17911/Cybernetic Fashion

Cybernetic Fashion
Date of Scene:	12 May 2024
Location:	Garment District
Synopsis:	Discussions of fashions and dates lead to a weird robbery
Cast of Characters:	Dominique Thiebaut, Barbie

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Dominique Thiebaut has posed:
You ever notice that basically every superheroine is way too tall? Like, say, 5'10" or taller? It can make clothes shopping difficult; but luckily, Van Dyne exists, and caters to not just the superheroic but also the merely tall. Which, for all anyone needs to know, Dominique Thiebaut is! Just tall. Don't worry about it.

She's currently in a showroom, considering a black crop top cut so high you'd have to be really confident of your abs to wear it. Dominique is that confident, and she likes that it has long sleeves (the better to hide the bandage on her left shoulder), but most of her is wondering if she can get away with cutting the right arm off entirely, making it a slinky off-the-shoulder kind of look. She's folded the right side down at an angle to promote the idea and draped the rest over her chest as she critically examines herself in the mirror: would it work? Maybe if she tossed her hair to the right...

Barbie has posed:
Barbie steps over nearby. She is not one of the tall - standing at perhaps 5'3. Though she makes up for lack of height with a mass of platinum blonde hair. Pink painted lips smiles as she waggles a finger back and forth towards Dominique. "That wouldn't work unless you have a skirt that has a nonsynchronous skirt. Anything else just makes it look like your trying too hard."

Dressed in white, with a simple white handbag hanging over her shoulder, Barbie may be short but certainly has a voluminous beauty to her that seems somewhere between measured perfection and effortless simplicity.

Dominique Thiebaut has posed:
Dominique notices, assesses, and files in maybe a quarter of a second. She nods while she computes, covering to give herself time to think, and says in her mostly New York accent, "I do. And anyway, it's for a date, so I don't mind looking like I'm trying."

Barbie has posed:
Barbie has a charmingly soft smile, bright and disarming. "Is that so? You know what they say. Less is more. You want to put in the effort without it looking like you put the effort in. There may be no such thing as a natural beauty. Every little thing is planned to perfection."

"Black is for slinky, clingy and teasingly tantalizing. Wouldn't you rather wear color and be visually fun and vibrant? Unless low key is what you are aiming for? There is a certain elegance required for clandestine romantic affairs after all."

Dominique Thiebaut has posed:
"Going for a gothy look, actually," Dominique explains wryly. "Trying to match an energy. But the idea I had was worth breaking out a credit card for. You work here?"

Barbie has posed:
A subtle shake of her head sending that platinum swaying "No, I do not. I'm simply looking for a new dress. This one is getting a bit worn I feel. I suppose it depends on the person. If they are flirtatious and active bright colors tend to be the choice. If they are reserved, darker colors seem to fit the preference. Sounds like you are going to accentuate the locale?"

Dominique Thiebaut has posed:
"The other person," Dominique corrects, still smiling wryly. She drapes the top carelessly over her arm. One sleeves dangles like the molted skin of a snake. "What about you? What are dressing for?" She did catch the implication that Barbie has only one dress, but that's a silly conclusion to jump to without at least a little polite inquiry.

Barbie has posed:
Barbie reaches over to play with the dangling bit of fabric "This looks strange. Don't do this." She comments. "Dangly bits are not particularly attractive."

"I suppose I dress for something like everyday. Beauty mixed with fashion and desire. I live a bit vicariously through others. Those whom can't do - teach is the saying? Perhaps it is something like that?"

Dominique Thiebaut has posed:
Dominique almost says something sharp and sarcastic, but bites it back. After all, teaching and doing are two different skill sets: it's reasonable enough. Politely, she asks, "Then you're taking me on as a student?"

Barbie has posed:
Barbie considers Dominique with a softly analytical gaze. "Well I suppose I've some experience enough that would count in a way. In my younger days I suppose you might say I was quite the hedonist. Though those days are rather behind me. One just can't keep up on the sleep alone. Do you feel you actually need instruction? If you have a date, it sounds like you've done the first half of the most important part so far."

Dominique Thiebaut has posed:
"I don't," Dominique says, with no hesitation. "But I am curious. I don't often get approached by strangers trying to tell me how to dress for a date."

Barbie has posed:
Barbie gives a soft curious tilt of her head "So you happen to go out on many dates then? If not perhaps you just haven't had the opportunity for it to happen? Lack of opportunity could lead to a reduced number of potentials of such an action?"

"If you believe that you will have a smashing good time then I'm sure you will. It's about confidence and projection as much as looks, style and beauty after all."

Dominique Thiebaut has posed:
"The last thing," Dominique says. She's not just tall; she stands tall, back straight, head high. It suits her well as she explains, "I'm not going out there to try to win anyone's love. I'm going out there to find out if I think there's something there. The outfit is less about modeling myself than..." She thinks of the right words. "...a gesture, that I'm willing to reach out."

Barbie has posed:
There is a soft humoring smile from the shorter woman. "I see. Well a date should be a special occasion no matter the circumstance. You take what you have and you make the most of it. Perhaps you'll make a spark? If not there is always plenty of opportunity. Sometimes you'll find them. And who knows? Sometimes they'll find you."

Dominique Thiebaut has posed:
"And what about you?" Dominique asks politely, almost a repeat of her previous question. "What in here caught your eye?"

Barbie has posed:
Barbie smiles "Oh, there's a piece I have my eye on. But you know. If you bring attention to it then everyone's eyes are on it and someone might just snatch it up when I'm not looking. It's white and long. A rather small little number really."

Dominique Thiebaut has posed:
So the other woman isn't planning on buying it today. Probably not vital information to have, but it feels like a piece of a puzzle nevertheless. "Long but small?" she ponders.

Barbie has posed:
Barbie nods "Mmmhmmmn. Rather cylindrical in design. More simple in design than really suits my tastes. Though it's something that a family member mentioned wanting. So I might just stop by later and pick it up once I confirm that it's what she's looking for."

Dominique Thiebaut has posed:
Dominique considers asking to see it, but after that comment about not wanting others to look at it, she decides against. "Am I keeping you from what you were doing?"

Barbie has posed:
Barbie shakes her head "Not particularly. Though I suppose I should move along if I'm not going to pick out anything today hmm? Hate to keep the paying customers distracted. I do hope your going to have fun on your date." A wink "I'll be cheering for you."

Dominique Thiebaut has posed:
A brief mental struggle, then: "I'm Dominique, by the way."

Barbie has posed:
Barbie touches her lips with the tip of her index finger. "Dominique. Sounds elegant. I'm Barbie."

Barbie has posed:
And, at the end of the night. Well after fashionistas, customer service, and designers have long gone to bed there is a break-in at the store. Strangely nothing is taken. The cameras seem to have gone out unexpectedly. They unexpectedly find only one thing missing - the installed wifi router - a small long cylindrical white tube. It appears to have been been taken with no fingerprints or signs of breakin, the electronic locks were unlocked. All money and inventory were left. However the registers were down till later that day when the router could be replaced.