Legends of Mirandis Academy

Chapter 36: There's Gears Where My Heart Should Be

"Do you think I'll be as tall as you, soon?" blurted Iridia's little sister, almost as soon as she'd opened the door.

Luna stepped in—or, more accurately, sidled through the door, bearing an immense bag of cosmetics, boxes of jewelry, and their assorted accouterments. She took a moment to admire the Trilliaris house, always a space where tasteful wealth was on display. She took another moment to admire the audacity of Iliad, or whatever her name was.

"Sorry," said the little girl, with a guilty glance at Luna's expression. She put her hands over her mouth. "I didn't mean to offend you."

Luna leaned back and narrowed her eyes, sizing up her counterpart. Literally sizing her up. "I think," Luna said, "you're already more like me than you realize."

"You think so?" India said, and her bare feet tapped a dance on the floor. Behind the youngest sister, the second-youngest was dutifully ascending the staircase and screaming into the hallway:

"IIRIIII! SHE'S HERE!"

"What's that?" asked Irksome, and she poked at the bag Luna was holding. Ostensibly it was made of clear plastic, but over the years it had accumulated age, dust from various eyeshadows and blushes, solid droplets of dried nail polish, and a black stain from a crushed mascara. It was an old battleaxe, and Luna would trust nothing else to prepare for an evening out.

Luna peered at the side of the bag, trying to see where the little girl was pointing. "That's a lipstick. That particular one is blue; I must compliment you on your palette, madam." She bowed at Iffy, and the little girl beamed.

"IIRIII!"

"Ohhh my God!" A door opened violently on the second floor, and Luna heard Iridia shouting. "Ivita, I'm right here! Some volume control, if you please!"

"You play loud music!" protested Ivita. "It's not my fault I have to resort to drastic measures to get your attention."

The youngest sister pointed Luna towards the stairs. "She's up there," she said, unnecessarily. "Can I come too? Please?"

Inkling gave Luna such a set of puppy eyes that it would have been gauche to refuse. "Tell you what," said Luna. She dug through the bag and, after a few moments of effort, extracted the lipstick. "We can have a girl's night, huh? And I'll teach you how to put on makeup."

Overcome with delight, Intrinsic clung to Luna's arm. The extra weight nearly pulled Luna clean off her feet. "I knew you would say yes!" she crowed. "Iri! Iri! Luna said I could come, so now you have to let me innnnn!"

"Scheisse," muttered Iridia from the landing.

"I know what that means," said Ivita bossily. "You're not supposed to say it."

Iridia came down the stairs, flapping her arms at Ivita. "Shush. Shush! If you want Luna to help you with makeup, you'd better behave. Hi," she said, as she saw Luna, and promptly plucked the bag from her hands. "Let me help you with that. Irena, if you keep jumping on Luna like that, you're both going to end up on the ground."

"Can I wear a necklace? Can I wear a bracelet?" said Irena, hopping up and down.

The more composed Ivita glanced longingly at the bag. "Maybe I could wear a necklace, too."

Iridia rolled her eyes at Luna, but smiled. "All right! Come on. Everybody in my room, stat!"

It was strange. Luna had occasionally given thought to what her senior year winter formal might be like. Even during the windfall days of freshman year, back when it was less of a winter formal and more of an excuse to pile into the back of Ophid's pickup truck, wearing shoplifted dresses and borrowed tuxes, snickering and sharing illicit swigs of liquor...