As Riddick turned around, he was met with the sight of a forthright woman walking toward him at a fast pace. In the current day and age, where even something like height could be changed on one's whims, it became incredibly rare to find short people. So, as Riddick saw this woman, who stood roughly at most 5 feet tall, he couldn't help but show an odd expression.
The woman clearly looked to be at the very least in her 40s, with a mature Caucasian face featuring hazel eyes and short dark hair that was cut extremely neatly. As for her attire, she wore a plain-looking black dress with a scarf of the same color around her neck. She came to a stop just a few feet away from Riddick and then immediately began to examine him before muttering to herself, "Not bad, not bad."
"What do you want?" She then said out loud, an extremely odd question to ask someone considering that this was a clothing store, unless maybe she didn't mean it that way and was only in fact asking what he really did want. After all, as she spoke, she had a thick accent and a consistent, strict tone which told Riddick she likely spoke like this most of the time.
"As you can see, I need a new set of clothes," Riddick's short reply prompted the lady to eye him yet again, this time focusing on his blood-stained attire. She put her hand thoughtfully under her chin and narrowed her gaze before uttering the reply, "Yes, yes, that attire is quite atrocious. Had you worn this in the past, you would have been executed. I can feel my sense of style fading the longer I look at it."
Stating that, the woman quickly turned away from Riddick with an exaggerated spin and flick of her hair, “Quickly! Make your way to the changing rooms, and the droids will help you remove those unholy rags and burn them. But be aware that my services are not cheap."
Just by observing how the woman carried herself in this short span of time, Riddick immediately knew he had likely walked into a higher-end clothing store, one owned by the designer themselves. And although he would've preferred to simply pick out some clothes from a rack and leave, there was no telling what he would find at the other stores, so he simply went along with it, "I think I'll manage."
Having said that, Riddick walked over toward the changing room, which was only one, strangely enough. Inside, Riddick found two overly dressed, voluptuous droids. At first glance, he wondered, ‘why would a sex droid be here?’
The immediate conclusion one would reach was perhaps that she offered them to some of her clients. It was possible, but for a high-end establishment, it didn't make sense to have clients use a droid that other clients also used periodically.
It was something one would only see in a sex arcade. However, given the eccentric character the woman hurriedly showed, Riddick didn't want to jump to conclusions. After all, she did say the droid would take his clothes and burn them, so he simply got in and began to disrobe, quickly taking off his clothes and tossing them on the floor.
Once he did so, one of the two droids, possessing long blonde hair and blue eyes, turned on and picked up Riddick's clothing before walking out with them, leaving him standing there nude next to the other droid, one possessing short brown hair but blue eyes as well. Riddick turned to this droid and asked, "Where are the new clothes?"
Almost immediately after he asked this, the woman's voice resonated from speakers mounted within the changing room, "Be patient! Elizabeth will quickly take down his measurements. If he does not meet the standards, give him a set of my failed experiments for free and have him go on his way. My masterpieces are not to be given away haphazardly."
Hearing the woman's words, Riddick couldn't help but glance around the room, likely suspecting there were either cameras or listening devices. He didn't know whether to be surprised or raise his caution.
The only reason he hadn't done so thus far was because the woman wore her emotions on her sleeve. She was incredibly honest, too honest one might say, and it showed, along with her overly blunt personality, she currently showed an unapologetic stance toward her actions.
After all, it was very unlikely that someone would not only be comfortable undressing in front of two sex droids but being observed or listened to as they did so.
‘Let's just hope this is as weird as it gets,’ Riddick thought to himself as the droid beside him turned on and began to take his measurements with a measuring tape she had on a pouch hanging off her waist. Considering technology existed that could scan one's measurements in a single pass, Riddick didn't see the need to do this.
However, he also understood that certain fashion designers stuck to methods from incredibly far back as it was what set their brand apart from others. So again, although a bit odd, he didn't question it.
As the droid began to freely take measurements of Riddick's body, the woman's voice resounded again from the speakers, "What is your name, darling?" she asked, not really sounding like she cared for it but rather needed to know.
Riddick promptly replied, "Riddick."
"I have never heard of such a name before, fabulous. And what is your favorite color?."
"I suppose anything dull. Gray, black, or even dull red..." Before he could finish speaking, the woman energetically interjected, "No red!"
“Okay?” Riddick promptly added, unsure where the woman's anger towards red stemmed from. Given the already odd quirks she exhibited, he didn't even bother to try and fathom the reason for it.
"Good. Let's see, black hair, not so fabulous; blue eyes, nothing special. We'll use black, as the other colors would be too fabulous for you. Such a boring man," she bluntly said before going silent.
‘I suppose I'll take that as a compliment,’ Riddick thought to himself. His image was in the first place, meant to project an image of a boring, quiet, but smart person.
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As the droid finished taking Riddick's measurements and stepped out of the changing room without uttering a word, Riddick was then left to stand there naked for roughly 15 minutes.
He hadn't a word of complaint for the moment as he saw no reason to. He had a hard time limit on hand and told the driver outside that it would roughly take 30 minutes. So, if 25 minutes were to pass without any clothes being brought to him, then he'd simply leave. As much as Riddick didn't like wasting time, he knew the value of patience, and without knowing whether or not the other stores also had eccentric people like this one, there was no need to rush.
Thankfully, just as 18 minutes passed, the droid returned with a set of clothes neatly folded in her hands, with quality as if it had just been made. This was entirely possible, however, given how far the advancement of technology had become. It was because of this that, during 2340, the world saw an influx of common people starting their own brands, bringing out new clothes and setting new trends. It was the age of fashion, and to survive, one had to be especially unique and crafty.
