Halloween Port

[failedcreator]

Who: Data and Victor Frankenstein.
What: Victor and Data go on a port adventure, in search of a coat and a car to fiddle with.
Where: Outside some Salem shops.
When: First day of port.
Warnings: Likely terrible descriptions and mechanic!fail on my part if we get to the technicalities of the car. Otherwise, none.

Comments

My location migrated over here! Also I will totally fail at car technicalities.

[empirical_data]

Data was quick about arriving as he didn't want Victor uncomfortable. In fact, he usually took great pains for the contrary. He wasn't terribly good at understanding emotions, but the least he could do was provide him with security. Security included someone that would make sure you weren't cold when it was chilly.

He came up behind him, his tricorder announcing his presence with a slight beeping (no one seemed to be thinking anything unusual about it). "Greetings, Victor," Data said, gently taking his elbow so he could lead him into the nearest clothing store and away from the people that were obviously making him uncomfortable.

"Are you also perplexed by the corsetry?"

MY SHAMEFUL COPY PASTA IS REVEALED. D:

[failedcreator]

The corsetry happened to be an aspect of the port that Victor found especially disturbing. Sexby's warning had not been enough to allow Victor to avoid them. Victor hadn't seen anything like that since his visit to England, and even that had only been from a distance.

"I do not understand how the corsets fulfill the criteria for wearing a costume." Victor said, walking with Data. He only had to move awkwardly through the crowd once, when a young man dressed in a very tight suit of very odd blue and red colors rushed past them.

"Most of the costumes here are very odd." Victor continued in a low voice. "I do not understand what they represent."

MUHAUAHA this is why I have a notepad file of fail!prevention.

[empirical_data]

Data glance back at the man who went by and raised a brow. "I suppose the intent is to be alluring rather than frightening. I believe they are seeking attention." He guided them into a nice clothing store, which was one of the less active places this season, but Victor's appearance and Data's paleness was enough to earn a raised eyebrow from behind the counter.

Data ignored it, used to being stared at either for being unusual or even being famous in his home universe, so it didn't faze him. He simply walked over to one of the coatracks and started glancing through the pea coats. The change in atmosphere meant little to him, but he was aware it was more comfortably warm.

I should have one of those. :c

[failedcreator]

"It is not alluring." Victor muttered under his breath as he followed Data into the store. It was significantly warmer than the outside, although for some reason the shopkeeper seemed awful intent on staring at them. Victor concluded that he was likely concerned about theft on this night of costumes.

Victor looked at the coats. Most were familiar in style from his time on the barge, but still far from the clothes that he was used to. Still, it was better to conform to the modern standards of dress than wander around in the cold any longer.

"Perhaps that one?" Victor said, pointing at one of the darker coats. It didn't make a great deal of difference to him. The coat was acceptable, provided that it wasn't a lurid colour.

[empirical_data]

"I do not find it alluring either. I find women that are noble and self-assertive and men that are intelligent and gentlemanly far more attractive. Here..." He offered that coat out to Victor, while choosing a brown pea coat for himself. He slid it on over his current attire and extended his arms, posing for review.

"How does it look?"

[failedcreator]

Victor decided that it would be rude to comment on how it was possible that machines could not have such feelings. Instead, he considered the coat that Data was wearing. Brown was a good colour. It made Data's appearance less obviously unnatural, like the stark contrast of black against his skin would have.

"It looks most handsome." Victor shrugged on his own coat. It fit well enough, it seemed.

[empirical_data]

He made a pleased sort of "hm!" and pulled off the coat again so that he could pay for it. He fished in his pocket for the credit card, and given more time would have grabbed some more clothing for himself. After all, he had so little from this century. But this would do, and he went to adjust the collar of Victor's coat to make sure it was laying properly. "As does your choice."

[failedcreator]

"Excellent." Victor looked down at his own coat. It would surely mean that he would meld more easily with the general populace of this town. He imitated Data, pulling off the coat.

"What action do we undertake now?" Victor said, looking over to the shopkeeper who was still looking at them.

[empirical_data]

"I have the opportunity to attempt to use this to pay," he held up the credit card. He took the coat from Victor so that he could check out with the cashier, scrutinizing the instructions on the card reader (and oh, did that ever earn a funny look), running it and giving Victor a triumphant look when that oh so ancient screen read "approved".

[failedcreator]

Victor hovered near Data's shoulder, looking over just in time to see the dim screen display the 'approved' message. That, of course, could only be a positive thing.

"The machine has approved." Victor said cheerfully. "Does this mean that the pay has been completed?"

It seemed unlikely. At most, the card could have given the small machine some electricity, which did not seem to be a great deal. Unless this was how the shopkeeper kept the lights running.

[empirical_data]

"It appears so," Data said, pleased with this development. "That was relatively simple.

"...Yeah," said the shopkeeper, staring at both of them as he started to bag the coats. He couldn't decide whether Victor's accent was genuine and they were from very far away, if they needed supervision, or if they were pranking him.

"That will be unnecessary, we will be wearing them," Data said of the coats, and the perplexed man handed them over the counter to him. Immediately Data started to put his on.

"You... You need to remove the tag..." he added, helpfully.

[failedcreator]

Victor had managed to resist commenting on the fact that the shopkeeper was accidentally giving them a bag (they hadn't paid for that!). It was a good thing that Data had been aware of the shopkeeper's mistake, and mentioned it so very politely.

"The tag!" Victor said, leaning closer to examine Data's coat. "What part of the garment is the tag?"

Perhaps it was hidden within the pockets or within the lining of the coat.

[empirical_data]

"It's the thing with the price on it..." the shopkeeper tilted his head like a dog shown a card trick. He couldn't really see how this would be a prank. "Where are you from?"

Data found his tag and pulled it off... carefully. So the little plastic bit remained. The unfortunate shopkeeper cringed as he watched and reached under the counter for a pair of scissors. "The plastic attachment ought to come off too. Here, I'll use these and do it."

"Will that be an additional expense?"

"...No, it's okay. I'll throw it in for being being such good customers..."

[failedcreator]

"I am from Geneva, in Switzerland." Victor said, watching carefully as the shopkeeper removed the tag. He then looked from the tag to Data, realization dawning. It was good that the shop keeper had informed them of this tag dilemma.

"We will have to tell the people on the barge." Victor told Data in a low voice. "They may not have been informed of the tags."

After all, it would be horrible for them to not have realized that the tags must be removed.

[empirical_data]

"I am certain the ones that are..." it occurred to him that the shopkeeper was listening, and his eyes darted as he searched for an alternative description, "familiar with this setting are aware of this. But it could be invaluable information to those that are not."

Said shopkeeper snipped the tags, looking over a pair of wire-rimmed glasses at one, then the other as he clipped the tag off Victor's coat, plastic connector and all.

Wasn't Switzerland the place with legalized marijuana? Someone needed less of it. Especially this yellow fellow. It seemed very bad for his health. And he could swear he looked a little like someone he'd seen on TV.

[failedcreator]

Victor took his coat, looking at it with a satisfied expression. This had been a most educational experience.

"There are no further tags?" He turned the coat over, searching for any more of the small plastic pieces. Finding nothing, he eyed Data's coat. As far as he could see, it was free of tags.

"This is a most excellent store. We ought to recommend it to the others, in case they are in need of clothes." Victor said to Data. It was good to be helpful.