4/29/99

You walk towards the Shop.

Shop

An oasis of peace and beauty in the Java Quarter, this shop obviously caters to women. Music plays at all times, just loudly enough to be heard, but not so much that it hinders even quiet conversations. The decor is light and airy, and the products themselves are organized in a logical fashion. While it can't be said that -any- type of clothing that a woman would want is available here, which is unsurprising considering the variety of clientele that shops here, there is still a wide assortment, both in style and kind. Dressing rooms are available at the rear of the store.

Try 'roomhelp' for available help.

Contents:

Kyara

Clara

Obvious exits:

Java Quarter

You walk here from the Java Quarter.

Kyara tsk tsk. "That seems kinda silly." She pauses to contemplate the mannequin in the dress as well. "I take it that's a 'yes'?"

Corian comes in rather quietly and unobtrusively. She spots the pair, and smiles, but doesn't call attention to herself, instead heading in the general direction of a rack of dresses.

"Huh?" Clara looks away from the dress, then makes an apologetic moue. "Sorry. Mind was a million light years away. I can't see why you'd have to wear a dress if you're not comfortable in them. Nice pants or a uniform'd likely be fine," she offers, then spots Corian not too distant and smiles warmly. "Well, hey there!"

Kyara shakes her head. "I'm just trying to consider all the options. I'd rather not wear a uniform unless I have to, though. This is supposed to be a friendly gathering." Her gaze follows Clara's, and she brightens a bit, if that's possible. "Good afternoon, Cori."

Some fluffy white clouds skirt across the skies above you.

Corian offers a pleasant smile to the pair, though the expression is touched with a hint of sheepishness. She's caught. "Good afternoon, Kyara, Clara. You have escaped the Complex on this lovely day, then?"

Clara nods solemnly at the taller woman, eyes wide and urchinish in her hushed response. "We have...but don't tell anyone. They would drag us back, you know, and lock us away again."

Kyara snickers softly, her eyes returning to the racks. "But we'd steal their ammo and stick it in a locked drawer anyhow, and we'd be free to wreak havoc once more. Bwa. Ha. Ha. Ha."

Corian holds a finger to her lips, expression serious. "Your secret is safe with me." At Kyara's words, she laughs quietly, amusement lighting her eyes. "Ah, now that sounds exciting. Havoc-wreaking can be such an adventure."

Clara chuckles and sidesteps to consider several casual dresses, shaking her head. "Particularly with those wondrous foam disc guns. Corian, you realize you started a Complex wide armament with those things? How are you today?"

Kyara's eyes rest on a rack, and she steps quickly over to it, aforementioned eyes lighting up. Quickly she begins sorting through items so tight they may as well be spraypaint. "Ohhhhh. So it's all Cori's fault," she teases over her shoulder.

The dresses that have attracted Corian's attention are not quite so casual. And they all seem to be light-colored, too, even white. "Complex-wide?" she inquires, with dismay that does not quite ring true. "Oh, goodness. Arming you and my brother did that, Clara?" She's all innocence, really. With a flickered smile to Kyara, she asserts, "Everything can be blamed on me, if one tries hard enough."

Clara glances up from her own perusal with a grin, only to do a double-take at the focus of Corian's attention, eyes widening slightly. "We're deparmental heads. We have to set an example for our departments," she replies, almost absently. "Kya? See anything you..." She glances over at the Stilvani's choices and blinks before noting carefully, "You do realize this will be down by the lake? We'll all have to walk down there..."

Kyara nods absently in response to Clara. "Mhmmm. Another reason to avoid wearing a dress. I thought maybe something like what your grandmother wore at her wedding, you know the one I mean?" She casts a quick grin over at Cori, only to blink at what the translator is looking over.

Corian pauses a beat as she sees that her choices have attracted attention, and moves along to more casual selections. Skirts! Yes, she needs a new skirt, that's it. Definitely, skirts. She smiles towards the pair, smoothly innocent, then adds, "I just hope that people are enjoying the toys. That was the reason they were made, after all."

