Two cheerful notes bounced off a crimson cavern wall, echoing as they flew. The sound was brisk and sharp, designed to grab the attention of the user. Any troll would recognize those two notes. The Trollian notification sound was a welcome addition to any time of the day. Good-night messages rang at the end of a long day, pictures of food flooded into devices at mealtimes, and good-morning messages made every troll's morning mood at dawn.

When Nepeta heard the sound, she had assumed the sender of the message she had received was Karkat, the target of not very few of her flushed fantasies. It wouldn't be completely truthful to say that she wasn't disappointed when she excitedly opened the Trollian tab. But as she scanned the distinctive cobalt blue text, she soon became curious. It wasn't often that she received a message from her choreographer, and this message was even more irregular than she had initially predicted.

"Hey guys," the message began. "As you probably know, the skating tournament is in about a month now! You guys can skate well enough to skip this rehearsal, so today you'll go with Kanaya for costuming. She will meet you both there. I will be practicing my free program at the rink while you do whatever. Got it?"

She did, in fact, get it. She raised her arms to the keyboard to type a response, but at that moment her lusus decided it was time to rub her body all along Nepeta's smaller frame. Pounce's sudden contact almost knocked Nepeta off her feet. She chirped aloud in surprise, much to Pounce's amusement. The large cat lusus purred, sending soothing sound waves bouncing through the cave. Nepeta giggled. Nothing could be quite as comforting as a lusus' purring. Not even the twin notification notes that resulted from Equius' response to Vriska's message. That response appeared on the screen just then. It was clear and concise, conveying a message of equal indifference and affirmation in a single word: "Ok."

Equius had typed this with extra care. He had just been wrangling and smashing a few faulty mechanical mistakes, and it wouldn't do to smash something he may not be able to fix. He knew that sometimes, his strength was overpowering. In fact, he was quite proud of it. But when all was said and done and the robot parts lay scattered on the cold, hard floor, he found himself somewhat missing his moirail's gentle strength. Maybe it was the weather. Maybe the shard of metal embedded loosely in his forearm. But since Vriska advised Nepeta to rest from her training, he'd gotten used to her energy in the morning.

But he didn't want to think those things that day! Costume design was already going to have a negative effect on his inflated idea of masculinity. He shook the thoughts out of his head and thundered over to the pile of metal that housed his hidden posters. He fished one out and unfurled it. Gazing upon the wondrous display of sheer strength, he took a deep breath. Today, he had to be strong.

Ironically, Equius was not nearly as strong in most prospects as another troll nearby. Kanaya was stronger by far. As she hauled multiple boxes of clothing into a locker room (an outstanding testament to her formidable physical strength), she took care to forget the last time she had done this. It had been only a sweep. She had been designing for Vriska. She had taken this exact same path to the locker room, trodden the same floor. It was a minor physical memory, but attached to it was a wealth of emotional memory. Against her will, Kanaya recalled her flushed feelings for Vriska. By the Sufferer, that was an embarrassing age. Promises broken, thoughts dwelt on. The memories would have been more bearable if she had moved on. If she had forgotten Vriska. But here she was, fostering a pale relationship with a bad memory.

But Kanaya was strong because she moved those boxes without a second thought. Because she forged on. Even though she was as tired as an elderly mother grub, she fostered and kept relationships a certain way for the good of the other or others. Not even Equius could boast that. In fact, it was doubtful that he'd experienced an auspistice at all!

Strength, however, does not equal perfection. She couldn't fathom what could perfect herself, neither was she anxious to find out. All she wanted to do then was make these costumes and make them well. Maybe even perfectly. But we all know that nothing can be truly perfect, at least not for long. Kanaya drifted across the tiles on the floor to the lobby. When everyone was here, she would bear her job with a smile. There, she patiently waited for her models to arrive.

