"I never want to leave this magical place." Emira said eyes never leaving her massive cinnamon bun Camila had gotten her. It had been a spur of the moment thing, her stomach had growled, she'd said, "excuse me" and before she knew it Camia was happily buying her and Ed something.
No telling is to have some self-control or that Blight's don't eat junk food. I mean look at Ed scarfing down that slice of pizza. It's nearly doulbe the size of paper plate. Even this dessert is huge, wait is that why she desperately wanted her human clothing? Spent too long indulging in these and now her old clothes don't fit her? She chuckled for a moment before finishing off her surgery delight.
"You two should have said something earlier I could have given you more than just tea and cookies." she spoke as she wiped Ed's slightly greasy face clean.
"Don't worry about it we just kind of forgot about lunch." he said casually trying to not enjoy the motherly act. She simply patted his head leaving him to eat. "Nonsense, you two are growing teens, besides I love cooking for people. Now you to finish eating and we'll head to the thrift store." she then thought for a moment thinking about the other clothing shops. "Or perhaps you'd like someplace else? Amity often told me you came from a pretty well of family so maybe you'd prefer a place like that."
"No!" they said slightly shaken. Finishing off their food they gently took her arms quickly eyeing the mall directory. "Upscale stores are so last year, Right Ed?"
"Yeah, all the cool kids are wearing simple things. Now looks like the store is just down there." She saw the expression on their faces and grew both angry and worried.
The same expression Amity had when talking about her mother. Just how many bad memories do the three of them have of her?"
Once at the store the twins seemed to relax if only slightly. "Alright you two go and pick out what you want."
Instead of each dashing toward the opposite sections they stuck together picking out something before comparing it with the other before sighing and putting it back.
"You two do know that you don't have to match right? It's fine if you really want to but it really seems like you each want something different." They looked at her before turning their attention to the identical shirts they'd grabbed before slowly putting them back. "Old habits, I guess. Well sis guess you're going to have to live with being without my charming presence for a few fateful minutes." she just rolled her eyes and playfully punched him in the shoulder before moving to the girls section. In truth this wasn't the first time something like that had happened while clothes shopping. Even now that they were free from their mother's influence it still affected them.
Nearly every time we shop for clothes, we wind up with half of it matching. Even that one time we picked clothes at random! But not this time, this time the clothes can't possibly match, and we can each get out own things.
But even after thinking that she couldn't help but wonder what Ed was getting. Part of her wanted to maybe casually just wander over just to check on him.
"Just a little peak at what he has then maybe..." biting her lip she shook that thought away and saw something out of the corner of her eye that screamed "you must buy me." And so, she placed it along with the other things that caught her eye inside the cart Camila gave them. No matter how hard they tried they couldn't forget their last shopping trip with their mother. How she'd brought them to the seamstress and ordered multiple outfits from a expensive catalogue not bothering or caring to hear their input. They'd tried to sneak inn some lesser clothes, just something to wear casually but even now her response rang in their heads.
"Don't be ridiculous you two. Just be happy I'm doing you a favor and choosing for you. Remember I know what's best for you."
When they met up, they each tried to casually eye the others haul both feeling nervous and curious.
"Okay you two let's see how you look before we buy them." She pointed to the changing rooms and the twins did their best to nod as they went inside. They'd wanted to get rooms right next to each other, but young girl dashed inside the middle room saying she needed it. This only made their nerves worse as they changed into their chosen outfits before emerging.
Emira wore a black and white striped shirt with a long red skirt with some kind of black dog on it. Camila was taken back by quickly applauded.
"You look good in a poodle skirt Emira, really rocking the retro style." She tried to brush off the compliment but couldn't hide the blush as she did a quick spin. "I think I just found my new go to outfit." A brief clash got their attention and a second later Ed walked/fell out of his booth sporting his new look. He wore a dark green pair of camo pants that seemed to be more pockets than pants along with a black hooded vest, but what caught her attention was he was no longer wearing his concealment stone. Something she was unable to stop herself from calling him on.
"Ed!"
"What? Jealous? I would be I mean look at this, it has pockets for days!" in his excitement he unzipped all of them. "Now I can hold potion supplies and beast treats!"
