Magical Bonds

@ BearGirl

Esther had grabbed her duffle bag, turning to look at him with a frown when he insisted on abandoning the greenhouse. "But.. The plant you gave me is there, and you told me I had to take care of it, that I'd be punished if anything happened to it.. I can't just leave it there." She protested, although she fell silent when he took her hand and led her through his house and to the garage. He frowned when he had her sit in the backseat, and stubbornly climbed up into the passenger seat while he was busy putting their bags in the trunk, looking over at him with a frowned when he climbed back in.

"..How far away is the apartment?" She finally asked, curious as to how far she would be from both his home and her parents.

@ katahdin
Blaise gave her a slightly annoyed look as he saw that Esther had moved into the front seat. Though, he kept his mouth shut and drove out of the garage, making his way to her new apartment. "The plant will be fine." He assured. As annoying as it would be if the plant was destroyed, it was worse for either of them to get into trouble - or into a fight. As Esther asked her second question, Blaise just looked at her before looking back at the road, not responding. 

It was less than a half hour later when Blaise pulled up to what looked like an abandoned and decrepit factory. He turned into the parking lot, now slowing down as he headed over to the loading dock. Blaise slowly drove forward, into the factory and as he did so, the facade of illusion slipped away. Suddenly, the two of them were driving into an underground parking lot, full of cars. The garage door was closing behind them as he parked the car. 

Once the door behind them was closed and the car was stationary, Blaise reached out in the back and pulled out a scarf, sunglasses and a long woman's trench coat. "Put this on, and don't talk until we get into the apartment."

@ BearGirl

Esther pursed her lips as he gave her a look, clearly wanting to say something more, although she thought better of it and simply sunk further into her seat as he drove. She frowned and sat up as she saw the abandoned factory, opening her mouth to ask him what they were doing here instead of at the apartment building he had described when they broke through the illusion, a little gasp of surprise escaping her lips. She'd never expected a whole building to be hidden, and she looked over at Blaise in surprise when he handed her the coat and sunglasses, returning the unamused look he had given her earlier, although she pulled on the coat as she had been told, wrapping the scarf around her neck and face. "This is totally inconspicuous, no one will think we're hiding something.." She mumbled mostly to herself as she began to wrap the scarf over her face too. When she was finished with the scarf it looked almost like she was a mummy, as she wrapped the scarf around most of her face as a joke before turning to him and putting the sunglasses on.

"How do I look?" she asked, her voice muffled by the scarf. She knew she should be serious and shouldn't be difficulty with him after everything he was doing for her and because they were both in danger, but she needed some way of alleviating some of her anxiety and the tension in the car, and joking around seemed like the best option, even if he'd probably yell at her.

@ katahdin

"Everyone here is hiding something. No one is going to blink an eye at you." Blaise told her before he got out of the car. He went to the back and pulled out all of the bags that they were bringing up to the apartment. Once he was done, and Esther was out of the car, the man headed over to the elevator. He lead her up to the 6th floor of the building, which was the top floor. Once there, they walked down the whole hallway until they were at the end, at which point, the man opened up the apartment and walked inside.

The Apartment was a studio apartment. It would certainly be big enough for Esther and give her the room that she needed to live. There was even a patio area that she would be able to use, if she wanted. Blaise walked in and set the bags down besides the wall before looking around. He gave a small nod before going back to his phone and starting to text on it. "Welcome home, Marthe."

@ BearGirl

Esther fixed her scarf and got out of the car, and quickly followed him to the elevator when she realized he wasnt next to the car anymore. She remained silent as he'd instructed in the car, even though they hadnt passed anyone in the hallway or in the elevator. Her eyes widened when he led her into the apartment though, having expected it to be tiny and run down, nothing like this.

She wandered around the apartment curiously as she took off the sunglasses and scarf he had given her, attempting to make herself familiar with the strange place. Her family's home had always been full of people, and so it would take some getting used to being in such a big place all by herself. She looked over at Blaise when he welcomed her - or rather Marthe - home, giving a little nod as she looked around the apartment again, fiddling with her fingers anxiously. "So.. what's next? Do shave my head and change my face so my parents wont find me?"

@ katahdin

"Yes, that is the next step. There is someone coming over who will be able to do all of that for us. I am not an expert at transformation magic myself as I never had a use for it. Besides, it is not particularly common in our kind of magic anyways." Blaise set his phone down before walking around the apartment, taking a long look at everything. It seemed as if he was inspecting the place. "They will be here in a little bit so we should go over some ground rules."

