Stray Cat Strut Chapter Thirty-Three - The Perfect Fit

Chapter Thirty-Three - The Perfect Fit

Fashion amongst Samurai is a quick-moving and vicious thing. Most lower-tiered Samurai will change outfits and styles at the drop of a hat, sotis literally. Their mass market appeal requires that they stand out, at least a little, from those that ca before.

Thats why youll see such wild styles being adopted by so. The rise of entire sites dedicated to judging the fashion sense of so Samurai (and the shaming of Shamurai, or those Samurai who go too far with their style), the tabloids around them, and the way that clothing companies are quick to copy any interesting fashion on display has led to a strange sort of competition.

Most of the established Samurai, strangely enough, dont seem to care as much about it. By the ti theyve gotten that far into their careers theyve usually figured out the look and style they want to adopt.

--Edith Rockwell, lead clothing designer, Nimbletainnt Inc. 2032

***

New Purchase:Under Shoulder Autoloading Holster Mark I

Points reduced to... 224

I stared at the box waiting for on the ground, right next to a couple of other boxes that Id kicked around. Myalis had convinced to get healed up properly before moving on. Then she got to buy a juice box.

I sucked at the little straw sticking out of the one-point drink until my cheeks caved in.

It was, hand down, the best drink Id ever had. Both sweet and savoury, with a bit of a citrusy tang to it, and it left with an after-taste as if Id just bitten into one of those really expensive organic apples Lucy and I had once stolen from the better part of the city.

Point was, alien food was the best and worth every point.

I can never give any of this to Lucy, I said as I yoinked the straw out of the box, then tipped it over for one last drop.

I cant see how it would be bad for her.

It would be bad for . Shed never stop nagging for more. And then shed go full puppy-dog on and fake cry and Id fold like a stack of cards. Shed drain away my points in an afternoon.

Learning that my Vanguard is susceptible to attractive young won looking pitiful is rather distressing.

I snorted. I didnt ask you to get jamd in my head, I said. Now, lets see this thing.

I could get used to opening up boxes only to find new toys in them. It beat the hell out of... literally any Christmas ever. The best we ever got were so really nice school supplies from a Samurai-run charity one year, and as cool as they had been, theyd still been school supplies.

The lid ca off with a dull thwap and I flung it aside without a care to reveal... a sort of jacket... thing.

I pulled the auto loader out of the case and held it up. There were two holes for arms with elbow-length sleeves, and a zipper at the front. The entire thing only reached down to the lower ribs though. More like half a jacket than a jacket proper.

Shrugging, I set it aside, tore off my own shitty grey coat, and left it on the ground. The thing had a fist-sized hole in it already, it was finished one way or another.

Putting on the auto-loader was a little tricky. It had pockets on the back and two boxes tucked just under the arms and over pouch-like openings. It looked pretty sleek though, like a custom made leather coat.

Place your gun in one of the holsters.

I did as Myalis asked and brought my Trench Maker into the right-side holster. The entire thing squeezed around the gun like a vacuum seal in less ti than it took to blink. I had to tug at it a little to pull it out. Cool, I said. What about the loading?

Touch an empty magazine to the box below your arm. I would suggest buying a few.

Sure, give , uh... The gun was empty as it was, and there were four pockets at the back of the auto-loader. I imagined they would seal up the sa way. Five magazines. All incendiary.

You really do like those rounds. Perhaps you should try sothing else? The Trench Maker can use micro-missiles, sabot rounds, explosives, and many other load-outs.

Just incendiaries for now, I said. Though so of those had sounded damned tempting.

New Purchase:.45 Armour Piercing Incendiary Magazine. Five Units

Points reduced to... 214

Five fresh magazines appeared next to the empty box before . I took one and tapped it to the slim little box under my armpit.

A trio of little arms unfolded themselves from the box, grabbed the magazine in little pinchers, then rotated around and behind where I couldnt see them even looking over my shoulder. They slotted the magazine into one of the back pockets and then slid back into place.

Cool, I said. I watched the little arms slot away three more magazines, then I stuffed my Trench Maker into place. The little arms got to work right away, tossing the empty magazine to the ground and fitting in a new one in under two seconds. Nice. I looked down at myself, then nodded. It even kinda looks cool. Does it co in colours that arent black?

It does. You may pick next ti. I didnt think it would matter.

I perked an eyebrow. Which colours can I pick from?

Which hex code is your favourite?

I... nevermind, just curious.

I have your asurents, so it should fit quite comfortably.

I blinked, then felt the inside of the auto-loader. It was nice and padded. A quick zip, then so bouncing up and down revealed a few important things. When you said asurents, you werent kidding.

If I gained any weight the damned thing wouldnt fit, but it didnt encumber my breathing or anything.

Is there anything else you need?

I... think this will do for now, I said. How much ti had I just wasted playing dress-up with cool guns? I shook my head, considered putting on my torn up jacket, then gave up on that. I probably looked a ss with my black half-jacket and torn up and bloody clothes, but I looked like a dangerous ss, and that was a fashionable enough statent for .

I considered tossing everything in the trash, then gave up on that idea. The whole building was filled with dead aliens, it probably didnt matter all that much that Id left so junk on the ground.

Ti to go see if the others are still alive, I said.