Maybelline

It’s always been the same.

“May, do your makeup!”
“May, dye your feathers!”
“May, why are you going out when you look so hideous! Go fix yourself up.”

Sometimes I want to strangle my aunt. My mother died when I was very young, and she was decent enough to take one of her last living relatives in. Until a year or two ago, I treated her like a saint. Sometimes, however, people aren’t what they seem.
When I got old enough to start having blemishes, she told me to cover them up. When I was old enough to wear lipstick, she told me to lather it on. When I could do anything to “improve” my natural appearance, she ordered me to do it. For a while, I complied. One day, I just didn’t see the point. I decided to confront her about it.

“Aunt Alisa, can I skip makeup today?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Well, why? Do you not think that my natural appearance is good enough for you?”
“Oh, honey. Your natural appearance isn’t good enough for anyone. Now go put on your concealer.”
“No.”
“No?! Missy, I am your legal guardian. You do as I say or be punished.”
“Then punish me. At least I won’t be your little doll anymore,” I shouted back and turned away. A split second later, she grabbed my arm, pulled me toward her, and slapped me across the face.
“OUCH!”
“If you don’t go put some of that makeup on and go to school, be prepared for another one of those,” She sneered. I can’t believe I did, but I gave in and went to school. Or, at least, towards it. Little did she know, instead of packing up school supplies, I grabbed some apparel, food, my familiar, and stuffed it in my wing pack. A block or two away from my cave, I took a running start and flew away. I flew for days until I came across a small clan. I met it’s leader, Violet, and got a job as her daughter’s lady-in-waiting. I’be watched amethyst grow from a toddler to an adult, and I’m so happy I got that privilege.

It was only until a few days ago that I realized I haven’t touched makeup in years, and people have always been happy with me being me. And now that I’ve had that revelation, the weight of my aunt’s criticism has slipped away... Never to interfere with my happiness and confidence again.

(Hey, everyone reading this! Sorry for you people who are shaming me right now, but I completely forgot that Maybelliene was a Coatl Male. I don’t want to rewrite his lore, so just imagine he’s a girl, because that’s how I wrote it. Sorry!)