maskormenacelogs | Think what that money could bring, I'd buy everything...

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Think what that money could bring, I'd buy everything...

WHO: Josuke & Hazel
WHERE: Heropa; XenoTopic? Little Miss? SOME OUTLET SOMEWHERE OR A MALL
WHEN: Saturday, January 17
WHAT: MALL TRAWLING AT ITS FINEST and teaching a zombie how to dress with zest!
WARNINGS: Just profound levels of absurdity and nonsense! Read at your own risk!

[It'd be an understatement to say that Josuke's pumped for this outing!

There's been a lot of cool things to do since arriving, a lot of intense stuff to read up on, and even a new school to adjust to, but going shopping with a friend? It's like, the first really normal thing he's getting to indulge in! It's got nothing to do with the global problems of this world, nothing to do with the bizarre family dynamic that's been brewing since he arrived and the news about his parentage got out, and everything to do with being just another teenager with another teenager.

This is the kind of pointless fun and time-wasting he'd be doing with Okuyasu or Koichi in tow if he were back home—and it's just the kind of pointless fun and time-wasting that Hazel needs desperately to take part in, especially with having had her opportunities to do so cut short where she comes from.

So, he's waiting outside the mall on a bench, his phone in his lap and some Tetris-looking game on the go to pass the time, every now and again peeking around to see if Hazel's arrived yet...]

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Hey, how'd you get here before me?

[maybe Josuke heard her coming, maybe he didn't. either way, Hazel's leaning against the back of the bench now with a pretty big smile on her face. the question is more teasing than outrage - someone who never slept really should be able to manage her time more efficiently, but she's going to blame it on the unfamiliar city. yep, what a good excuse.

she's actually pretty excited for this, a feeling that's only been growing as time has worn on. it's so painfully mundane, and that's just what she wants. no deep meaning behind it, no revenge, just trying on as many stupid pairs of sunglasses as she can get her hands on.]

[As soon as he hears that voice, Josuke throws his head back so he can get a better look at Hazel. She still looks short, even when he's sitting down!]

Hey!

[Turning off the game he was playing and shoving his phone into his pocket, he twists around on the bench to face her.]

I'm not giving up my secret. You'll just have to suffer not knowing how I made it here ahead of you.

[Whatever, he was totally just in the area when he called.]

Anyway, I got a surprise lined up for later, so we should get a move on! You ready?

A little less ready with that announcement, but sure. Let's go see what passes for cool here.

[surprises are not really her favorite thing. surprises are like waking up in a spell circle to an unfamiliar woman cursing loudly over you. could be better.

but she's not going to let the possibility of terrible surprises get her down!! she pushes herself off the back of the bench easily and slides her hands into her pockets, ready to go assault the mall.]

Trust me, you'll love it.

[Actually, he thinks she'll love it a lot! Of course, she'll probably think it's corny as all hell, too...and he doesn't doubt she'll take every chance she can get to tell him as much when the time comes, but until then...

He's hopping up off the bench and joining her, a bit of a bounce to his stride.]

As for cool, Hazel—we're gonna do some trailblazing.

[Real cool isn't obtained by mingling in with the flock. It's all about being the shepherd. Or something. He's never been good with dropping good metaphors, they're always kinda weird.]

[there is some intense eyerolling going on on Hazel's end, between assurances of her future enthusiasm and the idea of trailblazing. but she holds the door open for Josuke when they get to it anyway. see, look, they're becoming friends!]

You know that's what designers say to try and convinced people that a newspaper dress is practical, right?

[Careful, Hazel. You're dead. You might roll those eyes right out of your head if you keep that up!]

Hey! What's impractical about a newspaper dress? At least you'll always have reading material on you?

[The level of cheese in that grin is atrocious.

But at least it only lasts until they're inside, and then Josuke is all eyes and curiosity, peering left and right at the shop names, straight ahead at the escalators, and then back at Hazel.]

Alright, outfits or accessories first?

Outfits are probably going to be harder, so we might as well start with that. Save the stupid sunglasses and earrings to boost morale later.

[she's already giving some of the outside displays wary looks, mentally trying to figure out where the neckline will hit her or how far down the sleeves go. god, this is going to be an uphill battle.]

Hey, now. Hey. Accessories aren't stupid. Unless they're DEVO hats. But I'm pretty sure we're not gonna find any of those here.

[Alright, so. Outfits first. Josuke picks a direction and, with a tug on Hazel's sleeve, drags her along after him for a few steps before letting go, hands tucking into his pockets.]

So I've done some research! There's a thrift place at the far end of the mall, or we can hit up the major stores for more 'current' stuff. I mean normally I wouldn't buy cheap, but it's not like we're made of money here...

You care either way?

[she drifts along after him without complaint, letting go of the displays behind her in favor of looking ahead to see what's coming. not like one section of the mall is any less worrisome than the other.]

Not really. I was out of the game for ten years at home, and with this place it's just...[she trails off, shrugging kind of helplessly. HOW DOES I FUTURE RETRO LAND]

Might as well start somewhere you'd like. I've got about equal chances of finding something everywhere.

[this is meant both negatively and positively, as evinced by her wry smile. be free, Josuke! shop where you wish and she'll just make despairing expressions at the women's section behind you.]

Jeez, Hazel. Your positivity is killing me.

[Can you hear it? The sarcasm? It practically oozes forth as he rolls his eyes, grabs her by the shoulders, and steers her into one of the nearest clothing shops. Doesn't bother looking at the name of the store. It looks like it's got a good mix of ladies and mens clothing, plus there are sale signs up, so that's...a plus.]

