A necessary evil [Tag Rosalind] on Library

Cynthia Smythe

September 20, 2009 7:56 AM

A necessary evil [Tag Rosalind] by Cynthia Smythe

Cynthia had been battling with herself since midterm. Part of her just wanted to throw the whole ridiculous concept under the metaphorical rug. The other part of her understood that it was a necessary evil. Cynthia wasn't used to battling with herself: she was far more accustomed to battling with others. Nevertheless, this was a serious issue, and one that needed to be dealt with. She'd put it off long enough.

She had received make-up for Christmas: from her own mother, and a couple of female relatives. Their message was clear: it's time you started wearing this stuff. Cynthia hated it. She knew she wasn't pretty. She always looked smart, maybe even sophisticated if she felt inclined to make the effort, but never pretty. This was fine by her; looks were merely a side effect of existing. It was what you did with your existence that was important, not how you looked. Unfortunately, the whole world was labouring under a gross misapprehension. Cynthis knew how these things worked: she needed to marry, and marry well, to stay in the same society as her family. Nobody would marry her looking the way she did. She didn't want to destroy her family, and so her father's business, and hence ruin her own chances of running the business when she's married. It was a complicated and very dull cycle, with the ultimate conclusion that Cynthia should at least give this cosmetic stuff a go.

The problem still remained that Cynthia hadn't a clue about make-up: how to apply it, what went where, when it should or should not be worn. She needed guidance. Cynthia knew her roomates wore make-up, but she loathed every one of them (Thyme could be tolerable, but she was always so depressed it was rather tiresome). This was when a girl really needed a friend... luckily, Cynthia had one of those.

Settled in the library, Cynthia was idly re-reading a book on defensive magic, waiting for Rosalind to walk past. When that happened, Cynthia stood and called for her attention. "Rosalind," she said loudly, earning herself a scowl from nearby studying students. "I want to talk to you about something," she said, walking over to the older girl. Cynthia decided it was best to get this over with quickly. "I don't know anything about make-up, but I might try wearing some. I was wondering if you could help me?"

0 Cynthia Smythe A necessary evil [Tag Rosalind] 103 Cynthia Smythe 1 5

Rosalind Rabindra

September 23, 2009 7:05 PM

Unbelievable by Rosalind Rabindra

Rosalind had not been herself lately. She chalked it up to the fact that this was her last semester and that by this time next year, she'd be Mrs. Devian Dupree. It had given her just a little too much to think about. Even her grades were almost slipping (almost). She hadn't done an extra credit assignment in weeks and her essays never went beyond the expected length. Most of her time was spent, reading in the library as usual, but it was no longer textbooks. Rosie was trying to occupy her mind by drawing it as far away from reality as possible. She had asked her father over winter vacation for some possibilities and he had risen to the occasion, sending over a series of interesting books about 'hobbits' and some place in the center of the earth. It had done well to take her thoughts away from bridesmaids and the gnawing loneliness she constantly felt from her lack of friends.

With the thick tome of The Hobbit stuck firmly in the crook of her arm, she made her way to her favorite chair in the library, when she was stopped short of her destination.

Rosalind! The familiar voice stated. Not used to being called out in public (though there were only a few other students around), Rosie blushed and turned toward Cynthia. A small smile crept onto her face. Cynthia was one of the only people at Sonora she was really close to, even though they only studied together. Their studying was another escape; not from the world, but so deep into it that it was impossible to think properly on it. Like putting your eyes so close to a book that one can no longer read it.

"Cynthia!" Rosie said, much more quietly than Cynthia had called her. But any other thoughts had been wiped clean when Cynthia asked her about make-up. Rosie's mouth fell into a silent 'O'. Of all the people in the world to ask about make-up: her? It was insane. And yet Rosie suddenly felt much closer to Cynthia than she ever had before. Not because Cynthia had asked for her help; that wasn't new. It was that Rosie realized that the only reason Cynthia was asking her was because Rosie was her only real friend in the school. It was a shock, to be sure and it took a minute to gather herself again.

It just so happened that the previous summer, her mother and sister had decided that Rosie should start wearing make-up and despite her protests, had the better part of the summer forcing her to apply it until it was perfected. She still rarely ever wore it at school, but she was able to make herself presentable at the annual Christmas parties she was obliged to go to. And now, the was a second good reason to have learned this trade.

