very complimentary."
Aliana pads a bit closer to Corian, eyeing the dress critically before smiling, 'I like it a lot on you."
Julie blinks at Corian, and releases a chuckle. "And Ali won't be the only one, I'm sure." She gives Clara a rueful nod.
Corian shows that, yes, when one is that fair-skinned, a blush shows up very well. "Thank you. Thank you all. I... well, I do not believe that I will be purchasing it, though." And with that, she disappears, to put on her clothing once more. Pay no attention to the Edreeni behind the curtain.
Clara pads forward towards the doorway, but not actually into the dressing rooms, instead examining a display of accessories. "There's always sunscreen if you're worried about being outdoors," she offers reasonably towards the Edreeni woman.
Corian shakes her head as she emerges from the dressing rooms, to hang up the dress. "That is not the issue," she says, with a smile. "But thank you."
Aliana pads over to the accessories, some of which get a rather puzzled look as she carefully picks them up to examine.
Julie casts a curious glance in Corian's direction, but gets distracted by a rack of pants suits which she begins to quickly flip through.
Clara considers a rather thin goldtone chain thoughtfully, almost as if wondering what it were for, but evidently makes a decision and holds on to it before raising her brows back at Corian. "Of course," she offers quietly, then pauses to come face to face with a rack of minidresses, brows furrowing. "I think these fall in the spraypaint category."
Elasia is however rather mystified, and in a moment of non-diplomacy, has to ask. "Whyever not, Corian? It's so lovely."
Aliana glances over then giggles softly, 'The why bother category?'
Corian starts to reply to Clara's words, but then pauses a beat at Elasia's inquiry. "The style... it is not what I usually wear. I do not know that I would be comfortable in it."
Elasia ahhs softly, nodding in something at least approaching understanding. "A shame, but I understand."
Julie chuckles softly from behind a rack. "Then buy something else, Corian," is her suggestion.
Clara grins at Aliana with an agreeable nod as she leans against the display of spraypaint dresses. "Still, part of the fun of shopping is trying to decide just what you can get away with."
Corian offers Julie a pleasant smile. "Ah, I did not see your arrival. If I happen to see something else I like, then I will, but I have no especial need for a new dress." She considers the spraypaint dresses for a moment, then shakes her head. No, there's no way she'd ever wear one of those.
Aliana giggles as she picks up a particularly skimpy black one, 'I dare you to try this one on.' Course she doesn't offer to do the same.
Clara peers over at the black dress incredulously. "Do you wear that -under- another dress, or something? Isn't that, what...lingerie, or something?"
Elasia tucks her feet lightly beneath the chair she's perched on. She regards the rack of spray-painted dresses with a grin. "If you're going to look at something like that, you might as well skip on to the lingerie section."
Aliana ponders a moment then shakes her head, 'I think you just simply wear this.'
Corian regards the skimpy black dress rather like Indy would look at a snake, then shakes her head. "Mm, no." Elasia's suggestion gets a quiet chuckle. "Those dresses -are- about that bad, yes."
Clara just shakes her head, backing carefully towards a row of suede silk shirts. Touchy-feely comforting fabric. "What in the name of pearly pink pachyderms would you wear -under- that? There's no room."
Julie glances over to get a look at what items the women are getting a look and, and shakes her head with a snicker.
Aliana offers helpfully, 'I don't think you are supposed to wear anything beneath them.'
Elasia climbs from her chair, rummaging in another part of the store to gesture at Clara with two bits of altogether unstrategic lace. "This maybe? It's about as small."
Aliana eyewidens as she looks at the lace, 'Where would you wear that?'
My, Clara would make a good cartoon at the moment. At least her eyes are about that wide at both suggestions. She pads forward to poke an experimental finger at the lace, baffled. "What in the world is it?"
Aliana pads over to look at the lace, obviously intrigued.
Corian remains where she is, though the lacey stuffs get a brief shake of her head. "Well, the lace is pretty, at least."
Elasia flips up the label, "It says it's a bra. I myself have my doubts. There are a number of other such objects over here, probably also purporting to be undergarments."
Aliana rubs her chin thoughtfully, then peers over at the mentioned objects. "Pretty lacy" She comments.
Julie chuckles. "It's certainly... Well. Ego-boosting, I suppose."
Corian murmurs under her breath, "It does not look as if it could boost much else."
Aliana tilts her head, "Ego-boosting? How so?'
