01<@Ardweden> [Day: Saturday, September 4. Time: 3:15 p.m.] 01<@Ardweden> [It's the weekend! Yay! As such, it's a day for that favorite of teenage pastimes (especially for teenagers in Ashgate, who actually have money)... shopping! So we open in Ashgate Galleria, the one indoor mall in Ashgate.] 01<@Ardweden> [The mall, unlike much of the rest of the town, is clearly very modern: two story, with lots of glass in the ceiling, letting natural light in. It's well kept and has all of the standard mall necessities - Starbucks, Gamestop, Hot Topic, and so on. Three anchor stores (Sears, Macy's, and Norstrom's) are each at the end of a branch from the center of the mall.] 01<@Ardweden> [The food court's in the center on the second floor.] 01<@Ardweden> [So, we open near the center of the mall, on the first floor! What could our protagonists be up to? Did FATE draw them together? ... Probably.] 01<@Ardweden> [Session Start!] 06* Tyler is shopping in the tackiest most emo nich goth store he can find. If that's Hot Topic so be it. If it's The Black Weaping Willow, that sounds good as well! 01<@Ardweden> [Hot Topic it is!] 01<@Ardweden> [Although there is a Spencer's down the way...] 06* Tyler is at Hot Topic and then will hit Spencers! And then rule the mall! (or not) 06* Tiffany also seems to be at Hot Topic as well! Lucky her. Or Tyler. Whichever. She's got her back to him currently though and is looking through the selection of purses, which *presumeably* Tyler isn't. 06* Sydney is browsing stores with Rhiannon. They're just meandering today, with nothing specific in mind, although Sydney's carrying a bag from the Gap and Rhi has one from Macy's. 06* Tyler isn't at the purses. Not yet. No he's going for the tacky fo-punk fo- leather fo-clothes. 01<@Ardweden> [Rhiannon is walking with / guiding Sydney as they head in the direction of Hot Topic (from Macy's, if you're keeping track), while Javy and a woman come walking along in the opposite direction. The woman certainly looks at least partially Asian, though she's taller than most.] 06* Tyler starts to try on collars in the mirror. 01<@Ardweden> [Her hair is shoulder-length, parted in one side, and neatly styled, and she's wearing jeans and a t-shirt. With heels. She's talking to Javy, too: "So, no idea what she wants?"] 06* Tiffany picks up a purse she wants and then brings it up to the counter clerk. It's a nice black one with a lot of studs along the edges. "Um, excuse me. How much is this one? I couldn't find the tag..." 06* Tyler goes a bit stiff at Tiffany's voice and half glances back at her. 06* Javy looks pretty dejected to be here. "Something different. More stylish, she said." 06* Sydney spots Javy and his companion and waves to them. "Afternoon, Javy!" 01<@Ardweden> [The store clerk, a guy with a nose ring who wasn't paying any attention to anything, suddenly HAS to pay attention. "Huh? Uh... here, lemme check." He takes the purse and starts looking for a thing to scan, but of course, there's NO TAG.] 01<@Ardweden> [Rhiannon looks over at the Javy Alert and blinks, then waves a little, too. Hey, no need to be rude.] 06* Javy straightens up at being unexpectedly called at, and waves back, unsure. "Uh... hi." 06* Tyler slowly removes the collar and takes a deep breath, as he puts it back. 06* Sydney walks over to him, possibly dragging Rhiannon in the wake of her enthusiasm. 01<@Ardweden> ["Lemme go ask the manager," the Hot Topic clerk tells Tiffany before taking the purse with him and heading to another part of the store. Or maybe even the back! Either way, she's ALL ALONE.] 06* Tiffany sighs and leans her elbow on the counter. "Typical." 01<@Ardweden> [Rhiannon gets dragged a bit, deciding it's better to go with the flow as long as the flow's in the right direction.] 06* Javy glances over at his sister, quiet. To introduce or not to introduce? 