As the droid handed Riddick the clothes, he received them casually and placed them on a nearby stool before dressing up one by one. Everything from boxers, socks, accessories had been brought by the droid, forming a collective outfit that featured black boots, khaki-style pants, and a dark gray belt with a buckle that possessed the insignia of RDK. Then, on top, a plain white vest to start with, followed by a black turtleneck, and then finally a black leather jacket.
For accessories, Riddick was given two pairs of studs, which he definitely didn't plan on wearing outside. But to avoid confrontation with the woman, he did so for now.
Finally, a pair of aviators, which again, he didn't plan on wearing. Not because he necessarily disliked them, but rather, it would add an unnecessary element of attention.
As Riddick finished dressing up, the woman loudly complimented, "Fabulous, fabulous! With my clothes on you, you look much better."
Riddick stepped out of the changing room and quickly glossed over his attire, feeling quite content with it, aside from the accessories. As he did so, the woman quickly appeared from a door on the far end of the store, moving at her usual fast pace despite her really short legs. As she walked, she began to clap consistently while repeating, "Fabulous, fabulous."
Once again stopping a few feet away from Riddick, she quickly took out a device and took a few photos of Riddick in an incredibly quick succession.
He couldn't even question or speak on what the photos were for before she continued to blabber on, "I've taken the liberty of putting my card in your jacket. Off with you, I am a busy woman. You see, whereas other designers mimic, I originate. And I don't meet standards; I establish them.”
“In fact, I've already arrived where most of my rivals are aiming. They worry about being a step ahead, but I see it all from atop the stairs, because if consistency is key, I am what you unlock. Now, goodbye. Elizabeth, Laurent, please give my newest client a bottle of champagne, a rose, and send him on his way."
Before Riddick could even utter a response, the woman had spun into a seemingly practiced exit, then began to walk away at her usual fast pace. As Riddick almost called out to her, he stopped himself just as the two droids brought out a bottle of champagne and a single rose toward him while simultaneously saying, "Thank you for your patronage, goodbye."
Riddick looked at the woman leaving and watched as she disappeared behind the door at the far end of the store. The reason he stopped himself from speaking to her is because he had just come to realize that he had fallen for one of the tricks of leading the conversation, unpredictability.
From start to finish. He went along with everything the woman had said, and though doing so willingly due to the circumstances that surrounded him, it still meant that the woman had things go her way completely.
Actually, Riddick was so taken aback by her audacious statements and blunt comments that he really couldn't overly analyze the woman; he didn't even know where to begin. So, he simply thought to himself, ‘If she's faking it, she's really good, and if not, I may have just acquainted myself like a crazy person.’
Riddick could only sigh as he received the bottle of champagne and the rose before leaving the store. As he did so, he found Transport 47 leaning by the car, standing in wait.
Transport 47 immediately turned his attention toward the bottle of champagne and the rose, immediately commenting on it, "I see your trip was rather fruitful, although I had assumed you would've gotten more than one set of clothing, sir."
As Transport 47 said this, Riddick, in fact, did come to the realization that it may have been better to get one or two more pairs of clothing. And as he remembered this, he just realized that he hadn't paid. He was about to turn and head back inside, but then another realization popped up. So, he turned to Transporter 47 and asked, "Hold this for me."
Transporter 47 received the bottle of champagne, stating, "Not a problem. Oh, this is good quality," he praised.
Riddick ignored the comment for a bit and reached into his jacket, checking the pockets. He eventually found a card. On it was some decorated writing and styling, with the heading reading, "Giga-Chad Tailorings." On the corner of the card was a very dazzling picture of the woman Riddick just met. And although she was far from what the average person would call beautiful, she seemed more confident than supermodels. Then behind the card were the words, "The first masterpiece is free. Be sure to visit again if you wish to maintain fabulousness. Madam Lenoir Petit."
Riddick sighed and put the card back in his jacket, once again wondering whether or not her personality was an act. Because from what he knew, sometimes people would act in all sorts of ways just to garner attention or to misdirect people, similar to what Riddick did with his everyday character, seeming rather dull and quiet.
After all, if it was really her intention, Riddick could see it as especially effective. The garments he wore, although he wasn't a fashion critic, did feel incredibly comfortable and well-tailored to his exact measurements. Furthermore, Madam Petit didn’t mince words and was very direct, but in doing so, she delivered what she promised, in which case Riddick couldn't really find fault.
That type of person, who always had to wear an alias because of the image they put across, was among the hardest for Riddick to read, as you would really need to know them well and their background to know for at least certain that they are in fact like that.
Regardless, Riddick, at the very least, felt he had stumbled upon a rather interesting individual, ‘Something to look into later, I guess,’ Riddick shifted his attention back to Transport 47 and then said, "You're free to have it if you wish."
Transporter 47 immediately shook his head, "No, such fine concoctions are for women. Presenting them back in the day was considered an especially fine act of courting, back in, I think, 2314, if I'm not mistaken. Due to how rare roses became during that period, along with the international ban on liquor in most places, it was an extremely sought-after gift. If you have a special someone, I urge you to present it. Even if they do not like to drink, I'm sure they'll appreciate the gesture."
Riddick nodded in understanding at Transporter 47's words and took the bottle back. He didn't really have any special person, so he could only hold on to it for now. This time, Transporter 47 asked Riddick, "Where to next? Another store perhaps?"
Riddick shook his head, "No, I think we can start making our way to Oriette Café."