1025/Makeup Magic (Without the Power)

Makeup Magic (Without the Power)
Date of Scene:	20 January 2024
Location:	Dorms #1
Synopsis:	Minako, Usagi and Ami are hanging out at Minako's place. Ami suggests studying, but the girls realize she's reading fashion magazines!? Makeover Magic Time!
Cast of Characters:	Ami Mizuno, Minako Aino, Usagi Tsukino

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Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno had been spending a good chunk of her Winter vacation actually being social. Much as she ever was. Some time was spent getting to know the Outer senshi, and now she was visiting with Usagi and Minako to see how they were doing. Naturally she has a bag of books with her. She always did. There were a few magazines as well though: Current fashion magazines with such headlinese as 'current trends' and 'cute casual looks!' Not her usual reading material though she did always try to look nicely put together. It just was always a bit... dated.

"If you two need help catching up with course work before the semester starts again, I'd be happy to help," she informs Usagi and Minako while settling in to find a comfortable spot to sit. "I am attempting to 'take a break' though as many have pointed out I don't do that enough."

Minako Aino has posed:
What a world this was, that Ami had been social and Minako had been spending her free time catching up on all the work she'd notably let slide between her duties as Sailor Venus, Sailor V and...well, being a little too social at the wrong times. Just the mention of the course work brought a groan from the blonde with the ribbon in her hair, looking up at her blue-haired friend from the hot tea she'd been in the process of preparing. "Ami-chan, don't torment me like that, talking about-..." she begins only to blink. A few quick steps and she was leaning over Ami, blinking a little as a slow grin spread across her face. "Ami...what are you reading?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
It's Usagi's first time at Minako's house, and she'd delighted in looking all over the place, without a hint of subtlety, calling out praise for all the things she found cute or nice or cool. Once she'd seen everything though, she'd flopped herself right down with a manga, determined to laze, only mildly worried about the risk of getting too comfortable and falling asleep.

"Ami-chaaaaaan," she whines, "We're on breaaaaak! School's illegal right now!"

And if it wasn't, it really should be!

"You've been told right. We're all taking a break - a perfect, wonderful, awesome break, doing nothing lazing and - wait, what are you reading?"

She'd poked her head up, and that looked an awful lot like a magazine...

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno glances up at the protest from both the girls giving them a rather surprised look at all the complaint about school. Or perhaps just... in awe? A bit. "If we use the time now though, we won't be in such a rush when it does start." By 'we' she means them, because she was already caught up through the rest of the year. Not that it would really *stop* her from studying.

Minako's sudden interest in her magazine earns an embarassed flush, and she quickly closes the pages. It does nothing to hide it though: The biggest photos were on the cover after all. It just makes it all the more easy to notice what it was by the time Usagi also clues in.

"Ah, I was thinking it's time to update my wardrobe. I've grown out of a few things and Spring is coming soon." There's a pause as she adds, matter-of-fact, "So I was doing some research."

Minako Aino has posed:
Of course, Mina had been more than a little excited to have the others over. Sure she'd crashed in Usagi's dorm, visited the shrine with Rei and the others, but this was hers and it was new. Regardless of context or intent, be it study social, it was something 'normal' girls did.

"Update your wardrobe huh?" Minako grins, leaning down to lift up the magazine between her fingers and clearly show it to Usagi. "Trying to look cute for someone in particular? Is -that- why you want more free time through the rest of the year?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"And you wanted to talk about studying?!?" Usagi is awash in horror, at the mere thought, "When we could be shopping?!"

She's leaning over and looking at the bit of the magazine that she can see, hopeful that this will become an adventure. A day out. A good time!!

"What kind of fashion are you into? Do you want to change up your colors scheme? Your style in general? Do you want to try miniskirts, you'd look great in a miniskirt, you have such nice legs!"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno squeaks as she's descended upon by her two very eager friends. The magazine is easily taken away from her so that it can be looked over. It's just a teen fashion magazine though some of the others are likely for more mature women. Just more of a corporate fashion versus... well. She was trying. It was just such a mish-mash of varying magazines that didn't seem to have any particular theme.

"What? No I don't have anyone--!" She starts to protest at Mina's teasing though she does turn very red. "I'm just looking for new clothes is all! M-maybe a mini skirt? I have nice legs?" That's news to her though she knew she was in decent shape.

Seeing how eager they were she pauses looking between her two friends with a worried glance. "Do you want to help me shop?" Oh what is she getting into?

