|
Post by SceneMod on Dec 22, 2009 15:13:30 GMT -5
Day Four. Thread is semi-private. If you want to get involved in this little side plot, then PM Clipper and we'll see what can be done. CONTENT WARNING: This is an intense thread w/ setup for some issues which may be upsetting to some people.
The woman from the crash site is no longer so distraught as she was that day. She sits in a brocade armchair and surveys the picture she has created from the point of view of her clients.
The room is expensively decorated, trending just a shade to much toward the gaudy. It is all done up in pinks, whites, and golds, set off by gleaming redwood finished furniture. Every fabric is lux, feeling almost like the silks, satins, and suede they are meant to imitate. A great deal of money has been spent to give the room that perfect balance of tacky and glam that her customers expect. Very little has been spent on the central feature of that room, however. Just enough to keep healthy and make sure it can't run off or cause trouble.
That feature is a small pink and white robot.
The madam gets up and strides over to the bed. She sits down and gently rocks the robot by the shoulder.
"Now, now, my pretty little bird. Time to wake up."
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Dec 22, 2009 18:06:44 GMT -5
The world is gently rocking. Very gently, when compared to Clipper's most recent memory - one of the crushing pain of the tatters of that building finally collapsing down upon her deep within its shattered bowels.
She should hurt more. Even if she were not still trapped under the debris, it seems as if she should hurt from that last collapse, but she does not. Everything feels... soft, in fact. Soft and comfortable. Plush and smooth and clean under her fingertips as her hands instinctively curl into fists against the coverlet of the bed.
Clipper's blue optics flicker slowly online, powering up as she blinks in confusion. There is a woman sitting beside her, and memory niggles at her; she seems familiar somehow. Oh, yeah. The distraught woman from Omega's crash site. At least Clipper thinks that this is her, though she is much, much calmer now, and very neatly dressed in beautiful, luxurious fabrics that seem to both somehow emphasize her femininity and give her a somewhat stern, commanding air.
"H-hello?" Clipper murmurs as she pushes herself up onto her elbows. Where is she? It seems very... posh. Much more luxurious than anywhere she's ever been before, and far more than she would expect for someone involved in the destruction of this woman's home? Business? Whatever... to be put.
More importantly, though, where is everyone else? And why is her radio missing?!
|
|
|
Post by SceneMod on Dec 22, 2009 23:21:06 GMT -5
The woman smiles and strokes Clipper's cheek for a moment. It's a kindly smile, if a bit cold.
"So good to see you awake finally. We were beginning to worry about you, my dear. You took some nasty hits while trying to save my stable, yes you did."
She reaches up to brush a lock of orange hair from her face as she once more looks the Micromaster over from head to toe and back again. Small, almost too small for the clientele she's used to serving. But there's some that pay extra for frailty. Add that to the girl's obvious innocence, and she ought to be able to make enough off the first few tricks to rebuild her house in style. Maybe even afford the higher permit fees to move up to the better neighborhoods.
The girl better earn her keep. The lady's eyes harden for a moment. It had taken every penny she had saved to get the girl taken care of, and to borrow this room in a "friend's" establishment.
"Of course, that's only fair, given that you helped destroy my business in the first place, isn't it? That your group make amends some how?" She cuffs the girl lightly under her chin. "The arrangement is that you work for me for a time, just until some of my own girls get back on their feet."
Back on their backs more like it.
"My name is Shi're. You will call me 'Miss'."
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Dec 22, 2009 23:39:08 GMT -5
Clipper is not expecting the physical familiarity the lady extends to her, but is too polite, if still disoriented, to do anything so obvious as flinch back from it.
"Yes ma'am," she murmurs quietly. "Have I been out... long?" Besides, it's just a touch. A kindly touch, and she must be a very nice lady to be this kind to her after that mess they all made of her...
"Stable?" she asks, shifting to sit upright with her hands clasped politely in her lap. Clipper had thought that it had been a home, or maybe an office of some sort. If it was a "stable", where had been all the beasts? Had... had they all been crushed? Clipper shivers, horrified by that thought that a whole stable full of innocent creatures may have been killed by their crash landing!
Before she can really express that, though, the lady is continuing.
