The location. A plan B if it rains. The guests. The seating plan. Three versions of them. Your aunties are as far away from each other as possible. The bridesmaids and their dresses. Something not ridiculous. The food and the drinks. Vegan too. The cake. White with chocolate filling. The music. The decorations. Flowers. And even more flowers.
and, and, and
And your wedding dress. A white one with lace details and a bit of shine. A strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline and A-line silhouette. The length is long but not that long. It has to highlight everything you love about yourself and hide anything else. And a veil. You already have one. It was your mother's and grandmother's and so on. A family tradition.
Everything else can wait one day. Your shoes. The jewelry. Your makeup and your hair. Your nails. And the things that can go wrong on the big day.
The back of your head already throbs when you step into the shop. The familiar pain pulls your brows into a frown and your lips into a grimace. Your fingers around the strap of your bag tighten. The door behind you closes with a thud, muffling out the noises of the city.
"Long week?" The question comes from the other side of the shop.
"Long months," you correct her with a heavy sigh.
Your gaze settles on the woman. Her deep, cherry-red skin stands out among the soft and light colors of the dresses around her. Her black hair is pulled into a neat bun at the top of her head, between the horns that are spiraling upwards. They are a few shades darker than her skin.
"They say marriage is easier than planning a wedding," she says. "I don't believe them."
You laugh. "I don't either."
As you get closer, you let your bag fall on the couch in front of the huge mirror that hides the back of the shop.
"Come," Irina says with a wave of her hand. "Your dress is ready."
"Great," you sigh again, following her obediently to help you into the dress. "If I gained weight, I will cry."
The succubus laughs. The sound is deep and sultry. "Don't worry," Irina replies. "I have tissues and a few bottles of champagne."
Irina helps you with the dress, adjusting the soft fabric around you until it feels like a second skin on your upper body. It pushes up your chest and highlights the curve of your waist. The skirt falls around your legs in soft pleats.
"How does it feel?" She asks. "I can change a few things if you want to."
Your hands smooth down on the skirt around your waist. "It feels okay."
"Do you want to see yourself?"
After you nod, she grabs the back of your skirt to help you go out to the mirror. Your gaze lands on your own reflection immediately. The shiny details around your waist glint under the bright lights. The lace is just enough to make the dress more special, but you don't feel like a kitschy meringue in it.
"What is it?" Irina asks after a few seconds while you stare at yourself silently. "What's wrong?"
You shake your head. "Nothing," you reply. "Nothing is wrong. The dress is perfect."
"Then?"
"I'm just so tired," you tell her, squeezing your eyes shut for a moment before your attention turns back to the mirror again. "But it's really perfect, Irina. I love it."
"You look beautiful."
A smile tugs on your lips. "I am," you reply, grinning. "My tits never looked better."
Her laugh sends shivers down your spine. It vibrates through your body and stops between your legs. Your breath gets stuck in your lungs at the sudden feeling.
"That's true," she agrees. Her gaze is heavy on your cleavage. "I have a necklace you could try on."
Not finding your voice, you nod, watching her disappear and come back a moment later with a flat box in her hands.
When the box opens, your eyes widen. "Oh."
The necklace is beautiful with white and silver colors.
"Should I?" She asks, and you nod again.