Bonus 2: Clothes Shopping
*These events take place between Chapter 5 and Chapter 6*
Caleb, Mirabelle, and Lyca enter a large boutique titled, "Las Monstraballes", located within Bridge Street Town Center. There appear to be not many people here save for a few employees and 3 or 4 liminals shoppers.
"Chief, what is this place? It smells pretty weird in here", Lyca inquired curiously looking around at many assortment of strange garments then uncomfortably referencing strong scent of perfume.
"This is clothing store Lyca. Humans use them to buy and sell really nice and sometimes really dorky looking clothing. Although...it looks like this place carries clothes for all body types.", Caleb references the assortment of pants and shirts designed for liminals with multiple limbs, varying body types from insectoid to quadrapedal, and even those with alternating forms like slime or shape shifters, "As for the smell, I don't know. I think they pump that crap in through the vents."
Mirabelle approached to the side, "What are we here for Dear? I thought we were going to Kami House."
"We are, but first my sweet Moon pie it appears we've gotten a raise in the monthly stipend I get for caring for you girls and I wanted to take you out to get y'all some new clothes.", Caleb says patting the pocket with his wallet.
"Dear that's sweet of you, but I have a decent amount of clothes to wear. No need to trouble yourself.", Mirabelle says trying to convince him.
"Moon pie, you only had one suitcase when you first moved in and you didn't have that many clothes when Sterling brought you the rest. And Lyca, you've worn those same clothes the past few days now. I'm getting you guys new clothes.", he uses his indoor voice to avoid embarrassing them.
"Besides, the stipends are technically yours it's only fair I mostly use them for you guys.", Caleb firmly replies as the girls give him plaintive stares before soon relenting. They shrug to each other following him through the women's section into the part where all the liminal clothes are. Mirabelle eyes widened at seeing the variety of clothing tailored to centaur; dress shirts, belts, cloaks, ribbons, swimsuits, even specially designed horse shoes. Lyca appeared to be utterly mesmerized by the different racks of cloths, manecans of various species on display, and shelves full of designer cloths.
"You guys...see anything you like in particular?", Caleb inquired.
"Hmm, I guess I could check out some of those cloaks for Centaurs. I wonder if they have anything in my size.", Mirabelle says walking over to the rack labeled 'Womens cloaks'.
Caleb turns to Lyca, "What about you Lyca?"
"I'm not really sure how this 'cloths shopping' thing works; we never had anything like this back home. I don't even know where to begin.", Lyca says quite puzzled
"Really? What did you do for clothes then?", Caleb inquired almost embarrassed to ask.
"We used pelts from the prey we hunted, but only as a display of prowess and status. The stronger members of the pack had lots of pelts whereas weaklings like me could only wear the worn out pelts discarded by the Alphas and Deltas.", Lyca sadly reminisces.
Caleb pats her on the head before she looks up at him, "Well it's not like that...well it's similar to that here but no. You can wear whatever you want that expresses who YOU are or want to be, Lyca. It doesn't matter what anyone else says."
Lyca grins at him but still unsure, "Ok, but...there's so many choose. Where do I start?"
"Well...do you like what you're wearing now?", Caleb inquires referring to her denim short shorts and blue tank top to exposed her slim belly.
"Yeah, it's really comfortable and easy to move in.", Lyca beams at him proudly.
"Alright, we can start from there. Come on, let's find you something that'll make you look cute.", Caleb says looking around the clothes racks.
Lyca blushes thinking to herself while her tail swaying, "C-cute? Me?"
Mirabelle excitedly approaches carrying an arm full of clothing, "Look Dear, I found five cloaks in my size! Isn't this one just beautiful?", she says pull a dark purple cloak with little yellow crescent moons decorating it.
"I should've guessed you'd pick something like that. It looks nice.", Caleb playfully teases before getting closer and whispering to her, " Hey, Moon pie, can you help me help Lyca find her some clothes? She not really used to shopping. Plus, I don't have much taste for fashion."
Mirabelle and Caleb look behind to see Lyca circling around curiously sniffing a human manecan wearing polo shirt and capris. Mirabelle gives a concerned frown.
