Paper Lanterns.
The next day was marked by the sudden launch of a pill that could let Turians, Quarians and other dextro-reliant races eat and drink normal produce. Though it was met with fierce opposition from the fat-cat Dextro companies and conservative minded individuals, the endorsements of Tali'zorah Vas Normandy, and Primarch Vakarian, ensured that it flew off the shelves, and netted the Normandy several billion galactic credits in the process.
With a fraction of the earnings, the ladies all went out on a shopping spree in London, the main aims to; get Tali and Kasumi a new wardrobe, some more clothes, supplies and toys for the four babies and to splash out on some more entertainment for the house and ship. After the first two hours, they had mainly managed to get supplies, clothes and toys for the babies.
"I'll take them back to the house, I think the little ones are tired" Sha'ira smiled as the four babies yawned in the four-seater pram Georgia had bought.
"Okay, I'll need help with the shopping though" Sha'ira said, Georgia signalled Kasumi who rushed to help.
"Return to us when you've helped her get the shopping on the shuttle." Georgia said as she was pulled into another shop by Orianna. To hide their gold eyes, Miranda and Georgia were wearing green contacts, as praying for their eyes to turn green, or wanting everyone to see them as having green eyes, had both turned up fruitless. After another couple of hours, it was just Tali, Samara and her daughters to find new clothes for, and the others returned home with their arms laden with bags full of clothes.
"General, I am not sure I need any clothes. What is wrong with what I wear?" Samara asked as she trailed down an aisle of clothes designed for more curvaceous women.
"Mom! You have numerous pairs of the same outfit, in four colours; black, red, green and blue." Falare sighed, as she was two aisles over, looking at more manly clothing.
"Sis is right; you need to branch out a bit more." Morinth said, perusing the same aisle as Falare.
"How about this?" Miranda said, pulling out a dress in Samara's size, and as expected was white with black backing. "try it?" Samara smiled and took it, before walking over to one of the changing rooms. Because of their status, the shop had let them look through it alone, the shop temporarily closed to allow them complete privacy.
"Wow!" Falare exclaimed a few minutes later, Georgia looked up and gasped. Samara's figure was perfectly captured by the form-fitting dress; its long, unmarked surface seemed to make her appear taller and thinner, whilst accentuating her cleavage with a low 'V'. If it wasn't for Tali, Miranda and Orianna, Georgia swore she'd take Samara then and there. "Any more like it?" Falare asked, her eyes welded to her mother in the dress.
"Something less formal would be ideal" Morinth commented and Samara nodded her agreement, before gliding back into the changing room.
Another hour passed, and Samara, Miranda, Falare, Morinth and Orianna finished their shopping and left, heading for the departure point that Steve had arranged that morning.
"Keelah this is harder than I imagined" Tali sighed as she put down another item she wasn't happy wearing. "I understand those old human jokes about men hating shopping and not realising how 'difficult' it is."
"Well, you're not used to being so exposed" Georgia said, handing her a long sleeve shirt with an intricate pattern on the sides and arms, with a matching pair of trousers. "Try this, and we'll head for a shop I often buy clothes from, they cater to people who prefer to cover up more of their body."
"Thanks Shepard, glad you understand" Tali smiled as she pulled the curtain across the changing cubicle.
"Everything alright general?" an assistant asked, cautiously approaching the respected client.
"We're fine, my Quarian friend is having trouble finding something she likes" Georgia smiled at the attendant.
"I understand completely general. The market hasn't really opened up to Quarians who have adapted to life outside those suits" the attendant said sympathetically.
"But as you probably saw, the others had no problem" Georgia chuckled.
"We're happy to provide for such acclaimed war heroes, we've even extended a discount for your sterling service" the attendant was starting to get on Georgia's nerves.
"No discount necessary, we're happy to pay the normal price like everyone else" Georgia said, the attendant nodded and quickly scurried away. "You okay in there Tali?" Georgia pushed the curtain aside a crack and felt her jaw hit the floor at the sight.
