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Juliette looks in the mirror and knows she looks good. It’s not even egotistical, at this point, just fact.
Elinor had put her hair up painstakingly, not a single strand out of place, earlier on, and left with instructions to not lay a finger on her head
She usually felt so out of place in her own skin, it would take numerous shopping trips and even with the help of Ben or Elinor, the clothes she chose didn’t always suit her
But this was prom. And even Juliette knew you had to go all out for prom.
She tried it on beforehand, of course, many times, but now that it's the night of it feels different. She spins in the mirror and watches the cloth react.
Usually, Juliette was not a big dress-up person. She still shuddered at the thought of the beauty and the beast number she wore during her consecration ceremony gone wrong
But here, standing awkwardly in Ben’s bedroom, admiring the silk makes Juliette feel less uncomfortable in her own skin.
She had chose the dress with Elinor’s assistance. It was a soft baby blue, and incredibly silky. The material clung with enough resistance to not be entirely see through which Juliette was thankful for
Usually, Juliette stuck with the same sort of style. Fitting shirts hidden with layers of vests and jumpers, an excuse to hide herself away from the world
But this was prom, so she had finally decided on a tight fitting, completely out of her comfort zone garment which left little to imagination
She's prepared for it to be a magical night: everyone's already told her that it would be, her parents gushing about how it was her chance to make the family proud
More so, it was a chance to dress up with Calliope. Her girlfriend had point blank refused to even hint at what he was wearing, apparently now a stickler for tradition (as Apollo had teasingly mentioned, not seeing your partner on the day of the event was a wedding tradition, not prom)
So Juliette had got dressed at Bens instead, wanting a more neutral ground than the Fairmount house. Calliope was still not entirely comfortable around her family, and it was a nice change in scenery from the Burns house
As she descended the staircase, Juliette contemplated what Cal would be wearing. The event was strictly formal attire, the invite had promised - which meant suit and tie, or dress code
Either option sounded pretty great with her. Cal in a dress, or a suit. Maybe even a tux. Juliette had considered wearing a suit, not something boring or masculine but a fitted look
Elinor had shot that down quickly when she had spotted the dress. And as many things she could say about her big sister, lack of taste was not one of them
The dress was gorgeous, and not too extravagant compared to some of the others she had tried and turned down.
Juliette picks up her heels, something else she wasn’t used to, as she passes by the door, careful as she bends. Her coordination was bad enough, and the heels did little to help this
She hears Bunny and Ben stop talking the second she leaves her room. They can hear her coming closer, the floor creaking just so.
“Oh, Juliette!” Bunny crosses the hallway and puts an arm around her and Juliette teeters on the last step precariously, almost face planting into the floor
Bunny grabs her shoulders, stopping her from smashing her face into the wood. She beams up at Juliette pulls her into a tight hug before standing back, hands on her shoulders and examining her outfit with observant eyes
“You look wonderful! Wow, all of that time hiding behind lanky jumpers” Juliette laughs awkwardly, and Bunny guffaws like she had said the funniest thing imaginable
Bunny is .. something. Brutally honest is probably how Juliette would describe her. Verging on zero filter. The woman just spurts out everything that comes to mind and she fears as much as respects it
“Ignore her Jules, you look very dashing” Ben joins his mother at her side, and flashes a signature smile
He looks wonderful too, a dark navy tux seeming very low-key. Much more than Juliette had anticipated. But the baby pink tie adds his own spin to the look
”As do you Benjamin” she accepts his hug, smiling into the warmth of the embrace. Before they even separate, Bunny is moving with the skill of the paparazzi - iphone at the ready
”Smile” she orders, snapping away picture after picture. Juliette’s jaw begins to ache at the smiling, and Ben finally bats the camera away. “Enough mom!” And Bunny finally relents
Her excitement, as annoying as it may be, is contagious. Juliette didn’t feel excited for prom initially. She wasn’t big on parties or dances in general, and this seemed like a big, social party
But the buzz in the air was promising, and she hoped the night was even somewhat enjoyable. Even more so, when her girlfriend finally arrived
Juliette snuck a glance at the clock on the wall. Fifteen minutes until Calliope would arrive. She shouldn’t feel nervous, logically.
