“Hey, Ellen?” Sophie walked into the living room, holding a large tome in her hands. “Can you help me out with this spell?”

“Umm… maybe? What is it, Enchantments homework?” Ellen looked up from her magazine and examined the tome Sophie held. “…101 Useless Transformations?”

“Yeah, I found it in the library. Seemed cool!” Sophie giggled.

“Seems like another way to procrastinate.” Ellen eyed her suspiciously. “What is it?”

“This, here. The zipper one.” Sophie handed her the tome, pointing to an index.

“Zany Zipper.” Ellen read aloud. She rolled her eyes. “Requirements… the caster of this spell… requires…” Ellen mumbled, tracing her finger down the guidelines of the spell. “Alright, I think I got it. Where’s the zipper?”

“Zipper?” Sophie furrowed her brow.

“Yeah, the catalyst. You need a zipper to enchant. That’s probably why it wasn’t doing anything.” Ellen stated matter-of-factly, “Honestly, did you even read the requirements?”

“I know what it does! It transforms you to have a zipper!” Sophie pouted.

“No, you enchant a zipper, and it becomes magic.”

“But it’s a Transformation book!” Sophie whined.

“The enchantment causes transformations, then.” Ellen rolled her eyes again, “Honestly.”

“Fine. I’ll just yank a zipper off one of my old trapper-keepers.” Sophie stomped off to her room.

“Wait, you just need the zipper pull, apparently.” Ellen noted, re-reading the spell.

“Now who’s not reading the spell?” Sophie shouted across the living room.

“Still you, jackass!” Ellen retorted.

Moments later, Sophie dumped a small piece of metal onto the book, the pull of a zipper. “Here, one zipper pull.”

Ellen looked up at her. She had gone back to reading her magazine in the meantime. “Great.”

The pair stared at each other for a short while.

“Well?” Sophie asked.

“Well, what? Cast your spell!” Ellen frowned.

“Oh. I thought you were gonna-“

“Hey you’re the one who wanted to cast the spell in the first place.”

“Fine, fine.” Sophie pouted, and sat herself down beside Ellen on the couch. She thumbed through the spell once more, and went through the motions. The zipper pull suddenly sparked, flashed a brilliant red, and then fell down, inert once more.

“Did it work?” Sophie asked.

“How the hell would I know? Test it!” Ellen rolled her eyes.

“Fine.” Sophie pouted. She picked up the zipper gingerly. “Here goes nothing.” She pushed it onto her chest, right on the collarbone. But when she removed her hand, it fell off rather unceremoniously, right down her blouse. “Oops.”

“So it didn’t work?” Ellen frowned, as her roommate fished the zipper out of her bra. “Did you cast it right?”

“Pretty sure…” Sophie muttered, examining the zipper.

“Oh, you probably scrubbed it up again.” Ellen sighed, “Hand me the book.”

“Just a sec. I think I got it.” Sophie said, and pushed the zipper onto Ellen’s chest.

“What are you-“

Without releasing the zipper, Sophie pulled down on it in a straight line, as if making an unzipping motion. The familiar sound of a zipper being undone came with it. And in the wake of the zipper, Ellen’s clothes and skin parted.

“What the fuck!” Ellen screamed in terror, staring at the growing hole in her body. The zipper seemed to also be making her insides vanish, leaving a hollow cavity beneath the hole. Sophie only grinned harder, as she continued unzipping a seam into her roommate. When she reached Ellen’s waist, she stopped, and gently plucked away the zipper. “I have a hole in me!” Ellen screamed.

“Yeah, isn’t it wicked? The zipper did this! I thought you read the spell.” Sophie grinned.

“Just the requirements!” Ellen half-shouted.

“Yeah, well, I read the description. Teamwork!” Sophie clapped happily. “You know what, Ellen? Since we make such a good team, we might as well work together.”

“What are you talking about?” Ellen asked confused. She watched as Sophie stood herself up.

“Oh, nothing, just… getting under your skin.” Sophie winked. Before Ellen could respond, Sophie bent down, spun around, and stuck her right arm right into Ellen’s seam, into her body.

“Ahh! What the hell, Soph!” Ellen screamed, as she felt Sophie’s arm make its’ way through her hollow body, into her own right arm. As Sophie’s arm filled her own, she found herself unable to move her arm.

Ellen reached over with her left arm to protest, but Sophie was faster, and stuck her left arm down as well. Ellen struggled briefly, but without her arms, she could do little to stop Sophie from pulling her legs into her as well. “You freaking weirdo, I’m going to get you back for this!” Ellen half screamed, half laughed. As far as their usual pranks between them went, this was a doozy.

