“Alright,” he said, smirking as he stood straight. “Now, clothes.”
Her eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but be amused.
It was nice to be the pest for once. And the fact that he was doing it while winning her female game of desire and denial was even better. It was a game he’d never won with Yl’ln, because nothing was ever enough for her and gratitude wasn’t a conceptshe believed in. She expected gifts from him as her due as a female he wanted to court and claim.
Haven, however, was just as flustered as he had been when she’d been running rampant on his ship, messing with all his wiring. Except, this was better, becausehewas the one distressingher, while at the same time taking care of her.
The mating instincts were strong. Even now, he wanted to take her back to the ship and put her into the trap – where she belonged. But he also felt this deep seated, unshakable urge to take care of her in this small way. She needed these things, andhegot to provide them to her. It satisfied something basic and primal within him in a way nothing else could.
And the fact that it pestered her like she pestered him just made it sweeter. Both feelings combined made him want to do more. He hadn’t intended on taking her clothes shopping, hadn’t even thought about it until they walked out and he saw the sign and realized how much fun there was left to have. He couldn’t resist.
He played Haven’s curiosity against her. There were so many body types in the universe, stations that sold clothes like this often had to tailor them to the body types of whoever purchased them in the moment. Cutting and sealing machines were small, handheld, and quick. And something Haven hadn’t seen yet. They fascinated her as they went through the shop, buying her more things.
Like the body potions, he was quickly able to discern her tastes based on how she responded to the patterns and cuts available. She didn’t really gravitate towards patterns, but she did like bright, bold colors. Plain black was acceptable, plain white wasnot. But she really loved vibrant pinks and yellows and purples – things that all seemed to make her dark skin shine.
The first time one of the tailors cut a gleaming, bright yellow fabric on her, turning it into a dress with cut outs on the side, a plunging neckline, and a long slit up the side, she stared with excitement. Not at the dress, but at the tool that made it.
Meanwhile, Vytln completely lost his ability to think at the sight of her. The dress hugged the curves of her body so beautifully. It was also completely sleeveless – looping around her neck instead – which showcased the lines of muscles in her arms. Proof of her ability to lift her body and scurry through tight spaces with ease.
She didn’t seem that interested in the dress, but he was definitely buying it. No one else was ever allowed to see her in it, absolutely not. But he would do anything to see her laid out in his trap, in her nest, wearing nothing but that dress.
The clothes that really seemed to catch her fancy, however, were ones that moved with her body and stretched with her. Things that would be easy to work in. Fabric that breathed. She showed off her arms and legs and belly, but didn’t seem to like showing off her breasts, liking higher, rounded necks over the other styles.
He was able to add three full outfits to his arms before she realized that the tailoring process basically demanded purchase. He wasn’t having them fitted to her just to see them. Once they were cut and sealed, they couldn’t be sold to anyone else, so he carried them over his arm, ready to pay for everything at once when they were done. Including the yellow dress.
“Vytln!” She called out in protest when she realized what he was doing – as they were shaping a thick, fluffy sweater dress toher body for if she ever needed the extra warmth. Considering she wore a jacket even in his work room, he imagined it wouldn’t have to actually be that chilly for her to don that garment. “I don’t needing this.”
He smirked. “You’re getting it. And there are still more to put on you.”
“No!” She frowned, looking down at herself, but the dress was already mostly finished, and the tailor was only moving faster to not potentially lose a sale. Her mouth moved, unintelligible sounds escaping as she tried to think of a way to protest.
Meanwhile, Vytln was wondering if he could get her new shoes. Maybe a jacket to replace that old, worn leather one she wore. It might be easier to get her new tools or a new belt. Maybe he could sneak other things in with purchases he knew she couldn’t resist.
The tailor, wanting her sales, worked with Vytln to guilt her into getting two more outfits before she finally managed to escape. She actually ran from the store, putting a hand to her heart, breathing fast as Vytln followed, her new wardrobe in hand.
“Good,” he said, adding them to the cart, enjoying the glare she threw his way. “Let’s go get that envirosuit next.”
She opened her mouth before he even finished speaking, clearly ready to protest whatever he was about to say regardless of what it was. But he could see the curiosity take over and silence her voice before she had a chance to let it out.
She didn’t want him spending his credz on her, but she was also fascinated by everything they could buy. And he used that to hisadvantage, telling her about the technology of the envirosuits as he guided her along the street to the next store.
By the time she remembered to be uncomfortable, they were already going through the options on sale and it was easy to distract her from there. Envirosuits were such a basic and important piece of equipment, almost every station would sell, or at least repair, them.
More than creams, more than clothes, Vytln found himself invested in the type of suit and the kinds of upgrades she’d need for it. She needed the basics, of course – void survival, extremes survival, and depth survival – but she also needed things like waste management, autoregulators, lights in case the area went dark, advanced scanning would certainly be useful, and definitely exoskeletal enhancements to protect her sensitive skin.
“Vytln!” Haven protested as he and the happy store clerk kept going through upgrades and additions and he realized how much she really needed at minimum to keep her safe.
“You need the skeletal reinforcement,” he told her. “It molds to the shape of your skeleton and prevents your bones from being bent out of shape. It protects against fractures.”
Haven growled, and it was probably the most adorable, least intimidating sound he’d ever heard. “It is being just a fancy racing stripe!”
He looked at the dark red line that ran down the limbs of the suit they were building. He didn't know why it must specifically be a racing stripe in particular, but the result was indeed a stripe that followed along her spine, her limbs, and wrapped around following her rib and hip bones.
“It’s necessary,” he said, focusing back at the male who seemed quite happy to sell him more. Not even just because it made him more money. He had his own mate and all these things, he insisted, were the bare minimum he’d ever dress her in.
Vytln wanted to argue about the mate thing, some part of him still wanting to put up at least a token protest, but he couldn’t, because the salesmale then began explaining how he could add on an advanced filtration system that would protect her against most toxic gases and microbial contaminants. You know, just in case. Itwasa bit pricey, but when he considered the extra layer of protection-
Something tugged at his arm; a pressure was pushing against his thigh. Before he could ask Haven what she was doing, she was grabbing his arm and using his thigh as a step to lift herself up so she could press a kiss to his cheek. Another kiss!
