xp_logs | log: Manuel and Danielle at the mall

Manuel promised to take Danielle shopping a couple days ago, so they are. He teaches her to walk in heels and they end the outing on a very risque note. There might be a girly girl trying to get out...or not.

Manuel got out of the car and stretched himself. He was dressed simply for this trip - silk button-down, slacks, loafers. And his omnipresent sunglasses. "Danielle, my dear, we are going to make you look _good_. What's our budget like?" he asked her with a smile as she climbed out of her side of the car.

"I still don't see what's wrong with my jeans, they ain't got holes or anything yet," Dani grumbled good-naturedly wearing her peasant skirt and a tank top that she had bought with Lorna and was pleased that her hair was long enough to wear in two proper braids again. "I got about $100, should be plenty," that was one bad thing though, she didn't have any pockets in her skirt to hold her wallet so she was just carrying it in one hand.

Manuel, for once being observant, held out his hand. "Let me hold onto that for you..." he said, eyeing her ensemble. It was about all he could do to keep from rolling his eyes. "Come on. I think it's time for the Empath Express to roll into town here." he grinned, and made a beeline for the inside of the mall.

True to her request, the mall was fairly sparsely populated - probably due to the lateness of the hour.

"What?" she asked at his look, obiediantly handing her wallet over. She looked good! "Empath Express? And what am I? Your sidekick, Crazy Girl?"

"If you insist!" he called out over his shoulder. "I am, of course, the devestatingly sexy and debonair Empath. You can be my hot but dawdy sidekick Crazy Girl. Now there's a thought..." he said, turning around to look at her with a grin. "Naaaaah. You're not the type. Unfortunately. But maybe I can get one for Amanda."

Rolling her eyes and shrugging, Dani followed Manuel into a store that looked very chic and expensive, "Someone save me?" she asked rhetorically as he thrust several clothing items at her.

Manuel actually did have excellent taste and an eye for color - and he was a demon at finding stuff at a low cost. He ripped through the salespeople like they were cardboard, leaving them panting and struggling to keep up. He was never rude, but he had a way of cutting someone to the bone with just a look, or a quirked eyebrow. And he did it all without his power. "Here. Try these on. I especially like this top here - the color is almost perfect for you."

Following in the wake of Manuel was a befuddled sales associate who was trying to start a dressing room for them and Dani who felt like a fish out of water. Even Lorna's idea of shopping did not compare to this! "Ah...okay..." Dani accepted the tuquoise top wondering where the rest of the shirt was. "This is a lot of clothing...I can't buy it all."

Manuel waved that off. "Relax. I've got what you can't afford." he said confidently. "And we have one or two more stops to make - to see if we get lucky, after all."

'One or two more'...Dani just stopped in the middle of the store, mouth open. "You ain't dying my hair!" she finally yelled at him, causing several people to stare and move away distainfully.

Manuel scratched something off his mental list. "Wouldn't dream of it!" he said, moving up close to her to run his fingers over her braids. "You have such odd hair. I like it, though." he said, with a voice and look pitched right at her gonads.

Blinking, Dani gave him an odd look and took half a step closer so they were practically touching, "Ain't odd, it's how it's supposed to be, long and straight," her voice was low and she ran one hand through Manuel's waves. "Yours is odd."

Manuel laughed. "Not at all. Although I didn't really bother doing much with it when we went out." he said, keeping his own voice low. "Now go model your new things." he said with a grin. Behind his shades, his eyes flashed red as he let her feel how much he was looking forward to seeing how she looked - a little anticipation, a little lust, and a lot of accomplishment.

Dani teetered out of the dressing room in high heels thoughtfully provided by the sales lady, she wasn't used to wearing them, especially ones this high. She did have to admit that she looked different though, although she felt like a kid playing dress up in someone elses clothing. "I dunno, Manuel," she tried to extend her powers to feel him, but as usual she reached a wall where he should be. The sales lady had very mixed feelings though which wasn't helping.

Manuel hrmmed. "You were never shown how to walk in heels, were you?" he said to Dani. "Go change back. I've got another idea - one more suited to what you can carry well." he mused. He glanced at the salesperson and made an irritated gesture with his hand, to dismiss her and send her back to help Danielle out.

