2025-07-31: Silken Service

• Log: 2025-07-31 Silken Service
• Cast: Tsumugi Kujaku, Yanagi Nagisa, Pernelle, Ichika Kawase, Saika Kikuchi, Hazuki Nakao, Myunghon Yeo, Akari Hoshi, Maya Amano, Yukari Takeba, Katsuya Suou, Tyler Gould, Ririka Kawase, Umie Akabane
• Where: Peacock Silk, Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
• OOC Date: July 31, 2025
• IC Date: June 18, 2012
• Summary: The hot, eccentric boutique Peacock Silk opens its doors for one day only to accept new clientele. What are their criteria for who makes the cut? Well... wouldn't you like to know?

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<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.

                          Welcome to Peacock Silk

There is, it must be said, no formal welcome - warm or otherwise - despite the opening lines of this pose.

But, the doors are open! And that's good enough, right?

Word's gone around to all those in the know: Peacock Silk was opening its doors for one day only to new potential clientele. This spread like wildfire through the regulars of Shimokita thanks in no small part to the boutique's infamously picky artisans: there's no better way of getting the trendy interested in something than by saying they can't have it, after all.

From Shimokita, it hit the Rumormongers; from there, the Dark Side of Sumaru; and from there, to everyone truly in the know:

If you happen to be interested in being well-protected and fashionable while facing the threats of the cognitive world, -and- looking to get rid of all that meta-trash clogging up your backpacks... well, you may well be interested in Peacock Silk's services.

The store is bustling with foot traffic today, but it's a foot traffic that seems to be rapidly thinning out. Like some sort of reverse-hydra, for every person that enters, it seems two more leave in their place: each person leaving the store seem to be clutching a beautifully put-together bag made in peacock hues, and every one looks some combination of disappointed, upset, or simply bewildered.

But, here you are! And here Peacock Silk is for you, its doors open, and its offerings choice: a number of outfits and accessories are on display today, all of them for sale -- premade, of course, each piece ranging from anywhere to sensibly stylish to generously avant-garde. Jewelry! Leather goods! Haute couture! If you yearn for cognitive fashion, truly, you have found your mecca.

Everything here has a price tag, ranging from 'budget' to 'it's time to break your credit'; the prices seem to be a bit eclectic in choice -- though the purveyors all seem willing to negotiate prices to a certain degree. But there's one thing that does -not- have an obvious price tag:

The centerpiece. A multi-item ensemble assembled towards the foyer of Peacock Silk's post-modern interior, assembled in a showcase of glass and art nouveau framing placed in exactly the right way to demand the attention of everyone who enters the store. There are three items in total:

    - A belt of thick natural-shade cowhide crafted by Saika Kikuchi with a curling, Central American thick-curved-line motif carved into it; bleached on the outer side; rubbed with another dye to darken the carvings anew; and held up by a belt buckle and tongue made of white plastic.

    - A larimar Mayan bust crafted by Yanagi Nagisa. It's been drilled through with several discreet holes and threaded with several strands of silver that create overlaying rings of a bracelet to affix the bust to one's wrist. The bust's expression is enigmatic; it seems like it could be contemplative, or it could be in deep despair. Yanagi has, on a whim, declared that as long as the bust remains threaded through with silver, it will bring the wearer "luck." She has not specified what kind.

    - An affront to god and man wearing the snide guise of a purse. The thing that claims to be a purse is a hodgepodge disaster clump of leather and silk with knotted, uneven stitching, and is adorned randomly with a bead. A single string of mismatched beads serves as the strap. It can actually hold objects and function as a purse, but there's always a layer of threads that stretch out like cat's cradle when it's opened. When asked, Tsumugi claims it is the debut creation of Pernelle who is - it must be noted - a peacock. This has caused some confusion. Like so:

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.

"... I'm supposed to... what?"

"To tell Pernelle your bid for the centerpiece. Simple, right?"

This would be the exchange between a very bemused young man and Tsumugi Kujaku, owner of Peacock Silk. The boutique's proprietor is dressed in a way that suggests they refuse to acknowledge the idea of 'settling' when it comes to fashion: a sleeveless white button-up makes up the upper half of their ensemble, buttoned up to the collar and affixed with a crisp black and green necktie held in place by a gold tie pin designed in the shape of a peacock's pinion; black slacks serve help to complete a professionally sleek look that contrasts just enough with the literal gold high heels of their black boots and the black, fingerless leather gloves they wear. Worn draped on their shoulders is a black dress coat with a green interior.

Black-green lips pull into a placid, expectant smile as the young man looks to Tsumugi; looks to Pernelle; looks to Tsumugi again. Pernelle -one more- time, just to be sure.

"But... he's a bird," the young man correctly surmises based on available evidence. Tsumugi looks back at Pernelle as if to confirm, before that disaffected stare turns back to their prospective client.

"Yes. And?"

"I... don't know how to talk to birds?"

"Hm. That's a shame."

And so the young man becomes the latest to have a gift bag deposited directly into his perplexed palms and be politely directed toward the exit.

For everyone else coming in? Tsumugi offers the same welcome: a little wave, a theatrically understated gesture to the centerpiece, and,

"Welcome to Peacock Silk," they say in the warmest, most singsongiest monotone one may ever experience in their fleeting lives. "Please make any offers on the centerpiece to Pernelle," a gesture to the most fabulous peacock of Shimokita goes... here. "He'll decide at the end of our little event what the winning offer is."

The utterly impassive expression suggests they are Very Serious about this.

"Oh, please keep in mind: the offer doesn't have to be money; in fact, that might be the worst choice," they add, helpfully ambiguous.

"Offer whatever you think these items are worth."

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.

    For all that she is one of the people working here, Yanagi Nagisa is not doing tremendously much work at the moment. She is, instead, entertaining herself by watching the streams of people come in, then get turned away when they inevitably cannot or will not negotiate with the peacock. Though the centerpiece has multiple parts as its ensemble, it's easy to tell which part she contributed to; after all, her station is littered with gold, silver, pliers, jewels in the rough set in various clear boxes, clasps, drills, a pair of goggles, a necklace in the works... It's like she took a break and decided to stay on break.
    
    Which is, in fairness, exactly what happened.
    
    Her long, pale, wavy hair tumbles past her shoulders, side bangs clipped in place on either side of her head with a pair of silver crescents set with turquoise. Her sleeveless off-white blouse has a ruffled cravat at the throat, likewise held in place with silver and turquoise and a pair of leather straps. That blouse tucks into a long, ruffled sky blue silk wraparound skirt that flows over her knees. Both blouse and skirt are held in place with what is somewhere between an obi and a cummerbund, shimmering navy blue cut with thin lines of pink, and tied in the center and at the back with a leather cord beaded at the ends with silver. Her feet, which kick back and forth lightly under her workstation, are set with white sandals.
    
    Today's jewelry includes several rings of silver bracelets, much like her part of the centerpiece save that they lack a jeweled bust, that encircle both her wrists. Pink pearls dangle from her ears. They match her make-up, which is a suggestion of blush and eyeshadow, lipstick, and nail polish, all glimmering pearlescent pink. She may be on the short side--5'1", a bit below average for an adult Japanese woman--but she is an adult, and she'll not have you forget it.
    
    Even if her occasional giggles at the expense of Tsumugi's train of visitors suggest she may still be young at heart. And even if she surely doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to a strange young woman who showed up at Tartarus a few Dark Hours ago...
    
    "But whatever you offer Pernelle, money or otherwise," Yanagi chimes in, tone firm to contrast her smile and the sparkle in her dark gray eyes, "there should be at least ten of them."
    
    So, like... ten yen??
    
    "Isn't that right, Pernelle?"
    
    Does she speak bird, or is she just playing around? Well... couldn't one say that about all of these weirdos?

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.

The doors are open.

The bird... is here.

Whenever Tsumugi's eyes land on him, his look back at them. When asked what he is, he responds with a trilling coo, for he is a bird -- the most glorious of birds. At glance, and at more intense visible inspection, he but is a simple animal: an actual, factual peacock.

He is an Indian Peafowl, to be precise, with his brilliant blue neck and his glamours green train, and with his wings a colorful mix of cocoa speckled secondaries and permission primaries -- and all of it subject to variation by angle of viewing, leading to iridescence in the right light. Peafowl are exotic and beautiful, no doubt -- this one especially -- and unusual to see in a Japanese city. But they are not undomesticated creatures.

Granted, that may not be common knowledge.

His feathers ruffle and fluff out, his chest puffs up with immeasurable pride. Gaze upon it. Gaze upon Pernelle and the creation he has stitched into this universe. Look at the terrible act of creation and be in awe of the sin free will is capable of. Does it not inspire? Do you not covet? He awaits it, that glorious moment when he is to receive the delectable, desirable, oh so daring offer of...

*A BID!*

Which he does not receive. Pernelle scoffs, his head turned to the side, refusing to look any further at this anthropoid disappointment who does not make even an attempt. Not a modicum of effort! What lack of passion is this! Once this insult to Pernelle has wandered away, Pernelle stalks back nearer the entrance, his head level, but the bulk of his body bobbing up and down in his strutting.

Passing by Yanagi, he gives her a knowing look and a curt nod (but that could be any little birdly twitch!), then flaps up to the middle section of his wooden perches, climbing the rest of the way to the highest so that he may observe the from on high.

It would be an easy thing to to demonstrate that it is not a matter of speaking bird, but understanding bird, but, ah, Pernelle has whimsically decided upon a different game. It is for this amusement seeking impulse that Pernelle clamps his usually verbose beak shut and instead squints fiercely in discerning silence.

Judgment be upon you!

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

The doors are open, and Ichika Kawase is interested in fashion. She doesn't really know much about the cognitive world or its threats... But she does know she wants to know more about it. she heard the right rumors, and...

This place is weird.

Ichika is dressed not in her highest fashion but in casual fashion--in place on the streets, but not as Nice as she can manage. That is to say, a midriff-baring crop top in black with a skull on it, baggy green cargo pants, and sneakers. She's got dangly earrings and perfect makeup (if your idea of perfect is dark, dark, and a little light to highlight the dark). She looks over the centerpiece as she arrives, and hears almost vaguely...

"Huh," she says. But The warmest voice comes; Tsumugi gestures, and Ichika lifts an eyebrow. "You're letting the bird handle your money? That's kind of..."

Pause. "Oh. Not money."

She looks at Yanagi. She looks at Pernelle. And she thinks about it for a moment. Then, she walks right on up.

"I got..."

She thinks about it. "Ten of these Pyro Jack cards. Do you like pumpkin heads? If you like pumpkin heads, you'll like them. And I can..." She considers.

"I can beat up ten more demons, I guess. Get whatever."

"Is the ten thing that important? It seems kinda arbitrary..."

"I'm more interested in the other stuff than the centerpiece," she admits, "But I could use some Luck."

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.

 
Saika Kikuchi finishes hanging up several of the additional things prepared for this fine day. Unlike Tsumugi or Yanagi, she is wearing shorts and a tank top, albeit with a print shirt over it. Hair so brightly colored you can probably see it in the dark. (Maybe not literally.) She is taller than Yanagi, albeit not by much.

What was she hanging? It seems that the theme of the day is [White] -- perhaps it's an attempt to go for thermal reflectivity, or maybe it was just where the spirit moved her. A few different belts hang like serpents on a tall rack, their buckles on pegs and the long expanses of white-dyed hide facing outwards. Some are slim with modest buckles, the sort of thing you can put with a proper suit for a touch of something lighter and more outre. Some of them are thick and smooth, with enormous accent buckles in brass or rose-gold -- at least rose-gold plating. Some have a paired row of square steel studs along the final fifteen centimeters -- dynamic and threatening. And there's the one for the central ensemble too, of course -- though that wasn't cut from the same material.

A single messenger bag, with thick chrome-steel rings at either end, a single row of those same square steel studs on the strap, and a flap carved with subtly-asymmetric fleurs de lys.

And -- maybe just because she was running out of ideas -- a half-dozen wallets in a little box in front of what seems to be the Leatherworking Station. It is THOSE wallets that have finished coming out of a plastic basket, bright pink and clearly sourced from your friend and comrade, the 100yen store.

"Oi," she addresses Pernelle, hoisting up the 'small laundry or mid-sized organizer-scale' basket in its injection-molded glory. "You want this?" A couple of steps forward and it is held out towards Pernelle's assessment. Just this moment, she's not looking at customers.

This, too, will pass.

<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.

Hazuki Nakao has absolutely heard about the HIP FASHION EVENT in the FASHION DISTRICT. Wearing her very chic European outfit of jacket and hat and choker, she waits in line, excited to find some kindred souls.

As she finally reaches the inside of the store, she's marveling. It's amazing... and then there's the centerpieces!

Hazuki marvels over them, her English accent bleeding through into her Japanese as she talks. "That's...is it Mayan, or Aztec, or a different culture? It's so well-crafted..." she asks of Saika's, before moving over to Yanagi's. "That's *definitely* Mayan, and I love the silver... luck, you say?"

But Pernelle's causes her to squint. It does something to her face, a...

Wide smile?

"Oh my gosh! That's so <avant-garde>! It's adorable! I want it..."

Oh, she's a weirdo.

But, there's a problem: Hazuki Nakao is not a Persona-User, and therefore... will not be able to buy it.

"So, the bird made it? That's so cool!" She, somehow, believes this. It's a *peacock*, it must be mystical. Not that magic's real, of course, but smart animals are!

"Hi Pernelle! I'll offer... ten thousand yen, and ten lessons to fighting games with a pro." She's the pro. It's a good deal!

(Wait, is she offering the lessons to *Pernelle* or to the staff? It's a mystery.)

This is an interesting experience either way, so...! Hopefully she can make some cool adult friends...

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    Myunghon Yeo has spent the last two days on both car and foot trying to find a half a kilometre patch in the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area where they feel like they're gonna throw up so they can go invade a Palace. They've had no luck. When they came back to the Cardboard Dragon, the gossip has moved onto a different store: Peacock Silk.

    Peacock... Peacock, huh? It didn't take them long to do some research. A notoriously pick artisan, an exclusive boutique... mmm... that takes them back, in a way. Shimokita, huh... the trendy's moved on. Shibuya and Harajuku are rapidly gentrifying and becoming MAINSTREAM; now, the truly trendy linger on the hills of Daikanyama and Shimokita... ah, this could be worth a trip.

    But if they're particular, is fashion required? They assume so, and thus...

    Myunghon Yeo is IN DISGUISE today.

    In fact, it might even be difficult to recognise that it's Myunghon at first -- because gone are their scraggly dress shirt and pants combo, along with their suit jacket, and in its place is... oh. Oh dear. What is that?

    They're sporting a black and white Elegant Gothic Lolita dress with a feathered, voluminous appearance that definitely looks custom-made from the minds at LaForet, Harajuku, possibly a Lapin Angelique, the way it powers them up at, clearly, low health. It's all panniers and petticoats and ribbons and lace all the way from top to bottom here, customised to have bloody red 'tears' (which are actually extra silk red ruffles designed to look like slash wounds), whiiiiich...

    Oh. They've added fake (??? it's hard to tell with Myunghon sometimes) blood to their bandages, which are still in full display, so that they look like they've just come out of the scene of their own murder. They're dolled up to the nines in accessories, with a lace-trimming headband over their head. Black goth leggings, silk laced gloves, and Mary Jane-type shoes that are probably part of BTSSB's summer lineup finish the ensemble.

    The most striking part is how the bandage over their covered eyesocket looks like it's still soaked with blood, but don't worry -- it smells wonderful, with top notes of lily-of-the-valley, peony and rose.

    Wow. What the hell.

    Myunghon has become the Essence of Guro-kei.

    By the time they enter, they catch the tail end of the conversation of putting a bid to a wonderful peacock. Oh, Tsumugi's entire look is killer. They share that clean monochrome look that they're still sporting today -- but the necktie, the pin, the tasteful accent of gold... and, much like how Myunghon enjoys wearing their suit jacket over their shoulder--

    They've found an instant kin in fashion. Mmmm. Not a lot of people can rock green. Tsumugi passes.

    And Yanagi? Yes, that's nice too. Their partner is monochrome and gold and green -- here, Yanagi embodies silver, turquoise-to-sky blue: hues of the peacock feather, clearly, with the base precious metals that attract and adorn so many. Where Tsumugi's style is crisp, the voluminous curves of Yanagi's cravats and folds create an artful, flowing pattern.

