I can see why people do sowing as a hobby, A few hours of cutting and sewing and then a flat piece of fabric starts becoming a 3D object.
Once we pulled out what I had started on, Anna had pointed out what seams I could do now and what to leave pinned together so we can get the fit right later. After she was happy with where I was going she then started on her own costume, which started with duplicating some initial patterns before modifying them. This involved some big sheets of tissue paper and a lot of patience from what I could tell since she redid some several times until they were right, she would occasionally pin some pieces together and then try them against herself in the mirror to see if it was right and then there would be a mutter of discontent or content before she either redid her or work or moved on to the next piece.
She liked having a mix of piano instrumentals and indie-folk music as a background ambiance which was pleasant if sometimes jarring in the difference.
Some indeterminate time later I had gotten all the main pieces I should together, then pinned together some of the seams that would wait for fitting. With those all together I had something that was clearly recognizable as the dress from the package the pattern came in, it was still just the black lower part without the blouse but that was more than I had been expecting to ever do in clothes making.
Anna had said it would probably get to this stage at the rate I had been going, so to help with the fitting I had made the strategic decision to wear leggings and a relatively tight shirt. Which meant I could basically just pull it over my head without needing to do anything to get it on, with the caveat that I needed to be careful to avoid pulling pins or breaking minimally connected pieces apart. With it on I got a chance to look at it as something that I would wear as opposed to just something I was making, it’s curious how it’s changed in my mind as a result. it’s lying a bit floppy since it doesn’t have some of the structural stuff in it yet and it’s missing the ruffles but it’s pretty neat so far.
I have no idea about the fitting process though, so time to call on the resident expert.
“Hey Anna! Progress!” I declared while turning to her, I noticed the hem of the dress took a moment to catch up. When I looked up from that I realized she had noticed me getting it on, as she was already facing me with a big grin.
“I can see some areas I need to tweak the fitting on but looking good Sam!” She said while laying down the tissue pattern she had been adjusting before standing up.
She walked over and circled around me a few times, carefully looking it over.
“Your seams are awful nice for your first time at this.” She said a hint of jealousy mixed in with an overwhelming dollop of pride. “You mind if I start tweaking the fit?”
“Go for it, I was going to ask for your advice on that anyway!”
She was a few minutes into moving pins around when she paused before looking up from the crouch she was in with a sheepish smile. “You know I think this might be the first time I have actually done this on someone else, I’ve always been doing it to something I was wearing.”
“Really? Even with commissions?” I asked.
“Yeah, those have mostly been props or things I leave for the client to get the final fit.” She hesitated, then continued with a frown. “I never quite felt comfortable with the idea of having people in my space when they are paying me, I don’t have a great reason why.”
She sighed. “The fact I am not particularly great socially doesn’t help either.”
“Don’t be harsh on yourself,” I responded with a shrug. “I don’t really get that impression.”
“Sam, I’ve been awkward in almost every conversation we’ve had, and I blurted out the first thing I ever said to you without thinking about it.” She said looking away.
“So? I’m happier for it, and it’s not like I’m that great at it either.” She whipped back to me blinking.
“You’re kidding.” She said incredulously with a slightly tilted head.
“Nah, I mean before the change I mostly just hung out with people I know from first-year residence, their friends, or people I met volunteering with the student union.” I said with a shrug. “I probably have gotten to know more people in the last three weeks than in the past three years.”
“But you got to know them, I’ve got my friends from cosplay, but you and Reiko are basically the only people I know at university.” She admitted guiltily when she continued her voice got unsteady. “I used to know people because of my girlfriend in first year, but when we broke up, they weren’t really friends I guess.”
“Well, you’re getting to know my roommates, and as I said earlier there’s a standing offer from a coworker.” I said gently, wanting to give her a hug but reluctant to poke a pin into her instead I opted to cup her face with my hands. “You’re always welcome at my place, we often have people by for stuff like dinner, fighting games, movies, or whatever. Jake and I host games night on campus too if you want to come out for that, there’s one in a couple of weeks actually.”
She looked a mixture of scared and hopeful like she was on the cusp of asking for permission.
