i know it's just a number but you're the eighth wonder [ OPEN MINGLE ]

[postictal]

Who: Tim and EVERYBODY WHO WANTS IN ON THIS CAUSE IT A MINGLE
What: Nail-painting. Destressing. We have earned something Nice for ourselves.
When: February 12th
Where: Just outside the Storyteller's Temple
Warnings: Probably nothing of note? Will add if needed.



There's a man sitting cross-legged outside the Storyteller's Temple, general hub of interaction that it seems to be turning into. He still looks like shit, granted, his face a colorful patchwork of bruising and a fresh bandage slapped around his middle, but that hasn't stopped him from making the best of things. A few vials of some various colorful fluids might not be familiar to everyone here, but after everything? Screw it, thinks Tim. They've deserved a break. He deserves a break. The kids here, especially, deserve a break. It's time to celebrate the fact that they are no longer in danger of freezing in the dark and living out the remainder of their days in a bleak, sunless existence.

And he liked colors, as a kid. In the blank white walls of a hospital, where everything was drained of variation and bleached white and left bone-blank, the occasional bursts of color allowed in packages of crayons and colored pencils at art time were treasures. They stopped giving him crayons after he drew the man in his room one too many times, a tall black shadow in the back of every drawing that had the doctors exchanging looks with tightened jaws and the clearing of throats that too clearly spoke to their disapproval.

It dogged him, even once he stepped out of those empty walls, his wardrobe as consistently drab and dull and monochrome as his life. It dogged him with featureless rooms and

Fuck that.

Fuck that especially, because it means that kids like Ren grew up without colors in their lives, and it means that they've had precious few simple little pleasures in the past month, and it means that they are all owed a goddamn break. And if he's bound to be a freak no matter what he does, he may as well be one with a spot of color or two.

So today, to celebrate? We're painting nails.

Fuck it. We're painting nails.

It's safe to say that Tim's new at this, particularly when he only has one good hand at the moment, but he'll still seem quite open to sharing with whoever happens along - especially if you're a kid.

[ooc: yes this is a mingle for painting some nails feel free to top-level all over]

Comments

Seto | OTA

[buryyourfriends]

[Apocalypses tend to make your knowledge of cosmetics very limited when there's none around to play with. The memory items gave Seto some idea of what the world was like before it ended but that's about it.

Still, 'nail-painting' at least gives Seto an idea of what this is about. He doesn't have a favorite color but he's likes blue so that's what he'll use for a bit, although Seto will hand it off to someone if they ask for it.

But painting nails are a lot different then drawing maps. So it's turned from painting nails to painting fingers. But he's enjoying himself regardless.]

This is pretty fun.

[seafriends]

[ On the contrary, Kanata is extremely familiar with the use of cosmetics for idol-related work. It's not something he would probably care to do by himself for no reason, but he thinks nail polish pretty enough to keep even after performances or photoshoots.

And blue, the absolute best color, is what draws him over to the person using it, not looking at all concerned about how they're painting up their entire fingers. ]

Ehe, it is "very fun", isn't it~? Is this your "first" time painting nails..?

[buryyourfriends]

Yeah. There wasn't anything like this back home.

[Both the nail polish and the color. For a moment Seto wonders if he could draw with it. It's working just fine with his fingers so maybe on paper...

It'd make his maps more colorful at any rate. But these aren't his so he'd have to ask first.]

Have you been trying it too?

[seafriends]

I am glad that you can "use it" now.

[ It seems like the same case with everyone - that they all come from different places, yet wound up here together impossibly. Like something out of one of those sentai shows he has to watch with his unit.. ]

It is very "common" where I am from, so I had thought about using the blue.. But I think you should use it more, since it is new for you. Have you "thought about" also painting your toenails..?

[buryyourfriends]

You can paint your toenails?

[That thought legitimately had not occurred to him. Then again, pretty much everything involving this was new so...]

Oh, but if you want to use the blue it's okay.

[He's not going to hog it to himself.]

[seafriends]

If you "have" toenails, yes.

[ He wouldn't want to assume.. different worlds and all. ]

How about.. I can "paint" my fingers blue, and then we can do our toes a "different" color~?

[buryyourfriends]

I do!

[So it can be a thing. Lucky. Seto will hand over the blue nail polish so Kanata can paint his nails. He kind of wants to see what he can do before picking out another color.

