Chapter Three: Popculture Puns and Fitting In
A few days had passed since the MarioKart incident and that particular game and fighting had been banned. I'm fairly certain I surprised them at how angry I had been and the authority I seemed to command them with; even Sinbad looked like I could do some damage to him. None the less, the problem was solved and I was currently measuring Hinahoho so I could order, or at least make, him some clothes that would pass in our world but also fit. After all, I don't think Hinahoho, or Drakon for that matter, would enjoy being squeezed to death by their clothes.
"So you're a seamstress?" Spartos quietly inquired from the couch. He seemed to be interested in the difference of fashion between our two worlds. I didn't really blame him, to be honest, especially after some of the girls they've all seen walking down the street. There was no way they'd survive in their world.
"No, not really," I said, jotting down another note of Hinahoho's measurements next to Drakon's, "My parents were into making costumes and I was along for the ride for a while." My parents were in the SCA and enjoyed being in costume at renaissance fairs. They also enjoyed making sci fi costumes and even helped me make custom Halloween costumes. My dad used to be amazing at making beautiful props and masks from anything; at least, before he died.
"And yet you're going to make me a," Hinahoho trailed off for a moment, looking for the correct word, "Trench coat?" Despite that being his final answer, he still seemed confused at the prospect.
"It won't be the best thing in the world, but it's only meant to be temporary anyways." I said, hoping to calm his fears. I knew the coats wouldn't turn out the best, but it would at least draw less attention than fur and scales. Before much else conversation could pass, MD ran into the room and hid on the other side of Hinahoho, who simply sighed.
"Brii, you gotta help me," MD panted. She seemed to be running from something or someone. The grin her on her face clearly said she was pleased with her work, however. With a sigh, I began to write down the last measurement down.
"What did you do?" I asked her. I sounded like an exasperated mother at this point. It was actually sort of funny considering my goth best friend was the one who typically took the motherly role.
"So Jafar and Sinbad were playing a sports game and when Jafar was beating Sin I said, 'Jafar, Jafar, he's our man, if he can't do it, great!' and now he's trying to kill me." She quickly explained. I was silent for a moment before I began to laugh so hard I fell off the step ladder I acquired to measure Hinahoho. Despite the pain, I continued to laugh a little too hard and little too much at the story. I tried to regain my composure as fast as possible and stood up after a moment or two, still giggling.
"I- I can't believe you did that," I said, trying to catch my breath, "That's such a bad joke from Aladdin, I don't even." We had talked before about what we would do if a situation like this with the characters ever happened and quoting Aladdin had been one of the things on our to do list. I've been so preoccupied with getting everyone settled in and used to how things work around here, that I've completely forgotten some of the jokes we liked.
"Well believe it," MD said, her hands on her hips and her chest pushed out in pride, "But seriously, hide me." Footsteps on stairs sent MD running out of the room while I stood up. Jafar came into the room a moment later, his eyes narrowed and scanning the room for MD.
"Where did she go?" Jafar demanded.
"Timbuktu, you scared her off, big boy," I said, moving the stepladder back the closet where it belonged. I picked up the note book with their measurements and flipped the page. I began to crunch some numbers when Jafar spoke up again.
"Where's that?" He asked. I wanted to laugh as he obviously thought I was serious, but I fought it as much as I could.
"I believe that's on another continent. She went," I paused, not exactly sure which door she went through, "in that general direction." I finished, gesturing to a side of the room.
"How observant of you," Hinahoho joked, smiling.
"What are you talking about?" I asked sarcastically, "I'm the most observant human-being on the planet." Jafar ran out of the room at that point, bent on getting to MD. A small fear of him killing MD ran through my mind, but I quickly pushed it back and reminded myself that was ridiculous. There was no way that would happen. I returne to the numbers, double checking them as math was not my forte. MD was flying through the room as fast as she left, Jafar hot on her heels.
"Stop," I called out before they could leave the room again. They froze in place, almost looking an old cartoon. "We're going shopping, so be nice."
"We're finally leaving the house to get them clothes?" MD asked. I had completely spaced the fact that they needed clothes for the last few days until last night, when I began to make measures to get them all the bare minimum of clothing.
"Yeah," I said, as I grabbed my keys from the hooks next to the front door, "So hurry up and get everyone for me." The obstinate look on my friend's face reminded to add, "Please."
"Better," MD said. Turning to the majority of the house, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "GUYS GET DOWN HERE!" People filed in quickly, most likely vaguely scared of the consequences for disobeying the goth girl. I simply shook my head to try to get the ringing out of my ears. I turned to Hinahoho and Drakon.
"Will you guys be fine here for a couple hours?" I asked, "I mean, I don't want to sound mean or anything, but people would probably flip if they saw you two."
"And the government would want to experiment on you guys in their secret labs with strange formulas-" I poked MD's side, evoking a loud squeak and a betrayed glare from the taller girl.
"Be nice!" I chided. I really didn't want to offend them, and I knew Drakon was already self conscious about how he looked.
