D3 - MM | Shop to Kill | Expecting

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

It had been a trying day to say the least. To be suddenly thrown onto the blender of 'producing a movie' with no education or knowledge on the matter. And frankly, it had been an absolute crapshoot, much less given her 'main lead' not coming up to their fearsome reputation.

Ichitaiyo dressed sharp, nowhere was the casual stroller with baggy clothes the Crane had met once, projecting both authority and appreciation for the detail, as the book she rented on directors said they wore. She arrived to the place she had scheduled with Haruki-san and opened a little booklet as she took notes of what she should prepare for the Yoritomo outing.

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi smiled to see her.

"Kitsuki-san!" She gave a crisp bow.

"You look marvelous. Have you thought of a costume in particular to shop for? I am still trying to decide what will make the best impression."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Haruhi smiled to see her.

"Kitsuki-san!" She gave a crisp bow.

"You look marvelous. Have you thought of a costume in particular to shop for? I am still trying to decide what will make the best impression."

Ichitaiyo snapped her booklet close and replied with the same formal bow, keeping to the woman's tradition. "Kakita-san, glad you could make it."

And she glanced over to the endless commercial streets.

"If I know something about performance, it is not about what you use as a symbol, but conveying the feelings of symbol. It's about creating emotional impact, not about trying to imitate the feeling." And she paused. "What feelings are inspiring you at the moment?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

"I am feeling daring! Adventurous! But also nervous. I am feeling like I'd like to try on the costume of someone more daring than me and see if I could live up to the mask. If that makes sense."

"Ah, some interesting things happening. I capture wonderful footage of a local bird with Kitsune-san. And we've learned that the birds want to find a secret place - a hidden pool with many fish? Something to search for. Maybe you could help me brainstorm where to look for maps or local rumors. I'm not much of an investigator."

"Also there is this girl, and I didn't really think of myself as crushing on a girl, but ... ah, I can't tell if she is just ... curious about me ... or actually interested. But I hope she is."

"And I am terribly nervous about the video production challenge later. It's ... performance should be my thing ... but it's not me ultimately performing and I can't control people. They aren't like drones."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"I am feeling daring! Adventurous! But also nervous. I am feeling like I'd like to try on the costume of someone more daring than me and see if I could live up to the mask. If that makes sense."

"Ah, some interesting things happening. I capture wonderful footage of a local bird with Kitsune-san. And we've learned that the birds want to find a secret place - a hidden pool with many fish? Something to search for. Maybe you could help me brainstorm where to look for maps or local rumors. I'm not much of an investigator."

"Also there is this girl, and I didn't really think of myself as crushing on a girl, but ... ah, I can't tell if she is just ... curious about me ... or actually interested. But I hope she is."

"And I am terribly nervous about the video production challenge later. It's ... performance should be my thing ... but it's not me ultimately performing and I can't control people. They aren't like drones."

Ichitaiyo nodded sagely, taking in every point that the Crane developed. Plenty of answers to be found within these streets and hearts. She pulled her booklet once again and began to write down dutifully, the Investigator rising up as facts were laid systematically in list and considerations.

"So.. the question is, do you want to dazzle this girl, right? The follow up is, do you want to perform for her, or think that you'd fare better baring the.. sillyness in your heart? Authenticity is as attractive as power, y'know. "

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Good question."

"I think I want to practice being braver. Put it on like a costume! So I am ready to be my most daring self. When the opportunity presents. So a night of just pushing myself. Not worrying if something's right or perfect. Just enjoying fun and ... whatever happens. A rehearsal for the woman I want to become. But in a way that doesn't make me ... tight and shy and scared."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"Good question."

"I think I want to practice being braver. Put it on like a costume! So I am ready to be my most daring self. When the opportunity presents. So a night of just pushing myself. Not worrying if something's right or perfect. Just enjoying fun and ... whatever happens. A rehearsal for the woman I want to become. But in a way that doesn't make me ... tight and shy and scared."

Ichitaiyo smirked beneath her rebreather, visible on the pull of her cheeks, and in turn she raised her nose, like a sensei taught a junior samurai to stand up proud. "Then.. the key is to expose yourself, but in your terms. To bare, because you fear no attack. You need to walk down the aisle as if you owned the place, as if you were the very daimyo of the locale."

And her eyes veered off to the Crane's traditional garb. "The question is, are you comfortable defying the Doji traditions of fashion? Because your shoulders will have to be exposed at the very least."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Yoritomo-sama did encourage bravery and cheekiness! I think bare shouders..."

Deep breath.

"I ... let's see how it looks."

"What are you thinking for you?"

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"Yoritomo-sama did encourage bravery and cheekiness! I think bare shouders..."

Deep breath.

"I ... let's see how it looks."

"What are you thinking for you?"

"Something with feathers, absolutely. It is, say, your 'theme'. You need to project You, not make a mirror image but enhance what you are." Ichitaiyo said, as she began to lead down the markets, and into the backalleys where more niche elements were being sold. If the woman had just arrived with the rest of the clans, how did she get around so easily, so quickly?

"Tell me, what else do you think is You?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Something with feathers, absolutely. It is, say, your 'theme'. You need to project You, not make a mirror image but enhance what you are." Ichitaiyo said, as she began to lead down the markets, and into the backalleys where more niche elements were being sold. If the woman had just arrived with the rest of the clans, how did she get around so easily, so quickly?

"Tell me, what else do you think is You?"

"Feathers, yes! Feathers. Wings? Not too literal, but feathered sleeves highlighted by a bare shoulder?" Oooh.

