12/31PM Getting dressed senshi/Luna

Ami did not have too much to do once they finished taking care of the ballroom, she had checked in a couple of times on the Hospital and did one inspection to make sure that they were ready and to thank those who were working on what was a holiday for most people.

Once she had been reassured that everything was going well in the hospital, she had taken a bath, knowing that the ball was sure to drain her. The bath had done her good, and while she had not had the same freedom that she'd have swimming, she felt recharged. Getting out of the water, she wrapped her robe around, and began to gather the stuff she would need to take to Usagi's.

Making sure she had everything that she needed, particularly her own make-up, she threw on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, and gathered her stuff. Even knowing that there was a good chance that she would have to fight for the minimum make-up that she preferred, Ami was fairly certain she'd enjoy this part of the evening.

However, on the way, she passed a television, something she had managed to avoid all day. She gasped and came to a stop, careful not to drop her dress and accouterments, when she heard, "Apparently, Nicholas de Chateaub has advanced another round in the chess tournament. You might remember his boasting concerning Lady Mercury this morning."

As they replayed the interview with the man, Ami thought she was going to be sick. The color drained from her face, and she whimpered. It took her a moment before she managed to remember why she was in the hallway with a dress, and she had to force herself to continue moving towards Usagi's quarters.

When she got there, she managed to hang up her dress before dropping the rest of her stuff and looking at the other two, "I don't know if I can do this..."

Somehow, Makoto had managed to get her long list of preparations completed in a relatively short amount of time. She’d even been able to have a quick chat with her sisters earlier in the morning in one of the ballrooms without winding up behind schedule.

Once she’d retreated to her quarters, she promptly stripped down and ran a hot bath. Normally she would have gone for a shower, but decided that her muscles needed a good soak in preparation for all the dancing and moving around she’d be doing later. She sat on the edge of her garden tub while she waited for it to fill and flipped on the small television that was mounted to the wall above. She leaned over to test the water when she heard the commotion on screen. Some reporter was trying to shout over a rather raucous crowd that had gathered outside the palace. Makoto quirked an eyebrow as she saw several members of the crowd jumping up and down with signs. Her jaw dropped as the camera panned to zoom in on some of the flashier ones.

’I love you Serenity!’
‘Be mine, Minako!’
‘Marry me, Makoto!’

She nearly dropped the remote control in the water. ’What the hell is going on? Where is security?’ She glanced to the window beside the tub, thankful that the glass was frosted. With a sigh, she decided that now would not be the time to stress out over the news. There were much more important things to worry about tonight. She flipped the television over to an all-music station, tested the water in the tub, and hopped in.

An hour or so later, feeling fully relaxed she shut off the music and exited the tub. Having made quick work of toweling off, she dressed in a pair of sweats and a loose shirt figuring it was suitable enough to get her to Usagi’s dressing room. She grabbed her makeup bag and hair dryer and placed them in a bigger bag along with a pair of gold sandals. Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she took her garment bag from the hook she’d placed it on earlier and left her quarters.

Makoto smiled to the attendant outside Usagi’s chambers before letting herself in. She could hear voices in the next room over, and when she entered she saw the girls and Luna staring at a rather pale Ami. “Whoa. What did I miss?”

Minako stood in the shower, letting the hot water run down her body. She wasn't looking forward to the New Year's Eve party as much today as she had a few days ago. To start, her fight with Rei still weighed heavily on her. She and Rei had been so close when they were younger, and while Minako couldn't single out any of her friends as being closer than any of the others, she had often felt deeply connected to Rei. Now, the relationship felt fragmented and Minako wanted nothing more than to avoid the dark-haired priestess.

But that wasn't going to be possible. As soon as her shower was over, Minako was planning to pack up her dress and her kimono and her make-up and whatever else she needed to prepare for the party and head to Usagi's chambers, where all the senshi had planned on getting ready for the event together. Minako hadn't seen any of senshi in days, and with the except of Usagi, she hadn't seen any of them since her fight with Rei. She hadn't mentioned the issue to Usagi either. With all the stress Usagi was dealing with, Minako didn't think her friend needed anything else to worry about.

