Roxana jumped up from the couch and wrapped her arms around Alex. "The date's tomorrow and I've got nothing fancy enough for a date and he's going to think I'm fat and ugly and it's going to be a disaster and I'm going to be embarrassed and..."

Alex rubbed Roxana's back between her shoulder blades. "Chill, girl. Breathe. What have I told you?" She wriggled out from the embrace, steering the other woman to the door. "You are ridiculously beautiful, and I promise wwe'll find something for you to wear. Though I think you'll hate me for where we're going..."

"Why?" Roxana asked, suddenly alarmed. "Where are we going?" I don't wanna go if it's not a place I'll like. You said it was safe." With an effort, Roxana pushed back and twisted out of Alex's grip. "I need a hoodie!" The one she pulled from her closet was one of her older ones, still comfortable, though it was a little tight. It had cat ears on the hood, which Roxana pulled over her head.

Alex rolled her eyes and proceeding to exit the apartment. "It is safe. The guy is just a little weird, which is why you'll hate me. I don't think you'll need to worry about him hitting on your gorgeous ass though, because I'm pretty sure he's gay."

Safe in her hoodie, though still very aware of the openness around her, Roxana mumbled, "My butt is too big. Makes me look fat."

"Pfft." Alex said, with emphasis, "Your butt is fine. Goes great with your legs. If anyone should be complaining about their body, it's me. I mean, seriously, my boobs are pathetic compared to yours."

Folding her arms across her chest defensively, Roxana shook her head. "You're thin. Men like thin. I'm all big and fat. Big boobs, big bum, big feet."

"Pffffft." Alex gestured at Roxana's body. "Men like that. Trust me, when you watch everything because you can't hear anything, you notice things. Hell, even under your layers right now there's been two guys who double checked you."

"Um..." Roxana stopped, folding in on herself a little. "Wanna go home if people are just going to stare at me."

Alex shook her head. "They aren't staring, just a few who realised you were hot and glanced back for a moment. And anyways, taxi time now that we're closer to a main street."

Mumbling something about her looks, Roxana stood close to Alex. "it's scary," she said, "There's too much up."

"What do you mean 'up'?" Alex asked, confused, waving a taxi in. "Epic Mall, please," She added to the cabbie.

Roxana ducked into the taxi and visibly relaxed. "No ceiling outside. Too much up."

Alex looked at Roxana with a raised eyebrow. "Y'know Rox, sometimes I worry about you. But I can understand. I prefer being closer to the ground," she said quietly.

Roxana took Alex's hand. "I try to be better," she mouthed, so the driver wouldn't hear. "Lady Lift wasn't shy, but I go outside and it's scary and I just want to hide again."

Alex nodded. "be you, and be confident in being you. Because you're amazing."

"I hope Dragon thinks so," she replied silently. "I really like him."

"He will," Alex murmured without hesitation. "And we're here. The shop I had in mind is right at the back. Usually pretty empty, oddly enough." Roxana let Alex get out first, and tugged her hoodie tighter before following. She reached out and took her friend's hand. Alex pointed as the store came into view. The front was elegant, pristine, and conveyed and air of the rich. A bright, gaudy sign read 'Sqee's Emporium'. "In we go Rox, it'll be quiet inside."

"If you say so," She replied, looking around as they went in. Everything inside was fancy, to the shop fittings and the hangars. Nothing had a price on it, and all the products, down to the shoes and the little pieces of fabric hanging under a subtle 'lingere' sign.

"Miss Newt! What a surprise to see you!" came an exclamation. A shorter man, dressed in bright clothing came upon them from the side, though he hadn't spoken until Alex could see him. "What can Sqee do for you today?"

"I need a hell of a dress for a hell of a date for my friend here," Alex said. Roxana startled, jumping an inch to the side. She hadn't seen the little man coming at all.

"Oh, I'm sorry to have startled you, my dear...?" He left it as a question.

"Roxana." She held out a hand to shake, but turned to Alex hoping the hood would cover her mouth. "I can't afford this stuff."

Alex shook her head. "You aren't paying," she said quietly.

Sqee took the offered hand gently. "Well, my dear, I'm more than certain I've got something that'll help accentuate your already natural beauty. If I may enquire about the date, it may help me find something more suited for the specifics."