"It's fine," Hinahoho smiled and Drakon nodded in agreement, "We'll be sure that nothing happens to the house."
"Thanks," I smiled, my gut still twisting with the awkwardness and anxiousness of the situation. I quickly pushed feelings and memory out of my mind, hoping it would repress itself into the recesses of my brain as fast as possible, and strode out the front door, gesturing for the others to follow. I was a little worried about going on the bus with them, but it seemed to be a necessary evil.
After a scare of Sinbad flirting with an attractive woman and MD's jealously, not to mention Jafar nearly stabbing someone for getting too close to him or Sharrkan's reaction to a man cat calling and being disrespectful towards Yamraiha, we had successfully taken the bus to a strip mall. My heart already felt like it was going to explode from being in public this long without the privacy of an owned car to calm down in. MD set her hand on my shoulder, prying me from my thoughts and gestured to some of the group excitedly walking towards a store with a nod of her head.
"They're all moving," She said, "Think you'll be able to handle this?" I could tell she was worried.
"Yeah," I said, smiling just a little, "I already calculated the numbers and know what we can afford." She didn't seem as amused as I was with the joke.
"Just tell me if you need to cool off, okay?" Concern lined her voice as she spoke, and I felt bad that I was the cause of it. I simply nodded.
"Yeah, I'll be sure to." I said.
"Good," She said, grabbing my hand, "The others are getting ahead of us, so let's hurry!" She dragged me into the store, her face settled in a broad beam.
I was immediately bombarded with a chorus of loud voices, metal clinks, and foot steps. Voices, faces, and colors blurred together as I struggled to keep my lunch down. It felt as if everyone was staring at me and my breathing became labored. My head spun as I hurried back out the doors I just walked through, the cooler air shocking my quickly warming skin. A stranger walking past sure must of thought I had gone off my rocker. I held my head as it began to pound. That's right, I thought, I forgot to take my migraine medicine last night and this morning. I forced my eyes to focus on the world in front of me, concrete and teal converse.
"Brii…?" MD asked me after a moment. She had been calmly rubbing my back while my mind was suspended by the anxiety attack. I blinked, trying to come down from the high level of fear.
"Yeah?" My voice had been reduced to practically mouthing words. The faint rasp of a whisper must have let her know I was there, though.
"Why don't you stay out here and I'll get someone to stay with you?" She suggested, full recognition of what had just happened. "If you give me the thing with the 'calculations,' as you had put it, I'll be sure everyone gets what they need." My breathing still wasn't completely even, so I simply nodded; knowing I wouldn't be able to handle going inside and helping.
"Yeah, okay," I agreed quietly, still not comfortable speaking up yet. She smiled at me again, probably hoping to comfort me. I sat on the ground against a pillar as she strode back into the building filled with other human beings and clothes. The cold concrete made me shiver, even with my hoodie on. I flipped up the hood to keep from making eye contact with anyone.
A moment later, funny red and shoes came into the narrowed field of my vision and I knew Sinbad was the one MD asked to join me. Or at least he's the one that came. I didn't exactly feel like arguing or defending my actions or motives, but I also didn't want to be alone without someone I knew in some form.
"Hey," I greeted, not moving from the ball I had become.
"Hello," He said back as he sat down beside me, no doubt moving his obnoxiously long hair to keep from sitting on it as well.
"Did MD ask you to keep me company, or did you trade the chore with someone?" I asked, more so genuinely curious about what happened rather than worried or suspicious. However, suspicious was probably how I sounded.
"I volunteered." He said. So he did trade, I thought, careful to keep it from reading on my face.
"Thanks," I said, genuine gratitude in my voice. I felt him shift a little beside me and took it as a sign that he nodded. I stayed quiet after that, not really having anything to say without possibly sounding like a paranoid, untrusting idiot. Luckily, Sinbad was naturally talkative.
"So what are those protestors about?" He asked. This prompted me to actually look up from my little bubble to see what he was talking about. I saw a group of protestors on gay marriage with signs talking about the bible. They were a religious group of people, purpose and a sense of arrogance radiating off of them.
"Those are religious people," I said stupidly, "They get really offended about anything that goes against their religion. They're protesting against gay marriage, despite the fact that it has many good points including that two people love eachother."
"Gay marriage?" Sinbad asked. The term sounded extremely foreign on his lips.
"Same sex couples." I said. He still seemed confused and slightly shocked, but I paid no mind to it. The others strode out of the store soon after and I stood up, brushing any dirt off my rump in the process.
"So are you feeling better?" MD asked, a ton of bags in her hands. However, the others all had a similar load. I quickly took some bags from her and a few of the others to be less worried about seeming lazy. Which I was, but they didn't need to know that.
"Yeah, let's just get home," I said. I must have sounded a lot less amused and energetic than usual, but having a panic attack does that to you. We all strode back to the bus stop to wait for the next ride home, which thankfully went smoothly. When we got home, I dropped the bags I had in the living room before silently walking up to my room. I soon crashed into bed and fell asleep.