"Oh?" The fox-eared shop woman leaned over her counter looking at us with amusement. "Mistress Riviera if I may remind you, while playing around with guests isn't entirely out of the scope of your responsibility, you still have a place and a position to uphold, and you are currently out in public."
"Mm. Mm." Rivi nodded her head eagerly. Then drew herself up to her full height, seeming to reign herself in. *cough* "Ms. Wallop. Thank you for your dedicated service to our community. Your words and advice will duly be remembered." She looked down for a moment, maintaining her serious air before, after a long pause, the two both started bursting out laughing.
"Hehehehe. Rivi…" The shopkeeper said, struggling for air. "You haven't changed…at all hehehe."
"Hahaha, BELLUM!" Rivi squealed before rushing over and leaping at the fox girl who caught her in her arms. "When did you get so prim and proper? Are Marian's scoldings finally taking their toll?"
"Oof." Bellum struggled with the weight of Rivi in her arms. "haha, sorry." She put Rivi down, her arms shaking a little. "I'm not as strong as I used to be. All this town work has made me go soft." She scratched her head, embarrassed.
"Do you want me to send you up to Wrath?" Rivi frowned, examining her friend.
"Ehh? I don't know." Bellum leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms as she thought. "I haven't really thought about it. But what are your plans? Going to be sticking around for a while? I heard you got a new servant." She turned to me with a wink and I blushed, still standing awkwardly at the entrance.
"Mm? I don't know. Rivi doesn't have any plans yet." She twirled as if the use of third person to describe herself necessitated showing herself off. "Other than showing this one around. But Rivi will probably be sticking around her for a while, so I may end up going outside soon."
"So that's how it is huh." She looked at me with a half-envious smile. "Well I'll at least stick around here until you're gone. But if you leave I might head up to Wrath. It's pretty boring in this place without you around."
"Ok!" Rivi brightened and hugged Bellum. "Now!" She twirled out of Bellum's arms. "It's time to dress up my friend!" She gestured to me and I hesitantly came over.
"What do you want to start with? Robes? Dresses? Skirts? Combat gear? Pants? Kimonos? Underwear? Ooh do you want to do some swimwear? Wait, I don't think they have that at this store. Hmmm, what about hats?"
I looked at Rivi, baffled. "Uh, dresses are fine for now, I guess."
"Yay!" She took my hand and started leading me further into the store. "Come on, let me show you some of my favorites."
"Don't have too much fun with her, you'll scare the poor girl!" Bellum called after us as we disappeared into the depths of the store.
"What colors are you thinking?" Rivi asked as we neared the dress section. "Red, obviously for your eyes. But what else? Do you have a favorite color? Some style that you're used to?"
"Uh, well, I haven't tried any dresses before." The absurdity of what I was doing given my past as a man started to nip at the edges of my consciousness. I tried to think back to what I used to wear in my former world. "I guess mostly I've worn like blacks and blues. I was never really all that interested in fashion, though. I think my mom bought most of my clothes, actually."
"Pssh." Rivi waved her hand dismissively. "I'm not asking what you used to wear, I'm asking what you want to wear. Think about it, you must have some desires."
"Uhhh…" For some reason the question made me weirdly nervous. "I don't know maybe…"my voice grew small and faint. "Something with flowers. Or something. I mean anything's fine, really, why don't—"
"Ooh this one has really pretty flowers!" Rivi pulled out a black dress with white and yellow flowers. "What do you think?" She held it up against her chest so I could see.
"Uhh…Sure, I don't know, we can try it, I guess." I mumbled into my chest.
"Eh? What was that?"
I flushed, turning my head away. Why did picking out dresses have to make me feel this way? What the hell was I feeling anyways? "Don't make me repeat myself." I mumbled a little louder.
"Ehhh?" She narrowed her eyes at me. "Alright, we'll add this one to the list. What about this one? Ooh or this? Oh my gosh, this one's so pretty, when did she get this one in?" She pulled out a pink silk dress with delicate spiraling brocade and white lacy sleeves. "What do you think, would this look good on me?" She held it up to herself.
"Umm…" It was definitely an exquisite dress, though it felt out of place with her black and red hair and vague mysterious aura. "It's alright," I said, not sure what to say. "What do you think about it?"
She sighed. "I know, it's not for me, right? God, this dress makes me wish I still had a water fairy's heart." She shook her head. "Ten thousand years ago I would have looked stunning in this." She put it back. "Now I mostly stick with blacks and reds, it's quite depressing. Sometimes I stay in just so I can wear crazier colors without anyone making fun of me."
"What? You stay in just so you can wear crazy clothes??" The concept felt completely foreign to me. After all, I'd never really given much thought to what I wore. "Also what's this about a fairy's heart, did you lose it or something? And what does that have to do with your clothes?" I was thoroughly confused.
"Oh, I died a few thousand years ago. The sisters said I was being too reckless and stupid, so they gave me a spider dragon's heart in hopes that it would temper my enthusiasm." She flashed a grin at me. "I don't think it worked."