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Throné’s hand was steady as she held Agnea’s, her fingers cool against the skin. Her touch was light yet firm, and she watched Agnea’s cleaned fingernails with an intense stare. Her other hand held a tiny paintbrush, dipped in a small glass bottle, and she pressed the vibrant red paint against the nail of Agnea’s thumb.
The color was closer to that of sunset than blood, and it had a scent much like perfume but not quite. Carefully Throné applied the paint to each of Agnea’s nails with even, precise strokes. Throné was always good with her hands, and Agnea knew well where Throné had learned those skills. Those hands that could kill with a single strike now held hers so gently and adorned them with a warm color. A smile tugged at Agnea’s lips, although likely Throné didn’t see, focused intently as she was on Agnea’s fingernails.
Dolcinaea had introduced Agnea to nail polish, and it was amazing how simply painting her fingernails could make her hands look so different. She ordered her nail polish from the same source as Dolcinaea did, and although commissioning her favorite colors was expensive and perhaps a touch frivolous, Throné encouraged her to treat herself occasionally. Throné had also expressed interest in mixing colors herself, and creating nail polish was somewhat similar to how Castti concocted medicine, much to Agnea’s wonder.
Throné was precise with the small brush, allowing not even a single drop to touch Agnea’s skin. The color was thick and bold, a red that would catch the eyes of all who watched Agnea’s dance. She observed Throné closely, enthralled by how such a simple color transformed her fingernails so completely. The bristles were gentle against the nail, leaving a trail of red. Throné soon finished the nail of her smallest finger, and she held up her hand, admiring the newly-painted nails. She had let her fingernails grow out for the past few weeks - usually she was nervous about doing so, being intimate with Throné, but Throné said she liked a bit of risk and reminded Agnea that she was good with her lips too, and she could not help but blush at Throné’s bold words - and the red paint made her nails seem even longer.
“What do you think?” Throné asked as she dipped the paintbrush into its small glass bottle.
“It’s beautiful,” Agnea breathed, her eyes wide, and she inhaled deeply to take in the perfume-like scent of the paint. “You’re really good at this.”
Throné let out a weak chuckle. “It’s nice putting my skills to use for something creative like this.”
Agnea’s eyes fell upon Throné’s bare throat. For the past year Throné had acted as her bodyguard as she traveled from town to town to perform, and Throné’s smile had grown more natural, which warmed her heart to see. After the eight of them had brought back the dawn, Throné had seemed at a loss for what to do next, but now Agnea was glad to see her more at peace.
Throné took Agnea’s other hand, and with the same tender care she applied the nail polish to this next set of fingernails, and Agnea watched just as closely as her nails transformed before her very eyes. It was such a simple thing, the two of them sitting closely together inside yet another inn room while Throné carefully held Agnea’s hand, and perhaps nothing special at all, but Agnea rather liked sharing these quiet moments with Throné too. All of Solistia knew her name, but sometimes it was nice to let Throné draw her into the shadows and away from the eyes of others. Throné would say was it important for her to rest too, after all.
“What a lovely color,” Throné muttered as she finished painting Agnea’s other hand. “It suits you perfectly.”
“Why, thank you!” Agnea giggled. “Have you thought of painting your nails too?”
“Mm, I suppose if it’s with you, I wouldn’t mind.” Throné brought Agnea’s hand to her lips and planted a tender kiss to the back of it. “But I think I’d prefer to be the one painting your nails.”
Agnea laughed again as her cheeks grew warm, and she drew closer to Throné, being careful not to ruin Throné’s hard work on her fingernails, and pressed her lips to Throné’s for a quick kiss.