Another Way

Chapter 28: Shape

The assortment of fabrics, threads, and dyes was dazzling, and to say that Twinkle was overwhelmed would be an understatement. They didn't have the time to investigate even half the sights before them by the time Sundance's question arrived, impossible to answer in its vagueness.

Both in how much it encompassed, and because of the tiny ghost's limited communication.

Sundance wasted no time focusing on the link between herself and the obscured being, eager to help them make as informed a choice as possible. Her determination burned bright—but it had little fuel to go off, especially without the leftover adrenaline that had helped her yesterday evening. Both Forest Guardians immediately sensed her strain, Solstice giving her a mental hand soon after. She chuckled under her breath. "^Goodness, it's like trying to touch fog.^"

Sue exhaled through her nostrils at the remark, trying to reassure the lil' ghost that everything was going alright. Her mentor continued, much more clearly this time, "^Hello, Twinkle! Now, how to go about this... oh—have you chosen a fabric you like yet?^"

Now that was a question Twinkle both understood much better and which they had the ability to actually answer. They scooted along in their disguise, inky tendrils touching many patches at once as they examined the stunning selection. Beside them, Comet was also playing around with the patches, babbling at all the different textures as the ghost settled upon something.

Or rather, many somethings.

Sue was taken aback as their spectral limbs stretched many feet out, bundling many samples together into a haphazard pile. As good as the ghost themselves felt at finding all those things they liked, the adults' expressions faded as they watched them pick up more and more patches of fabric. Eventually, they settled on a stack half their size and with over a dozen different choices. Cotton, linen, silk—they had everything there, with the only trait most of their picks had in common being a yellow or yellow-adjacent coloration.

They like yellow, hmm. Worth keeping in mind.

As much as Solstice appreciated her son enjoying himself and the tiny ghost bundle patting their choices in satisfaction, this wouldn't help them much. She wracked her brain, trying to figure out how to ask them to narrow down their selection—only for Sundance to step in. The fox swiped everything Twinkle didn't select off to the side and laid out their choices in a neat grid. She smiled at the ghost, a blunt claw tapping on each misshapen patch before them. "Alright. Which of those feels the nicest, Twinkle?"

Another question, and this time they even knew the answer! The little ghost squeaked at the happy realization, bounding toward the smallest patch and repeatedly poking it with their tentacle. Sundance wasn't surprised by their choice, psychicing the off-white rectangle into her paw. "Silk, eh? Good choice, I'd say. We'll definitely need to ask Dewdrop for more, but that can come later."

Sue leaned back in her seat at the mention of silk, Spark mumbling quietly on her lap as her stream of affection was interrupted. On a rational level, she knew silk was neither modern nor even that much of a challenge in a village full of mutated insects—as evidenced by the very similar-looking patch covering her horn. Still, the word was associated with poshness in her mind.

If there was anyone who had earned a bit of luxury, it was Twinkle, so all was well.

Even beyond that, silk didn't strike her as being the most durable material. Certainly not something that would endure being in use around the clock, which... Twinkle needed, for better or worse. Before she could bring up the concern, she watched Sundance tilt her head towards her and shoot her a knowing wink before addressing the little ghost again. "Alright, so this will be the part of the inside, what you'll be touching. We'll use something else on the outside, something tougher..."