If Denni\u2019s misgivings upon taking Holly up on her offer had been noisy back at the bar, they spiked heavily when Holly\u2019s aforementioned hotel room turned out to be a screamingly posh executive suite at the top of an equally ridiculous boutique hotel a couple of blocks away from the bus terminal. Denni found themself standing in the center of a marble floored living room with designer furniture that both appeared angular and weirdly comfy at the same time, while trying way too hard to project a vintage 60s aesthetic. Clutching their beat up suitcase, lovingly reinforced over the years with varying colors of duct tape, and their faded LL Bean backpack that they\u2019d been hauling around since high school, Denni felt grossly shabby and out of place.<\/p>\n
Holly seemed oblivious to Denni\u2019s discomfort, blithely chattering about the evolution of 10th Avenue since her long ago days of coming back to the city when the area around Port Authority was 99% peep shows and porn theaters. \u201cIf you looked out the front doors of the terminal back then you\u2019d be greeted by a giant neon vagina surrounded by gogo dancers underscored by the words \u2018Welcome to New York,\u2019\u201d she was saying, casually flinging her Christmas nightmare coat over an aggressively pointy puke-green chair. \u201cHonestly, I kinda miss that. That new Times building seems devoid of personality in comparison.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni, still debating whether sinking into the marble floor was a possibility, was only half-listening, but detected enough of a pause in Holly\u2019s breathless chatter to insert an \u201cuh-huh\u201d as they quietly tried to look like they weren\u2019t panicking about the speculated cost of the suite.<\/p>\n
Holly, belatedly noticing her guest\u2019s distress, made a concerned face. \u201cDo you need a snack or something to drink? There\u2019s a mini-fridge in here if you need something quick or I can doordash something for you if\u2026\u201d she trailed off, frowning slightly at Denni\u2019s rapidly paling face, before cottoning onto the source of their horror. \u201cOh, honey, they seriously don\u2019t charge THAT much for taking stuff out of the minibar, I promise. Sure, it\u2019s a little more than the same stuff at Duane Reade but\u2026 convenience.\u201d She shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s really okay, it\u2019s my dime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni closed their eyes and took a deep breath. \u201cSorry,\u201d they mumbled. \u201cJust feeling a bit fish out of water. Pretty sure this suite\u2019s alone\u2019s worth like several weeks of my paycheck.\u201d<\/p>\n
Holly pouted a little but it was sympathetic, not resentful. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. Is there anything I can do to make you feel more\u2026 comfortable seems like the wrong word, but it\u2019s all my brain is coming up with.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really.\u201d Denni offered their host a wry grin. :This is just weird, and I have the feeling it\u2019s only going to get weirder before the night\u2019s over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I certainly hope so.\u201d Holly smiled, plopping herself down on the aggressively cuboid fuzzy sofa. \u201cSeriously, raid the fridge, take a shower if you like, make yourself at home, we have some time before the party.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh right, about that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Holly lights up, clapping her hands. \u201cRight! Something to wear. Let me make a phone call. Get a snack, seriously<\/i>.\u201d She pulled out her phone, pulled a face for the facial recognition lock, and excitedly poked her screen twice before holding the phone out in front of her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Denni gingerly opened the fridge while she did this, discovering a rather impressive array of tiny bottles of wine, several small cans of craft IPAs, the usual complement of sodas and seltzers (including both coke and pepsi products, unusually), several slim boxes of godiva truffles, a couple thin plastic tubs containing fancy salads, and a few small sandwiches on extremely chunky looking bread.<\/p>\n
Holly\u2019s phone emitted a series of low-pitched bloops, and a smooth, lightly-accented baritone voice spilled out of her phone. It immediately seemed familiar to Denni, though they couldn\u2019t have placed it to save their life. \u201cWell, hello, Pickle. That is absolutely creepy, I was just talking to Shel about you. Are you on your usual birthday bullshit?\u201d<\/p>\n
Holly grinned, and Denni realized belatedly that she was on a video call. \u201cHi yourself, Kolya. Yes, I am. Hi Shel, if you\u2019re there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways,\u201d a higher, more echoey voice chimed in.<\/p>\n
\u201cKolenka, I need a favor. I know y\u2019all are horribly busy, but I\u2019ll make it worth your while.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeak,\u201d Kolya answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I\u2019m going to the Natural History gala a little later tonight\u201d \u2014 Denni quietly swallowed a squeak, as Holly had said it was a party not a gala <\/i>\u2014 \u201cand I have acquired a +1 at the last minute.\u201d She poked her screen and aimed the phone\u2019s rear camera at Denni. \u201cSay hi, Denni!\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni made a face. \u201cHi Denni,\u201d they parroted, giving an awkward wave at the camera.<\/p>\n