"Who was going to teach me? My grandfather?" she muttered to herself, as she exited the dressing rooms. The saleslady had kept getting in the way as she was getting dressed which was annoying, she knew how to dress herself even if Manuel didn't like her taste in clothing, "I can just see that happening, about as likely as Manuel having a popular opinion. Ain't happening."

Manuel made a moue at that. "You wound me. You shouldn't wound your fashion consultant." he said, maintaining his cheerful tones. "At least I can _have_ an opinion now." he said to himself as he went back among the racks to pull some different style of clothes for Dani to try on. Simpler clothes, less edgy.

These clothes had backs and looked to be more understandable and without so many ties and random pieces, much better. "I like this one," Dani said, holding up a shirt with a beaded design on the front, "looks like my old dress, kinda."

Manuel looked at it, and shrugged. Better to give her something now, so that he could insist on something else later. "Sure. Go well with that skirt over here." he said, pulling the garment down, eyeballing it for fit, and then handing it to her. "Should have _just_ the right degree of flair to it. Now come on, this store's old and tired. And you need shoes."

"I got flip flops," Dani protested, taking the clothing to the counter. The sales clerk looked relieved at their leaving, "and sneakers. I even have some black flats I wore to Dr. MacTaggert's wedding!" Numbly, she handed over her cash, not wanting to believe the total for only a few things.

"Flip-flops." Manuel shuddered. "Humor me. One pair. Something other than sneakers or ... flip-flops."

Sighing dramatically, Dani headed out of the store, "What do I need anythign else for?" she asked as if making a huge sacrifice. The truth was, she had no clue what to get. Shopping was really not her thing although this wasn't as unpleasant as she had feared. "Oh and I got non-skid cooking shoes. Four pairs."

Manuel failed to hold himself back from rolling his eyes. "The point, Danielle, is to _look good_. Flip-flops never, ever look good. Ever." he said. "It's not like I'm going to put you into spiked boots, so you can just relax. For some of the things you bought, you need better shoes to really show them off. I can help you with that. My treat. Then there's just one more store to go to, and we're done."

Somehow, being reassured that she wasn't going to wear spiked boots was less than reassuring. He'd obviously been thinking about it. "You gonna teach me to walk in heels?" she asked innocently.

"Do you want me to?" he asked, her, being completely serious. "You have the legs for it. I would be delighted to aid you in this." he told her, and then waited obediently for her reply. At least Danielle never mocked him or castigated him for having an opinion. That was one of the most refreshing things about her.

"If you teach me how, I'll learn," there was something about the very masculine Manuel walking in heels that made learning how so very, very worth it, "But not stilletos. Just normal heels...ain't like I'm not tall enough already," she tried to sound like she didn't like this idea but secretly she did. And he thought she had the legs for it!

Manuel could see exactly where Danielle's emotions just went. "Normal heels. Stilettos - well, they're circumstantial, and you don't have any outfits that would require them. And you have a nice height to you." he said with a grin. Acres and acres of woman to explore. Grinning, Manuel pulled Dani into the shoe store. "Do you know what size you take? I'm terrible with estimating shoe-sizes in the US just by looking."

"A nine, I think. Got big feet," Dani replied absently, looking at the rows of shoe displays overwhelmed, "And I'm too tall. Ain't supposed to be as tall as the boys."

Manuel bah'ed at that. "There's nothing wrong with tall women. Just means there's more of her to get to know, inch by inch." he said, flirting with her just a bit. But he did mentally adjust the size of the heel down just a tad for her sake. He walked down the aisle with the open-toed options, letting his fingers trail along the boxes, looking for the one that felt right.

"What about these?" Dani asked, selecting a practical and very clunky pair of buckled shoes, "They look like they'd wear good."

Manuel glanced at them. "No." he said, and then stopped at a particular style. "Ahhh, here we go. Slender, elegant, but substantive enough to handle some day-to-day abuse. Now, where's the size nines..." he said to himself absently as he searched. "You. Sit. Remove your shoes." he told Danielle as he found the box he was looking for.

