Previous: Chapter 2 Next: Chapter 4

A Week Later - Morning.

Rebecca paces a bit in nervous anticipation in her room. She pauses to reread the message, then sets the tablet down. Unsure what else to do, she pokes her head out into the hallway and calls out, "Courtney? Courtney! Are you up?"

The maid is in the middle of making breakfast, still learning how to properly create (really, thaw and oven up things others have made) dragon-sized portions that are almost disgustingly meat-heavy. She sets this morning's set into the oven, checks on it once before turning around and heading into the hallway. "Yes, Rebecca? I'm over here, in the kitchen."

Rebecca pads over towards the kitchen, slipping into the room, one of the few rooms in the house built to accommodate both humans and dragons to some degree, "Ah, good! I just got a reminder... I'm expected to make a showing today in town... I'm supposed to be all proper and... 'dragony'. Ah, I hate the spring this on you, but... I'll need some help..."

Courtney looks up at the dragon, the gothy maid smiling despite herself. It's funny what you can get used to in a couple of weeks.

"Oh? Help with... er, with what?", she asks as she disposes of the gloves she uses for handling food.

Rebecca sighs out in a bit of relief, though it's clear she's still a bundle of nerves, "I have to look 'a right and proper Dragoness'... so mostly getting uh... dressed. Jewelry and such. All that fancy stuff... plus then I gotta actually appear in 'public'..."

Courtney tilts her head slightly: "But... You're going to be the largest being in the room, the only dragon and I guess I just answered my own question didn't I." She awkwardly wrings her hands together: "Being in public is such a drag..."

Rebecca nods, "Everyone is going to be looking at me and expecting me to be all intimidating and in command. Like I know what I'm doing! Haaaa... S-so... yeah... Do you think you can help me out?" She asks as if this isn't Courtney's job. The week since the sketchbook incident has revealed just how little Rebecca wants to be 'a boss' to her maid.

Courtney smiles lopsidedly: "Well I did have a course in public speaking..." She glances at the oven and nods: "It'll be another hour before breakfast is ready. What do you need me to do?" Their exchanges, when it's just the two of them, have almost completely lost any honorifics going either way.

Rebecca takes a deep breath. "Okay... okay... the meeting is at Noon... I know! I'm a procrastinator. But still... I guess I'll need the jewelry out of storage. Plus uh... makeup? A bit of polish on my scales... and I'll be just fine! Right?"

Courtney blinks, not really having thought that dragons would need such things. "Well, er... Okay, I did not expect that but I will do what I can, of course."

Rebecca laughs nervously, "Well, it's my fault... I kinda thought if I ignored it long enough I wouldn't... have to go..." She sighs, "I'll go dig out the jewelry, and you get the make-up supplies? Then meet in the bathroom? Err, mine, that is. The two of us should be able to make me into something presentable, right?"

Courtney sighs with sympathy, then nods: "W-we can probably do something." She straightens her dress: "I have no idea what proper dragoness should look like, you will have to show me."

Rebecca frowns, mumbling to herself, "I'm not sure I know either..." she raises her voice, "Right! Uh, I'll do my best!"

Courtney smiles even as she realizes that somehow she got landed serving a dragon with as many confidence issues as herself. She nods at Rebecca: "See you in a moment, then."

Rebecca smiles back, then nods and ducks back into the hallway to go find the jewelry box. It takes her a good moment to dig it out of some of her other still boxed-up things, but soon enough she reaches the bathroom with an intricate case of jewelry.

Courtney meanwhile goes to Rebecca's bathroom, uncertain what she might even find in terms of dragon-sized cosmetics. She's kind of aware that many industries now have a dragon-centric sidebranch due to the amount of money involved, but still no idea what she might find.

Opening the cabinet in the (large!) bathroom, she is just left staring for several moments.

Rebecca shows up holding the jewelry case, setting it down on the counter, then thinking better of that and setting it down on the floor near Courtney, it's practically a whole storage trunk full of golden rings and jeweled gorgets and chains. "Mph... here. Mother says a proper Dragon must 'show off wealth without flaunting it'... whatever that means. Plus, I don't know how humans do make up, but mostly polish, shine, a bit of eyeliner, rouge..." There's no lipstick or foundation, but the rest is surprisingly similar, if much larger.

Courtney jumps slightly as the jewelry... luggage is set down next to her. Catching her breath, she looks at Rebecca after glancing at the jewels: "Oh wow. That's a lot."