"Umm... yes ma'am?" she replies hesitantly, accepting that touch again with nothing more than a faint tilt of her head. That would be fair, really. It hadn't been as if Mr. Omega Supreme had wanted to blow up and crash down onto her business, but, still, they had pretty much destroyed it.
"That... sounds fair, ma'am... err, Miss," she agrees. And if it's been arranged, already... Well, the others must be out doing their work for her, too. "I'll work very hard for you, Miss. I promise. I'm not sure what I can do for you, but if you tell me what you need, I'll try my best!" she offers earnestly.
"Umm... was, umm... was my radio damaged?" she asks, shifting back to hesitant again. It seems odd that her radio had been not just disconnected, but completely removed - if she's getting the signals from her systems correctly, that is - but, maybe it had been badly damaged, and they hadn't gotten it fixed and put back in yet.
"And are the others around? Are they still helping out, too? Is Mr. Omega all right, Miss? I know he'd be very sorry to know that he hurt your, um.. stable... He's very nice, honest. I'm certain that he didn't mean to crash into your place."
|
|
|
Post by SceneMod on Dec 23, 2009 0:57:03 GMT -5
That glint in Shi're's eye? That's the price for Clipper's first client going up exponentially. Such naivete can't be bought anywhere on Pz-Zazz for a king's ransom.
"Oh, it was rather badly damaged, as were you. Your friends didn't have the funds to pay for treatment, so we're rolling that into the bill so to speak." Again with that cold smile.
"But my own funds are pretty tapped now, what with my main source of income gone. We managed to get you sorted out, but well, you've got some different parts from the robot species we're used to dealing with, so some things just have to wait."
Shi're rise and crosses over to a large wardrobe. Throwing it open, she beckons to Clipper. "Come come, let's get you outfitted properly. Everything's tailored to you, so fit isn't a worry."
In the wardrobe are several fine gowns of cream and gold, lacy, frilly, ruffled things that will show off Clipper's bright pink paint while emphasizing her innocent air. Nothing too baudy- perhaps the slit in this one is a shade high, the skirt on that one a hair shorter than is seemly. Shi're intends her new hook to look like a sugar sweet schoolgirl, a lovely little Lolita to tempt the select patrons to whom she will be shown.
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Dec 23, 2009 1:47:24 GMT -5
Clipper isn't even certain what they use for currency on this planet, so that makes perfect sense to her. Besides, what she remembers of that last instant before she'd blacked out? Clipper can totally believe that she'd been badly damaged. She's frankly surprised to be as well repaired as she is right now, and nods, expression clearing as she accepts the explanation easily. "I understand, Miss," she chirps. "It was very nice of you to see to the repairs I've had, Miss. Thank you."
Holi is going to be so worried when he hears. And probably a little cross with her, too, even if he won't actually say anything. She wishes that she could talk to him.
"Everyone else is okay now, though?" she asks, turning to slide to the edge of the bed. It isn't quite as large as some of the furniture on the Event Horizon is, but she still has to stretch to touch the floor as she hops down and follows.
And then almost stumbles to a stop before the wardrobe, staring up into it with wide optics. "Tailored... to me?" she asks with just a little bit of a squeak in her voice as she takes in the fabric confections hanging within.
Clipper is a robot, a Transformer and a Micromaster. She's never even considered wearing clothing before - there's never been any reason or need. But clothing seems to be the norm for all sorts of people here on this world - robots included, apparently - and the thought of something being made just to fit her is... curiously flattering. It makes her feel a little fluttery in her core, a little like - but not quite as strong as - when Holi forgets himself and stares at her in that dopey, dreamy way that his Patrol teases him so ruthlessly for.
Special.
Weird, though, what with it being clothing, but still, oddly special. Perhaps if she were more accustomed to the concept of clothing, she would be more awed by the ribbons and trims, the shimmering and soft fabrics that her fingertips glide across with a soft swish. She is still girlish enough, though, to appreciate the ruffles and the frills of each gown with a purely atavistic giggle, and she finds herself wondering what Holi would think of her dressed up like a perfect little doll with the flounces and petticoats and candied satin sheers framing her. The dresses are pretty, in their unfamiliar way, and Clipper finds herself almost guiltily eager to try this new thing for the novelty of it. Even if they do seem so very fancy for little her.
