D3 MM: Planning for Parties (expecting, but public-facing)

[Suzume Hitomi]

Hitomi was glad for the chance conversation in the repair shop. If at least one wealthy guest was planning a costume party, it was a fair bet they wouldn't be the only one. There'd be less prestigious knock-offs to come. And while her wares were on the expensive side to use as one-off costumes, that was certainly a flex the rich and powerful would make. It might only add a few extra sales, but every one counted.

So, with that warning, she's shifted the clothing displays toward the more unusual: a full Ra'shari re-creation near the door in an eye-catching swirl of color; a delicate design based on inventory of a Medinaat al Salaam shop that would show a scandalous amount of skin; and a pre-return Unicorn outfit with more fur than was likely accurate. Unusual hats lined a high shelf, and she's brought a larger selection of jewelry and hair ornaments out of storage.

Haru's manning the counter as Hitomi adjusts the feathers on an era of expansion bonnet, listening to the dripping rain from the eaves outside. The downpour has made for a quiet morning, and the indoor temperator has been turned up to keep the humidity down...which means it's a bit frigid in the shop.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

The louder purr of a motor proceeded an arrival. Suh-Hyun was on the bike today, striking a more imposing figure in her safety gear. Pulling off the full helmet and armored gloves, unzipping the padded and armored jacket, and stepping off the bike, the Shinjo made her entrance.

"Good morning Suzume-san," she took a look around while waiting for the owner's arrival. The Unicorn outfit drew out something between a sigh and laugh, the Medinaat garb in turn brought a raising of the brow. Suh-Hyun hadn't expected that sort of garment in the fictionalized store she had built in her mind from the brief description Hitomi had provided.

[Suzume Hitomi]

Hitomi looked up from her feathers, setting the hat aside. "Shinjo-sama, welcome. Feel free to drop umbrellas and such by the door." There was an extra rug before the door, and a large vase beneath some hooks for umbrellas, coats, ponchos, etc. Not that there were any currently there.

"Surprised to see you out in this weather, but nice to have someone in this morning." Offworlders tended to hunker down for the downpours since they were usually on vacation. Perfect time for a fruity drink while watching the rain from a comfy room.

"Looking for something for the party? Assuming Yoritomo-sama does host one?"

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Oh no, no...didn't know there was a party. I was going to wear something to fancon." The mention of an umbrella suddenly made the Unicorn self conscious. Her eyes sheepishly followed the watery trail through part of the store back to it's entrance. "My apologies Suzume-san, my enthusiasm got the better of me." Suh-Hyun laughed awkwardly as she bowed. Fortunately the water had stayed with her and not radiated out to torment the store inventory.

[Suzume Hitomi]

Hitomi looks to the counter and Haru, looks at the water, and the young man nods and goes to fetch a mop.

"No worries, Shinjo-sama. We'll get it mopped up, pretty common even with the rug there. When it rains here, it doesn't do it in half measures." Her smile is pleasant, but that's likely always the case while shopkeeping. The small creased brow of confusion is quite genuine though.

"Fancon? Hmm...oh, I do sort of remember hearing about that..." She glances around the space wondering what might fit the only vaguely remembered specifics of that event. "Well we'll certainly work to find what you need. Hmm...what did you have in mind?"

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Still it was carless of me, Suzume-san, let me know if there was any damage." As to the question on costumes Suh-Hyun was going to answer with the greatest villainess in SMC history, Horse, but Sparrow children might not have had space cable so instead she pulls out her densai and brings up an image. "Her, she's a character from Starlight Miko Crusaders. First appeared in season 6." The normally composed Unicorn was growing worryingly excited. "Oh wait here, let me bring up a video of her top moments. It's only about an hour long and..."

[Suzume Hitomi]

Hitomi politely looks at the densai, then draws back a bit as the excitement grows. "Hmm, A few key shots are best to work from. But...are you sure you want something from here? It's a very modern costume and we're...rather historical," she says with a gently quizzical tone. "I think the cape is workable from existing items. The skirt would need work..." Despite her protestations, the tailor in her is already running through her catalog of pieces on hand that could be edited into something manageable. The colors are well represented in the flowing fabrics from other cultures, and there's a roll of white linen intended as backing for some other pieces that would easily make a blouse...

Haru mops along the floor without comment.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Suh-Hyun backed off a little, her face flushed slightly, "Oh, ah sorry. my excitement getting the best of me again." She's about to respond with a dejected apology about wasting time, but the Sparrow's apparent interest in solving this thread based problem gave her pause. "I take it Suzume-san is a tailor or at least sews as a hobby? You have a look that reminds me of an eager school child whose about to dive head first into a complicated but intriguing homework problem."

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

She nods a bit absently, "Mostly for re-construction work, and re-creation. None of the actual historical pieces could last this long undamaged."

"This is for tonight? Can't do the metalwork custom in that time, but there's some pieces around, or you might check out Run-it-Back. The sewing..." She sucks her teeth with a considering look. "Well, rush and custom, and...well, it's a bit expensive. Just making sure you're set on it..." She _could_ point her at a few of the Yasuki tailors in town, might be less expensive at some of them. But she'd waste a few more hours that way, and Hitomi was merchant enough to want to keep the sale.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

snip

"Yes," Suh-Hyun shuffled awkwardly again, "Sorry, it's a bit of a rush...bad timing."

She blinks a few times at the sudden surge of information, "Oh, I very much am. Me and my siblings grew up watching SMC. Three little hellions standing on tables and shouting catch phrases at each other." Another lopsided smile, "My parents tolerated it because we were usually easy to get into bed after expending all our energy."

