Porcelain Doll (Howl X Reader)

Chapter 3

The next day was just as busy as ever. Sometimes (Y/N) wished the shop wasn't as popular among women so she could easily slip out and not have to worry about some random woman's dress.

It was once again busy until closing hours and much to (Y/N)'s displeasure she was on closing shift for that day.

It was silent in the shop as everyone had gone home to their own families, enjoying dinner with them. She was left alone in the shop, tending to the last few stragglers who visited the shop.

The women each looked at the dresses hanging in awe. Turning to (Y/N) they smile, handing her a dress.

"We'd like to buy this!" One smiles pulling out her change.

"Of course, miss!" She smiles telling her the price and taking the money.

"We have loved this shop for the longest time, the dresses are so amazing!" The other starts up a conversation while (Y/N) starts to pack the dress for them to take home without destroying it.

"Really?" (Y/N) perks up "Thank you, we all work hard to satisfy our customers!"

The two women giggle at her words "Well you guys do very well. Whenever we wear the dresses we feel so beautiful and doll like"

"Sometimes like a princess too!" The other smiles. This brings a warm smile to (Y/N)'s face as she passes over the bag.

"I'm glad our work makes you guys feel that way!" She smiles at them "Please come again soon!"

She waves at the women who leave the shop happy with their purchase. The door shutting behind them.

The shop grew quiet as the two women were the last customers for the day leaving (Y/N) to clean up the shop, until she was satisfied with it, leaving closing the shop the next step.

When she was about to close shop a woman barged in, with a strong aura. A quiet man followed behind her.

She wore all black, a floppy hat displayed on her head as the collar of her dress held fur covering. She had make-up caked on making her seem younger than she was, although not by much.

The woman looked around the shop as (Y/N) took in a breath forcing a smile on her already sore face.

Tucking a strand of hair away from her face, (Y/N)'s eyes watch the woman approach the dresses on display. Sucking a breath she approaches the woman with a smile.

"Hello ma'am, how may I help you today?" (Y/N) questions.

The woman turns to (Y/N) with a scowl. (Y/N) steps back slightly, her customer service smile dropping for a split second.

"Do you have daily dresses?" The woman asks.

"Of course, follow me" (Y/N) turns on her heel walking to another corner of the shop which held the daily dresses made for all shapes and sizes. It was organized by color and size, making it easy to look through.

"Here you are ma'am" (Y/N) smiles motioning to the racks of dresses.

"Do I look old enough to be called ma'am?" The woman scowls once more. (Y/N) feels her eyebrow twitch as the woman turns away from the girl, observing the dresses while the man who came with her stood by the door.

The room grew silent as the woman continued to look through the dresses. (Y/N) brings a hand up, the palm of her hand facing outward as she covers her mouth covering the yawn she released.

She was silent as she let the woman decide on her outfit of the choice, the noise of the hanger running against the bar the only sound in the room.

The sound of the hangers sliding against the bar comes to the stop as the woman turns to (Y/N). The woman's eyes squinted at (Y/N), with her nose scrunched up as she turned her head upward.

"You call these daytime dresses?!" She growls towering over (Y/N). "These dresses are more like fancy dresses, no one would wear such atrocities on a daily basis!"

It was silent as (Y/N) cowers in her shadow, glancing up at the woman who now held an intense aura.

"Well, I can always take a design and have it ready for you in a few days if you do not like what is on display" (Y/N) bows her head walking to a table and picking up a paper and pencil.

"Why would I do that? I need a dress as soon as possible!" The woman replies, crossing her arms with a pout. (Y/N) feels her eyebrow twitch once more, her grip tightening around the pencil.

She could feel her patience wearing thin as the woman began to rant, her grip on the pencil tightens ever so slowly. The man who stood by the door began to shake his head as if telling (Y/N) to calm down.

"And not even to say all the dresses here are too doll-like, they fit more for a doll than a woman! You should start making better dresses rather than sell whatever these lumps of fabrics are!"

(Y/N) feels her patience snap as the customer service smile she wears drops completely, the pencil in her hand breaking as it falls to the floor.

"Well Pardon me ma'am but I do not remember ever forcing you to come to this shop." (Y/N) starts. The man begins to frantically shake his head, fear growing on his features. "As a matter of fact you walked in as I was trying to close shop yet I was kind enough to try and help you only for you to start disregarding the hard work from myself and other workers here as atrocities?"

"I'm sorry ma'am but please leave, if you would like to come back in a better mood, be my guest" (Y/N) pants slightly from the bundle of words she threw out, puffing her chest slightly to stand her ground. The man behind her hits the palm of his hand to his forehead, releasing a sigh.

The woman seems to grow more enraged as the light around the two seemingly grows thin as the woman scowls. 

"How dare you speak to the Witch of the Waste in such a tone!" She scowls "If you have such pride and protection for your work, why not become one to fit it perfectly!"

The witch waves her hand around as (Y/N) feels something cold run through her insides.

"You have four months to live as you do now, after that you'll be a perfect display with those dresses!" She tells (Y/N) before leaving the shop.

The man stood by the door, his eyes wide with sorrow floating around in it. He looked at (Y/N) with pity as if he knew what the Witch had meant, causing (Y/N) to scramble to the mirror hanging in the small shop as the man quietly left.

Looking at the mirror she gasps at what was staring back at her. She didn't like it one bit.

Glassy e/c eyes stared back, her skin lighter and glossy reflecting the sun, keeping her from absorbing the warmth of the light. Her lips were painted permanently with a light blush coating her cheeks. Her hair stayed perfectly straight, as her eyes were unblinking. She looked beautiful but lifeless. There was no spark in the once creative eyes which shined at the smallest things nor a smile which she would always hold when doing the stuff she enjoyed.

She saw the reflection and understood what the Witch meant. She was scared.

Yet just as fast as the reflection appeared it disappeared, showing (Y/N) in her current self. Her face reflected fear as she stared at the reflection before her which was blinking back at her the same time she was.

"Oh my gosh" She finally utters out. "There...there must be a way to break this"

She turns her gaze to the side which her porcelain dolls sat, displayed in the casing, their dresses fitting perfectly for each doll.

"I must find a witch or wizard who can break this" She replies, turning the lights off for the shop and locking the front door. She climbs the stairs, racing towards her room.

She spots a bag within the corner of the room and pulls it together. She begins to stuff a few extra dresses and any supplies she would need or might need, including her sketchbook.

Once filling the bag, she sets it aside and climbs into the bed. She knew that for tomorrow she would have to start her adventure to find a powerful witch or wizard to remove her spell if she wishes to continue on with her life as normal.

With those thoughts she went to bed, prepared for the adventure to come.