GOODS and BADS, read the sign over the shopfront, in a font that looked, to me, like it was modern but trying to seem gothic and old-fashioned. The windows beneath it were full of velvet, leather, PVC and ruffles. I hesitated as Fox and Misao went in.
On the one hand, I was enjoying spending time with friends I hadn't previously been able to meet in person, I was mildly curious to find out how I'd look in some of that store's wares, and intensely - and not, I admit, innocently - curious to see how they'd look. On the other, it seemed a little dishonest to go riffling through their stock when there wasn't the slightest chance of my actually buying anything and the larger share of my mind's socialization subroutines greeted the idea of being seen in public in something like the fishnet garter/black tutu/faux-whalebone (at least, I hope it was fake) corset ensemble with a very loud mental 'ARE YOU NUTS?!'
I'd just about decided not to take the plunge and started to turn away when someone asked me, "Aren't you going in?"
She was blonde and pretty and a touch taller than me even without the heels (grr), and dressed trendy and flashy even to my oblivious eyes. "Ah? Oh, no," I said, and tried out my - Nathan's - 'self effacing' grin. "Not really my style - too bold."
"Really?" Something about her expression bothered me. "Were they your boyfriend's idea, then?"
I blinked. "Huh?"
She waved at my... chest... Oh. "I don't even have a boyfriend!"
"Then why did you get them?" she asked, as though the question were perfectly reasonable.
"I didn't," I told her, as patiently as I could. "They just... grew." Which was true. And nevermind how long they'd taken to do so, or the other circumstances surrounding said growth.
The self-important little twit put a hand on her hip and condescended to say, "Really, girl. If you were going to use that story you shouldn't've gone so big."
I glared.
"Anyway. You should go with your friends - even if you got your money's worth, you're hardly gonna get any customers unless you dress to advertise the goods."
In retrospect, I'm pretty sure she was joking. At the time, though - well, I'd never really believed that old cliche about 'seeing red' until then, and I actually was able to think about how fascinating it was to see that ruddy shade creep into the mall's lighting with some disconnected corner of my mind.
Turn slightly, weight to the back foot an-wow, that's a really nice kiss.
Akai said later that it had seemed wisest to go with a tested and proven way of defusing me before I did something regrettably permanent. I suspect that that's hardly all there is to it, but it's hardly as thought I'm complaining. "C'mon," she said. "I found the bookstore."
I checked my memory of this mall, then tried to orient myself. "That way?" I asked, pointing towards the end I remembered the Waldenbooks being at.
"Aa. I mean, right, that way." Then she reached out and took my arm and started to pull me away and I completely forgot about the bitchy high-schooler standing right next to us. I had to check to make sure that the giddy feeling in my stomach wasn't because I'd started floating and not noticed, or something.
My life was definitely looking up!
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"Reseeestunce ees fiutil. Yoo weeel bee Useemooletud. Borg Borg Borg."
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"V, did you do something foolish?"
"Yes, and it was glorious."