Chapter 12

The first stop on the shopping trip was a lingerie shop. Nora insisted. It was the same place she and Pyrrha had run into Yang and Winter while out for groceries. Both pairs arrived at about the same time. "Hmm, deja vu." Winter said. "I seem to remember seeing Nora bouncing along out here not too long ago."

"Oh God…" Pyrrha groaned when she saw the store.

"Hey guys." Yang said. "Blake and Velvet should be meeting up with us in a while. Blake said they were tied up. I have a sneaking suspicion she was being literal."

"At least they won't have to see...this." Pyrrha said.

"Time's a wastin'!" Nora exclaimed.

Nora grabbed Pyrrha by the arm and practically dragged her into the store. Yang could not help but laugh and Winter followed sporting an amused grin. Nora seemed magnetically attracted to all things pink, but Yang insisted that Pyrrha stick to black and red. Winter paid careful attention to the brands, well aware of which had the best reputations.

Yang found exactly the sort of thing Pyrrha needed. "Pyrrha, what's your cup size?" Yang asked, looking through the bras on offer.

"Uh...double d." Pyrrha said.

"No way?" Yang said.

"It's true!" Nora confirmed. "I've seen them. And felt them!"

"Nora!" Pyrrha gasped.

"We have the same cup size." Yang said.

"Really?" Pyrrha asked. "They look bigger."

"Been sneaking peeks have we?" Yang said with a wink.

"Yang..." Winter groaned.

"Who hasn't?" Nora laughed.

"Nora!" Pyrrha admonished.

Pyrrha tried on a few different styles of bras and panties before settling on some lacy but practical numbers. Winter and Yang picked out some for themselves, as did Nora at Winter's insistence. Winter picked up the bill - saying the whole day would be on her - and it was off to the next stop. Pyrrha was in desperate need of some formal clothes. All she had for fancier occasions were pantsuits. Nora and Yang were out of their depth, not being at all knowledgeable about fancy dress, so they went to get smoothies while Winter took Pyrrha dress shopping.

"Yang is right to say red is your color." Winter said. "Your hair is stunning."

"Thank you, Winter." Pyrrha said with a slight blush. "Yours is quite beautiful as well. I rarely see natural ivory."

"One of my family's traits." Winter shrugged. "In college I streaked it with pink."

"Really?" Pyrrha asked.

"One of my small rebellions." Winter said with a mischievous smile. "I might do it again. I bet Yang would find it attractive."

"I must say, you make a lovely, if odd, couple." Pyrrha said.

"I could say the same of you and Nora." Winter laughed.

"Rightly so." Pyrrha said. "But I've never been happier."

"Neither have I." Winter said. "Yang just has this...energy."

"The same for Nora." Pyrrha said. "It's infectious."

"It's addictive." Winter declared.

"It's euphoric." Pyrrha added.

"It's turning us into lovesick puppies." Winter said. She and Pyrrha shared a laugh.

With a little silence to focus, Winter assembled what she saw as the ideal ensemble for Pyrrha. A pencil skirt, stocking and heels - all black - along with a white button-up and crimson blazer. Pyrrha ducked into the changing room to try them on before emerging for Winter's opinion. "I look...wow." Pyrrha gasped as she stood before a mirror.

"You look strong and confident." Winter said.

"I look...like Glynda." Pyrrha observed.

"A person of strength and confidence if I ever met one." Winter said.

"She is a wonderful woman." Pyrrha said.

"I really must spend more time with her." Winter thought aloud.

"How have your sessions been?" Pyrrha asked.

"Cathartic, and helpful." Winter replied. "She reminds me so much of my mother, but warmer. I respect her greatly."

"She's done so much for the world...for me." Pyrrha sighed.

"Perhaps we should take her out to dinner." Winter suggested. "All of us."

"Her birthday is in two months." Pyrrha said. "We could plan a party."

"Perfect, I've planned parties in the past." Winter said.

"Is there anything you can't do?" Pyrrha asked.

"Get Yang to put on some pants." Winter deadpanned. After a few seconds the pair burst into laughter. Along with the outfit Winter had assembled for Pyrrha, the pair picked out a long, sexy red dress. Winter again picked up the tab.

Blake and Velvet met up with the group in front of a large department store. Velvet took Pyrrha to look at casual wear. At the same time Nora took Winter to an electronics store to show her some video game stuff she was curious about. Yang pulled Blake aside. "Are those multiple hickeys I see?" Yang asked.