Minako Aino has posed:
"Ami...you -have- seen our uniforms, right? How could you not have noticed? You should have confidence in yourself and your looks!" Minako lectures, looking to Usagi to back her up on this before placing her hands on her hips. "Your crush will definately find it more attractive...although I suppose the shy thing probably works too..."

Sorry Ami, Minako had already decided that if there wasn't someone? There was going to be!

An invitation as disasterous as letting a vampire into one's house, Minako gives an excited noise, dropping down beside Ami where she sat and nodding. "Absolutely! And we can maybe try doing something with your hair or..."

Good luck Ami, you're gonna need it!

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Exactly! Exactly!" She points at Minako, and then back to Ami, "She gets it! Come on, Ami-chan! You've seen our fuku! Of course you have great legs! Between the skirt and your boots, you've got such great legs. You should show them off! Sailor Mercury doesn't have anything Ami-chan doesn't!"

She hops to her feet, clapping excitedly.

"Yes, yes, a haircut maybe, and oh, have you ever played with make up? I don't usually because I like to sleep in, but I bet you'd really like a whole routine -"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno blinks rapidly at Minako still looking a bit pink around the cheeks. It only makes her blue eyes somehow all the more vivid at the moment. "W-well yes, but I've never looked in the mirror--" the explanation is cut off because of course she wouldn't be staring at herself in the mirror while Sailor Mercury! She was usually busy when she had changed. Though she did have to admit the skirt was short.

Before she can really, fully make an argument against this sudden attention on her she finds Usagi just as excitedly agreeing. "Makeup? No I haven't, other than some lip gloss. I like my hair," she also adds reaching up to fluff at the short ends hesitantly seeming to consider.

"... I was thinking of some hair clips though from... Oh, right! Wait a moment."

OHTHANKGOD a distraction! Ami reaches down to her bag to rummage within producing two small boxes that were gift wrapped in shiny blue and silver paper. They're offered to each of the girls.

"It's a bit late, I'm sorry, but here. New Years gifts." And inside were the very same hairclips she'd just been discussing, each tailored to what the girls may like. Usagi's are little icecream cones, and Minako's are pretty red bows.

Minako Aino has posed:
"Never? Really? Or at the social media after one of our fights?" Minako blinks, "You have a computer like...all the time!"

Of course, Minako might be a biased opinion on this, given that Sailor V was -still- so popular and well known there was literally IP and merch for her.

Distractions with shiny things? That would probably work...most of the time. Instead? Minako grinned excitedly before setting hers down. "See! You can pick cute things! C'mon! Lets pick something out of the magazines, or just go shopping right now..."

A look back to Usagi, the joy was almost terrifying. "I have a kit in the other room. A lady should always be prepared!

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Your hair is cute," Usagi agrees, backing off haircuts immediately. It's not like she doesn't understand - she's had to cut her hair entirely too often, thanks to it growing so fast. It's finally starting to slow down, but it's also brushing against her ankles half the time, so who's really winning? Not her!

At least, not until hair clips come out. "Ami-chan! It's so cute - hold on, let me put it in -" It's the work of a few seconds to get the packaging off and to have the ice cream clips in her hair, approximately where her clips as Super Sailor Moon would eventually settle.

"How do I look? My transformation broach doesn't have a mirror because Luna doesn't believe in useful accessories," huff, "But it's cute, right? Just like you're going to be even cuter, once we're done with you! Ah, I wonder if you're my size, because I we could definitely let you try some of my stuff -"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno had tried she really had. Distractions didn't seem to work though! It does give a moment of breathing room while Ami watches Usagi put the clips in smiling at the sight of them. "I did ask you for some help if you remember, Usagi-chan. I already gave Mako-chan hers." She'd gotten tea for the Outers if only because she didn't know their like and dislikes very well yet. "They look good on you."

There's a half-beat before she glances nervously toward Minako again. There the distraction had utterly failed. "A kit of what?" She didn't know! Was there a hair kit? A clothing kit? Kit did mean 'outfit' in British slang didn't it? Her hands smooth nervously over the soft jeans she wears with a little chuckle.

"I think I'm a bit taller than you, Usagi-chan, just a bit. And um, you're a bit..." Her gaze drops slightly down toward Usagi's chest. "Bigger."

Minako Aino has posed:
A makeup kit of course, but one problem at a time! Usagi had barely finished complaining about lacking a mirror before there was suddenly a Minako pressed up behind her with a phone leaning over her shouder, ready to take the appropriate selfie.

"C'mon Usagi, think! You should know how to adapt!" she chides playfully, allowing the other blonde to inspect herself and then looking back towards Ami past Usagi's shoulder. "We can play with a little makeup, keep it understated...sometimes it takes just the smallest amount of polish to make a real gemstone shine!"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
There's a squeak of surprise as Minako returns, ready for a selfie that Usagi herself isn't ready for. She laughs through it, and when Minako pulls away, sticks her tongue out at Ami.