They had faced harder things than a school prom. Enemy families, the whole forbidden nature of hunter and ‘monster’. And they had come through together, finally finding complacency and normalcy
Nevertheless, Juliette was anxious about how the night would turn out. What if Calliope didn’t like her dress. What if she accidentally spilled her drink on someone. So many things could go wrong
Ben, as if hearing her internal monologue, squeezes her hand. “It’ll all go fine Letty. Don’t panic” and his words are comforting, she knows he won’t be far away to help if anything actually did go wrong.
But they don’t manage to settle the ball of nerves in the pit of Juliette’s stomach. Time seems to drag, even as Bunny still takes a whole album worth of photos
The door bell finally rings, and Juliette steadies herself against her best friend, arm gripping Ben’s arm tight enough that she’s surprised it doesn’t bruise
He half leads, half drags her into the front of the house, but Bunny gets there first - almost jumping on the balls of her feet with excitement
“You would think she’s the one going to prom” Ben murmured and Juliette snorted at the truth of his words
”I don’t know why she’s so excited for Calliope to appear” he continues, flinching when Juliette elbows him in the ribs.
“Ouch! Not like that Jules. I mean she’s more excited to see your girlfriend than to see me!” He gestures flamboyantly to himself with waving hands
And she can’t deny that. Bunny does seem very excited to see Calliope. “Maybe she’s sick of seeing your face” Juliette teases and begins to carry on when the door opens and all of the breath is sucked from her lungs
This is how to kill a legacy vampire, Juliette has unanimously decided. This must be. There is no other explanation for it
Because there is nothing that has ever made Juliette feel so lost for words and breathless, as seeing Calliope Burns stand before her, clad in a white suit
The suit is tight fitted, which she appreciates. The blazer is lose in comparison, the sleeves hanging off CalliopeMs shoulders. But it works, effortlessly for her
There is no tie, and Juliette swallows hard when she notices that there is no shirt either. The blazer is tightened enough to not completely reveal everything, and the look balances casual with formal
They don’t match, colour wise, but Juliette likes this. They don’t always need to match, and certainly don’t match - personality or situation wise
One of the strengths of their relationship is their differences, and their outfits reflect that.
All she can think, is how good the suit looks.
This, is what she had not planned for. Of course it is Calliope, so she would look great in anything she wears. But Juliette had anticipated being able to actually speak to her girlfriend
Instead she stands - gulping like a fish out of water, unable to draw her eyes away for a second
Calliope doesn’t seem to mind the attention though, and when she manages to calm down, Juliette realises that she isn’t much better, eyes roaming her blue dress hungrily
They manage to look up from the outfits and catch each other’s eye. She feels almost shy, standing there in Ben’s house, wearing the silky dress
“Hi” Juliette finally manages to breathe out, ignoring Ben’s chuckle at how raspy it comes out. Calliope snaps out of her daze, lips quirking into a smirk. “Hi”
Then she takes a step forward, and another. They fall together easily, their bodies fitting together like a jigsaw
Calliope’s arms circle her waist, and Juliette winds her own around her shoulders. They communicate wordlessly, and stand for a moment in their own bubble
Bunny coughs loudly, Ben complaining at his mother. They part, but Calliope keeps her hands rested on Juliette’s waist
”You look ...” she trails away, and Juliette can already feel herself growing red. “Amazing” is what Calliope settles on
”So do you .. wow” is all she can manage. Clicking sounds interrupt her thoughts, and she looks up to Bunny waving her iphone at the couple, snapping away like there is no tomorrow
“Seriously mom?”
Bunny raises her hands. “Just trying to capture the night! I’ll give you two some time alone” she winks, actually winks at Juliette then drags Ben by the elbow into the kitchen
Calliope laughs, and the sound is warm, melodic. Juliette can’t help but join in. “A suit, huh?” She asks, hands stroking the arms of the material softly
”Mom took me shopping, couldn’t resist” Calliope explains
”Smart of her” Juliette retorts, and Cal chuckles at this
”You ready for this?” Calliope asks, offering her arm and Juliette takes in a deep breath. “As I’ll ever be” and she steps out onto the porch, then into the car with Calliope at her side.