Anthony carefully stepped into the curious clothing shop, briefly passing a lizard-girl’s tail which flicked across her face as she closed the door behind her. The squirrel woman was too short to see the face of that person… and was probably not even noticed either. She rubbed her face where that tail flick hit her new sensitive nose and shuddered slightly. ‘This place…’ she groaned lightly.
She glanced quietly around the shop taking in the unfamiliar environment.
Clothes for the changed…
Anthony didn’t get the name of the store as she cautiously went inside. it looked like one of those rather generic bric-a-brac stores with all manners of fabrics and a few more unusual items. More like someone was cobbling together clothing for as much flexibility as possible. There were even some flat fabrics just waiting to be stitched… but there were also items such as weird accessories, chains, hairclips, and a bunch of other things. A few dolls lined the outside… perhaps clothes for even smaller changed? There was a wedding dress about her own size which took her by surprise.
“Hello young Lady,” A voice called over with a smile.
Anthony stared. Before her was some kind of ‘cat’ lady… she was rather tall, about six-feet perhaps and looked a lot like an bipedal leopard complete with her tail swaying behind her. She was wearing very little, just a loincloth wrapped around her modest hips while her fur seemed to cover the rest. For the most part she looked like an ordinary woman despite the fact she was all furry. Her markings were certainly interesting with soft white touches on her stomach. She wore earrings and a golden chain around her neck, perhaps looking in her mid-forties. Her fur was the only thing covering her medium sized breasts.
“Uh…” Anthony tried her best not to stare.
The cat-woman smiled. “I see you are new. Quite alright, goodness that coat can’t be good on your tail… and you’ve been dragging it through the street.” She shook her head. Her voice was tinged with a slightly southern accent. “Please, let me help you with that.”
Anthony was too stunned as the woman ceremoniously removed her coat like she was in a barber shop and hanged it on a railing. Under her coat, Anthony was just wearing a simple vest and jogging bottoms that trailed past her feet as makeshift shoes. The cat-woman shook her head at the sight of her new customer.
“Hm, well the Water certainly made something interesting of you,” She giggled. “Come, tell me what you are looking for?” she gestured deeper into the lightly cluttered room. “You would look darling in a white dress, I think. Squirrels have such lovely tails, I’m envious.”
Anthony found the spell broken as she was suddenly able to think for herself. White dress- wait no she wasn’t thinking of the wedding dress?! “Well- I- I have an important business meeting. I- I just need to look… respectable.” She glanced around again hesitantly as if some instinct was ‘insisting’, she made sure to have an escape. Why did the cat-woman have to be weird about this! She had to persevere. Also why did she suddenly feel a little jealous of… something. “Um- I just want to look… normal.” She wasn’t sure how to put it. Maybe this was a mistake. Normal wouldn’t be found in a place like this! What was she thinking?
The cat-woman gave a soft grin. “Ah, I had a… suspicion. Not too keen on the dresses hm?” she browsed through some fabrics. “Let’s see… your light brown fur will favour reds and yellows… whites… you have a lovely fur pattern on your torso and tail… hm… very eye catching… you should show it off.”
The squirrel-girl gave a cringeworthy look at the very idea of showing off any of her fur markings. The heart at the end of her tail was bad enough. The strange lines that decorated her front made her feel even more weird.
The cat lady continued to chuckle seeing Anthony’s reaction. “…though you are quite adorable. Have you considered perhaps just a headband? Gloves… or even a scarf? It’s a look that might work for you very well.”
Anthony imagined strolling into a business meeting wearing just a headband. “Ah- no!” she squirmed at the very idea. “I really need to be covered up. I can’t do that!” What was she a saturday morning cartoon character?!
“Animal folk have different rules about these things my dear,” she said with a sensual sway of her loin-cloth. “Even this is a bit over-dressed for me. It is possible for clothing to look… strange on one as you. You’ll see. I found It looked strange when I tried to wear my old blouse.”
Anthony groaned. These animal folk were all messed up in the head. She had no time to deal with this stuff! This was a mistake. “I should-“
“Oh, but if you are insistent… come let’s measure you and see what I can work with.” She gave another smile and the squirrel girl felt… somehow curious. “I do relish a challenge… consider me your humble servant. Please, I will find what you desire.” She put up the ‘closed’ sign on the door. “So, we are not interrupted.”
This… surprisingly made Anthony feel calmer. She was used to giving an order and getting what she wanted. If the woman would indeed provide reasonable service, then this would all work out. She walked a little closer. “Well, I just want… some trousers… you know… maybe a shirt.”
The cat-woman started to bring out some trousers in response. “Hm… Well, I would still suggest a dress is better to allow for air circulation. Your fur will get very warm. However, some loose pants can work for a little while… I do have some underwear that should work for you as well. Perhaps a bra?”
“I- I don’t need a bra,“ Anthony quickly insisted. The slightly odd feeling of jealousy reared its head as she glanced down at herself. Did she know she used to be a guy or was she treating her as a girl… it was hard to tell. She felt her ears flatten a bit.
The cat-woman giggled again. “Ah, I think once we get some clothes you’ll appreciate the protection, even if you don’t require the support.” She idly explained. “Though you are new to all this, I’ll let you go at your own pace of course. Tell me about this business meeting? You sound like such an important squirrel.”