01<@Ardweden> [The woman looks at Javy and Sydney and back to Javy again. "Friend of yours?"] 06* Tyler looks at Tiffany and around a bit, frowning. He takes a deep breath and gets close. "Hey Tif-Tif!" There's enough fake syrupy happiness in that to cover your morning pancakes. 06* Javy glances between them. "Um. Sort of, we've, uh... we've been..." He trails off into a mumble, and sticks a hand in his jeans pocket. 06* Tiffany lets out a low groan and turns her gaze over towards the voice and responds, drained of energy. "Hey Tyler..." 06* Sydney attempts to aid Javy. She politely extends her hand to the young woman. "Sydney Raynerson. We hang out at school sometimes." 01<@Ardweden> [The woman shakes her head at Javy's trailing off, then smiles and shakes Sydney's hand. "I'm Tomoko Mayberry, Javy's sister. It's nice to know he has friends outside of the swim team and Nate."] 06* Tyler is all forced smiles right now. "You don't seem like the type of person to come here..." 01<@Ardweden> [Tomoko also offers her hand to Rhiannon, who shakes it and says, with an apologetic smile, "Rhiannon Nordstrom. I'm mostly just Syd's friend, honestly."] 06* Sydney smiles warmly. "It's very nice to meet you." Then she blinks. "Rhi, have you and Javy actually met yet? I can't remember." 06* Tiffany narrows her eyes at Tyler. "What type of person?" 01<@Ardweden> ["We had some classes together last year."] 06* Javy freezes up, and then manages, "But, uh, we didn't really talk much." 06* Tyler smiles more and keeps going. "Interesting. I mean you've ALWAYS been interesting but not Interesting Interesting. Spiffying up for your new boyfriend are we?" 01<@Ardweden> ["Yeah," Rhiannon says, "we haven't exactly talked much."] 06* Sydney nods. "Anyhow, please don't let us hold you up. I just saw you and wanted to say hi." 06* Javy nods, and looks at Tomoko. 01<@Ardweden> [Tomoko waves Sydney off. "It's no big deal. We're just giving Javy here a makeover. If you want to help..." Rhiannon actually perks up a little at this and looks at Sydney.] 06* Sydney tries to suppress a grin. Tries. "Oh?" 06* Javy does not look thrilled by this development. 01<@Ardweden> ["Absolutely! I was thinking about throwing clothes at the wall and seeing what sticks. You two would only help. Javy's worn the same four boring outfits since he was *ten*, I swear." At this, Rhiannon covers her mouth to keep a giggle from escaping. "So, there for instance," Tomoko continues, pointing out Hot Topic. "I don't think he's even set foot in there. Ever."] 06* Javy looks panicked. "Tomoko!" 06* Tiffany shakes her head and half-glares at Tyler. "No. I'm not. Aren't you? I hear Tony's a good kisser." 01<@Ardweden> [Tomoko tries to look innocent... ish. "What?"] 06* Sydney bites her lip for a second, trying not to laugh. "It could be interesting. I'm game. Rhi?" 06* Tyler laughs. "Didn't know Javy and Tony hooked up. Oh well, obviously my mistake, you wouldn't go out of your way to look nice for fake friends, now would you? You aren't the sort to dress up for any one." 01<@Ardweden> ["I can't think of a better way to spend time getting to know someone," Rhiannon says with a perfectly straight face. She is *good*.] 06* Tiffany frowns and straightens her blouse. "I shop here all the time, Tyler. Question is, why are *you* here?" 06* Javy whips his gaze to the other two, and then back to Tomoko, pleading. "Come on, Tomoko." 01<@Ardweden> [Tomoko pats Javy on the shoulder. "Be strong, Javy. Be brave. Fashion is all about taking risks." And with those encouraging words, she starts leading him to the Hot Topic! THE WORLD IS ENDING.] 06* Tyler laughs. "Because unlike you I look good in this stuff." Keep deluding yourself. 06* Tiffany sighs and gathers her stuff, ready to go. "I don't need this. It's bad enough I get this kind of shit from you at school." 