(Racket got to go on a car ride today. She's too aggressive to go many places, but she loves glaring at people walking around outside the car as we wait to pick up my roommate from work.) 

The store was a bit of a walk, but it was a gorgeous day. Lots of people were out and about enjoying the weather and as they strode along, Seba couldn't help but feel their excitement. He'd fed well before they'd left and Ruoka hadn't fought him on anything else, so he was dressed well-enough in borrowed clothing. 

"Master," came Ruoka's chastising tone as he noticed something suddenly shade where he was walking. 

Seba paused and looked up at the black umbrella being held above his head. He immediately began hearing the humans around them whispering about why he might have need for such a thing when it wasn't even raining or hot out, drawing a blush to his cheeks as he looked to the side at the culprit.

"I really don't need that, Ruoka," he said as he tried to step out from beneath it, but his werewolf refused to let the device move from above his head. 

"Master needs to take care of himself," he said, earning a scowl from Seba, but no other rebuttal. He knew that Preto wouldn't be too happy if he didn't have an umbrella on such a sunny day. 

So, he did his best to ignore the growing whispers amongst the people around them and tried to enjoy the day. They walked east for quite some time before stopping at a food stand that smelled quite delicious, even to him. 

Ruoka was all-but drooling as his nose flared and he stared at all the options with wide, hungry eyes. 

"Get what you want," Seba eventually said, feeling as if it would be considered abuse to force his pup to walk by the stall without buying him any of the delicious-smelling food offered there. 

He realized his mistake when Ruoka didn't pick out just one single meal, but three! The vender didn't hesitate to shove the pork, beef, and custard items into Ruoka's eager arms, then turn to him with a greedy smirk. 

I need to be more careful with my words. 

Either way, Seba took out his coin purse and paid, then took two of the food items so that Ruoka wouldn't drop them. 

"You better eat all of this before we get to the shop. They don't allow food inside," he said, making Ruoka grin widely before he went to town on his first meal. 

He was honestly surprised that all of the food was actually gone when they finally stopped outside of their destination. Reaching up, Seba settled his hands on Ruoka's shoulders and turned him to face him with a confused frown. 

Where in the world did all of that food go? 

"Is everything okay? We are going to be late," Ruoka said, snapping Seba out of his stupor. 

"Ah, right. Let's get inside," he said as he took one of Ruoka's hands and tugged him into the large shop. 

Clothing was settled on just about every surface inside. Colors ranging from warm pinks to pitch blacks cluttered the area as they walked up to the little counter in the back of the building. 

"There you two are, and right on time," an older woman said as she walked out from behind the counter with several lengths of measuring tape. 

She gave Seba a respectable bow, then turned her attention to Ruoka. 

"Oh my, look at you," she cooed as she took his shoulders in order to guide him this way and that, then turn him around once before moving her hands to grip each other against her bosom. 

"lord Sebastian, you have quite a beautiful young man here. Do you have any specific requests for colors? Is he aligned with either of the three wolf packs yet?" 

Seba frowned and shook his head. 

"No, he's not part of any of them. I think he'd look good in darker colors, but I'd also like a few white shirts for formal occasions." 

The woman nodded her head enthusiastically before tugging Ruoka toward an area sectioned off by several hanging curtains. 

"Alright then, lad. Off with your things. Let me get your measurements so we can begin," she said as Seba stepped behind the curtains with them. 

He watched as Ruoka began nonchalantly removing his borrowed clothing, feeling his heart fidget in his chest with each layer that was removed. By the time his werewolf was standing in just a pair of loose undergarments he realized something. 

I must not have fed enough. I don't feel well. 

"He can be measured with the undergarments on," he said as Ruoka reached down to remove them. 

His werewolf paused mid-action and glanced over at him, then to the seamstress. 

"I-I suppose he could, but it generally helps to know all of his sizes, especially when considering formal pants and such..." the woman said, her face turning the slightest bit pink as she spoke. 

Seba felt his own face heat with his newly-acquired blood before he shook his head. 

"N-no need. He's uh... not small," he stuttered out, somehow embarrassed but managing to get a hold of the wayward emotion quickly. 

