Agnes attempted to hush Gina as she complimented how she was looking, her cheeks coloring shyly. Gina smiled smuggly, arching her brows as she tucked the eyemakeup back into the bag, now that she was finished with it. It was adorable how Agnes got all embarrassed over such simple compliments, but Gina didn't call her out on that-- because Gina did it, too.

"I call it as I see it," she said simply. readjusting the bag and looking at the counter. Now that Agnes's eyes, which were probably the most intensive part of the makeup process, were complete, everything else would be a breeze. Particularly seeing as Gina didn't have foundation, cconcealer, or powder.

>> “Oh, ugh... N-No, thank you. I don’t think I’ll need that.”

"O-kay!" Gina sang, clapping her hands. She didn't pick up on the sigh, for she wasn't looking at Agnes... she just assumed that her sister was exasperated with the lengthy education process, "In that case, all I've got is some blush and some lip-stuff--" By lip-stuff, Gina meant a couple of things, but lips were quick. Gina's fingers trailed absently over the assortment of makeup, seeking out precisely what she was looking for. She found it, a small compact of blush, and then rummaged into her bag for the rather large brush that accompanied it.

"This is blush," Gina announced. She didn't wear blush, as once again, it was something that was a bit skintone-specific. She was really just an eye-makeup and lips kind of girl, but happened to have blush that Constance had accidentally left with Ginas' things, and Gina had simply never given back, "It's just what it sounds like-- gives your cheeks some color."

Although Gina doubted Agnes would need any artificial cheek-coloring-- he cheeks were already luminously glowing on their own. As Gina turned to survey her sister, she caught the absent, maybe pensive or sorrowful look in her eyes, and Gina's grin faltered for a moment. She was having far too much fun, and Agnes... well, Agnes didn't look like she was having fun. Had Gina forgotten herself and gotten to wrapped pu in the makeover?

"Hey," Gina said, her voice adopting a gentle, inquiring tone, attempting to rouse her sister from her thoughts. Gina inclined her head, her smile shifting to something more subdued, "You okay? Talk to me."

>> "O-kay! In that case, all I've got is some blush and some lip-stuff--"[/color]

Agnes nodded but she really didn’t say anything else. Gina seemed to be having so much fun and as much as Agnes wanted to have fun doing this, she could slowly feel her self-esteem just grinding into the ground. She knew that she shouldn’t feel like this anymore but there was still a lot of problems with how she looked. At least that she saw. She had to live with these scars every day and while most days she was getting better at simply dealing with the fact that this was who she was, there were still those days where it really got to her. Unfortunately, right there, right now, this was one of those days.

She groaned as tightened the towel more. Was all this make-up really necessary? Again she tried to shake those thoughts. She could not allow herself to ruin Gina’s happiness in this. Her little sister was having so much fun and who was she to mess that up? She managed a smile as she looked up at her.

>> "This is blush…It's just what it sounds like-- gives your cheeks some color."

Her face blushed again at the thought. Who would willingly have to put make-up on to bring on the illusion of blush? Agnes was having a hard enough time keeping the color from appearing on her cheeks and here Gina was advising her on a certain make-up that does that for her! She had to smirk sadly at the irony. It really was funny.

But her resolve began to shake enough that her little sister was finally catching up on how she was feeling. She bit her bottom and tried to force the good feeling. But despite her best efforts the thought of this blind date was beginning to get to her. This was a reality that she simple was not going to be able to shake…

>> "Hey…You okay? Talk to me."

Another look up and Agnes sighed, her shoulders slumping. Gina, her sweet little sister, was full of concern and Agnes really didn’t know how to say what was bothering her. Her body image, the whole mystery surrounding this date, it was all just now starting to pile up in her thoughts that she really did not know what to do. Was it just nervous? Was she really feeling bad? Or was it just her parent’s influence still trying to worm its way into her heart?

She frowned a little as she looked at Gina.

