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The dress wrapped his torso in gentle blue and white, the waist setting perfectly on his hips, ruffles adding illusionary curves where he had none. While the simple shoes made the outfit more casual, Ike believed the lace gloves would elevate the outfit in balance.
He had his makeup done by a friend earlier in the day, hues of silver and baby's breath accenting the brown tones to make his hazel eyes pop. Mascara and lashes pushed the feminine look, subdued behind his round glasses. The long brown wig he preferred cascaded over his exposed shoulders, brushed and styled simply with cute barrettes and accessories.
His final touches were a pair of silver earrings with a collection of feathers dangling below adorned in sapphire-blue gems.
It was…an appearance Ike wasn't used to seeing as of late.
However, he had woken with a spring in his step, a quiet confidence that he could pull this off today. And…you know what? Yeah. He looked pretty. A smile bloomed in the mirror, a sight becoming rarer as of late.
Today was for him. For Ike. He was allowed to do this, allowed to be pretty, allowed to be a boy in a cute dress he called his own. And screw anyone who would burst his bubble today.
Because today was Midsommar!
—----------
The celebrations went on for hours, and the sun curved toward the horizon, never quite passing out of sight. Maypoles had been raised, dances had been danced, and drinks flowed like spring water.
After summoning his courage and dancing along with the crowds, Ike had retreated a bit to imbibe in some alcohol. The man was no stranger to drinking, and despite a couple missteps on the dress hem, he held his own well into the “evening".
Knowing he had work deadlines quickly approaching, he decided to take his leave around… midnight, perhaps? It was always hard to tell with the sun's constant presence. Ike waved goodbye to his companions, and began his trek back through the surrounding forest to his quiet apartment complex. He took a moment to check the small bag he had brought along; lacking pockets, it was the only way to keep the silhouette off the dress intact with his phone and keys on hand.
Phone? Check. Keys? …
… Where were his keys?
Confused, he turned around to look back where he came from. Nope, not there. Did he drop them at the festival? Possibly.
A deep growl rumbled through the woods, closer than Ike would have liked. He knew, of course, that there were dangers in the forest…but he knew this path like the back of his hand. Had been here for years to know that no predators would be around, especially with the noise of Midsommar.
He knew this…but alcohol has a way of dulling the senses.
All thoughts of his keys fled his mind, and Ike began to run. A stick snapped behind him, causing the novelist to squeak. His dress flapped behind him, the bag bouncing against his hip with each footfall.
Then a howl. Long and echoing across the valley.
Ike yelped, his wig shifting ever so slightly in his panic. His heavy footsteps thudded against the dirt, the twigs and foliage cutting at his legs and tearing at the dress’s hem.
Something large slammed into him, sending Ike into the forest floor. He was pinned, his bag’s strap snapped and knocked away in the scuffle. With no phone in reach to call for help, he covered his head with his hands and hoped the attack would be over with swiftly-
“You…gggruff…you drop…this”
Words, spoken deep and gravely, registered in Ike's mind. It was whatever figure that had tackled him. Slowly, ever so slowly, he turned to look at his aggressor.
Dark and warm fur, a canine snout, eyes of bright gold, all crouched and towering over Ike's slighter figure.
A wolf, by all appearances.
Sharp jingling cut the air as the beast dropped something metallic, Ike's eyes snapping to the object.
…His keys?
He looked back at the wolf? on top of him, who simply huffed out his nose and moved to sit next to the toppled novelist. Ike gingerly took his keys in hand, and rolled to sit himself upright.
The figure was…mostly a wolf, though the threadbare scraps of fabric told him the creature may be more intelligent than he expected. Those unwavering golden eyes watched his every move, and dangerously sharp horns stood tall from its brow. A flutter of movement revealed leathery wings, tucked into the beast’s back to hide them, as if it were…nervous? Hmm.
Ike paused for several more moments, the rush of fear clearing every trace of inebriation from his mind.
“... Thank you," Ike murmurs, holding his keys to his dirtied dress.
The beast gave a simple huff in reply, turning to look at where they had come from as Ike stood, brushing his dress off.
"... You like…hrf…loud pack."
Ike paused and tried to parse what was spoken, “... The Midsommar festival?”
Another huff, "Scare food…no like."
Ah, he doesn't like the noise because it scares away any prey animals…
“Do you…do you want some food?”
The beast’s demeanor changed drastically, its tail wagging at the mention of food, “Food! Vox food!"
“Vox? Is…is that your name?"
“Yes," the beast confirmed with an exaggerated nod, “Am Vox. Howl loud, growl loud, pack call Vox."
Ike smiles warily, “It’s a lovely name."
Vox moved toward Ike, standing on his hind legs in his excitement. Ike took a step back, dwarfed by the height and size of this creature.
“You call?" Vox nudged Ike's side with his snout, his energy visible in how his whole body swayed with the wagging of his tail.
He stumbled to the side as he was pushed with the force of the curious beast, “U-uh, m-my name?"
