Smash City: Charge It!

[SHM 128 III]

Another morning in Smash City... It was around ten o'clock now, which meant that many of the stores were open and early and eager shoppers were already in the streets. As usual, one of the shops that attracted many of these consumers was the Smash City Salon & Spa. Already, it was full of people getting pampered by some of the best cosmotoligists in This World. However, there was something missing here... Their owner, not to mention their best beautician, was no where to be found. Where was she? She certainly loved her job... It wouldn't be like her to have just taken an off-day...



Shelly had taken an off-day.

It wasn't that she needed a day off from her job. Far from it, in fact. Any other day, and she would've gladly been at her station, cutting and styling hair with the rest of them. However, circumstances had changed... drasticly.

Now, she was walking down the street, making her way towards the massive shopping complex known as Smash City Mall. One of the nice things about being the owner of such a popular salon was that Shelly's income was exceptionally high. Normally, she saved it away for a rainy day, but now it was time to dip into it a little: she needed to buy an entire wardrobe. Why would a koopa, whose attire usually consists of merely a shell, need a lot of clothes?

Well, no one said she was shopping for herself.

"We're gonna have a great time, Roll," Shelly began, looking excitedly at her shopping buddy, the young girl she found lost behind her store the night before, "Smash City Mall is massive. By the time we're done here, you'll have all the clothes and accessories you'll ever need... So you don't have to, you know, borrow from my limited wardrobe ever again."

[Vize Viper]

Roll, in the meantime, was dressed in a slightly large sweatshirt, that read "I'm a Beautician, not a Magician!", and a pair of equally loose khaki shorts. She did still, however have her red boots, which completed the bizarre ensemble.

Her face, however, was almost red enough to make up for the lack of her usual red dress, In response to Shelly's assurances about her not needing to borrow any more clothes after this, the girl just nodded, smiling self-consciously.

"No offense, but I'm gonna be quite happy not borrowing your clothes again." From what she could tell, even Shelly didn't wear this stuff anymore, and they were the few things Shelly had that FIT.

Beat, meanwhile, had taken to circling above Roll, possibly keeping an eye out for threats, as he tended to, but more for a simpler reason.

He was bored, and had a short attention span.

[SHM 128 III]

"None taken, dear," Shelly replied, "I really only keep that around just in case I need to wear something other than my shell... Maybe it wouldn't kill me to get a few extra outfits for myself, too..."

She pondered for a moment as they continued walking before eventually changing the subject.

"So, what kind of style are you looking for, Roll? In terms of clothing, I mean. Formal? Casual?..."

[Vize Viper]

Roll considered the question, resting her chin in one hand as she walked.

"I'm more for casual wear over formal. I mean, unless some formal event's going on in the next few days, I should be fine." With a giggle, Roll held her hand up, letting Beat land on it.

"Besides, most of my clothes are just copies of that dress you met me in. Change could be good."

After all, I've worn the same clothing for almost 18 years.

[SHM 128 III]

"Hey, you're not the only one, hun. You ever seen Mario? I don't think that man has changed his outfit in 27 years!"

The mall was slowly comming into view now. It was, quite simply, massive. It was three stories tall, and appeared to go on for at least two city blocks. Along the outside wall, billboards were advertising the stores that could be found inside. Like most malls, there were also massive department stores on either end of the mall. Shelly pointed to one as the duo began to approach it.

"I think this is where we'll start our little shopping spree: Nookingtons," the koopa explained, "it's a huge chain in This World, started by Tom Nook in Smashville. The original one is still there, but this one is the store he himself works at now. At any rate, it has all sorts of stuff; I'm sure we'll be able to get you some nice clothes there."

[Vize Viper]

Roll however, had gone silent, staring in awe at the sheer size of the mall in front of her. They only had one mall this size in Monsteropolis... Or they had.

It was still being rebuilt. But nonetheless, she was VERY impressed by the building, so impressed she just nodded in response to Shelly, before following her mutely.

