Owner	Pose
Monet St. Croix	It's a bright spring day in Chelsea Market. Monet St. Croix is out indulging in some shopping. Of course, everything here is overpriced but some things are worth it. And it's also a status symbol to come here. Even if not to take anything, then merely to be seen
Valeria Richards	Sometimes even super geniuses need the mental recharge that comes from retail therapy. That and she does need to occasionally replace items of clothing that aren't uniforms or Fantastic Four merch. And of course being rich and famous herself that does mean perusing the higher end stores. Hence Chealsea's markens. Though she does try to dress down and not draw attention to herself and pass herself off as any other rich blonde. The girl dressed in a white leather racing style jacket and since the weather has been easing off. A comy if snug looking blue denim miniskirt and comfy blue Chucks. She hasn't quite mastared the art of wearing colors that sit outside those of her uniforms. Blonde hair left loose and free to drape about her shoulderes while she seems to have her eyes focusing on a particularly swish pair of shoes in a window.
Monet St. Croix	Only if they're bona-fide ones. In which case it all turns into that hate/hate relationship with gravity and one realizing that right after the fall that it's not whether one knows the laws of physics, it's that the ground really doesn't care either way. Monet St. Croix is walking along then while she would slowly notice the other woman. Sshe would move to advance towards Valeria and then speak, "What brings you to here, Richards?"
Valeria Richards	Val keeps up from where she's hunched over looking at the pair of Jimmy Choos in the window. And sees what is clearly the allegedly perfect Monet addressing her. There's a point of the blonde girl's finger at the window. "Some very nice looking strappy things with heels that I am very bad at walking in. Just cause I can afford the store doesn't mean I should wear shoes that might kill me when they make my hips sway out just a bit too far for balance. I swear the fashion industry is trying to kill us all. Most of it. I don't think Janet Van Dyne is that horrible." she states and smiles a goofy grin up at the darker skinned woman.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would glance at Valeria, "If you like them then they are worth learning to walk in. Why would you care to not practice something that makes it worthwhile in the end? It adds to your sense of stature and fashion to be able to carry yourself that way. The best things take some practice to learn after all."
Valeria Richards	The lighter skinned young woman stands up straighter and hmms and scrunches up her features with a ponderous look. The down at her very sensibly soled sneakers with toes wiggling inside them. "I dunno. I mean those are four heels. And I'm five feet and eight." she states "But still. It'd be nice to be able to walk in something like that and not fall over. I don't have the benefit of flight to fake it like some people." Valeria states and smiles playfully at Monet.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would shrug, "Then why not? What do you have to lose by at least attempting to put yourself in them to se how you handle them? Consider it a test of your composure and how you handle yourself. And good practice for other things by learning to do them." Monet does not pointedly respond to the 'fake it' bit
Valeria Richards	"Fiiiiiiiine, I'll buy a pair. And a few others." Valeria says and rolls her eyes. "This is what happens when a super brain decides to focus on the frivolous. And then it reminds me I'm a rich girl with amazing legs." she states and nudges her head for the door. "You coming in? Get to watch me be all wobbly while I try stuff on." she suggests and mock wobbles and preternds to be off balance. "Fun part is finding places to practice wearing them where I don't risk getting laughed at." she states and shrugs as she opens the door and sweeps an arm to Monet to get her butt in store.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would shrug, "Where would life be without entertainment? I could use some and you do seem like the type that might provide a bit." M's tone is flat out honest as far as it goes. The girl seeming to have no real buffer when it came to speak her mind. That might make the blonde that was a bit smaller of stature, at least physically blink some. Or accomodate the more assertive woman as M would follow her in
Valeria Richards	The blonde might be hunching a little to conceal her height but it's mostly the sense of intimidation against the much more confident mutant woman. Monet's ego can wear down even the wildest of women. Those poor women at Xavier's. Inside, Valeria smiles at the sale clerk and points the woman at the pair of Choos in the Window. "That is a size eight point five." she admits and shrugs before she starts looking at other shoes. Most of them with some levelm of height and heel though she does seem to get a sparkle when she spots some nice wedge heeled boots here and there. "Well my life has entertained millions. As long as I stay off the tabloids. I don't mind that number lowering to single digits at a time." she states and chuckles at her own expense.
