You have a date(?) to get to

A glance at your smartphone says there’ll be just enough time to go home and shower, before you have to head over to Liz’s. Maybe Kate had the right idea, moving in with someone living closer to campus. Because as much as you like your mom and your room, it isn’t the first time you had to factor in more than an hour riding public transport back and forth for a task that will take about ten to fifteen minutes once you are back home.

On the upside, this gives you plenty of time to let Terra and Kate know how things went with Chris. And more importantly: that there are others like you out there.

You were seriously torn between telling them about it and not ruining their day with the news, but in the end you decided to go with honesty. The two of them are supposed to be your inner circle after all.

The conversation got a bit more somber after this. It might not change anything right now, but just knowing these people were out there… well anybody would need a bit of time to digest that.

You still were in a bit of a pensive mood when you Lit buzzed you in and you made your way through the short hallway to her apartment, freshly showered and wearing your best shirt and jeans.

And then Elizabeth opened the door and the only thing on your mind was ‘Is she wearing a kimono?’.

“Hi.” she looked a bit flushed, as she greeted you “You are early.”

“Hi. Yeah, the bus schedule just worked out that way.” you explain, even though the smile on Liz face had made it clear her last statement hadn’t really been a complaint.

“I see.” she nodded, still smiling. “And here I was hoping you couldn’t wait to see me.”

There was a short pause as both of you took in what she just said.

Then she hastily grabbed your hand “Don’t just stand there, come in before one of the neighbours sees me like this.” she said with a small grimace and a a quick glance up and down the hallway.

You allow yourself to be dragged inside and take the time to take in Liz’s appearance as she leads you to the living room.

Now that you think about it she’s probably wearing a yukata, not a kimono. Probably. Orrrrr maybe it is just a blue bathrobe and the sakura-petals on it are throwing you off. You aren’t exactly an expert on these things.

No, on third glance the bathrobe is actually two robes, with a white one worn under the colorful outer one. The sleeves are a bit to voluminous too. And the red belt around her waist is way too broad for a bathrobe, more of a cummerbund actually. You also appreciate the way the bright red on pale blue draws the gaze to the swaying hips just below. Liz certain has nice hips.

Realizing you are staring a bit, you quickly pull you gaze away. Soooo not a bathrobe then.

As if she read your thoughts, Liz says “It’s part of the curse. “ as you enter the living-room ” Yukatas are one of the few things that feel truly comfortable to wear around the house. I was gonna change before you came, but heh,. missed my window .”

“You look good in it.”

“Thanks.” she smiles and squeezes your hand in gratitude. Then realizes she is still holding your hand and quickly let’s go.

“So it’s not just your body that changed?” you ask, as you sit down on the large couch in front of the TV. The same couch where you ended up making out with Liz the last time you were here. And going by her slight hesitation, before Liz sits down on the other end of the couch she too is thinking about that morning.

But it is the only place to sit, unless one of you wants to drag over one of the chairs around the small dining table.

“No, there is a whole lot of other stuff. ” she says with a sigh “It’s not just the yukatas either. This body came with it’s own fashion sense. It’s not really forcing me to wear any particular outfit, but it will definitely let me know if what I’m wearing isn’t up to it’s standards. And the hair too. I get really antsy unless I spend a few minutes each morning, making sure it looks just right.” Liz explains as she absently fiddles with a strand of hair “Don’t get the wong idea. I wasn’t a slob before all “ she gestures to herself ”..this. I took pride in my personal hygiene. I worked out. But I can feel the spell messing with my head, trying to turn me into someone I’m not. ”

As she talks you nod occasionally and make the usual noises to show you are listening with interest. And you are. Interested in what Liz is telling you, that is. you are just not as sympathetic to her plight as you try to look.

