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“Hmm… What do you think about this one?” March twirled slowly, sequined blue fabric swaying around her. She had a lot of fancy dresses, and not a lot of occasions to wear them. This one was a special gift from Mr. Yang, for her first birthday.
“Oh this one is perfect!” Pom-Pom was sitting on her bed, rocking gently with their hands on their feet. A stalwart companion in all things fashion, they had reviewed a dozen and a half dresses by now.
“Great!” She turned to look at her hat collection, did she have a matching one? Should she even wear a hat? “Thanks for your help as always, Conductor!”
“No problem!” With little effort, the small creature leapt from her bed and landed with a thud on the ground. “I don’t have much to do during the day. Where are you going again?” They were fixing their coat and hat.
“Blue Hour!” Her eyes filled with stars. “We were invited to a ball. A BALL. Can you imagine? Stelle didn’t want to go, of course, but I managed to convince her.”
It was going to be perfect. A delicate princess twirling on stage, held by her knight. All eyes on them, the perfect song playing, and hors d’oeuvres…
She watched herself carefully in the mirror, and followed Pom-Pom out of her room, looking for Stelle. She checked her usual spot in the main cabin, and she was gone.
“Hey, Miss Himeko?” She fiddled with one of the draping sleeves of her dress.
“Oh, March…” Himeko’s smile could have filled the entire room. “You just look stunning.”
She beamed back, blushing slightly. “Do you know where Stelle is? I wanted to show her.”
Pom-Pom called out from the other side of the car. “That miss Firefly called her for help with something! She should be down in… Golden Hour, I think?”
All at once she deflated. Of course she was with Firefly, why wouldn’t she be. She tried her best to hide it. “Thanks! I’ll message her!”
Himeko looked at her with an expression she didn’t want to see, and she quickly returned to her room. A mix of negative emotions washed over her as she closed the door behind her, and she slumped onto her bed. Why did she even think Stelle would care about her dress? She didn’t even care about this ball. She probably wouldn’t even go with her…
Tears formed in her eyes as she buried her face in her pillow. She’d never been jealous of someone like this before, and she was not enjoying it. Her whole body squirmed when she thought of Firefly, the way she held Stelle, the looks Stelle gave back to her, the… She felt nauseous.
Why did she even feel this way? It’s not like she and Stelle were dating. They were just close friends, that’s all they’d ever been, why was she feeling this way now? She grabbed her Pom-Pom and squeezed it tight.
She knew Stelle didn’t like her that way, and that was fine! She preferred being just friends, she didn’t even want to date her! But now, faced with the fact that she’d never get to. That someone else might…
“Maybe I just need to get over her?” She smoothed out the fur on the rabbit, and waited for a reply. “She’s over me, I guess I should be over her, now…”
She flopped back down, and sighed. “I should find someone else to go to the ball with. I know she doesn’t want to.”
She dragged herself out of bed, carefully stripping from the dress, to put on some casual clothes. She didn’t feel like effort anymore, but she still had to look nice. She grabbed one of her simple dresses, and a hair bow, and went out.
—
She’d never sat in a bar drinking away her suffering before. It was actually kind of fun and exciting! She imagined she was going through a divorce, the wife was taking everything, and on top of that, her boss was calling her back in for one more job, one more heist… She swirled her finger on the rim of the glass, like the tires of her future getaway vehicle.
Also, alcohol tasted bad. You’d think in the Dreamscape they’d be able to make alcohol taste like candy or something, but the bitter drinks the bars in Golden Hour served made her think otherwise. Or maybe people like the flavor?
She felt a bit woozy as she downed another glass. Is it possible to get drunk in the Dream? She hadn’t ever tried before.
The bartender saw her shudder and wince, and raised an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah it’s just- these drinks- alcohol. It’s so disgusting.” She made a face as she pushed away the glass.
“You’re ordering straight rum, of course it’s hard to drink.” His laughter came up like bubbles, and she was grateful the bar was mostly empty.
