Not Mistress. Alija. You don't have a mistress, or master anymore. It is illegal in Zeltiva," the woman, apparently Alija, said. Seeing Kerra's confusion, the smiling woman elaborated, "It isn't allowed. The only mistress you can have is yourself."
Indeed, that did confuse Kerra. How could she not have an owner? Only people didn't have owners, and Kerra didn't really qualify as a person in her opinion. The Kelvic way happy regardless, though. Alija was pleased with her, and that pleased Kerra.
Confusion clouded the Kelvic's expression once again as Alija allowed her to pick her own name. That was strange, for certain. Kerra didn't really see much need for a name, except for the benefit of others. She knew who she was, after all. Still, apparently Alija wanted that, so Kerra just nodded in obedience.
The woman's gaze followed up and down the Kelvic as Alija suddenly recalled Kerra's nudity. Without a word, she led the girl into a store and began ordering clothing. All the while, Kerra was looking about in confusion. Clothes? New, and for her? That was surprising. Kerra usually got cast-offs, if she got anything at all. She hoped they weren't uncomfortable, like they usually were. She hated the way cloth stuck to her and hampered her movements. Then again, with the cold weather she figured she would just have to bear it. When out on the town, at least.
While the shopkeeper and Alija were talking, Kerra loosened her owner's--Her...friend's?--cloak to allow warm air to flow about her. She could barely feel her hands or feet, and her hair did little to keep her warm. If not for the necessity of speaking, the Kelvic would have long since reverted to her feline form.
Every now and again, someone would look at Kerra, look away, then snap their eyes back to her in surprise. It made her uncomfortable; she was used to crowds from her time in communal cages, but she still didn't like being the object of scrutiny. She wasn't certain why they looked at her, though.
The Kelvic began paying attention again as Alija held the clothes out for her. Had her attention wandered? She supposed it had. The slave took the offered clothing, looking at it all in surprise. "I won't, Alija. Thank you!" She said with a bright smile in the woman's direction. She didn't really like clothes, but they were a gift from the woman. No one had ever bought her new clothes before...Or much of anything, for that matter. Alija. It was a nice name, and Kerra was glad she was allowed to use it.
A moment later, the Kelvic returned to her study of the clothing. She allowed Alija's cloak to slip off her shoulders without thinking, forgetting that it was, in fact, someone else's. Now, how exactly did she put all this on? Kerra had only ever worn knee-length dresses. They were easier to make and didn't exactly have to fit very well to serve their purpose. Easier to put on, too. Or be stuffed into, when she took them off. These garments were alien to her.
The Kelvic sat down on the wooden floor and placed the clothes beside her. She spread them out to get a good look at each and identify them. One clearly was a shirt like what most people she saw wore, and another seemed like the bottom of a dress, but divided. Pants? Was that what they were called? Kerra had always wondered about that.
The slave tried to put the boots on first. She winced a few times trying to shove her feet into them, entirely unused to wearing shoes. They felt strange and uncomfortable...And not much good to her chilled feet either. Kerra heard someone in the store stifling a laugh at her expense when she tried to push her shod feet through the pant legs, and the Kelvic made a vexed noise. That wouldn't work.
Taking the shoes off took less time than putting them on, and Kerra soon managed to get the pants on...after much frustration. They were too tight on the Kelvic, and not because they didn't fit. It bothered her deeply to have cloth constantly on her legs, though she had no doubt it would be warmer. Next came the shirt, and Kerra had that in place much more quickly. It was like pulling on a very short dress.
Now mostly dressed, though barefoot, the Kelvic looked at the boots again and then pleadingly up at Alija. She didn't want to seem ungrateful, but those boots didn't look at all comfortable. Her feet wouldn't be that cold... "Alija?" She asked hopefully. Kerra would do as she was told, but that didn't mean she'd like it...Or that she boots might not mysteriously vanish sometime in the next few days.
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by Kerra on December 9th, 2014, 9:44 pm 
