Star Trek: Starbase 777

Xuan did not want to go shopping. They did not like consumerism or material things. Anything that deviated from what was necessary to maintain their level of comfort in the universe. They would go shopping if they needed new shoes or tools to help their model building, but to just go out and buy things when there wasn't a clear need was something they rarely did. However, Xuan's counsellor had recommended they go shopping with Thyroid to get the elachi skitterer some experience being out and about in the world. The skitterer was already well practiced in executing his service pet protocols. Xuan disliked clothes shopping the most because they found a lot of shops with fabrics to feel dirty and thus avoided them. With Thyroid by their side, perhaps it wouldn't be too bad. Today, Xuan was dressed surprisingly trendy! Tight dark navy skinny jeans with a beige button down shirt and a cool looking harness on top. Their hair was nicely combed and parted to the side, showing off their cool spot pattern and pointed ears! Xuan was wearing a pair of matte maroon coloured dress shoes with a little bit of a heel, not that Xuan needed it standing at a whole two meters tall.

"No, no, no..." Jari whispered under his breath as his hands weaved through various articles of clothing on the rack. It seemed fashion had grown more bizarre since the last time he had put half an effort into expanding his wardrobe, or his sense of fashion was more conservative than he initially thought. In saying that, the shop attendant had very obviously looked him up and down when he entered wearing a simple forest green collared tee, tucked into a pair of plain black slacks with a matching belt. The judgement was, in Jari's mind, warranted. Given he had owned the outfit since his Academy days. But who really had time to update their wardrobe so often? Most days he only ever wore his uniform anyway. After a few racks he found some items that he potentially could pull off. Maybe. A few shirts, a mix of short sleeve, long sleeve and button ups. Alongside a few pairs of varyingly styled pants, all in a regular slim fit. Surely this would be enough for the next... however many years. Or until his mother or, future, partner convinced him he had to update his wardrobe again. But having such thoughts would only spell trouble for him. With that, Jari spun on his heels and began to walk, not really watching where he was going as he spun around before walking straight into an obstacle. "Ah, fuc- oh, erm, I am so sorry!" A hand shot up form his side to rub at the side of his cheek after what felt like an elbow had slammed straight into it. "I did not see you there, that is totally my fault." When his eyes finally focused again he realised he was talking to a shoulder, and his eyes slowly raised up to make contact with that of the individual he wandered into. Which only made the fact he hadn't seen him all the more embarassing.

Xuan didn't notice the strange turn right into them, but Thyroid did. The skitterer made a mechanical series of beeps and whirls. This was enough to signal to Xuan to step to the side to avoid collision. A loud clang of metal sounded through the shop as the little skitterer went rolling to the side. Thyroid let out a little pained mechanical whine when his guardian kicked him. The creature was artificial, but Xuan immediately knelt down to wrap their arms around the creature to comfort him. Xuan lifted the skitterer, holding him against his stomach and then they could turn their attention to the stranger in front of them. The man had similar features to Xuan; spots running down the sides of their face and pointed ears. Interesting. "Jolan tru," They greeted, "It is alright. I am lucky my pet informed me before we collided," Xuan loosened their grip on Thyroid so the skitterer could turn to 'look' at the person. Ironically, Thyroid was at comfortable speaking level for this other person. "He is harmless. He is an elachi skitterer modified to be a service pet," Xuan said, knowing that people usually had questions about Thyroid first.

With the full attention of both the individual, and their pet, fully turned upon him, Jari subconsciously averted his gaze and looked to the floor for a moment. Embarrassment flooded through him, and it felt horrible. Especially when he was normally such a confident and easy-going individual. The new environment and the unknown had left him reeling and wholly dishevelled. Even more-so now. With a quick breath he upturned his chin once more, and looked at the so-called 'service pet' first with an interested gaze before arching his neck back to take a better look at who he had so-nearly collided with. "Well, lucky you have the little guy then, I guess I owe him one then." A soft chuckle slipped through his lips and after quickly transferring all the clothes in his hands onto one arm, he held out a hand in greeting. "I'm Jari, kind of new around here and still spun around with everything. Including whatever this latest trend in fashion is..." Jari's face made a small grimace as he glanced at the clothes around him, entirely out of his element.