"The visible ones, yes." Blake said.

"And those marks...you really were tied up." Yang gasped.

"Velvet can be a bit aggressive." Blake shrugged.

"Seriously?" Yang asked.

"Yeah, you wouldn't know it from just talking to her." Blake confirmed. "She's like a totally different person in the bedroom." Blake laughed. "One time I got home and she was wearing nothing but a beret and sunglasses. It's a good thing I didn't have work the next day because I still wasn't walking straight."

"No kidding…" Yang said, shaking her head. "And I thought I was the freaky one."

"The next day she was back to her usual meek self." Blake continued. "All apologies and blushing, like she just flipped a switch."

Winter stood before the display of video game accessories. She found the array of products fascinating but bewildering and hoped Nora could be her guide. "So what are these glasses for?" Winter asked, examining the yellow-tinted lenses.

"They're supposed to reduce glare and help you see better." Nora explained.

"Do they work?" Winter asked skeptically.

"No idea." Nore shrugged.

"Well, what's the idea with those figurines?" Winter asked.

"Oh, those work with certain games." Nora replied. "It's hard to explain, but sometimes you can train them and fight against them. Other times they give you bonus stuff. I have a bunch of them, but mostly because they look super-cool."

"Hold on, these two characters have the same name." Winter observed.

"Yeah, they're two versions of the same character." Nora said.

"Why is one wearing heavy armor while the other one has a skin-tight bodysuit?" Winter asked.

"The objectification of women?" Nora shrugged.

"Hmm...a racing wheel." Winter said, squatting down beside a large box on a bottom shelf. "I wonder if it would help me with that game I'm terrible at...what's it called…"

"Probably not." Nora said. "It's really only for simulation games."

"Simulation games?" Winter asked. "I thought the point of video games was to escape reality."

"It is...usually." Nora said. "Some people like super-realistic stuff."

"This is...500 lien." Winter said. "That costs more than the console!"

"Yeah, only a crazy person would get something like that." Nora laughed. "Or Sun probably. I guess he is a little crazy though. Ha, I'm one to talk." Winter raised a curious eyebrow. "Oh come on, I know everybody thinks I'm crazy."

"I don't think you're crazy." Winter said. "Hyper, manic, inappropriate, sure. But you're definitely not crazy. I'm sure the others feel the same way"

"It's nice of you to say that." Nora said. "I guess Pyrrha wouldn't have moved in with me if she thought I was crazy after all."

"At the risk of seeming...crazy...I think it would be interesting to give something like this a shot." Winter said. "Though I could just drive my sports car around like a lunatic for the same effect."

"Buy me one and I'll race you." Nora offered. "Though I have to warn you, I'm not supposed to drive. Even Ren said I shouldn't drive, not even in an emergency. Something about one emergency being enough." Nora stared off, seemingly lost in thinking about happy times long past. Then it was gone. "Oh! While I'm here I should get the new…"

Velvet led Pyrrha to a store specializing in casual designer clothes. "This stuff looks a bit...odd." Pyrrha observed.

"Fashion's all over the place these days." Velvet shrugged. "Mostly plaid and skinny jeans, and scarves, but there's hardly any rhyme or reason to it."

"I like plaid." Pyrrha said.

"I've never seen you wear it." Velvet said.

"I did in high school." Pyrrha explained. "But I grew fast and just got simple clothes to replace it. My parents didn't really support any of my interests in fashion."

"Well I'm here to enable you." Velvet declared. "Go nuts! My treat."

"Oh, Velvet, that's really not necessary." Pyrrha protested.

"But I want to." Velvet said. "Plus I get a good discount here."

"How come?" Pyrrha asked.

"Coco modeled some of their lines." Velvet replied. "When she passed...it turns out I was in her will. Her sole beneficiary. She'd...thrown away most of her money on drugs, but I kept the perks. She never did get along very well with her parents...and planned for the worst…" By then Velvet's teary eyes were shut as she tightly gripped one of the clothing racks. Pyrrha took her other hand and squeezed it, Velvet squeezing back. Velvet opened her eyes and looked to Pyrrha as tears ran down her cheeks. "She would have been so grateful to you and Glynda for helping me. She would have bought you the entire store. I just want to buy you a wardrobe, okay?"

