Chapter Text
‘If whatever this book says is true, God, I need Drift right now I feel like my bones are deteriorating.’ It made sense in her head. The book said that “morphic mages” like her were drawn towards elemental mages, and that was certainly true, their magic somehow lessened the chronic pain curse that her magic had bestowed upon her. AJ noticed that whenever she was nearby Open Book in particular, that the pain was a mere buzz in her mind.
On her way to Vulpes, AJ was coming up with an excuse to go to Drift, she didn’t have to think too hard on it. ‘Maybe the pub, exploring, late night walks or whatever.’
Walking through the main room of Vulpes, she arrived at Open Book’s dorm, she didn’t bother knocking. Drift never had her door locked, no one did. With a swift turn of the doorknob, she pushed the door wide open. “Heya Open book,” She announced herself, eyes drifting towards a certain earth mage on a stool in front of a table with a mirror. Her steps firm across the room, letting out a breath of relief seeing that the pain was already subsiding just from being in the earth mage’s presence.
“Wanna go out tonight? The moon’s all pretty and stuff. We could go out to the pub or somethin’.” The decay mage offered, leaning over Drift’s shoulder to get a better look at whatever she was doing pre-interruption.
‘Huh, make up.’ A certain ex flashed in her mind, someone who would keep her hidden until the last moment that she was doing her makeup for royal occasions. AJ attempted to erase it by focusing on Drift’s eyes in the mirror. “What’re you getting all nice and pretty for? You have plans without me already?” AJ predicted, mocking disappointment.
“Pfft- No.” The other puffed. “I just wanted to do this for fun, I actually care about my looks unlike someone who looks like they always just rolled out of bed.” AJ let out a sarcastic chuckle at the jab made at her, rolling her eyes.
“You love me for that, don’t ya?” She replied, knocking their temples together “What are you doing though? If you’re not going out, then why pretty yourself up?” AJ observed as Drift packed up and cleaned her vanity, shoving items into drawers.
“Eh, just for fun I guess.” Drift shrugged. “I got bored and saw that I kept some stuff from my mother.” AJ purely listened, letting Drift speak about how it was their mother’s. The decay mage was so, so tired of the chronic pain, going through a specific terrible episode earlier that day and had given into the only relief. ‘I’m here now, might as well relish in the bliss that I feel while I’m here.’
“What’s the point of it? You look practically the same.” The tinkerer spoke, moving to take a seat on Drift’s bed nearby and moving out of the reflection. AJ never experienced the “luxury” of wearing make up. She didn't understand why people would put paint on their face to make it a little more flushed, or use something on their eyelashes because they wanted them to be longer.
“It’s called fun, AJ.” Drift countered, accentuating the word fun. “Plus… Me and my mom would do this stuff before… She would always call me “pretty” and “beautiful”. She taught me how to do blush and mascara and concealer-” The other seemed to drift away back into thought.
“That's nice,” AJ’s voice dropped down to a more mundane tone. “I never saw the need to do that. I feel like it would feel weird with paint on my face.” AJ leaned her head on her shoe while speaking, fiddling with her shoe laces. She could hear Open Book’s footsteps grow closer, the more her smile grew. It was easy to predict what the earth mage’s next words were.
“Hey! Get your shoe off my bed!” Open book chided. “God knows where you've been- don't mess up my sheets with your dirt!” She shoved off AJ’s foot, making a light thud against the bed frame. AJ shuffled over, letting Drift take a seat beside her. AJ could feel different. It almost felt unreal to not be in pain at all.
“It’s just a bed, you can wash it later. Calm down, princess.” AJ knew that specific nickname ticked off Open Book. The decay mage enjoyed adding fuel to the flame, getting under her skin.
“AJ! I told you not to call me that.” AJ heard the hidden voice crack in Drift’s speech. She couldn’t care less for what Drift wanted, but AJ did choose to just stay with her for the night, desperate for a night where her skin and bones weren’t actively repelling each other.
AJ shoved her shoes off her feet, carelessly chucking them somewhere near the bed. She shifted her legs into a cross-legged position.
“Soooo… You never did makeup?” Drift began, however, AJ wasn’t too focused on her question, pondering on why on earth mages like her were gravitating towards mages like Drift.
“Never saw the need for it. Plus, do I look like the type of person to wear, let alone afford that sorta stuff?” AJ had never seen herself as a “feminine” person, she never indulged in wearing skirts or maintaining longer hair until her teenage years. She couldn’t be bothered to constantly worry about her looks or behaviours. “You do look nicer with that on though.” The tinkerer commended, gazing into the other’s eyes that were complimented by the longer eyelashes. ‘They were always so pretty, that vibrant hazel that looked exactly like the glowberries on her crown.’
After her compliment, Drift mumbled an offer. “Do you want to try?”
‘This’ll be exciting.’ Was the through running in the victim’s mind, “Sure, what could go wrong? Make me look “pretty” as you would say.”