A Clockwork Green Ch. 04

"Well, this has certainly been a long job," I say, as I lean back against the railing of the skiff and let the wind whip through my hair. Mackenzie sits at the controls as we speed along the desert floor to the outermost edges of New Verdia; to where our latest employer is waiting for us. I've enjoyed working for this lady very much. She's a nice middle-aged woman, a former professor who still finds learning fun in all its forms. She has taken to calling us her 'daughters'. "It took us just shy of two weeks."

"You think she's gonna have some of those fudge cookies? Those things kick ass." Every time we come back with more information about what she hired us to find, she offers us cookies and cake. Mackenzie always manages to take far more treats than she should, but The Professor encourages it, so it's no harm, no foul I suppose. I'm almost sorry this job is over. Mackenzie smacks her lips as she looks over the skiff's piloting wheel at me.

"Maybe. But this time you're not going to take more than one or two. Making such a pig of yourself like that in front of our host is just so ruuude!"

"Hey, she likes it when I take more." She smiles a smug little grin that makes me roll my eyes. "Yer just pissed 'cus she likes me better'n you."

"She likes us the same, you twit." I cross my arms and close my eyes in indignation. "Besides, if she were to like one of us more than the other it'd be me. I'm the one with the pet name, after all."

"Blah blah blah, 'her little student', blah blah!" Mackenzie apes, then looks at me with an impish grin. "If she likes you so much, then how come I get more cookies than you?"

I stand upright, stamping my foot and clenching my fists in irritation. "Because you take more! OOOOOOOHHH!" I stalk off to the front of the skiff. Mackenzie's laughter chases me all the way there. "Just get us there, you little brat. I have half a mind not to let you anywhere near me tonight, you know."

She laughs even louder, and has to shout to be heard over the wind. "That ass is mine tonight, Cherry. You just think you got a say in the matter!"

I don't let her see my smile, turning to face forward as the skiff speeds along the floor of the desert. She is right, of course... but that doesn't mean I have to let her know that she is.

***

"My daughters! It has beeen too loong!" Professor Annette Tournesol waits at the door for us with a huge smile that neither of us can resist. Mackenzie's face nearly splits in half as we make our way up the path to her house.

Her straight hair, more silver than gray, is pulled back into a ponytail. It hangs down to the small of her back, a stark contrast to the deep brown leather jacket she's wearing to ward off the chill of the approaching night. She wears a pair of silver glasses, and she has her hands clasped before her. She lost one of her arms in an accident long ago, and replaced it with a top of the line clockwork construct. I've seen Mackenzie attempting to study it surreptitiously on numerous occasions. Two pistols hang off of either side of the Professor's belt, and despite her pleasant demeanor she carries herself with the presence of a gunfighter. I'll bet she was formidable in front of a class, despite her diminutive frame.

It's been wonderful having a steady employer again. This was the sixth job she had for us. The three months between Heimdahl and her were fairly lean. Heimdahl, for all his many flaws, always had work. That kind of additional income was a huge relief, even if he did... no. What am I even saying?! He was horrible, and no amount of money made up for his behavior. The thought of him blind and lost in his maze-of-a-compound brings a little smile to my face every morning.

But it's still wonderful to have a steady employer.

"Yes ma'am. We have a surprise for you as well."

Her eyes widen, and she clasps her hands in front of her mouth. "You... you found eet? Oh, my dears, tell me you have the boook!"

Mackenzie pulls out the thick tome from her duster, holding it up for her see. "We have your book."

Professor Tournesol's eyes light up, and that smile of hers grows brighter than I thought possible. "Happy daaays, happy daaays! I made you both fudge cookies again, and this time I even baked up extra for you, Mack. Come insiiide!!"

Mackenzie shoots me a smug look, as if to tell me 'I-told-you-so'. I slap at her in response, doing a bad job of hiding my irritation. The Professor laughs happily.

"Don't worry, little student. I adore you both eeeequally." She reaches out to hug us both as we finally make our way to her. Putting an arm around each of our waists, she guides us inside to the delightful smell of baked goods and the warmth of a happy home.