Nepeta was the first to do so, dragging her partner by the arm through the front door. Of course, he could have stopped her in an instant, but it was cute to see such a little thing trying to be so strong. It made him feel more powerful. She was already inside the building by several paces before she noticed the other troll in the room. Halting her excited motions in courtesy, she stood upright and smiled at Kanaya. Equius, standing as tall and wide as ever, nodded at her.

"Good morning. You must be Kanaya." The designer who had been addressed nodded back, furrowing her brow a little as she reevaluated her decision to round down her sample costume sizes.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Equius," she said, smiling graciously. "Hello, Nepeta. I see you're doing well."

"Just as efurr!" Nepeta said with her signature alacrity.

"I read your stories on the memo last night. Your imagination is very engaging to witness." Nepeta smiled and tilted her head.

"Tavros is so much fun sometimes! Too bad his apurrent cat allergies can be a furmidable obstacle."

"You work well together." Kanaya began to walk toward the locker room. "I hope both of you can work together just as well tonight. Come along, my supplies are in the locker room."

"Don't you worry! We're ready fur anything."

The skating partners followed Kanaya's sweeping steps down the hall, walking briskly but not hurriedly. Nepeta traced the wall with her hand as she always did. The slightly rough texture pleased her fingertips, and at this point it had become more habit than anything. Kanaya held her head high, seeming much more poised than she actually was. It was only a small detail, but it was enough to make Nepeta wonder in admiration at her grace. Kanaya reached the locker door. She opened it and held it for the skaters before entering.

"All right," Kanaya said, closing the door behind her. "Where shall we start?" The skaters took in what she had prepared. Glittering fabric spilled out of boxes, adorned with sequins and stones of every sort. Some fully and partially formed garments lay spread on the bench, glinting under the harsh overhead light.

"Can I go furst?" Nepeta implored, eager to touch and admire each textile.

"Certainly." Kanaya held up one of the smaller garments to Nepeta's figure. "You're going to have a more royal theme to your program, if I'm not mistaken?" Nepeta smiled.

"I guess Vriska told you, huh? It's supposed to be a story of a strong, mighty highblood who falls in love with a lowblood girl because she snuck out one night disguised as a princess!"

"I never agreed to it," interjected Equius. Nepeta giggled, making Kanaya chuckle in agreement. She lowered the outfit with a flourish.

"This one may fit you, but let's look at the other ones before you try on anything."

"Take your time! It's better than skating for Vriska all day." Kanaya nodded, suppressing thoughts about her own experiences.

"Has she shown you any of her freestyle program?

"Um… no. She hasn't said anything about it, actually." Nepeta had never thought about what her choreographer was doing. The new idea piqued her curiosity. "Have you seen any of it? What's the music?"

"Oh… I'm sure you'll know soon enough." Kanaya artfully dodged the question, already feeling her face acquire touches of jade green. Nepeta was a little disappointed, but didn't pry.

Equius wasn't quite sure what to do with himself. The girls seemed to be getting along really well as they essentially ignored him. He didn't mind, of course. He'd rather remain silent than anything. But he felt sort of awkward just standing there, doing nothing. Kanaya, of course, noticed his behavior and made an effort to include him in the conversation.

"So, Equius… How is your progress on your program?" Equius paused, constructing his response.

"We know it all. Not perfectly."

"Ah." Kanaya nodded, trying to manufacture something to say. "... Is Vriska a difficult coach?"

"We've had worse."

"Who was your last coach?"

"Nobody you know."

"If you say so," Kanaya set down the last of the costumes.

"Can I try them on meow?" Nepeta asked, guessing the next step correctly.

"That was the plan. There are some I'm not sure about, but you should be able to pick out your favorite." Kanaya glanced in Equius' direction. "Um, Equius?"

He grunted his acknowledgement.

"Would you mind giving your partner a bit of privacy? You can go watch Vriska's routine while you wait."

"Of course," he said. He ventured to the door, stepping through it with a careful slowness as to not destroy the door.