Clara thinks for a moment. "You mean that lace covered jumpsuit? That would work," she decides, then shakes her head with a grin. "But not in white lace. Everyone will think you're the bride," she explains with a wink, then nods at Corian thoughtfully. "The toys are wonderful, definitely. I've had to buy extra ammo twice. How's Tarrant today, Corian? Is his knee doing all right?"

Kyara nods confirmation to Clara. "That's the one. Yes," she adds hastily, "No white lace. Don't wanna either resemble or outshine the bride, of course." She decides to hold various items, most of them purple, up to her, rather than comment on the toys.

Corian's smile at the mention of Tarrant is quick, but sudden and rather bright. "He is doing quite well, and having much less trouble from his knee. It really is remarkable how much he has improved. The surgery did wonders, thank you for that." She glances at Kyara's various items and comments, with a gesture towards one of them, "That's a lovely color, Kyara."

Clara returns the rapid smile with a warm one of her own, nodding cheerfully. "Good. That's exactly what I wanted to hear. I was really hoping it would help ease the discomfort." She follows the gesture with her eyes as her brows lift appraisingly. "It really is, Kya. That'd look splendid on you."

Kyara extracts that particular item, giving it a thoughtful once-over, and nods approvingly. "I'll put this one on the list of possibles." She glances up to look between the pair of you. "Tarrant that guy you were with the other night, Cori?"

Corian nods an affirmative to that, glancing absently and without much interest at the skirts. "That was Tarrant, yes," she says, her smile brightening perceptibly. She doesn't look too nauseatingly in love.

"He managed to get you out and about and away from work?" Clara gasps in mock astonishment. "Remind me to nominate him for amazing man of the year." She tugs out a casual dress in light cotten, looking it over thoughtfully. "What about you, Kya? How's Roland and G'ben? I haven't seen either about lately."

Kyara gazes at Cori thoughtfully for a moment, giving a slight nod, before turning her head to give Clara a light smile. "Roland's scampered off to the Monoliths for a week with Briga. G'ben's doing nicely, and nagging me to sign consent forms I don't have the authority for."

Corian casts an amused look at Clara. "It was just to dinner--in the treehouse, it was lovely. And I have been away from work more than there, of late." Of course, she's been doing the work, just in her quarters. With a glance between the women, she inquires, "G'ben is the boy of whom I have heard--the one you mentioned, Clara?"

Clara rolls her eyes, still examining the dress curiously. "The consent forms to start school in the Complex School? Roland needs to get those signed, silly man. I've already got the paperwork done for the school to bill me for the tuition." She nods back at Corian with a grin. "Amazing little fellow. Mind like a sponge."

Kyara nods with a sigh. "I keep /reminding/ him, but..." She shrugs, then blinks. "You did what? Clara! You didn't have to do that!" However, she also suspects it'd be a futile attempt to try and argue the doctor out of it. The Stilvani glances over at Cori with a slight smile. "You should've seen him a year ago. You wouldn't recognize him now."

Corian observes, with a faint smile, "I would not recognize him now, as I have yet to meet the boy." After a brief pause, she adds, perhaps a bit wistfully, "He will be attending the Complex school, then?"

Clara tucks the dress under one arm and laughs easily. "Kya, I know I don't have to, but I -want- to. Riley and I talked it over. If the lad wishes to attend the Academy, he needs formal schooling. Trust me, hon. It's not a problem...I'm glad to do it." She grins at Corian. "I hope so."

Kyara nods to Corian. "He's quite excited about the prospect. I daresay the teachers'll be scandalized a bit though." She jsut rolls her eyes at Clara. "You're too good, Clara."

Corian, with a faint smile, suggests, "And the parents of some of the other children in the school as well, perhaps. Some of them are rather... particular about their children's associates." There's a brief shake of her head, and then she says, "But it is very kind of you to facilitate his education, Clara. Those who desire to learn should always have the opportunity."

Clara smirks vaguely and starts for the fitting room, then pauses. "No," she replies to Kyara, "it'll just be nice to have something constructive to do with my credits." She continues on to vanish into the appropriate doorway. "The boy's a natural. The Alliance will be fortunate to have him," she calls back out.

