4032/Business Upswing

Business Upswing
Date of Scene:	20 April 2016
Location:	Tomoeda-865
Synopsis:	New outfits and interlopers at the Boutique!
Cast of Characters:	Tomoyo Daidouji, 830, William Pauwel, Silica

---

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    Business has been steadily climbing at Tomoyo's Boutique. When your work is good, people will come from all over to obtain it. That had been the very premise on which Tomoyo had built her business, and it was clearly paying off.

    It's late afternoon when the sign is flipped to 'open' today. After all, school comes first! Tomoyo props the door open, clad in her standard uniform before stepping behind the counter. Who will be by to give patronage today?

Silica has posed:
    School is important, yes, and it's that after-school time that Keiko Ayano, AKA 'Silica' comes walking up along the street, still in her uniform, a dark blue blaiser and skirt over a white blouse with a red ribbon. The collar of the blouse has a pale blue cross pattern, and the crest of the SAO Special School is emblazoned on the left breast of the jacket.

    As always, the teen has her hair up in a pair of side-tails, tied with red ribbons and sporting little baubles over the bows of the ribbons. She turns the corner, just as Tomoyo opens the shop, and smiles a bit, quickening her pace before she remembers her manners.

    Stopping at the threshold, she bows. "Sorry for the intrusion!" she calls, before stepping inside, holding her book back in front of her.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    Tomoyo looks up from the bolt that keeps the door open as Keiko approaches. Immediately, her eye for fashion notes that her uniform is not from around here. The SAO emblem goes over her head though, she's not really into that kind of thing. But she certainly looks similar to a certain VRMMO character

    But the voice confirms her suspicions. Tomoyo is a singer also, she has an ear for such things.

    "Hello~" she says in greeting, bowing her head to the returning customer. She had been about to greet her by the name of her avatar, but she recalled that those in the Gatecrashers preferred not to be while out of the game, for safety reasons.

    "No intrusion at all. Here to pick up, I assume~?" she asks, gesturing into the store. It's nice and neat, those rows of shelves practically groaning under all the special materials Tomoyo has on offer!

Silica has posed:
    Keiko blinks, then gasps a little, covering her mouth and blushing. "Oh, where are my manners! I'm Keiko. Keiko Ayano." she says, bowing at the waist, before stepping inside. "Y-Yes, I'm here to pick up... I hope it wasn't too much trouble." she offers then, looking around the shop with a sense of wonderment. Seeing it through her Avatar's eyes is one thing, seeing it for real is totally another. Not HUD to get in the way of things for one thing!

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    "It's good to meet you Miss Ayano~" Tomoyo says. Huh, she's usually a bit more informal on the radio. Maybe it's the fact that Keiko is her customer right now? Either way, she quickly walks behind the counter while shaking her head at the other schoolgirl's question.

    "Actually, no~ It's one of the more simple designs I've ever had to do." Of course, Tomoyo isn't just counting outfits she's made for the Boutique. Generations of outfits she made for Sakura swim through her head for a moment.

    "Anyway~ You must be eager to try it on. I'll bring it right down. Feel free to look around while I find it." And with that, she vanishes up the stairs behind the counter!

Silica has posed:
    Keiko bows again, then turns to browse over Tomoyo's wares while she waits, looking at the displays with a sense of awe. "She can't be much older than I am... and she's made all of this?" she muses to herself. "Amazing..."

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    Soon, the thick soles of Tomoyo's shoes thump on the stairs again as she descends! Clutched in both of her hands is one of those large plastic bags used to store clothing, suspended by a coat hanger. Back to the counter, where she sets it down for Keiko to take.

    "Here it is~ Sorry about the wait... I have more than a few up there to be collected~ If you want to try it on, feel free to use the changing rooms~" And indeed, there are three booths directly across from the counter to use!

William Pauwel has posed:
    What's a guy to do when he's finally fed up with getting his ribs caved in, lungs punctured or his blood punched out every other time he steps out of his house? Comission a set of gear a little more protective than some old leather and a few prayers. Fortunately, Will Pauwel's been a good adventurer and has collected more than enough crafting reagents over the past few months to build something that could provide a decent level of protection.