“I…I know this is stupid,” she said with a mild laugh and forcing back tears. She shook her head. “I know this is just a casual date, but…it’s just…Gina…I’m…so scarred up. I…” she hugged herself a little. “I…I don’t know how to feel beautiful and…aren’t you supposed to feel beautiful when you’re on a date? Am I…Am I just doing all this wrong?”

Gina listened closely, setting the blush and the brush aside, to show Agnes that she was listening.

>> “I…I know this is stupid, I know this is just a casual date, but…it’s just…Gina…I’m…so scarred up. I… I…I don’t know how to feel beautiful and…aren’t you supposed to feel beautiful when you’re on a date? Am I…Am I just doing all this wrong?”

Agnes let out a laugh that was too sharp, hugging herself tightly. Gina 's brow stitched, frowning as her sister spoke. Gina quietly held onto her own arm, taloned fingers absently flexing and unflexing. It was so easy for her to forget all of the horrible things that Agnes hid underneath, and only see the good things-- and Gina wasn't thinking of Agnes's mutation. No, nothing close.

Agnes was all "scarred up", as she put it, and Gina knew-- inside and outside. And, for a moment, she even doubted herself. She didn't think that hooking Agnes up with someone would fix all of this, but... maybe, she was secretly hoping that it would help. Had she been so blinded by her own excitement of playing matchmaker, that she'd completely neglected her Agnes or her better interests? But God, where to start--? Agnes hadn't said much, and yet she'd said a lot too. It was a lot for a fifteen-year-old to muscle through, even if it wasn't her own inner dilemmas.

"I don't think there's a right way, Agnes," Gina said lamely, "I mean, I've never been on a romantic date before--" she cast a small smile, "And... I don't think feeling beautiful would come from a single date-- that's an internal thing. Scars or not--" she broke off, her tail curling lightly while she spoke, "--The right person will love you regardless."

Gina let herself smile, now, and she'd spoken with conviction. Just like the right guy would love Gina, even if she was often mistaken for a demon-- be he human or mutant, if he was the right one, he'd love her for who she was.

Gina let her gaze flicker over Agnes's face, rolling her lips contemplatively-- Gina had essentially arranged this entire thing. She'd played matchmaker, helped the Mystery Girl out with the date idea, and the date of the date, but... she hadn't really run anything by Agnes. In fact, Gina was beginning to realize that she'd essentially commandeered the whole thing.

"Agnes," Gina trailed, hesitant to even propose this idea, "I'm sorry that I got overzealous... I should have told you, first and foremost, that this is entirely up to you--" Gina chuckled apologetically. Over-zealous was an understatement. "--If you... you know, aren't ready to go on this date yet... I'm sure... I'm sure that your would understand "

Agnes sniffled. She didn’t want to ruin the make-up that Gina had already put on her eyes so that was why she choked down the sadness that was already trying to overtake her mind. One breath, two breaths and Agnes managed to calm herself down to the point where it did not seem like she would crack up. She was so tired of this business, so tired of fearing this emotional turmoil that her body just loved to make her go through whenever it felt like it. Her parents were gone, but their calling card was still, and would always be, branded onto her body.

She shook her head and looked up to see that Gina had suddenly grown concerned. Agnes frowned. That was definitely something she never wanted her to do. Gina had heard enough of her problems, hadn’t she?

Agnes took one more calming breath and let Gina talk…

>> "I don't think there's a right way, Agnes…I mean, I've never been on a romantic date before--And... I don't think feeling beautiful would come from a single date-- that's an internal thing. Scars or not--The right person will love you regardless."

It sounded like a bad after school special. It really did; but Agnes knew the validity behind those words. She knew that Gina was right, that whoever she met, if they really loved her then they would love her for herself. That was not so far, at least she didn’t think so. After all when you cared for someone you loved them whole heartedly. That was really all that Agnes was after. Would she get it with this young lady she was going on a date with tonight? Probably not.

