Post by The Man on Jun 30, 2007 15:05:41 GMT -5
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 9:56pm
After more than a week of avoiding it, Mystique had finally given in and let Charles take her clothes shopping. Part of it was because she couldn't stand the gaping boys, and part of it was because if she was going to go shopping, she'd need to go soon, before she became unable to keep a form for long periods of time. And she did not want to walk through a mall naked and blue.
She had chosen to look like her human form, because it required no shifting of bones or other important parts. She just had to change her outer appearance. She was still tall and leggy, but her skin was cream, her hair black, and her eyes blue. And she wore a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, also courtesy of her handy mutation.
"Where do you want to go first?" She said, looking around as they walked inside. She hadn't been in a mall in years. There were so many people, it felt like everyone was squeezing past one another to get anywhere.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 10:09pm
::It had taken Xavier a few minutes to adjust to Raven's appearance. She had held a variety of forms in the time he had known her, but it was the fact that this is what she looked like without her mutation that made it more difficult for him to get comfortable. And it was quite likely that their child would like like she did now.
Looking around the mall, he pointed at the department store near the end.:: "Nordstrom's should help us pick out regular clothing and dress clothing. Then there's a specialty maternity store for later in the pregnancy."
::Out of the mansion, away from Erik and the tension of the last several weeks, he felt playful.:: *We can also stop in Victoria's Secret, if you like.*
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 10:33pm
She raised an eyebrow at his silent comment. "They're a trifle expensive, you know," she commented lightly. Plus, she would look very different in them later.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 10:35pm
::Xavier began wheeling towards the department store, paying little attention to the people as they tried to avoid him, or the stares. He had long since grown used to it.:: "I'm a trifle wealthy, you know."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 10:40pm
She laughed, putting her hands up in defeat. "You win, but only if you take the night off of doing paperwork."
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 10:46pm
"I'm nearly caught up, so that shouldn't be too difficult." ::Xavier replied as they continued towards the department store.:: "Furthermore, there's always time after the birth."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 10:53pm
"There's time for fun now too," she said, smiling. "Plus, I'd want to show you how well of an investment you're making." Entering the department store, she saw the women's section towards the back, and made a beeline for it.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 10:57pm
::Xavier followed after her, attempting to keep up. The motor on the wheelchair was steady and reliable but it didn't grant him the equivilence of running. She made a valid point, although he was already very aware of her creativity and enthusiasm. As well as her affection, which she made a point of displaying daily. She didn't need to prove anything.:: "Ignore the price tags and pick out anything you like."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 11:01pm
She smiled, but, out of habit, raided the clearance racks first. "I was raised to shop effectively," she said, shrugging. She pulled out a few tops, held them against her, and put them back. Darks were not her color. Not while she was blue, anyways.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 11:10pm
::Xavier waited patiently near one of the mirrors as she raided the clearance racks. It was a habit that she shared with Erik and nearly every student who had walked through the doors of the mansion. Privilage made him try to encourage others to indulge in luxury and he leaned forward slightly.:: "Your family isn't here. I am and I'd like you to indulge yourself."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 11:21pm
"I know, and I'm trying, but old habits die hard." Especially one that she'd been doing since she'd been old enough to buy her first pair of shoes by herself. Plus, she was shopping for an entire wardrobe today. She pulled out a few silk t-shirts from the clearance rack and added them to her armful before moving onto the regularly priced items. In the end, she carried a few pairs of jeans, two pairs of khaki cargo pants, a handful of t-shirts, and a few brightly colored tops, some with an empire waist, some v-neck, and one knit top that had a dressy shirt underneath.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 11:49pm
::The Professor watched as she gathered her items together. Wheeling closer, he held out his hands.:: "Allow me to help carry those."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 11:52pm
"Are you sure? I can handle these right now, and you'll be carrying something later on anyways," she pointed out. They still had more shopping to do, and she didn't want him to feel like her own personal clothing dump.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 11:54pm
"I don't mind," ::The Professor said as they made their way through the aisles of the department store. He didn't. She was buying a wardrobe and would need help to carry items. As they passed the coat section, he stopped.:: "You need a winter coat."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:01am
Reluctantly, she handed him the clothes, and turned to the coat section. "I guess I do," she said, nodding. She always hated it when it was chilly, for obvious reasons. She got sick so easily, and preferred to stay indoors.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:07am
