Time to Begin[DAKOTA]

[Deleted]

Well, here would be the start of something wonderful. She was over the old her, who worried all the time of what people thought of her. Now, Maerin Janelle Curruthers was finally going to be herself. But, she wanted to look like herself, too. So she was on her way to the Aphrodite cabin, wearing her normal tan tunic and trousers. She needed something done, and she needed it done fast. She knew the best way to do it.

Without knocking, she flung open the door to the cabin, took a deep breath, and shouted. "I need a hair cut!" As loud as she could. Surely, someone would hear her. And maybe while they were at it, someone could give her a full make over. It was hard to be happy go lucky all of the time if you didn't feel like you looked it. She was always grubby, since it was so hard to take care of herself, and she barely had any clothing. This would be good for her.

[Dakota King]

Dakota was actually in her cabin for a change. The Apollos didn't schedule her for a shift today, so she was relaxing on her bed. She was waiting for the nail polish on her toes to dry as she flipped through a magazine. The door opened and she assumed that one of her siblings was back, but then she heard the yelling.

She glanced up from her magazine as she looked over the girl. "There's no need to be yelling," she said as she put her magazine down and got up from her bed. "A little please and thank you will get you things too." She walked over to the girl barefooted as she reached out to grab a lock of her hair. "What are you thinking about doing with it?" Then she noticed the outfit the girl was wearing. "And do you have something... different than that?"

[Deleted]

Mae was shocked that someone was actually in the front room. Usually, when she went in there for help with her hair, everyone was in the back doing their nails or make up. "S...Sorry.." She whispered before she pursed her lips. She subconciously scratched at the new tattoo on her side. It itched more than anything. "I...Well...No...This is all I have." She had spent all of her time at the camp trying to better herself, but she couldn't really do that. She only had one set of clothes, minus a formal dress, and the pair of torn flats she was wearing. Of course, the tone of the girl's voice could've been more nice. She ignored it, though.

"Gone. I want it gone. Well..Most of it." She stopped itching at her side and raised her hand up to indicate the length she wanted. "Up to here would be great." She blinked up at the girl in front of her, trying to put on her best innocent face, which was more likely to get her help. "Please...I really need this." She added quickly.

[Dakota King]

Dakota remained quiet as she looked over the girl while she explained what she wanted. "I think we'll just give you a makeover instead of just a haircut," she said before her expression softened a bit. She put a hand on the younger girl's shoulder as she gently guided her back to the styling stations. "Follow me, hun. I'm Dakota and I'm gonna make sure you have the best haircut and makeover ever."

Once the girl was seated in one of the styling chairs, Dakota got one of the capes and dragged it over the girl before she pumped up the chair so she could get to her hair easier. "Have you thought about going with highlights?" Dakota asked her as she reached over to brush out her hair. She was going to brush it and then wash it before she did anything more permanent to her hair. "I think it would bring out your eyes if you did."

[Deleted]

For once, Mae wasn't afraid of the makeup. She wanted this. This was who she was. A good looking girl that could still whoop any boy if she really wanted to, and she was going to get the chance to prove it, finally. She said nothing as she was lead back to the chairs, except for her name. "Maerin." She said simply. Of course, at the question about her hair, she just blinked a little bit. "I...Em...Actually I was thinking low lights. Maybe a black or a darker brown. I em...I like me hair dark." She was starting to get nervous. Whenever she got nervous, her accent kicked in, much as it was doing now.

[Dakota King]

"Maerin," Dakota repeated as she tucked the girl's name in the back of her mind. She brushed the girl's hair out so there wasn't any tangles and knots in it before she raised her eyebrows. "Darker, huh?" She moved over to the styling station as she pulled out a thing of strands of hair all dyed a different shade of brunette. She held them up to Maerin as she went through the different shades. "I think this one would be the best one." She held up the specific strand she was talking about. "It would really bring out your pretty eyes." Once she decided on the color, she got the dye out and then turned the sink on. "I'm going to wash your hair," he explained as she whirled Maerin in the char and leaned her back. "Then I'm going to cut it and then dye it. Then we'll worry about the rest of your makeover, okay?"

[Deleted]

Mae simply nodded at everything this girl was saying. She hardly even paid attention when the strips were brought out and compared to her hair. The only thing she could focus on was how she looked, and what Princess wanted to see her about. It always made her nervous when the Hephaestus children called her to the forge. More than once she'd been called down with high hopes, only to be shot down. So she wasn't going to expect anything this time.

She simple closed her eyes and tilted her head back as she was twirled around, clutching the arm of the chair tightly. "Nothing too gaudy though...Okay?" She asked with a slightly shaky voice. She wanted to be herself, not a walking barbie doll.

[Dakota King]

"Nothing too gaudy," Dakota promised as she started to wash Maerin's hair. After that, she started to work her magic. It took a couple of hours and a lot of imagination on Dakota's part, but the makeover was finally complete. Maerin's hair was shorter and darker just like she wanted, but Dakota managed to get new clothes for her that fit her style. That and a little makeup and the girl who was in her styling chair now was not the girl who walked through her door. "Makeover complete!" she declared as she wiped her hands off on her jeans. "What do you think?" she asked as she whirled around Maerin in her stylist chair towards the mirror.

[Deleted]

Mae tried her best to keep still the entire time. It was strange to have someone actually fuss over her. She'd been independent for so long she'd forgotten what it was like. She actually enjoyed being pampered, though. Maybe she'd force her brothers to spoil her once and a while. She knew they would. They could never say no to her.

Finally, it was done, and Mae's eyes went wide when she saw herself in the mirror. To put it plainly, she looked hot. This was such a great way to start another year of her life. She only had a few more days until her birthday, and she was ready to show everyone the new her. Now all she needed to do was see what they wanted in the forge. She couldn't help but smile as she looked up to Dakota. "Thank you for this. I owe you one." She gave her brightest smile, the dark pink on her lips making her eyes shine more as she did so. She almost forgot about her affliction, until she tried to hug the other girl. She scowled for a moment before she stood, wrapping her arm around her. "I mean it. Anything you need, I'll try my best."

[Dakota King]

Dakota smiled widely as she watched Maerin's face light up. That was always Dakota's favorite part of the makeover: when it was all done and the person saw their new self for the first time. She watched Maerin look herself over in the mirror and Dakota's expression grew a bit brighter. "I'm glad you liked it," she said as Maerin thanked her. Dakota shook her head when the younger girl said that she owed her one. "You don't owe me..." She didn't let her thought complete as the girl kept rambling on. "Okay, okay," Dakota said as she held her hands up. "You owe me one, okay? I'll collect it later or whenever I need it." Then she wrapped the girl in a hug as she held her close. "Just kick some ass with your new look, okay?"