For the first time in her life, Phoebe felt perfect. Her hair had been done up neatly and properly, and by a professional to boot! She had on a wonderful deep purple dress that Horus had lent her, that had just taken a few adjustments to fit properly. Her shoes were simply incredible, designer made and showing off her legs wonderfully. She'd taken her time to put on cosmetics, with Horus's help, and they were of the very best sort. She felt as good as she looked, which though she wouldn't say it out loud, was positively divine.
Even better, she'd gotten to spend the afternoon painting! She adored painting, and while she would have preferred weeks or even months to do a proper work of art, on this short notice, it would have to do.
There wasn't much to know about her prospective sisters, only that one was from the far north in Inwit, while one was from the volcanic region of Nocturn. Fire and ice. So exciting!
Struck by a moment of inspiration, Horus had spent the afternoon painting a dramatic piece with vibrant colors, representing conflict between the two elements, but also how they worked in harmony. It wasn't perfect, not quite, but Phoebe was feeling so good about herself that she was willing to admit that it was still a masterpiece.
The work was broken into two canvases, and she intended to present them to her newly arrived sisters. It was meant to be displayed together, but could be shown apart as well, if not as spectacularly.
The last bits of preparation were being completed, and Phoebe had taken off her delightful shoes to help set out tables and chairs in the open auditorium floor that had been selected for such a purpose. A few people had seemed shocked that an Imperial Princess was willing to get down in the trenches and help out with the little things, but Phoebe just wanted to help.
And make sure that they did not end up with a prime number of chairs. That would be an absolute DISASTER, and she'd spend all evening worrying about how it would be completely impossible to subdivide the groups of people because of the horrible number.
She was just setting out a few extras when a voice said behind her, "You know you don't have to do that, right? We have, like, servants and stuff for that."
Phoebe turned to find a trio of girls, all high nobles by their dress and bearing. Well, and those tacky house pins they wore on their clothes, but Phoebe wasn't going to judge tonight. Everything was going to be perfect, and wonderful, and-
"Yeah, you're a princess. Just have one of the charity cases or one of the servants do it. You should hang out with us," another of the girls said in haughty tones, twirling jet black hair through one finger..
Rather deliberately, Phoebe smiled, and thickened her own rather rustic accent. "Well mah stars, why should ah do that? Ah can't gisy stand around and do nuthin'! Besides, it ain't like ah was always a princess, ya know."
"We just don't want people to get the wrong sort of idea about you," the first girl, a brunette in an expensive frilly pink gown said with a smirk. "You're not one of the little people now. You're important."
Now the smile became forced. "Well bless your heart. Ain't you heard? Everyone, no matter how little, is important. Now, if y'all 'll excuse mah, ah think they need some help putting' out the flowers."
Another thing she absolutely HAD to ensure did not become a prime number. That would be a disaster. Tonight had to be perfect.
Fulgrim fully expected to leave the useless nobles behind, but one of them broke formation and hurried up. "Um, I can help! I know a bit about arranging flowers, it's a hobby of mine!"
"Great! I'm sure the Student Council would be delighted to have your help," Phoebe said, giving the girl a wide grin. Maybe some of these people know what it was to have grit and get a job done.
"Cal, what are you doing?!" the brunette and apparent leader hissed. "That's the sort of thing for servants."
"But...she's a princess, Lucy. If she can do it, so can we, right?" Cal said with a shrug, continuing to follow Phoebe. Her friends just looked on with scorn, before turning away and strutting off.
"I'm Phoebe Fulgrim, by the way," Phoebe said, pausing to extend her hand to the other girl.
Cal blinked, then hesitantly took the hand and bowed over it. "Er, it's a pleasure, your high-"
"Oh for heaven's sake, you're just supposed to shake it!" Phoebe exclaimed, surprising Cal when she clasped the other girl's hand in both of hers and pumped it.. "Look, I'm not a high class girl like all y'all are here at this school."
Wincing, Phoebe stepped back as Cal gawked at her. "Let's just...start over. Hi! I'm Phoebe Fulgrim, from Chemos."