Kyara sighs slightly. "I hope he'll be okay..." She gives Clara's back an amused look. "What, and getting Riley out on the open water isn't constructive?"

Corian drifts back towards the dresses, though she doesn't actually select any just yet. "Water can be closed?" she inquires, with a quizzical smile. Maybe she's joking. It's hard to tell.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

"Aaah, but I snitched money from my family account to buy the boat, Kya. And it was a very, very good reason indeed. He had fun, thus it was worth it." This logic seems to make sense to Clara, her voice drifting out from the fitting room. "I don't think so, Corian. Unless it's in a swimming pool? Hard to sail, there."

Kyara snickers, rolling her eyes. "Well. I do appreciate it, Clara, don't get me wrong." She turns back to browse through another rack.

Corian chuckles quietly as she moves back to the dresses she was originally perusing. Pitching her voice to carry to the dressing area, she suggests, "Perhaps with a very small boat--though one would need a very small man to sail it. Perhaps in a creek." Yes, she likes the band at the Fruvous, why?

Clara comes back out with the dress under her arm and continues to hold it as she pauses at a rack of sweaters, snickering. "That's likley something you'd want to do out in the ravine, then," she decides, giving Corian's area of interest another curious glance before dropping her gaze.

Kyara oohs and ahhs softly, dragging various selections from the racks she's perusing. None of them is really a 'normal' color, either very bright or very pastel. "Yeah, the lifeguards would object, I think."

Corian doesn't catch Clara's curious glance, which is good, as that would likely make her flee the area of interest again. She -thinks- she's being subtle. Clara gets a quick smile, and Corian whistles a fragment of the appropriate song before adding, "Sailing in swimming pools does not seem to be a usual activity, no."

Corian doesn't catch Clara's curious glance, which is good, as that would likely make her flee the area of interest again. She -thinks- she's being subtle. Clara gets a quick smile, and Corian whistles a fragment of the appropriate song before adding, "Sailing in swimming pools does not seem to be a usual activity, no."

Clara tugs out another pinstriped oversized buttondown, this one in gray and white, then nods at it before slowly, casually, and nonchalantly making her way towards Corian. "The swimming pool is probably used primarily as an excuse to observe members of the opposite sex, actually. I'd guess, at least."

Kyara pokes her head up to blink at Clara. "Say what? You're kidding. Remind me to avoid it in the future."

Corian chuckles very quietly. "It is at times like this that I am glad that I do not swim," she observes, with a quick smile to Kyara. She doesn't spot the Clara, closing in on the prey--seeing as how said prey is easily startled and prone to flight, this is a good thing.

Clara is quiet. She's even been trained how to be quiet and stay out of sight, and makes use of it now albeit unconsciously. "I should probably be looking at these too," she murmurs quietly when she ends up behind the taller woman, then calls over to Kya with a grin, "I'm kidding, Kya. Just look out for Riley's cousin. He's a sweet guy, but prone to wandering eyes."

Clara is quiet. She's even been trained how to be quiet and stay out of sight, and makes use of it now albeit unconsciously. "I should probably be looking at these too," she murmurs quietly when she ends up behind the taller woman, then calls over to Kya with a grin, "I'm kidding, Kya. Just look out for Riley's cousin. He's a sweet guy, but prone to wandering eyes."

Kyara's eyes flick to Clara, widening sharply, and the cloth in her hands suddenly gets scrunched. "I'm sure he's very nice if he's related to Riley," she notes stiffly, turning to disappear into the fitting room.

Corian's eyes widen as well at Clara's words, though her own reaction is one of delight, though muted because of the relatively public place. "Really?" she inquires. "Clara, that is -wonderful- news. When?" She pauses a beat at Kyara's manner, glancing after the younger woman.

Clara blinks at the Stilvani's reaction, obviously taken aback and rather confused. "I suppose I ought to just open my mouth to change feet sometimes," she sighs softly, then gives Corian a wan smile. "Oh, not for quite some time, actually. We'd either have to clear it through a gazillion levels of paperwork or wait until one of us retires."

Kyara either is not listening, or too busy to hear. Various cloth-y sounds come from the dressing room, but her voice doesn't contribute to the conversation.

