Mixed sentiment, fears and understanding.

I check my messages first. Chantal's is as follows: 'Hello, I am Chantal. I currently work in a warehouse that distributes a whole bunch of food locally near Nijmegen. I am married to my wife, Katrien, who took my last name. She has been hiding things from me as of late, and as such, I have decided to refer her the LifeQuest app. I am the elder Sister to Robin. Both of our parents used to be huge homophobes, and thanks to the guests I have been receiving, this has lessened, and I have been able to talk to them again in moderation. Katrien works as a helpdesk operator currently, but has had a proper education in visual design, just like me. Where I want to be an artist, she has always been more focused on being in PR, making ads, that sort of stuff. Sadly, all of that is being cut. Please help us?' I might just forward this verbatim to Madelon after I answer her messages.

'Bastard, explain why you did this.' 'This will ruin everything!' 'Answer coward!' and a whole host of different insults are written there, the fear real. I answer: 'I had hoped stewing in your own thoughts might have made you realise I didn't do it to harm you. For starters, Pieter has already figured you are into him or at least want to be closer than a normal family should be. Robin also already fears this. If they move in, do you think it will be more or less awkward if it is out in the open?'

'Wait, they both already suspect I want to have a relationship with Pieter. Robin, without ever meeting me! A moment's pregnant pause as the follow-up comes. 'Fair with the quest reward, the awkwardness will be less. They might resist, but they won't be turned off by my thoughts.'

Good girl, you understood. I decide to send Chantal's message forward. 'I got something juicy from Chantal that I will share with you, do with it as you wish. Also, if you have fun class ideas for the idiot and his victim, go ahead and tell me.'

I forward the message and leave the messaging app to see what quests she has made. Tim hasn't completed or refused his quest because he couldn't, and now to complete it, he needs one of his other girlfriends to have dinner with their brother. Lilliana received a quest to go to the police and tell them everything. To coöperate with the investigation and to stop selling herself. In return, Tim will get thrown in jail for his crimes for the maximum punishment. Good, this will limit what one can do with Tim, but do I care, honestly, less and less. I would have liked to be able to play with him for longer, but without him clearing the other quest, there isn't much we can do. Katrien hasn't been added yet. She might have been referred, but not accepted yet. Robin, Madelon, and Chantal's quest isn't going to be done for a while, especially for Chantal if she has to work so late and still has to plan a date with her wife.

I leave the toilet to see an anxious Robin waiting. "Just checking emails and getting lost in thoughts. Let's go shop!" We start to wander the streets here and there, darting into stores to buy some clothes. At first, mainly for Madelon, her general purpose stuff. A few floral dresses, a few jeans here, some with flare, some skinny fits. I pass over all of them with a tape measure to know whether they will fit. Then the hard stuff, lingerie, bras and panties. I head into the store and start looking over them, and the store clerk looks awkwardly at me. I wave them over. "My sister asked me to get some new underwear for her. I am looking for 3 different pairs of underwear with..." I take out the notes I had taken. She looks at me in relief as I show the notes. "These measurements, I can tell this matches the waistband she needs, but I think it is a bit skimpy for me to give her."

"So some boyshorts and bras that fit these measurements. Do you know who took these? If they are taken correctly?"

"I did. I am technically trained as a tailor and had a strict teacher. So I think these should be fine."

"Yeah, right?" I look over her clothes and find that one of the seams is coming undone.

"This seam is going. I would check it if I were you. But I can measure you if you want, and then you can compare."

"Deal." We head to one of the dressing rooms, she removes her top and her bra, I do the measurements and write them on a piece of paper. I did include the leg measurements. "Okay, I understand. Why not make this stuff yourself?"

"Shoulder injury. I don't think that if I can't cook, I can sew."

"Fair enough, why not wait?"

"None of your business. I will not air my sister's dirty laundry to you." I say with a customer service smile that people recognise as being FAAAAKE as can be. "Can you please just get me a few sets that will work with her measurements?" Realising she stepped on a land mine. Seeing me wait, she grabs 4 sets in just a basic colour with a little faf, just comfortable generalist bras and boy shorts. The boy shorts I look at and go. "Thanks... I hope my sister will like these," trying to make it clear with my tone that I fear my sister will not like it. She keeps standing there, and I roll my eyes. "Put the panties back, the bras are fine, they being basic shouldn't be an issue, but I fear that my sister will complain if I come back with nothing but boyshorts." I continue to look through them after taking note of the size. I come back with 5 different decent panties and an additional two bras with floral embroidery on the outside. "I might not know her style well, but this is likely to be okay." She is silent as she rings me up.

