Work Text:
They're about halfway to where they're trying to get to and it's really hot and boring. Only Caleb seems ok, lying out with a book and not really paying attention to anyone else. Beau is halfway between them and Caleb, trying not to look interested in what he's doing. Though she probably won't be able to steal on of his books. Probably.
Nott is close by to Caleb as usual, creating more of her explosives. They're all in semi-shade so at least it's comfortable. This might be the quietest they've been in a while.
Which is one of the reasons that Jester is trying to stave off boredom. With very little to do and no need to handle their own transportation for once, they can relax. So, she's forced to dig through her bag to find something to do. Unfortunately, due to the heat, none of her pastries are edible. Oh, she can handle a lot from a pastry, but they are getting gooey and not in a yummy way.
Finally! She finds what she's looking for near the bottom of her bag. A make-up collection her mama gave her before she left home. It's got everything. Foundation, eye shadow and liner. Rouge and concealer. Lip paint. In multiple shades and even glitter. Though she's careful not to use it all up in one sitting. A couple of vials of nail polish wrapped in protective cloth.
She's got red, pink, green, purple, and orange. She must have used up her blue and yellow at some point that she doesn't remember. She's halfway through planning what kind of design she wants on hers when she realizes that she can ask Molly. Who's probably a red or pink person.
"Are you a red or pink person?" She asked.
He turned to her halfway through his drink. "Pardon?" He asked.
She lifted up the nail vials and he grinned. "Ah pink if you please." He said.
Scooting closer, they settled in for nail painting rituals that surely must be found wherever nail polish can be found. Jester is so excited to talk about boys and parties and whatever else comes to mind. Molly is always up for an impromptu gathering of fun.
"Do want any dots or stripes?" Jester asked.
"Oooh dots please" Molly said.
"Yay!"
It's only when they're letting the tip coat of pink dry that Jester spots Fjord by himself staring up at some rigging that she has an idea and calls him over. His half stride half jog is a bit distracting, especially since the humidity is making his shirt cling to him, but she'll keep that to herself.
Until later on when he won't look back on this. Right now, he's raising an eyebrow in askance, adorable and confused.
"We're doing are nails, what color do you want?" She asked.
"Uuhhh" he said, his eyebrows going higher as she held up the colors for him, "I uh, don't think I've got the...uh," Fjord said, trailing off.
Molly pats the floor next to them, a little smirk on his face. Fjord looks between the two of them, his confusion going into resignation as he finally sits down.
"Ok so how do we do this?" He asked, sitting cross legged and posture ramrod straight, "I've never done this before." He said.
Molly laughed as Jester gasped.
"Never?!" Jester asked.
"Oh, it's easy." Molly said, waving his hand, "all it takes is a little patience." He said.
"...oh." Fjord said.
"It's not like going off into battle." Molly said.
Fjord ducked his head so they wouldn't see his blush but figured they probably did anyway. Jester found it to be adorable. She laid out the colors, giving a happy wiggle at how she can now tell someone new about the intricacies of nail polish. Though, to be fair, as Fjord stared at the colors, she figured she'd have change her approach. She really is going into battle. Baby steps.
Still...
Putting on a spooky voice, "in fact, many go into the battle of glamour all the time." She said.
Fjord rolled his eyes, shoulders dropping, and Jester counted that as a win.
"Ok, I'll take orange." He said.
"Oohh. Want a pattern?" She asked.
"Nope just solid orange." Fjord said.
"Mmkay." Jester shook up the vial, "one orange coming up." She said.
"Very dashing." Molly said.
"Oh yes, very tough " Jester said.
"Har har." Fjord said.
But he laid out his hands anyway and Jester could only just suppress her giddiness at being able to touch his hands without it being too much. The orange is glossy in the sunlight and contrasts nicely with his hands.
He stares at her working, and she lets him have his quiet. She blows dries on the first coat and smiles when he jumps a little, with that done, she turns back to Molly to put on his second coat. They gossip about their fellow passengers and while Fjord doesn't say much, she can tell he's listening. He even offers up his hands when she holds up the glass vial.
"Ah we'll make a man of you yet." Molly said.
"We can only hope." Fjord said.
