Emilia walks over with a variety of jars, and brushes in her arms putting an end to the conversation. She sets the makeup down onto a small table nearby before she looks at me and sighs slightly, “I love working with Succubus faces just as much as I hate working with them. You are going to have to move now.”

“You have a lot of experience doing makeup?” I ask to distract myself as Maya stands up without a fuss and drops the blanket back around me, and I can feel the immediate loss of heat from her.

“I perform wedding ceremonies,” She nods her head as she opens up one of the containers and picks up a brush, “So I often end up helping the brides prepare. Purse your lips.”

I follow her instructions and she moves the brush that is now dark red and she begins to paint my lips. When she is done I ask, “So you both love and hate working with Succubus faces?”

“I love working with them because you can make them even more enchanting,” she explains as she picks up a jar and another brush, “But if you do too much or pick the wrong colors, it really subtracts from their beauty more so than other races.”

“I see,” I nod to her as she leans in closer, and starts to apply a light powder to my cheeks, "Should I put on the undershirt before we put on too much makeup?"

"I designed it like a corset that ties in the front, so you can put in on before the dress," Maya speaks up, "I suppose that would make it more like an overcoat than a corset though? but it goes under the dress, and helps support your breasts so it makes more sense if I call it a corset." She seems rather confused about what to call it, but I suppose if she intends to sell it in her shop later it is understandable that she would give thought to what to call it.

She rests her chin between her thumb and finger and quietly continues "But it isn't really a corset at all. It doesn't squeeze the wearers abdomen and waist. So it doesn't control their figure, which means it would be wrong to call it a corset..." she pauses and lets out a tiny growl of frustration, "Gaaa~ can I just call it an undercoat? Perhaps if I thicken the design and properly line it... but that might make it give the illusion of a shapeless figure..."

…

About forty minutes later I drop my skirt back down as I reach the top of the stairs, and I find Alice waiting at a door on the left side of the hallway. I move towards her and she holds the door open for me.

I step into a large room with many windows, and I notice that there are also quite a few chairs, couches, supplies, and other things scattered about. There is also a long red couch sitting in the middle of the room facing towards us without anything else around it.

“We will have you pose over on the couch,” Alice closes the door behind us.

The others are all ready in the room chatting to each other, and I see Fiona poke her head and eyes just barely above the back of a chair. I follow her gaze and Talia is hiding behind a big blank canvas peeking around the side of it.

“Can I assume that first contact didn't go smoothly?” I ask as I glance between them as I move towards the center of the room.

“Hmm... Maybe you should summon one of the pixies to play with them,” Shiva suggests, “They might enjoy that.”

“How beautiful,” Maya complements me from her seat, and I can feel my face heat up slightly, before she turns to Emilia, “I'm still upset that you chased me out.” She stands up and starts to circle around me and her fingers flutter to the fabric.

She adjusts the shirt she made for me and smooths out a wrinkle and I can feel the warmth of her fingers through the soft fabric. She traces the vine patterns up my abdomen and she starts to adjust the top as well and I feel her fingers slip between the top and my breasts. She is very gentle as she adjusts my breasts slightly and she starts to go a bit red.

“You were an unhelpful distraction,” Emilia retorts as she looks me up and down, and Maya steps back and nods her head in satisfaction, “Though I will give you credit; the undergarment is a nice addition. Transparent enough to show tone, but covering enough to be considered tasteful.”

“Yeah,” Leyla nods her head, “It fits nicely and looks good on ya.”

I go sit on the couch to escape their compliments, and I ask, “So how do you want me to sit?”

Alice walks forward and silently looks at me while tilting her head back and forth. After a minute of silence she walks over to me and points more towards the middle of the couch, “Move over to here.”

I move over and throw another quick glance at the girls, “They are still having their standoff.”

...

I sigh again as I lay across the couch. Alice and Leyla walk back around from behind me apparently having finished adjusting the curtains to their liking again.

“I didn't think that I would be the first one to break,” I complain as I watch the girls silently stare each other down from across the room, “But my arm hurts, my butt has gone numb, and I'm rather hungry.”

