Solo Practice of the Arts

[Firenze]

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Spring 40, 515 AV

Fire sat on the forest floor, skin bare to the sun letting it warm her skin. A stream trickled water nearby. A few leaves lay on the ground, still green with the color of spring that the wind had pulled from the tree above her. Her pack and clothes laid an arms length away. Tall grass rustled, whistling a soft song as the wind dragged it’s whipping fingers along the fine hairs on the blades. Closing her eyes for a moment she laid back on the soft grass, letting it tickle her skin. Hair fanned around her head, Syna’s rays delicately painting light colors through it the longer she stayed.

A smile crept around her lips, the stress that she would normally feel in Sunberth kept her alert, but it wasn’t as strong as it normally would be. The blackness that tinged her heart from the incident that had happened before she left seemed at bay, her calm happiness it’s prison. Fire peeked her eyes open the bright blue of the sky almost blinding her. Golden eyes shone brighter, light reflecting off them as they followed a fat little cloud that floated lazily above her.

Slender fingers reached to her face and wiped a tear that slipped down the side. She wasn’t sad, in fact, Fire realized that she hadn’t been sad or angry all morning. Was she finally starting to become herself again? She really hoped so, she didn’t want to lose herself. Become something that she wasn’t. What if she already had and she just didn’t know it?

The thought scared her for a moment. She knew that her heart had changed, that there were wounds on it that would never heal, but she’d learned to live with it and she’d finally gotten to a point where she had more days that were good than not. It had been bleak for awhile, but the move to Zeltiva gave her a feeling of a new start. Though she’d been having terrible dreams at night, keeping her awake she’d toss and turn and wake up soaked in sweat. Sometimes she’d scream and scare herself awake. But then, the sun would start to rise and those feelings of loneliness and fear would recede and become just a memory of the night.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

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[Firenze]

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Fire sat back up, shaking her head, long legs wove themselves so that she was sitting crosslegged. She didn’t have a mirror on her person or in her pack. Pulling her bag over to her, she dug around in the contents until she found her tin cup. Grabbing it she tipped it so that she could look at the bottom side of it. She brought it close to her lips and breathed heavy on it, fogging up the surface. The soft spot of her arm rubbed over it, trying to smooth the tin and make it more polished. It had a few dings and dents in it but it didn’t shine back at her, it stayed dull and grey.

Throwing it back into the pack she grabbed the spoon and the edge of her cloak. Repeating the same process she breathed, the back of the spoon fogged and she wiped it with the cloth. The same result; the surface stayed flat, no reflection of herself shone back. Pulling more items out of her bag, she tried the handle of the fork, the backside of the locket and even the blade of her small dagger. The dagger has some reflection but it was so distorted she couldn’t tell what was her eye or her ear.

Moving toward the stream, her hands pressed into the dirt, she bent down and propped herself on her elbows. Leaning forward, her toes pushing her backside up slightly, she checked the surface of the water. Ever changing and not quite steady, her reflection looked back at her. Fire paused a moment. It had been a long time since she’d seen her face.

Dark circles were forming under her eyes from lack of sleep. Her wild hair hung around her face. Fingers touched the dark circles, slowly the moved along her skin, touching her nose and then her lips. Dropping her hand, Fire scooped up some of the cool water and splashed it against her face. Running her fingers through her hair, she scooped more and wetted it down. Opening her eyes, the surface of the water breaking from the droplets dripping off of her lashes and parted lips. The coldness gave her a shock after the heat of the sun had warmed her skin, helping her to wake after she’d lazed around half the morning.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

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[Firenze]

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After scrubbing her face with the water a few more times, she sat back on her heels, letting her face dry until she attempted to learn the art of painting face. Running her fingers through her hair, they caught on a few tangles. Leaning back further, Fire grabbed the edge of her pack, scooted it closer and rummaged through until she found her comb.

Gently she moved the teeth through her tendrils, working out the metaphorical rats nest that had started to develop. She gritted her teeth when she snagged a particularly bad knot. Pulling the comb out, she lifted the knot so she could try to see it. Pieces of her hair wove together, slowly she picked them apart trying to untangle what nature had done.

Once her hair was as smooth as she could get it, Fire leaned forward and dipped the comb into the water. Trying to move it back to her head slowly so she wouldn’t lose all the water from between the little teeth, she ran it through her hair. The water slicking the hair it came into contacts with, she did this a few more times. Wetting her hair down, she divided her hair into different little parts. The pieces weren’t the exact same size and the parts were a bit uneven but it would suffice to plait her hair, getting it away from her face while she practiced.

Reaching the end, she looked around for something to tie her hair off with. Unsure if it would work, she grabbed a fat looking blade of grass. Wrapping it around the bottom of the braid she let it go, it unwrapped slowly and fell onto her hand. Brow furrowing, Fire grabbed the grass and wrapped it again. This time she tucked one of the edges and pulled it. The blade seemed to hold and she let go slowly. It loosed a little but stayed on her hair, grabbing the ends she pulled a little harder trying to tighten it. The grass snapped and ripped from her hair.