Monet St. Croix	And hopefully teh intimidation continues and Valeria might even be in awe of the other woman. Perhaps. Also likely not. She's seen far more than her share of scary things out in th world after all. Monet would glance at them. "They have too thin heels. They don't stand up to pressure and tend to break. They're worn on runways for models as they allow for quick maneuvering." M would nod at those. "They would fit you and your aesthetic well."
Valeria Richards	"Soo, save them for the 'club'." Valeria ponders and takes a seat to start working her sneakers and socks free so she can try the strappy stiletto heels of death. The club being one of Hellfire. "The kicker is, they can custom make them with reinforced heels made from vibranium and other highly durable metals for those with super strength and again, no flight powers. You should see Jennifer Walters' shoe closet one day." she says and grins goofily again though she does look nervoise again when the clerk slips the shoes on her feet with a little struggle. They might have picked a smaller size despite Val being honest with her sizing. The compliment gets a bit of a blush on Valeria's cheeks and another nod. "Most things do but honestly I think sometimes I'm too pragmatic. So caution to the wind this is!" she states and wiggles her toes in her shoes as best she can while they constrict her feet a little more than is comfortable.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would tkae a moment to evaluate over at Valeria, and then listen over to her going, "Yes, but then they are simply made by yourself. They are a status symbol. One to display how confident you are, how you can carry yoyurself. It is part of the brand. A shortcut is still a shortcut. they are not a symbol when one moves around in them and they are simply not made traditionally." She would glance at the girl, "Heels are made for display. They are not necessary for it, nor are they required. But that is what their function is. To show one off, to display one's confidence. To project it."
Valeria Richards	"I thought they were designed so men could ride horses and not fall out of the stirrups?" Valeria asks back and shrugs and adjusts her feet so that when the clerk is finished with fastening the shoes the blonde can stand and look down though she does teeter a little when she has to lean and her center of gravity is a little off. But like belly shirts and other former mens' fashions, we do look better in them. " she admits and looks up to Monet and grins with that awkward almost scared look again. "My brand is literally a number Four printed across my chest at least eighty percent of my time. Though for custom heels I would probably get them from Janet Van Dyne herseelf. Doesn't get much more fashion status than custom by the designer." she states and hmms as she starts taking the first few steps in those heels lifting her towards six feet in height. She can move in those shoes but she's clearly lacking confidence which might be affecting her. Even supergeniuses have self esteem and image issues in the presence of confident and self assured women like Monet.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would smirk, "Yes, and they were also designed to present women for other kinds of riding." That comes out fairly easily and might make Valeria blush some more. Or perhaps might just make her go ahead and run with it. "Hold your arms uot to the sides and use that to help balance yourself. Stand still in them." She would look over at Valeria thoughtfully. "Close your eyes. Just take one step at a time. One leg in front of the other, arms to your sides and in the air if you need it to help center yourself. Get used to them and how they feel. Ensure they are a good fit and that they are not painful on your ankles or compressing your feet."
Valeria Richards	There's defintely a blush and maybe a little nip of her lower lip. "Same reason we coopted jeans. Practical use, comfort and the benefits of what they and other tight pants do for said presentation. We're just pickier about who we let go for those rides." Valeria flirts akwardly and adds another wiggle of her hips against her skirt as she takes a few steps like Monet is instructing. "I think the ship sailed on the fitting properly." She says and eyeballs the clerk. The box by Val's shoes say seven even in size. "Last pair sold last week in your size. But sitting or standing these do look great." the older woman compliments but otherwise goes back to letting Monet and Val talk. "Okay, heel toe, heel toe." the blonde adds and seems to look like she's walking comfortably enough but the expression on her face is clearly a sign of duck on a pond as she tries to look like she's all cool and unflappable now but that's also clearly untrue.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would click her tongue, "It is about positioning and power. Presentation. Control. It is part of how you portray yourself to others. One does not need fashion for it, but it helps immensely. It is part of your persona, how you present yourself to the world and how you create yourself. Clothing, outfits are a part of your personality. they let you define who you are and that you make yourself as you wish." She would instruct on. "Practicality is very useful. Pragmatism is very useful. Fashion is not required. But it is still very useful should you pursue it. It defines you. Picking your outits to complement your body, your personality. And in the traditional sense as to how you present yourself for boarding and docking."
