12/31PM Transformation (Artemis/Luna)

[Luna]

Luna nodded in Artemis’s direction, but by this time most of her attention was on finding her a dress. She allowed herself to be tugged along, her own excitement growing as it became clear to her that Usagi was excited as well.

She nodded in agreement when Usagi said she would need something that wasn’t too monotone or chromatic, giggling just a little as she watched Usagi pull down dress after dress and then discard them.

Luna grinned happily when she as told to pick anything she liked, moving over to pull a few of the dresses down to look at them. They were all very lovely and she kind of felt like a kid in a candy store. The darker dresses she avoided, only bringing down the ones that were brightly colored.

She didn’t want to stand out too terribly much tonight, but she did want to find something that made her feel pretty. Eventually she weeded out a few of the dresses that she liked the best and held them up for Usagi’s approval and murmured, “Perhaps one of these ...”

Luna was most fond of the yellow dress she held up, yellow and black being colors she was most comfortable with. Still she wanted to have Usagi’s approval before she commited to anything.

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi glanced at the dresses that Luna held up for her to inspect, looking through them. "You know, I do think yellow is your best color. You'd look good in anything, of course, but it just compliments your coloring. Still, you need something more than just a canary yellow dress... Oh, this is nice," she said, fingering the black-belted dress. "It'll draw in your hair color, plus add some bling, and break up the head-to-toe yellowness. It'll be easy to match to jewelry too... You pick whatever you want, Luna, but I think that's my personal favorite. Of course, you haven't even tried it on yet," Usagi giggled. "Oh! And I have a strongroom of jewelry for you, too. And shoes!" she said excitedly, skipping through the rows of dresses and plucking shoes off of shelves below them. "You need satin shoes, not leather... something interesting but not too jazzy, y'know? Here, these are good..." she snagged a pair of Manolo d'Orsay pumps. "Or these... Oh, oh, and these! I may keep you human longer just so I can dress you up more," Usagi teased, having too much fun for her own good.

[Luna]

Luna smiled happily at Usagi and murmured, “I think that one is my favorite as well and I’m sure it’ll fit, at least I hope it will.” She giggled in delight as she watched Usagi skip about the room plucking shoes off the shelves before handing her a pair of pumps. Luna took them carefully, excitedly saying, “These are lovely Usagi-chan ... thank you.”

She glanced up, mischief and excitement dancing in her gaze as she added, “I think I might let you keep me human longer Usagi ... this is the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I’ll go try these on and then we can look for that jewelry, if at all possible I’d like to look my best tonight. It isn’t often that I get to dress up like this.”

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"It'll fit," Usagi said confidently. "Or with a bit of bullying it will. Sometimes you have to beat up a dress or do some last-minute alternations... Nothing a bit of fabric tape can't solve, in a pinch. You probably want some privacy to change," she remarked sheepishly. She was just standing there as if expecting Luna to drop her clothes then and there! She was so used to transforming and changing and bathing in front of Luna in her cat form that she never considering as a human, Luna might not want to do the same to her.

"You're welcome, you know my stuff is your stuff!" Usagi beamed at Luna. "If I could, I'd make it so that you could be human or feline whenever your darn well pleased... life would be quite exciting that way! Though I won't even go into the evil, evil pranks you could play on me if you had that ability..."

She let her hands rest on Luna's shoulders for a moment, just oozing glee. "You will amazing! Twenty-five credits says that Artemis is openly drooling by the time I'm done with you! You can wear whatever jewels you want, and we'll do a touch of make-up... You'll be the belle of the ball! But, again, privacy," she giggled, letting go and making her way to the door.

[Luna]

Luna glanced at the dress apprehensively for a moment before smiling once again and murmuring, “It’ll fit, I know it will.” She glanced at Usagi as she was saying that she should give her privacy to change. It hadn’t really occurred to Luna much. She was use to being in the room while Usagi was changing or doing any number of other things, not to mention the girls had just all changed together a little while ago. It hadn’t really bothered her at all that Usagi was still standing there. She was about to tell Usagi that she didn’t have to leave when she spoke up again.