The blonde finished rinsing her hair, then turned the shower knob until the water no longer poured from the showerhead. She grabbed her towel and patted herself dry, then stepped out into the main area of the bathroom. She pulled on a button-down shirt and a pair of sweat pants, then grabbed her already packed bag and her dresses. After slipping on a pair of flipflops, she headed for the door.

She paused in front of the television. She's watched some of the programming before her shower, while suitors chanted up and down about marrying the queen and the senshi. The attention hadn't bothered her; how many times had some crazy fan proposed to her on her blog, or at a concert, or an album signing, or on TV? To receive more proposals wasn't unexpected given the crazed nature of the crowd. What concerned Minako was how Usagi was handling the attention, because up until a few days ago, no one had proposed to Usagi except Mamoru. Minako sighed and flipped off the television. Time to head to Usagi's room and find out.

The trip to the queen's chambers was quick and Minako found herself pushing her way through the door within a few minutes. She wasn't surprised to find that, as usual, she was one of the last to arrive. She plastered a smile on her face, and greeted each of her friends, trying hard to ensure that her hello to Rei was a charming and polite as the words she gave everyone else.

"What a crowd we've got outside," she laughed, trying to keep her voice even and natural. "Welcome to the world of being a celebrity. Surprising that so many of thing really think that we'll tell them yes." She noticed then, that Ami seemed upset. "Ami-chan? Are you alright?" she asked, echoing the words Hotaru had spoken only moments before she'd arrived.

Rei had settled her things down in one corner of the room and begun to paw through them for what she needed when all the commotion began. At first it was just Ami drifting through the door--looking rather worse for the wear--then all the others in quick succession. The Priestess nodded a hello to each of them, but her eyes were for the ice senshi.

She tried not to snort at Usagi's question--and had succeeded, if barely. Wasn't it obvious? Rei understood only too well what Ami meant and she tried to catch the woman's eye to at least give her that sign of understanding. With everyone gathered about and doting over her, however, it wasn't likely that Ami would appreciate even more attention. So, instead, Rei concentrated on getting her things laid out and kept an eye and ear on the conversation. She'd jump in when she needed to.

Luna slipped further into the room, leaping to a chair so that she wouldn’t be stepped on in the rush to comfort Ami. She frowned in concern as she heard Ami mention a man that had wanted to use her as a brood mare.

She really had no trouble figuring out which man Ami was referring to, that Nicholas de Chateaub. She had seen him the very first time the interviews had started. Luna had hoped that perhaps Ami wouldn’t have caught that particular man’s speech, but obviously she had noticed it during the many times it had aired over the day. There were times when she hated the media, as far as Luna was concerned they ought to know that it might bother Ami to have to listen to such things, therefore not show it. That was wishful thinking however and she knew it.

Luna sighed softly and shook her head in regret before saying, “Ami, don’t think such things. You are a very warm hearted woman that just happens to be able to control ice. That Nicholas guy is the cold one, to even be able to think such things is beyond my comprehension. Please don’t pay him too much attention, or any of them really. Those people outside are just idiots that want their shot at becoming someone important.”

Usagi's genuine warmth made her cheeks flush, and she regretted her self imposed isolation, realizing just how much she has missed them all. She nodded and gave a small wave to Makoto, flattered that she had obviously been missed. She never would have guessed it.

"I'm glad to see you as well, Usagi-chan," she murmured softly, allowing a true smile to twitch her lips.

Realizing that the Queen probably did have a point, she took several steps back from Ami to hover shyly beside the chair where Luna sat, admiring the lovely gowns the other girls had brought with them.

Her head jerked up to attention though at the words Ami spoke, her eyes flashing and going dark. "No one will ever treat any of us like that," she said in a low voice, barely aware of how cold she had become in that moment. "I won't allow it. Don't give it a second thought, Ami-chan."