I know the wind-swept mystical air

[unweaving]

Who: Aranea Highwind + any customers, window shoppers, or potential employees.
Where: Britches and Hose
When: Just in time for Valentine's day, how convenient!
What: Aranea opens her lingerie store to the public.
Warnings: Fancy knickers? Innuendo? Gladio might be there in his undies at some point, I don't know what to tell you.

Open to all!



[ Being a true romantic at heart, Aranea knows the real meaning of Valentine's Day. Money. That's why she's in a rush to open before the holiday itself; there should be just enough time left to attract people looking for a little surprise, people who want their partner to feel just as sexy as they (hopefully) think they are, people who are buying a gift that's really more for themselves than for the recipient, and the last-minute panickers.

Ah, romance.

Inside, there's something for just about everyone, ranging from demure to saucier pinup styles and right through to items that are more straps than fabric. There are also complimentary flutes of chilled bubbly to be poured for customers who are of-age. The front window has a display that holds zero mannequins, and a small notice near the door:

HELP WANTED

Can you:
-sell shit
-tidy shit
-not steal shit?

Apply within.

Britches and Hose is officially open for business! ]

Comments

enabling myself is still enabling, gosh!!!

[unweaving]

It's those expert tips that make me glad you're around, Mr Rogers.

[ And listen, she's going to prove it by giving him some actual useful advice relating to her job, rather than just lowkey sexual harassment! ]

Let me return the favor: silk pajamas. Silk's warmer than you'd think, so it's functional with the way the weather's going. It's not as shiny as satin, so you don't get that trashy look, it feels amazing, and since they're pajamas it doesn't come off pervy buuuut she's still gonna look hot in them.

[paragon]

[ Well, if the lowkey harassment bothers him he's not inclined to show it, especially as she makes the case for the pajamas and he gives it its due consideration. ]

You got those here?

[ He doesn't mean to make it sound like you don't run a classy joint, Aranea, he truly doesn't. ]

[unweaving]

I just hide 'em behind the crotchless panties. I got a reputation to uphold, after all.

[ There are, in fact, zero crotchless panties in the store. Still, she waves him over to where they're hanging and whisks a few off in what she vaguely remembers as Nat's size - classic black, creamy ivory, and a few rich jewel tones. ]

Don't choose black. It's a waste, with her coloring.

[paragon]

You remember I teach art, right?

[ Maybe. He's only got a couple solid days under his belt, the rest only a vague recollection of lesson plans and the comings and goings of students, Prompto included. It's an honest question, come to think of it. He's lucky he seems to know what he's talking about when he gets in front of a class.

Regardless, he's not pretending he's the expert here, as he looks down at his choices and feels indecisive in a way that sits uncomfortably with him. ]

She likes black.

[ But he's reaching out to brush a thumb over the ivory. And he remembers something — a party. She'd worn ivory and red lipstick, and he'd seen her leaning over a bar, speaking intimately despite the glass in her hand. He draws his own away quickly and tries to cover for it by looking back toward the rack and nodding to it. ] What about the pink? [ It's not the rich pink she's holding, but a soft color that reminds him of watching her leave the house dressed for her classes. ]

[unweaving]

[ Whatever smartass comment she was going to make about practicality and Nat's tastes dies on her lips at the look on Steve's face. There's something about it that makes her feel she's intruding, and she cuts her eyes to the other side of the store until he speaks again.

And then... well, the suggestion's surprising enough that it pushes away the feeling of intrusiveness she'd had. The pink, soft as a lover's blush, isn't something that would ever have sprung to mind for her but it's easy enough to picture it on her friend. She raises an eyebrow, nods slowly at Steve. ]

Huh. [ Appreciative, impressed. The sets she's already holding get draped over her arm, and she lifts that soft pink out for him to take a closer look.] Consider me told.

[paragon]

[ Given that it was partly a distraction to spare them both from awkwardness, really, he's pretty pleased with himself when Aranea concurs and gives her a smile despite the unease in his gut. He also briefly lifts a palm in a forestalling gesture; he doesn't need to fondle the wares any further, and he's willing to trust her opinion. ]

I'll take it. You've got yourself a paying customer.