Contract with a Star (On Hold, Possibly Forever)

Nari Battles with Ruffles

            Rena had Nari completely avoid any of the cities in the Forest Country. It took Eleia almost a month to get out of the country and Nari ran out of food within the first week and a half. She was forced to hunt and she realized her folly. Without Rena, she would have ended up back at home if she was lucky, but more than likely she would have died from all the mistakes she made.

            Rena made Nari stop at the most expensive looking clothing store she could find. Before she was allowed to go in though, Rena told her to take off the belt, wrap it around her hand like a bandage, and then cut her hair so the bangs would completely cover her forehead. When Nari went into the shop, the tailor almost threw her right back out, but Rena whispered into Nari’s ear the right thing to say.

            “Good day, sir. My name is Narinx of Green River Valley, a resort in Forest Country. I’m down here to visit a friend of mine and I wish to look presentable. Perhaps you know her? Miya Ravenscourt of the noble Ravenscourt family?” Nari had no idea who Narinx was, let alone Miya, but it wasn’t like Rena was going to lead her into trouble now, especially with how happy the girl seemed to be amongst all the clothes in the shop. The tailor’s manor changed instantly when he heard the name, and he went to the very back of his shop with a skip to his step.

            Nari grew bored looking at all the rather drab clothes in the shop. They were mostly uniforms for mining, as the country was known for. Nari realized that if she had to get new clothes, it was only fair that her ghostly companion had to, too. “Hey, Rena.” Nari called the attention of the daydreaming girl, “If you’re going to keep bossing me around, will you at least stop looking like a little girl?” It was irritating Nari to take orders from a girl that was four years her junior.

            “Sure. It’s not like it’s particularly hard to change.” Rena’s body began to grow to the size of a sixteen-year-old girl. The yellow shirt connected itself to the white shorts that had come apart in the middle and smoothed out to a white dress. The sleeves stayed and a ring of flowers wrapped itself around her hair. She looked graceful and kind, like an older sister. It was easier to listen to Rena in that form, but Nari was glad no one else could see the girl and compare the two, especially with that tight halter top of Rena’s.

            The tailor came back with his arms full of ruffles. Nari hoped dearly that the white thing the man was struggling to control wasn’t intended for her, but Rena told her with a certain relish that the country was known for having extravagant outfits. Nari looked desperately at the racks of uniforms, but the tailor gave her a suspicious look and she was forced to rattle around some coins to ease him into letting her try on the monstrosity.

            It took Nari a while to figure out all the ribbons, and in that time the tailor both called a messenger and sent him away with an unnatural eagerness. Nari questioned the attitude quietly as she struggled.

            “He wants his clothes to be seen by the higher ups. If you really are a friend of Miya’s; and yes, I know you aren’t; then she’ll greet you and comment on your clothes and that will get his name out there. If you aren’t a friend of hers, then you’ve bought the clothes and people will see the rich foreigner coming out of his store looking happy. It’s a win-win situation for him. And you are going to tear that ribbon if you keep yanking on it. Here, let me.” Rena took over Nari’s hands and arms.

            It was a strange feeling for Nari, but not terribly unfamiliar. It was like her arms were asleep and she couldn’t move them, but she could also see them moving. Nari looked away as Rena made quick work of the dress. It was a white dress trimmed in black. Rena made sure Nari could breathe in the corseted top and adjusted the lace underneath the short, layered skirts. Nari looked down at the belt like things that ran vertically down the sides of Nari’s stomach and wondered what possible purpose they could have there. As Rena tied the headpiece behind Nari’s bangs, the tailor came up to them and started pushing Nari to the door gently, the ribbons tickling her legs as she walked.

            The tailor had sent for a carriage after Nari had paid him, and had told the driver to take Nari directly to Miya. He handed her the bag she had brought in and the cloth bracelets she had purposefully left behind with a smile. Nari had no choice but to go to the girl and apologize for using her name. Nari watched as Eleia, who had no human marking on her, followed the carriage for the day and a half it traveled.