synflux | [closed] we shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us

[ ... the class is coming up, and while it should be something so normal so fun so thoughtless

malkuth is full of thoughts, reading over the guidelines after sending march a quick message to see if she'd be willing to give her a hand with something. shopping! in return, malkuth'll take pictures of whatever march would like... though she'd do that anyway.

"shopping" was really the only thing she described it as, and though malkuth is a sight with her own brace and crutches for the ankle sprain she'd gotten she is brightening up at the sight of her friend. cast and all. hi bestie. ]

Sorry to make you come out with me, but I didn't know who else to ask.

[ she could have asked rodya actually but march... is her best friend. ]

So, um, what we're going for today is... well, the ballroom class I signed myself and Kaito up for -- he's my partner for the next few weeks -- says we should dress nice and comfortable, but I don't really know what I should wear. The videos I've seen have these really pretty dresses.

[ ... and... she is ever in pants... ]

I didn't even wear a skirt growing up, so I'm totally lost.

I'd be pretty offended if you didn't want me along for this.

[ March wags a finger, as sternly as she can. Look at them, battered but beautiful. ]

And you came to the right person! I mean, I may not know what I wore growing up, but I know pretty dresses when I see 'em! And there are plenty that should still be comfortable.

We can get you a few skirts too, to get you used to the experience.

Thanks. The only people who wore skirts back in the Library were Hod and Angela, so my frame of reference is pretty small.

[ work stuff... malkuth adjusts her grip and swings along a bit, more used to the crutches than one might expect. though it helps she'd spent hours after she'd fixed up practicing. "if it still hurts," they'd said, "see us in the morning." well. she sure did. ]

Even back in my first life... I don't remember a lot of styles like that. Nests have a lot of fashion and flair to them, generally speaking, but that's more of... the romanticized look of it. At least where I lived as Elijah, appearances weren't a particularly important aspect of life.

[ like. march can tell, surely. the amnesiac with more thought to fashion and romance than anyone with several lives. ]

Nests, huh...

[ She's learning so many terms, but she does nod sagely enough. Because yes, she can tell. As a matter of fact, she could tell back when-- ]

I figured when you were talking about how people didn't really talk about things like attractiveness, actually. But I think with things like this, it's important to figure out what you like so you can wear your own kind of style!

[ she's really gonna make her a fun terminology list with doodles sometime. it'll be cute. and useful. ]

I think so too! That's why... I like ducks, and sweaters... but the latter'll be hard to wear when it gets warmer, so I need to learn more about myself before then. I might just default to some chara-print shirts though, honestly. They're pretty cute.

I think you'd look cute with stars, too. [ A thoughtful nod, as she starts to tap her chin, remembers that's not so easy with the dominant arm right now, and switches to her left. What a pain... ]

But for ballroom dancing, we'll probably want to look for solid colors. At least for now. We can go for fun patterns with the skirts.

[ Oh, someone's starting to sparkle. ]

[ oh, she's beginning to sparkle. ]

Let's... go easy on the patterns for now. I don't want too dramatic of a transformation from the Malkuth they all know.

[ haha. ha. she trusts march but something about her eagerness to play dress-up is setting off a trumpet. man. she's gonna have to get someone else to do her hair for her now, huh... maybe kaito won't mind helping her put it up.

...

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn she's making a Face at the thought. something a little embarrassed, something a little shy. why... ]

Th-They're not all gonna be like, super poofy, right? Those look pretty hard to move in.

You don't have to give me that look, it's still definitely going to be you!

[ With a little huff. ]

And it's fine, there's a lot of different styles! We could give you something more flowy and elegant, for example!

[ flowy and elegant..................... also, not for once is she glad to be hanging with march. her sweet dear friend who doesn't read her mind. ]

I don't think that suits me at all. I mean, I'll still try it on! I think it sounds fun! But you're the elegant cutie between us, Marmar.

I don't really think elegant's my thing, either...

[ The sling moves a lil. ]

But that's what I've been trying to improve. In your case... I'm pretty sure I've seen ballgowns that cut off close to the knees. So maybe not something floor-length?

I bet it'd look pretty when I twirl, too...

