"YANG! HELP!" Ruby screamed from the bathroom as she tried to get her dress on. She'd liked what it looked like from the projection, but she hadn't exactly been expecting it to be so difficult to put together to make it look right. Somehow, she'd managed to get the main part of it on correctly since it was just another corset, but that was where her luck had ended. As it turned out, the black mesh that was to cover her shoulders and help keep the breast cups up, was a piece completely separate from the dress that she'd tried on via digital projection. Beside that was the bow that looked easy enough to put on but was about half an inch too large, making it fall low enough on her hip to make it uncomfortable. She'd found points along the bottom of the mesh that obviously connected to something, but Ruby couldn't find nor feel anything on her main dress to connect them to. "YANG!"
"ALRIGHT ALREADY! I'M COMING! SHEESH!" Yang called back from the other room. She'd already donned a sparkling gold dress that had randomly showed up along with a somewhat rude note. The dress looked exotic - probably a style from Vacuo - with an odd cut along the bottom that rose and fell like a slanted wave. The whole thing sparkled an almost blinding gold when it reflected the bright fluorescent light forcing anyone looking directly at her to avert their gaze. Ruby quickly looked at the counter of the bathroom as the door opened and she caught a flash in the mirror thanks to her sister. Even in her peripheral vision the dress was disorienting.
"Where'd you even get that? And is it legal to even wear?" Ruby asked rubbing her eyes as she moved out of the way of the mirror.
"Oh, I won it in a bet." Yang said as if the answer had been obvious the entire time. "Anyway, let me see what the problem is."
Ruby waited as her sister carefully inspected first the mesh then the fabric of her dress to find where it hooked up. After several long minutes of inspection, she started prodding at bits of the fabric along Ruby's lower back.
"Got it!" Yang exclaimed in triumph as she separated the inside of the dress from the outside to find the stitching made of something that separated as it was drawn apart, but didn't appear to be ripped. She carefully inserted the proper connection of the mesh and the fabric seemed to melt together as she closed it. "And damn this must have been expensive. It's got automatically stitching thread along the top."
"Uh… what?" Ruby said, not understanding a word of why Yang was impressed.
"Basically it stitches up automatically after you separate it. It's activated by aura so only aura users can utilize it. I've never actually seen it myself though." Yang explained as she draped the rest of the mesh over her sisters shoulders. She worked her way around the dress, connecting the mesh, Yang started humming to herself. "It's been a while since you needed my help with something."
"Well, that's cause I've grown up! I do drink lots of milk, you know!" Ruby replied indignantly, thinking Yang was making fun of her. Ruby noticed her sister's smile as she came around the front.
"I sort of miss the old days sometimes." Yang said with the air of an old man reminiscing. "Like when you used to get me to read you stories or tuck you in or dye your hair or-"
"I get it!" Ruby blushed thinking of everything she used to ask her sister to help with. "Maybe then you'll let me comb your hair like you used to."
Yang winced. The last time she'd allowed that was just after Ruby had learned of her semblance. To say it was a painful ordeal was an understatement. "Yeah… on second thought I'll keep my memories happy, and without a broken Ruby."
"Sounds good. I'll still ask for help when I need it though." Ruby said, understanding that Yang liked helping her with things.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, little sis." Yang replied with a grin as she finished connecting the last of the mesh fabric. She picked up the bow and inspected it carefully just as she'd done to Ruby's dress. She quickly hung it around Ruby's waist and tightened it properly with a slight tug. "There. Done!"
Ruby stepped away from her sister and looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was even more beautiful now than it had been when it was a projection. The dark red shone bright where the light hit it, creating a sort of shifting shadow as the dress moved. The dark mesh blended with the dress at times while contrasting brilliantly at others. Her skin beneath showed through, yet was covered as she liked it to be. The skirt came down the exact same length as her combat skirt while still making the dress look strikingly mature in comparison to anything else she owned. It was in truth the most amazing thing she'd ever worn in her life.
"Wow…" She breathed as she slowly turned to take in the back. Her sister smiling as Ruby's shocked face marveled at herself in the mirror.
"You know, suddenly I want you to stay home tonight." Yang grinned, making Ruby jump and spin.
"No! I really wanna go! Please?" Ruby forgot about her sister's shining dress and stumbled as she accidentally blinded herself.
Yang chuckled as she caught her sister before she hit the floor. "Don't worry. Just don't go bringing any guys home, okay?"
"Wha-?" Ruby froze.
"Cause I'd hate to have to send someone to the hospital." Yang clarified.
"Whatever. Like anyone would even look at me." Yang raised an eyebrow in question and Ruby continued. "You know, cause you'd blind them all first."
"Is it really that bad?" Yang asked moving to look in the mirror. She immediately turned away and blinked rapidly. "Okay. I get it. I'll change."
"First good idea I've heard all day!" Blake called from the other room.
"Oh shut up!" Yang called back as Ruby left Yang to change outfits.
She reentered the room to find Blake in her clothes, ready for the evening. Blake wore a simple black dress that fell to just below her knees. Nothing screamed that it was special, and it most definitely wouldn't stand out in a crowd, but for the quiet faunus it was perfect.
"You look nice." Blake said over the spine of her book as she turned a page.
"Thanks. So do you." Ruby replied.
"So just so we're clear, stick to Weiss at the party okay?" Blake instructed.
"Um… can I ask why?" Ruby asked, confused as to why Blake was bringing anything up.
"Let's go with… you're the one who invited her." Blake replied with a slight shrug.
"Alright…" Ruby knew she wouldn't get much more out of her teammate, so she switched gears. "Speaking of… where'd Weiss go?"
"I think she said something about Pyrrha." Blake responded. "But she said she'd be back before we leave."
"Alright… think I have time to grab a few cookies?" Ruby asked already edging to the door.
"Probably not." Blake responded after glancing at the time.
"That means maybe yes!" Ruby zoomed out of the room leaving a trail of rose petals in her wake. She wanted to get a few more cookies in before the new year and she'd just hope Weiss took a little bit longer to get ready.