What Not to Wear [Sentiri, Marzena]

[Marzena Vaas]

It was a well-known fact that Marzena Choi was rather fond of Cloud City, but lately she had been spending quite a lot of time in Avalonia. She had decided that she would take some of her free time to explore the boutiques in the Garden District. But first, she had dropped by the offices of the Ministry of Culture. Though it still seemed a bit unusual for a pop star to be working with the Ministry staff, Marzena was quickly becoming a familiar sight there. Not that all of the staff approved, but they would most certainly not make complaints... at least, not while she was present. She had greeted Minister Petyr Calinda, and while he had flooded her with compliments, he had not presented her with any duties for the day. While Marzena was eager to help, it seemed that most of the staff were proving to be very protective of their projects, and did not yet trust any outside input from the performer.

“Eliza,” Marzena strode over to Minister Calinda’s secretary, and peeked behind the desk at the petite woman sitting there. “Would it be alright for me to work in conference room alpha?” She asked, smiling.

“Let me see,” She watched as Eliza’s blue eyes scanned the schedule, “I’ll block it out for you, Ms. Choi.”

Just then, Marzena looked up to see a Chiss woman walking towards the desk. She stepped to the side to let the woman speak with Eliza, no doubt she was here to speak with the Minister. Dark eyes swept critically over the blue woman’s frame, and Marzena had to turn away, for her eyes were offended. True, the woman was an alien race – but that was not the reason for attracting Marzena’s attention.

“Minister Calinda is expecting you, Deputy Director.” Eliza addressed the Chiss, her hand motioning in the direction of Petyr’s office.

Deputy Director? Marzena’s eyes turned back in time to see the woman moving down the hall. Surely this woman was an important figure. The celebrity gathered her things and retreated to the conference room, where she would attempt to keep researching artists to recommend for the Memorial Center project. Instead of setting to work, she let her gaze linger on the Minister’s doorway. After a time, the Chiss exited... and Marzena got a very good look this time.

Was she wearing a pant suit? Heavens. Were those... shoulder pads? And what type of shoes was she wearing? They looked... comfortable, and more than a bit clunky.

Marzena bit her bottom lip, there were just too many fashion faux paus happening here. Truly, too many to ignore. She immediately felt it was her duty to right these wrongs, and involve herself in this stranger’s fashion in a very major way. However, she knew that she could not simply walk up and tell the Chiss that she looked dreadful and needed an intervention. No, this would require a bit of tact. Marzena stood gracefully from her chair and approached the Deputy Director.

“Excuse me, where did you get your suit?” She asked, “The quality is impeccable.”

The problem here was not the quality, it did look well made... but the fit was just terrible.

“I am Marzena Choi, by the way.” She held out a finely manicured hand, a pleasant smile on her painted lips.

[member="Sentiri"]

 

[Sentiri]

"Thank you, Minister Calinda," Sentiri plainly stated without emotion. "You will be included in the future plans for Project Reset. Your input on public affairs will be essential moving forward."

Project Reset was a less-than-clever moniker for the Re-education institution that the Security Bureau had been tasked with developing. The Deputy Director had supposed some intern had come up with the ridiculous name, but it served its purpose. The codename could be spoken aloud and no one would know what they were talking about. After all, that was why the upper echelons of the Culture Ministry were going to be involved. Some would call the Re-education project "brainwashing." Calling it brainwashing publicly would ensure public outcry and a questioning of the methods of First Order government officials for letting such a thing happen. Alter the verbiage used and Re-education turned from a "brainwashing" facility to one that protected the ideals of the populace, ensuring safety and security for the citizens of the First Order, and matriculating troubled individuals back into the society that they could now better understand.

All of which would take place under the guise of the Culture Ministry's manipulations of architecture, setting, and every piece of media that came out of the First Order. Still, only the right minds would be involved in such a task. And no one but the most loyal of Culture people could be trusted to portray the right meaning lest there be some social snafu. The less people involved, the easier time Project Reset would have getting off the ground.

All the better for Sentiri who would have refused to give some lecture to such a large group of eyes. That was exactly the reason she hired subordinates. The Deputy Director's job was to think, not to talk, and certainly not publicly. The Chiss woman hadn't gotten her position just to be some social figurehead. She had a job to do and social gatherings weren't in the description. The simple matter of being presentable in a social situation still chaffed at her. She was happier in her comfortable fatigues than playing dress-up for some pretentious Moff's social call.

The Chiss woman turned curtly and walked out of the Minister's office. Almost as soon as the door closed behind her, Sentiri found herself confronted with a woman whom the Deputy Director assumed did like to play dress-up for a pretentious Moff's social call.

"I'm aware of who you are, Miss Choi." Sentiri looked at the woman's outstretched hand for a moment before taking it and holding for a moment without shaking. The texture of the woman's palm left Sentiri wondering if the Human woman had ever done any sort of physical labor in her life. This was far in contrast to Sentiri's own hand, layered with calluses and a general grittiness. No matter how clean they were, her hands would always show the mark of a working woman. Still, despite [member="Marzena Choi"]'s doll-like appearance, Sentiri had been nearly impressed with the performances this human had given in the past. She was talented for a musician, and the Chiss woman respected that, if nothing else.