    If they were merely fashionable, Myunghon wouldn't be excited.

    But these people are asking their clientele to offer bids to a *peacock*. Oh, that kind of Weird excites them.

    And of course, one cannot discount the Indian Peafowl himself -- blue and green, much like the accent colours of his hosts; cocoa adorning with persimmon! A big, beautiful bird deserves big, beautiful words. It is a very rare sight here -- they only have seen a peacock in zoos before, not in a boutique in Shimokit.... but ahh... a bid?

    Ichika is the first to arrive, offering Pyro Jack cards. There's a delighted little smile, as their singular eye catches Saika with her bright colours, and reflective belts. A shock of colour, the better to awaken one's slumber from the day to day rigours. And ah, isn't that Hazuki from the Yongenjaya fair?

    "My my my. A bid, hmm...?"

    Myunghon reaches for their lavish purse

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    Myunghon reaches for their lavish purse and leans forward as their eye goldfishes and bobble-stares straight at Parnelle for what looks like ten seconds. Is Myunghon just trying to menace the peacock? Are they entering some kind of contest with the peacock's soul, swimming upon the abyss of the unconscious?

    Then, from their purse--

    "Ten white chocolate and walnut cookies."

    They've artfully drawn ten vending machine-sealed cookies, holding it between their lanky, bony, silk-gloved fingers. Oh right, this IS still Myunghon, so the moment they speak, the mystique of their fashion is Goneski.

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.

There is no escape from AKARI HOSHI, Agent of Fashion.

Akari wanted to come to Peacock Silk as soon as she heard that it was opening to new clientele. Was it the rumours about cognitive equipment? Did she read the right posts on Dark Side of Sumaru?

Nope! Akari just wanted to see some fashion. They don't let her into a lot of high, or even medium, fashion places... probably because even if they do, she can't afford them on her allowance.

She's been to Shimokitazawa before, though it's not her usual stomping ground. This is not a place for cosplayers, usually. And when she told her mother where she was going, she got a bit of an incredulous look, but... being interested in fashion is probably a step up? Maybe?

And so she's arrived. But she has now encountered her first challenge:

Getting in.

While people with Personas may find it easy to get in, Akari - as far as anyone can tell - does not have one. She lacks the... vibes, the certain feeling that some Persona-users can pick up on. She's just a weird kid. What kind of fourteen-year-old shows up at a fashion show? (Or is this a show? Maybe it's an auction. That's even weirder!)

Also, she doesn't speak bird. Nobody has ever told Akari that supernatural animals can talk (well, ignoring fables, stories, and other fiction). It has not occured to her that that is a thing that can happen, and she has never been in a Palace or Tartarus. Her experience is mostly with Sumaru. The birds there verifiably do not talk.

"Oh!" Akari is immediately taken by the Mayan bust, though all of them are fascinating to her. Even the affront to god and man. Possibly *especially* the affront to god and man, because it was made by a peacock, and she didn't think peacocks had the imagination to do anything like that. Parrots, maybe. Parrots can talk, right? Her mother called them 'children with knives for mouths', which seemed mean to Akari at the time. But peacocks aren't closely related to parrots... probably. Akari's grasp of phylogenetics is miminal.

She presses herself forward, forward... but there's something she is required to do before she gets any closer to it. And so, with no grudgingness: "You want me to talk to the bird?" she asks, slightly confused by this. "Okay!"

Fortunately, as it turns out, Akari is exactly the sort of person who talks to birds who can't talk to her. "Hello, Kujaku-san!" she says, bright and cheerful. "I have brought..."

...what has she brought?

Akari pauses and digs around in her backpack. She expected to be buying things with, you know, money. She spends some time rummaging and pulls out a well-used sketchpad, a pencil case, a *second* pencil case, a lucky charm -

Hold up on that one. Almost nobody here could spot it. But that one *is* interesting. It's shaped like a little golden-coloured disc with a hole in the middle, with a ribbon that ends in a tassel looped through it that it can dangle from. The disc is metal, but probably not actual gold, and has little engravings on it. The engravings do not mean anything in any language, though they look vaguely hieroglyphic.

Only the crafters of Peacock Silk are likely to notice, but the lucky charm is like something they'd make. A shard from an Agathion's pot, repurposed.

Akari does not offer the lucky charm though. She runs her thumb across it and puts that back in her pocket. And then pulls out - "Ta-daa! Aerials," she says, brightly. "Do you like Aerials, Kujaku-san?" (Aerials are corn chips... well, corn squares. These are spicy garlic flavour. But birds can't taste spicy...)

<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.

    Maya Amano is here on a mission. A reporting mission.

    The Peacock Silk received rave reviews when it opened last year -- especially from Coolest's sister magazine aimed at adult women, Luxe. Maya doesn't exactly have a sense of fashion herself (she's got Ulala to thank for most of her wardrobe), but after the reception of her Street Snap Special, Editor-in-Chief Mizuno asks (not tells!) her to cover the boutique's latest event. She's finally (maybe!) getting back into Editor-in-Chief Mizuno's good graces!

    Still that didn't mean that Mizuno had the heart to reunite her with her partner-in-crime. Nope. Maya is still without a photographer. Well, almost without one. The second she found out everyone's favorite detective had the day off, she roped Katsuya into the job.

    "There's one thing I'm going to need you to photograph first," she says cheerfully. It was something that had been briefly highlighted in Luxe, but needed to be spotlighted in her article. The doors open and Maya's eyes immediately find their target. They narrow. She's locking in.

    Pernelle.

    The peacock is brilliantly colored, his dark eyes gleaming with intelligence. Unfortunately, the crowd's already flocked around him. He might not have been the center-of-attention in Luxe's article, but he was definitely the center-of-attention here.

    "Come on!" Maya snatches Katsuya's hand before he can object, practically dragging him towards the bird. She's pumped! "There's no way I'm leaving without a great shot of this bird!"

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Welcome to Peacock Silk!
 
Theme in Yukari's Head - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbYc-wTZzLw
 
"Uhhhh." Still clad in her Gekkoukan Summer Uniform, pink Cardigan tied around her waist and a bag thrown over her shoulder...
 
... Yukari keeps staring at the store front, before tearing her gaze away and sighing, "Well at least it's not during the Dark Hour. Geez... I hope I'm not wasting a trip to Shimokita for some super shady scam."
 
She takes another look though, "It is pretty packed though... maybe there is something to it." Yukari puts away the card that Rumormonger Chikarin gave her.
 
In she goes, taking her time perusing the goods. She was used to making her way through busy sales at a boutique, and the fact of the matter is today...
 
... she's on a shoestring budget, thanks to a recent Rosa Candida trip. Still, she examines the items up for bid. "... I bet Junpei would buy it." She says of Saika's belt, before looking at the bust, "Whoa!" Before she makes a face, considering that on her wrist, "... I mean it's kinda nice but, what's with that expression?"
 
And then... "... I think I've seen third graders in crafts clubs do better." Yukari says bluntly, of Pernelle's debut creation, before she looks at the proprietor.
 
"Come on, bidding directly to the store's mascot?" She rolls her eyes... listening to the exchange, then looks at Ichika as- "You're actually bidding on that!?" Suddenly she considers it in a new light.
 
"Hmmm. Well, maybe it's a gimmick just for fun..." She then looks through her school bag and...
 
"... In ten." She murmurs as she considers the matter thoroughly, before glancing sidelong at Merry in disguise, "Uhhh can peacocks even eat that?" Before she digs through her bag again, murmuring, "What would a peacock even want?"
 
Before she was putting it down, how'd she actually get INTO this? The power of collective persuasion aka peer pressure of course!
 
"... Wellllll?" Yukari takes out a small little baggy with a tie, peers inside, and starts counting, "Two... four... six... eight..."
 
Before nodding in satisfaction at the count. "Ten baubles?"
 
It's from an old charm bracelet of colorful hearts that well... came unceremoniously apart months back as the string snapped and scattered them. She kept meaning to get it fixed, but...
 
... part of her always knew it was a lost cause. Just like her friendship with the girl who originally made it for her.

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    This had been his day off. Katsuya Suou, as is his wont, had plans for today, most of them involving something along the lines of 'search for leads regarding the Joker Killer among the rumor and heresay of the net', 'the same thing, but regarding Palaces', and of course, check in with his parents to see if they have heard anything at all about his now extremely wayward younger brother. It's probably time to start asking Tatsuya's friends (at least, the ones that Katsuya knows about) some questions--

    Or at least, that all had been the plan when Maya Amano had asked him for a small favor.

    There's one thing that Katsuya will need to take a photograph of first, which she points out to him after grabbing his hands and leading him towards her target. "Er-- Amano-kun--"

    Once released, Katsuya glances down at the camera in his hand. Well, hands now. He's holding it gingerly: it's the property of Coolest, and he's not a professional photographer. To say this is somewhat 'daunting' would be an understatement. "I see... so all that I need to do is press this button?"

    Her usual photographer for this sort of work has been denied her due to the terrible whims of her boss. And so, because he'd agreed to help her out--

    With determination, Katsuya Suou -- to all the world (except to those who know the officer) a photograph assistant to a reporter -- endeavors to frame the shot and capture a winning picture of the peacock. Yes. That is indeed a peacock there in the middle of the store: he'd heard the story (it's what most people had mentioned when speaking about the place in the news) but until now it hadn't fully dawned on him what that meant.

<Pose Tracker> Tyler Gould has posed.

Fashion.

For someone who has a tendency to dress in a single color -- or two, if you count the little purple accents, like the lilac lenses of his glasses, or the single streak of color in that dyed-black hair -- Tyler Gould does not seem like the type of person who would have a need to go to the trendy new fashion place. He'd stick out even more than he usually does between his height, pale skin and general foreign-ness.

In fact, on a joyous day such as this, when the shop is likely to be More Crowded Than Usual with all sorts of new potential customers, it seems like the exact kind of day that the gothic introvert would avoid the shop at all costs. There's only one problem.

* Tyler Gould was born on April 26th. This makes him a Taurus.
* To continue his studies of Japanese, Tyler picked up a newspaper. His attention obviously was drawn to the horoscopes.
* The horoscope for today for Taurus' said: You will undertake a great trial today, but it will be critical for your growth.

What greater trial for an introvert than to go where the people are?

It could be said that the expressiveless look on his face as he steps through the doorway is the result of having to face the trial in question today, but in truth, it's normal.

Unlike the many who immediately bee-line it to the amazing creations and the magnificant mascot, he opts to peruse around the perimeter of the store, instead. Dipping a perpetual toe into the social pool as blue eyes scan the crowd for familiar faces, all the while scanning the store for things that might fit his aesthetic.

Even in trying times like this, the devil you know is better than the devil you don't.

Though... given that he's from the cooler region of the US, and peacocks aren't common there? He *does* stare for a few long moments at the glory that is Pernelle. From afar, at least for now.

"I guess that's where the name comes from..." he murmers to himself.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

The last time anybody running Peacock Silk (Yanagi and Pernelle) saw Ririka--that is to say, Friday, during the Dark Hour, at Tartarus, Ririka had not awakened. She was aware--she was there, after all--but she'd been too overloaded to actually summon her Persona for the first time.

... In just three short days, however, that's apparently changed.

But she didn't need to be Awakened to look at a website, at least, but now that she is... she decided to come check this place out. She opted to change after leaving school. She's tall--5'10"--though Ichika, of course, has that extra in on her. She's got her hair half-up in a ponytail, the rest flowing over her shoulder or in bangs framing her face, and she's wearing a long-sleeved top slightly falling off one shoulder, a skirt, a choker, and a pair of calf-high boots. She knew this was a place you went to get clothes, but she didn't want to look too plain for a place as fancy as this.

She takes in a deep breath, though, as she steps into the store. "Whoa, this is amazing..." There's a lot to take in, and she spends a few moments to do so, before she turns to take in Tsumugi. "Nice outfit..." she says to herself...

And there's a challenge issued... to make an offer to Pernelle. Ririka blinks as she looks over to the peacock. "... Huh." She also doesn't know how to talk to birds, but she seems to be giving it some serious thought.

She looks over to Yanagi, as she says there should be at last 10. Well, that puts a kibosh on her first thought for an offer. She looks at her station though, maybe she'll go take a look when she finishes checking out the centerpiece.

But then she pauses, freezing as she sees that familiar tall silhouette, that crop top, that voice... "Ichika-chan...?" she wonders out loud.

How exactly do you ask your sister if she's somehow turned out to be supernatural, lest you accidentally reveal a secret that should not be revealed?

She might have forgotten about offering a bid to Pernelle for a moment, standing stock still as she is.

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    It begins with a verbal nudge one afternoon.
    'You should really get something nice.'

    Oh, right, Umie thinks. There's that spot in Shimokitozawa. Wouldn't it be a nice place to look? The two 'Mask-san's Umie has come across, with their snazzy disguises, has making Umie feel... underdressed. Why shouldn't it involve a bit of theatre? Something sleek, fashionable, but simple. Functional.

    See? Mai-chan always has great ideas. (When you're not the one in the relationship with a full view of the chessboard, it can be easy to mistake little comments like these as kindness, rather than a seed being planted, or a marble being set in anticipation of what could happen next.)

    The complusively always hidden Persona user now strides in dressed in what could be described as 'bed-core': the youthful, confident elegance of a woman who wakes up in the morning in a completely different direction than what she went to sleep in, applied enough makeup to make herself look like she sleeps like a normal person, and blonde hair that has been coaxed into buns with the magic of 'shower wet hair'. Why, she's even committed to the trend of trying to relax the wrinkles out of her clothing by hanging them up in the bathroom! Such bravery, with the sleeveless top, the wind-braker artfully collected to perpetually hang over her lower arms, the khaki shorts, sneakers, and the brightly colored red braided necklace around her neck!

    It's the art of caring like looking like you didn't care (though she actually did).

    She temporarily forgets her quest at the sight of the magnificent peacock. "...!" Her glee is strifled back in a manner that could be mistaken for someone choking on a fly.

    The second sound Umie makes, when she sees Maya dragging Katsuya over, doesn't fare that much better, sounding like a blackbird getting squished by a large, unambitious feline. (Also hi, Yukari, Umie sees you.)

    Attempting to catch Yukari's gaze, as _Yukari would know why Umie is making this expression_, there's a pantomime of quick gestures, like a sort of ancient jutsu, as Umie attempts to direct Yukari's attention to Katsuya, who is serving as this fashionably dressed reporter's... photographer?

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.

You're letting the bird handle your money? That's kind of...

"Mm? No," Tsumugi answers Ichika, as if the very idea was absurd. Thank god!

"Pernelle doesn't care for money. It's a pretend number, you see."

... That they say this with such matter-of-fact confidence clearly must say something about them. Or the strength of bond between bird- and humankind...!

They don't turn away Ichika, though, which is a positive sign. Nor does Tsumugi seem intent on turning away -anyone- who decides to make a bid to the bird, as if they were all accepted for the gesture -- or maybe, because Tsumugi is waiting for something. Behind hooded lashes, bright green eyes watch each incoming prospective customer with a curious, sharp stare. They, in large part, remain quiet during this time, save for the customary introduction and redirection towards that centerpiece (really, there's so many -other- beautiful products here, so why those (and especially that purse)--?).

It's a silence that's only broken when Myunghon comes in in all their ruffled petticoat gothic lolita glory and then promptly dash their mystique upon the rocks of vendor-bought processed sweet goods. A smile curves black-green lips as they walk by Myunghon and her AGGRESSIVE staring contest (in tens!).

"I love the blood," is their passing comment for Myunghon. "Very Angura."

An easy wink, and Tsumugi is moving on. Their attention turns towards Maya and her...

Photographer?
    Respected colleague?
        Beleaguered subordinate?

Judging by the sympathetic tilt of their head that spills asymmetric bangs further rightwards as they peer at Katsuya like he is undergoing some pride-destroying ordeal, they clearly settled on Option 3.

It's a simple, damning glance, and then Tsumugi is moving again. They get three heel-clicks of steps in... and then they pause.

Hello, Kujaku-san!

That green gaze turns. A black brow lifts just a little.

It's not the name that gets Tsumugi, as Akari so cheerfully announces it though, no. A funny coincidence, but not the first time Tsumugi's experienced with it; live with a peacock, and you become wonderfully desensitized to wordplay. No.

