“Meaning?”
“Visitors are usually kept to the business sectors and welcomed there. Here, less so. But since you’re our guests and of Nefyrian blood, you were allowed here.”
Kenji sighed. “I wish Qylar had warned me. I could’ve attempted to bring blue clothes to stand out less.”
Alex motioned to a shop to the left. “One of the finest robe makers in the city.” He smiled at Kenji. “If you’d like one, it’s my treat.”
Kenji shook his head. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Consider it your homecoming present,” Alex said with a wide smile. “I know how overwhelming it can be when you arrive here for the first time. If this helps you feel more comfortable, why not?”
Kenji searched his face and only saw sincerity. “When in Rome, I guess.Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.”
They detoured into the shop, and Kenji looked around at what seemed like a million shades of blue. The clerk inside offered him a tight smile, but Kenji sensed a measure of distrust. He ignored it and explored. He touched some of the fabrics, and they were silky soft or had a gauzy cotton feel against his fingers. Kenji turned to Alex after a couple of minutes. “Are there no pants?”
“They make some, but few wear them so there’s not much offered. Most prefer their legs to be unrestricted, in case they wish to shift. Robes and dresses give them more freedom.”
“Ah, that makes sense,” Kenji said. “I’m not used to being somewhere I could freely shift whenever I wanted to.”
“Yes, I heard you can shift,” Alex said. “And I’m jealous as hell. It’s no fair that I can’t.”
Kenji chuckled as he sifted through a rack of butter-soft robes, admiring them. “I’ve heard something about fingers and snakes?”
Alex walked closer and lifted a hand. All of his fingers turned into wriggling tentacles that did look a bit like garden snakes. “This is all I get.”
“Toes, too?”
Alex chuckled, shifting his fingers back into human. “Yes, which looks even weirder.”
“Well, if it helps any, I’m like ten times smaller than Qylar when I shift. Qylar the cephalopod, not Qylar the human.”
“Q says you’re a speed demon, though—which sounds pretty cool.”
“I guess. It’s pretty fun zipping around at breakneck speeds, but I can only goreallyfast for short bursts.”
“Still cool in my book.” Alex walked over with a deep, rich blue jewel-toned robe in hand and hung it beside Kenji to compare. “This might be a good length for you.” His gaze whipped up to Kenji’s. “Why don’t you try it on? Even if you don’t care for this style or shade, it’ll give us an idea if the size is right.”
“Okay,” Kenji said.
He took the soft fabric and followed Alex to the back. Similar to Earth, they had a dressing area. Oddly, there were no mirrors. Therewasa strange water feature, though. One entire wall had it cascading down like a waterfall.
Alex stayed just outside the curtain. “It’s like a wrap dress, if you’re familiar with those. An inner tie and an outer one—and the belt. If you need help, just ask.”
“Am I supposed to wear anything special under this?”
“Most don’t, but I like my briefs. I keep those on,” Alex said.
“Cool, cool,” Kenji said, stripping down to his briefs and no-show socks.
A few minutes later, he was nearly naked, with his arms through the robe—but he wasn’t completely sure how the thing tied. “Alex?”
“Need help?”
“Just trying to figure out these ties.”
Alex peeked in and glided through the curtain. His gaze went to the swell in Kenji’s stomach before his eyes widened a bit. Not a word was said, though. He reached for one set of inside ties and bound them.
