Chapter Twenty-Three - Free and Compulsory

Chapter Twenty-Three - Free and Compulsory

Chapter Twenty-Three - Free and Compulsory

With the modern love for quick fashion comes a modern dislike of trashed clothing. Fashion changes so quickly that by the time something is designed according to a new fashion, made, then shipped to its market, the fashion it was designed for might have moved on and become dmod.

Which, naturally, leads to entire shipping containers being dumped. You cant unmake clothes and remake them, and shelf space is limited. Its cheaper to throw it all away and start over.

Its unforgivably wasteful. If youre going to throw so much effort away, then why not save yourself some trouble, apply some skill, and make fashion that will never fade?

--Audrey Alice Darnell-Forsythe, president of Cutting Edge Fashion, 2051

***

What about something like that? Lucy asked. She was pointing to a massive floor-to-ceiling banner ad in front of one of the shops in the inner circle of the Arcade. The shops and stalls here were all corpo clothing places.

Not that the clothing they sold was necessarily corpo fashion. There were plenty of designer casual wear. Hoodies and t-shirts and jackets with looping .Gifs on the back or tracksuits with RGB stripes. The kind of shit youd never be caught wearing in a board meeting. Still, the brands were corporate, even if what they sold didnt fit that aesthetic.

It looked more like... well, samurai gear, but cheaper.

My jacket was a pretty good example of it. It was cut and tailored to fit me, the flaps or whatever they were called stopped exactly at the knee, the back part was fit precisely to my shoulder's length, the front bit was bunched out just enough for my breasts.

Id mostly worn hand-me-downs of hand-me-downs my entire life, and it was kind of miraculous to just get clothes that fit right. The last coat I had was way too tight at the front, and I couldnt zip the damned thing up, and the sleeves were too long.

Anyway, I looked at the sign, then squinted a little. Thats very corpo, I said.

The model on the banner was a tall, skinny woman in a pantsuit and suit jacket. She was strutting towards the viewer, but the camera was backing away at the same rate so she remained in focus the entire time.

Yeah, but its hot, Lucy countered. Shes got that... Im going to top you energy going on.

You find that hot? I asked.

Oh yeah, she said with a nod. Well... I guess youre right, it would be silly on you.

I didnt say that, I said.

She grinned. Of course not. I glared at Lucy, but she just smiled smugly at me and pulled me forwards. Its not right for you anyway. Youre too casually dangerous for that kind of thing. Plus it kinda goes counter to your cat-theme.

Cats can be serious and whatever that is, I said with a gesture to the ad. Glamorous and graceful or whatever. Cats are notably like that.

Yeah, of course, but thats not the kind of cat you are.

What? I asked. Then what kind of cat am I?

Alley?

I turned around and locked eyes with... someone I didnt know. A woman, maybe late twenties or early thirties, half a head shorter than me. Very little makeup, but what was there made her high cheekbones stand out and darkened her eyes. She had that noble look going. And she was dressed in very nice corpo-chic. A glossy skirt and suit, with a few tasteful accessories in silver. I didnt know enough to recognize brands or anything, but it looked at once very expensive and understated.

It reminded me a little of those stupidly unaffordable luxury hovercars that just looked like a nice car, without any bells and whistles, and which cost a CEOs annual salary.

Do I know you? I asked.

She blinked once, then one eyebrow perked up very slightly. I suppose you dont know me in this form, but Ive hardly switched faces since we last met. Should I be insulted, Miss Catherine Leblanc?

Cat, whos this? Lucy asked.

She didnt strike me as a weirdo. Well, yes, but not the dangerous type. She didnt have the feel of a rabid fan or something like that either. More... like she was a businessperson here to do business.

I looked her up and down again, but nothing came to mind. Sorry, I said. Who are you?

She sighed. Im Audrey Alice Darnell-Forsythe. And from what I hear, youre doing the intelligent thing and are looking at improving your image.

Were just buying clothes, I said.

Ill help, she said.

I... no?

Audrey shook her head. Didnt I once tell you, consultations are free and compulsory.

It clicked then. The all-black outfit, the face, the voice, and then that particular line. Emoscythe?

Emoscyhe Mordeath Noir, she corrected before frowning. Though at the moment, Im Audrey.

So, out of uniform she wasnt a samurai anymore? No one knows who you are here? I asked. Uh, I mean, when youre out samuraiing?

She shook her head. Plenty know. Those who should, in any case. There are a number of employees who work for me here. Some know about my extracurricular activities. Others only know me as the president of whatever company they work for.

Wow, that sounds like a lot of work, Lucy said. Im Lucy, by the way.

Emoscythe-slash-Audrey glanced at her and nodded. A pleasure, Lucy. I enjoy the work. Otherwise I wouldnt bother. In any case, I overheard you two talking about image, so I decided to come over and assist.

Come over? I asked. You werent in here already?

Why would I be here? This market is interesting, certainly, but its one of a half-dozen in New Montreal currently running. I had no reason to be here now.

So you came here from home or whatever after overhearing us? I asked, just to be sure.

She rolled her eyes. Don't say that as if youre unfamiliar with the idea of proper surveillance. I have assets here. I keep an eye on things. My AI informs me if a samurai is shopping at one of my shops. Most of the time I leave them be. Everyone needs clothes and its none of my business what sort of underthings someone prefers. But if it sounds like they need help, then I help. And you need help. Consultations are free and compulsory.

***