Do you think any of the companions ever paint their nails? Would they let a sole they're close to paint them if requested? Love ya as always <3
Thank you for this ask, Sinclair! This one has actually been really fun and got me wondering a bit on ghouls. I hope this met expectations!
The companions react to: Nail Polish
Cait
Caits nails are a mess. They are bitten and crooked. She isn't the proudest of them and will avoid painting them prior to Benign Intervention.
Post Benign intervention: Cait is on bed rest for a good few weeks. She doesn't have much to do and Curie is her main buddy during this time. When Deacon drops by with some nail polish it is more or less sealed what the two will be doing.
Cait likes the darker colours. Although I reckon Fallout probably had nail polish that acted akin to UV nail polish in that it changes colour when exposed to radiation.
Which is to say: she chose black and wound up with discoball.
Codsworth
Alas he will have to sit this one out. But he wouldn't say no to Sole painting one of his spare plates. Just not his main ones. He likes being able to choose when he wears the art.
Curie
Curie is very intrigued with nail polish. Even before she gets her synth form she loves seeing all the colours. Partly because she is a Handy model and can see shrimp colours.
Once she does get a synth body? It's almost her first port of call. She wants to have her nails done and will ask Sole to do them if she thinks they'll humour it. She would do it herself but she's so excited and her hands are shakey.
She also is very nosey and informative. Whether Sole asked for it or not she is explaining to them how nail polish works, scolding them if she sees them using dip powder and going on a lecture about dip flu, and developing quite a few hand creams out of the plants Preston gathers.
With her steady hand and eye for detail she becomes the main go to for the companions when they want their nails done. She loves it.
Danse
Pre Blind Betrayal
It is an all round no. Not that he dislikes the idea. More so that as a Paladin he is never off duty. He is always to be in keeping with a set criteria for his appearance, which means kempt facial hair, short nails, good hygiene and nothing that makes him stand out.
Makeup is uncommon even amongst those in the brotherhood who would be interested in it as it is effectively banned. No one is disciplined for possessing it but Cade and most medical scribes will cause trouble for anyone who does possess it.
This is because a lot of makeup that has survived two centuries is not the kind of stuff that should go on human skin. The alternative is makeup people make themselves and- well. That goes just as well when the people making that makeup specialise in machinery instead of any dermatology.
Post Blind Betrayal
In the early days? No. He is recoiled and wallowing. Being out of his room without purpose makes his throat feel tight and the despair grip him. So unfortunately the very notion of relaxing and doing his nails is still a no.
But with time? He considers it. He even will humour one or two nails being painted after Deacon harangues him into it.
If he gets into it, which he will if no one gives him grief, he will start painting all his nails. Not exactly for the aesthetic, although he never wants them to look bad, but for a challenge to himself when he's in the garage. He wants to see how much he can work without chipping them.
Deacon
Deacon has a collection already. Even the dip powders, although he won't share those as it'll set Curie on a lecture, and he's got a few tools for it too.
His hands can be steady when he needs them to be. But rarely are they steady when he does his own nails. Often it is solid colour if he does his own. Usually matching his current outfit.
He has a fondness for ones that glow in the dark or the ones that change colour when exposed to radiation. He finds them nifty. He also likes to do Danse's when Danse will tolerate it.
Dogmeat
He will have to sit this one out because I fear he will eat his nails and ingest the polish. But he would like a treat anyway.
Hancock
I'm not entirely sure Hancock has nails anymore. If he does? They are fragile. I reckon any polish he does apply is that for nail health opposed to aesthetic. How did he get this? Curie. She's goose chased him until he agreed to use it and she is VERY diligent keeping him on regime.
If he doesn't have them then it isn't long before someone notices he's left out. Post Blind Betrayal it is actually Danse who will try to include him. It's awkward and stunted but Danse will hand Hancock a box of nail rings that he made for the mayor from scrap he's cleaned and recast.
Hancock genuinely doesn't know what they are until Piper tells him. Once he does know though? He wears them often. He likes being able to tap his nail on his desk. That and they are rather pretty silver ones. He wonders what colours he can have them painted.
MacCready
Immediate no. He's turning his nose up at it and asking if Sole doesn't have anything better to do. He will outright call it girly.
But he does watch. He is curious watching Cait and Curie bickering as they do Danse's nails or Nick snipping at Deacon for leaving acetone laying around when Deacon knows it is bad for Nick's skin.
He will feel jealous. Then nostalgic. Watching everyone bickering over colours or cooing over eachother's sets. A big bunch of idiots who get along most of the time. Before long he will yield and want in but he won't go to Cait or Curie. He goes to Preston.
Preston genuinely doesn't ask questions, unlike Deacon who has already stalked you for answers or is about to Gabby Hannah you for them, and MacCready prefers that. He prefer sitting in the setting sun and talking time away as they do eachother's nails.
Nick Valentine
Another man in the no nails club. Alas. But that doesn't mean he sits idly. His eyes and forensics are unparalleled for reading decayed or floating letters on the back of nail polish vials.
Unlike Hancock: he doesn't really want to be involved. He likes to help but having extra stuff on his hands isn't something that interests him when he's already having to make an effort to keep said hands together.
Piper
No. Not that she doesn't like the aesthetic but that she hates the taste. She's a nail biter and will wind up biting her nails before the polish has even set.
That doesn't mean she dislikes it though. She wishes she could have them. So when she sees Danse making the nail rings for Hancock? It isn't long until she asks for a set too. Danse's old craft is in hot demand as she is very particular about what she wants of her set. He enjoys the challenge even if he seems slightly annoyed.
Preston Garvey
Preston is happy to have them done as long as he as someone to speak to during it. He hates the quiet, even more so when he can't fidget, so as long as he can yap he is happy enough.
The minutemen are far more relaxed than the brotherhood when it comes to "uniform". Show up, don't be naked, take some armour, help people. No one cares if you have your nails done or not. At least not anymore now that Preston is second in command.
He is rather good at it. Despite not being the best with a gun he had a very steady hand. Occasionally he will try and dot on little versions of flowers he sees around the commonwealth.
Strong
I think Strong would be very interested in trying. Bless his soul it would take no less than half a vial of nail polish for each nail but he wants to try.
I don't think supermutants can see too many colours, so most likely he will leave it up to Sole to choose.
X6-88
This man doesn't dress to look good. He dresses to follow the rules and not be naked. If he were a free man he would have ONE outfit that Deacon picked out for him a year ago that looks neat and he's just got about five sets of that. He isn't repeating the outfit if changing the outfit was never an option.
Which is to say: he will never really choose to have his nails done. He claims he can feel the polish and finds it uncomfortable. Or that the colour is distracting. Unless directly ordered to sit still and have his nails painted he will passively object.
