Cinderelo {A Queer Cinderella Retelling)

Chapter 2

His aunt's tailoring shop was one of the many around the square. The whole place was filled with people bargaining with each other for goods and trinkets. He saw a child stare at him with wide eyes and absentmindedly tugged the cloak a little lower to hide his face. He couldn't help but feel afraid whenever anyone got too close which happened to be quite a lot. They weren't meant to see him, she'd always said so. Holding his breath, he pushed through the last couple of steps and entered the shop through the back.

Finally, he could breathe again. His aunt was at the front. He could tell by her excited yelling. Aunt Augustine was many things but a lazy person was not one of them, unlike her sons. He used to imagine she was pushing him this much because she cared about him the most and wanted his success. He had stopped hoping for it to be true years ago.

Sometimes, people hate people for no reasonable cause. His father had taught him that as an important lesson to remember while hiding away him and his mother.

Her shop was incredibly popular and many of the rich came by for their fittings. He always marvelled at the dresses made there. He wondered how one would feel on his skin. How would he look in it? It seemed like fun. A big, beautiful ball gown. He knew that was a strange way to think, yet he couldn't help getting lost in the daydream, bowing his head once he realised he'd been staring at a design for too long.

A worker of his aunt's who he'd never met suddenly walked over to him with a bright smile.

"Do you like this one? Cos I can make it for you. Believe me, now that I'm here, it won't take long before I'm the very best in the shop." He jutted out his chest proudly and Elo smiled to himself, unable to hold back a small giggle. He'd never seen a person so confident, other than his aunt but when it came to her, it was unkind arrogance. It suited this boy well. He took the little sound as a challenge and dragged him over to what was likely his work table, eyes sparkling. "Well, I definitely can, you just give me the word and-"

He touched his hand one more time, feeling it within the gloves and let go, taking a step back. His face burned as he muttered, "you aren't... A woman... Are you? Are you? Dammit, Polly, Krish, you didn't tell me he was a man!"

Krishna was, like Elo, not from this land. He was in his forties, although he seemed to get younger every time they met. He was the genius behind a lot of her dresses but she tended to keep him hidden in the back of his store because of his "unique complexion", much like she hid Elo. Then there was Polly, the serious-minded young seamstress who just wanted to provide for her family. She was beautiful with scattered freckles, warm brown eyes and dark red hair. His aunt didn't like her colourful imperfections but let her come out from time to time with a scarf or hat on when she needed the help.

Polly had kissed him once with his hesitant consent, just to try it out, both quickly realising they didn't like it and happily staying friends. He didn't tell her his reasons and she didn't tell him hers. It was a relationship mainly based on respect for each other and a sort of vague understanding, even if they weren't very close.

And now, it seemed there was a new one among them. He'd surely become the new face of the shop. He looked exactly like the quintessential gentleman should; not one feature out of place. Elo felt envious but it washed away rather suddenly when the stranger spoke up again.

"I'm Arthur," he said brightly and held out a hand. Elo wanted to shake it but bowed instead, uncomfortable with this much attention. He desperately wanted to be away from him. "Oi, no need for that. All are equal in my land-"

"You mean Miss Augustine's land, fool, now get back to work Art!" Polly huffed at him and Elo walked closer to her, bowing a bit. She grinned for a moment but that was it. She was an incredibly hard worker and never did understand why men were so unfocused.