Sentiri reminded herself that politeness was required in this society, despite her distaste for all things formal or social. Though she decided it best to continue the conversation, her expression remained void. "Sentiri. Deputy Director of the Security Bureau's Intelligence division." Sentiri wavered on whether or not to answer the question about her suit but continued to remind herself of the lessons in civility. "The suit was provided for by the First Order military quartermasters. Why do you ask?"

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena grasped Sentiri’s hand and squeezed gently before letting go. It was clear to her that the Chiss woman was proud, her posture said it all, even if she seemed to be walking the line of appearing a bit ridged. Her dark eyes remained soft and friendly, but she was taking in the Deputy Director’s features rather intently. The woman had azure skin with a very clear complexion, her black hair was shiny, and her red eyes almost seemed to glow. With the added height of her heels, Marzena was near enough to the same height as the Deputy Director, her gaze fairly level with the other woman’s.

“It is a pleasure, Sentiri.” She said brightly, hoping it would be acceptable to address her in a more casual way. So, this Chiss was a member of the Security Bureau? Perhaps acting on her instinct to meet the Deputy Director would prove to be useful later on – at the very least it seemed a good opportunity to network. Marzena had collected an impressive set of contacts within the First Order.

The singer’s brows rose slightly when Sentiri revealed the source of her suit. She had been expecting her to say the name of a department store, not that her clothing had been issued by the military. Well, now the fit issues made a lot more sense. Images of a dark warehouse full of identical suits flashed before Marzena, a place where fashion did not exist, and fit was a luxury that one could not afford.

“Oh,” her shoulders rose into a delicate shrug, “Well, the suit is very nice... but it doesn’t look like it was made for you.” She finally stepped out of the Deputy Director’s path, and now stood beside her, guiding her around the corner and away from the busy reception desk. “You see, there is an excess of fabric at your shoulder seam. The seam should be flush with where your shoulder actually ends; it would give your look a bit of sharpness.”

Marzena’s slender hand reached out, threatening to burst Sentiri’s bubble of personal space, but she stopped just short. She gestured to the Deputy Director’s shoulders. “But a bit of clever tailoring could fix all of that.” The fit issues didn't stop there, for Sentiri's trousers needed a bit of work too... but Marzena thought she ought to let this information sink in. She offered the other woman an encouraging smile, and waited for her response, hoping that Sentiri did not find her advice unwanted. After all, she was only trying to help.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Marzena's outfit for the day.

[member="Sentiri"]

 

[Sentiri]

Sentiri let herself be led by [member="Marzena Choi"] away from the exit of the Ministry. Her meeting with Minister Calinda had been shorter than anticipated and Sentiri's own duties for the remainder of the day were independent. When she had first arrived to the Order, the Agent had to secret away her slicing activities for fear of the illegality of her actions. Breaking into things that were supposed to be secret was her greatest hobby, but some might consider the act of slicing into any file without express permission to be insubordinate at best and treasonous at worst. Now that the Chiss woman was Deputy Director, her slicing activities were all a matter of the state. As head of the department she could peek on just about anything and not be penalized, though her curiosity still got the better of her habits. The Bureau had even given her an office filled with the best servers, monitors, mainframes, and every high-powered, high-end cable on the market.

Now that Sentiri's schedule was her own, mostly, she could make time for social distractions, as much as she tried to evade them. In fact she had been encouraged by many of her superiors after her promotion to interact with others, especially those on the higher ends of the chain of command. Marzena didn't exactly qualify. However, the singer was a natural socialite and had many numerous contacts for herself since achieving stardom within First Order territory of which the slicer was aware. At the very least, this human woman's connections were useful.

On the other hand, fashion was not a priority for the Chiss woman. The items she donned for any occasion were inconsequential. As long as what she wore was comfortable and practical. Marzena's points were lost on Sentiri. Despite an observant nature, a person's actions are what spoke to Sentiri. Not even words could convey true intent. How could clothing possibly convey anything?

Still appearances must be kept. "Apologies, Miss Choi," Sentiri responded to what she heard as an unspoken question. Her voice still level with just the slightest hint of inflection to keep herself from sounding robotic. The Chiss' eyes met Marzena's after looking down and failing to observe the details that the human woman described. "But I am unfamiliar with the minutiae of tailoring." Sentiri figured these were some of the lessons her parents had taught her siblings but the introverted, holo-nerd that was Sentiri ignored throughout her childhood.

Yet this was the life that a socialite lives. Sentiri had never been one, nor had she tried. Now she was in a position where she had to be social whether she liked that aspect or not. Perhaps this was just the next rung that the woman needed to climb. She may never be a conversationalist, but she could at least act the part. And if that meant gaining access to Marzena Choi's circle, all the better. "Perhaps you could demonstrate what you mean."

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Oh heavens...

This was going to be more difficult than she had originally anticipated. It was clear that Marzena could not simply hand [member="Sentiri"] her tailor’s contact information and go on her way. Sure, that option was still available, but the end result would be a single tailored suit, and it would do very little to educate the Deputy Director about the power of clothing. A woman needed many options when it came to piecing together her style, so many options that she would never be caught in exactly the same look. Well, this certainly held true for a celebrity, but maybe not an everyday woman. Sentiri did not need to fill her closet with a completely new wardrobe, but she would need to have a few of the classics to help make up her new fashion arsenal.