Xuan's gaze was relaxed as they looked Jari up and down, but their eyes looked as dead as ever. They were naturally not a very expressive person, but mixed with their soulless elachi eyes, it made for a classic resting bitch face. "Thyroid performed his duties acceptably. I regret I started him when I nearly stepped on him," Xuan wrapped his fingers around two of Thyroid's legs to secure him in place. The poses of the two Vulcanoid Trill seemed to mirror each other, but for Xuan instead of clothes in their arms, they had their pet. A newbie to the station, that would explain why he was so jumpy. They were unfazed by the other's awkwardness as they were equally awkward at times. "It is nice to meet you, Jari. My name is Xuan Nhat, double first name," They decided not to lay down their entire name, not in such a causal setting. "Apologies, I do not shake hands," Xuan was thrown off guard by the offer for a handshake. They assumed this individual was Vulcanoid so one would think he'd be aware of the customs of many Vulcanoids. Perhaps he was Zami Rigelian, a Vulcanoid species that was more open. Or they could have just been brought up in a culture where handshakes were the norm. "You are Trill and.. part Vulcanoid?" Xuan questioned, wondering what the vulcanoid part was, which would hopefully open the door for Jari to speak more about what sort of environment he was coming from. Xuan glanced down at Thyroid who 'saw' the extended hand and in return offered the third leg that Xuan was not holding onto.

Right. Not every Vulcanoid was raised in the same environment he was, a silly misstep on his part. But, maybe out of pity, the so-called pet had extended one of its legs into distance of Jari's hand. He gently wrapped his hand around it and gave it the gentlest of shakes before retracting it back to his chest to help support the weight of the clothes that had been heaped on his other arm. "My bad, no need to apologise. Sometimes I forget how different my upbringing was. Well, compared to- anyway, don't stress!" Jari saw the question coming before it was asked, because it always ended up being asked. Being part Vulcan and part Trill wasn't exactly a common genetic makeup, and he could understand the curiosity. Though, meeting someone so similar to himself certainly made it more interesting for his side of the conversation. "Part Vulcan, part Trill. But, I did grow up on Earth. So really I'm just a mixed bag with a dash of everything. A little this, and a little that, then boom, you got me. Trust me, it is as complicated as it sounds." Now he was beginning to ramble, curses. "Some people expect me to act like a Vulcan, and then they get surprised that I'm... more Human in my mannerisms, I guess? It's a bit confusing, sorry." With that he nervously chuckled to himself, acutely aware of the rather intimidating gaze that was beaming down upon him. By the heavens this person was tall, and he could feel an ache already forming in his neck.

The little lights on Thyroid's face blinked a little similar to that of a slot machine when one won a prize. Xuan offered a slight bow of their head in lieu of the handshake. "Personal space is different across many species, it is alright," Xuan offered, not offended in the slightest. They were just a little surprised, but the other was nice about their polite rejection and got a handshake from Thyroid! Xuan smiled only slightly when they heard this person was half Vulcan. It wasn't in response to what Jari was saying but because everyone always thought they were half vulcan and now they were actually meeting one! "That makes sense. There is a lot of diversity on this station," Xuan knelt down to set Thyroid back on the ground. "I am often mistaken for being half Vulcan, I assume because a Trill-Vulcan makes more sense than a Trill-Romulan," Xuan said as they readjusted their earrings. "I have never been to earth and was brought up mostly within Romulan space. I would like to travel to more places, but I am someone who needs to plan travel meticulously," They explained, watching Thyroid skitter about near Jari's feet. "It looks like you picked out a lot of things, any cool items? I do not shop often."

