At first I couldn’t tell the “bad” part of the city from the rest, but I noticed some differences. The buildings were smaller, more beastfolk and demons, more foreigners, less cab, carriages, and horses. Some people stared at us, I think it was because of the uniform. A succubus in uniform couldn’t be a common sight, and on horseback I stood out more. The further we went the more run down the buildings got. The streets got narrower to the point where sometimes it was hard to tell what was a street and what was an alley. There were street vendors, people walking wherever they wanted, some people stood and talked to each other, not caring if they blocked the road. The bottom floor of most of the buildings were open, or mostly open. There were people drinking, smoking, talking, laughing. Kids played football in the street. I liked it, people lived here, it wasn’t just a way to get from one building to another so everyone could do their own thing alone, there was a community here, but I wasn’t blind. I saw the tents hidden away in alleys, children that were too thin, beggars, buildings repaired with scrap wood or not at all, but the way people looked at us when they saw where we were going, they were afraid, and I didn’t understand how anyone could be afraid of this.
6
We only got a little lost. Missed it when we first passed it, didn't help that Cathrine only sent us addresses and not the name of the business, but we managed eventually. It was on the second floor. A small sign saying “Freeman Tailors” over the stairs leading up was the only indication there was a business there. I was surprised how reluctant I was to leave Sweetheart, she was an easy horse to like, but I had the lock and I had to get used to it.
To my surprise the tailor’s took up the entire second floor. There was a small room in the back corner, but otherwise it was open and well organized. The middle of the room had a few workbenches, each with some sort of sewing machine. Along the walls and on a few tables clothes and fabrics were on display. An old devil was working at one of the sewing machines. It was loud, and he didn’t notice us walk in. I was willing to wait until he did, but Anne noticed the bell on the wall and rang it.
“Just a moment,” he replied, not looking up from his work.
A minute or so later he stood up. His suit was a typical black suit, but it fit well, clearly he felt it was a good way to represent his work.
“Sorry for the wait. My name is John Freeman, how can I help you?” He took a good look at us and continued, “though I don’t do military contracts.”
“No, not that, we are just privates on personal business,” Anne replied, “we’re here ‘cause these uniforms are the only clothes we have.”
“I see the problem, what are you looking for?” I had a brief moment of panic as I realized I had no idea, but of course Anne knew.
“Some formal clothes, dresses for me, suits for her,” she explained, “some clothes for riding, and casual stuff for day to day wear.”
“Budget?”
“$40-60 today, we get paid weekly, so we will have more next week, around $120, but we don’t want to waste any on needlessly frivolous stuff.”
“Excuse my curiosity, but that is a budget beyond the means of two privates.”
I shrugged, I couldn’t think of an explanation that wasn’t bringing up the royal shield, and I didn’t want to talk about it, felt wrong for some reason. Anne however took his comment to mean he was concerned about our ability to pay, or at least I think she did.
Anne took out the remaining cash, “We’re good for it, I get it, we didn’t expect to have this much money.”
“You misunderstand, I am simply curious. I knew succubi were allowed in theory to enlist, but I didn’t know any actually served, and I can tell those uniforms are not standard issue, which is why I assumed you were officers, and that you have no other clothes, there is an interesting story there.”
“We got royal shields, just did what we had to.” I said, not wanting to get into it.
He looked surprised, “Never thought I’d see the day, a succubus with a medal. We should get down to business though. Riding and formal clothes are the best places to spend the money. You will notice the difference, as for day to day wear I have plenty of factory made clothes I modify for non-humans. What do you want today?”
“Your dinner with Ezrylliil is probably formal,” Anne said, looking at me.
“I didn’t think to ask her,” I turned to John, “what is normal for a nice restaurant?”
“Suits are safe, though people will think your queer,” I shrugged, he continued, “there are different cuts, ties, accessories, that all matters in some circles –”
“I don’t care about that.”
“Fair enough. Black is the most common color, generally safe, but for devils and beastfolk, maybe succubi, you risk being mistaken for a servant. That is why I recommend dark blue as your default suit, close enough to black that it doesn’t seem like you are trying to stand out, but different enough that you are less likely to be mistaken for something you are not. It should work for most situations where you are unsure, or don’t want to risk any handmade clothes, as I have pre-made suits I can tailor to you.”