“A demonstration?” Marzena placed a slender hand on her hip, her eyes turned to the side for a moment as she thought. An idea formed instantly, and she snapped her fingers, looking back to Sentiri with a hint of mischief in her dark gaze. “Good idea! I know just what we’ll do – we’ll go shopping!”

There were few things that delighted Marzena more than shopping. She had already been planning to spend the rest of the day in the Garden District, and now she had a new friend to join her. It was the perfect recipe for a bit of girl chat, mini fashion shows, and lots of spending. Her precariously high heels clicked against the floor as she made for the exit, automatically assuming that Sentiri would accept her invitation. I mean, who would turn down an opportunity like this? “Come along, my speeder is just outside.” Marzena finally glanced over her shoulder, and flashed the Deputy Director a dazzling smile.

As they made their way outside, Marzena turned to the side to view Sentiri’s outfit again. The woman’s hair was slicked back into a simple ponytail, she was unadorned by jewelry or accessories, and there was an absence of makeup apparent on the woman’s face. Now that they were in the daylight, she could see that the Deputy Director was totally clueless when it came to personal style. That would hopefully change today. She did not want to say that Sentiri was a fashion victim; perhaps she was just a little ensembly challenged...

“So, tell me a little bit about the clothing you like to wear.” Marzena said, still smiling. “Do you have a certain style that you like?”
Marzena would need to know more about the state of Sentiri’s current wardrobe, her likes and dislikes, and the way she would like to be seen by others. Then, she would be able to form a plan of attack.

 

[Sentiri]

Am I going to regret this?

The more [member="Marzena Choi"] beamed her smile, the more Sentiri figured that yes, the Chiss woman would indeed come to regret putting herself into such a ridiculous situation. The only shopping that the Deputy Director ever did was for new electrical parts, computer components, holo-equipment and so on. Since being promoted, Sentiri could put her slicer's wishlist on the budget of the First Order, though she certainly still spent credits on her own when there was something for which she desired exclusive access. Clothing was a budgetary afterthought; a necessity born from society's inhibitions of the physical form and the occasional practical tool for shielding oneself from potentially health-threatening weather. Sentiri hardly even spent credits on food, instead ingesting the most basic of nutrients in the most basic of forms.

And caf. Plenty of caf.

But clothing? How much could one need? As long as an item was clean and intact, she'd reuse that garment over and over. In total, Sentiri owned no more than six complete sets of clothing, ranging from formal wear to uniform to casual to weather-appropriate. Nevertheless, even as the feelings of discomfort started to pang at her gut, Sentiri was determined to see this trifling excursion through. Befriending a powerful figure was simply too important to pass up. And if there was something to be learned, then the woman would just have to accept the circumstances.

Despite her growing concern, neither Sentiri's face nor posture showed any sign. Stoic as ever, she followed behind Marzena with a long but slow gait towards wherever Marzena was leading the pair. Sentiri's own walking was unobstructed by the perilous footwear worn by the human. The Chiss observed how the heels kept the musculature of the legs consistently tightened and considered how limiting the heels were to more natural movement.

"Practical," Sentiri replied matter-of-factly as they finally exited the Culture Ministry. She nearly didn't continue. There weren't really any other considerations she had for clothing. But Sentiri had a feeling that only more questions would await should her response be so succinct. "Appropriate for the circumstance. Always flexible and easy to move in." She was unsure if she properly answered the question so she glanced back at the pale woman walking beside her with an eyebrow raised.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Practical, flexible, easy to move in... Marzena listened to Sentiri’s style criteria, and then looked to the side. Her own outfits were never practical, flexible or easy to move in, and she never thought twice about it – she was always willing to make sacrifices for fashion. However, the guessed that the Deputy Director would not be willing to go quite so far to look chic. It would just be a matter of Marzena trying to put herself in the Chiss woman’s shoes and wrap her mind around a way of dressing that was so different from her own.

“Alright, well... that’s a start.” She nodded. Her driver dipped into a half bow as he opened the speeder door for Marzena and [member="Sentiri"]. She climbed inside and had a seat, smiling an invitation to Sentiri to join her. “Please take us to Park Avenue in the Garden District.” She called forward as the driver slipped back behind the wheel. They took off swiftly, it wouldn’t be a long drive, but there would still be a little time for chit chat. For a brief moment, she took in the splendor of the Capital City; it truly was a sight to behold.

Marzena pulled a small compact from her bag and gave her reflection a quick, narrowed eyed inspection. She dusted her face with just a bit of powder to keep any shine at bay, and applied a fresh coat of red lipstick. Satisfied with her appearance, she gently set her things back into the depths of her bag. With hands clasped gently together on top of her knees, she turned towards the Deputy Director.

“Does your job take you out into the field?” She asked, eyelashes fluttering. Marzena could not say that she had ever interacted with a member of the Security Bureau before; at least, not that she was aware of. Her mind was full of images of shadowy figures sneaking around in the darkness, swift and silent. She turned her attention back to the conversation at hand, just in time to keep her imagination from completely running riot. “What’s your typical day like?”