"Y-yes, perhaps I can help find her some clothes she'll love ( hopefully some that show less skin)"
"Huh? I didn't catch that last part.", Caleb inquired
"Oh, nothing! I was just thinking it could be good bonding experience... and she'd look great in a pink. Yeah.", Mirabelle stuttered before walking over to Lyca who was about to bite the leg of the manecan, "Um, Lyca? Would you like me to help you find some clothes?"
Lyca stopped her motion and turned to Mirabelle with confused look that quickly morphed into a gratitude, "Really? Thanks a bunch Mira!"
Mirabelle was caught off guard by the sudden nickname but smiled back at her, "Alright, let's start with something simple like a blouse.", she says as Lyca follows her to one of the racks while Caleb kept a close eye on them.
...
They continued on with the shopping for what felt like an hour. The girls eventually found a considerable number of outfits to wear. They would occasionally defer to Caleb on what he thought looked good on them. Terrible idea. Never, ever ask a man what he'd think you'd look best in.
Mirabelle stuck with her usual style of casual and conservative longsleeve blouses and dress tops along with the usual Centaurian cloak for bottom. Honestly, Caleb thought they suited her well; especially the ones that gave shape to her large breasts and curvaceous upper body but also created an air of modesty and left more to the imagination.
Lyca, while not picky, didn't go for many of the longsleeve dresses and blouses Mirabelle suggested. Instead, preferred clothing that offered more exposer and less restriction. Or more accurately, whatever skin was allowed before Mirabelle and Caleb drew the line. Going by Caleb's advice, she chose tops that showed off her back and toned stomach. Namely, strapless grey or camo tube tops, different colored tank and crop tops, even a few shoulderless t-shirts. As for bottoms, she stuck with shorts. She picked out a several pairs of denim short shorts and hot pants. All of which looked like they barely covered her tight little rear and pleasantly hugged her lean thighs.
Being the gentleman he was, Caleb offered to carry their clothes pile.
Soon they left and were approaching the area Caleb had dreaded since coming there. The one place where anxiety and awkwardness overtake a man's senses and leave him flustered mess.
Underwear shopping. For, not one, but TWO attractive women.
As they crossed the border into 'No man's' land, the collection of the gender neutral colors became a deeply feminine colors. Instead of racks of pants, shirts, and socks, all that could be seen were panties, bras, stocking, and numerous collections of lingerie. All of which at different sets for different species. In fact, most of lingerie were made by Arachne. The song 'Who run the world, girls' by Beyonce played throughout the area.
Mirabelle fidgeted looking around at the beautiful clothing with a combination of intrigue and embarassment at being in a place like this. Lyca seemed awestruck at the strange garments before her eyes and began inspecting some of the
"Ok, I'll just wait outside and leave you girls to your business.", Caleb says pivoting around with the pile of clothes in hand trying desperately to get out while he could. Suddenly, he felt Lyca's furry soft paws grab the hem of his shirt.
"No, wait Chief, I still need help. I don't know what to choose.", Lyca said with pleading puppy eyes.
"W-Well that's what Moon Pie's for. Right Moon pie?", Caleb almost begged Mirabelle for help.
"A-Actually D-dear...I'd like it if...y-you'd give me your opinion as well.", Mirabelle mutters shyly averting her gaze and fidgeting.
'Et tu, Moon pie', Caleb lamented internally before giving a weak sigh and begrudgingly saying, "Fine...I'll...give my best input."
"Yay! Oh, Chief, do you think this would look good on me? ", Lyca enthusiastically holds a small of grey and pink lace panties with a puppy face on it. She playfully stretched it with her clawed thumbs, "It's so stretchy-Woops!", she utters accidentally flinging it in Caleb's face with it clinging to his chest.
Mirabelle covered her mouth hiding her blush as Caleb deadpaned at Lyca before peeling it off and handing it back to Lyca.
Caleb inhales composing himself, "Yes, Lyca. I believe they would look adorable on. Please never do that again."
"Really?", Lyca grins tail wagging happily almost completely ignoring the last of his comment, "Mira, let's find more like this that Chief will like!"