::Xavier lay the clothing on his lap; it was no burden. And he
wished that she could see that.:: "Choose any one you like."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:13am
Walking among the racks, she pulled a few out but didn't find any right away that she liked. Spotting a nice brown one, she pulled it out. It went down to mid-thigh, and was layered on the inside with soft fleece. It fit perfectly.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:17am
::Xavier watched her as she sorted through the coats. Choosing one was a difficult task, as during the winter, it was often the only clothing, apart from shoes, that a person would see. She looked marvelous in the brown one she had chosen.:: "I like it."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:21am
She blushed a little. "I like it too." She refused to look at the price tag. It felt so fine, it had to be expensive. And she was trying to respect his wish for her to indulge herself.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:22am
::He wheeled closer to her so that she could resist temptation to look at the price tag and simply put the coat on his lap.:: "Then it's settled."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:36am
She handed him the coat, relieved she didn't give in at looking at the price. "I refuse to look at the total when we check out," she said.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:38am
"That is your perogative," ::Xavier replied, then looked over at the different department headings.:: "Do you wish to look at jewelry or shoes while we're here?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:40am
"Shoes," she said, nodding. She had no desire to go anywhere near the jewelry department, and probably needed a good pair of sneakers, as she knew in coming months her feet would be very sore.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:43am
::He made note of her aversion of the jewlery question and would not bring it up again. He pointed to another area, on the near other end of the store.:: "Shoes are over there."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:54am
Looking to where he pointed, they walked over. She accidentally found herself automatically looking through the clearance rack, and, seeing Charles looking at her like that, she shrugged. "They all look the same to me anyways..."
In the end, she found a pair of sturdy sneakers that were moderately priced. They would be fine.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:56am
"Choose a pair of dress shoes as well," ::He replied after she placed the shoe box on his lap, atop the growing pile of clothing.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:08am
"Dress shoes?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 1:10am
"To compliment formal attire," ::Xavier clarified. He had been raised properly and no wardrobe was ever complete without a pair of dress shoes.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:26am
She shrugged, doubting she'd ever have a need for formal attire. Nevertheless, she tried on a few different shoes, and eventually selected a pair of black dress shoes with a shorter heel. "Is that it for this store?" She asked, putting the shoebox under an arm.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 1:29am
::Xavier looked down at the pile of clothing in his lap and then up at Mystique.:: "You tell me."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:37am
She thought for a moment, then, seeing the leisure/sportwear section next to the shoes, held up a finger. "One second," she said. She returned with two pairs of sweat pants. "Now we're done," she said, smiling.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 1:39am
"Then we can purchase and move to the next store," ::Xavier said with a small smile.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:46am
She nodded and they proceeded to the checkout. Putting the items on the desk for the cashier to ring up, she looked away, head directed towards the ceiling. "I refuse to look," she said.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 1:50am
::The Professor reached into his waller and removed his credit card, handing it over to the cashier before she could say the total.:: "She believes that ignorance is bliss, so I'll simply sign."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:55am
After they'd paid for the clothes, they headed for the maternity store, Mystique carrying half of the bags, to Charles' protest. "Don't worry, you'll be carrying more," she reassured him.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 1:56am
"You could always hang them from the chair," ::Xavier argued. He didn't want her to strain herself.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 2:01am
She sighed, giving in. "Alright, alright," she half muttered, hanging the bags on his chair. The maternity store Dia had mentioned, Babies and Bellies, was closer than she'd thought, and they were there before long.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 2:14am
::When they entered the store, Xavier looked around curiously. He'd never had reason to be inside a maternity store.:: "I suppose we should explore?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 2:19am
"I suppose," she said, nodding. Looking around, she noticed that everything was bright and frilly and happy. Families who were excited to have children shopped here. The only person who didn't view her actions as a mistake was sitting next to her. She was very grateful he was there.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 2:23am
::It had been a long while since Xavier had been in a store this...bright. Admittedly, he did much of his shopping via catalogue, but those stores he visited were much less perky than this. It was unchartered territory.