 

[Sentiri]

The speeder made off for an area of the city Sentiri had never before found herself: the Garden District. The Chiss woman looked out the transparisteel windows and observed the new scenes passing around them. While there were plenty of botanical fixtures as the name would suggest, gaudier and gaudier buildings, holodisplays and billboards filled her optical receptors and she looked away, tempted to roll her eyes. There had never been any purpose for Sentiri to go to the Garden District, though she had overheard several Bureau officers discussing visits there. She had seen the place on holofeeds before, and even altered some media footage originating from the Garden District, but had never found any desire to see it for herself. Everything seemed so impractical, what was the point?

Sentiri supposed she was about to find out.

Turning her focus back to [member="Marzena Choi"], she observed the human applying some makeup to her face; another foreign concept to Sentiri. Sentiri's own lips were naturally shaded a light pink, offset from the rest of her blue skin. Marzena's lips had already been painted red by something, perhaps that very implement earlier. Was there a purpose in reapplying? Was her own natural shade not sufficient?

In truth, Sentiri found Marzena quite an oddity. Removing her mind from the subject of apparel and appearance, Sentiri considered how forward the popular musician had been in approaching the Deputy Director. First Order society was incredibly humanocentric. And while Sentiri was what a human would consider a "Near-Human," her appearance still brought about distaste from the majority of the society's populace. That notion never seemed to cross the face of the idol. Perhaps she was so used to dealing with galactic society as a whole that the concept of dealing with an "alien" was simply commonplace.

Sentiri had not spent much time fraternizing with the social circles of the First Order, even when ordered to do so by her superiors. The majority of her interactions had been with military or government officials, those who were forced to be forward when following or receiving orders. There was less of a perceivable social barrier when that interaction was obligated. Among the populace, that obligation was nonexistent and Sentiri had always imagined that, had she ever found the desire to socialize, she would find doing so incredibly difficult due to her birthright as a Chiss.

And yet here Sentiri was, sitting in a speeder with the most popular musician in First Order space, making normal conversation. Added to that was the knowledge that Sentiri's duty had once required her to censor areas of Marzena's life from the First Order people. She still occasionally did. An odd feeling came over the Chiss woman to be so casual with the human woman on the other side of the speeder.

Marzena's words pulled Sentiri from her thoughts and back to the conversation the two women were sharing. Sentiri knew that there was information that she could share, and information she couldn't. She was careful to draw that line, though attempted to be subtle enough in her wording so as not to alert Marzena into thinking that the Agent had left anything out. She was probably not successful, speaking was not her strong-suit, nor was having a care for protocol.

"My position has evolved. I was promoted to Deputy Director of Intelligence a month ago. Technology is my core focus. Dealing with computers of various uses, the holonet, communication devices. Most of that is done in an office, though occasionally my efforts were required in the field or on a ship depending on the task."

She paused and looked away from Marzena for a moment. This was the moment where humans liked to sigh in exasperation. Sentiri did not, but the same pause could be felt. Her eyes drifted back to Marzena. "Becoming Deputy Director has required a social duty. Meetings, supervising, any number of events. These are becoming more and more typical." Sentiri had great disdain for the public aspects of her position. But then, that was the area where Marzena excelled.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena listened intently to the Deputy Director’s response, and her smile grew upon hearing that she had just recently been promoted. She perked a curious brow at the mention of the holonet and communication devices; surely this meant that [member="Sentiri"] had access to all sorts of information. Marzena’s index finger gently tapped against her chin, and she wondered if this other woman knew things about her.

Of course, living in the spotlight often meant that there were aspects of her life that were plastered all across media outlets. Most of these articles were simply media coverage of her recent events, advertisements for clothing and products that she endorsed, and the ever popular topics of gossip. At times it seemed that her life was an open holobook for all to read, but there were still bits of private information that she liked to keep tucked away.

What does she know? But the Chiss woman’s face was almost stone-like, and betrayed very little.

“Congratulations on the promotion! That is very exciting.” She said with a nod, turning her attention back to the matter at hand. “So, we’ll focus on finding you some pieces of clothing to wear for important meetings, and social events. A suit, a few dresses, and perhaps an evening gown. Oh, and you will need a few separates... blouses, skirts, pants. All the things that make up a well-rounded wardrobe.”

The speeder came to a stop on Park Avenue, the famed street that many high-end boutiques called home. Marzena stepped out of the speeder and tucked her bag into the crook of her arm, waiting for Sentiri to join her. The warm aroma of caf was in the air, coming from a small café up the street. How she missed caf, as it was now on the list of items that she was no longer allowed with pregnancy. Her eyes lingered in the direction of the café for a moment, but her heels began to take her in the opposite direction. Each boutique that lined the row of shops was upscale, luxurious, and had a bit of a snobbish air.

They passed by “Galliano”, one of her new favorites... but it was a bit too flashy. Marzena smiled as the pair came to a shop with the words “Opal & Co” written on the window. Yes, this would be a good first stop on their tour of the Garden District.

“Alright, let’s have a look around.” A tiny chime sounded as she opened the door, and a slim man smiled to greet them. Marzena had been here several times, most of the personnel knew her by now, and always went out of their way to make her happy.

