The seamstress led Seren to a private sitting room with a part of the floor made into a stage with a semi-circle of mirrors around the stage, with all the seating and lights faced on the stage. Several binders with colored tabs littered the tables, each one had a different label on them. Things like; long sleeve dresses, gowns, dress suits, recreational wear, and other things.

Mr. Asche sat on the sofa and brought out a book from his coat and opened it. A few attendants ushered Seren around the other side of the mirrors to a dressing room filled with patterns and fabric. The attendants checked the different marks on their books and muttered to each other.

“All right! I’m Mrs. Zaklina and I’ll be in charge of your fitting today. What can I call you?” She said holding out her hand for Seren to shake.

“I’m Seren,” they said looking up to her eyes. But once their eyes met Mrs. Zaklina retracted her hand so Seren couldn’t take it. The color draining slightly from her face.

“Oh! Wonderful, if you don’t mind me stepping aside for a second.” She said with a sheepish forced giggle. She hurried to the side and whispered to the other attendants. Seren stared at their hand, catching sight of themself in the mirror. While everything about them didn’t fit with their surroundings, it was their pupil-less eyes that they stared at. Something they couldn’t hide. Seren pulled their hat down and pulled their hair into their face like veil they could hide behind. Mrs. Zaklina returned and Seren could see her shiny black shoes that were polished so brightly that Seren could see the reflection of the seamstress in them. Her distaste was melting into pity. Which Seren considered worse than the hate.

“All Miss Seren-”

“Not a miss.”

“Mr-

“Not a mister.”

“Okay Seren.” The woman sighed in restrained annoyance. “Let’s get you cleaned up, shall we?” Seren shrugged, their head snapped up as Mrs. Zaklina took the hat off their head.

“You’ve got a lot of potential,” she said, moving their hair from their face. “Nice round face and very clear skin. Shame about the teeth though.” Seren jerked out of the woman’s hands, shutting their jaw tightly. Wrinkling their nose in annoyance at her audacity.

“Don’t you worry, once you leave this room you’ll be someone else entirely!” She said, which really didn’t make Seren feel reassured. “We’ve gotten your bath running so let’s get you scrubbed clean so we can really see what we’re working with.” Seren followed Mrs. Zaklina, watching everyone working on them suspiciously. A side room had a porcelain tub with edges and no windows or mirrors. A large bowl had different products in it and the place smelled overwhelming.

“Go ahead behind the screen and strip down.” Mrs. Zaklina turned around and closed her eyes so Seren could have privacy. “Let me know when you’re in the bath.”

“Are you going to stay in here the whole time?” Seren asked.

“Yes, I will supervise our beautician who will be washing and styling your hair and nails.” She said. “I am in charge of every aspect of your time with us today.”

“Oh,” Seren said, their nose wrinkling slightly at the idea another person would be coming in during their bath. While they’d be naked, and they’d be touching their hair! “Do we have to?”

“It is part of the experience, yes.” She said, “We have a lot to get done so you better get a move on!” Seren scowled at the woman’s back. But they slipped behind the screen and stripped down bare and crawled into the bath. The water was warm and bubbly, with a heavy scent of something tropical.

“I’m in the bath,” Seren said.

“Wonderful, I’ll call our beautician.” Mrs. Zaklina didn’t turn around and went to the door, opening it and letting in a woman with her hair pulled back. The two came over to the tub and the beautician rolled up her sleeves and reached into the tub to pull up a slide that Seren was leaned back onto.

“I’m just going to wash out your hair, would you like it cut?” the beautician asked.

“No thank you. I don’t like my hair being touched.” Seren said, starting to sit up.

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“Sit still please,” the beautician said and pulled them back to the seat. “I’ll just wash and style it smartly then.” Seren sat tensely as the woman brushed through their hair, pulling it as she brushed and washed. Seren shut their eyes tight and bit their lip until it was over.

“Put your hands up here please.” The beautician said and tapped the side of the tub. Seren put their hands up and the woman got to work on cleaning under their nails and shaping them up.

“Color?” She asked.

“No thanks, I don’t like my nails painted.” Seren said. The beautician nodded and packed her things back up.