06* Javy looks at Sydney and Rhiannon desperately, as if they could potentially stop her. 06* Tyler looks triumphent getting Tiffany out of his store and then he sees the crowd walking in and his face falls. 06* Sydney tries to smile reassuringly. "It's not a bad place. They have some pretty fun stuff." 01<@Ardweden> [Right about now, the store clerk returns. "Hi, yeah, um, it's 48.50," he tells Tiffany.] 06* Javy looks stunned, and follows behind Tomoko, now with both his hands in his pockets. 01<@Ardweden> ["They do," Rhiannon says, who looks like the last person to shop in Hot Topic EVER.] 06* Tiffany sighs. "I'll probably come back for it. You've got to do something about some of the clientele of this store first." She gives Tyler an added glare and goes storming outward. 01<@Ardweden> [And right about now, the whole group enters Hot Topic!] 01<@Ardweden> [And Tiffany storms right into them. Awesome.] 06* Javy feels his eyes widen involuntarily, and slows down. 06* Tiffany oofs as she bumps into the amazons and ends up falling on her rear end on the floor, rubbing herself. Very cool. 01<@Ardweden> [Rhiannon blinks and reaches down to help Tiffany up. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"] 06* Tyler stiffles a laugh and moves back further into the store. 06* Sydney is beaten to politeness by her best friend! Curses! 06* Tiffany reaches for her hand after rubbing her head. "Ugh. Yeah." She finally gets a glance of who exactly is helping her (Well her companions more) and turns bright red. And silent. 01<@Ardweden> [Rhiannon beats everyone to politeness.] 06* Javy stumbles back, and blushes hotly across his cheeks, looking away from Tiffany once someone is helping her up. 01<@Ardweden> [Tomoko catches Javy's blush and raises an eyebrow.] Hey, Tiffany. We're really sorry about that. 06* Javy looks at back at Tomoko warningly. As much warning as he can muster just now, which probably isn't that much. Sorry about what? Me not watching where I was going and making an ass out of myself? 06* Tiffany says that fairly quietly and embarrassed though. 01<@Ardweden> [Tomoko smiles reassuringly at Javy.] 06* Tiffany brushes her hair to the side and looks askew at the crew. She glances upon Javy and then glances upon the other girl she doesn't know with him. 06* Javy looks mildly relieved, and looks down at Tiffany. Almost at her, anyway. "Um, no, nuh, it was just a mistake, right?" 06* Sydney shrugs. "Accidents happen. You're not hurt, right?" 06* Tiffany shakes her head and smiles shakily, giving a nervous chuckle with it. "Nothing hurt but my pride really, yeah?" So, um, who is your, uh, friend? 06* Tiffany 's trying not to act like she's looking too hard at Tomoko. And somewhat succeeding on that front! Kind of. 01<@Ardweden> ["Tomoko Mayberry," Javy's friend says, holding her hand out. "I'm Javy's sister."] 06* Javy glances over at Tomoko, opens his mouth to introduce her, and then closes it, and nods. 06* Tiffany glances at Javy for a moment, and then gives a half-smile to her, less forced, less nervous. "Tomoko? That's an interesting name." She holds out her hand and shakes it. "Tiffany. We go to school together." She glances about for a second, then loses the smile for half a second. "Uh. All of us." 06* Javy nods to that, too, looking back at Tomoko. 01<@Ardweden> ["So you're another friend?"] 06* Tiffany fiddles with her hair a bit. "Uh, um. Yeah. I guess so." We started hanging out sometimes pretty recently. 06* Tiffany fidgets a bit and glances back into the mall proper, as if looking for somebody. 06* Javy nods awkwardly, looking at Tomoko with the message that maybe they could go somewhere else now? 06* Sydney is just following people's lead here. It's what she's good at. 01<@Ardweden> ["Right," Tomoko says happily, "Well, we're helping Javy get a new wardrobe, so if you have any ideas..."] 