Rolling her eyes, Dani did so feeling incredibly stupid sitting there as Manuel retrieved the shoes for her. The shoe itself wasn't so bad though, some heel, open toed but it actually looked comfortable. When she was little she had asked her grandmother how come high heels didn't break when there was a lot of weight on them, but her grandmother had told her to be quiet and not be rude. "Okay..." she said, standing up carefully and getting her balance, so what do I do?"

"Take a few steps. Keep your shoulders back, shorten your stride. Remember, these are shoes for when you want to show off a little." he said, moving down a bench to watch the overall effect. "You've got those legs, time to use 'em."

"I wanna be a super model," Dani sang under her breath, taking Manuel's advice. Maybe she wasn't a supermodel, but she didn't fall down at least. "Hey! These don't hurt!"

"It's amazing what happens when you get well-made stuff in the right size. They don't hurt." he said. "Well, of course, this is women's fashion, and women's clothes designers hate women, so they might hurt a little. Sometimes. But these will not. Good." he said, helping Danielle sit back down so he could remove the new shoes from her feet and put them back in the box. Just for shits and giggles, he gave her a very fast foot massage while he was at it. Her poor feet looked like they could use it. Besides - she had cute toes.

Dani wiggled her toes, realizing for the first time that maybe something so insignificant might actually not be. "You need something for you 'cause you are trying to make me a supermodel or something," she pronounced, "what'dya want?"

Manuel's features thinned. "Is that what you think? That I'm just doing this because I want something from you?" he asked, slowly straightening up. "Then I am sorry for dragging you out here like this. Enjoy your new things." he said as he slowly began to walk out of the store.

"No! Manuel!" Dani followed after him, leaving the shoes on the bench, "I just wanted to thank you! I mean, I keep being difficult," her gaze strayed as a girl walked past ignoring them. Blinking in confusion, Dani shook her head, trying to figure out what had just happened. "Ew."

Manuel took a deep breath. "I will accept your apology this time." he said, and then tried out a smile. "But those are really good shoes for you. They suit you. They feel right on you. Can't you feel it?"

"I felt sick..." she mumbled, hitting her head lightly as if it were a TV that wasn't quite getting the right reception, "Sorry. She was gross inside. I like the shoes, really."

Manuel empathically glanced at the woman in question, and then nodded. "I see what you mean." He turned away for a second, to disguise the eyeflash, and then the woman swallowed heavily and exited the store hastily. "There. That should help. Moments of reflection - everyone should have them. Now then, let's pay for those and head to our last stop, OK?"

"There's more?" Dani asked incredulously, "I got clothes, a couple outfits and shoes, what else do I need?"

Manuel just grinned. "I'm sure if you think about it it'll come to you. Now come on!"

"I said you can't dye my hair," she reminded him, "or cut it. No cutting my hair either," she added as an afterthought, having no clue.

Manuel nodded. "I have no intention of messing with your hair." he said with a grin. He couldn't help but enjoy this. They were in line to pay for the shoes, so he could extend the game a little more.

Trying to think what else there could be was frustrating, there was nothing else she needed. "Makeup? 'Cause I don't think I'd wear it...I mean, I've only worn it three times and I'm not getting married any time soon."

Manuel blinked. He hadn't even considered that. "Hrm. That's a good point, and one I hadn't considered. Best to take Marie-Ange to task for that, she's better with paint than I am. But no, that's not what I was thinking."

"Oh no I'm not!" Dani protested, she was not asking anyone for makeup help because she did not wear makeup, "I don't wear make up unless someone is getting married."

Manuel grinned at Danielle. "Come on, we're next in line. And I've seen the old records of your people - you wore paint all the time when going to war!"

"You've looked at history books?" Danielle couldn't believe this from Manuel, "I thought were we barbarians who deserved our fate? Next you're going to tell me that you're giving up that electronic stuff for country!"

"Don't push." he said drolly. "And you're up. Pay for the shoes, then I'll take you to the last stop."

The shoes were on sale, which was a pleasant surprise. "I thought gentlemen carried bags for their ladies?" Dani asked, adding the new bag to the ones she was already carrying. All in all, the shopping trip had been very productive.

Manuel grinned. "No, that's what servants do. But since I am at your disposal..." he said, and took the bags from her. "Have you any more guesses as to our last stop?"

