In spite of Uncle Jack’s enthusiastic insistences. Finding something ideal was quite a chore as there were countless choices that weren’t exactly helping with your disliking of Halloween…
…At least until you chanced upon a small collection of a particular type of costume among the mythological options. A mermaid’s tail as it happened, silver in scale color with a single monofin poking out of the end, light-gray yet transparent and unlike most mermaid tail costumes make for swimming was a fully connected part. A line of fins covered a zipper on the back to create a kind of concealing attempt.
“Guess this will do” you said to yourself. If anything you had an interest in mermaiding and had been looking at getting a new tail for t after having outgrown your last one. So you collected the tail from the rack and made your way to these changing rooms Uncle Jack had pointed out before letting you get to searching. Not bothering to collect any accessories… yet.
Once inside you started getting undressed and once down to your underwear were about to started slipping the tail on when you noticed a label. It read; ‘to only be worn bare over legs. Second Skin holds no responsibility for losses for failing’. Wired warning you assumed but better to play it safe so you got your underwear off before resuming. Besides mermaids are meant to be nude and in private you did do some topless swimming back home in your old tail.
The tail was quite smug as expected so initially getting your feet into the monofin cups was a bit tricky. Once that was done you pulled the tail up over your legs and once at the point it was to your waist pulled the zip up before getting seated on the bench to look in the mirror attached to the opposite wall. In spite of the smugness the tail somehow did a perfect job of hiding the fact there were meant to be two legs inside as you looked…
…Only then thinks started feeling very wrong as wired waves of energy started rushing through you that somehow inhibited whatever pain you think you should be feeling as your legs somehow started to lose both form and their bones disintegrate, whatever what was left underneath the tail reforming into a single limb. But that wasn’t all as the divide between the tail’s material and your flesh also faded as if they had fused while the bits that had been leg bones started reforming but into a second spine as opposed to two separate sets of leg bones.
Then as soon as the waves started they stopped and yet internally it was clear you had changed. Taking a nervous hand you stroked the tail and was astonished as besides feeling genuine scales and your own hand as if you had touched your legs. It a slight panic at the results you had ended up sliding off the bench and consequently bent your tail in a way impossible for legs it a costume…
…And that tore it resulting in you calling “UNCLE JACK!”. “You alright Maria?” Uncle Jack responded as he somehow arrived upon the call and opened the door with you currently not caring if you had forgot to lock it or if he had some key, but then he saw you “Oh! Nice choice my dear”. “Uncle I’M A DAMN FISH HERE!” You snapped as you somehow moved into a seated position. “Well I did say I was magic didn’t I and you wanted proof” Uncle Jack kindly assured.
“Yeah well NOW CHANGE ME BACK” you demand. “So soon? You don’t want a full trial of your new appendage and abilities?” Uncle Jack questions while stepping back outside a bit before pulling forward a wheelchair. “Were you planning this?” you asked. “No I just came prepared” Uncle Jack assured as he helped you into their chair “And if I may. Clothing isn’t my only activity here”.
Before you knew it Uncle Jack had wheeled you into this room that had been labelled ‘Portals’ but from everything you were now seeing was actually some collection of landscape paintings such as oceans, deserts, forests, swamps and even medieval villages and mountains. “These paintings actually linked to other dimensions or something?” you dared being no longer opposed to magic being real after what happened with the tail. “Indeed so Maria Dear” Uncle Jack kindly agreed while slipping on some wired bangle onto your wrist “Magic within this summons a compass-like arrow to lead you back as the return portal is location fickle, changing everyday”. “You actually expect me to just go now?” You questioned. “If you want. Not forcing you” Uncle Jack assured: