D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

— Kat —

Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

Kat and Lily eventually had their fill of the ceiling and were lead off. “So, while you two were staring at the ceiling Kami and I figured out where we’re going. It’s to one of the ‘try on outfits’ type of places, where you pay for the experience and aren’t normally expected to buy stuff, though if you really do like it you can. Just know it’ll be expensive,”

“Alright,” agreed Kat, not really minding but not truly seeing the possibilities for messing with Lily just yet.

“Right well this mall has five of them and I’m wondering which one we want to go to. Well, one is for guys and it’s on the floor below us but for obvious reasons that ones out. Then there’s ‘All Shapes Runway’ which is really more for the exotic looking demons. They do have some stuff that would fit us, but I think the owners are sort of racists because all the clothing for more standard body shapes are extra flimsy there,

“Which leaves us with ‘Your Own Show’ ‘Outfits Abound’ and ‘Show Off’. You guys probably aren’t interested in ‘Show Off’ it’s over there actually,” Sue pointed across the gap to a shop that looked sort of like someone crammed a circus tent into a storefront. On display they had a magician’s outfit alongside a ringmasters and an archer’s.

Kat raised a confused eyebrow. “I get it looks like they’re playing up the circus theme,” agreed Sue. “That’s just the outside though. It’s actually filled with outfits you’d usually find at a brothel. Though they don’t allow anything to actually happen. It’s… it’s more to invite your significant other to show off then for friends. Though I have been in there a few times with a group.

“Still, they kinda just… lack selection? Like sure I get it, the reverse bunny outfit is hot but why do you need them in twelve different colours with another eight patterns for the arms?” Sue shook her head sadly. “It’s really just a few different sexy outfits in a bunch of stiles and not much else. Though for obvious reasons we’ll be avoiding that one,”

Kat nodded… but it was giving her ideas. Sure she wouldn’t go too far… but hopefully the other places would have something. Sue continued just as they reached the elevator and hit the button to call it. “So we’ve got two real choices. They’re… honestly they’re pretty interchangeable.

“They’ve both got a great selection, some nice enchantments so that everything will be the correct size. The main difference is that YOS has a lot more variety and it leans into costumes a bit more. It doesn’t have to all be practical to wear, or even something you’d spend the day in. Though they do have some more normal stuff as well. OA on the other hand is mostly about finding a bunch of normal clothes and mixing and matching.

“It’s not so much full outfits as it is here’s a pile of clothes see what you can make of it. Even then they do have a decent selection of full outfits, they’re just a bit hard to find and even if all the clothes are washed doesn’t mean they’re all organised. A bunch of outfits at OA get mixed in together. Which can be half the fun,” explained Sue.

I’m thinking YOS what about you? It just seems more fun to try on full outfits and show off. I’m not really one for putting things together.

[Not sure I believe you on that Kat. You used to put together essentially all of your outfits and the only reason you don’t now is because you wear that kimono pretty much every day.]

Eh, I basically just threw on whatever was washed and clean and I could grab from my cupboard. No thoughts went into it.

[Fair enough. I’m fine with either personally, though I think I agree YOS sounds more interesting.]

Kat glanced at Kamiko as they stepped into the elevator. Kamiko glanced back at Kat, then over at Sue who was also now glancing at her. “Oh… um… why are you both looking at me? I don’t really care?”

Kat glanced at Sue who shrugged so Kat shrugged back and said, “Your Own Show gets my vote, and Lily is mostly ambivalent but leaning towards it as well,” Lily nodded from Kat’s side. “So… if nobody else has strong opinions?”

Kamiko shook her head and Sue shrugged before pressing the big 5 button on the elevator. There was a soft jolt and then the doors opened. It felt like there was barely any travel time at all, but a glance towards Lily indicted that no, there was no space shenanigans and they weren’t teleported.

Kat stepped out and was immediately hit by the smell of the nearby candle shop. It was awful. Not that any one scent was bad but there were hundreds all diving into her nose at once and it was overwhelming. Lily was in a similar state, and she’d hidden her face in Kat’s shoulder to avoid it. “What the heck…” grumbled Kat.

Sue glanced back and saw what was happening and grabbed at their hands. Sue dashed forward a bit and the smell completely cut-off. “Ah sorry about that. Didn’t realise it’d be a bit much for you two. Technically, any store also ‘owns’ the space in front of them. Sort of. Luckily there are rules about spreading particular smells too far. Sorry about that,”

“Why is it allowed at all?” asked Kat

“Because most people aren’t Rank 4,” said Sue with a smirk. “You’ve rushed up the ranks so you can’t possibly have a proper idea about what that means. Rank 4 in your first century? That’s rare. First decade? Practically unheard of. Though nondems are meant to Rank up pretty fast. I guess with context I know ‘pretty fast’ is actually a crazy speed.

“That smell? Notice how it wasn’t bothering Kamiko? She’s Rank 3 and it was still fine for her and that’s like… ninety percent of the population easily. They still can’t make it too bad but well… if you’ve got a sensitive nose? Past a certain point it’s supposed to be your problem not everyone else’s. To an extent at least,”

“What are the rules around that sort of thing?” asked Kat.

Sue shrugged, “I dunno how it is like… legally speaking but the mall makes sure it’s not debilitating for anyone below Rank 5 and that you only get your small slice for music, or smells or whatever it is but other than that? Not sure…”

“Oh um… I know,” said Kamiko shyly. “At least… I remember my Mum complaining about it a bit. It’s… um… pretty lax for the most part but certain zones are stricter about things. It’s basically ‘if the average demon won’t be hurt or majorly inconvenienced it’s fine’ but there are special rules for X Rank only areas. They can get a lot more finicky but for the most part… it’s normally fine?”

Kat nodded, “I mean, I’m not trying to say they should be illegal or anything… but that candle shop was more than a bit much. I felt like I got punched in the nose… but didn’t we walk past an incense place lower down?”

Sue shrugged, “Yeah we did but not everyone is like those guys. ‘Me Want Candle’ the place causing the issues, if you didn’t notice the name… well it’s… it’s very much into those overwhelming smells. Their candles are advertised as filling the whole house, which is defined as like eight connected rooms, with just one candle. There whole shtick is big candles you can light and have the scent carry. Other places are… not so extreme.

“They are a good shop though. Like, I can get why they’re not ideal for you two but my parents by from their online catalogue pretty regularly. It’s great to get the um… smell out of the house, there are even a few lines of candles just for that purpose. They don’t do anything too fancy but they’re a good solid brand that fills a very obvious niche. Just… yeah maybe not for you?”

“Any candles we actually could use?” asked Lily. “It’s not something my Mum uses all the time but we do have a few…”

Sue shrugged, “Yeah no idea. My family hasn’t ever needed them. You might still be fine with a MWC candle if you just order online but then you can’t try the scents out at all so… not sure what I’d recommend. I know they do have lines for ‘more sensitive noses’ but I don’t know how good they are and I do know it’s not their main attraction,”

Lily sighed but accepted the answer. There wasn’t much to do about it after all. She just hadn’t expected things to be quite so intense and neither had Kat. At the very least they were already at their destination and they could avoid any more overwhelming smells for now. The outside of the YOS was a bunch of pictures that were part of the display wallpaper, showing of various groups in all sorts of costumes. It would be interesting to see what was inside…