***

Mackenzie sits at the table, stuffing a second cookie into her mouth and making little noises of enjoyment. I nibble on my first, watching intently as Annette thumbs through the book, pausing every once in a while to read a passage. She finally closes it and smiles at us both. "This means a lot to me, you two. It will add a great deal more to my study of known magics in the world, and will prove invaluable in the near future."

"Doef ih haff fiwe maffics nn ih?" Mackenzie is annihilating her fourth cookie. I cross my eyes in irritation and Annette laughs deeply.

"No, Mackenzie. It has more to do with earth magic than anything else."

That makes me perk up immediately. "I... thought that form of arcana had died out here long ago, ma'am."

"It did, but just because it is no longer in use doesn't mean we can't study it. Right, my little student?" She gets up to put the new tome away, and pats me gently on my head as she passes by. I blush a little at the sign of affection and nod, distracting myself with a small bite of the cookie. "Plus, it being archaic and lost just makes it that much moore interesting to study." She reaches her book shelf, and slides it into a prepared slot before turning around to address us both. "This wouldn't have been possible without you two. I want to do two things for you. The first is to double your pay for the work you've done."

"Oh, please don't. You've already paid us so well."

Mackenzie gulps down the last of her cookie, reaching for a fifth. "Yeah. We liked working for you, P'fessor. You don't have to give us anymore than what you already have."

"Nonsense, my dears. This isn't a debaaate you're going to win." Her eyes twinkle at us merrily. "Besides, there's a reeeeeson why I am doing this. There is an auction next weeeek over in the 'classieer' sections of New Verdia. I have one or two items I want to sell at that auuuuction, and I'd like for you to be my representatives theeere." She turns back to the bookcase, looking for a particular book. "The extra money is for you to buy fancy dresses. The kind that respectable society, if you can indeed call it that, would expect you to have."

Mackenzie pauses her assault on the plate of baked goods to look up at Annette fearfully. "A... dress? On me? I... I don't-"

"Now, Mack. I know you fancy yourseeelf a hardened caster and a harder woman." Annette winks at her with an impish smile. "But you're also veeery beautiful. You would look wonderful in a stylish dress. Besides, wouldn't you like to see Chaaaarlotte here in a nice ev-en-ing gown?" Me? In a nice dress? Rubbing elbows with some of society's bright lights?! I sit in my chair, trying desperately to keep from squealing with happiness. Annette sees it and giggles. "See? She can barely contain herself at the thought."

Mackenzie's eyes shift from me, to Annette and back. She smiles nervously at last, sheepishly nodding in agreement. "Yeah. Yeah, I can do that."

"Wonderfuuul! It's not for a couple of weeeeks, so you have lots of time to plan. Here, let's seet down, shall we?"

Professor Tournesol gives us a quick rundown of the items she wants to sell, actual worth, expected prices, etc. I pay attention, but the thought of me at that auction makes me smile to no end. I'm going to be sooo pretty... and so is Mackenzie! The world will get to see her how I see her at long last.

***

"Seeya P'fessor! Thanks for the cookies!" Mackenzie has the whole plate in front of her, happily bouncing along as she heads over to the skiff sitting just outside of Annette's property. The darkness is all-encompassing, so she flips on her flood lights for us. Despite the bounce in her step, Mackenzie's head swivels constantly. She's not eager to share her score with coyotes.

I yawn at the late hour as the wind switches directions abruptly, carrying with it an odd sound. I spin around to see Annette leaning up against the doorjamb with her arms crossed over the book we brought back to her. She's smiling at both of us, but that's not what catches me off guard.

She's crying.

There is a bittersweet kind of melancholy written on her face, like a mother who's watching her children leave home to make a life of their own. I frown and open my mouth, but she waves a hand dismissively and smiles. "Pay me no mind. When you get to be my age, everythiiing reminds you of something painful." She wipes her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket and comes over to kiss me on the forehead. "Go. Get some rest. You have a big daaay coming up soon."

"I will." I turn to leave, then spin back and pull her into a gentle hug. "Thank you, Professor. For everything." She tenses for a moment, and I worry that I may have gone one step too far. Then she wraps one arm around me and returns my embrace tightly, hugging me as if she doesn't want to let go.

"Be good and be saaafe, hija tierra." The language is unfamiliar to me, and I pull back slightly. She smiles and waves it off. "Just a term of endearment I picked up in my travels, little student. Go now... and take caaare!"

