1169/That Fashionable Rat

That Fashionable Rat
Date of Scene:	18 December 2014
Location:	Tomoeda-865
Synopsis:	Tomoyo's Boutique gets it's first major customer, in the form of a priestly rat with a specific request.
Cast of Characters:	152, Tomoyo Daidouji

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Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    Tomoyo's Boutique, at 21 Madison Lane, is a standalone two-storey store, painted black with the frames of the door and windows painted violet. The sign that identifies the store hangs above the door horizontally, varnished wood with uneven edges, like it was made from driftwood. 'Tomoyo' is engraved in Japanese while 'Boutique' is engraved in English. The engravings have been filled in with black paint. There are two front windows on either side of the door, each side having dressed mannequins standing in them. On the left are female mannequins, male on the right. They are all dressed in quality clothing, spanning casual to formal. Uniforms, seasonal wear, costumes, the works. The door itself is solid oak, with shiny brass handles.

     At present, the store is open, a sign saying as much hanging from the door. Said door is firmly closed though, to keep out the chill of winter.

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja Senra stands before the Tomoyo Boutique, single eye blinking as he takes in the rather unique architecture. He looks from his scrap of parchment, up to the sign.

"...How very rustic." Mutters the rat somewhat dubiously. But at least it's well varnished. It fills him with hope.

Tucking away the scrap, he picks up a decent-sized suitcase containing what he'll need for this little potential transaction. He's come clad in a simple set of white priestly robes, unadorned and plain. Leaning heavily on his cane, far more than usual, he shuffles over to the front door with a minimum of cursing. Pausing, he gently taps upon the front door before opening it with his tail.

"...Might this be the business of one Lady Tomoyo Daidouji? Lord's blessings!" He calls out into the shop as he crosses the threshold, glancing to the rows of clothing-laden mannequins. A brow rises as he inspects one of the more formal pieces.

"I see that the workmanship was not exaggerated." Mutters the rat once more, before turning about to try to spy the proprieter.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Pushing open the door causes a bell to jingle merrily. The inside of the store is carpeted, black with thin lines of violet criss-crossing. The walls are also black, and the frames for the door and windows are, again, violet. A wooden bar counter encircles the right corner of the store, by the door. Also behind the counter is a small alcove with some stairs leading up to the second floor.

    To the left are three dressing rooms, sizable enough to comfortably hold two people, covered with violet curtains and with black wooden walls. The entire back of the store is dominated by wooden shelves, both against the walls and standing back to back, forming five rows.

    However, there is no sign of Tomoyo. But there is a boy sitting behind the counter, one with short-cut black hair and a seemingly constant closed-eyes smile on his face. He's wearing a white button shirt with long sleeves that have been rolled up with a yellow full-body apron with many pockets over it. He was writing in a notebook before Faruja came in, which caused him to look up. Utterly undeterred by Faruja's appearance, he starts to speak. "Welcome to Tomoyo's Boutique sir! Tomoyo is upstairs working on something, I'm sure she'll be down presently. But perhaps I can help you until she arrives?"

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja takes a moment to wiggle his feet. Being a Burmecian means footwear is hard to come by, and carpeting is a true love. He likes this place already.

Spying the dark-haired boy, the Inquisitor offers a bow.

"Ye may well, young master! Good eve, mine name is Father Faruja Senra, Union Ally. This shop specializes in clothing for...those of unusual needs, yes? Simply put, I wouldst like to commission a set of robes, and formal-wear."

It's here that he sets the suitcase atop the counter.

"To certain exacting specifications. I took the liberty of gathering a few materials that may assist in the matter. Wouldst ye be willing to hear mine request?"

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     "Correct, Tomoyo's Boutique specialises in fulfilling any need when it comes to clothes. But, no need for 'master,' just call me Yamazaki," the boy says, that ever-present smile plastered across his face.

    A series of thumps comes from the stairs behind Yamazaki as Tomoyo descends in her thick-soled shoes. Her black hair has been done up in a bun, held together with a yellow barrette. She wears clothes similar to Yamazaki's, a white blouse with long sleeves and starched buttoned cuffs, brown pants with elastic cuffs, black leather shoes with thick soles and a yellow apron with a ton of pockets.

    She walks over to the counter, also smiling. "You must be Father Faruja. We spoke briefly on the radio~ Welcome to my little store!" Reaching into one of those pockets, she produces a notebook and a pen and begins to write. "Robes and formal wear made from provided materials... what are they?" She peers at the briefcase with curiosity in her eyes."

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja lets out a chuckle. "As ye wish, Yamazaki." He's about to say more to the pleasant young man before the owner herself comes thumping all the way down. Ever a stickler for manners, he drops into another bow.

"'Tis an honor to meet thee in person, my Lady! I see thine cheerful manner is nay mere effection!" States the rat warmly. One meets the most interesting people in the Union.

He grows more serious however. Opening the suitcase, there's bundled, thin fibres tied together. Perhaps more worrying, there's also what may just be a gun case included.

