1441/The Seamstress and the Fighter

The Seamstress and the Fighter
Date of Scene:	28 January 2015
Location:	New York-199999
Synopsis:	Tomoyo gets commissioned by Toph and stops by to gather research for the job.
Cast of Characters:	20, Tomoyo Daidouji

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Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     A sedan drives up to the Stark Estate, black with tinted windows, navigating the winding road with ease. Upon reaching the gate, the window on the passenger side rolls down and Tomoyo pokes her head out.

     Assuming that she is recognized and the car is let in, the car pulls up into the circular drive and parks. Tomoyo climbs out of the passenger side while one of her bodyguards emerges from the driver's seat.

     The pair go to the front door, Tomoyo knocking gently, waiting to be let in.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    It should be easy enough for somebody in the Union to find the Stark mansion outside Malibu, and what a place it is. It's clear that this isn't just any home with the drive way and the exterior looking the way it looks. Indeed, as Tomoyo is expected the car is let in once the driver identifies the passenger. Likewise Tomoyo will find that the doors open as she approaches them, and Jarvis' speaks up over the sound system.

    "Welcome, miss Daidouji. Miss Beifong is awaiting you inside. I must inform you that the upstairs is off limit to guests, as well as downstairs."

    And as Tomoyo and her bodyguard enters they should have no problem spotting Toph herself, who is rather... casual compared to other times. Unlike her usual clothes she wears far more modern clothes while she's at home, and today she is wearing an oversized t-shirt with a rock band motif on it, as well as slacks. As usual her feet are bare, and her hairbun is kept in place with a little scarf.

    "Dunno who your buddy is, but he can have a seat in the living room I guess," she shrugs, then offers a brief grin and a wave.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo does take the time to appreciate the estate! Her own home is a little old-fashioned, but the modern look is good too, she decides. The robotic voice that speaks when she approaches startles her a little, but she smiles and bows in the direction it came from.

     "You must be Jarvis~ Thank you for letting me in. Not to worry, I won't wander off~" she says sincerely. Stepping inside, she catches glimpse of Toph. Considering how she seems over the radio, it's hardly surprising that she's so casual in terms of dress, so Tomoyo just smiles and bows to her.

     "Hello Toph! Thank you for having me." Her bodyguard also bows, saying nothing. "This is just my bodyguard-slash-chauffer~ I can't drive yet, you see. Oh, could you fetch my satchel from the car please?" she asks. The bodyguard nods and goes back outside while Tomoyo goes to the living room as directed. "It's a lovely home you have~ Are you by yourself today?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Bodyguard and driver, huh? "Yeah, they don't take well to us kids driving, do they?" Toph says with a shrug. "No need to bow or anything, we're allies. Besides, I'm not big on formality." As for the home itself, Toph smiles just a bit. "Goldie's home is kinda cool, isn't it? He designed it. Maybe he'll let you see the workshop later if you're still here when he gets home. He and Pepper are out working. Buster is home though."

    As if on cue there's the sound of something coming down the stairs, and a black feline shape elegantly makes its way towards Tomoyo, looking up at her with light, yellow eyes as it lets out a soft 'meow'. Strange humans have entered his home, and they must be inspected! So Buster the cat slinks closer and sniffs at Tomoyo, clearly curious but still somewhat cautious.

    "So... you gotta take my measurements then?" Toph asks as she follows the other girl.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     "Yeah... I'm not eligible to learn until I'm 18 either." She gives a bit of a melodramatic sigh, followed by a soft giggle. "Oh, I guess this is uh, a cultural thing. I'm not just here as your guest, I'm here as part of my job, so bowing is kind of the minimum. Sorry~"

     She takes a seat as the bodyguard returns, carrying a large purple satchel bag. Tomoyo accepts it and takes out a sketch pad and a pen. "Ooohhh, the workshop of the famous Iron Man~? I doubt I would understand any of it, but that might be interesting!"

     Flipping to a fresh page, she examines Toph critically for a moment, her face becoming serious... which is ruined by the arrival of Buster. "Aw, what a cutie!" She tucks the pencil behind her ear and slowly reaches out to try and pet him.

     "Ah... well, I like to get an idea for what I might make before I start measuring, you know? That way I know what parts I need to measure. Saves the client some poking and prodding~"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "No need to bow when you're working either," Toph adds. Indeed, the blind girl is /really/ casual about things it seems. "And yeah, Goldie's workshop is really cool. I don't understand all of it either, but it's a fun place to hang out."