Caleb tensed up nervously before hearing a few female shoppers whispering and giggling from behind them.
"Ly-don't say it like that and not so LOUD.", Caleb growled the last part through clenched teeth feeling a sudden desire to ducktape her mouth shut.
Mirabelle looked away pondering to herself her eyes fixated on a rack of lingerie designed for Centaur, 'T-that...Dear would like?", she blushes her mind starting to drift. Lyca grabs her by the hand snapping her out of her trance.
"Come on, let's check over here next!", Lyca stated dragging Mirabelle off.
Mirabelle squeaks reluctantly following, "Lyca, please don't pull so hard."
Caleb watches them leave before shaking his head with a sigh. He notice a couple human women staring at him skeptically.
"Hey. What going on?", Caleb greeted them awkwardly before they hastily turned around resuming their shopping. He gives a lengthy sigh, "Where the hell are the store clerks when you need'm?"
More time passed, for Caleb it felt like hours, before the girls found another bunch of clothing that appealed to them. Mirabelle picking some purple and black double D cup bras, a few lingerie, lace panties for her front nethers, and specially designed tights for Centaur. Lyca picked grey and blue lace boyshorts and a few lace panties. She wasn't very interested in many of lingerie but she did find some latex underwear that caught her eye. Or bras, but that was because she finds them uncomfortable and so doesn't wear them; a fact Caleb honestly didn't need to know.
They found the changing room where they decided to try on some of their outfits; with Caleb as the reluctant judge. Outfit after outfit, they came out modeling and doing little poses and he would praise them on how great they looked. Mirabelle's were sharp and elegant but laid back and really brought out her eyes and hair. Not to mention, they accentuated her hourglass shape ridiculously well. For Lyca, as he suspected, those shorts she picked were dangerously little! It was debatable to even CALL some of them pants; more like butt floss. They formed perfectly around her tight round butt and accentuated her shapely thighs and slender frame. He honestly had to keep him from staring too much and getting lost somewhere he may not come back from.
He sat on a body length stool with side mirrors that's in every women's clothing department for some reason directly in front of the changing rooms. Mirabelle in the door in front of him and Lyca one door down to his right. The stack of clothes divided for Lyca and Mirabelle's clothing already tried on. Now they were trying one their under and lingerie. He silently prayed to whatever god that was listening they wouldn't need his input.
"~Second thing second, don't you tell me what you think that I could be~", Caleb quietly sung to the song playing on the intercom trying to distract himself. He took out his phone and began checking his email for anything interesting.
Meanwhile, in the dressing room, Mirabelle was observing every inch of the lingerie she chose. She ran her hand along the light purple transparent skirt that connected to her lower waist covering part of her horse half admiring it's silky texture. She guided her hands to the purple strap-on lace panties on her front crotch. She cups her breasts in the strapless dark purple lace bra, which fit perfectly, and pushed them up making her flesh jiggle slightly. She looked at herself from all angles in the mirrors hardly believing it was even her. She looked...sexy; ever her breasts looked bigger. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. What would Caleb say? Would he think it looks good on her? He's right outside, she could just ask him...but...what would be his reaction?
Her mind started to fantasize the scenario.
***'Caleb steps inside her dressing room, gazing in amazement and longing at her alluring appearance. Mirabelle nervously shifts her gaze away. He grabs her shoulders forcing her to gaze in his brown passionate eyes.
"You are absolutely ravishing Moon pie. I don't think I can restrain any longer."
"B-but Dear, right here in public? W-w-what if someone catches us?"
"Bullocks to them! Let them watch how a man loves his woman!", he fervently stated before attacking her flesh.
"Haaahh! Oh, Dear!"***
Back in reality, Mirabelle was giggling to herself and blushing beat red holding her face in a swooning fashion while her body swayed happily and tail excitedly whipped about. The mirrors around her began fogging up with heat.
Caleb looked up from his phone noticing the faint giggling sound coming from Mirabelle's door.
"What the hell?", he says to himself wondering if she's ok in there. He was about to get up and knock on her door when...
