Divine Artifact in a Scientific World
Chapter 143: Soirée, not movie set

Chapter 143: Soirée, not movie set

"Everything alright in there," asked Miranda.

"Yes, everything is fine," Jack replied. "I’ll be out in a few minutes. We were just having a private conversation."

"Okay," replied Miranda, a hint of humor in her tone. She could tell from their connection just what kind of "conversation" he and Samantha had been having.

He gave Samantha a light smack on her ass and said, "Enough playtime for now. I need to try on this first outfit."

She made a noise of assent that was half moan, then got up from her knees and went to the first display, removed the slacks and handed them to him. While he put on the slacks, she retrieved the shirt.

While he was buttoning the shirt, she "helped" him tuck the shirt into his slacks, making sure to grab his ass and caress his still half hard cock while she was at it.

After changing into the first displayed outfit, he walked outside and down the hall to the alcove, Samantha following behind him.

Miranda made a noise of appreciation. Though he was sure at least half that appreciation was for the visible bulge in his slacks.

Lydia tried to hide her smirk when she caught the direction of Miranda’s gave.

"What’s your mom’s ETA?" he asked Miranda as he examined himself in the mirror.

"She’ll be here in a few minutes," replied Miranda.

The outfit looked good, but it didn’t feel like him. He wasn’t sure why, but the outfit left him with the impression he was headed for a smokey back room to play poker.

"What?" asked Miranda, sensing he wasn’t happy with the outfit.

"It makes me look like I’m a poker player in some smokey back room."

Lydia nodded, but kept her mouth shut.

"Is there something wrong with that?" asked Miranda.

"I’m going to a soiree, not a gambling den. I want to look smart, classy, not gritty."

He turned and headed back to the changing room, and Samantha followed.

While he unbuttoned his shirt, Samantha undid his belt. But this time she pulled his slacks down without also pulling his boxes down with them.

He sat, and she pulled off his shoes and slacks, then went and fetched the slacks from the second display. After dressing and returning to the alcove to look at himself in the mirror.

The outfit was also not him, making him feel like he was tending bar at some trendy, hipster club that didn’t serve drinks but artisanal beverage experiences.

He shook his head.

"You don’t like it?" asked Miranda.

"It makes me look like a hipster beverage artiste!" he said indignantly.

Lydia covered her mouth, shoulders twitching.

As he returned to the changing room, with Samantha in tow, he heard Miranda mutter, "What’s wrong with that?"

The last outfit was better, but still felt a bit off. He was still trying to explain why it wasn’t right when Miranda’s mom, Sophia, walked into the alcove.

"Oh, my," she said as soon as she saw him. "I see Miranda is trying to dress you for a part on Peaky Blinders."

He’d heard of the show but had never seen it.

"Mom!" Miranda whined.

Lydia covered her mouth, but he could still her smile in her eyes.

"Hello, Sophia. Thank you for agreeing to help me with this arduous endeavor."

Sophia laughed and said, "It’s my pleasure. Miranda has been so happy since she met you."

Then she turned to Samantha. "And who is the lovely young lady?"

"Sophia, this is Samantha Norwood," he said. "She and I are recently re-acquainted."

Sophia shook Samantha’s hand. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Samantha."

Grinning, Samantha said, "The pleasure’s all mine, Mrs. Martel. I just loved your article in Vie Élégante."

"Oh? Which one?" asked Sophia.

"All of them? But really the one titled, ’De chamailleries de chipies à charmes de copines’. It really spoke to me."

Samantha must have seen the look on his face and realize he wanted to know what the title meant, because she looked at him and said, "The title could be translated as ’From bickering bitches to beautiful besties’."

He imagined the title was just a cutesy way of saying ’how to get along with your harem sisters.’

Sophia gave Jack a look and asked, "Is she your third?"

"Fifth," he replied, watching Samantha squirm with excitement. She understood the implications.

Sophia raise an eyebrow, then said, "Well, as long as Miranda is happy, I’m happy."

Then she turned to Lydia and said, "Show me what you have. Let’s see if we can’t find something suitable for young Jack."

As the two left the alcove, Miranda asked Samantha, "You’ve read my mom’s articles?"

"Yes? Why wouldn’t I?"

"But they’re in Aquitanian!"

"So? I just ran them through a translator app."

"Oh. Right. Of course."

They chatted for a bit before Sophia and Lydia returned, with Lydia loaded down with more clothes. Lydia continued on into his changing room.

"I think we might have found a few suitable outfits," said Sophia with a smile.

A few minutes later, Lydia returned from preparing the new outfits and Jack returned to the changing room to try on outfit number four.

Of the new outfits, Sophia only one deemed one to be passable. He thought it looked great, but she said it could be better.

After purchasing the outfit, they all trooped down the corridor to the next destination. After several more stops, they found one more outfit that Sophia deemed passable. To Jack, it looked just as good at the other outfit he’d purchased.

It was nearing closing time, and they were making one last stop. When they entered the store, it was empty, not even a sales person visible. They browsed the displays for a few minutes but still no sales person.

"This is unacceptable," muttered Sophia.

Curious, his parallel self used his new remote-presence technique to look in the back rooms of the store to see what was keeping the sales person. He found a storage room and two offices, but nobody was there.

Finally, he checked the changing rooms, and what he found stunned and enraged him.