Pyrrha hugged Velvet and the hug was returned tightly. "Thank you." Pyrrha said.

"Thank you too." Velvet wept.

After Velvet composed herself the pair made their way around the store, picking out a wide assortment of clothes and a few accessories. Velvet assembled a new outfit for Pyrrha to wear for the rest of the day, a pair or red shorts with a black and white striped top.

Velvet giggled at the sight of Pyrrha. "What?" Pyrrha asked. "Did I put something on backwards?"

"You have Blake's ass." Velvet laughed.

"I do?" Pyrrha gasped.

"I didn't realize it til just now." Velvet confirmed. "Blake wears the same size shorts, and you fill them out just as nicely."

"Oh wow." Pyrrha said.

"It's a crime to hide it away so much." Velvet said.

"You sound just like Nora." Pyrrha observed.

"She's right most of the time." Velvet said. "Just a tad too open about it."

"You're not wrong." Pyrrha laughed.

"Don't you feel free wearing that?" Velvet asked.

"I have to admit, short shorts always intimidated me." Pyrrha said. "But it's nice to be able to stretch. Relaxing at home will be so much easier, especially in the summer."

"They're great for lazing on the couch with a good book." Velvet added.

"You read often?" Pyrrha asked.

"No, but Blake does...on her stomach." Velvet replied.

"Oh." Pyrrha said, matching Velvet's blush.

The group met back up and it was Blake's turn. "With a little makeup you'll look like a goddess." She said. "I think I know just what you need."

"Mind if I tag along?" Yang asked.

"Sure…" Pyrrha said, sensing that Yang was up to something but not sure what.

Blake led Pyrrha to the cosmetics section and placed her in front of a lighted mirror. "Wow, your skin's perfect." Blake said. "This'll be easy."

"Really?" Pyrrha asked.

"Yep." Blake confirmed. "The only question is what color lipstick. Now, I'd go with black, but then again, you're too warm for black. Maybe a dark red. Yes. And some eye shadow...got it. Okay, I just need to grab the stuff."

"That's it?" Pyrrha asked.

"Yep." Blake replied.

"Well, Blake can handle that." Yang said. "Pyrrha, why don't you come with me?"

"Where?" Pyrrha asked.

"To get a little surprise for Nora." Yang said with a devious smile.

"I don't like the sound of that." Pyrrha sighed.

"Just go with her." Blake said. "She knows what she's doing."

"Well, alright." Pyrrha reluctantly agreed. Yang led her out of the store by a back entrance, then back to the lingerie shop. "Not here...again." Pyrrha groaned.

"Trust me." Yang said. "I saw a set when we were here earlier. If you wear it Nora will flip."

Pyrrha headed to wait at the changing rooms and Yang soon arrived carrying the promised lingerie. "Oh...Yang...isn't that…a little…" Pyrrha struggled.

"Adventurous?" Yang finished for her. "Totally, but Nora will adore it."

"But it's so lacy...and non-existent." Pyrrha complained.

"The point is to make her torn between tearing it off and leaving it on." Yang explained.

"This would certainly...I guess I'll give it a shot." Pyrrha relented. She headed into a changing room. A minute or so later she cracked the door open and poked her head out. "Yang...I can't." She said.

"Let me see." Yang said as she pushed her way in. "Oh, that's too perfect. Nora's going to lose it when she sees this."

"I...I...it's too much." Pyrrha protested.

"Trust me." Yang persisted. "It's perfect."

"Fine." Pyrrha sighed. "I guess I can give it a shot."

"Time for lunch!" Nora declared as the group reassembled. The shopping center had a nice assortment of food places and everyone was fairly hungry.

"Can we get seafood?" Blake asked.

"Seafood?" Yang gasped, feigning surprise. "I'm shocked!"

"You will never understand our love." Blake deadpanned.

"Is there a salad bar?" Winter asked.

"Yes, it's quite lovely." Velvet replied.

"Oh no you don't!" Yang exclaimed. "You're trying something different."

"But…" Winter started.

"No butts!" Yang cut her off. "Except Blake's. You need some meat on your bones. Besides, what you'll be having is basically a salad."

"A salad is a salad." Winter said.

"But a salad has 100% too little meat." Yang countered.

"Salads can have meat." Winter observed.

"A fact you rarely take advantage of." Yang said.