It's that lucky charm.

That lucky charm that immediately catches their eye despite being a seemingly nondescript item in a sea of them. That's...

"Interesting~."

Akari ultimately offers something else. But as she does, a hand with black lacquered nails rests on her shoulder briefly. If she looks -- there's Tsumugi, smiling with that easy, detached friendliness.

"That's a wonderful offering," they say of the offering of corn - alas, not potato - chips. "Enjoy your time here. I'd like to know what you think -- let me know if you see anything that really excites you, okay? But first, let me take care of a little something."

And with that, they pull away, make their way westward, pluck up one of the many, very elaborately designed peacock-themed giftbags decorating one of the far tables--

--and suddenly and unceremoniously tosses it Hazuki's way. Hopefully, her instincts are good--!

"You're going to need this," they offer off-handedly. They don't even look her way.

But it's important, you see. Because a very specific type of potential clientele gets the gift bag--

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.

    Pernelle's nod to Yanagi could be any old birdly twitch. She giggles and grins, eyes scrunching shut, all the same. That smile follows him up into his basket, and therefore also to Saika as she offers him a new basket, this one filled with goods.
    
    But there are questions being asked, and she may not be working very hard on crafting jewelry, but she can at least talk to people!
    
    "The ten is very important," she tells Ichika. Her smile widens. "It is also arbitrary."
    
    Which is it!!!
    
    "If you want Luck, then the larimar bust bracelet is definitely for you," she adds with a confident little nod that is based wholly on something else she decided on arbitrarily. Yukari's doubtful remark about the bust's ambiguous expression gets a laugh. "That's what brings the luck," she says in the airs of a confidant.
    
    She looks over to Hazuki then, who's correctly identified the larimar bust as Mayan in style. She watches her with interest for a moment. She smiles. "I do say." She giggles as Hazuki gushes over how much she wants the centerpiece, at Pernelle with her generous offers. "Oh! You're very cute!" With not the slightest hint of malice in her voice or demeanor, she adds, "But this place is not for you."
    
    Her gaze goes next to Myunghon. Honestly, it would be hard not to go to them; Myunghon is dressed in bloodied bandages and gothic lolita. But in particular, Myunghon offers white chocolate and walnut cookies... It might be a coincidence. But it might also not be a coincidence. And if it isn't... then what does it mean that they don't ping to her senses any more than Hazuki did?
    
    Yanagi considers this, and them, with a hand on her chin. Are they... like Yua, able to mask themself? Her gaze moves towards Ririka. There's someone else she and Pernelle saw at Tartarus... but this girl has unmistakably changed since then. Where she had no resonance then, she has a clear one now. How curious...!
    
    After a moment of thinking it over, Yanagi pushes herself back from her station, chair rolling away; then she picks up her walking stick from where it hangs on the side, looping her wrist through the cloth that keeps it close, and hobbles around the counter and towards them. Her leisurely approach doesn't stop at standard personal bubble; she stops very close, and then leans in. Lean. Leeeean. Leeeeeean.... Sniff. Sniff sniff.
    
    "Oh, your eye smells lovely," she says brightly. "I particularly like the notes of lily-of-the-valley. It's a bit less common than the rose and peony. And it sounds so innocent, but it's actually quite deadly!" She smiles brightly, head tilting to one side. "I wonder if you're much the same?"
    
    Whether Myunghon responds to her or not, she turns to Akari next. It's only a casual glance, and she means to go to Ririka next, but before she can, she spots... that charm. As the resident jeweler, it stands out to her immediately. And yet this girl too is like the bloody Lolita...! Tsumugi's spotted it too, and beats her to Akari, even. They already passed by Myunghon, so Yanagi lets them have this one with a smile.
    
    Instead, she turns to Ririka--and, if she's come here with Tyler and Yukari, that means the three of them at once, perhaps. But Ririka is staring as if petrified at... Yanagi follows her gaze over to Ichika, then follows it back. "Something the matter?" she wonders.

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.

Hazuki arrives and immediately makes an enticing offer, Pernelle vibrating in his delight until he explodes with his response. "A 'fighting game' lesson? Eeyaw!" Pernelle flaps his wings in surprise. "Do you speak of the dance of blood sport between pixels within the grand digital cathedral?! Those controlled via stick and cylinder? You dare suggest you possess the knowledge to give me command of such vibrant entities? Bold!"

... ... ...

There's no way Hazuki can respond to this, and Yanagi already says it like it is. Pernelle clears his throat. "Everyone, please hold a moment."

He hops down from his perch and, wriggles his neck until it is straight while he waits for Tsumugi to supply the conciliatory gift bag every other customer has received, and then rustles his feathers as he raises his train into a full fan, feather display. "Ahem. Very good. Very good. Now. Begone."

Pernelle advances on Hazuki one terrifying step at a time, ushering her out of Peacock Silk. And only once she is gone does his train lower and he turn his attention back to the others.

"Now, then, where were we, you captivating coalition of chickpeas?" Cookies. They were at cookies. Pernelle's gaze snaps to Myunghon, and the brown of his eyes becomes invisible as his pupils dilate, as this peacock takes on what can only be called doe eyes. What cervid behavior is this! His beak drops open with a gasp.

But there are other offers to judge before he jumps at the first delicious one in front of him.

"Kujaku-san!" Pernelle echoes to Akari with a laugh, giving Tsumugi a knowing eye before regarding Akari once more. "Aren't you a polite and peachy little peachick!" He cranes his head, watching with interest as she presents her offering. "What is this? What is this? Do I sense the clayware meant to contain a familiar spirit? Fascinating find... I -- Oh!" His demeanor completely shifts, and sparkles practically burst off of him as he dances back and forth from one foot to another. "Aerials! A whimsical moniker for such a simple and elegant edible shape!"

Once Pernelle overhears Maya talk about a 'great shot of this bird', Pernelle begins to subtly -- or perhaps not so subtly -- strut and pose, making sure that Maya has access to his good side.

Who are we kidding? Pernelle only has good sides. As he poses, he pauses, then begins to circle around Katsuya like a predator on the hunt. Peafowl do hunt. Snakes mostly. But do cats also not hiss? "Well, well, well. Fascinating choice. The unassuming grey paired with passionate crimson. You are a man of extremes. I dare say my magnum opus suits you precisely. Please, I must know, what inspires all of..." He nods up and down, gesturing to all of him. "This?"

But Pernelle hears an attempt to insult his creation and beams at Yukari. "Truly? Amazing! It warms my heart and every string attached to learn human younglings have early fascination with the arts, and the opportunity to spread their wings in its practice!" Yukari makes her offer, and Pernelle peers at it. He hops to the left, then hops to the right, then hops back center and looks directly up at her. "Ten beautiful beady baubles! What is their story, pray tell?"

As Tyler ponders the name of Peacock Silk, Pernelle's voice deepens, resonate with SONG: "Named ~ for precious darling ~ meeeeeeeeee ~"

For now, Pernelle is wise enough to recognize Ririkia is distracted by something profound, and struts past her to Umie. He begins posing and preening as he notes her nearly choking on excitement.

"Such an inspiring sparkle that lights you eye! Then I shall permit this one -- and only this one -- to pet me, should your heart yearn for it." He stretches his neck out and tilts his head forward in offering.

<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.

Hazuki is excited to hear the bird caw, though Yanagi's statement and the gift bag causes her to crane her head. Wait, is she-

Pernelle fans out, moving towards her. "Wait, what- is this about my offer? Wait, no!" She says at first, as she backs up, before sighing, especially as she sees how many others get to stay. Some are even teenagers.

Clutching her gift bag (which she'll keep), she steps out of the store, walks about five feet away from the entrance, and stands there for a long time.


She may be starting to cry.

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.

Sorry Hazuki. Pernelle remains oblivious to your tears...

But now he's never going to learn to guard cancel, so who's the real loser here?

Not money, Ichika realizes. But not necessarily money. Pernelle breaks into another little song.

"Do you come ~ with a sum ~ of precious income ~? Or are you backed ~ by an act ~ of something more abstract ~?"

He rustles his feathery train and awaits her offering, and Pernelle flaps his wings in a wild rustling. "HIM! IT IS HIM!" He tappy taps on his feet. "The glorious faebeast!" He looks back at Tsumugi, Saika, and Yanagi. "Have you ever seen a creature adorable? More precious? Besides yours truly, of course. And TEN of them!"

He pauses, considering. "Ten violences, however, my my... an intriguing offer..."

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

Seeing Takeba around is... not that surprising to Ichika, actually. She's a fashion girl. It makes sesense. She doesn't know about chips or cookies for peacosks, but, "Why not?" Ichika says to Yukari. "Seems like a fun thing to do. I've never bet with a peacock before."

Seeing Maya isn't that surprising either, though Ichika is happier to see her. She smiles her direction, which is quite the expression coming from a black-lipsticked punk with a skull on her chest.

Related: her gaze lingers on Tyler. Ichika has never met an American goth before. ...She doesn't stare, but she does look him over.

But before she can finish doing that, Ririka comes into her view. And Ichika blinks, too. "Nee-chan?" she wonders. "Didn't expect to see you," she says.

...Is Ichika entirely clear on this being a supernatural occasion? She might not be.

But the peacock does not handle the money. "Oh. That makes more sense." And the number is both important and arbitrary? "I... huh."

She does want luck, though. She blinks at the bloody Myunghon as she turns to see her, she hears someone talk about their eye smelling lovely and if that isn't the weirdest thing she's heard all week she doesn't know what is.

Pernelle sings. And also--

Him!! "Yeah, they're kinda cute. They try to kill you, though. So it sort of evens out."

Pause. "Specifically against demons," Ichika's quick to clarify. "I won't beat up somebody I actually like. But you know, you gotta know what you're good at."

Then she looks to Ririka again. "...You gonna offer something, Ririka-chan? Or just stand there looking at me?"

<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.

    "There's the shot!" Maya exclaims before it registers to her that the peacock is talking. "Right there!" She directs a single digit at Pernelle, and once she's sure Katsuya is looking, she squares up the shot with her fingers, as if to demonstrate exactly what she wants to capture. She's so focused that any attempts to capture her attention (sorry Ririka!) fail to even register on her mental radar.

    It's then that she realizes.

    The peacock is talking.

    "Are you available for an interview?!"

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari makes a small face at the idea of Ichika finding it fun to bid to a peacock, "And somehow... that's how I get drawn into this."
 
Yanagi suggests the larimar bust on the bracelet - it's expression at least brings the luck and Yukari gives them a surprised look, "Oh you're the one who created it? Uhhhh, well... it's well made. Just - I dunno what I have that it could even go with."
 
Yukari tries to choose her accessories very carefully.

Yes it's true, technically she came with Tyler and Ririka - but well she excludes Tyler from being interested in fashion by default.
 
And Ririka... just freezes when she sees her sister. "Hmm." Yukari tastefully looks away, not questioning it.
 
But some part of her is incredibly jealous by this moment, an ugly stab of it... even if it's certainly not positive for her.
 
Yukari looks at Yanagi as she Ririka what's wrong, "Oh don't worry about them. They've just had a weird few days..." Is her way of trying to discreetly draw attention away from the family drama.
 
Because honestly? She doesn't wanna hear about it, not one word.

Umie sees Yukari. It takes a moment...
 
... but Yukari sees Umie...
 
"Uhhhh...?"
 
Umie pantomimes in a direction like a strange teen ninja, and Yukari's gaze goes over towards...
 
"No way..."
 
After the urge to check her eyes passes, she addresses him, "Oh uh, Off... I mean Suou-san! I didn't expect to see you in a place like this." Because Katsuya appears to have a singular mode for fashion... she doesn't say, as she smiles, "I guess Amano-san must be here on a story and you're here..."
 
Pause.
 
"... to carry her bags?"
 
It's an indirect way of asking 'are you two dating?' without actually asking it.
 
However, what she thought was just ambient store chatter, instead gets a reaction from Yukari as realizes the person responding to her words...
 
... isn't quite human.
 
Recoiling... "Wha-" She nearly shouts, "IT REALLY TALKS!?" Then she thinks that over and bends over a little to inspect it more closely, "But... Peacocks don't... right? They're not like... parrots."
 
She checks it for a microphone, on either side of his head, "Uhhhhh..." Not sure if she's going a LITTLE crazy or the like, she considers the peacock, then the bag, then her offering.
 
"... The story? Is that really important?" It's... always rough for her to talk about herself, she doesn't like sharing, relating that side of her. So she takes on a casual air, like it's no big deal - despite the fact that kind of defeats the purpose of bidding, "It's from someone I knew in elementary school. She made these into a charm bracelet for me and... well, we haven't really talked in years."
 
She keeps inspecting Pernelle, beneath the beak, "I wonder where they're hiding the microphone..." She murmurs, unconvinced... before she turns to Maya, and...
 
"Hold on, you're interviewing it?"

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.

 
"WELCOME!" Saika belts out enthusiastically to Myunghon as they enter the shop floor, which gets repeated for Akari, for Maya... She has to take a breath after that. Basically, everyone who doesn't sneak in behind someone else (that includes Yu, kari!) gets that laser-targeted show of enthusiastic. Ichika only managed to get in under the wire as she finished (re?)stocking the rack.

But she does see bids. Ten cards. Ten charms. Ten cookies. Her eyes turn towards Tsumugi - perhaps it's a 'Ten' kind of day. Her eyes then track the towering gaijin gentleman who perambulates the perimeter precariously. Precessing, perhaps, along practiced protocols. Her eyebrows elevate slightly. But it's brief. Perhaps even ambiguous. If nothing else, he is Seen.

So is Katsuya. So is...

Everyone, really.

"The thing with luck," says Saika, to Yukari, "is that it can be good or it can be bad, but it's also sort of a continuum. You can increase or decrease your luck... without making it definitely be good or bad. See? It's a complex topic. But if you have what it takes... that bracelet will definitely guide you."

But then... Saika starts to clap her hands as Pernelle prepares himself for the full display of the threatening yet promising magnitude of his profoundly glorious, ineffably furious, certainly scurrilous tail -- and hustles someone out. But it's a slow thing. There's no following fury. tbf she just likes it when he does the thing.

(The cunning and interior-design-minded might notice that nothing is positioned low enough to be liable to get whacked into and knocked over by such miraculous manifestations. An open-plan shop... by necessity.)

"We're going to get in the news," she tells Yanagi, leaning over to do so, when Maya approaches... and then requests an interview. Saika's mouth forms a little :o of shock at this turn of events.

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    Oh? Takeba is here. They're not certain if they've picked them out in their disguise, but the face is... not really all that different from Merry, really. It's still them, despite everything else, with the bandages, just with more fake blood. "Hmmm. I do wonder. Chocolates are poisonous to dogs, but...?" The lingering smile they provide to Takeba is just that, a bit coy.

    And -- double oh? That's Amano-san. And being haplessly dragged by the energetic reporter is... ohoho, Suou-kun, you sly devil, you. Now what could you be doing here? Is this a location that the Sumaru Police Department are interested in, or-- oh. They appear to have been roped by Maya Amano to become their chief photographer. There's a little snicker as they watch Katsuya helplessly struggle with the camera--

    And then they swan by Katsuya's side. "Do you see your subject in the screen there? Press the button halfway down, and the camera should automatically focus to create a sharper image. Then, once you are satisfied with what you see, press the button all the way down, Suou-san."

    Myunghon says, while they look like they're bleeding from their bandaged eye and neck and arm, dressed to the nines in gothic lolita clothing. At least, they're hoping Maya gave Katsuya a point and shoot, not a DSLR. He's on his own if she did.

    And... hmm. Umie, huh. "My, it's nice to see you here, Akabane-san. How have you been? I've been all over Shitamachi looking for Mansions that pique my interest, but nothing's tickled my fancy yet." Here, they use the term 'Mansion' to refer to an apartment, buuut... well, they're confident Umie would figure it out.

    And was that not one of the girls that Junpei was defending at Tartarus? (Myunghon refers to Ririka. They aren't every familiar with her, but it seems Ichika is. Hmmm. Nee-chan, huh...)

    Those black-green lips of Tsumugi's has caught their attention again. There's a smile back in turn to what they feel, somehow, is a kindred soul. A soul of CRIME? A soul of cool, calm, collected professionalism? Mmm. Angura. That's right. They're both members of the underground, are they not?

