Chapter Text
“Hey-” Corin said, shifting his weight awkwardly from foot to foot. “Can I ask a favor?”
Marissa paused in the middle of a punch against a training dummy. “What’s up?”
“Do you… uhh, would you be willing…” Blushing, he glanced at his hands. “Shopping?” Twisting his hands together, he took a deep breath and looked up. “Could you, maybe, come with me when I go to get… less traditionally masculine clothes?”
Marissa’s mouth dropped into an O-shape. “Really?” She hurried to add. “Course I would, I just figured you’d ask Sera t’ go with ya. Unless she’s coming to?” A blonde eyebrow was raised as Corin shook his head.
“No. I… didn’t plan on asking her. Do I need to?”
Snorting, Mara shook her head. “Ya don’t need to do anything. I just thought you would.”
“No” He repeated. “Maybe later. But not now. I thought you’d be the better option. Not that Sera is a bad option. It’s just-“ he shrugged helplessly. “I worry that might be a bit much. Not that Sera isn't practical with clothes, because she is. It just-" he waved his hands helplessly. "feels like it be too much."
"Sometimes things are just overwhelmin'. I get it. I'd love to help ya, and I don't think Sera will mind. Make sure to tell her beforehand, though."
"I will." They promised. "When would work best for you?"
"This weekend?" The blonde suggested with a shrug. "Sera, Patrick and I are goin' to do a survival match in the evening, but I'm free the rest of the day."
"I don't think I have a shift." Corin paused and tilted their head. "And even if I do, it'll be with Lars, and he'll let me skip if I ask. Okay, see you then!"
Corin stared at the mirror in front of them, tilting their head this way and that way. It didn't really change anything about how they looked, but they couldn't believe what they were seeing. It really did look like a skirt, they thought to themself. The pants were a purple linen that was cut nearly straight down the whole way. A slightly longer and darker purple chiffon was pleated over it. When they stood still, it was hard to see where the seams were. If anyone was really looking, it could be found, but why would anyone be staring at their legs?
The pants swished as they turned in a circle, grinning. It even spun like a skirt! Not a full-on, tutu kind of flare, but they didn't think it would do that even if it was a real skirt. It wasn't the right style. But the flare was there, without their legs being exposed.
It was perfect.
"Corin?" Mara called out, sounding a little lost. "ya all good in there?"
Flushing slightly, Corin scrambled to unlatch the door and open it. The salesperson was gone, finally, though Marissa still looked a little uncomfortable. Guilt shot through them. She was only here because of them. Maybe they should have asked one of the others.
"Wow! Corin, those look good!" The remark drew their attention back to the blonde. "I didn't think the color would fit ya, but it does. Turn 'round real quick, will ya?" They did so and received a nod. "Doesn't flair too much, so it shouldn't stop ya in a fight. I caught a glimpse of ankle, but nothing scandalous."
Grinning again, the enchanter turned to look back at the mirror in the dressing room. "I like it. A lot."
"And ain’t that the most important part." Mara chuckled. "Got any others you want to try?"
Biting their lip, Corin turned back to the mirror in the stall. It would be nice to have more than one pair, but they couldn't really afford that right now. There might be less pricey ones here, but that would mean spending longer in the store, and they didn't want to do that to Mara. Glancing at the girl in the mirror, Corin gave a little internal wince. She had clearly seen the look on their face.
"Totally understandable if not." She chuckled. "Though if not, maybe ya could try some of my old things. Can't fit in most of them anymore. Lorien Hightes' food puts meat on the bone. Only still got them because they might make good scraps at som' point."
With a bashful smile, Corin nodded, “That would be nice. Thanks, Mara. Would you need to ask your parents if I can visit or?”
Shrugging, the blonde sat back down on the bench. “I’ve got a few at Sera’s place, just in case somethin’ happens during a survival match. Not the nicest ones, but we could get ‘em now, see if they even fit ya.”
“Makes sense. Let me check out real quick!” Stepping back into the changing room, and locked the door.
Ten minutes later, the pants had been folded neatly in a bag that was sitting between the pair as a trolley rattled along towards the Cadence House. It wouldn’t take them all the way, which Corin was secretly grateful for. Sera’s presence at the house, along with his father’s absences, had made it more bearable for him to be there, but only a little. Usually, when the team decided to meet there, they picked the yard to gather, rather than inside the building. They weren’t sure if their discomfort was just that obvious, or if it was something the others had thought of to minimize the chances of Magnus interpreting, or if Sera felt awkward inviting her friends. Maybe it was a mix of all three.
The ride passed in a comfortable silence, the chatter of the other passengers filling the air. A mother and a young child disembarked at their stop as well,l and the child waved cheerily at them as they headed in opposite directions. The pair waved back, but didn't linger to make small talk. Instead, they started up the road. The comfortable silence slowly soured into a more awkward one, but neither knew how to break it.
So the silence dragged on until they started up the path to the front door. "We should have let Sera know we were coming, shouldn’t we?" Corin asked.
"Nah. You're Bio Trash is out for the week, and I 'ave a spare key if it ain't unlocked."
"Oh. Good."
The key wasn't necessary, as the door swung open easily when they tried it. Holding it open for Mara they took a deep breath before stepping into the house. A servant - not one Corin recognized, so she must have been new - didn't even blink at their sudden appearance. She just told them that Sera was practicing and should she get her?"
"Nah, don't worry bout it, Abby. I'm just grabbing some clothes." Marissa gave the other girl a wave before jerking her head up at the stairs. "This way."
"I thought you would have been on the first floor." The enchanter arbiter said as they followed their friend. "Doesn't having it on a higher floor mean more chance of Magnus catching you?"
"Sorta. But I'm right by Sera, so he doesn't bother me too much. He doesn't like that I'm not noble, but my attunement and my grades speak for themselves. So he tolerates me." She made a face as she said it. "The bastard," she muttered under her breath.
"That's... good," Corin said. "I mean, it's not, but..." They shrugged and waved their hands about.
"Yeah. I get it." Mara assured as she opened the door to her room. "Let's focus on finding you a skirt, though."
It didn't take long for the pair to go through all of the old skirts Marissa kept at the house. There were only three of them, one of which Corin liked enough to take. As they tucked the skirts back into the drawer - with far more care than the guardian had used - a flash of bright color caught their attention. Pulling the cloth up, they realized it was another skirt.
It was faded with age, though it was clear that once it had been a borderline offensive shade of green. The cut itself wasn't bad at all, a neat a-line skirt that reached to the middle of Corin's calf. The waistband was stretched out to the point where it was almost even with the middle of the skirt.
"Goddess help me, I didn't know I still had that," Mara said when she noticed Corin started to slip on another skirt. "Mum got that fabric for cheap. No one wanted it, I don't think. It was almost hard to look at, but it kept me clean, covered, and cool in the summer."
"I believe that." Corin spun in it, holding the waistband up with their hands. "It's very... colorful." Letting the skirt drop so it was low on their hips. They looked down, considering it. "Could I have it?"
"Sure." Mara looked a little surprised. "If you want it. Didn't think you'd like it, it's nearly too big for ya, and the color is a bit brighter than you normally go for. But I'm certainly not going to wear it again."
"I'm going to fix it up a little," Corin told her as they slid it off and folded it over the back of the chair, where the other skirt they liked rested. "A little bit of care for the waistband, a good wash, I think I would get something nice out of it."
"Well then, it's all yours."
These are Corin's skirt/skirt pants. The right ones are the ones they bought; the left one is the end result of them fixing up the green skirt from Mara.
