Concert Preparations

The week leading up to the Eras Tour concert with Marcus felt like both a marathon and a sprint. You’d been bouncing back and forth in a whirlwind of small crises and uncomfortable self-reflections. Each day brought a new reminder of just how far down the rabbit hole you’d gone with Aphrodite’s curse — and how much further you’d have to go to get through these trials in one piece.

First, there was the issue of clothes. You only had two outfits left that any girl would consider even remotely acceptable: a black dress and a floral dress you wouldn’t even know how to categorize. The floral dress had thin straps and was somewhat long, and with its light, fluttery fabric, it looked exactly like something Luna would be expected to wear. Somehow, you had to get through these trials, possibly over the course of months, without looking like a sore-thumb in the trials — but just these two dresses weren’t going to cut it. If you didn’t somehow scrounge up money for more clothes soon, you’d be struggling in the same outfits for sure.

And it wasn’t just about the clothes. Every glance in the mirror was a new shock, a fresh reminder of just how quickly you were changing. You’d already noticed the first hints of breasts some time back — full A-cups now, pressing lightly against your shirt or sweater, reminding you constantly of their presence. But recently, you’d started noticing other subtler changes. Your lips, just barely fuller than before, almost soft-looking. You think your jawline has softened too, though it was hard to put a finger on when it had happened. It was enough to make you start to wonder if you’d be able to notice all the changes before they added up to a body that wasn’t really yours anymore.

The ticking clock weighed heavily on your mind. If you didn’t finish these trials quickly enough, you’d be stuck like this, a complete transformation sealed and permanent. The worst part was, it felt like every passing day chipped away at that sense of urgency, almost as if the curse itself was meant to dull your drive to escape it.

And, then there was tonight — the concert. You had one job tonight: win Marcus over completely and shatter any remaining attachment he had to Victoria. It sounded simple, but it felt like you were stepping into unknown territory. You’d spent the better part of your college life messing around, but you’d never tried anything like this before, nor had you really tried to attract someone without them knowing who you really were, and most definitely not to a dude. Marcus knew you, or rather, Luna, as someone he could just enjoy the night with, and tonight’s objective was to turn that into something deeper.

Still, the very idea made you feel like a fish out of water. For one, you weren’t even sure how you were supposed to act at a Taylor Swift concert. Your knowledge of her songs was basically limited to what you’d overheard at parties or from passing car radios. But this was Marcus’ idea — and you’d need to somehow be into it, or at least fake it well enough to make the night unforgettable for him. As much as you wanted to cringe at the thought, you knew you’d have to talk to Hermes later. If anyone could somehow download Taylor Swift trivia into your brain for the night, it’d be him.

Taking a deep breath, you let the water from the shower wash over you, trying to ease the tension twisting in your stomach. You were sure of one thing: you’d have to look the part tonight, and you’d have to own it. No stuttering, no second-guessing yourself. If tonight was going to work, you needed to be Luna as naturally as breathing.

As the shower steam filled the room, you mentally mapped out your night, reminding yourself of what needed to happen and focusing on getting it right. But there was no shaking the nagging fear that lingered beneath every step. Tonight had to go well — it was a huge part of finishing this trial. You knew Marcus liked you, but could you make him fall for you deeply enough to finally let go of Victoria?

Pushing that thought aside, you turned off the water, taking a deep breath before grabbing a towel and bracing yourself for the next step. It was time to get ready for the biggest performance of your life.

Stepping out of the shower, you felt the cool air hit your skin, a stark contrast to the steam-filled bathroom. You wrapped yourself in a towel, pausing for a moment as the events of the night ran through your head once again. This was it — tonight was your chance to sway Marcus, to seal the deal on the second trial. But as you made your way back to the bedroom, another thought lingered: you didn’t just need to win him over. You had to look the part.

You rummaged through the drawer to find the matching panties and push-up bra, the ones that had proven to be a blessing the last time you wore them. You could have opted for a more standard bra, something less dramatic, but it was impossible to ignore the fact that guys were suckers for cleavage. And, as strange as it was, you knew Luna needed to maximize every advantage tonight.

Slipping on the bra, you fastened it with a bit more ease than you’d expected. The way it pushed your chest up and created a subtle curve of cleavage was oddly satisfying — an effect you couldn’t deny worked wonders last time. You took a step back and gave your reflection a quick nod of approval. As you reached for the underwear, you paused for just a moment, almost on instinct. The delicate fabric felt strange against your skin but somehow familiar too, a reminder of just how deep you were being drawn into this strange game of Aphrodite’s.

Once dressed in the undergarments, you turned to the clothing options laid out on your bed. First, the floral sundress. You didn’t know much about fashion, but you knew this dress was light and airy, with a bit of a swing at the bottom that made it look... cute. It had some kind of delicate, floral pattern on it, and it was fitted enough to hint at curves, but mostly it looked sweet and soft. You shifted uncomfortably, wondering if that was the vibe you really wanted to give off tonight. Would “cute” make the kind of impact you needed with Marcus? Or would you just look like you’d thrown on a random, casual dress?

