Wait, but how the f*ck does this thing work anyways? I held up the bra in my hands, examining it all over to try to see how it worked. It was the first time I'd ever seen a bra this close before. I guess there's a clasp on the back here? Ohh, and this other side has hooks, so I guess they latch on like this. I latched the two sides together. Ok, I guess I can probably figure out…but the arm straps? I looked at the straps trying to figure out if I should put my arms through first or try to latch it first.
After putting my arm through one of the straps I realized to my embarrassment that I was still a skeleton, and also that was probably not the way to put it on. I pulled it off my arm, looking around to see if Moira had seen what I just did. Thankfully no one was around. I breathed a sigh of relief then looked at the bra again. I guess first of all I need to take off my tunic… I began to do so, then quickly realized I didn't have any panties on either. Ahhhhh! I buried my face in my hands fervently glad that I was still a skeleton.
Ok, first put the bra down. Then look for some panties… I opened up another box filled with underwear. I quickly pulled out some shorts looking ones, and pulled them on underneath the tunic. At least that part is normal… I sighed. There were smaller, daintier panties in the box too, but I was ignoring them for now. Now, I can pull off my tunic. I pulled it off and stopped for a moment, looking down at my exposed rib cage. Dressed like this, it really doesn't feel that different from when I was still a guy… I sighed in relief, enjoying the moment before eyeing the bra again. I guess I have to… I plucked up my courage then reverted into my living form, immediately flushing red and jerking my head away when I realized I was still looking down. It's just my body, it's just my body, it's just my body. I repeated in my head as I grabbed the bra, trying to get this over with as soon as possible.
I fumbled with the straps trying to wrap it around my chest without getting it twisted. At last I got it hooked in the back, and fit my arms through the straps. Ok, does it fit? I felt my boobs with my hands before realizing what I was doing. Ahhh!! It felt like steam went out of my ears.
"Mm! That's a good fit!"
"Kekekekekekekek" I turned around, slowly, all my muscles tensed.
Moira held up the mage's robe. "Finished!" She grinned. I rushed to her and pulled on the robe before I could think about anything else. I got my head stuck in a sleeve, but after a minute or two of wrangling managed to pull it down the right way. "Aghh! You were supposed to leave me alone, while I was changing."
"But you were finished weren't you?" Moira replied teasingly. "Besides, don't you want to get out of here as soon as possible."
"You're right! That's it! I'm leaving!" I took a few large strides towards the door then froze. I slowly turned around.
"Want a few more for the road?" She grinned.
I eyed her menacingly as I passed her, and reached into the bins grabbing the bra wrap as well as a pair of red panties that looked like they were meant to pair with my bra. I shoved them into the pocket of the robe then marched out of the room.
"Nice to meet you!" Moira called after me. "Have fun out there!"
I got out of the room then slumped against the side of the cliff. "That was way too exhausting." I sighed looking around. For some reason I felt like I was missing something…Rufi! I had left her sleeping in Moira's house when we went out to get me clothes, and I had almost completely forgotten about her.
Damn that ice woman! or…ghost or whatever she is! I rubbed my head trying to straighten out my thoughts as I made my way back towards her house—quickly so that I hopefully wouldn't run into her again. I got to her door and called out "Rufi! You awake? Come on, we're getting out of here." I heard a chirp inside, and soon Rufi was rushing out the door to greet me. She made a rushed landing on my shoulder, bumping against my face, as she brushed herself against my cheek. "Good to see you too," I laughed, petting her. "Now let's go, time to check out the next level."
***
"Max?" Grace greeted him as the tall German boy walked up to her table in the castle's cafeteria. "What's the leader of the EuroStars doing here?" She was eating by herself for once, because she had been training extra hard the past few days, and had finally decided to take a day off.
"Just came by to say hi," he said, taking the seat opposite Grace. "And…to apologize."
"Apologize?"
"I heard your party held a memorial service for Ray the other day. I don't regret our decision to split off from the rest of you, but at the same time I can't help but feel slightly responsible."
"Don't worry about it," Grace said with a sigh. "If anyone's responsible it was all of us who were with him when it happened.
"Still, it's a real tragedy what happened. I heard you and your friends split off from the Americans. Was Ray the reason why?"
Grace looked at him warily for a moment trying to ascertain his motives, before finally deciding to answer honestly. "Somewhat. I suppose it made the danger we all face all the more real. After that I figured it would be better to keep the people I really trusted close. After all, it can be easy for things to get lost in a big group."
"I understand what you mean. Larger groups require better organization. And the Americans…Well it's not their strong suit, I suppose."
"Is that the reason you didn't join EuroStars then?" He looked at Grace, calculatingly.
"I already told you the reason I didn't join." Grace said exasperatedly. "Would you have let Leticia join? Almara? Kelichi? I don't abandon my friends."
Max shrugged. "Maybe I just find it funny that none of the British joined us. I guess politics reflects reality, huh?" Grace scowled at him. "So?" He asked unfazed. "What do you all plan on doing now? We seem to be depleting the capital's dungeon at an alarming rate. The King's been talking about us going our separate ways."
"I've been trying to think about that," Grace said, poking at her food. "What's EuroStar's plan?"
"We'll head north, taking on the Aventa dungeon and the Rion dungeon as we go. The plan is to be a sufficient fighting force by the time we reach the border with the demons. It'll be risky, but it'll be more efficient to level up using the enemies we're supposed to be fighting rather than continuing to deplete our own resources.
"You'd think the gods would be able to do something about the dungeon depletion rate," Grace grumbled.
"They can," Max replied frankly. "But they also want us to continue growing and developing our skills. And staying in one place isn't exactly the most efficient way to do that."
Grace sighed. "I still have to talk to my party, but I was thinking of going south and crossing into Ferrera. I don't really want to get embroiled in the war right now, and I've heard that the demons do a lot of business with Ferrera, so it might be good for intel gathering."
"That's good, I like it." Max nodded. "If that ends up being your plan, don't tell the King or anyone else. If you want to gather intel the less people who know heroes are heading to Ferrera, the better."
Grace nodded, inexpressively. "Will do."
Max made an excuse about somewhere he had to be then got up to go. Grace sighed in relief after he left, putting her face in her hands. "I don't really trust you either, you know," she grumbled into the tablecloth.