She swallows at the sheer volume of the task ahead of her, before stepping to fetch a stepstool so she is actually able to reach all the shelves. "Well... Best we deal with makeup first, and jewelry after that. Right?"

Rebecca nods, "Right! ...right? I don't... actually know..." She lays down, rear legs settling down while her forelegs fold beneath her chest. She lowers her long neck down to face Courtney. "I don't... usually do make-up... The jewelry is probably the easy part, throw some rings on my horns and put on a necklace and some rings on my claws, and done."

Courtney does her best to not lean back as Rebecca leans forward, swallowing slightly. "Well. Let's see what we can do." She turns around to look at the cabinet: "Oh. I didn't know L'Oreal did scale polish. What do you know. Well, I sure won't be needing that but let's see what it does for you, shall we?" She picks up the sizable bottle in both hands, and can't help feeling at least a bit excited about this now.

Rebecca hums, "A bit of polish, and then color and just a touch of glitter? Do whatever you can, I guess. Ugh, this is probably all pointless anyways."

Courtney hums, gesturing to her own moderately done make-up: "Well... not entirely pointless. Like, you can just look good for your own sake and it just happens to serve a purpose, right?" She sniffs at the scale polish, then wisely takes a rag in her hand. If she is here, and if she is helping Rebecca, she might as well put herself into it properly.

Rebecca sighs, letting Courtney work, "I'm not exactly beautiful, with or without makeup. Humans are only going to see a big scary dragon... or all the gold. That's all part of the job , I guess. I just want to be left with my books."

Courtney pauses in her reading of the instructions of the scale polish, looking up at Rebecca. She feels guilty for her previous thoughts of the dragon, more so by the day as she gets to know her. "I... I feel you there. Wanting to be left alone, that is." She hums to herself, looking at the scales that cover Rebecca's face: "That said... your scales are beautiful, I think. Never seen any this close."

Rebecca shrugs a little guiltily, "I uh, don't even take good care of them... I should... But... Err... Thanks. You didn't have to say that."

Courtney takes a bit of the polish in the cleaning rag, then steps close to Rebecca with a small smile. "You may be right." She gingerly touches the rag to Rebecca's snout: "I didn't have to say it."

Rebecca blinks, then chuckles awkwardly. "Okay okay. Point taken. I guess I know you at least well enough by now to know you wouldn't sugar coat things."

Courtney blushes a bit: "Well, you know... well, I guess so. Sorry?" She motions Rebecca to lean a bit closer so she can get started.

Rebecca obliges, leaning her face down closer. "Sorry? Don't be. If you were the type to just compliment me and suck up to me for no reason, I'd probably go crazy."

Courtney giggles as she continues wiping Rebecca's scales: "I don't know if that is why your, er... who was that anyway who interviewed me? Lot bigger and I guess older than you?"

Rebecca sighs, "My Uncle. He's in charge of all matters of the family businesses and investments. Including me, I guess. He was here to hire someone who 'Properly feared and respected our mighty visage.'"

Courtney pauses in her wiping of Rebecca's scales to look her in the eye: "I take it you're not the... biggest fan, of his style?" She pauses. "If that is not too bold of me to assume."

Rebecca's eye stares back, "Not... Exactly. He's fine. He's only doing it because it's what my parents want. Guess that's what I'm doing too..." She chews on her words for a moment, "Sorry. I shouldn't be laying all this on you."

Courtney hums as she continues: "Mmm. I am here because of my parents. This is kind of... paying for my university if I get that far." She considers: "So maybe a bit for myself, too."

Rebecca smiles a bit, trying not to move too much while Courtney works. "Paying for your University? For your art?"

Courtney blushes: "Er, ah... yeah. I wanna make a career out of that one day..."

Rebecca giggles, "I'd just give you the money if I could. Art is important. I'd get chewed out pretty badly though."

Courtney blinks a few times: "Wha... Huh. But why? I haven't done anything worth it."

Rebecca shrugs slightly, "To be a patron of the arts? And... I like you, Courtney."

Courtney blinks again and pauses in her wiping: "Wha-buh? But I'm just... Your maid, r-right?" She knows it doesn't quite ring true anymore, but...

Rebecca lowers her head a little, "O-oh... I mean... I guess... I sorta... Kinda hoped..." She mumbles at the end, "we were becoming friends?"