The woman nodded and got busy measuring Ruoka as Seba turned and began browsing the different fabric selections. There were quite a few premade garments already available, and he definitely intended to buy several of them, but most of Ruoka's clothing was going to have to be specifically tailored to him. 

Master would have nothing less. 

Heck, he was surprised that Pretennon had not decided to join them, but he'd said that he had somewhere to be.

I wonder why he sent Ruoka that warning look earlier, too. 

Seba wandered around the shop taking in all of the different kinds of fabrics and designs as he mulled over different thoughts. He could tell that Ruoka wasn't having the most fun being forced to stand still for so long, but he managed well enough without him right at his side. 

It took nearly twenty minutes before he was called back while looking over a long black coat that would nearly touch the ground if he wore it... but his mind kept telling him that he wasn't looking at it for himself, anyway. 

"Coming," he said as he wove his way back through the displays of clothing and accessories. 

He was just about to the set of curtains when he noticed a black top hat sitting atop a mannequin a few steps away. Figuring that it couldn't hurt, he grabbed the hat, then hurried behind the curtains. 

Oh... is that really my pup? 

Ruoka stood tall with a dark red button up silk shirt hugging his chest perfectly. A pair of black breeches sat on his hips, pinned in a few places to hold them correctly for the time being. On his shoulders sat a long coat similar to what he'd been looking at while walking around, but this one was a mixture of different darker shades of brown that matched his hair perfectly. 

Allowing his eyes to roam over the man before him, Seba honestly appreciated the woman's work. 

Oh. 

"What do you think as far as shoes go? He's not used to wearing them..."

The woman pursed her lips and turned around, her eyes moving over a large rack of different men's shoes. 

"I would say that thigh-high black buckle boots would look fantastic on him, but if he's not used to wearing shoes at all, then perhaps he isn't all that used to wearing clothing, either?" she asked as she turned to direct the question at him.    

She's not wrong, but he needs to dress somewhat normally if I am to bring him with me to engagements and such...

"How about we leave the decision of shoes for another time? Let him get used to clothing for now?" she said, making Seba hesitate long enough that Ruoka walked forward and reached toward him, making him freeze, his eyes widening in confusion. 

He was just about to take a step back when Ruoka gently took the large top hat from between his fingers and lifted it to settle upon his dark brown hair at the perfect angle. 

"Oh, that looks absolutely perfect on you," the woman said as she quickly circled Ruoka appraisingly. "This outfit looks impeccable on him. The adjustments can be finished within a day or so, if you'd like it?"

Seba only heard the last bit of what the woman had said since his mind had wandered a bit as he stared, but he quickly nodded his agreement to the outfit. It would definitely do. 

"Yes, we'll take the whole thing," he said before walking past Ruoka and reaching up to take down a dark red neckerchief.

He wanted to try it on Ruoka, but he knew that it would be a little much at that moment. So instead, he simply hung it over his arm as the woman helped Ruoka undress, then redress in another outfit. This time it was something lighter that one might use while taking a leisurely stroll through the park. 

A soft green shirt emphasized his firm chest as a darker tan colored the pants that stopped around the middle of his calves. 

"I like it," he noted before pausing for a moment and reaching up to remove the top hat from Ruoka's head that he'd put back on after changing. 

Instead of letting him have the hat, Ruoka took a step back and pouted as he held the item on his head. 

"Ruoka, that hat doesn't go with that outfit at all," he chastised lightly, honestly finding the look quite humorous. 

"We should get master something, too," Ruoka said, intentionally ignoring his comment about the hat. 

Seba let it slide, but chuckled a little at his werewolf's words. 

"My master doesn't need anymore clothing, believe me."

Seba turned to go continue browsing while the woman helped Ruoka change again, but before he could get out from behind the curtains he felt hands grab the hem of his shirt and promptly yank it backwards and up. Stumbling back and out of his shirt, Seba braced himself to fall, but when he was suddenly caught by warm, strong arms, he blinked open his eyes and looked over his shoulder. 

"Sorry master, I didn't mean to pull you off-balance," Ruoka said right next to his ear with a smile that made it hard to believe the honesty of his words. 

Nudging the guy away, Seba took a step forward, then turned and held up his hand. 

"Give me back my shirt, Ruoka." 

