Chapter Text
#1 - Makeup
Joshua had taken a liking to Rhyme the minute he felt her pulse in his arms. Normally, holding someone’s soul was akin to holding a newborn baby for the first time. There were little wiggles and twitches of movement. There were signs of recognition in the pulse and breath. There were so many hopes and dreams and possibilities for the small wisp of life.
But holding Rhyme had not been like a newborn babe. She fought. She kicked. She held fast to her entrance fee until Joshua pried it from the center of her being. There was nothing timid about the youngest player in his Game. She might have been small, but she was feisty and full of life. He had watched her soul snuff out and be reborn as Noise. Not one bit of her fiery soul had dimmed in the transition.
Even after he rebuilt her from scratch, she had the same tenacity as before. In fact, in the transition from Noise to human soul, she had bitten him soundly on the finger.
But that was years ago. Five to be exact. Joshua had become fast friends with her despite the bellyaching of her older brother. He warned Joshua that if she ever returned home crying, the ever-loving shit would be beaten out of him. It was a threat worth risking.
“I don’t like makeup.”
Joshua looked up. He had been lost in thought on their foray through the city proper. They had stopped in front of a cosmetics and beauty shop. In the window were handfuls of compacts and colorful dyes and powders. Beyond were shelves of lipstick and concealer, and hundreds of the prettiest little makeup purses and pouches.
“Mom and Dad say I should start experimenting with it because it’ll make me look more professional, but I don’t like the feel of it on my face.” She glanced up at him. “Do you?”
“I prefer not to use it unless absolutely necessary,” he replied. “Parties. Courtrooms.”
Rhyme laughed. “Those are polar opposites.”
“Are they?” Joshua tapped a finger to his cheek. “I suppose so. Unfortunately the same people are in both situations. I can see where your parents are coming from, but I feel they miss the point.”
“Yeah,” she said with a soft exhale. Her hands were in her pockets as she stared at a particularly bright shade of orange eyeshadow. “Do you think you could teach me?”
“Not if you aren’t willing to learn. Rhyme, dear,” he placed his hands on her shoulders, “if you aren’t interested in it, it won’t work.”
“Darn. You make it look so effortless. Maybe just a little?”
Joshua tilted his head as he stared at her reflection in the glass. She still looked as young as she had when he brought her back together. “Little sister,” he said softly, “I would do anything you ask.”
“You’re too sweet, Joshua.” She instantly cheered up and took him by the arm. “Come on! You’ve got to show me what to buy first.”
They spent the next thirty minutes perusing the aisles and picking out only the best makeup for Rhyme’s light and soft complexion. Joshua refused to let her pay for a bit of it. Afterward, they ate out at Sunshine Stationside and took the bus to the Bito residence. Rhyme’s parents were well aware of her friendship with Joshua, even encouraging it at times. He was certain they had ulterior motives, but if they knew how old Joshua actually was, they would probably have him out on the street.
“Alright,” Joshua said once they had spread the makeup out over Rhyme’s floor. “We need to use this concealer first…but what on? You have very little blemishes…especially for one who can put away two double cheeseburgers.”
“Hey. You didn’t want the rest of yours. Waste not, want not.”
“Indeed.”
He moved on to the foundation. “For you, we will start light. Take this sponge and dab a little of the foundation on the end of it. There we go. Now, pat it over your face. No, no, not like that. Slow. Pat-a-pat.”
“It feels weird.”
“It’s supposed to feel weird.”
Rhyme finished dotting the makeup over her face and neck. Joshua made sure to show her how to blend it with her skin. He took the sponge, dotted a little more of the fluid on it, and finished blending into her hairline. They had bought a mirror for Rhyme to hold while Joshua did his magic, and now instead of Rhyme being hands on, it was all Joshua’s work. He put on the powder, the blush, and the eyeshadow. Each piece was light and airy with a shade just soft enough to not look like makeup. He lined her eyes with pencil and laughed as she did at the tickling sensation.
He finished up and sat back. “No lipstick.”
“Why not?”
“You are too young,” Joshua said with a wave of his hand. “Lip gloss is better to show the youthful pout of your lips. I know, I know, we bought a little lipstick but I honestly don’t like the idea of it.”
Rhyme stared at him. “Do I look funny?”
“You look beautiful. Like an angel.”
Beneath the false pink of blush her cheeks turned a shade darker. “You shouldn’t say that.”
“No, I should not,” he said with a breath. “I am too old for you. Your brother would beat me into the ground with one hand tied behind his back.”
She giggled. Digging through the makeup she selected a bubblegum lip gloss with glitter and extra shine. She painted it on with the help of the mirror and made a kissy face to spread it over her lips. “Mwa. Mwa. That’s what Shiki and Eri do.”
“Good job.” A thought occurred to him. “Why didn’t you ask them for help?”
“I was embarrassed,” she said into the mirror. “I don’t feel embarrassed around you.”
It was Joshua’s turn to blush. He waved it off with a nervous laugh and pretended his phone had beeped a notification. “Oh, darn, I really should be getting back to work.”
“The city won’t run herself,” Rhyme said nonchalantly.
“Indeed!” He hopped up to his feet and paused. “You really do look wonderful, dear.”
“Thanks, big brother. See you next week?”
“Same time-“
“Same place-“
They shared a look and laughed.