Sadie pressed almost shoulder-to-shoulder with her partner, leaning lightly against them as she rifled through the boutique racks. Her golden-orange eyes glimmered with excitement and frustration in equal measure. At 7’4” in her human-like form, she towered over most of the clothes, and nothing seemed long enough.

“Oh… no… again,” she muttered, tugging at a pale yellow sundress that barely reached mid-thigh. Her lips pressed into a pout, and a low hiss of her native language slipped out: “Sivara… korval…” Her accent-heavy English stumbled over the words. “I… I want… flowy… long… not this…”

Her partner chuckled softly, keeping their arm loosely around her waist, letting her lean fully into them. “I know, I know,” they murmured, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “You’ll find something that swooshes, I promise.”

Sadie huffed, nuzzling lightly against their shoulder in frustration, pressing her tall frame closer. “Humans… make… too… short,” she muttered under her breath in her native tongue, the words sharp and frustrated. “Shalune… valir… why…”

A nearby shopper shot her a glance, and Sadie stiffened slightly—but the heat of embarrassment was softened by the warmth of her partner so close. They squeezed her lightly, a quiet reassurance. “Don’t worry about them. Just… let’s find the perfect one.”

Sadie’s pout deepened as she scanned the racks again. She swayed slightly against her partner, tail of frustration flicking in her mind if not visible in her human form. “I… want… pretty… flowers… long… swooshy… nuuu…” More words tumbled out in her native tongue, half complaint, half plea.

Her partner leaned down, brushing their cheek lightly against hers. “We’ll get it,” they whispered. “And if we can’t… we’ll make one that’s perfect for you.”

Sadie let out a soft, reluctant laugh, pressing a little closer. “Re… really?” she asked, English shaky but hopeful, her frustration melting in the warmth of their closeness.

“Yes,” they said with a smile, holding her steady as she peeked over at the next rack of dresses. And for a moment, pressed against her partner, Sadie let herself forget the sting of stares, the struggles of Earth, and just be—pouty, frustrated, and utterly content in the little world they shared.