Elasia rummages some more, tugging out something a bit more substantial, a silk half-robe. Innocently, as she is, as has been mentioned, innocent, she gestures with the deep green object to Corian, "This would look lovely with your hair." Yes, she's evil, but she doesn't mean to be.
Julie gives Ali a glance, and blushes slightly. "I know that wearing something like that would certainly make /me/ feel pretty."
Corian shakes her head at Elasia's words, managing somehow not to blush. "I... thank you, dear, but I could hardly wear that. The color -is- lovely, though," she adds. And silk, she -likes- silk.
Aliana nods in agreement to Elasia, 'It would be very pretty' She notes before considering the bits of lace again. "If you say so."
Elasia is having no luck today in the department of finding something suave and cheerful for Corian. She regards the simple silk greenery a sad moment before returning it to the rack. She is however, nothing if not determined, and continues looking at least.
Corian, on the other hand, does not look. Finding a handy seat, she perches on it, legs crossed demurely at the ankle. She watches the others with interest, and a quick smile.
Julie returns to looking through pantsuits and such, staying well away from things either frilly or including a skirt.
Elasia does eventually give up however, as it seems she's unlikely to find anything fitting, and instead steps back, looking around to see what remains to be done.
Clara pauses before a display of things involving many eyelets and laces and garters, unfortunately not quite as lucky as Corian. She's already well on the way to matching her hair. "These...they...can't be comfortable," she manages warily.
Elasia blinks a few times at Clara, and at the color she's turned, "It's not as if you wear them -long-..."
Corian blinks at Elasia for a moment in what appears to be incomprehension. She doesn't ask, though, perhaps deciding that she'd rather not know.
Aliana seems amused by Clara's reaction, then she turns to peer at Elasia, 'Then why bother wearing them at all?'
Julie chuckles softly at Ali's remark. "Because they're enticing."
Elasia is starting to look startled, but she nods to what Julie's said. "Why ice a cake? It's sweet already. Because it's more fun that way."
Icing... Enticing. Coincidence?
Clara runs a finger over one lace rim, then blinks at the others. "You're kidding, right? It's...oh, my. Really?" The corset-ish item gets another wary look, as if it might attack. "And that's...they like...oh, you know what I mean," she splutters. Hair matching time.
Aliana ponders this for a long moment, holding up one of them for close scrutiny. "Its not like you could walk down the street wearing one of those.'
And lo, Corian achieves enlightenment. She doesn't blush, though; nobody's suggesting that -she- wear these things, after all. "The only thing that would make this as it should be would be Hona's presence," she murmurs.
Julie coughs. "Well, you /could/, Ali... It'd make for some interesting reactions, however."
Elasia just nods slowly, not making sudden moves so as to startle the poor be-reddened doctor. "They do. Trust me. Just be-warned, sometimes they have to have their jaws re-hinged afterwards." She blinks at Aliana, "Not in the street, no. Well, some people have been known to do so, but they're usually attempting to sell themselves. It's generally a private thing. To torment the male of the species."
Corian inquires curiously of Elasia, "Do you have something like this, then--for the wedding night, of course." Yes, she's trying to make sure her alt has a good time. Cough.
Elasia looks rather sheepish, but she nods, "A gift from the younger of my sisters. It's...festive."
Clara folds her arms, eyes narrowing again at the garment as her thoughts race. Oh, distraction! Yay Corian! "Oh, yes..." she agrees gratefully. "Wedding nights. Very appropriate," she adds hastily, with another sidelong glance and headshake. "Not all men, I don't think," she adds in a mutter.
Aliana carefully sets back the lace bits...almost as if it may attack her. "I think I will pass."
"If you could show me a man who would -not- be pleased to see the woman he loves dressed in lingerie, I will show you a man who is either blind or brain dead." Elasia says with an amused chuckle.
Julie grins at Ali. "Your young pilot would very much appreciate something like that."
Aliana pauses for a moment, then glances at Julie..."You think he might?" That gets Ali thinking.
Corian looks for a moment like she's considering Elasia's words, then shakes her head, that blush finally lighting her cheeks. "Mm, well, no," she murmurs.
Clara circles another display cautiously, a few of the worry lines smoothing at something cream colored and at least without any metal struts. "Mmm. I suppose it wouldn't prevent sleep, at least."
Julie chuckles, nodding. "I don't just think he might. I'm quite sure that he would."
Aliana circles around the display as she considers, darting a glance towards the others as she picks up a black ensemble...with considerably more fabric than the previous one.