But looking at Gina, she knew that there was someone who really did love her just for her. They were sisters and she knew she could count on her. The thought of that alone made her smile…

>> "Agnes…I'm sorry that I got overzealous... I should have told you, first and foremost, that this is entirely up to you--If you... you know, aren't ready to go on this date yet... I'm sure... I'm sure that your date would understand."

She paused. Then she looked closely at Gina. She would really do that? She really wouldn’t get hurt if she decided to back out of this date? The thought of her sister’s generosity just made the runaway sigh a bit happily. Standing up, Agnes leaned close and gave Gina and extremely tight hug, running her hand up and down her gray back. She then stepped back and smiled appreciatively at her sister…before shaking her head.

“No Gina,” she said firmly. “You’re right. I’ve…I’ve just got to get over this. I can’t…stop my life.” she said resolutely, “I’ll be okay,” she said with a sigh and then reclaimed her seat as she smiled at Gina. “Now…ahem…come on make-up wench! You still have quite the job ahead of you!” she giggled. The levity slowly filled in her heart and combated the darkness that wanted to depress her. She was not cured of her sadness…but she was definitely better now…

Okay, so Gina had laid the cheese on a little thick, but at least through the cheesiness, Agnes had heard her, loud and clear. Agnes got up and constricted Gina in a hug. It wasn't that big of a deal, not as big as Gina was making it out to be, if Agnes backed out. Agnes-hugs were really hard to interpret, though, so Gina just exchanged it and waited for her sister to speak, before taking action.

>> “No Gina... You’re right. I’ve…I’ve just got to get over this. I can’t…stop my life... I’ll be okay. Now…ahem…come on make-up wench! You still have quite the job ahead of you!”

"With time," Gina agreed, nodding her head. It wasn't just a one-and-done, solved-with-a-date kind of deal... to think so would be ridiculously naive. It would take time, and maybe some talks with Miss Taylor. But, Gina was glad that her sister was keeping an open-mind and stepping out of her comfort zone. The make-up wench reclaimed her blush compact and loose brush, and popped the blush open. She wasn't a counselor, but she was glad to help.

"Oh, psh," Gina assured her sister, "The eyes are the most intensive part. Everything else is a breeze, after that." Gina drew closer to her sister, lightly dabbling the brush over the unscathed blush. She looked towards her sister, smiling placidly as she said, "For blush, you want to put it on the apples of your cheeks, which you find by smiling."

As she was already smiling, Gina poked at her own cheeks, towards the resulting "apples".

"So, give me a smile?" she requested sweetly.

>> "With time,"[/color]

Agnes smiled. Everything came with time so she was just going to have to be patient and deal with her life as it was. It sucked, it sincerely did, to have to live with these horrendous scars, to not feel as beautiful as most people said she was. But she could get herself out of this funk. She believed that with time and good friends, people whom she called her family, she could get out of it. Maybe one day she’ll even be able to take a nice long look at herself in the mirror and not cringe.

But, as Gina said, all with time.

>> "Oh, psh…The eyes are the most intensive part. Everything else is a breeze, after that. For blush, you want to put it on the apples of your cheeks, which you find by smiling." [/color]

Apples of her cheeks? Agnes had to chuckle a little at that notion. It was a funny thought to think of, one that made her automatically grin.

She really had no idea about make-up or anything like it. She was glad that she had Gina here to show her the ropes. Obviously she could not have Gina fix her make-up ALL the time. Gina did have a social life of her own. So Agnes did her best to take mental notes of everything that her little sister was showing. With practice she will eventually conquer the terrifying beast known as cosmetics.

>> "So, give me a smile?"[/i]

Looking up at her little sister’s innocent, cheerful face, Agnes realized she had no other option than to smile. Gina just had a demeanor about her that made her want to grin whenever she was around. All the haunting, bad thoughts she had moments ago began to drift away like wisps of smoke. If someone could bottle and sell that sunshine that Gina had, the whole world would be a much better place.