"I have sourced some of the items already. The wig, tail, and ears," She nodded, "Have to pick them up after this...do you sell waterproof containers per chance?"

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

Hitomi nods, "Oh definitely, historic oiled linen and modern plastics for convenience. And good, no way to do wigs here." Few of her patrons wanted to pay for historic packaging. You couldn't put that on conspicuous display. "Back this way..." She leads the way behind the counter to a bit of the storeroom with clothing on covered racks, sewing materials tucked into the corner. "A few measurements and color checks to work from, and I think we can have something decent."

"Oh, how's the bike? Kaiu-san get it purring?"

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

snip

The Unicorn followed, "Yes she did, first class mechanic that one. I'd recommend her to my superiors if she had an interest in spacecraft and trading blue for purple."

Suh-Hyun has been measured before, her dress and mess uniforms were both tailored. So she knew the drill. "Can you take the measurements over my clothes or do I need to drop down to shorts?"

She blinked at the little storeroom. "That's...more antiques than I expected. You have some luck or good connections Suzume-san."

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

The Unicorn followed, "Yes she did, first class mechanic that one. I'd recommend her to my superiors if she had an interest in spacecraft and trading blue for purple."

Suh-Hyun has been measured before, her dress and mess uniforms were both tailored. So she knew the drill. "Can you take the measurements over my clothes or do I need to drop down to shorts?"

She blinked at the little storeroom. "That's...more antiques than I expected. You have some luck or good connections Suzume-san."

"Mostly connections. And you're fine dressed, these aren't going to be painted on, and the cincher makes things forgiving." she says, running the tape around the Unicorn's waist.

"The Suzume are caretakers of Rokugan's history. My particular branch of the family includes many in the bureaucracy of that mandate. It does put us in the right place to find homes for artifacts that aren't unusual or important enough for official and academic collections." She notes numbers down in a very old-fashioned paper notebook as she goes.

"You can only store so many sets of wooden sandals. Warehousing acres of fragile silk doesn't advance understanding, just lets it all moulder more slowly. And there are so many Dahabi trinkets in every inch of the dessert...or so it seems." One last measurement along her upper arm and the tape is tucked away.

"Someday the Sparrow will have a ship of their own. The future financed by the past...at least in part."

"There. Let me snap a few holos from your reference there and...where are you staying?"

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Snip

Suh-Hyun followed instructions as she was measure, thankful she didn't need to do much more then just stand there. She laughed at the realization the Suzume was effectively selling several museums' trash. "I often do wonder how so many Dahab rings and brooches get into my hotteok, though if you are finding them in every inch of your desserts than seems you are having the bigger problem." The Unicorn smiled at the little jest.

"So there are many shops offering feathers for one's nest I take it?" She thought back to her own home, had there been a shop like this there. "A ship? I can certainly relate to the desire to have a vessel to ply the stars with, but might I ask what your clan intends to do with it?"

"Oh...the Unicorn Embassy, conserve resources and I needed to be easy to find if my duty station had need."

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

She pauses, arms full of notebook and fabric. "You know, I'm not sure what the full plans are, but it's a freedom pretty much every other clan has, to travel the stars on their own. I know having a clan option to move goods out here...or to other such shops if we create them, would be beneficial. Not nearly enough reason for a whole ship though."

With a small huff of amusement at the joke, she shakes her head. "This is the only such shop outside of the home world. A bit of an experiment." She shrugs. "We'll see if there's enough interest to expand." She laughs. "Or if I can market the chance for shopping Rokugan's goods in a modern resort setting a reason to keep this one exclusive and unique."

"OK, expect the package as soon as I can finish it. Might cut things a bit close." Since she had her own costume to finish up, she hoped to have this mostly wrapped by afternoon's end. Things would be expensed to her embassy to be deal with along the usual channels, of course. "Hope to see you there. I won't give away your identity, don't worry. Professional courtesy."

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Snip

"Thank you a bunch for this, I have a lot of fond memories of playing with my siblings," Suh-Hyun beamed at the memory, "My elder sister was always Crusader Unicorn, so I had to play Horse. I really grew to like the character." She struck an overly dramatic pose, legs wide, fist in the air, malevolent smirk. "Been practicing as well."

Brushing herself off she returned to a more natural position. "It's as good a reason as any to own a ship. I wish you and your kin luck, I look forward to seeing it in Unicorn space."

"Again sorry for the sudden request...I just didn't know any of this was happening until I got here." She dipped her head in an apologetic bow.

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

She waves off the apology. "No worries. It's far better than folks who don't realize that made from scratch formal clothing takes a year since that's all made on the homeworld and traditional methods are not fast."

Her head tilts, smiling at the pose. "You'll make a splash at the party. Hope I'm there before you to see it!" She sets things down on the desk and starts to pull out a pop-up table. "If you see anything on the way out, just talk to Haru up there, he'll get you settled." After a beat she realizes that's not an appropriate farewell, sets the table down half-out of storage, and bows. "I'm very thankful you entrusted this costume to me and hope you will have every joy with it Shinjo-sama."

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

snip

Visibly pleased with having found someone to help her realize a particularly wacky dream, Suh-Hyun bows, "Thank you again! If you need anything else from me just send a message." She checks the time and blinks, "Ah, I need to go speak to the guy working on reprogramming the ears and then rush to the wig maker to get then sewn in plus final fitting."

She picks up the water proof boxes and starts heading out to pay. "You're doing me a great favor, I know I am paying you but if you need help with something just let me know!"