    But Tsumugi *is* the soul of professionalism, and that means having to move on and cater to the rest of the store, and thus their attention is drawn to Yanagi next. The way Yanagi mentions that this store isn't for Hazuki. Mmm. More and more passing curious. And then her attention is on Myunghon herslef, the way they saunter over to them and pierce their personal bubble-- an act that just seems to make their smile go ear to ear, rather than show any kind of discomfort--

    "Why, thank you," Myunghon seems quite appreciative of their knowledge -- lily-of-the-valley is a known poison, known aas glovewort in the pre-modern eras... and in the language of flowers -- 'the return of happiness'. When Yanagi's head tilts to one side as she wonders, theirs tilts the opposite way. "Hmmm hmmm. I *do* think you are the type to enjoy thorns on roses, dear."

    When Yanagi's drawn up that close to Myunghon, though, it's easier to spot that this person is likely the same one that caught their gaze that night, in Tartarus -- they were dressed monochromatically, in a sharp suit and a Cognitively pliant jacket-coat that seemed to come alive, grasping at Shadows with tendril-like ribbons. They've chosen a completely different outfit, but Yanagi can see through it.

    Which must mean they have some experience with hiding their Resonance.

    But, OH?

    The bird can... talk. Out here, in Shimokita? Have they entered a supernatural space? Myunghon's mind is so titillated by the prospect that they can't hide their grin, which has become even more dangerous and excited, their pupils dilating slightly.

    But. They were in a contest of wills, a contest of staring. There's a little snicker as they simply set the cookies for Pernelle to accept or reject at their own leisure, because what they've set out to do with them has been accomplished. They watch the Peacock for

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    But. They were in a contest of wills, a contest of staring. There's a little snicker as they simply set the cookies for Pernelle to accept or reject at their own leisure, because what they've set out to do with them has been accomplished. They watch the Peacock for a little bit further, though his comment about the 'spirit in the clayware' from Akari is not lost on them.

    "That is my offer today. Though perhaps if you give me another twenty-five hours, I could regale you with more snacks..."

    But that girl that left... Hazuki. The rejection is harsh and swift at this place, and it certainly doesn't create an easy mood... rather, one of tense competition. They'll have to see if they can find them later. Saika's energy, however, is infectious. What an incredible mix of personalities on display.

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    He has the strangest feeling, as if he's been weighed, judged and found...
    ...beleagured??

    "Actually," Katsuya says to Yukari, "I'm here to help take photographs." He lifts the camera (carefully, earnestly) as if to demonstrate. ...Yukari had actually asked him a completely different question than the one she'd put into words, but unfortunately, Katsuya Suou has a tin ear for that sort of insinuation, as many of his dates and ex-girlfriends would know from bitter experience.

    Which, speaking of, er, isn't Maya indicating where and how he ought to be taking a photo right now while Pernelle is pose-perfect (when is he not perfect)? "Right--"

    At his ear is a familiar voice, attached to an unfamiliar attire. "Er," Katsuya starts, glancing sidelong at Myunghon. What are they wearing? "Ah. I see," he says, then blinks and looks over at Myunghon more pointedly. "Are you bleeding--"

    They are not. Time, meanwhile, is running out, Suou-kun...!

    He takes the shot in the last precious seconds allotted to him before the bird, the bird who he suddenly realizes can talk, is swanning over to address him directly. "You... can talk? But," he stammers, looking over at Maya who declares she'll interview the bird. His shoulders sag somewhat. "A, Amano-kun..."

    But hadn't he been asked a direct question? Look at Pernelle there. Expectant. Awaiting a response. "I suppose... because it suits me," he tells him, recovering admirably from his own initial shock. "Besides, it is important for someone to look their best. Well, that is what I believe. First impressions matter quite a bit, regardless of what some people think."

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.

"Hello!" is Akari's very cheerful response to Saika belting out her welcome to all and sundry. "I love your hair!" There's not many people who have hair as pale as Akari's - even dyed or bleached it's pretty uncommon to go past blonde, and Akari's hair is very definitely Not Blonde.

Pernelle wanders off. It's to escort Hazuki out, but Akari is more trying to get her stuff back in her bag before one of the pencil cases gets kicked by mistake or something, so she's not watching it happen. (She would feel bad if she was.)

"I don't know!" is Akari's response to Yukari, even though she strictly speaking wasn't addressed. "It's just... corn. And... this one's garlic." Spicy garlic! "Hmm."

Maybe she shouldn't? But Pernelle seems so excited by it after his return, hopping from one foot to another. (Can she hear Pernelle? Does she understand Pernelle?) "Well, I'll just leave them as my bid, then... oh, I have other things too, but... maybe this is the best one."

And then...

A hand on her shoulder.

Akari startles, but not in a way that seems like she's on a hair trigger or anything. She's just a little surprised, that's all! She cranes around to look at Tsumugi, who she saw on the way in (and admired the outfit of, just a little bit; Akari doesn't really have the right kind of presence to carry off one like that).

She nods, straightening up. "I'll do that!" she promises. "Thank you, um - " Oh. THAT'S why she can't call Pernelle 'Kujaku-san'. She forgot. "I heard about you - I mean, the store - and I really wanted to see a place like this. I love the kind of art you do..." To Akari, of course, clothes *are* art, accessories *are* art. It's not just something you wear. It's the whole thing. The essence. The *idea* of an outfit.

So she's beaming even when Tsumugi heads off to their own devices, and Akari is definitely going to look around. She's high energy; she doesn't really walk from place to place so much as ... maybe 'zip' is the best word; she rushes until she's there and then she takes her time to soak it in.

Akari has never been able to do much leatherwork, so she spends some time lingering there, looking at belts, before heading back to the centerpiece display. The Mayan one... it speaks to her, though she couldn't say why. Has she ever sketched something like that? She actually has to think about it until she decides, no, probably not.

"Are you the one that made this?" she asks of Yanagi, a moment later. "I know the bag is Pernelle-san's... I really like it. Not a lot of people do anything Mayan!" So she, too, recognizes it - that or she overheard. "I really like the bag, too." Which bag? Saiki's bag - the messenger-bag with the steel rings and the fleur-de-lys.

<Pose Tracker> Tyler Gould has posed.

Scan complete. Familiar faces spotted. Ririka and Yukari obviously, as his dorm-mates, but also Hazuki who's being rejected by the shop?

Chased out of the shop?

By a talking, *singing* peacock?

Cue a small show of emotion as eyebrows raise and eyes widen in unison. In fact, he seems about to say something when...

Yanagi speaks to 'his' group. Well, more to Ririka than any, but. Yukari speaks up first, easily stopping the question from being answered.

Then it's eyes that Tyler can practically *feel* on him before he notices them. Mainly because of proximity, and the fact that Ririka's been transfixed on Ichika for a moment, and his attention goes from one sister, to the other. "Friend of yours?" he asks of Ririka, giving a small jerk of his head in Ichika's direction. It seems pretty likely given that the older sister is talking to the younger one, but he's not going to assume.

...and Yukari doesn't seem to believe the peacock speaks. Tyler? He takes it for granted that yes, the peacock *does* speak. After everything *else* he's seen since coming to Japan? A talking Peacock is not that big of a surprise for someone who had a wide-open mind to begin with. Although still worth marvelling over. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he doesn't make a bid -- at least not yet. Though, since Hazuki's forceful expulsion, he *does* make the occasional glance at the centerpiece that she was gushing over.

Wouldn't it be fittingly karmic if, after such a display, the Goddess of Tricks ended up in possession of the purse in the end?

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    'Uhhhh...?' (Umie nods her head yes.) 'No way...' (Another nod, as if saying 'yes way'.)

    '... to carry her bags?' Umie stifles another sound in her throat. While her interactions of Katsuya's behavior back when she was his 'little' brother's tutor were limited, she knows one thing: the detective can be surprisingly dense when the call's coming from inside the house, so to speak. Umie doubts this'll be any different.

    '-- to pet me, should your heart yearn for it.'

    Such an unladylike sound now comes from Umie's mouth, which hangs open like the empty basket hanging from her wrist. "The bird talk--"

    If Nagisa had spotted one person hiding in plain sight (Myunghon, that is), Pernelle has unearthed yet another.

    It's so tempting. (She'll do it.) The neck feathers are so lovely, so iridescent, so fine. (it is time to pet the bird.) And he consented, right? (nownownownownow)

    Gingerly, Umie reaches out and carefully attempts to pet Pernelle; as careful as her pets may be, the nimble, crafty fingers do not lie; she knows how to be delicate.

    (Maybe this is a prank being filmed on camera; Yukari is likely correct in that there's a microphone someplace, but Umie's not feeling any just that moment, not that she wants to possibly disturb a live animal with a more thorough examination.)

    "Oh, you're looking to move here, Myunghon?" It takes Umie a moment to recognize her, but... who could get away with such an outfit? "I like your dress! You carry it so well..."

    Hazuki's departure causes Umie to frown; while the business's means of distinguishing its clientele may be beyond her understanding or her need to intervene, Umie may have to try to offer a charm or something of some sort later.

    Besides, she's likely going to be next.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Important but also arbitrary. Maybe her bid's still got a shot. When she gets around to remembering to make a bid, that is.

She feels something taking notice of her, but it's hard to sort out in the sea of resonance that's here--this is a very new sense for her, after all. And mayube she doesn't perceive it the same way that most people do.

But she does notice when Yanagi comes over to talk to her more directly, turning her attention away from Ichika for a moment. "Oh, uh... Just..." She glances back to Ichika. "... someone I wasn't expecting to see." She does give a small smile to Yukari as she attempts to draw Yanagi's attention away. She'll need the extra space to process what's going on.

But then Pernelle has opinions on fighting games, and Ririka's head snaps over that way. She's staring at the peacock now, and if she wanted to hide knowing the bird can speak... this isn't the way to do it. "Uh..."

Okay, her sister's here, and the bird talks. This is a bit much to take in.

She looks back to Ichika. "Yeah, me either," she admits. "... how did you find out about this place?" She blinks. "... Oh! Right. The bidding. Right."

She nods to herself, takes a deep breath, and turns to face Pernelle. "Pernelle-san, I'd like to offer you... 2 custom written songs." After a beat she adds. "I'm a musician."

She was almost on TV last night. But that darn blackout, you see...

She glances to Tyler. "That's my older sister," she says. So not 'friend' in that sense, no.

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.

    Have you ever seen a creature adorable? More precious? Besides yours truly, of course, Pernelle demands.
    
    "Yes," Yanagi tells Pernelle, deadly serious. "His name is Jack Frost."
    
    Fire vs. ice...! As dear a friend as she holds Pernelle, this will forever be a point of contention between them. (It's almost like it's carved right into their very souls.)
    
    It is a ten sort of day! Yanagi decided on it, and so it has been made. There's something beautiful about being able to speak something into reality, isn't there? She appreciates that about this group. Especially now that the unfortunately cute girl has been escorted out by Pernelle. Maybe another day, it will be her day. There's already one person here who wasn't awake only three nights or so ago. Who knows what might change for Hazuki?
    
    She especially appreciates that reporter lady and her assistant getting Pernelle's good side! Which is very easy, because they are indeed all good sides. She giggles and leans in towards Saika in return. "I know! Isn't it exciting? It's Pernelle's time to shine!" She leans back and nods sagely at Yukari as Saika explains to her the nature of luck and why that bracelet would definitely bring it to her. Still, if Yukari doesn't care for it, that doesn't bother her any.
    
    "Oh, that much is obvious," Yanagi tells Yukari of Ririka. After all, it's only been a few days--and Yukari was there too, that night, as was Tyler. Yanagi remembers them both, even if it's Ririka who's caught her eye for the moment, just because of how little time it's been since then and already she's awakened too. And to a similar power as her...! She pauses, though, as Yukari searches for a microphone. "...How odd, for someone like you to be so skeptical," she muses, genuinely puzzled.
    
    She looks back at Ririka--so much taller than her, despite being younger. "Oh, I see." And when she later tells Tyler that the girl she's staring at is her older sister... Then Yanagi really does see. Her eyelashes droop, and she doesn't question Ririka further.
    
    Instead, she smiles over at Tyler next. He seems shy; she knows that experience well. No question of whether he belongs here or not, despite his muted sense of fashion. "What about you? Will you offer him a bid?" she wonders. "This place isn't for the faint of heart, you know."
    
    She chuckles to Myunghon. "You're quite right. Thorns are an inevitable reality of roses, so instead of lamenting them, why not embrace them instead?" she says. "Anyway, don't worry about Pernelle and chocolate. He can eat it just fine." Yes... up very close, they have a familiar look... Will of Rebellion Users are not so easy to detect, even for Navigators, but the offer of those particular cookies have given her enough of a clue to also give her an inkling of which that night this one might be.
    
    "Yes, that one is mine," she tells Akari with a pleased smile. "The stone is larimar, a blue variety of pectolite found only in the Dominican Republic. That's not quite the area where the Mayas were, but that color... you couldn't describe it as anything but Maya blue, could you?" She looks down at Akari's charm, or perhaps where it once was. "Where did you get that?"

<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.

    "Oh, hey, Takeba-san!" Maya's attention is finally pulled away (briefly!) from the peacock. Fortunately for Katsuya, Maya didn't hear his exchange with Yukari. Otherwise, there would have definitely been some teasing.

    "Of course! A talking peacock would be a cover page feature!" Maya was already slowly currying more favor with Editor-in-Chief Mizuno. With a scoop like this, she and Yukki-chan might actually be able to work together again.

    Not that she's eager to get rid of her current assistant.

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.

 
"Oh! Sankyuu!" Saika says to Akari. It doesn't really come out as a shout even if there is that nebulous 'don!' quality to it. Or to put it another way, it's enthusiasm. Her face breaks into a wide and beaming smile at the statement, and she slaps her collarbone with one hand. "Thank you! Haha! It was all of us - I did most of the carpentry and the lights!"

The lights is reaching for it, let's be real. They probably do require you to get an electrician.

But! Akari's ALSO looking at the bag. "Oh, you are?" Saika says, reaching over to give the bag in question a fond pat on the top. "This was really fun to make. I'd gotten the swivel knife finally, it was on back order for like the last five million years, and so you can see I went a little nuts with it. The effect's really good, right? This is a Peacock Silk secret leather-carving technique. I've written it on copper tablets and buried it, and only my death will reveal the secret coordinates."

Saika's beaming as she says this. Having fun. Getting into the spirit, maybe.

"Say, say!" she continues, pivoting towards Tyler Gould. "I know that look in your eye. You're hoping someone's going to welcome you in so that you can get in the spirit. If you're wondering about anything here, ask me, anything you like. And while you're here..."

Saika taps her nose with a finger. "You're going to have to make an offer, you know. Or do you have some treasure so great you're hoping to swoop in at the last moment, like a real auction pro?"

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    Myunghon leaves the date-teasing to Yukari, since she seems like a natural expert at it, and meanwhile, Myunghon can just cheerfully respond to Katsuya with: "This is a part of my new Magic Series Experiments! Can you guess what supernatural phenomenon I'm going to bring to life, Suou-san?"

    There's a pause as Umie doesn't seem to quite pick up on what Myunghon's speaking of. Well, that's the perils of trying to use coded language! It's just as fun when it doesn't work. "I like dreaming of it. Someone like me, living in a high-rise Yongenjaya Mansion? I'd have to bet on the correct prince on a white horse to do that!"

    There's a delighted little chuckle as their little swanning takes them back to Yanagi. The glint in their eye is excited and dangerous as Yanagi confirms that, indeed, a thorn (danger) is an inevitable part of roses (life), so why not embrace it? Ah, perhaps there was a version of them that had equally bombastic, idiosyncratic minds to open something a little more glamorous!

    "Ah, that is good to know about chocolates," Myunghon is pleased, though their attention is a little more on Yanagi's side of the table -- at their jewelrymaking tools, perhaps appreciating being able to see the tools of the trade. Then, in turn to Yanagi: "My apologies, I do not think I've introduced myself. I am Myunghon Yeo, from Sumaru City. I run a little shop called the Cardboard Dragon."

    It's the final part of the deal -- offering their name and locale. They managed to put two and two together, and this is a business that, high percentage chance, is seeking Persona-Users; what are they, if not the same, the way they run deals on Skill Cards during the Dark Hour? They feel a kindred spirit in the Peacock Silk.

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.

