“Welcome to Cogsworth’s Cogs Smith. How can I help you?” The voice that came from behind the counter sounded like it belonged to someone well beyond the prime of their life. It no longer had the vigor of youth, but had a certain tone to it. Like it wasn’t yet done living.

“We’re here to get my friend fitted fer fakes.” Tesla answered, she moved further into the shop.

“Do you have an appointment?” The voice spoke and Tesla shook her head, brows furrowed.

“I dunno. Maybe.” She turned around, setting Ever down on the counter. “Can ya check?” 

“Of course. If you don’t have one, I might be able to squeeze you in, but you’ll have to wait longer for your permanents.” The voice said which Ever could now see belonged to an old man who moved over to a leather-bound book on the counter. He had thinning white hair that Ever imagined had a bald spot under the worn gray cap. He adjusted a pair of half-moon glasses with wire rims and thick lenses. Ever watched as he opened the book and turned to Tesla. “When would the appointment have been made?”

“Umm, early today or late last night,” Tesla said, placing a finger on her lower lip as she spoke. 

The man licked his thumb before flipping through the book and stopping on a page half-filled with illegible writing. He ran a shaky finger down the page before coming to a stop. “Here we are. An appointment for someone missing their left arm and right foot. It’s under a one Ever Moore.” He turned to look at the duo. “Would one of you happen to be them?” Ever raised their remaining hand and Cogsworth nodded, getting to his feet. “Well, we should get started. The process is a rather tedious one, and it’s better to start right away.” 

“Should I move ‘em?”

Cogsworth waved a dismissive hand. “No, no. No need.” Ever and Tesla exchanged curious looks, watching him disappear behind a door before reappearing holding a rusted metal box, which he set on the counter with a loud thud. He began pulling out items, setting them on the counter before shuffling over to a wall lined with prosthetic limbs. At least, Ever thought that’s what they were, but they couldn't quite be sure. They didn't look like any prosthetic limbs they’d ever seen.

Cogsworth pulled two off the shelf before shuffling back over to the pair and placing them on the counter, he reached into the box pulling out a roll of gauze which he handed it to Tesla. “This is for you.” 

“What’s this for?” Tesla asked as she hesitantly took the gauze from Cogsworth who began organizing the things he had set out.

“Wrap that around your thumb and use it to keep your friend from hurting herself. I once had a customer bite the tip of his tongue clean off.” He said as he pulled a stool around from the back of the counter. 

Ever swallowed asking. “This is gonna hurt?” Ever had never been very good with pain. Which may seem a bit contradictory given that their go-to coping mechanism involved repeatedly inflicting pain on themselves until they’d gone numb but, truthfully, Ever thought that kind of pain was different from pain like this. It was different from pain that wasn’t their fault. This kind of pain always hurt much more and was so much scarier. 

Because Ever couldn’t control it.

“Yes. It’ll hurt. I’ve gotta connect a device that will allow your limbs to access the signals put out by your nerve endings.” Cogsworth held up a silver cylindrical device that was about two inches in height. “I’d get that gauze ready and hold onto something.” 

Ever watched as he pushed their sleeve up and brought the device up to their shoulder. The pain immediately spiked as he pressed the object into the flesh of their shoulder. They squeezed their eyes closed, reaching out for something to hold as they cried out in pain. Their hand found Tesla’s as they brought their teeth down on something and given how Tesla cried out in pain, Ever assumed it was her finger. The pain spiked suddenly, and Ever tried to pull away, tightening their grip on Tesla’s hand and digging their teeth further into her finger. 

“Done. Try moving your hand.” Cogsworth said they opened their eyes, releasing Tesla’s finger from their mouth. 

“Who knew ya were a biter?” Tesla laughed as she began massaging her gauzeless thumb. Ever turned back to look at their new arm, which was made of copper piping and wiring. The hand was made of copper plating with wiring that led into the fingers and up the arms. The fingers were made up of small copper pipes, which were held together at the joints by hinges. 

Ever slowly closed their hand into a fist, wincing as they did so before opening it. They continued to open and close their hand before looking over at Cogsworth, “I can move it?”

“Of course, you can.” There was pride in his voice, and he smiled at his handiwork before he continued. “Now this is just a temporary fake. I’ll make you some permanents, but that should take about a week, maybe less.” He said as he picked up another silver object. “You ready this time? I’m gonna need you to pin her leg down.” 

Cogsworth jerked his chin toward them, looking at Tesla, who held up her gauze covered thumb placing it in front of Ever who took it between their teeth. Tesla pressed their leg against the counter and Ever grabbed Tesla’s hand just as he pressed it into the flesh of their ankle. 