Courtney blinks yet again and blushes: "I er well..." She pauses, then smiles: "Huh. I did not expect that. But, er, yes."

Rebecca perks up, "Yes? I mean... I know it's sorta awkward but I just felt like, I don't know, we're a lot alike? And you and I get along pretty well, and you're open and honest with me. That's... What I've always imagined a friend to be."

Courtney hesitates: "Well, that certainly sounds like it, and... huh, guess we kind of are already, aren't we." She smiles: "Friends it is, then." She seems to relax as though she just finished some inner argument about this.

Rebecca smiles wide, "As long as you don't mind being friends with an awkward book worm like me. I mean, I'm supposed to be your boss... But technically we're both here to work for my Uncle..."

Courtney smiles as she contines wiping and shining Rebecca's cheek: "I guess... as long as you don't mind being friends with an awkward book worm."

Rebecca: "N-no! Not at all! I sorta prefer that! I mean, nothing wrong with curling up with a good book."

Courtney giggles, the awkward dragon - that is, her friend - being kind of amusing to juxtapose with the traditional image of a feared dragon. "I think we agree on that, then. You're all right, Rebecca."

Rebecca seems to glow, or maybe that's just the scale polish, "You are too, Courtney."

Courtney smiles as she continues making Rebecca's face shine: "Whatever you say, Mistress." She winks, obvious she is pretty far from serious right now.

Rebecca snorts, giggling. "Hmph. I guess I do have to play the part today, hm? Even if just for a little bit..."

Courtney hums, giving one finishing wipe of the scales on Rebecca's brow: "Only for show. I will be quiet and nearby for you." She then picks up a big... big eyeliner. "Okay. So. Mostly used to making my own makeup here. I might mess up. We good with that?"

Rebecca nods just a touch, "Right... just for show... ah, and yes. We're good. You'll mess up less than I would doing it myself."

Courtney smirks: "I hope that isn't a challenge. Cause I might mess up real bad and then you'll look like the most emo dragon this side of anywhere." Despite her words, she tries to keep her hand as steady as she is able: "A lot bigger brush than what I'm used to."

Rebecca giggles again, but tries to hold her head steady. "I'm not suggesting you try... But if I show up looking completely messy and... Emo? Well, who's going to question the big scary dragon, hm? Maybe that's why the family says to keep all those rumors going."

Courtney tries to keep her giggles in check as she goes to drawing Rebecca's eyelines towards darker and things that make sense. Well, make sense to her goth sensibilities anyway, where eyeliner is used rather liberally. "Perhaps so. At least it'd be appealing to me if nothing else." She pauses, considers what she just said, and mentally shrugs.

Rebecca lets out a low purr of some sort, "Awww. Well then who cares about anyone else there."

Courtney just stares at Rebecca for a second: "Did you... did you just purr? Is that even possible?"

Rebecca wags her tail behind her, wings rustling just a bit, "Nooo? I rumbled? Or uh, I menacingly growled... Or... Probably did not purr. ...why? Is that bad?"

Courtney hesitates, glancing aside: "I did not say that..." She clears her throat: "Nevermind." She continues trying to give Rebecca clear, dark eyelines that look menacing and not attractive. Her own curse for having actually drawn attractive-looking scaly people, though...

Rebecca hums, letting out a quiet cough to clear her throat. "Ah, well... Very good. I say carry on." She relaxes once again, and as Courtney works, she could swear there's a definite faint purring...

Courtney giggles softly as she continues. "I'm not sure if you are making this easier or harder. But whatever." But she does manage to create a beautiful double-winged semi-eyelash look on the positively huge dragon eyes, focusing with artistic precision.

Rebecca lifts her head slightly as Courtney pulls back. She looks down at her and blinks a few times to adjust. "Did it turn out okay?"

Courtney looks at both eyes from in front of Rebecca. "I... I think so. Close enough, anyway, I don't think anyone's going to be close enough to you to be able to tell." She hums. "Kinda makes my position even more unique, I guess."

Rebecca turns to look into the large mirror set into the wall. "Ohhh... I am... Not used to looking like this. Amazingly done~. A bit of jewelry and... I don't actually feel quite so nervous about this!"

Courtney smiles: "I did mention something about looking good for just yourself." She nods approvingly: "I think we can make this work." She hesitates for a bit: "So er... do I actually have a role in your thing today?"

