Chapter 534: Bobbi-Lee's Cottage

Wednesday, February 22nd, Evening

(Song Lyrics in italics)

It turned into another late day. In her at-home office, she sat at her desk dressed in her not-so-fashionable sweatpants and hoodie. They weren't the cheap Walmart kind either; they were from a brand the company she worked for. Her ginger red hair was up in a messy bun, and headphones were glued to her ears.

Bobbi-Lee leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Her desk chair was a high-end gamer chair. She found it more comfortable over a day than most desk chairs. Looking over her large screens, she nodded grimly at the designs; they weren't landing in her mind.

She was just about ready to switch over to working on her next season line. There Bobbi-Lee knew she could make progress. That's when she heard the front door open. Bobbi-Lee smiled and turned to face the steps, pushing her headphones to hang around her neck.

After a few minutes, her oldest niece, Brett, came upstairs to the loft where Bobbi-Lee kept her office. The two ginger redheads looked at each other. Brett shrugged, walked over to Bobbi-Lee, and sat down in a nearby chair.

I'm not violent but let's play a little game

Let's pretend you'll listen to me, every word I say

You've been all up over me, yeah all up in my space

Back off, back off

Don't know why I let you walk all over me

Let you get the upper hand but not for long you see

Now you're in a position I wouldn't wanna be

Back off, back off

"So, how were school, practice, work, and the fitting?" Bobbi-Lee asked.

"Long, tiring, and I'm hungry," Brett said.

Bobbi-Lee gestured to the desk, "My phone is over there, order yourself something; just let me know where so I can order too," she said.

"You didn't order, Aunt Bobbi?" Brett asked.

"No, been busy," Bobbi-Lee said, "But I should've eaten."

"Still, you should eat," Brett said.

"Twinkies aren't food?" Bobbi-Lee asked.

"No," Brett said.

Bobbi-Lee chuckled, "So, how was the fitting?" she asked.

"Surprisingly quick, they had me in my underwear and stepped into this machine, and it went up and down. I was told I was done, and that's all they needed," Brett said.

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

"They scanned you?" Bobbi-Lee asked.

Brett was on Bobbi-Lee's phone. "Yeah, I guess," she said, "How about Thai?"

"So, your body model should be on the system by now," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Okay, I have no clue what you're saying," Brett said, "Pizza?"

Bobbi-Lee turned around and started playing with her computer. "Pizza? IT RUINED ME FOR PIZZA when I lived in New York," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Chicken wings?" Brett asked.

"From where?" Bobbi-Lee asked.

"I was thinking Rerun's," Brett said.

"That sounds good plus two of his Tarheel Tacos," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Drinks?" Brett asked.

"Doctor Pepper," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Okay, the order is in," Brett said.

"Good," Bobbi-Lee said.

"What are you doing, Aunt Bobbi?" Brett said, looking at the computer screens.

I'm ready for combat, ready for rage

Haven't you heard? Luck favours the crazy

I'll make you fight back, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Rеady for combat, give me a war

Tick like a timеbomb, ready to roar

Let me ignite that, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Ready for combat

"Want to see what that dress looks like on your body?" Bobbi-Lee asked.

"You could do that?" Brett asked.

"They scanned you, so they have a model of your body," Bobbi-Lee said.

"It's a way of getting a more accurate measurement, and they can feed the plate sizes into CNC Machines, rapid prototyping," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Do machines sew it?" Brett asked.

"No, we still have seamstresses," Bobbi-Lee said.

"So, you could show me what it will look like on my body?" Brett asked.

"Yes, I can," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Cool," Brett said and got closer, "Show me."

Bobbi-Lee pointed to one of the screens. "There it is," she said.

Brett looked at the screen. "I might be a little too muscular for it," she said.

"Nonsense, I think it looks great," Bobbi-Lee said.

"It would look better on Alexis," Brett said.

"Is that your cheerleader friend?" Bobbi-Lee asked.

"Yes," Brett said.

"It looks great on you; want to see it?" Bobbi-Lee asked.

"Yeah, sure, I don't believe you," Brett said.

"Okay," Bobbi-Lee said, and few keystrokes and mouse clicks, the featureless digital mannequin changed to a high-resolution digital version of Brett.

Kinda fun watch you trying to escape

Long time I stayed out of it, now I instigate

Making up for lost time, I could do this all day

Back off, back off

Don't act like you haven't been asking for it

Don't act like it isn't your fault

You always provoking me, I ignored it

Now I'm gonna give you my all

"Whoa!" Brett said.

"Impressive isn't it," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Yeah," Brett said.

"It's adapted from the tech that makes highly accurate action figures," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Cool," Brett said.

"With your body model in the system come prom time, I can design your dress," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Okay," Brett said, "So, can you do this with other designs?"

"Yeah, watch," Bobbi-Lee said, changed the window, did a few keystrokes and mouse clicks; a virtual Brett now wore the virtual design.

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

"That's so cool," Brett said.

"It has applications across the board; right now, we're trying it out on select haute couture clients," Bobbi-Lee said.

I'm ready for combat, ready for rage

Haven't you heard? Luck favours the crazy

I'll make you fight back, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Ready for combat, give me a war

Tick like a timebomb, ready to roar

Let me ignite that, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Ready for combat

"That's why you were surprised they scanned me," Brett said.

"Yeah," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Cool, I'm in an exclusive club," Brett said, and smiled, then got distracted.

"I guess you are," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Aunt Bobbi," Brett said.

"Yes?" Bobbi-Lee asked.

"Who are you listening to?" Brett asked.

"Hmm, give me a second," Bobbi-Lee said and went through her windows, "Icon for Hire Ready for Combat."

"Cool song," Brett said.

"Yeah," Bobbi-Lee said.

The doorbell rang. The two women glanced towards the front of the house.

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

"That'll be dinner," Brett said.

"Yeah," Bobbi-Lee said.

"I'll get it," Brett said.

"Okay," Bobbi-Lee said.

Brett left the loft while Bobbi-Lee turned back to her computer, took one last long look at Brett in the dress she designed, and saved her work.

I'm ready for combat, ready for rage

Haven't you heard? Luck favours the crazy

I'll make you fight back, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Ready for combat, give me a war

Tick like a timebomb, ready to roar

Let me ignite that, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Ready for combat