Xuan was speaking with sound reasoning and thought. Jari firstly assumed that he was also Trill-Vulcan rather than Trill-Romulan, the former seemed over more plausible than the latter given the geographical locations and histories of all species involved. It was a unique pairing on both accounts. Though Jari himself would not have had it any other way, he had the opportunity to learn about both Trill and Vulcan culture, while growing up immersed in the dynamic and varied culture of Earth. Surrounded by nearly all species of the Federation in one harmonious society. "Well, I'd wager we're as different as we are alike then, in a positive way of course." He shuffled on his feet momentarily, shifting the weight of his body from one leg to the other. Careful to not accidentally step, or trip, on Xuan's pet as it scurried around the floor. It seemed almost... excited? That, plus the fact he had met someone so similar to himself, had left a rather obviously curious expression across Jari's face. "Earth is beautiful, in its own way, like many plaents. It's the only planet I've lived on for an extended period of time, so I would hardly know where to begin when comparing it to somewhere or something else." He pondered for a moment, eyes scanning the area around him absentmindedly. I guess it is kind of like this Starbase in a way? In terms of diversity, I mean." The focus of his gaze then once more became the bundles of clothes in his arms, and he let out a soft sigh. "Honestly... I don't shop very much either. But when you get told by a few different people that your wardrobe is outdated, it kind of spurs you to modernise it a bit. But I'm not exactly up to date with what's trendy, but I guess that's what happens when you wear a uniform nearly every day." A soft laugh followed his words, a sore attempt at lightening the atmosphere. "I don't suppose you have any insight? Because at this point I'm just about desperate."

"This is true, we are both half Vulcanoid and grew up away from our homeworlds," Xuan said, assuming the Romulan homeworld as Romulus. Mol'Rihan was technically their homeworld now, but Xuan was born well before the Supernova so in their mind, Romulus had a special place in their heart. They listened to Jari describe earth, wondering what it would have been like to have grown up in a place with so much diversity and ease of movement. Xuan had spend only the first 13 years of their life on Trill, but due to their anxieties with changing routines, their family never travelled. When they were old enough to manage their mental health on their own they were living on Virinat and travel off world was discouraged as there were untold dangers everywhere. "It sounds like a nice upbringing. My colony was also beautiful," Xuan told Jari, smiling ever so slightly as they remembered the lush forests of Virinat and what a great community it was. It was Xuan's second time losing their home and they remembered it fondly. divider

09:27

"Hmm, I think it may be worth it to try and.." Xuan paused when they noticed Thyroid was scurrying about at Jari's feet. They waved their hand to get the creature's attention and then used Rihannsu sign language to give them a command. The skitterer's lights blinked and he rushed to Xuan's side. "find more classic pieces and create trendy looks with them? I do not like following trends because one usually ends up just recycling the clothes in a year or so," Xuan glanced left and right to see what section they were in. "I think a typical trousers with a shirt," They held out their arms to show off the style of their collared button down shirt. "Is good. Then you can add any trendy accessories on top of it," They pulled on a chain hanging around their neck to show off their... silver Trill symbiont necklace and then pointed to the very Romulan-like harness they wore over their outfit. Many straps, so many straps, the straps had straps, or something like that. "Is there a specific type of clothing or material that you enjoy?"

The slight pull of Xuan's lips as he made mention of his own home, his colony, caused a ripple reaction in Jari who smiled back. he knew what it felt like to reminisce of home, especially when one had not returned back to it in so many years. The fact both of his parents were also deployed to postings around Starfleet space meant he had little reason to return other than to simply visit for the sake of it. Both of his parents had been more than capable of getting approval to visit him wherever he was posted, hell, they had been posted to Qo'noS around a similar time as he was. It made the ugly ordeal more bearable, at times. "Hmm, I think you might be onto something there..." His voice trailed off into nothingness as his thoughts began to churn, pondering over the question posed to him. What exactly did he enjoy? Comfort, definitely. Utility? Well that always came in handy, but perhaps not so much for civilian clothing. Soft and airy. He always like varying colours as well, especially the pastel spectrum. In truth the more he thought over it, the more he realised the clothes in his arms did not really suit his taste. They were all too tight, chafing or a material that felt inherently gross to his touch. "Perhaps I need to start this whole shopping trip over again. I think I am aiming for clothes that are comfortable, not too extravagant, just everyday wear that won't irritate me. Because right now my wardrobe consists of what I am wearing right now, my uniforms, and various sweaters and sweatpants."

