[Action]

[camcorders]

Near the centre of Venture City is the familiar façade of Piffle Princess, a well-known local costuming business for both the mild-mannered and the super-powered.

On most days, Tomoyo is bustling around the store, singing to herself and cheerfully re-arranging window displays. Today, however, is different. Today, Tomoyo can be found standing still and silent outside the entrance, hands folded neatly together in front of her, clad in muted colours.

Every now and then, a familiar face passes by, and Tomoyo reaches out to them and utters some quiet words of encouragement: Yes, another dark scheme is unfolding. But this, too, shall pass -- the dastardly are always defeated, and brighter days are on the horizon -- just like always.

Piffle Princess is open for business, just like always. Anyone needing a garment tailored, repaired, or created from scratch can still come in today. They will just be greeted by a Tomoyo a little more subdued than usual.

Those in the know may also know that Tomoyo offers another service: filming heroes doing what they do best, and acting as a go-between to discretely sell the footage to the press without revealing any secret identities. This service is not explicitly advertised, but if someone tells Tomoyo that they are "interested in a photoshoot," she will know exactly what they mean.

Comments

[tiny_revolutionary]

There's one girl who doesn't seem to know her too well. Her outfit is already kind of strange, with a sort of Japanese look coupled with what looks like the world's largest soup bowl on her head and the world's largest sewing needle on her back. She's currently looking at the outfits in the store window, eyes wide in amazement.

"Whoooooa! You made all these?"

[camcorders]

Tomoyo gives a little bow, a good-natured smile spreading across her lips now. A new customer may be precisely what she needed to brighten her mood.

"Indeed. These are my new designs for the season. Do you see anything that interests you?"

[tiny_revolutionary]

Shinmyoumaru points at a particularly cute, frilly one. "I like that one! I don't have any clothes like that myself." She looks at her own outfit. "We dress pretty traditionally at home."

[camcorders]

"You have very discerning tastes; that is one of my favourites as well."

She sizes Shinmyoumaru up with her eyes, and seems to come to a conclusion. "Traditional clothing is just fine, but would you like to come in and try on something a bit different for a change?"

[tiny_revolutionary]

Shinmyoumaru blinked. "Ah... is that really okay?" she asked, eyes shimmering. New clothes! Wow! She pauses, though. "Ah, but... I'm not sure that's such a good idea," she adds, touching the tips of her fingers together.

[camcorders]

Tomoyo sees the indecision play across the girl's face, and her own expression softens.

"Why is that, if I may ask?

[tiny_revolutionary]

"Um... It's a bit complicated. I dunno if I should get into it." This is superhero identity stuff, right? It's totally superhero identity stuff. As much as she likes that dress...

[camcorders]

Tomoyo bends down a little, and, cupping a hand to the side of her mouth, drops her voice to a whisper. "Don't worry, Miss. Part of my business is discretion -- that means that I'm very good at keeping secrets for my customers. You can trust me with anything, no matter how big." She gives a conspiratorial wink.

[tiny_revolutionary]

Shinmyoumaru's mouth opens in an "O" fashion. She looks around carefully. "Can we talk about it inside then?" she whispers in a very childlike fashion.

[camcorders]

"Of course! If you'll come with me..." She pushes open the front door, setting off a small tinkling bell. She leads Shinmyoumaru through the showroom and towards the back of the store, near the register and the changing rooms.
There is a small spindly table there with two chairs, and Tomoyo pulls one out for Shinmyoumaru. The table already has a plate of jam-filled cookie sandwiches on it, and Tomoyo gestures to them before taking a seat in the opposite chair. "Please, help yourself."

[tiny_revolutionary]

Whoooooa. "Really? Thank you!" Shinmyoumaru has to fight the extremely childish urge to start scarfing down the cookies, instead choosing to maintain at least SOME level of decorum and just take one. For now, anyway.

She finishes her cookie first. "So, um, the thing is, like I was saying, I like the clothes and all, but there's a bit of a weird thing I gotta admit. Can I show you?"

[camcorders]

Tomoyo nods in encouragement. "There are changing rooms to your left, if you'd prefer greater privacy." She leans in, her voice a whisper again. "I keep many secrets for those who live in this city."

[tiny_revolutionary]

"W...well, I don't think a changing room would help much actually." She looks around, making sure nobody else is in the shop, before pulling out a strange, mallet-shaped object. She shakes it a little and, suddenly, shrinks to about 1/20th of her original size.

Yep.

"This is actually how big I am normally," she admits.

[camcorders]

Tomoyo leans in closer to get a better look, eyes wide.

"My, my! That's quite a talent you have!" She applauds quietly.

[tiny_revolutionary]

The tiny girl looks bashful at the compliment. "Eh heh... well, it's more thanks to the power of the Miracle Mallet than to me! But it does mean that I'd have to try and sustain clothing shrinking, and I dunno if that'd drain extra power or not." She sighs.

[camcorders]

Tomoyo taps her index finger against her lips, thinking. "So what you need is something that does that work for you, perhaps?"

[tiny_revolutionary]

Shinmyoumaru nods. "Can you do something like that? Really?" So far, this outfit of hers was the only one she could think of that adjusted, and that was only because it started small and grew big with her.

[camcorders]

"I think I could, perhaps. There is a prototype fiber that has been tested to withstand stretching in all directions. I will have to special order the fabric made from it, so it may take some time, but it is possible." She retrieves a small folder from her apron and scribbles a few notes down on it. "Of course, a special order means I get to ask you for your favourite colours!"