omegafriends | [Action]

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Itsuki's been around the city for quite a few years, and she likes to think she knows a lot of the people and places that are worth knowing. So when she passes by Piffle Princess on her way elsewhere, she pops her head in to take a look around; she doesn't have much of an opportunity to dress up, but there's occasionally something that catches her eye, and almost always something that she won't admit catches her eye. Today is no different, except... Tomoyo is out front today, and she looks like she's trying not to stand out. Which is fairly unusual for her. So after a brief look in the closest window, she turns her attention to the girl standing out front. "Tomoyo? Is everything okay? You seem a little..." There are some hand motions that suggest she's trying to fish for something, before she shrugs. "I don't know. Kind of quiet today, I guess."

Tomoyo offers a modest smile to Itsuki. "Ah, do forgive me," she says, brushing a stray lock of hair back behind here ear. "May I ask if you happened to hear of the broadcasts this morning?"

"The broadcasts? Oh, you mean that the city's going to be in danger again? I saw them on television - they interrupted the news for them." She shakes her head. "I don't really know what to think, but... it's not like Venture City doesn't have heroes for things like this. I'm worried, but there isn't much we can do from our end."

She sighs softly. "Is that what's troubling you?"

She nods. "It's not that I don't trust our heroes, of course. It's just the reminder that people exist who take pride in causing harm to others."

She sighs, then shakes her head and seems to brighten up a little. "Ah, listen to me, going on about such gloomy things. Forgive me."

Itsuki sighs lightly. "Yes, I know what you mean. It's hard to cope with, some days." She smiles slightly afterward. "It's not a problem, though. I'll just hope for the best. I'm sure everything will be fine, one way or another."

Glancing past Tomoyo slightly, she peers into the shop, eyes catching on a few things for just a moment, but by and large she's just here to browse. A plain basically-tomboy like her would never be able to wear anything from here... probably. But she can still dream. "Has it been busy today?"

Tomoyo offers a sage nod. "I do believe you're right. We'll just have to keep our heads up."

She glances towards the entrance. "It's been a little slow today, I'm afraid. A couple of the heroic types in for last-minute repairs." She catches something in Itsuki's eyes catches her attention, and she adds tentatively, "I've got some new things in, though. Would you care to take a look?"

"I..." Oops, she wasn't expecting Tomoyo to catch her. "I would like that. Even if I don't think I could ever really wear something from here and make it look good. It's... I don't know how to put it. A little too fancy, maybe? I'm not really eye-catching," she adds, smiling a little sadly.

"I'd hardly say something like that." Tomoyo sizes her up with her eyes. "You don't give yourself enough credit. Come along inside -- I have a few things I think would be just perfect for you."

The intense appraisal shocks Itsuki for a moment, but it's not necessarily a bad thing, right? After all, Tomoyo does run a clothing business. It's kind of her job. Still... "Do you really think so? I've always dressed simply, among... some other things. Cute isn't really my style."

Not that any of this is stopping her from following Tomoyo inside.

[Tomoyo nods, listening carefully.]

I may be known for a particular aesthetic, but I do my best to cater to every image. Whatever it is you would like the world to see when they look at you, that is the image I will work with you to create.

There's a pause while Itsuki thinks about how to continue. "It's more... I don't know what the right image is," she offers lamely. "I'm not sure what would look best. It's part of why I do a lot of looking and not a lot of real shopping. I would love to try some of these things, I just don't know if they suit me."

Which probably sounds like an insult to Tomoyo on some level, but really, it's not like she can just out and say how she isn't sure what'd even be appropriate for a decidedly masculine girl that makes her living as a martial artist.

"Well, in that case..." Tomoyo ducks behind the checkout counter and produces a thick file. "We'll just have to narrow it down. Would you like to look at some designs?"

Her eyes widen at the size of the file; what exactly is in there? Still, no sense backing out now. She replaced the surprise with a faint smile.

"Yes, I think I could be talked into that."

She nods and smiles, quickly flicking through papers in the file. She finally pulls out two designs.

"Would something like this or this suit you, perhaps? Or..."

She digs into the file once again to retrieve another.

"...Would you like to try something more elaborate, like this?"

Her eyes flicker over Tomoyo's gathered ideas; the two first pointed out to her are met with murmurs of approval. The third, though... her eyes widen, and she almost involuntarily shakes her head. "I'd die if I got caught in something like that where someone could see me."

She looks back to the first two, though, with a much more thoughtful expression. "These, though... I could see these. This first one is a little more casual than I usually wear, but aside from that, I like it. This one..." She looks longer at the second sketch, considering. "It might be a little much for me, but it's definitely the kind of thing I could work with."

She shakes her head slightly. "Sorry, I'm being really picky."

[Action]

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