[OPEN]

[69problems]

Who: The Signless and YOU!
What: Signless braves the wild and scary world of shopping.
Where: The Capitol shopping district.
When: Now-ish, during the day.
Warnings: None that I can think of.

The Signless hasn't really done much shopping in the Capitol -- none at all, as it happens, except for when he accompanied Karkat on his last trip but paid for nothing that was bought. He doesn't really trust the credit cards; he doesn't like the idea of being in debt to these people. But this is a special outing. Karkat got him a tribute token doubling as a sign of their moiraillegience, and he can't very well not return the gesture.

So far it's been a wild ride, out alone with all the Capitol people. Many are still wearing horns, some of them disturbingly like his own little nubs, and three of them already have stopped him and asked him to write his name in Alternian script on their arms or faces in glittering red pen. It's strange, as confusing as it is flattering for someone who lived most of their life only interacting with the same three people and expecting only skepticism or violence from strangers. So far the worst thing that's happened to him out here has been a human with blue and red glasses and two sets of horns in honey gold giving him a rather dirty look as they walked past each other. The thought that people he doesn't even know have been watching his relationship with the Helmsman crash and burn and might be angry at him about it is a deeply disconcerting one.

Still, he can't just ignore everyone around him. He likes Peeta and Cinna, and despite all his efforts Effie is growing on him, and he knows it'll help them tremendously if he presents a gracious and open public persona.

Also, he needs a second opinion. He's found a ring he likes, but he's never had jewelry and doesn't have much of an eye for whether it looks good or not. Whoever your character is, they are being recruited for the cause!

"What do you think of this? Too garish?"

(Of course, if your character isn't one he'd ask the opinion of, they can feel free to butt in and give it anyway.)

Comments

[amourtician]

Jay is trying on earrings when he hears Signless's voice. He puts his plain gold rings back into his ears and approaches the troll from behind, craning his neck to see what he's talking about. The earrings were all boring anyway -- he could find none that suited his style and looked like they might be actually appropriate as religious wear. Not that he remembered the rules for piercings (or if, indeed, there were any, beyond the places one was supposed to have pierced).

He comes closer and plucks the ring out of Signless's hand and holds it up to the light. He turns it around in his long, spidery fingers and frowns at it.

"It's quite nice, darling," he finally says. "But, ah. I'm more fond of gold, for rubies. And in general. Silver is very ... restrained."

He raises an eyebrow at Signless. "I mean, I don't know what sort of impression you're going for, here, but this ring," he waves it in the air "says 'i am fond of you, but our relationship is not one either of us would show off'. A gift for a friend, yes. Not so for ... a lover."

He blushes a little when he says "lover" and his ears twitch, briefly.

[69problems]

His face brightens when he sees it's Jay. They've only spoken a few times, and the first one was a little rocky, but he's starting to grow genuinely fond of the man. It's clear he needs someone to be fond of him, after all, and how he responds with such amazement to any sort of kindness is endearing.

"It's meant for my moirail, which a human wouldn't term a lover, maybe? Since from what I've been able to gather a lover is someone you're concupiscent with, and we aren't that." He flicks his own (slightly smaller but no less pointy) ears back at Jay.

"Anyway, I wanted the silver because it's his color, and the ruby because it's mine. And he's very much not a flashy troll, so anything with one huge stone on it I don't think he'd wear."

[amourtician]

Jay blushes even more when he realises the Signless is happy to see him. This is very novel. He hands the ring back, noticeably less inflated with self-importance.

"Moirail," he says, carefully. "That's ... ah. That's like a cross between a best friend and a twin, yes, darling? In any case, if it's for Karkat, I think the ring will do fine. He is ... not a very fashionable individual. I'm sure he'll appreciate the lack of flash! And, ah. Obviously the thought behind the gift."

He feels a little pang of jealousy at the thought of someone caring enough about that horrid little grey boy enough to buy him gifts. He doesn't let it show, however. No need to look like a petulant child when it's not going to get him anything.

"Is it customary, to give moirails rings?" he asks, instead.

[69problems]

He nods.

"Or little trinkets. Rings, necklaces, clothing in your color or embroidered with your sign. This is the one he gave me." He holds out his hand, displaying the silver cancer sign ring for Jay to see. "It's his sign, and he's adopted gray as his hue, so it's in silver."

[amourtician]

Jay takes the Signless's hand and brings the ring closer to his face, to get a better look, completely unmindful that this is rather invasion of personal space. But he's never mindful of that, so who's surprised?

"Adopted? I thought trolls were assigned hues?"