Unable to contain herself anymore, Agnes just smiled, trying not to laugh. She loved her sister very much.

“God, I hope I still have enough time to finish. When is she supposed to show up again?” she asked curiously.

Gina got her smile out of Agnes, and began to dabble the blush on in small circles on Agnes' cheeks lightly. How fortunate, that she and Constance were of a similar skintone.

"Perfecto," Gina hummed, brushing some stray powder off of Agnes's cheek. All that she had left were the lips, the hair, and the clothes... They were almost done...

>> "God, I hope I still have enough time to finish. When is she supposed to show up again?"

"Good question," Gina answered noncommitally, lilting towards the door, propping it open to look at her alarm clock. They had about a half-hour. They were cutting it a little close. Maybe Gina could do something simpler with Agnes's hair?

"We've got about a half-hour," Gina announced placidly, "Plenty of time." She sauntered to the counter, and picked up another pencil, except this was one for the lips.

"Lip liner," Gina announced, holding up the pencil which was tipped in a rosy, pink color, "Exactly what it sounds like. I'm going to give you really clean, simple pink lip-coloring. Some lipstick for color, and some gloss, to give it shine and hold it in place..."

Gina smiled, "You ready?"

Gina kept asking, she was well aware, but it was a precautionary thing. Just wanted Agnes to feel some measure of control in the matter.

>> "Good question," [/i]

Agnes blinked and watched Gina dash out of the bathroom. She could feel time ticking down fast. Would they have time? Agnes would had to answer the door with her hair undone and still with no decision on what she would be wearing. It was a blind date, yes but that didn’t mean she could be rude. Though she had her issues, the least that Agnes could do was answer the door fully dressed and made-up.

She sighed and watched as Gina ran back in.

>> "We've got about a half-hour…Plenty of time."[/i]

“I hope you’re right,” Agnes replied.

She was not losing faith in her sister. Nope! If Gina believed that she could do it then Agnes believed in her too. Mutely she wrung her hands as she watched her younger sister sift through the rest of the items that were supposedly needed to enhance her beauty. She waited patiently until Gina sudden turned and presented her another pencil.

Like, seriously, what the hell was the problem with make-up creators and using pencils? She sighed and decided to save that ramble for later.


>> "Lip liner…Exactly what it sounds like. I'm going to give you really clean, simple pink lip-coloring. Some lipstick for color, and some gloss, to give it shine and hold it in place..."

“Sounds complicated,” she said with a chuckle. But Gina was trustworthy. She nodded as she made a mental note about lipstick and all that entailed.


>> "You ready?"

Agnes nodded. “As much as I’ll ever be” she said and beamed.

>> "Sounds complicated.”

Of course it did, but it wasn't. Gina chuckled as Agnes beamed. Yet, as she drew closer, Agnes ceased and closed her mouth, under Gina's instruction. She outlined het lips with the pencil, carefully keeping her hand steady. It was harder than it looked, applying make-up with talons working against you.

Gina finished outlining her sisters' lips, and smudged the color inward with her thumb.

"Lipstick, now," Gina announced, replacing the liner on the counter, and picking up the lipstick canister. She instructed Agnes to purse her lips, and applied a think, pink layer of lipstick.

"Go ahead and rub your lips together," Gina instructed, replacing the cap on the lipstick, and retrieving the gloss, "To blend the colors."

Gina then applied the lip gloss, before stepping back to survey the finished Facial makeover.

"Splendid," Gina sang, "Total K.O. See for yourself."

Agnes remained calm. Even throughout the lip-lining process she managed to not freak out. Though she had to admit that having her lips traced was not as fear-inducing as having her eyelids done. As a matter of fact, it actually tickled a little but she managed to keep her lips straight for Gina to work her magic. Her patience paid off because before she knew it, her little sister stepped back to survey her work and turned to procure yet another item that she would need for this beautification process to continue.

Gina turned and held up a small, pink-shaded lipstick.