“I might not have that many friends, but they are certainly more than willing to accept you. If you want a gentle and maybe vaguely useful thing in the near term, my roommates and I were going to do a group prep for Monday’s midterm Sunday night and I would love to have you by for it.”
“Ok.” She said softly, tears threatening in her eyes.
“One moment, I can’t hug you with this.” I said, beginning to take the dress off.
“But we need to make progress…” She protested.
“We are, it can wait a bit while I cuddle with you.” I countered pulling her to her feet.
After gently returning it to the table, I considered our options for places to sit. I didn’t really want to drag her up to the couch in their front room and I wasn’t going to suggest sitting on the carpet, I shrugged before guiding her to the bed.
“Little bit early for that.” She half snorted half laughed with tears still in her eyes. “We’ve been on one date.”
“If you think that’s early you don’t know some people, besides it’s the one soft seat we both fit on you pervert.” I joked back.
Hmm, I want to try something.
I sat down on the side of the bed and then before she had a chance to join me I pulled her into my lap in a hug. While I could get my arms around her and I enjoyed the feeling of having her in my lap, my head was only at her shoulders.
“Shit I’m too short.” I groused into her back.
She giggled and turned sideways in my lap, mirth returning to her eyes.
“I appreciate the effort though.” She said wrapping her arms around my shoulders before resting her head atop mine.
Feeling her breath in my hair I had a sudden thought. “Sorry if I smell weird, I can’t really tell without a human sense of smell.”
“You smell fine, mostly just of your clothing, although there is a hint of candy or caramel.” She said with a chuckle then sniffed again. “Yeah, the roots of your hair smell sweet.”
“That’s weird, maybe it’s part of how my hair grows or something.” I felt her lift her head up.
“Wait your hair grows?” She asked surprised.
“I think so, Kat’s measured it a few times and it’s a little longer each time.” I confirmed.
“That means you can try to style your hair in the future!” She said excitedly. “Can I play with it if you let it get longer?”
“Of course! I’ve gotten weirdly fond of this thing I have though.” I agreed.
“Oh uh, I’m not objecting to it, and you can have it how you want o-of course.” She said awkwardly.
“My sisters threatened me a few times too, I’m not fussed!” I said dismissing her concerns with a laugh, before a thought crossed my mind. “I wonder what I would look like with a ponytail or like hair to my shoulders.”
I found myself dropping back on the bed, pulling Anna down on top of me.
“There are so many things about myself I just don’t know,” I admitted. “A couple of weeks ago I was scared of that, but now I want to find out.”
“Well, I’m happy to help.” She said looking down into my eyes and then blushed. “I uh still feel it’s a little early for sex if that’s ok.”
I laughed for a moment or two while she gave an awkward smile.
“Anna there’s no rush and I don’t even have a human sex drive.” I responded chuckling.
“Oh right, sorry I forgot.” She said looking away disappointed, either in herself or at the lack of possibility she thought it implied.
“Well, don’t get me wrong…” I started then tilted my head forward to whisper right in her ear. “I get pleasure from people enjoying themselves in other things.”
She shivered and turned back to look at me, face a bit flushed.
“I expect we can figure something out when we’re ready,” I said softly, then bounced my eyebrows suggestively. “If nothing else from how wonderful it feels just to touch your face with mine, I can only imagine the full-body experience.”
She turned full-on red this time.
Exquisitely cute.
“Oh, you’re adorable.” I couldn’t resist saying while pulling her closer, resulting in her face resting against mine.
I kind of lost myself in the moment that followed.
After a period, a stray thought flitted through my barely cohesive mind that while humans don’t really smell like I remember, it’s now something comforting and indescribable. Like the concept of coming home to hot cocoa in the winter as a kid, not merely a smell but something with all the surrounding emotions too.
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
I released her, after realizing it had been a while. She didn’t seem like she wanted to pull away though, she brought a hand up to the side of my face to cup it instead. “Sam, you’re a wonderfully huggy person aren’t you.”
“I think I probably picked it up from River,” I admitted, then a bit defensively clarified. “Hugs are great though.”
“Oh yes, I could get used to it.” She agreed.