23:30

If only he could live his entire life in sweaters and sweatpants. It would be bliss then. Comfortable, warm, and like having a near-constant hug from the soft fabric. It just made him long to return to his quarters and have a nap... even if that was not exactly the best use of his time. "And, perhaps I will have to look into expanding my wardrobe to include accessories." Jari's eyes glanced over the various accessories that adorned Xuan, and for a moment admired their confidence. They at least looked trendy and stylish, and seemingly looked good while doing it. "Well, I may as well put these back then." A soft chuckle then followed his words, but he didn't move, firstly waiting to hear Xuan's input.

Xuan nodded as Jari explained the types of clothes he liked to wear. Them and Jari had a similar taste with focusing on comfort over appearances. "Sweaters and sweatpants sounds good," Xuan said, in agreement that those were the most comfortable articles of clothing. They were in rather tight clothes, but they enjoyed loose fits too. Xuan's paranoia kept them from walking around in their pajamas, but had they lived in the comfy Federation more of their life, perhaps they'd be more open to the idea. "Perhaps we could find a few pieces that have a similar feel to those items but in slightly different styles?" They suggested as their eyes scanned the room as they easily towered over many of the racks. Another reason Xuan hated shopping was in Federation space, a lot of shops were made with the average humanoid height in mind. Xuan did not consider themself incredibly tall. They were tall, but they had never towered over people so much before this exchange. "I think that may be best. There's a clothes return basket there," Xuan pointed to a basket near where the fitting rooms were. "Then we can look for some items that are closer to the feel of sweaters and sweatpants," Xuan pulled out their PADD which somehow fit in the pockets of their tight trousers. The PADD was of Romulan design so it was a little thinner than Federation ones and way more pointy. It was a rectangle with one side coming into a lopsided triangle. The Republic logo was displayed clearly on the back, lit up with neon green! "Sweaters are in style right now. Especially with leggings. Leggings can be lined with.." Xuan paused as they tried to read the word. "Fleece. Or koath wool, which is pretty warm," Xuan said, glancing at what could only be described as a Romulan look book. A lot of styles were inspired by Federation trends though. Thyroid seemed to have disappeared in the racks of clothes, seemingly off to exploring the world of clothes on his own.

Jari's eyes followed Xuan's finger towards the basket, giving a small and appreciative nod as he began to take the few steps required to reach it. Once there, he gently laid down the items in his arms, careful to not wrinkle or scrunch them too much. The workers no doubt had enough to do as it is and he had no intentions of making their lives harder by making it so the clothes had to be made presentable for the rack all over again. Afterwards he simply walked back to where he stood before, watching as Xuan's service pet took off in a direction to seemingly browse the store. The sight was enough to cause a small smirk to break out on Jari's lips, revealing the dimples in his cheeks. "I wish my PADD was that easy to fit into my pockets, maybe the Federation needs to come up with some slimmer designs... although some tech-heads in Starfleet are probably already coming up with something no doubt." The words came out rather relaxed as he observed the PADD in Xuan's hand for a few mere moments before correcting his train of thought back to the task at hand. "Oohhh, fleece, that does sound awfully nice, doesn't it? Surely this place will have something that tickles my fancy..." Jari then stood up taller on his tip toes, eyes observing the store looking for a sign or a grouping of items related to what he was searching for.

