Chapter 42: Final Fitting
I sat on a short wall near Wanda’s for a few minutes and conversed with Friday. “So, I know that was my fault with Crag, can you warn me if I’m about to interact with a person in a way their rings are not… accepting of?”
“Monday, I CAN do that, can I do it in time to notice that you are about to act in an inappropriate way and leave you time to stop your actions? Maybe…”
I sighed, realizing how true that must be. “Just shoot a piercing sound? Maybe it will pause me enough to make sure I stop what I’m doing and give me an out?”
“Sure Boss.”
“You can’t tell if I’m rolling my eyes at you, can you Friday?”
“Sure can, Boss.”
“Huh?”
“You roll your eyes, I see your point of view skew. I can totally tell when you roll your eyes, Kiddo.”
“Ugh.”
“Yup, just saw it again Boss.”
I sighed.
“Friday?”
“Yes Boss?”
“Try ‘kid’ instead of ‘kiddo’. ‘Kiddo’ causes a negative reaction. Thank you Friday.” I made the command confirmation gesture we had agreed on as well.
“Sure Boss.”
I sighed, hopefully tier 4 or 5 with a more evolved personality wouldn’t take too long, of course I couldn’t use the store for a year yet. Though I supposed I’m fine with my current Friday, just needs a bit more trial and error. I looked over at “Wanda’s Wearables” and tapped my bare feet on the street before standing and walking into my destination.
”Monday Monday Monday! SO good to see your loveliness!” The shorter woman’s voice filled her otherwise vacant shop. “All the outfits are ready for you to try. I had a feeling you aren’t done growing so I snuck in a bit for extra growth. If you find them tight, visit me or a decent tailor and they should be able to fix you right up for the dress, or the jeans.”
“What about the robe, the top or the hoodie?”
“Lovie, I made ‘em a touch big, but a bit of tightness in any of those items will just add to your appeal.” Wanda smiled up at me, eyes wide and cheerful.
“Not worried about my appeal, Wanda.”
“Pffft, you agreed to my bargain after I offered rings. You are worried about your appeal to at least some extent.”
I wondered if my skewing vision injured Friday as my eyes rolled hard. “Not sure what to say Wanda, except I’m not particularly certain I agree with your assessment.”
“You don’t need to be, Monday March, you just need to be happy with what I made. Simplest to alter are first, Your robe and an upper in lace.”
Wanda indicated a changing space as she handed me a pair of articles. As I moved to the changing space I saw Wanda flip a sign at the door, flip a latch and tug curtains over the window and door.
I put on the new white lace undershirt, noting that it clung and would be lightly supportive if I’d anything to support. The robe played over my skin like Ann’s voice played inside my ears. It hung down a little below my knees, rose with a light pattern of pink blossoms playing over the surface. Though it wasn’t open in front, it gaped, and that was corrected with a belt of white that cinched it around my waist. The sleeves came to my elbows and the fabric swayed as I moved, softer by far than the leather of my vest and skirt, softer than the shorts I’d been wearing for a day under my skirt. Softer than Billie’s wet hair had felt on my shoulder.
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I stepped around the changing screen and Wanda grinned at me before indicating a spot for me to stand. At first I didn’t understand why, but once I was in that spot the mirror was rather obvious.
It was the first time I’d seen myself, aside from a shimmering view in the bath or the river. I could see my grey skin as a slate background for the rose and pink robe. The outfit was cute, I’d no other opinion on the clothes than that, aside from the impracticality if I was doing anything remotely vigorous.
My face… Well, my skin was grey, not a surprise by this point. And it was obvious that I was bald, lacking eyebrows and… I was… pretty? I mean I was symmetrical, my boon said as much, but my nose looked thinner than it’d felt when washing my face, my jaw and cheekbones were fine, as in delicate. My chin was narrower than I expected, making my face more of an upside-down teardrop, rather than an oval, maybe called heart shaped. The ears stayed close to my skull, but came to a delicate point, and evoked an odd memory of a man in a blue shirt, with black hair, standing in a small box.