She took some solace in the fact that her blushing wouldn’t be that visible, with her face already pink from the alcohol. “I thought…” She didn’t want to explain. Admitting that she ordered “Rum on the rocks” because that’s what the girl in the heist movie would’ve done was… not something she cared to do. “Is there one that tastes good?”
There was a chuckle a few seats away. An Intellitron girl. Beautiful rose gold skin, delicately sculpted curly hair. Her expressionless face somehow seemed happy, in the light. “There are lots that taste good. Try ordering a ‘Fleeting Sunrise’, it’s my favorite.”
“Ah the ‘Fleeting Sunrise’!” The bartender grabbed a bottle of light from the back wall. “It’s a delicate mixed drink, very good for those new to alcohol.”
“Hmm… Alright!” She was getting excited now, she could hardly even remember why she came here in the first place.
It was impossible to follow his movements as he mixed the drink. Concepts and spirits and juices were shaking delicately in a cup, and a delicate bubbling liquid filled a wine glass in front of her. He placed some bubbles as a garnish, and she giggled. “Thank you!”
The first sip was like seeing the sun for the first time. She was at the beach with her friends, the sun rising briefly over the ocean, the world still cool. Seagulls cawed in the distance, and she sipped fruity soda with the sun on her body. Someone called her over to swim… Before she knew it, the glass was empty.
“Whoa.” She was gently returned to the bar seat, as she stared down at the cup.
The girl beside her giggled again. “You sure liked that one, huh?”
“It was incredible!” The girl’s dress was lovely, really. It hung delicately off her gorgeous body in all the right ways, fabric swirling to accentuate every curve. She blushed. “Can I have another one?”
The girl switched seats, landing directly next to March. “The second glass is never as good as the first, I’m afraid.” Her voice was as beautiful as every other part of her. “But now try ‘Forest Breeze’.”
March turned excitedly to the bartender, who just chuckled and started making it.
“I’m Elise, by the way.” She was staring right into her eyes, and her heart fluttered.
“March 7th.”
“’March 7th’… A name almost as lovely as you are.”
—
Every glass of something or other was like a dream come true. She and Elise took turns choosing ones from the menu, drinking, and comparing notes. She was so lucky to have found someone who so fully knew her stuff, and was so beautiful. They drifted closer as the time wore on, arms touching, one leg found its way on to another’s…
“Hey.” March said at last. Her breath tasted like alcohol. Her hand was touching Elise’s, their faces were so close. “Do you want to, um…” Her words caught in her throat. She couldn’t think of how to phrase the desire she had, and the need to get away from her thoughts of Stelle.
One of Elise’s perfect fingers pushed a hair out of her face. “I’ve got a place I’ve been renting just nearby.”
Both of them left their payment on the table, (the bartender had been making himself more and more scarce as the two girls got closer and closer) and left. March was anxious and giddy as she walked beside her date. She’d never done anything like this before. It’s not like she hadn’t ever slept with anyone, but the spontaneity of this, and the excitement…
Her mood fell as she thought about Stelle again, and she chased the thought from her mind.
Elise’s hotel room was small, as all hotel rooms in the dream were. Sleep was optional here, and most people wanted to party anyways, so hotels were mostly reserved only to those who desired a brief escape.
She thought about Stelle again, as Elise lead her to the bed, and kissed her for the first time. Why wasn’t this beautiful sculptured face Stelle’s? She felt ashamed immediately after thinking that. She had to move on.
She kissed her back, her arms wrapping around the warm metal body. A smooth hand brushed hair around her ears as she was kissed deeply, the hand found its way down her side, brushing against her chest…
March pulled back, gasping. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about Stelle doing this to her. This was stupid. She was so stupid. Every perfect delicate touch was wasted on her as she yearned for another.
“…March? Did I do something wrong?” Elise’s hand touched her face gently, cradling her cheek.
She hated the tears in her eyes, the embarrassment… and Firefly. And most of all, she hated that she hated these things.
And she hated leaving this woman waiting like this. She wanted this. Both of them wanted this.
“I… I don’t…” She couldn’t get the words out. Why couldn’t she just enjoy this?
