She had donned her sports clothing and was jumping and swinging her arms in circles to warm up.

  Roger's loft was big enough for indoor parkour, even if it was still uncertain if the pipes along the walls and roof could hold her weight if she tried to climb or hold onto them. There was enough of floor space. She didn't need much space for a run-up, the only problem was the smooth floor and that her claws couldn't dig in to give her more traction, but it was not too bad. For the first time she had a home, which was big enough to run and jump.

  A few steps and she was up to speed, jumped over some cabinet, disguised as machine, then got a few more steps to speed up for another jump, and then a big jump up against the wall to bounce back and continue the steeplechase around and over the furniture till the opposing wall came close. She jumped and tried to run the wall up till she lost traction and had to flip backwards onto the ground, jumped into a twist to restore her facing and picked up speed for a fresh jump over a resting chair, which looked like ancient industrial equipment.

  She was on her third lap through the loft, had just bounced back from the wall and was mid jump over yet another resting chair disguised as some ancient machine when she saw Roger rise who had been hiding just behind it and now was getting up to catch her from the jump. And mid air she had no way to change the direction of her jump. "Roger, no!" She yelled, then felt grabbed around her waist and tackled to the ground. Luckily he was careful enough so none of them got hurt.

  "Wild cats caught, one." He stated with a huge grin and gave her free again.

  "That wasn't very nice, Roger!" She complained and sat up.

  He stood already and offered a hand to help her up, "But necessary. It's time to get new clothes for you, and now you even need a shower before we go." He put a finger on her snout once she was standing. She stared cross eyed at the finger.

  She rubbed her nose against his finger and looked at him, "Two more laps and then a shower?"

  "Alright, two more laps", he agreed.

  It wasn't as much fun anymore, but it still felt good to run and jump. Not enough to reach a runners high, but still good. And Roger had promised to get her a better hair dryer, so it wouldn't take ages each time after a shower to get dry and fluffy again. Well, today it still would take time with only the old hair dryer available.

  Roger had been waiting rather impatiently for her to get done drying her fur, but damp fur was way too annoying to go with, so she had him wait till her fur was fully dry. Maybe more incentive for him to buy her a better hair dryer? A much better hair dryer? Maybe get a full height blower installed?

  Over the noise of the hair dryer she heard Roger's voice, "Hey Vivian, do me a favor and wear the leather outfit again today, please?"

  She grimaced for a moment. She hated that outfit but Roger loved it, so she shouted back, "Sure Roger. I'll be ready in just a little while."

  Roger was waiting rather impatiently and once she was fluffed up and dressed, and quickly maneuvered her out of the flat and down the elevator, "Hurry up, we are late already."

  Once she stepped outside the building, sun blinded her and she had to shield her eyes from the light with a hand. Even that it had gotten better and she didn't need her sunglasses as often anymore, her eyes were still very sensitive to light.

  Roger looked at her, still impatient, while she was blinded too badly to take a step, "Too bright?"

  "Yes, give me a moment" She blinked a few times and carefully took down her hand, once she could see again. Sunglasses on a lion snout were just hilarious, and she was happy whenever she did not need them. Today was at the limit, but she only had to make it into the hovercar, the heat absorbing glass windows filtered the light well enough for her eyes. On the other hand, the sunlight felt very pleasant on her fur and she missed it once she was inside the car.

  The ride with the hovercar to the sports shop had been short, and getting three more sets of sports clothing had been easy as well. The generic runner slips and tops were all she needed and there was a good choice of tail adapted pieces, so that went quick. And after another short ride with the hovercar they had arrived at the place which Roger had chosen to get her new outfits for when she was not doing sports.

  Once Roger stopped the hovercar, the display windows of the shop already rose her suspicion. Either this was a shop for rocker outfits, or fetish wear. Or both. Definitely everything leather with metal applications.

  Roger opened the car's door for her and she got out, still baffled, but then realization hit her, "So, that's why you wanted me to wear this all the time."

  He nodded, "Yes, and we'll get you some more outfits in this style. They sell real good quality here and also have a huge selection."

  He took a few steps towards the entrance and turned around when he noticed that she had not followed him, "Come, don't be shy. I can understand leather clothing is new to you, but it looks good on you. So, come."

  Still hesitant she followed him into the shop. It was well lit, but not too bright and pleasant to her eyes as she looked around. Leather wear was on display all over the place, some glossy, some with metal applications, and some advertised as synthetic, superior to actual leather. Her nose identified at least a dozen different scents, many of which seemed to be chemicals to preserve leather, maybe some care products too, as well as traces of customers who had been here before them.

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  A woman clad in black leather approached them, a sort of skin tight body and a long overcoat which fell freely from her shoulders, "How may I help you?"

  Roger took the initiative, "She's shy but she needs some more outfits like the one she's wearing. Black with silver applications should be fine, glossy white should look good on her too, what do you think?"

  She was still like frozen in place, but the woman walked around her and nodded, "Red and purple should go well with her fur too", then she was addressed, "So, what are your favorite colors?"

  She slumped for a moment, before she tried to stand properly again, "I'm partially color blind. I can only tell yellow and blue apart, all other colors look like shades of yellow or blue to me. But I like white better than black, and blue, maybe purple should look good on me too?"

