I decide to tag along with a few people heading into a large shopping outlet.
Jeans, I thought. I am down to one decent-looking pair, that I can wear to work and what-not. And it is somewhat important to appear nice at work. And I do have to look decent if I strike up conversations in public...
So I'm in this giant store now... mega store like wallmart or something. Its still being developed... many aisles are blocked with boxes... no doubt containing things that will stock the half-empty shelves.
Its a confusing mess, really... lots of neat looking items, but I can't really figure my way around. After passing by the same landmarks several times, I give up on finding jeans and focus just on observing and exploring. People are acting in fairly manic ways, stuffing items in their pants, or jamming smaller items into the boxes of larges items. It seems that some customers have noticed the lack of order and are taking advantage of this dis-organized stage in mega-store development.
I did find some jeans at one point, but they were in no particular order, and were in some sort of style that would only fit if I was in downtown Tokyo. I wandered about longer and happened upon a round table with cool looking people seated tightly around it. There was one seat left, so even though this group was obviously in deep discussion I squiggled into it...
The group was in mid-conversation, so although my arrival was super obvious their dialogue continued... "Last year our numbers dropped off significantly, but we all know that there were a good many reasons..." the talker paused to make eye contact with his comrads.
murmurs of agreement
Another person continues: "This year its gotta be a major committment. The Love Dance posters are being done by Marlena and her awesome studio access. So those will be top notch..."
"Which only counts if they stay up long enough for people to see them," another member interjected, and then commensed addressing her own concern: "they will have to be put up strategicly, on a system. More posters than we need, and several rounds of postering."
"Sounding expensive..." agree-murmurs...
"Its a necessary expense"... reluctant agreemurs...
As the group went on, brainstorming alternate ways of promotion, one of the more dynamic characters turned to me.
"And what about you; how did you hear about Love Dance?" his questioning was direct and his demeanor was official. As I turned to address this cool dude, I noticed that I was shifting my weight on the silky sheets of a plush bed. All of the other people around the table seemed very far away now, and I was on a bed display. Like a mattress store would have, but the bed was tucked up against the round table.
I flipped up the fluffy down covers that I had bunched around me, and ... fuck. I knew it. I was fully naked and super comfy. I had somehow decided it reasonable to test out an expensive bed-display in the buff. Obviously the best way to feel the full comfort of the sheets, mind you.
I re-bunched the covers around my naked self and looked back up to the dude. I had almost forgot I was about to answer his questioning, and that all I had done so far was draw him into an awkward pause, whereby I flashed him with my naked body.
I tried to regain some sense of dignity and act casual.
Being naked in a bed display is a perfectly logical method of meeting new people.
Try it sometime