“All done, then!” She said with a quick smile. She left quickly and Seren looked at Mrs. Zaklina.

“There’s a towel hanging there, hurry on out.” She said and turned away again. Seren scrambled out of the tub and dried themself hastily. Missing some places, they reached for where they left their clothes and found them gone.

“Where are my clothes?” Seren asked in panic.

“We’re currently laundering them. There should be some fresh clean underwear on the counter there.” Mrs. Zaklina called back. Seren looked around and spotted the little bundle of pure white cotton. Instinctively they made a sound like a cat with a hairball.

“Do they have to be these ones?” Seren asked.

“What’s wrong with them?”

“They’re uncomfortable and they leave lines.” Seren said. “I like the shorts ones best.”

“Fine,” the woman sighed tiredly. Seren shrunk as they wrapped the towel around them. Mrs. Zaklina snatched the bundle and stormed off with them. Coming back a few minutes later with a pair of just a bit too big briefs. She held them out and gave Seren an expectant look.

“Will these suit you?” She said straining to keep the nasty tone at bay. Seren nodded and took them gently. Mrs. Zaklina nodded and walked back to her place by the door with her back to Seren. Gently Seren put the underwear on and looked puzzled at the second part of the underwear. It was a strip of thick white fabric with straps on it. Like a tank top but much too short. Seren looked at the back of Mrs. Zaklina and just put the strip on like a tank top. Being familiar with clothes that were too small, they wore it over their chest and kept the towel around them like a shawl.

“I’m done,” Seren said quietly and Mrs. Zaklina turned around and clapped her hands.

“Wonderful! Let’s keep this moving, we’ve lost quite a bit of time here.” She said. Yanking the towel off Seren’s shoulders and swept them out of the room. Pushing them to a little dressing area where three outfits were sitting.

“Slight problem, the fourth set wasn’t given a color. Should we ask or just go with one of the others?” One of the attendants asked, reading from her clipboard.

“Can it be red?” Seren asked. Causing the attendants to look at them, then back to each other.

“Should we ask?” The attendant asked quietly.

“I like red,” Seren said.

“Let’s go with the red, make it a crimson for yule.” Mrs. Zaklina said with a shrug and sigh. They leaned forward and whispered something to the attendants. Seren didn’t have faith she was singing praises.

“All right, crimson it is. Let’s get the fitting going!” Mrs. Zaklina swung round to face Seren again. “First set, get on it!”

Three outfits were very similar. Fancy suits with very small differences. White pressed button downs with vests in varying shades of black and gray. With smart jackets and slacks. Once an outfit was put on it was immediately taken off and altered until all three suits fit snugly. Seren’s hair was braided to keep it out of the way as the articles were pushed on and pulled off.

Seren’s eyes glazed over as they mentally walked away from the situation. Becoming little more than a sturdy fashion doll to be dressed up. Grateful when it was all over.

“Let’s show off what we have!” Mrs. Zaklina said. “Number 1” Seren was dressed and ushered out to the private sitting room where Mr. Asche was still reading, now with a hot mug of most likely coffee. He was nearly finished reading his book, when Seren came out he dogeared the page and put the book down.

Seren was pushed up onto the stage where they turned slowly. Mr. Asche nodded and waved, causing Mrs. Zaklina to push Seren off the stage and back into the back.

“Number 1 is good to go!” She called and the outfit was stripped from them and put into a box while they were pushed into the second one. Which led to a similar reaction, as did the third.

The red dress was different though. Seren smiled broadly, eyes sparkling when it was brought out. It had a large skirt that twirled, short sleeves and sewn on flowers and a white sash and bow. Seren bounced out to the stage and twirled multiple times in the mirrors.

“Red?” Mr. Asche asked.

“You didn’t specify the color and Seren requested red.” Mrs. Zaklina smiled smugly at Seren who frowned at her.

“Huh, thought I mentioned it was supposed to be blue.” Mr. Asche said, Seren slumped miserably. “But red suits you better. Put it with the rest.” Mrs. Zaklina suddenly looked up at Seren’s smug smile. They left the stage and three of the four outfits were boxed and put into a box. The charcoal colored suit Seren wore out of the store, with the fae-silver watch chain proudly displayed over their chest.