xp_logs | Crystal and Medusa - The Perfect Dress

After the Red X volunteers return to the mansion, Medusa comes by Crystal's room to give her a couple of surprises. Don't worry, Jennie, no living presents this time.

Medusa had waited until a few hours past Crystal's usual hour of awakening to go to her sister's suite. She knew the younger girl had devoted herself fully to a series of duties in Hawaii while volunteering and hadn't wanted to awaken her from much needed sleep, especially with the ball approaching. Knocking gently on Crystal's door, she smiled down at her sister as the door opened. "Good morning little one. I hope I did not wake you up."

"Good morning, Medusa," Crystal said, then reassured her sister by saying, "you did not wake me up." She supposed she have been tired, but she wasn't interested in sleeping right now. There was still work to be done. Plus, the apple sitting on her pillow was such a sweet thought she hated to disturb it for what would have only been a short nap anyway. "Thank you for decorating the ballroom in my absence."

"Of course, " Medusa replied as she entered the room, though she left the door open with a strand of hair trailing out. "I know you were busy volunteering, so I also took the liberty of selecting something else for the dance in your absence." Retracting the strand of hair, she held a garment bag in front of her sister, a smile on her face.

There was no doubt what was in the bag. With everything that had happened since Friday, Crystal hadn't given any thought to one of the most important elements of the Winter Ball... having the perfect dress. "Thank you!" Crystal said, taking the garment bag from her sister. "I will try it on right now."

Medusa waited patiently while Crystal changed, nodding in satisfaction as she emerged in the black tulle dress. As Crystal spun around to show off the flare of the skirt, Medusa's smile continued to grow. "A perfect fit. I had hoped your measurements would remain consistent from the prior ball. Is it to your liking?"

"Oh, yes. It is absolutely beautiful!" Crystal told Medusa, then gave her sister a hug. "I am sorry that I was unable to accompany you when you went shopping this past weekend."

Hugging her sister back warmly, Medusa chided her. "What you were doing was much more important than shopping. Plus, that is what big sisters are for...we take care of those things for you." Hair extending out of the room again, it quickly returned with a box. "Because what is the perfect dress without the perfect shoes?"

Crystal grinned. "When I saw the dress, I wondered whether or not I would also be receiving a new pair of shoes." Crystal set the box down on her bed and removed the shoes, then tried them on. "Now I only need to pick up my necklace from Tommy and my outfit will be complete."

"Excellent. Have you chosen an escort for the evening or will you be accompanying me?" Medusa asked as she took a seat on one of the available chairs.

It took every last bit of willpower to keep from making any sort of visible reaction to Medusa's question. "I do not have an escort; we can go together if that is what you wish." She had to hide a smile, knowing full well that when the actual day of the ball came, Medusa would be accompanied by someone else.

Medusa looked at her sister for a moment, sensing some hidden emotion, then chalked it up to excitement over the dance. "Well now that we have that sorted, how was Hawaii? Anything as adventurous as your last trek out with Red-X?"