Picking up on Mystique's thoughts, he took her hand and squeezed it gently.:: "They'll come around soon enough. And to be fair, very few people know."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 2:26am
She returned the squeeze. "I hope so." She began to look around the store. Where to start?
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 2:30am
"They will," ::Xavier replied, then followed her as she began to explore. He was as lost as she was.
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 2:33am
Seeing the t-shirt section, a particular shirt caught her eye. She pointed to it, laughing. "I'm sure this would go down very well," she said. It read 'Sex-Ed dropout' on the front in bold letters.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 11:54am
::Xavier followed her to the tee shirt section. Reading the shirt she held up, he frowned.:: "That is a highly inappropriate message."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:24pm
"I know, but I couldn't resist," she said, putting it back on the rack. She moved past the t-shirts with witty sayings on the front; they did not capture her interest. Instead, she found racks of tops that tied below the breasts with the material below free to expand with her stomach. Plus, the tags said they were good for every stage of pregnancy.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 7:21pm
::Xavier followed her through the store, grateful that she hadn't chosen any shirts with slogans on them. The clothing options here were far more limited than in the previous store. He understood the reasoning and yet he felt for the restraint.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 7:42pm
"What do you think of these?" She said, holding one of them up. "All the material is loose and flowy, allowing for lots of expansion." It sounded as though she were adding on another room to her house, she thought wryly.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 7:43pm
::The Professor imagined the material on her. After a moment of consideration, he nodded.:: "I think that should be fine. Do you like the color?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 7:45pm
She looked at it for a moment, then nodded. "It'll be a good color for the 'blue days'," she said, smiling. What was funny, the clothes she was picking out did not really match her skin tone, the yellows made her skin look somewhat sallow, in her opinion. But they would look great when she was back to normal.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 7:47pm
::Xavier nodded, imagining it against her blue skin tone. It would match well.:: "I agree."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:05pm
She picked out an armful of ones with that particular style, and moved over to the stretchy longsleeved shirt section. After picking a few of those from the racks, she straightened. "I'm going to go try these on, to see if they irritate my skin," she said, smiling softly.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 8:07pm
::Xavier nodded in acknowledgement.:: "Do you wish me to come with you, or should I wait here?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:13pm
"You're welcome to come in," she said, somewhat coyly.
Inside the changing room, she released her hold on the change with a huge sigh. It had become akin to holding in one's stomach, keeping it up for so long. "That's better," she said, taking a shirt off its hangar.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 8:19pm
::The Professor crossed his arms and looked around the dressing area. After the last law suit, stores were no longer allowed to have cameras in the dressing rooms. However, he still remained cautious.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:22pm
She realized what he was probably thinking. "Do you really think they'd have them in a maternity store?" Even if they did, it was already too late. But she didn't think she could've kept up the form for much longer anyways, certainly not long enough for them to finish shopping.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 8:24pm
"I hope not. However, I am merely wary. Should an incident arise, I will handle it," ::Xavier replied, his tone severe.:: "Don't concern yourself. I know it's difficult to maintain a form."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:31pm
"It just requires a lot of concentration right now," she admitted. "If I'm not firm with it...my nails will turn blue, my hair will turn red again, etc." His tone reassured her that he would protect her if something got out of hand. Because while she was capable of protecting herself, she wasn't capable of making anyone forget anything.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 8:33pm
::The ability to alter memory was not one to be taken lightly. But it was for protection and would do no harm. As such, he was prepared to help in any way he could.:: "Then relax for now and try on the clothing. Worry when we're back in the crowd."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:40pm
She nodded, slipping one of the tops over her head. She liked the color, it matched her hair. "What do you think?" She asked, looking at it in the mirror. It was loose on her, and the feeling of the fabric just...flowing around her was something different.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 8:47pm
::Xavier's eyes roamed over her form, taking into account the color and the shape of the garment. He glanced at the reflection then back at her. Finally, he nodded.:: "I like it. Is it comfortable?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:57pm
She paused, then nodded. "It doesn't irritate them," she said, running a finger over the scales on her arm lightly. That was a major plus, considering she remembered how itchy and uncomfortable clothes had been the last time she wore them over scales.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 9:03pm
"Then do you want them?" ::Xavier asked, tilting his head to the side as he watched her.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 9:07pm
She turned around, nodding. "I know, I must seem odd, all swirly and...female." She had been thinking of the last time she wore clothes, as a human. Clothes had felt so...odd to her then, and it was that feeling of oddness that brought back those memories.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 9:15pm
::Xavier shook his head. Although he wasn't used to seeing her dressed in such a way, that didn't make it odd.:: "You are female."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 9:31pm
She smiled. "That much is obvious, I think." She tried on the rest of the tops, and other than the fact that they were loose, she liked them.
