By the time that Sadie locked up the door to the bakery, Rhys felt like they could collapse on the ground and just never get back up. Sadie was still bouncing around the room, and seemed allergic to standing still, and Rhys wondered if they would be able to just go to bed. But, that would mean they wouldn’t get any more information about this world, and they would get to see how Sadie is outside of work. Maybe there are also other magic forms of caffeine that are available.
Rhys tried their best to clean themselves up in the bathroom, but they didn’t have any change of clothes, and their earth clothes were covered in flour. They were mostly waiting for Sadie to get ready in her room, so Rhys wandered through the shop and looked at the little knick knacks that Sadie used as decorations throughout the bakery that Rhys hadn’t had the time to investigate.
Most of the decorations looked like something that would have been bought from Hobby Lobby for a home bakery, but there was one that seemed out of place. It was on a shelf near the register that was a small wooden hermit crab that looked worn with the paint faded in various spots.
“Are you ready to head out? We’re gonna stop by my friend’s shop to get you some clothes so you can fit in.” Sadie stepped into the room in a slim strapless green dress with a slit on the side. There were thin gold chains draped across her chest and around her hips. There was an intricate geometric tattoo on her thigh peeking out of the dress. Rhys wondered if the ovens were left on as the room suddenly felt much warmer. “Oh, did you find little Homer there?”
“Huh? I, uh, oh, yeah, you look really cute. I mean, uh, he looked really cute.” Rhys gently set the crab down on the shelf.
Sadie smirked, but hooked her head back to the door. “Let’s go get you some clothes so you can fit in around here.”
The pink demon led the way through the crowded streets of Haven, and had to stop occasionally to go back and drag Rhys forward. A day wasn’t enough time to get used to all of the strange sights and people of this multiversal nexus, and Rhys wondered if they were ever going to get used to it. Maybe, they would either wake up or find a way home before too long. There was a four armed man playing an odd instrument on the side of the road which filled the area with a lilting music. It looked like a string instrument with two heads, and then there was a wheel at the bottom that he spun for the tempo and his final hand beat on the side like a drum. Rhys wondered at how much coordination it would take to play, and if there was any way that they could figure out how to play it with only two hands.
“You can’t stare so much darlin. You’re making it too obvious that you’re new here and people are gonna see you as a mark.” Sadie scolded them as she dragged them further down the street.
How are we ever supposed to get used to all of this if we’re never allowed to look, Nia complained.
You just gotta think of it as a magical New York City. If you’re acting like a tourist then you’re gonna be targeted by thieves and scammers, Isaac said.
It’s still no fun, Nia said.
Rhys tried to keep their head down, and just follow Sadie, but it was easier said than done. Around each corner there seemed to be some new marvel that they wouldn’t have ever been able to see on Earth. They looked over and watched Sadie and the way that the dress hugged her curves, and Rhys could feel the blood rushing to her face. Sadie turned back to make sure that they were still following, and Rhys looked away as quickly as possible.
“We’re here.” Sadie pointed to an unmarked door in an alley, and Rhys wondered for a moment if they were going to be murdered. “I know it looks sketchy, but it was the only location that they could rent.”
“Well, if you’re going to murder me, at least make it interesting enough that I get a true crime podcast dedicated to me.” Rhys stepped through the door, and wondered if they were going to instead be smothered by the amount of fabric in the store, and they were temporarily blinded by the amount of colors around the room.
“It took you long enough to get here,” a voice shouted from the back of the store.
“Sorry, I had to drag Rhys almost the entire way here,” Sadie called back. “Come on, let’s go get you some new clothes.” She said to Rhys and started to weave her way deeper into the building. They took a deep breath for a moment before following along. At the back of the store, Sadie was leaning on the counter talking to a tall person with gray skin and black eyes in a long purple coat that was embroidered with various designs all along. They wore a bright green crop top underneath and loose purple and blue striped pants.
“Oh, they are definitely in need of my services,” the person said and stepped out from behind the counter to stand before Rhys.
“In my defense, this was my work uniform,” Rhys said.
“Rhys, this is Zyx, and Zyx this is Rhys,” Sadie said.
“I can see what Sadie sees in you at least,” Zyx said, and their form seemed to shimmer for a moment before Rhys was looking at themself in Zyx’s outfit. They had to look away as it was too uncanny to look at themself just standing in front of them. “I know it can be an uncomfortable process, but this is the best way for me to get an idea of your measurements, and what would work best for you.”
“I think Zyx secretly likes it, because they never warn anyone,” Sadie whispered to Rhys.
“You wound me,” Zyx said. “I’m back to my normal form now, so you can look again.”
Rhys smiled, and watched as Zyx started bouncing around the room gathering different pieces of clothing. A pile started growing larger and larger on the counter, and Rhys wondered what they had gotten themself into. They definitely didn’t have enough money for that kind of haul.
“Okay, so I have a few different vibes picked out, let me know what you’re feeling,” Zyx showed the clothes they grabbed to Rhys. There was one pile that was primarily pastel colors and dresses, there was another pile of neon colors that seemed similar to what Zyx was already wearing, and then a final pile that was black, red and white. The clothes involved zippers, rips and buckles and looked like it could’ve been the inventory at a Hot Topic.
“Actually, can I grab a bit of each? But, I don’t know how I’m going to pay for it,” Rhys said. “Sadie hasn’t actually paid me yet, I assume I’ll have to wait at least a full week for my wages.”
There was an awkward silence as Zyx looked over the piles of clothes. “Okay, here’s what I’m thinking. You can borrow some of the clothes, and then as you get the money you can buy them, and you’ll have to pay for any that you damage of course. And, if you can send anyone my way that talks to you about your amazing fashion sense.”
“Thank you so much,” Rhys said. “I’m so excited, let me go get changed so we can go out for the night.” They picked out a few outfits from each pile with help from Nia and Isaac, and then took them back to the changing room in order to put together their outfit.
They put on a long black vest with a hood that had bright yellow highlights, a ripped and mesh crop top, studded bracelets, and tight black pants with rips, and buckles. It felt so much better to finally be out of their work uniform, and they wondered if maybe they would prefer living in this weird world where they didn’t need to deal with working at the Eastridge Movie Theater.
Rhys hesitated for a moment before leaving the changing room, as they wondered what Sadie’s reaction would be. They thought about changing in to something more conservative, but maybe this would also be an opportunity to be a better version of themselves. They took a step out of the dressing room with their head held high.
“That’s so much better,” Zyx said and clapped his hands together. “Now, I can be seen in public with you. Are you bitches ready to go?”
They both turned to Sadie who hadn’t said anything, but was instead staring at Rhys.
“Sadie, come on girl, you need to put your tongue away and stop staring,” Zyx stage whispered to her, and she snapped to awareness and flipped him off. “Let’s get to the club.” Zyx didn’t wait for them and walked out of their shop, and Sadie looked a deeper shade of pink as she turned to follow them. Rhys took a deep breath and stepped out to face Haven’s night life.