Which only serves to remind her that they already owe Miss for her repairs, and for the Miss's business that was destroyed. And now Miss is offering to costume her up in these fancy things? "Are you sure?" she asks, darting a look up at Shi're. "They're so... much! I've never worn anything before, especially not like this. I don't want to ruin them!"
She is supposed to be working off what they owe Miss after all, right? And it really isn't fair to everyone else that she get away with playing about with fancy gowns and costumes while they must be out working hard, too. It really isn't.
But that cream dress with all the lacy ruffles and ribbons looks really... really... neat.
|
|
|
Post by SceneMod on Dec 23, 2009 15:13:47 GMT -5
"Yes, yes dear, they're fine. Though I believe a few of them ticked off the cops. However, I've not heard about anything since, so I imagine they managed to bribe themselves out of charges somehow."
Shi're sounds as if it's perfectly normal and acceptable to bribe law enforcement.
She watches Clipper carefully as the Micromaster examines the clothing, pleased that the girl seems appropriately taken by the finery. Anyone with even a grinch-sized heart would feel guilty for what she is about to do to this innocent little girl.
Good thing Shi're's heart shriveled up to nothing years ago, along with her morals.
She pats Clipper on the head. "I am quite sure. It's part of your job, to look so fine. I need to make sure my merchandise is shown off to best advantage, don't I?" She could be talking about the clothes, for all Clipper knows. "And I'm sure you won't ruin them, because I can already tell you're a proper young lady, and will take utmost care not to soil them."
"You'll do exactly as I say to show them off properly, won't you my dear?"
The Madame waves at the dresses, "Pick one, and then I'll see about completing the look with accessories."
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Dec 23, 2009 17:34:28 GMT -5
"Bribed?" Clipper asks, startled. That doesn't sound like anything that the Autobots would do! Then the rest of what Shi're seems to be implying sinks in.
"They... haven't been back to see me? Not even Miss Elita?" she asks softly, and the insecure part of her that eggs her on when she tries to make Holi jealous rears its head and whispers that the others must obviously have more important things to do than babysit her. After all, she'd managed to get herself badly hurt and had needed expensive repairs that none of the Autobots could really afford but that Miss had already seen to. Repairs that had taken Miss's savings, she'd said, and all this despite Clipper having been involved in wrecking Miss's business in the first place. Why wouldn't the others get back to taking care of Mr. Omega and just let Miss look after her?
Well, in that case, Clipper will just have to do her very best for Miss and do her part to fix things. Make them right again! She will!
Wait... "Merchandise? I'm to be a model?!" Clipper gasps, assuming that the dresses are the "merchandise" that Miss speaks of. She turns back to the wardrobe and the splendid gowns within, reaching up once again to brush her fingertips over the sleek fabrics, lingering over that cream colored confection.
"Yes, Miss," she breathes, nodding. "I try very hard to be."
Imagine, her, modeling these dresses, dresses which have suddenly taken on a more gilt glow in her optics, an almost mythic quality because Miss, such a kind, fine lady, is entrusting them to her. Entrusting that Clipper will help make them look good.
And part of her cannot help but wonder if it might make Holi just a little... possessive... to see her the center of such attention.
"Oh, yes, Miss! I promise! I'll do my very best for you!" she declares, beaming trustingly up at the Madame. She giggles to herself again, a little giddy with relief that she can be useful again, and enchanted by the thought of... well, of playing princess!
"This one, please!" she begs, resting her hand back on that pale dress that her attention has been wandering back to. The one with all the ruffles and ribbons and bows. "You won't be sorry, Miss! I promise!"
|
|
|
Post by SceneMod on Dec 23, 2009 22:22:19 GMT -5
Shi're pats Clipper on the head again. "Well, they have been quite busy as I understand it. Your group made an awful mess of that district, after all. Besides, I'm sure they've sent runners to inquire after you. Just because I've been too busy to see them myself doesn't mean they haven't asked, after all." Her tone grows slightly admonishing, "And remember, you've been passed out for a few days and unable to receive visitors."
She nods in approval as Clipper chooses the most filly and juvenile of the dresses. "That should look quite lovely on you. Your paint job will set the dress off nicely." Seriously, this is too rich. The silly little bint is spinning her own trap, and completely oblivious to it. Shi're isn't having to work at this at all.
