Chapter Twenty-Two - Dress for Stress
Im not saying that counterfeiting should be punishable by death... but Im not not saying that.
--Bert McWeathers, Deputy Head of the Treasury Dept., Forr United States of Arica, 2036
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Pop-up stalls were a pretty common feature. A corpo would rent out so walking space in a busy part of the city, and overnight a stall would appear selling whatever. Those sorts were usually manned by so sort of android and would have out-priced stuff for sale.
It was pretty normal to see one appear in front of a competitors shop, just as a sort of insult, or as a way to drag custors away. It made for good artificial drama, and I rembered loving reading about two luxury brands being pissed at each other on social dia.
That was before I grew old enough to realise that both brands were owned by the sa gacorp.
In any case, pop-up stalls were kind of a neat way to switch things up in an area, but they had their limits. Lucy and I were heading to a corner of New Montreal that was known for its stalls. Id never been there before, because it was the sort of place that was a bit too exclusive to let the likes of in.
At least, thats what I thought.
We circled a large building a few blocks over from the centre of the city. Finding parking heres gonna be tough, Lucy said.
Eh, I could park in the middle of the road, I said.
Lucy laughed. No, dont! Thats just abusing your privilege.
I didnt comnt on how Id done it a few tis already. Instead I circled around another ti while connecting my augs to the nearest buildings parking system. It wanted to download so parking app thing thatd let check on availability and reserve a place in exchange for a mostly subscription thing.
Myalis seed to take umbrage to that, and the system folded as she poked at it. My auto-pilot found a spot in the VIP section and I turned the bike in that direction.
Slipping into a parking garage and past its security, we drove up a ramp and into the reserved section, then right into a nice open spot. Alright, I said.
Lucy pressed herself closer to as she swung her leg off the back, then she hopped off properly and wiggled her helt off while I stood. Her hair ca out in a big poof, and I couldnt help but laugh.
Thats racist, she said.
What? How?
Youre mocking my hair, just because it cant handle hats, she said before placing the helt onto the bikes bench. She ran her hands into her hair and tried to fix it, but the helt had done a number on it.
I think your hairs fabulous, I said.
Lucy sniffed haughtily, but I knew that look in her eyes. Lucy was a lot of things, and vain was certainly one of them. Not too much so, but she did enjoy a solid complint. So, what is this place?
I imagine you an beyond the parking garage? I asked, then ducked her swat. Its a clothes place. Myalis helped find it. Its basically an entire floor with nothing but pop-up stands and rchant stalls and stuff. Its a bit exclusive.
Oh, sounds fancy, Lucy said. But you know, Im not all about that fancy stuff, right? I do need new threads, but it doesnt need to be sothing too chic. Those credits could be spent on sothing else.
I reached out and pulled Lucy in for a hug. I want to spend a lot of money to make you feel pretty, I said.
Lucy returned the hug. Youre an idiot, she said. And besides, feel pretty? What if I want to be pretty, hmm?
Youre already the prettiest, I said.
Lucy laughed, light and chiming and very much pretty. Even after all this ti it made my insides squirm. Youre so cheesy, Cat.
Just a little, I admitted. Co on!
It wasnt too far from the parking garage to the rest of the building. We stayed close as we rode an elevator down, then made our way through a few corridors. The deeper we went, the more people were around. Eventually we rode a travelator along with so dozen other people to a sort of toll booth.
The booth was manned by a pair of androids checking peoples ID and charging a small fee for entrance. It was just a thousand credits, about what soone would pay for a half-dozen cans from a vending machine.
It was probably just enough to keep vagrants out and to pay for the security itself. Lucy and I passed without issues, which was nice. Myalis spoofed the ID thing, and I transferred over the entrance cost since... well, money wasnt as much of a concern, and while I could probably get in without paying, that seed needlessly dickish. Welco to the Arcade, the android said in a smooth, feminine voice.
The opening beyond the toll was a wide open space, but one with a wall just ahead of us, it forced people coming in to pick a side and move. The wall did have a large screen on it with a map that would switch out to ads every few seconds.
Okay, I said as I looked at the map, then I frowned as it switched out to another ad. Fucks sake. Lucy giggled next to . Right, uh, looks like the middle part is all corpo stalls. Fancy clothes and shit. The outer ring is smaller shops and, uh, it looks like single-worker shops. Bespoke stuff.
Bespoke? Lucy asked.
Yeah, thats the gimmick here. A lot of the smaller stalls on the outer ring are basically run and owned by the sa people. So they sell stuff that they make. I think so of them even make things custom on the spot.
Oh, that sounds kind of aweso, Lucy said.
Expensive too, I bet, but yeah. Theres supposed to be quick printers for harder parts and they have machines to put the clothes together on the spot. So of them do things by hand too. You can get custom designs and gear.
Thats pretty cool, Lucy said. Where do we start?
I think thatd be up to you, I said. Youre the one that needs more clothes more than I do.
You think you dont need new clothes? Lucy asked.
I an, I can go out in samurai chic any day, its kind of a universal fit that way, you know? My gear probably wasnt appropriate for every place, but it was also samurai gear, which ant that I didnt need to fit in.
Lucy reached down and grabbed my at hand, then she pulled after her. I jogged to keep up, then ran a little faster as Lucy lost her footing on a slight incline in the floor. She was still just a little bit clumsy.
Right, okay, she said. So obviously we need to work on your design.
My what?
Your look, your style.
I frowned. Whats wrong with my style? I asked. Is it the cat ears?
No, those are fine. The tail is too, when you have it. Its more.. Hmm, actually, your overall design isnt bad, but its not all there. Youve got the long-coat and all-black gear going. The pink highlights are a nice touch, they break up the darker shades and give so things room to pop. The cat the is pretty subtle overall too.
Alright, I said.
But I think it could be better! Lucy nodded. You dont really give off a strong image except for like, the impression that youre cool and dark and mysterious. At least to people that dont know you.
And thats bad?
Obviously! You could pivot around and be cute and cuddly. You do have a cat the going, you know.
I absolutely refuse, I said.
Lucy turned my way and batted her eyes. But it would be cute, she said.
I poked her cheek. No, I said.
Grinning, Lucy continued to walk ahead. Alright, fine. Right now your look doesnt say much about you, though, at least not to anyone looking. You dont have a lot of visible utility stuff, so you dont co off as militaristic. You dont look sloppy enough to be casually cool. Dark and mysterious fits with the stealth stuff, but you dont have that... fem fatale assassin look.
Should I? I asked.
Well, youd need to ditch the long coat and wear much tighter gear. Lucy licked her lips. Thats not a bad idea, actually. A literal Catsuit.
I... dont know about that, I said. I wasnt uncomfortable in my skin, but the idea of wearing nothing but sothing entirely skintight was pushing it. I didnt mind being exposed at ho, between just and Lucy, but going out in public that way would make way too self conscious.
Hmm, thats fine too. Still, we have to work on your image! Right now youre the unapproachable girl that shot the mayor. That might work for so samurai, but I think youre the sort that wants people to work with her. So... wardrobe change!
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