She grinned brightly and said, “If I had stuff Usagi, then I would be able to say the same.” She cocked her head thoughtfully when Usagi mentioned wanting to make it so that she could be human or feline whenever she chose. She had been able to do so in the Silver Millennium, but she had long since forgotten how she had been able to do that. It was a power that she had lost, one she wasn’t certain if she could get again. It didn’t matter much, she didn’t really mind being a cat most of the time. However, there were times when she wished that she could be human whenever she wanted. There were things that she couldn’t do as a cat. “Usagi, even if that were possible ... I don’t do evil pranks, although the idea has merits. There is so many things that I could do if I had that ability, but alas I’ll have to leave the evil pranking up to you.”

Luna glanced toward the door leading to where they had left Artemis a little uncertainly. “Do you really think so Usagi? I ... I’d like that I think.” She was shaken from her thoughts when Usagi let her go and continued toward the door. Waving a hand at Usagi she shook her head and said, “Don’t be silly Usagi, you don’t have to leave. It’s been forever since I’ve dressed up, I’m going to need your help. After all, who’s going to help me with the zipper if you are gone?”

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi giggled. "Sure, you have stuff, Luna! You can do that crazy back flip and turn up a new communicator or henshin stick or whatever it is that you manage to secret away. Sometimes I think I should shake you vigorously and see if anything falls out!" She joked.

"Uh-huh. We'd see. You can be evil when you want to. Even as a cat I don't forget you have claws," Usagi remarked, waggling her eyebrows. "I'm sure you'd find ways to get into mischief as a human. Maybe some of that mischief will include a certain other cat turned human, eh? EH?" She elbowed her friend in the ribs with a goofy grin, enjoying ribbing Luna-- literally as well as figuratively.

Straightening, she smiled. "Yes, I really, really think so." Usagi giggled at bit at the thought of the zipper. "Fair enough, dress zippers can be tricky! I stand ready to be of assistance!" She couldn't help but rub her hands together, bubbling over with excitement to see Luna all dressed up.

[Luna]

Luna grinned in amusement before shaking her head and saying, “I would much rather you didn’t do that Usagi. That just proves how much more evil you are then I could ever be, even with claws.”

She blushed brightly when Usagi mentioned mischief with Artemis and mumbled embarrassedly, “Usagi, don’t say things like that. Artemis and I, we’re just friends ... he’s my partner, you know that.”

Luna giggled nervously before slipping out of her dress and into the new one, turning so Usagi could do the zipper for her. She smoothed her palm down the material of the dress, glad that it seemed to fit ok. This dress wasn’t the one she was use to wearing, but it seemed to almost be made for her. She was still giddy with excitement, the whole idea of being able to dress up for a fancy party a delight she didn’t think she would be able to experience ever again or at least for a very long time.

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"I was only kidding!" Usagi protested with mock-hurt. "I wouldn't shake you vigorously! Just perhaps enthusiastically," she said slyly, just raising an eyebrow as Luna said she and Artemis were just friends and partners. "Uh-huh. Sure. Whatever you say, Luna. You're 'partners' in more than one arena, that's for sure."

Deciding not to give her a hard time anymore, Usagi fell silent, watching Luna step into the dress, and reaching behind her for the zipper, sliding it up and gently tugging on the dress to make sure it was hanging properly. There was no problem getting it to fit, and she smiled over Luna's shoulder at the woman's reflection.

"It's perfect," Usagi declared simply, allowing another moment of admiration before moving away. "So, let's get that jewelry, then! Or do you want make-up first? I'd advise jewelry, you want the make-up to match everything..."

[Luna]

Luna shook her head once more and dryly said. “I’d have to enthusiastically scratch you if you tried to do that and I’ve told you more then once now, there isn’t anything going on between Artemis and me. It’s all in your imagination Usagi, he’s only a friend.”

She didn’t really mean it of course. Artemis had always meant far more to her then just a mere friend. However, she wasn’t exactly comfortable in discussing such things, especially when she wasn’t exactly certain what he feelings were just yet. She was still a little confused as to what she was feeling for her partner and so she was glad when Usagi dropped the subject.

Luna admired her reflection for a moment before turning to Usagi with a bright smile. “Jewelry first I think, as you said the make-up should match everything. I want everything to be just right Usagi. This is a special night, I don’t want anything to go wrong ...”