    Is that paper and a pen? She might need it to write down stuff, Toph assumes. But she sits down on the couch for now as Buster greets Tomoyo. When she reaches down to pet him the cat bumps his head against her hand, brushing up against her leg and seems rather friendly indeed. Maybe he understands certain words and when people praise him.

    Getting ideas might be good, yeah. So Toph nods and leans back on the couch. "I want something sturdy for when I am bending and fighting. So probably something that can be washed free of blood and other stuff if possible. Nothing girly, and no skirts. I only wear dresses when I have to, and it's not something I would like fighting in anyway."

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     "Hehehe, if you say so~" Tomoyo says accommodatingly. The customer is always right, after all. "Well, I don't want to take up too much of your time, but we'll see~"

     Tomoyo smiles and gives Buster another stroke before getting down to business. She takes up the pencil once more and puts it to paper, quickly drawing a feminine figure with proportions roughly similar to Toph's. She taps it against her chin and starts taking notes based on Toph's suggestions.

     "Stain resistant, sturdy materials. Nothing overtly feminine..." she murmurs as she writes before looking up. "Can I get a quick display on how you fight? Just so I know what to keep in mind~"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Buster meows when Tomoyo stops petting him, and then jumps into a nearby chair and curls up, watching the girls. Toph meanwhile doesn't really know what Tomoyo is doing with the sketchbook, but she doesn't look worried. When she is asked to display her bending however Toph nods and gets up from the couch, stretching her arms a bit. "Sure thing!"

    The blind girl them assumes a wide stance, her feet apart. Her stance is firm, solid, and she looks properly balanced as she takes some firm steps forward, keeping her arms close to her torso for the most part. But then she lashes out with her arms, her movements quick and controlled. And every movement is carried out with force, not constrained. And while her fighting style appears to be based on precise and quick strikes there is also strength underlying each movement. Her expression is focused as she uses the entire floor in the living room, making her way around it as if she were fighting an invisible enemy, pressing on.

    When she finishes she moves from the wide stance into a neutral one. "You got what you wanted from that?"

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo stares intently at Toph as she shows off her stance and a few strikes. While she's a bit of a newbie when it comes to fighting, she knows how to make clothes that are easy to move around it. Looking at Toph's stance, she'll definitely need something that offers unrestricted leg movement, but nothing like a skirt. For those punches, she might appreciate some arm protection that doesn't keep her from turning her body with them...

     "Okay, I'll talk you through what I have in mind." She begins drawing on the figure, starting with a pair of paints. They are held up with a cloth belt tied into a knot, very baggy around the legs, and secured around the ankles with cord tied into a knot. "I'll make you some loose pants, so you can move and kick freely. They'll have cord sewn into the cuffs that you can tie to secure them."

     Next, she draws a sleeveless vest, a little loose and secured with buttons down the front. "I'll also make a sleeveless vest, so you can punch freely." Now though... Tomoyo has a good idea of what would appeal to Toph. She seems the sort who would like something 'cool.' She carries on drawing, speaking as she does. "You can bend metal, right? I was thinking metal arm protection. Gauntlets, vambraces and rerebraces, so your hands, lower arms and upper arms are covered. That way, you always have some metal on-hand to bend as well~"

     For the final touch, she draws a blindfold on the figure. "To wrap it all up, how about a cool blindfold? I would make it extra-long so it flutters behind you. Maybe with some metal baubles on the ends so you can remove it by bending in a dramatic fashion~ I would put a pattern of rocky eyes along it too. What do you think~?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Once Tomoyo lets her know that she's got enough to work with Toph sits down on the couch again, sounding a bit curious as she begins explaining.

    Loose pants sound good, and Toph nods her head to show her approval of that idea. "Would be good to have something that I won't step in, yeah," she agrees. "Would be kinda lame to trip in my own clothes during a fight, huh?" As for a vest, that too isn't disagreeable. "I use my arms the most, so that is fine by me." But indeed, it seems that Tomoyo's assessment of the blind girl approving of cool stuff is correct. The initial question earns a nod.

    "Yeah, I discovered metalbending last year. And oh... metal arm protection?" Her face brightens up in a big grin. "That sounds cool!" Not to mention practical.

    What sounds less practical however is something that Tomoyo suggests next, and Toph seems to consider this as she nibbles on the inside of her lower lip. "... might not want to make it extra long. That stuff can be grabbed during a fight. Otherwise it sounds awesome!" Oh yes, this she can approve of. "What kinda material would you make it out of? Nothing itchy or scratchy, I hope?"