"No!" Dani laughed, taking half of the bags back. Fair was fair.

Manuel let her steal half the bags back. "Well then, you're just going to have to trust me, now, aren't you?" he said with a laugh. "Come on, it's just over here."

"The only thing over there is the pink place..." Dani trailed off, realizing that was exactly where they were headed. "You can't be serious?"

Manuel couldn't help but laugh just a little. "Of course I'm serious! Do I joke?" he asked with a grin. "Unless, of course, you're just not up for it..." he challenged, appealing to her pride.

"I have high heeled shoes that I might not fall in, I can do anything," she informed him tartly, stalking towards the store then stopping in the middle, unsure what to do next. It was like falling into Meggan's things, except there was no blonde to catch her.

Manuel smiled. Success! "Of course you can. And right now, we are going to make you look _sexy_. Come on, I think I see a couple of promising contenders." he said, leading her over to one of the displays. "With your skin, hrm. Could go for the classic white. Black would lose a lot of the effect. Lighter colors would be better..." he said as he rummaged.

"It's a bra, pick a color you like," Dani chose up a blue one that looked nice. "See? Easy."

Manuel rolled his eyes. "Not that simple." he said, putting the blue one back. "Cut, color, size, shape - they all matter." he said. "You're not used to this at all, are you? You poor, poor thing."

"We didn't even have a mall in Watonga, much less lingerie shops," she said, mispronouncing lingerie as if it were an English word instead of French, "And we were the largest city in the area!"

"Stone knives and bearskins." he said, echoing something he'd heard Doug say at one point. "Anyway. Here in the big city, with running water and indoor plumbing, we have lingerie shops. Ah, this one will do well!" he said, handing a construct of white lace and elastic to Dani. "Now, I think you need one more..."

"Nyah," Dani stuck her tongue out, but took the proffered bra. It was nice. Very lacy. "Can I choose the color this time? Since I gotta wear it?"

"I think we can arrange that. What did you have in mind?" he said with a grin. This was turning out to be much more fun than lingerie shopping with Amanda. She would usually either go into tramp mode or develop the strangest tendencies towards being shy.

"Oh, I don't know...something like this?" Dani headed to the other side of the store and selected a sports type bra in a pale blue. "Yes? Or not?"

Manuel looked at it. "The goal here is to be sexy. Can you feel sexy in a sports bra?" he asked her curiously. "Because speaking as a guy, that's just not sexy."

A guy with an opinion who wasn't saying that it was sexy, that was unique although not entirely unexpected coming from Manuel, "I guess not," Dani admitted, putting it back, "but it was practical."

"We're not shopping for practical. You have options already for practical. You're wearing one now, I suspect." he said. "The color was good, though. I like that color on you. Maybe ... just maybe..." he said, moving to a different rack and flipping through it. "Ah, here we go!" he said, pulling out a _very_ sheer little number in almost exactly the same shade of light blue. "Now _this_ will be sexy. And quite indecent." he said with a truly evil grin.

"I am not wearing anything 'practical', or at all," she informed him, eyeing the bra critically. It looked like it couldn't be washed, which meant it shouldn't be worn for long, she reasoned, which did suit their purposes. She was getting the hang of this, "And that would be illegal in Oklahoma."

"A glowing endorsement if I ever heard one." he said with a grin. He then examined her chest more closely. "Nothing at all, eh? And you dryclean it - you were wondering, and I think it's about that."

He was too damn good at figuring things out sometimes, "You a mind reader now, ain't it?" Dani drifted around the displays, just in case.

"Not quite." he said with a grin. He knew she knew damned well what his mutation was. "The female mind is something I know a thing or two about. At least, I thought I did." he said with a sigh, thinking of Amanda for a moment. Why did it always have to be difficult?

"Hey now, don't get all quiet and down," Dani came over and put her arm around his shoulders, "You're a guy in an unmentionables store with a gorgeous woman, you can't be depressed. And you probably know more about female minds than I do, I think."

Manuel perked up a bit at that. "You have an excellent point. Besides, I haven't enjoyed myself like this in a long time." he laughed. He then leaned in close and whispered "Is it cold in here or is it just me?" to her. Then he laughed, and spun out of her grasp. "Come on, you need to try this stuff on. I think I got the right size, but you'll need to try them to be sure."

