“Disguises?” I asked.
“Yup,” Draven said, “Unless you want to be dragged by the ankle to the church.”
I looked down at the new bundle of clothes in my hands, then to the man running the store. His nose was crooked, from breaks perhaps, and his hair —balding from hairline to crown— seed as if a bird had nested in the middle, disheveled as it was. The building itself fared no better; it was more of a tomb than a store. The black onyx that ford the surroundings on the second layer remained unadorned, without wallpaper or decorations to hide the ugliness of the interior seam from its make.
The cool air prickled my skin, and the idea of changing anywhere near this place made uncomfortable. I bit my lip, unsure of how to refuse. But if the church found ? I had no intention of being paraded around as their mascot, ill-intentioned or not. I looked towards the small room to the side, barely covered by a flimsy, shoddily-crafted wooden door. Just what the hell kind of place did Draven bring us too?
I reached out and tugged Gale’s shirt. He looked at , confused. “Change with ?” I asked, my voice soft.
His face softened. “Sure.”
I ignored the amused smile of Draven as we walked into the room. It was small, barely large enough for the two of us. There was a dirty mirror on the wall which I tried not to glance at. This place had on edge — if a face suddenly appeared in the mirror, I might die of fright. That was sothing I’d never been good with. Mirrors had always frightened in creepy settings. Like sothing would crawl out were I watching.
I quickly removed my clothing, eager to be done with the place. Gale stripped as well. I stored the outfit in my item box, and accidentally glanced in the mirror. No face, but sothing did shock . The view of my body, feminine and small, compared to the height of my best friend left confused and a little giddy. I rotated, taking in the sight.
“What are you doing?” Gale asked.
“This is wild, dude.” I lifted my arm, flexing it. I put it next to Gale’s arm. “Was I always this small?”
“Tiny.”
I leaned back against Gale’s chest, spreading my arms out. His body extended past my fra. I giggled.No wonder he was such a good windbreak!
I glanced at his face. Why was it red? A trick of the mirror? I looked up, staring at him from below. “What’s wrong?”
He wrapped his arms around my stomach, resting his hands on my navel. The warmth of his bare skin finally registered in my brain as I realized we had fully body contact in just our underwear. A faint rush rose from my chest to my ears. I looked in the mirror, and the image of a beautiful, blushing young woman in the arms of her beloved t my sight. That was us?
A rush of joy surged through my core. Why was this…kind of aweso? I tilted my head upwards again, staring at Gale’s lips. I wonder if they’ll mind waiting another ten minutes?
I pushed the thought away, tempting as it was. In this place? Not a chance. I flipped open the top piece of clothing, staring at it. I frowned. What the hell was this?! A newsboy’s outfit? Extra, extra, Heroine crossdresses as boy!
Ironic. The first piece of male clothing I get my mitts on after reincarnation, and I hated it. A deep, stirring itch of irritation filled my heart. Dress as a boy? Why did that piss off so bad?
I ignored the thought, and put the outfit on. I looked down at the two unmistakable signs of my gender. “I feel like I missed sothing…”
Gale looked at my chest. “Do we have to get rid of them?”
“Isn’t that the point?”
“Just feels like a sha.”
“You’re such a pervert.”
He reached a hand out, lips raised teasingly, but I slapped it away. “Later.”
Gale grinned. “It’s a promise.”
“n,” I sighed.
I pushed open the door after Gale dressed, his outfit a handso example of Elanis’s fashion, and called out towards Draven. “Hey, plan guy, you missed sothing.”
Draven sauntered over, hands in his pockets. He looked at my chest, before dawning realization crossed it. “Oh, right. Forgot you don’t have one.”
“Have what?”
He summoned sothing from a shadow, a piece of cloth. Did he have his own item box? My mind struggled to catch up when the item hit my chest in a careening toss. It fell into my fumbling hands as I looked down.
A bra? No, sothing like a binder? I had never seen one before. Why did Draven have an item like that? I was about to ask when he spoke.
“It’s hard to put on, you’ll need Gale’s help.”
My eyes widened. I looked at Gale’s face, entirely missing the wink Draven threw to him. My eyebrow raised as his face turned red, but remained calm. Did he have a fever again? He nodded solemnly, like a knight ready to defend his kingdom.
A few minutes later, I stumbled out of the room, breathless and a bit embarrassed. Did he have to grab that hard? Still, the results spoke for themselves. My image had transford into that of a young man, ready to hock newspapers at undeserving passers-by. I ignored the piercing ick that pervaded my being, as well as the uncomfortable pressure my chest had from being bound.
Draven admired my handiwork, a hand on his chin. “Not bad.”
He pushed aside as he changed, erging as a different man altogether. If before, he was an unapologetically edgy and handso youth, he erged as a weathered and aged farr. Was that makeup or a spell? My jaw dropped in shock. The man before should be shoveling manure, not shooting fireballs!
I looked at Mira. What could we possibly dress her up as? What could cover up her dignified exterior? I saw the creeping dread enter her face as she looked at the clothing in her arms. She pulled it to her chest, as if afraid, before rushing in the room. Was that…pink that I saw? I grinned. Oh, this should be good.
Mirabelle glared at us intensely as the three of us laughed. I leaned against Gale, my sides hurting. Poor, poor Mira. I wiped a tear away as I looked up, only to start laughing again.
She wore a pink dress, her silver hair tied up in twin tails, a bunny rabbit backpack strapped on her back. The logical part of admired that she could pull off such a…delicate appearance, while the rest of thought it was hilarious.
Her face boiled, and she looked at Draven with murderous intent in her eyes. If he survived the night, I would be surprised. Mira stomped out of the store, as if a petulant child, letting the door slam on her way out. Gale steadied as I caught my breath, rubbing more tears from my cheeks.
I looked at Draven, giggling between breaths. “Did you plan that one?”
He put a hand to his mouth, trying to control his face. “I gave that one to her as a joke.”
He summoned another set of clothes. “This is the real one.”
I stared at him in awe. Sensei! We’d have to discuss pranks later. “Never tell her.”
He shook his head. “I value my life.”
I pat his shoulder, giving him a mournful look. “I’ll try to attend your funeral.”
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