Disclaimer: I own nothing. Cinderella is owned by Disney.
This is one of the prompts I picked up over on the DisneyKinkMeme that ended up longer, so I decided to post it as it's whole story instead of with the other bits in the "Twisted Nostalgia" collection. The prompt was: The stepsisters destroy Cinderella's mother's dress, but the mice mended her father's suit as well. So Cinderella wears the suit to the ball instead (possibly going by horse instead of the carriage). Don't mind if it's an AU with no fairy godmother, don't care whether it's a Prince or Princess Charming. Would looooove a genderqueer Cinderella.
chapter seven: caught up in the moment
Cinderella wondered if she was breathing or if she had simply forgotten such silly things while the rest of her body was so very caught up in this dance. She would not blame it for doing so, she wished to concentrate everything she had in remembering every single aspect of this night - but most especially perhaps, Nolana. Breathing surely was happy to come second to that.
All of the ladies this night had been beautiful and dressed up in such fancy gowns, that she has never seen the like. But there is something else about Nolana that is simply captivating - in the way the moonlight shone off her sleek dark hair, the way her brown eyes seemed to sparkle when they pulled in close to each other, the way her mouth would curl into such a wide delighted grin when telling her about the castle.
Nolana had a different smile now, something small and content as she paused in their dancing and took yet another step forward, until she was close enough to reach her arms around Cinderella's neck and rest her head on the shoulder of Father's blue coat. The feel of those gloves sliding along the skin of the back of her neck made her heart beat faster, made her swallow roughly, but there was something altogether wonderful about this position as well. And if her partner was not uncomfortable, perhaps it was only her lack of experience with society which made her more sensitive to the slightest bit of touch.
What Cinderella was wholly unaware of was that it only took another slight change in position for the entire length of Nolana's body to be pressed against hers. Perhaps later, when she dreamed of this night, the thought would cross her mind (for she was quite well acquainted with the power of fantasy, how that could feed her).
But now, she was too caught up in the moment. In the strains of music, barely heard, from the ballroom, the smell of flowers seen shadowed in the darkness around them, the glitter of the lights of the Castle in the corner of her eye, and the soft sway of their bodies.
She was living in the moment - had been since the night began and she left a tattered dress behind on the floor. Cinderella had no real plan past this night, past the next moment (she would deal with it when she must).
The woman with whom she was dancing believed she only had tonight as well - but she was not quite as satisfied to take things as they came to her. Her future loomed large, made her bold to grab a bit of happiness.
Nolana sighed and combed her fingers through the hair at the nape of Lord Ellis' neck. Noting the way he paused but did not pull away or remark negatively - and after only a moment, they continued their dance.
This felt - so very wonderful. She felt warm, safe, and there was an altogether pleasant hum in her body. Did she dare press for more?
Did she truly want to? The answer to that was certainly, yes, if she were truthful with herself (Was barely a question, when the answer came so instantly to her mind). And Nolana knew that however magical this felt, what she wished for most of all, was a kiss.
Just like a storybook tale.
She would have this to look back upon after she was tied up in some political marriage. To dream of this night.
And so, if she was to marry, as a Princess must, did she not deserve a kiss from the only man who has made her feel so very appreciated? Who listened when she spoke and smiled at her in a way that made her want to touch, to pull close.
Who treated her so kindly without knowing she was royal; who liked Nolana, not just Princess Charming?
And she had thought about that fact, in the back of her mind, as they walked about the Castle. Lord Ellis had not known who she was, so it was unlikely he came to ask for her hand. A Prince of Noble, even from a distant place, would have been better prepared than that, if her aquience was their goal. He was probably the relation of another at this Ball who had that in mind. Ellis might not want such a life, himself.
She wanted this chance before they had to go back to the bright lights and stares of the ballroom. Wanted this chance to stay Nolana for a few a while longer, before Lord Ellis realized she was anything more.
And so, as Nolana, she stepped forward the last bit of space separating them, tilted her head up towards him and pressed up on her toes, to meet Ellis in a kiss.