"Now, for some pants," she said, taking a breath. It was slower to happen, as if she needed to concentrate more, but eventually the shocking crimson hair turned ebony, the yellow eyes turned blue, and her skin changed back to cream. "Am I wearing the same t-shirt that I walked in wearing?" She asked, looking down at the false article of clothing. She couldn't remember if it looked the same.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 9:40pm
::Xavier thought for a moment, recalling her shirt from earlier. He nodded slowly.:: "You are."
::He didn't comment on her first reply. His first impulse had been to speak, but considering his past history, he wasn't certain how well his "I'm grateful for that," comment would go over. So he let it die on his lips.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 9:56pm
"Good," she said, smoothing out the front of it. Taking a breath, she opened the door and they stepped outside. All seemed well; if anyone had truly been monitoring the changing rooms, there would have been an uneasy look or something given off by staff. They were still perky and cheerful.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 10:04pm
::Xavier felt calmer. Scanning the surface thoughts of the workers, he found no indication that they had been monitoring her dressing room. All the better.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 10:28pm
She began looking at the racks of pants, and the different types of panels on them. Some were for below the belly, some for halfway up, and some that covered the entire thing. She was glad they stretched so easily, she wasn't sure how big her stomach was going to get.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 10:34pm
::When she chose a pair that she liked, Xavier would take them and place them in his lap. He couldn't help but wonder how much she would show in the latter stages of her pregnancy.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 10:40pm
She saw him looking at the midsection of the pants she placed in his lap, and got the feeling they were on the same wavelength. Holding a pair of pants to her, she looked up at him. Watch, I'm going to be one of the women who blow up like a balloon, she thought humorously, her eyes laughing.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 10:43pm
*You may not show very much at all,* ::Xavier countered, although the mental image of her as a balloon caused a smile.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 10:47pm
Seeing him smile, she felt accomplished. She realized that she was having a lot of fun.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 10:49pm
"Good," ::He said quietly, in response to her realization. He, too, was enjoying himself.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 10:58pm
She picked out a few more pairs of pants before she was satisfied. Many had a fold-over panel, which were good for every stage. "I think that's about it," she said, smiling.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 11:02pm
::Xavier looked down at the pile of clothing in his lap and then up at her.:: "You're certain?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 11:13pm
She did have a lot of pants, capris and tops...what else could she want? "I think that's it," she said, after a moment of thought.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 11:14pm
"Very well," ::Xavier said as he wheeled over to the check out.:: "Do you have an aversion to seeing the total here as well?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 11:19pm
"No, I think I'm going to try dealing with this one," she said, smiling. She helped pile all the clothes onto the counter. The clerk looked at her as if wondering why she didn't plan on going outside for the rest of her pregnancy. Which was probably what it looked like, her stockpiling on pregnancy outfits.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 11:23pm
"Baby steps," ::Xavier said with a soft smile, as he glanced at the total. It was no where as near as high as in Nordstram's. Handing the cashier his card, he waited patiently for the check out to be completed.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 11:27pm
She sighed in relief. It was a little on the pricey side, but not as bad as she had anticipated. "I'm stepping," she said, returning the smile.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 11:28pm
"I'm proud," ::Xavier replied, signing his name on the receipt. He took the bags from the cashier and thanked her.::
After more than a week of avoiding it, Mystique had finally given in and let Charles take her clothes shopping. Part of it was because she couldn't stand the gaping boys, and part of it was because if she was going to go shopping, she'd need to go soon, before she became unable to keep a form for long periods of time. And she did not want to walk through a mall naked and blue.