‘Ellen’ stood up from the couch. “Oh, I’m counting on it.” Sophie laughed, as she pulled Ellen’s empty head over her own. Then, retrieving the zipper from the table, she placed it at the bottom of the seam in Ellen, and pulled it up. The seam closed in the wake of the zipper, leaving Sophie firmly sealed inside Ellen’s skin. Despite Sophie being a good deal smaller than Ellen, the skin was a perfect fit. No one observing would be any the wiser.

[You could’ve asked nicely, you know.] Ellen’s voice echoed in Sophie’s head.

“To turn you into a skinsuit? And then wear you?” Sophie giggled. Her voice was Ellen’s too. “Like you would’ve agreed. Then I would’ve had to force it on you, and we’d be right where we are now.”

[Probably.] Ellen giggled back. [This is fucking weird. You’re not going to do anything weird in my body, are you?]

“Nah, just gonna go prank Emily.” Sophie grabbed Ellen’s purse and keys. “Any idea where she is around this time?”

[That should be fun. It’s, what, 4 pm? On a Sunday? Probably in her apartment. Ooh, bring the zipper.]

“Good call. Hey, I probably can’t talk to you once we’re in public.”

[Just hold up your phone and pretend you’re using it.]

“…good idea.”



There was a knocking on Emily’s door. Frowning, she got up to answer it. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Looking through the peephole, she saw Ellen waving happily on the other side. Odd. Emily opened the door.

“Hey, what’s up?” Emily asked, half-smiling, inviting her inside.

“Not much!” Ellen replied, walking in past Emily.

Emily looked her up and down. Something was definitely off. She’d never seen Ellen this… energetic. “So, what brings you all the way across campus?”

“Ohhh, nothing much.” Ellen grinned. She was staring at Emily surprisingly intensely.

“Really? Because you’ve never dropped by unannounced before. And you really look like something’s up.” Emily eyed her suspiciously. “Where’s Sophie gone off to?”

“God, I’m terrible at this. Forget it.” Ellen suddenly rolled her eyes and turned away.

“Huh? What?” Emily was confused.

Ellen produced a small metal object from her pocket, and placed it right on her collarbone. She ran it down to her waist, and to Emily’s surprise, Ellen’s torso literally fell apart, revealing someone else underneath.

“What the… Sophie??” Emily was taken aback. She watched curiously as Sophie stripped off the surprisingly lifelike skinsuit of Ellen. “You made a skinsuit of Ellen?”

“Ta-da!” Sophie said, as she freed herself from the skinsuit. “Man, don’t ask so many questions when I’m still revealing myself. You ruined the moment.”

“Maybe you should have done it faster then.” It was Ellen’s voice.

“Wha- Ellen? Where are you?” Emily spun around to see if Ellen was standing in the doorway. She wasn’t. “This is an elaborate prank.” Emily picked up the skinsuit of Ellen. “And where do you even get a skinsuit like this anyway?”

“From the person herself, duh.” Ellen said. The voice came right from the skinsuit.

“AUGH!” Emily shrieked, dropping Ellen to the floor.

“Oof.” Ellen fell down and collapsed on herself. She flopped around a bit, and then finally picked herself up off the floor, in a normal shape, despite the giant seam in her front.

“You… what the hell! You turned yourself into a skinsuit?” Emily stared.

Sophie was collapsed on the couch, laughing in stitches.

“More like Sophie did.” Ellen grumbled. She turned to Sophie. “You have the worst poker face ever. Broke down after only like, three questions. Anyway, give me the zipper, I need to fix this hole in me.”

Sophie tossed the zipper at Ellen, who caught it gingerly and sealed up the seam in her front. Emily stared in wonder.

Ellen waved the zipper pull at Emily. “Magic zipper pull. Enchanted, rather, with a spell from a weird tome.”

“Oh. Neat.” was all Emily could muster. Ellen offered her the zipper, and she gingerly pinched it in her fingers.

Sophie finally gathered herself up and stood up off the couch. “Isn’t it cool? It does so much more other stuff than just turning people into skinsuits, too.”

“Really?” Ellen asked.

“Yeah, yeah. If you run it all the way around, it doesn’t just make a seam, it separates completely!” Sophie said excitedly.

“All the way around…? Like… this?” Emily frowned, and made a quick circle around her left wrist with the zipper. An unzipping sound was heard, and Emily’s left hand fell right off her wrist, landing on the carpet with a soft ‘thump’. “…oh.” Emily stared at her detached appendage. “Hey, I can still feel it.”

