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Nelli G has been working long and hard on getting her movie made. So far as she’s concerned, this is the biggest and most important project she’s ever had a hand in creating. Petranilla Feliz’s story is finally going to be known. More than that, it’s going to be on the big screen. It’s the perfect tribute to her legacy. Nelli feels enormously proud of this, but it’s not quite over yet.
The date of the premiere is approaching quickly. Nelli knows that she needs a fabulous dress for the red carpet - the best she has ever made. She wants to look on the outside like the queen she feels like on the inside. Nothing less than spectacular for the Baron of Hollywood. She decides that she needs roses and gold. Golden roses. With this as her theme, she begins her design.
Nelli sketches corsetry, to accent and elevate her figure, classic and feminine. She details roses to appear to fall in a line from her bust down the skirt and away to the side, as if her body were emitting the blossoms herself and she were allowing them to fall, petals, thorns and all, to the red carpet that will be beneath her feet. The skirt is going to be full, layered and voluminous. She wants nothing but the finest fabrics. She’ll have unique, custom-made golden jewellery, also depicting roses, and makes a note to have well-made replicas of these pieces made to sell in her Thorn boutique. Nelli works for hours on the designs before handing them to her assistants.
“These need to be ready for the premiere,” she tells them.
“Yes ma’am,” says one assistant obediently.
The second assistant pauses to have a closer look at the plans. “Um…”
Nelli arches an eyebrow. It’s been a long time since anyone has questioned her. “Yes?”
“These designs are…” the assistant hesitates, wanting to keep their job. “They’re beautiful, Miss Griffith, but they’re… very complicated. I’m not sure that they’ll be ready in time for the premiere… perhaps a less complicated design would…” The assistant trails off, withering under the glare of their boss.
Nelli’s Beast scratches angrily at her insides at this insult, but she quietly counts to ten to calm herself and avoid lashing out.
“Please, just… do your best to get it as close as you can, darling,” Nelli says, keeping her voice sweet despite the tension in her body. “I know that time is limited, but you must understand that this premiere is extremely important to me and I need to look absolutely perfect.” Despite her efforts, she cannot help but grit her teeth on her words.
The assistants gulp in unison and begin talking over each other to placate their boss. “Yes, ma’am! We’ll do our very best! Do not worry about anything! We’ll get it done!”
“Good! Excellent.” Nelli shoos them away. She turns with a soft sigh to gaze out her window at the expensive view she has from her private Hollywood studio. She can’t help but miss the time when she used to make all of her dresses and jewellery herself. Part of her will forever bristle at having to rely on others to complete her art for her.