Challenge #02104-E280: Personal Augmentation Options
Humans introduce aliens to cosmetics, not all would go in their original place. -- Knitnan
Humans are well known to be attracted to shiny things. This eventually resulted in Humans making themselves shiny in order to attract mates. Jewellery is an almost universal concept, though not always universal in execution. Makeup, on the other hand, is not as universal as one might expect.
"So... you apply paint to your exterior to look more attractive?"
"Getting closer," said Human Jaz. "We call it 'war paint' because the ancient cosmetics were dual purpose. They were also used to decorate domiciles. And dye fabrics, now that I think about it."
Yikkotz boggled. "Aren't... many of those substances toxic?"
"Oh hell yeah," cheered Human Jaz. "Don't get me started on white lead as a makeup product. Killed hundreds even when they knew it was toxic. Today's makeups are way safer and usually based on synthetics that can't be absorbed organically. Unless it's glitter, in which case, we use an organic kelp product that's totally harmless." Human Jaz thought about it some more. "Or gelatin. But we tend to use gelatin glitter on cakes more often than ourselves."
"Glitter," echoed Yikkotz, not certain ze had heard things correctly.
"Yup. I have loads. Humans, shiny things, it's practically a meme. Wanna see my box?"
That wasn't a sex thing. Human Jaz had a storage box full to almost bursting with assorted colours and preparations for hide decoration. They had another box, somewhere else, that was specifically for colouring the keratin threads that grew out of their head.
"These are nail polish," said Human Jaz. "For the keratin plates on our fingers and toes. I got matte finish, pearl finish, hi gloss, glitter, pearl with glitter inclusions, metallic..." the list went on for some time. "And this is a high-tech one that puts a little holographic image on your nails! It's a little teddy bear. Isn't it cute?"
Yikkotz politely agreed, and then got introduced to the wonderful world of face paint. Human Jaz could contour, blend, and mask her way into changing her face to look like almost anything, including non-organic substances. With her help, Yikkotz discovered that nail polish could shine up hir arm scutes, or colour them in any number of vibrant hues.
Blush, also applied to the arm, made hir look and feel powerful and dominant.
Yikkotz decided that ze would allow Human Jaz to 'colour hir in' once a week and take note of the social effects. After a few minutes' research, Yikkotz learned that Human traders were already making certain body augmentation products in bulk.
Ze didn't know how to feel about those 'piercings' though...
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / kubator]
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Sounds like the nail polish is going to need to come in barrels or perhaps modified for use in an airbrush for some of these characters :D
Pretty much, yeah.