[Closed] When the going gets rough. Just shop with somebody tough

[30storieshigh]

WHO: Lucy/Kaede and Godzilla
WHAT: What is 100% Definitely Not A Mall Date gets sidetracked by the evils of late stage capitalism (Subluminal Advertising)
WHERE: Neo Tokyo
WHEN: Backdated sometime in January
WARNINGS: Lucy's foul mouth. Will update as needed.



[ With an entirely new physical look Godzilla's of course in the need for new clothes and the best place to do any kind of mass consumerism is of course one of the larger "Mauls" in Neo Tokyo. The place has everything you'd need from clothing to entertainment to food to better food to--

Godzilla likes food.

Godzilla is also very much needing Lucy's help to dress this new body, considering the loser is wearing his biking leathers despite the fact they took the train today. He's hopeless.

And observant. LILITH has told the Outsiders to be on the lookout for strange behavior and stranger advertising and Godzilla has taken notice of something. An inordinate amount of people, fledglings to those of middling age, have all been going to one shop in particular. A clothing store with bad lights, vexingly loud music, and merchandize that seems both of subpar quality and... dubious legality. Yet the people continue to go in and come out with bags of shopping, going on about how lucky they were to find that shirt with their favorite character on it, even though said character is missing an eye and their nose is entirely off center.

Strange. Godzilla chews on the end of a straw thoughtfully, a blue frozen concoction of a treat held fast in one hand. It is the largest size reasonably on offer. Because of course it is ]

Kaede-hime, an inquiry. [ He gives his shopping companion a side long glance, nodding towards the store. ] Does the volume of patronage given to this "Heated Subject" appear unusual to yourself? Or have I simply conveyed myself to the storage of the edible tree seedlings?

[ He's... asking if he's going nuts...? ]

Comments

[saudadist]

[ So far, she doesn't hate this date that isn't quite a date. The noise of civilians milling around grates on her like nails on chalkboard, but she's able to ignore it with Godzilla's adorable ignorance on full display. Even the cynic within her heart can't bring herself to dampen that wonder of a shop filled with shops upon shops. ]

Doesn't seem too strange. It's a shop with everything a wannabe rebel teenager could ever want. [ She takes another sip of her own drink. Taro milk tea with boba pearls. It takes all her effort not to just suck up all the pearls to chew on. Knowing her luck, she'd just drink all the tea and still have plenty of chewies left at the bottom to awkwardly and obnoxiously try to slurp up. A vexing struggle, truly, and one that leaves her chewing thoughtfully on tapioca as she surveys the shop again. ] ...except for parents who listen, I guess.

[30storieshigh]

[ Godzilla continues to chew the tip of his straw as he turns that over in his head. She's probably right, Lucy's usually right about most things, but he can't shake the feeling something's off ]

It is indeed not unlike the things I have seen the fledglings under my tutelage wear.

[ While they're speaking a man of advancing years and receding hair line goes walking past, stops, stares at the shop, and then proceeds to go inside.

Godzilla raises an eyebrow at this. ]

However one would think some of these individuals' progenitors are long passed from this world, yes? What reasoning for their interest in such a place? Is the clothing they peddle of that desirable a quality?

[ Because it sure doesn't look like it! ]

[saudadist]

[ Indeed, she has to wonder what a middle-aged man would be doing going into a store aimed at younger adults and teens. Maybe he's aiming to reclaim some long lost part of his youth? ]

Maybe he recognized a piece of merch from outside? Seems like they have a lot of stuff for old shows and kitschy interests.

[30storieshigh]

Hmm. Talgia of the Nos, yes?

[ Nostalgia

While Godzilla looks on some ads start to hit his own oculars.

"Dress to impress, Doctor Serizawa!"

"Get that Mothussy!!!"

"NIGHT TERROR AFTER GOLDEN WEEK HOODIES NOW HALF OFF, GAURNTEED TO BE STOLEN BY YOUR CRUSH"

"DONT THINK, JUST CONSUME HOUSE CAPTURED BY ANDY HOOKER
WE SELL OGRE HORNS AND PAINT"

"JUST BUY IT"

"La-li-lu-le-lo La-li-lu-le-lo.

He's used to the constant advertisements around Neo-Tokyo but the ones outside this shop seem... off. The text and imagery has little effort behind it for one, and it keeps... fidgeting? The font stretching and flashing.

He records some footage and sends it over to Lucy so she can see it for herself. ]

Perhaps there is more to this than it appears to one's vision... or the quality is worth one's time. Shall we observe closer, Kaede-hime?

[saudadist]

[ She doesn't see the appeal, really, but upon a second look...

Hmm, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to go peek in? See their wares? See if that green dog plush is dangerous? ]

Alright, but if you want to buy pants with too many belts, I'm slapping you.

[ She won't, but the threat is there for his safety. ]

[30storieshigh]

[ He raises an eyebrow, a beat passes as he takes a draw on the straw to his drink. ]

I little see the point in such garment, but I shall take your words with the caution they deserve.