Smiling, I pull away from the embrace and run to the skiff. Mackenzie waits for me there, confusion written all over her features.

"What was that about?"

"I'm not sure. But she seems to be okay now." I glance over my shoulder one last time to see her wave at us happily. "Come on, let's go home."

***

Mackenzie's jaw drops open as she takes in everything around us. "Are... are we in New Verdia anymore?" She's wonder-struck, and I can't really blame her. Most everyone has this reaction the first time they see the Elysia District for themselves.

Everything is clean, neat and... well, beautiful. Shops line the roads, selling all kinds of high-end baubles and items not meant for people like us. Little clockwork machines scurry along the walkways, some of them carrying messages while others pick up bits of trash. Flying machines zip along over our heads, eagerly performing tasks given to them by their owners. The people walking along the street are all sharply dressed, sporting the latest fashions while talking about the various topics of the day. Vast, almost palatial estates rise up in the distance, as if to reinforce the view that everything here is simply better. A clean, sharp white reigns supreme on the visual palette, but clear blue, shiny chrome, and a shade of magenta I read about as the color of the season all have a strong presence.

As we walk down one of the little side roads, her head darts back and forth as she takes in all the wonders Elysia has to offer. People walking by us take notice, but by and large make no comment as they go on about their business. They don't have to, at least as far as I am concerned. I can see it on their faces, plain as day. Bourgeois. Commoner. Lower class. I can feel the disgust as it radiates off of them, making me uncomfortable and bleeding off some of my enthusiasm for the day ahead. We can play dress-up all we want, and it wouldn't change the fact that we simply do not belong.

This was the reason why I fled New Verdia so long ago. I knew I would never become more than what I was here, another sewer rat from Nuovo district. I would forever be pigeon-holed into a particular place with no chance to do more than what I was born into. The people here live and die within the caste system that underpins this city like rotten scaffolding.

I say nothing to her as she cranes her neck while looking about, clearly taken with the scene around her. I don't want to steal that wonder from her, and I have to admit it is a sight to behold. Everything here seems so delightful, and it gives you the sense that the sky's the limit. If you're one of the chosen.

Mackenzie and I? We would never be one of them. Not even if the Gods themselves came down from on high and granted us a boon.

***

"Money talks, bullshit walks," Mackenzie said under her breath. I couldn't agree with her more. The store we're shopping in, Pierre's, tried to turn us away. The flash of money almost didn't convince them either. My irritation is another thought to be saved for later. I. Want. To. SHOOOOOOOOOP!!!

The auction is still a week away yet, but any excuse I can take to look at lovely things and model pretty clothes is a day that is unquestionably good in my book. And the best part is that both Mackenzie and I are going to walk away with pretties that will be ours to keep!

To say that I am giddy would be like saying New Verdia is arid; one hell of an understatement.

Mackenzie does nothing but laugh as I bounce from one display to the next, admiring each dress. A purple and blue slip with floral patterns catches my eye, but I quickly dismiss it as being too gaudy. I want to look respectable, yet sexy at the same time. That would be something a little girl would wear.

Then, I see it.

It's a demure variation of the little black dress, but it looks flawless. It's strapless, and would let me display my favorite amethyst necklace prominently. The hem of the dress should come to about mid-thigh, and I can tell even now that it'd hug my form sooo deliciously. Throw in a little black purse and spaghetti strapped stiletto heels and... Talk about elegance and sexiness combined! I cannot believe this is my life now!!

I gingerly pull it off of the rack and set it up to my chest to get an idea of how it'd look on me, and to show Mackenzie my new find. She stops laughing, her eyes slowly growing wider as her jaw lowers.

"What do you think? Maybe a pair of-"

"Dressin' room. Now." She is actually leering at me. There is unbridled lust in her eyes as she grabs me by the shoulders and spins me around. I don't exactly fight her as she pushes me towards the changing rooms.

"Okay, okay! I'm guessing you want me to try this on," I laugh. I almost trip as Mackenzie shoves me along. She throws open the door to a room, pushes me inside, and slams the door shut behind her. Then she grabs me by the shoulders, twirls me around, and comes within inches of my face.

