bakerstreet | Underwear?

[Yes, perfectly color-coded!]

If a single piece off fur on the Dark Devas has been disturbed, it would inspire a reckoning the likes of which no world has ever seen...! [He says, sounding more pissy than usual at the idea of his devas being affected by this. Fur is more than just clothes, after all!

And so Gundam carefully follows her forth.]

I am not desperate. I simply choose to enter the room in my own fashion, which will retain some manner of dignity. [He sighs while considering their chances.] Well, see what lodging can be obtained. If not, we shall have to explore another option.

Now that I believe. Not only do I know you love those little guys, but they're pretty clever themselves. I'd almost expect them to summon their own armageddon in self-defense! [In her imagination it would be a flurry of hamster-size hailstones or fully fledged dark meteors, a sight she'd love to see were not for what it'd take to trigger it. It's not nice to pick on poor little furballs.]

I think your dignity might stand a better chance once we get you inside, whatever it takes to do so. A quick mad scramble sure beats having the morning crowd of shoppers ogling your goods! [Despite it being a serious statement she can't help a soft snort.] You got it. obviously I'll do what I can to get the one with easiest access. Wait here!

[With that she disappears around the front and is gone for a full five, ten minutes before appearing at a nearby window... Situated some seven feet off the ground. Opening it, she leans out with a wave.]

This is the only thing available on the first floor - a storage room with a couple of cots. It took some convincing before they'd allow me to rent it out for the night, so no complaining!

Kehehe, of course. Their retribution could indeed be akin to the end of days, let alone what vengeance I would enact upon such scum...

[He manages to sound both amused and threatening while saying that.

In any case, it's inn time. He does flush a bit at Rose's comment about being ogled. The sooner he gets in there, the better! So as she goes in, he ducks down and tries keeping to the shadows, away from any prying eyes.

And eventually, Rose calls to him. He approaches the wall carefully and looks up towards her window.]

I- I still reserve the right to complain! So I have to reach that window to achieve my shelter... Hmph. Very well. This - is possible.

[He can't exactly parkour his way up there, but he does have one other trick up his sleeve. Gundam unfurls his scarf and tries to throw one end up towards Rose so that he can climb it.]

Now keep that secure, as if it is an anchor for all of existence itself!

Don't worry, I'd definitely be willing to lend a hand with enacting that revenge.

[She's gotten kind of attached to the little guys and would miss their scampering about or seeing them without disheveled fur.

In peering out the window, she finds the angle... uh, unfortunate? Or perhaps fortunate, depending on one's inclinations. For her it's just a tad awkward so she scans the street for any potential passersby while they talk.]

You can complain about the situation, but not the accommodations, how's that? Or at least not until we get your bare butt inside!

[Then he can let loose all the curses and gripes he can muster. Thankfully Rose isn't so distracted that she can't snatch the scarf when it's tossed up and wrap it around her wrist a few times for stability's sake. Bracing a foot against the wall for added support, she nods and gives a quick thumbs up to let Gundam know she's good to go.]

Got it! Just try not to flail too much on your way up - you've got the weight advantage on me and gravity will have us both beat if we're not careful.

[The first comment gets a genuine grin from him. He knows he can count on Rose to have his back.

He just really wishes she didn't see his back too! Now he goes redder again.]

M-my what?! Hrgh... Be- be careful with what you perceive, you fiend!!

[In any case, it seems that Rose has a solid grip on the scarf. So now it's time to reach shelter! He grumbles while he starts to pull himself up with the scarf, scaling the wall at a steady pace.]

I will not flail. I am moving with all the precision and dignity of a ninja warrior... and I am lighter than a slyph's feather, so you should have no trouble! [He grunts as he pulls himself up further.]

Hey, I can't help what I see! Or don't see, as a matter of fact...

[At least he's not red from the cold yet! Gundam's embarrassment gets a soft snort from her, or maybe it's just from the effort to maintain her footing as he begins climbing upwards.]

Dunno about being comparable to their feathers but you are doing pretty good at not jerking around, I'll give you that...! Oof--

[Winding the scarf further around her arm, she helps pull him up the remainder of the distance and offers out her other hand for him to grab once he's within reach. All she has to do now is keep her eyes firmly trained on his little cowlick and all will be well...!]

Y-you can control the trajectory of your eyes!

[He grumbles right back! It's true, the bright side of all of this is that the heat of his embarrassment is combating the cold! As well as him exerting himself to climb the wall. Despite his claims, he is building up a sweat!]

Now you see that I am not to be underestimated...

[But Rose's aid does help a lot. Making his way up towards the window, he grasps onto her hand, ready to put this whole thing behind him!]

...okay, that's fair. I'll do my best not to let them drift too low.

