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One of the reasons that Janet Van Dyne enjoys Times Square, is that there's such a flux of people, she tends to get lost in the crowd. Tabloid reporters having a much harder time to spot her as opposed to this or that club. She's standing in the center of the square, dressed in a vibrant red a-line dress with a tight bodice. The hem is perhaps a bit too short, in showing her knees, but she does make up for it with sensible white gloves, a fashionable red pill box hat, and matching pointed toe flats. As further hide to mask her identity, she's wearing large heart-shaped sunglasses. For the time being she's admiring the allure of the location, neon and halogen, colors and fashion, and so many people of so many walks of life. It's a great place to inspire a fashion designer.
*
Jubilee isn't doing any special hiding. She's also neither dressed like a wealthy person, nor is she shopping like one. In fact she's stopping to get something cheap: a hot dog on a corner, since walking around looking for good deals can be a bit tiring. Hard to tell just what she's shopping FOR even, since she's yet to accumulate any bags in her hands to carry with her.
*
Crystal doesn't often venture into the heart of the city, but she had a rumor to follow. One that led her into Times Square before she lost the trail. She doesn't stand out to most eyes, but to a fashion designer's, the mid-length full skirt and short-sleeved blouse are almost a decade out of fashion. Not that it seems to bother her. White gloves on her hands, she's stepped out of the flow of foot traffic to take a closer look at a map of the city, turning in each direction as she looks it over.
*
When Janet's eyes fall on Jubilee, she loses attention of other things, seeing an Asian about was a relative rarity, and she immediately moves in Jubilee's direction, calling after her, "nice look…though, I believe you should try to match yellow with pink for fab effect." Just a random tip, though even before she gets to introduce herself and make some small talk, she notices Crystal in the crowd and gestures for her to come closer, "lady? Are you lost? Because it looks like you're still in the 50s, if you want, I can help you freshen up that look."
*
Jubilee squints, and looks up from the hot dog she just bought to look at Janet coming over. "Well I have a yellow jacket, but I don't always need it this time of year, you see," she says. "What's with the.. fashion advice thoguh?" And she's gone.
*
Crystal glances up from her map at Janet's call, a wry smile curving as she looks herself over. "I'm not convinced these new styles qualify as fashion," she shakes her head, amused. "I saw a woman walk by just a few minutes ago with a skirt so short if she wasn't wearing boots that came up to her thighs she'd have been entirely indecent." She rubs the material of her skirt through gloved fingers, considering it. "I might be due for a few new things, though." Folding the map again, she looks to Jubilee with a polite smile.
*
"Oh, you just look like a young woman with a sensible taste in fashion, I enjoy talking fashion with people who know what they're doing," Janet remarks to Jubilee, before gesturing for her to hold on a moment as she turns to Crystal.
"Oh heavens, you're not convinced of today's fashion? It's too late, dear, it's already here…" Regardless of Crystal's thought on the matter, Janet entirely breaks her personal space as she reaches to grab Crystal by the arm and drag her towards Jubilee, "I'm back!" She remarks to Jubilee, before gesturing at Crystal, "here's a case of someone who needs help and doesn't know it yet, do you have a tip for her?" She asks Jubilee, curious to see what the Asian lady might say.
*
Jubilee looks down at her own skirt after Crystal's comment. "Oh come on it's not THAT short. It's just modern." Then she laughs, and takes a big bite of her hot dog. She is hungry after all. Then luaghing at this forcefullness, she swallows and shrugs. "I think it's important to be yourself, and be comfortable. I know not everyone could pull off this dress."
*
"I'm not sure needs help is how I'd phrase it," Crystal laughs, though she follows along easily enough, slipping the folded map into her purse. "Besides, there's something to be said for dressing with a little bit of decorum, rather than jumping onto whatever the latest trend is. Being…classic. Like a black cocktail dress."
*
Janet giggles at Jubilee's reaction to Crystal's comment, as she stage-whispers to Jubilee, "gotta watch it, some old fashioned people would still call you a harlot for showing your knees, naughty girl." Though when she levels her gaze with Crystal, Janet does quip, "I do agree with her though, breaking the mold is fun. Be a little adventurous, show some knee? Nothing wrong with that, it's fab!"
