Clothes Make the Woman Pt. 1

"So when am I going to meet your new 'roommate'? I need to thank her for keeping my baby girl safe!"

"Stop with the air quotes, Mom, it's not like that." Cress replied, pinning two pieces of white fabric together. "And don't treat her like she's my new pet to show off."

"I would never! I just wanted to see who my baby girl is living with. Is that so wrong? Or are you so ashamed of your mother that you can't bear the thought of introducing us?"

"Well I don't even know where she is right now, so maybe next time. Now like I told you twenty minutes ago, I need to go. I have a lot of work to do."

"I know you're busy, honey, but don't be so—"

"Oh no. We got disconnected Mom," Cress said with a devious grin, her finger still on the airplane mode button. "Whatever shall I do?"

"I am worried about Illia, though. She wasn't here when I woke up and it's almost noon. I wanted to stay and work on this commission, but if she doesn't show up soon I'll have to go looking for her."

A heavy sigh drained the energy from Cress, carrying the last of her motivation with it. She tossed down the fabric in her hands and looked around the room. Besides her sewing machine and serger, the work table she used was covered in pinned together pieces of fabric, needles, threads, and chalk. An impressive (or wasteful) amount of different fabrics were stacked against the walls, each cursing Cress's name for hoarding and abandoning them to rot.

"I hope she's okay," Cress muttered, scanning the various garments and cosplays hanging around the room.

"You hope who is okay?"

Cress jumped in her chair, falling backwards and knocking over a bin of thread and ribbon.

"You," Cress grumbled. "I was worried when you weren't here this morning."

"Your concern is flattering, but you are aware nothing in this world can harm me, are you not?"

"What if you got hit by a bus? Or fell on the subway tracks and got electrocuted? Or got trapped in a burning building?"

Illia chuckled and leaned over to collect the rainbow of thread and ribbons that had fallen on the floor. Between the two of them, they barely fit in the room the size of a walk-in closet.

"I did not realize my absence would cause so much anxiety. I will remember to give notice going forward."

"It's not that," Cress said. "I'm just a little more on edge because of yesterday. I've never had to deal with something like that before."

"Unless we're counting you."

"That is understandable given the peaceful nature of your world. I was restless during the night and decided to learn the layout of the city. It's much larger than I anticipated."

"And you had your sword?"

Cress's eyes lingered on the sheathed weapon clutched in Illia's hand. How she'd managed to walk around with a sword so long was a mystery to Cress. Maybe it was because nobody was brave enough to confront her.

"Early morning exercise. But I'm more intrigued by your activities. What type of garment are you making?"

"It's just a cosplay… costume someone hired me to make."

"I see. Would you mind if I observed you? I am intrigued by your work."

Cress shrugged. It didn't matter to her if Illia watched, though she wasn't enthused about squeezing into the room with her. It was already cramped enough with all the fabrics piled up and clothes hanging on along the walls.

"I was actually going to take a break, but since you're here I wanted to ask: do you have any other clothes besides what you have on? You've been wearing the same thing since you moved in and I'm sure they at least need washed."

A mirthful jagged grin drew the corner of Illia's mouth that Cress was surprised didn't make her recoil. The closer she felt to Illia, the less her… unconventional features bothered Cress. She wasn't in any hurry to see just how different Illia was, but she wasn't terrified either.

"Your concern is appreciated, though wasted. My garments are in fair condition and I am capable of creating new articles as necessary. I merely favor this attire when I am forced to dress."

"Forced to dress? Do you mean you just run around naked in Ilsia Habia?!"

"Of course," Illia said, tilting her head. "Why would we be concerned with nudity? It is our nature."

"I almost forgot. But it would be funny to see a giant spider in a frilly pink dress." Cress closed her eyes trying to picture it. "Nope. Still horrifying. Still, maybe I can dress Illia up. I have a few leftover outfits that might fit her."

"Come here," Cress said, standing from her chair. She rifled through a dozen outfits hanging from the ceiling before finally finding the one she was looking for.

"What is it?" Illia asked, squeezing next to Cress. Like the prior evening, her skin felt hard to the touch, baffling Cress. It looked as soft and supple as an average person's, but felt hard as diamond. "Are you uncomfortable?"

"No," Cress lied, trying her best to make room. Why had she even called Illia in when she could have just taken the outfit to her in the hall? It was an oversight on Cress's part that she couldn't bring herself to correct it.

Maybe it was because of how protective Illia had been. Or maybe because she was getting used to her. Either way, she felt safer and more at ease than ever before.

"What has you so gay?" Illia leaned over Cress casting a dark shadow over her. Her brown hair curtained around Cress, the white downy ends tickling her jaw. A warm, arid scent that reminded Cress of crushed coriander and cloves washed over her and she had to stop herself from leaning closer.

"N-Nothing," Cress mumbled, turning away from Illia's calculating obsidian green eyes before she noticed Cress's reddening face. "I… I mean this is the outfit that I thought might…"

Cress reached for the black dress hanging from the clothing rack, but Illia caught her wrist before she could.

"W-What are you doing?"

Illia's svelte hand answered, cradling Cress's chin and guiding it up so Illia could look into her eyes. They were warmer than before and had changed in hue from black-green to a vibrant peridot. Her face was expressionless, or that's what Cress would have said when they first met. Now she could see the subtle ticks Illia's face made, though she still had to learn what they meant.

"Are you afraid?"

The question caught Cress off guard, especially because of the monotone voice Illia asked it in. It was a valid question. Of course there was a part of Cress that was screaming at her to run, to grab a can of bug spray and empty it in Illia's face. So why did that part suddenly feel so insignificant? What had once been a wailing siren sounded more like a muffled alarm clock. Why was she more concerned with how warm Illia was when her skin was so cold? Why was she more concerned about the feeling of her chest pressing against hers with each breath they shared in the room?

"No," Cress said, shaking her head after a moment. "I'm not."

"I'm pleased to hear that," a vivacious smile shined down on Cress, revealing more of Illia's teeth. A surge of trepidation strained against Cress's chest at the sight and she grabbed the chest of the t-shirt she was wearing. Cress brow furrowed. She wasn't lying; she wasn't scared. So why was her chest so tight? Her heart pounded against her hand, its rhythmic drumming deafening her. The hot air was saturated with Illia's scent, making it hard for Cress to breathe. She was utterly enthralled.

"Are you using magic on me?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Why does my body feel so calm?"

"Calm?" Illia asked. She tilted her head for a moment. "Even when I do this?"

Illia flashed Cress a toothy smile that revealed her pointed teeth. They were far from human yet less monstrous than they should have seemed. Cress had no doubt that a single bite could kill her and as close as they were all it would take was one intrusive thought on Illia's part.

"I-It's not that bad," Cress said. Her sweaty palms shook at her side, the fear of the sight in front of her mixing with the adrenaline and oxytocin coursing through her body. "I'd be lying if I said they didn't make me uncomfortable but… maybe it's because it's you that I'm alright?"