Taking a deep breath, Roxana stopped herself halfway. "Can I say Epic things here? I'm a secret still."

Alex nodded. "He won't talk, and nobody's dumb enough to try and make him talk. He designs most of the costumes for the heroes."

"It's for a date with Dragon Heart and I really want him to think I'm pretty." The words tumbled out of Roxana's mouth, before she looked around and closed it, shining white with embarrassment.

Sqee measured up Roxana with interest. "Now that is a date, my dear. We'll want elegance and to show off your curves. But not to open. We want him to use his imagination, after all. By the time we're done here, there will be no doubt of your beauty in his eyes. Why, just that he's got a date with your is sign enough, I say."

She nodded. "I think I should show off my legs. I like them." But she turned around and looked at the windows. "Um... Is there a room or something?"

"Of course dear," I wouldn't dream of making my customers dress in an open space. If you'll follow me..." Sqee said, already moving further into the store. 

Alex pushed Roxana forward. "Play along. He'll have the perfect dress. Skirt. Whatever." Once in the back, the duo found themselves surrounded by half-finished work and mannequins of all sizes. Sqee came back with several outfits in his arms, humming jovially to himself.

Roxana looked at a blue dress over Sqee's left arm. "Can I try that one first? Blue's happy." Sqee nodded, and Roxana picked it up, noticing there wasn't a hood. "Where do I go?"

Sqee pointed. "Behind the curtain. It is fully furnished, dear."

"Alex?" Roxana reached for her friend, and took a deep breath. If she can be confident, I can be as well. She headed to the back and changed, which took longer than she thought. "Alex, I can't reach the zip."

Sqee motioned to Alex, feigning a zipping motion. Quickly, Alex helped her friend, whistling as she caught sight of her. "I'm super envious right now. I could never pull that dress off."

Roxana breathed in, but put a finger down the bust and pulled it forward. "It's tight," she grumbled, "My fat boobs are squashing it."

A second dress, lilac in colour, came over the curtain. "Perhaps this will be more comfortable," Sqee said from the other side.

Roxana took the dress, but didn't take the blue one off yet. She leaned over to the mirror, hitching the hem up a little. It was tight on top, but not that tight. But it was also tight on the bottom, and showed off her legs. It clung to her in a way she'd seen on some TV celebrities. "This doesn't look bad, does it?"

"Rox, it looks great. I envy you right now," Alex said.

The faint white glow across Roxana's skin began to tinge blue. "But it's no fun just trying on one dress." She smiled into the mirror and reached for the zip, snagging it and pulling it to the small of her back. A shimmy of the shoulders later, and the dress was in a puddle at her feet. "I think Dragon would like that if he likes me."

"I can guarantee he'd love that, goober." Alex laughed.

"I'm a goopy goober girl," Alex sang as she picked up the lilac dress. "How does this go on?" She asked. "There's no back or sleeves or anything."

"Pull it on from the bottom, like pants. It's a strapless," Alex said with a shake of her head. "We really need to get you out more."

Roxana blinked. "Then what covers the front? I don't know if he likes girls that much."

"Just put it on, you'll see," Alex laughed.

Like she was told, Roxana pulled on what she guessed was the bottom of the dress."This is the front?" She asked Alex, holding it. "That's not going to hold anything in place, I mean look." Holding it up, she gave the other woman how little it would cover. "I've got a bikini that covers me more."

Alex stifled a laugh, readjusting the dress a little. "Better?"

"Still," Roxana covered herself. "My boobs are too big."

"You. Are. Ridiculous. Try walking around."

"And they'll fall out."

"It's just you and me, goober," Alex sighed. "Oh no! Boobies! I've never seen them before! My innocence, it is ruined!"

Roxana stuck her tongue out at Alex in response. It might have been true that they'd seen the other's before, but that wasn't the point. "If you want to see boobs, go call the police lady you were flirting with last night."

Alex punched Roxana lightly on the arm. "I was not flirting. And how would you know that anyways?"

"I was [i]distracted[/i] by having sexy in the room, not oblivious."

