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[soul_sister]

[In 304, a nun in an ash stained provincial dress and a half elf from the Times of Yore are crowded around a tablet propped up at the table. By the expressions ranging from serious to annoyed, some sort of argument has just taken place between the two of them.

Rosette is the one to address the network, as if proving a point in the simple asking.]

So! Hypothetically, if someone were going on a mission and needed to blend into the turn of the millennium, average working class crowd... what would you wear?

Comments

[hyanaimne]

I see . . .

What sort of fashion does this Japanese place have, out of curiosity?

[grooves]

Um... well, there's a lot! And what's popular is changing all the time, really -- but if you pay attention, you can keep up with it.

I came from a city called Shibuya, and at the time... well, there was a brand called Sheep Heavenly, and their line-up was getting pretty big. It was all over the billboards and fashion mags. Mostly it was frilly, kinda brightly colored stuff, you know? Probably because all their costumers wanted that to stand out against the crowd.

... But that's the opposite of what you want.

[hyanaimne]

[she gives her a wry smile] I am not much for bright colors, it's true.

. . . though I am fond of blue. Though it is hard to find clothing dyed that color where I am from for a cheap price.

*customers -- FML i knew that didn't look right!! 8(

[grooves]

... Oh, really? [She chuckles a bit in response. She's been talking so much this whole time, she hadn't even thought to ask her yet, until now --] Where are you from?

i didn't even notice hahaha <3

[hyanaimne]

Daear. No one has heard of it, though, so I would not be surprised if you do not know of it.

[grooves]

[There's a notable pause. The way she speaks, it almost makes Shiki feel bad that she doesn't know of it -- but, well, that's just something she has to shake off.]

I see...

You're right. I've never heard of it, but... that definitely doesn't mean I can't learn. [She gives an interested smile -- but one that is not pressuring, since obviously, the girl is busy. Or will be.] So... clothes are expensive there?

[At least, that's what she got out of that.]

[hyanaimne]

[Tempest blinks, surprised, but pleased. She doesn't mind speaking of where she's from, to be honest; no one knows about it, which means no one's from there, and that means she can open up a little. Have normal discussions that don't involve being a criminal]

I . . . well. I do not wear the norm for women, one could say. [she pushes the tablet back a bit so Shiki can see; a plain, green tunic that looks a bit too big for her under the plain black cloak] Men's clothing is more comfortable, and a bit less expensive. And at times, I lived on the road, so I did not have the money to spare for more expensive things.

[grooves]

[Men's clothing, is it? ...Well, it isn't totally unheard of for a gal to dress that way, but she wouldn't exactly be doing herself any favors either. Still, if she's more comfortable this way, and it's more affordable... she can't exactly judge too harshly.

Shiki nods.]

I understand. If you're traveling a lot, I guess clothes aren't exactly your priority.

[hyanaimne]

Not particularly. And when one finds something that works for oneself, well . . . you tend to stick to it.

[grooves]

Mmhmm!

[There's a pause as Shiki considers that. Sticking to something that "works" is safe, though it'd probably get boring after a while...

...She's not about to say that though. She simply lets the words sink in, before inquiring about something else that she's also been wondering about.]

"Don't fix what isn't broken"... is what they always say, right?

[hyanaimne]

[the phrase makes sense, but . . . it's not something she's ever heard before]

Something . . . like that? I think. There is saying in my native tongue similar to that, but I cannot quite remember the exact way to say it.

[grooves]

[...Native tongue?

That's right. It's so easy to forget... no, it's so hard to grasp that they're all from different worlds here, speaking a million different languages.

And Shiki hadn't even heard of Daear...]

That's okay. You know what it means, which is the important part.

...I am a little curious, though. What's your native tongue?

[hyanaimne]

[Tempest smiles a bit]

Elven. [and then, it turns a bit wry] It is a bit obvious in the way I speak, because I don't know a lot of . . . slang? In this language.

[grooves]

[Shiki chuckles a bit, allowing the answer to sink in. But whatever language she may have answered, be it Elven or something else -- she can relate.]

Slang's hard. It takes time, but... I think you're doing just fine.

[hyanaimne]

[the smile turns to a grin]

I'm trying. I'm fluent enough, but there is a lot of modern terms I do not understand.

[grooves]

How long have you been practicing?

[If she had to guess, Shiki would say it's probably for about as long as she's been in Exsilium. New world, new opportunities.]

[hyanaimne]

Since I came here. I know the slang of my world well enough, but here it is . . . well, words I've never heard.

[grooves]

I run into those all the time anyway. [She chuckles a bit nervously.] But maybe that's just 'cause I'm... well, still in school and all that.

Or at least, I would be...

(If I had my normal life back.)

[hyanaimne]

Ah . . . I have read about this "school" . . . you are not taught at home?

[grooves]

['Read about' definitely sends signals that she hasn't actually been to one. Which is... weird! But maybe not a bad thing. Heh, maybe she should even be a little jealous that the girl never had to go.

She's not, though.]

Some kids are! But, not me...

[...]

Did your readings tell you what a school is?

[hyanaimne]

[she gives a shrug]

It did, but it is a strange concept to me . . . I was taught at home, by my parents and others in my village.

Though, I think my capital had one . . . at least, for the children born in the richer district.

[grooves]

[It all comes back to the money problem in the end, doesn't it...? Or at least, that's what Shiki got out of it. She gives a sort of nod in understanding.]

It's a good way to meet people and make new friends. But there really isn't anything wrong with being taught at home, either.

Did you like it?

[hyanaimne]

[she tilts her head, a bit confused at the explanation and question]

Yes . . . ? I preferred studying to most things in my youth. Though . . . my village was a bit small, so meeting new people was a bit hard to do.

[grooves]

[Shiki certainly didn't mean to confuse her, though she's definitely feeling that culture barrier again. She's leaning new things about new worlds, though... so that can't be a bad thing.

She looks thoughtful.]

I see...

But you did mention traveling, so I bet you met plenty of people that way.

[hyanaimne]

Ah - yes. I spent almost eleven years traveling, so I had the opportunity to meet a number of different people. [she almost said "honor", but no. No, it was not an honor to meet most of them]