Rebecca turns her head back and shrugs, "Err... Not really? Stand there and look pretty? Though, to be honest, I barely have a role. Just get up and be all "You have the honor to play host to my eminence. Blah blah blah, your town pleases me, and I grant my boons of prosperity and protection upon it." She sighs. "I practically had to memorize the script before my Uncle would let me move in."

Courtney winces: "Oh. Like my parents kinda had me... remember pretty much a script before my interview." She looks at Rebecca in understanding.

Rebecca gives Courtney a sympathetic smile. "Well, I guess you nailed it or you wouldn't be here with me. So... I just have to nail it too, hm?" She takes a deep breath in, looking back in the mirror, "C'mon Reb'behk'aran... You can do this."

Courtney hums: "Speaking of nails, should we do something about your, er, claws? Though we're going to need a bucket of nail polish..."

Rebecca lifts her hand to examine the claws, "Ugh, they are a bit dull aren't they? ...I honestly feel a bit embarrassed... You're sorta seeing me at my worst..."

Courtney shrugs: "And you, me. So we're even." She considers for a moment. "Maybe just a bit of color? Assuming you were supplied with that stuff."

Rebecca: "Color?" Rebecca pauses. "You mean like... Color my claws something else? I never actually considered that... There's got yo be something for that in here, right?" She peers up onto the shelf looking around the vanity closet.

Courtney shrugs: "Maybe." She looks up the shelf: "There's gotta be something up here..."

Rebecca hums, reaching back on one of the top shelfs to pull out a couple canisters that just appear to be cans of paint. "Ah! Here!"

Courtney stares at the canisters: "Oh wow. That's... a lot. I guess I'm not sure what I was expecting." She locates a brush, then smiles: "Okay. Gimme your claws, then."

Some distant part of her is yelling at her how weird her life has gotten, but it's drowned out by the sheer glee of getting to beautify a dragon.

Rebecca settles back down and extends one hand towards Courtney, "I've never really been all that interested in make-up and jewelry... it's kind of fun like this."

Courtney starts painting: "I've always kinda liked it. It's like, painting, but different."

Rebecca is a little more comfortable now that she can move her head a little, not worrying about making Courtney mess up. "So... I'm the canvas, then? I'm... weirdly honored..."

Courtney giggles as she turns to look at Rebecca's eyes: "Yeah, guess that kind of makes you the canvas, now."

Rebecca grins, "Well... I've always wanted to do art... being art is just as good? Maybe... we could do this again. You know, when there's no pressing engagement to go to."

Courtney finishes with one big claw and moves to the next, trying not to think that in different circumstances those claws would be very, very deadly. "I think that could be fun, sometime."

Rebecca nods, clicking the finished claw against the floor as she looks at it. "Ooo. That is pretty. I wouldn't want to make you do any of this if I didn't have to... but if you enjoy it, I... I'm enjoying this. More than I thought I would."

Courtney smiles: "I might be enjoying this too. Beats washing dishes, for sure."

Rebecca frowns a little, "Oh uh, sorry about that? Guess it's all part of the job but, now I feel a little weird about it."

Courtney hesitates. This would be her chance to maybe influence things. "Well... if it's not outside the budget, a dishwasher, like a big one, would be useful. Since your plates are so big." She pauses. "Er, well, for obvious reasons."

Rebecca thinks for a moment, "I don't really know how much say I have in things... but this is supposed to be My Manor, right? I guess I didn't really care before, but I should be able to change things as I want. At the very least to make things better for you."

Courtney smiles: "Well, we can see about that later. But it would leave me more time for other things." She continues painting the claws, starting to hum to herself without even realizing it.

Rebecca nods, giggling quietly as she hears Courtney begin to hum, "I promise to try, at least."

Courtney continues painting, getting really into it. Something pretty fun about filling in such big claws with accuracy that she is at this point doing it needlessly detailed.

Rebecca lets herself relax, growing quiet as she just enjoys the process, and quite alright with just letting Courtney work. Though, after awhile she does jolt, "Oh no! Uh, we actually probably need to finish. I almost forgot I actually need to show up in town."

Courtney blinks up as she's doing the last of Rebecca's front claws: "Oh. Oh! Right. I uh... guess we sorta got lost in this." She finishes with the claw, then looks towards the pile of jewelry as she puts aside the paint. "So... how do you figure we do with jewelry?"

