((Another notey from me: the author! This chapter is so full of feels because of reasons. This chapter was really fun to write and I had some help so I hope you guys enjoy it 3))
7.1) Nepeta's Gown
It was the day before the dance and Nepeta had just gotten a slip of paper from Kanaya about an appointment. She had known for a long time the Kan and Rose were making her dress, but she hadn't seen it yet. They had used her measurements from the Lolita to make it so they hadn't needed her as a model. As the bell rang ending her last period, she made her way towards the costume warehouse room.
"There you are! Come here dear we need to make absolutely sure you look beautiful in this gown we made for you," Rose bustled her over and put a blind fold over her eyes, "but you can't see it yet! Not till it's on you!"
"This makes me afraid for myself," she responded, "Rose is it some beast of a thing?"
"It is most certainly not a beast, you did put on a slip right?"
"Yeah I did a white sleeveless like you asked."
"Good."
She blindly took off her uniform and stood in her slip. She could hear rustling and then her foot was grabbed and put into a ring of fabric. She followed with her other foot and then felt rose pull up the costume until it was below her arms. Rose lifted her arm up and zipped a zipper. Then she lead her over to what she assumed were the mirrors. Then she took off the blindfold.
Nepeta gasped as she took in the gorgeous gown. It was a sweeping gown of a beautiful sea blue, brushing the floor with every step; it was made of a rich satin skirt and went up to a sleeveless sweetheart neckline, edged in darker blue velvet. A tasseled belt adorned her waist, ropes tied behind her back and flowing with the dress. It was accessorized with elbow length royal blue gloves. She twirled around in front of the mirror and stared at herself. Then she jumped up and hugged Rose.
"Whoa hey calm down sweetie! It's no big deal I promise! Hey don't cry what's wrong?"
"I've never had anything this amazing before, Rose this is so amazing I never want to take it off ever again!"
"Oh honey, you look so incredible," Kanaya whispered as she walked around the corner, "all the other girls will be hard pressed to look better than you when we all waltz. Eridan is going to simply fall over dead."
"I'm so glad you guys did this, even though I don't know how I'm going to pay you back, I could never afford something like this!"
Rose and Kanaya looked at each other and then enveloped her into a bear hug, "honey you never ever have to pay us back. This is a gift from us to you for all of your help!"
"Yeah we would be so behind without you sweetie! What kind of people would we be if we didn't give you something back for all you've done?!" Rose asked.
"You guys I do it because you guys do so much. You two are super nice to me and I really appreciate it always, so I help you guys out. You didn't have to…have to…"
Tears started to roll down her cheeks as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had never seen anything so beautiful in real life unless it was behind a plate glass window.
"Don't cry sweetie, here, Calliope made this especially for you," Rose said as she handed a box.
Nepeta opened it to reveal the one thing she had been wondering about, her mask. Her mask is storybook Venetian style, modeled after the Cheshire cat of Alice in Wonderland. Light blue netting comprises the base, with darker blue, thicker, lace overlapping it. It sweeps up beyond her eyes to two wide, concaved ears atop her head. Around the eyes, green glitter sparkled in the lights, bringing out her lovely eyes.
She couldn't believe it was really her in the mirror. How could she have possibly transformed from a simple teenage girl to a princess in a matter of minutes. Not even her wildest dreams had been able to prepare her for the reality of this. As she took it off she thought to herself, 'Eridan will probably be very surprised, I bet he doesn't think I have something this beautiful'. When she came out again Rose was adjusting the hem of Kanaya's costume gown.
She was clothed in deep, deep green velvet, hugging her from the neckline down to her calves, where it flared out into a mermaid skirt with black lace edging around the bottom. The neckline was a V neck, going into two off-the-shoulder straps that were the same velvet color. Her arms were encased in a green silk, starting at her upper arms and ending at her knuckles, exposing her fingers. Around her neck is a black velvet choker, with a ruby red pendant that caught the light as she moved off her pale skin. Her drop earrings echoed the necklace, all twining black metal and red gems. Her hair was knotted up in ringlet curls, set with pearl pins.
Resting on her face was a mask modeled after Victorian nightwear. It was made of blackest black, with intricate, swirling embroidery flowing out from around the eyes in a metallic silver thread. Around the edge there was black lace flaring out of the upper corners, recalling the dress' edge. Nestled beside the tear ducts are two blood-red gems, only 1/4 of an inch wide, yet juxtaposing her forest green eyes. The mask frames her face, not hiding it. The look is only set apart with the deep red lipstick on her mouth.
"Wow Kanaya you're so beautiful!" Nepeta exclaimed, "I love it it's so perfect for you!"
"Thank you sweet heart Rose made it for me as a surprise. She's been working on it all summer long and like you this is the first time I've seen it," she reached down and tilted Rose's head up to look at her, "she has don't a fabulous job if I might add."
"All in a day's work my dear," Rose responded standing up, "all in a day's work."
7.2) The Day of the Dance (Preparation)
Nepeta had spent the day at Calliope's house getting ready for the dance. Calliope had done her hair and make-up done. When she'd asked if she could keep her hat on Callie had snapped at her and told her it wouldn't look okay with something as beautiful as her dress. She promised that she would look great without it because she was straightening and then curling her hair.
"Eridan won't know what hit him when he sees you," Calliope crowed, "I think this is my best achievement yet you look like a goddess or something I'm going to cry! Just look at how beautiful you are and you aren't even in your gown and mask and stuff yet!"
Nepeta looked in the mirror, Calliope had used liquid eyeliner around her eyes and up towards her temples in swirls, and then added green and violet glitter. Her lips were painted a deep blue to match her gown and she had a costume emerald, sapphire, and garnet choker around her throat and sapphire studs in her ears. She was in her slip still so she wouldn't get make up on the precious piece of clothing. Her eyelids were a swirl of gold, green, and blue. She gave Calliope a look and said, "if I'm going to be wearing a mask why did you go through all this trouble of putting on the make up?"
