Rosario didn't typically get asked to events with a dress code. Rosario didn't typically get asked to events, full stop. The invite said semi-formal, and she only had a couple of dresses in her wardrobe that fit both that description and the humid summer night, but she still somehow wound up spending almost an hour in front of the mirror, changing from one dress to the other and back again, fussing with her hair and dithering over accessories.
She'd taken so long that eventually Camino, who she hadn't even noticed hovering curiously by the door, had swept in with a loud sigh and ordered her to sit her ass down. Camino pretty well never offered to do her hair anymore, and Rosario had been so legitimately stunned by the gesture that she'd sat mutely and made not a sound of complaint, even when her sister's tyrannical fingers yanked painfully at he scalp.
(When, afterwards, she'd gratefully confided that she was kinda nervous to be going to a serious talk with real scientists, Camino had blinked at her and said, "Wait, is that all it is? I thought you had a date.")
She'd still felt out of place as she'd trailed after the smattering of well-dressed people heading into the museum, but at least the door guy hadn't batted and eye when she'd given her name. And if her dress didn't have the same kinda price tag or label as the others around the room, the blue was at least a flattering shade against her skin, and her necklace was cute, and her hair looked good in a high puff. Nobody was gonna look at her and call security.
That relief had lasted precisely as long as it took for her to pass into the reception area and into the path of a uniformed waiter, who'd offered her a glass of fizzing champagne from a tray.
Oh god. What if people mistook her for someone who belonged here? What if someone asked her what she did and she had to tell them the truth?
Despite her best efforts, eventually somebody did catch her eye, and when Rosario recognised the face, she could have fallen over herself in gratitude. "Dr Herschel," she smiled, before remembering belatedly that the woman had asked her not to stand on ceremony. "I, sorry, Estella. Thank you so much for the invitation tonight."