The first thing that hit Equius when he stepped into the rink was the music. He wasn't even one for music, but this type of music struck him as… unusual. Deep. Full of sweeping synth. It was almost… sultry? Equius stifled the thought. He was trying to avoid sweating too much today.

But oh, it was worse once he saw the dancer. He had entered during the climax of the song, when the choreography she had created was most intense. Lips parted, eyes hooded, Vriska sped across the ice. Her hair was loose, an unusual choice. It whirled around her head manically, some of it getting into her mouth and sticking to her lip gloss. Normally, this would be detrimental to the performance. But here? That detail nailed the mood perfectly.

She spared no expense to uphold the aesthetic. Her hips swiveled in exaggerated motions, accenting each functional twist and turn with a suggestive flair. Her arms and hands spent equal time tracing the curve of her body as they did extending. Her spins contorted her into strange positions, each one more provoking than the next. To the untrained eye, it wasn't much. But to the eye of a skater? It was shocking at best. She was doing the bare minimum it took to make a program, packing it instead with a certain appeal she appeared to be very good at.

Equius couldn't help the perspiration from his forehead. It was freezing inside the rink, but Vriska's dance made it hotter than the Alternian desert. He shook his head, assuring himself of his lack of quadratic feeling toward Vriska. He took a seat in clear view of her. She gave no acknowledgement of him. If she noticed him, she didn't show it. She kept on skating, displaying every detail in her provocative program. He studied her motions with a scrutinous eye. How did someone so much smaller than him project the illusion of strength so well? If he was the thinking type, he would have pondered this. But instead he kept watching, more mesmerized than inspired.

Nepeta was just as mesmerized, but for a very different reason. She ran her fingers over the fabric she now sported upon her torso. In the handheld mirror Kanaya had brought, Nepeta thought herself the lowblood princess in the flesh!

"Hmm, I'm not sure about the color. What do you think?" Kanaya said, eyeing the bodice, envisioning every stitch she'd need to change in order for it to flatter Nepeta.

"It's purrfect! I love it!" Of course she did.

"All right. If you love this one, you'll love the others. Let's put this in the 'maybe' pile for now." Kanaya was speaking very metaphorically.

She picked up one of the more completed articles of clothing. "This one might bring out your skin tone a bit better."

"This one has a few skirt ruffles!" Stating the obvious, Nepeta grabbed the costume. "I'll try it on. Don't peek!"

"I won't," assured Kanaya. This was followed by several seconds of grunting noises. Kanaya smiled a little. She knew those sounds.

"Do you need help, Nepeta?"

"I, uh… yeah."

"Okay, but that means I have to look. Are you okay with that?"

"Um…" Nepeta considered her offer. The bodice had been much too small, and its fastening system had malfunctioned. She couldn't reach the back. Slipping it over her head had failed, leaving her stomach and abdomen mostly exposed. She had no means of getting out alone. But, on the other hand…

"Yeah, that's… fine. Just… try not to stare?" Nepeta trusted Kanaya.

"No need to worry. I work with models all the time." Kanaya turned around, and suddenly her understanding of the situation changed.

All over the trapped skater's body were scars. Yes, white-lined battle scars from hunting, but also different scars. Sharp, deep parallel lines laced with olive green. No other wound of this type could be found anywhere but her side. It was almost shocking to Kanaya. She only expected Nepeta to be embarrassed about her body, but this… this was more than just that. She tried to keep her promise to not stare.

She circled to Nepeta's back and began undoing the overly tightened laces in the corset.

Nepeta broke her uncharacteristic silence. "You saw them, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Are you gonna ask me about them… or what?"

"Do you want me to?"

"I guess. I don't know."

"All right. Where did you get those cuts on your side?" Kanaya felt her take a deep breath.

"Sometimes… I get really stressed. Like when Karkat says something mean or when Pounce doesn't get home until late." Kanaya listened attentively. "And sometimes… I don't want to feel stressed anymore. So I…" She trailed off, figuring Kanaya had understood.

"So you do this to make yourself feel better?"

