Dancing with Your Ghost

Easier Than Expected

I mean it when I say it was easier than expected to get into the Council.

All that it took was a little bit more joy and socializing in the week I had to get my name out there. Then I was elected, and my world flipped to an entirely different view on things.

No longer did we long to be near each other, we now lived nearer to each other than ever before. I smiled with an entirely too translucent grin as I got elected. I gave a sweet speech then took my place beside you and Councilor Bronte, a man who had been there for years upon years. It was golden, the way you smiled at me when my name was called.

When I was finally finished decorating and moving into the glittering castle right next to yours, I hailed you, holding up facemasks and inviting you over for dinner. You gladly accepted, and I made sure to include lots of umber leaves and mallowmelt, along with some lushberry juice from my mother as a gift of congratulations.

You and I had a schedule, weekly spa dates. It boosted our mood and helped ease stress. All too quickly, Councilor Bronte got skeptical and interfered, asking to be included in the sessions, probably to make sure nothing was happening against the code we swore oath to, such as treason or romance. In his eyes, they were probably one in the same.

When he found out it was just facemasks and hair and makeup tips, he moved to leave, obviously covered in the shroud of toxic masculinity he had developed in his long, boring years.

So we forced Bronte to stay, and forced him to do facemasks, and I did his hair while you did his makeup, asking each other for tips on this dreadful case of toxic masculinity and awful skincare. And yes, at first Bronte hated it, but he eased up, breathing in the sweet aroma of the candles I had lit while relaxing.

Bronte asked for music, and I pulled out my music box, setting it up silently and humming to the tune lightly as I tried to calm his stiff hair. You seemed to be having even worse luck with Grumpy's makeup until I recommended using liquid foundation instead of powdered foundation, since his skin was drier than mine and it would be harder for Bronte's skin to hold powder when he himself was old enough to be.

His skin was also darker, and he didn't match my foundation color at all. So I ordered some, getting some delivered quite quickly to give Bronte a full makeover.

The end product was gorgeous. Bronte's hair had been pulled into a messy tousle, much like Keefe Sencen, the boy you said made you laugh so hard you couldn't stop. I never did get the full joke from you, but I'm sure, knowing Mr. Sencen, that it was incredibly well thought out and funny, I ought to ask him someday.

Along with the hair, his makeup was incredibly well done, even down to perfectly matching eyeliner. The wing was incredible, and I couldn't outdo it if I tried, and I've definitely tried.

Bronte decided to keep the makeup and hair as he returned to his house, leaving us in silence as the music box stopped. The serenity of the moment lasted longer than expected, and soon enough, I had clicked closed the music box, smiling to Kenric as he gave me a high five.

And what an accomplishment it was, Kenric.

All my love,

Oralie.

(A/N: Welcome to the last happy-ish chapter you guys will get for a while unless the plan changes :,) It's gonna be really fun for you guys pfft)

(-Kenny <3)

(Word Count: 626)