A lot of people here were coming up with very pretty designs and that alone is fun enough to watch.]

[seafriends]

Ehe, that is good.

[ Lucky indeed! But perhaps disappointing to Seto, Kanata isn't actually talented with nail polish. He coats his nails in solid blue neatly enough, but there's no special design going on here.

In-between softly blowing on the first set of painted nails to help them dry, he asks: ]

Do you have a "favorite" color~? You should use it to paint your toes.

[buryyourfriends]

[You'd be surprised. This is Seto's first foray into nail painting so even basic stuff is amazing. He watches with rapid attention until Kanata finishes.]

Um, I don't think I have a favorite color.

[He likes blue but it's not a favorite? Maybe?]

Purple is a nice color though.

[Because it reminds him of Ren. And then there's silver for PF, black for Crow, and red for Sai....well maybe his favorite colors are ones that remind him of his friends. But for now he'll go with purple. Off go his shoes and socks for an attempt at toenail painting.

An attempt is the keyword here though. It's harder to get a good angle here.]

[seafriends]

Hmm.. if a color makes you "happy" ,then that is good enough, probably.

[ That is how favorite colors work, he's pretty sure. Kanata has no real opinion on purple, but it reminds him of Souma and that's enough reason to agree with Seto's choice. Color coded friends are very much a thing in Kanata's life, given his unit, so he'd understand entirely.

Both hands are successfully blue'd, so he's leaning over to inspect Seto's handiwork on his toes. ]

If it is somewhat "difficult", I do not mind helping out..~

[buryyourfriends]

Really?

[He was kind of under the impression that a 'favorite' anything was something you really, really treasured. Hence all of the things in his pendant. Although that was due to the memories attached to them....

Yeah, 'memories of people' is probably Seto's favorite thing.]

Um, if that's okay? This is pretty hard.

[Angles are hard.]

[seafriends]

Fufu, yes.. The ocean makes me "very happy", and it is blue. ♪

[ The world can be so nice and simple sometimes, but if Seto has a lot of things that make him happy then it might be harder to pick a color..? ]

I do not mind.. and I will "try" not to tickle you~.

[ This can't be any more difficult than painting fingernails, yes? Kanata scoots close enough to take the polish from him with careful fingers, before gently.. blobbing Seto's first foot with paint until his toes are nice and purple. Very good. ]

[buryyourfriends]

[Kanata now has Seto's full attention and even if the other man makes a mistake he won't mind. A) this is super cool and B) Seto's fingers are already completely blue so he'd have no room to complain.

Was this stuff around when the world was whole?]

You're really good at this!

[catpiper]

[Pretty fun doesn't even begin to describe how elated she is to play around with these tiny paints. And unfortunately, her eyes settle on this poor boy just trying to do his best. Because she is also trying to do her best, which unfortunately means he's about to be the victim of some experimental nail procedures.

The Girl has arrived and she holds out her little heathen hands to take the blue polish from him.]

It's very fun.

[A pause, and then-]

Can I make your fingers treasures?

[buryyourfriends]

[Oh boy oh boy. Seto hands over the polish and holds out his very blue fingers. He missed his nails on occasion so there's space. And it probably washes off.

Maybe??? Seto didn't ask.]

Sure. I can find some other colors too, if you want them Ren.

[It's really nice they can sit down and do this and not have to worry about other things, like when they're eating next.]

[catpiper]

We'll look together when I'm done.

[Because she must paint The Boy and she eagerly twists off the cap with all the finesse of a pro painter. She's been watching people and waiting for this moment. He's gonna be the happiest bean when she's through with him.

Her intentions are good, but all she does is fill in the spaces Seto missed. He's going to have some stinky blue fingers, but they're beautiful stinky blue fingers. At least her services come with music and she happily sings during this whole process.]

Pretty pretty fingers

[buryyourfriends]

[And he'll let her have at it, humming along with whatever tune she comes up with. Sticky blue fingers or not, he's still going to be happy he's spending time with his friends. This island gave him Crow back alive and well and also gave him a safe place to be with Ren.

All he asked for. It's enough for Seto.]

What colors do you like Ren?

[He'll go grab them once Ren's done.]

[catpiper]

Purple.

