Private Big Evil Prom

[In Rhan]

Five Waves Shopping District, Llinnal Prefecture, Denon​

"So. If I'm reading you correctly." In stated between chuckles. "And please, let me summarize because I want to make really sure I understand you. You want:"

One finger went up, pressed against Niysha's shoulder. "Something nice to wear to your big evil dance party, so that you look good for your big evil girlfriend." In listed.
Second finger. "Something that conveys vulnerability - to her - but won't make you look weak to her rivals or opponents who might come after you to get to her."
Third! A third finger has hit the list! "Can be put on alone by a blind woman who usually doesn't wear anything more complicated than trousers."
The fourth finger, the unexpected finale. "And you thought your best bet was... me. Half of my wardrobe is denim and most of my tops are ponchos. I own two pairs of boots and one pair of heels. You are paying me for this service in iced chai."

With an incredulous smirk that could easily be heard, In ambled alongside her partner. The Five Wave shopping district was equal parts megamall and water park, and one of the better places to go in the vicinity of Naboo if you asked In Rahn. Not just because it tended to have better prices than competitors - though it did - but because the presence of all that water kept the temperature down and manageable. At least for her. "I mean, OBVIOUSLY I'm gonna help you, Niysha " The lanky Pantoran woman promised, sipping the drink she'd already been bought off with. "I'm all In. Let's get this shiv done. It'll be HILARIOUS, and trussing you up for your big important evil girlfriend might be the sort of favor that pays out some day."

"I just need to know how much cleavage on a scale of 'none' to 'all' is within your acceptable tolerance." In snarked. "Are we going for full-coverage leather, or a couple of black-and-red adhesive bandages with angry faces on 'em?"

Mentioned: Darth Virelia

 

[Niysha]

Denon had become quite the distraction for Niysha recently. After the terminus of their contract with Vikai, it was in the neighborhood, which made it the convenient end destination after they dropped off a bunch of refugees. Ecumenopoli were always the best places to shop, especially the clean ones. It'd be hard to go wrong shopping on Nar Shaddaa or Taris, but really, it was the ones with streets you could hear your boots squeak on that had all of the best shopping. Which... might have been part of why Niysha didn't have much of a wardrobe. She didn't have any reason to be anywhere near Coruscant.

This was not helped, of course, by In mocking her, but Niysha was an extremely even-tempered woman. It'd take more than a little... good(?)-natured ribbing to set her off, and "being joked at by her girlfriend in a private conversation at an open-air mall" didn't constitute public humiliation. Niysha, once again, was made keenly aware that she barely even resembled a Sith most of the time.

"I don't exactly have a huge stable of sorority sisters to poll for outfit ideas, In," the Miraluka defended weakly. Her sigh would've echoed in a plaza with wonderful waterfall acoustics if not for all of the people there to dampen it. "You can coordinate colors and you know what would look hot on me. This makes you the leading expert in the field of 'what does Niysha wear to a social event to impress a romantic partner.'"

The snark was less helpful. As frequently happened, In was saved by Niysha's biological inability to roll her eyes. "Something tasteful enough I can wear it in public would be a good place to start. I'm not looking for bondage gimp chic. Just something that would fit in at a Sith party and look hot enough to turn a head or two." Specifically Serina's head. That was the important head to turn.

In Rhan

 

[In Rhan]

"Unfortunately for us, you look amazing in most things." In observed dryly, tapping her fingernail against the side of her coffee cup, her arms folded. "But I've got ideas. Inspirations. Plans even, though anything more complicated than that would require knowing where the krong anything is in this place."

The Pantoran woman peeled away from Niysha to glance at a map of the area, considering the display with some annoyance. For one, it wasn't a terribly useful map. For two, she was increasingly aware of all the little ways in which the Galaxy was less convenient for her partner to navigate. This was one of those situations. Naboo had money, and money meant 'artisanal' effects. Like a sign that'd been painted onto a stone edifice. In squinted at it in consecration, trying to divine which of the artsy-named shops might have what she was looking for.