"Uhhh, Chief? Can you help me, please?", called Lyca from inside her dressing room. Caleb recoiled at first before apprehensively approaching.
"W-what's up? You ok in there?", Caleb spoke into the door.
"No, ergh, something's wrong...with these shorts? Can you help me?", Lyca whimpered.
"I-Woul-shouldn't Moon pie be helping you with...", Caleb stopped when her heard Mirabelle squeal to herself disjointedly giggling to herself. Seriously, is she alright? Caleb was about to knock on her door to see what going on with her, when Lyca called him.
"Please, Chief. Erhhh...I need your help, it really hurts.", Lyca pleaded.
'really hurts?!', Caleb thought becoming worried. She's in pain? What the hell? Caleb desperately looked around, STILL finding no sales associates in sight. Where the fuck are the department staff when you need'm?!
"Haaa fuck my life.", Caleb softly curses nervously facing the dressing room door, "Ok...i-i'm...coming in."
Caleb places his hand on the latch and inhaled mentally preparing himself. He gently opened the door. He peaks inside and sees Lyca sprawled on the floor struggling to remove a pair of jean hot pants.
"They won't come off! It's too tight!", Lyca whimpers with pleading puppy eyes.
Caleb pauses and blushes watching her squirm and flail her butt around. He shakes his head trying to focus before asking, "how...how did you even get them on to begin with?"
"It wasn't hard at first and was gonna to take'em off because they were too tight. But then the metal thing got stuck and now they're pinching and squeezing everything too hard and it hurts." , Lyca whines shifting uncomfortably even biting the shoulder strap of her blue tank top, "please get it off!"
Caleb jaw drops in shock and his brain struggled to process the situation. He looks into her pleading Amber yellow eyes. He pinches the bridge between his nose and eyes and audibly groans in frustration, "Fine"
He closes the door behind him and crouches beside Lyca and gently pets one of her ears causing her motions to cease momentarily, "Relax...now...turn over."
Lyca relaxes a bit giving him a quizzical look, "Chief?"
"Turn over...i'll...help get them off.", he reluctantly says trying not to analyze his words too much. Lyca does as told still wincing from the uncomfortably tight garments. She lays on her back, tail flat on the floor, hands and legs facing upwards. Caleb positions himself over her, recoiling as she spreads her black fuzzy legs wide revealing the burgundy cloth tightened firmly around her thighs so much it looks to be cutting off circulation. His face heats up realizing he could make out the outline of her nethers through the fabric. Again, too damn little!
He inhales sharply, "Ok now...don't move, alright? I'm...gonna try and unstuck the zipper.", he utters reaching his trembling hand towards her inner thighs. She simply nods watching in anticipation and discomfort. She shudders feeling the top of his hands graze her skin. Caleb gulp his fingers inches away from her privates. Her tail furiously twitches and swipes against his lower stomach. He grabs holds of her hips to hold he steady causing her to gasp in surprise before working the zipper on shorts.
"Ah! Chief, wait, if you move it too much it pinches!", Lyca yelped beginning to squirm. Caleb tries to keep her steady becoming more uncomfortable and trying desperately to avoid touching her delicate flower.
"Gah, will you please stop moving?" I trying to find where the damn zipper-", Caleb says before noticing where teeth failed to intersect the zipper, "Wait, I think I got it. I just to...adjust thisss part up and...", Caleb says yanking the hem up a bit for better leverage only to make the fabric tighten around her clit.
"Hyaaa!", Lyca yelps blushing suddenly closing her thighs around his hands. Caleb flinched trying to withdraw only to lurch forward pressing his face onto her soft, furry legs.
"Ahckk! Lyca, let go of my hands!", Caleb stated feeling her tight but warm and soft thigh press against him.
"I-I'm sorry Chief! You moved so suddenly and...and it pinched against my special place. P-please hurry I feel all weird and tingly down there now!", Lyca yelps blushing in embarassment as Caleb cringed feeling her womanhood rubbing against his fingers. His blood pressure skyrockets.
"Too much information! And don't you think I'd like to get this over with?! Now let go of my hands!", Caleb stated trying to pull free. She arches her back at his motion against her region.