Elasia goes back to the racks, rummaging a bit to find several other options that are less terrifying. To Clara she suggests, "They make pajamas even that are ... uh, a little more cheerful, if you're worrying about sleeping in something. Short satiny shorts, that kind of thing."
Corian gets to her feet, finally joining the grouping around the lingerie area. She eyes it maybe a bit warily, but starts to investigate nonetheless, looking for the less-revealing stuffs, of course.
Clara follows after Ela like some bizarre sort of mortified puppy, still rather red, but at least not about to bolt. "Those do look more comfortable," she muses. "Mother sent me something like that," she adds, waving at a longer white satin gown, then shakes her head. "No, t-shirts are good enough to sleep in," she decides.
Julie drifts vaguely in the direction of the lingerie. Nope, she's not interested in that stuff, not a bit.
Elasia offers a couple of the hangers to Clara, "These are good things. Especially if you're having difficulty reminding certain males to come home at a decent hour." She offers Corian an encouraging smile. Great. She's an underwear pusher.
Clara accepts the hangers tentatively, holding them up slightly to tilt her head sideways and examine the items. "Okaaaayy...he's supposed to see it? I think I'd likely just die right then and there, and then he'd laugh."
Corian returns the smile with one of her own, just a bit sheepish, then takes out a pale blue robe, elegant and flowing in satin and chiffon and lace. "This is lovely," she murmurs, before blinking at Clara, lips quirking fractionally.
Julie snorts softly, looking amused. "Clara, he would most assuredly not laugh. First, he'd pick his jaw up off the floor..."
Elasia just grin at Clara, shaking her head. "Hasn't he seen you in less before? Did he laugh then?" She nods to Corian, "A wonderful color."
Aliana tilts her head as she considers Corian's choice,'I like that alot...It would look nice on you, I think'
Clara glances up at Corian's find, appreciation dimming a bit of the blush that flames right into existence again at Ela's question as she clears her throat. "Ah, no? Well, once," she amends, crimson by now. "That really is lovely, Corian. It's like a cloud, almost."
Corian looks back to the others with a quick smile. "It -is- lovely, yes? You will forgive me, though, if I do not model it for the group. That would be a bit much." Expression thoughtful, she considers the negligee that goes with the robe.
Julie gives Corian a mock-disappointed look.
Clara can't help but smile at that, inclining her head. "It's still lovely, Corian. It...it reminds me of some of the things you might see in a ballet. Like Giselle, or something? Floaty and ethereal."
Corian takes up the negligee, draping part of the robe over it to see how they would look together. Then, with an approving smile, she starts to rummage, apparently for her size. "I think I may purchase this," she decides, adding quickly, "After all, I need not wear it for him, if I would rather not. And it looks comfortable."
Aliana finds a black silk and lace negligee, "What do you think?'
Julie glances over at Ali, almost guiltily dropping the material of the item she'd been fingering. "Eh? Oh... that's lovely, Ali. And I'm sure Rhys would agree."
Clara pulls one of the hangers with a cream colored teddy dangling from it out from under her arm to regard it clinically. "Perhaps the point then is to wear these...simply because they're pretty? To make the wearer feel perhaps better," she murmurs, then glances at Ali as well. "Just the shade of Islien," she notes.
Corian nods her approval of Aliana's choice. "Very pretty," she murmurs, with a quick smile.
Aliana smiles as she comes to a decision. "I think I will get it...For me, of course'
Julie's mouth quirks. "Of course."
Elasia doesn't even look smug, just pleased, and she nods to various people. "It's fun." She's converting people to the dark side.
Clara returns all but one of the hangers in her hand, still regarding the cream colored item thoughtfully before she happens upon a table bearing garters. "Oh, hey, I know what these are," she supplies. "They're as uncomfortable as all -getout-, but useful I guess for a costume."
Aliana pads over and asks, 'What are they?'
Corian tucks her blue stuff over one arm, coming over to investigate the garters. "Ela, do they have a tradition about these on Hellas?"
Elasia follows after to regard the garters. "Not that I know of, I honestly don't even know what they're for."
They're for shooting across the room. Really. That's why garters were created. Corian considers them for a moment, then shakes her head, amused. "Ah. I will be back in a moment, I would like to see how this fits." And with that, she disappears behind the curtain once more.
Julie's eyebrows rise at Cori's words and actions. Cori and garters just don't seem to fit together.
Aliana pads up to pay for her purchases, carefully counting out the coins as the woman wraps up her negligee. She turns to the others with a smile, 'I had better get back to the cottage, if I want to surprise Rhys with these.'