Valeria Richards	"I'm like one of the smartest people on this planet and probably a few others. Totally have that going for me." Val states in an almost mock bimboish valley girl tone more suitable for an explosive specialist mutant from Virginia and not the daughter of Reed Richards. She does keep pacing for lack of a better word as she seems to at least have the hang of walking like she's on a run way. Legs moving as much as the hem of her skirt above her knee allows. "If I need to be all extra and confident. Well I always have my uniform." she states and waggles a couple rings on each middle finger while holding her hands up and all fingers out so the sleeve of her jacket can slide down and show a couple wrist band computers. "I tend to stick with street clothes that fit as snuggly as my uniforms. I get the benefits of practicality and presentation then. But I can switch between the two as I need. But I'm also really really new at the whole socialisation thing. More than some, less than a lot especially with in our communities." she says and shrugs as she unzips her jacket just enough to let a black sleeveless tee with a high neck and a zipper of it's own peek out. "I have not always made the best choices with who boards and docks though."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would cross her arms over, "Yes, and do you necessarily think that matters to the majority of people in the city? Or those that are not familair with you?" A casual sort of tease. "Reputation must be earned, it is never given automatically. Or are you fully content to rest upon the laurels of your relatives and not make your own position over in the world?" She would just watch the girl. Giving Valeria a few more moments to walk and to try to get the hang of it. Finally M would go, "Do I have your permission to assist?" She would offer to Valeria as the girl would go to change. "And that still is no reason to not try and make your own outfits. They are a part of you and how you display yourself. In the end, pragmatism does not overcome all else. And do you wish to expand your horizons?" her tone would be soft an dgentle. "And whom then have you had lead some boarding parties of youreslf in the past then?" M's voice is surprisingly kind.
Valeria Richards	"Well I'm working on the reputation stuff. We all have to start somewhere." Valeria admits and flashes another awkwardly goofy smile to Monet. "Just remember my last name is Richards. That's a big shadow to be under. Let alone having Victor Von Doom as a god father." she reminds and shrugs her shoulders. With the offer of assistance from Monet, Miss Richards nods her head. "Ummm, sure." Not that the only thing she's changing is shoes. It's just warm enough in the store still to make the jacket maybe a little too much. "I'm probably over thinking things. Maybe. I do that a lot. But I kinda think my outfits do kinda work for me. Again, I'd probably have to do soemthing drastic to really stand out. Bright clothes or wild hair, not really my speed." she states while she thinks about past activities.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would go over behind Valeria and then move to casually adjust her positioning. Fingers going around the waist of the girl. She's moving to reposition Valeria to make it a little easier for the girl to walk over in heels, positioning her to make her walk a litlte easier in them. "This will help with your positioning. And fashion.. Ultimately ti is what you decide fits yourself. For better or for ill." As Valeria would go on, she would smirk, "I see. So would any whom might attempt to court you take that as incentive or reason to flee?"
