Summer, September 15th - Atelier Sakura [Text/Action]

[zenoh]

Text - Public - Morning

[ Atelier Sakura is Ayame's second clothing store, which had been open for business for some time with relative success. Wanting to change that, Ayame devised a plan to attract more customers by making her store more inviting, and tonight is the night to make those plans a reality. Sending out a text to the network, Ayame invites people from other cities to come visit her refurbished store ]

Good morning, Genessia. Atelier Sakura of Fayren is having a re-opening night at 6:00pm. It is my second store, where I sell traditional Japanese clothing and accessories. You don't have to buy anything, but I encourage you to drop by nonetheless just to see the store along with the newly added light display, and try some Japanese snacks.

Until tonight. Your visit would be much appreciated.

Action - Fayren, Atelier Sakura - Evening

[ As for the store it self. It's built near the outskirts of Fayren where it's nestled in a small wooded area; surrounded by a copse of tall trees. The store lies on top of elevated ground. A slowly ascending path connecting to Fayren's roadways lead people to the store, but now illuminated with glowing pillars of rolled textiles encased in glass tubes. The short path forks slightly, with one leading to the entrance to a traditionally Japanese building, and another to a small fountain with a decorated stone orb that sits above the crystal clear water. Inside the store is a large "genkan", where the customers can interact with the staff on the elevated wooden platforms without having to take off their shoes, unless they're interested in getting fitted with a kimono.

Ayame can be seen wearing a kimono of her own creation. Depending on the hour of the night, she is either indoors talking to her customers with a drink in hand, or outside by the fountain, watching her customers enjoy the scenery, standing by the food stall manned by random men from a subarchway who she hired to serve some Japanese street food. There's okonomiyaki (savory pancake made with flour, eggs, shredded cabbage, and some pork belly), taiyaki (cake with fillings, usually red bean paste but is also available in custard, chocolate, cheese, or sweet potato), takoyaki (ball-shaped wheat-flour snacks with diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion. It's topped with mayonaisse, takoyaki sauce, green laver, and some dried bonito flakes) and yakisoba (stir-fried soba noodles with pork, diced vegetables, and fried egg). ]

Comments

Action; OTA

[innocent_royal]

[Anastasia was excited about this. A nice chance to wear the furisode Ayame made for her earlier in the year.

She was all dressed up in a colorful furisode thanks to Satsuki's help, (and maybe Ayame if anything is out of place) and trying her best to help Ayame by being a unofficial poster girl for Atelier Sakura. Anastasia helped to greet customers and tell them about "the great Ayame Sasaki" and where they can talk to her.

Any other time, Anastasia will be in the genkan, showing off her pretty furisode and talk to whomever wants to talk to her.]

[zenoh]

I'm glad to see you wearing it, finally.

[ Ayame calls out to Anastasia as she walks towards the girl. ]

We should get you another sometime. One that's fitting for the coming autumn, perhaps?

[ Ayame rests her fingers on her cheek in a quiet contemplative manner, adding a quiet hum. ]

[innocent_royal]

[Anastasia was happy to see her friend. Please don't mind her if the little lady gives her a careful hug. No one needs her belt coming lose with too much moving around.

Once it was out of her system, Anastasia nodded at the idea. It would be nice to have a furisode for all seasons.]

I'd love that. What are good colours for autumn?

[zenoh]

[ Ayame returns the hug as much as she can. The height difference between them makes it hard to give Anastasia a normal hug, but Ayame made up for it by giving Anastasia a pat on the back and cupping her shoulder after ]

You'd be surprised to hear among the best colors to wear would be a bright shade of blue, such as cobalt and cerulean.

[ Ayame gestures to the blue patterns on Anastasia's furisode ]

[Action: OTA]

[formerabyssinian]

[Aya definitely stops by early in the evening, and is quite...underdressed. Wearing just a blue shirt with black jeans and black boots, he observes all the decorations, the designs of the kimono, and the food on display. He's really impressed, feeling like he's either in Kyoto, or a posh part of Tokyo. At the moment, he's just looking at the various kimono on display, because he thought of gifting one for Selphie.]

[He knows they're super expensive, so he has a lot of thinking to do.]

[zenoh]

Fujimiya-san.

[ Ayame greets him with a small bow of her head, remembering him as Sonico's friend who went to Tokyo with them before ]

It's nice to see you again, after all this time. How can I help you tonight?

--

[ OOC: They never got to introduce themselves in their thread in the Tokyo subarchway trip, so I'm just handwaving that they at least know each other by name now. I can change it if that's not cool ]

[formerabyssinian]

[Aya gives a light bow off his head in greeting as well in response. He heard of her new shop opening, and knew she was Sonico's friend as well, which made it easier to come by.]

Sasaki-san. You have a nice selection here. [He looks to her collection again.] I'm actually looking for something for my girlfriend, and possibly myself.



[ooc: yeah that's fine! He probably wouldn't say his last name, but since he owns a flower shop, it isn't hidden knowledge now!]

[zenoh]

Thank you.

[ Ayame gives a thankful nod, replying to his compliment that makes her feel slightly less anxious. Ayame's perfectionism can cause her to doubt herself so much. ]

And ah, is that so? That's very sweet of you. Then I will be sure to help you with that.

[ Ayame gestures toward the main entrance of the store, leading the way inside to show Aya his options. Inside, there's a small throng of customers standing on the genkan, looking at the displays and the demonstration of how to wear a kimono. ]

Where is your girlfriend, anyway?

