Retail Therapy

## Premise

How do you thank someone for being there during a terrifying encounter with your father when you're a mean rich girl that doesn't even understand that's what you're doing? You take them shopping of course!

## Cast

* Nikola N. Change (Authorticity)
* Brittney Megan Bronson (Talatala)

## Notable NPCs

* Jessica (One of Brittney's school friends)
* Megan (One of Brittney's school friends)

## Plot Summary

A couple of days after Look Out!, Brittney texts Nikola during lunch and asks him to go shopping with her after school. Nikola responds telepathically, asking why Brittney texted instead of using telepathy, which Brittney waves off. Nikola agrees to come shopping with Brittney and the two plan where to meet, then go about the rest of their days as normal. After school, Brittney's chauffeur drives her to the meeting spot, and Nikola walks there.

Nikola shows up at the meeting spot in a comfy but unfashionable outfit of hand-me-downs. Brittney leads Nikola to the new boutique she wants to shop at, Madonna's Masterpieces, and offers to pay for anything Nikola wants, thought Nikola declines the offer. Nikola is a little uncomfortable in the high-end store, but Brittney is in her element. Nikola admires some tacky clothes, saying Kat might like them, and Brittney tells Nik not to bring up Kat. Brittney picks out a straw sunhat for Nikola to try on, and Nikola says sunhats aren't very useful in the city, but Brittney tells them it's about fashion over function. Nikola reluctantly puts the hat on, and Brittney quickly starts grabbing more clothing to add to the outfit. Brittney gives Nikola a coat and scarf to try on, and Nikola has to take off their scarf and most of their sweaters to put them on. Brittney considers Nikola's outfit and suggests swapping out their skirt, which Nikola protests, as it's their favorite skirt. Brittney insists Nikola can always look better and goes to grab more clothes.

Nikola tries to distract Brittney by pulling a random shirt off the rack to show her, but winds up grabbing a great shirt and Brittney admires it. Nikola tries to walk over to the discount rack, but Brittney catches him and suggests the shirt be part of his outfit. Brittney tells Nikola to try on the things she's picked out, and Nikola protests that they already have enough clothes, but Brittney insists. Nikola changes into the clothes but comes out looking like a sad cat, which Brittney is oblivious to. Nikola fails an Insight check on Brittney, and heads off to a bin of rejected discount clothes in a corner of the store. Brittney comes over and finds Nikola looking through the discount bin. Nikola asks Brittney if the high school has a prom and suggests he wears a flannel he's found in the discount bin to dress up for the event. Brittney tries to dissuade him and offers to help him look for a prom outfit if he wants. Brittney gives Nikola a new scarf to try on.

Nikola puts on the scarf, but looks clearly unhappy in their outfit, and Brittney finally realizes that while Nikola likes spending time with her, they don't like the clothes and aren't having much fun shopping. Brittney says the outfit isn't working for Nikola, and Nikola tries to agree without hurting Nikola's feelings. Brittney suggests that Nikola just get the hat and the two ditch the boutique. Brittney gets the shirt Nikola found, and Nikola buys the sunhat using Brittney's discount. Nikola tries the hat back on and looks in the store window, and does like the look of it.

Brittney takes Nikola to a nearby cafe. The two get into a conversation about the employees, and Nikola mentions that their family has bad luck with jobs and that's why they wound up starting a farm, and that working for Mayor Bronson was one of their mom's shitty jobs. Brittney asks what Nikola's favorite fruit is, and when Nikola says it's apples, Brittney insists they try the apple cider as well as they black coffee they ordered. Brittney asks if Nikola's done anything interesting, and Nikola says Brittney has been there for the interesting stuff, leaning on the fourth wall as they say everything else in their life seems pretty unremarkable compared to what they do with Brittney and the gang.

Brittney asks how Nikola is liking Wellspring City and Nikola lies to downplay their distaste for the city. Brittney says every city must have its pros and cons like Wellspring City, and Nikola says that Wellspring City isn't like any other city. Nikola switches the conversation to use telepathy and asks what Brittney really thinks of the city, saying that the forced happiness in Wellspring isn't normal, but Brittney says the city isn't that bad once you get used to it and Nikola can tell she's being genuine. Nikola asks Brittney to imagine a life without propaganda or government control, describing it for her, and says that's how most people live. He asks if she would like it, and she says that's just not how Wellspring is. Nikola asks if Wellspring has to be this way, and Brittney says neither of them can change it, but Nikola says he thinks he can. Nikola points out that this is the first time he's heard Brittney say she couldn't do something, and Brittney doesn't respond.

Nikola asks if Brittney has other plans for the evening, and Brittney says this was her only plan for the day. Nikola asks why Brittney invited them shopping, Brittney casually suggests it's because they're both psychic, and Nikola rolls a bad insight and accepts this as the only reason. Brittney starts idly discussing gossip with Nikola, and Brittney's school friends Jessica and Megan come into the cafe. Brittney waves to them and they come to the table. Nikola telepathically asks what the cover story is for Brittney being seen with Nikola, and Brittney says it's fine, and if Nikola is seen with Brittney enough he won't be seen as a weirdo at school. Jessica says they're checking out the new boutique and then going to the movies, and invites Brittney to come, but she turns her down, saying she'll probably just borrow the movie from the theater instead. Jessica is popular girl fake-nice to Nikola but doesn't want to go against Brittney by being overtly mean.

The two girls leave, and Nikola says that they didn't really seem to say anything of substance, and complains that Jessica has met them several times and pretends to forget them each time. Nikola asks why Brittney is okay being seen in public with them, and Brittney explains they're new enough that they don't have a solid reputation yet and aren't widely considered a weirdo. Nikola says he doesn't consider social status or reputation before hanging out with people, and Brittney says it may be a difficult learning curve but Nikola is doing okay and should wind up in the middle of the social pyramid. Nikola says they have mixed feelings about this, Brittney says they'll get used to it, and Nikola suggests they just stop caring about the social hierarchy. Brittney takes it as a joke, but Nikola says that part of school is figuring out what kind of person you want to be, and that he doesn't want to support a social system that makes some of his friends unhappy.

Brittney laughs the idea off, and says that even if they were to try to dismantle the current social system, another one would develop, because it's high school. Nikola agrees it may be pointless trying to change social norms in an environment like school that people are only in for a short time, but suggests he might try it on a larger scale, "like a city". The two finish their food, and Brittney pays for it. Nikola points out to Brittney that the cider was overpriced and says they'll get her some better cider at their family's farm, but Brittney says the high price is for the atmosphere. As they leave, Nikola offers Brittney a bet of sorts: Nikola will come up with a plan to make a lasting beneficial change in this city, with Brittney's help. If Nikola fails, he'll let Brittney give him a makeover without protest, but otherwise, Brittney will have to think about what else she could change. The two make a pinky promise to seal the bet and head their separate ways.

## Notes

Nikola has a Nokia phone.

Wellspring City has a Verl Avenue that intersects with Zen (full street name unknown), named for Shaun's player and the campaign's DM. The intersection of the two streets is in the rich part of town.

Nikola is wearing a scarf made by their mom.

Throughout the game, whenever Brittney uses the word 'suit' in any context (ie. "suit yourself"), Nikola says they don't need a suit.

Nikola's favorite fruit is apples.