A Simple Life: Chapter 17 (Patreon)

Mini-Update: Yeah, so content will definitely be slower this month.  Can't be helped I'm afraid.  I was already thinking about it but I will for sure pause billing for April to help make up for it (plus do the things I was talking about in the last update).  Also, another tied poll.  lol  Y'all are the worst/best!

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What I see when I open my eyes leaves me stunned.  This…woman staring back at me was somebody I had never seen before and yet so familiar as to be etched into my permanent memory.  I knew I was looking into a mirror yet to my disbelieving eyes I believed that I must have been looking at a screen displaying some long lost twin sister of mine.  Despite the tiny, dingy washroom, despite the harsh white light, and despite the make shift nature of my outfit the maiden before me truly was something from out of a fantasy.  It was then I realized that I had her before.  In my dreams.

I was so pretty!  My slender jaw and finely tapered chin that looked weak for a man looked elegant as a lady.  My long neck, shallow chest, and narrow shoulders that made me look so wimpy as a man now looked delicate and refined.  My slim waist and willowy limbs that showed my manly weakness  My big, bright blue eyes that made me seem naive or even a simpleton as a man now shone with a charming innocence as a fair maiden.  My wispy blond hair that came down to about my mid-neck now held back in a hair band was adorable.  And, upon seeing myself with fresh eyes, for the very first time I now saw why people always made such a big deal about my smile.  It really did light up a room just like Grandpa said it did.  Even the little hints of my masculinity, the faint Adam’s apple and the slight V taper from my pits down to my hips, somehow only worked to give me a hint of the mysterious.

And the makeup, wow!  It didn’t conceal or plaster, it simply smoothed and accentuated.  My pale skin was flawless.  The bones of my cheek were highlighted subtly and tastefully.  The pink gloss made my pouting lips look oh so smoochable.  And what she had done to my eyes was phenomenal!  My lashes were darkened and longer, calling even more attention to my baby blues.  And around them the sparkling green and gold eyeshadow truly gave my face a mystical appearance.  I really liked the little flares at the corners of my eyes and at the tips of my eyebrows that made me look elvish.

I stood speechless.  I had dreamed of this day but never had the bravery to do it myself.  And what I saw exceeded even my dreams.

“You like it?”

I nod as I fight back my tears.

“Me too.”  She whispers.  “You are very beautiful Avery.”

My bottom lip begins to quiver as my eyes go glossy.  The sniffles and snorts passing in and out of my nostrils were at odds with the beautiful lady that I was.

“It’s okay.”  Wrapping her strong arms around me from behind she simultaneously pins my arms to my sides and my wrists to the book upon my chest.  Had this been one of my brothers I would have panicked at being held helpless but in her arms it felt…nice.  Gripping tightly she squeezes me hard.  “It’s okay Avery.”

Struggling to speak I let out a gasp.  “Th-This is the n-nicest…thing…anybody…”

“Hey.  We’re just having some fun here.  Right?”

“Yeah.”  I nod.

She then laughs  “Don’t cry Avery, you’ll mess up all of my hard work.”  Putting her cheek to mine, her chin resting on my shoulder, she smiles and hugs me hard.  “I didn’t realize what an effect this would have on you.  You sure you’re okay?”

I smile and nod.  “I’ve always wanted…to do this.”  I whisper.  “But I was too…a-a-afraid.”

“Well you don’t have to be afraid here my friend.”  She gives me a bolstering shake before letting me go.  “You just be you Sprout.  You just be you.”  She pats my back.  “Besides, what does Johnny say?”

“Fuck the haters?”

“Ha!  Atta girl.”  She nods proudly.  “Fuck the haters.”

My glimmering eyes dewy but not leaking I am somehow able to quell the upsurge in emotions enough to keep the happy tears at bay.

“Whose a pretty girl?”

I giggle uproariously and stand taller.  “Me.”

“Whose a sexy girl?”

“Me!”  I waggle my hips back and forth.  “Me!”

Stepping back and looking me up and down Winona nods approvingly.  “Mmm.  I’ll say you are.  Daddy like!”

“PFFFT!”  I squeal.  “Daddy!?”

She chuckles.  “Would you prefer Mommy?”

“Ha ha ha ha!”

“I just want to tie you up in a pretty little bow and hide you in my sock drawer.”  She says.  “God damn.”

“He he he he!”

“Look at you.”  She says as she pulls me back to her side to look at the pair us through the mirror.  “Look at us!  The cosplay potential is off the charts!  I am totally dragging you to a Con.”

“A Con?  C-Cosplay?”

“Yeah man.  Comic Con, Gen Con, Dragon Con, something.”  She says.  “Me as Urbosa, you as Link…yeah.  Hell yeah!  We’d be amazing.”

“I don’t know what any of that means.”  I laugh.  “But I’m in!”

“Atta girl!”

“He he he!”

“Although…”  Her eyes pan down to the boner pressing through the three layers of clothes.  “…we’ll have to lock that thing up or something.  Down girl!”

I blush so hard it even comes through the makeup.  “S-Sorry.”  I peep.

“Ha ha!  Don’t be Sprout.”  She shakes me.  “I’m just busting your balls.”

Carefully setting the book down on the toilet lid I stand and preen for the mirror, entranced both by my own beauty as well as this wonderful woman who brought it out.  Winona just stands smiling, content to watch me take the moment in and feed off of my happy energy for a few minutes.  I giggle and prance and pose and curtsie and make smoochie faces and do all of the cute things that girls got to do before finally spinning to face my tall friend.  She looks down at me, her hands on her hips, and waits to hear what I had to say.  Instead of talking though…I step forward and throw my arms around her.  I rest my head on her chest and hug her as tightly as I could.

“Oh!”  She says in surprise, her body tensing a moment.  Soon though she relaxes and hugs me back.

My eyes squeezed shut I say with all of my heart.  “Thank you!”

She strokes my back.  “I’m glad you’re happy Sprout.”

After a moment the embrace parts leaving both a bit awkward at the premature display of affection.

“Ahem.”  She says, breaking the silence.  “So, have you thought about a name?”

“Name?”

“For your character you nut!”  She laughs.  “We’re building a character, remember?”

“Oh yeah.”  I chirp.  “I almost forgot.”

“What a guy.”  She shakes her head.  “Here, look.”  She turns me back toward the mirror and points out toward it.  “Use your imagination.”  I nod.  “Imagine your ears pointed, your eyes a bit larger.”

“Yes.”

“You are a century old, maybe older.  You live in a forest.  You live high up among the trees.  This is your home.  You protect this forest and you protect your family.”  She says with that old gaming passion returning to her eyes.  “Your grandma is the Grand Mage of the whole area and you are her apprentice.  Can you see it?”

“Yes!”

“At your hip, the components to craft your potent magic.  There on the pedestal, the spellbook that contains the secret incantations and formulas of your profession.”

“Cool.”

She comes around behind me, gripping my shoulders, and leans in so her head overs beside mine.  “At your shoulder your trusty crow familiar.  Can you see it?”

I nod enthusiastically.  “Yes.  I can!”  With Winona’s help I really could.  My face was sharper in feature.  The band on my head was a beautiful tiara.  The ring on my finger had an elegant timelessness, the band on my forearm now glowed with magic.  The robes I wore now a fine silk.  And the light over top the mirror was now sunlight streaming in through a window in my treetop house which I could now see all around me.  And on my shoulder a glossy black crow.  A familiar.  A wizard’s best friend.

“Speak your name Mage.”  The Game Master says softly.  “Look into the mirror and speak your name.”

Chapter 18