Rosie Preview

Hey there! Thanks so much for the patience, and sorry it's so late. I think at this rate, just with everything life I'm going to end up missing the next public upload. With all the hospital time, a date today (which I'm excited about), a bunch of legal paperwork running around, doctors appointments for my eyes and my uterus, and a book I really wanna read due back to the library on the 10th of Sept, I've found very little time to write this month. However, I have gotten the preview done for Rosie, which may yet get some more revision when I have more time.

"This was certainly an unusual sight in today’s day and age. All around the buildings stretched up to the skies, as flying cars weaved in and out of the aerial highways, and what remained of foot traffic were generally only on their way to whatever superstructure they called work or home. Yet here was an ancient door, the wood that made it had likely gone extinct centuries ago yet it showed no signs of rot or decay. Perhaps its owner was a collector? But then why would they out it here street side where the someone could damage it.
Quite the mystery as Rosie stood in front of it, unable to fight this odd pull to go inside the archaic portal. Would it be appropriate to go in though? She was a star after all, what if someone for once finally recognized her off stage? That would be a pleasant change.
Gingerly she reached a pearl-toned slender hand forward, taking the brass handle and giving it a turn as she'd read such things were used back in the day. The ancient mechanism gave a light squeaking sound, as the bolt pulled out of the frame and released the heavy door to swing inwards. It was like stepping through time, as the walls were lined with shelves and antique trinkets from a long forgotten time.
“Hello?” the girl called out, not seeing anything resembling a station to browse product or hail the staff.
The light sound of footfalls came from around one of the displays, and moments later Rosie's neon blue eyes were met by an animalistic woman. Her muzzle was peppered with grey fur, and her long black hair was braided and decorated with what looked like real feathers. Other than she was only wearing a pristine white lab coat, leaving the front open and showing off her curved and motherly figure beneath.
Her dark eyes blinked at the girl that had wandered in, looking her up and down curiously. “Um… hi?” the mature anthropomorph awkwardly replied.
The star sank a little at the reply, her neon eyes drooping to the floor and her pink locks falling over her shoulders to frame her face. People were always like this around her in person, and she never quite understood it. When she was on stage, everyone adored her, but off…
She couldn’t let it get her down though. She had to smile, “This place is really interesting,” she commented, a crack in her tone as she tried to keep it peppy.
The inhuman woman clearly caught it, “I’m sorry, did I say something that upset you?” she asked genuinely, plopping a long wooden handled tool into an old bucket full of some liquid that sloshed over its lip to land on the floor.
Rosie shook her head, “N-no,” she replied, “I’m used to people being a little off put by me,” she explained, putting on her best smile, “It’s not your fault.”
The woman managed a small smile of her own, “I’m no stranger to the feeling, so I get where you’re coming from. It’s no excuse though,” she offered back.
It was so seldom the girl got such kind understanding words from someone. She could feel that little swell of happiness build in her to have finally met someone who seemed to empathize with her plight. With a tint in her cheeks the neon eyed girl reached out a hand for the anthropomorph. “I’m Rosie,” she introduced herself to her new acquaintance.
It took the older woman a moment to accept it, looking at the girl’s hand oddly before taking it like a dead fish to shake. “Zyanya,” she replied as they shared their awkward handshake.
“A pleasure to meet you Zyanya,” Rosie chirped happily, looking around once more, “So what is this place, some kind of museum?”
The muzzled woman gave an awkward chuckle, “It can feel like that some days,” she mused, brushing her braids over her shoulder, “but no. The boss calls this place Madam Materia’s Magical Menagerie,” she explained coolly.
The pink haired girl could help but laugh a little. “That’s a silly name, everyone knows there's no such thing as magic.”
Zyanya shrugged, “It depends where you’re from. Many people would argue much of my biology as 'magic', and there are things in here I've yet to find the answers for. I suppose because the keys to how they function are intrinsically linked to the worlds they're from,” the lab coat wearing woman thought aloud.
It piqued the girl’s interest though. “Other worlds?” she piped up, “Like space travel?” she inquired, wondering just how far in the galaxy this woman might have traveled.
“Sort of?” she replied, “I mean, by all accounts this place can visit say Mars. It’s more a fan of fourth dimensional travel. Along the line of time and able to jump between branched,” she explained, drawing out the concept in the air with a furred fingertip.