"Jack Frost..." Pernelle whispers, like he is echoing the name of an ancient and powerful foe.

"Tsk!" Pernelle scoffs at Ichika. "What is a demon? What is a man? Can we not agree the line is precariously so thin that it does not matter for the sake of this payment? Yes? No? Hmm. Let me think, let me think... Narrow conditions, but ten violences..."

Oh, dear, it seems he is deeply intrigued by this offer...

For a moment, Pernelle's back is to Maya. "An interview?" He remains there for dramatic effect before spinning to look over his shoulder. "Life is an interview, and every step we take is our answer!

That doesn't answer the question!

"My voice resonates only to those who possess the purest of hearts!" Pernelle lies blatantly to Katsuya. "One such as yourself." He gives Katsuya another look over, up and down and up again. "Because... it suits you," he repeats. "It suits you. Uncomplicated! Forthright! Dare I say even... sassy. And what a first impression you have left upon my spirit, Pyrrhuloxia-chan."

Yukari realizes the truth to Pernelle, which reveals she is very allowed to shop here, and that might be all the good news she's experiencing in her shock. (She is not even experiencing that much, perhaps, in this exact moment.) "Do not forget ravens!" Pernelle tells Yukari, as if that is really the pressing matter here.

"The story is the only thing that's important!" he further tells her. And Yukari delivers. Pernelle's feathers ruffle up. He regards the baubles with newfound intensity. "... The greatness of my creation cannot be given true monetary value, but what you offer is without equal in price. Are you truly certain of your offer?"

It might be noted by the serious way Pernelle's attention is upon Yukari that, despite the cookies, despite the chips, despite the violence... Her offer may be in the lead.

...

Pernelle looks toward Myunghon. "How many more?"

MAYBE NOT

"Hmm. And what is your name, little peachick?" he asks Akari, directly, when he seems unable to scrutinize whether she is an imaginative individual or one who is speaking with him. For now, he accepts the offering into the pile without banishing her, Hazuki-style.

Umie bestows pets upon the peafowl, and Pernelle ruffles up and smooths out. His feathers are soft and delicate things, but they are also clean things. He dust baths, frequently! Blessed as such, or having bestowed blessing, he happily straightens up again. "Marvelous."

The mention of song has Pernelle whipping around to Ririka. "Two! Songs!" To this, he appears delighted, giving another tappy dance. He looks to Tsumugi, Yanagi, and Saika in all this as he wriggles to his own joyful rhythm. Look how they covet, just as Pernelle had hoped!

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

Mayan... Ichika may remember that.

But for now, she looks to Ririka, and then to Tyler. "Ichika Kawase," she introduces herself, because she doesn't have much fear of people using her name. Ririka has already handled what relationship they have, at least. "I heard some rumors," Ichika says to Ririka. "How about you?"

She's... concerned. If Ririka is involved ina ll this too... Well, she doesn't show it for now. Instead she looks at Tyler. "Your friend's cute," she tells Ririka. "What's your name?" To Tyler directly, this time.

Yukari seems pretty surprised by the peacock talking,a nd Ichika shrugs. "...It might as well happen," she says. "Demons, Shadows... Why not a talking peacock too?"

But... someone she knew in elementary school. Ichika looks to Yukari for a moment, and her expression is quite briefly one of sadness.

"...Sucks when you lose those connections," she says. "But I guess you can't get them back, either."

She looks back to Pernelle. "A demon is a weirdo who roams around Sumaru and tries to kill people," she says, reasonably confident. "I guess if you find me a human that fits the same description I'll think about it."

Ten violences!! He does seem intirgued at least. And--

"...Pure hearts, huh?" Ichika asks, and isn't so sure about that one, looking uncomfortable for a moment.

"...The Cardboard Dragon," Ichika says. "Didn't you have the weirdo pun ad with all the colors?"

<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.

    Was that a yes or a not? Maya's not sure, but maybe she can press a little more later, once things clear out. It's got to be overwhelming being swarmed by so many people competing for his attention!

    Let's think positive! Maya's eyes scan the area, and she picks up more-than-a-few faces she recognizes; she smiles at them if she catches them looking at her. Was this place that popular or did this people attract the same kind of people Maya was drawn to?

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.

Kindred souls.

Isn't that just so?

There's nothing more wonderful than discovering people who exist on your own, idiosyncratic wavelength, even if in the most idiosyncratic ways.

It's why Tsumugi opened their doors, after all. And the gamble seems to have paid off well. But not everyone, it seems, makes the cut of their particular interest. By the time the giftbag is ambivalently delivered to Hazuki, Tsumugi's attention is elsewhere -- as if, perhaps, the matter was as perfunctory as one could get for the proprietor of the boutique. They don't even spare a second glance as Pernelle helpfully (??) escorts (?????) Hazuki to the door.

Really -- she just got a story about a peacock chasing her to regale all her friends with.

Who could ever say that isn't a generous exchange?

No; their attention is on everyone -else- as Pernelle actually opens his beak and pronounces his profound peacock prose. There's so many ways to mask what you are from the world, knowingly or not.

But your first time hearing a peacock enunciate human words with perfect, loquacious eloquence, well--

Green eyes shut, and a pleased smile crosses Tsumugi's lips as the varying levels of shocked, incredulous and easy-come easy-go reaches their ears like a little symphony.

Tsumugi lets Pernelle have his fun, basking in the attention; after all, why else make him the star of the show today than to let him indulge his love for the spotlight? Instead, they make their way over to the register to leisurely hop up onto the countertop, one long slack-clad leg crossing the other and gloved hands flattening on the surface beneath them as they give one last sweep of the room.

The foreigner -- Tyler. He sticks out like a sore thumb. It's a curious thing, and his reaction to Hazuki's sad exeunt is equally interesting. Their gaze lingers a moment, before falling on Akari anew. Calling their work art; enthusing about their shop in such a particular way; that charm... Tsumugi's curious if she can see it, too.

Just why this shop is so special.

Well. There's no time like the present to see, is there?

Tsumugi clears their throat once. Somehow it manages to carry over the din of the gathered people in the shop. -Somehow-. Maybe it's that microphone Yukari is so sure exists.

"Congratulations!" they exclaim, and despite the existence of the exclamation point insisting that was an exclamation, the tone is still somehow as understated as ever as they clap (*CLAP*) gloved hands together.

"If you're still here, that means that you've been accepted as potential clientele for Peacock Silk. Whether you choose to make good on that or not, well -- I won't tell you what to do. But maybe you'd like to know what services we offer."

Green eyes sweep the room; and with one languid motion, Tsumugi grandly spreads their arms, coat parting from those slender appendages like a waterfall of black and green fabric as they sweep out as if to encompass the whole room.

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.

"Everything you see on display here today has been modified with special materials you might find in those dark, dangerous corners of the world." They wait exactly two seconds, before their next words come plain and direct: "Materials that can be found in the Dark Hour and Mementos -- materials that you might think of as junk, we've found a purpose for. Simply put: everything here has incorporated those materials to strengthen them for your convenience -- and protection. Everything here has special properties that strengthen them and bolster them."

The twist of their right wrist -- and a little bead, the one Pernelle lost when making his FOWL (get it) CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY appears between Tsumugi's thumb and forefinger. "Right down to the tiniest bead."

Their hand clenches around the bead. By the time it opens -- it's gone again.

"If you're interested in our services, we're happy to talk and give you more answers about what we can do for you." A sidelong glance Katsuya and Tyler's way. "Even if it's just livening up your fashion lives." And a wink follows soon after, a smile curving on black-green lips.

"In the meantime... make sure to butter up Pernelle to the best of your abilities. The centerpiece really is divine." i-is it though

<Pose Tracker> Tyler Gould has posed.

"Ahhh, that makes sense." Tyler replies to Ririka, before extending a hand towards Ichika at the ask of his name. "I'm Tyler Gould, I stay with your sister." Co-ed dorm buildings aren't the world's most common thing by any means, but they're probably a bit more common in America than they are in Japan! Which is why Tyler doesn't think anything of offering this introduction. The 'your friend's cute'? That earns a couple moments of staring as she strikes deep to his core. That's not a reaction he's used to.

And when it happens? It usually foretells trouble.

Yanagi's mention of Jack Frost catches Tyler's ear again -- the bringer of chilly weather might at least have a couple fans in the store today. Then she's smiling at him. Talking to him *directly*, and his gaze turns to her.

For a couple moments, he almost looks like he's looking through her. Considering her words. Considering the suggestion. Considering the implication.

"Faint of heart?" he echoes, inclining his head. "Trust me, my heart wears enough steel to defend me from all this place has to offer..." Beat. "But you know what...?"

His attention now falls on Pernelle. The stare comes first. It's only a moment or two before the words follow, though. "I'd like to place a bid, Pernelle." he reaches into a pocket, there's a little jingling, and then the hand withdraws and opens to reveal a handful of coins. Specifically, five-yen coins. Considered to be a lucky coin in Japan. Eleven of them. Considered a lucky number in the west, along with seven!

"Should you choose mine, you choose good fortune and a better tomorrow than you could imagine today. If not..." he shrugs, and closes his hand. "...then that's your choice, and not my responsibility."

And to Tsumugi's announcement? He tends his head in that direction for a few moments. Protection against the dark? Okay, this store just got a lot more interesting to him. He'll have to inquire further soon enough.

Even if livening up his fashion life kills him in the process.

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.

"A Peacock Silk secret..."

Akari is thrilled to be taken into Saika's confidence in the matter... but, wait, it's not like Saika actually revealed any secrets to her! "Buried treasure is the best treasure," she decides, before correcting, "Well, second best. But it's the *only* way to pass on your secret technique, unless you want to take an apprentice. Or two apprentices, in competition! An epic duel!"

A pause. "An epic leatherworking duel!" Akari decides, a moment later, pointing dramatically. Fortunately, she does not actually jab anyone with her finger. "Challenging each other to make their finest works of art, until finally, they realize they truly understand each other, bound together by ribbons and bonds of love... and thus, pass the test together!!"

...

Akari slowly lowers her finger. And her volume.

Instead of continuing in that vein, she actually answers Yanagi's question. And Pernelle's, possibly even on purpose: "I made it!" she says, brightly. "I like to make a lot of things. Costumes and outfits and everything... My name is Akari. Akari Hoshi! I'm from Sumaru, but I heard about this place and I just *had* to come."

It would be easier to make things, Akari thinks to herself, if she didn't have the worst family for it. They're lucky, to be able to come here and work. And with so much equipment! Akari has to struggle for a lot of hers. Ain't nobody gonna sell a 13- or 14-year-old some of this stuff, even if she could afford it.

She does pull out the charm, though. It's metal; though it's coloured gold, its true material appears to be more like brass. It's not evenly cut either - like something punched through the metal, and then it was filed circular around it. But it's been made with imagination, and for Akari, that's enough; it is, truly, a lucky charm. If perhaps not quite as ostentatious as the centerpiece's. Not really incomplete, but not quite finished either.

But Tsumugi has a speech to make...

Akari looks up at them while they speak... and she blinks, like she didn't understand all of it. But that, for the first time, is a bit of an act. The Phantom Thieves hide themselves, she knows, so that nobody else can identify them. She should do that too. And so she doesn't speak up, though she does hold up the lucky charm so she can see through the hole in the middle, blinking at Tsumugi once before turning to Yanagi and looking at her through it, too.

"It's lucky," she explains, a little lamely. "See? It got me in here! That's very lucky! Normally they don't let middle schoolers in here - " She cuts herself off. Oops! She's tall for her age; she could maybe pass for a little older. Not THAT much though, so it's not really much of a secret, but she treats it like one.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

She appreciates not being pressured more by Yanagi, in the moment. She might wonder, though, about that 'similar power', later. (Yanagi can probably discern that a lot more easily than Ririka can, given the difference in the amount of experience each has.)

"2," says Ririka with a firm nod. She's... admittedly mostly making the bid because they're 'supposed' to. (Though the centerpiece is, no doubt, very cool.)

But also she just really likes music, so any excuse to make more music... well...

She gets like that.

And then she turns her attention back to Ichika. "Found a post online," she replies. She's concerned, too, for her sister. They might need to take some time to sit down and have a chat.

This might not be that time.

She calls Tyler cute, though. "Hmm?" She looks to Tyler, as if she hadn't considered the possibility. "Oh, sure." (Sterling endorsement, there...)

She blinks "Wait, Demons?"

But she turns her attention as Tsumugi starts to address them. She sucks in a sharp breath at the mention of the Dark Hour. That one is familiar to her by now.

Everything's been modified, huh...? Interesting... she might look into that more later.

Tyler introduces himself, but the way he does it-- 'stay with your sister.' Ririka blushes and rapidly says, "He means we're at the same dorm, which is co-ed, and definitely has a girl's side and a boy's side, and we all hae our own rooms. Nobody's 'staying with' anybody else!"

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari furrows her brow at Katsuya's obliviousness, studying his expression and deciding...!

... he's absolutely clueless. It's not an uncommon trait in guys, so she accepts it pretty quickly. "Right. Well... there are worse things to moonlight as in your line of work. Coolest probably pays pretty well right?"

She's not gonna bluntly press him if he's dating Maya publically after all. Even if that would explain why he let the two pink guns go...

And Maya's response gets a weird look from Yukari, "The cover. Right..." Pauuusseeee, lonnnggggg pauuuusseeeee, as she murmurs to herself "... Maybe Coolest got bought by the people who run those tabloids on the pyramids being built by aliens..."

It's not like she doesn't think a talking peacock is a VALID story... just, how do you PROVE it to people if you're the only outlet reporting on it? No one is going to believe that!

Except for aforementioned Alien Architectural Fanatics.

Saika speaks to her on luck and Yukari listens to her and- "Uh... huhhhh. Doesn't sound too different from what some of those Wang Long trenders say..." She says, suspicious that they're weaving that into a sales pitch.

Yanagi though, the more she talks to her, the more Yukari gives her a strange look, "Uhhh have we... met before? You sound kind of familiar." Of course, she'd have a hard time placing Yanagi's face in all the chaos, her eyes were... pretty much in one place, so she only remembers the sound.

"Huh? Well of course." She replies to Yanagi, "Who would just take it at face value that a Peacock is talking to them?" Here at least. If it were the Dark Hour - or Demons were around, she'd draw different conclusions! But- this is weird to her!

"Why does the peacock sound a little familiar too?" She murmurs to herself, wondering if there's some ventriloquist in the room or... something.

Merry gets a weird look from Yukari, "Which means it's best not to hand them over, right?" RIGHT? Don't poison the store mascot!!! Akari though she takes a softer touch with as a kid just a few years younger, "Well corn's probably okay... and garlic probably just adds a little flavor... I guess it's alright?"

Ichika though causes her to double take, "Aha... good oneeee..." She says, with a chuckle, on the subject of Demons and Shadows existing because she's not going to say anything on that here if she can help it.

Pernelle speaks of Ravens, "Oh yeah! Right- wait why is that important!?" As she goes through a gamut of emotions on the idea of being told not to forget corvids.

But the story is the only thing that's important?
What she offers is WITHOUT EQUAL?

Sorry my Mom says I can't play with you anymore.

I know what she told her.
But she's wrong.
They're all wrong.

That was a long time ago, Takeba-san.
Look... I've gotta go.

Despite her best efforts to seem casual, her expression is just briefly a little further away, a little sad.

"They're just from an old charm bracelet..." She whispers, "... nothing special. Sure. I was going to get rid of them anyway."

Was she? Certainly people who are don't just keep them in a bag at the bottom of her purse.

Perhaps she was hoping for a different outcome. A future that never happened.

Ichika's comment though, she just sort of snaps back into focus, "Yeah it happens. I moved around a lot as a kid." Like that explains everything.

But that's not why it happened.

Which is when Tsumugi announces, "Omedetou!" (CLAP CLAP) "Huh!?" Initially surprised, she looks around the store and realizes it's just them left. "Wait really?!" As she wonders on a few folks being a part of this world. "Well... that does sound useful." She says with a slow nod, before...!

The centerpiece really is divine!? "Is it though?" Yukari says what many people were probably thinking, before she then looks to Pernelle.

"Anyway... yeah. Like, why not? That's my bid."

There are things she can't let go of... but the girl she knew growing up let go of her years ago.