Alex playfully bumped Roxana's shoulder with her own. "Alright, alright, she was kinda cute. Hey, Sqee! Next dress?" Roxana pulled herself out of the half-dress, taking care her underwear stayed.

A third dress came over the curtain, this one a deep emerald colour. It was somehow smaller than the last, or at least that was how it seemed. Alex brought it over, looking at it. "String goes in the back. I'll have to tie it for you."

"OK." Roxana turned around and put it on, wondering how her butt would fit. Alex tied the string around the back of her neck, shifting the dress to settle better on Roxana's figure. She immediately looked down, to see how high up the thighs it went. "I can't bend over in this," Roxana said, proving the point by doing so.

Alex giggled, undoing the knot. "Next!" she called.

A fourth dress came over, a ruby red colour, with thin layers like a dress make for dancing. "This is the last I have picked out, girls," Sqee announced.

Finally, a dress Roxana could put on by herself. She twirled experimentally, watching the light skirt layers flare as she turned. "I like this one..." she said, "But I like the blue more."

"Blue suits you," Alex agreed. "Fit the best too."

"This is why I like you liking girls. You know where boys look." Roxana smiled and hugged her. "can we get shoes and extras here too?"

Alex raised an eyebrow. "You know it's not just girls. but I get your point." She shook her head, laughing quietly for a moment. "And yeah, Sqee will have the other stuff to compliment the dress."

"I'm not sharing Dragon, if he likes me," Roxana said, taking off the red dress. Would Dragon really like her curves over Alex's model figure? She suddenly felt self-conscious again, pulling on her layers and hoodie.

"You wouldn't need to. I'm not interested in him." Alex shrugged.

"But he's gorgeous and muscles and big..." Roxana trailed off, biting her lower lip.

"And not my type. He couldn't handle me anyways. The Traveling Trickster..." Alex muttered. "Honestly, sometimes I'm surprised you're still putting up with me."

"You're my best friend." Roxana hugged her.

"And I'm... different," Alex settled on. "But anyways, quit being so worried. I'll bet you five hundred that he loves you and you become official within a month."

"I don't have five hundred," She reminded Alex, "But I'll bet you a kiss."

"Shame, I always wanted to know what your lips felt like. And here you're betting it, and I'm going to win without a single worry." Alex pouted.

"Um... I meant a chocolate kiss," Roxana explained. "But we can do the other kind if you win. Once."

Alex shook her head. Don't worry about it, because I'm going to win. I don't care what I win, because I know I'll win. That's why I'm willing to risk five hundred." She thought for a moment. "How about this? When I win, you help me find a date for myself."

"But you get people talking to you all the time," Roxana picked up the blue dress, and folded it. Then unfolded it. Was she supposed to put it on a hangar? "I had to go home by myself last week because that guy at the bar didn't have a friend."

"It's not the same as what you've got now," Alex said sadly, taking the dress.

Roxana hugged her friend. "I have a date. You have dates. You still win." With a little mischief in her voice, she added, "You also get to sleep over more often."

"Because I'm a Trickster," Alex laughed. "Anything is possible when you know what buttons to push. But I don't think anyone pays attention like I do. And anyways, I'm just a notch in people's belts."

"You showed me your belt." Roxana reminded her. "And you've got to tell me that trick again if Dragon wants to take me home. You know the one where your parents called me because you hadn't answered your phone in twelve hours?" She perked up, looking at the blue dress. "This needs a belt too. Like one of those thick ones for the waist."

"I've got that already, dear," Squee spoke up.

Alex sighed. "Fun is fun. But it's not just one trick, Rox. And I don't think you want to mix lust this time around. Sure, it's nice and all. But you have something here. We'll save the tricks for the second or third date, huh?"

Roxana eventually decided to put the dress back on its hangar. "So no fancy underwear?"

"I didn't say that. Just no special tricks to melt his mind. Make sure he wants you for you, y'know?" Alex explained.

"Does the bra with the front clasp that you got me count as a trick?"

Alex shook her head. "That's up to you. You do make your own tricks."

"I don't have any tricks."

"You do, you just have to find them," Alex said simply.

She frowned. "Like the dress thing I did?"

"Exactly," came the simple reply.

Two thoughts bumped into each other, and the sound of the collision came out as, "Can I even wear a bra with this dress?"