Leaving the store, Robin is sitting on a bench nearby. "Did you get the delicates?"

I roll my eyes, "Of course, sweetie," and kiss them on the cheek. "Do you want to shop for some clothes yourself? I saw you looking at a few things when we were at some of the other stores."

"I didn't feel safe there... But whilst you were away, I found a trans owned shop not far from here where I likely will be able to try on some clothes."

"What are we waiting for?" I say, holding out my hand. They take it, and we walk at a constant pace to the place. We make note of where we would need to stop for some chachki or a knick-knack. I pull them in close as we get closer and closer to the store, and I see weird glances at them. This does not dissuade but amplifies the glances. As we walk into the store, the proprietor seems tired as they greet us. Robin starts looking through the racks, as do I. Finding a dress that I find interesting, I walk up to Robin. "What do you think?"

"That is never going to fit Madelon."

"No, it won't. I took her sizes, remember. I damm well know this will never fit my sister. For you, dummy."

"Ohh... Oh uhmm, uhmmm."

"Your choice, but the stitching on all the clothes here is well done. From what I can see from the patterns without turning it inside out, it is supposed to accentuate the hips, minimise the waist and play a bit with the shoulders to give a more feminine figure."

"How the fuck can you see that from the outside?!? How?!? My designer tells me that, and when I wear it, it's true." The proprietor says with exasperation and frustration.

"It isn't simple when it is on a hanger like this, but..." I pull on the front and the back in a few spots. "If you know how to look, you can tell. It is easier if you can look at all the seams, though, since that dictates where it can't stretch, thus where it is the most limiting. Do you mind if I turn it inside out?" They shake their head and I walk over the seams and explain how they work.

Robin interrupts my gushing, "Weren't you a full-time chef?"

"I told you numerous times that Roos's mom taught me how to sew like a pro. That did involve me making my own clothes for 2 years. I even sewed a bunch of Roos's clothes at the time, or made it so they fit better, so this type of stitching is basically a hobby. I might if my obsessiveness kicks in, fix the clothes we bought for Madelon. But that is after my arm gets better."

"Why not become a designer or get a job in that instead of being a chef?" The owner asks.

"Two reasons: competition and I can like multiple things. If I were to start making and designing clothes, competition is strong, especially from anything ready-made. The prices I would like to ask are not competitive. I also just love cooking and creating great-tasting recipes with a good balance of nutrients. Both cooking and sewing are, to some extent, just puzzle hobbies to me."

"A hobby because you don't feel it is your cause. Because you didn't feel the calling to become a starving artist. That is fine, but you never forget. Do you still sew often?"

"Mainly maintaining my own stuff and making it fit. My work outfits are the only ones that ever leave the place, and I made them fit perfectly. It is dangerous if things don't fit properly. I don't need a lot of clothes, and sometimes fun novelty prints are nicer and easier to buy. Doesn't mean I can't appreciate clothes clearly made for purpose, for show, to help people show their best selves."

"I can tell from the way you talk about the clothes how much you like these kinds of things. How much you like showing off, maybe. You don't seem like you are interested in dresses for wearing them yourself, but more for your friend or partner?"

Robin chimes in. "We are indeed here for some more feminine clothes for me. I will try it on give it." Robin put it on the dress, hugging their waist, their ass being pushed out, and their bust being made to look bigger and their arms more dainty.

"You look great." Both of us emphasised. Robin blushed. I decided to buy it immediately. Robin changed back, deciding to leave it behind. I grabbed a bag with a wink.

"Let's now go grab the last things and head to Ikea. Unless you see other things you like." I said in a commanding tone. The knick-knacks mostly picture frames, pictures for them and a few small sculptures.

The beds we picked at Ikea were practical, simple ones that looked like they were made out of full metal. We could always buy new ones later, moving them to another room, we decided. Same with a few extra dressers. We also picked up a few standing desks and a few chairs. Matresses what felt good to us, which were slightly on the sturdier side, separate blankets and duvets for the two-person beds. Covers are mostly uniform in colours, in satin and a few flannel ones.

At home, we do the test of all relationships. Assemble the furniture... which goes as easily as can be with how few issues there are. Well, except Robin having to do all of the physical holding in place whilst I screw in the screws with my one available arm for heavy lifting. Robin jokingly suggests: "How about we test the beds to see how sturdy they are?"

I boop them and say, "Sorry, we have to go pick up Madelon for dinner. We will pick up your stuff tomorrow, okay? Or do you need me to drop you off afterwards?"

"I will think about it, okay." They say with a small smile.