'Myriad Mysterious', 'Her Neighbor's Manta', or 'SL3VIN Ball' were all painted the soft green-white that she assumed meant clothing, but that wasn't even a promise. In scoffed in disgust and finished her coffee.

"Leather. I want leather. Let's go find where the leather lives." In decided, guiding Niysha away at a casual pace. "Something bright. You looked amazing in that white suit, and I want to lean into that."

 

[Niysha]

The way In was staring at that big rock implied that there was something there for normal species to look at. If she'd wanted to, Niysha could've used her datapad to scan the rock and translate whatever it was that she couldn't see, but she had no real reason to comment. Instead, she just waited until In had somewhere to go and something to do. It was her setting the schedule today, after all. While that happened, Niysha was just a passenger with an iced caramel latte and an appreciation for coreward architecture.

Eventually In had a direction to take them in, and Niysha finished her cup and tossed it into the nearest bin. "A leather suit sounds awful. Let's do one of each; something leather, something suit." No force - or Force - in the galaxy could make her walk around a jungle planet like Dromund Kaas covered in twenty pounds of black leather. Looking hot was important when out on a date, yes, but she'd take a pass on being hot.

Notably, she didn't bother trying to ask In why white looked good on her. She was peripherally aware that black was the most common color that Sith wore, and that white and black were apparently opposites. This set off an alarm in her head, which she quietly acted upon when she managed to work up the confidence to speak of something upon which she had zero authority.

"If the whole planet is wearing black, won't white stick out? Or is there... something I'm missing?"

In Rhan

 

[In Rhan]

"Sticking out can be hot." In pointed out idly. "Also it means you'll accent your date, which both brings attention to the pair of you and also makes her look more powerful for having you at her side." She listed. "You won't be the only one sticking out. Not EVERYONE can wear black, and there's bound to be some femme fatalle sorts strutting around in blood red or deep purple or somethin'." The Pantoran speculated. "Besides, if everyone's wearing leather jumpsuits they've probably got the HVAC compensating."

"But. I wasn't thinking a full leather suit. More like..." She made a vague curvy shape with her fingers. Like a candlestick with way more hips. "Cocktail dress. Strappy. Open at the midriff, one leg, chest." In explained. "Asymmetrical. You have a fantastic figure and skin, showing it off is another way of projecting power." She fluttered her hand aimlessly. "You know that stuff, I'm sure."

One hand at Niysha's back and the other in her pocket, In scanned the stores they were walking by - looking for the right combination of villainous fashion and sultry. "I realize you're normally a suit-and-tie sort of girl, and you look amazing like that. But if your girlfriend is half as crazy as you've made her sound, then you'll want to be in full arm candy mode. And that means a dress and heels." In explained. "Unless you know something I don't about what she likes."

 

[Niysha]

Well, what In was describing didn't sound bad at all. Obviously high heels were going to take some adjustment, but she'd been trained on balance beams above heated bars; pumps were nothing, comparatively speaking. The idea of showing skin being more attractive to normal people was something that Niysha was, again, aware of, but she rarely really thought about it much most of the time. It was for exactly that reason that In's advice and discerning eye were both vital.

"My girlfriend is pretty crazy," she replied with a smirk, bumping her hip against In's. "But I don't hold that against her. She's got nothing on that Sith lady I somehow managed to land."

Hmm. Serina's preferences were still something of a mystery to Niysha, but she did seem to be a bit... stereotypical. In so many, many ways, Serina Calis was every bit the Standard Sith Lord that they wrote for holoflicks. From that, she could make a couple of assumptions. "I think she'd like... straps. I know I said we don't want to do bondage gimp chic, but she's mentioned collars and chains like eight times."

Niysha kept pace perfectly well, thank you, even as In was window shopping. "Windows" were something that sighted species used to make walls that they could see through; window shopping, then was just... that thing that Niysha did all the time without stopping. She probably should've spent a little more time looking at the clothes they were going to be buying soon, but it wasn't like she could tell what she was looking for. "So probably," the Miraluka offered in attempt to be helpful, "a choker, or something to that effect. Something that she could look at and go 'ah, yes, good dog.'"