Rosie’s eyes widened at the idea, “Is that how you got a real wood door?” she asked.
The older woman couldn’t help a chuckle at her interest in so simple a thing, “Probably not, though I don’t really know, I’m a guest here just as much as my boss is. I wish I could pinpoint this place to a particular reality, it would set my research forward leaps and bounds to discover what universe invented this thing.”
The lithe girl rocked on her heels, thinking it all over, “You’ve said 'boss' a few times. Is that what you’re doing here then, just research?” she inquired.
Zyanya sank a bit at the question, letting out a sigh. “Sadly no, that’s just part of my arrangement. Matty would like to insist that we're in the sales business, offering people what their real lives fail to provide, by polluting their worlds with things from across the multiverse,” she explained with an ounce of disdain.
Despite the tone however the neon eyed girl couldn’t help but experience a spark of hope at hearing what this Menagerie was offering. “So, do you think there’s something in here that could help me?” she asked, “I dunno why, but people always treat me with revulsion when I'm off stage. Like I'm-“ she began, only to be cut off my the older woman.
“Less than human?” she offered solemnly.
Rosie sank a little at that, shoulders slumping as the reality of it settled over her, “Yeah,” she answered, turning her neon eyes to the woman, “How did you know?”
Zyanya wrapped an arm under her bust, pushing her motherly mams out through her lab coat, revealing the edges of her plump inverted nipples, “Call it a doctor’s intuition,” she told her, turning on her heel and fetching the chairs from behind the counter for them to sit. “Why don’t you tell me about it, and maybe I can try to help you out?” she offered with a warm smile.
With a nod the younger girl settled into the offered seat, hearing the screech of the legs on the ground as it slid back, making the inhuman woman's pointed ears flinch. “It’s hard to explain,” she began.
“Take your time,” the doctor replied calmly, slipping into her own chair and crossing her oddly bent legs, “We’ve got plenty in here after all.”
Her tone was reassuring, bringing a small smile to Rosie’s lips. She took in a deep breath, trying to think where to start. “Well, for as long as I can remember I wanted to be a singer. To have the stage lights shining on me just right, hear the cheers of an adoring crowd. I was super lucky I got noticed out of high school.”
“You went to high school?” Zyanya interrupted without thinking.
Rosie couldn’t help a giggle at the look on the woman’s long face. “Of course,” she replied, “Why is going to high school a rarity where you’re from?” she countered.
The doctor blushed a bit under her fur, “That’s not-“ she began, giving an awkward cough to reorient herself. “My apologies, please continue. Did you have many friends in high school?”
The neon eyed girl paused at that, tapping a knuckle to her chin as she thought it over. “N-no, not really,” she answered truthfully, unable to recall anyone from that time of her life that stood out. “I remember being pretty popular, but no one really stands out that could really be called a friend.”
“What about teachers?” Zyanya inquired next, fishing a fresh sucker from within her coat and unwrapping it.
Rosie shook her head dismissively. “The teaching AIs were pretty standard, none of them really resonated with me. I can hardly remember their lessons,” she told her.
Her fresh stick hanging from her thin lips Zyanya eased back in her seat, mulling over her next question carefully. “Did you have parents?” she finally let out, dark eyes fixed on the pink haired girl.
She couldn’t help a laugh. “Of course I had parents, like any girl,” she replied incredulously, “Why wouldn’t I?”
The furred woman raised her hands defensively, “Sorry, I just don’t know how your society differs from what I'm accustomed to,” she explained, “What can you tell me about them?” she went on, taking a moment to cross her oddly bent legs.
Rosie bit her lip at that one, needing a moment to think it over. “It’s been a long time since I've seen them. Not since I became a star,” she told the doctor with a frown.
Zyanya gave a small hum, touching her chin in thought. “Never mind, it was just curiosity on my part,” she dismissed the question, sensing the girl’s growing discomfort. “So you wanted to be a singer Rosie?” she brought it back for her, leaning forward on an elbow to listen more intently.
The girl brightened right back up at that, feeling her cheeks grow sore from her wide smile. “For as long as I could remember. It’s my passion in life,” she answered, practically wriggling in her seat, “When I get on stage it's like I'm at home, and everyone loves me. When my shows end though…” she trailed off, her neon eyes falling to the floor.
