Xaviers!

"What? Yeah! I mean, no, I mean... s-sure."

A lightbulb went on in Will's head.

Well, not really, which I suppose is always an option, but in this case, figuratively.

"That's a good idea. You've worn dresses, she hasn't. You should give her a hand."

"Excellent," Onyx says. She hooks her arm around Nailah's and leads her back into the fitting room.

"I am sorry, ma'am," Onyx says once they are a little ways away from Will. "I did not mean to embarrass you."

Nailah laughs nervously. "No no, it's alright. Will just... I didn't realize he didn't have to be, you know, a guy." she tries to play it off, though she's still kinda nervous as she follows Onyx.

"It is an interesting ability," Onyx admits. "My m--mentor can shapeshift, but nothing as dramatic as Will. She is more like a liquid."

As Onyx talks, she strips off her top. On her shoulderblade, Nailah can see her friend's tattoo. It is of an open palm and there is some strange symbols underneath, presumably Mandarin.

"She was embarassed, wasn't she?" Will whispered to Sam. "I didn't mean to do that. People get really upset when they're talking about bodies, don't they?"

Nailah can't help but stare at the tattoo. The fact that it's on Onyx' shoulder probably has nothing to do with that at all. She blinks, realizing that Onyx had said something.

"Like... she turns into water?"

"Shadows," Onyx says. "It's complicated.

"Oh. Is that why she makes you dress in all black? For the theme?"

"Partly. It also helps hide our activities," Onyx says, sitting on the bench so she pull the jeans off.

Nailah quickly turns around, slapping Onyx with her tail in the process.

OH my gosh! I'm so sorry!" she says, turning back around and catching her again when her tail swings back the other way. She looks kind of mortified.

Onyx just looks kind of surprised by being hit in the face with someone's tail. It was definitely a new experience. It didn't hurt, but it certainly ruffled her hair a bit and knocks her mask slightly ajar.

"It is fine, ma'am," Onyx says, straightening her mask. "Do not worry about it."

Depending on how much Nailah is avoiding looking at Onyx, she might see a few souvenirs of Onyx's work in Madripoor. While her healing factor mended most wounds, there was still a few fairly visible scars. A long cut right above her collar bone, a burn above one of her knees, and the faint sign of a gunshot wound in one shoulder were the most visible ones. There was also the brand Onyx had mentioned, an ugly black mark on her hip. It was some sort of symbol, but it was hard to tell what it could be since it looked as if someone had attempted to surgically remove it and done a very bad job of it.

It'd be rude to say that Nailah was staring, but it would also be kind of true. She's kind of amazed and at the same time a little worried by all the scars. They're badass but at the same time they mean that Onyx has gotten hurt quite a bit and she doesn't really like the thought of that so much.

"Are... are all of those from fighting crime?"

"Yes," Onyx says. She doesn't appear to be bothered by Nailah looking at her, but when her friend asks about the scars a slight blush colors her face. She begins to pull the skirt she choose on. "Except for the brand. That is a slave brand."

"Ah what?" she blinks.

"Could you help me zip this up, please?" Onyx asks, indicating the zipper on the back of the skirt.

"In Madripoor, slavers brand slaves so they can not pass as free people," Onyx says. "I was branded when I was one year old."

Nailah is too distracted by staring at Onyx in horror to be too embarrassed about zipping her up. "That... that is awful! I didn't know there were still slaves anywhere!"

"It is a very popular industry in Madripoor, unfortunately," Onyx says. "My mo--my mentor was raised as a slave."

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, Onyx! No wonder you're so scared that someone could recognize you..." she says, reaching up to put Onyx" mask back on straight.

Onyx smiles at Nailah. "You are a very kind person, Nailah. But you should not be sorry. I was very young. I do not even remember any of it."

"Well that's good. Did your 'mentor' save you?"

"Yes. She did," Onyx says softly.

"She sounds pretty awesome. You know, on top of the whole fighting crime thing." she smiles faintly.

"She is an amazing person," Onyx says, finally pulling on a top.

"How does this look?" Onyx asks.

Nailah blinks as she reminds herself of where they are and she takes a critical look at Onyx before nodding her head. "It looks great. Come on, let's show it to the others."

Onyx smiles happily, "Okay."

She starts to follow Nailah out, "Thank you for bringing me, ma'am. This is fun."

"I think it's fine," she whispers back to Will. "Everybody's getting used to each other, aye?"

"I'm glad! You need more fun in your life." she smiles before overly dramatically stepping out of Onyx' way so Will and Sam can take a look at her. "Tadah!"

"That's a great look!"

"Yeah! It suits you!" Will said, though honestly he had no idea.

"Thank you both," Onyx says, smiling. "That is very kind of you."