>> "Lipstick, now,"

Agnes nodded and pursed her lips. She felt the coloring be put on her lips and she had to think that this was probably the most girlie she had been in a long time. And it felt almost good…

>> "Go ahead and rub your lips together…To blend the colors."[/i]

She did so, feeling a little odd at the sensation of rubbing her lips together. The only time she had ever done something like that was when she used to use chapstick. Then again, she doubted that the mechanics between the two were very different. She blended the colors until Gina told her to stop and then smiled as her little sister moved on to place some lip gloss on her lips as well to give it a small shine.

When Gina was finished, she looked up at her sister and saw that she looked exceptionally pleased with her work. Agnes had to smirk. Would she feel the same way when she saw herself?

>> "Splendid…Total K.O. See for yourself."[/color]

Agnes blushed. Though it probably would have just blended in with the blush that Gina had already put on her. She stood up and peeked at her reflection and she had to slightly marvel at the face that stared back at her. Gina had actually done an excellent job! She didn’t look overly done-up. As a matter of fact it looked as if Gina had managed to just accentuate a lot of the features that Agnes’ old friends used to marvel over and be jealous about. Seeing herself she had to smile as she glanced over at her sister.

“You are a miracle-worker,” Agnes said with an extremely appreciative tone and a wide grin on her face. “Total genius.”

>> “You are a miracle-worker. Total genius.”[/i]

"Thanks Aggs, it was not a problem," Gina grinned. Though, by how she was beaming, it was obvious that she was thoroughly self-satisfied. Gina didn't bother cleaning up the make-up. She could clean once Agnes was well on her way.

Gina retrieved Agnes's comb off of the counter, which had been set out before hand. Next, would come the hair in the hair and make-up. No matter what, they would have to run a comb through her hair.

"I'm going to do your hair next," Gina explained, "Gotta comb it out first, of course, but do you have any particular style in mind?"

Hair was different than make-up. Even girls who did nothing with their hair did something with it. And, everybody had their preferences. So, unlike with the make-up, Gina wasn't going to completely take the reigns when taming Agnes's hair.

>> "Thanks Aggs, it was not a problem,”[/i]

“I’m inclined to think you’re lying, but I thank you nonetheless,” she said with a playful wink and looked at herself once more in the mirror.

As she looked at the pretty make-over that Gina gave her Agnes could only try to keep herself from smiling. She saw then that she did not really look all that bad. She did not think that a thing like that was actually possible. She always spent her life either under her mother’s watchful eye or on the streets hiding away that she never gave herself a chance to feel pretty. Gina actually accomplished what she could never do in her several years of life.

She turned and kept looking at the make-up while her mother’s voice rebounded in her hear. She could hear her, calling her a ”tramp” or a ”prostitute” or a ”woman of loose morals”. She never wanted Agnes to wear make-up. Even chapstick was a problem with her. But right now, as she looked at herself, her mother’s voice completely evaporated into the back of her mind.

She could be pretty…

A glance back to her sister as she picked up a comb and she beamed as she reclaimed her seat so that they could finally get started on her hair.

>> "I'm going to do your hair next…Gotta comb it out first, of course, but do you have any particular style in mind?"[/i]

Agnes though for a moment. Maybe just her regular hairdo? What was wrong with that? She shrugged her shoulders as she glanced to Gina again.

“Umm, just my usual hair I guess,” she said as she bite her lip a little in thought. “I usually just wear it flat and straight. I don’t always care to have my hair up,” she said with nod. She hated wearing her hair in a bun. Reminded her too much of her mother…

Gina gathered her sister's hair towards the back, laying it flat with her hands as she awaited further instruction.

>> "Umm, just my usual hair I guess. I usually just wear it flat and straight. I don’t always care to have my hair up,” [/i]

Gina was relieved that Agnes's request wasn't more intensive than that. For, as girly a Gina was, she couldn't do hair to save her life. Corkscrew curls were only good for leaving be or pulling back. She had neither the skill or the tools to do much beyond that.

