"I'm really not sure about this Ronnie." Valeria said from her seat on an ornate chair as Veronica adjusted a lipstick.
"Don't worry Val, I know what I'm doing." Veronica replied with a smile as she leaned over and began to carefully apply a thick coat of scarlet to Valeria's lips. "We didn't always study holodisks and practice hand-to-hand in the archives."
Valeria touched her tongue to her lips and made a face. "It's just that I've never worn makeup before. Do you really think it's necessary?"
"Listen you." Veronica said with mock severity as she stood and put her fists on her hips. "This is our only chance to dress up and you're going to take advantage of it whether you like it or not."
Valeria sighed and reflected on the events of the past few hours. Veronica had been silent as they sat at a corner table until Valeria asked if she was okay. Veronica nodded curtly, then sighed and turned to Valeria with a small smile. "I bet the King wouldn't have been nearly so forgiving if you hadn't been there."
"What do you mean?" Valeria had asked.
"He didn't lose any face when his men were beaten by a seven-foot mutant gladiator."
"Oh." Was all Valeria could say before a man in a tan overcoat and dark glasses approached their table. After a polite introduction he handed Valeria a gold plastic card and informed her that it would allow passage through House's Securitrons. He hurriedly left the Wrangler, and Valeria and Veronica soon followed. Soon they came to a heavy steel gate surrounded by scaffolding that halted further progress down Las Vegas Boulevard. A Securitron rolled toward them on its thick single wheel. The towering Robot halted in front of Valeria and tilted forward slightly as if to see her better. The stylized image of a police officer flickered on its main screen as its electronic voice resonated from speakers set within its boxlike torso.
"Submit to a credit check or present your passport!"
Valeria held up the card to the robot's screen, but the machine remained silent for a moment before announcing in a robotic monotone.
"Scanning…Scanning…Facial recognition submitted. Passport accepted. Have a nice day."
The hulking robot rolled backwards to allow them to pass, and it and the other Securitrons resumed scanning the street as the gate rolled open and Veronica led the way into the Strip.
Veronica had stared with a grin of delight at the towering neon signs as the sound of pre-war big bands filled the air. Valeria was no less impressed, but noted the cracked sidewalks and fading colors revealing the decay of decades of neglect. Valeria had seen impressive sights on her long journey, but nothing like the gaudy opulence of the Strip. The first casino they passed was the towering Lucky 38. Unlike the other casinos, the broad flashing staircase was empty except for two Securitrons flanking the entrance. Valeria noticed even drunk passer-by avoided the empty stairs.
Even in the heat of the day, the Strip was busy with people moving between casinos or haggling with the Vendors working behind small tables in the shadows. Valeria saw mostly spring and casual attire with some rougher outfits of hide, flannel and denim mixed in. The only uniforms she saw were the crimson cloaks and tunics of Legion officers as they strode about their business. Almost everybody stopped to stare as Valeria passed, most with expressions of astonishment, some turning away with disgust or fear. Accustomed to reactions to her bizarre appearance, Valeria didn't return any glances as she led Veronica through another gate to the Ultra Luxe Casino.
The Ultra Luxe was a towering art deco structure of dark stone accented with strategically placed yellow lights. A marble fountain shooting plumes of water into the air dominated the courtyard at the bottom of the illuminated steps leading to a set of double doors. Valeria stopped to stare at the fountain. Water was too precious a commodity in the wastes to use for decoration and the extravagance was startling. Veronica stared at the fountain as well for a moment, then impatiently tugged Valeria's arm. Valeria followed Veronica up stairs of thick glass illuminated by a flashing sequence of fluorescent light intended to draw visitors to the gilded entryway.