Sighing she broke off another piece from nearby. Tightening the braid that had started to come loose she held it and wrapped the new piece, tucking both sides she tried to pull gently so that she wouldn’t break it again. Letting go, it seemed to hold and it didn’t feel like it was becoming loose. Smiling at the accomplishment the plait swung behind her shoulders and laid against her back.

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[Firenze]

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Grabbing her kohl, pomade, powder and brush she scooted on her knees toward the water. Gently she sat the items neatly next to her, trying to make sure the soft powders wouldn’t get wet. Fire looked to the little jars sitting on the ground, unsure of which to start with first. A finger came up to her lips, tapping on the bottom one as it tucked between her teeth. Eyes switched back and forth between the little powders. She knew the pomade wasn’t for eyes so she wouldn’t start with that one, but the powders had her slightly baffled.

The same finger that had been tapping on her lips, slowly moved and pointed at one, this one?, then pointed at the other, or that?. A few moments ticked by and Firenze decided to just grab one. The closest jar near to her was the golden eye powder. Screwing the lid off and picking up the brush, she dipped the soft bristles in. A fair amount clung to the small black hairs as she pulled it back out of the jar. Replacing the container where she picked it up from, Firenze leaned over the water trying to get as close as she could without getting wet. Bringing the brush up to her face, she closed her eyes, the brush came closer and then hit her cheek. Peeking open an eye she repositioned a bit higher and then closed them again. The brush came forward, a smatter of dust against her forehead and she opened her eyes again.

Brows knitted, leaning back she wiped the dust off with the back of her arm. Re-applying dust to the tip of the brush she positioned above the water again. Maybe I should try keeping an eye open, I can’t see where the brush is going if I keep them both closed. Sighing, she tried to keep one eye open and close the other while maneuvering the brush.

This time the open eye watched her hand and brush manage to make contact with the lid of her eye. Swiping it back and forth, loose golden flakes stuck on her cheeks, she applied it to her entire lid and then some. A light golden color reflected in the water on her lid all the way up to her eyebrow.

Fire added more powder and then did the same application to the opposite eye. Setting the painting instrument to the side she leaned and try closing her eyes as much as possible but kept them open enough so she could see her handy work.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

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[Firenze]

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It doesn’t look too bad. Golden dust speckled her cheeks just below her eyes, she wiped at it with the back of her hand and smeared it so that her cheeks had a golden hue on top of the already rosy color. Inspecting the mistake, she shrugged. It actually didn’t look that bad, it made her look more sun kissed. It was a bit heavy so she tried rubbing it in so that it wasn’t as prominent.

Checking again, satisfaction had her nodding at her work, a smile playing at her lips. I don’t understand why people find this difficult? Just swipe it on and go! This may come in useful.

Next was the black kohl, this gave her a small knot in the bottom of her stomach, she wouldn’t be able to smudge it in like she did with the gold. Fire put the lid back onto the golden powder and set it back with it’s sister jars. She picked up the black and slowly took the lid off, trying not to get it all over. A few specks fell onto her hand but she’d mostly managed to keep it in the container. The lid went back to the spot the jar came from.

The brush dipped as slowly as she could into the powder, she wasn’t exactly sure how other women applied this part but she’d see they had put it near their lashes. Weren’t their black lines usually small? Worry wiggled in her stomach as she looked at the black powder on the black bristles.

This time she knocked the wooden handle against the rim of the jar, hoping it would take some of the loose stuff off and leave her with just enough to apply. If that didn’t work then she wasn’t sure what she could do to keep the black from getting everywhere. Her teeth chewed on her lip and she moved slowly over the water, rump in the air, she got as close as she dare to the surface.

One eye closed and the tip gently moved toward her lid. She didn’t know where to start it so she just tried to get it as close as possible to her lashes. The tip touched the corner of her eyes and she swiped it inward. Pulling the brush back, her face turning to get a better look, fine black had dusted the side of her nose, the line was not very straight and it was rather thick.

Squishing her face up in disappointment she did notice that the dust was only where the brush had accidentally sprayed it and that none of the loose stuff had gotten on her cheeks. That made her feel slightly better at her lack of skill. Reaching back, black re-dipped, a knock and she prepared to apply the other side.

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[Firenze]

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As the tip came closer to her eye, her grip not tight enough the brush plunked into the cold water. Fire watched it sink to the bottom near the rocks. Fishing it out, the powder washed off, she growled under her breath. Well, petch.

Brush in hand, she looked back at the water as it started to smooth. Her face glaring back at her, gold smudged on her eyes, one black and a golden hue to her cheeks she felt silly with the one eye done. Frowning, she sat back, still eyeballing the brush, trying to figure out if she could still use it.

A hand grabbed her cloak, taking the corner of it she started to try to clean the brush off. Twisting it around in her hand trying to get it clean, it slipped again. Agh! Fire watched as it bounced down her bare flesh, the wet hairs she thought had lost all the black powder left faint little black dabs all the way down her front and lap.