"Mhmm. You'll have to test that and find out," Alex said mildly. "Either way, does it matter?"

Roxana looked at her. "Of course it matters. I don't want to look silly or stupid or cold. My hoodie is fine, but this is just one layer."

"With or without a bra, you'll look amazing, Rox," Alex shrugged.

"But..." She subsided.

"But nothing. You're gorgeous, and the dress is really going to make that pop."

Another thought occurred. "What do I do if he wants take me home? My place has that big poster of him and that'd be really embarrassing."

"Perfectly acceptable," Alex supplied.

"But that's..." She hadn't allowed herself to think any further than what had happened last time she went on a date with a boy, back when she was a teenager and had to be escorted by her cousins. The thought of actually... with Dragon Heart... "Mmph." Roxana sat down on a stool. She could have sworn smoke was coming out of her ears.

"Perfectly acceptable," Alex repeated, laying her hands on her friend's shoulders. "Look, Rox, you really like him don't you?"

"Mm-hm."

"And I'm positive he likes you. So let things go however feels natural, okay? If that means you do the dirty... Nothing wrong there," Alex shrugged, squeezing Roxana's shoulders slightly.

Roxana badly wanted to curl up into a little ball. Or get some private time. Or both. "But with Dragon...," she mumbled into her hands.

"I imagine it'll be better than anyone else you could choose," Alex said dryly. "Look, Rox, don't worry about it. Just worry about being yourself and having a good time."

"I'm not [i]worried[/i]." She coughed and took a deep breath.

"You're lying," Alex laughed. "But whatever helps."

Roxana managed a half-hearted glare. "You're putting thoughts in my head."

"My, you dishonor me!" Alex mocked. "Of course I would never use such tricks on my best friend, even if it was for her best interest!"

"Now I'm going to think of doing that with him all the time!"

"Until it happens, anyways," Alex shrugged.

Roxana frowned, trying to ignore the ideas. "I just wanted to kiss him. And cuddle him. And have him touch me. And..." She went red again. "Alex!"

"I'm not the one thinking it," Alex accused with a laugh. "You'll get plenty of cuddle and kissing either way, I'm sure."

"But it's your fault."

"Such dishonor!" Alex exclaimed. "I am a perfectly innocent little girl, thank you very much." She ruined the effect by laughing.

"Innocent my fat butt!" Roxana replied. "But you are little."

Alex scoffed. "Now you insult me. Pffft."

Roxana got up and put her hands on Alex's chest. "Small."

"They're not small, they're..." She sighed."Okay, they're small. You win this one."

"Yes. Revenge." Roxana pulled am her tongue out. "I'm bigger than you and you can't do anything about that." She opened her hoodie and leaned forward. "I win."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "No offense, Rox, but I could do a lot about it. I just refuse to harm a friend in any real way." Roxana covered her chest again. "Not like that, silly," Alex laughed. "Now come on, let's get the rest of the stuff and get going."

"A belt, and shoes. And maybe a purse and something to put on my head." Alex nodded.

Squee came back, neither of the women having noticed his disappearance, with the extra accessories in hand. "I believe this will sort everything out, dear."

Alex nodded. "Charge my account, Squee. The usual."

Roxana took the belt and other accessories. "Can we portal home? I wanna try it all on." Alex nodded, waving her goodbye to Squee before opening a doorway. "After you..."

With no small amount of relief, Roxana stepped directly from the store to her comfortable, safe, home. She sighed, putting everything on the back of the couch for now. "Thank you, Alex." She hugged her friend as soon as she came through. "Now I'm going to look perfect."

"Of course, Rox. That's what friends are for," Alex shrugged. "You need anything else? I don't want to be a burden."

"A second opinion," Roxana said, changing into the dress again. "Now the belt goes like this..." She  dressed up completely, except for the zip, which gave her a little trouble. Again.

Alex pulled the zipper up, nodding slowly. "Really comes together, I think. You'll have to alert me when you get dressed tomorrow so I can pop in real quick for the zipper."

Roxana danced around the room, sweeping her puppy plush into her arms. "I'm going on a date, I'm going on a date!" She sung, the room mostly lit up by her happy blue glow.