"Yes, I'll help you, certainly." Rosie said, trying to hide the shock she still felt. "Did you have your own make-up or shall I get my set?" Rosie thought about the silver case of make-up at the bottom of her trunk, barely used and going to waste and wondered if Cynthia had something similar in her own trunk.

0 Rosalind Rabindra Unbelievable 73 Rosalind Rabindra 0 5

Cynthia

September 27, 2009 9:37 AM

Tell me about it by Cynthia

Cynthia was relieved: this was a strong indication that she'd been worked up by the whole issue, and than in itself was both petty and frustrating. But she needn't worry on that count anymore: Rosalind was going to help her. When it came to which cosmetic kit to use, Cynthia thought it would be as well to use her own, so she would be used to it. "I've got mine with me," Cynthia said in a resigned voice. At least Rosalind would be sensible about this, Cynthia consoled herself. Her roomates Lutece and Talitha wore make-up all the time but were silly and obvious about it. Rosalind hardly ever wore make-up, but being who she was, she was bound to know how to. Even if they hadn't been friends, Rosalind still would have been a good person to ask.

Reaching into her schoolbag, Cynthia half pulled out a polished black box, but then stopped and looked around. "Maybe - " Cynthia hesitated; she wasn't used to making a spectacle of herself and she didn't intend on starting now. "Shall we go to the girls' bathroom down the corridor?" Barely waiting for an answer, Cynthia collected up her book and bag and led the way out of the library to the more secluded restroom. This time she took her cosmetics kit out of her bag and laid it on the sill next to the basins. Opening it up, Cynthia looked blankly at the layers of products inside. "I don't know what half of these even are," she admitted.

0 Cynthia Tell me about it 0 Cynthia 0 5

Rosie

September 27, 2009 3:59 PM

Let the lesson begin? by Rosie

Rosie didn't argue when Cynthia suggested moving to a more private location. She rarely argued with Cynthia, even though the girl was two years younger. Rosie followed obediently to the girl's bathroom down the corridor, which was thankfully empty and waited for Cynthia to set her kit up. It looked fairly similar to her own on the inside, though without the labels her mother had placed inside, Cynthia's seemed a little daunting. Rosie took a deep breath and studied the cosmetics without saying a word.

What if she accidentally made Cynthia look like one of those muggle clowns? She could lose her only friend. No. No bad thoughts. She knew how to do this. It was simple. Blushes were all some shade of pink. Rosie picked out the section where everything was pinkish. And she remembered the brushes; they were just like forks: each size was for a different purpose. And Cynthia had similar coloring to herself. Cynthia just had slightly darker hair, her complexion was less pallid, and her eyes were brown instead of grey. This was going to be fine.

Rosie picked up a small container of skin colored liquid and a sponge before turning to Cynthia and saying the first thing since agreeing to this. "We start with foundation. We have to make your skin even-colored first." She dipped the sponge in and tentatively began to smooth the foundation onto Cynthia's cheek. "Don't do too much or you'll look horrible. A little bit goes a long way in cosmetics." She felt her heartbeat slow down a little. Talking out loud about the process seemed to be helping herself just as much as was helping to teach Cynthia. Feeling much calmer, Rosie finished up the foundation and pointed to the mirror.

"See how your skin looks like porcelain now?" Rosie said, thanking Merlin that Cynthia didn't have a bad case of acne or odd scars, but it did look perfectly one color. She replaced the foundation in its spot and then had an idea. Taking out her wand, Rosie muttered a string of words and a little silver ribbon appeared from the tip of her wand curling itself into little letters and settling in various places on Cynthia's kit, permanently labeling the foundations, blushes, eyeshadows, brushes, and everything else. "I hope you don't mind. Mine is labeled as well. It makes it easier to remember what everything is." She picked up a small brush and after considering the options for a second chose the most neutral shade in the pallet.

After 15 more minutes of Rosie keeping up a soft, constant stream of steps for applying make-up more for herself than for Cynthia's benefit, she set down her last brush and bit her lip. Rosie thought she had done an exceptional job considering her previous experiences, but would Cynthia agree?

"I think we're finished," she said at last and standing out of the way, so Cynthia could see the end result. Rosie waited with baited breath and a slight blush already creeping across her face.

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