Holly tapped her phone again, presumably switching back to the front camera. \u201cDenni\u2019s passing through New York, and does not have something to wear for this. I\u2019m making a guess that they\u2019d be most comfortable in a dark suit?\u201d She looked up from the phone for confirmation and Denni managed a nod back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cInteresting<\/i>. Where are you?\u201d Kolya\u2019s voice sounded as if he was holding back a laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cUp the street at the Cachet. Room 406.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNoted. Denni, darling? Put them back on the screen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Holly flipped her camera again. \u201cUh, hi?\u201d Denni asked, still flustered by the entire situation and also by a dude they couldn\u2019t see using the correct pronoun and a pet name despite having never met them.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know your sizes? Approximately? Any size scale will do, I just need a range to pick items from.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUmm.\u201d Denni felt the color rise in their face. \u201cI wear a 16W pant, but last time I got it actually measured I\u2019ve got a 27\u201d inseam. Chest\/waist\/hip is 38, 32, 40\u2026 no wait, the top is actually about four or five inches smaller now, if you catch my drift?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCompletely understood. Any idea about your shoulders?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, nah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHmm. Take your jacket off and stand up straight, please.\u201d<\/p>\n
Feeling more than a little self conscious, Denni shed their jean jacket, leaving them in a plain white t-shirt.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmm, okay.\u201d Kolya\u2019s voice sounded satisfied. \u201cI think I\u2019ve got a few things that should work. Are we looking for \u2018complimentary to Holly\u2019s outfit but nondescript\u2019 or we going to go slightly adventurous? You know what, don\u2019t answer that, I\u2019ll bring options for both. Holly, you demented little chihuahua, expect me in about 30 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t keep him too long,\u201d the other voice (Shel?) chimed in. \u201cWe\u2019ve got other Christmas parties to outfit, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAn hour, tops, provided something he brings over works out,\u201d Holly promised before ending the call.<\/p>\n
I guess rich people don\u2019t bother with goodbyes,<\/i> Denni mused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Holly put her phone away. \u201cFind anything good in there?\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni waved one of the salads. \u201cThis okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. Eat fast though, if Kol said he\u2019s going to be here in 30 minutes, that means he\u2019ll be here in 20.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni shakes their head. \u201cSo you just happen to have tailors on speed dial? And what kind of nickname is \u2018Pickle?\u2019\u201d they asked, shoveling a forkful of salad into their face, briefly shocked at the fresh greens and lightly spicy dressing.<\/p>\n
Holly grinned. \u201cKolya and I went to high school together. He and his partner run Nikolai & Shelby down the street from here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni nearly choked on their salad as puzzle pieces suddenly fell into place. \u201cWait, Kolya is Nikolai Shastov?<\/i> The designer<\/i>?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, you\u2019ve heard of him!\u201d Holly seemed utterly delighted by this.<\/p>\n
Denni blinked at her. Heard of him<\/i>. Jesus Christ. Nikolai Shastov had caused a bit of a ruckus in the fashion world a few years previous by launching the Nikolai & Shelby line of ready to wear and bespoke suits specifically for the LGBTQIA+ community, emphasizing plus sizes, women, and non-binary\/trans masculine bodies. Denni had a pinterest board full of their lookbooks, but as their suits were way <\/i>outside of Denni\u2019s price range, getting to actually wear one had been instantly written off as a pipe dream. \u201cFucking hell,\u201d they murmured, covering their shock by stuffing more salad into their face.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs for \u2018Pickle,\u2019\u201d Holly shrugged mysteriously. \u201cLets just chalk it up to a long ago incident involving a school cafeteria and a LOT of vinegar.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni decided they didn\u2019t actually want to know.<\/p>\n
Somehow even trying to mentally steel themself to the idea did not prepare Denni for Nikolai Shastov himself barreling into the suite upon Holly letting him in, instantly filling the room with a relentlessly businesslike cheer. The fact that he was six-foot fuck-you inches tall, built like a defensive linebacker and dressed in a pinstripe suit sharp enough to cut glass didn\u2019t help, nor did the fact that in addition to the suit and the height, he had the gall to be gorgeous <\/i>as well, with giant blue eyes that crinkled warmly when he smiled, and a head full of thick, perfectly coiffed, prematurely silver hair. Pictures and TV did not do the man any kind of justice. Denni usually didn\u2019t feel attracted to cisgender men, but this beautiful behemoth was a rather unsettling exception.<\/p>\n
He stooped to kiss Holly on both cheeks then dropped the full to bursting garment bag he had brought over the same chair Holly\u2019s coat was draped on, making a face as he did so. \u201cReally, Pickle, I can\u2019t believe you\u2019re still terrifying people with this abomination,\u201d he sighed, shrugging out of his suit jacket and rolling his shirt sleeves to the elbow.<\/p>\n
Holly laughed. \u201cWhat a thing to say about something you <\/i>made.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a joke<\/i>. I wasn\u2019t expecting anyone to actually fall in love with the eyesore, let alone humiliate me for five years by actually wearing it in public<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n
