Isn't Every Jacket I Own "Fur-Lined"? || EMI

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When the young man felt a pair of palms pressing against his upper back, he would understand that his outing had truly begun.[break][break]

“Get it over with? No way! These are the only school years I’ll ever have. If anything, I feel like I haven’t made the most of the time, and it’s almost over already!” Emi wasted no time launching her spiel, pushing her friend into the store itself. Or, at least, trying to. Neither of them were under the illusion that she could win in a contest of strength, but it was fun to act like she could.[break][break]

“Actual school, anyway. Got its ups and down compared to home life. Mostly ups, but I can’t say I love all of the other students, and the whole ‘lack of personal space’ thing… takes a lot of getting used to.” At some point, the hybrid might try to see the source of the voice. It was unmistakably Emi, alright, with a more casual touch. A cream braided sweater dress dropped just past her wrists, and not very far down her thighs. Fringe boots covered most of her lower legs. Her ponytail had been pulled through a black baseball cap, adorned by a pair of yellow badges. Tame, but still stylish. Or at least, that was what Emi had decided. Good luck telling her otherwise.[break][break]

“That aside, today’s fashion day, right? Don’t worry, I’ve been styling myself for years now.” If Chimera hadn’t already removed her from his backside, she would stroll in front to lead him further in. A pair of mannequins showed off the store’s latest products for men and women – a shawl for one and a jacket for another, the standout pieces in otherwise neutral outfits. The simplicity, it seemed, was a running theme for the brand.[break][break]

Emi had a good idea of where she was going, but if her companion peered off into the other isles, he’d see shelves of hand soaps, living room furniture, towels, more books… Men’s clothes had its own large section in the back of the store, but beyond that, it wasn’t hard to tell why people stayed in the store for hours.[break][break]

“One thing I like a lot about this place – no branding,” she continued as she led the way. “Which is in itself a brand, I guess, but not an obvious one. Saves you the trouble of worrying about whether you’re showing a certain label too much, and making your fans think that you’re a total sell-out. That, and the stuff is pretty basic. Quality, but toned-down. If you’re ever thinking of starting a capsule wardrobe, this is the only stop you’ll need to make.“ She stopped on the heel of her boot, her free foot planting her once she faced him properly. Her eyes looked him up and down judgingly, though that was nothing new. One had to wonder whether she was even aware of it. “Which would work for you, I think. Very versatile, if you do it right.”[break][break]

She swivelled back around and continued on her way. Male fashion began to dominate them on all sides. Lighter jackets, still far from winter-ready. Brushed button shirts and blazers to match. Linen and cotton reigned supreme; if nothing else, Emi had taken her friend’s needs into consideration.[break][break]

“Stop me if I’m going off-track, but somebody like you doesn’t need help standing out, right? If you go crazy with your clothes, you’ll drop straight into gaudy territory. Like, we get it, you exist. That kinda thing. So instead, we go the other way. Find you some really simple clothes, occasionally accentuated by a statement piece or a standout colour. Give yourself an understated elegance, like you aren’t even trying to look cool – it just happens.”[break][break]

She stopped to demonstrate her point, pulling a coat from one of the top shelves. Or rather, a happi attempting to disguise as a coat with its velvet material. She held the front up to him, leaning over so it stopped blocking her view of his reaction. “Is that sounding right to you?”

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“Half a year away is one-sixth of our time in the school. I’d call sixteen percent pretty close, wouldn’t you? And only getting closer every day. There’s no going back once it’s over, and that’s…” His poke gives her as good an excuse as any to abandon that train of thought. Probably for the best. “This is different. If we’re doing, like, hugs and stuff, then I think we’re past the point of keeping a respectable distance. I think. Full disclosure: not an expert with this stuff.” Something told her that he already knew that.[break][break]

“Don’t worry about my style. It’s great, I know-“ Her hand flops against her chest, and half-lidded eyes reaffirmed her words. “But it’s not for everybody. We can have the Hat Talk another time. It’s an art, and we’re not going to get far with it if you’re still figuring out your day-to-day outfit.” There wasn’t a drop of humour in her voice; her friend had set himself up for a painfully long lecture on accessories in the near future.[break][break]

Eyes that had exuded confidence moments before, when paired with pursed lips, became a doubtful stare. “What? No. Come on, I know you live in an… apartment.” A slight narrowing of her eyes gave away that the hamster wheel upstairs was hard at work. “Like, hotel-room-sized. I think. I get the gist. Speaking-of-hotels,” she continued, before he could attempt to mock her. “Capsule wardrobes are a real thing. Think of when you go on holiday for a month or three. You want to have a bunch of fresh outfits, but Daddy says he’s not paying for extra baggage, so you’ve got to pack efficiently. Pack the essentials, but in colours or patterns that go with everything. Similar colours, classic prints, etcetera, etcetera. Do it right, and that suitcase has enough to last you a while – or at least until you take a day trip to the mall.”[break][break]

She took a step back, eyeing – assessing – the man once again. “For you, that’ll probably mean…” she continued, but with every word her voice grew quieter, trailing until it was painfully clear she wasn’t talking to him anymore. Not really. It was nothing new for her to get lost in her own thoughts, but perhaps she should have outgrown that habit by then.[break][break]

“-tailored, angular shirts or outerwear. Balances out the horns. And the feet. Now that I’m looking, these proportions are all over the-“ A split-second flick of her eyes to meet his threatened to bring her back to reality… To no avail. “If we have to work around entry points, that’s gonna mean a lot button of shirts. How do you feel about smart casual? More jet-setter than preppy boy. Little spot of colour once in a while, so you’re not going full grandpa. Yeah, that could work…”[break][break]

For a few seconds, Emi.exe doesn’t respond. Then, much like a program playing catch-up, she speeds through what she’d missed. The coat is lowered, and so is her brow. “Haven’t you ever heard of nude tones? People wear colours close to their skin all the time.” One eye narrowed. “…Mostly women, actually.” The other shortly followed. “Don’t know how well that works with fur, either…”[break][break]

“Alright, scratch that. And not with your claws.” The coat came down (and not just because holding it up to his height was a workout), and found itself amongst its brethren on the rack. “Wait here. Two seconds.” To nobody’s surprise, she didn’t wait for confirmation before dashing off. Fortunately, Chimera wasn’t left alone with his thoughts – and a handful of passer-by’s eyes dwelling for much too long – for more than a minute. [break][break]

A black and white striped t-shirt made of cotton, for his comfort. Navy cloth trousers, folded at the ankle. A chambray blazer, mimicking the colour of pale denim, without nearly as much weight. The trio’s hangers were thrust into the hybrid’s arms. “Try these on for size. I think. I don’t know what your size is, but I’ve got an eye for these things! Don’t button up the blazer – you’re never going to button up your blazers.” A finger pointed at his chest, she hoped, would drive the point home. “If it doesn’t look quite right, try rolling up your sleeves. Makes it more casual. Now go, try it on. Or don’t. We can always return it later if it doesn’t work out.”

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