Content Warning Level: Mild
Episode 28
Thea and I made it back, but instead of heading toward the rooms, she went for the Jeep and opened the back. I raised an eyebrow at her, but she ignored it and gestured for me to put everything in the back. I did so and had expected to follow her back to the rooms, but she stayed standing there looking at me. It only lasted a minute, just before the point of awkwardness. Once again, I now found her fingers entwined with mine, and a mischievous grin was on her face. Her grin always tried to spread itself to my own face. Almost worked every time. "C'mon. We have one more stop to make." I raised my brows at her. I was beat, and my legs felt like Jello, but before I could protest, she pulled me back to the road and, this time, across the street.
It wasn't long before I realized where exactly she was taking me. I saw it on the way to grab the rooms. Truly was hard to miss and there wasn't much imagination required to understand what type of business they ran there. A woman's salon sat on one side, and a pizza place was on the other.
We just ate but... maybe she wants pizza.
The look she gave when she winked at me proved that to be very wrong. Hunger in her eyes was undeniable, but I got the feeling it wasn't food-related.
"You don't know how lucky you are, Lark. To be living in a time where you can walk to the local shops and find one so dedicated to pleasure, desire, and the carnal self? Pulchritudo." She made a strange gesture with her fingers at the last word. Not sure what the word was, but it definitely sounded Latin.
Too tired. Why is this necessary? ... gods help me...
We got to the door, and the neon hues of the holograms they used were almost blinding up this close. Why they were turned on in the mid afternoon sun was beyond me. I noticed that the three dancing women looked distorted from this angle as she pushed her way through the door, pulling me along behind her. Her eyes lit up immediately as she said it again, but in a whisper this time, "Pulchritudo." Mine just went wide, and I swallowed hard. All the walls, everywhere you looked, there were different depictions of people in various positions being penetrated, and my gods, the number of dicks everywhere. Different sizes, shapes, and colors stood like a proud father's trophy cabinet all along the walls.
Thea had already walked off, seeming right at home. I watched as she made her way to the worker organizing lubricants at the back of the store. At first, he attempted to dismiss her, but I watched his entire demeanor change instantly as he turned to look at who was bugging him. She was leaning on the counter with one finger twirling one of her near-white wavy locks around her finger. A shit-eating grin was plastered on his weasel-looking face, and he me no attempt to hide the fact that he was eating her with his eyes. He leaned on the counter right next to her, uncomfortably close. She smiled and moved closer to him. That almost musical laugh left her lips as she rested her hand on his arm, and I watched his smile grow wider. I could hear a rumbling in my chest again as I watched the exchange.
What is happening to me?
I shook my head and walked toward the opposite wall of the store.
Get your shit together, Lark.
Clothing filled the racks around me. If they could be considered clothes. They wouldn't cover very much, so I wasn't sure. I flipped through and examined a few articles.
Guess it doesn't really matter if it's for show and not meant to come off
. The thought crossed my mind as I came across a few pairs of crotchless shorts and underwear. Some of these clothes were as neon as the holo women out front. It would be a good contrast against something else, but it by itself was just terrible.
The scent of leather hit my nose, and I closed my eyes to take it in. Loved the smell of leather. The real kind, not the fake, and the real stuff was extremely rare. Without even opening my eyes, my legs began to follow my nose. I felt my hands gently hit a glass case and opened my eyes. My nose did not disappoint. Real leather was hard to come by, yes, but even harder to find in this good condition. And yet here it is. A glass case stands before me with all kinds of leather treasures inside. Different straps and coverings. I really couldn't tell you what over half of it was. Something told me that much of it was intended for purposes I'd never dreamed of. Did I want to know?
This collection must cost a fortune.
I reached out and rested my hand on the glass. Some toys were in there that were even more valuable for the era they originated in. The old age of some was a little concerning, and I'd wondered if they were intended for secondhand use, but quickly snuffed that out. That would be absolutely disgusting, and I wouldn't let it ruin this for me.
Love the smell of leather
. I closed my eyes and breathed it in slowly and deeply. It might just be the last time I get to smell this scent in a very long time. Who really knew how many cattle were left? If any. Granny insisted there was a small reserve when she was a little girl, and she not only saw but had gotten to touch a horse and a cow. That was one of my favorite stories she used to tell me and Ryn when we were younger. It didn't mean I believed it, though.
"You have a keen eye for quality, my friend!" It came from a very stout woman with long blue hair I hadn't noticed behind the display. In my defense, she's short, and I'm tall, and the wall behind her is maybe a whole shade different than her hair. I must've been staring because she raised an eyebrow as she gestured toward the case. "The leather. One hundred percent real from an actual cow. I know you may be a bit skeptical, but this is the real deal!" She came closer to the counter and whispered, "It was seized in the raids back in 2688. Legend has it, the Maître d herself used to ride that puppy on the bottom left there for hours. That's why she used the cane. All sterilized, of course!"
I could hear Thea's laughter and the rat's cackling from the store's other side. The rumbling in my chest was growing, so I decided to entertain this conversation. "I can tell by the way it smells." Her brow rose even further than before. "No, I mean... The way it looks, too. They stopped the machine manufacturing of rare goods back in 2599. That's pure speculation, by the way. The last raids of 2688 came up empty, and no items were seized after the first three major raids and seizures in 2669. Only people. Everything after 2669 was a glorified cleanup. That's it."
She looked taken aback. Admittedly, I was pretty short with her and had come off as annoyed. It wasn't her fault. "Well, you certainly know your stuff, young man. Believe what you wish, but leather doesn't lie. Do you think that maybe it could be possible that the reports are false? As an officer on official government business, I'm not sure I'd want to write up a 'strap and ride along' on my professional report. Keep that sharp mind open. Someone other than you or I appreciating its potential value and keeping it for themselves wouldn't be an impossible scenario either." Her eyes were kind as she regarded me before changing the subject. "Any who... I'll leave you be. If after your... work-study? Well, whatever they're calling it these days, if you do decide to be a worker and not a researcher, you should consider employment here." She winked and walked away. Her complete and pure kindness left me feeling guilty for my lack of it.