Holly shrugged without remorse. \u201cI keep my end of the bargain, Kolenka. I never tell anyone it\u2019s you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nikolai rolled his eyes, muttering what were clearly Russian curses under his breath before turning to Denni. With a genuinely warm smile, he stuck out his right hand. \u201cSalutations, I am Nikolai. Please call me Kolya or Niko. Also I don\u2019t know how you got mixed up with this insane hellion over here \u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, now,\u201d Holly pouted.<\/p>\n
\u201c \u2014 but condolences in advance for whatever madness she drags you into.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni, willing themselves not to pass out from sheer starstruck, shook the offered hand, noting it was easily twice as big as their own. \u201cDenni,\u201d they manage to hoarsely squeak out.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharmed. Right. I am afraid my time is at a premium, so if you would not mind standing on\u2026\u201d Kolya\u2019s eyes took in the entire room, spied an ottoman in the corner, and quickly relocated it in front of him. \u201cClimb aboard,\u201d he invited, pulling a tape measure and a gilded pin case out of his waistcoat pocket.<\/p>\n
The next few minutes passed at a breakneck pace as Kolya efficiently and very respectfully took all of Denni\u2019s measurements, being sure to ask for consent before each instance of touching Denni with the tape measure. Denni was certainly not expecting to be casually asked whether they would like their pants to accommodate \u201cpacking accessories\u201d and definitely was not proud of the surprised squeak they emitted in response before mumbling with embarrassment that it wouldn\u2019t be necessary. They were then sent into the bathroom repeatedly with different pants before they settled on a pair that was a shade of green so dark it was indistinguishable from black in all but the brightest of lights. They were sent back again to turn said pants inside out so Kolya could quickly whip-stitch them closer to Denni\u2019s body. \u201cWhat have you got for shoes?\u201d he asked, careful not to drop any of the silver pins he held between his lips as he sewed.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust the Docs I came in with.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThose\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Kolya declared. \u201cHolly, make yourself useful, put a towel over that dress and give those boots a good shining, there should be a brush and polish in the front of my bag. You remember how, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n
Holly rolled her eyes. \u201cContrary to apparently popular belief, I\u2019m not a complete idiot,\u201d she grumbled, disappearing into the bathroom to fetch the suggested towel. \u201cIf they bill me for the towel, though, I expect the same amount off the suit,\u201d she called back.<\/p>\n
Denni gulped. They had decided not to think about how much any of this was going to be, but it was hard not to when it was brought up.<\/p>\n
Catching the gulp, Kolya winked. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d he rumbled conspiratorially, softly enough that it could be mistaken for a hum if you were standing far enough away.<\/p>\n
Denni frowned. \u201cBut \u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Kolya removed the pins from his mouth and held up a hand, his eyes crinkling at the corners. \u201cIt\u2019s her birthday. And it\u2019s Christmas. Think of it as me doing an old friend a solid. As for you, no doubt you are at the beginning of one hell of a roller coaster ride of a night. Least I can do to make it easier is to make sure you look smashing even as you get dragged along in Holly\u2019s nonsense.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know I can hear you, Kol, right?\u201d Holly emerged from the bathroom with a towel tied around her neck like the world\u2019s longest lobster bib, looking exasperated as she grabbed Denni\u2019s discarded boots from the floor.<\/p>\n
Kolya ignored her. \u201cJust try to keep her from getting into too much trouble,\u201d he continued with another wink, before tying off the running stitches and returning to conversational volume, which on him was more of a booming foghorn. \u201cAll right go flip these back around, then come back for the rest of this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni hadn\u2019t the faintest idea how they were supposed to keep Holly out of trouble, so they just dumbfoundedly stayed quiet as they was buttoned into a whisper-soft collared shirt over the t-shirt, followed by a deep green plaid waistcoat and a bright red necktie matching Holly\u2019s dress \u201cfor a pop of color,\u201d according to Kolya. \u201cOh, before I forget,\u201d he continued, pressing a small tin into Denni\u2019s hand, \u201cGo in the bathroom, take a quarter-sized dollop of this, rub it between your hands until it gets more liquid than waxy, then finger-comb it through your hair. Trust me,\u201d he says warmly. \u201cAre you okay? You\u2019ve barely said anything during all this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like a doll,\u201d Denni blurted out. \u201cNot in a bad way? But I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve been dressed up like this since I was small enough to be forced into dresses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kolya laughs. \u201cYes, I imagine that would be strange.\u201d He sat back on his heels, considering Denni\u2019s face. \u201cMay I ask a personal question?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess, sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you wear makeup at all?