Talhort's Bodyshop

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Ahsch wasn’t sure what to expect when he entered the shop. Dirty and grimy, perhaps? Confined for sure, probably dark. After all, it was situated in an alley in a poor section of the Capital, so surely that was all to be expected.

Instead, he found that it was clean, decently-lit, and while it wasn’t even remotely spacious, there was an almost cozy air to the place. A small bell tinkled as he opened the door, then again as it shut, and he looked around at the glass-enclosed shelves displaying all manner of items. He quickly identified the piercings, and after that the tattoo stencils, or at least the designs. But there were other objects that he had to tilt his head and frown at for a moment to comprehend - or read the label. Scarification, branding… wait, surgery?

Footsteps from the far end of the shop drew his attention that way. “Can I help you… My Lord?” they asked, a quick once-over before appending the correct form of address to their greeting.

Ahsch stared at the figure who emerged from the back. Tall, powerfully-built, broad, with wide horns, cloven hooves, and a fur-tipped tail, the monster could only be a cow-girl, one of the ‘wilder’ breeds that more closely resembled minotaurs than domestic milk cows, for sure.

The only problem was the flat - if broad and powerful - chest, masculine face, and bulge at the crotch.

The cow… person frowned at Ahsch’s lack of response. “You weren’t recommended here,” they remarked, “So I have to wonder what you’re doing here, Lord Odestag.”

Ahsch blinked. “You know me?”

They rolled their eyes. “Only one male hrafthi. And, as far as I know, only one…” they grit their teeth for a moment, “‘...true’ male monster in the Capital. Probably the kingdom.”

Ahsch almost laughed at himself. He kept forgetting that. “Right, right, apologies. I was a… known quantity in my home village, so I’m still getting used to simply… being known on-sight by complete strangers. Though you have me at a disadvantage…?”

The cow-person rolled their eyes again. “Talhort. Or did you not read the sign?”

He flushed and coughed. “Right. Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting…”

Talhort’s nostrils flared, “What? Another monster-man? Thought you were the only one?”

Ahsch opened his mouth for a quick response, then closed it and thought carefully about how to word things. “My understanding is that monsters are always born female… though, I admit to being an exception to that rule, though I’m aware of certain… extenuating circumstances surrounding my birth.”

Talhort raised an eyebrow. “Might be the only one born with a dick, but you’re far from the only person born as a man.”

Ahsch nodded quickly. “Of course, I should’ve…” He shook his head at himself, laughing derisively. “I haven’t met a… transgender person before.” Not since I’ve come to Euphoria, at least, he silently corrected himself.

There was a burst of shock from Mahat. Ahsch! Dorin!

What? he responded, forcing himself not to frown at the apparent non-sequitor. What does Dorin have to do with… wait, fuck!

It made too much sense, but Talhort was frowning in thought. “Transgender…” he said, tasting the word. “I suppose that’s not a bad term for it. And I’m hardly surprised, there aren’t too many people like me, human or monster, and even fewer actually are able to do anything about it besides wish or change their clothes.”

“If you don’t mind my asking…?” Ahsch probed.

“Deal with a djinn, daughter of a friend of a sister; she let me use her Virgin’s Wish to pull _this _off,” Talhort gestured to himself, then shook his head with a grunted laugh. “Crazy shit, Virgin’s Wishes.”

Ahsch nodded. Unlike the stories from Earth, djinn - or genies - weren’t able to grant three wishes to anyone - they had _one _nigh-all-powerful wish that they could grant, but only as a sexual virgin - intact hymen not required! After that, the djinn tended to get a slew of semi-random innate magics, usually leaning towards the more powerful end of the spectrum.

“I suppose, with a Virgin’s Wish, that means you’re… er…”

Talhort snorted, sounding only slightly offended. “‘Complete?’”

Ahsch winced. “I was going to say, ‘entirely transitioned,’” he muttered.

“Hmm.” Talhort gave Ahsch another once-over. “Yes, I am. Though, not fertile, at least with monsters.” He snorted again, amused this time. “Got quite a shock with my second wife though, since we thought I was completely impotent. Apparently, works with humans.” He shrugged. Then he frowned and tilted his head slightly as his eyes narrowed at Ahsch. “That all aside, you still haven’t answered my question.”

“Ah, why I’m here,” Ahsch guessed, getting a nod from Talhort. “I… well, you know I’m the Prophet of Enochiel, yes?” Another nod. “One of Enochiel’s domains is ‘bodies.’ I’ve recently been contemplating what that means, as I haven’t… well. There hasn’t been much development along those lines; nothing that feels… ‘complete,’ at least. That feels like it encompasses the entirety of what that domain entails. I sought guidance for a place that would help develop my understanding of it, and…” he shrugged, gesturing to the shop.

One of Talhort’s eyebrows was up at his shaggy hairline. “Brought you here?” he asked, disbelieving.

“Apparently.”

Talhort frowned. “And what do you reckon that means?”

Ahsch shrugged again, then looked around the shop. “What do you do here? I mean, I can read; I know what piercings are, I know about tattoos, and even scarification, and branding. But… what’s the…” He searched for the phrase, then remembered something from an inspirational speaker he’d watched videos of. “Why do you do what you do, Talhort?”

The cow - or rather, bull - man stared at Ahsch for a long moment. “So that others don’t feel like I did for half my life. Trapped in a body they don’t fit, that doesn’t fit them. Or at least, to do my best to help them feel better about it.”

Ahsch nodded, slowly walking around the shop, looking at the various items and books on display. He stopped at one of them. “You do surgeries?”

Talhort shook his head. “Second wife. Took us more than a decade to get enough information and get some foreign apothecaries to let us in on their secrets. Can’t do too much, but we can take the tits off a monster or human who don’t want them, and we have some potions that’ll help a flat-chested person grow a pair, as well as one that’ll make someone look more like you or I.”

Estrogen and testosterone, plus top surgeries, Ahsch considered, nodding. “Talhort, I think… what you do isn’t the only thing that Enochiel’s domain of bodies encompasses… but I do believe that what you do is included.”

Talhort stared at Ahsch again, his eyes deeply searching the younger monster. “‘Your body is the You which is shown to the world. Be honest with it, and feel no shame for it,’” he finally quoted.

Ahsch nodded. “What you do here helps people accomplish that. If you want, I’m willing to get the Order of Enochiel to support your business. And even if not, I… I want you to teach me. Not the actual procedures, I unfortunately don’t have the time - and I’ll be honest, I likely lack the constitution - to learn how to perform them. But the… the _essence _of what and why you do what you do. I believe that…”

Ahsch’s impassioned plea came to a sudden halt when Talhort held up a hand. “Save your breath,” he said, dismissively, causing Ahsch to wilt in defeat. “I can see enough that you’re honest about this. And I agree.” Ahsch looked up sharply, smiling widely, and Talhort smirked. “If you’re willing to support my shop, I’m willing to teach you, Prophet.”

Ahsch nodded eagerly, already reaching out in Daydreamweave to speak with Ariin and Elui.