The doctor nodded, “And why do you think that is Rosie?” she inquired.
Biting her lip the pink haired girl shook her head. “I’m not entirely sure. They’re repulsed by the sight of me, they claim all sorts of nasty thing about me when I show up for dates. I started to use some websites to try and meet people, to maybe… try some things I've heard about,” she eluded shyly as her cheeks tinted. “I feel like I've grown so detached from other girls my age. I wanna try having a boyfriend, or a girlfriend, I'm not sure which I prefer because both just see me and turn me away. I thought maybe it was just because I wasn’t all done up like in my promotional stuff, but even showing up in one of my costumes they still just got mad,” she explained solemnly.
Listening along Zyanya rolled the sucker in her lips, on the edge of her seat as she took everything the girl was saying in. “So you really don’t know what the problem is?”
Shaking her heard Rosie turned her teary eyes to the anthropomorph. “No. I've tried everything. You can see it though, you understood the moment you saw me what’s wrong. ” she said coming off her chair.
The animal faced woman was taken aback as the neon eyed singer pushed into her lap, desperation in her voice as she went on. “You said this place had magic. You can fix what's wrong then, give me something to make it so that they stop rejecting me,” she pleaded.
Zyanya turned away nervously, “I-“ she began, only to be cut off by the young singer.
“Please miss Zyanya,” her words wavered, as if swimming in the pools of her sadness. “I want to know what it’s like. I want someone to love me when I’m not on the stage.”
There was a moment of silence, as the furred woman mulled it over. Resting her hands on Rosie’s hips she moved the girl backward, rising up to her feet as her beaded braids clattered into place. “Give me a few minutes,” she told the distraught girl, “I’ll get something together for you.”
She could feel tears in her eyes, “Thank you,” she offered weakly as she watched the doctor turn and disappear into the back room.
Slipping back into the seat Rosie heard the legs scraping once more against the floor. Quietly she waited, feeling the spring of hope inside her overflowing as she watched the door. It took longer than anticipated, she guessed maybe thirty minutes though it was hard to tell, but true to her word Zyanya emerged, one hand in the pocket of her lab coat.
The woman took short steps, her bare animalistic feet making light taps on the hard floor. “Alright, close your eyes,” she ordered the pink haired girl.
Rosie obeyed, wiggling in anticipation as the world went black and she waited. For a moment she felt dizzy, and could hear the doctor in front of her letting out a small sigh. As it passed though she was acutely aware of the woman’s coarse furred fingertips holding her wrist. She couldn’t resist a peek, her eyelid lifting almost imperceptibly.
The doctor gave a chuckle, shaking her head and making her long braids rattle. “I thought I said to close your eyes?” she scolded, standing up straight, “Oh well, what’s done is done. What do you think?”
Blinking her eyes open she looked to where the doctor had touched her, seeing a simple woven bracelet hanging off of her slender wrist. “This is it?” Rosie asked, almost disappointed.
With a nod Zyanya slipped her hands into her pockets once more, “Yup,” she answered simply.
She didn’t feel any different, rolling her arm over to look at it from every angle. If nothing else it looked to be made of old threads long since deemed a rarity, it would draw eyes. Perhaps that was the point. “What does it do? How is it magic?” she asked, turning her neon blues to the doctor.
“It’ll let you take some control of your life,” she explained, pulling out a fresh sucker from her pocket, “Things will work out, just trust me.”
Rosie had no reason not to, managing a soft smile. “How much is it?” she asked a final question.
Raising a hand to dismiss it the animalistic woman met her gaze, “It’s free,” she told her calmly as she pooped her fresh treat into her mouth.
Smiling once more the singer got up, wrapping the woman in a hug and being met with one in kind. There was a swell of happiness inside her at just this alone, no one ever embraced her like this. It was already working.
Tears in her eyes she held the anthropomorphic woman tighter, “Thank you miss Zyanya.”
She gave her a pat on the back, breaking their hug when Rosie had had her fill, “You’re welcome,” she replied.
Cheeks sore and teary the pink haired girl skipped out, weaving deftly around the chair and light on her feet for the first time in what felt like forever. " - "Rosie" by Madam Materia