She had chosen to look like her human form, because it required no shifting of bones or other important parts. She just had to change her outer appearance. She was still tall and leggy, but her skin was cream, her hair black, and her eyes blue. And she wore a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, also courtesy of her handy mutation.
"Where do you want to go first?" She said, looking around as they walked inside. She hadn't been in a mall in years. There were so many people, it felt like everyone was squeezing past one another to get anywhere.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 10:09pm
::It had taken Xavier a few minutes to adjust to Raven's appearance. She had held a variety of forms in the time he had known her, but it was the fact that this is what she looked like without her mutation that made it more difficult for him to get comfortable. And it was quite likely that their child would like like she did now.
Looking around the mall, he pointed at the department store near the end.:: "Nordstrom's should help us pick out regular clothing and dress clothing. Then there's a specialty maternity store for later in the pregnancy."
::Out of the mansion, away from Erik and the tension of the last several weeks, he felt playful.:: *We can also stop in Victoria's Secret, if you like.*
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 10:33pm
She raised an eyebrow at his silent comment. "They're a trifle expensive, you know," she commented lightly. Plus, she would look very different in them later.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 10:35pm
::Xavier began wheeling towards the department store, paying little attention to the people as they tried to avoid him, or the stares. He had long since grown used to it.:: "I'm a trifle wealthy, you know."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 10:40pm
She laughed, putting her hands up in defeat. "You win, but only if you take the night off of doing paperwork."
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 10:46pm
"I'm nearly caught up, so that shouldn't be too difficult." ::Xavier replied as they continued towards the department store.:: "Furthermore, there's always time after the birth."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 10:53pm
"There's time for fun now too," she said, smiling. "Plus, I'd want to show you how well of an investment you're making." Entering the department store, she saw the women's section towards the back, and made a beeline for it.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 10:57pm
::Xavier followed after her, attempting to keep up. The motor on the wheelchair was steady and reliable but it didn't grant him the equivilence of running. She made a valid point, although he was already very aware of her creativity and enthusiasm. As well as her affection, which she made a point of displaying daily. She didn't need to prove anything.:: "Ignore the price tags and pick out anything you like."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 11:01pm
She smiled, but, out of habit, raided the clearance racks first. "I was raised to shop effectively," she said, shrugging. She pulled out a few tops, held them against her, and put them back. Darks were not her color. Not while she was blue, anyways.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 11:10pm
::Xavier waited patiently near one of the mirrors as she raided the clearance racks. It was a habit that she shared with Erik and nearly every student who had walked through the doors of the mansion. Privilage made him try to encourage others to indulge in luxury and he leaned forward slightly.:: "Your family isn't here. I am and I'd like you to indulge yourself."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 11:21pm
"I know, and I'm trying, but old habits die hard." Especially one that she'd been doing since she'd been old enough to buy her first pair of shoes by herself. Plus, she was shopping for an entire wardrobe today. She pulled out a few silk t-shirts from the clearance rack and added them to her armful before moving onto the regularly priced items. In the end, she carried a few pairs of jeans, two pairs of khaki cargo pants, a handful of t-shirts, and a few brightly colored tops, some with an empire waist, some v-neck, and one knit top that had a dressy shirt underneath.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 11:49pm
::The Professor watched as she gathered her items together. Wheeling closer, he held out his hands.:: "Allow me to help carry those."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 11, 2007, 11:52pm
"Are you sure? I can handle these right now, and you'll be carrying something later on anyways," she pointed out. They still had more shopping to do, and she didn't want him to feel like her own personal clothing dump.