\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni smiled. \u201cOh, that<\/i> kind of personal. A little lipstick and eyeliner sometimes, not more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSkip the lipstick, but consider the eyeliner if you have any,\u201d Kolya waved Denni towards the bathroom. \u201cAttend to your hair, then we can do the jacket.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni\u2019s eyes nearly fell out of their head when confronted with their reflection in the gigantic floor to ceiling bathroom mirror, taking in the full effect of the suit sans <\/i>jacket on them. The few times they had attempted a dress suit, it always had the effect of a kid playing dress-up in their father\u2019s closet, as they always had to go with items that were slightly too big everywhere else to accommodate and hide the hips and ass they\u2019d been unfortunately blessed with before transitioning. Even without the jacket, the pieces worked with their shape rather than attempting and failing to hide them, yet did not make Denni appear feminine. Dragging their eyes to their face, they grudgingly admitted Kolya was right about the eyeliner before finger-combing the pomade through their hair as instructed, giving it a swoopy volume that squared off their usually rounder face.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcellent,\u201d was all Kolya said when Denni returned. \u201cAnd now the final piece,\u201d he announced grandly, holding out a jacket that was not quite as dark a green as the pants but was just enough darker than the waistcoat to make it show up nicely. Denni obligingly stuck one arm into a sleeve, swinging the rest of the jacket around themself and buttoning it at the waist.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, you look absolutely perfect,\u201d Holly exclaimed. \u201cKolya, how do you do it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod-given talent,\u201d Kolya retorted. \u201cDenni, how does the jacket feel?\u201d<\/p>\n
Fantastic. Euphoric. Sexy. Gender affirming. Mysterious. Entirely unlike their usual self. <\/i>Denni was unsure how to sum up all of these so they responded to the question with a grin and an awkward thumbs up.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd yet another satisfied client for the books.\u201d Kolya nodded and hoisted himself off of his knees with a groan. \u201cFuck getting old,\u201d he complained, gathering up his tools and the rejected suit pieces he\u2019d brought with him, smoothly packing them away in the garment bag. \u201cOne of you please drop the pants back at the shop tomorrow? The stitches I put in will hold for tonight, but I would like to make them more secure and permanent before handing them off to you for good.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Denni began to protest again, but Kolya cut them off with a gesture. \u201cOnce an outfit finds their person, it would be a crime to keep them apart for a reason as gauche as money<\/i>. Besides, if you\u2019re truly worried about the cost, I\u2019m sure I can find a way for Holly to make it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Holly pressed her lips together, muffling an indignant scream.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut do keep it, with my compliments. You look fantastic.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kolya flipped Denni a business card, with \u201cN&S\u201d lined in gold foil on one side and Kolya\u2019s full name and a number on the other. \u201cThat\u2019s my personal cell,\u201d he rumbled. \u201cCall me if she gets you into more trouble than you can handle tonight. Or, preferably, if you are ever in town again and need another outfit. We do casual wear as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d Denni said, tucking the card into their pocket. \u201cThank you so much. Seriously, this is kind of a dream.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kolya face lit with a gigantic toothy grin. \u201cFantastic, Holly has brought me a fan. Lovely to meet you. And you!\u201d He gathered Holly into a hug tight enough to lift her from the floor. \u201cBe good, Pickle. And if you can\u2019t be good, for the love of all things holy, don\u2019t get caught.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKol, I need my lungs regardless,\u201d Holly gagged, still buried in the hug.<\/p>\n
\u201cPfffffft.\u201d Kolya let her go and swung his jacket back on. \u201cDon\u2019t be strangers, either of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denni checked their watch as Kolya \u2014 Nikolai fucking Shastov!<\/i> \u2014 slammed his way jovially out the door, once again without saying goodbye. The whole encounter had taken forty-two minutes, far less than the hour promised.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a fucking wonder, isn\u2019t he?\u201d Holly giggled, her voice cutting through Denni\u2019s starstruck fog. \u201cI wish he could have stayed longer, the man has some wonderful stories and he\u2019ll gladly tell them for hours if mildly provoked.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll bet,\u201d Denni said faintly. \u201cI just met Nikolai Shastov,\u201d they continued quietly to no one in particular.<\/p>\n
Holly grinned. \u201cYou should finish your salad, then we should get going. The event starts in half an hour but if we show up between now and an hour from now we should be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShit,\u201d Denni said. As they wolfed down the remainder of quite possibly the best pre-packaged salad they\u2019d ever had in their life, they wondered if the rest of their evening was going to continue along the same improbable trajectory. They were rather shocked to realize that instead of being nervous, they were now rather looking forward to whatever came next.<\/p>\n\n\n
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