“We only have an hour or so of adequate light left,” Alice glances at me as she sits back down in front of her canvas, “And then we can take a break for today.”

I throw a pleading glance towards Leyla but she just guiltily avoids making eye contact with me and picks up another brush. I look over at Maya and she has put her book down and is blushing hard, and when our eyes meet she blushes more and looks away.

“I was right,” I continue my complaints, “I have the hardest job.”

My whining is completely ignored as everyone resumes their work as before.

...

I stand in front of the door for a moment before I step back into the accursed room, and I almost complain that I can't even rest my head on the door since it might ruin my makeup. Leyla doesn't say anything from behind me and just patiently waits.

“Have you prepared yourself?” Shiva solemnly asks, but her tone is clearly teasing me.

“You abandoned me,” I accuse her as I straighten up and step back into the painting room to an interesting site. Emilia has both Talia and Fiona in her lap and is brushing their hair. They both look rather embarrassed and a bit pitiful at the same time, and I mumble “Should I even ask?”

Maya giggles and shakes her head as she watches the two of them and she whispers to me, “Sumi decided that the best way to bring them together was to put them into the same situation. She has been teasing them ever since she finished your makeup.”

“I see,” I nod my head and as I walk farther into the room I remember Shiva's suggestion. I pause, quickly scrawl a sigil, feed energy into it, and moments later a small frozen tear drops out of the center and starts to float in the air. The ice melts revealing a pixie unfolding her wings and she gives them a few tentative flaps before completely taking over staying afloat.

She looks as listless as ever and she slowly rubs her cheeks with her tiny hands while trying to wake herself up. Her little crystal dress sparkles in the light and she lets out a long, quiet yawn before turning her attention towards me.

I hear a few gasps but I ignore them as I instruct the pixie that is looking up at me with big tired eyes, “Go play with the children.”

She throws me a look like she can't believe that is why I summoned her before sighing slightly to herself and floating over to the girls. I walk over towards the sofa, and behind me I hear a slightly excited squeal and somebody jumps to the floor followed by another slightly slower one.

When I turn and sit I spot the girls following the pixie as she floats through the air just above their heads.

“A little to the left,” Alice instructs as she looks back and forth between her canvas and me.

…

“And finished,” Leyla sighs in relief and I roll over on to my stomach as my arm collapses from under me.

“Finally,” I sigh, “I'm going to go home, take a bath, and then nap.”

“How luxurious,” Shiva giggles.

I turn over and look at the girls. At some point they tired themselves out and fell asleep leaning against each other, Fiona has her head resting on Talia's shoulder and in turn Talia's head is propped up by Fiona's head, and they are in Emilia's lap as she naps as well. “That's what you should have painted,” I murmur.

“They are rather adorable together, aren't they?” Maya nods her head, before she looks back to me and continues, “But then again...”

“It's not bad,” Alice says and I turn towards her as she looks at Leyla's canvas and nods her head with a proud look in her eye, “Especially for your first proper piece. So what do you think of painting?”

“I think I prefer metal working,” Leyla responds with a sigh.

I roll around and stand back up after a moment, before I start towards the door. “I'm going to go get changed, and then head back first,” I mumble as I step back into the hallway and I hear a few calls of acknowledgment.

 

As I step back into the main hall I spot Maya standing next to the wall looking up to a painting. The setting sun casts a soft glow around her and she tilts her head slightly to the side. She turns her head as she hears the door close and she smiles at me as she tucks a loose strand of hair past her shoulder. I pause for a moment as I look at her.

“Just think,” Shiva sighs, “That is a sight that you could see every time you came home in the evening, or you could be the one smiling for her.”

Before I can think of a retort Maya steps over to my side close enough that our shoulders brush against each other.

“Is there something you needed?” I ask her after some silence, and she shakes her head.

“I thought that I would see you home,” she nods her head.

“I see,” I nod my head in response and move towards the cloak rack and she follows me keeping pace with me so that she remains at my side, “Which one is yours?”

“The blue one,” She points and I lift it from its hook and am immediately jealous at how soft the fabric feels and at the warm fleece lining it.