But she can relate to Jubilee's comment about how not everyone can pull every look off, she's no doubt Crystal would be far too busy being embarrassed if she were Jubilee's dress to really go about her life. "Oh, those would always be classic, but at the very least…update the design of your skirt, once you go a-line, you'd appreciate the comfort! Try at least that much! You'll thank me, by the way, I'm Janet Van Dyne," she extends her white gloved hand to Crystal, before crossing her other hand towards Jubilee, "and this is my new friend…" she leaves it to Jubilee to introduce herself. No doubt Crystal isn't likely to be the sort of woman to have heard of Janet Van Dyne, unless she read some tabloids, Jubilee? Maybe she heard of the burgeoning fashion designer.
*
Jubilee chuckles. "Jubilation," is her answer, giving a small little shake. Looking from one to the other, and back. "And I'm not sure I understand just what I've been dragged into here." Pausing then to take another bite of her hot dog. "I was just shopping for um, comfortable clothes."
*
"We've met, actually," Crystal nods to Jubilee with a small smile, though she does take Janet's hand in a politely light grasp. "I'm Crystal. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Van Dyne. In a city of this size, I honestly can't imagine how one would even decide where to start shopping," she admits, turning a circle to look around the square.
*
"Jubilation…have you ever wanted to be a hero?" Janet asks with a distinct tone that suggests the fate of the world is on the line. She lets Jubilee think about that for a moment, before shaking her head at the woman in great fashion-based peril, "you just said it's not always wise to hop on latest trend, so obviously, you don't need to shop somewhere trendy…but you do need to shop."
Turning back to Jubilee, she adds some exposition, "Crystal here is in dire need of a fashion refresh, you can help save her, Jubliation, you can be a hero!" Laughing at her own attempt of speaking with pathos, before winking at both Crystal and Jubilee, "as an added bonus, shopping for Crystal is my treat, and if you help her, there's a dress for you as well. Or something else if you prefer," looks like Janet has found her good deed of the day, and it does make her feel so swell to make the offer.
*
Jubilee nods to Crystal when she points out they'd been introduced before, smiling and gesturing with a tilt her of her head over at Janet. "A hero?" she then chuckles, looking at Janet. "Sure, let's go shopping, but like I said, it's only up to what she wants for herself."
*
Crystal smiles ruefully back at Janet, shaking her head slightly. "I assure you, there's really no need. I've absolutely nothing that requires me to be at the forefront of fashion, but plenty of reasons to make certain I don't make a complete fool of myself trying to be." She gives Janet a closer look, curiosity mingling with amusement. "What is it you do, Miss Van Dyne? Are you a performer, perhaps? I've heard the theater here is truly incredible."
*
"Of course, we're not dictators, it's not the U.S.S.R. here, it's what she likes…but she has the right to be informed of good taste, doesn't she?" Janet inclines her head towards Jubilee, hoping that the Asian would agree, as far as she's concerned, Crystal is a victim here. At Crystal's question, Janet nods, "it is actually quite incredible, but I'm not an actress, I'm actually a fashion designer. Which is why you must allow me this good deed, Crystal, it's my duty! I like to consider myself an upstanding citizen and a hero!" She rather enjoys her own little word play, she'd never disclose that she's been active as a superhero under the guise of the Wasp, but then again, considering she doesn't quite wear a mask, it's only her pixie size that saved her from any recognition so far.
*
Jubilee shrugs, and finishes her hot dog, crumbling up the wrapper. "Alright, if she's fine with browsing, I'll browse. No gifts necessary though, I don't mind browsing myself." Then with a smile at Crystal. "So lead on?"
*
"Well that certainly explains a few things," Crystal laughs to Janet. "All right, if you insist, then I suppose it would be foolish of me to decline. Nothing too…" She glances to Jubilee, smile quirking. "Showy, though. I work at a school, it wouldn't do to be distracting. So where does one find clothes that are both fashionable and respectable in New York City?" she asks Janet, ready to follow.
*
"Sure, and it's not a gift, it's my good deed of the day, come on, you have to let me have that much, right?" Janet asks Jubilee, adding a warm smile as if it would serve to better convince her. "Exactly!" Janet points at Crystal as she admits it would be foolish to decline and turns to look at Jubilee, "you should follow the example set by your elders, it's foolish to decline, see?" She then leads the two women, with a cry of "after me," as if she was leading some battalion into combat. Instead, she winds up leading them to the nearest Macy's store, "don't worry Crystal, I'm sure it will be sensible, fashionable, and just right for you."