Here, let's look around. We'll start with finding you something. You like long sleeves, right? What about... [He pulls away from her so he can grab a thing sweater off a rack and hold it up for her to see.] ...something like this?

You wouldn't be the first.

[because she's dead. get it? ha ha. she pulls a very mature face at him, an expression that only multiplies in intensity and disgruntlement as she finds herself being shepherded into the first store.

she does seem to be taking genuine interest in the endeavor, though, looking critically at the sweater. Hazel takes the hanger for him and holds it up to herself - it's pretty obvious from where her gaze is that she's judging where the neckline would fall.]

...the color's nice. But I guess that's not a surprise, since you seem to really like purples.

[your entire uniform is a blaze of purple, after all. but she does mean it!]

Funny. Just go try it on, okay? Unless...

[He gestures to his own neckline because he follows her concern.]

Not cut right? Or have you really got something against the color? I just thought it'd look good on you. It's still dark like you're used to, not too flashy, but still stylish.

But...I can keep looking.

[Said like, "I will keep looking if you don't make up your mind soon and speak up."]

No, it's-

[she holds the sweater a little closer, brows creasing. she's supposed to be breaking out a little here, right? she needs to just fucking get over herself here.]

It'll be fine. Where're the dressing rooms? You can just throw anything else you find over the top of the door while I'm in there.

[Josuke grins a little, glad she's starting to relax.

And, giving a quick peek around the store (easier given his height compared to hers) he spots the dressing rooms and points her in the right direction.]

Looks like they're over there. You go on ahead, I'll browse a bit more and see if I can pick out some more stuff for you.

[Because he does actually plan to put some thought into it. Both into tossing some good things over for her to try on, and some absurd stuff just to get a rise out of her.]

Sure, sure. [she starts making her way towards the dressing room, calling back as she goes:] But if it's stupid I'm not putting it on!

Yeah, yeah! It's not gonna be stupid, just go!

[And as soon as she's out of sight, the change room door closed behind her, Josuke starts looking around for things in about her size. She's smaller than his mom...so it's not as easy to pick out just the right fit when she's not standing in front of him, but he's not far off, either. Good eye for detail. Comes in handy.

He takes maybe five or ten minutes to pick out a few things, and then heads on over to the stall she took up, tossing over one, two, three, and... four articles of clothing (the last because it is so similar to his own undershirt) accompanied by two pairs of basic tights.]

Here! And I wanna see! ...I mean come out when you're ready!!

[there's a muffled sound of assent which quickly turns into a startled yelp as all the clothes slide off the door and right on top of her. way to continue the bad luck even when she's trying to be positive, universe.

a few moments after that she peeks out of the half-opened door, clad in the first sweater and one of the sets of tights. she looks at him sort of warily, mouth quirked wryly.]

...what, are you going to grade me?

You want me to? Because I can, but I was actually hoping to make sure I got a good size and to see if the color picks work as well as I thought.

[Said as he cocks his head to the side, trying to get a better look at her through the cracked open door.]

You gonna come out?

I guess I kind of have to, don't I.

[broader horizons, broader horizons...she keeps repeating that to herself in her mind as she actually steps out of the stall. after standing there awkwardly for a moment or two, she poses overdramatically.]

...tadaaa.

[Hey!

Would you look at that. She doesn't look half bad.]

Needs some jewelery, maybe some bangles...but not bad, not bad at all, Hazel!

...your pose needs work, though.

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know I'd gone shopping with the Pose Police.

[she rolls her eyes, retreating for a minute to pull on the next sweater. when the door swings open again she's facetiously pulling a Lord Burghley.]

Better?

Your posing is still awful, but I actually think red really works for you!

[Like, it really works for her. Probably better than even the purple. So...warm colors, then. Which means that neon colored shirt is probably going to look awful. Damn.]

Okay, go try on another one, and I'll...go look some more. And uh, I didn't ask before, but now I'm curious. You got a favorite color?

Um, yeah. [she drops the silly pose and pushes a clump of hair behind her hair. she feels kind of dumb answering this honestly, becase it's so stupidly specific] You know the kind of oranges you see in a sunrise? The ones that make you stop what you're doing and watch. I like that.

[aaaaand she's just backing quickly into the stall again. nope way easier to just let that one drop and pretend she didn't just wax poetic over colors.]

See you in a bit!

[He's like, this close to teasing her for the sappy explanation, but she's back to hiding before he can, change room door shut in his face.]

...right.

Sunrise orange. Got it.

[It does sound nice, though. And he's seen enough sunsets and sunrises in his time to know roughly the right color. But as he heads back out onto the floor to look around, finding that color proves a little difficult. He winds up picking out a nice sunny yellow shirt with silver accents, a cute black and yellow sweater dress, a smoking hot red sweater (that he'd totally wear himself in a men's cut, sigh) and finally, that perfect orange in a fuzzy sweater. It's...cute. But whether or not Hazel will like it, well...time will tell.

He makes his way back to her door and gives a knock before pushing the clothes over the top again.]

Bombs away!

...how's it going in there?

It's fine, but...did you pull up some of the carpet and throw it in here by accident?

[she comes out in the next sweater and the other pair of tights now, but Hazel's focus is mostly on the furry orange mess in her hands. she's laughing pretty hard about it, so at least she doesn't think it's sabotage.]

Because I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to wear shag carpet.

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