Face Painting Booth Open

𝓦alking away from ‘Just Keep Sewing’ with a scrunchie now slipped around her wrist, Ruth continued her journey around the stadium, nodding and mumbling to herself as she contemplated the next destination. There were so many booths she could visit; if she had the opportunity, she would have tried them all. Alas, that wasn’t going to be the case. But she didn’t want to be picky, either.

'Tis the time for the finger! Ruth quickened her pace, breaking past the clockwise stream to make her way to the centre of the stadium, where it was fairly clear. Clasping a hand over her eyes, the Hufflepuff made a hasty spin, the other arm outstretched with her index finger pointed forward like a spinner. She twirled on the spot, stumbling slightly before slowing her footing to a stop. Ruth felt the world swirl beneath her feet, and her vision swam as she slowly opened her eyes, welcoming the bright rays of sunlight with a wince. As she settled the temporary nausea, Ruth’s finger sat jabbing towards a sky-blue tent, the canopy partially blocked by the overhead sign that read, FACE PAINTING, along with a few other words Ruth couldn’t discern from the distance. She noticed the trailing queue beneath the tent and couldn’t help but frown to herself. However, the idea of having her face painted enticed her.

And so the soon-to-be second year squished back into the thrum, dodging the stray elbow and incoming torso. After several near-misses and a frantic apology for stepping on someone’s shoe, she managed to arrive safely at the base of the tent. The line had grown much shorter then, and it didn’t take long before Ruth was the one entering the booth.

Underneath the shade and hidden from the boiling sun, Ruth’s lips relaxed into a relieved smile as she met the eyes of her senior, his own sparking a larger grin on her face. Ruth wasn’t particularly fond of the older Hufflepuff, but had seen him around all the same, so it was hard not to grow excited at the sight.

“So, what're you interested in getting today?" Ruth slid into the chair, fingers drumming lightly against the apron as she skimmed through the available choices. “Honestly,” she admitted, “I’m not very sure.” How could she not have decided on a vague idea before getting herself into this? Her embarrassment caused her cheeks to turn slightly red, though her cheeks lost the colour when her attention was caught by a snowy owl, the creature lounging atop a perch. When introduced to Chae-rin and asked if she would like to feed her, Ruth couldn’t help but nod meekly, accepting a handful of treats and treating the owl. The owl was much friendlier than Sol had ever been, and she couldn’t help but giggle as the creature’s peak grazed her palm, a familiar yet unfamiliar feeling.

“You know what,” Ruth straightened up and headed back to the chair, mindlessly dusting the owl treat crumbs away. “I’d like to have a snowy owl painted, please,” she tapped at her nose, then traced it up her forehead. “Not the full face, though. If that’s alright.” Without much left to say, she let @Aaron Jones begin the task, deciding that it might be easier if she didn’t speak up or move her mouth too much.

At least, that was what she initially planned to do. But before the silence could settle, like the dust motes in sunlight, Jones had struck up a conversation. Ruth couldn’t help but be pulled off into topics on broom racing, Hufflepuff common room catastrophes, and even confessed to her disappointment in the meandering pace of her booth. “I don’t mind it, it’s just–” she stifled a sigh and tilted her chin back up, her eyes gazing towards the ceiling as she felt the last brush strokes against her septum. “I …I don’t know. Nevermind.” She wrung her hands together before smiling gratefully when he pulled away, producing a mirror. Ruth clutched it with both hands, turning her face side to side as she admired the paint. “Thank you,” she said, nodding as she stood up and left.

Proud of her cute new scrunchie, made half of blue & green plaid and half of fake denim with sunglass wearing grinning suns and holding her fluffy hair hair up like a big pom pom, Asara decided the next stop was definitely the face painting stand. She'd enjoy everyone's art after she was done getting dressed up. She was surprised when she lined up, the girl before her had clearly had the same idea.

Asara watched the boy carefully paint the girls face, trying to guess what it was. When the girl left she was awed at the owl. This was absolutely the place to be. The boy called for the next person and Asara sat on the stool with a big plop. She swayed side to side, practically vibrating with excitement, her little pom pom looking pony tail bobbing about with her.

"Hi! That owl was so pretty. I saw your list, if it's not a bother could I please have two of them mixed? If that's okay I'd like the greenery one to creep up my face with firefly glows and the stars to go down my face and nose until it's near the greenery pretty please."

When the boy, Aaron, assented Asara grinned and did her very best to sit still. She mostly succeeded, lightly kicking her feet back and forth but keeping her chest and head well in place. Thoughout it she chatted away, stopping when Aaron wanted to say something and when he needed her still for the painting. She was full of questions.

"What greenery is it anyways? Vines? Anything's okay. I love plants, I always help Ma and Pa with them at home, both the muggle ones and the magical ones. They taught me how to look at the stars and use a compass too, because we live near a loch and have this big boat. How's Hogwarts? I heard about the Great Lake. I think it's really a loch, that's how the squid must get there. I'll see when I get there. Do they have boats for the lake? Can we swim in it? Do they have a piano? I play on the one in the local pub all the time. How are we sorted? Pa refuses to say. What are you going to do next year? Is the food there good? What's your favourite?"

On and on she talked, listening well to Aaron's own responses, until he completed his painting. She looked into the mirror he pointed her to and grinned. She loved it.

"Thank you so much! I love it, it's so pretty. I'm going to wear it until it falls off. Pa will have to chase me if he wants it washed off! I'm gonna go get a flower crown now. See you next year."

Asara waved goodbye and ran off.

Up her neck & Face: Enchanted Vines – creeping greenery, glowing tips
Across her brow, down her nose: Constellation Crown – stars + moons across the brow

After helping out their first customers at their booth, Pyce took a quick moment to see what else was there. They knew there was a face painting booth, and that it was likely the only one they had time for, if they wanted to go to any booth at all. Considering the cat-eye contacts that were somewhere in their bag back at the tent, Pyce was more than willing to get their face painted.

The child wandered into the booth, seeing someone else getting their face paint done. Pyce waited patiently, rolling back and forth on their heels, just hoping someone wouldn't go into their booth while they were away. (And that Horrorcow would stay asleep, they did not want to lose her here.)

In the meantime, Pyce entertained themself by watching the snowy owl in the booth. It was so fluffy and white, and Pyce realized how few times they had seen any owl that wasn't some shade of brown. The owl here was so clean, refined looking.

When the other student was done, Pyce, finding themself far less nervous than they usually were when meeting anyone new, approached whoever it was running the booth. Brief greetings were exchanged.

"Could I get the dragon scales please? In red and right-" Pyce gestured to the spot just beneath their right eye, going down to their cheek. "-Here?" The older boy nodded, and got to work. Pyce stayed mostly still, asking about the owl (her name was Chae-rin,) about Aaron's house, being Hufflepuff, and what Hogwarts was like, maybe a bit of what to expect. Pyce listened to Aaron's every word, attention thoroughly caught.

However, it wasn't long before the scales, wonderful and red, were done. Pyce was so giddy from just seeing them in the mirror. They thanked Aaron profusely before bidding him adieu and swiftly making their way out of the booth and back to their own, crossing their fingers that someone hadn't wandered in while they were gone.

WC: 330	Interacting With: @Aaron Jones
Extra Notes: Reducio I technically have a little drawing of Pyce with their face paint and cat-eye contacts in, but it's not done yet	Outfit: Reducio A red sweater vest over a white, collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up, navy pants, and a brown apron overtop it all.