Faye stood there for a long moment, the piece still in her hands. Up close, it somehow looked even more dangerous. The fabric was impossibly light, barely holding its shape when she lifted it a little.
The sheer material caught the warm light in a way that made it feel more like a suggestion than actual clothing—a thong that was more string than fabric, a bra made almost entirely of mesh, designed to leave just enough to the imagination while showing off everything else.
"I'm really going through with this…"
She muttered under her breath. Her fingers tightened around the delicate straps before she quickly turned away.
"I—I'm going to try it on," she said, still not looking at me.
The stylist perked up immediately with a flustered, "O-Of course! The fitting area is just over here—"
But Faye cut in fast with a sharp, "I know where it is."
She was already moving, clearly more eager to escape than to be guided, and she disappeared behind the partition a moment later, the soft curtain falling shut behind her.
And just like that, silence settled over us—long enough that I let out a slow breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
This might have been a mistake...
No, no, it wasn't!
This was progress. Huge progress. I just hadn't thought it would get this far, this fast.
Behind the curtain came the faint rustle of fabric, followed by a pause, then more movement—slower this time, the soft sound of her old clothes coming off, then the whisper of that tiny scrap of nothing sliding over her legs, up her thighs.
"This is ridiculous…"
Faye's voice came through, quieter now, like she was talking more to herself than to me.
"Cassian."
"Yeah?"
"How is this even supposed to stay on?"
"You'll figure it out."
"That's not helpful!" she snapped. There was another pause, then a soft huff, more shifting, the sound of thin strings being adjusted, the barest rustle of mesh against skin.
A quiet, frustrated noise when something didn't sit quite right, probably the way the thong rode up or the way the mesh bra cups didn't want to stay in place, then another adjustment as the seconds stretched, and stretched, until finally...
"I think I got it…"
Her voice was smaller now, not embarrassed in the same way as before—just aware. Aware of herself, of how little there was between her and open air, of how the barest movement would make the mesh shift against her breast, how the thin string of the thong between her legs barely covered anything at all.
"I'm not coming out," she insisted.
I raised a brow. "You went through all that just to hide?"
"That's not the point!" she shot back immediately. "This is—this is different, okay!?"
I leaned back slightly, crossing my arms.
"Then I'll come in."
"Don't you dare—!"
I stopped just short of the curtain, giving her enough time to react—just enough to remind her I could.
"Faye."
Silence.
"You said you'd try it," I reminded her.
Another pause followed, longer this time, before she finally muttered, "Just… don't laugh, okay?"
That caught me off guard.
Out of all the possible reactions, she was worried about me laughing? I don't think laughing is even an option in a situation like this...
"I wasn't planning to."
"And don't say anything weird."
"No promises."
"Cassian."
"Alright, alright. I won't."
A quiet breath came from the other side, and then the curtain shifted, just a little at first, like she was testing the idea. before it finally parted.
Faye stepped out, one hand still gripping the curtain. The soft lighting softened everything: the swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist, the curve of her hips.
The bra was all mesh, so thin her nipples pressed against it, the delicate peaks visible through the see-through fabric. The thong was more string than fabric—a tiny triangle in front, nothing in back but a single string disappearing between her cheeks. She fought the urge to cover up, but her thighs pressed together for a moment.
"Say something," she muttered.
I didn't. Not right away. I just watched—the way her breath came faster, her nipples brushing the mesh with every rise and fall, her skin flushed and warm.
"It suits you,"
I said at last—simple, direct, no teasing. But my voice had dropped, just slightly, and we both heard it.
It was the only thing I could say without sounding weird—and it wasn't even a lie. It really did suit her, way more than I'd expected.
"That's it?" she asked.
"You want more?"
Her face flushed again, but she didn't look away this time. "No. I just thought you'd say something… worse."
"I could try..."
"Please don't," Faye replied with an awkward chuckle.
A small pause settled between us, different from before, quieter, heavier, as Faye shifted her weight, her fingers loosening on the curtain.
"Y'know, it doesn't feel as bad as I thought."
She admitted, almost reluctantly. The mesh shifted with her, the thong riding up just a little, and I saw her notice—saw her realize just how much of her was on display with every small movement.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Her voice was steadier now, but lower. Almost thoughtful.
"It kind of feels… good."
[Faye Amberlyne: Personality heavily shifted due to actions.]
[Quest nearing completion]
Her gaze flicked toward me, then away again.
"C-Cassian, do you think—"
—FWISH!
"My lord, we have an emergency!"
Edward came in.