Rebecca lifts her claw back and waves it gently to help it dry, "Oh, uh, I don't know. Just pick out a few things and I'll put it on. It'll probably be enough?"

Courtney smiles: "Probably." She lifts up a big, long, heavy silvery chain. "Whoa. I don't even want to know how much this cost to make."

Rebecca rifles through the chest and pulls out a few rings sized for her fingers, with very large gems set into them. "Err... I couldn't say. Most of this stuff was given to me for pretty much this reason. To wear so everyone knows how wealthy I am. Well, the family is."

Courtney nods: "I guess that makes sense." She ignores for the moment how expensive stuff she is handling. "So. Since we painted your claws with that purple, want to use the silver chain?" She's also just ignoring how weird this is.

Rebecca nods, carefully taking the silver chain from Courtney, "I always thought the gold was a bit tacky, especially against my blue scales." She takes the chain and loops it around her neck.

Courtney looks at Rebecca in slight awe, even though she's plenty used to her... still a big beautiful dragon. "It looks good on you."

Rebecca grins, "Maybe I'll ask about getting rid of some of this gold and getting some more silver jewelry... just for aesthetics... still, guess I'd better flaunt at least a little..." She pulls out a couple rings, sorting through until she finds one with a purple stone and another with a plain band, slipping one ring onto each clawed hand. "There. Simple. Nothing overwhelming. And your makeup will do the rest."

Courtney smiles as Rebecca works her looks: "You look beautiful." She hesitates: "I mean, er, awe-inspiring in the kind of way they want you to." She glances aside, her mind going for a bit of a loop at what she just said.

Rebecca poses a little more, straightening up at the compliment, "W-well I don't mind beautiful... I can... lean into that right? The beautiful Reb'bhek'aran. I don't have to be frightening to inspire humans... right?"

Courtney hesitates, then offers a smile: "Well... I think you might inspire me, at least. So I guess not impossible?"

Rebecca looks back down from her posturing and smiles back. "That's good... I'll just hold onto that thought while I give my speech. If at least one person is inspired, then I must be doing it right."

Courtney blinks, then nods: "Y-yeah. You will do fine, I am certain."

Rebecca takes a deep breath, then turns to admire herself in the mirror again. "...I guess I really should clean myself up a bit more often... you really did make me look somewhat pretty."

Courtney smiles, though she can't entirely stop a blush from coming: "I just used your supplies and what little I knew, right? Nothing special." She straightens her dress that needs absolutely no straightening.

Rebecca nods, turning one eye back to the Maid. "When we're done today, maybe we should spend some time making a list of things to buy? So that if we do this again, it's not just what supplies are at hand... Plus any household improvements you want to make?"

Courtney smiles: "That sounds like a thing to do." If she's going to be here, might as well make the most of it. And she has to admit to herself that it's kind of fun prettyfying a dragon. Who knew?

Rebecca slowly stands up, "Then I guess we should head into town. You don't have to, of course. This is my duty, so I don't expect you to come along if you don't want to."

Courtney shrugs: "What else do I have to do up here? I want to see how you, er, perform."

Rebecca would blush if she could, the large dragon almost seeming to shrink down, "W-well let's go see! I just..." She takes another look in the mirror and another deep breath. "Okay... okay. And Courtney... thank you."

Courtney smiles: "Anytime. I mean, er, besides the fact that I signed up to be here, at your call. But ignore that part."

Rebecca shakes her head, "Not just for that, but, you never signed up to be my friend, and, well... just thank you."

Courtney shrugs: "The way I see it, if we don't want to work together, this time we have to anyway cooperate would be a lot longer and more unpleasant. I... okay, admittedly you can still be a bit intimidating if you surprise me, but I'm getting used to it. A-and you're pretty fun to talk with."

Rebecca steps towards the door, opening it for Courtney, "I will try not to surprise you. Well, I'm never really trying to but I'll try to be more careful. I... I'm glad you're someone who wants to talk with me. That's all. You're fun to talk with too."

Courtney smiles as she walks past the dragon: "Come on. Let's get you to present the ferocious side so they leave you be afterwards." She idly brushes her hand at the tip of Rebecca's wing.

Rebecca lets out a sigh, "Ah, the dream..." She doesn't make any motion or mention to stop Courtney's hand as the two walk into the hall and prepare to make their own into town.

Previous: Chapter 2 Next: Chapter 4

Home