They strolled slowly away, easing out of Cuntz’s field of view until they were one with the crowd of people going about their daily lives. As they walked further along, Sigurd stared silently at Mia and Nia, who were walking a few steps ahead of him. Fascinated by the refreshing sights – long gone were their days of living among the trash and seeing people at their weakest – the girls’ eyes sparkled.
Mia noticed Sigurd lost in thought and turned to face him, walking backward as she did, “What’s up, Sigurd? Having second thoughts about your parting gift? I know our expenses keep dwindling, but things will start looking up here, I just know it!”
He chuckled and smiled, “No, I have no regrets there. Cuntz more than proved his worth. And knowing him, he wouldn’t have taken it, either way!” Sigurd recalled how, moments before, he left the traveling merchant his fair share for his services – the five hundred gold coins he had been offered prior. “Besides, there’s a more pressing matter now!”
Sigurd scanned Mia and Nia from top to bottom, noting how filthy, emaciated, and ragged both girls looked. Far from the wounds the older catkin girl had suffered the night before, he felt it wrong and immoral to be traveling with both girls in such a state.
‘Not only will people gawk and assume nasty things about me, damaging my impeccable image,’ Joyce thought, her mind ego-boosted with haughty thoughts. ‘But I won't allow my cute daughters to look bad!’
He darted rapidly from left to right, keen on every passerby, trying to prove a point. Though no one stopped to stare, he nervously stared at each one, in a state of pseudo paranoia for what others might think. But no one did.
Nia, clinging to his leg and rubbing against it, snapped Sigurd out of his self-imposed nightmare. “Poor Papa,” she said in her usual deadpan tone. “Leaving that money behind really did hurt his psyche.”
“No, that’s not it all! Don’t randomly pity me!” Sigurd protested, peeling the girl off his leg. “What I was gonna say is… you’re both my daughters now, and I won’t stand to see you looking the way you do. So we’ll be doing some shopping and I’ll be dolling you up. And money will be no object!”
His upbeat demeanor – clearly counteracting his delusional state from seconds before – infected Mia, as she and Sigurd ran down the path ahead, with Nia in his arms. She pumped a fist too, though her face still displayed no emotion.
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Declaring his intent, the group rushed down the sidewalk, scanning each shopfront as they went. Many different locales littered that main road; some were for food, which enticed them to stop, but Sigurd was determined to finish his first mini-quest in the new town. Other shops sold a variety of different goods, from jewelry to weapons, and all kinds of services in between, and they briefly perused them all before landing at a women’s clothing shop.
He wasted no time in asking the shop clerk for clothes the girls could try out. While most options were for young ladies and older women, the moment Sigurd slammed a fistful of coins on the wooden countertop, the clerk changed her tune. Within minutes, she took the girls’ measurements and promptly searched her inventory for the appropriate selection.
To onlookers, Sigurd must’ve seemed like some kind of deranged lunatic, demanding children’s clothing, eyes popping out of his skull. And if they knew the truth or could see it, anyway – Joyce’s inner mind – said onlookers would be proven right. For as macho as Joyce had to be as a soldier on Earth, she had a feminine side: and she could finally unleash it, albeit in surrogacy.
Once the selection of clothes was brought out, the next came having Mia and Nia both try them on. Sigurd had to gauge what looked appropriate based on each of the girls’ personalities. Thus he had them try on dresses, pants, shorts, and combinations of each. They were made to try on more conventional choices, from mantles to kirtles. There were fancier, gaudier options too, ranging from embroidered petticoats to frilled garments.
After two exhausting hours, it was decided that simple was best: Mia wore a shoulder-less, frilly, knee-length dress, with matching slippers, and Nia was to wear a comfortable, one-piece overall. It was the short version, which left her legs exposed, but allowed for maximum mobility. Sigurd figured with both of them being catkin, they would appreciate that. Lastly, he ensured to ask the clerk to modify both options by cutting a hole in the backs of each – perfect for their cat-like tails to snugly fit through.
Once they were fitted with proper clothing, Sigurd couldn’t contain himself and embraced them both, “Ah, this is what I wanted to see! Both of my daughters, looking better already!”
“Nyaa?! What’s gotten into you, Papa?!” Mia protested, trying to escape his clutch.
Nia gave into the gentle caressing, expressing minimal joy through her tail; it wagged lightly, albeit her face remained deadpan.
“Sorry, but you’re both too adorable!” Sigurd exclaimed, but as his nose touched their scalps, he instantly pulled back. “...but I think we could all use a bath. It’s been a few days, huh?”
He organized a proper pay for the store clerk and brusquely marched out the door. Mia followed suit, but before Nia did as well, she let out a small apology, “Sorry for all the fuss, but thank you for your service.”
Back on the sidewalk, Sigurd faced in the direction of the square once more. “Next stop, the inn! Let’s figure out our lodging and take a breather, eat something, and afterward I’ll visit the Adventurer’s Guild!”
At the mention of food, both girls yelled in excitement.