06* Tyler is in the far back now trying to browse for himself 06* Javy doesn't look surprised anymore, but he still looks like he has an underlying layer of panic. He steps closer to Tomoko and looks at the others. 06* Tiffany stops from her browsing of the outside to glace Tomoko's way. "Wait, new wardrobe?" Or maybe just some browsing. 01<@Ardweden> ["A makeover!" Tomoko says, not sparing the drama. Rhiannon keeps herself from giggling again.] 01<@Ardweden> ["Syd and I decided it'd be fun to help," Rhiannon says, instead.] 06* Tiffany ponders that for a moment. "Hmm. Well..." I don't really know that much about fashion. I cede to Rhi there. But I hadn't been in here in a while, so I figured why not check it out? It's just looking! It's, uh, my mom, she... she... 06* Javy looks at Tomoko imploringly. 01<@Ardweden> [Tomoko shrugs and says, "She thinks it's a good idea. Personally, I think it'd be hilarious if he came home wearing the worst outfit ever, and then she'd leave him alone about it, but really. It'd be nice to get him to try some different things."] 06* Tiffany half smiles at Javy, sympathetically. 06* Tiffany then looks back out to the crowd. "Well, actually, I'd love to help but I'm waiting for someone here...although..." She ponders for a moment, then goes back to scanning. 06* Javy feels pretty unsure, but he looks between Tomoko and Tiffany, resigned. 01<@Ardweden> [At about this point, ANOTHER girl comes walking into Hot Topic. "Tiffany? Oh, there you are!" This particular girl is Christina Fellings, a junior who many of you may recognize as being in the drama club. She's petite and pretty, with light brown hair that frames her face and hazel eyes.] 01<@Ardweden> [She's also wearing a white sundress with pink polka dots, strappy heeled sandals, and a vintage pink hat with black trim and a bow.] 06* Javy blinks, and glances around himself to see if there's anyone else around he knows. 06* Tiffany looks over at Christina for a moment and half-smiles. "Oh. Hey Christina. I was wondering where you were." 06* Sydney smiles and waves at Christina, who at least looks familiar even if she doesn't quite remember her name until Tiffany mentions it. 01<@Ardweden> ["Sorry, I got distracted. Macy's has a sale on hats and I *kind* of was walking by..."] Did you just get that one? It's so cute! I kinda figured something like that. 01<@Ardweden> [Christina brings her hand up to touch the hat. "No, I ordered this one online. It's a Louise Green - she does *awesome* vintage hats. I didn't end up getting any at Macy's. Still thinking about it."] You've always had good taste in hats. I'm sure you'll pick a good one. Speaking of which... 06* Tiffany glances Javy's way for a second. 06* Javy spots Tyler in the back of the store, looks away, and then looks back, his gaze pinned for a few seconds, eyes wide. 06* Tyler is VERY interested in the body piercings right now. VERY. 01<@Ardweden> [Meanwhile, Tomoko and Rhinannon have stepped aside and are looking through Hot Topic's clothes for some stuff for Javy to wear. Those two seem to be getting along pretty well, at least!] 06* Javy looks back to the rest of the group at the front, with some understanding now. 01<@Ardweden> ["Hm?" Christina asks, then looks at Javy, then says, "Oh..." with growing understanding.] 06* Tiffany frowns. "Hey, go easy on him. It's not like he exactly wants part in this project." She looks at Javy. "Uh...I think..." 06* Javy nods, looking still somewhat panicky. "It's just. It's, um, it's just my mom. And she got Tomoko." 01<@Ardweden> ["Boys almost never want in on that sort of thing," Christina says, nodding with understanding as she looks Javy over. "You're cute. You've got that swimmer's build - you should wear stuff that shows that off better."] 06* Tiffany blushes brightly. "Christina!" 01<@Ardweden> [Christina blinks at Tiffany. "What? He is. Objectively. And subjectively."] 