"Now, I need to ask you a few things," she says as she reaches into the wardrobe and removes the dress. She unzips it and starts to slip it over Clipper. "There will be quite a lot of gentlemen at the functions we will be attending, and some of them are not the gentlemanly sort. How much do you know about handling yourself in such company?"
In other words, how innocent are you, really?
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Dec 23, 2009 22:44:44 GMT -5
"Days?" Clipper whispers, surprised again. She had been out that long? She ducks her head, nodding at the chiding. "Yes, of course. I understand." How could she have thought that her friends would not have checked on her?! There had been an awful lot of damage everywhere; they're obviously busy, hard at work.
"You really think so?" she asks, daring to look back up hopefully, just in time to have the dress dropped over her head. She tries very hard to stand still as Miss adjusts it and smoothes it over her frame, holding her arms out away from her sides to help.
"Handling myself?" she repeats. "Well... my bo-- My friend Holi, he has some friends who are very rude to him and tease him all the time. I usually simply ignore them and they don't bother saying much to me then?" Just about her. "And Governor Raikaru - I'm his assistant back home - he has to deal with angry people sometimes. Usually I smile and just ignore how angry they are and just nod politely."
In other words? She's a pre-teen from a child planet. So... very.
|
|
|
Post by SceneMod on Dec 24, 2009 22:41:24 GMT -5
Boyfriend? Hrm.
Shi're is not pleased.
"I am not talking about angry or small-minded men, my dear," she says, a tad coolly. "Some buyers like to closely examine the merchandise before placing their bids and that will require allowing them some familiarity."
She zips the dress up and checks the fit, smoothing the skirt slowly over Clipper's hips.
"But not too much," she stresses, leaning down to speak against the girl's head. She doesn't allow freebies. "Just enough for them to understand the...quality of what we are offering. Sweet and lovely as you are, I'm sure you will have no trouble engaging clients in conversation and persuading them as to your worth, but be careful not to be too accommodating."
Shi're puts her hands on Clipper's shoulders and gently twists Clipper around so that she can see herself in a mirror. The cream dress is quite fitted through the waist, with a ruffled skirt with gold crinoline that stops at just mid-thigh on the Micromaster. The dress has short puffed sleeves from which gold ribbons dangle. A few strategically placed mesh panels in the bodice play peek-a-boo with Clipper's abdomen and back.
"Absolutely lovely. Though we will have to see about getting you some heels."
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Dec 25, 2009 0:08:07 GMT -5
Clipper shifts in place, adjusting to the very, very odd feeling of the clothing against her plating, the way it hugs her frame and conceals but doesn't bind her joints. It feels... strange... to actually be wearing it, but somehow exciting.
"What do you mean by "familiarity'? And, umm... 'accommodating'? Like... maybe let them... sit close?" she asks, perplexed, tilting her head to one side, and there is a waver in her tone that seems to hint that something as simple as merely sitting close enough to touch would be daring and bordering on the verge of impropriety. Which is mostly true, since she's really only managed to coax Holi into such a thing perhaps once, and he'd been so nervous and stiff and polite, that she thought he'd short a processor even before she'd dared to give him that peck on the cheek. To this day, Clipper still swears that she'd smelled fried circuitry afterwards.
"And, ummm.... My worth?" That doesn't sound right somehow. Why would they care about her except as a frame upon which the dresses were displayed? And why would men be buying dresses, anyway?
Before she can really ask that, though, Miss is maneuvering her to see herself and the way the dress fits her, and Clipper is suddenly half-distracted from her concerns. "Oh!"
Something about the ruffles and ribbons and dazzle of the shimmery fabrics appeals to her, and she finds herself clasping her hands together in front of her bashfully and stifling a soft giggle. It's very... frilly and feminine and cute, which just tickles something in her young girl's heart in an odd way that she never would have imagined from something so different as clothing!
"Heels?" she asks, twisting to glance down at one foot which she lifts up behind her. "I'm not sure my feet are really built to wear heels?" Imagine how adding heels would affect her gait! She would have to walk all knees bent and hip-swayed! It would be... weird!
|
|
|
Post by SceneMod on Dec 25, 2009 14:20:45 GMT -5
Shi're smooths the dress down some more as she tries to soothe Clipper's worry.
