Work Text:
They're both sat cross-legged on Crystal's purple carpet, getting ready for the party. It's not what Crystal would consider a good party - for one, they're attending as the agency, trying to get information on a potential necromancer. Also, it's got a dress code.
Niko's tongue is stuck out in concentration, squinting into the mirror and adjusting the pearly gems on her lashline. She rolls her eyes around in a circle to check the jewels stay in place, then she moves on to the next step. Make-up is an intricate thing for Niko, and the exact opposite of Crystal's smudged eye pencil and heavy concealer.
Niko is the kind of person who uses two different shades of highlight for different bits of her face.
Crystal frowns, even if she's a little impressed. "How can you be bothered with every step of this?"
"I like dressing up," Niko replies smoothly, still focused on her mascara in the mirror. If she's offended, she doesn't show it.
"God, I wish I was you. I just shove powder at my face and hope it looks decent."
"But you wear make-up every day," Niko points out.
"Doesn't mean I like it."
There's silence for a few seconds after that, before Niko looks to Crystal's reflection. "You don't have to wear it."
"I know," Crystal shrugs.
Niko hums. Brushes a gel through her eyebrows, then puts the pot down, turning to face Crystal properly. Crystal does know that she doesn't have to wear make-up. She just also knows that her mom would be telling her she looked tired, and that David wouldn't appreciate being seen with her.
"It feels like everyone's staring at me when I don't," Crystal admits eventually. "Especially if it's something like this, where everyone's in fancy suits and... God, you know what I mean. Where everyone's rich, and a dick."
Niko considers that. "But you'd rather not wear it."
"Well, yeah."
"How about we both go without it today. Then they'll be staring at us equally. Probably more at me, 'cause -" She points a manicured finger at her white hair.
"What? Niko, you've spent ages-"
But Niko is already peeling the gems off her face, and messing her eyebrows up with her fingers. She grins and stands up, so Crystal reluctantly follows her into the bathroom and they scrub off their makeup elbow to elbow.
It's sweet - the kind of sweet thing that people don't do for Crystal often. She glances away when she realises she's blushing. This is Niko, and Crystal has heard enough gossip from her mom's friends to know that blushing about your co-workers never ends well.
Something tells her she might not be getting over this anytime soon, though.