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    Can he guess what Myunghon is planning? He looks over at her. He looks at them carefully, for a long moment. "I am afraid I cannot, Yeo-san," he must admit in the end, capitulating in his imagination-less defeat.

    In many ways, Katsuya is a very lucky man just now, as Maya notices Yukari and waves over at her.

    "A front page story, is it?" Katsuya muses, on Maya's ambitions. Does that mean... his photograph could be on the front page of a magazine? ...A magazine for teenagers, he reminds himself, lest he get a little too carried away with that thought. Besides, what are the odds that his first photograph with professional equipment will turn out properly? Perhaps he should get some more shots just in case. Speaking of--

    Uncomplicated. Forthright? He can agree with both of those. But-- sassy? "Ah, I do not think that I am..." He pauses. "'Sassy'," he says, and it seems about as well-suited with him speaking it aloud as if he had tried to voice some other related adjective instead.

    Like, say, 'sexy'. He should never be allowed to say that about himself or anyone else.

    "Pyrrhul...?" Katsuya tries and fails to echo the bird's name; he may be a particularly well-read man, but this is a particular nuance that he, as one not well-versed in ornithology even by happenstance, has no foreknowledge regarding.

    Umie is here as well? Katsuya glances her way, perhaps wondering after their last encounter in the same moment. But there's no time or possibility of bringing that up just now.

    But it takes him until Tsumugi's announcement to realize something quite important: all of them, the ones still here. They have the qualifications for being clientele of this store. Which, much like the Cardboard Dragon, does other business. "You...?" Katsuya starts and does not finish, assembling the last few pieces on the board before him. "I... see. So you are also in the know..." He glances over at Maya: perhaps, they should bring the rest of their motley to this place as well?

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.

 
"You could have an entrance AND an exit theme," Saika tells Pernelle, eyes wide. "Or a ring theme and an image song!" The musical bid is making her look at Ririka in consideration. A true musical heart...

Saika puts her hands on her hips for a moment, even as she pivots from 'rizzing up' Mr. Gould (as kids not yet born might say) and looking at Myunghon. "Ahhh, so you're also a small shop owner. It's hard out there, isn't it, huh? I mean, the big chains just keep expanding, even if the economy's keeping the growth from being totally tentacular."

But then, Tsumugi speaks. Claps their hands together. Draws the eye. Just as a peacock might.

Saika's lips quirk for a moment. Her eyes turn to others nearby. Akari gets it, but that might partly be a height thing. Maya. She's looking towards somewhere else WHEN: An epic leatherworking duel is proposed! Her eyes swivel back towards Akari, eyes widening - widening more - widening even more. "You've got guts, Hoshi," she says with a firm nod, and her tone is somehow a little different than its generally been.

Akari also reveals she's a middle schooler. Saika winks in passing, but then she has to turn her focus towards the belts. "So! Nice to meetcha all! I'm Saika Kikuchi, and I do the leather goods here. Now... You're probably thinking that I skinned a snow demon to make these belts when you look at the color... and I didn't."

Pause.

"BUT!!" Saika says, twisting up the belt with all the metal studs on it. "These things here? You don't want to know where they're really from, and I had to get the coarse file out of one of Yanagi's sets -- sorry, I'll comp you," this towards the jeweler, and then back to the floor. "And cleaned them up. They're not just steel."

Saika is silent afterwards. There might be the space when you'd think 'that's when she'd reveal what they REALLY are' but instead she just lets the belt down. Slowly. Respectfully.

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

Ichika looks at Tyler while he stares at her, and considers him a few moments longer. Her shiny black lips press together. Then, she seems to make a decision--and smiles, it could almost be called good-naturedly. "Yeah, I heard about the co-ed dorm. But different wings, right? I get it."

She lookst o Ririka instead. Then, "Hm. A post. Well, fair enough." A pause. "Heh." Of course she hadn't thought about it. He's a dormmate! Ririka doesn't really get onto that subject the same way Ichika does...

"Yeah, demons. Like the one that tried to take my best friend's skin off to 'clean' them."

Yukari, though... Hmm. Ichika nods along. It happens. "Makes sense. I lost some friends moving for schools, too."

She can be civil with Yukari--just guarded. She considers Akari for a moment, too. Artistic, and... Lucky? Hm. But she looks back at Tsumugi as they talk. Saika she missed the colorful welcome from, but Tsumugi...

"Yeah," Ichika says. "I need stuff like that. I've got a place I need to explore. So whatever help you can give me that I can afford, I'll take."

Pause. "...The fashion's nice, too," she admits. "I like trying new clothes. But mostly, I've got trouble I'm looking to get into, and I want to get back out of it again when I'm done."

She turns to Saika. "...I'm not vegan or whatever so I don't really care what they're made from if they work."

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.

    The Cardboard Dragon in Sumaru City? Yanagi's dark eyes light up! "Oh! I've heard of your shop! I'm in Hirasaka Ward on the regular, and I've been meaning to stop by for ages!" she enthuses to Myunghon. "I'll definitely have to stop by soon!" Ichika comments about the colored ad, and she nods enthusiastically to that too. "Yes! I saw that ad, it was so funny! But I was sick that night, so I couldn't come by..." She beams at Myunghon. "I'm so glad you came to us, Myunghon!"
    
    Wow, she's just immediately jumping to yobisute, isn't she? But then, why not? They are, after all... birds of a feather.
    
    "I'm Yanagi Nagisa," she replies, both to them and to Akari, now also introducing herself to her. "Sumaru is a fascinating place, isn't it? Mr. Tomi's services have been an incredible boon to me." She takes in the charm itself; it is indeed made with imagination, and she leans in to get a better look. "You made this? How splendid! You'll fit in very well here!
    
    She giggles at Pernelle's delighted dancing over the offer of two songs. That is precisely the kind of offer to sway his heart! How fortunate for Ririka that she's a musician! "I do like that one too," she tells him. "You're really spoiled for choice today, Pernelle! I told you it would be worth ten!" And two songs are equivalent to ten, apparently. Numbers... are fake!!
    
    (don't ask how this shop stays in business (crime (it's all the persona crime.)))
    
    As Maya looks around the store, she catches Yanagi's eye. She offers her a smile and a wave with her free hand. She's not a familiar face to her in either direction, but this is the reporter who's going to make Pernelle into a star! (If Pernelle can ever give a straight answer.) "I look forward to reading your article~!"
    
    Tyler is staring at her. Staring through her. Yanagi looks back at him and watches him in return, waiting patiently for his response. She chuckles when he does. "Not all times and places are made equal. But it's true you did survive that night," she replies. She listens to his bid, and claps a hand to her cheek. "My~!" As someone who also made up nonsense about luck tonight, she appreciates his approach!
    
    Tsumugi speaks up then. She falls silent to give them the floor, watching them as they congratulate everyone, then explain what Peacock Silk is all about--first coyly, then in blunt terms. Her smile widens. That smile turns to Yukari as she muses about something about Yanagi seeming familiar. This one has good instincts.
    
    "Is a talking peacock truly stranger than Demons and Shadows?" she asks her instead. And maybe she'd tease her with being coy and mysterious for a moment longer, except--
    
    "Ehhh? So that's where my coarse file went!" Yanagi pouts at Saika, though it's more playful than anything else. "I'll hold you to that, Saika!"

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    My my. So Officer Suou has the purest of hearts, according to Pernelle? But Myunghon is called upon to raise their bid, and then there's an extravagant little smile as they acquiesce and hold up their silk-gloved hands to reveal... nothing. "My apologies, dear Pernelle, I appear to have run out of cookies. This, it would seem, is the extent of my bidding prowess."

    Ichika catches wind of their introduction, though, and there's a smile as they nod towards her in turn. "Ah, yes, I remember the one! I do not remember... *punning* per se, though...?" Time to see if they can get a little more of what Ichika is truly meaning. Could it be? At this point, they don't know Ichika is the Thorn Boss -- or that they're connected to Tsubasa. Or Gumiho, one failed challenge to another.

    And indeed, is that not the most wonderful thing? Idiosyncracy attracts idiosyncracy, even when nothing is shared amongst them. But compared to Yanagi and Pernelle and Saika, the very Peacock Silk -- Tsumugi Kujaku -- has been quiet in turn. What is their deal...? Excited and snared by the wonders of this place, Myunghon wants to know more.

    Then Tsumugi makes it official -- now that they're still here, they are accepted as potential clientele of the Peacock Silk. Their eye scans around the room again. Umie and Officer Suou. Amano-san. Takeba. These are all confirmed 'yes'. The others...? Ririka was at least involved with the supernatural, and Akari... so, Baronette Lune may very well be...

    ...

    Oh. Ohhh. Tsumugi's just making it very clear now what they're about. They're not mincing their words, using terms like 'Dark Hour' and 'Mementos'. There's no plausible deniability left here. Ha ha... so that's your play?

    In a way, every client here has been outed *to each other*, whether they wanted to or not. Myunghon's eye is around the room again to see if there is just that, that discomfort. "Hmm. I see. It is well to have another source of Cognitive protection, when traversing the ill tunnels of Mementos."

    Just like that... the chances of everyone else in this room has become a 'yes'.

    "I am honoured, Kujaku-san," Myunghon answers the proprietor effortlessly. "I have been in the market for a new tailor lately, and I feel that you could meet the... tactical demands that I require." There's a delighted little smile. "I look forward to being a patron of your business."

    A vivid chuckle in turn to Yukari. "I suppose so. Perhaps I should recruit you on what the recommended diet of a resplendent peacock is?"

    Katsuya admits that he cannot imagine what Magic Series Experiment they're up to, and there's a little 'tsk' and a sympathetic look at the police officer. "Salacious, palacious! I'm simply looking for some magical real estate this time. Don't worry, though -- I know you've plenty on your hands. I hope the bakery was able to help you out, however."

    Yanagi decides to just jump to yobisute, but Myunghon doesn't seem rattled in the slightest -- and perhaps they appreciate their pronounciation, too. Not someone who's easily caught off-guard. When Yanagi's eyes light up and she mentions how she's in Hirasaka on the regular, though, there's a more fond smile as the ad is mentioned again.

    "Hmm hmm... yes, this truly was worth the trip out here. And please, you're welcome anytime. Businesses that have a specific clientele like yours and I have to look out for each other," Myunghon has a gentle little bow, perhaps a bit more masculine to their very femme appearance right now. But they like to transgress the bounds of gender.

    Yanagi Nagisa. A beautiful name. "It's my pleasure, Nagisa-san."

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    To be fair, Myunghon, that was about vacations! Not apartments. "Wait, were you... oh." Umie coughs discreetly. "Right. That kind of apartment." They're going to have to do that Palace meeting soon.

    Also, Myunghon caught Umie when she was thinking about being a normal person.

    Alas...

    As Tsumugi opens his arms wide. Umie makes a face. _How was she found out?_

    Wait. Maybe, she was simply overlooked.

    No, she *needs to find out*. "... So how could you tell?" she says, suddenly adopting a more guarded tone. "Or is everyone here just the people you *think* are relevant?"

    There's plausability in all of it, but the little blackbird seems to be interested in seeing where the strings lie.

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.

The centerpiece IS divine though!!

"The does sweeten the pot!" Pernelle declares to Ichika with a rustle of his train. How... how many people like that could Pernelle possibly know...

Tyler offers a bid now, and Pernelle perks up to receive it. He cranes his head around, and gives a an experimental peck to one of the yen coins with a gasp. "The five number!" he declares, looking to the others of Peacock Silk with a 'see, see?!' sort of waggle. His attention goes back to it. "Eleven of the five... This is precisely, exactly, eleven times my original asking price at the moment of its birth. How..." he pauses, looking upward. "... artistically coincidental!"

Another pause as he blinks at the ceiling, and then he ruffles his feathers in delight. "AND you would offer a better tomorrow! An audacious offer!" His gaze snaps back down, looking Tyler in the eye as well as a peacock can. "... By what law of nature is this promise bound?"

Akari answers the question, but in her own mysterious way! Curious and curiouser, as Pernelle likes to say. Or think, as it were. He stalks a circle around her once, observing, and then goes to consider his other offers.

Yukari confirms her own. Pernelle watches her in silence for a long time.

It breaks to address Katsuya. "Sassy," Pernelle affirms, holding eye contact with Yukari a moment more before spinning to Katusya with a flourish of his wing. "Is this not the first impression you desire to imprint upon the world before you? The impression that you shall stamp your silhouette into the masses with?"

He nods solemnly. "Enthralling bid, a 'first impression.'" He's counting that?! He's counting that.

Myunghon has no more cookies to give! Pernelle... flops onto the ground abruptly, wings and legs spread out as if he had been flattened. "No..." Yet he is as quick to recover, flapping back upright.

"Ah, Yanagi, you know I do not have it in my heart to doubt you! But I do admit..." Pernelle preens again. "...This is a dizzying turn out. So fervent their yearning. So ardent their longing! But! Only one may grasp the purse. It must leave my talons and join its ensemble into one patron, and one patron only!"

He flaps up to the centerpiece, looming over his purse and the other more aesthetically pleasing pieces, looking to Tsumugi.

"I have determined the winning bidder."

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.

Akari continues to be defiantly possibly-not-a-Persona-user.

"Tomi...?" It's clear she doesn't recognize that name - and that's not even acting, she really doesn't. What does Akari need with a chiropractor? Her back is perfect! But the rest makes her proud. "Thank you! I really want to study - well, making things like this more. I'm mostly self-taught, except the bits and pieces I learned... there's a lot of tutorials online these days."

Most of those are for costumes, of course.

Akari grins at Saika. "That's what people say! Akari Hoshi's got guts, ha ha ha!" A beat: "Well, not really, usually. But I wish they would!" She does look at the belts again. "I bet they're forged in unearthly fires," she says, apparently dead serious. And then she asks the dangerous question: "...how much do they cost?"

Other than that, she listens in to the supernatural chat. Some of it she pretends she doesn't understand. Some of it actually *does* go over her head; she's going to have to look up some things when she gets back. But there's one thing she's sure of.

"Demons..." She trails off, before blurting out, "I'm going to prove I saw a demon to the other kids at school, someday! I heard about one... did you know? The Turbo Granny - someone saw her down at the Giga Macho! She's got something called the High-Speed Title. I bet if I showed that, they'd be convinced..."

"...but I never actually saw her," she finishes with a huff. "Demons are never around when you want them to be!"

Wait, is Akari not a Persona User, but some sort of... Demon Chaser??

<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.

    Maya and Katsuya haven't known one another especially long; they were only brought together by their shared investigation. But she knows with a glance what Katsuya's silently communicating.

    She nods in response. Besides that, she doesn't trust anyone but Ulala to do her accessorizing for her.

    "We can hit two birds with one stone," Maya says, pun not intended as there will be no violence against birds at this time. "I can get a little more fluff for my piece then, too."

    She's about to open her mouth to say more when she's interrupted by Pernelle's declaration.

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"Yeah it just happens." Is her easier reply to Ichika. She wishes acting like it meant nothing could take the sting off of it but...
 
... there's nothing to be done. She won't move on for someone else in her life, but maybe she needs to here.
 
Yanagi then takes her off guard with the question, despite it not being too different from the other, "Uhhh well? It kinda is? Like. If I put an Evoker to my head right now... nothing would happen, right? A peacock that talks here is... a little- no a lot weird!"
 
Merry strikes and- "Whuh-huh? I wouldn't Iiii... don't know the first thing about birds and what they eat really."
 
Before she then adds, almost like an aside, "Much less talking birds." Pernelle holds her gaze and she wonders still about the lack of microphone.
 
"If he were for real... he'd be offended right?"
 
Who says he's NOT Yukari? Maybe he's just TOO POLITE?
 
... No that's silly, he's a bird, of course that's not true.
 
Yukari looks sideways at Akari and blinks, "Turbo Granny? Isn't she just some weird old Urban legend?" She murmurs again.
 
They've covered Demons...! Shadows! Even a talking peacock! (She's still on the fence about the talking peacock)
 
But an Urban Legend? That's a step too far.
 
Yukari Takeba will never stop being suspicious about everything.
 
And that's when she groans at Maya's statement, because she definitely thinks it is indeed... a pun. And she takes morale damage from it.
 
Ikutsuki already has long had her in the negatives.

<Pose Tracker> Tyler Gould has posed.

"No law of nature, Pernelle." Tyler replies, staring back with those unblinking eyes. "Because fortune -- good, or bad, isn't contained by nature. Nature is contained by it."

