Hi again! Short one this time!
Once the trio were ready – having successfully tamed and styled Junior's unruly hair – they didn't have to wait long until there was a knock on the door.
Luigi answered the door and briefly froze. But, just before Bowsette could ask what was wrong, the door swung fully open to show Daisy stood on the other side. She was wearing the same stylish dress she was wearing when she was with them earlier, but over her shoulders was a black leather jacket that somehow managed to still look smart. Coupled with her recently put on makeup and her hair being pulled back into a ponytail, she clearly hit the punk-femme-princess combo that knocked Luigi off his feet.
"Wow..." He muttered. "You look-a beautiful tonight, Daisy."
The smirk she'd been wearing since the door opened morphed into a full smile. "Thanks, honey. You're pretty handsome yourself!" She reached forward, straightening the lapels on his jacket.
"Now, come on, you three. We've got a party to go to."
Luigi and Junior walked ahead, Bowsette quickly retrieving something, her nerves spiking again when Junior's voice broke out as he crossed the doorway.
"Mama Peach! You look really pretty! More pretty than normal!"
Bowsette's heart rate sky-rocketed at learning Peach was also outside.
"Thank you, Junior! You also look very smart. I dare say, Luigi has some competition."
Bowsette slowly waked towards the door.
"Aww... Thanks, Mama Peach..." He said, clearly bashful.
Bowsette turned into the hallway just as the blonde giggled in reply to the young koopa.
Their eyes met. Both looking at each other silently. Both completely dumbstruck.
Peach was wearing a different dress than normal. Still pink, but this one was slimmer. It had a similar neckline to her normal dresses, but without the puffy shoulders and chest jewel - a white lace pattern covering the upper part of the dress. The skirt was also much thinner than her usual, though still flared out slightly. She topped the look off with her typical crown, white gloves, and a pink bow in her hair.
Bowsette was wearing a sleeveless black vee-neck dress with a skirt that reached the floor. The dress had white trim on the rim of the skirt and along the neckline. Her signature armbands and choker had returned for the evening, fingerless gloves covering her hands. Hair still loose from earlier, it cascaded over her bare shoulders, framing her face that was made up with dark eye shadow and deep red lipstick.
"O-Oh my..." Peach stuttered, her face turning red. "Bowsette... You-you look... gorgeous."
Face also red, Bowsette was also a stuttering mess. "I... You, uh, you're the most beautiful person I've ever met."
Unknown to the two, Daisy ushered Luigi and Junior away, to leave the two to their moment. Junior put up some resistance, but ultimately a look from the other two made him comply.
Somehow, they both got redder at the redhead's words, but - before they could devolve into a bashful, awkward silence of them both trying to not be overwhelmed by the beauty of the other – Bowsette remembered the gift behind her back.
"O-Oh! Umm, Peach! I got you something!" The koopa woman moved her hands to her front, revealing a bouquet of pink roses. "Here." She handed them over, Peach graciously accepting them.
"They're lovely, thank you. Though not nearly as lovely as you." Peach smiled warmly, her eyes lighting up as she met the other woman's eyes again. "I got you something too, actually."
The Princess pulled out a black hair bow that matched her pink one, a detail that Bowsette picked up on instantly. "Oh, thank you!" She paused before accepting it. "Umm, could you put it on me?"
Peach smiled. "Of course."
She gave the flowers to a passing Toad, with the request of bringing them to her room, before stepping closer to the redhead.
Peach didn't want to ruffle Bowsette's meticulously brushed hair, so she carefully held the bow up to her head, before deciding where to clip it on.
Carefully separating a lock of her fiery red hair, she clipped the black bow on to it, delicately smoothing it down afterwards.
"There." Peach moved her head back slightly. "Perfect."
"Thank you." Bowsette mumbled, flustered by the close proximity.
"You're welcome." Peach muttered. There was a pause between the two, the blonde leaning in, her face inching closer to the redhead's, both their cheeks tinting a deeper red. pink lips brushed Bowsette's rosy cheeks, her heart fluttering at the delicate touch.
Speechless, flustered, and awestruck, Bowsette didn't have time to compute a response before Peach pulled back with a nervous smile, reached for the redhead's hand and said, "Let's go, we'll be late."