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"Whatever," Usagi said, managing not to roll her eyes. Luna was the one that needed her imagination checked in Usagi's opinion, but she wasn't going to push the issue further. Denial wasn't just a river in Egypt...

At Luna's remark about something going wrong, Usagi did indulge and rolled her eyes playfully, waving off the worry with a flourish of her hand. "Don't fret, things will be fine! Now, c'mon!" She proceeded out of the dressing room, into the private corridors of her apartments, and walked further into the maze, opening a door at the end that looked like just another section of wall. Giggling softly to herself, she went down the short amount of stairs, and to the end of the hidden corridor. It was away from any windows, and obviously did not see that much use-- it was clean, but devoid of the ornamentation of the rest of the Palace. Outside a strange looking door was a uniformed Secret Service guard, standing at attention outside.

"Hey there, Agent Zubriggen," Usagi greeted the man with a smile. She did feel bad for him, he had to stand at attention all day long over a strongroom full of very pretty objects, but those objects didn't move and he couldn't even play with them. She had said as much when Lucan announced a guard just for the royal jewels, but Zubriggen had insisted, jokingly, that, being Swiss, meant that he had jewelry and timepieces in his blood. As long as he was happy... she was happy. "So... anything moved in there? You know those diamonds, they always grow legs when you're not looking..." she teased.

Usagi watched the man try not to smirk. "No, your Majesty. They've all been squared away."

She took a step back as he unlocked the bolt on the door, and then pressed the keyboard, taking the time to wipe his fingerprints afterwards. Usagi grinned as the heavy door swung up, revealing a medium-sized room that dazzled the eye, glittering stones and gems of every kind laid out in necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, combs, even diadems and crowns.

"We inherited a good section of the crown jewels from some of the crowned heads of the world," Usagi admitted. "At least, the pieces that were owned by their governments, the families of course got to keep what they owned privately, and some of them bought back heirlooms from the government since theirs was falling. The rest-- were gifts, especially at the coronation." She stepped in, sweeping an arm to indicate to Luna that she could take her pick. "Have at it. Diamonds are a girl's best friend!"

[Luna]

Luna relaxed once again and followed Usagi down the stairs and the hidden corridor. She hadn’t ever actually been down here so it was all new to her. She glanced around curiously, nodding politely to the guard standing at attention outside. She grinned faintly as she watched Usagi tease the man.

When the door was opened, she followed Usagi inside, eyes widening a bit at the sight that met her gaze. She hadn’t ever seen so many glittering jewels in one place before, well not since the Silver Millennium at any rate. Logically she had known that Usagi had owned a lot of jewels these days, but it was still a surprise to see them all together.

She gazed delightedly at everything there was, murmuring faintly, “I’d bet many a girl would give anything to be in here right now ...”

Luna shook her head in amazement before actually going over to try and pick out something she liked best. She didn’t want too much, only a simple something or other. She finally settled on a bracelet and some earrings before turning back to Usagi and asking, “What do you think of these?”

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"Maybe someday I'll set it up for tours, at least the stuff that I won't wear regularly," Usagi remarked as Luna said that any girl would would give just about anything. "I have to say, it's definitely a fun place. I could spend a few hours in here trying everything on... I haven't even put on a good percentage of it."

She walked idly over the room, sometimes opening drawers under the jewelry displays, still amazed to find more jewels yet. Technically, her old jewelry, the things she had from before the coronation, were still around here, but Usagi kept it more for sentimentality than anything else. She would be laughed at if she ever wore costume jewelry again, but it was still valuable to her. Occasionally she wore a crescent moon necklace or a cubic zirconia pair of earrings around the Palace when there was no one to see her, and she could choose her own clothing. In public, the rocks and metal had to be the real thing.

Usagi looked up as Luna chose a few pieces, smiling. "Looks great! I love those earrings, what a statement. I wonder... Hey, Zubriggen! What can you tell us about these?" Usagi didn't even know what she had anymore.

