Dino’s plan was flawless, except for the problem of time constraints, so everyone who was present at the meeting was split into teams so that they could all prepare in time. Danni and Jenny were in charge of keeping Chero busy, and making sure she was ready for party without giving anything away. They were dropped off at the nearest mall, where Chero had been called to meet them as well.
“Wait, so what do we need to get her?” Danni asked, not completely clear on the plan for their little team.
“A make-over!” Danni raised an eyebrow. “You know, a dress, some jewellery, shoes and stuff.” Danni nodded.
“So until she gets here?” Jenny rolled her eyes at Danni’s over-eagerness.
“We can’t go anywhere because then she’d never be able to find us.”
“Who’d never be able to find you,” someone piped up, the voice coming from behind them. Danni and Jenny spun around – Danni nearly falling over – coming face-to-face with Chero. She looked visibly better than she had been in the morning, not that Jenny and Danni would have known that, although she was still lacking a distinct light in her eyes.
“You, silly!” Jenny laughed, wrapping Chero in a hug. Danni joined in and they all separated on Jenny’s call that they all needed to hurry up.
“Why did you two invite me here anyway?” Danni tutted.
“Early Christmas gift ‘cause we feel like treating you.” Chero managed a smile in response to the fact that she was being treated, but it was evident that it had nothing to do with it being a Christmas gift. Jenny managed to catch it, and she wrapped Chero’s arm in her own and began dragging her down the hallway.
“And we’re gonna start you off with a really, really pretty dress!” Chero yelped as the pair dragged her past a few different stores before Jenny finally decided on one. Danni ran off into the back of the store, chasing a dress she saw would suit Chero very well as Jenny directed the brunette to the change-rooms.
“Whoa! Jenny, hey, stop, I don’t need a dress!” Jenny laughed, pulling a pale purple dress off the shelf for herself.
“Yeah you do. Everyone loves having a pretty dress once in a while.”
“Well, that’s not important. You guys don’t need to buy me one!” Chero got out of her forcibly-assigned seat and examined a dress herself, her eyes going wide as dinner plates at the price. “I mean it! These are expensive!” Danni whipped around the corner, a pale golden dress poking around her back.
“Expensive? Where’s your Christmas Spirit?” Chero flinched visibly. Danni and Jenny shared a quick glance before they both shoved Chero into the change-room and tossed the dress over the door they held closed on her. “You try this on and if you don’t like it, we promise we’ll leave right after this!” Chero only let out an exaggerated huff, but didn’t protest further. Jenny and Danni flopped onto the benches provided outside to those waiting for people changing.
“Yeah, Hime was right. This is really not okay,” Jenny whispered, her smile falling into a frown.
“Dino’s plan will work! Cheer up wifu,” Danni sang in response, leaning on Jenny’s shoulder.
“Awww, hubbu-” Everyone in the shop jumped at a pair of screams from outside.
“Gangway!”
“We’re comin’ through, so you better move!” Wide, shocked brown eyes stared as a blonde and a brunette sped past the display windows on Segways, with people scrambling and diving to get out of the way while they cackled maniacally.
“… Was that Kiki and Mocha just now?” Chero managed between a shuffling of silk and cloth. Danni and Jenny only squeaked. “Okay then…”
It was her third twirl. She was absolutely in love with the dress; its pale golden sheen that made her brunette curls look as if they had strands of gold embedded in the chocolate browns; the dropped A-line waist that was just different enough from a princess-cut that the style looked unique, but still hugged her figure in all the right places; the low neckline and lack of shoulder fabric accompanied by waves of chiffon folds down to her elbow; the skirt that dropped down past her ankles naturally with a slight flair due to the ruffles and stylized bunches. It looked like a redesigned version of Belle’s dress. Danni must have known she wouldn’t have been able to refuse it. Sneaky sharky. Chero gave a heavy sigh. For some reason, she just wasn’t excited to know that this was one of her gifts. In fact, until Danni had brought it up, she’d ignored the fact that it was Christmas. All the advertisements made her want to change the channel. Walking around in the street made her more irritated than anything. Overall, she just didn’t see anything outstanding in the season right now.
“Hey Chero, are you finally done?” She was abruptly brought out of her thoughts.
“Yeah Danni, I’m done.”
“And…” Chero pushed open the door, still wearing the dress.
“I love it, so I’ll let you buy it for me,” the curly-haired woman grinned.
