Chapter 3
Warm, comfortable, and very cozy, Nessa woke up having had the best sleep of her life. She lay in bed, limbs wrapped around her large stuffed toy, and smiled. Burying her face into the chest of the plush, she looked up and nuzzled its head. “I had the most wonderful dream last night… shame it was only a dream.”
The plushy tightened its grip, giving Nessa a squeeze as the two cuddled. “Oh? What about?”
Tears welled up in Nessa’s eyes. This couldn’t be real. It felt real, but it couldn’t be. Bawling and burying her face in Claire’s chest, Nessa gripped its sides. “Please, if this is really real, don’t leave me, okay? I don’t care if there’s something I need to do so no one else takes you away from me, just don’t leave…”
Gently rubbing Nessa’s back, and playing with her hair with its other paw, Claire continued to hug the girl. Moving to a sitting position, and cradling Nessa in its lap, the two cuddled. “Nanny promises. Nanny knows a few things that may help Nessa adjust, and it is sure she’ll be happy with them! If not, then Nanny can just make things the way they were before!” As it said this, it used its apron to wipe away Nessa’s tears, then nuzzled her. “Cry as much as you need to. Claire wants to make Nessa happy, and that means sometimes letting Nessa feel sad. You’re allowed to be sad, but Nanny will do what it can to make it all better.”
Nessa nodded. Cuddled by Claire like this gradually calmed her, and she found herself relaxing more. Eventually she started to wake up more and more, and gradually became aware of a pair of growing, already urgent, needs. Tummy rumbling, she was starting to get hungry for breakfast. More importantly she needed to use the bathroom. Bad.
“Claire? I’m ready to get up now.”
“Aww, really? Nanny isn’t, so we’re gonna cuddle a little bit more.” It said, holding the girl closer and making sure to rub its soft paws all over the girl’s body, applying constant pressure and comforting warmth.
Having enjoyed this, Nessa waited, but after a little longer she tried to ask again. “Claire, I really need to get up now, okay?”
“A little longer, then we can get up.” Claire said, smiling down at her, giving loving, nuzzling kisses to the girl. The plush was warm, smelled faintly of lavender, and almost soft enough to put her back to sleep. Once finally satisfied, and upon feeling a quickened heartbeat from the girl, Claire let the now-squirming girl down, who immediately hopped off the bed and rushed to the bathroom.
Locking the door, Nessa sat on the toilet and started to do her business.
“Nessa dear? What are you doing in there? I can’t watch you from out here, are you doing any chores? You wanted me to watch you for those…” Claire said, concerned.
The door creaked under the pressure the plush was putting on it, and Nessa called out. “No, nothing you need to watch me for!” Nessa said, continuing, “I’m used the toilet.”
“The toilet?”
“...yes?”
“Whatever is the point in that?”
“Because when rats like me eat lotsa food, or drink lotsa water, and they’ve used what they can of it, they have to get rid of the excess and waste somehow-… wait, you really don’t know what a toilet is? I guess that makes sense, for a living plush.”
“Nanny knows what a toilet is sweetie. Do you enjoy using it?”
Furrowing her brows, Nessa squinted at the door. “Um, I guess not? I don’t see why I would.”
“So you need to do it, but don’t enjoy it. Sounds like a chore to Claire, but Nessa insists it isn’t. Does Nessa want Nanny to make it less of a chore?”
Rolling her eyes, Nessa shrugged it off. “Uh, sure, go right ahead and do whatever you want about that. Do you mind giving me some privacy while I finish up here? Maybe go pick out some clothes for me to wear today? Whatever combo you’d think I’d like. Would be nice to get a feel for your sense of fashion.”
“Yay! Claire is going to have lotsa fun with that! Nanny is off to pick Nessa out a super cute outfit, so she better not wander off once she’s done in there!” Claire said, thundering away back to Nessa’s room.