Before In could respond, Niysha turned her head and held one finger up. "Shut up," she pre-empted.

In Rhan

 

[In Rhan]

In's head at snapped around once Niysha started discussing the sort of things she got up to with the other side of their little triangle, eyes wide and engaged. Completely locked: In. "Hmm? Me?" The Pantoran woman asked with a mischievous tone, feigning confusion and a bit of incredulity. "But? I wasn't going to say anything?" In asked. "Why might I? Have said something? I'm confuse??"

The high-pitched tone couldn't last long. In snickered into her hand and gave Niysha a pat on the head. Her hair was springy and soft, fun to touch. "She's got good taste. And this, I can help you with." In promised warmly.

That didn't expand their options so much as confirm what In more or less had in mind as a good option. While she was sure it was some sort of prejudice to assume that as an Organization Sith threw black leather-themed events laden with thick sexual tension and suggestion when they weren't planning to spread violence and fascism... was it wrong?

They passed by a boutique that had a great deal of leather in it. Not dresses or anything of the sort - but plenty of accessories. In guided Niysha into Accidental Necklace with a bounce in her step... on the hunt for collars!

 

[Niysha]

Niysha was biologically incapable of rolling her eyes. Lacking that single key indicator of annoyance, the only way to discern when she was mildly peeved was to look at how she pursed her lips. For now, she swallowed any frustration and followed In into a specialty shop that she was relatively certain she just wanted to go to exclusively to tease Niysha about. It was fine. It was all fine. Chances were she'd look pretty good in most of this stuff, even if it wasn't even slightly relevant to finding a compelling outfit to show off to Serina.

It was a little unfair, actually. She got to find someone else to help her surprise Serina, but she didn't have anyone to work with to come up with a similar surprise for In. Serina had no eye for fashion; everything she wore was melodramatic, theatrical nonsense with an emphasis on "intimidating" more than "fashionable." In was normal. She liked normal things, like normal people did. Niysha needed to find another co-conspirator to come up with fun surprises for In in the future.

For now, she quietly bore the laborious brunt of her girlfriend's teasing affections.

"Again, it's for fashion, In. Something stylish and appealing. I'm not walking out there to broadcast my bedroom activities." She stopped a moment by the door, arms crossed as she took in the whole contents all at once from every angle; "information overload" was something of an alien concept to her. She would never have even considered it. "Like, maybe imply them a bit, but not scream 'I am having wild, deviant congress with this human woman."

In Rhan

 

[In Rhan]

"See, that's where I think you're coming up short." In pointed out, leading Niysha into the shop. "Everything you've told me and everything I've absorbed is screaming that you should absolutely wear something that screams that you're having wild, deviant congress with that human woman." She laughed. "Besides - a collar? That's hardly even kinkwear. It's 902, babe - wearing a collar is about as daring as wearing a low-cut top, and you're absolutely already doing that." The Pantoran promised, grinning ear to ear.

The shop was one of the many stupid little specialty shops that a successful mall required to survive. Leather accessories and the like, most of them designer made. "Maybe we can find something by Chi Chuchi here?" In suggested cheerfully, browsing a rack of leather bracers, bracelets, collars and hairpieces. Headresses. "You like her stuff. It might be a good fit?"

In lifted a sleek black choker with a soft inside up, considering it against Niysha's throat. "Hmm. This one, I like on you. How's it feel against flesh? Would you like this, or something with a bit more fuzzy?"

 

[Niysha]

Like her stuff? Niysha'd bought one shuttle, secondhand, and she "liked her stuff?" In was absolutely just trying to find excuses to put her in leather and parade her around a public area.

And really, that was fine. In all honesty, Niysha couldn't be less offended if she tried, so instead she made a point to play along as best she could. Holding up her massive, kinky mop of hair, the Miraluka presented her neck so In could properly start decorating it. Soft, smooth leather on the inside, sturdier material on the outside. "That's not bad. Better than fur, at least. I'm not wearing a fur-lined choker in the jungle." Insanity.