When his pup just pouted again and took a step backwards, hugging his shirt to his chest, Seba pursed his lips. 

"I want to see master change," Ruoka said, making the old woman who had quietly been observing their odd interaction quickly chirp in. 

"Well, I do already have lord Sebastian's measurements from many years ago, so if you'd like...?" 

He really wouldn't like, but seeing the hopeful look in Ruoka's eyes made him cave a lot faster than he thought he would. 

"I suppose I could get something. Master always likes it when I actually pay attention to my outfits," he said with a shrug. 

The old lady took that as her chance and hurried out from behind the curtain yelling back to him, "get undressed quickly, lad. I have just the thing for you!" 

 Seba watched her until she disappeared from sight, then turned back toward Ruoka. 

Um...

When he stood there and simply stared, Ruoka stepped forward and settled his warm hands on either side of his bare waist, then leaned in just close enough so that there was no way his whispered words would be overheard. 

"I can help you if you're nervous, master..." 

 Nervous? 

What reason did he have to be nervous? He was used to undressing in front of tailors. He had done so for many, many years. Except, he was nervous. 

Shaking the emotion from his mind, Seba quickly fumbled with the buttons on his trousers until he was able to tug them loose from his hips, then let them drop to the floor. He slowly stepped out of them, keeping his eyes downcast and on what he was doing so that he didn't trip on the fabric... and because he could feel Ruoka's eyes scanning his body as if it were one of the three meals he'd devoured while walking to the shop. 

 Why is he looking at me in such a way? He's seen me naked thousands of times... 

He couldn't bring himself to lift his gaze further until he heard the seamstress return. Turning to face her, he looked up and actually raised a brow at what she had brought. It looked like very nice material, but... it was definitely more his master's style then his own. 

"I think it will look exceptional on my master," Ruoka said as he walked up to the woman and took the clothing with an excited grin. 

I... really don't think that's my thing. 

He should have said those words out loud, but of course, his tongue was somehow tied, again. So, he bit back a sigh and reached out to take the items. Except, Ruoka quickly stepped forward and to the side, dodging his hand as he set the items on the long counter, then picked up the pants and turned. 

"I-I can do it," Seba finally managed to squeak out, making Ruoka give him another pout. This time, however, he wasn't going to fall for it. 

He quickly took the pants and stepped into them, but as he began pulling them up, he realized something awkward.

These are going to be so tight...

 He wanted to take them off the moment he began having trouble pulling them the rest of the way up, but Ruoka seemed to have other ideas. His fingers appeared on the waistband of the pants and gently began helping him tug them upward. Seba wanted to swat at his hands since he'd said that he could do it himself, but clearly, he couldn't. 

I don't think I'd have the will power to wear something like this out in public. 

Of course, his master made such clothing look incredible, but he really didn't have the body for it, himself.

"Master looks very sexy," Ruoka whispered as he finished forcing the last button through its opposing hole. Once done, he took a step back and licked his lips as his eyes scanned him several times from head to toe. 

Sexy?... and I swear I am not a plate of smoked pork, so why does he keep looking at me like that? 

Because I am curious...

Seba frowned as he allowed the old lady to tug a black silk shirt over his head, then begin tying up the dark red lace beneath his left arm, then right. He hadn't expected Ruoka to ever talk to him through his thoughts since he'd declined to do so several times... but that had to have definitely been his voice. 

Curious about what? he ended up asking, honestly wanting to know why the man kept ogling him. 

Whether you would taste as delicious as smoked pork. Or perhaps, even better? 

 Seba made a rather ungentlemanly sound that could only be compared to that of a startled rabbit suddenly set upon by hunting hounds before he quickly turned toward the counter as the woman finished tying up his shirt and grabbed his coin purse.

"Th-this is enough, right?" he said as he held out quite a bit of money. 

The woman's eyes went wide as she began saying that it was quite a bit too much, but Seba just pressed the money into her palm and thanked her for her services before darting past her, out from behind the curtains, then out of the shop entirely. 

He knew that he was being childish with his reaction, and had just left his werewolf behind to finish his fittings and carry his outfits back, but he just couldn't turn around. Not while Ruoka's words were still fresh in his panicking mind.

(Edited)