Anthony made a little chat with her… but she didn’t want to give too many details. She might learn exactly who she was and might… decide not to help her. So, she kept her real identity to herself. She learned that the cat-girl was apparently called Mary and was a victim in some water-gun shenanigans twenty years ago or so. Mary seemed to brush the events aside working on the task for her customer.
Underwear was surprisingly easy. Anthony didn’t even need to wear female ones as such- though clothing did seem to have the effect of making her look ‘more’ like a child… which was clearly not her intent. She had a more fitting shirt now, with buttons running down the front… interestingly on the other side then what she was used to. She didn’t really think on that too much as it all fit well. It was short sleaved just before her elbows… the fabric was surprisingly soft on her fur… comfortable for the most part.
“The fabric won’t have too much static from your fur.” Mary explained. The cat-woman started to measure the squirrel-girl’s legs and brought out some black short trousers. After noting how they fit she started to quickly sew them to the right size, taking only about ten minutes on each trim. “For a tail of your size, I’m afraid it’s going to be tricky to work around. We’ll have to use buttons and see if that works for you.”
Anthony lifted her legs a bit in the fabrics feeling how they all worked.. the oddness of fur catching on the cloth and catching on her tail. “Um- I’ve not really decided if I want those ones-“ Anthony said before the lady worked on it too much.
“Oh not to worry my dear. Someone will buy them eventually, you’ll be surprised how many odd shapes I see coming through that door,” she giggled to herself. “So, I think you are quite happy with the shirts and T-shirts at least?”
Anthony moved her arms in them, stretching. She pouted a bit in the mirror, looking from the side. “…they… make me look like a child.” Anthony sighed staring at her reflection in annoyance. That stupid … face… of a mere animal.
“Oh, that bothers you?” She tilted her cat-like head. “There are many I’ve seen that wish they looked like you.”
“…weirdos.” Anthony spoke before thinking. “Not that- well- I’m not saying you’re weird. I just mean… people who would want that… this…” she gestured down to herself.
“Ha! Well, people are strange by nature dear. Don’t let it bother you. You are what you are.” She giggled to herself. “You know when I got hit by the water, I knew exactly what I would be… and I wasn’t disappointed. I have a feeling the water… gets an idea of who we are, deep down. Maybe this form is part of your mind somewhere? An unexpected part of you certainly… but no less a part of you.”
Anthony wasn’t sure what to say to that. She felt almost insulted. Some squirrel? In her head?! The most stupid animal in existence just a little higher then a freakin’ rat? What kind of a weird idea was that! “I… doubt it.” She muttered trying to be polite. The woman was clearly crazy, but she did good work and she needed someone on her side for now. Anthony could appreciate her labour and would try to compensate her appropriately. “I think the trousers are still too short… I rather not show… the fur.” Maybe on her arms it was okay, but legs were… well… it wasn’t good in a formal setting.
“Oh… well, if we make them longer, you’ll get very hot hun,” she explained. “But I suppose we can give it a try.” She provided him with another set cut carefully for her size.
Anthony nodded. “What about shoes?”
“Shoes would not fit you at all. Though I can get you some slip-on socks I suppose?” She rummaged through a tray and brought some out, accidently dropping some horseshoes. Anthony blinked at that as she put those cast-iron pieces back inside. “You never know when someone walks in with hooves dear,” She giggled. “Here, try one of these.” She handed a slip-on pair of socks.
Anthony looked at the ensemble… and herself in the mirror. She looked…
…as ridiculous as she imagined.
Despite an expert doing everything she asked for, every request was met… she had done absolutely ‘everything’ asked… followed her instructions to the very letter…
…and yet it was still ‘wrong’. Anthony stared at herself… a girl trying to be a man… an animal trying to be human. She stared… and stared…
The cat-woman gave a sympathetic look, perhaps having seen that expression many times. “May I suggest something?” she asked.
“…what do you suggest?” Anthony was almost feeling a tear as craned her head upwards.
The cat-woman placed her hands on the squirrel-girl’s shoulders, almost like a mother to a daughter. She gestured her gaze back towards the mirror. “Small things… make a difference… find strength in subtly... be nuanced with clothing. Dress for yourself, rather than for the expectation of others…”
Anthony bit her lip. “…it’s because I need them on my side, I’m trying to find the right clothing.” She blinked and looked away from her reflection. “I hate… looking at her” She muttered.
The woman gently placed a hand on the squirrel girl’s ear and gave a little scratch. “Come now, look again. Is there any part at all that you do like? There are many parts to you.”
Anthony didn’t want to but at her insistence she looked again… What was there to like? She was short… fuzzy… had an annoying tail, weird markings on her body which- thankfully were at least covered, but the clothes didn’t ‘work’ as they should. She sighed and looked… again. Maybe there was…one thing. “…my eyes.” She whispered. “I um- I always though my eyes were kind of… dull. Now they are bright…” It wasn’t much… but yes.
“Mm… like… an autumn leaf.” The cat-woman nodded. “I think you are right there. Your hair is also quite pretty if I may say. There’s a nice hairdresser that can fix it up a bit. I take it you haven’t been out in a while” She nodded happily. “As for your clothes… I’ll let you rent out the fabrics until you find something that works for you. Consider it a free sample.”
“I don’t need charity,” Anthony growled.
“Now now, these are samples to try… nothing more. You can return what you don’t want in a month alright?”
Anthony sighed and nodded. “Well… I guess. Fine.” She nodded.
“And best of luck with your meeting.”