Unfortunately, he's got basically no experience with the art of actually making an outfit out of the stuff.

    Which is why he's here, now! Because he's also sold off some of the stuff he's collected for some cash- which means he's had enough to ask someone else to make something for him! Will walks into the botique looking a little... out of his depth. Apparently, places like Tomoeda are a little out of his comfort zone. Not nearly enough things trying to kill you, evidently. "Uh," he says as he takes a few steps in, "I'm here to pick up my order?"

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
Sometimes bad things happen to good people.

For Tomoyo, it is a re-occuring nightmare.

With Tomoyo busy with Silica and William, it is more than easy enough for another person to slide through the doorway, behind William, and make sure if there is a bell that it doesn't go off! A pair of devil horns, plastic, wade through the store as Mamimi stays low and close to the ground, on hands and knees where necessary. The long route is taken in order for her to safely make her way around the building, though William or Silica's eyes may easily pick her up and follow, if they want.

Where she heads, however, is where she doesn't below. Specifically behind the counter with Tomoyo.

As she rises up, almost as if she was raised from a platform from below and dressed in a schoolgirl outfit with devil wings, devil horns and a tail, Mamimi slaps her hand against the counter and speaks up before Tomoyo can! "Order up! Tomo-chaaaan, do you want to service this customer? Oh, or should I wear the maid outfit?" She asks, head empty as always.

No, she doesn't work there.

Silica has posed:
    Keiko blinks, as she spots someone creeping along... she's about to ask, when Tomoyo comes back down, and she gets distracted... only to have that same strange person pop right up at the counter. "GYAH!" her surprise makes her stumble backward... INTO William.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    Tomoeda is a very different place indeed! Especially for the likes of Will, who probably roughs it most of the time. A couple of people even ask if he's doing okay. As he steps inside the store though, Tomoyo greets him with good graces. "Welcome back~" she says, recognizing him immediately. "Of course! I just finished it yesterday actually. Please wait a moment while I go and ge-"

    Suddenly, Mamimi! Tomoyo stares at the girl, momentarily baffled. "Uh... no, that's okay Mamimi. It's good to see you, but I need to get something. Again, Keiko, feel free to try it on." Gently, Tomoyo tries to usher the strange girl from behind the counter before slipping upstairs.

    Leaving Keiko and Will alone with the weirdo.

William Pauwel has posed:
Tomoeda is a town! That's part of a city! With actual roads, and more cars than Will has ever seen before! So naturally, he'd be a little bewildered. Not too bewildered to run into telephone poles or anything. But, between his rough-and-tumble get-up and wide-eyed stares, he's probably convinced a few of the local mothers that poverty and homelessness must be on the rise.

Another thing he's not really familiar with: People like Mamimi. "Maid outfit?" Will blinks at the girl behind the counter-- shortly before getting stumbled into by a STRANGELY FAMILIAR GIRL. "H-hey, watch out," Will says, not actually comically stumbling onto his backside. He's not half-dead today! It'll take more to unbalance him than that!

"Oh, yeah, no hurry," he calls to Tomoyo, "I'll just... Wait here." Will gently tilts Silica forward until she's back on stable footing, and then asks, "Hey, y'all alright? Looks like that horny girl gave you a fright."

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
It is was Tomoyo slides away up into the stairs that Mamimi, forced from behind the counter and away from Tomoyo, is sent back to the wild!

"Ehhh? There's no fooly cooly! But Tomo-chan and I... if only, Tomo-chan works too much." Mamimi complains to no one and everyone in particular. Standing up and peering at William and Silica, Mamimi seems most interested in Silica. Is there a surprise, there? Something something leather that William wears against the schoolgirl look of Silica - it's obvious to Mamimi, at least, that she is less durable!

Even if Mamimi is perhaps wrong.

"I'm a devil girl, too." Mamimi exclaims, as a small object floats infront of her - and is snatched up in both her arms. It is a block with devil wings. That's actually it. "And this is Takkun!" Of course Mamimi swings him around once and tosses him. "Show them how you can fly, Takkun!" Its wings flutter once but do not manage to catch air - and may crash, heavily, into a display. "...Takkun, you're kinda lazy today."

