✽ a devil's festival ✽ FACE PAINTING (art contest; END)

[Rookeries]

The results are in!
Thank you all for your gorgeous entries! They were all refreshingly unique and fun to look at.
Here are whom we think were among the best!

1ST PLACE
1mill gold, bust from Zanaroo, Paintset (equip), Confetti (temp item)

kotaline!

kotaline

"You're not supposed to smile for portraits," drawled the Earl of Derby, leaning against the side of his canvas and watching as Flora's father angled his camera at her. "It looks strange."

Awkward grin frozen in place, Flora glanced at him and hissed "Things are different now," from the corner of her mouth, but the Earl merely shrugged.

"Have it your way," he said, picking at his nails, "I was only trying to prevent you from looking foolish." Flora's grin faltered, and he grew one cheekily, crossing his arms across his chest. "Much prettier," he told her easily. "Save for all that goop on your face, that is."

She couldn't help but smile at the praise that he gave her, and bit down on it quickly, turning beet red. The Earl laughed and she pouted, wishing she could just speak to him, but her father was there, and his attention was on her as he tried to get a shot of the face paint she'd gotten at the festival. It was her idea to take the picture at the UMA. She had wanted to show her friends, but they suffered from a lack of understanding, or perhaps a pretension that made them appreciate it less than she thought. The Earl's only comment was that his artist had done better, which Flora was sure wasn't the point.

"Look," said the Earl, "It's easy not to smile. Do you know what my sitter did when my artist painted me?"

An imperceptible shake of her head.

"Well, neither do I, but whatever he did, it worked perfectly. Try thinking of melancholy things. Kittens drowning, perhaps. Paupers in the street." Flora's face began to twist with consternation, and he clicked his tongue testily. "Now you just look depressing," he commented, turning to an El Greco painting in the corner. "Don't you agree?"

The El Greco shrugged his shoulders gracefully and rambled in a foreign tongue which, when met with Flora's and the Earl's uncomprehending stares, was painstakingly amended to one hesitant "Should smile."

"No!" the Earl exclaimed, smacking his knee. "What say you, Aristotle?"

"I say Phyllis should get off my back,"

"That's what you always say, and it's your fault for being cast with her regardless," declared the Earl emphatically. "Don't smile, Flora."

"Smile," offered the El Greco in his broken English.

"Phyllis!" begged Aristotle.

Flora glanced up and down, back and forth as the paintings advised her, trying hard not to say something or react too dramatically, trying to pretend that the heated debate didn't exist and just take a nice picture, but her mouth didn't know what to do with itself anymore, and she was torn, unsure who she should try to please. The Earl was right there, and he usually knew best, but what did her father want? Would he be happier with a better picture? Did she really look nice without a smile like the Earl said? She had never liked her school pictures in the past, maybe that was the secret.

"Okay, I've sorted out how to turn the flash off," Her father called from across the room, lifting up the camera. "Ready?"

"Wait, Da-"

"Set..."

"Don't-" began the Earl,

"Smile!" said her father from across the room, and there was a click.

"Aw, Daisybutton," her father muttered, frowning into the digital screen. "Why didn't you smile?"

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2ND PLACE
500k, Paintset item (equip), Confetti (temp item)

laykein!

laykein

Everyone gets a turn at face painting if they want.

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3RD PLACE
Paintset item (equip)

Arana Kamina and Pandaphilic!

Arana Kamina

"Aaaand there!" the artist said proudly as she put the final touch on the face paint. Finding a mirror shoved into her hand Trianna took a look at what her friend had done. Even with the head band and crazy amount of hair clips some paint had gotten onto her hair from a purple jewel, but otherwise it seemed to be mistake free.

"Mighty fine dragon," her friend said as she puffed her chest.

"Dragon?" Another friend came over, looking critically at the swirls and jewel. "Looks more like a mermaid to me."

The first friend gasped dramatically. "How dare you call this paint a mermaid! It's a dragon!"

The second gave a snort. "Nope. Too whimsical. It's a mermaid."

"No one said dragons couldn't be whimsical!"

"I just did. Mermaid."

"It's a dragon I tell you!"

"Mermaid."
"Dragon!"
"Mermaid!"
"DRAGON!"

Trianna tuned out the two girls next to her, giving a smile as she admired the the face paint.

(Click for larger image)

Pandaphilic

Xilin stepped up to the face painting booth. She decided she would give it a go, as well, after seeing other girls having fun.