07:59

He huffed slightly, and silently cursed clothing stores in his mind. They did not make things easy for him... or he was simply inexperienced with shopping. The latter seemed the more likely suspect. "So, what brings- oh that sweater is cute!" A finger flung up from his side to point at the piece of clothing hanging behind Xuan. "Sorry, as I was saying, what brings you to 777?" Might as well learn more about his new-found acquaintance while he had the opportunity. After all, in his brief time aboard the station he had already realised how diverse 777's inhabitants were. Starfleet officers, Khitomer Alliance exchange members, and the myriad of civilians. Xuan could be anyone, and all he knew was that they were Trill-Romulan and came from a colony.

"Oh, if I recall, the Republic's PADD designs and most of our designs are based off of classic Navy gear," Xuan said as they turned the PADD over in their hands to show Jari the proud Ra'tar with wings spread wide that was featured in the Republic's logo. It was a more peaceful version of the Empire's logo, which featured a bird with two orbs 'trapped' in its claws. The Republic logo was much friendlier and symbolised their openness and desire for cooperative unity. "If I recall, the design was made to serve an offensive purpose," Xuan swiped the PADD in the air, demonstrating a 'cutting' motion. The pointed tip of the PADD was dull so it probably coudn't do any more damage than a fork, but in a life or death situation anything could be a weapon. "I am unsure about finding things that tickle," Xuan said, clearly misunderstanding the idiom. The followed Jari to browse the racks. Xuan felt a little awkward sticking out so much, but they couldn't do anything about their height. They could hear the familiar clicks of Thyroid's little legs as he wandered just beyond where they were standing. "I think that sweater looks nice, very warm and fuzzy," Xuan reached their hand out to feel the hem of the garment, stepping to the side so Jari could get closer to it too. "Ah, I am here as part of the officer exchange programme. I am a consultant otorhinolaryngologist. I typically take on throat cases, but I also work with the common allergy or ear issues that come through the department," Xuan explained a little about their job, completely stoic face and tone even though they were very passionate about what they did. The only subtle clue to their passion was the way they sped up the pace of their speech just a little. "And you, Jari?"

Things that tickle? Why would they- ohhh. "Oh, no, no, I don't mean something that can literally tickle me. It's a saying for something that is to your taste. Like this sweater for example. It, technically, tickles my fancy because I quite like it." His hand then reached out to softly brush against the fabric of the sweater, before delving underneath it to feel the softness of the fabric that would be against his skin. It certainly ticked all of his boxes, and the rich tones of the forest green colouration was delightful to look at. In one swift motion he picked it off the rack, and peeled back the collar to peer at the size. "Just my size too! It was simply meant to be." A delighted smile spread across his lips as his eyes washed over the garment with an accomplished twinkle. "Oh! I think we may potentially be seeing more of each other then. I'm in the medical division too, but as an intensivist. By the stars I might even be one of your patients soon enough if my sinuses keep playing up the way they have been as of late. Only ever had issues as a child... until now that is. But anyways, I shouldn't complain." A hand absentmindedly wander up the front of his form and half-rubbed at his cheek. Sinusitis was the least of his concerns at this stage. A quick round of antibiotics should sort it out for the most part, hopefully. Jari then turned on his heels, and beamed up at Xuan once more. Folding the sweater over one arm as he did so. "How are you liking the exchange program? I can imagine it would have been a rather weird adjustment at first. But you seem pretty well settled in, to me at least."

"Ah, I see. I am not very good at idioms, especially through the UT," Xuan told Jari, tilting their head slightly. They knew the UT wasn't perfect, but they hadn't expected to run into so many instances where an idiom did not translate. Or perhaps it wasn't the UT and it was just Xuan who did not socialise much off duty. It wasn't that they didn't like talking to people, but they were not very outgoing during their previous postings. In their defense, they were under some crazy Tal Shiar mind control for two years and that greatly impacted their desire for socialisation. "Ah, I see. Well, I look forward to working with you," Xuan's eyes lit up for a split second at the revelation that Jari was going to be one of their colleagues. A different department, but a doctor nonetheless. "I will say it is a relief to be meeting another fellow doctor," Xuan told Jari before averting their gaze back to their PADD to browse more styles. "If you do have sinus pains you can always consult me or any other otorhyinolaryngologist," Xuan said, expertly saying the name of their specialty. "The exchange programme is fine. I had worked with many Starfleet officers in the past. I never thought I acted very Romulan, but upon my transfer here, I realised there are many aspects to Federation culture and customs that I am completely unaware of," It was foolish of them to think just because they were half Trill, that they would easily pick up Federation culture. As much as their father tried, Xuan hadn't been exposed to Trill culture or the Federation since they were 13, which was... 27 years ago. (edited)