My eyes were grey. A lighter grey than my skin, but not so light as to be silver or blue. They reminded me of flecks of ash from the fireplace at Buckle’s, or the Pillow and Pie. My lips were not grey, more like a dusky plum color. ‘I’m tall’ I thought, as Wanda approached to straighten the hem and tweak the positioning of the belt.
I’d known I was tall. I had yet to look up at anyone, but somehow seeing Wanda standing next to me, not coming up to my shoulder in the mirror, reinforced the thought more than looking slightly down into Crag’s eyes had done.
Wanda was looking up at me for a few seconds before she spoke. “Yes, you're gorgeous, but what do you think of the robe? Is the fit right?”
I Just nodded at her dumbly. “Sorry Wanda, it’s the first time I remember seeing myself this clearly.” For the first time Wanda seemed speechless.
“Friday, are you seeing this?”
“You looking at yourself like the hero in Millie Goode’s pony book when she saw the pony prince? Yes. Rather sad, really.”
“What?”
“You should probably answer Wanda, she looks like she is about to recover her ability to speak..” Friday replied.
“Wanda, I quite like it. Are there adjustments that you would make? It seems fine to me.”
“No darling.” Wanda said softly. “When I was working I realized that you are likely to keep growing, so I’ve made adjustments in each so it will be easier to let out. Just bring them back.”
I nodded in understanding. “Okay, but I’m heading to Big Bay soon, and I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”
The shorter woman made a humpf like sound before returning to her normal tone of voice. “Well, it happens, darling. Before you go let me tell you how to find a decent tailor that won’t put you out too much for the work. Also I should admit that I added fabric for if your chest, shoulders and waist grow, not so much for height. I picked styles that will look fine even if you get quite a bit taller. Well, except the jeans, but there is enough in the hem to give you maybe an extra 8 to 10 centimeters. Now, the dress!” Wanda smirked as she handed me a yellow bundle and told me to leave the shirt on, as it could work with or without.
As I pulled off the robe I realized I hadn’t even noticed the pocket I’d requested, a quick look showed it to be hidden on the inside where it was held close to the body when cinched with the belt. The pockets on the dress were more obvious, one on each thigh a little below the waistline where the fabric flared.
The yellow was like sunflowers, clear with no patterns, the fabric a little rougher than the robe. I pulled it over my head, as there were no buttons and it settled comfortably, hanging to my knees and the sleeves stopping just above my elbows.
When I returned from changing, Wanda nodded. “Nice, though I think I would consider a hat to go with it, maybe something in straw with a matching yellow ribbon.” She walked around me before asking me to do a little spin. “Good good, I wanted it to be fun, but not raise too high if you turned quickly. This one I deliberately left a little larger than you need right now. As I mentioned, I sense you’re still growing, and it looks cute a little oversized. Well, I did that with everything but the jeans. Saggy jeans on a girl your height? Just, no darling. Speaking of jeans, last outfit, Monday March. You can skip the undershirt, or wear it. Either way.” This time a short stack of fabric was handed to me, easily double the weight of the other 2 outfits.
The jeans felt sturdy as I pulled them up my legs, the deep blue was something I’d not really seen around town except some of the paints at the bath. Having left the yellow dress on for the moment I was curious, and went out to glance in the mirror. Wanda looked about to interrupt me but tapped the side of her jaw with a thimble covered finger. It almost looked right with the jeans under the yellow dress. “Close, but not quite, huh?” I asked the seamstress.
Wanda moved around me for about a minute and tugged in a few spots. “Quarter hour and an extra dollar, I’ll get it looking natural with the jeans or without. It is a cute style, I admit.” I agreed as I went back to change into the rest of the 3rd outfit.
The dark grey sleeveless top was comfortable and felt fitted to me, stretchy material and all. The red jacket (hoodie?) was too big and I nearly swam in it as I pulled it over my head. There was a hood I was peering from, and an odd pouch pocket in the front where I could tuck both my hands.
When I walked out from behind the screen Wanda grinned at me. “Darling, It’s perfect!”