Afternoon of the 13th

[im_a_hugger]

[The mirror turns on... then is almost immediately dropped by the person who started the transmission. A woman's voice can be heard from the other end.]

 

Oops! Sorry about that! Let me just.. um... find a way to...

 

[There's a minute or so of fumbling as the mirror is apparently bumped around and partially blocked by something large and red before the person finally manages to pick it up and get it focused properly on her face. She gives an awkward wave with one pincer.]

 

Um, hi there, everyone. If we haven't met before, I'm Scorpia. And, heh, well, this is kind of awkward, but I was wondering if someone could point a gal to somewhere where I can get some clothes that are made for... well, someone with a tail? And pincers? ...And a spiky exoskeleton?

 

Cause I kind of need something a bit warmer to change into, but so far I haven't been able to find anything that I wouldn't destroy the moment I put it on. Which is... you know... bad. So... [awkward chuckle] yeah...

Comments

[im_a_hugger]

No, I've got the living room-bedroom... thing all to myself. But remember what I said about the aquarium wall?

[When they come around the corner from the kitchen-area Lydia would be able to see what she means. What would be the two-person bedroom has been converted into a huge aquarium for Keeper, and the livingroom area has been converted to a cozy sort of bedroom for Scorpia, with a transparent glass wall dividing them.]

Yeah, Keeper kind of needs a lot of space because of the whole... underwater thing. But it's fine; this is actually about the same size as my room back in the Fright Zone was. And the bed's a lot comfier!

[strangeandunusual]

"Wow, that's neat." She put her hands to the glass and peered inside for a moment. "You're so nice to let him have that whole space to himself. If you ever feel like you need a little more room, you can come hang out with me. Mal's usually gone either at work or on patrols, or doing art, so we've got lots of space."

She helped herself to a chair, readying a new page in her sketchbook. "What kind of clothes do you like?"

[im_a_hugger]

"Well, I can't really take credit," Scorpia said. "It was like that when I got here. So it's really the people here who are nice. But hey, I get to have a giant aquarium in my room too! I bet not everybody can say that!"

"And you want me to come hang out in your room?", she said, sounding unusually excited by this prospect. Her bar for friendship things was sadly set very low, and this was one of the times it showed. "Sure, I'd love to do that sometime! Should I call on the mirror first, or just come by whenever?"

Getting back to the business of clothes, Scorpia sat down on the edge of her bed, considering. "Hmm... well, like I said, I need something a bit warmer than my standard uniform," she said, indicating the clothes she was wearing. "And that I can actually get on and off without destroying it. And since I'll probably have to wear them on missions, they should probably be pretty durable too. Not armor or anything, but something that's not going to tear easily, you know?"

"Other than that... well, I like black and red?", she said, shrugging a bit. "Honestly, except for the All Princess Ball I've usually just worn the uniforms and gear I was issued. Though now I kind of wonder why the quartermaster had all those tuxedos and gowns in storage..."

[strangeandunusual]

"If you call first, that's probably a good idea. Then if I'm out at the store or the gallery or something, I can tell you how long it'd take me to get home."

She had already started sketching Scorpia's form, roughing out her shoulder spines and tail. "Red goes well with your color, but ... I bet you'd look good in a really dark purple, too. Or gold. Maybe I'll make you something small in those colors so you can try it and see what you think. As for durable ... denim is really good for that."

She tapped her sketchbook against her own jeans. "It's soft, but it's really rugged. In my world, it was designed for people who worked down in mines, so they could still move around and kneel on the rocks without wearing their pants out. And the more you watch it, the more comfortable it gets. Even better? When it does get holes in it, they make really neat patches you can put over them. ... And leather's good, too, but that might be a little harder to make easy to take on and off."

She was doodling a few notes in the margins - velcro!!! zippers with wide pulls??.

"Cotton is good too, and it's easy to wash and to dye different colors. I'd definitely stay away from lace or silk, they tear really easy."