09:53

"I am looking at the popular trends from one of the Romulan look-book apps and it seems like one can also wear skirts with sweaters. I am unsure if that is a style you would be open to. A long skirt with lined boots is in style," Xuan turned their PADD so Jari could see some of the pictures of people rocking the style. The boots were oddly reminiscnet of the UGG boots from earth's 21st century. (edited)

"Right, the UT is great for the most part. Too bad it isn't so great with subtle idioms and sayings, like you say. But I have to admit, it is a lot better now than when I first started using it, so that's something at least." Sometimes Jari had to admit he forgot about the nuances of the UT, as he rarely ran into issues with it when conversing with others. Except on the odd occasion like now when he decided to make use of Human sayings. In truth his vocabulary and the way he conducted himself were such a mix between Vulcan, Trill and Human that they all seemingly meshed together at some point and made it nearly impossible for him to decipher the lines between each of them. But there also an underlying beauty to it. That species could coexist so flawlessly that he, a hybrid, failed to see where one line started and the other ended. He tilted his head back towards his new acquaintance, and gave a soft nod and a curt smile. "I'm always glad to be meeting my fellow medical personnel, and I have no doubt we will be seeing each other in the future. As colleagues, and potentially me as your patient." Jari gave a small laugh and a wink as he said the last few words. Rarely was he cheeky, but it felt like a good moment to let that side of his personality out. Even if it was only for a brief moment. "Look, Federation culture is inconceivable, and that's coming from someone who grew up immersed in it their entire life. Each new species that joins brings their culture into the mix and adds to the boiling pot. I mean, look at me for example, half Trill, half Vulcan, and yet I act more like a human despite my heritage. But then one could also argue that so-called 'human' culture has been greatly influenced by the culture of many other species. You just have to add your own unique twist." Perhaps the Federation as a whole was the culture. It was certainly trending towards that direction given how intermixed species had become.

05:16

Jari gave a surprised look to Xuan following the rather large monologue, and glanced towards the others PADD for a mere moment before pondering. "Skirts? I can't say I've ever really thought of wearing them... He then gasped a little more dramatically than he intended. "That is rather conservative of me isn't it? It's the 25th century and I have yet to wear a skirt! You might be onto something here..." He then set off further down the aisle, eyes scanning up and down for sweaters and skirts alike. Keeping them peeled for anything else that catches his eye in the meantime. "Are these things that you typically wear? Aside from what you're wearing right now, which I might add, looks rather dashing on you."

"Rihannsu is quite different from many Federation languages, probably because of our isolationist past," Xuan theorised, considering that Romulans were overly conscious about keeping their space well, homogenous. There were Remans for sure, and they had also conquered a few other beta quadrant species, but for the most part, Romulans tried to keep their language free of outside influence. There was obviously some influence and similarities, especially considering Rihannsu was just another Vulcan-originated language, but it was interesting just how different it was from Standard or other Federation langauges. "If you do happen to be my patient, I will do my best to assist with your sinus issues," Xuan nodded, hoping that Jari's problems would be straight forward and that they could provide adequate care to treat his condition. "This is true. They say the Federation is a mass.... Pot? Of cultures. Now with our alliance, I have no doubts that the Republic will also see a shift in culture as non-Romulans flock to the planet for tourism and work. I know I saw many Starfleet officers during my time working at the Mol'Rihan national hospital," They stated, wondering more about what 'earth culture' was like. Virinat and the other Romulan colonies had their own cultures, but for the most part it was all Romulans. A few Starfleet officers or volunteers who wanted to assist the Romulan people following the Great Loss, but nothing like earth. divider