Accepting her hand, she allowed herself to be pulled along by the blonde, her brain and heart working in overdrive, trying to figure out what just happened.
They ran into Daisy, Luigi and Junior waiting for them just outside the ballroom – near one of the side entrances. Were this a more official event, Peach and Daisy – being royalty – would be announced before entering, under the attentions of everyone present. Much to Bowsette's relief, however, they would simply be turning up like any other guest tonight; albeit, entering through one of the doors exclusive for castle inhabitants.
"Ah, there you two are!" Daisy called as they arrived. All three were smiling at them, Daisy having to cover Junior's mouth to prevent him from saying anything about the two women's joined hands.
"Mario should-a already be inside." Luigi added.
Daisy uncovered Junior's mouth, giving him the chance to at least say something. "I like your new hair bow, Mama, it's very pretty! You and Mama Peach match now!"
The pair continued to expand their record of most-times-blushing-in-one-day, while Bowsette stuttered out a thank you. "Um, shall we?" Peach asked, gesturing towards the ballroom door.
The group of five walked in – Bowsette and Peach still holding hands – to a relatively busy room. There were decorations up on the walls, flowers displayed between windows where the evening sun shone through. Tables with food and refreshments lined the walls to the right, seating not far from that and an open floor for people to dance – presumably – was to the left. They entered without much fuss, only a few people turning to watch them, most not questioning Junior and Bowsette's presence; the Mario brothers, Peach and Daisy would often make little known friends on their adventures, so most assumed that was just who the two koopas were.
Some, however, did notice that the princess and her mysterious guest were holding hands, leading to a few whispers, the woman in question noted with a nervous gulp.
"Don't worry." Peach whispered beside her, squeezing her hand.
Heeding Peach's advice, Bowsette stopped paying attention to the people, instead focusing on her friends, her son and the soft hand in hers. She squeezed back, smiling at Peach.
Among those that saw their entrance was Mario, who finished preparing a table for Toadsworth before coming along to greet them.
Toadsworth then noticed their arrival as well, also coming along.
"My! Don't you all look lovely!"
He immediately noticed Bowsette and Peach's hands, giving them a warm smile, to which they both blushed.
"Likewise, Toadsworth, I'm not sure I've seen you in a tailcoat before." Daisy quipped.
"Ah, yes." He adjusted his jacket, showing it off. "It's new! This is the first chance I've had to wear it."
"Well, it looks rather fetching on you." Peach complimented.
"Thank you, Princess." Looking between the Princess and the Koopa, he moved on. "Bowsette, it's nice to see you here. I must say, you look very nice with that hair bow."
"Aw, thanks. Peach gave it to me."
Toadsworth nodded. "Ah, she chose well, then."
The group continued talking for a while, but eventually they split up when Junior kept eyeing up the food.
Luigi and Mario went with the Koopas; Peach and Daisy taking the opportunity to greet some guests that they knew they shouldn't ignore. Bowsette realised that they took that opportunity when they did, so that Bowsette wouldn't have to be put in any awkward positions and asked any difficult questions. She was touched by their thoughtfulness.
"Ah! Peach's chefs always make the best food!" Mario cheered as they neared the buffet.
"Mama's are good, too!" Junior couldn't help but interject. Bowsette nodded in agreement.
"Oh yeah?" Even back when they were enemies, it was no secret that Bowsette shared the Mario brothers' love of food.
"Yeah!" Bowsette paused as she was making sure that Junior got some healthy food, getting food for herself and getting food for Peach, while also trying to continue the conversation. "Lots of the food is different – different cultures and all that – but we only hire the best! Or, train them up to be the best. Same thing."
"That-a sounds good! We haven't tried much koopa cuisine!" Luigi replied.
"Well, I guess at some point you could all come round, I could show you what my chefs can do?" Bowsette was quick to reply, though with a hint of nervousness.
"That would be great! Thanks, Bowsette!" Mario exclaimed, Luigi also chiming in his enthusiasm.
Bowsette smiled from ear-to-ear. She was glad to have her new friends.
Hope ya liked it!