Finished, cleaning herself up, Nessa flushed the toilet and washed her paws. Unlocking the door, she walked out and straight to her room, seeing the large plush fiddling about in some drawers, and some clothes piled up on the bed. The plush was in the middle of taking out a pair of her underwear, and Nessa thought she saw a faint glow around the bear’s paw as it touched them, dismissing it .
Claire turned to Nessa then, and smiled. “Come, come, sit down. I’ve got them all picked out now.” Saying this, it directed the girl to sit on the bed.
Hopping up and sitting there, Nessa looked over the clothes. A pair of leggings, some shorts, a sports bra, a long-sleeve tee, and a printed short-sleeve. The bandana was there, too. Nothing special, all in all.
Claire knelt in front of the girl, setting the underwear with the rest of the clothes, and rubbed its paws together briefly. “Now, Nessa, sit still for just a moment, then Nanny can get you dressed.” Before the girl could respond, Claire put her paws on Nessa, which again glowed briefly.
Nessa felt faint, as though the world around her was spinning. By the time it had passed, she was still sitting there, with Claire in front of her smiling and holding her steady. “What just happened?”
“Nothing to worry about, Claire would never do something Nessa didn’t let it. Would Nessa like to get dressed herself, or does she want Nanny to help?”
Sitting there for a moment to get her bearings, Nessa closed here eyes and shook her head, trying to be a bit more careful now after the almost-incident with the bathroom. “Uh, you can dress me this morning, sure. That doesn’t mean you always will though, okay?”
“Nanny would rather dress you every morning, but okay dear, okay. Now let’s see about getting you dressed and cozy.” Claire said, motioning for Nessa to stand up. Starting by undressing her, it stripped the girl to her underwear once more, putting a gentle paw on the girl’s shoulder when it saw her hesitate as she went to remove the last layer of clothing.
“Nessa? Nanny needs to take those off to help you dress. Are you going to let Nanny?”
“What if Nanny doesn’t like what she sees, and doesn’t want Nessa anymore? Doesn’t think of her as the same?”
Without delay, Claire hugged the girl. “Nanny dressed you once already, for bed, remember? Nanny is still here. Besides… if that were true, then Claire wouldn’t be a very good Nanny, now would she?”
Nessa enjoyed the brief respite this granted her from her fears, and allowed the anxiety to melt away in the arms of her stuffed angel. It hadn’t been a dream, which means Claire knew. She knew, and she was still here. Nessa relented, and Claire finished undressing her.
As the sports bra was pulled onto Nessa, something felt off about it. Like it was larger, and softer than usual. The shirt came next, and she had the same thought. When the short sleeve was placed over the other two she didn’t notice a difference with that. Then the underwear came, and once again it felt… poofier. She couldn’t look down easily, with how close Claire’s large, hefty, fluffy body was to hers. Next came the leggings, which were comfy and felt pretty normal. Then the shorts. Finally, the bandana came, with a satisfying “snap” at the back of the neck.
Finally done, and free to examine herself, Nessa stepped away from Claire and felt her clothes. They were, indeed, softer. Softer, and more cushioned… more plush. “Claire, what did you do? Was this you?”
“It was, and don’t worry. It’s nothing that can’t be undone. Nanny just thought you’d like this material more!”
Feeling herself over, Nessa mostly shrugged it off. “I guess I kinda do, yeah. They’re more… soft. Comfortable. Snug, but in a good way. Kinda reminds me of hugging you, actually… Thanks!”
“Glad you like them, dear.” Claire said, smiling, and putting Nessa’s pyjamas into the laundry basket.
“So, how does breakfast sound?” Nessa said, smiling.
“Sounds lovely! Nanny makes the most wonderful pancakes, so it hopes you have the ingredients.”
“Oh, uh, I dunno actually. I guess we’ll find out!”
“That we will, dear. Shall we go?”
“Yeah. I’m surprised you’re not offering to carry me down, to be honest.” Nessa said, walking towards the door.
