Two slightly out-of-breath Lapi does enter the store together, just as the ornate clock standing in one corner chimes the hour. "We made it!" announces the gray-furred Lapi Earth Mage. "We have reservations for a fitting, under the names Spring Meadow and Anisa Snowshoe," she tells the hostess.

Anisa leans against the door, panting to catch her breath. "Dagh, that was a longer run than I thought!" She playfully stumbles over to the other doe in an exaggerated fashion, giving the interior of the shop a quick glance. "So this is the place. Where are all the outfits at?"

The hostess – a particularly tall and thin Skeek – nods and makes a show of checking the ledger on the desk, then looks up to the white-furred doe and says, "We have no outfits here, madam, as all of our creations are custom tailored for each individual customer. I see here that Miss Meadow is scheduled for Room 3, and Miss Snowshoe for Room 5." She stands up and holds aside the curtain, revealing a short hallway with six numbered doors leading off from it, three to each side. "Your fitters should have everything waiting for you by now, if you care to show yourselves in."

Spring Meadow practically bounces on her feet. "This is going to be great, Anisa!" she promises.

The white rabbit looks to Spring Meadow, then shrugs. "Off into the great unknown I guess. See you in a bit!" Smoothing her ears out, and hiding her anxiety caused by being new at this, the doe walks into Room 5.

The first thing Anisa notices about the fitting room is the droning chant that comes from two cowled figures sitting in the corner. Candles on stands provide more than ample light, making colors seem all the more vivid. Since the walls are completely bare – not even a mirror hangs on them – almost all of the color comes from the bright blue Kujaku peahen that is skipping and chirping around a raised platform in the middle of the room.

Flopping an ear in confusion, Anisa slowly makes her way into the room. "Um, hello?" She tiptoes closer to the figures. "I was directed into this room. I'm not intruding, am I?"

"Ah! Hello hello, Miss Snowshoe yes?" the avian chirps. "I am Mage Fweefwee, and I will be your fitter for today! Please come and stand in this circle inscribed in the floor, yes?"

Anisa smiles to the Kujaku. "Yes, that's me. A pleasure to meet you." The Lapi looks to the floor, and steps over to it. "This circle here?" Cautiously, the doe steps inside with a small grin. "You're not gonna turn me into a Kavi or a Rhian or anything, are you?"

"Oh no no!" the Kujaku laughs, and starts searching through the pockets of the tailor's apron she wears. Instead of the usual chalk, measuring string and other familiar tools, however, the pockets are filled with oddly shaped wands. Finally, the bird finds what she's looking for: a napkin?

"Ah! Aha!" Mage Fweefwee says, reading something scribbled upon the napkin. "It says you are to be fitted for something 'professional and confident but comfortable' for the ball. Is that correct, hmmm?" she asks, cocking her head at the Lapi.

The rabbit takes her position in the center of the circle, and looks curiously at the napkin. "Uh, kind of small for a dress, isn't it? Unless I'm going to some exotic dance party or something. Oh! It's the order… " Anisa grins, embarrassed. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Nothing overly frilly or anything, but nothing too butch."

"We will find the perfect balance, yes yes!" the bird twitters, and walks over to the raised dais in the center of the room. Not surprisingly, both the circle Anisa stands in and the raised one are circumscribed with incomprehensible runes. Taking a phial from one of her many pockets, the mage pours out a fine white powder into the center of the dais, building up a small mound. From another pocket comes a quite mundane sulfur match which she lights by striking across her own beak.

The burning match is touched to the pile of powder, which begins to emit sparks and a billowing cloud of white smoke … although the smoke seems a lot more solid than smoke should be.

Anisa winces at the striking of the match, but can't help but watch the ritual with rampant curiosity, evidenced by her forward cocked ears and rapidly twitching nose.

Holding a crystal-tipped wand in her left hand, the Kujaku chants and twitters, poking the device into the cloud here and there, until it begins to form the familiar shape of a Lapi. With a few more minutes of encouragement, the mass becomes a nearly exact replica of Anisa, save that it is dressed in only a featureless black halter and shorts, hovers a few inches above the dais, and rotates slowly around to the right.

