I spent the next couple of hours walking around with a naked pixie in my arms while I updated to look of the house. Everything went from plain to homey, yet stylish, and I finally added some color to the walls. Including quite a bit of apricot in the guest bedroom, much to the pixie's amusement.

"You ready to head into town?" I ask Amelia when the clock on the mantle tells me what my senses connected to the plants already informed me of. "It's almost time for lunch."

"Yes." She answers with a smile and then a laugh when she sees the naked pixie in my arms. "But, you and Apricot might want to get dressed. The house looks amazing, by the way."

While Amelia's taking a quick tour, I quickly change my clothes before setting Apricot on the ground and dress her by hand.

"You do know that I can do this myself, right?" She says but doesn't stop me, she certainly doesn't complain about the liberties I take while placing every article of clothing on her supple body.

"Really?" I ask with a smirk while setting her breasts into a t-shirt bra. "Because I'm pretty sure Amelia still needs to help you with these." My smirk grows into a grin at the look that crosses her face.

"Nng, she's had half her life to get used to these damned contraptions." The pixie's grumbles draws a laugh from Amelia when she steps back downstairs.

"Oh, what a pretty outfit." Amelia coos when I slip Apricot into the rest of her clothes. A scoop-necked white tee with lacy short sleeves over a knee-length floral skirt full of Apricot blossoms.

"Don't you think the skirt is a bit too on the nose though?" Apricot says while giving a twirl to make it flare out.

"Oh, don't even try to pretend you don't like it when he makes a pun about your name." Amelia wraps her arms around her winged lover. "I can feel what you feel, remember. And, it really is a cute skirt." She kisses the pouting pixie.

"Let's get Flicker hitched up." I take one of Apricot's hands, leaving the other for Amelia. "One of the guards gave me a lead on a machinist that I want to talk to while you're catching up with Helen."

"You're still going to see Elise though, right?" The blonde immediately brings out her worried voice.

"Yes, dear." I fight not to sigh. "I've been wanting to check out her clinic anyways, get a chance to see the spells being used by a professional."

"You know I can't help but worry." She steps in front of me, putting her hand on my chest.

"I know." I cover her hand with one of my own. "And I'm sorry for snapping, but it really is safe. And, as you can see, it's already working; I had to let my jeans out when I put them on and would have with the shirt too if I hadn't picked a looser one."

"You can play with his muscles later." Apricot trills out a laugh. "I'll make sure that Elise gives him a total checkup, but he's right. I've been watching closely and there doesn't seem to be any side effects, not for him or any of the guards today."

"I know." Amelia parrots my words. "But, I'm still going to worry until he's finished pushing himself so hard. And, then..." She licks her lips while trailing her hand down my abs. "I think I'm going to enjoy myself."

I almost pull her back to me when she turns away, but the knowledge that she hasn't seen her friend for months keep me from making her very late for their lunch. She looks back over her shoulder with a smirk for the pants that I now wish I had let out a little more.

...

It was a very uncomfortable ride into town after that. The two of them took turns teasing me the whole way there. They only stopped when I threatened to take Amelia right there in the middle of the road. Apricot was all for it, but Amelia's shyness quickly won out causing her to back off.

"Fine, you win this round." The blonde humphs. "But, Apricot isn't going to be relieving you of that frustration. Not without me, and not until tonight... if you're lucky. Just consider it a little bit of payback."

"Now that is playing dirty." My whole body shivers when I wrestle control back from my frustrated sex drive. "But, you should remember that while she can't help me out, the restriction doesn't go both ways... unlike your bond. Have a fun lunch." I laugh wickedly and grab the pixie before jumping off of the carriage.

"Hahahahahaha." Apricot's laughter fills the streets as I dash away. "Oh, she is going to get you good for that." She comments once I slow down after putting a few blocks between us and Amelia.

"Turnabout is just fair play." I say innocently. "Now where was Sinclair's shop at? I got a little twisted about during the run." I shift apricot into a piggyback carry and start walking generally west based on the position of the sun, hoping to find a familiar landmark on the way.

"The street is a few blocks further south from here." Apricot answers. "You're heading in the right direction, so I'll tell you when we get closer. Just -aah ah- keep -ah- going."

"Don't worry, I'll get you there." Both of my hands may be visible, but my vines are currently covered by her skirt. So, this piggyback ride is not quite as innocent as it appears.