"I-I can't! My body's not listening!", Lyca whimpers her body shaking.
Caleb feels heat building from her loins and decides enough was enough, "Fuck it!", he says shifting his hands gripping her both sides of her thighs making her gasp. She yelps before freezing in shock as her forcefully spreads her legs wide. Lyca lays there staring in anticipation with her paws posted up like a puppy on it's back. Even her tail ceased it's motions as he took a moment to compose himself. He notices her hips are beginning to lose color around the lining of the shorts. How tight are these damn shorts?! Seeing his objective through, he grabs her shorts and quickly unbuttons them. He finally where the teeth had broken and grabs the zipper before yanking it. Lyca snaps back to reality and once again starts flailing.
...outside...
A skinny brunette human woman wearing jeans, black belly shirt with the word 'feminist' on it is walking with a liminal woman with very large hands and feet with flowers growing from the, pointy ears, a ox-like tail, and wearing a frilly green dress. The top of which barely contained her large breasts. A troll.
"I don't know Rachel, you really think I could pull this off? What if someone laughs at me?", says the troll with a worried tone.
"Come on, Mabel. You have to be more confident in your appearance. It doesn't matter what anyone, ESPECIALLY some boorish man thinks.", Rachel assures, "Come on, there's the dressing room. Let's see how great you look."
The troll, named Rachel, nods. As they approached the dressing rooms, they could make out strange bumping and voices coming from one of them.
"What is that?", Rachel says as Mabel makes an 'I don't know' expression. They get closer and could hear the voices of two people. A woman...and a man.
"Will you stop squirming? You're making this harder than it should.", the man growls.
"It's so tight! Your claws keep scraping near my special place!"
Rachel and Mabel step away from the door with shocked expressions. Rachel curses see that the door locks from the inside. Rachel then gets An idea.
...in the dressing room...
Caleb was seconds away from losing his damn mind. These shorts haven't budged an inch despite him managing to get the zipper all the way down. And what's worse...
"Alright Chief, let's try it this way. I'll hold onto this while you pull'em down!", Lyca confidently stated bent over holding the wall bench with her butt raised up and tail erect giving a good eye full of her doggy daisy dukes. Caleb groans in exasperation at the absurdity of the situation.
"Ahgghhh fine, but don't move!", Caleb stated before hesitantly grabbing her sides. She shudders at his touch as he hooks his fingers on the hems. He pulls them glad to see they were finally budging bud horrified that her grey panties were now showing. He shuts his eyes looking away as he careful pulls them down; making out the shape of her tight but smooth rear.
"Haahh that's it Chief, they're almost off. Keep going-", Lyca happily stated with a blush before he interrupted.
"PLEASE don't talk. I'm not here right, I'm not doing this, I am sliding weights off of two parallel poles at the gym because that makes more sense than this!", Caleb stated firmly eyes still closed. He had passed her skin and starting to feel fur. He was glad this...situation was almost over until...
Click. The door of the dressing room unlocks.
It bursts open and Caleb freezes and jaw drops horror to see three women staring at him in shock and disgust while he halfsquatted with Lyca pants halfway down her legs.
"GET YOUR PAWS OFF HER YOU PIG!", the brunette woman stated.
Caleb jumps up backing away as Lyca straightens up looking back at the strange humans curiously then finishing pulling the shorts off.
At that moment, Mirabelle emerges out of her room startled by the shouting wearing a purple satin negligee that double as a Centaur cloak, "Dear?! What wrong?"
"Come here miss.", the brunette woman took Lyca by the hand pulling her out to the latter's added confusion. A liminal woman with big hands tended to Lyca while the brunette turned to Caleb with a hateful glare.
"I'm calling the police! I'm calling the police!", says a woman who's wearing what appears to be this stores uniform with a 'Manager' on the nametag.
"W-Wait, holl up I know this looks bad but I can ExplAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHH OH GOD MY EYES OH GOD!", Caleb hollered in pain as the woman maced him. He falls back hits the mirrors with a thud sitting on the bench cradling his poor eyes and screaming in pain. Lyca eyes widen in shock and Mirabelle jumps hearing her host scream.
