[SIDESTORY] Morbit Vignettes

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

The Spider's New Clothes - 2021
Comorant
CW: Mention of Injury
Arabis shows off his new Outfit

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 The smell of toast, sausages, and coffee filled the Judgment house that morning.

It was a break day and as a result everyone had the time to settle for something more than just a little jam on bread before starting their daily routines. 

Zinnia was more than ready to dive in for a nice meal and banter with the rest of the family but hadn't seen or heard anything from their dear arachnid friend at all.

 They scurried over to their room, perhaps he simply slept in?

 The dog knocked on the door. 

 Zinnia: Arabis, breakfast time! Don't take too long there, yeah?

 Zinnia knocked again.

 Zinnia: Arabis? 

 Arabis yelled out from within the room.

 Arabis: A moment! I'm fiddling with something crucial!

 Zinnia: Is everything alright in there? You want me to come in?

 Arabis: ...Perhaps? I may need your input to be quite honest...

 Zinnia: Sure, the door's locked though.

 Arabis: Apologies, I'll be over in just a minute.

 The spider's steps could be heard as they approached the door, the sound of the lock clicking open before they retreated back.

 Zinnia entered somewhat cautiously, unsure what to really expect. The spider was seated on his bed, facing away from the entrance.

 Zinnia: I'm here, what's the problem?

 Arabis: It's rather silly.

 Zinnia: I don't mind.

 He turned around somewhat hesitantly. He was dressed in suspender shorts and a blouse shirt.

 Arabis: How does it look?

 The dog couldn't help but grin, though getting any words out took time while they fully processed it.

 Zinnia: Good... Good! You pick this up recently?

 Arabis: Mm. Pitcher suggested that I should get more clothes rather than having to wash the same outfit daily. I told her I could manage if I built up enough silk but she insisted that we could splurge some... 

 Zinnia moved closer to the spider to examine better. 

 Zinnia: That's a really killer look. You pick it out yourself?

 Arabis: Mm... I was hesitant at first but Pitcher insisted I could pull such a style off.

 Arabis stood up and did a little turn. Much to the dog's surprise there were a few things he was never able to see
before with the spider's old outfit, a tail and a prosthetic leg.

 Zinnia: You have a tail?

 Arabis: Mm, I usually keep it tucked in but these shorts had a slot for it... 

 Zinnia:... Can I touch it?

 The spider's cheeks turned red.

 Arabis: You like it?

 Zinnia: It's cute.... kinda fluffy though, no idea how you hid that away.

 Arabis: I have my methods.. So you do like it then?

 Zinnia: Love it.... also may I?

 Arabis: Mmm... 

 Zinnia put their hand through Arabis' tail, indulging in the soft and fluffy nature of it. Arabis looked away, trying to cover up his smile. 

 Zinnia: You manage to pick out anything else?

 Arabis: A few little things, you'll get to see them soon enough... admittedly a good number of these are outside of my element however.

 Zinnia: Like what?

 Arabis: Shorts are a big one. I rather like the concept of them and they are quite comfortable but well...

 Zinnia: Well what? They look good!

 Arabis: I don't like to have certain scars exposed, my right leg being the most extreme case... prior to exile I had quite a few rough scuffles trying to live among the public and it's resulted in a good number of moments that certainly made exile and the life of a hermit appealing...

 Zinnia: Who hurt you like that?

 Arabis: A noble's personal so-called "knight". A crook frankly, made a point to mark me for life hoping that I wouldn't show my face again. I suppose I let him win in the end by leaving town. Anyway, some kindly folks at the very least provided me with my first prosthetic, a simple wooden thing. 

 Zinnia: What about this one? The metal work on that is really something....

 Arabis: Made my current one myself, I have a bit of an affinity for working with this kind of craft if you could believe it or not. It functions quite well and due to my fiendish nature it attached on as if it were meant to be there the whole time.... I'm quite proud of the work I put into it despite the circumstances around it..

 Zinnia: Is it weird that I think it's kind of pretty? You did a really good job on it.

 Arabis: I think so too, though I admit I never expected to hear that from someone else... I figured that if I needed a new leg it had to be something I'd be personally satisfied with. It took a lot of trial and error, but a decade in isolation did wonders for my craftsmanship I do feel. 

 Zinnia: You ever consider it as a job? Heck we could really benefit a ton from it here in the Judgment house... 

 Arabis: Perhaps.. as a fiend however it's difficult to find work outside of being muscle which...
 Zinnia: Not your cup of team?

 Arabis: Not really in the slightest if I'm quite frank. If I have to fight it's what I'll do but I have no interest for such conflict in my heart. 

 Zinnia: I mean you don't gotta fight if you really don't want to. You got plenty of options.
 Zinnia placed a hand on his cheek.

 Arabis smiled.

 Arabis: I'll still of course stand by you and the family should crisis come. I do really wish to make this work...

 Zinnia: You're making it work fine. Folks here are liking you plenty already.

 Arabis: You think so? I always worry...

 Zinnia: I know so. A couple have said that much at least so... don't sweat it alright?

 Arabis nodded.

 Arabis: I will try not to. 

 The dog reached for his hand.

 Zinnia: Anyway you ready to get some grub? Everyone else is probably wondering where we are by now.

 Arabis: Mm. Let's not keep them waiting any longer...

 The two made their way to the kitchen together.

 Despite the fact that the others were nearly done by now, they stuck around to keep the two company the entire time.