We stayed there a few moments, then with hesitation, she started a question. “What kind of people are your roommates, they seem nice but I don’t really know them .”
“Really great, albeit human.” I said, the paused “Wait that sounds weird now, uh imperfect.”
She seemed to be listening intently, so I continued.
“I guess because I mentioned them, I can start with River, they are my age but seem more mature than pretty much anyone I know. They have been worrying their head off about me lately, always trying to make sure I’m doing ok.” I explained with a smile. “Some people might interpret them as maybe being a little nosy, but I like it.”
“How did you meet them, sorry if this is insensitive but they don’t really fit in visually with the other two.” She asked, presumably referring to River being slightly more on the feminine style. They never wear outright feminine clothing as I do, but between their too long for a generic dude haircut and softer features, they don’t exactly match the other two.
“They were my roommate in first year but it was for a kinda gross reason on the school’s part.” I answered.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, they had no idea where to put them in the building and just kinda roulette picked three people to an email asking if they would be ok rooming with a nonbinary person. I responded in thirty seconds with yes, and then River got stuck with me.”
“I had roomed with my sister recently when my parents had been renting and I was a dude, so I figured I wouldn’t care regardless of what junk they did or didn’t have. I was right, but they felt really awkward about it the first week or two though.” I shrugged under Anna. “They got used to being with me and basically refused to consider the possibility of not rooming together in the future.”
“Sounds like they were lucky then.” She commented.
“I would like to think so, but I obviously don’t know how it would have gone if one of the others was first.”
“Jake and Mike were our next-door neighbors and we kinda ended up hanging out all the time as a result of class overlaps. Jake is in the student union if it weren't for that he would be the quietest of the three of us, he spends a lot of his free time drawing if he’s not playing games with Mike or his girlfriend back in barrie.”
She nodded and rolled onto her side next to me. “And Mike?”
“Bit of a character, messy in the kitchen, will hit on pretty much anything that moves.” She raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, the dude gets up to stuff. There was this one incident when the other three of us were out at the games night that we only discovered in the morning. Turns out he managed to organize a foursome and then collectively fuck themselves to sleep in the like four hours we were gone, I don’t think he knew any of them beforehand either.”
“Oh.” Anna squeaked out.
“One of them was a changee who claimed to have three prehensile penises over breakfast the next morning, although I made no attempt to confirm one way or another.” I said wryly before trying to defend him a bit. “Honestly though he is really nice, he’s been checking how I am doing almost as much as River.”
I thought for a second wondering what else might be appropriate to say, before deciding I should probably get them to talk to her to give her the opportunity to connect. “Anyway, that’s our little menagerie of characters once you include me. I used to be the boring one, look at me now!”
Anna chuckled at that.
“How about you?” I asked. “How’d you meet Reiko?”
“Pretty early on in high school actually.” She suddenly grimaced. “I met her for the cringiest reason though, as an early teen really into anime she was the first Japanese descended person I had met that I was aware of. For some reason, she didn’t hate me for the awkward as fuck greeting I did and turned to have similar interests in shows.” She had a gentle smile. “Supported me when I came out too, somehow we ended up here when we were accepted at same university.”
“Seems like you appreciate her a lot.”
“Yeah…” She trailed off, then glanced up at the stairs before whispering to me. “Don’t tell her this but I had a big crush on her for a while.”
“Ha, I’m not surprised,” I commented, a supportive friend of the gender expression Anna was attracted to, I would have been more surprised if she hadn’t. “I bet she knows though.”
“oh, I hope not, I would die of embarrassment.” She said quickly. “I don’t want to you know, drive her away.”
“Anna, it’s pretty obvious she cares about you from the interactions I’ve had with her, don’t think she’s gonna leave for that.” I pointed out then got a grin.
“Besides she can’t have you, I’ve already claimed you.” I paused for a moment, thoughtful. “Hmm well that’s presumptive of me, I don’t know monogamous you are. I suppose I’m willing to share…”
“Eep.” She squeaked, flushing again as I rolled onto my side to face her directly.