"Fight, fight, fight…" Nora chanted. "Kiss, kiss…"

Both true to form, Blake got sushi and Velvet a Caesar salad. Nora and Yang got cheeseburgers with fries, Yang bought Winter a grilled chicken sandwich, and Pyrrha got a chicken wrap. While the others brought the food to a table, Nora rushed to another stand and got a large milkshake. She brought it to the table and set it between herself and Pyrrha, poking two straws into the concoction.

"Aw, how romantic…" Yang sighed.

"And cheesy." Blake groaned.

"Oh Nora…" Pyrrha started.

"Pwease…" Nora said, turning on the cute.

"Oh alright." Pyrrha relented. Nora squealed with excitement and started sucking on her straw while Pyrrha tentatively took the other. Nora joyfully maintained eye contact throughout and Pyrrha's blush steadily brightened. A camera snap drew everyone's attention to Winter, smirking as she tapped at her phone.

"Hey, that's my job." Velvet complained.

"Glynda will just adore this." Winter declared.

"Ooh, getting cozy with Glynda ?" Yang accused. "Should I be worried about Sun too? You seem to have a thing for blondes."

"No one could compare to you, my lovely brute." Winter laughed.

"You're such a romantic." Yang said. "Hey! Let's take a group selfie for Glynda." Yang pulled out her own phone and turned so that her back faced the others. Nora struggled to put an arm around Pyrrha from across the table, Blake put her arm around Velvet's shoulders, and Winter reached for Yang. "Say chees...ah!"

"Cheese!" Everyone else said in unison as Yang snapped the picture.

Glynda sat in her office going through some insurance paperwork. Her phone buzzed. She unlocked it to find a picture of Pyrrha and Nora sharing a milkshake, Pyrrha blushing to an alarming degree. Glynda chuckled and soon her phone buzzed again. Now she was met with another picture, this one of the whole group. Yang was gasping in shock as Winter's hand reached out of frame, Blake and Velvet were smiling broadly, Pyrrha was still blushing as Nora leaned over the table to plant a kiss on her cheek. Glynda read the attached message. "We love you."

Glynda's eyes began to tear up and she took off her glasses to wipe them. "I love you too." She whispered.

"Winter, you minx!" Yang exclaimed. "Feeling me up in public!"

"As if you don't enjoy it." Blake laughed.

"I'm a lady." Yang protested. "'Tis unbecoming!"

"Ha!" Winter snorted. "A lady, that'll be the day."

"What, you think I'm not a lady?" Yang asked. She took her own breasts in hand and jiggled them. "Have you seen these?"

"A large bust does not a lady make, Xiao-Long." Winter said. "A lady does not slouch, does not place her elbows upon the table, and does not stroll around the house half nude."

"A lady does not snort." Yang countered.

"She's got you there." Velvet laughed. Winter shrugged and went back to her sandwich, taking a large and very un-lady-like bite out of it.

"Have you guys tried sushi before?" Blake asked.

"Not a fan of fish." Nora groaned.

"A few times." Yang replied.

"On occasion." Winter answered.

"No, never." Pyrrha said.

"Would you like to?" Blake offered.

"I suppose I could try." Pyrrha shrugged. Blake held out a piece with her chopsticks and Pyrrha plucked it off with her teeth. "Mmm, thish ish good." She declared as she chewed.

"Oh no, she's converted her!" Yang gasped.

"I loved you Pyrrha!" Nora whined.

"You will never understand our love." Pyrrha deadpanned. After a second of silence the group burst into uproarious laughter.

"If we want to have a decent party we'll need some supplies." Yang said after the group finished lunch. "I'll go pick some stuff up."

"Can I go too?!" Nora exclaimed.

"Sure...but, maybe someone else should go along." Pyrrha said.

"I'll go." Velvet offered. "I can make sure they don't do anything too crazy."

"That sounds good." Winter agreed. "Here Yang." She handed Yang a credit card. "Try to keep it under a trolley-full."

"I'll try but I can't speak for Velvs and Nora." Yang laughed. "So, what's everyone's poison?"

"Strawberry vodka." Winter replied.

"Bourbon." Blake answered.

"Cider!" Nora cheered.

"Uh...red wine?" Pyrrha said, almost asking.

"Alrighty!" Yang said. "Let's go girls. It's time to break the bank!" Winter laughed as Yang walked away. Nora giggled and Velvet rolled her eyes.