Lured by Temptation (Seven)

[Palla]

Palla’s eyes bounced around during the exchange. Something she could slip on, yes, she nodded when Seven suggested. She smiled, peachy hues flushing underneath her smattering of freckles. The young girl disappeared briefly before returning with a long strip of cloth. Upon further inspection, Palla found the strip to be more than one strip, but what looked to be like several all tied together seamlessly, somehow. Clothes were interesting. They came in all shapes and sizes and materials. No two things ever seemed to look the same! But this one, as it was held out before her by its two then straps, was different. It was long and looked soft. It was the color of her hair, nearly, a sort of muted orange. Her eyes widened excitedly and she stepped forward, all trace of her timid nature dissipated.

”I-I love it! I really really like it, Seven! May I touch it??” She reached out with long bony fingers to grasp the cloth and rub it between her fingers and palms. Her nose flared as she leaned in to sniff its fresh, clean scent. It was beautiful, and it reminded her of the smear of oranges and reds that painted the sky at sunset. She looked back to Seven, her smile cutting all the way across her face. ”I really like it!”

[Seven Xu]

The shift fell into Seven’s white hands, and he turned with it, pressing it by the straps to his bondmate’s collarbone. “Of course you can touch it; you can wear it, it’s yours.” Freckled fingers dove into the soft cotton waist, and he let go, tipping his gaze back to the waiting seamstress. “How much?”

“Twenty—it’s of a fine make, brought from Riverfall two mornings ago. The stone embellishments are opalgloam.” She gestured to the smattering of tiny alabaster stones that littered the bust and straps like dust. “They are very skilled with their jewels.”

“I’m sure they are.” Seven’s brows lifted beneath a shaggy mess of bangs, and he produced a small purse, held together by a drawstring. Twenty gold-rims were carefully counted before they changed hands. “Here. Thank you.”

The transaction done, the girl was forgotten, and Seven turned on Palla to nudge her by the shoulder toward a screen a head taller than either of them. He laughed some unspoken joke, the swirling orange skirts around shuffling feet evoking memories of a dusty shop in Syliras. “Come, I’ll show you how to put it on.”

[Palla]

Palla looked down at the waterfall of fabric held against her body. Her fingers found the cloth and pulled it in securely to her chest. Of course you can touch it; you can wear it, it’s yours. Seven’s voice rang out, his words imprinting themselves into her mind. She’d never owned anything of her own before. Her own, personal article of clothing. It wasn’t like borrowing Victor’s shirts or Seven’s shirts. The dress was special now, no longer just an item purchased with the strange metal coins. Her smile broadened, and she kneaded the material with her fingers. Before she could find the words to speak, she was being ushered away from the woman and behind a screen.

As Seven stood before her to begin his instructions, she stammered, ”M-Mine? It’s mine now? Forever? I can wear it whenever I want?” She hopped in place, ginger hair bouncing about. ”Thank you, Seven! Thank you, I-I’m so excited!” As he lifted the dress from her hands and showed her where to stick her head and arms through, her mind swam. ”I can’t wait to wear it around.” With the dress securely in place, she grasped at the material, marveling at the stones. It was soft, light, and airy. She walked around in a small circle, testing its feel. It was easy to move around in, nothing restrained the availability of her arms or legs. In short, it was perfect.

[Seven Xu]

Getting the girl into the dress was little effort, though with it came a spell of avoidant gazes and forced smiles. Palla knew little of the prudish courtesies of her two-legged; everything was a distraction, and if it wasn’t, it became one. She even managed to till a field of pink over white skin. Finally, after a small lifetime of blind fingers between folds of orange and freckled skin, Palla wore her new dress.

Seven looked her over, and his rigid countenance melted into something genuine. It was perfect, as if it had been fitted and tailored to her dimensions in nearly every way (it still hit the floor, where it would dust another woman’s ankles). She managed to say something to pull the halfblood from his self-satisfied silence. He cleared his throat, reached back to fuss with the tangle of orange hair at her mid-back.

“You’re wearing it now,” he laughed and dipped to retrieve his jacket from the tent-shop’s floor. It satisfied the empty nook of his elbow, and the other snaked back to hook around Palla’s arm. “Come on. Let’s go find home.”

oocI'm okay to end it here if you are!

[Fallacy]

XP Award! Name:Palla XP Award: +5 Observation +3 Rhetoric +3 Interrogation +1 Climbing Lore: Food Lured Me Here Trapped in a Maze After I Eat I Get A Child's Sticky Face Two Legged Entities 101 I Can Wear Clothes if it Will Make You Happy Venturing Into a Marketplace Proper Shopping 101 It's Yours Notes: +1 Dress Any questions or concerns about the rewards gained please send a PM