"Ah-Aaah-oh-oh-ohhh!" Apricot shudders and struggles to control her voice as my tentacles tease her. "Oh, gods. Amelia's going to kill you, you know that right? But, -Nnh- please don't stop."

"We're lucky this side-street doesn't have a lot of traffic on it." I dial back the intensity just enough to keep her, and consequently Amelia, right on the edge. "But, one of us really should learn a soundproofing spell."

...

"Hey, Sweetie." I ease up on her a little when I notice the buildings have started to look a bit shabbier than before. "I think we missed our turn."

"And, whose fault do you think that is?" Apricot pants out.

"Yeah, well." I shrug, not at all apologetic. "The thing is, I think we're about to get mugged. Do you want to punish them for interrupting your fun, or shall I just make the lot of them go to sleep?" I speak loudly enough for the poorly hidden thugs to hear.

"Nng, fucking lunkers!" She spits out the oath and starts berating the would-be thieves who are not only stupid enough not to just run away but actually step out to confront us. "Way to ruin the mood, you assholes. I'd kick all of your asses... if I could walk right now."

"Shut the..." The lead thug, a greasy, little, weasel of a character clutches his throat when I seize control of his vocal cords. Preventing whatever garbage he was about to spew from spilling out.

"Look, I don't particularly want to waste my time by dragging you four off to the guards." I say with a sigh. "But, stupidity of this magnitude deserves to be punished."

I force their clothes to make them walk behind me as I head for the main street and, hopefully, a guard patrol. We make a strange sight; a Plantkin giving a pixie a piggyback ride as four panicking, yet oddly silent toughs shuffle along behind us. Despite struggling with all their might, they can't escape their clothing.

"Oh, man." I hang my head as a thought hits. "Amelia's either going to laugh her ass off, or get even more worried when she hears about this."

"Oh, she's laughing her ass off." Apricot adds a few chuckles of her own. "Says you deserve it for trying to ruin her lunch. Look, some guards are coming around the corner over there." She points over my shoulder.

"Thank goodness." I heave out a sigh and pick up the pace. "There is not nearly enough plant life around for me to keep this stunt up for much longer. Excuse me, Guardsman. Oh, hey... I'm sorry I didn't get your name earlier." The guard on my left was one of my running partners this morning.

"It's Leon, this is my partner Ilyssa." The dog-kin named Leon replies with a laugh directed at the street rats. They've gone from panicked, to resigned, even grateful to see the guard and be free from this torment. "What uh, seems to be the problem? Heheh."

"Attempted mugging." I explain, dropping the four thug's knives to the ground. They tried to throw them away when I first mentioned the guards, but I just had their shirts grab onto the weapons. "We got lost looking for a shop and these four 'gentlemen' offered to 'point' us in the right direction."

"What did you do to them, why aren't they saying anything?" Ilyssa asks with a gulp.

"I've stopped their voice boxes from working." I explain with a glare over my shoulder at their leader. "I'm going to release it now, but they are going to remain civil, or it might just become permanent."

I wait until they all nod before dropping the spells, they don't even try to run or say anything beyond a simple test to see if they can speak again. The four of them just sag in relief at not being held captive by their own clothing.

"I'm sorry to bother you two with this." I say as the guards start tying the thugs’ wrists together behind their backs. "I tried warning these idiots away, but... well, I don't know what they were thinking, if they even were." This statement earns me a few glares, but not one of them dares even open their mouths.

"A common problem with their sort." Leon replies. "I don't recognize these four, do you, Ilyssa?"

"Probably got chased out of Cendassa." She shakes her head. "A pint says they came over the bridge within the week."

"Hah! No bet." He snorts. "Let's drag them over to Bernadette though, see if she's seen them."

"Heh, fine." Ilyssa huffs. "Come on boys, let's get you away from the big bad Plantkin. Hahahahaha." She cracks up laughing when they jump at the chance to escape from me.

"Thank you for grabbing these guys, Sorrel." Leon offers me a shallow bow. "You might need to speak with a Magistrate, but I'm guessing that these fine gentlemen will be happy to confess. Just so long as it means never having to see you again." The thugs all bob their heads along with his words.

"No problem." I smile at their antics. "Will I see you for the run tomorrow?"

"Unfortunately, I'm on duty." He frowns slightly. "But, a few of the guys who couldn't make it today will be there. Alright, I'm sure the whole of the docks has learned not to mess with you today. But, you take care, okay?"

"Will do." I nod at him and his partner before we part ways.