Private Shoppin' on Alderaan

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Location: Alderaanian Shopping Mall

Bethany loved this place. She made sure she visited anytime she was on Alderaan. And now that she practically lived here full time, she perhaps was spending a little too much time there. But, between her time studying, singing, and other duties that were requested of her - well, a little relaxing couldn't hurt too much.

Perhaps more excitedly is that she convinced Taru Cadera to join her in her shopping exploits. Afterwards, she even convinced him to bake some goodies with her. And hoh boy, did she have a list of recipes she wanted to try out. What better time when someone would be willing to help her? With excitement in her voice, she spun to Taru and spread her arms out to the mall. "Isn't it gorgeous?" She commented dreamily.

"I need to stop by one specific store before we get the ingredients," she commented as she turned, her ponytail and bangs swaying with her. Of course, she'd wait for him to be ready before she started walking. Her light pink dress with red designs shined - indeed, she got the dress from this very mall. And perhaps the place she intended to take them to first. Maybe she could even convince Taru to at least try on something new.

Maybe, anyway.

 

[Taru Cadera]

He was, as he had expected to be, bored out of his mind. Of all of the things that Beth could have dragged him into doing, she just had to pick shopping too.

She had told him that there was going to be cake for dinner but in order to eat it he had to help so he grudgingly accepted to help. BUT THEN, she threw him for a loop and said that they needed to go shopping for the ingredients. On Alderaan. And for some reason unknown to Taru, shopping for cake ingredients also involved clothes shopping and staring at silks and cloths and leathers and bartering for a cheaper price on something that would only be worn at best once.

Taru did not have the same opinion on the mall when Beth proclaimed that it was gorgeous. He wore his normal ori'kute bodyglove, pants and a ripped jacket because Beth wouldn't let him go shopping in his Beskar'kandr, cause for some reason it was not the right mood or something stupid like that. He truly wished that he was in his beskar'kandr, and anywhere but here in this mall. Getting shot at was less boring than this, especially when he could take the hit, whereas here he could only keep a small holdout blaster inside of the ripped jacket, his horns on his head and all the combat training that he got from Uncle Skorvek.

"Where are we going now" he muttered almost whining. This was definitely too much for him...

Gaia Sunaris Cadera

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Beth beamed towards Taru Cadera . Her long tail swayed behind her as she glanced back towards Taru. She knew he was being a good sport about coming along - indeed, she hoped that the cake they'd make would make up for the hell she knew she was putting him through. She was lucky enough to get him out of his beskar, let alone into a mall, after all.

"Just to this one shop!" She pointed at a store with a dazzling array of Alderaanian dresses on display on the left. Several suits for men displayed on the right. All of which made Beth's eyes almost go starry from it all. "Gorgeous," she whispered as her long, diamond shaped pupil dilated, almost becoming oval shaped.

"Just for a few minutes, promise! Then straight to the bakery," she said as she waved for Taru to follow her as she quickly walked into the store.

"Where to start, let's start with you!" She said with a big grin as she grabbed his hand, pulling him (likely literally) towards the men's section of the store. She only stopped at a row of button up shirts, one ear slightly tilted to the side as she pondered - which one would fit Taru?

... Granted, he had that more rebel, bad boy vibe so maybe this wasn't the store for him.

 

[Taru Cadera]

Why wasn't he surprised when she dragged him to one of those fancy formal wear shops? He should have been knowing that they were originally here for cake ingredients, but knowing Beth he should have been prepared for this.

But he was not prepared for the moments where she exclaimed that they would be starting off with him. Like seriously why Taru? He did not want this, he just wanted to get the ingredients, bake the cake, eat it, and then eat something else, and finally go back to combat training, where he currently felt at home. But this was not home, this was stupid Alderaan, and a stupid mall, and a stupid shop.

Caught in his wishful thinking, he let Beth yank him into the direction of the button-up shirts, only screeching out a reply of "Why me?" before stopping in front of a fancy-looking light-blue shimmersilk shirt.

"Ugh let me guess, you want me to try this on..." Finding one close to his shirt size he took it and turning in a quick circle asked "So where do I go now?"

Gaia Sunaris Cadera

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Gaia only naturally got distracted. Some may say it was even hardwired into her DNA, somehow. In truth, she just got really excited about things. Shopping was one of those things, and mostly because things looked so beautiful and amazing and... Taru Cadera was hating every moment of it.

She tsked at his screech. "Because you love me and I'm trying to make you handsome so you can get some dates!" Gaia exclaimed, clapping her hands together with a big grin. Taru stopped in front of shimmersilk shirt. And it seemed like he might like it. Naturally, she gave a nod. "Right over there!" She pointed to the dressings rooms.

"It's okay, though, if you don't want too..." She replied somewhat defeated, her hands feeling the soft fabric of the shirt.

At least Gaia had a talent with baking. It was a favorite past time of hers, and at least he knew on some level that the cake would be absolutely delicious. Or she hoped he did, anyways. She did spend a lot more time on Alderaan than Mandalore or Mando planets, that Taru was more raised in.

 

[Taru Cadera]

As Taru went into the dressing rooms area, his thoughts shot back towards what Gaia Sunaris Cadera had said about why him. Something about dates. His mind immediately shotgunned towards the idea of the food—dates, especially the ones from Erebos. They were so tasty, sweet, and the pits weren't that big so there was more fruit less pit.

As he was picturing food in his mind and as his stomach began to grumble as a result of such wishful thinking, Taru was herded into an open room. The back wall was covered by a full-length mirror, and on the sides of the tiny room was a small bench and a built-in rack for hangers and clothes.

He removed his jacket and the bodyglove, setting them aside onto the bench, all while still daydreaming about food. Dazedly he reached for the light-blue shimmersilk shirt, pulling it over his head carefully so as not to tear the shirt with his horns. Pulling it down across his chest until it began brushing his abs, his thoughts of food began to be interrupted with thoughts on the softness of this shirt. Girls must really like these soft shirts, he muttered silently while patting the shirt into position, its bottom portion going just over the top of his ripped jeans.

And then it dawned upon him.

Dates.

Not the food.

But dates.

As in relationships, love, fun, and everything else that came with those.
Thats what Gaia had meant. And Taru guessed that he understood how it worked, this soft shirt. But did he really? Nope.

"Gaia, can you come take a look? I dont know what I'm doing?" He yelled after cracking the door to the dressing room slightly open.
Then looking at his hands and the sleeves of the shirt, he added "I dont think this color fits me..."