"I'm… Calli Zavan, from Terra, your Highness" the other girl said, slowly extending her hand. Phoebe took it and gave her a good firm handshake. "Call me Cal, please."
"Please t' metcha, Cal! Just call me Phoebe. Don't rightly know all the formal stuff, and frankly, I don't have time for it. There's too much work to do! My sister's are comin' over dontcha know, and I just want everything to be perfect!"
"Er, right. I'll help," Cal agreed, and the two girls set off again.
"Love your dress, by the way," Phoebe said, flashing Cal a smile as they wove their way through the tables. "Yellow's a good color on you!"
"Thank you. You look incredible," Cal said earnestly.
"You're too kind," Phoebe tittered, then turned and frowned. The student council members in charge of setting out the tables for the banquet were looking harassed and frustrated as they argued with a tall woman in worker's garb, a hard hat under one arm.
"Well I don't know, ask HER!" the alien, what was her name? Shaserra, that was it, said, pointing at Fulgrim in frustration.
"Are you in charge of this event?" the woman said seriously, turning to frown at Phoebe. Her overalls were dusty and somewhat stained, and worst yet, her boots were speckled with paint and dusty and worn. She was getting it all over the carpet!
"Not quite, but I suppose I can try to help you out, Miss…?" Phoebe asked.
"I will speak to whoever is in charge of this event. It is poorly constructed," the woman said, ignoring the courtesy.
Phoebe looked up in exasperation. She wasn't short, but without her heels on his woman was a full head taller than she was. She was going to get a crick in her neck if she kept this up. And there was going to be dust everywhere! She needed to fix this.
"What's poorly constructed? Everything looks all hunky dory to me," Fulgrim said, gesturing around. The lighting was excellent, the tables all set with clothes and chairs, and the silverware and napkins were being distributed.
"No," the woman stated flatly.
"No? What's wrong?" Phoebe demanded. "Just a moment. Cal, will you help these nice people get the centerpieces out? I'll just see to our friend here."
"We are not friends," the woman stated flatly.
"Well, let's just fix that!" Phoebe said cheerily. She winced as she took the worker's arm and began to lead her away, but she'd just have to brush off her dress later. She would not let this evening be anything less than perfect.
This woman had "inspector" written all over her, and Phoebe had a lot of experience dealing with those sorts of people in her time running a factory floor, and then an entire facility, in Chemos. She knew just how to handle them. She led the woman outside, then gestured to the building. "Looks solid to me! I'm Phoebe, by the way. Phoebe Fulgrim! And you are…?"
"Inspecting this event to ensure it is up to Code," the woman said gravely, ignoring the friendly greeting again. She took out a clipboard and pen, flipping through it. "Are you in charge of this event?"
"Well, this really Horus's shindig, but I'm her sister, so I can speak for her," Phoebe said brightly.
"Hmm. I see." The woman scribbled something on the paper before her. "And what is the capacity of the building?"
"We're plannin' on havin' the whole student body around to welcome in my sisters, they're bein' sent by the Empress, you see, and so we're a bit tight for space, but we should fit all of them in!" Phoebe answered.
"Is it just the student body? There are 2,172 students currently enrolled at this campus. There were tables to seat 2,357 people."
"WHAT?!" Phoebe ripped the clipboard out of the inspectors hands, scanning it. "That...that's impossible!"
"That is the total number of students, plus facility," the inspector stated. "My inspection indicated there were that many seats."
"No, no, no NO!" Phoebe snarled, turning and glaring at the building. She wanted to tear her hair out, but limited herself to putting her hands by her head and clenching her fists. "That can't be! That's...that's the wrong number!"
"The number is accurate. I calculated it twice."
Phoebe took a shuddering breath to force herself to calm. "Well...we'll just invite more people! The custodians, family...just as long as it's not 2357 people." That number was very, VERY prime. A terrible number! She would have to make sure that either some students were set away, or more brought in, or...something! THIS WAS NOT PERFECT!