Agent Zubriggen peaked in, glancing at the chandelier earrings. "Ah, those. A DeBeers haute couture piece, a gift from the former Emir of Qatar. Two hundred and sixty-four diamonds, including two pear-shaped drops of one carat each, for a total carat weight of 10.2. All are Ideal cut, with a color of E-- nearly colorless, color is undetectable to the human eye. All of the diamonds are Internally Flawless-- remarkable clarity. Estimated value of 2.4 million credits."

Usagi's eyebrows raised, and she turned back to Luna with a grin. "Guess you have great taste in stones. You look good with millions of credits hanging in your ears," she teased.

[Luna]

“What is the point of having it all Usagi if you don’t try it on?” Luna grinned lightly and continued her search for the perfect pieces to add to her outfit.

When Zubriggen began to explain where the earrings had come from, Luna’s eyes opened just a little wider. Luna started to set them back where she had picked them up from after listening to the agent’s story. She didn’t really feel all that comfortable with wearing such expensive jewels, but then Usagi had given her permission to choose whatever she wanted and she did want the night to be perfect. She nibbled at her lip nervously for a moment before returning Usagi’s grin and saying, “If you really don’t mind me wearing such expensive and important pieces Usagi, I really do like them.”

Luna fastened them to her ears and added the bracelet she had found to her right wrist. She studied her reflection for a moment before deciding that she liked what she saw. Twirling back to face Usagi, she smiled once more and asked, “What do you think?”

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"The point of having it is that I have something official to wear, and people take me seriously," Usagi said with a sigh. As much as she loved beautiful, shiny things, it did seem a bit ridiculous at times-- how much money to took to be taken seriously in politics. She remembered appearing in the press the first time as a civilian, and being ridiculed for her scuffed up Payless pumps and the suit she got on clearance at the department store. Not to mention her hairstyle-- though that was something she refused to change. They could get used to that, and now odangos were in vogue. She saw them popping up everywhere, though Usagi had half a mind to write a piece telling everyone how to do it, she was tired of seeing buns that kept falling out, or one that was higher on the head than the other. If they were going to mimic her, they might as well do it right!

"Besides, I can't turn down gifts or the government 'assets' we inherited," Usagi smirked, enough though sometimes receiving gifts was more hassle than fun, especially since as a part of the New Earth government, she had to account for and declare each gift received in an official capacity. She made up the rules herself when it came to ethics regulations, but following her own rules was still a pain at times. Especially when having to declare certain gifts or other perks as income! Even the Queen of the New Earth had to file taxes.

Usagi rolled her eyes as Luna began to put back the jewelry, coming over to her side and pressing the earrings back into her hand. "Don't be ridiculous, Luna! Weren't you just saying what's the purpose of having it if I don't wear it? It's not going to wear itself! Put them on, they'll be gorgeous on you. The only things in this room that aren't incredibly valuable is my old stuff, so just enjoy it. They may be expensive, but in the end, they're just rocks, anyway. And you know I trust you. Heck, you can have them. They're yours. I have more than I could ever need, so if you like them... they're all yours."

She smiled, standing back as Luna put the earrings on. She couldn't wear them as a cat, certainly, but they could be kept for when she was in her human form. "My stuff is your stuff, remember?"

Grinning as Luna twirled back to face her, Usagi clapped her hands, giving a little hop of excitement. "Oooh, Luna, you look so pretty! Now we need to get some make-up on you and you'll be all set!"

[Luna]

Luna nodded and murmured, “I understand Usagi. I know how people won’t take you seriously if you don’t look your best.” She didn’t particularly like it, but she did understand. Luna would much rather Usagi be taken seriously for the things she said and did then for what she wore, but that was how the world worked. “I suppose it might insult someone if you tried to turn down their gifts.”

She didn’t protest when Usagi pressed the earrings back into her hand because it really shouldn’t hurt anything to wear them for one night. Besides, she had just finished saying that they should be worn and not just thrown into a room somewhere.

Luna grinned brightly when Usagi told her she could have them, though she felt a little uncomfortable with the thought of being given such an expensive gift she wasn’t about to turn it away either. She wouldn’t hurt Usagi’s feelings for the world and she really did love them. “If you are sure Usagi, thank you ...”

She blushed just a little at Usagi’s comment and murmured, “We should probably hurry with that, it’s getting late and I wouldn’t want you to miss the beginning of your party Usagi.”