06:01

"Is not wearing skirts conservative?" Xuan looked curiously at Jari. "If anything, skirts are very conservative. For Romulans, at least, we find skirts to be extremely modest and thus typically thought of to be conservative attire. Trousers or anything that accentuates your body shape is trendier. Traditionally, Romulans liked to conceal their body so their enemies would not know where to strike," Xuan explained to Jari the concept of Romulan modesty. It was not on any belief of temptation or attraction, but instead a defense mechanism. Because showing bare skin was just broadcasting your weak spots for enemies! Xuan followed Jari towards the aisle with the skirts and felt a few of the fabrics. "Not typically. I want to show off my body shape as a sign of openness towards others. So that whenever anyone sees me, it is easy to tell I do not have any concealed weapons," Quite an interesting way of looking at things, Xuan gave their reasoning as to why they dressed the way they did. A little tint of green crrossed their cheeks at the compliment. "Thank you for the compliment. I just looked up outfits on the look book," As they said that, Thyroid came scurrying back to them, his eyes blinking as he crawled right to Jari's feet. "It seems Thyroid wants to assist with our shopping."

Jari simply nodded along to the various explanations that Xuan offered, and he was agreeable to all of the opinions that were voiced. Mainly as they were so closely aligned to the opinions he, himself, had formed over the topics. But it surely helped that a second person shared them too. There was confidence in numbers after all, as his father had taught him. Though Jari was sure he meant it in more of a militarian sense rather than one associated with the discussion of thoughts, logic, and opinions. But such was the beauty in perspective. "Perhaps one day I will plan a trip and see your worlds. Now that it is more openly possible as you say. Cultures are always fascinating to be immersed in, especially when they are as unique as your own is." A small giggle then left his mouth, and Jari tilted his head to look at Xuan with a look that was a mixture of shock and curiosity. "Well, on Earth at least, skirts were seen as a bit of a conservative garment from the centuries past, sure. It's more in recent centuries that it has become less so I guess. I just haven't really explored wearing clothing outside of the generic so-called 'masculine' focused garments I suppose. Rather closed-off of me really now that I think about it." He pondered it for a moment after he let his thoughts be free. Skirts were, in hindsight, rather common back on Earth. Male, female, and non-gendered alike. The flexibility and usability of trousers just appealed more to him. "New posting, new outfit, I'm sure some people say that right? Might as well step outside my comfort zone. Not like anyone here knows me anyway." With that he shrugged his shoulders, and gave a soft, appreciative, smile to Xuan before turning his head back towards the racks that seemingly surrounded him. "I will have to take on this philosophy of showing openness through my own clothing, maybe. And perhaps steal the idea of looking up outfits in this so-called look book too!"

03:47

Just as he went to continue walking in the direction of clothes that caught his attention, Jari felt something scurry past his leg. Thyroid, as the little pet was called, he seemed rather energetic. "You can tell he wants to help just by looking at him? Well, I guess you two have probably had a lot of time together to learn each other's little nuances." It was a rather heartwarming thought. If anything it made Jari wish for such a connection for himself. Whether it be with a pet of his own or another individual. Years of isolating himself had not done wonders for his social ability, as natural as it came to him. But opening himself up in the past had only caused pain. So he could not exactly blame himself for being rather closed-off on a more personal level. "Well, Thyroid, I think I best follow your opinion on what to pick out hmm? Seems you may have an eye for this kind of thing, and I could use such talents." Jari gave Thyroid a little wink and awaited to follow the critter, turning his head slightly to gaze at Xuan for a moment. "It seems I'm going to need a bigger wardrobe at this rate."