Clara starts to add something to that, then chops off the words as her comm goes off with that odd blaring quality reserved for medical emergencies. She sighs and mutters into it for a moment, then turns back to set her would-have-been purchases on the nearest rack before offering to Corian, "Give Kya my apologies for having to leave...and also for whatever I said to upset her. Enjoy shopping!" she adds, then dashes out.

Clara walks towards the Java Quarter.

Clara has left.

Corian calls a farewell after Clara, with a murmur about the excitement that is medical life, then turns back to her dress-perusal, moving quickly past a few tight-looking dresses.

Kyara eventually emerges to return to the rack all but one of the items she'd considered. Reaching the last one, a violet item with spangles of lame forming stars and moons, she pauses to consider it thoughtfully.

Corian looks up from her examination of a lace-hemmed dress to say, "Clara offers her apologies for her departure, and... she seemed to think that she upset you, and wanted to apologize for that, as well." She pauses for a moment, then adds, "That would certainly be eye-catching. The color is lovely."

Kyara glances over, nodding briefly with a neutral expression. "I heard the buzzer, figured she had to leave quickly. As for the other, she did, but it's not her fault." A tiny smile graces her lips as she glances back down at the suit. "You really think so? I thought it might be too bright. I really don't want to overdo it."

Corian considers the--dress? Shirt? Whatever it is, she considers it thoughtfully. "That is not something that I would wear, but I also have somewhat... bland taste in clothing. It might be a bit much for a wedding, but you never can tell when you might have an occasion for wearing it."

Kyara bites her lip, reluctantly agreeing, "You're right." It's returned to the rack as well, and her voice is somewhat sheepish as she notes, "I can only get one outfit tonight. Wedding takes priority."

Corian inquires, with a smile, "Would you allow me to purchase that item for you? Much of my family is not here, after all; it is a rare thing for me to get a chance to do something nice for a niece."

Kyara blinks, flushing an immediate bright red. "I... I..." She swallows hard. "That's very nice of you. If... if it will bring you a measure of contentment, I accept with thanks."

Corian inquires, a hint of concern in her voice, "The gesture does not make you uncomfortable, does it, Kyara? I would not want that, after all. But, yes, it would bring me a measure of contentment, and of pleasure as well."

Kyara shakes her head with a sheepish smile. "No, it doesn't make me uncomfortable. You just took me by surprise."

Corian takes the item from the rack, offering it to you. "We are decided, then. And I do hope it was a pleasant surprise," she adds, with a quick smile. "Serendipity is much preferred to those surprises that are not so pleasant."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Kyara chuckles softly, reaching out to take the suit. "Thank you. Very much. Yes, this counts as a pleasant surprise, one of the most pleasant I've had here."

Corian's head tips fractionally to one side, her own expression pleased, but a bit quizzical as well. "I am glad of that, then, though I must admit that it seems like rather a simple gesture, to bring you such pleasure."

Kyara chuckles wryly. "In the big picture, I suppose it is. I just..." She shakes her head. "I've grown used to not expecting gestures."

A faint smile crosses Corian's face. "One is less easily disappointed that way, yes?" she inquires, before gesturing to the racks. "But you were going to find something for the wedding, were you not?"

Kyara nods her agreement to the first question, turning back toward the rack to peruse thoughtfully at the latter. "Yes... perhaps something in pink? Not hot pink, though that's what I prefer. A nice rose color, maybe? Would that be appropriate?"

Corian considers for a moment, then nods. "Rose would certainly be appropriate, yes. And it would look nice with your coloring, I believe."

Kyara smiles at that, well pleased. "Okay..." She shifts to circle the rack to a pinkish section. "Hmmm. I think a pantsuit type thing would be best, with the wedding being out at the lake and all." She casts a brief curious look over at you. "Are you and Tarrant getting married?"

Corian is quiet for a moment, with a brief glance to the dresses before her. "We are, yes," she replies, with a smile. "Though I would appreciate it if you kept that news to yourself. We are going to attempt to marry without a fuss, if we may."

Kyara nods immediately, smiling slightly. "Of course I will, even if Riley himself were to ask. I'm happy for you, Cori, I really am, even if I must admit that it's not something I ever expected to hear."