The doors opened directly into the casino, a sunken chamber coolly illuminated by lights hidden behind pillars and leafy floral arrangements. Soft classical music played from hidden speakers as the two women looked about the marble lined walls. Suddenly Chauncey arrived to greet them. He politely welcomed them to the Ultra-Luxe, and then just as politely asked them to turn in their weapons at the reception desk while apologizing for the necessary inconvenience. Veronica and Valeria were soon placing their weapons on a mahogany desk while a receptionist in a white evening gown inventoried them. Soon after Chauncey escorted them across the casino floor to a lushly carpeted hallway leading to a set of heavy wooden doors. They opened silently at his touch and he took them up a flight of stairs to a series of suites off of a main foyer. He selected a door, opened it then stepped aside to allow them to enter.
Valeria and Veronica found themselves in a windowless room softly illuminated by fluorescent lights and decorated with dark wooden furniture and potted ferns.
"I will have a cart left outside the door for your…clothes." Chauncey announced. "Your dinner attire will be delivered shortly so in the meantime enjoy your stay at the Ultra-Luxe. Complimentary toiletries and cosmetics are provided, and dinner will be served in the White Society banquet hall at seven." Chauncey nodded then backed out of the room and closed the door.
Veronica clapped her hands with delight and leaped on the bed. She stretched luxuriously then giggled.
"This is so wonderful!" She announced with a grin. "Val, you have to try this!"
Valeria smiled, turned away, and started to remove her armor. "We might as well get clean first." She said as she dropped her armor pieces to the floor.
Veronica stared at Valeria's broad back while she undressed. In their tiny apartment in Westside, privacy had been a luxury they had little of. Valeria always turned her back when Veronica got undressed, even though she had never asked her to. Veronica found the consideration touching, and only felt a little guilty that she always snuck a look when it was Valeria's turn. The huge woman's armor didn't cover much, but Veronica had become curious about her friend's bizarre appearance. Her personal taste ran toward leggy brunettes, but she had to admit that there was something oddly attractive about Valeria. She just couldn't decide if she was just getting used to her, or if Valeria's personality was influencing her perceptions. As Veronica got to know the huge woman, she began to see her as a gentle giant. Valeria could be intimidating when she tried, but mostly she was quiet and surprisingly considerate.
"You use the bathroom first." Veronica announced as she covered her eyes before Valeria turned around. Valeria nodded and padded across the thick carpet to the bathroom. She closed the door and looked about the marble lined facility, noting the unstained toilet, sink and a claw footed bathtub. She looked back at the door and sighed. She had observed Veronica's shyness early on and decided not to pry. She felt that if Veronica trusted her enough to confide in her she would. Her own appearance had made her very self-conscious for a long time, so she sympathized with Veronica's reticence.
She approached the tub and turned the hot water spigot, half-expecting it to be a decoration. To her surprise, not only did water pour out with some force, it also quickly warmed to the touch. Feeling inexplicably guilty about indulging in such extravagance, Valeria fetched a towel monogrammed with the letters UL, as well as a bar of soap smelling of lavender. Wetting the towel in the water, she crouched in the tub and proceeded to scrub herself. When she finally felt she had gotten off the worst of the grime, she finally filled the tub with hot water and settling into it. It was a tight fit, and she had to drape her knees over the edge get her upper body partly submerged. For the first time since she had left her home in Vault 101, Valeria allowed herself to relax and luxuriate in the moment.
Soon the water began to cool and with a sigh Valeria pulled herself out of the tub, picked up a towel, and began to scrub herself dry. Finally she held the towel to her front and pushed the bathroom door open. Veronica was standing with her back to the bathroom wearing a white formal dress that left one of her shoulders bare. She was humming and twisting from side to side to see the folds of the dress swish about her legs. Realizing the door had opened, Veronica started than turned to face Valeria who was watching her with eyes wide in astonishment.
Veronica's head was bare.
Veronica smiled until she saw Valeria's stare and hesitantly touched a strand of her short brown hair.
"The hood really clashed with the dress." She explained. "Isn't this incredible! I love dresses! They make me feel like a woman."
"Are you…okay?" Valeria asked with a look of concern.
Veronica grinned and opened her mouth to offer a sarcastic remark then looked into Valeria's eyes. Her smile faded and she allowed her nervousness to show as she absently touched her hair again. "It's easier when it's my decision." She finally said before grinning and pointing at the bed.