"Naru-chan's even shorter than me, and just about the same... size, but Rei-chan's around your height! Minako-chan's the winner in this room though, since Mako-chan couldn't join us today."

It would take a stronger girl than Usagi not to notice certain praise-able attributes her friends have!

"Yes, just a little make-up, and oh, oh! I've got the disguise pen! Ami-chan, you can try all the outfits in the magazine with it!"

VICTORY! IT IS AT HAND!

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I don't know..." Ami hesitates only to let out a sigh. She was getting older, perhaps it was time to consider polishing up her look as the others suggested. It was already on her mind with the magazines after all.

"This seems like a horrible misuse of our powers," she begins when the disguise pen is mentioned. Now if only Luna were around to agree! A quick glance around for Artemis doesn't seem to help either. He was always a bit more lenient of the two.

"All right. Just a bit of makeup." Biting down on her lip her gaze drops to the magazines. It *would* be helpful to try before she bought something. "Just one outfit." A pause. "Maybe two."

Minako Aino has posed:
Misuse? Minako herself had the compact for exactly the same trick and Minako gives a little pout. "Ami-chan! How could you think such a thing? I mean, you're just testing potential disguises really. Disguises can be anything, even just 'Ami-chan in a cute new dress'!"

Trust Minako to know how to justify it!

Usagi's complement brings a little flush to her cheeks, perhaps for the thought of the attention paid...but she's quick to grin and shrug her shoulders. "Well, I -am- the guardian of love and beauty, right?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"That's right! You never know when it will be a good idea to know exactly how the disguise pen works - plus, imagine the disappointment if you try something and it doesn't fit just right, because the cut is bad! No, the best thing to do is try them out!"

She digs into her bag, pulling out the disguise pen, the sparkly pink magical tool shining in the light.

"Come on, you know you want to!"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno drops her head forward with a clear sigh. "All right. You do have a point there, about the disguise. I haven't really tried that power much at all," she has to agree quietly. Even she could admit that was a point, even if they were using it as an excuse to make her give in.

The magazines are picked up and a few slid to each girl. "Then pick me one outfit each," she decides. "And I'll pick something too." The last magazine she hadn't even thumbed through yet so that's the one she gets as she picks it up and opens it to a random page. The center page which was of course the flashiest spread of attire. "Just nothing showing my stomach or too much cleavage."

Her own device is pulled out then, the little tiny computer she so often used.

Minako Aino has posed:
It was on! Minako dives on one of the magazines and is quick to flick through, drinking in details and making judgements to a frankly startling degree. Still Ami had set the rules and even Minako wasn't going to push her to something more daring...but that didn't mean she couldn't try to find something cute!

The slim-fitting blue dress ended mid-to-high on her thigh, similar to a pair of shorts and was paired with a button-up jacket. It wasn't a -massive- shift from Ami's normal style, but it was probably an 'upgrade' in style to something more modern and fashionable.

Or at least Minako believed so, as she bookmarked the page with her finger and held it out. "Here, why don't you try this one?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
If Minako was being more conservative, straying close to Ami's usual style, Usagi is considering a variety of fantastically different styles, thanks to grabbing two magazines - a Western-style one and another local one.

Her eyes go first to a low-cut spaghetti-strap dress with a very short skirt and a delicate heart-print waistline where all the hearts were actually cutouts, revealing bare skin. Gorgeous, but Ami would never go for it. Then, she considers a much more casual affair - a dark-colored rimmed hat matched to a faded and frayed jean jacket cover a white colored shirt and gray short-shorts, accessorized with a handbag. Too casual, too - funky.

Then she considers a much more formal and neat affair - a creamy-white blouse and high-waisted short skirt, with a tan overcoat and sheer black tights. Very fashionable college girl, but something just wasn't quite right....

"I've got it, you've got to try this one, Ami-chan!"

Her actual pick is a cozy looking outfit, a thick-yarn scarf piled around the shoulders and a warm tan sweater-jacket over a gray sweater with pink hearts, black leggings tucked into black boot-shoes.

"It's different, but totally cozy! I think you'd need a more auburn sweater instead of this tan, but doesn't this style scream cozy-chic?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno glances between the two magazines that are offered with the two outfits. "... Those aren't so bad," she reasons quietly. It wouldn't be bad at all, right? They were her friends and trying to help. If they got this excited about clothing maybe she could sneak in a math lesson later when it came to making a budget while shopping... Or something.