"Edric your stone." His eyes winded for a moment before he pulled it out and attempted to put in on before Camila stopped them. "No magic items in public please... wait a minute, I know Amity told me you wore them, but I thought you stopped."
It went silent before Edric awkwardly scratched the back of his head and adjusted his glasses. "We usually don't, at least back home. I only wear mine because my glasses make me look nerdy. Emira on the other hand..." she stopped him with a raised fist in warning.
Camila, however, gently put her fist down. "Emira please stop hitting your brother, poor thing looks like he bruises far too easily."
"Fine."
"Good, now Edric, I think you look nice with glasses, but then again, I'm a bit biased. Oh, and that cute little mustache of yours is so cute! Let it grow and I'm sure you'll be too macho for anyone to handle." Much like Emira earlier he tried to brush it aside but couldn't stop from thinking about his future facial hair.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Emira rubbing what she guessed was her concealment stone and walked over to her. "I'm sure you'd look just as good as the real you, but I'm not going to force you to."
Emira had just one thought after hearing this. Why is she so good at this?
Quick as she could she rushed back into the room and pulled her stone off watching as the smoke cleared and her unkept hair popped out along with her constantly reoccurring acne. "urrgh" was her only response as she stared at the mirror. No matter how hard she tried she could never seem to tame her hair, then there was the acne that seemed to magically defy any and all treatments. Walking out she gave a brief huff before Camia stared at, he confused.
"Is that all you were hiding? Some bed head and acne? You had me worried Emira for a moment I thought you had some scar or burn."
"What do you mean? I look worse than a ravenous pixie." Camila simply rolled her eyes and gave her a good once over. "Emira you're a teenager, hair you can't manage, and acne is the most normal thing out there. I know a good cream that can take care of these blemishes and as for that hair of yours... I think have something to take care of that as well." reaching into her purse she pulled out a comb along with some gel and a hairband.
"That is assuming you want me to help. It's perfectly fine if you don't."
Curious, she took a seat and let Camila work. In less than two minute she'd done what she'd failed to do in two years and got her hair under control before adding the black hair band. To say she was surprised at her reflection was an understatement.
"Wow..."
"Don't you just look darling like that." All Emira could do was blush as she pulled out her camera and took their picture. "Alright did you two have anything else you want to try on?"
Their confidence rising, they rushed back and tried on nearly six outfits, each one earning more praise from Camila.
It was pretty dark by the time they made it back to her home with the purchases.
"Thanks for this Camia, we truly had fun today."
"Anytime dears, now let's get you inside and set up your beds."
"Beds? But we just came to get and clothes." he stated not actually wanting to leave quite yet. Emira shared his desires and felt the key in her pocket getting heavier.
"Are you kidding? It's nearly ten pm and no way am I letting two gets walk through those woods at night. No no you two will stay the night and go home in the morning."
They thought for a moment each one eying the house and then the wooded path before asking "well with dad and Amity of on their little trip we could stay here a little longer...right Emira?"
"I mean she's already offered, and it would be rude." Camila saw their smiles and turned of the car. "Great I'll start dinner while you two set up your beds. Do you want to share Luz and Vee's room? Or do you want to sleep separately?"
Normally they would say separately but they kind of wanted to stick together.
"We can take Luz's room. Wait, don't you have another daughter? The basilisk girl Vee?"
"Yes, but she and her partner are off on a weeklong camping trip so it's just me right now."
They were a bit disappointed that they wouldn't be able to meet the young shapeshifter but were relieved they'd have the room to themselves.
They quickly rushed inside where upon entering Camila heard Edric scream "Top bunk!" before hearing a loud "no fair!" which made her chuckle knwong that no matter the species every teen wanted the top bunk.
As she started fixing a late night meal for the three of them upstairs Edric and Emira were happily trying on each outfit.
"So, Ed not to look a gift dragon in the mouth but why are we really staying the night here?"
"You mean besides the good food, warm environment and caring parentally figure?"
"Yeah."
"Honestly, I think I just like it here. No wonder why Amity loves it here so much."
Gently touching her headband, she admitted "Yeah, and tomorrow we'll see about having some real fun."