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo blinks. "Oh! Uh, right, good point~" She takes an eraser to what she drew, making the ends of the blindfold shorter, so they barely reach the nape of Toph's neck. "That's fine~"

     She twirls the pencil a little, an excited glint in her eyes when Toph asks about material. Not that Toph can see it, but still. "Not at all! I'll be making it from spider silk modified by Aquapel! The silk is super-strong and comfortable~ And when you treat it with Aquapel, it repels liquids and stains come out easily!"

     She puts the pencil down, and the excitement is replaced by a pensive look. "Now, I have two questions. First of all, colors. I realize you might not care about those, but I would understand if you wanted me to collaborate with someone who knows you better on that front. I like to think that I have a good eye for what colors suit people, but there are others who know you better than I do. So if that's what you want, say so~"

     She takes breath and carries on. "Second is shoes. Do you choose not to wear them? Is it to do with your bending or something?

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Spider silk sounds fancy, and if it is as sturdy as Tomoyo says, then Toph won't complain. Not to mention silk is rather comfortable to wear too.

    The other questions is a bit easier to answer. "Eh, I don't really care for colours, no," Toph admits and reaches out to pet Buster. "Choose what colours you think would look good, really." She seriously doubts Tomoyo would choose something she thinks looks horrid on her after all, and then again... would Toph really care? She won't be able to tell either way. As for shoes...

    "I don't wear stuff on my feet, it blocks vibrations and I can't see anything. I want my feet to be on the ground and pick up vibrations. Besides, nothing feels as good as free toes." It's as simple as that, and Toph wriggles her toes a bit as she raises one foot. The soles of her feet are thick it looks like, but it also seems like Toph takes care of her feet too. "A true earthbender wants to stick close to the ground, why put something between us like that?"

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo smiles. "Okay, I'll pick out the colors. Don't worry, I promise you'll look very stylish!" Already, she's mulling over potential schemes, but still paying close attention to Toph's explanation for her lack of shoes.

     "Hmm, I see! I wonder... there might be something out there I could make vibration-sensitive shoes from! When I get back home, I'll look into it, and let you know if I find something. If I do, I'll ask if you want shoes~"

     She puts the sketchpad back and rummages around, fishing out a measuring tape. "Now~ That's all done, it's time to take your measurements!"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Seriously, no need to make shoes," Toph stresses and scritches Buster underneath his chin, and the cat raises its head and purrs slightly, enjoying the attention. But said attention is sadly gone as Toph once again raises to her feet and steps forward when Tomoyo states that it's time to take some measurements. Stepping out onto the floor she stands with her feet slightly apart and raises her arms up and out to the sides, and it should make it clear that Toph is familiar with how it works. "So how long do you think it will take, and how much will it cost?" she inquires. Just to get a general idea, it's not like she needs it quickly or anything.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo actually pouts a little when Toph tells her not to worry about shoes. That would have been a fun puzzle to work out! Ah well, maybe she'll think of something on her own time and keep it to herself~

     As she gets to work on measuring Toph, she gives her price! It's actually quite cheap considering everyone. Must be that Union discount. While Toph might think she's used to getting measured, Tomoyo takes it to the next level. She measures each finger individually, length and diameter for the gauntlets, as well as the horizontal diameter of Toph's head. Since the clothes are going to be a little baggy, Tomoyo doesn't ask Toph to strip, no need for super-precise measurements.

     "Oooooookay! That's all done, thank you~" Tomoyo says with a smile as she puts everything away. "It miiight take a little while, business has really picked up of late. But I'll keep you posted!" She pulls the satchel back on and starts to bow again, but catches herself. "Thank you for having me Toph~ We can see ourselves out!" She gives Buster a quick pet before she and her bodyguard leave.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Well, it isn't too weird that Tomoyo takes the measuring a bit further to get her fingers down considering she is going to make /gauntlets/ as well. But Toph is patient and stands still unless asked to shift slightly for Tomoyo.

    When they are finally done however the blind girl visibly relaxes and offers a smile. "Take your time, it's no rush. Clothes is hardly an issue for me." The clothes will be done when they are done, and yeah, it does seem like Tomoyo has gotten a fair bit of customers lately, huh?

    "Thanks for stopping by, catch you on the radio later!" Toph does walk Tomoyo and the bodyguard into the hallway though, waving goodbye to them before she turns and heads off towards the living room again.