06* Tiffany fidgets a little. "Well. Um...yeah...but..." 06* Javy blushes hotly, as well, and resolutely looks into the store at Tomoko, stuffing his hands deep in his pockets. 06* Sydney looks over at Javy, looking like she wants to say something, but she doesn't quite come up with anything. 01<@Ardweden> [And she looks back at Javy and tries to ignore the blushing as she continues, "You usually like playing it safe though, right? With your clothes?"] 06* Javy nods a little, not looking at her, and mouthing a barely audible "Yeah." 06* Tiffany finally settles a bit, less fidgetty, and just watches a master at work. 06* Tyler keeps his interest in piercings and NOT on the insanity behind him. Yeap. 01<@Ardweden> ["But you don't really own your outfits, do you? Like, they're just what you wear, because you're comfortable wearing them, and you look good enough, so you don't really want to try something different."] 06* Sydney feels like she should perhaps be taking notes. 06* Javy blurts, "Isn't that enough?" 06* Tiffany blurts out "Shush, Javy." before she realizes it. She recovers pretty quickly though as she looks at Christina. "She knows her stuff. I'd trust her if I were you." 01<@Ardweden> [Christina shrugs. "Sure. A shirt and shoes are enough. And something to cover your groin, I guess. But it doesn't look *good*; it doesn't add to your confidence. If you really owned what you're wearing, you probably wouldn't be in Hot Topic."] 01<@Ardweden> [She glances around. "Not the place for you, by the way, but I think everyone knows that."] 06* Tyler twitches hearing this tripe and looks back at Javy. 06* Javy looks at Tiffany, quite surprised, and then back into the shop at Tomoko. "It was her idea. Um. Her. My sister. I don't think she was... um. Serious." 01<@Ardweden> [Christina grins. "I'll talk to her!" she chirps and skips off to have a girl discussion.] 06* Tiffany frowns slightly at hearing that from Christina but says nothing. 06* Javy looks between Tiffany and Sydney, blushing clear to his ears, eyes wide, clearly unsure how this happened. 06* Tyler watches the insane harpy storm off and then moves straight for Javy, grabbing his hand. He keeps moving for the door, tugging at Javy. "Comeon, can't let them fuck with you. You're you and you wear what you wear. Cna't stand damned dress codes." 06* Tiffany blinks at Tyler tugging Javy away, a bit too shocked to actually react with indignation on him insulting her friend. 06* Sydney blinks as well. "Uh. Hi, Tyler?" 01<@Ardweden> [Tiffany and Sydney are the only two close enough by to see what's going on and react. And, well, there's Javy. Of course.] 06* Javy is too surprised by this, on top of everything else, to resist. He gets tugged, starting to move away. Tell them we went to..American Appearal. That sounds good. Come on Javy. 06* Tiffany finally snaps out of it. "I...uh...wait, what the hell, Tyler? Why do *you* suddenly care?" 06* Tyler looks at Tiffany, straight in the eye. "Because it will be up to you to explain this mess. Come on Javy." To who? The insane folks trying to turn Javy into a dress up doll. He's wearing what he wants. Just leave it like that. 06* Sydney looks back at the others. "It did get kinda out of hand, didn't it? I'm sorry, Javy." 06* Javy starts to get his bearings again, and finds himself nodding to that, although he still looks surprised. 01<@Ardweden> [Right about now, Christina returns with Tomoko and Rhiannon. "Hey," Christina says, "I convinced your sister to let the Hot Topic thing go. It was just a joke anyway. We're going to... uh..." She spots Tyler holding Javy's arm. "What's going on?"] 06* Tiffany frowns a bit, then mutters, maybe low enough so that Tyler doesn't hear it but he might. "But you won't even let him try it to find out if he likes it either..." 06* Tyler drops into a lie so quickly. "Saw an art sell. Javy's low on supplies." 