[It's just so hard to avoid doing something you're not supposed to! Or at least it is in her case. But she is trying! It's a bit easier when she's focused on worrying about strangers spotting their weird mountain climbing session in addition to helping haul him up those last couple of feet.]

Never doubted you for a minute...!

[Closing her eyes just to be on the safe side, she gives one final tug, pulling him in all the way with such force they end up in a heap on the floor with a strangled yelp from her. Whoops?]

Ack--!

Hrgh-!

[He gives a confused growl as suddenly he's on top of her. At least she's still wearing clothes, but this still feels uncomfortably intimate when he's wearing what may as well be nothing! Gundam quickly scrambles to try to get off of her, or at least not be pressed against her anymore!]

Th-this madness must end...!

[And she thought things were awkward before! Despite their previous close encounters this is far more than she's ready for! While he scuttles away in one direction, Rose crab walks the other way in such a hurry that she smacks into a table and knocks a stack of books onto her head.]

Argh! Son of a--!

[Amid seeing stars, she can't help glancing in his direction briefly and goes bright red, then resorts to the only safe solution at this point: burying her face in both hands with a strangled yell.]

If you find a way to get it to stop, please feel free...!

[Somehow, the awkwardness keeps on finding a way to intensify...

Gundam tries to focus on retrieving his scarf, though he does spot Rose turning red and... guesses what she's looking at. Now he turns redder once agin too!]

Trust me, if I could conceive the proper counter-curse, I would have already cast it! I... I just need to find some garments to wear! Then you can stop... s-seeing that which should not be seen by any mortal eyes!

[There must be an upper limit to it though, surely...! She just hopes it won't involve her clothes meandering off somewhere...

This very well may be some experiment to see which of them can turn reddest or will burst first. It's as good an explanation as any! Rose nods a couple times to acknowledge what he's said while mumbling something into her hands before finally lowering them once her gaze is pointedly to the side.]

Then I guess we better get started on that, huh? I mean, the view isn't terrible or anything! But, uh, it's just-- you know, kind of unexpected!

[Feeling the heat in her cheeks spread all the way to her ears, Rose suddenly stands up and whirls around to scan the shelves for an article of clothing, any clothing at all. Something to make it so they can have a normal conversation without it getting weird(er)!]

If we strike out here, I don't care how it'll look, I'm giving you my shirt! Or we'll steal some bed sheets from somewhere. That might be the better idea.

[It does almost feel like they're being subjected to some kind of bizarre embarrassment-based torture! But that does lead Gundam to feel thankful that Rose's clothing is still intact, at least. He's not sure if he could take that on top of his own situation!]

I- I did not ask for a critique...! [He murmurs weakly as he starts looking around the room. Maybe part of him is glad that whatever part she's describing isn't terrible, as non-descript as it is, but mostly he's embarrassed to have attention called to it at all!]

Not to mention that y-your shirt will solve little. M-my upper half being exposed is the far lesser problem after all... [It's covering his mystical underwear that's the biggest issue.

With his scarf gathered, he starts searching around the storage room, to little avail. The cots are bare of anything he can use!]

[Maybe she shouldn't have said anything about his... assets, but dammit, this whole ordeal has managed to fluster her more than anything in recent memory. They have a wonderful professional friendship going on that a lack of clothing is infringing upon! ...maybe that's it - it's some sort of nefarious plan designed to destabilize their relationship! ...nah, that's just silly.]

Sorry, sorry! Just wanted you to know it's nothing personal against you. [Not that he's mentioned any concerns, it's just her poor strained mind grasping for conversational straws.]

Ah, yeah... That's right, it wouldn't be much help with how much taller you are, huh? It'd probably end up exposing everything from your midriff down anyway. [The laugh that escapes her between sticking her head in boxes is a bit helpless. This can't be happening, can it? It's a storage room for goodness sake! There must be one article of fabric here somewhere! A towel! A tablecloth! Something...!]

Maybe you could use your scarf to tie my shirt in front of yourself? That might afford you some extra privacy in case somebody bumbles on in here. [Since at this rate she's going to have to steal something from another room...]

[It's like a new peak of feeling mortified for Gundam. How can he maintain the mystique of being an unknowable force of darkness and terror when his business partner has seen him in such a... such a mortal state?]

Duly noted. [He says with a sigh as he pries open a crate. Careful to avoid any loose nails as he searches... and finds nothing of use. Just cheap toothbrushes and soap, not even a single rag.

He frowns as he considers her option.]

Hmph. That sounds somewhat complicated... but it may be doable, and it will allow me to move around while foraging for clothing... b-but that would involve your partially disrobing yourself. [Now he has trouble looking directly at her.] Are you truly so keen on sacrificing your shirt?

