Office embarrassment (Patreon)

It had been about a year since I got cursed to be turned into a toy soldier. I wasn’t actually a toy, but my cheeks got red circles on them, my makeup changed, and I couldn’t disobey a direct command from anyone. Luckily I was able to find a spell that suppressed the curse for ten hours at a time, let me appear normal and not be forced to obey any command with a smile and salute. The spells lasts for ten hours and can only be cast once every day but that’s plenty of time for a fun day in the office.

At least, it normally is. Turns out we had a Big Crunch period that had to get done that day and I was told we were required to stay. “Mandatory overtime” they called it. I tried every excuse under the sun to get them to let me go home, but no luck.

sure enough, ten hours on the dot and I felt the spell start to wear off. My cheeks greening warm as the circles reappeared, a sudden strong urge to sit upright and smile. I ran to the restroom and stared at myself in the mirror. Even though it didn’t turn my clothes into a uniform, there was absolutely no way they would overlook my face looking like this. Gritting my teeth I began to cast the spell from memory, ignoring the warnings. It couldn’t be that bad, right?

Sure enough it worked. My skin returned to human and I felt the mental pressure to smile and obey lessen back down to a faint hum. It worked! I could finish this push without anyone finding out my secret!

the next hour went fine. I was so engrossed in my files I didn’t even notice my clothes twisting, brightening, turning into a colorful uniform until the gloves appeared over my hands. I blinked as I sat bolt upright, suddenly registering the weight in my head. A hat? A shako! No! The spell went into a full rebound, instead of repressing the curse it was now e pressing it. Changing my clothing to match. I had no idea how powerful it long the effect would last, I had to tell someone. I pulled up my phone and flipped to my contacts looking for a name. Thea, Emma, Dawn. Anyone!

“what is she wearing?”

“Oh my gods why is she in a costume?”

“That is not appropriate office attire.”

The whispers stared reaching me as I fumbled with the buttons. Why were my hands so numb? So stiff? I could hardly press the buttons. And all around me I heard the growing number of whispers as my coworkers began to notice that I wasn’t exactly dressed for work any longer…