The Night [5]

Chapter 8: Self-esteem Issues

After several terribly long and stressful days had gone by and passed, the day that everyone in the manor seemed to be on the edge of their seat for finally was upon us - the night of the celebratory dance for all the creatures in the Feral Plains family. It was a shock, mostly to me, that it was all actually happening and everything was put out in time with even some hours to spare before the guests arrived at our mansion. Currently, I found myself standing in front of a large mirror in my bedroom, having a silent staring contest with my reflection that frowned right back at me. To any normal human being in the reality plain, this would be seen as strange and abnormal, but to the creatures that personally knew me would see this as my own personal issues with self-esteem and such other problems that I faced, being an angsty teenager as my friends, who were also teens, called me at school. It was not a rare fact about me when it came to dresses, I was not a huge fan. They were too revealing, too bright, too breezy and overall they made me uncomfortable for unknown reasons all together. My mother, who actually fawned overseeing me in dresses when I was a baby, often nagged me about being more feminine when it came to casual clothing, although I often did not pay any attention to her and did what mostly reflected my personality. This dress that I had actually decided to try on seemed to mock me and everything that I, being a tomboy, stood for and it eventually to a certain point where I gave a final stubborn huff as I turned away from the mirror and began to step towards my closet. "Fuck this, I'm going to wear a tuxedo like everyone else," I said rather loudly as a nasty retort to this choice of attire. However, to my dismay, a tall form blocked my path before I could reach my other clothes. I lifted my head to meet the emerald-hued gaze of my older brother, Beck, whose arms were crossed as he looked down at me with a raise of an eyebrow and an evident frown upon his lips. "You need to stop worrying about what other people think of you." He simply said, "I personally think you look fine in that dress, so please, consider wearing it to the dance." His words made a frown come to my own expression as I have a quiet and low sigh at this. "Firstly, I don't care what people think about me, maybe that was me a long time ago, but I honestly don't give a shit anymore." I remarked, "And secondly," Before saying more, I poked the brown-haired male's nose with one finger, "You are only saying that because you are my brother. I look hideous in these things and you know it, deep down, it's the truth."

In a response to my stubbornness, my brother gave a small laugh of amusement that I took as mocking. "You do care what people think. I bet you are wearing this dress for that special demon of yours." He said, a smirk slipping into his expression as I narrowed my eyes at him, "Also, I would never lie to my sister. I am done doing bad things and being a good person. You look nice, my beautiful little sister. This dress does show a lot of your own personality - it doesn't have any bright colors, it isn't skin tight or revealing, but just enough to make a stunning impression for your family and boyfriend. I know that people in the human world have ruined your opinion of your looks, but remember, this is our world - not theirs. The creatures here in this mansion, from Hyde to Ryuu to Henry to Sebastian to even me think that you are a great person, both on the inside and outside. Whether you like it or not." I was silent for about a full minute or so, looking down at my shoes as I didn't really have a good comeback to his words. He was right on many accounts and I couldn't bash him for that, I wasn't that heartless to my own brother. Beck was a kind, supportive brother to me and it made a certain warm spread inside of me as I would remember what would transpire later on for him. I decided to give in to my siblings insisting remarks and look back up at him. "Fine," I said with a huff of annoyance, but he only smiled, knowing that he had gotten through to me even if I refused to show it to him. He stepped away from me now and stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the dark green-colored bowtie that was in his black tuxedo. "So, how do you think I look?" Beck asked me of my own opinion now directed to his current attire, "Rate me from Charlie Chaplin to James Bond." It took me a moment to register what he said and by far, that had to be one of the weirdest phrases I have ever heard from the tall male, but I did not question it - this was my brother we're talking about. I turned and walked over to him, standing beside Beck as we both looked at each other in the mirror. Compared to most siblings, we were very close and most people would not be able to tell that we were related. We did share an eye and hair color though, so that's usually what gave people the clue if we hadn't already told them. I had always wanted a protective older brother to look up to, so he was a dream come true. "You look very handsome, Beck." I simply said with a smile, "Which isn't a surprise, since you inherited the good looks between the two of us." To that, he lightly tapped my head with one of his hands, "You're beautiful, shut up." My older brother remarked, glaring at me through the mirror reflection. "This is, like, the first time you've actually worn a tuxedo, right?" I asked him and for awhile, he didn't answer me.

"Yeah," He finally said, blinking at himself in the clear mirror glass that was before him, "I suppose it is." I looked up at him for a moment, seeing how recollection seemed to show within his eyes, thinking about many things involving his past. I had been there with him since the very beginning - literally - and I knew all about what he had gone through. He was with Vore, who was given Amber as a new name ever so recently, in that small group of my characters that had gone through a lot of abuse. While Amber went through physical abuse, Beck went through verbal abuse from both his past love, Juniper, who took him for nothing but a toy for pleasure, and even my own ex-boyfriend, Tom, who had told him that he was unapproachable and sad. I rested my head on his shoulder for a long moment, holding his hand as we shared a sentimental moment as siblings, showing our close bond. "I love you, big brother, I hope you know that," I said in a quiet ton and I felt the thumb of his hand brush across my palm in a gentle manner. "I know, trust me. I love you too, sis." He replied, a shared sigh of emotion coming from the two of us. I pulled away from him and walked towards my office door, wondering if the hellhound brothers were awaiting us now from outside. Behind me, I was able to pick up something in the quiet atmosphere. "Do you think Henry would like how I look?" I heard my brother murmur and an immediate smile came to my face, feeling warm inside as I relished in the fact of how much Henry and Beck cared and thought about one another. I turned and rested against the doorframe as I looked to Beck once more. "I thought you were lecturing me earlier about not being concerned about what other people think?" I teased him and his gaze flickered over to me in surprise, like he had not expected me to hear what he had said. "It's different," Beck muttered, brushing a hand through his hair to comb back the brown locks of hair upon his head. He looked good, even as his sibling I would have no hesitation to admit that. I held back a snicker as I imagined how Henry would react to such a sight. "I know, I know. I'm kidding around." I said with a slight chuckle, "If I know Henry well enough, and I've known him longer than you, I'd have to say that there is a great risk of him fainting or having a nose-bleed. Possibly getting an erection at the dance, the possibilities are endless with that male." That seemed to amuse my brother more than I thought, seeing him give a lighthearted laugh that made him smile. It was a rare thing to see true happiness and amusement in him since he was usually very blank when it came to expressions and showed most things through words - which was another thing that he and I had in common. "Come on, you big goof, we have a party to get to," I said, rolling my eyes as we both now headed out into the other room, suited in a black and green tuxedo for the male and a black dress that sported some white in certain places for the female. We looked awesome.