It's so small... (open)

[Caelan Xander]

Cael stood transfixed inside of the mall, staring down the mannequin at the clothing store, his jaw tight as he was practically grinding his teeth at it.   He was not prepared for this challenge, but he couldn't do the next event as he was.  He needed to surpass this obstacle no matter the cost!  His team was counting on him!  All of Cabal was counting on him!  The political landscape of all of the North American territories was riding on how these exams went, and thus on Cael surpassing this challenge.

He needed to find a shirt that fit him. 

[Allison Kazim]

Allison was inside one of the shops in a nearby mall, going over the options she had with a critical eye. It was hard not to, especially with the next round of exams coming up. She needed something nice, something that didn't scream "academy uniform of 260" like she had. There wasn't time to get something from home, either, so this was the best she could do. At least she'd saved up enough from commissions to get something nice.

So far, however, nothing kept her interest. There were colors, cuts, and fits. There was a case of accessories in teh back, how to find something that woudl make moving easy without drawing too much attention to certain things...or lack thereof.

With an irritated sigh, she hung up the blue dress she'd been eying and turned to go to a different store across the hall.

That was when she saw him. Where anyone could if they had eyes, really. Caelan was difficult to miss, even in a crowd. he made her feel like she was the size of a doll standing near him. With the leather, chains, and scars, it was hard to imagine him going into a shop like that. Maybe that's why he was there? To find somethign like a few Cabal soldiers probably were.

So why did he look so bewildered?

"Caelan?"

[Caelan Xander]

He was looking at pretty much anything that might fit him. Dress shirts, T shirts. Anything that wasn't leather and chains. But it was all so small... He'd tried three shirts already and they'd all ripped. It was disheartening. When he heard his name he stiffened and slowly turned, his eyes narrowing as he lowered his gaze to see who was talking to him. His gaze stern but his voice soft.

"Hello, Allison."

[Allison Kazim]

"Good day to you, as well." She stepped forward, taking in the contents of the area around him. Men's shirts, all of them, of various types and sizes. He seemed so stiff here, out of place or maybe even upset? It was hard to say for certain.

Especially since she coulnd't recall seeing him in a full-bodied shirt.

"Did you find anything interesting?"

[Caelan Xander]

"Nothing that fits."

He'd frown.

[Allison Kazim]

That was problematic. Unsurprising, but problematic. Ali gave a small hum and looked at the shirts nearby.

"Alright, do you know what size you wear? Or if you've tried any on?" She assumed he knew his own shirt size, but sometimes a body could squeeze into something with enough desperation.

[Caelan Xander]

"Haven't had one since I was a kid."

Let's be real. There were not a lot of shirts for people like Cael in the post-post-apocalypse.

[Allison Kazim]

She blinked, then shook her head in silence as she drew herself up, sensing a new mission on the horizon.

"I see. Well, why don't you show me what has your interest, then." Her own shopping could wait.

[Caelan Xander]

He shrugged.

"I don't know."

He didn't even know where to begin. Not like he'd ever been to anything fancy before. He was a desert punk. Nice clothes were a distant memory from his childhood, not something he'd really thought about until he found out what the second round was going to be.

[Allison Kazim]

Ali tried to take in what she knew of him into consideration: his desert upbringing that made hers look like paradise. The protective qualities of the parts his leather covered. The chains...there would be no chains if she had any say in the matter!

"Alright then, first things first." She raised her chin, holding his gaze with her own.

"We need to take your measurements." She nodded towards the stalls that functioned as dressing rooms. "You'll need to take your vest off. Armbands, too. The leather will be too thick to just try going over it."

[Caelan Xander]

"In the dressing room?"

Together!?

[Allison Kazim]

"Yes?" Where else would they do it, out in the middle of the store? Ali raised her brows and frowned, looking from Cael back to the stall with a thoughtful sound.

"On second thought, maybe just stand by the dressing room in back where there are fewer displays.  You're going to need some space to get measurements for your arms."  Better to have a shirt he can wear and move around in."  She stopped and paused for a moment, still wondering why he was surprised before realizing what she herself had said.

"Just your shirt."

[Caelan Xander]

"That's kind of weird..."

And anyone passing by would be able to see...

[Allison Kazim]

"You could aslo ask a clerk. They can probably spot you a size that looks about right and go from there."

[Caelan Xander]

"I guess I can ask again."

He'd tried asking, and the biggest size they had shred when he moved his arms. Unfortunately.