World 1.11

The sleeves are gone- apparently moved to the split, layered, and ruffled skirt which itself was once her pants. In place of her sleeves are new ones- long and white, cuffed at the wrists and cinched above the elbow. Around the waist is a brown leather belt, from which hangs a good sized pack. Beneath the split hem is a layered white petticoat.

"I made some armor to go with it, too, among other bits and bobs."

Yuri bows her head. "Thank you so much, Tilda- but, um, I'm not sure how I can pay you back; I don't have any...money." Yuri catches herself before she can mention her otherworldliness.

Tilda waves a hand. "Don't worry about it. I really enjoy this kind of thing, and I've been so busy I haven’t been able to do much outside of paperwork," she explains, "so we can call it even. Now, why not try them on?" She waves her hand again and a folding changing screen appears out of thin air with a poof.

"Now, take these," she insists, and Yuri finds her arms full of fabric, "and there should be a couple other things back there, too. Go on." She makes a shooing motion, and Yuri hastens behind the screen.

"Everything's easy to just slip on," she hears Tilda call, "but even so, gimme a holler if you need help, 'kay?"

"Okay..."

And true to her word, the dress is easy to slide on over her head after she unbuckles the belt and spaulder. They buckle back on rather easily, too. The gloves leave the topmost digits of her fingers exposed, but the leather is softer and more comfortable than Yuri expected.

There is also a small table behind the screen, upon which is a pair of long black stockings, brown boots (with silver buckles, folding over her ankles), a silvery gauntlet (with a light blue gem (blue topaz? Blue citron? Zircon? It's anybody's guess) at the back of her hand), and a bright blue armband with some sort of white insignia on it.

These also are unexpectedly easy to put on, and soon enough, Yuri steps out from behind the screen.

Tilda stares at her appraisingly, then makes a circling gesture with her hand. Yuri obligingly twirls in place, and the sides of the skirt swish around her legs like twin tails.

Tilda puts a finger to her chin. "Hmmmm.....something's missing..." she turns back to her desk. "Maybe...." She begins mumbling to herself, and Yuri doesn’t even pretend to hear. A moment later, she feels a light weight atop her head. Tilda conjures a hand mirror, letting Yuri see it's a hat- white with a silver belt pinning it to her head, and two trailing tails of brown leather coming from the back to match the modest-sized bill.

Tilda nods in approval.

"There. How does everything feel? Too tight? Too loose?"

"Not at all; this is perfect!"

Tilda nods again, this time with an air of satisfaction. "Good, good. And the hat's fine? I don't mind replacing it if you don't like it."

"That's okay- I like it, too."

Tilda's smile seems to soften into something more genuine, or at least a little warmer.

"Good. I should mention I've sewn runes into those clothes. So many runes that even those runes have runes." She smirks at Yuri's shocked expression. "They're all for protection, of course; I heard you're a wanderer, and it's a dangerous world out there." Something hardens in her eyes. "Nothing short of a god can remove those runes, and if that kind of thing happens...well, chances are nothing short of a god could save you, either." She turns back to her desk. "So be on your way, little wanderer, with the stars to guide you and the gods to guard you, and a heart to drive off darkness."

Yuri nods her head once, firmly, with the peculiar sensation of a child stepping out into the world with a parent's blessing. "I will."