"There! Much better than a mirror, yes?" the bird twitters, and swaps the crystal tipped wand for one that ends in a bulb and has several sliding metal rings attached to it. The droning of the cowled helpers grows a little louder as they increase the flow of magic into the illusion.

"Wow," whispers Anisa, staring at her floating doppelganger in utter amazement. "I'm a twin… " She shakes her head, and looks to the peahen. "So you create the design on the double, without needing to fit me?"

"Yes, exactly!" the peahen says, bobbing her head! "Much faster! Shall we start you out with the basic Rephidim cut suit, and modify from there?" she asks, already twisting the rings of her wand.

Anisa nods with a shrug. "I suppose so, if that's the best place you think to start from." The Lapi steps closer to the magical seamstress, keeping her eyes on her double. "To be honest, I'm kinda new at this, so you'll have to help me out quite a bit."

"Of course, of course!" the Mage replies, and touches the bulb of her wand to the rotating figure's hips. This causes the "shorts" to expand, flowing down the mannequin's legs to its ankles, and then flaring out slightly from the legs and forming pleats. The result is a pair of pants that gives the impression of being a skirt, the sort of thing popular among female bards and Eeees in particular.

A few more adjustments are made to the wand, and it is touched to the halter top. The lower hem flows down to the figure's waistline, and then flairs out to form a mini-skirt over the hips, split in the back to allow for the small puffy tail. The upper part stays the same for now, just a pair of sleeveless straps over the shoulders and a curving neckline reaching to the collarbone.

"A very basic design, but holding much potential I feel," Fweefwee remarks, nodding at the rotating figure. "Now we can personalize it, yes? What are your first impressions?"

Anisa opens her eyes wide, amazed at what she sees. "You mean … I could look like that?" She looks closer, inspecting the pants and the waistline. "I … I like it!" She turns to the Kujaku with a huge grin. "Now what?"

"Accessories, details, color!" the Kujaku chirps. "For example … hmm. Gloves! Very good for formal occasions," she suggests, and produces a wand that actually looks like a small, skinny arm. Chanting, she twirls it around the figure's forearms to produce a pair of fingerless, elbow-length lace black gloves.

The Lapi's grin widens, showing her approval of the effect. "I like the contrast of the black against my fur, but… " She squints at the outfit. "… but it's missing something… maybe some kind of embroidery maybe?"

"Ah, good suggestion," the bird says, bobbing her head again and producing yet another strangely shaped wand. "For lace … hmm. Spider web, flowers, vines, grape motifs very popular. Nagas like serpents and scales, of course! What do you have in mind?"

Anisa thinks a bit, then tries to hide a look of embarrassment. "Well, it's not usually me, but… " She hesitates, then whispers almost under her breath, "maybe flowers."

Fweefwee makes adjustments to the wand, which apparently has several rotating sections, and touches it to one of the gloves. A large rose blossom appears on the back of the hand, and a pair of thin vines weave up around the forearm, sprouting smaller rose-like blossoms along the way. "How is this one? Or would you like something more daisy-like? It can also have thorns or leaves added, and the mesh weave widened or tightened."

"Do what you think looks best," suggests the Lapi with a smile. "I trust you. That is, if you think the embroidery is a good idea in the first place… "

The Kujaku taps a claw against the side of her beak in contemplation as she looks at the virtual lacing. "I am fond of roses myself, as they suggest beauty and danger both. I would add a bit of color though, like this," she says. She pulls out a wand that looks like … a paintbrush! A bit of chanting and twisting, and the tip takes on a rose-pink color, which flows into the flowers as she touches the brush to them. Another adjustment produces tiny red gems in the hearts of the flowers.

"Hmm, maybe too much color?" the bird asks. "Black roses with white gems might have a nice effect."

