https://i.imgur.com/TZFDaPS.png Thomas wasn't looking for assurance from Zilrud that he was having fun. Plenty of people did not enjoy shopping, even those that grew up in a society that touted it as an aspirational activity. Zilrud has not grown up in such a culture, so presumably he found this en...

https://i.imgur.com/TZFDaPS.png Thomas thought about Zilrud's calves when Zilrud asked the question. Not in a prurient way, although that was never too far from his thoughts when it came to his esteemed guest. He thought about Zilrud bending, squatting, or otherwise flexing them. Any leather good t...

https://i.imgur.com/TZFDaPS.png Thomas did indeed join Zilrud on the couch. For one thing, he wanted to have a crack at the pattern books. It was evident that Zilrud had not the faintest idea what Thomas had been trying to tell him but was gamely trying to soldier on. He appreciated the man's willi...

https://i.imgur.com/TZFDaPS.png As Zilrud got in the shopkeeper's personal space in order to demonstrate exactly what he wanted Thomas maintained eye contact with the man, straightened his posture, and broadened his smile like a charismatic shield to protect Zilrud from the social consequences of h...

https://i.imgur.com/TZFDaPS.png The hand on the small of his back was rather nice. While he was much more in his element than Zilrud was, it was still reassuring not to be out and about alone. Thomas had spent much of his adult life relying solely on himself. It was nice to have someone have his ba...

https://i.imgur.com/TZFDaPS.png Thomas had not at all expected Zilrud to ask his opinion on such matters. He had surmised that Zilrud took a utilitarian view on fashion. He seemed to care more about function than form, about flexibility and mobility than aesthetics. Thomas had assumed that at the e...

https://i.imgur.com/TZFDaPS.png Thomas chose to believe that Zilrud would not actually eviscerate a shopkeeper if crossed. He was pretty sure the orkhai wouldn't do so. Maybe eighty percent sure, which was decently certain. That dropped precipitously if anyone got too handsy or familiar with him, b...

https://i.imgur.com/TZFDaPS.png 31st Frost 4622 There were few things Thomas adored more than shopping. It was better when he was spending someone else's money, but even when it was his own, there was something straight-forwardly joyful about getting new objects. He also didn't mind buying stuff fo...

https://i.imgur.com/TZFDaPS.png Thomas smiled ruefully. "I think you see the fear, Sir, but do not understand its source. You say I've a big heart, a soft heart, and I will freely admit you have the right of it. I think I also have a soft head, though, because my head has me do things that makes my...

https://i.imgur.com/TZFDaPS.png While Thomas had not known Zilrud long enough to know many things about the man, he knew that when the orkhai put his weather beaten, callused hands on Thomas', he was expected to do as he was bade. He rarely minded. Looking to Zilrud for continued instructions, Thom...