"We have a lot to offer now that we have an alliance with the Federation," Xuan said, not smiling, but they attempted to convey feelings of openness with their words. When the other explained the meaning of skirts and 'masculine' garments, Xuan was visibly surprised. They knew that gender was different throughout different cultures, but it was the first time they heard about clothing being considered masculine or feminine. Sure, there were styles that were generally seen as more flattering on women or men, but that was less about a person's gender and more about body types. "I see. Romulans do not have gendered clothing, or , I have seen all genders wearing a variety of clothes. My cousin is a man and he loves miniskirts because he likes to show off his legs," Xuan remembered the time Veren had tried to 'glow' them up. Xuan did not buying clothes that had such a short life, so they stuck to classic pieces. "There are changing rooms for you to try things on," Xuan gestured towards the corner where there were some changing rooms. "Yes, Thyroid and I know each other well. He is also an elachi skitterer and I am part elachi, technically," Xuan said, pointing to their eyes. "I was never fully assimilated, but my symbiont is of Elachi origins, it is.. a long story. My symbiont's name is Sul'hoth, but please do not call me that name," They said. Jari was also Trill so they felt less weird about just talking about their symbiont. "I think Thyroid has chosen these two items," Xuan said, pointing to one long pleated green skirt and one light beige one-- lined in fleece! Very warm! Like wearing a long blanket. "If he is bothering you, I can call him back," Xuan mentioned, fearing that Thyroid would accidentally trip or throw off Jari's groove as the terrans would say.

As Xuan spoke, Jari simply nodded his head along in an understanding and engaged fashion. He, clearly, wanted to come across as actively engaged in the conversation, as well as a keen learner. Which he was, especially when it came to cultural differences. Of which, between the two of them, there were many. "Well, in all honesty, gendered clothing is slowly going out of style in a way- people don't care as much, and it's probably because of all the intermixing of cultures." Jari replied with a small shrug of his shoulders. The explanation made enough sense to himself that it was overtly plausible. The man then let out a small laugh, "well, as long as showing off his legs makes him happy I say he keeps doing it!" Elachi. That explained it. He had been trying to figure out what exactly Thyroid was, and more or less where it came from. Though he was surprised to find out about the Elachi symbiont that dwelled within Xuan. Something he would never have foreseen had it not been disclosed. It piqued his curiosity but also ignited a hint of wariness in the back of his mind as he turned his head towards Thyroid, extending his hands out to grasp the items of clothing offered towards him. "Hey, thanks lil' guy! You got pretty good taste!" His eyes then shifted back to Xuan, "don't be silly, he's not being a bother at all." "An Elachi symbiont? I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess removal isn't an option? Excuse me if that question was too forward- please don't feel obligated to answer it." With that he made a sheepish grin and turned his head towards the change rooms, taking note of where they were. But politely he stayed to continue the conversation a little longer, not wanting to seem unexpectedly rude all of a sudden.

"That is certainly true. I have never been able to pull off more exposed outfits. It is not that I dislike the idea of showing skin, I just do not know how i could do so in a way that would make me feel confident," Xuan had considered those 'Starfleet shorts' one of their patients had raved about, but shorts were more of a work out sort of thing, not an item they would choose for fashion. "My cousin has strange tastes, I let him do whatever he wants," And even if Xuan did speak up, it wasn't like Veren was going to ever listen to him. Thyoid made a soft mechanical hum of excitement to Jari's compliment. Whether or not the creature understood what the other Trill had said was a mystery, but he seemed happy to be given attention. The mechanical creature then scurried back off into the racks again, disappearing from view from both individuals. "I am silly?" Xuan said, unaware of the phrase at first before they caught sight of their pet running off. "I can only assume he is off to explore," Although Thyroid was a machine, his actions were unpredictable to the Trill-Romulan. He felt joy, sadness, and all the other emotions in between it seemed. He loved to explore and help others, which made sense considering his role as a service pet. "Unfortunately no," Xuan nodded in response to Jari's assumption. "But Sul'hoth and I get along now, much like myself and Thyroid," They stated, seemingly staring at Jari with their dead-looking Elachi eyes. They only held their gaze for a few seconds before looking towards the changing rooms. "Would you like to try those on? I am unsure where Thyroid is but surely he will be able to find us. He seems to always know where I am."