Kitsuki-san sure knew how to find everything!

What else was her?

"I have been going back and forth on a mask. I find a certain comfort in hiding my face, but then I'm not 'me' at all. Me is ... the white hair. The blue eyes. My mother's Kakita nose. My voice."

That was all rather appearance focused.

"Beyond that? There is a lot I think of as me that I don't want to be. Serious, nerdy, shy, perfectionist... But is there a me beyond those things waiting to fly free?"

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"Feathers, yes! Feathers. Wings? Not too literal, but feathered sleeves highlighted by a bare shoulder?" Oooh.

Kitsuki-san sure knew how to find everything!

What else was her?

"I have been going back and forth on a mask. I find a certain comfort in hiding my face, but then I'm not 'me' at all. Me is ... the white hair. The blue eyes. My mother's Kakita nose. My voice."

That was all rather appearance focused.

"Beyond that? There is a lot I think of as me that I don't want to be. Serious, nerdy, shy, perfectionist... But is there a me beyond those things waiting to fly free?"

The Investigator nodded, her thoughts connecting imaginary and symbols, ideas starting to coalescence into something more solid.. but things wouldn't come to place until the Crane found her own connections. A turn left and they entered a rather 'cute' store, sporting all sorts of odd wear and costuming pieces, like wings, capes, leather, feather, knee-high socks and so on, tracing culture from the goths, the kawaii, ganguros.

This was no mere costume store, they usually sold pieces to be used and ditched the following day, disposable, this was a place that sold identity, with pieces made to be practical and be used on the daily, to indulge themselves on expression as a lifestyle rather than a fad.

"I.. think you might find something that speaks to you here."

[Kakita Haruhi]

The Investigator nodded, her thoughts connecting imaginary and symbols, ideas starting to coalescence into something more solid.. but things wouldn't come to place until the Crane found her own connections. A turn left and they entered a rather 'cute' store, sporting all sorts of odd wear and costuming pieces, like wings, capes, leather, feather, knee-high socks and so on, tracing culture from the goths, the kawaii, ganguros.

This was no mere costume store, they usually sold pieces to be used and ditched the following day, disposable, this was a place that sold identity, with pieces made to be practical and be used on the daily, to indulge themselves on expression as a lifestyle rather than a fad.

"I.. think you might find something that speaks to you here."

"Ah, my sister would love this place! She really introduced 'Lolita' fashion to the Crane. I love how cute it looks. I've ... hesitated to wear it myself since it is her look. But ... ahhh ... she represents bravery to me. I think I would feel bolder, feeling like I was channeling her a bit."

"She *is* a part of me."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"Ah, my sister would love this place! She really introduced 'Lolita' fashion to the Crane. I love how cute it looks. I've ... hesitated to wear it myself since it is her look. But ... ahhh ... she represents bravery to me. I think I would feel bolder, feeling like I was channeling her a bit."

"She *is* a part of me."

Ichitaiyo listened intently, taking in note of the feelings that were being laid to. "Sounds you found the answer in your heart, Kakita-san. Just needed to know the right place to find it."

And there was a moment of pause.

"Mind if I call you Haruhi-san?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

She smiled.

"You seem to know where to find exactly the right shop! The right inspiration!"

"Yes, of course you can call me Haruhi. If you'd like. And, let me know how'd you most like me to address you."

She began browsing. There wasn't time to make a custom outfit. But perhaps to build on one. Her sister would have said more frills, more lace. But she could say 'more feathers!'

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

She smiled.

"You seem to know where to find exactly the right shop! The right inspiration!"

"Yes, of course you can call me Haruhi. If you'd like. And, let me know how'd you most like me to address you."

She began browsing. There wasn't time to make a custom outfit. But perhaps to build on one. Her sister would have said more frills, more lace. But she could say 'more feathers!'

Ichitaiyo seemed to know what she wanted, going over the hats and crows available.

"That I will leave to your comfort, as long it is not offensive." Ichitaiyo replied, testing on different sets of horns and headpieces.

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Just a moment. I'm going to try a couple things on."

She disappeared from sight, and returned in a bit, looking very pleased with herself.

"Oh I have a dress that will work. It just needs the sleeves made even more bird-like. Feathers. Perhaps the shopkeeper can help with that? Though it would have to be ready by this evening."

She chats with the shopkeeper, and more bu is exchanged.

"Ichitaiyo-san! She can do it! Did you find something you liked?"

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"Just a moment. I'm going to try a couple things on."

She disappeared from sight, and returned in a bit, looking very pleased with herself.

"Oh I have a dress that will work. It just needs the sleeves made even more bird-like. Feathers. Perhaps the shopkeeper can help with that? Though it would have to be ready by this evening."

She chats with the shopkeeper, and more bu is exchanged.

"Ichitaiyo-san! She can do it! Did you find something you liked?"

When Haruhi returned, the gray gaze was replaced by green slits, predatory and gleaning, belying a passion unlike her usual concrete gray eyes.

"Does this fit me?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi startled.

"Oh! Oh ... wow!"

"That's stunning. Hypnotizing!"

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Haruhi startled.

"Oh! Oh ... wow!"

"That's stunning. Hypnotizing!"

Her cheeks pulled up in a satisfied smirk. "I guess that answers it." And she took a long good look at what Haruhi had procured thus far.

[Kakita Haruhi]

"You'll be able to see the full effect once they add the additional feathers!"

"I also find myself in need of a new kimono. If you'd like to shop in a store of that kind. For another event. Or if you need more pieces for your costume, we can do that first!"