Nevin watched as his girlfriend bounded away, his lips still twisted into an amused grin. He hadn't known for sure how she would respond to his teasing and then the instruction to go burn off some of her excess energy, but he had seen that she needed it even as they walked the short distance down the street, she had been twitching rapidly, her tail lashing back and forth as they walked, her ears bouncing. It was clear to him that his love wanted to move, to run about, so - he had let her.

He watched as she moved up the closest building, one of the small houses on the street his shop was located on. He knew she was frazzled - she didn't even look back at him as she climbed up rapidly, then she was off, leaping across buildings. He chuckled and flipped the basket up onto his shoulder as he shook his head and headed towards the market. She'd almost certainly want fish of some kind, but they hadn't brought supplies to cook. Eteri wouldn't care about that - he knew she didn't mind eating food raw, not fish at least - but he did. So he'd have to find prepared foods to purchase.

The market was a short distance away, and past a few other streets with sales shops on them. With Eteri off doing her own thing at the moment, it gave the alchemist a chance to pick up a surprise as well. His girlfriend’s willingness to don a collar again had reassured something inside of the redhead, and he was planning on ensuring her safety even if she was wearing a collar. And he just so happened to know that there was an enchanter’s shop on the way to the market. Nevin had to suppress the smile that tried to stretch his mouth as he thought about it.

The enchanter’s shop was closing in on the end of the day at this point, but there were still a few other customer’s inside. Nevin rested the basket on the floor just inside the front door, nodding to the salesman as he did so. He didn't want anyone thinking he was trying to lift things from the shop with the basket. Now empty-handed, Nevin headed over to the leatherwork section, to browse what was available. As he did so, he cast one deep, dark red eye across the other patrons in the store, wondering who else would be out this late.

One girl was glancing in his direction. Her eyes a soft green. It reminded Nevin of fresh moss. She wore emerald robes that were wrapped tightly around her torso and shoulders but hung freely from her hips, around her wide hips was a leather rope cord. The material hung loose on her shoulders and ample breasts spilled out, with cleavage leaving little to the imagination. She tilted her head to the side and pursed her lips. Deft hands hid the small potion she was holding away in the folds of her clothing as she offered Nevin a wink.

The alchemist snorted and just raised an eyebrow at her for a moment before giving a soft shake of his head and returning his gaze to the strips and straps of leather he was examining. His long fingers danced along the material as he measured out what he was looking for. Two lengths would be enough - something to go around the neck, and the other to serve as -

“You look exotic.” She came from behind him, he didn’t sense her but he sure as hell smelt her. She was wearing enough perfume to douse a fire. The heady scent made him feel dizzy and he could tell the scents had ulterior motives. Her slender hand danced upon the red lines in his skin. “I love this red, and how bold you are to show it off.” He exhaled forcefully, clearing his sinuses of the thick perfumes she was wearing, and took her wrist firmly in one hand, pulling her hand away from his skin.

“You can look but you can't touch, miss. Already taken.” She was attractive, but compared to the eager to please Eteri, her sultry, smoldering attention was - lacking. He dropped her hand and waved her off dismissively, returning his gaze to the leather.

This length could be a collar, easily. He'd need to get a clasp to go with it, though. Perhaps enchanted to only be removed by him? He took the strip of dark red leather off the display and turned to head to the metal stand - only to find that the green-eyed woman was still standing close, just barely avoiding his elbow as he turned around. One eyebrow rose.

“Is that for your dog?” There was a pause before she stepped in closer, pressing her breasts together as she placed her palms on his chest and slid then down to his waist. “You can collar me up, I do love a dominant man.” Nevin’s eye narrowed. This woman didn't want to be dissuaded easily, did she? That was fine - he could get drastic, since it seemed to be needed.

“I already have a pet, miss.” The red lines beneath her hands writhed, the threads beneath his skin churning against her palms - a wholly unnatural feeling. The alchemist smirked as he watched for the green-eyed woman’s reaction. Her sultry eyes widened then a look of disgust played across her face. “the fuck?” Nevin let out a laugh and stepped back. There was no sign of what had moved as he stepped away - just the innocent red lines that moments before she'd thought were ‘exotic.’ Inwardly, the Alchemist chuckled - no meant no, and she had not listened to him. It felt better, not being ashamed of himself.

“You're sick.” she muttered as she wiped her hands on her robe then shoved past him. Nevin snorted and shook his head - he had warned her not to touch, it was her own fault that she'd suffered for it.

Silently, a man followed her - he gave Nevin a low nod as he passed. Nevin vaguely recalled him from the gallery and he let out a soft sigh knowing something would soon happen to her. He shoved the matter out of his head, and instead focused on what he had come here to do. The proprietor of the shop didn't seem to have paid any attention to the byplay between his customers, which Nevin was thankful for.

The alchemist collected another strip of leather, one much longer, and a few clasps and hooks of metal. The enchanter affirmed that the spells Nevin wanted on it would be quick and easy to place - and indeed, only took a few minutes to set up. Purchase accomplished, Nevin tucked the items into a pocket on his coat, and then headed back out, and towards the market. He still needed to buy food for the evening picnic after all.

His girlfriend never showed up as he went through the market, picking up a few odds and ends. A fair amount of smoked fish and beef went into the basket, along with a few fruits and vegetables. He knew it would be a battle to get Eteri to eat anything but the meat, but it was a cause he was quite willing to dedicate himself to. When he saw no sign of the catgirl as he went through the market, Nevin let out a sigh and shook his head like - he wagered she had completely blanked on meeting him here. Well, that was what one of the matching enchants on the things he had been bought at the enchanter’s shop were for. So he sighed, and he gave a light chuckle, headed towards the forest clearing that Eteri had claimed as theirs some weeks, months maybe now, ago.

She was resting on a flat rock along the river bed, her feet dipped into the running water. Blades of grass stuck to her hair and clothing and Nevin could take a guess that she had literally been rolling around in the grass. She turned to look at him as he approached.