Author: Zoë

Pairing: None at all!!

Rating: G

Disclaimer : Not mine, Paramount’s! Im skint…

Feedback: Yes please, to [email protected]

Setting: Sort of a prequel to my story Some Trip’s Have All The Luck…sort of!

Summary: What happened prior to the Karaoke Night! SueC, you can take ALL the blame for making me write this!!!! ;-) And thanks for the Beta too!!!

“Sit still, otherwise you’ll end up with a dirty face!” Hoshi was frustrated at the lack of tolerance from her subject. As she flopped her hands to her side, she was careful to hold the face powder away from them both. Two hours ago, she had been approached, quietly taken aside and asked for her help with a sensitive matter. Intrigued, she couldn’t stop herself from agreeing readily.

Now, however, was completely different. She was ready to give up, she wanted to walk out of this room, and back to her station where she could get on with her life as normal. Sighing deeply, she brought her mind back to the face in question.

“Are you going to keep still now?”

“Yeah, yeah, but…it’s annoying!” her subject moaned. “Aren’t you almost finished?”

“No. I would have been if a certain person had managed to keep still!”

“I’m sorry Hoshi, but…I’m not used to all this…this stuff on my face.”

Hoshi laughed. “And how do you think I feel, huh? I have to wear ‘this stuff’ everyday. Well, I don’t have to, but I like to look nice.”

Her subject had the grace to chuckle slightly. “Now I know the palaver that goes into wearing make-up, I promise never to mock you again."

Getting back to the task in hand, Hoshi skillfully applied the face powder, making sure any excess was removed with a big cosmetic brush. Unfortunately, this had the added effect of making her subject sneeze, violently.

After waiting for the sneezing to stop, Hoshi then combed the brows into position, fixing them with some eyebrow gel. Continuing, she reached for the eye shadow palette. Opening it, she asked, “What colours do you fancy?”

“Um…you mean I have to pick? I have no idea. Can’t you pick something for me?”

“Okay, I guess I can do that. How about ‘taupe’ and this lovely khaki colour? I think these will compliment your eyes.” She saw the rush of colour to the cheeks and grinned.

“How long till the party now?”

“Well, it’s only ten minutes since you last asked, so I guess it would be about ten minutes shorter than then.” Smirking, she tried again to get on with her task.

Holding the slim, double-ended brush in her hand, she dipped it into the lighter of the two powders and applied it, swiftly but carefully, first to one eye socket, then the other. Twirling the brush around to the other end, she then dipped it in the darker colour, and applied this just to the two lids.

Aware that the officer in front of her was beginning to fidget again, she placed the brush and palette down, and picked up a narrow silver bullet shaped tube. Removing the top, she twisted the bottom of the tube and a bright red colour appeared.

“Lipstick. Red. Don’t. Protest.” Hoshi glared down, hoping to stop the complaint she could see forming. “Otherwise…” the warning was there.

The mouth shut again, before it could express disapproval at the colour of the lipstick.

Taking hold of the chin, Hoshi lifted the face upwards, towards the light. “Open your mouth slightly, please.”

The mouth opened, eyebrows raised, but remaining silent. The lipstick was applied expertly and smoothly. Hoshi held up a tissue. “Now, what you have to do, in order for the lipstick to stay on your lips, is to fold the tissue in half, place it in your mouth, and close your lips on it.”

“Humph. Is that okay?” The soiled tissue was discarded.

“Perfect.” Hoshi smiled down. “Now, one more thing to do before we sort out your hair…” Reaching for a small, white packet, she detached one of the two long, spidery looking things.

“What the…what are you planning on doing with that?” She could hear the anxiety in the voice.

“Worry not, you will look gorgeous with these on!” Ignoring the apprehensive looks she was getting, she applied some glue to the edge of the black eyelashes.

“Close your eyes, please, and keep them shut until I say it’s okay to open them, will you?”

“Are you certain you know what you’re doing?”

“I can leave now, if you want?” She could hardly keep the annoyance out of her voice.

“No, no…please don’t go. I’m sorry.” The alarm in her subject’s voice was clear, and she smiled.

The eyes were now shut. Hoshi bent down, and very cautiously pressed the eyelash down onto the edge of the eyelid, just above the natural lash line. She repeated the self same thing with the second false eyelash.

“You can open your eyes now.” Hoshi stood back and admired her handiwork. “Do you want to look now, or shall we do the hair next?” She queried.

“I think…oh, let’s do the hair next shall we?” Came the response.

Delighted with the reply, she picked up the long, curly blonde wig from off the plastic head. Guardedly, she placed it on her subject’s head, tucking up stray hairs here and there, and making sure that it was on tight, and wouldn’t fall off at anytime during the evening.

“How does that feel? Not too tight is it?” Fingers crossed, she thought. That was more awkward than doing the make up.

“Apart from itching a little? It feels fine. Are we done yet?” The eagerness was apparent.

“Not quite, just give me a second to comb your hair.”

Delving into her cosmetic trolley, she rummaged for her comb, eventually finding it lurking behind the hairspray. Teasing the locks, Hoshi heaving a big sigh of relief after finally completing the look.

Taking a step back, she ran a critical eye over her subject. “Ok, you’re done, finally. You look…um…different!” she finished.

Turning around to look in the full-length mirror, Jonathan Archer almost screamed at the sight before him. “Well, I’m sure glad I don’t have to wear this everyday, I look horrendous.” Grinning widely, he turned to face a giggling Hoshi. “Thanks for your help. Was I really very difficult?”

“Well, sir, you weren’t the easiest subject I’ve ever had to work on, but hey, it’s for a good cause. I just can’t wait to see you tonight! And to see the reaction from everyone!”

In the audience, Hoshi Sato was delighted at the gasps around the room as they eventually recognized their captain. A job well done, give yourself a pat on the back, she smiled to herself.

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