Grace Alter, standing in the middle of Amelia's well-lit office, watching Amelia set up the tools in random spots while circling around her.
Amelia: Ok, this outfit needs to be good because it will be the foundation for future outfits, and Grace is going to be wearing it a lot and in front of many people. We have so many variables to account for, so you better be Grace because this is for her, not you.
Grace Alter: Don't worry, I'll listen to your commands, and besides, how hard can this be? You are a professional, and this is still Lady's body, with a different personality.
Amelia looks directly at Grace Alter:… Start stripping.
Grace Alter starts feeling unnerved around Amelia and thinks she just saw one of Amelia's irises change color… but, ignoring all that and do what she was told, and strip down to Grace's bra and panties.
After stripping down to the undergarments, Grace Alter started seeing many Amelias standing where each of the tools was placed and holding it. All Amelias wear the same outfit but hold a different tool, and all have heterochromia, with the left iris staying the same.
Then the Amelias start moving while Grace Alter is unable to move a muscle but still feels every sensation all over the body, still like a mannequin. The Amelias move coordinated with each other at a relatively normal speed… until she notices a timer on the table set at 1:00, with a blurry 0:59 slowly appearing.
(Isn't she just a normal person? What kind of ability is it? Wait… there is no communication.)
The whole room was eerily quiet despite the number of Amelias constantly moving, the only audible sounds were measuring tape sliding, pen scribbling, and… stacks of clothing being placed on top of each other.
Until the timer clearly showed 0:59, the Amelias lessen to scribbling, preparing, wearing, examining, and removing. This time, they are not moving at a normal speed anymore, the outfit appears on Grace's body in an instant. Grace Alter can feel the new outfit drape over the skin, then feel the outfit being instantly ripped off the body… and some occasional breeze that feels way too personal.
…
…
0:50, the Amelias's movements slow down to the point where most of them disappear, leaving a scribbling Amelia alone holding a thick binder with hundreds of papers in it.
Amelia finished scribbling, placing the binder on the table, then started pushing Grace Alter out of her office: That was great, and it's time for you to leave. Once dinner is ready, just knock on my door, then I'll pick it up.
Grace Alter didn't protest and let Amelia push her out, then closed the door behind her.
Grace Alter, wearing the same outfit when she entered Amelia's office, decided to strip off her top layer and see that she is wearing a different bra from before then she put it back on and quickly walks toward the kitchen.
Arsène: You're back. I thought she would have spent a lot longer with you.
Grace Alter: Yeah… how much longer are we talking about?
Arsène: 10 minutes at most, but since it takes like 10 seconds or 2 minutes, including the amount of non-working time. That must mean she is making a new outfit or multiple outfits.
Grace Alter: Haha, so it was only 10 seconds… Arsène, from Grace's memories, you two are just normal people with no special abilities, right?
Arsène cooking: I see, you must have seen that version of Amelia. We don't know what that is. The specialist said that it isn't an ability, and she only became that with her eye shifting between a variety of colors when she is tailoring.
Grace Alter: Eye shifting? What are you talking about? I saw her clones appearing with different irises, each doing a separate task at imperceptible speed and somehow a time-slowing ability.
Arsène: Well, looks like you can see her perform at that high speed. The answer is simple, so to keep it short. She is just extremely fast and efficient when tailoring. I have better eyes than a normal person, and all I can see is her iris rapidly changing color. While you are a powerful parasite can see her in a different view than me.
Grace Alter: I guess… so, do you need any help? I have nothing to do, and the question before was asked because I was too confused about what just happened to the body and Lady's clothes.
Arsène: She must have swapped the undergarment, and we do have a lot… this is more of a run-in-the-family reason, so ignore it or look in her pajama party album. A lot of pictures of her and my Sister in undergarments, ranging from cute to questionable design.
Grace Alter: You… seen your Sister in different undergarments. Quite messed up.
Arsène: No, not at all. She asked me to look and give my opinion… the messed-up thing here is, my family sees humans as mannequins wearing clothes, so the biology switch is off most of the time. But that is what happens when your father is a fashion designer, and your mother is a fashion model.