"I have to see you in that dress!"

"Mackenzie, what's gotten into-"

"Please!"

I smile at her sweetly, nodding with a slight flush as I undo the buttons on my surcoat. I do love this dress, and I can't wait to see what I look like in it. My motivations for wanting to see it might be juuuust a little different than hers though. I take my time undressing, making it a little ritual whenever I strip. I know I may be toying with her, but we're in public.

Finally, I am ready to slip into the dress. I can hear her pout behind me. "C'mon, turn around so I can see you!"

I toss my head as I look over my shoulder. "No, Mackenzie. We're here to go clothes shopping, so you can see me when I'm in the dress. Not before." I offer her a smug smile as I pick up the dress, taking care not to show her anything. I can feel her frustration as I shimmy into the garment, making minor adjustments and tweaking it before finally turning around.

"Well, what do you think?" I'm asking her, but I already know that I love it! It fits me like a glove, and the only word I can think of that describes how I feel wearing it is 'scrumptious'. An image of a delicate chocolate wrapped in a silky confectioner's tissue flits across my mind, and I can't help but giggle.

I have to have this dress. It's perfect.

Mackenzie stares at me with an open-mouthed, drooling leer. If I'm that sweet little chocolate, I know for a fact she sees herself eating me up. Gods, I almost can't stop squirming at that thought.

"Uh... uhm." That's all she gets out of her mouth.

"Do you like it?"

"Uh... uh huh." Oh, I have her so worked up, and there's nothing she can do about it here. This is turning out to be even more fun than I had thought!

I spin around to the mirror, striking various poses while admiring my reflection. No, there's no need to look any further. This is what I'm going to buy. Still, there's no reason why I can't have a little fun.

After a few minutes, I finally look in the mirror and sigh. "Alright!l We still need to get your dress, and I need to find a nice pair of heels." I strip down and step out of it, and then gingerly hang it up and set it to the side.

Something hitting the ground catches my attention, bouncing around with the 'ping' of metal. Oh, it's a coin. It must've fallen out of Mackenzie's pocket or something. I bend over to pick it up only to hear the door slam behind me. Startled, I instinctively grab for my clothes, only find that they're not there. Mackenzie, my clothes, and the dress are gone!

She took everything I could possibly wear! I'm naked, and with no way out of the room!

Seconds pass like hours...

After what seems like an eternity, Mackenzie saunters back into the dressing room wearing a smug little smile. "There, now we're talking!"

I race to put an arm over my chest to cover my breasts while trying to hide my growing erection behind the other hand. "What did you do with my clothes?!" My voice is little more than a hoarse whisper. "There are so many people around. How am I supposed to get out of here?"

"They're safe," she says haughtily, "but you ain't gettin' them back until you do what I tell you to." Mackenzie licks her lips as her eyes caress my body.

"W-what... what do you want me to do?"

She grins as she reaches out to cup my chin in her hand. "Get yourself off for me, Cherry."

"Here? I can't! People will know!"

"Then I guess you're gonna to have to figure out a way to get home naked, huh?"

I can feel my face flush deeply as I bite my lower lip. Mackenzie smiles impishly at the fact that I am hard and throbbing now, the head of my cock bouncing in mid air as if begging to be touched.

"You'll... you'll give me back my clothes if I do?"

"It's a promise, baby girl."

Gods, I love this so. I slowly drop my arms to my sides as I stand up straight and look meekly around, noticing the small bench behind me. I step back to the side and prop my right foot up on it.

"Mmm, that's it Cherry. Show me fuckin' everything." Mackenzie puts her hand to her mouth, biting her index finger before licking it lustfully.

"D-don't talk like that. It makes me squirm so," I stammer, as I reach down with my right hand and and gingerly take up my cock. My other hand slides up to one of my breasts and begins to tease the nipple, pinching and tugging gently on it.

"Gods, you're cute as hell." Mackenzie starts teasing one of her pigtails over and over in her fingers as she stares at me. "You look so fuckin' hot right now!"

My teeth clamp down on my lip. My cheeks are so red, I feel like I must be glowing. The thrill of being watched, of being caught, is gradually joined by the wondrous physical sensation as I slide my hand back and forth. Slowly at first. A small moan escapes.