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(content warning: the following chapter contains mentions of gender identity and language that may be considered insensitive... please skip if you feel the need!)
Needles.
It was all she could think about as Eren led her through his forsaken little village. Each step felt like dragging her feet across a hundred needles, with no reprieve.
As they walked through the market, they soon came to realize that everyone's eyes were on her. Not only was she a stranger, but she was also unrealistically beautiful.
Eren kept trying to coach her on how to speak when he thought no one was listening in. He said she spoke too strangely, and it made her stand out. She didn't know how to tell him that everything about her stood out in the middle of his little village.
[Name] was too surreal to blend in with the common folk. The only girl who could possibly compare to her was that girl, Historia, who saved her on the beach. And even she was too short, her hair was too thin and dull, and her body slightly resembled that of a prepubescent boy.
But still, [Name] looked up at Eren as he made his way through the village. Historia was pretty and she seemed kind enough. She was the type of beauty that human men in a small village would only see once in a lifetime. Surely, she had to be popular amongst the boys.
But did Eren care? Did he find her attractive? The thought made her more uncomfortable than she thought it would.
It wasn't until they reached the seamstress's shop that they finally stopped. She let out a thankful sigh, balancing herself against a small table inside the cramped store.
When [Name] finally caught her breath, she took a proper look around. The shop was quaint and simple—nothing like she'd imagined. She had expected elaborate silks and rich fabrics, yet the few dresses on display were delicate things in muted tones: beige, white, and deep orange.
"Do you see any dresses you like?" Eren asked in a low voice, gently pulling her further inside. "Be careful. The owner—he's nice, but he can be a little... strange."
She pursed her lips, about to respond, when a woman with deep red hair emerged from the back hall. She wore trousers and a white linen shirt, her glasses gleaming as her eyes widened in recognition.
"Eren!" she beamed. "It's been so long. How have you been? Are you feeling better?"
"I'm feeling much better, Hange." Eren smiled before grabbing [Name]'s arm and pulling her forward. "Uh, here. This is my friend, [Name]. She needs a dress."
"A dress? Well, I can certainly help with that."
Eren gestured for her to remove the brown cape, and [Name] quickly obliged, handing the cloth to him. Hange's eyes widened as she circled her, but it didn't take her long to speak.