It doens't get better.

Silica has posed:
    "I-I'm... I'm fine, thank you." she offers to Will, smiling politely. She then goes to take the outfit, which Will would find equally familiar, and goes to get changed in one of the fitting rooms.

    When she comes out again, William might just get a bit of Deja Vu, as the girl is now wearing the outfit of a certain adventurous catgirl, sans the ears and tail, and shoulder dragon, of course.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    Indeed, Keiko would look exactly like a slightly older version of Silica! She has the blue half-coat with long sleeves and golden trim, with strappy black fingerless gloves on the hand. Furthermore, the gray armour plate strapped on over the stomach with brown belts, and the blue and gold train that matches the coat, also held up with brown belts.

    The black pleated skirt with the white stripe is a perfect replica, as are the matching thigh-highs, as well as the black boots with golden trim. Even the minor details, like the brown leather choker and the coat clasp shaped like a cat's face have been accounted for!

    Finally, Tomoyo comes downstairs with another plastic bag for Will. "Oh! Keiko, you look wonderful~" she says to the newly dressed girl, while handing Will his own order. "Feel free to try it on. And Mamimi, I do hope you're not bothering the customers." Goodness, she does sound a little stern there!

William Pauwel has posed:
    'Fooly cooly?' What does that even mean? Sounds... deep, silly and meaningless, all at the same time. Will doesn't dwell on it for too long. He gives Mamimi a wary stare as she... does... Mamimi things. Things that involve accosting an (apparently) vulnerable girl around his age!

    "Uh, hey, y'all might want to back off a bit," Will warns, his hand hovering close to... a vaguely wrapped up bundle at his hip. "Most shops don't take kindly to troublemakers accostin' their patrons, and--"

ROBOT.

QUICKDRAW INSTINCT ENGAGED--

Oh, it's basically harmless.

Still, that leaves Will gesturing at a robot stuck in a display with what appears to be a (poorly) disguised handcannon. It takes him a moment before he's sure he can holster it, right in time for Silica to wander out of her the back room.

Will blinks at her, memories clicking in his head.

"Uh," he squints, "Y'all look... Familiar. But the girl I remember had..." His eyes trail up to the top of her head. Will shakes his own, taking the bag from Tomoyo. "Right, I'll just... Try this one on for size."

And with that, he exits to the back rooms!

APPARENTLY WILL IS THROWN OFF BY CATGIRLS NO LONGER BEING CATGIRLS.

Silica has posed:
    Keiko giggles a little at Will's reaction. "I don't know what you're talking about~." she singsongs a little bit, before looking back to Tomoyo. "Thank you Miss Tomoyo, it fits perfectly! How much do I owe you? I should have enough.. I hope..."

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
As Will goes away and Tomo-chan is /incredibly busy/, Mamimi looks up at the gun and freezes! Handcannon or not, the woman may know what that is! Or doesn't.

Still, it is when it is drawn that Mamimi backs up slowly and pulls up her little demon creature before eyeing Tomoyo... with a slightly wide-eyed look she may not be familiar with.

It is not long after that Mamimi disengages with the entire store - and feels Tomo-chan may need to do the same, in words unsaid!

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    Will gets a VERY STARTLED look when Tomoyo comes back to see him pointing a gun at Takkun. "Mister Powell," she says, giving him a long look. "Please put that away. And when you leave here, keep it hidden. Japan has very strict gun laws." And then she's all smiles again, especially at the startled Mamimi and the cool-looking Keiko.

    Behind the purple curtains Will goes! Rummaging into the bag will reveal all sorts of goodies. Such as a poncho, dyed the light gold colour of a field of grains, designed to be worn across the shoulder and down the back like a cape, or wrapped around him to protect from the elements! The inside is covered in pouches, pockets and loops for equipment also.

    There is also a brown vest, made of some kind of leather. Those armour plates Will provided? They've been pounded flat and sewn on the inside to protect his fleshy torso. The outside is again, covered in pockets, with some more loops hanging from the hem. A white long-sleeved tunic is included, made from spider silk with baggy sleeves intended to account for the vambraces and rerebraces Tomoyo made from that armor.