“Actually…” Liz continues “ the worst part is that sometimes it is really hard to tell if some idea came from the spell or from me. Like always going for the yukata with the cute flowers instead of the one with the cool tiger, to downplay the fact that I am a monster with a horn and freaking fangs. Those fangs would probably look in a manga. But in real life they really bring out the ‘monster’ part of cute monster girl. Or would you want to kiss a girl with teeth like this?”

You didn’t expect that one! What to say? You want to say yes, but maybe that would be coming on too strong? It doesn’t matter if Liz would be secretly flattered if you make her run off again. Or probably run you off, since this is her apartment.

Your inner monologue may just have taken a few moments, but those were a few moments too long.

“You don’t need to answer that.” Liz decides primly, a light blush colouring her cheeks “I am just griping. Because the teeth and horn and caws are just that. A minor gripe. The worst part is how the spell messed with my personality. I mean I am still mostly the same. but I keep stumbling about little things I used to like and now… I find it a lot harder to see the appeal. Nothing major, but it still means I am no longer entirely me. What makes it even worse is how everyone keeps treating me like this was normal. As if this girl in the mirror is who I am supposed to be. ” she scoots a bit closer “You can’t imagine how great it is to have someone to talk about that stuff, after going for days thinking I was all alone with this. ”

“So your family…?”

“I called some stranger but they didn’t even recognize me.” Liz answers with a forlorn expression “And Liz family doesn’t talk to her anymore, I think. ”

“I could talk to them.” you offer “To the strangers I mean. ”

“Uhmmm… better not. I mean, thank you, but…. better not.”

“I understand.” you do. Telling you about his real family would mean Liz would have to basically admit she used to be Toby. “but if there is anything else I can do to help….”

“Just… stay a while?” Liz offers “Just having someone to talk is such a relief right now. “ adding sarcastically ” Unless you happen to know some counter spell to this whole mess?”

You chuckle “Sorry. No..I know a few guys online who claim to be real wizards, though. I could ask around.”

Liz doesn’t answer at once, ” I may take you up on that offer.” she finally decides ”But I already did the same thing, and I have been getting LOTs of strange mails ever since. And a lot of them are d…. are guys showing of the magic wand “ the last two word were accompanied by airquotes ”they keep in their trousers. And/Or asking me to send pics. “ she sighs ” Of course that’s to be expected when posting about a curse that turns you into a stacked blonde. The ratio of real wizards to weirdos is probably fifty fifty at best, even on occult forums. So I’ll wait for my online wizard friends to come through before putting myself into the sights of yours. “

“Yeah. That might be better.” you agree.

“So in the meantime… Do you want to play a round of ‘Tide of Rats’? ” she points towards the entertainment center at one wall.

“Err…”

“If you can wave your hand and solve this you’ll have my eternal gratitude. “ Liz explains the sudden shift in topics ” But as I said, for now I’d settle for just getting to feel normal. And I used to love this game. I STILL love this game. ” she corrects herself “ The spell didn’t mess with my hobbies thankfully.”

“Sure.” you nod “I’d love to play a round.”

The two of you don’t talk much during the next half hour, while you are still focused on getting back into the groove, after weeks of playing games the required different reflexes and had slightly different control schemes.

But after a while helpful comments, evolve into banter until three is once again a conversation going. You didn’t really expect t spend the evening playing videogames when you came here, but by the time midnight draws close you consider the evening a success, even if it went in a way different direction from what you anticipated.

It was a reminder why Kate fell for Toby: He knew how to be good company. And that didn’t change when he became Liz. And not only did you have a great time, Liz had to. At least you think so, based on how she acted as the time went on. The flirty comments you can put down to her curse. But she also kept reducing the physical distance between the two of you. most notably when she got back from getting something to drink and plopped down near the middle of the couch, instead of the opposite end from you like before.

And she kept touching you – well playfully punching you, mostly – which is probably a good sign too. She even gave you a spontaneous hug when you said goodbye!

So you are in a great mood when you finally tuck into bed, wondering if Liz is also still laying awake, thinking about the not-entirely-a-date as she lies in bed.