“Claire doesn’t think she’d manage currently, but she can work on that if you’d like.” Claire said, following behind and keeping a paw towards Nessa at all times, as the pair walked down the stairs.
Stopping at the bottom, Nessa thought for a moment. “You know what? I think I would, so you can go right ahead. I think that would be lovely.”
The pair went into the kitchen, and, after Nessa was sat in a regular chair, beside the table - Claire not letting her hop up on the barstool from the night before. Claire once again put its paws on the girl, who felt faint for a second time. Again coming to her senses with Claire beside her, she smiled. These fainting spells were somewhat disconcerting, but even if this issue continued to occur she had a feeling things would work out. Worst case scenario she needs to visit the doctor… which was bad, but her time so far with Claire felt it would be worth it.
Claire managed to scrounge together the ingredients needed and made some lovely, large, fluffy pancakes. Cutting them up before it gave Nessa her share, it brought over a plate with syrup on them for the girl, and a plate for itself. After grabbing a drink for the girl, Claire pulled a chair closer to Nessa, which groaned under its weight, and was practically sitting right beside her. “Shall Nanny feed you?”
“No, I should be juuust fine to feed myself. I’ll consider taking you up on that offer some other time.” Nessa laughed off Claire’s offer, starting to eat the pancakes, and eyes widening as she did so. “Oh wow, these are AMAZING. I… I don’t think I’ve had such a lovely breakfast in my life? These are awesome!”
Gleefully, Claire held its two paws together. “Oh it means so much for you to say that, dear! Now, please, remember to eat every last bite! Nanny Claire is very strict about nutrition. You wouldn’t want Nanny to need to take over for you, would you? Scrawny little girls like Nessa need to eat lots so they stay nice and healthy.”
Already scarfing down the pancakes, Nessa mumbled out a response with a full mouth. “Ngmf, nawt gun be probem.”
“You shouldn’t speak with your mouth full, Nessa.” Claire said. “Nanny thinks most girls your age would know that by now, and would be happy if Nessa was a little slower to learn than most, but she could choke if she isn’t careful.”
Nessa swallowed her food, then repeated. “Not gonna be a problem! Sorry, I’m just really not used to having company.”
Letting out a slight chuckle, Claire patted the girl gently on the back. “Nanny can tell!”
After a little more of eating, eventually Nessa realized that Claire was cutting up the second plate, and seemingly had eaten some already. Stopping and swallowing before speaking, this time, Nessa looked at it and watched it put some into its fluffy maw, appear to chew, then swallow. “Um. I. Don’t mean to be rude, but… you eat?”
Claire looked at Nessa, then down at the plate, then back at Nessa. “Why yes, yes Claire does. Its nice to eat from time to time. Don’t worry though, it doesn’t need to!”
Nessa stared at it in disbelief. “Where… where does it go?”
Tilting its head, Claire thought for a moment. “Well, I’m not sure how you’d understand it, but. Let nanny show you, more clearly.” With that, Claire lifted up another piece of pancake, holding it out so Nessa could see it. Its paws glowed briefly, and then the piece of pancake changed… becoming fluffier and fluffier, and gradually taking on an appearance more akin to fabric. Once it was done, and the glow subsided, Claire popped it in its mouth and it appeared to completely disappear.
“Wha- H-how does that work? What even am I seeing here?”
“Claire can tell you what it understands. It wasn’t really one for theory, and even now Nanny still cares muuuch more about the practical effects of magic, but learned the hard way why the “how” is just as important as the what.”
Claire lifted a second piece of pancake, and began to demonstrate. “See, Nanny can make it plush using some of its magic. It only takes a little to plushify something so small.” She held the piece out for Nessa to see, more clearly. “Then when Nanny puts it in its maw, Nanny ‘swallows’ it, making it a part of Nanny. This just means she added it to her floof!” Claire then put it in her mouth, and closed it, opening it again to show it was gone.
“But what does that even do for you?” Nessa asked, gently prodding at Claire’s mouth, who caused the girl to jump when it licked her paw with her soft, plush tongue.