The brunette woman rushes in and starts beating on Caleb, "Fucking, piece of shit, male garbage.", she curse as Caleb tries desperately to protect himself by guarding his face.
"Chief!" "Dear!" Lyca and Mirabelle exclaimed simultaneously.
"Miss please it's ok, your safe n-", the troll lady comforts before Lyca interrupts.
Mirabelle rushes on the scene with distressed, "Stop, what are you doing to him?!"
"Let me go you fat handed...!", Lyca snarl before stomping hard on the trolls foot making said troll release her while she held her foot in pain. Lyca rushes the human attacking Caleb grabbing her off him, punching her in the stomach, then throwing her to throwing out of the room to the ground. Lyca snarled lunging at her when the troll lady grabs her pinning her arms to the side while Lyca knashed her jaws and thrashed to get loose.
"Hello, Hello police we need help, there was a possible attempt rape and now a dog liminal woman just attack a human woman...", the store manager spoke on the phone.
Mirabelle rushes into the dressing room finding Caleb on the floor rocking side to side holding his face and bawling , "Caleb! Caleb, are you alright dear?!"
"NO!", Caleb shouted in anguish.
...1 eventual resolution to huge but hilarious misunderstanding later...
"So, if we got this right...this man, Mr. Bizzell, was helping his homestay, Ms. Kessler...remove a pair of shorts that didn't fit her. Then you, with no proof, thinking he was assaulting her, maced and assaulted HIM . Then, assaults YOU, for assaulting her host. Making this...one giant assault spiral! Is our assessment correct?", Said the female officer to Rachel. The two Mon agents step away finish doing first aid.
Rachel rubbed her bandaged cheek with Mabel beside her for support, "Yes...officer...that's kind of how it went down.", she says looking away refusing to look at any of them.
"You do realize all of this could've been avoided if you hadn't jumped to conclusions? You can't just go around beating on people, you could've seriously hurt him.", The female officer stated.
Rachel reluctantly looks at Caleb and the girls. Mirabelle eying her cautiously while remaining close to Caleb, Lyca glaring at her with arms crossed, and Caleb glaring with red puffy eyes, bruise on cheek, and cut on his arm.
"Plus, under normal circumstances, we'd have to charge Ms. Kessler for attacking a human.", The human male Mon agent stated as Lyca gave him an incredulous look and was about to say something when he continues, "but...she did so in the defense of her host. Which in accordance with Article 17 section 13-C, ' Should their host be put in danger, ICEP students may use any means to defend them from harm' so charges won't be filed against her in this scenario. All that remains really is if Mr. Bizzell wishes to press charges."
"Hell yes!", Caleb stated with a hint of venom. Rachel tenses as Mabel wears a panicked expression.
"Alright then, Ma'am you are under arrest for the assault of Caleb Bizzell.", the female cop says as she turn a shocked Rachel around slapping handcuffs behind her before reading her rights.
"W-wait! Please, sir she didn't mean it. She was only thought someone was being attacked and she wanted to protect them. Rachel just didn't think, but she's a good person.", Mabel drops to her knees in front of Caleb, with Lyca and Mirabelle watching closely, clasping her hands in a begging fashion, "Please, she's all I have. Nobody else took me in but her. She's all I have. Please." Mabel pleads slightly as Rachel looks back with somber expression.
As Caleb stares at the troll woman, he feels a genuine, caring aura emanating from her along with the soothing scent of flowers; all of which causing his anger to wain more and more. He looks at Rachel in contemplation seeing the sorrow in her eyes. He looks to Mirabelle then Lyca. The former unsure what to do and the latter still angry but starting to feel guilty. He lets out an exasperated sigh.
"Hang on!", Caleb stated as the officer stopped in her tracks with Rachel turning to Caleb while everyone else stared in anticipation, "I'd...like to...drop all charges."
Mabel grinned ecstatically, "OH THANK YO-"
"IF", Caleb interrupted, "She apologizes to me AND my homestays.", Caleb glares at Rachel.
Rachel mutters disgruntled at the idea before flinching as the officer pull on her handcuffs. She reluctantly faces Caleb and utters lowly, "I'm sorry."