“Relax I’m just teasing you.” I giggled while reaching up a hand to her face, I realize that’s probably the least manly sound I have ever made but I also like how it sounded. “But I’m not the only one in the relationship, so just tell me if you’re feeling something is lacking or I’m being possessive. I love you Anna and want the best for you.”
A variety of expressions crossed her face in the moment that followed, then she pulled me into a kiss - she seems proactive about kisses in general. It was a bit awkward as we were lying on our sides on her bed but hey, it was wonderful nonetheless.
When she released me eventually, she had a soft smile. “You ready to get back to work?”
“It’s not work, I’ve been having too much fun for it to be that.” I said with a laugh. “But if you’re ready I am happy to continue.”
As she started to get up, a thought crossed my mind.
“You do have permission to get handsy you know, why you were right up in my skirt, but you’ve been a consummate professional,” I pointed out with a grin. “Enjoy yourself.”
“Ah I uh…” She stammered stopping partially up to look back at me startled.
“Of course, you are by no means required to.” I continued while standing up past her before strategically correcting the fit of my leggings.
“Sam, you’re a tease.” She said breathlessly. “Are you sure you don’t have a…”
“I have no idea!” I cheerfully said while turning back to her and offering a hand. “I can’t really remember what it felt like before, but I’m more than happy to indulge you.”
Taking my hand, she pulled herself up with an uncertain smile, then stood there a moment looking down at me before pulling me into a hug.
Hey, she’s learning! Hugs are great.
“Sam you’re not forcing yourself, right?” She asked gently. “You aren’t required to… excite me.”
“Hell no, I might be hamming it up a bit but I’m enjoying the experience.” I said into her assets, admitting to myself there are some notable advantages to being short.
I felt some tension drop out of her.
“OK.” She said then just held me for a bit, before continuing once she was satisfied. “Now let’s get that dress back on you. We don’t have that much time before the con, and I would love to get it all done.”
----------------------------------------
“You’re feeling better.” a gruff voice said from beside me as I waited for the elevator to get up to Kat and Serena’s apartment the next day.
I blinked and turned; it was the old guy from a couple of weeks ago.
“Yeah, a bit less unsure of who I am I guess.”
“Excellent.” He said with an upward tilt of his mouth, before offering a hand “Dan.”
“Sam, it’s nice to see you again.” I said gently taking it, aware of how thin it was.
“Bah, that’s just because you don’t know me enough.” He declared without the hint of a smile going anywhere as we got on the elevator. His memory was still sharp as he pressed 11 for me without a pause. “Friend here?”
“Sister actually.” I corrected. “Her roommate is a friend though.”
Hopefully I wasn’t being presumptuous saying that.
“You get on then?” he grunted.
“Yeah, although I have been doing more with her since the change.” I admitted.
“Good, my kids didn’t get along at all for months.”
“Oh, sorry to hear that.” I said not quite sure if I should add anything.
“Don’t be, their problem.” He paused for a moment. “They got better too.”
“That’s good.”
“See you again.” He said as the door opened for me.
“Later Dan!” I said with a wave as I stepped sideways out of the elevator to keep looking back, his crooked hint of a smile visible as the doors closed again. From there it was but a few moments to walk to Kat’s apartment and knock.
“Come in.” I heard Serena reply.
“Hi Serena.” I said while closing the door behind me.
“Yo!” She said from her spot on the couch, tablet in hand. “Katie is still having kittens so don’t be surprised if she’s a bit late.”
“I heard.” I said wryly while settling onto a dining chair. “What’s she having to do?”
“Some big handover of class responsibilities and making notes of where she was going with her dissertation.” She said with a shrug. “I didn’t even know this was a thing that could happen, but apparently some government org thinks it’s important enough to both nab her and strong-arm the university into it.”
She paused to look at me closely for a bit, just long enough to make me feel uncomfortable.
“She said it has something to do with you?” She asked still giving me an unplaceable look. “This doesn’t have something to do with that thing that neither of you will talk about, would it?”
“I don’t think I know what you mean.” I commented innocently.
“I won’t dig if you refuse to answer but it’s a wee bit suspicious she was bouncing off the walls in the days after a local kidnapping incident.” She was narrowing her eyes while speaking. “Then Monday there’s a portal captured in Germany and like two days later someone working on a doctorate in extradimensional physics is nabbed by the government.”