[Is the first color that comes to mind. It's the only reason she continues to wear her medical gown under all the layers of clothes she's accumulated. Why she even wore it outside of the lab. She simply likes it and now, she associates it with someone that makes her feel safe and warm. A special cat that she continuously looks out for. Even now, she glances up with the small hope his face will be there in the midst of this nail painting crowd. He deserves to have some pretty purple nails too, gosh.

Weh.

But as far as other colors-]

And blue. That reminds me of you. I like that color too.

[buryyourfriends]

[Purple and blue, hun? It's hard to see the medical gown that made Ren easy to pick out of a crowd with all of her new clothing but that was also a good thing too. A mark of the kindness of others, things to keep her warm and safe when he wasn't here.

The people here were kind and made Ren able to smile even bigger then he remembered.]

I think I like both colors too. They're pretty.

[catpiper]

[It makes sense that he would like those colors too-blue at least, because of the jacket he wears. They were surrounded by apocalypse garbage and yet, they never seemed to switch their outfits. She did put her pretty addition on because of the weather, because it was nice, because it was a treasure.

But now, as she goes over his nails for the third time? It's not looking great-she realizes just how important these are becoming. Purple for Murasaki, for Muffet's magic-blue for Drifter's sky colored body and-

When she thinks of that, of everyone, it becomes difficult to not name every color out there.]

They're all very pretty now.

[She can see Guzma's chain, Kidwun's shirt, Kittu's ribbon, Luna's cap, Lup's umbrella, Taako's hat, Tim's eyes, Laurent's hair, a dog's fur-she can see those colors now hold a beauty they hadn't before.

And it's why-]

I'm going to paint your nails every color.

[buryyourfriends]

[Cloth rotted away really quickly and Seto wasn't really in the business of pulling off clothing of skeletons. Blankets from beds yes, but otherwise no.

But colors are important. It let Seto see people from a distance and in his memory. Ren's purple, Crow's black, PF's silver and Sai's red. White went to Shin but Seto couldn't think of a color for his Grandpa.

And this place dressed them both in everything else.]

They are.

[He watches Ren pain his nails and even if it isn't nice looking, at least there's a place for them to sit down and paint.]

...can I paint your toes after?

[Just because?]

[catpiper]

[Unlike Tim, she doesn't have the same hesitation about letting someone near her grody feet. It's gotten warmer-she's barefoot most of the time and when he requests it, she wiggles her toes. Sure, it's fine. She seems overly excited by the prospect of having pretty painted toenails.]

Yes! Then they'll be pretty like our fingers.

[buryyourfriends]

Yeah!

[He will wait until Ren is done with his fingers however and for said fingers to dry before hunting down some more nail polish, however. There's the purple one and yellow and green. And the blue that's still here. Honestly all of these colors are nice but he's not going to take them all when they're for everyone here. Not fair and besides, it's fun with everyone here getting their painting on.

Seto's no better then Ren at nail painting so he's going to miss. A lot. And naturally he can't do any of those fancy nail art that some others could do, but he's got a picture in mind.

A sky, grass and the sun. The purple is the stars and Seto knows it doesn't work like that but meh. It's upside-down too but also meh.]

I wonder why it's called 'nail painting'.

[He gets the idea behind it but clearly you can draw with it too. So why nails?]

[catpiper]

[Meh is fine because the boy is making pretty pictures on her toebeans and this is greatest gift anyone could ever give her. She watches the images take shape, kneeling down and wrapping her arms around her knees to get a better view. It's great. Who cares if the colors get everywhere-it's pretty.

Her toes are so colorful and pretty.

Seto brings up a good point though. Heck, she doesn't know. She's just along for the nail painting ride. Her raccoon fingers have painted shoes and hands and all number of things outside of nails, so she can follow his train of thought, even without having an answer on hand.]

We could ask Tim. He's very smart.

[buryyourfriends]

[He watches for Ren's reaction and smiles just a little bit more. This really is a wonderful place, where there's color and Ren can smile like that and feel safe. And everyone in this group seems happy with these nails paints and quiet conversations. The laughter.

Not being lonely.

It'd make more sense if Seto was told about 'nail art'. But Ren mentions someone else and that causes him to perk up too.]

I'd like to meet him then. He probably knows a lot of he's smart.

[Like Seto's Grandpa was.]