[ Walking into the crowded trendy store is almost a complete 180 from the pleasant buzz of the mall. The store is dim, the music is LOUD (and bad), and there's way too many people for such a little spot. Workers are mingled in with the customers, helping get things from top shelves, running product from the back, manning the counter.

The constant bombardment of advertisements continue, causing an unpleasant itch in the back of Godzilla's mind that has little to do with the environment. He goes to say something to Lucy but before the words come out of his mouth a voice rings out from nearby. ]

"Serizawa-sensei?" [ The voice belongs to what can only be described as the exact kind of woman you'd think works at the manager of a cyberpunk Hot Topic. Shoulder length red-brown hair that ends in curls with neon blue highlights, black lipstick, too much eyeshadow, lip, eyebrow, and nose piercings, a spiked choker, torn jeans and asymmetrical sleeved shirt bearing the moniker of "MISFITS", cut just above her stomach to show off a dangling naval piercing.

The woman, wearing a nametag that says "FAYE, MANAGER", pushes her way through the crowd towards the two. ] "What are you doing out here?"

Ah, Young Faye. I was unaware this was your location of employment. [ He tilts his head to the side and blinks in honest surprise. The big guy had no idea one of his university students worked here. ] We have put the day towards the purchase of clothing to pass the time. Curiosity as to the nature of this market front's excess in patronage led us inside.

"You don't say." [ The woman raises an eyebrow, looking Godzilla up and down. ] "This isn't exactly your style of place, Professor. Besides I don't think we really have anything in size... really tall."

[ Faye looks at Lucy, a bemused expression taking place. ]

"You shouldn't let your boyfriend wander around too much, you know? A guy like Serizawa-sensei's bound to get overwhelmed by this kind of place."

[saudadist]

[ The music very swiftly threatens to give her a headache. Already she can feel a vein in her eyelid throbbing in time with the beat pulsing from the speakers. However, Lucy is used to working in adverse conditions and peers around the store's wares without hesitation.

Licensed wallets, licensed tees, plush dolls, DVDs, jewelry; she can't think of a reason to buy any of thi- are those trading cards??? She picks up a couple packs to read the blurb on the back, transfixed. Is this an actual game or just a pack of collectibles??

She almost doesn't hear the manager when she speaks up, and she makes a disgruntled, confused face at the word "boyfriend." Is that what they...huh????? She's assuming a hell of a lot!!

She glances away, mumbling before turning over the pack of cards. ]

He needed enrichment.

[30storieshigh]

[ If Godzilla was confused before he's even more confused by both the mistakening him as Lucy's boyfriend AND Lucy's comment. ]

Would not the expenditure result in one being less "in with the rich"?

[ Faye stares, mouth almost agape. Then she's shaking her head with a little laugh. ]

"Wow you're like this all the time, huh? And here I thought it was an act to keep your class off-guard."

Acting is not my domain of tutelage....

[ Another laugh and Faye pats Godzilla on the shoulder, giving Lucy a nod. ]

"I've got to get back to work. Good luck with this guy."

[ And off she goes, back to work.

Godzilla recovers pretty quickly from his confusion, shaking his head as he retrieves a shirt from a rack and examines it. Looks like it's one of those mascotized versions of Gigan, on a t-shirt. This is what humans call... cute, right? Maybe he should buy it. He'd look really good in it, right?

It is neon yellow and the design is almost fully lost in the shirt's color. But the ad says buy now, buy now, buy now... ]

Kaede-hime, [ His voice is low, he almost has to get right up by her ear to be heard over the music. ] I cannot rid myself the sensation of something amiss in this market front. One has a thought that the back rooms should be investigated, yes?

[saudadist]

[ She would've thought "enrichment" was one of the words he knew, but that'll have to be a lesson for another day, it seems. Funnier still is that his student seems baffled by this. Wouldn't she have picked up on his Godzilla-isms by this part of the year?

Thinking about it mercifully has her attention away from the damned trading cards, and just in time too! The sight of Godzilla staring intently at that godawful shirt is sobering enough to make her question spending any money in this place. Ever.

And yet, not as sobering as him suddenly right there by her ear. A shiver pulses down her back as she stares up at him, blushing despite the cool temperature of the store. ]

How are we supposed to do that? You're not exactly short enough to avoid the cameras...

[30storieshigh]

[ Apparently that comment is very funny, because it makes him chuckle. Not just chuckle, he's grinning, complete with a damn near mischievous glint in those lizardy eyes of his. ]

Indeed. Yet when have I been of known disposition to make avoidance of things? Confidence, Little Titan, one that projects it is oft left unchallenged by humans.

[ His hand rests on her shoulder, gives her a reassuring squeeze, and then he's off. Literally just... walks right into the back like he owns the place. Infuriatingly enough he's right too, walking on as if it's no big deal even the 7ft pink haired guy doesn't attract much attention. Clearly he's allowed to go back there!

The question is, does she dare follow Goji into... The Back Rooms? ]

[saudadist]

[ She can't help herself. She laughs, but it's more of a snicker. Or a snort. Something similar to those. Flippancy leads her to shake her head slowly and shrug, as if it just can't be helped that now they're going to dive into some shenanigans. ]

Lead the way then. Maybe they'll be so focused on you that they ignore me.