If you put it that way.
“That is an impressive coincidence.” I confirmed in a roundabout way, to which she sighed.
“Well, you seem to be ok at least.” She said while examining me again closely trying to see something she had missed the last time I saw her.
“Yeah. I can probably explain a bit more if you join us because I don’t want to repeat some of it if that’s ok.”
“Twist my arm why don’t yah?” She said with a grin before tossing her tablet off onto the couch and standing up to go to her room. “Not like I was gonna be productive after that confirmation.”
She was still away when Kat slammed the door open in a huff.
“Hi Kat!” I said cheerily. “Please don’t kill me.”
She puffed up looking like she was going to explode, stopped, and let out an expansive sigh.
“Hi Sam.” She said while walking in and accepting a hug. “I still don’t believe you don’t have something to do with this.”
“I probably do inadvertently, they do know I speak the world of you, and it’s possible that weighted their decisions.” I shrugged in the hug. “I definitely didn’t do anything directly though.”
“’They’? you’ve talked to these people?”
“Uh yeah, get changed and we can talk on the run.”
“You’re just trying to make use of the fact that you can talk when we can’t.” She pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
“Maaaaaaaaaybe.”
------
“Ok Sam, enough dallying, get it out.” Kat declared after a few minutes of jogging.
“Sure, Sure,” I said while composing my thoughts. “Just to preface, this stuff is pretty confidential not forever but for now at least.”
They glanced at each other then nodded.
“I guess I will lead by saying, I’ve started a job in the last week and a half.” Kat whipped her head around to look at me. “Specifically with the Clash Resolution Department, which is a name Kat is familiar with by now I expect.”
“Seriously.” She said flatly. “What as?”
“Field agent. You’ve met my boss slash classmate, Molly, already.”
“What.” She said flatly again.
“She helps changees rather than getting cops or whatever involved mostly.” I explained with shrug. “Anyway, assuming my guess is correct you’re getting brought on as part of Artifact Engineering to help with the analysis of a certain object.”
She stopped in motion then Serena and I had to wait for her to catch up again. “You’re kidding me, I’m being dragged off to study a portal which I know nothing about.”
“That’s not true, your field of study is pretty much adjacent.” Serena countered.
“Adjacent can mean a very long way away in this context.” Kat sniped back.
“I would assume they are picking you for a reason,” I said. “Everyone I’ve met there has been remarkably competent, although their hours are weird. There was a guy arriving for work when we left at like seven-thirty on Tuesday.”
“Ok sure, but what am I going to be doing exactly?”
“I haven’t a clue!” I said cheerfully. “They want a better theoretical understanding of the object, but I don’t know what that involves.” I shrugged. “Honestly there’s not much else I have for you because I either don’t know or really can’t say.”
Her jaw worked for a few moments, then she stiffly nodded.
“I’m so far into my dissertation though.” She said looking away. “Even with all the delays, it seems so close to done.”
“Sorry, I don’t have any influence on that,” I said wincing. “If nothing else I’m sure Summers will make sure you can finish it.”
She whipped her head back to me again.
“Summers is involved?” She asked incredulously. “What’s he have to do with this?”
“Moooonday.” I said with a smile, causing her to frown. “Then we can talk all about it, I will be in after classes, so like four-thirty or something.”
“So, I’m going to see you around the place?” She asked uncertainly.
“For sure,” I confirmed. “If nothing else some of the people in that part of the facility are working on building spare parts for me, so I will need to visit regularly.”
“Wait really?” Kat asked.
“Yep.”
“Is the parts issue all sorted then?” Serena asked.
“Hopefully, but they’ve only started on the simpler pieces so far. There are also some magic bits that might not be replicable though, like whatever gives me a sense of touch.” I answered with a shrug.
“It’s great to hear they can do anything for you, I was pretty worried about that.” Kat admitted, she then sighed. “Ok, I will give these people a chance then, it’s not like I don’t have any interest in the subject matter if it’s what you are implying.”
“Nice.” I said with a grin. “I’m sure it will go great!”