Deciding to see how it looked, you slipped it on and faced the mirror. It was… well, fine. The straps were thin, baring your shoulders, and the fabric sat just above your knees, giving you a sense of innocence and simplicity. The look wasn’t bad, but it almost felt too lighthearted. You wanted tonight to feel meaningful, not like a casual summer picnic. And on top of that, something about the dress didn’t quite feel… you, even if you weren’t entirely sure what “you” even was in this moment.

A little frustrated, you peeled the dress off and tossed it back on the bed. Shifting your attention, you picked up the black dress. It was a bit more straightforward, a sleek, fitted design that hugged your figure with surprising ease. There wasn’t much to it in terms of details, but maybe that was the point. The neckline dipped just enough to hint at your chest, and it was a comfortable length — short, but not uncomfortably so. With your hair done and some makeup, this dress could actually work.

You slipped it on and gave yourself another look in the mirror, this time turning slightly to get a sense of how it looked from all angles. Somehow, this simple dress felt more... right. Not too flashy, but effective in the way it accentuated what Aphrodite was giving you in this form. It was subtle, but it hinted at a sense of confidence, a look that might just make Marcus pay attention without feeling ****.

You tugged at the hem, shifting slightly as you adjusted to the fit, trying to balance out the mixed feelings. There was a strange sense of satisfaction in seeing the look come together, even though the nerves hadn’t quite settled yet. You could already feel the anticipation building, the stakes of the night weighing on your shoulders.

Back in front of the mirror, you took a deep breath, surveying the tools scattered across the dresser. You’d watched enough tutorials by now to know the basic steps, but there was still that familiar twist of uncertainty as you picked up the makeup brush. Tonight, every detail had to be perfect — every stroke, every shade, every bit of you that would go into creating Luna. She had to be irresistible, confident, enough to draw Marcus in, to be unforgettable.

You started with the foundation, a careful task of blending it into your skin until it looked seamless. You’d learned to appreciate the process a little, the way it evened out your complexion, smoothing over imperfections and giving you that soft, flawless base. You layered it just lightly, enough to cover any redness or marks, but not so much that it felt caked on. Next was concealer, a few dabs under your eyes and a bit on the bridge of your nose. Blending it in, you marveled for a second at how your face transformed, like a blank canvas slowly gaining life.

Now for the eyes — probably the most intimidating part. You picked up a soft brown eyeshadow, brushing it carefully across your eyelids, going a bit darker towards the outer corners. The effect was subtle but added a bit of depth, giving you a sultry look without being too intense. You decided to add a hint of shimmer, a light champagne shade in the center of the lids, which caught the light just enough to make your eyes seem brighter. After blending it all together, you leaned in close, assessing the look and nodding in satisfaction. So far, so good.

Eyeliner came next. You’d struggled with it at first, but by now, you’d picked up a bit of a technique. Starting from the middle of your eyelid, you carefully drew a thin line, extending it just a little past the edge. Then, holding your breath, you flicked it up slightly, creating a small wing. You repeated it on the other side, squinting to make sure they were even. The eyeliner framed your eyes just right, making them look bigger and more defined.

As you reached for the mascara, the door creaked open, and Liam poked his head in. "So… uh, getting ready for your big date, huh?" He smirked, leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed. He didn’t say anything more, but there was a glint of pride in his eyes. Maybe he was a bit impressed by how well you’d adapted to all of this.

"Yeah, just finishing up here," you mumbled, a little self-conscious under his gaze. It was weirdly embarrassing, knowing he was watching you do all this. But he didn’t tease you — just gave you an encouraging nod before slipping out of the room.

Returning to the mirror, you carefully swiped the mascara onto your lashes, each stroke making them longer and more defined. You’d always thought mascara was a small detail, but now you could see how it made your eyes pop even more, adding that final touch to the eye look. You took a step back, admiring the work so far.

Moving on to the brows, you picked up an eyebrow pencil and gently filled in any sparse spots, making them look fuller but still natural. A quick brush through, and they framed your face with a bit more definition. There was a strange satisfaction in seeing it all come together — a face that was both you and yet… a version of you that felt foreign.

For the lips, you debated for a moment. Something too bold might be overkill, but too subtle and you might not make an impression. Finally, you settled on a soft pink shade that added a hint of color, something inviting but not too loud. You carefully outlined your lips with the lip liner, then filled them in with the lipstick, pressing your lips together to blend it in.

With the makeup done, you turned your attention to your hair. You ran your fingers through your hair to loosen the locks, giving it a natural, tousled look. It framed your face nicely, adding that extra touch of femininity.

You took one last look in the mirror, adjusting a few stray hairs and straightening the neckline of your dress. The transformation was complete, and it was… something. You still didn’t quite recognize yourself, but there was a confidence in your stance that made you stand a little taller, likely from Aphrodite making Luna's walk permanent.

You took a deep breath, bracing yourself. Tonight was going to be important, maybe even pivotal.