Beat, however, wasn't that impressed... because he had a feeling animals weren't allowed in the mall, so he'd have to sit outside.

And be bored.

[SHM 128 III]

Approaching the entrance to Nookingtons, Shelly reached into her hammerspace shell and pulled out a credit card.

"Ok, I have my credit card, a bunch of energy bars, and there's a food court on the third floor. We have everything we need for a full day of non-stop shopping."

She grabbed the door handle and pulled it open, releasing a blast of air conditioning as she did so.

"After you, Roll and Beat," Shelly invited, holding the door open for the two of them.

[Vize Viper]

Roll smiled, and headed through the door, feeling a little more self-conscious when she saw the selection just from where she was standing, when compared to what she was borrowing.

But Beat... hovered at the door, then looked at Shelly questioningly.

"Kwee kweh?"

He was allowed in? Most places didn't let him in because they thought he was a pet.

[Native One]

And as soon as Roll walked in, the store owner/manager's head popped up from behind the cash register desk.

"Ah, welcome to Nookingtons!" He said. he came out from behind the desk and over to Roll. One could see he was wearing a very expensive business suit. "First time here?" He asked, noting that she seemed amazed at the selection of clothes, "No problem. We can make you a registrated member so that you can get discounts off store items the more times you buy. We have furniture, electrical appliences, plumbing, toys, clothing, tools - you name it! Oh, how rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Tom Nook, owner of the chain of Nookingtons around this world. I-" He suddenly stopped, "...Oh dear me, I'm rambling again. Please excuse me." He did a slight bow of apology to Roll, "Now, is there anything I can help you... two with?" He asked when he saw Shelly at the door.

[Vize Viper]

Roll jumped slightly as the raccoon popped up seemingly from nowhere, and, for a moment, stared.

"A... raccoon?" Shaking her head as she was addressed, she looked around again. "Uhm, we were going to get me some new clothes, since I'm having to borrow some right now."

[SHM 128 III]

After motioning to the confused robo-bird to come in, Shelly entered the store and joined in on the conversation, noticing that Roll seemed a tad overwhelmed when talking to Tom.

"Yeah, we're looking for pretty much an entire wardrobe for her," Shelly explained, "mostly casual stuff, but maybe one or two pieces of formal wear just to be safe... She'd know better than I would, though. I might also pick up something for myself, too, in case I need to wear something other than this shell of mine."

She paused for a moment as she held up her credit card again.

"At any rate, I'm the one paying for all of this, so I'll register for the membership."

[Vize Viper]

Roll just nodded, confirming what Shelly had said...

Just as Beat landed on her head.

"!? Beat, got OFF!"

With a self-righteous "kwee", Beat fluttered to an unoccupied cart, and perched on it.

[Native One]

After hearing what Shelly said, dollar signs replaced Tom's eyes he motioned them towards a big machine next to the desk, "Very well then, if you'd like, we can register your membership." He walked to the front of it and started hitting the buttons very fast. After a few seconds, he slid away from it, "There you go."

[SHM 128 III]

"Ah, thanks! I think we're probably gonna get some serious discounts just from what we buy today!"

Shelly looked around the massive store for a minute. It really was huge, and this was just one store in the mall! It looked like just "browsing around" would take too long, even for an entire day of shopping... They needed some form of direction.

"Hmm... Mr. Nook, which way is the Children's Department?" Shelly inquired, "I'm pretty sure that would be a good place to start looking, right, Roll?"

[Vize Viper]

Roll glanced down at her self as Shelly asked the question, blushing a little self-consciously. Sure, she was actually 18, but she looked like she was about 12, maybe. Why couldn't Dad upgrade her to look her age?

Ah well, no sense worrying about it now, she really did need new clothes.

So she smiled, and just nodded.

While Beat, ever the helpful robo-bird, pushed the cart he'd been perched on towards the pair. They'd probably end up needing it.