"Okay," she confirms with a firm nod. "I'll give it a try." Ami gets to her feet taking a few steps away from the little gathering so that she had some room as she produces her own disguise pen from her little subspace pocket with a flick of her wrist.

"Mercury Disguise Magic!"

With a little shimmer over her figure she's soon wearing the casual, comfy, slouchy outfit that Usagi had picked out with a bit of subtle makeup on, and her hair lightly curled so that it feathered out around her face rather than just being it's usual sort of flat state.

A twist and a turn is given in it, biting down on her lip as she watches their reactions for a moment. Then the second time is given... This time for the dress that Minako had picked out.

"Well? What do you think?"

Minako Aino has posed:
Comfy, cute! Minako gives a little gasp and a nod, clapping her hands together. "It looks so nice! Perfect for that relaxed look that is perfect for fall or winter!" Clearly Usagi's pick wasn't one that she was going to complain about, Usagi even got a little excited one-arm squeeze for it!

At least until Ami changed to her pick and Minako's hands clasped together again, a bump of her hip given as a little 'look at that!' to the Senshi leader!

Welp, Ami-chan was getting touched, or at least her clothing was. Minako reached out, poking at the jacket and grinning. "And -this- would be perfect for a cute date night!"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Cuuuuuute!!!" Usagi cheers as Ami transforms into her choice of outfit, the comfortable looking attire perfect for a colder spring day, when Winter still clung. "Your hair curls really nice! You should definitely try that out some time, and it doesn't take forever, so you could do it anytime!"

It takes forever for her own hair to curl, on account of her having enough to weave a blanket with, but Ami, she could definitely do it.

And then, the dress Minako-chan had picked out, definitely in Ami's style but bumped up just a little with Minako's more daring aesthetic.

"Minako-chan is right. You've got to go on a date in that! You'll make someone swallow their tongue!"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno glances down at herself allowing her hands to smooth over the magicked dress a moment. Even the touch from Usagi and Minako earns a blushing smile as she starts to feel perhaps just a *bit* more confident. "You think so?" No sooner are the words out of her mouth than she gives a quick shake of her head. No wait, that'll make them think there's someone she likes!

"If I ever wnat to go on a date I'll consider this, then. I don't see that happening any time soon however."

That just left... What she had been looking at.

"I want to try one more." It's a quiet admission, a little guilty, and she quickly follows it up with a nervous, "Don't laugh, alright? I know it's not practical and really only good for a special event, but I ... I think it's pretty."

Again her arm comes out, hoisting the Magic Makeup Pen over herself.

The form that shimmers over her is ... long. A long skirt. Nothing on the shoulders. Cut straight across the chest. The skirt flows out around her hips to the ground in pale blue and white with sweeping strikes of gold throughout it as she tries out a *formal* dress. Just for a minute. The curly hair remains as does the makeup so that it doesn't look too out of place.

Ami twists her arms behind her clutching her elbow with one hand as she turns side to side letting the skirt swish and sway. "I just found it aesthetically pleasing." Says the girl who now looks more like Princess Mercury than Ami.

http://tinyurl.com/5n9amrk2

Minako Aino has posed:
"You should be more confident Ami! Usagi is right, anyone would be lucky to date someone as pretty as you, -and- you're smart too! That's double lucky!" Minako assures excitedly before Ami's own pick comes next and she takes a step back.

The long skirt shimmering into place over the silhouette sets the theme, but to see the final result has Minako's eyes practically sparkling with excitement and praise, the non-verbal 'squee' of approval that escapes her lips making it pretty clear what she thought even before she found her words again.

"This is gorgeous! You've got good taste after all Ami, you should show it off more!"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Of course we think so!"

Let there be no room for doubt, this is an all affirming, all loving, highly supportive moment, and it's easy, because Ami really is very pretty. Both outfits had brought something out in her, shown more opportunities for her to shine in her own skin, and Usagi is genuinely pleased with the turn the day's taken, the ice cream hair pins gleaming in her hair.

"Don't count yourself out, you never know when love - or a hot date - could strike," she says with the kind of confidence only a girl in love can offer.

And then Ami is asking them not to laugh, which obviously, Usagi would never do, but it means she must be super nervous, so -

And the dress is - beautiful.

"Ami-chan," she starts, then stops, at a loss for words. Usagi's eyes shine and she can't stop looking - at the play of gold, splashed like liquid across the tulle fabric. "Ami-chan, you've got to buy this one. We'll make up a place to go to wear it if we have to, it's too pretty for you not to have!"