"Darling, on Pz-zazz the men rule everything, even fashion," she lets some honest bitterness creep into her tone. "Most all buyers are male, though a few women have made it through the ranks. They have to ascertain the quality of fabric and weave, of embroidery and fit, before deciding if it will become part of the haute couture scene or not. So they will do a good deal more than sit close to you."
The lies flow like water. Shi're hasn't been able to afford real high fashion in all her life. Her only exposure has been this old friend who took pity on her, the one who is supplying the room and the fashions, the one letting her show off her prize at the function tomorrow night.
"But the perfect model is worth as much as the clothes he or she wears, and you need to remember that. You aren't just a rack at the thrift store for them to paw all over."
Shi're turns to pick up a few things from the wardrobe, one of which is a pair of rather high gold and diamond studded heels. The heels are just thick enough to support a mechanoid of Clipper's build. The shoes have a small part which cups over the toe, but no back or sides.
"Magnets, dearie," she explains, "No cosmetic surgery needed. Now sit and put these on."
"So how serious are you and your boyfriend?"
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Dec 25, 2009 17:52:23 GMT -5
"'Haute couture'..." Clipper murmurs, sounding out the words. Oh, she knows what they mean - she is a proper young lady, and prides herself on being a snob more sophisticated than most - but she has never really considered that she might have anything to do with true high fashion.
"More?" she asks, voice just shy of squeaking. "Like... what?" Now she does squeak. She barely lets Holi even hold her hand, not that he offers to often. Although, if he really asked, she would gladly allow that, and even more... but stringing him along by playing hard to get seems to be the best way to keep him interested in her. Especially with him jet-setting all over the galaxy, meeting... all sorts of interesting gir-- people.
"W-what should I do, then? To... you know, keep them from... uh, 'pawing all over'?" Because only Holi gets to do that!
Clipper is starting to feel funny with the proceedings. The dress is nice, if odd, but the thought of being pawed over has her... nervous. More than nervous. The heels just add to that, but she doesn't want to let everyone else down, and if this was the... the... arrangement... Miss surely has some idea how to keep from being taken advantage of without irritating or angering the buyers. Why else would she have asked and mentioned it all?
It's easier - and happier - to concentrate on something familiar. And happier.
"Holi?" she blurts, then ducks her head bashfully. Totally gave that away. Silly Clipper. Well, guess there's no harm in admitting the truth to Miss, Clipper supposes. It isn't as if Holi doesn't know already, anyway, and besides, why would it hurt to tell Miss?
"Very serious," Clipper murmurs shyly, distracting herself by settling to a seat to pull on the shoes. They feel odd as they snap to the soles of her feet with a soft clang when they're close. "I've even kissed him. On the cheek," she confesses, as if it's the naughtiest thing she can imagine. It isn't, but it's currently the most daring thing she can imagine.
|
|
|
Post by SceneMod on Dec 25, 2009 18:15:03 GMT -5
"On the cheek, hmm? That's all?" Shi're sounds oddly pleased.
She reaches out to help Clipper stand. Once the girl is on her feet, Shi're eyes her critically. She murmurs almost to herself, "Hmmm, stockings or au naturale? Some peek-a-boo garters would be just the thing, but we don't want you to look cheap now, do we?"
Shi're had noted that little bout of worry earlier. Best to try and soothe that away now, before it eats away at her little tower of lies.
"The buyers will likely touch your sleeves or waist (and ass, but she doesn't say that) to test the fabric, may have you do a turn or dance with them to check the garment's movement." She reaches out then to rest a hand on Clipper's shoulder. "You must understand, dear, that we are a very...adult culture here. I hope the clothing isn't too wanton for your innocent sensibilities? If so, perhaps we can find something more prudish, though it will certainly be lacking in such sparkle and bows."
Carefully chose words those. The worst thing a young girl like to be labeled is a prude, in most any culture. Plus, the girl obviously likes the frilly things.
"But I must say, if your Holi could see you now, he'd be quite smitten. You may have never worn clothing before, but your frame is well suited it."
|
|