Corian doesn't take a garter. She takes the stuff she'd been looking at earlier. She's not a garter fan.
Clara plucks out one of the items, easily slipping into explanatory mode, as if explaining why tonsillitis occurs, or something similar. "You wear this bit about your waist, then fishnet stockings fit to this bit. Then you take one of -these- and wear it at the top of one stocking." She wrinkles her nose as she drops the items, then smiles at Ali. "Give him my regards, Ali."
Aliana wrinkles her nose at that, 'I think I will stick with what I have.' She raises her voice to offer a cheery farewell...then pads out.
Aliana walks towards the Java Quarter.
Elasia nods to Clara's explanation, although she grins, "Somehow, considering Niko's background, I don't think he'd find fish nets particularly appealing. He'd probably expect to go fishing."
[And of course, a random pose from Security Central...]
SECURITY> Niko nods to that. "Yeah," he says, with a sudden, rather goofy smile. "She's off hunting for a wedding dress. Hope she finds something she likes." No, he doesn't say anything about spraypaint. He's thinking it, though. Fishnets, however, don't even cross his mind.
Corian emerges from behind the curtain, looking rather pleased. "What a lovely color," she murmurs, with a brief glance at the blue stuffs draped lightly over one arm.
Clara wrinkles her nose and nods, peering at the table somewhat distastefully. "They're -uncomfortable-. Riley liked the dress part of the costume for the ball, but I'm not a fan of what went under it." She grins up at Ela impishly. "Hey, you -are- going out on the boat after the wedding. You like it?" she adds to Corian.
"Ah, but I have something suitably disturbing for after the wedding," Elasia muses quietly, looking amused. She smiles at Corian, her expression echoing Clara's question.
Corian nods an affirmative to both question and expression. "I do, yes," she replies. See, the combination is about as unrevealing as everything else she wears. "The design is really quiet lovely." At Elasia's comment on the disturbing something for after the wedding, she looks a bit curious, but doesn't ask.
"Niko would love you in spraypaint. It can't get any more disturbing than that," Clara notes to Ela logically, then grins at Corian. "It really is lovely," she repeats, although her smile fades at the dressing room, then down at the hangar. "Oh, bother. It's not a grenade," she mutters, and stalks off into the doorway for a time.
Corian laughs very quietly at Clara's comment, her expression sympathetic at the dilemma. "We will not ask you to model the clothing, either, cha'leket," she calls lightly.
Julie blinks after Clara in confusion.
Elasia watches Clara head into the dressing room with a bemused grin. "Besides, if you do not like it, you do not have to get it."
All is quiet for a moment before a very small Clara voice sounds forth from the dressing room. "I think I will pass on modeling," she decides. "But...I like it." More cattle, er, fabric rustling sounds.
Corian shakes her head as she goes to make her purchase. "That is wonderful," she calls to Clara, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Elasia manages to look even more cheerful, and altogether amused. She has brought evil into the world. "Good, that's a good thing. I'm sure Riley will as well."
Julie chuckles softly, quickly becoming absorbed again in negligee perusal.
Clara comes out of the dressing room back in nice comfortable jeans and combat boots again, somewhat dubious. "I don't know that Riley is ever going to see it," she replies, then leans against a wall to think a moment. "What's left...shoes?"
Corian, returning with her purchase, casts an inquiring look to Elasia at Clara's question. She doesn't need shoes to go with what she's bought, after all.
Elasia starts to answer, but instead glances to her watch, "I'm afraid I can't. As it is I won't have time to change before heading to my meeting at work. I'm so sorry, but I must dash."
Corian offers Elasia a pleasant smile. "Of course, dear. There is no need to apologize. And I am glad that you found a dress that you like."
Clara's brows quirk up in sympathy as she glances at her own comm as well. "Oh, good heavens," she murmurs, abashed, and hurriedly moves to make her purchases. "It really is time to get back, yes. Go on and hurry, if you've a meeting. And it -is- a lovely dress," she adds reassuringly.
Elasia smiles quite brightly, offering a wave, "Thank you for venturing out with me. This was fun." She heads for the door, moving relatively quickly.
Elasia walks towards the Java Quarter.
Julie glances up to give Elasia... whoever she is... a polite nod, her expression warming slightly as she murmurs a farewell to Clara.
Clara sighs at her bags lightly, rejoining the other women. "Poor girl. They really have been working her silly lately, from what Niko says. I'll be glad when they can get off on that honeymoon to themselves."