All of the merchandise was either folded neatly on tables, or hanging gently from wooden hangers. The color story here was rich and dark, colors – blacks, maroon, royal blues, forest green. These were pieces of clothing that one might wear to the office, professional, polished and perfect for going from day to night. Marzena studied the selection with a critical eye, and it wasn't long before she pulled two dresses from the racks. She held both of them up for Sentiri to see - one black, one a dark plum color. Each featured a slim silhouette and minimal details.

"What do you think of these? They would be perfect for work. You can pair each with a sweater or jacket for day, and dress them up a bit if you go out in the evening."

Spoiler

 

[Sentiri]

A simple nod was Sentiri's response to the congratulations offered by Ms. Choi. The Chiss woman was proud of her accomplishment, even if the circumstances surrounding the promotion had been the product of fortuitous timing rather than years of hard work. What mattered more was proving that the rank wasn't just a fluke, that her assignment was well deserved. Whether it was or wasn't nagged at Sentiri and drove her to take on more and more responsibilities and projects, perhaps more than she could handle. The Deputy Director needed to know that she was the right woman for the job, and the only person's judgment she would take on the subject was her own. No compliment from another would satisfy that need for approval.

The human woman rattled off a list of items that for which the two would search. Sentiri wasn't entirely sure she even knew what a blouse was. But the Chiss supposed that [member="Marzena Choi"] knew what she was doing.

The speeder pulled up to wherever their destination was and Sentiri followed Ms. Choi out. The street was a bustling place, full of people shopping, eating, or simply out to be seen. Sentiri peered around at the crowd and distinctly felt the crowd staring back at her. Her brow furrowed slightly at the notion but Marzena started to move off and Sentiri followed just slightly behind the shorter woman's left shoulder. The Chiss woman continued to look around at everything she could observe but she could not shake the sensation that she was being watched.

Eyes were on her from all directions.

So public.

Too public.

Nowhere to hide.

A thought struck her. Were the eyes on Sentiri? Or were they on Marzena Choi? Were the eyes on Sentiri because she was in the presence of Marzena?

Her face remained a calm mask over the discomfort fizzling inside her mind. But she could not help her shoulders from slumping reflexively in her body's attempt to protect itself. Sentiri desperately wanted to be rid of the eyes on her and she was relieved when Marzena finally entered a shop. A long, slow breath escaped through her nose and her posture returned to its comfortable rigidness.

There weren't as many people in the store as there were on the street. At first, none of them even seemed interested in Sentiri, though they all seemed delighted to assist Marzena. The Chiss woman was completely fine with that. But Marzena seemed to know what she was doing without their help and moved on to do her own perusal; also all the better for Sentiri, still recovering her senses from the brief panic attack. Disappointment was the emotion that filled her the most. The disappointment that her fears had taken over so drastically weighed on her as she followed behind the human woman.

Sentiri decided it better to focus on the inane task at hand than consider the negative responses she had experienced between the speeder and the store. The Chiss woman observed the careful eye Marzena seemed to have for what she picked out and what she left behind. Sentiri could see no real difference outside of noticing a change in color or size. Fabric was cut in different patterns but what made one acceptable and another unacceptable was simply beyond her.

After two different selections, Marzena turned to Sentiri and held them up, offering some additional complimentary clothing options. The selections were dresses, atypical attire for Sentiri. She had never really worn dresses before. Even among the Chiss, it was more typical to wear bottoms with legs. They seemed a bit impractical to the Deputy Director, who preferred not to have to change from outfit to outfit throughout the day depending on whatever it was she was doing. She silently wondered to herself if she could actually work in these dresses or if they would simply be in the way.

At the very least, she would amuse Marzena Choi who had obviously put a great deal of thought into the selections. "Very well. I suppose... should I try them on?"

 

[Marzena Vaas]

“Fabulous,” Marzena grinned at [member="Sentiri"], motioning for her to follow. “Right this way, Deputy Director.” The celebrity marched back towards the fitting rooms, where she set the two dresses onto a hanger inside an empty stall. Marzena stepped aside and watched as the Chiss woman disappeared into the fitting room. Her heels brought her away from the stalls and back towards the racks of clothing. Dark eyes surveyed the merchandise again, an index finger tapped gently on her chin.

Almost immediately, a few additional items nearly jumped off the shelves and into Marzena’s hands. Another pass around the shop and she had a sleek, fitted blazer, a few blouses, a trench coat, a cardigan, a pair of suit pants, and a pencil skirt. With her arms quite full, Marzena strode back to the fitting rooms, where Sentiri had not yet emerged. Her fist rose slightly and tapped gently on the door to the Deputy Director’s room.

“Sentiri, I have a few more things for you to try. They will be hanging outside the door.”

Her dark eyes shifted to see the store manager, Andre, coming out of the back room and he flashed a wide smile. “Ms. Choi, how nice to see you! What brings you in today?” He drew Marzena over to the counter to chat.

“I’m here shopping with a friend,” Her hand swept towards the fitting rooms.

“Well, we’re glad to have you. Do let me know if there is anything we can help with. Would you and your friend care for something to drink? Can I interest you in some wine?”

