He finished my cape and shoulder pads as they glistened in the light. I smiled at Software as I looked back at my cape and shoulder pads and admired how sparkly they were. I held a bag of vegan chips in one hand and a blue sparkly dress in the other. Harry brought me something to eat so I am not going to complain even though these aren't something I would normally eat. Software explained how he tries to keep the entire village healthy and that since im his pet he wants the same for me. He told me that I should be able to fit into this dress he gave me. It shined with glitter and faded from dark blue at the top to cyan at the bottom. A white bow was tied around the waist along with a white pearl necklace that went along with it. The skirt was short but super fluffy and there sleeves weren't that long either. Finally, a white cape with glitter was also attached to the dress. I have never tried on a dress in my life but Software has a closet full of them. I don't even know if I can fit into this one. It was all just weird.
"Well, what do you think? You have been just staring at the dress for a solid couple of minutes without saying anything." Software asked me.
"It's... beautiful... I'm surprised you would give me something as well made as this." I told him.
"I made it myself for you. Go ahead and try it on. I'll wait outside the door." Software told me while he walked out of the room and shut the door.
I began to take off the bedazzled cape and shoulder pads as I set them on the chair I formally sat in. My arms reached around to the back and tried to pull the zipper down. It took a couple attempts but I finally got to the point where I could pull off the top of the outfit. The pants were just as simple taking them off as it was to put them on. I stepped my body into the shell of blue sparkly fabric and tried to zip it up from the back. It took awhile but I finally got the zipper up the dress. The white pearl necklace was a simple snap on necklace that just went around the neck and sat there below my collar. A forceful smile came across my face as I looked at the mirror. Here I am, wearing a dress and not enjoying the company of Software with me. I would just love to go and explore this whole world but I can't. It's still crazy to me that I am held close to Software at all times with this collar and leash. The dress made me happy with how pretty it made me feel and that was about it. Once I walked out these doors it's going to be me as the dog of the family again. I pushed my short bangs over to the side of my face and opened the door with a bright smile plastered on my face.
"Look at you! You're breathtaking. Blue is definitely your color!" Software said with a big smile on his face and sparkles in his eyes.
I smiled and looked down at him with my hands held out. "Thank you, You have a great fashion sense and you're a great dress maker." I told him as he grabbed both of my hands and pulled me in for a hug.
"You also look super cute in a cape. See? I told you when I came to your world that you need a cape. We can always match with capes." Software told me while jumping up and down.
"The roles were reversed then." I told him.
"Then I reversed them again so we can play!" Software told me reminding me of when he turned me into a kid and became my very smart dad all from putting on a suit and a graduation gown.
"Right.... You raised me for my second childhood..." I told him in a weird way.
"You grew up as a happy little boy with me as your playmate." Software told me.
"Can... we not talk about this?" I asked the fox.
"Why? I thought you enjoyed being a kid again." He said.
"I didn't want to be a kid again. You wanted me to play with you and I had school so I couldn't and when you turned me into a kid my mind went back to that state as well which is when every little thing was fun and games ..." I told Soft as he started tearing up. "I'm sorry. You let me have fun and become a kid once again and at first I didn't like it but it was a much needed break. Thank you."
"No problem, Son!" Software said while jumping up and walking away.
"Don't call me son please. You didn't raise me the first time." I told him.
"Ahhh.... Okay...." Software said in a kind of disappointed tone.
"Also, I don't really think Frosty would want to hear about how you raised me for a second time. I kind of feel like he's jealous of me." I told Software.
Software stopped in his tracks. "Frosty isn't jealous of you. He sounded happy to have you here with us." He told me while looking into my eyes.
"Okay, I just feel like he will get jealous if you spend more time with me that you do with him. I mean you have just spent hours bedazzling my cape and now giving me a custom dress you've made." I explained to Soft.
"It's fine. You make me happy and you totally can rock that dress." He told me while striking a pose in his own dress.
I blushed at the comment and giggled. "I think this dress might be growing on me."
"Good. I have a whole room of them if you want to borrow one. They might not fit you as well as they do with me." Software told me before walking with my leash again.
We kept walking down the long hallway as Soft skipped in his own dress. I continued to walk normally with him as we passed by his throne and went up the stairs. Being in a dress was a weird new experience for me. The skirt was puffy and went down to my knees. We both reached a room with the door closed. Software knocked on the door with a golden name tag labeled "Frosty" on it.
"Honey boo! Can I come in?" Software asked.
"Sure thing sweety." Frosty responded with behind the other side of the door.
Software opened the door to a giant room with a king sized bed on one side and a whole gaming setup on the other. He had his cape hanging up on the wall and a game on the screen with a fox wearing a tunic and a hat who is going on adventures.
"What are you playing?" Software asked.
"He's playing..." I tried saying before Frosty cut me off.
"Some old game called Legend of Lucas. You play as this fox who has to save the princess who is in trouble." Frosty responded with.
"He looks like he's in a dress..." Software told Frosty.
"It's not a dress. It's a tunic. Not all guys wear dresses Soft." Frosty told Software in a laughing tone.
"How long..." I tried asking before being cut off again.
"Softy baby, I think the dressed up pup needs to go somewhere else. He's distracting me." Frosty told me.
"I'm not a pup..." I tried to counter before being cut off again.
"Soft, please take him out of here. He's distracting me. Maybe you can play fetch with him, take him out to potty, or just something." Frosty claimed.
I rolled my eyes as Soft began to walk me out of the room with the leash in his hand. We exited the room while I closed the door behind me. I hated being referred to as a dog in this situation. Frosty calling me a dog just justified more that he doesn't like me but it is still blind to Soft what is happening. We walked down the stairs and up to a door.
"Do... you need to..." Soft tried asking before I cut him off.
"Soft.... I'm not super happy right now and you're just making it worse. You know I know how to use the bathroom." I told him in a serious matter.
Software tilted his head and had a sad expression on his face. "What can I do to make you happy again? I don't like seeing anyone sad, especially those who I am close to in some way."
I sat down on the last step of the stairs and put my face in my hands. Everything decided to come out right then and there. I began heavy breathing to calm myself down. Software sat beside me and began to pet me.
"Take my collar off." I demanded for the arctic fox to do.
"But.. I need to..." Software tried replying with.
"I said take the collar off." I told him in a more serious tone.
"J.J. I don't want to lose..." Software tried saying again.
"Take the collar off before I lose it." I told Soft in a growling tone.
Software reached around my neck and detached my collar. He scooted as far away from me as he could on that single stair step. I turned my head over and saw him shaking.
"I don't want to be your pet Soft." I told him in a calm tone. "I want to be your friend, I want to be your family. I never thought I would be treated like this from a character I created to be my friend." I told Software as I got up and began walking.
"J.J., I'm sorry. I didn't know you felt that way. I will make it up to you." Software told me while following me down the hall.
I walked to my room door and locked it before Soft could eventually reach me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I just realized what I did to the arctic fox on the other side of the door. He stood there and knocked on the door quietly and slowly.
"J.J.! I'm sorry! How can I make this up to you? I didn't mean to hurt you. I just want to be your friend." Software said with a shaky voice. "You're my best friend and I want you to know that. I was just wanting to protect you so you couldn't get hurt by anyone. Please open up."
I got up from the bed and walked over to the door. With one last deep breath, I opened the door to an arctic fox, wearing a pink dress, on his knees crying.