Chapter Twenty-Three - Free and Compulsory


    <strong>Chapter Twenty-Three - Free and Compulsory</strong>


    <em>With the modern love for quick fashiones a modern dislike of trashed clothing. Fashion changes so quickly that by the time something is designed ording to a new fashion, made, then shipped to its market, the fashion it was designed for might have moved on and be dmod.</em>


    <em>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.</em>


    <em>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?</em>


    --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 ces.


    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 ps 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. Thest 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 <em>very</em> 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... <em>Im going to top you</em> 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 red 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. morous 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 sniffed. Thats just mean.


    Alright, so maybe something more casual? But we dont want to be too casual, because casual and violencebinedes off as sloppy, Lucy said.


    How do you figure that?


    She slowed down, then leaned into me as we walked. It was something shed always done, at least until she needed more help to walk than just someone to lean on. Okay, so, youre walking down an alley.


    Is this an alley-cat thing? I asked.


    Yes, its a joke, she confirmed with a grin. Now stop interrupting, Im painting a picture with my words.


    Thats called hallucinating, and its not good for your health.


    She jabbed an elbow into my side, and Iughed. Youre walking down an alley. Its night, so its poorly lit. Youre not in the safe parts of the city. Then someone steps out ahead of you and tells you to stop. Whatre the first things you do?


    Shoot?


    Cat, she whined.


    I shook my head. Ah, okay, so, dark alley, its probably a mugger, or someone like that. Your word-pictures are a bit stereotypical.


    Okay, maybe, but whats <em>actually</em> the first thing you do?


    I frowned. There was a hint of seriousness there. She was trying to make a point, and she wouldnt be able to if I didnt pay attention, so I did. I imagined the scenario, then shrugged again. I guess Ill look at the person, see if theyre armed, then either bolt or fight.


    Exactly! Lucy said. So, humans are wired weird, right?


    <em>Tell me about it.</em>


    I decided to ignore Myalis as Lucy went on. When we see a threat or whatever, we kind of instantly lock onto it and go through a mental checklist. Is it a person? Is it an animal? Is it an alien, which I guess folds into animal for hind-brain purposes? Is it something else? And if it <em>is</em> a person, then do we know them? If you worked for a corp and the person telling you to stop was in the corp security uniform, then you might be scared for a second but youd calm down. Theyre not a threat. If youre in a gang, and the person in the alleys in the same colours, then youre safe.


    Right, okay, I said. That makes sense. People are good at sussing people out at a nce.


    Lucy nodded and was clearly quite proud of her... whatever that had been. Exactly. So, a normie might see a cop and feel safe, or see someone dressed in rags and get scared. What if they see someone dressed like that? She pointed to the banner ad. The woman was gone, reced by a chisel-jawed chad-type guy in corpowear.


    Thatd be a real high-ss mugger, I said.


    So they wouldnt be as scared, right?


    Right, I agreed.


    So thats why you want to pay attention to what you wear. Casual is good for telling people that youre not serious, but it also doesnt disarm people. Casual is too... variable? Anyone could be wearing casual stuff.


    You know, your girlfriend is pretty smart, a strangely familiar voice said from behind me. Which is surprising, all things considered.


    I turned around and locked eyes with... someone I didnt know. A woman, maybete 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 essories 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 sry.


    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 west met. Should I be insulted, Miss Catherine Lenc?


    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 andpulsory.


    It clicked then. The all-ck outfit, the face, the voice, and then that particr 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 extracurricr activities. Others only know me as the president of whateverpany they work for.


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


    Emoscythe-sh-Audrey nced 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 toe 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 surveince. 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 andpulsory.


    ***