It took a moment, but everything Tyler does seems to run on his own time. Responses spaced out by icy stares. Total attention when he's speaking to someone, and Saika gets the 'honor'(?) next.

"You're an excellent salesman," he compliments(?), his tone the same monotone as ever. "...but hope is for those who haven't seen the world's truths, and most wouldn't appreciate the spirits I... 'get into'" He pauses here, blue eyes darting sideways for a moment to peek towards Tsumugi. "Though perhaps you might." Given what they sell here, after all!

Then Ririka's getting flustered and that gets Tyler's attention, the boy watching her wordlessly for several moments before asking, simply, "...isn't that what I said, Ririka?" Oh, language and culture barrier! How great thou art.

Ichika gets his attention next, and he nods along to her confirmation about the wings, "Right. Boys on one side, girls on the other. Failure to abide by this leads to..." he pauses, pulling out the little dictionary from his pocket to look up the word he wants. "...dismemberment. Not very creative, but..."

Shrug.

And his attention returns to Saika, now. "Saika, it's good to meet you too. You're the one behind the leather, huh? Good to know." His favorite jacket is made of that material! "...so, if your designs really will provide protection against the things that go bump in the night, I'll definitely have to return when there's... less of a crowd." Crowds are uncomfortable. They force socialization. *ALL* the socialization.

Although Akari's talk of demons? That's a force of a different nature. "Demons are always around when you want them to be. Just not usually where you're looking." he speaks in her direction, raising his voice just a couple steps to try and ensure he's heard.

Then, Pernelle's making the announcement, and it's time for the drumroll...

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Saika suggests entrance and exit themes! Ring themes and image songs! "Yeah!" eclaims Ririka excitedly. "Those would be awesome ideas!" Sure, it's not exactly vendor trash she found in a cognitive space, but... she made that bid before she heard that detail. It's fine. "I've never written theme songs of r a peacock..."

She might find time to wonder about what those studs are 'really' made of later.

Dormmate is a much better way to put it. But then she pales a little. "Wh-whoa-- that... did that really happen?" She means about the skin thing. "That sounds..." She shivers a little. "Gruesome. I haven't seen anything like that..."

"... What kind of places?" What's Ichika getting into... maybe they need to compare notes.

Yanagi mentions that Sumaru is interesting. "Iiiinteresting is one way to put it." She had a decidedly weird experience there yesterday that she's still trying to sort out.

Ririka glances at Myunghon. Are they familiar? She's not really sure--she was pretty idistracted a few nights ago...

But she perks up as Pernelle says he's determined the winning bidder. She's curious, some of the offers seemed really interesting... or at least, Pernelle called them that, and she's inclined to take his word on that.

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.

Announcement made, one ambivalent little hop sends Tsumugi back onto their feet once more with the synchronized *CLICK!* of heels. Gloved hands tuck into their pockets as they take stock of the others; and when they land on Akari, offering up that blinking, bemused expression?

Tsumugi responds with a wordless little wink before their attention turns towards the first to directly answer their offer:

I've got a place I need to explore. So whatever help you can give me that I can afford...

Green eyes regard Ichika. Hooded though that gaze is, it is -sharp-, like it's simply piercing through Ichika for a few moments of intense scrutiny. Her outfit. Herself. Their head tilts.

"Leather," they decide, "and danger. Hm." And just like that, they nod to themself, as if in confirmation. "That'll work. We can provide you exactly what you need."

And just like that, decision made, they wave a hand through the air as if to dismiss the very idea of affordability. "Payment - like all things in life - is negotiable. Provide the material, and we'll give you a discount. Provide something -truly- interesting... consider the work free of charge. You'll find some of us are fairly uninterested in money."

And yet they clearly put a lot of it into this shop. Which might beg the question of 'how'--

"Set up an appointment with us."

But is that really important, in the moment?

Not to Tsumugi, it isn't, which is why their attention smoothly turns to Myunghon as they offer their gratitude for the opportunity. Did Tsumugi set up a cunning little trap, where everyone was now responsible for everyone else's secret? Did they just want to know what might happen if they did?

Maybe. Maybe not. But their smile is effortlessly unconcerned as they turn to face Myunghon, press a gloved hand over their heart, and dip in a shallow bow. Eloquent, efficient. Gentlemanly.

"Then I'll be happy to provide you whatever you need," they offer Myunghon. "Tailoring happens to be my specialty. Please, stop by any time." They stand. And, as ambiguous as they've been since the start, they offer Myunghon one last thought:

"I think we'd have a lot to talk about."

They'd say more, but, well. Umie has something she just -has- to know.

How could you tell?

Maybe it's a general question, meant for everyone to hear the answer to. But Tsumugi feels differently.

Which might be why they are smoothly and suddenly moving into Umie's personal space, ducking down, and whispering a simple thought:

"You pet the bird."

And with that, they rise once again, a black smile a fleeting sight as they turn their back to Umie and lift a hand in a wave.

"Come by soon."

But there's a debate being had! And it's just as Pernelle affirms his belief in Katsuya Suou's spicy style--

That Tsumugi is suddenly just -there- next to Katsuya, leeeeeaning in and staring with wide, wondering eyes. -Assessing- eyes.

They stay like that for what seems like ten (that's as many as 10 ones!) seconds before they say two whole entire words, damningly flat:

"Hello, Sassy-san."

And just like that they're leaning back again and looking back Pernelle's way as he readies himself to declare the big announcement like nothing just happened and Katsuya's new nickname was not just immortalized forever, a symbol if the true style of his soul.

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.

 
"The belts...? Well, right this moment we're not trying to ruin the mood, y'know, we wanna focus on HIS big moment, but, check with me after -- ah," Saika tells Akari, before trailing off.

For a bidder has been determ-- WHAT? Her head turns to look towards Akari as she speaks curious words. Saika's brow knits. Curiosity is visible on her face.

Even so, to Tyler, Saika looks upwards slightly. She purses her lips for a moment at what he's saying. This, too, seems to inspire her thoughts. Lips pursed, she returns her attention to Pernelle, taking a half-step to the side. This is putting her nearer to Ririka, although that may simply be a matter of there only being so many different places where she could stand in the shop.

Or she's positioning herself for when the truth is revealed.

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.

Akari accepts this answer from Saika. She just gives a nod - she'll ask later. She'll figure it out later, if she decides to do it at all. Well, she doesn't have that much money, anyway...

But then Yukari asks her a question. And Akari just *looks* at her.

"Yes?" she says, as if this is a trick question she's not sure why she's being asked. "But she's ALSO a demon. Chupacabra is a demon too! And Aka Manto! And the Curse of the Colonel is why the Hanshin Tigers can never, ever win. They say they found most of the statue but the hand was stolen by demons, and only brave adventurers can descend into Hell itself to retrieve it and let the Tigers win the Japan Series...!"

Okay. So she's just weird. Is that better or worse? And in Sumaru, is she even wrong?

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.

    After all, Yanagi is in many ways also an outsider to "proper" Japanese society--someone who grew up disabled, a "burden" taking away more resources than they put in--and so she's unfazed by a Korean immigrant. It's more important to her that they have the supernatural in common, and even more than that, supernatural stores in common.
    
    "Yes, I quite agree!" she enthuses. She giggles at Myunghon's gender-queering in a way that shows she's charmed--after all, they work with Tsumugi, someone quite like Myunghon and will no doubt meet and exceed their needs for a tailor. "You can call me Yanagi~. Oh, but only if you want to! You can do as you please here," she tells them matter-of-fact. "And so too will we."
    
    That's Peacock Silk's version of the social contract.
    
    "You should! You have a keen talent," Yanagi tells Akari firmly of studying the art of accessory-making. (She does not explain "Tomi.") Even if Akari is somehow not a Persona User, if she made an accessory with a shard of an Agathion's pot, there is something there worth nurturing. "You must show me your next piece!"
    
    Her head tilts at Akari's declaration about the Turbo Granny. That's not what catches her attention, though. "Hmmm... Why do you want to prove it to them?"
    
    Likewise, Yukari draws a thoughtful look from Yanagi when she argues that a talking peacock is weird, because this isn't a supernatural space. "Your worldview is quite limited, isn't it? It might seem weird to you, but Pernelle is in fact here, talking. You hear him; I hear him; everyone here hears him." That is, in fact, why they get to still be here. "Doesn't that mean there's more to the supernatural than you're aware of?"
    
    She smiles, sweet as candied cyanide, and tilts her head to one side. "Or are you the type who thinks people are only people as long as they fit the box of your preconceived notions?"
    
    Tyler gets a thoughtful look himself next as he talks about 'hope.' This only gets a soft "hmmm..." though. That turns into a giggle at Ririka's comment on how Sumaru is 'interesting.'
    
    Regardless of how Yukari reacts, Yanagi grins at Pernelle. She may viciously bully him with mentions of Jack Frost, but the two of them are, in the end, still dear friends. "Perhaps we might even say it turned up... to eleven?" she teases. Eleven coins of five! It all ties together!! Because that's how they decided to tie everything together!! That is, after all, how luck works, in Yanagi's view. You make it up yourself.
    
    Ahhh, but then there is that familiar *CLICK* of heels. Yanagi shuts her eyes in a moment of bliss before looking fondly Tsumugi's way. She doesn't hail them; she simply takes a moment to watch them weave through the crowd in their wonderful way, accepting Myunghon's request for a tailor, decreeing Katsuya's Sassy-ness, answering Umie's question with her own actions... Yes... the feelings she has are openly clear on her face. There's nothing there to hide for anyone who happens to look her way in that moment.
    
    But... so Pernelle has made his decision...! Even that supercedes that moment, for this is the climax of tonight's special sale. Yanagi's grip squeezes on her walking stick in anticipation...!

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

Ichika looks back at Ririka. "Yeah, it was a problem. But I drove her off. ...Demons don't think like you or me, I think. They have their own way of seeing the world. I don't know much about it, but... I'm starting to wrap my head around it."

Beat, "You should write the themesongs. That would be fun."

Yukari--it happens. Nothing to be done. That's... true. But it still sucks.

Dismemberment, though. "Yikes," Ichika says. "...Well, I guess that's one way to put a damper on boy/girl stuff. My dorm's girls' only, so..."

Ichika shakes her head. "But I won't believe that, Gould-san. Hope is important. ...If you can't think of a better way for the world to be, even a little, then waht's the point of doing anything?"

"...We can talk later," Ichika says. "When you tell me how you got dragged into this stuff."

For now though, she looks to Pernelle. She's pretty curious.

...And, as Tsumugi says it--that sharp gaze, piercing through her--sh looks back at them. "Cool. But..."

"What's the verdict, pretty bird?"

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    Myunghon gently nods to Umie in turn. "I've done a lot of legwork on the eastern side of Minato Ward, but I could use a bit more help with the real estate." Just openly, amiably chatting about plans out in the open in the public. "I'm sure there's a special little place, just for me!"

    Akari is over there spreading RUMOURS, and Myunghon has to jovially pout to say, "Baronette Lune, come now, you're going to be putting us out of business with how much reach you have! Are you sure you wouldn't like to be a Rumourmonger yourself?"

    Indeed! In many ways, being outside of 'proper' Japanese society is what binds a lot of people here together (even Sassy-san, who perhaps might be too good of a cop for ordinary society), but they truly have the supernatural in common... and then affirms they can just call her Yanagi. "Yanagi it is," Myunghon easily shifts to preference. "I could not help but be taken by your station, and no doubt your jewelcrafting skills will be of great aid in the near and far future."

    One may do as they please -- and so will they.

    There's a pleasureable kind of forward earnestness in that.

    Like posturing Peacocks.

    Yukari gets flustered, and Myunghon can't help but chuckle in turn. "No? I think there's no such thing as too late to find out, isn't there? Given this store, you might even get more benefit out of it."

    And Tsumugi responds in kind to them, and how tailoring is *their* specialty -- oh, they could very much deduce that just from how they're the one wearing the most precise clothing, but it's good to confirm. Myunghon licks their lips and places a finger to their lower lip. Oh, they're *really* excited, underneath that dangerous glint in their eyes.

    "Yes. Yes, I think we definitely do, Kujaku-san."

    Pernelle looks heartbroken by how there are no more cookies, though. Oh, how tragic! There's a delicate smile as they lean over to gesture to the bird to say, "My apologies, dear Pernelle. I shall be sure to bring more delectable cookies and other treats worthy of you the next time we meet."

    Pernelle... has decided a winner?!

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    "The... bakery?" Katsuya echoes Myunghon at first, before the context snaps into place. "Oh, yes. I must thank you for that suggestion, Yeo-san." Indeed, the security footage had been illuminating, even if he did not yet have the identification for the individual in question to crack the case wide open. Soon, though. There is no escaping the arm of the law forever.

    And then Maya makes what just might be a pun. "Amano-kun," he sighs, as if briefly defeated. At least he's not alone: Yukari may well be having similar feelings.

    Sassy, echoes Pernelle as he speaks to him of his preferred presentation to the world, to which Katsuya actually frowns. "Actually, it isn't." He means to cut a smart, professional look, not a--

    Here is Tsumugi, who cuts in to again regard Katsuya thoughtfully, as if he had been there all along. "Er, yes?"

    'Hello, Sassy-san.'

    "Excuse me, that is not my name," Katsuya protests.

    [CONCEPTUALIZATION]: It's already too late, Suou-kun. A nickname has been bestowed. You can already feel it in the depths of your soul, can't you? This name has been branded upon your very being. There is no escape.

                                   DAMAGED MORALE: -1

    This is the part where Katsuya shuts down for a good minute or two, still holding the camera in his hands, a still statue to the outside world. The world, for the moment, has ended.

    Even the fact that Pernelle has decided on a winner is lost to him in this state.

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.

Perhaps Pernelle recovers so quickly because Myunghon offers their promise to bring snacks at their next meeting. "Then I shall yearn for every moment we are apart!" he declares. "Until we part, and until we meet, my friend."

The rivalry between Jack Frost and Pyro Jack is one fiercely writ upon their very natures. On this one thing, Pernelle and Yanagi cannot agree. But is there not a beauty and a bond in eternal conflict? For one hee can never ho over the other. (what does that even mean)

Pernelle bobs another excited dance with Tyler's response. "Impeccable answer! I do not know that I agree, but I do not know that I do not! A great many much muchness to consider."

This peaock is polite when he wishes to be! Which is sometimes. Perhaps even today! What do talking birds eat, anyway? "There is little I would not devour for sustenance and the experience of its consumption. But tell me... have you ever had the privilege of consuming the golden egg known as... a tater tot?"

Has he also outed Umie with his adorable antics and tricksy ways? Was it a trick? A LIE? A BETRAYAL? Well, she did get to pet the bird.

Pernelle abandons Sassy-san Katsuya to his fate so that he may declare the winner.

He clears his throat and spreads out a single wing. "I am a lover of many arts. Of song. Of war. Of culinary delight. Philosophies, and first impressions, and the arbitrary number of ten, now turned eleven. However, this day, our divine and unique prize, never to be recreated, must be let go of my own possession, and passed to another: only one other, for only one exists. The grand artistry now belongs to..."

Slowly, Pernelle scans the group for dramatic effect, back, and forth, and then precisely upon Yukari.

"... The girl who pays in ten priceless, absolutely nothing special baubles, wrest free of the bangle that once held them together in unity."

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    Umie, confident and coy, is not the same way when someone breaches that bubble of distance. Especially when she hears Mai-chan's bell-like laughter, signifying a pleased amusement at what's happening, like a child who came across a delicious slice of cake in the middle of their walk to school. (At least, that's Umie's cognition of what it is.)

    The simple fact is: Umie will always pet the bird, when it sings or displays itself so prettily to her. It's why her role was never to be the detective; the chariot is designed to go forward. A chariot that does not move will rust.

    She will always, always, always be tempted to stroke the peacock's head.

    "Fair enough," she murmurs with a nod, trying to wrap her head around a peacock (_that somehow talks_) that can sort out persona-users. But, is everyone a Persona User here? There's a few she can't sense.

    What a weird and wonderful world, this is.

    "... Sassy.... san," Umie echoes, in an echo of her petting that wonderful tempting Pernelle.

    In order to keep from breaking down into laughter, she focuses on _Myunghon_ instead! "... We'll need to get together and figure out what we've learned about the real estate market," she says discreetly. "I haven't had to look yet, but I could tell you want I know from my own findings."