Most of the high end boutiques in Avalonia and Cloud City did offer wine to their clients. It was a clever marketing technique, indeed. Marzena’s hand came to rest over her stomach, without even realizing, and she shook her head. “No wine today,” She smiled, “But two bottles of water would be great.”

Andre set two bottles of sparkling water on the counter, and the two engaged in a bit of small talk. Fashion week was swiftly approaching, and they were both very excited to see the new season of designer lines. A few minutes passed and Marzena took a quick peek back towards the fitting rooms.

“How are you doing in there?” She called back to the Deputy Director.

 

[Sentiri]

Following [member="Marzena Choi"] to the changing rooms, Sentiri stepped inside with the two dresses in her arm. She hung the plum-colored one on the hook and turned the other over on the hangar to inspect it... How am I even supposed to put this thing on? The clothes that the Chiss woman was familiar with were simple: button up or overhead shirts and undershirts, pants the zipped or clasped or buttoned, and button up jackets. How was one piece of fabric supposed to... do anything really? Sentiri hardly even had a moment to consider the two dresses she already had before the fashionista returned and announced from the other side of the door that she had brought more and had left them outside the room. The Chiss woman shook her head, relieved just to have a moment alone.

The Deputy Director wasn't a people person. She didn't really like people. She hardly liked herself. Computers, numbers, data, electronics, languages. These were things that she could understand, that made sense. When an equation had an expectation, the result was either more than, less than, or equal to the expectation. An adjustment would bring the desired effect. That was it, simple. But people did not have such a clear cut set of rules to follow. If/then scenarios were only so accurate and even then, the trust for someone to act a certain way was easily betrayed. Sentiri knew that all too well.

People were unpredictable. But if she could at least act the part of being an interested party, then she'd at least be able to fool everyone else. Maybe she'd even be able to fool herself.

Sentiri heard a call from outside of the stall once more for a status update. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was back in its short ponytail and the dress seemed like it was on properly. She had accidentally put it on backwards on her first attempt. There hadn't been a tag on the back collar so she hadn't been sure. Facing front certainly fit... better? The fabric clung in ways that pants don't. She took a few test steps around and then, completely barefoot, walked out of the stall. She approached Marzena, rigid and feeling a little awkward, especially with the added company of a store clerk or manager.

"Is this... right?"

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena turned as she heard the door to the stall opening, and she watched as the figure of [member="Sentiri"] emerged. The Chiss woman certainly looked great in the dress, even if she didn’t appear to be all that comfortable – her stiff posture said it all. But even the ridged stance couldn’t change that Sentiri looked pulled together and ladylike. Well, if the Deputy Director was not at all excited about this transformation, then Marzena would do the job for both of them. Her hands clasped together under her chin, and she approached Sentiri with a wide smile.

With a hand gently cradling her chin, she observed Sentiri from the front and back.

“Oh yes – it’s right.” She nodded, still grinning. “But we could make a few adjustments here and there.”

The transformation was not quite complete. Marzena glanced over her shoulder at the store manager. “Some shoes, please.” She called, in a pleasant tone. Andre took a moment to give Sentiri a once-over, and then darted away to search through Opal & Co’s inventory. While the two women waited, Marzena tugged at the dress a few times, just to make sure that it was sitting properly on the Chiss’ slender frame.

“The fit is fairly good,” She said, her eyes fell to the hem of the dress. “I think the length needs to come up, just a touch.” As it was, the dress ended towards the middle of Sentiri’s knees. Marzena gently pinched some of the fabric near Sentiri’s hips, and began to lift the hem until it just rose just above the knees. “See the difference? It instantly makes your legs look longer.” An effect that would be enhanced by a good pair of heels.

Andre returned, offering up a shoebox. Marzena removed the black leather heels and set them down in front of Sentiri. “Go ahead, try these on.” She offered an encouraging smile.

This was likely a huge departure from the sorts of things the Chiss normally wore, but it was a good exercise in style. Marzena grabbed a fitted cardigan from the set of clothing behind them and held it up for Sentiri to see. It was a simple black knit, but did have a bit of beading toward the neckline for some extra glamor. “If your shoulders feel a bit bare, you could always wear something like this.”

Marzena took a step back, lowering the cardigan slightly. She nodded to Andre to signal that he could return to his work, and turned her attention back to Sentiri, hoping that the other woman was not completely overwhelmed now.

“How do you feel in this dress?”

 

[Sentiri]

It was an odd feeling. As [member="Marzena Choi"] circled around, tugging at cloth, measuring lengths with her eyes, fitting additional articles here and there, Sentiri wondered if this was what her computers felt like when she upgraded or modified them in various ways. To be judged from various angles, finding the things that fit best, pairing the right components with their various qualities, all of these were things she had done with hardware and software. Fashion was no different, except instead of machines, the detail was taking place on her frame. At least that was how Sentiri could rationalize it. The comparison between herself and a computer suddenly brought some feelings of sympathy for droids.

Of course all of that was ridiculous. Sentiri was a sentient being and the machines, even the droids, lacked that capability. But the Chiss woman didn't care. The process was the same, even if she had autonomous thoughts and emotions.