Elise studied her face, and pulled back. She sat beside March, not touching her at all. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“It’s…” She fiddled with the hem of her dress. “It’s my… Roommate? Stelle.” She furrowed her brow. She supposed ‘roommate’ was the easiest descriptor.
“From that talent show?” Elise sounded a bit incredulous.
She thought for a second. “Oh, yeah!”
“You know,” She seemed a bit proud of herself. “I didn’t recognize you at first, but when you said your name was March 7th, I thought. ‘How many March 7ths can there be?’” She giggled. “You nameless are pretty well known right now.”
She wanted to beam with pride, but couldn’t muster it. “Yeah…”
March sighed, leaning back on her hands. “It’s just, I like her, and she doesn’t like me back.” It made her sick to say it out loud, and so explicitly. “I thought I’d come drown my sorrows like they do in movies, and when I saw you, so beautiful, I thought… ‘Here’s my chance! I’ll get over Stelle, and have a great time with this gorgeous woman!’
“But here I am, I still can’t stop thinking about her.” She looked away in shame.
Elise nodded slowly, without replying. She thought for a while, looking at March. “I don’t think we should do anything, here.”
March sat back upright quickly. “But!”
“Nope!” Elise waggled her finger teasingly at March. “You don’t want to do it.”
“Of course I want to do it, are you crazy? Just look at you!”
If Intellitrons could blush, she was doing it. “Thank you, but you don’t really. You’re making yourself miserable over it, and I won’t allow you to do something like that.”
March sunk into the bed. She was equal parts disappointed, and relieved.
The beds in Golden Hour were so soft… She didn’t realize how tired she was. “I…” She felt so embarrassed asking for anything after leading Elise on like she did. “I do really like you. And I do want to spend time with you.”
The girl seemed to smile down at her. “I like you too.”
“I’m so tired…” She felt like she could sleep in this bed for years. “Do you… Want to cuddle or something?” She felt so embarrassed asking for that out loud, but she could really use the physical touch and company. (And she really wanted to be with this girl.)
Elise gazed down at her as she brushed a hair out of her face. “That sounds just perfect.”
—
When she finally awoke several hours later, she wasn’t sure she’d ever slept that well in her life. A soft luxurious bed, a beautiful woman holding her in her arms the whole time… She could get used to this.
Stelle had left her several messages. Where was she? did she want to hang out? she had slice of cake and wanted to share it.
She hugged the phone to her chest. She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten how much she earnestly adored being friends with this woman. How on earth could she have let that get so clouded? She rolled over and wrapped her arms around Elise, hugging her tight. How she got so lucky to find a woman like this right when she needed it, she would never know.
“It’s time for you to head back?” Her fingers combed through March’s hair, and smoothed the sleeves of her dress.
“Yeah! I… Thank you!” She couldn’t stop smiling at her.
She climbed out of bed and grabbed her bag, and paused. “Hey um…” It was once again embarrassing to voice desire to someone like Elise. “Can I have your number? I might want to…” She blushed furiously.
Elise chuckled. “You’re cute when you’re shy. Hand me your phone.”
—
She jumped on Stelle when she finally saw her, hugging her tight. “Are you excited for the ball tonight? I’m SO excited.”
Stelle chuckled, watching her bounce around. “I’m looking forward to spending time with you.”
“Oh!” March was practically vibrating. “You have to see the dress me and Pom-Pom picked out! I’m going to be so beautiful.”
Stelle beamed as she was dragged towards the sleeping cabin. “I actually have an outfit too.”
March froze. “You picked out fancy clothes to wear??”
Stelle rubbed the back of her head, and blushed. “Um… Firefly helped pick out a suit for me. She was horrified when she heard I wasn’t going to dress up with you. She said you deserved so much more effort than that.”
A wave of emotions washed over her. Jealousy, anger, joy, love. Stelle was thinking about her while she was away? Firefly was thinking about her while she was away? She deserved more effort from Stelle?
A weight seemed to float off her shoulders, and she breathed in deep.
“I’m so looking forward to this ball.”