Posted by The Man on Mar 11, 2007, 11:54pm
"I don't mind," ::The Professor said as they made their way through the aisles of the department store. He didn't. She was buying a wardrobe and would need help to carry items. As they passed the coat section, he stopped.:: "You need a winter coat."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:01am
Reluctantly, she handed him the clothes, and turned to the coat section. "I guess I do," she said, nodding. She always hated it when it was chilly, for obvious reasons. She got sick so easily, and preferred to stay indoors.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:07am
::Xavier lay the clothing on his lap; it was no burden. And he
wished that she could see that.:: "Choose any one you like."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:13am
Walking among the racks, she pulled a few out but didn't find any right away that she liked. Spotting a nice brown one, she pulled it out. It went down to mid-thigh, and was layered on the inside with soft fleece. It fit perfectly.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:17am
::Xavier watched her as she sorted through the coats. Choosing one was a difficult task, as during the winter, it was often the only clothing, apart from shoes, that a person would see. She looked marvelous in the brown one she had chosen.:: "I like it."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:21am
She blushed a little. "I like it too." She refused to look at the price tag. It felt so fine, it had to be expensive. And she was trying to respect his wish for her to indulge herself.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:22am
::He wheeled closer to her so that she could resist temptation to look at the price tag and simply put the coat on his lap.:: "Then it's settled."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:36am
She handed him the coat, relieved she didn't give in at looking at the price. "I refuse to look at the total when we check out," she said.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:38am
"That is your perogative," ::Xavier replied, then looked over at the different department headings.:: "Do you wish to look at jewelry or shoes while we're here?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:40am
"Shoes," she said, nodding. She had no desire to go anywhere near the jewelry department, and probably needed a good pair of sneakers, as she knew in coming months her feet would be very sore.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:43am
::He made note of her aversion of the jewlery question and would not bring it up again. He pointed to another area, on the near other end of the store.:: "Shoes are over there."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 12:54am
Looking to where he pointed, they walked over. She accidentally found herself automatically looking through the clearance rack, and, seeing Charles looking at her like that, she shrugged. "They all look the same to me anyways..."
In the end, she found a pair of sturdy sneakers that were moderately priced. They would be fine.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 12:56am
"Choose a pair of dress shoes as well," ::He replied after she placed the shoe box on his lap, atop the growing pile of clothing.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:08am
"Dress shoes?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 1:10am
"To compliment formal attire," ::Xavier clarified. He had been raised properly and no wardrobe was ever complete without a pair of dress shoes.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:26am
She shrugged, doubting she'd ever have a need for formal attire. Nevertheless, she tried on a few different shoes, and eventually selected a pair of black dress shoes with a shorter heel. "Is that it for this store?" She asked, putting the shoebox under an arm.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 1:29am
::Xavier looked down at the pile of clothing in his lap and then up at Mystique.:: "You tell me."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:37am
She thought for a moment, then, seeing the leisure/sportwear section next to the shoes, held up a finger. "One second," she said. She returned with two pairs of sweat pants. "Now we're done," she said, smiling.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 1:39am
"Then we can purchase and move to the next store," ::Xavier said with a small smile.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:46am
She nodded and they proceeded to the checkout. Putting the items on the desk for the cashier to ring up, she looked away, head directed towards the ceiling. "I refuse to look," she said.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 1:50am
::The Professor reached into his waller and removed his credit card, handing it over to the cashier before she could say the total.:: "She believes that ignorance is bliss, so I'll simply sign."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:55am
After they'd paid for the clothes, they headed for the maternity store, Mystique carrying half of the bags, to Charles' protest. "Don't worry, you'll be carrying more," she reassured him.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 1:56am
"You could always hang them from the chair," ::Xavier argued. He didn't want her to strain herself.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 2:01am
She sighed, giving in. "Alright, alright," she half muttered, hanging the bags on his chair. The maternity store Dia had mentioned, Babies and Bellies, was closer than she'd thought, and they were there before long.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 2:14am
::When they entered the store, Xavier looked around curiously. He'd never had reason to be inside a maternity store.:: "I suppose we should explore?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 2:19am
"I suppose," she said, nodding. Looking around, she noticed that everything was bright and frilly and happy. Families who were excited to have children shopped here. The only person who didn't view her actions as a mistake was sitting next to her. She was very grateful he was there.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 2:23am
::It had been a long while since Xavier had been in a store this...bright. Admittedly, he did much of his shopping via catalogue, but those stores he visited were much less perky than this. It was unchartered territory.