Ever squeezed their eyes closed and bit down harder, causing Tesla to cry. “Ow, ow, ow, ow!” The pain in their ankle spiked and before slowly dissipating until it was just a low throb. Ever opened their eyes, releasing Tesla’s thumb and letting go of her hand. 

Ever looked down at their foot which had a similar design to their arm only that the bottom and top of the foot is made up of copper plating and the ankle being made of copper piping, wires, and springs. Ever moved the foot forward and back and to the left and right before jumping off the counter. They winced loudly as pain shot through their leg before fading back into a dull throb. 

“Try walking across the store,” Cogsworth said as he began packing up the box. Ever took a deep breath before taking a hesitant step forward with their left foot, wondering if the copper pipe and plating was stable. When the foot didn’t give out from under them, they moved forward, taking short strides, attempting to keep from falling over themselves. 

The feel of the foot was awkward and uncooperative, which led to them having a strange limping gait. 

Bringing their leg around in an odd semicircle like movement with each step as they attempted to keep from moving the actual foot. “It’ll get easier to walk with time, and once I’m finished with your permanents it’ll be just like your old one, just with the need for routine maintenance.” 

Ever made it to the other side of the store, leaning against the wall as Tesla spoke. “So, how much do I owe ya?” 

“Five gold coin should just about cover it.” Cogsworth said. 

 “Luckily for us, I got an allowance for this trip.” There was the sound of rustling fabric and clinking metal as Tesla spoke. “As long as I get a receipt, that is.” 

“I can write one up for you right quick.” Cogsworth spoke as he wrote out the mentioned receipt. 

Ever listened as he walked behind the counter and began moving things around as Tesla placed a hand on their shoulder. “Need a shoulder to lean on while ya find your feet.” Ever nodded, wrapping their arm around her shoulder and leaning into her as she turned them around, moving toward the counter. 

Cogsworth handed Tesla a slip of parchment paper. “Come back in about a week for your permanents and some minor adjustments.” 

Tesla took the paper, stuffing it in her bag, smiling at Cogsworth. “Thank ya.” 

She nudged Ever in their rib, who flinched and looked up at Cogsworth. “Yeah. Thank you.” He smiled at them as Tesla helped Ever over to and out the door.

On the walk to the tailor, Ever managed to get the hang of walking on their new foot, no longer walking in that odd semicircular gate. Instead, they found it far easier to move by pushing their body up and forward with their real foot before moving their prosthetic foot forward to repeat the process. It was decidedly less awkward and hopefully less noticeable to those looking on. 

The tailor was in the shopping district, which was much nicer than the residential area, with paved roads and well-kept storefronts. Most were made from stone, brick, and iron with large windows for window shopping. The pair walked through the strip of stores, Ever taking in the names on some of the signs. ‘Flora’s Floral Arrangements’, ‘Fred’s Fries and Burgers’, and ‘Cedars Woodworking’ were just a few. Tesla came to a stop as Ever took on the signs, causing them to bump into their back. Ever, with some difficulty, backed up and saw the scowl on Tesla’s face.

“It should be around here somewhere.” She mumbled as she looked down at a slip of paper which had an address and the name of a store. ‘Spool & Thread’ 

Ever looked over the storefronts at the signs until their eyes landed on one that looked like a spool of thread with the words formed out of thread and a needle going through the center of the spool. “Is that it?” Ever pointed at the sign, and Tesla looked over at it, squinting.

“Don’ know how I missed that.” Tesla shrugged and took Ever by her left hand. “Well, no matter. Let’s go.” 

Tesla pulled Ever forward, causing them to stumble, barely managing to catch themselves. “Whoa.”

Ever followed Tesla into the tailor, where she dropped her hand, calling out into the seemingly empty store. “Hello?” She walked up to the counter and Ever looked around the store. There were racks all around the shop with clothes hung from them and from the walls in plastic sheets. Or on display on mannequins showing off the handiwork of the tailor. There was a repeated chiming followed by another. “Helllooo?” 

“I’m coming! I’m coming!” A female voice said, sounding exasperated at the repeated bell ringing, causing Ever to turn toward the counter watching as an older woman came out of the back room. She had messy blonde hair pulled up into a haphazard bun and blue eyes framed behind round glasses. She had a measuring tape draped over her neck as she made her way around the counter. She looked at them both before saying. “Are either of you an Ever Moore?” 

Ever raised their hand. “I am.”