"What was that? Sorry, couldn't make that out.", Caleb says with his hand to his ear.
Rachel grits her teeth, "I said I'm sorry! Alright?! I'm sorry...for macing and attacking you. I'm sorry for putting your homestays through all of this."
"As that good enough Mr. Bizzell?", asked the officer.
Caleb sighs, "Yeah...good enough."
The officer uncuffs Rachel who begins rubbing the soreness from her wrists eying Caleb with contempt.
"You're very lucky miss. I hope you realize that?", The officer says to Rachel who looks away. The two Mon agents approach the officer and they turn to Mabel and Rachel.
"Miss if you and your host would come with us we would like to record your testimony of your host actions.", The Four armed dark skinned Mon agents says.
"Wait, what about our clothes?", Mabel inquired to the small stack of dresses behind her.
"We'll keep them for you. Don't worry.", says the manager of the store.
"Thank you, oh one more thing.", Mabel says pulling off a few odd looking flowers from her head then hands them to Caleb, "These can be boiled down into a salve to help your eyes and wounds heal."
Mirabelle takes them from her, "Ah, thank you so much.", Mabel nods to her understanding.
With that, the officer and Mon agents escorted the two out of the store. The manager of the store turns to Caleb and the others.
"Sir, I am so sorry that you-"
"Oh save it!", Caleb interjected, "What kinda store are you running where you can barely find some goddamn service?!"
"I-I'm sorry sir, we're just a bit understaffed at the moment. Please, let me make it up to you and your homestays. 45% discount on everything your buying today.", The Manager says apologetically.
Caleb thinks on it, "Alright, sounds good. Don't expect us to come back to THIS shop any time soon. And point me to a restroom."
"I understand. I'm so sorry for all of this."
...
Caleb and the girls paid for clothes they bought and left the shop. Caleb held two armfulls of bags with Mirabelle and Lyca walking on either side of him. Both of them worriedly gazing at his bitter expression which hasn't changed since they left the shop.
"D-Dear...are your eyes still bothering you? W-we could rest for a while.", Mirabelle says
"Yeah...a-and let us carry some of those. You've done plenty for us.", Lyca added
Caleb sighs, "It's fine girls. That whole experience just took a bit put of me but my eyes don't hurt as much anymore. But...still keep close. I washed my eyes out but everything is still pretty blurry."
Lyca ears fold sadly to her head, "I'm so sorry Chief, if I didn't need your help to take sh-"
"Ah-dadadadada don't...say that out here. Besides, what done is done let's just move on.", Caleb interrupted her not wanting to draw anymore unnecessary attention.
Suddenly, a thought occurs to Mirabelle, "That's another thing Dear? W-Why were assisting Lyca w-with...that?", she says in a panicked, hurt, and skeptical tone.
"Didn't seem to have much choice. There wasn't another girl nearby that could do it in my stead.", Caleb stated before shooting a questioning glare, "Now a follow-up question, what about you Moon pie? I wanted to ask you to do it but I heard you making weird sounds in the dressing room. What were you doing in there?"
Lyca raises an eyebrow as well in a 'hey, yeah' fashion.
Mirabelle flinches blushing red as a tomato, "I-I-I-I was uhm...uhhh...I...", she stutters hiding her steaming face in her hands.
Caleb sighs, "Ok, ok, it's fine all that is over now. And hey, we ended up spending less on clothes, so how about we chill over at Kami House?"
Mirabelle peaks up through her hands a smile starting to form.
Lyca tilts her head, "What the hecks a Kami...House?"
"You'll love it, trust me.", Caleb answers.
As they were walking, Caleb notices a small fireworks stand setting up near entrance of the complex.
'Heh, 4th of July came quick this year. Maybe I'll take Moon Pie and Lyca somewhere, it could be fun. Certainly better than this crap I went through today.', Caleb thought assuredly.
Narrator sidenote: ...oof.
WR: Wow, this got a little chaotic near the end. Btw, did you guys know that Mirabelle was originally going to be a Troll? I changed it because I thought it wasn't exotic enough.
K, PEACE FAM!