“Works for me,” I replied, “I guess that suit then and whatever casual things. Riding clothes can wait until next week, don’t think I will need them any time soon.”
“And you miss?”
“Anne, and just casual stuff for now, some simple dresses.” Anne replied.
“Shit, you can’t ride side saddle?”
“No, so I guess I need pants today.” I could hear her frustration. I knew the heat was getting to her, it was always so humid too, I can’t imagine how uncomfortable it must be with fur.
“When do you need the suit by?”
“Day after tomorrow,” Anne answered for me.
“Okay, easy enough, I can have it ready for tomorrow, come by sometime between noon and five. Anne, why don’t you look through what I have while I,” he turned to me, “sorry, I didn’t get your name?”
“Zalgeth.”
“While I get Zalgeth’s suit fitted.”
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“So why the army, if you don’t mind me asking?” John said as he worked.
“No, it’s fine, I get asked that a lot, and I am gonna be asked a lot more. I don’t like men, and there weren’t any other options back home.”
“My wife is similar, succubus too, but doesn’t like people, not that it’s the same, but luckily she went to a good school. Not only did they allow her to use a Beauvaisian name if she wanted, but when she did they made a public statement saying they forced her to so no one would pressure her. 50 years ago that kind of thing was unheard of. She was good at math, managed to get a job helping with the books at a brothel, eventually ran them, becoming a proper accountant, and they let her take clients only as needed, but it was still tough, even with all the luck she had.”
“Yea, though I should say I chose the demon name, it felt safer. I kept surprising people.”
He shrugged, “I guess it’s a sign of things changing for the better, even if I can’t imagine choosing a demonic name.”
When I took off my uniform jacket he didn’t react to my gun.
“Anne, can you take my revolver?”
“If you plan on having it on you it should be on for the fitting, so I can make space for it.”
“No,” I replied, “I don’t like it hidden. I don’t want to shoot anyone, it is a deterrent. The gun and holster were a gift, and I prefer it to being unarmed. I will get a hip holster eventually.”
“Why not learn to fight?” He asked as I handed the revolver to Anne.
“I don’t like the idea of having to be better than whoever I’m fighting to overcome my natural weakness, and I do practice, or did. I learned quickdraw. No amount of skill, strength, or size can beat a bullet.”
“I don’t think you are as disadvantaged as you think, your height would help a lot, but I get it. I don’t like guns but they are effective, and I know it is different for devils, and for me. I find it easy to see the art in fighting, considering my work.”
“Not too feminine with the suit.” Anne said as she walked over, her arms full of clothes. She continued, “So I’ve looked at your stuff, the handmade things you have on display, it’s good, I like it, and Zal will too. I don’t know much about fashion, especially since we are new to the city. We don’t know what would be best, and you probably do. Also, we got lucky, and we want to share that luck I guess, particularly with another demon. This next year we will be doing lots of political, things, the biggest of which is dinner with the king. I know that is an opportunity for you, so I think we should let you make what you want for us, and we can mention you made it, if you want.”
I nodded in agreement, it was a good idea, I’m glad Anne thought of it, though I mostly liked it because it meant less decisions for me.
John laughed, “I don’t think you are having dinner with the king.”
“We met him yesterday, got to hold the liberator’s rifle.” Anne said confidently.
He looked, hurt, maybe angry, I couldn’t get a read on him. “Considering you know my last name that would be a fucked up lie, excuse my language, and I don’t think anyone would be bold, so I will think about believing you. Come back next week for your answer.”
He was cold after that, and Anne and I didn’t push it. I guess I should have expected disbelief but it hurt. Only cost us $56 for everything though, including the suit.
The ride back to the hotel was far nicer than the ride over. Out of uniform we attracted far less attention, and the light casual clothes helped with the heat, even though I felt strange with the exposed underarm holster. Anne’s happiness was infectious. I couldn’t see her as she held onto my waist from behind, but I could still feel her smile. She hated that uniform.
