Alice In Borderland: Riptide (Season 2)

EPISODE TWO: TALKING BODY

"We'll each take one end of Shibuya main," you tell the group. "Guys at one end, girls at another." Then you shyly grin and toss out a wink. "Nonbinary folks like myself—pick a side for this event. It's going to be a busy two nights. And while you're putting together your costumes, be thinking ahead to the choosing!"

     Aguni waves the men forward, while all of the ladies gather near Kuina.

     "We'll take the vans down in the garage," Kuina says over the hum of the crowd. There's a general rush for the car park as everyone hurries, excited to find their outfits for the upcoming Festival of the Wolves.

...*...

Aguni's Group

     "What about this one?" Takuma asks, holding up a garishly orange dress shirt with large black buttons. A couple of guys near him, rooting through the display, vaguely sneer and resume their "shopping".

     Niragi and Chishiya glance at one another and nod in tandem, each grabbing opaque white gift bags and hurriedly stuffing their "purchases" within, sight unseen by any of the others, although Aguni appears to have caught a glimpse. The usually stoic and unshakeable man smirks slightly before lifting a button-down in the palest pink from the rack, followed by a pearlescent suit jacket and pair of perfectly-pressed slacks. He folds these over his muscular arm and heads over to wait by the door with those who've found their outfits already.

     After a relatively short time, the group of men troop out and return to the van, deciding to blast music on the drive back Home.

Arisu takes his outfit out to look at it. He's never owned anything so fancy in his life—a dove-grey suit with a silky, peacock blue-green button-down and a tie featuring stripes in all 3 colors. He smiles slightly, hoping Usagi will think him handsome in it. And that, consequently, she'll choose him.

Likewise, Karube looks over his outfit and thinks on Kuina. A black suit and a crimson dress shirt with a black silk tie, it looked quite dashing at the shop. Maybe Kuina will match him? He softly snorts. He should be so lucky.

Only Last Boss' chosen garments are different—he decided on vibrant kimono in reds, yellows, and a quite brilliant shade of burnt orange. He has no designs on anyone—his thoughts are full of the Old World.

And protecting the only two people who mean anything to him in this new world.

...*...

Kuina's Group

Given the chance to locate and simply try on high-end, designer gowns, the ladies are going completely bonkers.

Discarded dresses and gowns lay everywhere in heaps of sequins and beads, silks and satins. The air fills with "ooh"s and "ah"s each time a woman tries on the "perfect" dress.

Ann is the first—her gown is a gorgeous, pearlescent white, like a wedding dress almost. The bodice is strapless, covered in lace beaded with tiny pale grey seed pearls. The lower half of the gown is shimmery white satin shot with silver threading like the tails of shooting stars. She chooses a mask of the palest pink, covering the upper half of her face.

Kuina chooses a flowing, Empire-waisted gown of silk with a capelet like wings flowing from the wide shoulder straps. It cascades down to her ankles in tones of red, orange, and black—like a Monarch butterfly. Asahi pulls Kuina's hair back and upward, showing her how she'll clip it into a fancy updo for her. Tendrils escape the bundle and frame her graceful neck—and Kuina thinks of what Karube will think.