"I require combat-effective robes and formal wear, to put it bluntly. Assassinations art becoming far too common in Ivalice as war rages, and the fiends attempting such art hardly limiting themselves to blades and magic. These articles of clothing shall need to be resistant to 'modern' firearms up to the calibre of the included handgun while remaining light and seemingly mundane. As well, they must be fire retardant enough to protect from blasts of natural fire."

There's also a set of mundane red robes within, and a few pieces of paper. On it, are several sketches of designs; religious iconography.

"An example of mine typical wear, and suggested patterns as befitting mine calling. Can ye do this?"

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     The pair stare into the open briefcase and start to unpack it. Tomoyo examines the wiry thread while Yamazaki opens the gun case and actually flinches a little at the contents, eyes opening. This is Japan after all, gun laws are tight. The young man has never seen one for real before. Tomoyo meanwhile, is too busy unravelling some of the thread, pulling it tight to test its strength.

     "This thread. What does it do?" she asks. Already, she seems to be mulling over the dilemma, and what she can do. Eventually, she begins to speak. "Mmm... first of all, the outer robe. Red, yes? That's perfect. I would make it from spider silk. It's very light, and very durable. Even regular silk can stop a knife, spider silk can do more, especially if it's from a Darwin's bark spider. Then I would dye it red with elemental dye. Made from the substance that elementals leave behind when they manifest, it conveys some resistances to their element. As for the formal wear that goes underneath... I would weave in some M5 fibre. It's still under development here, but in more futuristic universes, I can get my hands on some. Stronger than Kevlar, and fire resistant too. But, for a final line of defence... a singlet, worn underneath, with ceramic inserts. They'll be the last line of defence against weapons."

     She looks up, and that smile comes up again, like she wasn't just talking about something as dire as clothing designed to save someone from assassination. "How does that sound to you, Father Faruja~?"

Faruja (152) has posed:
It seems the entire concept of 'permits' and 'weapon laws' may well escape Faruja for the most part. Seems the Inquisitor at least trusts an Elite with a handgun.

Particularly when she goes over the materials in extensive detail.

"Anti-ballistic fibers, artifically made. I am told that certain Earths clad their holy warriors in such." Explains the rat. Luckily, this will no doubt cut down the costs to produce them!

"As for how to integrate it? I leave such to ye, mine dear. Yes, I /do/ enjoy silk at that. And the protection shall be most adequate. Ceramics, mmm? I didst not know they protected from...mmm. I aught point mine Acolyte, Strawberry in thine direction. Ye art well researched!"

Faruja's smile is equally bright. It helps, too, that Tomoyo's just barely taller than him. Another bow.

"More than adequate, my Lady! I shall look forward to seeing the results." There's a slight bit of excitement. He's not had the opportunity to get new clothes tailored in some time!

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo seems excited too. Her first major customer, asking her to make clothes that an Elite would benefit from. Already she's going over the sketches of the icons important to the Church, pondering how to incorporate them, sketching design ideas into her notebook... and then a though occurs to her.

     "Oh, one more thing Father. I'll need precise measurements to fit these to you. Protective clothing works best when it's fitted. Yamazaki, if you would~?" The young man recovers his smile and flips up the side of the counter to walk around, take Faruja's hand and begins leading him to the dressing rooms, pulling a roll of measuring tape from his apron as he goes. Once they're in the booth and starting to measure Faruja, Yamazaki begins to talk, rattling off a story.

     "Father Faruja, did you know that in this world, rats were once tailless? It's true. Legends say that one day, a rat had caved in an earthworm's burrow while scrounging for food. The earthworm came up, incensed at the insensitivity, and bit the rat upon his tailless behind! The rat was furious and began to run around, trying to dislodge the worm, but he held on tight! The rat had to live his life with the worm clinging to him. Of course, when two animals have to live that closely, they adapt. The two became close friends... but they were both stubborn. The rat refused to apologize, and the worm refused to let go. Eventually, they both died, but everyone knew about the pair and how close they were. As a result, all the rats grew wormlike tails in the hopes that one day, they could have a friend as close to them as that rat and the worm were."

Faruja (152) has posed:
"Of course! Lead the way, Young Ma..ahem, Yamazaki." Faruja shuffle-walks behind the dark-haired tailor, stopping once or twice. Crystal shards to the leg, for the record, sting even after they're removed.

Once towards the fitting rooms, it's a good round of raising arms, and generally moving as required for Yamazaki's benefit. Welcome to measuring non-humans, don't forget the tail!

"H...how marvelous! A story of desperation and wrath turned to mutual benefit! The joy and serenity of two lives intertwined in blessed friendship, and dextrous union! Truly, I..."

Faruja looks back to his own tail, petting it.

"I shall never forget the dear, humble worm, giving mine kind these most dextrous and useful appendages!" He may just be sniffling a little bit, inspired!

"M...may ye too find a friend so dear, Yamazaki, Lady Tomoyo!" Sniffle-squeak!