[im_a_hugger]

"OK, will definitely call first then," Scorpia said, still smiling. She had a friend here who wanted her to come hang out in her room! That was awesome!

She nodded a bit as Lydia described various colors and types of fabric. "Ooh, both those colors sound nice," she said. "And so does that denim stuff; a little leather's nice here and there, but it's actually harder to fight in than you'd think, unless it's made into armor. Not much give to it, you know?"

"But yeah, no lace or silk, at least not for every day clothes. I mean maybe if I needed a gown or something, but I don't think that's too likely if I'm here mostly to fight."

[strangeandunusual]

"It depends, leather jackets can be really comfortable, but you have to keep them oiled and stuff or they crack. I have one that I've been wearing now that it's not as cold out anymore. Pretty nice."

An idea took shape in her mind, and she sketched out a sleeveless variation on a military jacket, a purple so deep it was almost black, with gold braiding and tails that split to make room for - well, Scorpia's tail. Then a pair of black denim pants with buttons up the calves - purely decorative - and notch in the seat that allowed for her tail, with a little elastic band to keep it from sliding down when she sat or squatted.

"What do you think?"

[im_a_hugger]

Scorpia nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah that might be kinda difficult cause, you know, pincers," she said, clicking them a couple times. "But if it works and it wouldn't be too much trouble to get a hold of, I could give it a try."

She then waited eagerly while Lydia sketched out the first outfit, leaning in to get a look at the finished drawing when it was done. "Ooh, I like it! Very sharp! And not just because I'm gonna be wearing it." She gave a bit of a teasing grin at the last bit, indicating the spikes on her shoulders.

"Do you think you could do something with sleeves too?", she asked. "I don't know how cold it can get around here, but the Horde had winter gear that I could wear when we went to the Northern Reaches. It had these holes for the exoskeleton plates on my shoulders with these kind of elastic band things that could keep it snug around them so the could air didn't get in." And even if it didn't get that cold, sleeves would still be nice sometimes.

[strangeandunusual]

"I can try! I mean, it'll be a while until it gets cold again here, so I've got plenty of time to play with designs. And loose sleeves can be fun, too. There's one style that ..."

She cut herself off so that she could concentrae on fast-sketching a renaissance-style chemise with arm bands at various levels that allowed the fabric to be loose and billowy around Scorpia's shoulders and claws, but close-fitting on the rest of her arm.

"The neckline doesn't have to stay like that, we can play with it if you don't want something that low, but a nice vest over that would look really sharp."

[im_a_hugger]

Scorpia waited to see what Lydia came up with this time, and wasn't at all disappointed with the result. "Ooh, I like that!", she said. "I actually tried on a dress with sleeves kind of like that when Catra and I were getting ready for the All Princess Ball. I mean, I ended up going with something different, but I still really like the design. And you're right; a nice vest over something like that would look great, though it would probably be better with a bit of a higher neckline."

[strangeandunusual]

She quickly made the recommended alterations to the neckline and held it up again. "Like that? Yeah, it looks really nice that way, you're right. Especially with your short hair."

She paused. "I love your hair, by the way. It looks so fluffy. ... But if the ball is all Princesses, who do they dance with?"

[im_a_hugger]

Scorpia blushed slightly at the compliment and smiled. "Aw, thanks!", she said. "I like it too; it's really easy to take care of this way. But if you want to talk about impressive hair, my friend Entrapta definitely has me beat; she can use her hair as extra limbs!"

"And every guest is allowed to bring a plus one, but after the first dance, there's no reason why the Princesses couldn't dance with each other if they wanted. Plus there's some other important folks from around Etheria that get invited too; I know the Star Sisters, Sweet Bee, and Prince Peekablue were invited to the last one, but I only saw the Star Sisters there myself. It's more called the All Princess Ball because it's one of the few times that all of Etheria's Princesses get together under one roof."