    Some brown fingerless gloves are included, with more on the back and knuckles. The palms seem to be made from some kind of reptile leather, to give them good grip. The included pants are black cargo, with the pockets and everything. Included is a brown belt with a clasp shaped like a puma, as well as many points of attaching things. The brown leather boots provided are the perfect fit, and come with a pair of thick warm socks, should Will ever need them.

    But, of course. What's an outfit like this without a cowboy hat? A brown one has been included, with a white band that holds on a large white feather that has been trimmed to look like a tiny wing.

    Meanwhile, outside! Tomoyo has produced a digital camera, which she points at Keiko. "Well... if you take the time to pose for a photo, I'm sure it can't hurt the price~" She, of course, intended to give Keiko the Unionite discount, even if she isn't /officially/ Union. But, she needs photos of her outfits to show off!

Silica has posed:
    Keiko blushes a bit. "U-Uhm... I... I don't think I can do that. I'm not very photogenic." she offers, laughing weakly and shuffling about uncomfortably. She bows, makes excuses and bows some more, then after paying, makes her way out into the town again and toward the warpgate.

William Pauwel has posed:
    Another thing Will isn't really used to about this world- and worlds like it: weapons restrictions. Out on the frontier, risks of sudden robot attacks, turkey migrations or dire ermine rampages are far too common to go without some level of protection on hand. Will blinks at Tomoyo's sudden rebuke, and only blushes just a little. He glances sheepishly towards the purple curtains as he holsters his weapon, "S-sorry, force of habit. Robots jumpin' out at me gets the trigger finger itching."

He slinks off to change after that, his back hunched over just a bit.

Looks like he's sort of feeling guilty now. Tomoyo's Stern Face is dangerous.

    It's not long before he emerges, looking considerably more upbeat! Not to mention much more nicely dressed. The poncho flutters as he walks back out of the curtains, having apparently plucked his trusty glass goggles from his old hat and slung them around his neck. "This is some mighty fine work, ma'am," Will says with a grin, gingerly adjusting the belt around his waist. "I reckon I'll be one of the best dressed Chasers out on the frontier anymore!"

His gun is... absent from his side. Apparently he's wrapped it up with the clothes he was wearing when he walked in. Best not to startle any passing policemen.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    Tomoyo nods understandingly as Keiko stammers out a few excuses. "It's fine~ I'll give you the discount anyway." And indeed, it ends up quite cheap! Well within most anyone's price range. How is she making money like this? "Thank you for your patronage. Please, tell everyone about us~"

    As for Will, Tomoyo's mood has fully recovered by the time he comes out. The notable absence of that massive gun certainly helped. "You look quite dashing indeed~ I hope it's enough to carry everything you use." She starts ringing up the ensemble. The provision of materials helped knock the price down some, but Will doesn't get that Union discount, the filthy mercenary scum that he is.

    "I'll knock off a little more if you pose for a photo~" Hopefully she can get at least one from all this!

William Pauwel has posed:
But the Gun is part of Will's look! A guy can't be a proper cowboy without a great big doomcannon resting at his hip! Will gives it his darndest try, though. It works out pretty well. "Should do me good for at while! At least, I'll be able to carry as much as I can take, or I hope so, anyway."

As for a photo, uh...

    "Pose...?" Will inclines his head a little bit. Well, he IS just FILTHY MERCENARY SCUM, so saving a little money here and there is just instinct! "Oh, sure. Uh, y'all got anything particular in mind, or...?"

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    Tomoyo raises her slim digital camera and points it square at Will! "Oh, whatever comes to mind will be fine~" she says.

William Pauwel has posed:
W-whatever comes to mind? That's kind of putting him on the spot a little, isn't it!?

Will rubs thoughtfully at his chin. He doesn't really get asked to... pose very often. But if it's one she wants, then...

"Y'all don't mind if I use my gun for this one, do you? S' alright if you don't want me to, but it'd be weird iff'n I didn't have it."

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    SNAP!

    Guess Tomoyo thought the hand to chin was good enough~ Or she really didn't want photographic evidence of firearms being handled in her store. "Thank you very much~" And so, the price is reduced a little further. "Thank you for your patronage. Please, tell all your friends about us~"