Valeria Richards	There's more blushing as hands settlke on her waist and the super strong woman probably has no problem with the comparibly small amount of wait despite the two being similarly sized. "I think it might probabaly be more incentive." she states. "Courting might only go so far but that doesn't mean anyone that I feel might be compatible can't have anything less than an enjoyable time." she states and does indeed walk a lot easier in those heels. A little more confidence at least in her self image building. It's clear her skills and abilities are self assured as far as superheroing and being a smartypants go. "So do I get to ask whom you might have entertained, anyone you'd like to have boarding. I doubt anyone would be bored with you though." she adds playfully with a wink.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would smile, "The point is confidence. Not only for others, but for yourself. A small thing that you know you can handle and in turn present to others. Confidence is about presentation. You showcase it, you feel it, you make others admit that you have it." She would go to let her hands slide down and the girl stand up. "When you stand up, it is on your own two feet. When you make yourself strong in the world and let eveyrone see it."
Valeria Richards	The blonde comes to enough of a stop so Monet's hands can actually release her when ready and Valeria can takes a number of stride on those very high heels before turning back to face the Algerian woman and pivot into the sort of hands on hip pose, adjusting for a tilt left and right as if she was on a catwalk and then moves back towards Monet and back towards hers seat to do the same thing and then sit down. There is a wobble there as well and a giggle but the off balance might have come from again, putting way to much thought into it instead of the autopilot she was in when she was walking, or more accurately. Strutting. "Well I have a sneaking suspician. It's only a problem when I dwell on it. Kind of Heisenbergian!" she states and stretches her legs out and wiggles toes again in her shoes while she's not actually standing on them.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would go to casually let her hands slide down then. "There you go." She would offer over while moving to fold her hands along. "You've taken the first of many small steps in your new pair of shoes." Was that a joke? The full flatness of the tone of voice made it hard to tell. "It comes easier with practice. Then as you get better at it you can do more. It will likely hurt the first few times yoyu do it as you're using muscles in new ways, and it will be sore."
Valeria Richards	"Maybe I should try the wedhe heels over there!" Val ponders and gestures to the pair in a dark soft leather that look like they could lace up to the blonde's knees. "Save the strappy stilettos for some of the galas that come up. Ot at least a pretty fancy date. I've at least got enough dresses to work with there." she points out and smiles a bit more brightly as she leans down to work the shoes she currently has on. To the woman working the store, Val smiles. "Can you back order these for size eight and a half?" she asks and the older woman nods. "And a pair of those boots. They look way more my speed, do they come in white or blue?" she further asks. Color habits might harder to shake. But at least it's not bright greens or yellows or reds like some women Monet knows.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would nod at Valeria, "That is acceptable. Those are generally worn purely for formal events or for those who have very specific lifestyles." Or they really want to be noticed and have threaded the line between 'high class' and 'tart' on the polite society way of saying things. "Wedges are more comfortable and simpler for everyady wear if one walks around in them. They're useful on the city streets and are easy to adjust. They are socially acceptable in most locations that do not require full formal wear for events or positions. So for the majority of your needs they would do fine."
Valeria Richards	"Well considering that a number of us wear heels like those fighting super villains. Again, fliers usually. I'd say our lifestyles all have some overlap. But we save the more daring outfits for places with more discretion in mind. Or doing it for friends wanting a favor." The blonde girl's memory picking up on a time when she cosplayed Emma Frost to model for an artist friend. And a memory of how hard it was to breath in corset and collar. Val even breathes slower for it. "I may try wedges more often. Oooh, they have sneakers!" she says and spies a pair that look almost like the chucks she's wearing. Not quite a squee but maybe, Valeria has found a newer appreciation for almost impractical footwear.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would nod lightly, "Then why do you not seek to emulate them?" She would casually pick up those things and look lightly amused. "You do seem to have a level of envy, perhaps. Just the way when you spoke of them you just breathed in a little more and bit your lip. Or do you not feel like you can handle that sort of posture?" A very, very playful sort of baiting given here in the matter. "And they have a great many things here. I'm sure that you can find something appealing."