Corian looks after Elasia with a warm smile, one that remains on her face as she watches Clara's bepurchasing. "That will be good, yes," she agrees. With a fractional shake of her head, she adds, "But I should head back as well. There is that which must be done." She does pause a beat, though. "Clara, do you know yet when you will be working on Tarrant's knee? I would like to be there afterwards, you see, but I will be offplanet for a bit in a few days."
Clara breaks out of some thought to nod decisively. "Likely this evening, actually. He wanted to get the procedure done as swiftly as possible."
Julie perks up. Knee?
Corian nods to that, her expression relieved. "Good. It is unlikely that they will want me to leave quite so quickly. And thank you for helping him with that. It's been bothering him... well, for as long as I have known him." Unless it happened in that explosion, in which case, cancel that remark.
Clara inclines her head with a faint look of concern, although she doesn't question the off-planet going. "Of course. I'm pleased to help in any way I can. Any injury that old has added all the character it's going to. I'll contact him as soon as I get back to my office."
Julie's fingers twitch, itching to go chart-hunting.
Corian offers a quick, reassuring smile at the concerned look. "It is politics," she murmurs. "Nothing beyond that." She gathers up her purchase, adding, "And there is much for me to do, if you are to be taking care of his knee tonight--I need to finish a few more translations. I will see the two of you later, though?"
Clara's smile warms with relief as she nods. "Of course. Good luck, mon ami. I'll contact you before Tarrant wakes up from the anesthetic," she promises.
Julie offers Cori a half-wave, trying to keep her place in the rack.
Corian's smile to Clara is decidedly grateful. "Thank you. I do appreciate that. Good evening, ladies." And with that, she glides gracefully from the room.
Corian walks towards the Java Quarter.
Clara exhales a gust of breath and moves to lean on the edge of the rack you're looking through, grinning wryly. "I always love shopping, and then at the end of it, I wonder why."
Julie allows herself a quiet chuckle. "Because it's an opportunity to expand one's horizons."
Clara rubs at her forehead, vastly amused, then gives her purchases a dubious look. "If that's what it can be called. Being here on the Linnae is the first time in ten years I've needed civilian clothing, though. And now I guess I'd better hunt up shoes. Nice dress, buy my boots might look odd with it."
Julie nods her agreement, pondering a few more items on the rack. "That's why I'm in here now. I only own perhaps three sets of civilian clothes." She grins. "But boots are /so/ versatile."
Clara laughs and nods, peering down at the rack. "I know they are. I have three whole pair to myself," she says with a grin. "But I need...oh, wait. No I don't. I have heels. Good. Mission accomplished." She circles to peek down. "Finding anything?"
Julie shakes her head, gesturing toward the lingerie. "This stuff's just for musing over. I haven't even started on the serious shopping."
Clara shakes her head musingly at the lingerie, managing not to blush again. "I can't believe I bought something from there," she mutters, then nods. "Shopping's good. My mother sent me a few things when I got posted here, which helped. I'm lousy at picking out clothes. Oh, hey...you don't have to at all, but I'll probably need some help on this knee replacement I'm doing tonight. Would you be up to it?"
Julie grins faintly. "I'm sure the Chief will appreciate your purchases." At that last, clothes shopping is forgotten. "Absolutely! What's the history?"
Now, -that- turns Clara red, as she murmurs something about him falling asleep before landing on the other topic gratefully. "It's Mr. Czolgosz again, actually. He sustained an injury to the knee twelve years ago...and whoever did it did one hell of a botch."
Julie blinks at the implications of those words. "I see. Another plasma bolt?" She adds, lowering her voice, "Oh, yes, how is the Chief's sleeping problem?"
Clara waggles her hand from side to side. "I'm not sure the weapon, but it burned out most of the original bits," she agrees, then drops her eyes to a random skirt on the rack. "I don't know," she admits. "He says he's sleeping fine...but I just don't think he is."
Julie mhmmms. "Did you get a chance to propose that experiment to him?"
Clara lifts a brow and smiles mirthlessly. "He beat me to the punch. I told him I thought it might just be sleeping with anyone that was causing it, and he promptly asked me not to request that he sleep with someone else." She stifles a sigh, then offers a smile. "Look, I need to get home and put this stuff away. Want me to give you a holler before I call Mr. Czolgosz?"
Julie rolls her eyes a bit. "I'll give him credit for a sense of humor." She nods her agreement, gaze moving to the more sedate clothes in the store. "Yes, please."
"He does have that," Clara allows with a grin. "I'll give you a call, then. Happy hunting, Julie," she offers, then heads for the door.