"They brought both our dresses! Come on Val, put it on!"
Valeria lifted the mound of satin fabric from the bed and looked at it in confusion. "I've never worn a dress in my life. How do I put it on?"
"Oh that's easy." Veronica said as she took the dress from Valeria's hand. "Turn around and I'll help."
Soon Valeria was dressed and Veronica stood back to appraise her friend. Valeria looked down as the voluminous smoke-gray fabric feeling as self-conscious as the day she had been given her armor by the inventor Moira Brown.
"Wow." Veronica finally said.
"I look ridiculous." Valeria complained. "With my arms uncovered I look like a man in a dress."
"Not with those boobs you don't." Veronica replied shaking her head. "Honestly, how can you be so top-heavy with no body fat?" Before Valeria could try to answer Veronica interrupted.
"No, you don't look traditionally 'feminine', but you're something completely new and really…striking."
"I'm grotesque."
"No you're not!" Veronica snapped with emotion that made Valeria's mouth close with surprise. Then Veronica smiled and added. "It does need something else, so I think we'll try those complimentary cosmetics!"
"Make-up?" Valeria said almost fearfully. "Ronnie, I've never…"
"Worn make up before, I know." Veronica said dismissively. "Now sit down while I get everything."
Soon Valeria found herself submitting to Veronica's ministrations as she brushed her hair, applied lipstick, and added highlights to her eyes. She lifted one of Valeria's hands and stared intently at her nails.
"Hmm, your fingernails are naturally dark and they complement your dress and hair. A little gloss for highlights and I think that's all the manicure you'll need."
When Veronica was finally finished she surveyed her handiwork, than picked up a wooden box from the bed.
"They gave us some jewelry, and I think it would be just the thing for you Val."
Valeria opened her mouth to speak but Veronica said. "I know, you don't wear jewelry either. Just get with the moment will you? Gee, for someone who walks around in an iron bikini you're awful boring."
When Veronica finally clipped a pair of ornate earrings on, she stepped back and nodded. "That's it. Stand up and move around a bit." Valeria did as Veronica suggested, swaying awkwardly as she looked down at herself.
"Hmm, try striking a pose and smiling a little." Veronica said with a frown.
Valeria took a deep breath, then straightened and turned her head toward Veronica with a small smile.
"Wow." Was all Veronica said as she stared at Valeria.
"Is it okay?" Valeria asked frowning.
"More than okay." Veronica said shaking her head. "Nobody will be looking at me, and that suits me fine." She turned and approached the bed where she picked up a large pair of high-heeled shoes. "I'm betting you've never worn these before either. Why don't you practice in them while I get cleaned up?" Valeria took the shoes and looked at them quizzically.
"How did they get clothes in my size so quickly" Valeria wondered aloud.
"This place caters to the whims of the rich." Veronica replied with a snort of laughter. "I'll bet a lot of the men around here like to lock themselves in their rooms and play dress up."
"Oh." Was all could say as Veronica entered the bathroom giggling and shaking her head.
Valeria sat on the bed in a rustle of fabric, then with a frown stood and smoothed the back before sitting again. She knew she was about to be offered to the patrons of the Ultra-Luxe as a freak and oddity, but for Veronica's sake she would face the inevitable humiliation. She looked at the door of the bathroom and wondered at Veronica's reaction to her appearance. She had been genuinely impressed, a reaction Valeria wasn't used to. For the first time, she wished she had a mirror. Valeria never sought her reflection. She cut her hair simply to keep it out of her way, and wore little else save her armor.
Then she wondered about Veronica's willingness to remove her hood. What was it about this circumstance that made her able to face the world without it? Valeria had never seen her hair before, and now knew the hood didn't hide any disfigurements. She had always suspected it wasn't vanity that made Veronica hide her hair, and now she was certain it was something far more complicated. She hoped Veronica would be okay. She desperately needed her friend's brash confidence as she faced the ordeal of a society event. At that thought she looked again at the shoes, and with a sigh bent to put them on.