"Can do, boss," Gina sang. Of course, if it was what Agnes did to her hair each day, Agnes probably could have done her own hair. But, Gina was enjoying helping. Until Agnes spoke up, she wasn't going to step back.

She artfully combed her sister's hair back, before letting gravity pull it down, revealing the natural part in her hair. Having found it, Gina delicately traced a line back along Agnes's head, before delineating the part with careful claw. The part was to one side as opposed to being down the center, which naturally gave Agnes a more refined look.

"I love your hair," Gina sighed, as she began to gently comb out the snarls, "It's so straight and well-behaved ." As opposed to Gina's flyaway curls. Hell, Gina probably wouldn't even need hairspray to keep Agnes's hair in line. She was so lucky.

"How are those butterflies doing?" Gina inquired lightly, gaze flicking towards Agnes's reflection.

>> "Can do, boss,"

Agnes remained quiet. She could have easily combed her hair herself but so far Gina seemed eager to help so she was only too ready to accept it. While her hair style was easy for herself to manage, being that this was going to be for a date and that she was still a little fidgety, she would rather that Gina did it with her steadier hands.

Feeling the comb slide through her straight hair and Agnes actually sighed a bit contentedly. It actually felt really good to have someone else comb her hair. So good that she could have dropped off to sleep right there, sitting down in the bathroom while Gina combed. Not the best place to fall asleep but as of right now, she really just did not care. The combing and the warmness of the shower she had just had still infiltrated her body. She would have loved to sleep…

…but she knew she couldn’t. She had a date…

>> "I love your hair…It's so straight and well-behaved ."

Agnes looked aghast as she watched Gina in the mirror. “Are you kidding, Gina? I WISH I had your hair! It’s so curly and pretty. Mine’s always as flat as a board. And trust me, attempting to curl it results in disaster,” she said with a chuckle.

>> "How are those butterflies doing?"[/color]

She smiled up at Gina and nodded. Though they were still fluttering about inside her, she could feel that her stomach was beginning to settle down. Hopefully it would last until after the date rather than during.

“A little better,” she said with a nod. “I don’t feel as desperate to find a crack in the wall to crawl into. I hope it lasts.”

>> “Are you kidding, Gina? I WISH I had your hair! It’s so curly and pretty. Mine’s always as flat as a board. And trust me, attempting to curl it results in disaster.”

Gina puffed her cheeks out and restrained a laugh. Thus was the vicious cycle of being a girl-- no girl was ever wholly content with themselves. They always wanted what they didn't have, be it straight or curly hair, more curves or less curves, and the likes. There was always some sort of improvement to be made, even in the most self-confident girls. There was always something that girls envied about other girls. Gina's was her hair, her height, and her stature overall.

"Agnes, curls are inherently a disaster," Gina grinned. Some back-and-forth banter was perfect for nerves, "You can't do anything with them except tie them back or leave them down."

She finished with the first side of Agnes's head, began moving towards the back. She fell silent as she fussed with a particularly difficult snarl, because Gina was rather intent on not tugging at her sister's hair.

>> “A little better... I don’t feel as desperate to find a crack in the wall to crawl into. I hope it lasts.”

"Good," Gina replied, smiling assuredly, "I hope it does, too. You'll have fun."

A comfortable silence fell as Gina finished combing out Agnes's hair. It was quick and easy work, since her hair wasn't too insurmountably thick, or indescribably long, either. Even the snarls were few and far between. Gina finished and nodded her head.

"There, that'll do ya," she announced, "I don't think that I'll even have to spray it down."

Gina was finished combing, so she set the comb down on the counter, and turned towards her sister. Yeah, she'd done well. Gina stepped aside, to let her sister survey her own reflection.

"Anything else?" she inquired, "Or are you ready for the best part of preparation?"

Gina was a sucker for clothes. Particularly when it came to getting other people all dressed-up and fancy. Not that the rest of this hadn't been fun, but the outfit was the icing on the cake.