"And model, I presume?" she giggled, this was fun although she'd never admit it. She really didn't need to. "But I need bottoms!"

"You do. Good thing I've already got them for you." he said, waving said bottoms at her. Daringly cut, but nothing truly tacky. Just ... suggestive. And, in the light blue case, almost gossamer-thin. "Now go on. When you're ready, I'll feel it." he said, grinning at his double-entendre.

"Oh I'm sure you will, the question is," she leaned in close so no one else could hear, "with which head?" Taking the garments she headed to the changing room wondering if she looked as goofy as she felt.

Manuel leaned up against the wall to watch her walk away. She really was nicely rounded in all the right places. And he was definitely inappropriately interested. He and his libido engaged in a bit of a heated dialog about the value of Manuel's word versus the fun that could be had with another psion while he waited for her to try the first set on. ~Ah, Amanda. Why did you have to reject me? Why? All I wanted to do was help you!~ he thought.

"And....number one!" Dani stood somewhat self consciously in front of the three-way mirror, the white lacy number just did not seem right for her, "What do you think?"

Manuel used his own self-confidence and a few nudges of his power to make his way back into the changing area without anyone having a real problem. "Nice. Innocent, but not. I like it. But here, it's not sitting right..." he said, unselfconsciously reaching over to adjust the way the bra hugged her curves. "There. That's better. What do you think?" he asked her.

"You don't think it's all...virginal and young looking? I mean, I could see this on, I dunno, Paige or something," it did fit better now that manuel had fixed the strap, but it wasn't for her, or at least, not quite.

Manuel moved up behind Dani, so that they were both looking in the mirror together. "Should I show you how it looks, how it makes people feel?" he whispered into her ear, staring at her reflection. "It's perfect. Innocence and seduction, all in one. It's very sexy. You're very sexy."

Dani blushed scarlet at his words and as the emotions flowed over her lightly, not enough to drive her crazy again, but definately enough to remind her of him, "Uh....well...that is..." at a loss for words, she ducked back in the dressing room and changed into the other set, breathing deeply before coming back out. "Was that me, or you?" she asked, "I know it was your powers, but who's emotions?"

Manuel just smiled at her serenely in that infuriating way he had. "I like this set. It covers - technically - but conceals nothing. Quite appealing." It must be a Native American thing, he mused in the privacy of his own mind, to be that sheer, that hairless. Or she was a very deft hand indeed with a razor. Either way, he wasn't going to complain one bit.

This one Dani liked. The color was good and she didn't feel so damn foolish in it even though it was more risque than the first. "This one, I like," she said, striking a pose and undoing her braids. Maybe that was the problem.

Manuel was tempted to explode right there and then. The pose and the letting down of her hair is what did it for him. Straight, soft, clean, undyed hair.

"Well, since you're quite pleased, we should probably wrap this up and head back." ~Before I throw you against the wall and fuck you silly.~ he thought in his head, careful not to try to empathically leak that desire. He had the sinking feeling he was failing, as when he got worked up his shielding went to shit.

Raising an eyebrow, Dani headed back to the dressing room, taking her time changing back for both their sakes. She'd had no idea that Manuel had felt so strongly about her, although now that she thought about it, it shouldn't have been such a surprise. Damn her powers doing being so erratic right now, even though she also knew she shouldn't rely solely on them. Ignoring him as she left the dressing rooms, Dani went straight to the counter to pay. She was definately getting both!

Manuel appreciated the space, and took a moment to impose some mental discipline before he walked out of the changing rooms and joined Danielle at the register. "No, these are on me." he said, handing the cashier his bank card instead of pulling from her wallet. "I insist."

"I said you deserved something for taking me out like this," Danielle protested, trying to give the clerk the cash. "My treat."

Current Mood: horny
Current Music: Reba McIntire - Fancy

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It's amazing what happens when you get well-made stuff in the right size.

ahahahahahahahahahaha. Go check out the Manolos in my closet, my friend. They didn't hurt. IN THE STORE. I pity Dani. She'll either suffer like the rest of us or wear non-skid shoes with her fancy clothes. ;) Great log, you two.