“Nessa can think of fluff inside Claire like she does fat inside people! It’s a way for her to store energy! Plushies use energy to walk and talk and stuff, just like Nessa, but instead of muscles they put that energy into magic to do so! Without even thinking about it! Some special plushies like Nanny can do more than just walk, talk, and nibble some nummies! Nessa kindly gave her some of her own energy recently, which was enough for Nanny to start walking and talking and eating again!”
Nessa sat there, repeating to herself bits of pieces of what Claire said, and eventually nodded. “I think I get you. I mean, I’m not sure I can believe it, but I think I understand. So food ‘n stuff gives you energy to do whatever you need to, and you just do it through magic. Sort of like ‘MP’ in a video game?”
“You do get it! Claire’s simple little girl is far brighter than it thought! How delightful, if a bit disappointing!” Claire said, beaming at the girl. “Now finish up your food, or Nanny will have to help you.”
Hurrying to finish it up, not really wanting to know what that would mean, Nessa gobbled the rest up. Soon after, Claire was also done, and produced a napkin from a pocket on its dress, wiping down Nessa’s face. “Goodness, such a messy girl. Nanny’s special little girl, gosh. It makes Claire feel so happy to say that!”
Blushing, and quite flustered, Nessa looked away. “W-well, see, I guess… I guess if it makes you that happy I can be your special little girl, but…” Nessa checked her pockets. “This ‘special little girl’ wants to check her phone, so she’s gonna go upstairs and grab it.”
“Oh, why doesn’t Nessa sit on the sofa while Nanny Claire goes to get it for her? Nessa just ate, and Nanny doesn’t want her to get an upset tummy from walking up and down the stairs so soon”
“I mean, I’d be fine, but would you? I guess I am kinda full. It wouldn’t be a problem if I did go, but I guess it would be nice to relax.” Nessa started to get up and go, but felt Claire’s large paw grab her arm. Looking at it to see what she wanted, Nessa watched it go over to the sink and fill up another glass of water, before returning and gesturing towards the living room. The girl allowed herself to be escorted to the living room, then sat in a large armchair, pulling her legs up to sit cross-legged.
Claire set the water on a small side table beside the chair, then brought the remote and controller over to the same table. It gently patted Nessa on the head before lumbering her way out the room. Smiling at the pounding in the distance, as Claire walked up the stairs, Nessa sat there and with some popular cartoons on, listening to Claire in the distance, and contemplating how lucky she must be.
After a few moments, Claire came down the stairs and set Nessa’s phone on the table, holding a laundry basket under her arm. “There you go dear, now Nanny Claire is gonna do some chores if you don’t need her for anything else?”
“Oh, uh, nothing right now. You don’t have to do the laundry though. You should sit down for a bit too.” Nessa said, starting to get up. “I haven’t even shown you where the machine is.”
“Oh, don’t worry dear. Your Nanny has already gotten comfy with where everything is. Just because it couldn’t talk doesn’t mean it couldn’t have a look around!” Claire put a glowing paw on Nessa, gently pushing her back into the chair.
“It wouldn’t really be fair to just, you know, make you do everything for me. I’ll get to them later, honest, you can sit down and we can chat, or try to find a show you like! There’s a lot more I wanna know about you!”
“Get to them later? Sweetie, there’s over a week’s worth of clothes in here, when exactly is ‘later’? You were already told that Nanny Claire is happy to help, and clearly you need it. You sit comfy with your little shows, and Nanny will be back in a little while to join you.”
“Only if you’re sure…” Nessa started.
“Nanny is very sure, now don’t make it have to put some ground rules in place for its special little girl, okay? It wants you to be happy and relax, whatever needs doing beyond that is its job. Nanny doesn’t like it when little girls want to take all of her work from her. You can help it with some stuff later, when Nanny can keep a close eye on you.” With that, Claire waddled off, and Nessa started to go through messages on her phone, before eventually browsing the internet.