Corian laughs very quietly at that, shaking her head. "Believe me, Kyara, this is not something that I ever expected to be doing. But I could hardly say no, when he asked." Her smile is brief, with a rather silly-in-love look to it.

Kyara blinks thrice, cocking her head. "Why not?"

Corian pauses a beat at that. "Well... I love him," she replies simply. "I wish to spend the rest of my life with him, and marrying him will make that much more feasible. It is a bond that has to be recognized."

Kyara nods slowly. "That's certainly true. You're from Kashid as well though, aren't you? Marriage isn't a big thing there, is it? I mean, permanent marriage."

Corian inclines her head. "I am from Kashid as well, yes, though my perceptions have also been colored by my travels."

Kyara ahhhs softly, the sound turning absent abruptly as she seizes onto a pink lacy floral pantsuit. "You've got a point there. You're probably the most... not sure what word I want... learned person I know."

Corian nods her approval of the pantsuit, though she looks just a bit abashed by your words. "I do not know that learned is the proper word. I am... experienced, I suppose, though that does not seem right, either." Certainly she isn't experienced by Honalee's definition.

Kyara snaps her fingers. "That's it. Experienced. Or at least, you've got a wide range of experiences that I daresay can rarely be even close to duplicated by anybody else I know."

Corian's expression is thoughtful. "Within a rather limited range, yes, I suppose I do have a wide range of experience. Traveling frequently will do that, though, of course, it is somewhat less than stable."

Kyara chuckles, reaching for another suit of similar make, and she holds them up to compare side by side. "True. You're overly modest, by the way." This from the woman who barely knows the meaning of the word 'modest'. "How's Tarrant feel about that? Or are you two going to settle down here?"

Corian blinks a bit at the criticism, though she looks more surprised than anything else. "He accepts it, I believe," she replies, a slow blush coloring her face. "Or... did you mean how does he feel about the traveling? My contract here is up in just under five months. We are going to try to stay here, but that may not be feasible."

Kyara would consider it an observation rather than a criticism. She never voice criticisms. Really. "Yeah, the travelling. I mean, it's great if he's happy to travel along with ya, if he can." The first outfit is returned to the rack.

Corian inclines her head. "That is why we are marrying, in part--so that we may travel together."

Kyara blinks, looking over at you with an expression of faint puzzlement. "Why wouldn't you be able to travel together unmarried?"

Corian ponders her phrasing a long moment. "His employers--whom I hope to employ me as well--can be difficult about scheduling. They would be less likely to split up people who were married."

Kyara ohhhhhs, comprehension apparently dawning. "He's military then? Though I don't recall seeing his name on a roster anywhere." She shrugs sheepishly. "Course, I've been distracted lately."

Corian shakes her head. "He works for the Interior Department," she replies, a bit unhelpfully. "I do not know how they compare to the military, as far as scheduling is concerned, but they can be difficult."

Kyara grins ruefully. "Government then. Just as chancy when it comes to stuff like that, yeah."

Corian inclines her head to that, with a faintly rueful smile. "So we hope to make it somewhat easier for us to remain together," she replies, smile warming. She turns back to the dresses, taking up one with simple, rather elegant lines and the occasional hint of lace.

Kyara hmmms. "Is that why you want to work for them too? That doesn't seem like the kind of work you'd enjoy."

Corian looks over with a faint smile. "I do not think that I would find it quite so disagreeable." Mainly because she worked for them for three years, "But, yes, that is why I would like to work for them. It would make life a bit simpler, in the long run."

Kyara chuckles. "The semi-sacrifices we make for love. Well, you, at least." She gets to the end of the pink things, and holds up her current choice for display. "Whatta ya think?" The pantsuit will be not quite skintight, but it is a very pleasant shade of rose pink, faux pearls spiraling over its entire surface forming waves and curliecues.

Corian nods her approval of the pantsuit. "The color is absolutely lovely," she replies, with a smile. "And it is not quite even a semi-sacrifice. I will be with him, after all. And the work will be more pleasant than my current job, I believe."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Kyara almost beams at the approval, decisively tucking the outfit under her arm. "That's the one then." Your last statement evokes an expression of surprise. "I thought you enjoyed the work you do now."