After a moment, with a smirk, Niysha cocked her head to the other side and let her hair fall again, all trillion curls bouncing slightly when they hit their nadir. "You're getting pretty into this. Whatever you think will look good on me is fine, but I think if you're going to go for the cute little heart locks on the front, that should be for us, not for me and Serina." She shrugged slightly. "She's not really a 'cute little hearts' kind of person."

Serina's head might have already exploded from transposed shame, actually. The idea of her "distraction" going out and getting tight, shiny clothes to impress her would either make her ego swell so much it popped like an overinflated balloon, or make her heart do the same. It was shocking that someone who Niysha had slept with twice could bring so very much "kissless virgin" energy to every conversation.

In Rhan

 

[In Rhan]

"Nah. Little hearts aren't 'us'." In promised confidently. Her back was to Niysha as she shopped, browsing the racks of tiny leather accessories. "We're less performative than all that."

The Pantoran woman considered her options carefully. A cascade of ringlets was a fine thing to use her eyes for, and In often did just that - but this was IMPORTANT. It meant something. "In some cultures, this is roughly analogous to a matrimonial band." In explained as she picked up a pair soft leather bands. "A collar, I mean. Usually people with a complicated history with slavery, or at least with whips and cuffs." It was rambling a little bit, but keeping her mouth moving while she focused elsewhere made both tasks easier.

"I'm not proposing to you." In added. "Not yet, anyway. Someday? Probably. We're pretty serious about all this 'us' these days." In rambled. "And I can't think of a reason I'd want less of you in my life." Thoughts she'd had banging around in her head for weeks, just tumbling from her lips. "It'd make me happy to represent that with something. Commemorate the weight of it. Reclaim the part of my soul that liked everyone who saw me knowing I was part of a matched set."

In picked up a dark leather band. Sleek, understated, almost professional. It had a faint shine to it, not that that'd matter to Niysha. The choker would likely look metallic at a distance, especially with the small silver piping on it. Quiet, pretty, strong, sensual, looked good in black. "This is the one." In decided confidently. "If I were buying you a collar, this is the one I'd get you."

In turned and approached Niysha, opening the catch. "Want to try it on?" She offered, motioning as though to put it on Niysha herself.

 

[Niysha]

In was a babbling, ranting, tumbling, half-crazed pile of uncollected goober. It would have been way too adorable for words even bereft of the extremely heavy context of what she was saying. Niysha had grown up on Dromund Kaas; she politely and silently humored In's mansplanation of the basic concepts of relationship-grade fashion collars to a non-human Sith apprentice. It was harmless, and the Pantoran wasn't making any statements she hadn't already made before. "Stay with me," it said. "Be with me."

And Niysha was already doing that. But it was still cute watching In trip over herself trying not to accidentally propose to her.

"In," Niysha replied with a smile and a sigh, then pushed in closer to her partner, placing one hand on her hips and stroking through her hair with the other, "take a deep breath and relax. If I hadn't turned you down before now, why would I sart here? With this?" In sure was talking with a lot of confidence for someone whose aura was wavering, catastrophic anxiety.

"Here," the Miraluka continued, lifting her big, poofy mop of hair to expose her neck. "Give it a shot." It wasn't the first one she'd worn. It wasn't even the fifth, and with people who were much less kind or even interested in her fundamental welfare. Niysha was much calmer than she'd been the first time someone had tried to lock her neck up like a souvenier. After all, a leather or metal band on your throat meant a couple of things... but this far from Sith space, it mostly meant "my partner pulls my hair in bed" rather than "another living person could sell me like cattle if they felt like it."

With the accessory fastened tight against her throat, Niysha let her hair fall back down, patted it to straighten it out a bit, then gave In a smile, subtly preening in contrapposto. "So? How's it look?" No matter how hard she tried, Niysha would never be able to appreciate this kind of aesthetic. Her attachment to In was spiritual, more than sartorial... but In absolutely had a keen eye for sartorial indicators, judging by the kinds of clothes she'd kept suggesting for Niysha.

Happy partner, happy wastrel.

In Rhan