Grace Alter: I see… *belly growling* let's just finish making dinner first, Lady needs nutrients.
Arsène: Yeah, same for that little demon in there. Here is what I'm making.
Arsène gives instructions to Grace Alter, and she helps him make dinner for the three of them.
…
…
…
After 30 minutes of cooking and another 30 minutes of eating, then dressed up as Grace with glasses, Grace Alter goes up to the door of Amelia's office and gives it a knock… and hears a response.
Amelia: Go away! I'm Working!
Grace Alter: Ok!
Go back to the other room and meet up with Arsène.
"She is all immersed in her work. Ready?"
Arsène put on a pair of black silk gloves: All right, let's go.
Both of them left the shop and headed to the Hero Corp to use their training facility. When they arrived at the facility, there were many "Heroes" still training despite very late in the day.
Arsène went ahead and grabbed themselves a private sparring room with their ID while Grace Alter followed him from behind until their doors closed.
Arsène: So, we have 2 hours to train. Let's make the most out of your time here.
Grace Alter: You twins are strange. It feels like you both are treating me like family members despite the situation I'm in.
Arsène: We don't treat you like family. We treat you like Grace. For my Sister, Grace is her model. For me, Grace is my sparring partner. So, you better do your best in her body.
Grace Alter: Ok, I understand this circle a bit more. So, how strong are you so I can adjust my strength?
Arsène: You should know. Don't you have all of Grace's memories?
Grace Alter: Yes, but reviewing those memories is different. You two were never the obsession, and I have two memory banks to review. I'm here to please two people, not myself… well, not yet.
Arsène: All right. You can share that threesome fantasy later. For now, all you should know is, Grace and I are equal in combat ability, and we both are capable of reaching S-rank.
Grace Alter: Well, with me she certainly is stronger, but a normal person like you is equally strong as her… is a surprise.
Arsène: You'll see soon enough… also, why didn't you bring her rapier?
Grace Alter: Oh that, *summon an ice rapier in her hand* this is more convenient, and I don't want to break Lady's weapon.
Arsène: Fair enough… *walk to the other side of the room* Ready?
Grace Alter: Ready!
Arsène: Countdown!
A machine voice in the room starts counting down.
-3-
-2-
-1-
-Fight-
Grace Alter hurls the ice rapier at Arsène. Right after slipping out of her hand, it shatters and splits into small, sharp ice shards flying directly at Arsène.
Arsène holds his arm up, covering his face, then angles himself and takes the attack, which results in no visible damage on his body and outfit. Keeping the same position, and run straight toward Grace Alter, aiming to tackle her to the wall.
Grace Alter watching his movement while also keeping her distance between them, but it was futile as the distance quickly closing in, forcing her to create another ice rapier, then using it to stab Arsène to stop his attack.
The ice rapier's sharp tip snapped constantly when hitting Arsène's suit and resulted in Grace Alter being slammed into the wall.
Arsène takes a few steps back, letting Grace's body fall to the ground: That is 1-0 for opening.
Grace Alter standing up: That hurt! Also, we are keeping score?
Arsène: We have always kept score. To learn, improve, and have fun.
Grace Alter dusting herself: Well… *checking the body* despite the impact, you did minimal damage to the body.
Arsène: We have been sparring for a while now, so I know how to keep my target alive… normal target.
Grace Alter: Well, still hurt like hell tho. More importantly, what with the outfit? So tough, but *touching his suit* feels light.
Arsène: Perk of being a tailor.
Grace Alter: I see, so, how am I supposed to win against you when nothing can hurt you?
Arsène: You aren't really supposed to win against me with your current condition. That shattering trick was definitely new, while the rest was not on par with what Grace is physically capable of.
"Taking control of Grace's body after she falls asleep is a great plan to get more accustomed to the body. I don't know how this situation works, but I expect less falling off the bed and just lying there lifelessly, then proceeding to walk like a toddler that just learned it can do more than wiggle its limbs."
Grace Alter let out a light chuckle: Twin brother is a bit of a creep, isn't he? But we have already discussed this before and understand each other better… *sigh* I hate that I was being monitored while in such a miserable state, but I was glad to see someone else care about Lady's body.