    Ironically, if Myunghon was talking about apartments all along, Umie would be able to talk about that instead! Just, the inexpensive kinds.

    Wait, Yukari won? What did she win? "Oh, congrats, Takeba-san."

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Akari stares at Yukari, and Yukari stares back despite seeming a little non plussed, "Uhhhh... s-sure?" As if she doesn't want to say 'Santa Claus' isn't real to some foreign kid or something. Suddenly she wonders if Seven Sisters has a really big occult club or something...

Tsumugi is all over the place, like a hummingbird socialite, which is only fitting as the proprietor of a new high end supernatural boutique!?

But what really gets her is 'Hello, Sassy-san.' And Yukari lets out a little snort chuckle, "Oh wow. Talk about a nickname that doesn't describe him... and yet actually really fits?"

Please don't arrest her for laughing.

Yanagi though calls her worldview quite limited and while Yukari looks offended by it, she tries not to reply with reflexive anger or anything. It's true, she doesn't know about as much as she likes about the supernatural.

"Sure?" She agrees, surprisingly, "But I prefer to think of it as treating everything with a healthy degree of skepticism. Everyone who claims to be an expert on the supernatural lately is kind of a weirdo."

Hurtful, yet kinda true.

"I don't want to be taken advantage of because I trusted the wrong people."

But then, Pernelle takes the floor, clearing his throat and Yukari looks upon the object of her skepticism... and he announces that the winner is-!

"Oh hey, I won." She looks a little surprised, like she isn't sure why that logic makes her bid the winning one?

"Uhhh. Well. Sure, why not?" She's sure she can figure out something to do with a hideous bag. Maybe for a Halloween costume? Or... something, she's not sure. As she then walks up to Pernelle. "Here you go."

It's harder to let go of than she realized, to tell herself she can let go. It takes a few seconds too long, before she relinquishes it to the bird.

She then looks upon the horrible misshapen piece of 'grand artistry' and-!

"... Maybe there's something in the bag?"

That probably too much to hope for.
 
As Umie tells her Congrats, "...Thanks, uh. Wow. I really can't believe I won." As she finally takes her winning prize and says in a teenager deadpan, "Such an honor."
 
She'll at least wait for everyone not to be looking before she checks inside.

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.

Seven Sisters does have an occult club (captain: Akari Hoshi; member roster: Akari Hoshi). It's unofficial.

For now.

Baronette Lune is spreading rumours... Akari grins. "I've never thought about being a rumourmonger," she says, thoughtfully - wait, she knows what one is? Well, she *is* from Sumaru. "But I love to hear them! And, here's one... did you know that some stray cats know where treasure is? And if they like you, they'll take you to it... or to DANGER."

Akari is still trying to spread this one. Though, it has its basis in truth, if you count cats in Tartarus... but she's never been to Tartarus.

"Well, I can't show it to you now," Akari says, sensibly, "because I haven't done it yet! But I think I'll be back." She really wants to poke around more in here. There's just so much to look at, how could you look at it all in one grand opening?

Plus, where else is she going to find a fashion place where you can talk to the designers *and* that lets her in?

But why does she want to prove it to them? "...I dunno," Akari says, actually serious for a few moments at least. This is not really true. She *does* know. She knows they call her weird, and normally she doesn't mind that much, because she is weird. But it would be nice to show them that even if she's weird, her weirdness is *authentic*. Even Yukari thinks she's weird, and Yukari was nice to her, in the Cardboard Dragon.

"...but, but! I do. I want to see them all! Because... there's a lot more than everybody believes. Just, everywhere! And they should," Akari says, firmly. "They should believe. Because there's more to life then just - " She waves her arms, frustrated by her lack of ability to put it.

She lets out a puff of air. "I just want to see it all," she repeats. "And I want to show the world what's out there..."

But then, suddenly, she's upbeat again. "Ooh, your bid was accepted! Congratulations!" Is she supposed to clap? She is *not* going to be the first one clapping.

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.

 
The revelation that is Sassy-san gets an eye-swivelling look from Saika. First towards Katsuya, with amused sympathy; and then towards Tsumugi, with sympathetic amusement. But still Saika speaks not. They are awaiting on an announcement. Upon the revelation of a truth.

When the winner is announced...

"WHOOOH!" Saika whoops energetically, before fistpumping in the air once. "I told you you could get ten! Alright! And --!" Saika tells to Yukari, clapping her hands together once and beaming at her. "You've got a really level-headed and middle of the road attitude, and you know, that kind of classic look is the perfect match to these revolutionary images. Sixty five million years in the making."

"So from one level head to another," Saika concludes with another clap,

        "CONGRATULATIONS!!"

"Can we ask you for a photo? If you're OK with that," Saika tells Yukari. "It's one hundred percent your choice, this is totally for promos. If you're worried about student rules, we can even put something on your head to hide your identity."

<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.

    "Woo, woo!" Maya exclaims, pumping a fist as Yukari collects her prize. "Go Takeba-san!"

    Yes, Maya is definitely the embarrassing big sis you can't take anywhere. But at least she's not the only one! Speaking of embarrassing, another person calls Katsuya 'Sassy-san' and Maya can't help but smile a little at his mortified reaction.

    Katsuya was somehow even cuter when he was embarrassed.

<Pose Tracker> Tyler Gould has posed.

"Tyler, please." the afore-named responds to Ichika, giving that a couple moments of weight before answering her other question. "...because if you do nothing, evil wins, Ichika. I don't act because I hope I'll make a change... I make the change."

Then Pernelle announces the winner and...

Tyler nods in Yukari's direction, raising his hands to offer a slow clap for her. This and Saika's can be your cue to join in, Akari! "Well done, you outbid us all." ...he didn't catch the full meaning of the beads with everything else going on, but he's still going to congratulate the winner nonetheless!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Ririka pauses a moment as Saika comes closer to her, turning to face her. "Hmm?"

But she looks back to Ichika. "Drove her off, huh...?" She really wants to ask more. And even though the gig seems to be up, as far as 'is anyone else here supernatural' goes... she doesn't. That's better saved for later.

But she does grin. "Well, I have to see if I win the bid first, right? That's how this works, after all."

But the winner is announced... and it's not her. Well, that's okay. She wasn't about to offer to do 10 songs. (Even if the numbers are made up.) That's just... excessive, even for her.

(She would offer to play 10 songs, perhaps, but she felt moved to offer artristry with artistry, as it were.)

She's happy for Yukari for winning, though... that description of it... Well, it makes it sound rather sad, doesn't it? "Congrats, Takeba-chan!"

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"Huh?" Yukari is suddenly taken aback by the effusive praise from Saika over her personality and the cheering between her and Maya... not to mention Tyler and Ririka congratulating her too.
 
"H-Hey, it's a little embarrassing to hear you all heaping all that praise..."
 
But the offer over making a picture, "Uhhhh... Oh, sure, why not? I don't think Gekkoukan has any rules about that... I think that our students can even be models."
 
A beat.
 
"Not that anyone actually is... but the point is, they could be."
 
She doesn't actually seem to mind this kind of thing much, after all... she does like fashion.
 
"So I don't think there's any need to hide my identity or anything."
 
It's different too than Maya in the interview, after all it's not a subject that hits close to home.
 
"Besides, this store has kind of an interesting vibe? I don't mind contributing to that."

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

The verdict comes, and...

"Huh," Ichika answers, looking over Pernelle and then Yukari. "So it's like that?" she asks thoughtfully, and looks down at the beads. It's not lost on her that Yukari has a hard time letting it go, for a few moments. Something like that...

Is that how this place operates?

Is that what they value?

"A feeling that can't be replaced," Ichika reflects. "Letting go of it... Does that make it more valuable?" she wonders. A shake of her head. "...Makes me wish I had something to give you. Maybe then I'd be rid of it."

She's going to have to check out Giga Macho, of course. But...

She considers Tyler. "...Hm. That's one way to look at it."

She looks at Yukari again. "...Heh."

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.

    Yukari not only takes her criticism in stride, but defends her point of view without getting defensive. Yanagi's poisonous sweetness subsides for another thoughtful look. "Hmmm..." She isn't offended by the insinuation of being a weird; she's known that since she was a little girl. It's in being a weirdo that she's finally found a place where she belongs. "There's a difference between trusting the wrong people and refusing to acknowledge what your own senses tell you," she points out back. "But I can understand your point of view. The results of that can be devastating."
    
    She would know that well--not that she was given a choice to do otherwise. Because of that, though, she can acknowledge that Yukari's position isn't borne from closemindedness or a fear of the other. ...Not entirely, perhaps. Yanagi doesn't know her well enough to say that for sure. (But well enough to try to call her out on it? Absolutely.)
    
    Pernelle makes his decree: the purse, and its ensemble, will go to none other than Yukari. Ironic--but given what she offered, she can see how it outpaced even songs or cookies.
    
    There's nothing like a symbol of the severing of bond that chained one down.
    
    "Such an honor! You'll have to find something those accessories go with after all," Yanagi tells Yukari cheerfully, clapping her free hand on her cane-holding wrist. Is she being sarcastic? Who knows?

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.

    To Akari, though, Yanagi says (of her next piece), "Well, of course! When you have done it." She listens to her work through her response--maybe Akari doesn't say at first why she wants to show her classmates, but it's clear she's thinking seriously about it. The answer is ultimately that she wants to see it and she wants to show it--all the weirdness of the world. Yanagi smiles and gives her an encouraging nod.
    
    "That's a fine reason. And you have some interesting rumors. I hope you find that title you're looking for," she replies.

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"Wait... I get all of it?"

Did she not realize this before? Yukari's expression moves from the ugly debut bag to the leather belt, and the bracelet at Yanagi's comment.

Do I even want it?
It's not really my style but...
... Maybe I can make it work?

Look, despite looking less than enthused, she is proud of her fashion cred. She does at least believe that maybe she can make some of it work.

Probably.

The bag in particular uh... well maybe it'd make a good bag for when she's in Tartarus.

"Well, I guess that's fine... sure."

ANOTHER SATISFIED AND ENTHUSIASTIC CUSTOMER!
PEACOCK SILK: WHO WANTS TO GO TO A BORING OLD BOUTIQUE ANYWAY?

(Yukari Might, in this Moment.)

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    Maybe he can pretend this all never happened. Maybe it won't come back to haunt him again, and again over the course of the next few years of his life (and possibly beyond). Maybe he can recover from this! Maybe he can--
    Oh, people are laughing, aren't they. Katsuya continues to stare into the middle distance, his pride and dignity as a man in tatters.

    Katsuya does return to reality before too long, of course: he has his job as a-- photography assistant to attend to, and neither snow nor rain nor the absolute shame of an embarrassing nickname will stay him from his duty.
    It's just also a very good thing he can't read Maya's mind in this moment.

    Oh, Yukari won the items on display. How about that. "Congratulations, Takeba-san," he tells her, acting like he hadn't just had the metaphorical rug pulled out from under his psyche just moments ago and that she definitely hadn't laughed about it. "Amano-kun, would it be a good idea to get her picture?" It seems they might not be the only ones, if she gives her consent, given the question from one of the staff here, of course.

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.

All is quiet in the precious moments before Pernelle's pronouncement. All, except for a quiet sound, droning somewhere from the background of the crowds--

"buhduhduh-duhduh-duhduh-duhduhduh."

--

Yes. There's Tsumugi, standing in the back wings of all their gathered, new clientele, hands in their pockets, expression utterly detached.

Giving the world's flattest drumroll without so much as a blink.

And then -- the announcement. The drumroll stops for Pernelle's eloquent speech. Tsumugi watches, expectant, as the possibilities of Pernelle's choice winnow down...

... to the only one it could have ever possibly been, when the peacock gleaned the nature of those absolutely nothing special baubles.

"Hah," Tsumugi exhales to themself, a smile fractionally broader than any of the others they've offered this day dancing at their black-green lips.

Soon enough, gloved hands are coming together to join Umie, Saika and any others who partake. If Saika is a fountain of enthusiasm, Tsumugi is, well,

                            "Congratulations~."

a deadpan sing-song ode to disaffection.

But it's the sentiment that counts.

(but what is, exactly, the sentiment there--)

Their attention turns in the aftermath. The ensemble served its purpose for them, after all -- and provided them more than a few interesting curiosities in the process. They only pause for a second as Yukari blankly wonders over the use of the bag. Maybe there's something inside?

"Pernelle's pride," Tsumugi answers, not very helpfully.

"It's a powerful thing. Savor it." A second passes, and Tsumugi waves a gloved hand through the air.

"Or don't~."

(if yukari looks inside, pernelle's pride looks suspiciously like a cat's cradle of poorly-sewn string, but. maybe it's symbolic)

With that, their attention turns toward Akari once more as she speaks to the others. I just want to see it all, Akari says -- and as if summoned, Tsumugi slowly leans into her field of vision, hands in pockets.

"Then I think you'll like it here," they say, simply. "The door's always open to you; you understand this place better than most."

And so, they slowly slide out of Akari's field of vision, offering as they go: "And if you do come back, be sure to bring more rumors with you, will you? I'd love to hear everything you can find."

Back to the register they go. And as they do, they pause to look over their shoulder, as if something dawned on them.

"Ah -- the shop will stay open for a few hours longer. Chat, ask questions. Enjoy yourselves. If you're interested in coming back, feel free to leave contact information." A second passes. They half-turn to look Maya's way.

"And if you want that interview with Pernelle, come by again. Wrangling his attention is a delicate process."

And that is their final thought as they make themself comfortable at the register once more--

"Oh. You can bring Sassy-san with you too, if you want. You have an adorable assistant."

--oh, no. Now they're done.

It's not their fault. There's just something so -satisfying- about teasing Katsuya they can't put into words--

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.

When she eventually looks inside the giftbag, Hazuki will find a card. A very lovely, exquisitely crafted card, with gold filigree and made of durable, smooth material.

The card says one thing, quite simply:

                             Congratulations!

And that's it.

Hazuki Nakao Gets:

                    One (1) Essence of Disappointment!

                        This card looks resplendent
             yet ultimately fails to live up to its splendor.
                                   Alas.

                     THIS ACCESSORY PROVIDES NO BUFFS
                      AND MAY ACTUALLY BE A HINDRANCE

<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.

    "I'll ask her just to be sure!" They need to make sure that everything's by-the-books, but she still signals for Katsuya to take the shot, anyway. She'll even let him take his own liberties! But then, they're interrupted once again --

    -- and Maya will definitely be back with Sassy-san. And the others, too.

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"Oh sure. I'd be happy to."

Why did Yukari chuckle mid-photographic attempt by Katsuya Suou?

Be sure to get my good side, Sassy-san.

It's a mystery to everybody.

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    As prompted, he takes the shot of Yukari. This works out. It's probably even fine, despite Katsuya's inexpertise with a camera. But why did she laugh, just there? Perhaps he's deliberately chosing not to dwell on that fact.

    And then, they're interrupted.

    "A-adorable??" he sputters, as if that were the worst part of the entire statement from Tsumugi. Helplessly, he looks at Maya. Unfortunately, there is no help to be found there.

    None at all.

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.

Though Akari gave an honest answer - she *does* want to see everything - it is not complete.

She wants so much more than that. She wants to change her future - to change the world, so that nobody's ever in the same position as her again. To let people be what they truly, truly want to be... Here her goals are fuzzy, undefined. She hasn't really thought it through this far. She doesn't know how to make them real.

But she knows she does not want to be put in a box, a cog in a machine. Not now, not ever.

Her actual response to Tsumugi doesn't really show that, though; just a brief hint behind the eyes, perhaps, that there's more there than Akari usually lets on. "I'll definitely come back," she agrees, both with Tsumugi and Yanagi.

...

"But maybe not so late, on a weekday..." Because her phone is buzzing in her pocket, reminding her that yes, she has to get home at a fairly reasonable time, because, despite everything... she must still go to school tomorrow.

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.

 
"Heyyy! Thank you so much! Tell all your friends!" Saika enthuses to Yukari.

After this, to Ririka - mostly in passing - "I was getting in position to congratulate you, since I thought he was gonna go with you! But, you know, it's really his decision -- hold on, I have to check this photo."

SOON

Saika is immediately next to Katsuya. "Uh-huh. Right. Hold on, let me get the cable so I can get that from you before you run off..."