  The saleswoman nodded, "Ah yes. That's a common issue among furries. I'm sure your partner can assist you to tell what looks good on you to humans eyes as well. I'd suggest purple over blue."

  Now she was looking at herself in a mirror but she didn't actually see, her thoughts lingered in memories. Shopping with Tom had been easy and fun. He had set a limit how much she was allowed to spend, and she had been free to buy whatever picked her fancy. Not that she was much into clothes these days, fur felt best with no extra layer of textiles over it, but she still had been free to select what suited her best, what she liked best. Even if that used to be a bikini or other clothes in the style.

  She watched herself for real in the mirror once the thoughts had passed. This set was fairly simple, and despite Rogers preference for black she had chosen a white set this time, even if it had to be glossy if it was not black. And of course with some silver metal highlights.

  Not that the things didn't look good on her. It was the lack of choice that bothered her. Luckily the pieces were not particularly uncomfortable to wear, she probably could get used to the feeling in just a little while.

  She turned left and right, and tried to make peace with the idea that Roger was allowed to decide how she had to dress unless he was about to break some law with his decision or impaired her health.

  Glossy white should go nicely her overall golden fur, even if she had to dye her forearms, tail tip and lower legs black. White was one of the least conflicting colors in this regard.

  The other color choices had been difficult. The set which the saleswoman had advertised to her as red looked like a dark yellow to her. It had taken much convincing to make her believe it actually had some nice contrast and was not just a darker version of her golden fur.

  Similarly but not so badly off was a purple set which looked dark blue to her. Dark blue still was looking good on her fur, but she felt a bit at unease that she could only remember these colors but not see them anymore. Without help of a human person, she might accidentally chose unfortunate colors and not even know how bad they looked on her.

  At least white and black she could identify without troubles. The other two she needed to remember. The dark yellow set was actually red, the dark blue one was purple.

  The saleswoman had been checking her as well and nodded with a seemingly genuine smile, "This looks very nice on you, Miss"

  She turned another time and tried to get a glimpse of her back and the fit there in the mirror. Nothing to complain about, and the pieces were well adapted for her tail.

  She eventually nodded, "Guess Roger can show me around in this. It's just not something I'm used to wear. Doesn't feel unpleasant though."

  The woman nodded with a practiced smile, "Yes, this synthetic leather is designed both to be pleasant to wear and easy to clean. You will not regret the choice."

  Choice. Not so much hers but Roger's choice, but she didn't want to protest.

  She was still checking herself in the mirror when she heard a new voice, "So, that's her?", and when she turned to see who was speaking she saw a rather big wolf type furry standing at Roger's side. A giant of an anthro wolf, packed with muscles and clad in gray fur mottled with brown and also wearing a leather outfit, a black one. With silver metal applications of course. Her fur bristled instinctively at the sight.

  "Vivian, please meet Bruno, my security chief", Roger introduced them.

  Yikes! That guy was easily a head taller than her and a mountain of muscle.

  She bowed her head lightly to him and showed a smile, "Hello Bruno, nice to meet you!"

  He bared his fangs, "Nice to meet you, night cat. Boss says you need some fur dye once you've chosen your new outfits."

  "Night cat?" Her fur bristled even more. There were suddenly bad memories coming up of when the mobsters had just called her beast.

  He laughed, "Yeah, you'll be the new night cat. The voice you already have, now you just need some nightly fur."

  "Roger, explain?" She looked at him while her fur slowly smoothed and flattened again, just her tail kept swaying rather nervously.

  "Night cat is the nickname for the mascot of the club. The club didn't have one for a while, so you'll be the new night cat, once you've got the right styling", he explained to her with a smile.

  "And this has to happen now?" She wrinkled her snout in sudden anger.

  Bruno laughed again, "Yep, boss wants you to be presentable in the evening. Outfits you have it seems, so yeah, we should get going. I'll bring you to the fur stylist and make sure everything is in order. Manicure next and then I'll show you around the club so you can learn who is who before the show starts."

  "And if I don't want to?" She challenged them.

  Bruno seemed confused, bent down some and looked at Roger, "Boss?"

  Roger came over and rubbed her shoulder, "Hey Vivian, don't worry, you'll be pretty. People will like your new looks. Look at it this way."

  She sighed, "Why can't I just be myself for once? It's hard enough with this body to be me, even the little bit of me that I can still be."

  "Vivian come on", Roger was speaking again, "Think of the things you can buy, the sports club and I promise you'll look good with the black fur and silver claws."

  She covered her face with her hands for a moment and the saleswoman who had been silent for the time inquired, "Miss, are you alright?"

  She shook her head and took a breath, "No. I mean, yes, it's alright. Just some bad memories coming up. How I lost my voice. I just need a moment."

  She felt Rogers arms around her and held onto him as well and eventually nodded, "Thank you. It was just too surprising. It's alright."

  They parted slowly and he rubbed her cheek, "Good. Bruno will keep you safe, and the stylist will make you pretty."

  She tried to smile at Roger and nodded before she turned to Bruno, "Alright. Sorry for that. Bruno, so, you've got a hovercar or how do we get to the fur stylist?"