"Because you won't be wearing it the whole night that's why, half way through the night we take off our masks and let our dates see our faces. Didn't you pay attention at the assembly at all?"
"No I want actually I was talking to Terezi about some things that were really important after Fef finished her deal. And besides, I didn't know I was even going to go until just the other week, nobody had asked me and I couldn't afford to buy the ticket myself, and if Kanaya and Rose hadn't made this costume for me I wouldn't have anything to wear either. I feel like all of them get together and plan these things behind my back or something when I'm not looking or something. It makes me feel really weird."
"No they aren't planning anything behind your back. You just have really good friends in all of us. We're here for you and we love you because you're so amazing! Why else would we work so hard to make you happy? You always bring a smile to our faces and you can always tell when something is wrong when we're down. You are a one of a kind girl, and any guy would be lucky to have you as his girlfriend and we're all so very happy to have you as our friend!"
Calliope dusted a little bit of gold powdery glitter onto her chest and then gave her a hug. She smiled at Nepeta and then poked her cheek, "we need to get dressed before our dates get here! I planned for mine to get here later so I could get pictures of you and Eri when he gets here. Now then, let's get you dressed!"
Calliope took Nepeta by the hand and pulled her over to where their dresses were waiting for them. Calliope's was a green two- piece gown that had a top like a tuxedo with coattails. The skirt was knee length and a darker shade of green. Black lace peeped out from below it and she smiled at Nepeta, "my mask is like a skull! It's a similar shade of green as the skirt part and it's so scary looking!"
"I bet you'll be the scariest girl there," Nepeta said as she spied the mask in question. Calliope's hair was curled and then made messy with a black head band keeping it back from her face. She lifted the top off the hanger and set it down on the stool she'd abandoned and grabbed up the dress. Underneath the tux jacket the skirt was actually a strapless dress with a bejeweled skull on the bust.
"If I ever get too hot from the jacket I can take it off and just wear the dress. I was too lazy to actually make the crazy design I was originally going to make and settled on this. Besides, I'm only going with Caliborn as a request from Dirk and Jake. They wanted us to match and I'm surprised he agreed."
"You're date is Caliborn?"
"Yeah he didn't want to go but the boys got him to by bribing him with getting him out of Hussie's detention for putting graffiti all over the boys' water closet. They told Mr. Hussie they would have him clean it up instead of detention and then had a maid do it so he was indebted to them," she explained as she shrugged, "I think it was a brilliant idea honestly because I think it brought him out of his shell. He's started learning how to entertain like the others from Jake and Dirk. Besides he's handsome and he should use his talents for things other than destructive impulses. I even saw him smile the other day."
She looked down at the jacket and smiled again, "just thinking that he might make our dad proud soon makes me so excited. Caliborn has always been sad and mean because he thinks dad doesn't love him but he really does. He does more than anybody can believe. I mean, what kind of man doesn't love his only son?"
There was a knock on the door and Caliborn stuck his head inside and asked, "Sis how do I tie this bowtie on? It keeps coming up crooked, stupid thing."
"Come here and I'll fix it, since I have one too I know how it feels to have it not work for you, but I thought the girls gave you a clip on tie."
"They did," he muttered as he picked his way over to the two girls, "but I lost the stupid thing so I had to borrow one of dads, he got all annoyed and lectured me for about an hour it was so annoying."
"Callo, he does that because he loves you. You shouldn't' have lost that because the girls worked very hard on it for you. I know you don't like to be social and I know you hate everybody but…people want to get to know you and be your friend," Calliope's hands shook as she properly tied the bowtie around his neck, "it's just that you have to let them in that's all…you have to let people get close, you say you want to make friends but you push everybody away that try. That is the one thing that stops them. Tonight you have to try to be nice; the boys did you a wonderful favor getting you out of a month's detention so you had best do your darndest to repay their kindness. There, it's tied."
Caliborn muttered his thanks and walked away with a hung head. When Calliope turned back to Nepeta she looked like she was going to cry, "he just needs to understand that we love him that's all," she said as she shrugged on the jacket and her own sparkly red bowtie, "I don't know…get dressed silly Eri will be here soon!"
In a flurry of excitement and fabric Nepeta and Calliope were finally dressed. Calliope put on her green skull half mask and smiled with her green lipstick. Her eyes glittered from underneath the mask in a spray of green and silver glitter. The two girls walked down the stairs and met Caliborn at the bottom of the stairs. He mock bowed to them and then smirked, "shall we 'ladies'? There's a limo outside waiting for somebody."
"Nepeta he's here he's here!" Calliope squealed as she jumped up and down, "He's here OMG I can't wait to see his face quick Caliborn let's open the doors for him when he knocks ready?!"
She pushed her reluctant brother over towards the front doors and left Nepeta standing in front of the wide staircase, "Callie no what are you-"
There was a knock and the twins threw the doors open to reveal a bedecked Eridan. He let out a small gasp and she could see his eyes widen underneath his own mask. Then he smiled and took her hand, "you look absolutely ravishing. The picture of a princess, I am so honored to be your prince tonight."
"Oh Eridan that's so sweet!" Calliope cooed.
"Callie, our limo is here too. Let's get going while the goings good," Caliborn held his arm out for his sister.
"Yes Princess, let's go," Eridan smiled and Nepeta took his elbow, "I'll be sure to make this the best night of your year so far."
Nepeta looked up at him, "I know you will Eri, you promised before."
"You called me Eri, I like that. Well let's get this night going!"