Picking up on Mystique's thoughts, he took her hand and squeezed it gently.:: "They'll come around soon enough. And to be fair, very few people know."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 2:26am
She returned the squeeze. "I hope so." She began to look around the store. Where to start?
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 2:30am
"They will," ::Xavier replied, then followed her as she began to explore. He was as lost as she was.
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 2:33am
Seeing the t-shirt section, a particular shirt caught her eye. She pointed to it, laughing. "I'm sure this would go down very well," she said. It read 'Sex-Ed dropout' on the front in bold letters.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 11:54am
::Xavier followed her to the tee shirt section. Reading the shirt she held up, he frowned.:: "That is a highly inappropriate message."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 1:24pm
"I know, but I couldn't resist," she said, putting it back on the rack. She moved past the t-shirts with witty sayings on the front; they did not capture her interest. Instead, she found racks of tops that tied below the breasts with the material below free to expand with her stomach. Plus, the tags said they were good for every stage of pregnancy.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 7:21pm
::Xavier followed her through the store, grateful that she hadn't chosen any shirts with slogans on them. The clothing options here were far more limited than in the previous store. He understood the reasoning and yet he felt for the restraint.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 7:42pm
"What do you think of these?" She said, holding one of them up. "All the material is loose and flowy, allowing for lots of expansion." It sounded as though she were adding on another room to her house, she thought wryly.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 7:43pm
::The Professor imagined the material on her. After a moment of consideration, he nodded.:: "I think that should be fine. Do you like the color?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 7:45pm
She looked at it for a moment, then nodded. "It'll be a good color for the 'blue days'," she said, smiling. What was funny, the clothes she was picking out did not really match her skin tone, the yellows made her skin look somewhat sallow, in her opinion. But they would look great when she was back to normal.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 7:47pm
::Xavier nodded, imagining it against her blue skin tone. It would match well.:: "I agree."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:05pm
She picked out an armful of ones with that particular style, and moved over to the stretchy longsleeved shirt section. After picking a few of those from the racks, she straightened. "I'm going to go try these on, to see if they irritate my skin," she said, smiling softly.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 8:07pm
::Xavier nodded in acknowledgement.:: "Do you wish me to come with you, or should I wait here?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:13pm
"You're welcome to come in," she said, somewhat coyly.
Inside the changing room, she released her hold on the change with a huge sigh. It had become akin to holding in one's stomach, keeping it up for so long. "That's better," she said, taking a shirt off its hangar.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 8:19pm
::The Professor crossed his arms and looked around the dressing area. After the last law suit, stores were no longer allowed to have cameras in the dressing rooms. However, he still remained cautious.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:22pm
She realized what he was probably thinking. "Do you really think they'd have them in a maternity store?" Even if they did, it was already too late. But she didn't think she could've kept up the form for much longer anyways, certainly not long enough for them to finish shopping.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 8:24pm
"I hope not. However, I am merely wary. Should an incident arise, I will handle it," ::Xavier replied, his tone severe.:: "Don't concern yourself. I know it's difficult to maintain a form."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:31pm
"It just requires a lot of concentration right now," she admitted. "If I'm not firm with it...my nails will turn blue, my hair will turn red again, etc." His tone reassured her that he would protect her if something got out of hand. Because while she was capable of protecting herself, she wasn't capable of making anyone forget anything.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 8:33pm
::The ability to alter memory was not one to be taken lightly. But it was for protection and would do no harm. As such, he was prepared to help in any way he could.:: "Then relax for now and try on the clothing. Worry when we're back in the crowd."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:40pm
She nodded, slipping one of the tops over her head. She liked the color, it matched her hair. "What do you think?" She asked, looking at it in the mirror. It was loose on her, and the feeling of the fabric just...flowing around her was something different.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 8:47pm
::Xavier's eyes roamed over her form, taking into account the color and the shape of the garment. He glanced at the reflection then back at her. Finally, he nodded.:: "I like it. Is it comfortable?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 8:57pm
She paused, then nodded. "It doesn't irritate them," she said, running a finger over the scales on her arm lightly. That was a major plus, considering she remembered how itchy and uncomfortable clothes had been the last time she wore them over scales.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 9:03pm
"Then do you want them?" ::Xavier asked, tilting his head to the side as he watched her.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 9:07pm
She turned around, nodding. "I know, I must seem odd, all swirly and...female." She had been thinking of the last time she wore clothes, as a human. Clothes had felt so...odd to her then, and it was that feeling of oddness that brought back those memories.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 9:15pm
::Xavier shook his head. Although he wasn't used to seeing her dressed in such a way, that didn't make it odd.:: "You are female."
