un: tikkunolam

[accidentallich]

Hello, this is Gershom. I could use some advice about clothes shopping?

I haven't had to dress for being around other people in a long time, so I'm not sure what people usually have in their wardrobes. I know I need casual clothes and formal clothes, but the specifics are a bit lost on me...?

Comments

to action

[accidentallich]

Tomorrow is fine.

[And after arranging a time and a meeting place, tomorrow arrives. Gershom, in the cat-patterned pajamas he arrived in, is visibly fidgety as he waits.]

action!

[hemostat]

[Artina steps into the area, her long braid swinging behind her. she doesn't really know anything about Gershom, if they are male, or female, or what they look like. but she's not concerned. she's eager to help! and to make friends.

she finally spots what appears to be a monster? but they are wearing the cat-pattern, so that is the dead giveaway! she approaches, her smile not even faltering]

Excuse me, are you Gershom?

[accidentallich]

[He's not sure what he expects Artina to look like, but an angel is not on the list. He's stunned for a moment before he remembers that he's being rude by not answering right away.]

Y-yes, that's me. Miss Artina?

[hemostat]

Yes, that's right! [her tiny wings flutter excitedly] I'm glad I found you! It's very busy here.

[accidentallich]

Yes, it is. I haven't been around this many people in... ever.

[The cities of Cordoba were never this busy, back in the year 1000 or so.]

[hemostat]

[she can understand why, she thinks. but she doesn't say that. she doesn't want to be rude]

I suppose we'll both have to get used to it, now. Since we're here.

[accidentallich]

It's not a bad thing. The people here have all been very kind.

[Artina included, of course.]

[hemostat]

I'm glad to hear that.

[her smile softens. she means it. Artina knows how people can be when they are faced with something they don't understand]

On that note, let's get shopping!

[accidentallich]

Right - after you.

[The first place he has in mind is a small shop that sells traditional clothing from the country. It's not a style he's very familiar with, but buying Western clothes seems like it would be more difficult and expensive here.]

The fabrics here are very soft.

[hemostat]

[since Artina knows almost nothing about human fashion of this time period, she is happy that Gershom has a place where he wants to go in mind already. she starts looking at some of the kimono once they are in the store, marveling at the bold colors and patterns]

They really are! Everything is so beautiful. I like these long coats.

[accidentallich]

Is it hard to find clothes that don't squish your wings so much?

[He's not sure if it's rude to ask about those.]

[hemostat]

[oh, her wings!]

I completely forgot about them, for a moment. I got too excited. [ehehe...] I'll have to see if I can find someone to help make holes for them. I can probably use my food income to buy something and have it fitted.

[accidentallich]

I'm sure they must have tailors here. -Maybe not tailors used to working with wings, nu...

[hemostat]

Maybe not...

[she seems amused]

It's something I'll worry about later, though. Are there any things here that you would wear?

[accidentallich]

Well, I'm not su- oh! That one!

[It's pretty obvious why Gershom's expression lights up as soon as he spots it.]

[hemostat]

[oh... oh, that! that's really cute]

That's a lucky cat, isn't it? It's adorable!

[accidentallich]

Right? It's so cute...! Maybe I can find other clothes with this pattern.

[he may own 100% clothing with cats on it.]

[hemostat]

[it suits him? Artina thinks so. if he wants to wear cats then that's fine]

You must really like cats, huh, mister Gershom?

[she starts looking to see if she can find more cat patterned clothes]

[accidentallich]

I love cats, but they don't like me very much. So I do what I can.

[Which means cat clothes and cat videos, and he's all out of cat videos.]

[hemostat]

[ah]

Cats can be finicky.

[accidentallich]

[She's very polite about it, but...]

Animals are good judges of the unnatural. I'm used to it.

[hemostat]

[yeah... that was what she thought]

I'm sorry. It must be tough. I don't know what you've gone through, but... I don't see you as bad or weird. If anything, you've been very kind, and thoughtful.

[accidentallich]

...Thank you. That's very nice of you to say.

[Not only giving advice, but accepting him as he is.]

Things like me aren't supposed to exist where I'm from, but - I do my best to be a good person, still.

[hemostat]

[she goes back to looking through the clothes, pushing hangers aside. Artina is curious about Gershom's home, now]

That's all anyone can do, whether they are human, or something else. I think it takes strength to be as good a person as one can, even if your back is up against the wall.

[accidentallich]

I don't know if I'd call myself that... but thank you.

...Are you an angel?

[Look, she could be a bird person or something, maybe.]