Alicia nervously paced back and forth in her room, the space filled with the vibrant oranges of the setting sun. A pile of clothes sat in the corner, remnants of her pre-Change body, and the pile was growing larger with each passing minute. A full-length mirror hung from the closet doors, and she walked past it to grab another dress. She held it to her body, looking in the mirror, and scowled in dissatisfaction. Another addition to the pile.
"C'mon Alicia, it's not like this is a date, right? You're just talking with a possible delver. With Katrina. At a fancy café." In the mirror, she caught her face turning dark green at the thought.
Turning back to the closet, she pulled out a breezy, blue sundress. Again, she held it in front of her and checked the mirror, and again she scowled. She wasn't actually looking for something to wear, clothing still felt terrible against her skin, but instead inspiration for whatever outfit she would end up growing for herself.
Her closet only held one last item, one that caught her by surprise: her prom dress. Looking at it brought back vivid memories of her senior year of high school, specifically her senior prom. Until the Change, that dance had easily been the most transformative night of her life. It was weird, thinking back on her wild high school years; in many ways, the Change had made everything simpler, easier. Sure, she'd just realized how lonely her life had become, but she also wasn't dealing with angry exes or mean girl drama.
Of course, gossiping cheerleaders never threatened to end her life. Now she was facing down the Key Dungeon, trying desperately to hold onto her peaceful life in the suburbs.
Which is why we need to talk to this Mage Knight. C'mon, Alicia, focus!
She examined her prom dress again. It was far too formal to emulate tonight, but as she looked at its tight bodice and its black velvet accents, an idea formed in her head. She wouldn't emulate it exactly, it was far too formal, but what about a dress that embraced its darker aesthetic?
Facing the mirror once more, Alicia envisioned what she wanted. Around her waist, a collection of bark began growing, the wood nearly pitch black. It crept higher and higher until it almost resembled a corset, complete with a healthy amount of cleavage. Underneath, a collection of large hibiscus leaves sprouted, cascading over one another to form a light, comfortable skirt that laid flat against her thighs. The leaves were a deep purple, complimenting the black bark around her chest, and she spun around briefly to see how everything looked. After a quick frown, she shortened the length of her skirt by a few inches, deciding she wanted to show off a bit more leg.
The length now perfect, she moved her eyes to her exposed arms and shoulder. She created a series of incredibly thin vines that matched the purple hibiscus leaves, letting them snake back and forth around her chest and her neck. When she finished, it almost looked like she was wearing a lace mesh, and she finished the look by growing a large, pink hibiscus flower just underneath her left shoulder. The added asymmetry was just what the outfit needed, and she found herself laughing with excitement.
She was essentially wearing a slightly fancier sundress, but looking at herself made her realize how much she missed dressing up. She was so enamored with her look she almost didn't care whether or not this meeting with Tabitha went well. Almost.
With her outfit now ready, Alicia put together everything she needed for the night. She created a pocket for her phone, double-checked that her old credit cards were still active, and texted Katrina.
Alicia:
Let me know when you're here!
With nothing else to do, Alicia decided to wait downstairs. She thought about how foreign her own house seemed as she wandered around her living room. She was so used to spending her time outside, it had been years since she'd seen any room other than her bedroom.
She looked down the entry hallway, her eyes coming to rest on a large box that had been delivered earlier today. It hadn't been cheap, especially since she paid so much extra for next-day delivery, but she was happy it had gotten here in time. The biggest question would be if she could summon the nerve to tell Katrina about it.
Katrina:
Just arrived! Ready when you are :)
Tucking her phone into her pocket, Alicia took a deep breath and left through the front door. Katrina definitely seemed surprised by this, as she had been waiting by Alicia's Heart Tree. The sound of the front door closing drew her attention, however, and she turned to look at the Dryad.
"Alicia, hey! Didn't think you'd be using the front door, or I would have knocked!" Katrina said, floating closer before softly landing in front of Alicia. Once they were face to face, the Vampire pocketed her phone as well. "Honestly, I don't know the best way to get your attention. Can you even hear the doorbell if you're-- oh, wow, Alicia."
Katrina had finally noticed the Dryad's outfit, and Alicia could practically feel her eyes roaming every leaf and flower. "I-is it too much?"
"No, Alicia, you... you look incredible. Like... wow."
Alicia felt herself blushing again, and quickly averted her eyes down, away from Katrina. She noticed that the Vampire was much more casually dressed, though she'd definitely put in effort to appear more presentable than usual. Alicia had begun noticing that Katrina's go-to outfit seemed to be jeans, a tank top, and some kind of jacket or sweater on top. Tonight, however, she was wearing black cigarette pants and simple black pumps. Her deep, red blouse was made of satin, with thin straps that left her chest, and her ample cleavage, exposed. A silver necklace rested just above her sternum, with a teardrop ruby hanging off it, and she rounded out the outfit with a simple, black jacket that helped define her silhouette.
She'd also put on some makeup, her eyeliner perfectly showing off her bright red eyes, which made Alicia jealous that she couldn't tolerate makeup anymore. Both girls looked at each other in silence a moment before Alicia found the courage to speak up again.
"W-well you look amazing too! I mean, you always do, but especially tonight." Alicia laughed nervously.
"I'm not gonna lie, I think this Tabitha person might have suggested this place just to get a free, fancy meal," Katrina said. She pulled up her GPS on her phone, gestured for Alicia to follow, and they started walking.
"Why's that?"
"She seemed incredibly skeptical, which makes sense. Samir said that every Guild in the city is constantly trying to recruit her, so I'll bet she's tired of people asking. Still, if this is the only way to get a conversation with her, I think it's worth it. Plus, neither of us eat, so it's not like we'll have a huge bill."
"Maybe a frustrated waiter, though. I'll bet restaurants aren't fond of Races that don't eat." Alicia stepped further ahead, leading Katrina through some of the more convoluted paths she'd created over the years. "You really think walking is the best way to get there?"
"I think it's the only way, honestly. If time were of the essence, I could probably pick you up and fly there, but I have a feeling that would be as bad as the train ride."
"Ugh, completely untethered from all ground? I'm shuddering just thinking about it." Alicia did, however, suddenly picture herself in Katrina's arms, and once again tried to hide her blushing face.
"I should also start conserving my Mana. I might end up being our only Healer at this rate."
"Mage Knights don't have healing?"
"I mean, they're certainly not known for it. Every Mage Knight I've heard of specs for damage, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's some niche Subclass that gives them minor healing abilities. That Class is
wild.
"