*
Jubilee snickers again. "Fine. I'll consider it Janet." She quickly tosses away her wrapper and buys herself a drink, and catches up drinking as she goes to wash down that hot dog. "Isn't it weird to be a designer but recommend other people's clothes?"
*
Crystal somehow doesn't look entirely convinced, but she smiles and nods politely enough as she steps inside, pulling off her gloves to tuck them away inside her purse with the map. "This place is…quite large," she observes as she looks around, brows rising.
*
"That's the spirit," Janet grins as Jubilee is willing to shift her position rather than remain steadfast at the face of her persuasion attempts. "Not at all," she remarks at Jubilee, "Crystal here would be embarrassed to wear my designs, though if you like, I could make something for you," she offers Jubilee, before moving to a rack with a selection of a-line dresses, "that's the thing," Janet remarks to Crystal before pulling one out for her, "how about this one? Would you wear pink?" She asks, her eyes opening wide in anticipation, "at the very least you could try it on!" At the remark on the size, Janet laughs, "it's like church, only more fashionable by far!"
*
Jubilee shrugs and looks at Crystal as she's sucking on her straw. "If you can take something almost the same as your current styles, but they just look more recent, maybe everyone will walk away from here happy." Then she notices a clock, and gasps. "Though pardon me for being rude, I have to go. If I'm going to make the train back home I need to get moving. Thank you for inviting me though."
*
Jubilee has left.
*
Crystal chuckles to Jubilee, winking at the girl when Janet isn't looking before she turns back to the other woman. "Pink is…not really my favorite, honestly," she shakes her head. "It always feels like too much with the hair. Blue, green, yellow. I don't mind touches of pink, but as a whole…" She moves over to another rack, looking over the clothes there. "Also, I know it may sound odd, but I really prefer natural fibers. This…polyester trend is terrible for my skin."
*
"Sorry to have stolen you, do be on your way," Janet waves goodbye to Jubilee as she makes her quick retreat to try and make her train. Turning to Crystal, she nods, "how about cotton then? Soft on the skin, very breathable fabric," Janet suggests, following Crystal, "you can go mid-calf on the skirt, and how about elbow length on the sleeves?" Janet offers something slightly different. "Mmmm…as for color, how about something light blusih? Baby blue perhaps?"
*
"Cotton is wonderful," Crystal flashes a small smile over at Janet. "Especially in this summer heat," she adds, fanning herself with one hand. "I swear the city just sucks in the heat and holds on to it, even in the middle of the night. It's much nicer outside of the city, no matter how exciting the place is." She looks over at the dress, smile faint. "I could try that on, certainly."
*
Taking the dress she's just described over to Crystal, Janet presses it against the other woman, "go on, try it then…and you're right, why do you think shorter is becoming fashionable," Janet winks, "sometimes it's about function too!" While talking to Crystal, Janet also takes a glimpse here and there of some of the women who walk by, and while most are not quite so bold as Jubilee and herself, there is certainly a noticeable shorter hemline in general to be witnessed.
*
"You know, I rather like trousers," Crystal admits, taking the dress and heading for the dressing room. "Trousers are comfortable and practical. It's just there's really only so much bare leg that should be shown if you're not making…invitations." She flashes a smile over her shoulder before she disappears into the dressing room to change.
*
"Well, if you wish, stirrup pants have some presence, but generally, I think trousers are, well, more men's territory." So Janet is not entirely forward thinking in everything, although to be fair, that is her own opinion, and she tends to stand by her opinions. "I don't think they flatter as much as dresses do." She nods her head, and doesn't argue beyond that, waiting for Crystal to try the new dress.
*
"A properly broad pair isn't so bad," Crystal laughs from within the dressing room, not taking long to get changed. When she comes out in the dress, she pauses by the mirror to consider herself. While the sleeves are longer and the hemline past the knee, the close-fitting sheath is certainly more revealing in its own way. She pauses, turning to get a look at all of the angles. "It's certainly…flattering?"
*
"I'll grant you that much," Janet muses before clapping her hands in excitment when Crystal comes out of the dressing room, "I think it's quite the improvement. You don't have to wear it to class, of course, but I think for everyday? It's a flattering look for you, Crystal, you can also get a lower hemline if you like…"
*