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fandomhigh2011-09-18 11:31 pm
halfman-lion.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2011-09-18 11:31 pm
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Basic Strategy, Monday, Period 4
The class was back in the Danger Shop this week, and Tyrion was in considerably better form than he had been the Monday before.
The back area of the shop was set up as a boutique, with racks of fashionable and vintage clothing for all occasions and large curtained dressing areas -- including makeup and hair tables -- to the side. A magazine rack placed near the center of the area held a wide variety of current fashion magazines.
Tyrion gathered the students near the front of the area. He hoped he'd be able to hold their attention, evem if he was competing with clothing.
"A few weeks ago," he began, "I ran through some of the areas in which one might be advantaged. The first one we looked at was strength; this week, we'll be looking at beauty." He paused there, half expecting a laugh; what could a dwarf know of beauty?
The stabbing thought passed, and he continued. "You cannot change the form you were born with -- or not without considerable effort and pain. You can, though, make the most of it. Your clothing should be neat, clean, and as high-quality as you can afford." This may have been easier for a Lannister to say.
"Any outfits you wear should make the most of your form without suggesting it might be for sale -- unless, of course, you are for sale. Your hair should be neat and nicely styled, any cosmetics discreetly applied. I won't deny I'm no expert on the fashions of this world, but things have not changed that much."
He drew a breath. "It might seem like a womanly topic, but men are judged on appearance nearly every bit as much. We all have to wear clothes every day; when someone who cares about them is looking, it can't hurt to make them worth looking at."
He gestured back to the racks of clothing. "This week, I want you to pick something out that makes you feel like you have the upper hand. Something you'd wear to meet someone you needed to impress. Then come out and explain what you chose and why."
The back area of the shop was set up as a boutique, with racks of fashionable and vintage clothing for all occasions and large curtained dressing areas -- including makeup and hair tables -- to the side. A magazine rack placed near the center of the area held a wide variety of current fashion magazines.
Tyrion gathered the students near the front of the area. He hoped he'd be able to hold their attention, evem if he was competing with clothing.
"A few weeks ago," he began, "I ran through some of the areas in which one might be advantaged. The first one we looked at was strength; this week, we'll be looking at beauty." He paused there, half expecting a laugh; what could a dwarf know of beauty?
The stabbing thought passed, and he continued. "You cannot change the form you were born with -- or not without considerable effort and pain. You can, though, make the most of it. Your clothing should be neat, clean, and as high-quality as you can afford." This may have been easier for a Lannister to say.
"Any outfits you wear should make the most of your form without suggesting it might be for sale -- unless, of course, you are for sale. Your hair should be neat and nicely styled, any cosmetics discreetly applied. I won't deny I'm no expert on the fashions of this world, but things have not changed that much."
He drew a breath. "It might seem like a womanly topic, but men are judged on appearance nearly every bit as much. We all have to wear clothes every day; when someone who cares about them is looking, it can't hurt to make them worth looking at."
He gestured back to the racks of clothing. "This week, I want you to pick something out that makes you feel like you have the upper hand. Something you'd wear to meet someone you needed to impress. Then come out and explain what you chose and why."
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"If I need to make an impression, I usually find that a simple but nicely put-together black suit works the best for a base. People never really think of cufflinks until they see them, so I wanted to make sure I had something shiny that would attract attention, which should subconsciously shame someone who's not wearing them. And the red tie is because it's a color that projects a sense of power."
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"This dress is similar to one I wore to my brother's wedding," Lucrezia explained. "The color matches my eyes, while complementing my skin. The style is ornate but not ostentatious; it is elegant, but does not draw undue attention to itself. In this dress, I am beautiful, while also respectable, not necessarily a simple object of desire."
She did not think to add that it was a dress that conveyed her wealth; that seemed so obvious as to be beyond pointing out.
"I chose against risking a more modern ensemble," she added. "I do not know the social rules of modern clothing, and feared making a crucial misstep."
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though sadly this did not involve dancing."My clothes are expensive, in fabric and workmanship, but they're not garish or ostentatious," he said. "Indicating both wealth and enough security in that there's no need to broadcast that fact. Purple carries connotations of royalty and wealth, which helps reinforce that idea. Ideally they'd be bespoke or tailored, but in any case they fit me well enough I don't look like I've raided my father's closet." Though Lionel did have very nice taste in suits.
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The question was genuine curiosity.
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What, like more explanation was needed?
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Not an insult, not a compliment; merely a comment.
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That was pretty far from the truth.
"Realistically speaking," she said, aware that it was a lie since the one way she really tried to dress to impress anyone was in no way related to her civilian identity, "this is the best I'd be able to do. Dressing too nicely in my neighborhood is like wearing a giant neon 'MUG ME' sign, and believe me, criminals in my neighborhood don't need any extra motivation."
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"Where I'm from," she explained, "suits equal power. So, you know, suit. It's smart, functional, and has places to hide a gun. Plus? Way easier to people to believe you legitimately work for the government, and then they're more likely to answer your questions and cooperate."
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"This would most likely be custom-made for an Aristo in Draega," she explained, the red and purple edging nicely complementing her skin tone, and the teal highlighting the green in her eyes. "The fabrics and embroidery are well-made, and it is quite an attractive cut. It would be considered expensive, with the level of detail, but not so much that I could get in trouble for outshining the Territory Queen."
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"This kind of outfit probably costs more money than I've ever seen before in one place," he said. "It makes me feel important, and I think that'd keep people from looking down on me as much as they might otherwise."
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"Which I think my dad's secretary bought for me." He was a special kid. "I never really wear suits unless I have to."
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