[ something more knee length. malkuth sticks out her leg, staring at it in consideration, before swinging along again. that one sounds nice, actually, her head's turning to window shop as they turn down another street. a boutique is what they're looking for, right..? any place with dresses in the window might do. ]

Is it bad I'm still thinking of the practicalities? Like how a floor-length one might trip me up if we suddenly needed to jet on LILITH's command, but a shorter one would be easier to get around in?

It's... very you. [ With a little snort, fond. ]

I get the feeling you'd be fine, but we might as well focus on something shorter so you've got one less thing to worry about, right?

[ It looks like there's a good candidate coming up, from the display gleaming in the window just up ahead, and she pauses to lightly nudge Malkuth to draw her attention to it. ]

Wanna start here?

[ ... at least it's a charm point? the city wasn't built in a day, and it won't change in it either. neither will she.

malkuth turns her head to it, trying to imagine herself in the dress displayed and. maybe she can't do this. but she doesn't like to give up, so she wavers on her crutches, back and forth, before she helps herself forward with a nod. ]

Good as any! Let's hope they have something to match for my hair too, I'm definitely putting it up so it doesn't smack someone in the face.

[ a real worry! okay! long hair is so dangerous when it whips! if only she could weaponize it! in they go, that nice lightly perfumed scent nice dress places always seem to have greeting them along with the computerized sales clerk.

as always, if they have need of anything, simply ask. the femininity in here is off the charts to malkuth... in a good way, they're so pretty to look at. ]

Ohh--ohh....

[ She trails off, even as she offers a wave to the sales clerk. ]

I wanted to play with your hair...

[ ... Things that are not easily accomplished with one broken arm. ]

... Sorry. But try to avoid breaking your arm next time and you can.

[ a little tease, it's not something she could help. probably. no more than her own sprained ankle, knocking the brace against her crutch as she looks at the dresses. ]

Maybe between the two of us, we can work something out? I'll just end up putting it into a plain ponytail if I do it alone, so...

I can definitely look up a tutorial and tell you what to do, maybe? Or we can get someone else to help. It's fine, I'll avoid all rubble from... Minnie's House from now on.

[ Explosions happen, but it's fine!! ]

For now, the dress!

[ for now, the dress... maybe they can ask rodya. she seems like she'd know a thing or two about it. the chiffon ones are nice. they flouncy cutely when she waves them up and down. solid, solid... a shop like this would be unthinkable where elijah lived -- at least, for her ordinary area. no richer than the people around her. blacks and white, eyes glued to pristine paper marked with words beneath their fingers tips, pencils and pens practically one with the hand that held them...

... malkuth wishes elijah could have experienced this, too. she would have loved it. that's what she thinks. ]

Should I just choose my favorite color?

[ if she looks back over she's not going to see a rising count of things for her to try on is she. as much as a one-armed girl can manage. ]

It's a good start!

[ ... She is. March has managed to snag quite a few different dresses that are now hanging off the hangers she's clutching. ]

[ ................... ]

Those'll look lovely on you, March!

[ turning away! nope! not for her! they cant be for her! bare shoulders? forget it! that sort of cut down the front? absolutely not! and...

... okay, the blue one isn't so bad, but-- ]

Something like... this suits me, don't you think?

[ please. it's not ball gown worthy. but it's. modest. so much coverage. ]

[ ... Homie. Homie, please. ]

It's cute, sure, but ball gowns are in a different category entirely, you know? You're there to catch attention! That dress is for like a more casual weekend hangout!

Okay, well, who's attention am I trying to catch? It's just a class.

[ just a class... ]

You still have a partner!! And what if you do it in the future at an actual event? There's no one you want to stop dead in their tracks with how gorgeous you look??

[ WHERE'S YOUR FIGHTING SPIRIT, GIRL WITH SPRAIN-- ]

[ ...

the look on his face might be... ]

N-No! Of course not! I barely have a group of friends, much less anyone I'm thinking of that way!

[ one step! at a time! she hasn't accounted for that in her building a relationship (of any kind) process! ]

I feel like you hesitated. [ sing-song. ]

march.

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