She stared at it for a moment, perplexed. Her gaze moved back and forth, from the brush to the spots and back again. What the petch. She snatched the brush up and used the edge of the cloth to wipe at the splotches on her skin. A few that hadn’t completely dried smeared on her skin, little black streaks appeared as little comets.

Brows drew together, and then a thought hit her. Would it work better if I wet the brush and then applied the powders? Would it work for the golden one too? Sighing she shrugged, her mouth twisted in frustration. Never hurts to try I suppose.

Moving back to the stream, some of the black spots still speckling her skin, she decided to worry about it later and test the theory. Plunking the bristles into the water, she used her forefinger and thumb to try to smooth it out and make it smaller. Some of the dark water squished out and eventually she got it to a shape that she hoped would work.

After applying some of the powder she tried to knock it on the jar but it was a bit clumpy. A brow lifted and she stared at it for a moment. Bringing the brush back to the water she tried to smooth the powder onto the brush with her fingers. Dark black smeared all over and dripped onto the rest of her hand. She dunked her hand into the water to rinse it off, shaking it to dry, some of the black had already started to stain.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

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[Firenze]

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Moving the blackened hand to the side, she closed the unmarked eye and slowly put the pointed tip on the lid, right next to her lashes. This time she decided to start from the inside near the bridge of her nose instead of the outside and working in. A small streak started at the corner near her tear duct and as she pulled the brush along, the line got a little thicker. It was a little wobbly from lack of practice but the water trick looked as though it might have worked.

Inspecting the results in her reflection, she compared the dry side to the wet side. The wet one was definitely better and she hoped that if she kept tweaking how to apply and practiced then she’d finally get it down. Sitting back a little bit, her funny painted face staring back at her, Fire started to chuckle. She looked so silly.

She decided to wash it off and try again, see if she could get it to look more presentable for public. Swishing the brush in the stream she flicked it a few times to dry it and placed it next to the jars and then screwed the top back on the kohl.

Again she leaned, this time a bit further and stuck her whole face into the cold water. Both hands scrubbing to get the coloring off. After a few ticks she wiped her face with the edge of her cloak and waited for the water to settle. Looking back, the black had streaked down her cheeks and most of the gold was gone. She kept the routine of scrubbing and drying until she could get it to where most of the black was off. That stuff is a pain! Lips pursed together.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

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[Firenze]

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Soon her face was clean of the makeup, a fresh start for her to practice again. The process the same, she grabbed the golden powder, applied it to her lids. Using the leftover on her bristles she lightly swiped across her cheeks to give them a golden hue and bring out the tan on her face. Next, the challenge of the kohl. She dipped the brush into the water, squeezed it to form and lighting dipped it into the black. Holding her eyelid gently down she ran the brush along her lash line trying to make as thin of line as possible. This time she continued it slightly past the corner of her eye to give a winged exotic feel.

Not stopping to examine the work she’d done, she continued with the other eye, doing the same motion of swiping just past her eye. Setting the brush aside Fire inspected the new look. It was still thicker than she would have liked and the eye that she’d done first had a little more black than the second one since she’d not dipped the brush again before continuing. Tucking that bit of information away for the next time she checked the accent that she’d added. It didn’t look to bad and it made her eyes look slimmer and almost foreign to even her. She felt like she looked older than without her makeup, almost as though she’d grown up in the moments between the fresh face and the painted face.

Leaving the paint on her face she dabbed a finger into the pomade and applied it to her lips. She wanted to experiment with more colors so she made a mental note to find a place that might carry cosmetics so that she could pick up some different colors and pomades to try.

Satisfied with the work that she’d done she gathered the items together and tucked them back into her pack along with the other items she’d scattered around. Pulling out her clothes she slipped on some pants, shirt and her boots deciding to go into town to find the items, shop around for a bit and learn the new city that she was staying in.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

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[Ball]

As with all grades. Please mark this as graded in the Queue. Any questions please PM me.

Firenze, I found this to be a well written and different thread. I liked it.

Skills

Observation	+1
Cleaning	+2
Cosmetology	+5

Lores

• Cleaning: Breathing, Fogging, and Wiping clear the surfaces of Metallic objects
• Cleaning: Prepping One's Face for Makeup Application
• Cleaning: Washing of one's Brushes between applications and afterwards
• The Stillness of Water as a Reflective Surface
• Cosmetology: Using Water to Aid in the Brushing out of Knots and Tangles in Hair
• Cosmetology: Braiding One's Hair
• Cosmetology: Keep One Eye Open when doing Own Makeup
• Cosmetology: Knocking the Brush on the Jar to remove the excess
• Cosmetology: Kohl used to line one's eyes
• Cosmetology: Kohl when wet stains
• Cosmetology: Kohl marks straight narrow lines when dampened.
• Cosmetology: Using Pomade to Color Lips