step step step
The more distance I put between myself and the Guild's office, the more I feel the precarious mess that is my mental state settling down.
I may or may not be walking faster than usual in order to further facilitate this.
"It truly is a shame..."
And right at the point where my nerves are finally starting to reach equilibrium, Yahanaseara's wistful voice pulls me out of my own head.
"Mm?" I glance over at her.
"I was only able to have you to myself for a scant four days before all the world came to know of the legendary Gold-ranked Conductor of Shadows."
"Bwuh-"
aaaaagh whyyyyyy
"Come now, there is no need to be shy~" Yahanaseara draws closer and closer until she's outright leaning into my side as we walk. "Or would you rather spend your days living in obscurity?"
Her laughter is as damaging to my delicate psyche as it is adorable, and all I can do in response is bury my stupid face in my stupid hands and groan.
"Ugh, YES," I growl. "I just want to live a quiet life where I can come and go as I please and do whatever without anyone paying me any mind."
"...you must be aware that such a thing has never been possible for you, yes?"
yeah thanks to my parentage being what it is BUT STILL
"Because even if one was to disregard your height..."
yeah yeah there aren't exactly a lot of women out there who are six feet tall
"...your face is still quite dashing."
"Gfh-"
How.
How is it possible for someone who's only known me for such a short amount of time to manage to pinpoint like every insecurity I have.
"It also contrasts nicely with your figure, which would surely garner you even more attention if not for these baggy robes that you insist on wearing-"
"Hey," I interject. "Don't knock my mage robes. They're comfy and easy to wear."
"Yes, and so are my clothes."
Yahanaseara then pulls away from me and does a little spin that sends both her loose upper layer and long fluffy hair twirling around her and the sparks that it kick up only serve to further emphasize-
Stolen novel; please report.
"But in addition to being comfortable, mine also serve to accentuate my appearance," she says, walking backwards with her arms reaching out to either side as if to show off the fact that it's not just her face that's aesthetically pleasing.
And yeah, the way that her sleeveless underlayer top shows off her shoulders while also being covered by the outer robe just enough to hide most of her actual arms does make for a nice look, not to mention the way that it extends down her legs just enough to give a little peek of the boundary between the black fabric of her shorts and the brown skin of her thighs...
...and once again, I'm reminded that her pride in her looks is in no way undeserved.
"Yeah, well that's exactly what I'm trying not to do," I say, averting my gaze before things start getting weird. "I get hit on enough as it is with just my face and height, I don't need people ogling my legs or whatever on top of that."
"Oh, like the way you were just ogling mine?"
"Wha-" I stammer. "I wa- I wasn't-"
Seriously, I wasn't!
"There is no need to apologize," the lightning girl laughs. "No amount of being stared at could ever offend me."
"C'mon..."
"Though now that you mention it, I do not think that I would appreciate it if others were to do the same to you..." she mumbles while tilting her head to the side. "...this is a dilemma."
why is she making such a serious face while talking about something so dumb
"On the one hand, beauty is meant to be appreciated. But on the other, there is a certain appeal in being the only one who knows just how adorable you can be when in the proper attire..."
"What're you even talking about?" I sigh. "You've only ever seen me in some variant of what I'm wearing right now."
Yeah, she reached so far with that one that her teasing just lost all effectiveness. And I bet she's realized it too, considering her expre-
"........."
Why is she smiling like that.
"Sleepwear," she says with the smuggest grin I've seen on her yet.
And now my face is on fire.
Again.
dammit I wasn't even thinking about that and I mean it's not like I'm trying to show off or anything I just pick out what-
"...that reminds me."
Of a perfect way to change the subject!
"We need to get you your own sleepwear," I say.
"Eh?"
A look of bewilderment.
...bewilderment?
"Th- there is no need to inconvenience yourself with such a thing!" Yahanaseara stammers. "Borrowing yours is more than enough for-"
"Nah," I shake my head, "I wouldn't feel right making you keep on using mine. Besides, it can't possibly be comfortable wearing stuff that belongs to someone who's like a full foot taller than you."
"I really do not mind at all," she mumbles.
"And while we're on it, we should probably get you a couple of changes of regular clothes too..."
I think about five is a good minimum number, in the name of both practicality and convenience. Though that would beg the question of what kind of outfits to even get, especially since she's so pretty that literally anything she wears would look great on her...
maybe we can just spend the whole day clothes shopping and I can have her try on like everything in every store in this entire city and hey if we're lucky there might even be enough for a different outfit every day for an entire month and ooh I could even do her hair different to go along with them oh man she'd look so good in WHAT THE HELL BRIGITTE
COUGH COUGH COUGH
It takes me a few moments to fully expel the Stupid.
Seriously, what the hell got into me there? I almost ended up acting like the servants back home did before I declared that I was finally going to start dressing myself.
Not to mention that I didn't even take the tastes of the potential wearer herself into account.
"...uhhh..."
"??"
C'mon, pull yourself together.
"...maybe we could find a tailor and have them make you whatever you want?"
uhhhhhhh
"Since you'd probably want to wear something similar to what you have on now?"
"...yes, that sounds nice," Yahanaseara smiles.
Nice save, me!