"Finally," Mya grumbled as she stepped off the ship onto the docks, trying her best to avoid being touched by other departing passengers. It had taken *far* too long to reach Labiania and the sailing conditions were abhorrent. It was as if the captain decided to take a route that forced them to encounter every tempest and gale possible. He had apologized profusely, of course, but that was no excuse for such a high level of ineptitude. His entire purpose was to ensure that Mya arrived at port safely. If he could barely do that then he wasn't much of a captain, now was he?
Mya sighed as she pulled out her journal and began scribbling down some notes as she continued down the walkway. There wasn't much to see yet, but it was still worth noting the architecture of the buildings up ahead and how they differed from the coastal structures of her homeland.
Another pang of annoyance rose within Mya as the thought of her homeland rose within her mind. She was content with her research back home and was making real progress with her findings in primate culture. Despite that, her superiors saw it fit to send her as a diplomatic researcher of a foreign nation's society with the clear instructions that in order "to fully absorb herself into the native lifestyle for better results," Mya was to bring nothing with her but one personal item and the clothes on her back. And even the clothes were temporary.
*I can always just pretend that they're just primates, still,* Mya thought. *Shouldn't be too difficult.*
Mya paused to pocket her journal as the wooden planks transitioned into wooden cobbles. As she gathered her bearings, she wiped the sweat from her forehead, grumbling to herself. Could they not have at least done the courtesy of dropping her off at a port town that wasn't absolutely sweltering?
"Excuse me, miss?" A voice suddenly said to Mya's left. "Would you happen to be Dr. Mya Valenworth of the Cloven Institute?"
Mya turned to find a man standing before her. He was tall, but spindly and adorned with loose, breathable, robes that were made of various overlapping folds and layers were various different shades of gray.
"Yes. Why?" Mya said flatly.
"Excellent! I am Vellen. I have been assigned as your guide and chaperone for your duration abroad." The man then produced a parchment from the sleeve of his robe and proffered it to Mya. She snatched it and began reading it to find that the man-- Vellen, spoke the truth. The missive was even signed and authenticated by the head of this branch of the Institute.
"I don't need a chaperone," Mya scoffed.
"With all due respect, miss, you do not know these lands yet. You do not know the way these people behave or how their magics function. You are allowed to deny my assistance, but it would not be wise."
Mya stared at Vellen. He was far taller than her--most people were--but there was a gentle earnestness about him, and, admittedly, there was some logic behind his words.
"Very well, I suppose," Mya relented.
Vellen just smiled and motioned for her to follow him as he began heading deeper into the city. "I have already procured you boarding at a nearby inn. It's called the Night Romp and you will find a new change of clothes in your room more befitting the climate here."
Mya nodded, relieved by Vellen's foresight and was about to compliment him on it, but paused. "Wait. The 'Night Romp'? That sounds..."
"Not to worry, miss. You will find the people here to be far more... expressive."
"Expressive?"
"Yes." Vellen gave no further clarification. Fortunately, Mya didn't need one. As they continued walking through the town, Mya began to notice the attire of the locals and her face began to grow hot. The people... they were practically *naked*. Women wore clothing that brazenly showed off their skin and cleavage. Men dressed in tight garments that left just as little to the imagination. Mya had to fight the urge to stare and avoid pulling the high collar of her sensible blouse even higher. This would *never* be acceptable back in her homeland.
"I... Tell me about the magics here," Mya said, trying her best to distract herself as a man in a sleeveless tunic passed her, his arms brushing her's in such a way that she could feel the taut muscles--
"They can be quite dangerous if you are not careful, miss," Vellen said. "There is a variety, but a prominent amount involves seizing control over a target's mind."
Mya blinked, then frowned. "What good are you, then?"
"Miss?"
"If you're meant to keep me safe, like you said, how are you supposed to do that if anyone could potentially take control of you?"
Vellen hesitated for a moment. "A... majority of the cases in which it's used is for a very specific purpose, miss. One that I cannot perform."
*Cryptic,* Mya thought, annoyed by his obfuscation but didn't push the subject. Vellen spoke no further, so Mya found it best to follow him and keep her eyes down to avoid all the scantily clad savages until they reached the inn.
~~~
Once they reached the inn, Mya was relieved to find that it looked completely normal from the outside. She half expected to see women dancing on poles at display windows based on her initial impression of this place.
"Here we are, miss." Vellen said and pulled a key from his robe sleeve and handed it to her. "You are in room six. I recommend waiting there until I return."
"What? Where are you going?"
"I have some final preparations to make in regards to acquiring your transport to the Cloven Institute's headquarters. I will not be long."
Mya scoffed. "Very well." She didn't give him a chance to respond as she stomped her way through the doors of the inn, ignoring everyone in the taproom, and marched up the stairs.
As she entered her room, she indeed found a different pair of clothes neatly folded for her on the bed. Mya was initially ecstatic, as the heat of the coast was beginning to become unbearable, but then she actually saw what they were.
"Are you *kidding* me?" Mya fumed, picking up the garments in disbelief. The top was a small pink thing, made from loose fabric that would fully expose her midriff, and the shorts were sickeningly tight and wouldn't even reach past mid-thigh. She'd look like some kind of prostitute in this! No, *worse*! The moment she saw Vellen again, she fully intended to hang him by his own robes. There was absolutely no way she'd ever wear *this*! Just imagining the stares she'd receive was mortifying enough.
*You don't exactly have a choice*, an unbridled thought whispered from the back of her skull. Mya ground her teeth before closing her eyes and taking deep breaths. They were just clothes. Everyone else wore things just like it, so, logically, they likely wouldn't even bat an eye. This sort of thing was clearly normal due to the climate of the coasts. Mya was freaking out over nothing.
She kept repeating that to herself as she peeled off her sweaty, modest clothing, and began to change into the new set. Once done, she looked over herself in the mirror. Mya looked... good. It was horrifically revealing, but there was something freeing about getting to let her skin breathe after spending so much time wrapped up. And, begrudgingly, she had to admit that the top paired quite well with her blonde locks of hair--although she couldn't bring herself to remove her sensible bun.
Almost mesmerized, Mya ran her fingers over her exposed stomach. Could she really go out like this? Be *seen* by other people in such a way? Her thoughts were answered when her stomach abruptly growled and Mya remembered that it had been a full day since she last ate.
Mya glanced over at the nightstand to find a coin pouch had been left there, likely by Vellen for this exact purpose.
*Fine. One meal then I immediately come back*, Mya thought. *No need to make a habit out of prancing around dressed like a slut.*
She snatched the pouch and hesitated at the door for only a moment before opening it and heading back downstairs.