Corian inclines her head. "I do," she replies, with a smile. "But the environment has gotten somewhat difficult, of late."

Kyara tilts her head curiously, leaning against a counter full of jeans. "How so?"

Corian considers for a moment, then replies, "The members of one of the delegations has taken a dislike to me. I am not altogether certain why, and, to be honest, I am somewhat past caring." Her tone is as pleasant as ever, but there is a certain look about her gray eyes that doesn't quite bode well for this delegation. "The job will end soon enough, though."

Kyara frowns slightly, though she looks startled. "Guess my theory that nobody could dislike /you/ has been disproven then. Glad I didn't make a bet on it."

Corian's brows lift at that, though that look has faded from her gray eyes, to be replaced with a hint of please. "Oh, Kyara, I have certainly had my share of people who dislike me. But thank you for that. It does my ego good."

Kyara chuckles. "You're welcome, of course. I merely speak the truth."

Corian murmurs another quiet thankyou, then inquires, with a gesture towards the pantsuit, "Are you going to try that on, then?" She lifts up one of the dresses, as if intending to take it back to the fitting room.

Kyara ohs! Blushing slightly, she nods, turning to head in that direction. "That'd probably be wise, neh? At least I can alter it, if the fit's not precisely perfect."

Corian trails along behind you, that dress held lightly over her shoulder. "You are a seamstress as well? How versatile."

Clara walks here from the Java Quarter.

Clara has arrived.

Kyara slips into the dressing room, considering that thoughtfully. "Seamstress. Pretty word. I don't know if I'm what you'd call versatile though. I enjoy doing it, that's all. Stuff I'm not interested in 100%, I have to struggle with."

Clara finally makes her way back to the shop, a touch preoccupied and rather more tired. Neither expecting her previous companions to still be here, nor seeing them at first, she heads for the display of dresses to reclaim the one she'd tried on, rifling through the various ones to find the proper size.

Corian, disappearing after Kyara--though she goes into her own booth after that, of course--chuckles quietly. "Struggling makes one's accomplishments more appreciated, though, I believe, as long as you are able to deal with the need for struggling."

Kyara's voice carries in the quiet shop, though she doesn't seem to realize it. "Yeah, that sums it up well, I think. Still, it's nice to have something that comes easily to fall back on and relax."

Clara finally discovers the appropriate dress, then looks up and blinks, hearing a voice discuss relaxing. She glances about, then up at the ceiling, murmuring, "God?" She shakes her head with a wry grin and heads for the shirts. It was just a disembodied Kya voice. The rest of her must be about somewhere. Voice don't just go wandering off by themselves.

After a bit of rustling, Corian replies, "One should not have to struggle for -everything-, no." See, Corian -is- God. Or God's offspring, at least--close enough. There's another pause, and then she inquires, perhaps a bit hesitantly, "Could I get your opinion on this, Kyara? The sleeves are somewhat shorter than I thought, and the waist... but I like the lines of it."

Kyara pokes her head out of her booth and around the wall to observe, and nods approvingly. "Looks good on ya. If you want to lenthen the sleeves, I'm sure we could find some matching lace that could be used for that." Her amused eyes travel to Cori's face. "What about the waist? Doesn't seem either too tight or too loose."

Clara finally discovers the shirt that she'd meant to purchase as well, and slips over to the counter to quietly complete the transaction. She carries the bag back to the waiting area outside the fitting room...to wait, presumably, leaning against a beam and closing her eyes.

Corian pauses a beat, a bit surprised. "Why... the lace, Kya. It does not seem quite... well... I do not know whether he would like it. For that matter, I am not altogether sure if I do. Is there a larger mirror out there?" she adds, with a gesture to the curtain.

Kyara blinks, and starts to grin, gesturing outwards. "Yeah, there is. But Cori, if he /didn't/ like it, I'd have to ask Clara to check his pulse."

"There's a three way mirror out here, Corian," Clara calls easily, opening her eyes with a vague grin. "Come on out and I'll tell you if I need to check anyone's pulse."