“Yes name, you name call?"
“I'm…I'm Ike.”
Vox's eyes sharpened, laser focused on Ike's reply, "Ike. You Ike. Am Vox.” Another snort of satisfaction, then Vox ran a lap around the smaller novelist. "Ike food, yes.”
The reply startled a giggle out of Ike, "Haha, of course, let's get food for you.” He reached a hand out to pet the beast, not thinking, and Vox froze when his gloved hand ruffled his fur.
Ike froze as well, realizing the danger he put himself in petting a wild animal, “S-sorry…u-um, d-don't…hurt me-”
Vox pushed his head into Ike's retreating palm, "hrmf…feel nice. Yes."
Taking the cue from his new companion, Ike continued to give Vox more pets, careful to not upset the creature he'd somehow befriended.
“Come on," Ike spoke, breaking the quiet reverie, “let's get you something to eat."
He gathered his fallen bag, set his keys inside, and the beauty led the beast through the forest in the waning light of the midnight sun.
—------
A loud crash outside jolts Ike from his desk, the novelist rushing from his booth to inspect what was making such a loud racket-
“Vox?!"
Ike yelped loudly as he watched the large beast scramble inside his apartment window. Damn, he’s almost certain to get a noise complaint now.
“Miss Ike, want food…" Vox whined, his ears drooping backward in sheepishness momentarily, before he finally clambered inside.
He was smaller than a few days ago, and patches of skin could be seen between his thinning fur. Immediately Ike grew concerned.
“Wait, are you sick? Are you hurt?"
“No hurt, only…hunger," Vox's vocabulary seemed to be improving? “Vox…I'm…get help Ike. For food.”
The furrow didn't leave Ike's brow, "... If you say so, you mangy freeloader.” He went to move to his kitchen when Vox yelped.
“No Ike dress?"
The dress? “No, no dress. It got ruined when I was tackled in the forest, you see.”
Vox dropped his head in apology, "I'm sorry. Dress pretty…"
Ike sighed, “It's fine…though it was quite a bit of money to get it."
The scent of disappointment filled the air, and Vox knew he had truly upset his human Ike, “Vox get dress, yes. Buy dress. Give Ike present. Birth Day?"
“What do you mean? Get me a dress for my birthday?" Vox nods, “Forget it. My birthday was last month, and it's not like you can buy anything anyway-"
“Have job, buy Ike dress, yes."
“You have a job?!"
“Yes!" Vox wagged his tail “No job word now, speak two moons."
“Ask again in two months?"
“Yes."
“...Why?"
"Vox beast no more.”
Ike paused again.
"... What do you mean, you're not always a beast?”
"No! Vox form of man, time no sun”
The wheels spun in Ike's head, and he took a sip of his nearly-finished Rockstar, "... So you're human the closer it is to winter solstice?”
"Not human, form yes."
“My head hurts…” Ike held his head in his hand, despairing at this revelation.
Vox padded across the small apartment, pushing his head into Ike's shoulder, "Food please?"
Ike sighed, then lifted his head a bit, “Sure, though I don't have much…” He stood from his counter to turn around and open his fridge, “... I have meatballs?"
For all his size, Vox could've been mistaken for a massive dog, “Meatball yum!"
“Do, uh…do you want them cooked?"
“Form man cook yes, form beast no cook."
“So no cooking, mkay," Ike grabbed a knife to carefully open the packaging, put the raw meat on a spare plate, and set it on the ground before Vox, “Bone apple tea, boy."
Vox dug in, his true hunger now apparent as he scarfed the small helping of meatballs in seconds. He licked at the plate, trying to get every morsel he could, then walked in a circle in satisfaction, before finally plopping down to rest curled up on Ike's floor.
Ike watched this unfold, frozen while watching Vox eat, then growing a bit indignant as Vox made himself at home.
“... Aren't you going home?" Ike asked in confusion.
Vox lifted his head and tilted it, “Am home?"
“No you're not! This is my home!"
“Ike home Vox home, yes."
“No it isn't, you mangy mutt-"
“Love Ike! Make home with Ike."
The comment gave Ike pause, “... You don't mean that. You only like me because I gave you food.”
Vox huffed in his usual manner, "Ike kind. Nice. Heart warm. Vox like warm heart Ike." He dropped his head to the floor once more, “... Ike…not like Vox?”
Ike swore he heard Vox whine after stating his question, and he sighed in response, “... No no, I like you-” Vox began happily thumping his tail against the ground, shedding fur with each whack, "I just…uh, I…I don't even know your human form?"
“But Ike know Vox, yes?"
Another pause, “...I do, I suppose."
“Am happy then. Vox words back two moons, good words for Ike then."
Two months? Could he wait that long to unravel this weird dog's mystery?
"...Eh, not like I have much else to do," Ike resigns himself with a shrug, heading toward his couch. If Vox needed to crash here for a bit, that shouldn't be too bad.
…Wait, does his apartment allow pets?!