Tali was completely naked, her skin seeming to glisten in the artificial light. Her breasts were small, perfectly shaped mounds of lavender coloured flesh with dark purple nipples capping them off, and above her thin slit was a patch of dark violet fuzz. Tali seemed to be staring at herself in the mirror, and when she noticed Georgia peaking at her naked form and blushed before quickly covering her intimate areas.
"Shepard!" she squeaked, Georgia slid into the cubicle and Tali looked more flustered. "What are you doing?"
"Tali you're beautiful!" Georgia breathed, gently encouraging Tali to put her arms down, as she took in her delicate form. "Why are you not comfortable revealing more of yourself?" Tali turned and looked at herself in the mirror.
"I guess I can't yet accept that now people can see the real me, not the suit" Tali said, her three fingers caressing her sides. "I'm not used to being so…vulnerable."
"You're not vulnerable revealing yourself to the world, well, not like this" Georgia chuckled, and Tali let a timid laugh, not quite comfortable at Georgia seeing her completely naked. "It's not weakness to let the real you be open to the world, I mean look at Samara, she wonders the galaxy with her cleavage on show, and she's one of the strongest people on the ship."
"But Samara has years of experience behind her." Tali complained. "I'm still young, and used to living in the suit. I can't really get used to people seeing the real me."
"The REAL you isn't in your appearance, it's just a shell. Your personality is the real you, how you portray yourself to the world, how you let people see you." Georgia said, turning Tali around to face her. "Look at me, my body would have people yelling 'freak' at me if I let what people think drag me down."
"Because of your replaced limbs?" Tali asked, raising an eyebrow and looking at the metal arm.
"Even before that, when I was little, I WAS called a freak, because I was different genetically to every other girl" Georgia said, her eyes connecting with Tali's. "But I didn't let it bother me, I shrugged it off and made something of myself, without letting other people's opinions get the better of me."
"We're like paper lanterns my mum once said" the attendant said as she walked past. "Our bodies hold the flame of our personality as we float through life…" the voice trailed off as the attendant walked out of earshot.
"…we float through life; not letting anything put us down until we burn out." Georgia finished, recognising the fairly modest sentiment.
"What's a paper lantern?" Tali asked, snapping out of her reverie and slowly putting on the mauve long sleeve shirt and matching trousers.
"Essentially a paper bag with a candle inside, quite big in the far east." Georgia summarised. "Often represent hope or light." As Tali finished dressing in the mauve outfit, Georgia felt her jaw drop again, the outfit suited her perfectly, covering her arms and legs, but defining her slender form perfectly.
"What do you think Georgia?" Tali asked, looking at her general for approval.
"I think you look amazing in it, I'm sure the others will agree." Georgia said smiling; Tali smiled back and looked at herself in the mirror.
"It does suit me, and it doesn't show much of me off, leaving plenty to the imagination." Tali assessed herself in the mirror, twisting and turning her hips to take all of it in. "It's perfect!"
"Excellent, put your jacket and boots on and we'll pay 'n' go." Georgia said, grabbing Tali's normal clothes and shoving them in a bag. Tali blinked, slightly confused and unused to the customs of shopping, before putting her boots on and slipping her jacket on, which also matched the mauve outfit.
"Find what you were looking for?" the cashier asked as Georgia approached.
"Yes, how much for the top and trousers my friend is now wearing?" Georgia asked, the cashier looked at Tali and quickly typed in the products, before Georgia paid and they left the store. Tali asked they leave the rest of the shopping until another time, and Georgia agreed. They quickly arrived at the shuttle, and Cortez was leaning against the outside waiting for them.
"Hey General, and Tali? Wow!" Steve said as the two women approached, he hadn't really got a good look at Tali earlier, but now it was just her and Georgia, and he was blown away by her natural form, complimented by the outfit she was wearing.
"Thank you Steve." Tali said as they hoped on board.