Corian murmurs something a bit deprecating at Kyara's words, though she looks pleased nonetheless. Hearing the voice--pay no attention to the doctor behind the curtain?--she moves to step past. "An additional opinion would not hurt."

Kyara's flick toward the door to the dressing room as she too detects Clara's voice. Her bright expression fades slightly, and she withdraws her head back into her booth. "True enough. I think in this case you'll find agreement with me, though of course I could be wrong. The lace can be taken care of though, if you don't like it."

Clara gestures at the mirror, although her eyes widen at the dress, head straightening from its lazy leaning against the beam. "Kyara is absolutely right, no doubt about it," she offers consideringly. "If he doesn't like it, I need to check his pulse, then thunk him over the head with my scanner." She glances at the curtain with a faintly concerned look.

Corian crosses her arms lightly over her middle. "I suppose I am outvoted, then," she says, though she seems approving enough--it wouldn't take that much arm-twisting to get her to wear the dress. "I should hope that hitting him over the head will not be necessary, though--let me just go change." Clara gets a smile, and she adds, quietly enough that Kyara probably can't overhear, "I passed on your apology. She said that she was upset, but that it was no fault of yours." That said, she drifts back behind the curtain, inquiring of Kyara, "Did the pants suit fit, then? May I see?"

Kyara calls out a fairly cheerful, "Told ya!" At Cori's question, she pauses, and wryly chuckles. "Sure. Let me put it back on."

Clara seems particularly pleased that Corian likes the dress, or just perhaps that she needs a white dress at all, but nods solemnly at the news. Her brow furrows in momentary confusion before she sighs and leans back against the beam. "I'll still hit him over the head if he needs it?" she offers. "It'd be a lot nicer than what Riley'd threatened to do if he makes you unhappy. You found something you like, Kya?"

Corian shakes her head to Kyara, with a quick smile, before she disappears into her cubicle. "That is unnecesary. I will see it at the wedding, after all, yes? I would not want to put you to the trouble." Amidst rustling, she calls Clarawards, "That is hardly likely--but what did Riley say he would do? Hona said that she would set Riley on Tarrant if he made me unhappy--but, as I say, that will not happen."

Kyara calls out after a moment, her voice a bit quavery. "Yes. Cori was most helpful in the selection. Now if this zipper would just cooperate..."

"I don't remember the exact wording, but it was close to grinding his Interior Department hide into paste," Clara replies with a laugh. "But I promised him Tarrant was utterly wonderful and nice and adored you and all that stuff." She tilts her head at the curtain, vaguely uneasy, and likely convinced she's really screwed up somehow. "Kya? Do you want me to get the zipper? Is it one of those impossible ones up the back?"

The rustling ceases from Corian's little corner of the dressing area, though she doesn't emerge. "Thank you for that assurance, Clara," she replies, before falling silent. She's hiding, yup. She's not got a clue what's wrong, but she knows that -something-, is, and, yup, she's not involving herself.

A snicker comes from behind Kya's curtain just before she steps out. Barefoot, she pads out to display the outfit, turning this way and that before the mirror. "Bit of material got caught in the zipper, is all. Thank havens for pushups, or I probably never would've gotten it loose. Which would be a bad thing. This is not an appropriate outfit for work." She seems completely amiable, perhaps too much so.

Clara's brows quirk up at the outfit, forgetting her worry long enough to let out a low, appreciative whistle. For the clothing, not for Kya. Not that there's anything wrong with that! "Kya, that looks -good- on you. I think I am wildly envious. I turn orange if I wear anything pink."

Corian, dress over one arm, comes out finally, to smile her approval. "It is lovely, dear, and perfectly suited to the occasion--an excellent choice." With a quick smile to Clara, she says, "But there are other colors which suit you."

Kyara blushes slightly, her complexion matching the outfit. She keeps her eyes fastened on the mirror. "Thank you. And that's not surprising, Clara, considering how much orange soda you drink." She flashes Cori a grin. "Like purple, neh?" With that, she turns to head back into the dressing room to change back into real clothes.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

"Is that why I'm brown most of the time? Because I drink so much coffee?" Clara asks wonderingly, peering down at one forearm, indeed brown. "Well whaddya know..."