"Fine... it feels fine. Though, I'm not sure what bad would feel like, so my comparison might not be suitable." In truth, while the dress hugged her body unlike most of what she wore, it didn't feel out of place. It would take time to adjust to a new method of moving, but wrong was the wrong word; just different. The dress was certainly less practical, but the open legs were actually a more freely flowing garment and enabled a wider range of motion than slack pants would, which often bunched and tugged. Of course, her need to go on field work had decreased dramatically since her posting.

Sentiri accepted the offered heels from the manager. With the rise of the heel, putting them on while standing would be difficult and Sentiri thought better than to try and simply fall over in the process. She moved over to a nearby bench and placed the heels on the ground next to the seat where she the woman sat rather unceremoniously. Her bare feet slipped into them and she stared at the clasping mechanism intently before attempting to attach them. When she was sure that they were secure, Sentiri lifted each foot, making sure that the shoe would not simply fall off as soon as she stood.

Feeling as though the shoes fit, she attempted to stand...

Only to immediately grasp for a nearby railing as she felt her ankles and knees buckle in ways she had never felt before. Sentiri felt her face flush immediately, the cool blue hue turning a darker shade towards purple.

"How are you supposed to move in these blasted contraptions," she stated through gritted teeth.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena remained standing, her arms crossed gently in front of her, watching as [member="Sentiri"] accepted the stilettos. Hmm, perhaps it would have been better to start her off with a small ‘kitten’ heel, one that was barely two inches tall. But those hardly counted as high heels. Sure, they were more comfortable, but they did almost nothing in terms of offering height or appeal. Still, she supposed that a small heel was better than none at all.

She glanced over at the Deputy Director, just in time to see her move to stand.

Her lips closed around a small gasp, holding in her breath as the other woman began to wobble. Oh no. Marzena took a quick step towards Sentiri, her hand reached out, just in case she needed to help steady the Chiss woman. However, she spotted the Deputy Director’s azure hand grasp for the railing. It was a tough lesson – learning to walk in heels. Dark eyes spotted a violet blush appear on Sentiri’s face, and Marzena tilted her head to the side... the shade actually looked quite nice on her. Perhaps she should think about purchasing a specialty product just for her blue hued skin tone.

“It takes practice,” She said, her tone empathetic. “But here are some quick tips.”

She took a few quick strides towards the opposite wall, putting some distance between her and Sentiri.

“Take small steps. And definitely don’t rush yourself, that’s the fastest way to an embarrassing fall. Also, walk from heel to toe, imagine walking along an invisible line.”

Marzena moved forward to demonstrate, walking more like a runway model than an actual every day woman. She had been perfecting her posture and movement in heels for a long time now. Walking, dancing, and even running were easy now. A light sigh escaped her lips, she couldn’t even remember what it was like not to walk in such shoes.

“You know, if these shoes don’t feel right... you could always try something like an ankle boot.”

Her index finger pointed to a heeled shoe on a nearby display, there was a greater amount of support in such a shoe, comfort, too. All without sacrificing the height.

“Or maybe even a wedge,” She said, a hand falling to rest on her hip. “But we don’t have to settle now, I mean, there are many shops here in the Garden District.”

Marzena’s gaze shifted over to Sentiri again, silently trying to gauge the other woman’s level of patience. Even though shopping was her main hobby, she did understand that some people had trouble tolerating tours through the boutiques... though she didn’t understand why.

 

[Sentiri]

Sentiri watched as [member="Marzena Choi"] walked with grace and poise in a similarly styled heel to the one on the Chiss woman's own feet. Sentiri had never considered the difficulty one might have trying to simply move in something that was intended to aid in movement. Certainly a heel wasn't intended to aid in movement like a shoe or a boot would, that much was now perfectly clear. So what was the point at all? And yet watching the elegance Marzena could display, Sentiri found it hard to believe that a heel could be anything less than elegant. Though the clumsiness displayed by Sentiri in comparison made the situation all to clear.

The wobbly-footed woman carefully sat herself back down on the bench, taking mental notes of Marzena's instructions and demonstrations. She would not be defeated by footwear. "No," the Deputy Director responded firmly. The suggestion of failure was unacceptable. "I will learn." Her immediately preceding embarrassment returned momentarily in her mind. Despite wanting nothing more than to figure out how to move so casually in the foreign objects known as heels, Sentiri preferred to do so on her own without so much of an audience. "But, perhaps, practice can come at another time." She fought the temptation to throw a glance at the manager.

Carefully unfastening the heels from her feet and returning them to the box from which they originated, Sentiri looked up at Marzena. The Deputy Director was a little too eager to remove herself from the store in an effort to stave off further embarrassment. The concept of price did not even enter her mind. After all, she never spent her salary on anything. "I will buy all of the suggestions you have made. If you feel there are alterations to be done, then I will leave the articles for tailoring." The tall woman stood once more, this time in bare feet. A part of her relieved that she did so without stumbling. "If you think there are other places to go as well, why don't we move on then?" Though blunt, Sentiri was curious if she could pick out any sort of difference between the shops.

My curiosity is going to be the death of me, she thought as she moved back towards the changing room. Moments later, she returned with the dresses in hand. Her old clothes felt loose, roomy but saggy, in comparison to the more form-fitting dresses. The seam running up her leg was an obvious difference. Her eye for fashion might be lacking, but noticing the changes in the physical nature of the articles and how they fit were readily apparent. Sentiri had yet to form a solid opinion.

