Build goodwill

Rezkin hits on an idea. “I believe I know what to do,” he says. “Notice how Miss Courtney’s clothing and mine appears to be observing us.”

Adella tears her eyes away from the naked wizard and looks at the animated attire. The clothing is fully animated and assembled, and it looks as if two invisible people are wearing Courtney and Rezkin’s clothing. The items stand a few feet away, as if carefully watching events unfold.

“As I said, my powers are derived from feelings of joy and goodwill. The clothing has imputed those values into itself. I believe the clothing senses the diminishment of such feelings in this room right now, and so they are skeptically watching to see whether they are welcome here anymore.”

“Are you seriously suggesting that my knickers can think?” asks Courtney, still unsure which part of her nakedness she should attempt to cover with her one free arm.

“It’s all very hard to explain, and I don’t have time to go into the details at the moment,” replies Rezkin, “but suffice it to say that the power that animates the clothing remains connected to me. If I am feeling I unwelcomed, the clothing interprets that feeling as directed toward itself.”

“So what do you need to do?” asks Adella.

“We must demonstrate to the clothing that goodwill, joy and love reign in this room. If it can see that I am fully accepted and welcomed by you, I believe it will relax and allow itself to be reclaimed by us.”

“So what do you want me to do?” asks Courtney. “Write you a love letter?”

“You must demonstrate goodwill toward me,” he responds. “In whatever way is customary for you.”

Courtney grimaces, but collects her thoughts and composure before turning her face toward Rezkin and saying, “Good day, Master Rezkin. It is so good to see you here today. You are most welcome. I hope you sense my feelings of goodwill toward you.”

They all look at the clothing. No difference in its position or appearance is apparent.

“It’s not working,” says Adella.

“Perhaps it has to do with your body language,” says Rezkin. “Your words were kind, but you had your body turned away from me, and your arm across your body like that kind of sends a message of distrust.”

“You mean I am to —“ Courtney stammers her protest, but Adella cuts her off.

“I see what he is getting at, Courtney. Please, for purposes of getting this over with, just do as he says.”

Courtney grits her teeth, but with a deep breath and a sigh, turns and fully faces Rezkin, letting her free arm hang casually at her side. Rezkin attempts to maintain eye contact with the clothing, but he cannot help but catch a view in his side view of the beautiful, naked woman. He gulps and redoubles his efforts at maintaining focus on the clothing.

“It is _so _good to see you,” Courtney tries again. She places her free hand on Rezkin’s arm and smiles. “I feel such an overwhelming sense of joy and goodwill toward you.”

As she touches his arm, the clothing moves slightly, and the three humans watch intently, but after a hopeful stirring, nothing further happens.

“I don’t understand,” says Rezkin. “This should work. Unless, of course, this isn’t the way you would normally behave around someone like me.”

Adella and Courtney exchange looks.

“What do you mean?” asks Courtney.

“Well, your clothing knows you better than anyone, since it is, literally, closer to you than anyone. It knows how you typically behave around people, and it can tell if you are acting differently now.”

“Why, how am I to know how I would typically act? Different people get different reactions, naturally!”

Rezkin nods. “True... But there’s something different. And the way you act or respond to people while wearing these articles of clothing, in particular, will be significant — particularly what you have done since they were most recently laundered.”

“What are you saying, Rezkin?” asks Adella.

“I’m not sure,” says Rezkin, “but I suspect your clothing observed your actions or sensed your thoughts with regard to others, and it has concluded that if you were sincere in your expression of goodwill, you would do the same as you did before, or, since it is not in contact with you now and cannot sense your thoughts, it may assume that you would act upon any thoughts you had when you did wear the clothing.”

“I’m still not sure what you are saying,” says Courtney.

Adella speaks up. “I believe I understand. Who have you interacted with while wearing that outfit?”

Courtney says, “I have been with you all day, Your Highness.”

“Wait a minute,” says Adella. “I thought you said you started the day with Horace.”

Courtney blushes and looks uncomfortably at Rezkin.

“Horace?” asks the wizard. “Who is this Horace?”

“Just a stableboy,” replies Courtney, clearly flustered. “I’m sure that’s entirely irrelevant.”

“Probably not,” says Rezkin. “Did you show him goodwill?”

Courtney turns even redder. “I think that’s a fair description.”

Rezkin nods. “Then you must demonstrate goodwill toward me in the same manner.”

He is so focused on the clothing that he fails to notice the horrified look Courtney gives to the princess. The two women exchange bewildered glances, and Adella can tell that her friend is looking to her for answers.