Corian flickers a quick smile after Kyara, then peers at her own fair skin. "You are what you eat," she murmurs. With a quiet chuckle, she adds, "Well, I do not look like tea, and I am not green, so I suppose it does not hold for me."

Kyara's silver-bell laugh floats out from the dressing room. "And it explains the color of Ri-" A pause before she continues. "Riley's hair. All that chocolate after so many years..."

Clara glances over at Corian in puzzlement at the pause, then shrugs and laughs cheerfully, tucking her bag over one arm. "That and his eyes. It's the chocolate coming out of his system after over-saturation."

Corian shakes her head at Clara, her own expression a bit puzzled. "Disturbing stuff, chocolate," she proclaims. "It is far too sweet."

Kyara doesn't reply to that until after she steps out a few moments later, pink and purple outfits over her arm, her expression and voice calm though ice lives in her eyes. "And then we're back to 'you are what you eat'."

Clara couldn't be more bewildered if she tried, blinking at Kyara for a moment before summoning her brightest smile. "Well, hey. Look, it's been a heck of a day, and surgery kicked me for a loop. I'll just let you ladies finish shopping and get out of your hair," she offers. "Have a good night, hmm?" And with that, she turns and heads for the door and a brisk clip.

Clara walks towards the Java Quarter.

Clara has left.

Corian peers after Clara. All right, now both women have her confused. She shakes her head fractionally, and gestures towards the purple outfit. "May I? It would facilitate the purchase."

Ryoshia walks here from the Java Quarter.

Ryoshia has arrived.

Kyara blinks, and starts to reach out toward Clara, but the doctor's gone too fast. With a sigh, she turns to Cori, summoning up a smile, and hands over the purple one. "Again, thank you."

Corian returns the smile, albeit rather quizzically. "You are most welcome," she replies, as she heads over to pay for the clothing, flickering a quick smile to Ryoshia as she passes.

Ryoshia returns the smile as she browses idly.

Kyara follows along behind Cori, digging her ID out from a vest pocket. Ryo gets a puzzled look- Kya knows she's seen the woman before; she just can't place her. WIth a chuckle, she notes, "Everybody's getting together so /fast/.'

Corian makes the transaction and waits as the dress and the suit are tucked into bags. "If it is any consolation," she observes, "Tarrant and I had known each other for three years before I came here. Ah... thank you." That last is to the clerk, as the bags are handed over, and the purple one in turn is handed to Kyara.

Ryoshia glances along her shoulder towards the other two women. Natural thing to do when you get a puzzled look.

Kyara blushes again as she accepts the purple, murmuring yet another, "Thank you." She glances up to give Corian a faintly puzzled look. "Consolation?"

Corian smiles pleasantly. "You are quite welcome. And... well, it has not been quite as brief a time as it seems."

Kyara chuckles, paying for the pink. "Three years is a long time, Cori."

Corian inclines her head, with a quick smile. "That is what I wished to express, yes--though, in the grand scheme of things, it is not -that- long, I suppose."

Aliana walks here from the Java Quarter.

Aliana has arrived.

Kyara smiles slightly, placing the pink in the bag with the purple as it's handed to her. "Well, yes, I suppose you could look at it that way. Another way would be to consider that it's a full seventh of my life."

Aliana pauses as she pads in, a smile filling her face as she sees who is there.

Ryoshia is listening in to the conversation while looking through sweaters.

Corian pauses a moment to puzzle that out, then ahhs softly. "Of your life thus far, yes." She flickers a quick smile to Aliana, then stretches lightly. "Mm. I should be heading back to the Complex, I believe. It has been a long day, and there is work yet to be done."

Kyara ers, and nods. "So far, yes." She gives Cori a slight bow, and a warm smile. "Have a wonderful evening, Cori." She catches sight of Ali, and gives her a nod.

Aliana heads immediately to the rack of black trousers...is someone in a fashion rut or what?

Corian returns the bow, hand pressed lightly to her heart. "And you as well, Kyara." She smiles to he others as she passes, heading for the exit.


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