"Perhaps we could take a small break from clothes," Sentiri suggested. She was a little weary of her first experience with all of this, and if they were to visit more shops, recharging seemed like a good alternative. "Is there a place to eat nearby?"

 

[Marzena Vaas]

The pop star was pleased that [member="Sentiri"] was willing to give her pretty heels another shot, and doubly pleased that she would be taking home a number of great pieces to add to her wardrobe. As she watched the Deputy Director move back into the fitting room to change, she took a last appraisal of the garments that she had chosen. She was satisfied that these pieces would give Sentiri a rather nice selection to pull from, and any outfit she did put together was sure to impress.

Mission accomplished.

Of course, there were a few items that would need some altering to fit perfectly, and the store manager would see to that personally. It was very lucky for Sentiri that Opal & Pearl happened to have their own in-house alterations. The Chiss woman’s personal space was invaded one last time, as the manager quickly took her measurements, and then assured her that the pieces left behind would be ready within the next few days.

“A place to eat?” Marzena echoed, turning to Sentiri as they made for the exit. “Sure, there are a few that come to mind.”

Her dark eyes narrowed in thought, there were a couple of cafes within walking distance. And though Marzena would have loved to go all day without even a bite of food, even she couldn’t deny the pangs of hunger now. “Ok, I think I know just the place, follow me.” She grinned over at Sentiri, leading the way up the street.

***​

​

[SIZE=11pt]

JOLIE bistro[/SIZE]​

​

"A table for two, please." Marzena nodded to the hostess as they entered. Jolie Bistro was home to a menu of lighter fares - sandwiches, soups, and salads. It was swiftly becoming well known for their affinity for fresh, local ingredients, and dishes that were as nice to look at as they were to eat. The young woman nodded, a slightly star-stuck expression on her face. She brought the two women up a set of stairs to their loft space, it was a section of the restaurant usually reserved for gatherings and special events. However, this afternoon, Marzena Choi and Sentiri would have it all to themselves.

Their waitress placed two glasses of water on the table, and left them with menus to peruse.

"Ah, this is nice, isn't it?" Marzena said, glancing up from her menu at Sentiri. "I haven't been here before, but I've heard good things. Apparently, they have a dessert menu that's to die for."

Her dark lashes fluttered and she smiled sheepishly. "Not that I eat many desserts – too many calories."

 

[Sentiri]

Sentiri resisted sighing in relief as the pair departed the store. Despite her satisfaction with knowledge gained, the woman found the attention to be putting her less and less at ease, even with only a few people present. These feelings Sentiri would keep from [member="Marzena Choi"]. In fact, the Agent had been quite impressed with the idol. Sentiri would have assumed that the majority of those who gained fame and fortune would be quite arrogant and self-centered. Yet Marzena had been nothing but generous with her time and advice. For a human, she was quite the exception, almost pleasant to the Chiss.

A short walk away, the two arrived at an eatery. The establishment was foreign to the Chiss woman. But then every restaurant was. Since arriving on Dosuun, not once had she eaten out. Her meals invariably consisted of nutritional supplements in the form of flavorless pastes, liquids, and bars. When on field duty, she had eaten rations, but those were equally as flavorless, even when they attempted not to be. Only once had she had anything else, and that had been at a military ball some months prior. The smells of the kitchen and of the meals in front of the scant other customers in the restaurant were immediately prevalent, but Sentiri was hardly effected. These sorts of material pleasures rarely held any sort of value. Food was nothing but a necessity for survival.

Marzena and Sentiri were led upstairs to a loft area which looked out on the rest of the floor seating. The two women were alone on this top level and Sentiri wondered just how much pull the musician's fame had, even if private seating was so minor a detail. Sentiri envisioned what it would be like to be not only recognized by everyone, but also approached by everyone. Enjoying privacy for convenience or work was one thing, but privacy to someone whose life was consistently on display was on another level entirely.

Of course, Sentiri knew, privacy was very easily foiled. Often the feeling was an illusion. There were eyes and ears everywhere, even ones that could not be seen.

"It is... nice," Sentiri agreed, eyes transfixed on the menu before her. "The privacy is quite welcome," she relayed, stating her thoughts out loud. Truthfully, she was more comfortable sitting up in the loft away from the clientele than any other space she had been since Minister Calinda's office. "I rarely eat dessert. But if it comes recommended I shall."

The menu was rather succinct. It gave order items names based on ingredients rather than frivolous or obscure references. Each category had only a few options, and nothing was denoted as a particular specialty, quite probably because everything was prepared with equal amounts of care. The ingredients list made it quite obvious that everything was fresh and local to Dosuun, if a little too frank in the presentation of that information.

Moments later the waiter returned and the Chiss woman opted for a hearty, root-vegetable soup accompanied by some sort of crispy bread with which she was unfamiliar. Once her dining partner had placed her own order, the waiter departed with the menus and the two women were once more left alone. At that moment, Sentiri remembered how poor she was at small talk.

"Miss Choi," Sentiri said. She had not intended to sound so forward, but then she didn't know another way. "What work are you doing with the Ministry of Culture?"