There's miles and miles of strip mall smiles...

[dark_steps]

Who: Linali, Miranda, Mai, Haruhi, Sorbet, Riku, anyone else who wants to join!
When: soon after Linali's journal entry
Where: The Bookstore
What: The girls go shopping for their costumes for the ball!
Rating: PG at best, just in case of skanky outfits~

Comments

[unluckytiming]

"Linali!" Miranda's voice cut through the cool air as she hurried over to her fellow Exorcist. As usual, the woman was dressed in a warmer-than-necessary fashion, her black Exorcist coat (from the uniforms Linali had not yet known) buttoned tightly over her dark shirt and pants. Her wavy hair hung loosely about her face, having fallen from its low ponytail as the woman ran.

She finally approached Linali, pausing for a moment to catch her breath before clasping one of the girl's hands apologetically and glancing around. "I-I'm very sorry! Am I late? H-has everyone already gone?"

[beautyandboots]

Mai had bought a long, emerald green coat that kept her comfortable in the weather. She was wearing pants, for once; black dress pants that matched her white and black top. She loved the bookstore, because it had stuff she found very fashionable.

Jogging up to the girls in her new black boots, she smiled upon seeing Linali and Miranda. "Hey girls! It's been awhile since we've all done something together."

[bouken_desho]

The minute Haruhi got news of costume shopping, she was out the door and ready to go. She wore a cropped jean skirt and a tank top that was covered up by a hot pink and white striped pullover sweatshirt to keep her from getting cold. She'd picked up a pair of warm light pink Ugg-style boots from the store because it was too cold not to go around without them--it made her wish, just a little, she had picked a warmer place to magically appear in. The cold was hardly a damper on her high-spirited personality though; she was still just as energetic and rash as ever. This was obvious enough; she was bolting down the hall, trying to find the other girls

[dark_steps]

Linali was just about to greet Mai when Haruhi came charging up. "Oh, h-hello, Haruhi," she said cautiously. Something about the girl scared her to death, and she wasn't sure what it was. She seemed nice enough, and she hadn't given Linali any real cause not to like her, but she was really scared of Haruhi, and especially scared of what kind of costume she'd be forced into.

[unluckytiming]

Miranda jumped and let out a soft cry at the unexpected arrival of Haruhi, having barely managing a weak wave towards Mai. Who... Was this? It certainly wasn't anyone she had met so far... Perhaps someone Linali had met earlier? Swallowing her slight fear of the young woman's hyperactivity, the Exorcist forced a weak smile and nodded politely towards the brunette.

"H-hello, I don't think we've met. M-my name is Miranda."

[mrs_dark]

The twins were only a few steps away. Riku spotted Linali and waved brightly, Risa not at all looking as chipper. "Hey, Linali!!!"

Risa stayed silent as they approached the increasing mass of girls, watching both Haruhi and Miranda with dull interest. She didn't even know why she was here. Mr. Dark didn't think she should have to get a costume. He said a pretty white dress would be sufficient, but Riku insisted that she wouldn't let her sister mope around all day.

[bouken_desho]

Haruhi really didn't get why that girl was stuttering. She stared at her blankly for a second, wondering if she always spoke like that. "Miranda, huh?" Then again, when she really thought of a girl stuttering...wasn't that kind of cute? She flashed the trembling girl a grin, bounding forward to give her a bigger hug than was likely appropriate. "You're the shy-type, huh?" She cried, immediately taking a rather unfortunate liking to Miranda. "You would be the perfect maid--oh! And with a pair of glasses and pigtails and just everything! We need to get you a costume and now!" Once again, Haruhi's big head was spinning off into her own world. Haruhi didn't acknowledge the twins, too busy imagining Miranda in outfits Miranda probably would not be happy in--but that mattered little to Haruhi!

[dark_steps]

"Hello Riku-chan, Risa-chan," Linali said, her nervous expression still in place. "Ready to go shopping?" She turned just as Haruhi glomped Miranda. "Ha-Haruhi!" she called out, coming to her friend's rescue. "Calm down a bit, ne?"

[mrs_dark]

Riku just nodded a little. "Haruhi's pretty...friendly, isn't she?" She asked, knowing that that was a nicer way of saying how hyper the girl seemed to be.

Risa gave a sigh and looked down at the ground, causing Riku to have to explai in a whisper. "She's still upset."

[beautyandboots]

Mai raised an eyebrow at the sudden appearance of Haruji, putting a hand on her hip. She found Haruhi amusing, in limited doses; the girl was too full of herself for Mai to be very fond of her.

Still, there was no reason to be rude. "Hello there, Haruhi." She said lightly, before looking over at twins. "Hey." She greeted them more warmly, smiling.

When Haruhi latched herself onto Miranda, Mai rolled her eyes and grabbed the back of the girl's shirt, pulling her firmly away from the nervous exorcist. "Hey, let's keep the touchy-feelyness to a minimum, hon."

[dark_steps]

Seeing that her fellow Exorcist was safe, Linali turned back to the twins with a concerned look. Instead of asking Riku, she went straight to the source. "Risa-chan... what's wrong? Surely it's not something that a little bit of shopping can't fix," she said with a hopeful smile.

[unluckytiming]

Miranda let out a cry of surprise as Haruhi latched herself onto her, her gloved hands clasping together tightly. "Eep!" She yelped helplessly, truly not sure what to do in this sort of situation. "G-glasses?... Wait!! M-m-m-maid???!" The woman echoed, her brown eyes widening in what could almost be called horror.

She couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief as Mai removed the girl from her, gasping to catch her breath.

[bouken_desho]

Haruhi didn't understand why noone was trying to do the same to this girl--didn't they see what she did? Her awkwardness just made her that much cuter; why was noone else trying to get at her first? Guys must have went nuts for this girl with her demure ways--Haruhi knew she was! ...Not that she was a guy, but she certainly wasn't very gishish, either. "Oh, you're just perfect!" She yelped, attempting to nuzzle into her--unfortunately, that only lasted for a few seconds before Mai had to drag her off.

Her arms flailed for Miranda as she was yanked, trying to fight her way back. "But wait...! I wasn't even finished checking her out!" Her eyes peered to Miranda's chest. She wasn't into girls exactly, but she did like to compare to herself--in ways many would never be so inclined to do.

[mrs_dark]

Risa looked from Linali over to the scene with Miranda and blinked. She would have found it funny normally, but she just sighed and turned her head back to Linali.

"It's nothing, really. Don't worry about me." She, honestly, was tired of talking about why she was upset, but then maybe she shouldn't be so depressed all the time?

[beautyandboots]

Mai rolled her eyes at Haruhi's protests, still holding onto her shirt so she couldn't leap back on Miranda. "You can do your checking out with your eyes, honey."

She glanced over at Risa, who still looked very upset, presumably from the Dark and Rufus disaster. Those boys, really...

[unluckytiming]

Miranda swallowed hard, giving Mai an appreciative smile. She really was worried whether or not the excitable teen would steer clear of her for the entirety of the shopping excursion, though...

"Um... Sh-should we go?" She asked meekly, glancing towards Risa worriedly. She really wanted to comfort the girl, but being optimistic had nbever exactly been her strong point...