Anisa shakes her head in disbelief, one ear focused on the dress, the other on the peahen. "I think black roses would look excellent. Maybe gives an aura of mystery." The rabbit laughs in spite of herself, overcome with enjoyment. "I guess we should keep it more conservative, nothing overly flashy."

The Mage bobs her head again, readjusts the lace back to basic black, and loses the gems … but adds a hint of thorniness to the vines for effect.

Cocking her head, Fweefwee asks, "Will you be wearing any jewelry? A necklace or pendant perhaps?"

Anisa thinks for a moment, then fishes around in her pocket and pulls out a crystal pendant. "Probably just this. It was a gift from my brother. My ears aren't even pierced, so I guess I won't be wearing earrings."

The Kujaku seems to measure the pendant by eye, and uses another tool to produce a reasonable replica onto the mannequin. "The neckline is a bit bare, if I may say so. Perhaps more lace fill, matching the gloves? The pendant crystal could rest against a central rose."

The doe cocks an ear in thought, and nods. "Sounds good to me, if that's what you suggest." She looks a few moments at the pendant, then replaces it to her pocket. "I guess it'd attract the eye, which is what Aaron wants."

Fweefwee uses the lacing wand to fill in the neckline slightly with the same pattern as on the gloves, raising it a few inches closer to the throat and giving the pendant a darker background to contrast against. A few more adjustments trim it down slightly so it doesn't seem to cover as much.

Anisa takes a step back, and gives the outfit a good look over. "Wow … that's just … wow."

"Hmm hmm hmmm," the Mage mutters, then bobs her head. "I think this works," she agrees, and gestures to the midriff of the tunic. "How form fitting would you like this? Corseting can be sewn in, but it may not be comfortable to wear for long periods."

"Well, I'd like it kind of relaxed, but still showing my form." The Lapi looks down at herself, judging her proportions. "I guess make it fairly fitting, but still a little loose."

The peahen nods, and makes a few adjustments with the bulb-tipped wand to give some breathing room. "Yes, that says 'I am confident', I think, don't you? I think a belt would add something as well."

Anisa nods vigorously, turning her eyes to the waist of the image.

After rummaging through pockets for a bit, the Kujaku finds what she's looking for – not a wand at all this time, but an actual miniature belt made of chitin links. "Now now … hmmm," she ponders, and then begins another little chant while manipulating the belt. On the figure, a black zolk sash sprouts and coils around the waist, tying itself off above the right hip. "A bit non-traditional for a Rephidim style cut, but I thought the contrast might be interesting."

"Oh, this is too much!" The doe walks a circle around the clone, observing it from all angles. "You can really make this for me? It seems almost unreal!"

"Well, it is unreal at the moment!" the peahen twitters in laughter. "Hmm. Perhaps we can match the sash to your eyes, yes? Such striking blue, and there is no other place showing color."

Anisa blushes under her snow white fur, which doesn't do much to conceal the fact. "Well, it would liven it up a bit."

Chanting to herself, the mage switches to the paintbrush wand again, and also wields the lacing tool. Matching the color of the Lapi's eyes, she applies it to the sash, then follows again with the lacing tool. Instead of turning the glittery zolk to lace though, it traces out the same rose pattern in silver thread throughout the sash.

"What do you think?" the peahen asks, wide-eyed. "I seldom get to apply thread patterns like this, so I couldn't resist. It can also be added in places on the slacks or tunic if you like."

"I like it!" Anisa eyes the image again, then nods. "I think maybe a pattern on the chest of the tunic, but just accenting the cuffs of the slacks?"

Twittering, Fweefwee hops about and outlines the cuffs of the skirt-slacks with the same silver vine-and-roses pattern, and also adds it to the chest of the tunic, following the original neckline below the lacing. "Like this, yes?"

Anisa clasps her paws to her mouth, stifling what might appear as a giggle (only because she's not paying attention to herself) of excitement, and nods giddily. "I love it! You're amazing!" She turns to the Kujaku with a large buck-toothed smile. "I would have never thought – " She cuts herself short, realizing her current behavior and attempts to regain her composure. "Er, that is I would have never thought anything could look that good on me." She still lets her smile show.