06* Javy looks at Tomoko, still blushing from before. "Uh. This is Tyler," he manages. 01<@Ardweden> [Christina looks at Tiffany, clearly confused. And Tomoko just nods, looking Tyler over. Well, Javy's apparently friends with that Tiffany girl, so... "I'm Tomoko, Javy's sister. Nice to meet you."] 01<@Ardweden> [Meanwhile, Rhiannon's just standing to one side and watching, as she tends to do.] Yeah, nice to meet you too, Tiff Tiff can fill you in on what Javy said he wants to try clothes wise. We won't be long. Come on Javy let's go look at the paints. 01<@Ardweden> [Tomoko looks dubious. Mostly because 'Javy' and 'try' combined with 'clothes' don't belong in the same sentence as a general rule.] 06* Javy looks back at Tomoko, and tries, "Um. We could, uh, meet up at. At the, the American Apparel. In..." he trails off, and calculates, and finishes with, "... fifteen minutes?" 01<@Ardweden> ["Sure," Tomoko says, still dubious.] 06* Tiffany shakes her head at Christina for a moment. She's glaring at Tyler but not saying anything. If that's what you want to do, sure! 06* Javy looks grateful, somehow, and rubs his cheek. "Okay. Um. Call me if something changes?" 06* Tyler nods and heads drags Javy out heading for what passes for an art store. 01<@Ardweden> ["I will," Tomoko replies easily enough. She waves the boys off. "Have fun with your friend; I hope you find a good deal."] 06* Javy gets dragged off to an art store! 01<@Ardweden> [Javy gets dragged off, and Christina immediately turns to Tiffany. "Did he just call you 'Tiff Tiff'? Seriously? What a jerk!"] 06* Tyler will just let Javy run wild at the art store, if he decided to go back to the girls in 15, thta's his call. 06* Tiffany sighs and rubs the bridge of her nose. "Yeah, well...welcome to my life." 01<@Ardweden> [At those words, Christina spontaneously hugs Tiffany. Aw. Tomoko watches, confused, and turns to Sydney. "So... they're not actually friends?"] But, I mean... I guess...if Javy doesn't want to go through with it that badly, it's not really right for us to force him... 06* Tiffany squeaks at the hug, looking about in a bit of shock. 01<@Ardweden> [CAMERAS FLASH, PICKING UP ON THE LESBIAN ACTION. No, not really. Nobody seems to care.] It's... complicated. I'm still trying to figure out Tyler. 06* Tiffany notices she's still being hugged. "H-hey now. It...it's okay, really. It's...not that big a deal..." 01<@Ardweden> [Tomoko nods and looks around. "High school, then. I don't miss it." She smiles at Sydney and Rhiannon. "No offense."] 01<@Ardweden> [Christina lets go and backs away. "Yeah, I know, but at school it's one thing - this is *outside* of school. Places of shopping should be sacred."] 06* Sydney smiles back. "No worries! I think I understand." You think anything with you around should be sacred. It doesn't work quite like that. 01<@Ardweden> [Rhiannon nods. "If these are the best years of our lives, we're in some trouble."] 01<@Ardweden> [And Christina pouts at Tiffany. "It should."] 06* Tiffany gives her a half-hearted smile. "Maybe it should be, yeah." 01<@Ardweden> [Tomoko laughs. "Yeah, you are. Let's hope they're not. I'm going to go find the American Apparel."] 06* Tiffany glances at Christina. "Should we follow them?" 01<@Ardweden> ["Yeah... oh, I wanted to check... we'll meet you there, okay?" Christina calls to Tomoko, who nods with a smile.] 06* Tiffany blinks and looks at her. "Wanted to check..." She stops for a minute. "Oh. I should go back and get that purse I was going to get too." 01<@Ardweden> ["A purse?" And Christina's off, purse hunting in Hot Topic, as it was probably put back where it was supposed to be.] 01<@Ardweden> [Tomoko heads off, and Rhiannon looks at Sydney. "Shall we?"] 06* Sydney looks at Rhiannon. "Sure, why not?" 01<@Ardweden> [Rhiannon grins, and the Amazon Duo heads to AMERICAN APPAREL!] 01<@Ardweden> [Session End!]