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 9:31pm
She smiled. "That much is obvious, I think." She tried on the rest of the tops, and other than the fact that they were loose, she liked them.
"Now, for some pants," she said, taking a breath. It was slower to happen, as if she needed to concentrate more, but eventually the shocking crimson hair turned ebony, the yellow eyes turned blue, and her skin changed back to cream. "Am I wearing the same t-shirt that I walked in wearing?" She asked, looking down at the false article of clothing. She couldn't remember if it looked the same.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 9:40pm
::Xavier thought for a moment, recalling her shirt from earlier. He nodded slowly.:: "You are."
::He didn't comment on her first reply. His first impulse had been to speak, but considering his past history, he wasn't certain how well his "I'm grateful for that," comment would go over. So he let it die on his lips.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 9:56pm
"Good," she said, smoothing out the front of it. Taking a breath, she opened the door and they stepped outside. All seemed well; if anyone had truly been monitoring the changing rooms, there would have been an uneasy look or something given off by staff. They were still perky and cheerful.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 10:04pm
::Xavier felt calmer. Scanning the surface thoughts of the workers, he found no indication that they had been monitoring her dressing room. All the better.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 10:28pm
She began looking at the racks of pants, and the different types of panels on them. Some were for below the belly, some for halfway up, and some that covered the entire thing. She was glad they stretched so easily, she wasn't sure how big her stomach was going to get.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 10:34pm
::When she chose a pair that she liked, Xavier would take them and place them in his lap. He couldn't help but wonder how much she would show in the latter stages of her pregnancy.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 10:40pm
She saw him looking at the midsection of the pants she placed in his lap, and got the feeling they were on the same wavelength. Holding a pair of pants to her, she looked up at him. Watch, I'm going to be one of the women who blow up like a balloon, she thought humorously, her eyes laughing.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 10:43pm
*You may not show very much at all,* ::Xavier countered, although the mental image of her as a balloon caused a smile.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 10:47pm
Seeing him smile, she felt accomplished. She realized that she was having a lot of fun.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 10:49pm
"Good," ::He said quietly, in response to her realization. He, too, was enjoying himself.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 10:58pm
She picked out a few more pairs of pants before she was satisfied. Many had a fold-over panel, which were good for every stage. "I think that's about it," she said, smiling.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 11:02pm
::Xavier looked down at the pile of clothing in his lap and then up at her.:: "You're certain?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 11:13pm
She did have a lot of pants, capris and tops...what else could she want? "I think that's it," she said, after a moment of thought.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 11:14pm
"Very well," ::Xavier said as he wheeled over to the check out.:: "Do you have an aversion to seeing the total here as well?"
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 11:19pm
"No, I think I'm going to try dealing with this one," she said, smiling. She helped pile all the clothes onto the counter. The clerk looked at her as if wondering why she didn't plan on going outside for the rest of her pregnancy. Which was probably what it looked like, her stockpiling on pregnancy outfits.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 11:23pm
"Baby steps," ::Xavier said with a soft smile, as he glanced at the total. It was no where as near as high as in Nordstram's. Handing the cashier his card, he waited patiently for the check out to be completed.::
Posted by Mystique on Mar 12, 2007, 11:27pm
She sighed in relief. It was a little on the pricey side, but not as bad as she had anticipated. "I'm stepping," she said, returning the smile.
Posted by The Man on Mar 12, 2007, 11:28pm
"I'm proud," ::Xavier replied, signing his name on the receipt. He took the bags from the cashier and thanked her.::