"You have a good form to work with," the Kujaku chirps, in a matter-of-fact, if high-pitched, tone. "Now … hmm … footwear, or would you prefer to go barefoot? I think this would work either way."

Anisa hides another blush, then looks down to her big bare feet. "Well, I usually do go barefoot. It's hard to find elegant shoes that fit Lapi feet – or shoes that fit at all, for that matter."

"Tut tut, perhaps not on Rephidim," Fweefwee says. "Have you ever tried Himaatian sandal-slippers?" she asks.

The white bunny flops an ear sideways. "Himaatian sandal-slippers? I'm afraid not." She scratches her head, and looks down again. "I've hardly ever worn shoes, to be honest, but I guess it couldn't hurt."

The Kujaku seems to consider things for a moment, then says, "Well, we can try them and see what you think!" She pulls out another wand, this one ending in a definite foot shape, and begins her chanting and tweaking of the wand.

Anisa looks down to her double's huge feet, and watches as the mage does her work.

The effect on the mannequin isn't immediately apparent, but soon a series of zolk laces crisscross the foot and heel, tying just about the ankle. Aside from an obvious leather heel, it doesn't look like there is anything under the foot at all… but Anisa can make out a thin, form-fitting leather sole attached to the laces when the feet rotate to where they are more exposed.

"Amazing… are those hard to put on?" The doe turns to the seamstress. "They look complicated."

"Well, they are based on ballet slippers," the bird admits. "They are not exactly casual footwear, but are good for dancing … and they can take getting used to. We can see if they agree with you during the tactile fitting, if you like?"

Anisa laughs, and nods. "Maybe you can give me an instruction manual or some training." The Lapi clasps her hands to her waist. "Anything else you suggest?"

The Kujaku cocks her head at the rotating figure, giving it a good looking-over. "I do not think you need anything for your head, as it would distract from your face too much and perhaps hamper your expressions. The sash can provide a hidden pocket, so that you would not need a handbag if you didn't want one. Your shoulders are a bit exposed, but you have well developed arms and really should show them off… but a matching cloak would certainly complete things, I believe."

"Yeah," says the Lapi in agreement, "it might get cold or something, and I'll need something for outside."

The mage conjures up a simple hooded cloak with another tool and accompanying chant, and makes modifications so that it matches the rest of the outfit: a blue zolk lining to match the belt-sash, silver trimming around the hem and edge of the hood, and rose-shaped chitin clasp.

Anisa takes another long gaze at the image, and smiles. "I actually look halfway normal. Gibson would freak out." She smoothes out her ears, and shakes her head. "I don't usually get enthusiastic about things like this, but I'll be honest, I'm excited!"

"It is very rewarding to me that you feel so!" the Kujaku chirps proudly. "Some of my clients can be very … hmm … jaded, yes? But, I think we are ready for the final part of the fitting process now! You will need to return to the smaller circle though, please."

"Okay." Anisa does an about face, and paces back into the center of the loop. Turning back to face Fweefwee, she fidgets a little. "Is there anything you need me to do? Stand in a certain pose or anything?"

"Just stand at ease," the Kujaku says, and begins setting out some slender candles around Anisa's rune circle. The droning chant of the assistants changes as well, becoming more active. As she lights the candles, the mage explains, "This is the tactile fitting, to make sure that the outfit will feel comfortable to you, and to help determine which material is best. Please breathe in some of this smoke, as it will help prepare you."

Anisa nods, and starts to take a few deep breaths as she relaxes, letting the wisps enter her nostrils and trying not to sneeze.

The smoke from the candles doesn't smell any different from the incense that might be found at the Rephidim Bazaar – usually employed to cover up other, less pleasant scents.