“You don’t seem to lose control unless someone’s wearing you.” Ellen pointed out. She picked up Emily’s hand and wore it over her own, like a glove.

“Hey! That’s mine!” Emily protested. She stared at the sight. Despite Ellen’s noticeably larger wrist, her own hand seemed to fit over hers perfectly.

“And size doesn’t seem to be a problem, either.” Ellen laughed. “This little runt walked all the way here wearing me, after all.”

“I’m like, only half a foot shorter than you…” Sophie pouted. “Hey, is the rest of your body hollow too now?” Sophie pointed at Emily’s truncated left arm.

“Hmm.” Emily stared at the disconnected area. “Not all of me, just my arm, it seems.” She pinched her left arm in her right, and it collapsed like fabric. “My arm’s like an empty sleeve now.”

“Cool.” Sophie grinned. She stuck an arm down Emily’s arm.

“Can I help you…?” Emily asked quizzically.

“Just wondering what it felt like.” Sophie laughed.

“You were just wearing a whole person.” Ellen pointed out.

“Yeah, well… shut up. Give me the zipper.” Sophie snatched it from Emily.

“Hey! You just need to ask.” Emily protested. But Sophie was already in the process of unzipping a line around her neck. As she finished, her head tumbled off her neck.

“Awesome!” Sophie laughed, as her head fell to the floor with a ‘thud’.

Emily and Ellen both winced. “Didn’t that hurt?”

“A little. But my head’s sorta like, soft, now.” Sophie giggled, as she picked up her own disembodied head. She squished it in her hands to demonstrate. “See, no bones!”

“Yeah, but if nothing’s pushing you out of shape, you keep your normal shape.” Ellen pointed out.

“Speaking from experience?” Emily giggled.

“Well, yeah, since this headless jerk made me entirely hollow.” Ellen thumbed at Sophie.

“Aww, c’mon. It was fun!” Sophie laughed. “Here, you can wear my head as compensation.”

Ellen considered the offer for a moment, and snatched Sophie’s head from her outstretched hands. “Sounds fair.” Ellen proceeded to pull Sophie’s neckhole open and wear her over her own head.

“There we go.” Ellen said, with Sophia’s mouth. “How do I look?”

“I’d clap, but you have one of my hands.” Emily laughed. “You look… mismatched.”

“Oh? Maybe your head would suit me better.” Ellen grinned.

“Oh, no, no no.” Emily shook her head and clutched her hands to her temple. “None of that. You may take my hand, but you’ll have my head over my dead body.”

“What about your living, skinsuit body?” Ellen chuckled. She stopped chuckling when she noticed Emily seemed to actually be considering it.

“Alright. That, you can do.” Emily grinned.

“Wait, really?”

“Sure, but I want to borrow something from you in return.”

“Whatever you want.” Ellen grinned. She grabbed the zipper and unzipped Emily’s neck, separating her head from her body. “You’re a cute head.” Ellen picked Emily up, and set her down on the coffee table, petting her.

“Thanks, I think.” Emily giggled. She watched in fascination as Ellen unzipped a seam down her body’s back, and climbed into her. Soon, she had herself zipped up in Emily’s body.

Emily’s headless body. That was also missing its’ left hand. “Didn’t think that one through, didja!” Emily laughed. She quickly realized she was only laughing to herself, since both Ellen and Sophie’s heads were missing.

Emily’s body turned to her, shrugged, and unzipped a seam down the front. Ellen stumbled out.

“Okay, so a headless body suit makes you headless when you wear it.” Ellen noted. She peeled off Sophie’s head. “You okay?”

“Yeah, everything just sorta went black for a moment. I guess we both just sort of lost our heads for a bit there?” Sophie giggled. Her body fumbled its’ way over and picked her head up from Ellen’s hands. “Here, let me try something.”

Sophie picked up Emily’s body and helped her get to her feet, shaking her out so she could regain her form. Then, she placed her head on the empty space where Emily’s head should be.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Emily asked, looking concerned.

“Wondering what will happen.” Sophie grinned. “In fact…” Sophie flipped her head around so that she was facing backwards on Emily’s body. She then quickly ran the zipper around the disconnect, zipping her head to Emily’s body.

Sophie’s headless body stepped back.

“Whoah.” Sophie’s head said. Emily’s body took a shaky step forwards. Or backwards, from Sophie’s perspective.

“Emily?” Ellen asked, curiously.

“No, it’s still Sophie.”

“I can’t feel my body!” Emily cried out.

“You knew what you signed up for when you offered to let me wear your body.” Ellen shushed Emily.