The man turned to Esther after glancing out one of the windows. He watched her carefully before beginning to speak. "You will not use your real name anymore. Once the disguise is created, you will be keeping it. Anyone you know from your past is gone. YOU are gone. No talking, calling, visiting or anything to any old friends you had. If you meet anyone new, if you bring anyone over to your apartment, you will tell me. You are Marthe now. You have a new life and a new opportunity. Be smart about it."

@ BearGirl

Esther frowned a little as he turned to speak to her, nodding a little as he outlined what her life would now be. Her frown only deepened when he spoke about not speaking to any of her old friends and telling him if she spoke to anyone new, shaking her head a little. "I don't think that will be a problem... I.. I only really consider you to be my friend.. But I know that's stupid cause you're my teacher, and I know you don't like me very much, and I'm super grateful that you're helping me, and I don't how I'll ever repay you, but I promise I'll be smart and won't do anything stupid." She promised, biting her lip as she looked over at him.

After an awkward moment of staring at him she went over to her bag and took a few of the things she'd brought out, placing an old toy here or a little figurine there throughout the apartment, hoping to make it feel more like home. She turned back to Blaise after a moment, holding an envelope tightly in her hands. "I'm not a Pruitt anymore, so you aren't obligated to help me or give me lessons.. And I already owe you so much for all you've done, so I figured the least I could do would be to pay you for my future lessons... I don't even know if I have enough for a full lesson or a dozen, but I promise I'll get a job and find a way to pay you for your time." She said quickly, holding the envelope out to him. It was everything she had - nearly three thousand dollars - and even though she wasn't too sure how she'd afford to live here or buy herself food, she knew she needed to give something to Blaise in payment for everything he'd given her.

@ katahdin
Blaise gave her a small nod as she finished speaking. It was rather sad to hear her say that she had no friends... and no longer any family. And Blaise was not her friend but he also needed to remember that, right now, he was the only person that Esther had. At least this might make the transition for her easy and hiding her easier.

Looking down at the envelope, Blaise let out a sigh as he took it from her. He then turned and set it down on the counter. "I am not taking your money." He told her. It didn't really matter how much she had in that envelope. Blaise had more than enough to live for the rest of his life happily. "If you really want to make it up to me, then we will find another way. Though, for now, I think it would be best if you take time to figure out your new life."

Hearing a knock on the door, Blaise glanced up before heading over. He opened up the door, to reveal a gorgeous pink haired woman. "Well, hello, Blaisie-baby." The woman hugged Blaise tightly before turning to Marthe. "Is this her?" Blaise nodded as he closed the door behind them. 

The woman immediately made her way to Marthe with a large smile on her face. "Hello there sweetie. My name is Amanda. What were you thinking for your brand new look? New hair? New nose? Anything you want dear, I can do."

@ BearGirl

Esther frowned a little as he rejected the money, although she wasn't surprised, and gave a little nod as he suggested they find some other way of her paying him back. While he went to answer the door she took a seat on the couch, her anxiety and nervousness over the whole situation starting to set in. She looked up at Amanda when she walked over to her with a little frown, shaking her head slightly. She didn't want to change anything, she wanted to be Esther, to live a normal life... But it seemed like she'd never get that chance no matter how much she wanted it.

"I.. I don't know.." she admitted with a small frown, looking between Blaise and Amanda before looking down at her lap. "I'm sorry I'm not being very helpful.. Whatever you two think is best will work, I suppose.." she murmured with another shrug, too overwhelmed to make any decisions herself, and deciding it would be easier to just let them decide for her.

@ katahdin
Blaise let out a sigh as he walked up to Esther. He took a moment to look her over. It was clear what needed to be done. Esther needed to become the opposite of what she was now. So if she wasn't going to choose what she wanted, Blaise would just do whatever he thought would make the woman less recognizable. "Everything needs to change then." He said before talking to the pink haired girl. They went back and forth on what to do before solidifying a plan. 

"The hair will be shortened and turned blonde. Her eyes will become more roundish, and we'll give her green eyes. Remove the glasses. Thin out her eyebrows. I'll do something with her nose? I am not sure what yet. And make her top lip bigger. Raise her cheekbones, round out her chin... Lets make her two inches taller as well then?" The woman said before turning to Esther. "That should make you unrecognizable." She then let out a little giggle. "How about a bigger ass sweetie?"

@ BearGirl

Esther glanced up at Blaise apologetically, realizing how difficult she was being and wishing she could bring herself to be more helpful, but she felt so overwhelmed she doubted she'd be able to spell her own name at the moment. She sat quietly and watched as the two discussed what would be changed about her, and when Amanda listed off what had been decided, for a second Esther thought she might be sick. All she could do was give a little nod, a faint blush heating up her cheeks at the woman's last question. "Whatever you think will help.. You're the expert." She murmured, standing with a little sigh.