Fweefwee pours some colored powder from a slender vial around the edge of the dais, circling the simulacrum there and chanting in her sing-song voice. With each circling of the platform, the image takes on a more smoke-like consistency – except for the clothing, which looks just as solid as ever.

Finally, the virtual-Anisa has vanished completely from sight, although the outfit still hangs as if on the body. Nothing much happens for some time, save that the incense does help relax Anisa so that she doesn't feel particularly bored by the wait.

The rabbit watches herself dissolve – or, rather, her double – with fascination, watching as the clothes levitate in space. Her body relaxes, her formerly excited fur now laying down gently, and her ears slacking back in their normal position.

With a loud clap from both the Kujaku's hands the those of the apprentices, the outfit disappears from the dais … and reappears on Anisa, replacing her own clothes. She can actually feel the weight and texture of the fabric now, a bit lighter than what she's used to, except for the cloak. The laces of the slippers are particularly noticeable, and the soles against the bottoms of her feet feel somewhat tingly.

Another tool in hand (this one with various bits of fabric dangling from it), the Kujaku approaches the Lapi. "How does it feel? Not too loose or tight anywhere? Not too heavy?"

Anisa almost leaps upward in surprise (which would be pretty high for a Lapi), not expecting the clothes to just suddenly appear on her like that. "Oh my," she mutters in amazement. After a short pause to make sure this is really happening, the doe looks down at herself, examining the new clothes with clearly positive smile. "It's like wearing a nightgown almost, and soft!" She looks down at her be-slippered feet, and wiggles her toes. "Comfortable shoes – that's a first!" Doing a quick twirl to see how it moves, she stops with her smiling gaze set on the Kujaku. "No, it's perfect!" She examines the gloves on her arms, and rubs the fabric with her hands. "This isn't the real thing, is it?"

"Oh no, just illusion!" the peahen twitters. "My my, if we could conjure actual objects … well, I'm still not sure anyone would dare to wear them! Imagine the embarrassment if the spell suddenly failed during a party!"

Anisa laughs with a nod. "That wouldn't be too fun for the wearer, no. It'd liven up the party, that's for sure." The rabbit giggles, and looks down at the outfit again. "I love it. I had finally resigned myself to having to wear a dress, but this is amazing."

As it is, the sensation of wearing the clothes is already starting to flicker a bit, so that the feel of Anisa's real clothing is beginning to dominate. Within a minute, the outfit dissolves away and reappears in its original position, floating above the central dais.

"Ah, excellent then!" the Kujaku says and begins to make some notes on a small clipboard. With a wave of one wing, she signals the apprentices to move on to the next part of the enchantment. The outfit begins to split apart, actually turning itself into a pattern for making itself. "It should be ready in time to be delivered to your hotel room before the ball. I'm glad you liked the shoes and sash!"

"I loved them," professes Anisa. "I'm usually not much of a fashion person, but you may have just created a convert today. Now I can see why Spring was so giddy." The rabbit steps out of the circle, smoothing out her own pants and shirt. "Do I need to tell Aaron anything, or will you get hold of him?"

"Everything has been pre-authorized by Mr. Lightfoot," Mage Fweefwee informs the Lapi, after another glance at the rumpled napkin. "And under budget too, I think."

Anisa smirks. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled to hear that. I guess I don't have very expensive tastes." She turns to go, then stops, and turns back to the peahen. "Oh, and before I forget." She smiles shyly. "Thank you."

The Kujaku illusionist bows, nearly spilling several tools out of her apron before recovering. "Ah! Please make a good impression, so that when people ask you about your attire, you can tell them it is a Madame Fweefwee of Caroban original!"

The white doe laughs, and makes her way out of the dressing room. "I'll be sure to try. Bye!"

Outside in the parlor, a quite giddy Spring Meadow does a poor job of sitting in a chair – she looks like she's about to float away into the air! "How did it go, Anisa? Wait until you see my outfit!"

Anisa grins, walking over to the other doe in a faked nonchalant way. "It went good, and I can't wait to see! Wait until you see mine!" She winks.