Mission: Nutcracker Preview
Terminus, 16 December 1871
Fiona pulled on her old gloves, which were already dingy but now made more so by a liberal application of coal dust. She smeared some of the dark gray matter on her cheeks, distributing it so it would draw the viewer’s gaze to her sparkling blue eyes. Her mask and headpiece with round ears in place, she stepped back from the mirror to check out her costume. Yes, in spite of the mask having a pointed nose with ridiculous whiskers, she made quite the fetching mouse. And the best part—the costume, which consisted of a simple gray dress she’d worn as part of her half-mourning—had been made of salvaged clothing and parts. She hadn’t spent any of the money set aside for her upcoming debut season, so her mother couldn’t argue with her desir