I pass it to her and she nods her head in thanks as I reach up and grab my ratty cloak. There is a gasp from my side and Maya tugs at the cloak in my hands. “This isn't suitable at all,” She immediately complains to me, “There isn't anyway that this would keep you warm, and the days are just going to get colder.”

“I-it's fine,” I mumble and she looks down at me skeptically, and after a moment I avert my gaze as I quickly pull it on, flip the hood up and grab the scarf that is still on the rack. I turn and head to the door and she follows me not even half a step behind me with a small sigh.

We step out into the cold air and I find my self rubbing my shoulders and I can feel Maya's gaze on me. I do my best to ignore her as well as Shiva's snickering as I walk towards the gate.

“You are leaving the dress here?” Maya asks me as we step out onto the street.

“Alice said that she wanted to make a couple of small modifications,” I nod my head, “And she offered to help me get ready on the day of the ball.”

“I wish I could go,” She sighs in response.

“You want to go?” I ask her, “I've personally never enjoyed them that much.”

“Normally I don't care to go,” she sighs and then continues under her breath like she is talking to herself, “But there is something I really wanted to do this time. Anyway It is being held on an important day for the temple and I had already promised to help.”

“Do you often help at the temple?”

She shakes her head with a smile, “I'm not a priestess, but I sometimes help Sumi with preparations for larger events.”

We turn down another street and there is a large crowd blocking the street. I stretch up on my toes to try and look over their backs but I can't see anything, so I look up the road and find it to be blocked all the way down the path back home.

“What is going on?” I question out loud.

“Ah,” Maya gasps slightly in realization, “I heard that there was going to be a march in honor of the victims of the ghoul attack. I didn't know that they were going to do it today though.”

“How strange,” I sigh, “Should we try and find a way around?”

“Don't you think we should stay and show our respects?” she asks me in return.

“The dead don't care,” I complain to Shiva.

“The living often do though,” Shiva retorts.

“Is something wrong?” Maya gently whispers.

I bite my lip and turn away from her concerned face and mumble, “It's cold.”

“That's not even a good excuse by your standards,” Shiva laughs and before I can reply a pair of slender arms slide around my shoulders. At the same time I feel Maya step up and press herself against my back, nestling us together as she wraps her cloak around me, closing me in.

“Is this acceptable then?” she sweetly murmurs in my ear.

I don't know how to respond to her so I look down as I wait for the crowd to disperse. She apparently takes my silence as consent as she makes no move to separate us, and I can feel her breasts rise and fall as she breathes.

“She is very nicely shaped,” Shiva comments, “Don't you agree?”

“Shh,” I hiss as I can feel Maya's curves press into me, sharing her warmth. “We should at least move out of the way,” I mumble after a few minutes.

“I don't think we are bothering anyone,” she yawns slightly and rests her chin in between my ears.

After at least a half an hour the crowd begins to clear up, and I reluctantly step back into the cold and we start to move again.

We reach the steps leading to the door of the house and I turn and look to her and ask, “Would you like to come in?” I notice that while standing on the top step I can look her in the eye without looking up.

She smiles but shakes her head, “I would love to, but I have to prepare dinner at home.”

“Then I wish you a good evening,” I nod my head to her.

Still smiling she nods her head and quickly steps in and gently kisses my cheek. “Now we are even,” she giggles . Before I can form a response she leans back in and gently presses our lips together. Her lips are soft and warm against mine, almost like I am sitting in front of a comfortable fire. When she leans back she is blushing slightly and she runs her tongue along her upper lip, “And now I am in the lead. Have a good evening.”

She turns on her heel and starts to walk away while humming to herself and her tails sway back and forth happily.

…

…

“How long are you going to stand there stunned?” Shiva gasps in between laughter, “That cute butt is already well out of sight.”

“T-that was surprising,” I mumble as I unlock the door and step into the house.

“Was it a bad surprise?” she asks and then continues, “I don't think so.”

I lock the door behind me and go lay down in the sitting room and pull a blanket over me and try to fall asleep, as I try to get her smiling lips off my mind.