"No, not really. It's kinda… relaxing. I mean, it's bad and all. But sometimes I can't stop myself."

Kanaya didn't know quite how to respond. Was this a function of terrible depression? It didn't seem like it. She wished she knew more about Nepeta. That way she could help.

"I tried to do other things. Biting. Hitting the wall. But everyone would see the next day and I'd just get so stressed about it… So I started doing that."

"Does anyone else know about this?"

"No, not even Equius." Kanaya finished her undoing of the laces.

"Have you tried telling anyone yet?"

"No. They wouldn't understand."

"Nepeta," Kanaya walked around to face her. They made eye contact. "I know people well enough to say that they will try. You might need to explain it a few times, but trust me. Telling someone is so much better than keeping a secret. Thank you for telling me, but telling someone else might be better. Okay?"
"Okay." Nepeta gazed into Kanaya's eyes. "Thank you. I'll think about it."

"You can probably get that bodice off now."

"Oh yeah, thanks! You're pawsome, Kanaya."

"I try," said Kanaya, smiling a caring smile.

"Um, can you not look for reals this time?"

"Okay, tell me when you're in the other outfit."

"Gotcha!"

It may have taken longer than necessary, but in an hour or two a plan for Nepeta's costume was taking shape. Luckily for Kanaya, they had agreed on a mostly-finished costume. It was a striking lime green base with accents in yellow and yellow-green. A respectful arrangement of colors for a skater of her caste, yet elegant enough to tell the intended story. It needed a few adjustments relating to size and flair, but it was far from an intensive workload.

Equius, on the other hand, was much more difficult. Kanaya had foreseen this by letting Nepeta choose the color and theme of the costumes, but the one thing she did not foresee was Equius' sheer size. None of the costumes she had brought fit him. I'll spare you most of the details, of course, but suffice it to say that most of their conversations followed a manner similar to this:

"This article is unlikely to fit me."

"I know it is. I just need to see the fabric against your complexion."

"I'll not remove any of my clothing with a lowblood in my vicinity."

"My blood isn't even that low! Just put the grubbing shirt on!"

"No."

"Ugh, fine! I'll leave the room until you're done."

"This will not be sufficient covering for my muscles."

This, of course, drove Kanaya to almost absolute madness. However, they managed to devise a tactic that involved making a robe completely from scratch there in the locker room. Kanaya thanked the heavens for her decision to bring extra muslin.

As the skaters left the locker room for the final time that day, Kanaya breathed a deep sigh. She brushed the eraser shavings off her pad of paper, revealing her sketches for the finished product of each outfit. This would all work out just fine.

Vriska pushed open the door, skates still donned and hair a mess. Kanaya looked up from her drawing, trying not to think too hard about how Vriska's appearance made her feel.

"How was practice?" Kanaya asked, attempting to be amiable.

"Fine, I guess. I've gotten really rusty on my quads." Vriska sat down on the bench and began untying her laces. "Equius seemed to like it."

"Do you mean that in a sarcastic way or an understating way?"

"Understating. The guy was sweating really hard. Sweating! It's grubbin' cold in there!" Vriska yanked one skate off of her foot.

"It seems like that isn't uncommon with him," muttered Kanaya.

"Was he getting all weird today?"

"Yes! He wouldn't shut up about how much of a lowblood I was."

"He's probably having a bad day. He does that to me, too. My blood is literally only one caste lower than his! What is his problem?"

"He is certainly… unique."

"You got that right." She freed her other foot from the remaining skate. "At least he saw most of my program. He can eye me up all he wants, but he'll never get with me. I think it intimidates him a little. It's good for him, right?"

"Right." Kanaya did her best to mask how she identified with that dilemma.

"Well, I should be going. The rink's closing soon." Vriska stood up and opened the door to the hallway. "See you, Kan." She closed the door briskly behind her.

"Thanks for offering to help," muttered Kanaya, casting the fabric-filled boxes an annoyed glance.

At times like this, she wondered why she adored Vriska so much.