"So, enough chatting, let's get back to helping me assimilate to the body. And don't hold back. Pain is the best way to learn, in this situation… on second thought, please don't hold back, but also don't damage the merchandise."
Arsène: Got it.
*pull out his phone and turns the other way, then calls someone*
…
…
"Hello?... Are you going to be busy in like the next 1 or 2 hours… I see, just going to swing by later to have you fix up a patient… No, just intense sparring, and I don't want to walk around with people thinking that I'm a woman abuser… Great, gonna give you a call later so you can prepare… Sure, we can discuss more while you are doing your job, just make sure to have him present. I know you two like matching outfits… Bye."
*put his phone away and turn back to facing Grace Alter*
"Everything is clear for me to go all out within reason. Ready?"
Grace Alter's suddenly feels hot, nervous, and scared when Arsène turns around: Yes!
(I'm so sorry Lady. I'm going to learn how to use your body as fast as possible in order to not damage it. Please forgive me!)
…
…
After the first hour had gone by, the whole room was covered in scattered ice shards from Grace Alter and her body impacts on the wall, with many crack lines. Grace Alter's appearance changed from a woman who had just gone out for a casual walk, turning into a victim who was being tortured, bruises all over her body, circles under her eyes that were not present before, line marks of being strangled traced around her neck, and bullet holes across both of her arms.
A disheveled body, standing face-to-face against its perpetrator, who has been through less and losing only his suit jacket. Arsène, wearing a lightly tattered button-up shirt with a pair of black silk gloves in perfect condition… everything except for the button-up shirt, even the suit jacket being pinned by the icicles are all in perfect condition.
Arsène, still full of energy to continue… but the same goes for Grace Alter, despite her condition. Lifting her mangled arm and tells Arsène to continue with a taunting gesture. The movement was perfect, normal, like nothing had happened to her body.
Arsène nodded while feeling that the entire room had reached minus degrees, then he engaged… before hitting her miserable face with a direct punch. His whole body froze up, and is looking at her through glass… her eyes moved like they were inspecting him.
In front of Grace Alter is Arsène trapped in ice, unable to move. She is looking directly at him, then the ice between them reflects like a mirror at specific angles, exposing the disheveled body to her.
She stares at the body.
Arsène sees tears welling up in her eyes before they start flowing and forming cracks in the ice. Ice shards and icicles crumble, melt into nothing, until the ice he was trapped in suffers the same fate and frees him.
Arsène felt the room's temperature return to normal, until Grace Alter grabbed his shoulders and pushed him into the wall. The touch from her hands was cold, painful, and guaranteed frostbite.
Standing against the wall and staring straight into Grace's red irises, he could hear a whisper mixed in with the crying.
(Fix me, please! Now! Call for… help.)
Arsène immediately reaches for his phone and calls someone… while it was ringing, all he could hear was Grace Alter mumbling.
(I don't deserve this. She don't deserve this.)
(I don't deserve this. She don't deserve this.)
(I don't deserve this. She don't deserve this.)
(I don't deserve this. She don't deserve this.)
Until the call connects and he hears a female voice scream: COMING IN!
The entrance to their private sparring room was busted open, and immediately, Grace's irises return to their normal color and her eyes close shut.
Grace Alter can't see anything but still able to feel and hear her surroundings.
Strange female voice: What did you do to her, Butler?
Strange male voice: She looks like she is about to die.
Arsène: Talk later, just check on her, then get her out of here.
…
Grace Alter suddenly feels a deep kiss on her lips.
…
Arsène: Don't just stand there.
Strange female voice: Relax! She won't die, despite her appearance. She is full of energy with extremely cold limbs. Honey, be careful when picking her up. And Butler, I need to check on you too, that is not normal frostbite on your body.
Arsène: Do it quick then immediately move out.
Grace Alter can feel her body being picked up, then everything becomes silent to her.
"Time to go back to my home."
Her vision returns, and all she can see is the black void, her wearing the maid outfit, but she suddenly hears a familiar voice.
"My maid outfit?"
Turning around, Grace Alter sees Grace staring at her.