“…oh, I suppose.”

“My head’s on backwards! And I have two bodies!” Sophie cackled, “This is crazy!”

Ellen and Emily watched in fascination as Sophie danced around in Emily’s body with her head on backwards. And as she tripped and fell onto her old body.  Leaving both of Sophie in a tangled pile on the floor.

“Oof. Never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad I didn’t have my body for that.” Emily winced. Ellen chuckled.

Sophie’s two bodies untangled themselves and stood up. “Okay, controlling two bodies is a little hard. Want your body back, Emily?”

“Nah, give me yours.”

“Ooh, there’s an idea.” Sophie grinned.

“No, wait!” Ellen protested, “I want to try something now too.” She picked the zipper up from Sophie. “Can I borrow your body?” she asked Sophie.

“Like you even have to ask.” Sophie laughed.

“Your backwards head thing got me wondering.” Ellen stepped up to Sophie’s body and unzipped a seam in her back. “What happens if we put on a suit wrong? It’s auto-form-fitting, so…” Ellen proceeded to climb into Sophie’s body backwards, inserting her left arm into Sophie’s right, and so on.

Finally, she zipped herself up.

“Do you think she remembered she’d be headless?” Emily wondered aloud.

“Doubt it.” Sophie replied.

The pair watched as Sophie’s body stumbled around. It was like watching a drunk person try to do the straight line test. Eventually, Ellen crashed to the floor, picked herself up, and shakily unzipped herself from Sophie’s body.

“That was trippy.”

“Looked it.” Sophie replied casually.

“I was… backwards inside you. Like, controlling my left arm with my right. It’s so surreal.” Ellen noted.

“Like those reverse control status effects in video games!” Sophie said excitedly.

“Uh, sure. That was cool though.” Ellen laughed.

“Okay, so, what good does that do us?” Emily asked.

“Well, it means we can wear parts in the wrong places. Watch.” Ellen peeled off Emily’s left hand off her own, and wore it over her right instead. “See? Two left hands!” She flexed her matched hands.

“Oh, that’s cool.” Emily grinned, “Try wearing something over your head!”

Sophie wasted no time in unzipping her left leg and sticking her head in the hole. The leg now growing from Sophie’s neck kicked a few times.

“Hey, Ellen, give me Sophie’s body.” Emily piped up. “I’m getting tired of just being a head.”

“Fair enough.” Ellen plucked the zipper from Sophie’s hands and zippered Emily’s head onto Sophie’s body. She immediately stood up and stretched.

“Ahh, much better. Now…” Emily unzipped a seam around her waist, and pulled herself in two. As she finished, Sophie immediately grabbed the zipper back.

“You look like one of those super old sawn-in-half spells.” Ellen noted.

“Yeah. Wanna try being two upper halves joined at the waist?” Emily asked.

“Ooh, cool idea!” Ellen grinned. Emily offered her the opening to her torso, and Ellen carefully stuck her legs in, and slowly crawled her way in until she her lower half was nestled in Emily’s upper half.

Then, she realized their mistake. Ellen was in full control of both torsos. Her lower half had functionally replaced Emily’s upper half. “Oops. I forgot she didn’t want to lose control of her head.” Emily was screaming nervously in Ellen’s head.

Emily’s legs stood up and gave Ellen a light kick. “Right, I’m sorry! I forgot!” Ellen propped both ends of herself up on her elbows, and stared at herself. “This is kinda cute, at least.” Ellen giggled. “Hard to move around without legs though.” She said, with Emily’s mouth. “Hmm… this is Sophie’s torso, actually. So I’m made up of all three of us now!”

Ellen took a bit longer with her two upper bodies for a bit, then finally pulled Emily off herself.

“Sorry about that.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. It was kinda cool.” Emily waved her off. “If a little freaky…” she muttered.

“Speaking of freaky.” Ellen pointed to the couch where Sophie was.

All that was left on the couch was Sophie’s head. “Hey girls!” Sophie grinned.

“Where’s your… wait, where’s MY body?” Emily asked.

“Inside my head.” Sophie replied casually.

“…you managed to cram your entire body inside your own head?” Ellen’s eyes went wide.

“MY entire body!” Emily protested.

“Yup! I’m wearing my head! But… now I can’t really get myself out.” Sophie glanced to the side.

Ellen sighed, and picked Sophie up. “You’re ridiculous. Interesting though, that we can fit anything we want into a suit.”

“Oh?” Sophie asked.

“Yeah, I have an idea. But let’s get you two back to normal first.” Ellen grinned.