Noon approaches as Amadeo and Hope enter a shop on the south side of the market. Inside lays an array of colorful swimsuits in various sizes and of different materials. The wizard's eyes are drawn immediately to one pair of short trousers with a floral pattern down the left side reminiscent of sunflowers, and he laughs, picking it up. "Reminds me of home." Holding it to himself, he looks back at Hope. "What do you think?"

"I don't think it's your color. The yellow, I mean. You're more of a blue."

"You callin me sad?" He puts on an enormous frown and she laughs. "No, no, definitely not sad. You're just deep. You're like the ocean. There's a surface you, and then the you that gets exposed as you delve deeper. Everytime I think I understand you, something changes. First you were a scrawny guy, then you came up with a somewhat solid plan. Granted, it fell through when we wandered into the woods without backup, but still."

"Then when we went back to town, you stood up to a guy who skewered you despite being quite outmatched, which was a rather brave thing to do. Foolish, but bravery and foolishness often walk hand in hand."

"You were so gentle but so firm with Anna when she had her little moment. And when we were on the road, you had all that historical knowledge, which really shouldn't have surprised me by that point. Then to find out you studied ghosts and you might live in a haunted village? That was actually kinda cool, I'll admit." Amadeo smiles at this statement, turning a little shade of red.

"But to see you genuinely afraid when we came across those wisps. It was kinda weird to think something could actually scare you. Then you bought that spellbook and you were like a little kid. And explaining how magic works? You didn't get nearly as excited or talkative before as you did then. It was nice to see you enjoying something. And as soon as the Reaper pulled me under, you didn't hesitate for a moment. For someone so physically weak, you can be incredibly brave when you need to be."

"You've taken every chance to reassure Anna and I that we're not freaks or defective just for the way we're born. Time and again, you've shown how well things work when you're able to plan for them. The wedding, the fake manifest, that whole strategy worked pretty well for the most part until an unknown factor showed up."

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"I guess what I'm trying to say is you amaze me. You are brave, and smart, and you...You are an inspiration to me, Amadeo. I may be destined to be a champion, but you are my hero."

The wizard's face brightens to a tomato-like shade. "Oh...Ok...B-Blue it is, then." He takes a different pair of trousers, a simple royal blue with a light shade of teal along the waist. "So, uhh, I guess we should look for something for you."

"Yeah...Maybe this one?" Hope holds up a solid black one piece suit. "Kinda my color, I think."

"Will it fit, though?" Amadeo tilts his head.

"Let's find out!" She cheerfully carries the suit up to the front desk. "Pardon me. Where can I try this on?"

An elven woman with copper skin and short auburn hair looks up from her book, adjusting a large pair of glasses that cause her eyes to appear bulging. "The changing rooms are over there, dear." With her quill, she gestures to an open doorway in one corner of the room that leads to multiple doors. "Just take whichever you like."

Hope bounds off, leaving Amadeo to wander the shop, examining various clothes. He stops to look over the far back wall, which he notices is loaded with fishing gear, and grins. "Maybe next time." He mumbles to himself, turning when he senses someone approaching. "How's this?" The figure asks, and the wizard stops dead in his tracks.

His eyes first start at her feet. It's odd to see her bare foot. Her ankles are actually kind of dainty now that he can see them in the light. Cute. Ankles lead to toned legs and thighs covered by a white tinted silk sarong just light enough to see through. The ebony one piece covers her hips, a slim but muscular abdomen visible under the moderately tight material. She adjusts one of the straps and finishes tieing her hair back into a ponytail that reaches bare shoulders, exposed neck caressed by tufts of hair. Amadeo remains silent for so long that Hope turns away. "It's hideous, isn't it?"

Aware of where his eyes are, the wizard shakes his head and looks away. "Nuh uh...Pretty good, yeah."

Hope tilts her head, tail twitching upward just an inch. "Are you sure?"

"I'm quite sure. You look really good. I mean it. Just struck by the sight, is all." He smiles, gesturing to the counter. "You go ahead. I'll get changed and then we can go."