Valeria Richards	"I think I can handle it for small doses. But I also like my ribcage in the shape it's in and my waist is small enough it's a fight to cinch in. And maybe it's also a little bit of liking it. And how they look wearing those outfits!" Val states with a grin and a wink that yes she does include Monet and her outfit in the list of stuff that looks good on their owners. "I look that much of a kid if a candy store?" she asks and wiggles bare feet while she has the moment to let her feet and toes breath and stretch.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would look amused, "Fair enough." She would reply over to it and cross her arms thoughtfully. "Then don't ask how they can manage to do them all the time. It will make you wince at visualization." Perhaps not even something -she- wants to go ahead and try. "You seem to be enjoying yourself exploring."
Valeria Richards	"I think much like the shoes. A lot of practice." Valeria surmises and and playfully sits up and forwards with hands on waist to push and squeeze herself in imitation of wearing the garment. "A lot of practice." she states and giggles. Well right now I'm no longer at risk of falling over, though I'm sure someone would catch me if I did!" she states with a more playful tone and a wink before she adds a nod. "But new appreciations, and appreciations for very delightful and educational company. How can a girl not enjoy herself right now?" she asks with a bright smile to match her tone.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would dip her head in a low smile, "I'm glad that with some outside pressure you've managed to find something that you can appreciate. You could stand to seemingly go a bit outside of your normal routine, Ms. Richards. It would suit you and let you make your own stamp on the world." She would offer gently and amusedly. "Do you think that you could walk outside in those or not ready for that?"
Valeria Richards	"Well that's what my folks tell me. can't stay in labs all the time. FGo out, expertience the world and not try and come up with plans to take it over. To be fair, ruling the world would be soooooooooo boring. Taking over, fun, but then what. It's all logistics and spreadsheets and dealing with delegation. Ugh." Valeria says and half jokes. she might actually have a few plans. "Walking in those shoes. Nah I'll wait till I get them on back order." She points out those knee high wedge heeled boots and smiles at the sales lady. "Those I think I can!" she states as she even gets a confirmation of all three of the colors she asked about and gets shown a pair that is not only blue, but also in her actual size. "I could probably manage these. I may need a foot massage and a soak in a tub after but for the right company. I don't mind a littlke breaking in here and there."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would chuckle, "Yes, I'm sure that you'll find a few that would enjoy taking that from you." Probably a reference over to that last thing that Valeria had teased at. "Some variety is good. It takes us out of our comfort zones and has us need to learn to do more things. It can lead to us expanding our horizons.. And finding talents. Life is a process in eternal pursuit of perfection. It meansthat you have to acknowledge what you are unfamiliar with and how you should best pursue it." Anyone getting to see Valeria in one of those skirts she sometimes wore would almost definitely want to try and appreciate it a litlte more.
Valeria Richards	The blonde has probably given the sales clerk more than an eyefull with the help she gives Valeria with a seated position. How much she enjoys it is a matter of perspective but considering that Val might just be spending a very large amount of money on shoes and a lot of places also add commissions. One way or another the sales woman is going to have a good day while she laces up the boots and once done she sinks back and gives the blonde some room. The girl gets back up in her standing position and this time with a lot more surface area, Valeria's strides and strut is much more easily managed on her own. "I think yeah. I could so work these into my life." she states and nods very satisfactorily to Monet.
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would smile, "Good. I'm glad that you find them something worth pursuing. And it has been.. A pleasure making your acquaintance, Ms. Richards." Monet would offer to go and move to pickup her own purchases in their bags, collecting her things to let Valeria finish up with her changing and putting her shoes on. As if she were going to leave then and rest the blonde to her own devices.
Valeria Richards	"Very charmed!" Val offers in a reply and a smile as she seems very much happy to make her purchases. There's even a quick little hop on her toes towards the counter to grab a pen and paper to let Monet have the blonde's phone number! Her actual one at that if a quick scan of her mind is taken. Of ccourse soon she's happy to let Monet do her own thing while the blonde gets busy with ponying up all the dough for those shoes which might just feed a small family living tight for a very long time. And once the purchase is made, even the older sales lady mighht just find herself with a twenty year old blonde's number too. If Val was bright red here and there with Monet. The older woman is positively crimson.