[Text]

[imperishableprincess]

A re-opening? What's the occasion?


[Kaguya has yet to visit that location as well. She's mostly stuck to Genessia City.]

I may have to drop by, in any case.

Re: [Text]

[zenoh]

Just changing things up to incite more interest. I'd be happy to see you here tonight, should you feel like dropping by. Your opinion on how things look would mean a lot to me

[Text]

[imperishableprincess]

While many may abhor it, I find change to be a wonderful thing. I'd be glad to make an appearance.

[Likely in a kimono of her own.]

Should I bring anything besides myself?

[zenoh]

Surprise me.

[ Ayame replies quick. She trusts Kaguya's judgement to be alright with whatever the immortal decides to bring or not to bring. She has drinks stashed somewhere in the store, and there's food being provided here should they feel like grabbing a bite ]

See you soon.

Action : OTA

[filchedfruit]

[ Joruk was munching on all types of Japanese snacks, while admiring the embroidery on some of the kimonos. The patterns were different than what he was used to but no less elaborate. The material looked delicate compared to what was used to make a chapan. People in Fayren seemed to favor more European styles of clothing, so it was nice seeing something different.

It was a relief that none of the food made him shrink or grow. He wondered if the weird stuff would hurt Ayame's business.]

[zenoh]

It's been some time since we last saw each other, Joruk.

[ Ayame seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, despite wearing such a long skirted kimono. ]

How do you like it?

[ Which may seem like a question about the food, but it's really more of a question about how Joruk likes everything he's seeing - from the kimonos, the lights, and the store itself. But either answer would be sufficient ]

[filchedfruit]

Hey, Ayame.

It's great! I especially like the yakisoba. It's different from lagman. The noodles are thinner and kinda crunchy.

[ He mostly focuses on the food.]

Too bad weird stuff is happening now.

[zenoh]

Rest assured, these ingredients are gathered from outside of Fayren. Those noodles aren't available in these lands.

[Action]

[im_gonna_heal_u]

[ The day hadn't gone very well at all. She had idly considered calling up Mariko, only to find that her number had simply disappeared. After that, the worry had caused her to mess up in minor but obvious ways at her store, leaving her to clean up a mess done by her own worries. Konoka was normally much better at hiding her negative emotions, but even this level of sadness was enough to make Konoka have a despondent look for most of the day.

To shake herself out of those blues, she decided to finally pay Ayame a visit. She didn't hit up Fayren as nearly as often as she liked, but she wouldn't miss Ayame's store for this!

And lo and behold, Konoka was already in love with how much it reminded her of home. All the Japanese snacks, the beautiful kimonos... for the first time all day, Konoka had a genuine smile. ]

[zenoh]

[ The light show gives off a welcoming amber glow coupled by the colors of the textile rolls, and the smoky smell of grilled meat in the nighttime air all reminds Ayame of a Japanese festival. Which is what she's aiming for, anyhow. Being reminded of her conversation with Konoka before. Just as she remembered Konoka, she sees the girl herself among the pillared lamps of glowing textile rows. She sneaks up beside Konoka as if she's been there all along, somehow not making any noise despite how extravagant her kimono is. ]

How is this for a prelude to a festival?

[ Ayame speaks, arms crossed gently as she observes the palisade of light and color ]

Good evening, Konoka. How are you tonight?

[im_gonna_heal_u]

[ She'd been distracted enough that she almost didn't notice Ayame sneaking up on her.

Keyword being almost, because she would have had it not been for Eva berating her earlier that month.

Konoka twirled slightly to face Ayame, no surprise in her face, though she did have to take a moment to hide her general unhappiness. ]

Hello, Ayame-han!

I... I'm doing alright, all things considered. Actually, this is a wonderful prelude for a festival, and I'm feeling better already.

text;

[gamerrep]

I should be able to come and see. Odds are likely I might buy something because to me I'm going because there is something I am looking for.

[zenoh]

Very well. I look forward to your visit. I hope I have what it is you're looking for, I still have a fresh stock coming in a few days but what I have in the store should be sufficient until then.

[ Mostly accessories, obiage, obijime, some purses. ]

[gamerrep]

I hope so as well, though who knows what I am looking for.

[Action]

[sonicosuper]

*Of course Sonico is there to her support her friend. She is also really quite keen to get herself a new kimono. Maybe two. She at least wants something that will make her look something special. Only, she has been distracted by the takoyaki, so that's where she heads first, eagerly awaiting her food*

[zenoh]

I suggest the taiyaki for later.

[ Ayame spoke to Sonico's ear, just appearing out of nowhere. She gives Sonico a pat on the back, though. Hoping it would help calm the other girl down should Sonico still not be used to Ayame's sneakiness ]

Hello, Sonico. You look dressed to impress.

[ Ayame couldn't help but smirk a little, feeling comfortable enough to tease Sonico about her crush on Mobius like this ]

[sonicosuper]

Mmhmm, definitely. There is always time for taiyaki.

*Sonico smiles at that, a fan of anything sweet to eat. She turns to Ayame, grateful that she had let her know she was there. Sonico had flinched a little, but was okay*

Oh... I just... it's been a while since I dressed like this...

*She glances down at herself, blushing a bit in her own knowledge that maybe if a certain someone was here that they thought she'd looked nice*