"No."
Phoebe whirled. "What do you mean, NO!?"
"The building is rated by the fire marshal for only 2200 individuals. I cannot permit additional people to be invited," the inspector stated, her tone deadly serious.
"Listen up, missy!" Phoebe snarled, stepping forward and sticking her finger in the stranger's face. "I've tried to be polite, I've tried to be friendly, but you're being a real pain! I don't like to pull rank, but I swear, I will this time!"
"You cannot," the inspector said, folding her arms over her chest, her expression stoney.
"Oh, you think so? Well, I'll have you know that I'm PRINCESS Phoebe Fulgrim! So if I have to, I'll tell that fire marshal to cram his number up his...behind! And seat a proper number of people!"
"No."
Phoebe's eyes narrowed. "Are you countermanding an Imperial Order?"
"Yes."
"That's IT missy! Who's your supervisor?! I want to file a complaint! My mother, who is the EMPRESS by the way, will hear about this!" Phoebe ranted. She was being unreasonable and knew it, but she just could not disappoint Horus and her other sisters! She had to make things Perfect for them!
"I had intended on filing my report with Mother. So far, I am unimpressed," the inspector said, relieving Phoebe of the clipboard. She very firmly clicked her pen, and scribbled further notes.
Fulgrim paused in her raving, her eyes narrowing. "Wait. Did you just call the Empress...Mother?"
"Yes." The inspector looked up. "I am Rogal Dorn."
Swallowing, Phoebe licked her lips. "You're not...from Inwit, are you?"
"Yes."
Fulgrim sagged, feelling absolutely terrible. "I...I'm so, so sorry! I…"
Giving up, Fulgrim just flung herself on the startled Dorn, wrapping her arms about her as her tears ruined her makeup. "I'm sorry, sister. I just...I wanted everything to be perfect for when you came! But now I"ve ruined everything, and we have a prime number of guests and it's just AWFUL!"
"The situation is salvageable," Dorn said, gingerly extracting herself from the hug and setting Fulgrim on her feet again. The tall woman looked perplexed by the tears, and patted herself down before pulling out a somewhat worn and stained hanky. It was however clean, so Fulgrim took it and blew her nose into it.
"Now I just look a fright, I know it! You...you think the seating is really a problem?"
"Additional tables can be moved outdoors. I shall construct an awning," Dorn stated firmly, rapidly drawing up plans on a piece of graph paper.
"Er, is there really time for that?" Fulgrim asked. "We have to get you changed, you can't come to your welcoming banquet dressed like that!"
Dorn frowned down at her clothes: battered overalls, workman's boots and gloves, and a yellow and black plaid flannel shirt. "My clothes are up to safety regulations."
"Well, they're very non-regulation for a party, honey. We've got to get you spiffied up! Otherwise, the fire marshal is going to be the least of our concerns," Fulgrim declared, pulling her phone out of Victoria's Secret Compartment.
"There is a dress code?" Dorn demanded, her eyes narrowing.
"Yes. Definitely. Black tie and all that," Phoebe said, putting the phone to her ear. "Ferri? Guess what?! Our sister's here! But she needs clothes. Um, I think she's about your size. Where are you? The workshop? Well get back to the dorms, we have to get her cleaned up! And you too, sister! Oh, I'm sure they're fine! You can finish them later, this is an emergency, girl!"
Phoebe took Dorn's arm and led her away. "We'll just get you all regulation like, alright? You'll love Ferri, she's just a sweetheart. Makes the most amazing stuff! You should see the sword she gave me, it's a work of art!"
"But I have not finished the fire inspection," Dorn protested, resisting Phoebe's efforts.
"I'll text Horus and tell her no more than 2200 inside, she'll figure it out. Come on, you don't want to be, er, out of regulation gear, do you?"
"No," Dorn agreed, and followed the grinning Phoebe.
This could still be perfect. Just...imperfectly so. But it would be alright, as long as she had her sisters.
And there were positively NO prime numbers.
Well, except for three and five. Those were perfectly alright, as they-