Fanaka was at his desk in the stables when we got back to the hotel. He was quick to bombard us with questions about his brother’s behavior and our new horse. He wasn’t happy at first, I think he thought we deserved the best, even though we had no use for a particularly fast or strong horse. When we told him the price he was relieved, which I took to mean we got a good deal. I didn’t bring up that his brother asked us to put in a good word for him, and neither did Anne. I thought it would be better to wait for when we could actually talk and he wasn’t working.
To our surprise there was a letter for me in our room that had been slid under the door. It was from the Army, not parliament, which made it even stranger. I held it, puzzled, until Anne said “Open it.” It said I, and just me, was to go to the Royal Military academy tomorrow for a “tour” whatever that meant. It was phrased like an invitation, but I had to assume it was an order.
“I wonder why it’s just you.” Anne said, after I gave it to her to read.
“I don’t like it, they could at least have given me more than a day’s warning.”
“It’s fine, not like we had anything planned.”
“But I don’t want to be away from you.” I said it before I realized how true it was.
Anne hugged me, “I know, but it will be fine, and it’s cute being apart for a few hours bothers you so much.”
“I need friends don’t I?”
“Yea, but I like that you are so attached to me, I don’t want that to change, I want you to need me.”
“Good because I can’t imagine life without you, I don’t want to,” and I meant it in a way I was only starting to understand. The letter, being out of uniform, seeing her out of uniform, it finally hit me, we were free, no more trenches, no more work, we could live.
It made me want her, but for a moment old habits kicked in, that it wasn’t my place, that she didn’t want me to, that I loved her so I shouldn’t. The last one hurt the most, it made no fucking sense so why did I think it. I pushed her back against the wall and kissed her as deeply as I could, put as much of myself into it, her, as I could. When I pulled away Anne laughed sweetly whispering “I love you too,” before kissing me back and my heart filled, the ache leaving my bones because she understood and all I could think of was her. She let me take her clothes off. I wasn’t sexy with it, just quick, I wanted her naked. Anne tried to get my clothes off but they didn’t bother me. Instead I put my hand on her back and gently directed her to the bed. Her tail flicking back and forth let me know she liked it, which was good because words were not happening, I couldn’t get any out, not that we needed them. Anne knew what I wanted when I knelt at the edge of the bed. She moved towards me and put her legs over my shoulders. I didn’t wait to start eating her out.
I was a fucking idiot trying to go without sex for a week or more, why did I put myself through that. Now I had missed a morning fuck and that was enough to make me hungry. Thought I wasn't, but the moment I tasted her I couldn’t deny it. She was perfect, so wet for me, and I hadn’t even touched her clit yet. I wanted her desperate, to feel how I wanted her. I wrapped my arms around her thighs and pulled her closer to me to get my tongue as deep in her as possible. I wanted to taste and smell nothing but her for hours after. She grinded into my face, trying to rub her clit on me. I put my hands on her hips trying to hold her still but it was no use. It was a fight I didn’t mind losing. I felt her shudder when I moved up to her clit. If she wanted it so bad I was happy to overdo it, sucking on it while flicking it with my tongue. It felt so right, hurt so wonderfully when she came and squeezed my head with her thighs. I kept going, I wanted more, but I couldn’t tell if she came again or if it was one long orgasm. It didn’t matter, I wasn’t going to stop. “Okay okay, too much,” Anne said in between heavy breaths. Thankfully that pulled me out of my trance.
“Sorry,” I said, worried it had been too much for too long.
“No, no,” Anne’s smile was best in afterglow, “I liked it, needed to stop though.”
I nodded and climbed into bed so I could hold her against my chest.
“I wanted to try the new underwear I got for you,” Anne said after we had caught our breath, “see how well it helps hides you when you get hard, but you were too fast.”
“There will be other erections, but I hope it was okay?”
Anne wiggled against me, trying to cuddle closer, “I liked it, got to not think for a bit, but was it like after we met the king, when you got really out of it?”
“I don’t know, more in control than that, but not as in control as normal.”
“Maybe it’s not a succubus thing. I don’t think sex works so well when you try to control yourself, I mean when anyone tries to control themselves, not just you, but Victoria did say it was a second puberty. Maybe it’s both? You’re growing bone now you know, I can feel it when I massage you.”
“That … that grosses me out a little.”
“I think it’s cool, but I actually like your body.” Anne settled against me and started to fall asleep as what she said kept me awake.