"Will it take very long? I'm sorry if I'm being rude, but I've had such a long day, and all I want to do is go to bed.." she admitted softly, hoping it would excuse some of her unhelpfulness.

@ katahdin

Amanda looked down at Esther, her smile dropping for a moment before she looked back a Blaise. She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Well, this is going to be a whole process. It will probably take quite a while. I mean, in order to hide you I have to change everything about you. You need to become unrecognizable and it needs to be seamless, flawless. Otherwise, someone might be able to tell that something is not right about your new look."

She then glanced back at Blaise, a worried look on her face. "Should I come back tomorrow? This will work better if she is more... awake and ready for it." Blaise hesitated for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. He really did not want to put this off longer than need be. "Can you do it while she's sleeping?"

@ BearGirl

Esther frowned as she listed to Amanda, although she only felt worse when she saw Blaise's reaction, knowing that she was probably disappointing him, and afraid that he'd change his mind about helping her. "I can do it. I'll stay awake as long as you need." She promised quickly, knowing it would be hard, but she'd find a way to manage. "I don't want to have wasted your time having you come here, it'd be silly to make you come here twice when we can do everything now."

She stood looking at them for a few moments, feeling rather awkward, before she looked around her new apartment as she cleared her throat. "Should I sit or stand? Do I need to do anything special?"

@ katahdin
Blaise gave a small nod before turning and sitting down on one of the stools. He pulled out his phone and started to type away on it again. Now that it was in Amanda's hands, there was nothing for him to do. 

Amanda walked over to Esther with a gentle smile on her lips. She murmured a few things under her breath, motioning her hands over Esther. Not even a few moments later, Esther was floating in the air. "You can relax. I need you to stay awake in the beginning but after a while you can sleep as long as you don't move too much. Now, close your eyes and... ah you should probably wear a tank and shorts than that. I'll need to see as much as possible when I am working."

@ BearGirl

Esther watched curiously as Amanda began to work her magic, although she couldn't help but panic a little when she was suddenly floating in the air, looking down at the floor which was now a good six inches or more beneath her feet. She looked at Amanda worriedly when she began to speak, frowning when she suggested she change. "I should have something in my bag.. It's over there." She pointed over to the wall where her things had been left, not sure how she would be able to get there herself while levitating.

@ katahdin

Amanda let out a small laugh as she realized that Esther wouldn't be able to get to her own items. The woman moved Esther so she was able to reach into her own bag and then pushed her into the bedroom so she could get changed privately. 

Once Esther let her now she was finished, Amanda brought her back out and floated Esther over the couch. "Lets just put you here, you know, just in case." She gave Esther a light smile. The woman then cracked her fingers and her back before moving her hands over Esther's body. "Just close your eyes and relax darling. This is going to take some time." 

@ BearGirl

Esther blushed faintly as Amanda helped her float around the house to get her things and change into a tank top and shorts as she had requested, occasionally glancing down at the floor worriedly as if she might fall. Once she was in place she gave a little nod at Amanda's instructions, closing her eyes as she tried to relax. It was a little difficult to relax at first, as her mind kept racing with all of the events of the past few days, and all of her worries about the future. What if she didn't like being Marthe Hornwood? What if her family still found her anyway? What if Blaise decided not to help her anymore? Eventually all of her thoughts pushed her into a light sleep, the young woman dozing off as Amanda worked her magic on her.

@ katahdin
It took several hours but Amanda was able to change everything about Esther's appearance. Her face, her hair, her body. She even managed to move her vocal chords slightly so she didn't sound exactly the same. That was a difficult task, and it wouldn't be a drastic difference but at least it would be harder for someone to recognize her while she spoke. 

Once finished, Amanda gently laid Marthe down on the couch before heading out for the night. The woman was exhausted now and she needed to rest. Blaise left soon after she did, leaving a note for Esther to let her know he would be back in the morning. 

@ BearGirl

Esther slept soundly through the whole process, and only woke up the next morning when the sunlight coming through the windows hit her right in the eyes. She squinted as she sat up, rubbing at her eyes sleepily before looking around the unfamiliar apartment, trying to get used to the idea of being someone else. She got dressed and tidied herself up once she saw Blaise's note, but didn't dare look in the mirror for too long, worried she'd hate how she looked.

@ katahdin
Late in the morning, Blaise knocked on the door to the apartment. Though, instead of waiting, the man unlocked to door and walked in. "Marthe?" He called out before closing the door behind himself, locking it up again. Heading over to the couch, the man sat down and leaned back into the cushions, waiting for the girl to head out. The man hoped that she wasn't sleeping at all. "It is Blaise!"