[Meanwhile for Rose it isn't too different from learning the seraphim enjoy eating and cracking jokes just like their human neighbors while still retaining their mythical status. Maybe this does make Gundam seem a touch more human, but that also means relatable, and to her that's not such a bad thing.]

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm looking for an excuse to strip down or anything! I just don't want the owner or one of the workers to come crashing in here to discover a-- mostly naked guy squatting behind some boxes! We'd be kicked out for sure and then right back where we started. [She pauses with a hand on a crate, sighing.]

Ultimately it's up to you what we do. You're the one in a precarious position. If you're more comfortable staying as you are for a little longer, I'll slip out and nab a sheet, okay?

[So she's not an exhibitionist-

Gundam takes a deep breath and closes his eyes as he considers his options.]

...Hm. I see. Correct, that could be troublesome. In the interest of preventing it from coming to that... I suppose that I should conceal that area as soon as possible.

[He keeps his eyes closed.]

Go on, then! If- if you are so sure on following this plan through, then offer your garment for the good of the Tanaka Empire!

More like the good of our heads, but close enough.

[Once Gundam makes his decision, Rose nods despite it being a pointless gesture and quickly slides off her knife holster to wiggle her way out of her shirt before she can change her mind. That done and her torso now clad in only a pink bra with simple frills, a flush creeps onto her cheeks as she immediately returns her weapons to their proper place. At least she feels a little less exposed with them on.]

Alright then! Here you go, your turn. Try to treat it well, okay? It's a favorite shirt.

[Turning as far away as she possibly can, she offers up her shirt with an outstretched arm.]

I will treat it as carefully as I can, given the circumstances.

[He keeps his eyes closed, because... seeing Rose? Without her shirt?? That just sounds like too much! He just... squints his eyes open just a little, to get an idea of where the shirt is. Then he scoots closer and just keeps on grappling blindly at the air until he grabs the shirt!]

...Th-thanks.

I appreciate it.

[Once Gundam has a hold of her shirt, Rose ~~scurries~~ hurries to start looking through the remaining crates that are situated away from him. Though she does hazard a backwards glance at his last word, a small smile creeping onto her face.]

No problem. That's what friends are for: helping you out of tight - or too loose - situations!

[With that, Gundam uses the scarf to fashion the shirt into some sort of strange loin clothe to wear over the astral underpants. He may look very weird, but at least he won't look nude to any other strangers. The worst may finally be over with.]

...Indeed. Perhaps friendship isn't such a silly notion after all, if it inspired such a noble sacrifice. Now the search may continue... [He'll check another crate. ...Facing away from her, of course!]

[Although Gundam may not be able to see it (she isn't about to turn around to check), she plants her hands on both hips triumphantly with a laugh. Score one for the side of light!]

Hehehe! So you're finally coming around to my way of thinking about others, huh? As you can see, it doesn't have to be all sunshine and rainbows and sparkly shit - sometimes it can be as simple as a makeshift article of clothing in the dead of night.

[Now he blushes just from having friendship rubbed in.]

D-don't get too carried away with that! ...All I've done is acknowledge it. We... are friends. [Partially undressed friends?]

Forging attachments with mortals seems to be a fool's errand. But... You have proven yourself to be exceptional in such a regard.

[His face burns, while he buries himself in one crate, filled with cheap shampoo.]

A-anyway! This is getting us nowhere. There must be somewhere where blankets and perhaps clothing is stored...

[Ufufu~ She might not be able to see the blush but she sure can hear the fluster (or indignation) in his voice and it only makes her grin harder. So obstinate.]

That's more than you would've done a while ago, so I'm happy! I mean, I've counted you as a friend for a long time now but it's great to have it reciprocated. [She has business partners aplenty; genuine friends are few and far between.]

Well, I certainly don't deny being a fool, so us striking up a rapport is right in line for how I usually work. And should I get overwhelmed by your dark power someday then I'll count it as having been worth it.

[High praise coming from a former mercenary who tends to prioritize survival above most other things. She shakes her head though, allowing the conversation to change course.]

You're right about that. They must have another storage room where that stuff is kept. We just gotta go looking for it. You ready to brave the halls?

[It's a different type of embarrassment coloring his cheeks right now. Why does she have to rub in this whole friendship business?! While not being wrong about it.]

Hmph. Now you're talking foolishly too. You are a unique existence, like a singularity, who can bear coexisting near me. You need not worry about being corrupted by my dark energies.

[At least it's not malevolence!

He clears his throat and looks towards the door.]

...Yes. Now that I am covered from the eyes of mortals who cannot grasp the truth, I am ready to set foot outside that door. ...But we still should be cautious, as I am sure that we are violating some manner of clothing regulation as it is.

[Considering they're both kinda shirtless right now!]

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sorry for the late reply!

No worries!

<3

<3!

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