California got out of his car and waited for his boyfriend to get out of the passenger's seat.

"So what is this store called?" DC asked closing his door.

"Ulta. It's got everything." California explained taking DC's hand.

"And they'll....they'll be okay if...."

"Course they will baby." California whispered, kissing DC's cheek. "Make up literally has no gender."

"So....we're make up then?" DC asked, making California laugh.

"My gender today is make-up." California said, making DC smile. It'd been a couple days since California was introduced to the type of make-up DC liked to put on, and while of course he had nothing wrong with Dollar Tree or TJ Max make-up it was clear his boyfriend was limited by the choices they had. The foundation didn't match, the blush was a deep plum, and the eyeshadow palette had no pigment whatsoever. It was right then and there that California decided to spoil DC and buy him make-up that he could actually use, make-up that matched his skin tone and actually worked. California stepped inside the Ulta with DC, and caught DC taking a shaky breath.

"O-kay. I've been in an Ultra. We can go now." DC announced, beginning to turn away.

"Aht, rosie stop. First off, it's Ulta, second you don't have anything to fear." California pointed out squeezing DC's hand. The fed looked around at the various shelves of make-up brands, eyes wide like a candy at the candy store.

"Can we look at those?" DC whispered pointing to a row of shelves.

"Course rosie, anything you want." California whispered, kissing DC's head and letting him lead him over to the shelves. After directing him away from the Morphe shelves, he let him look through the various Nyx, Maybelline, and other drug store make-up, smiling softly as DC picked up the products in wonder.

"Do I need primer?" DC asked.

"You should get some just in case." California said taking the tester from DC. "What type is your skin." Things went quiet between the two.

"Skin?" DC whispered and California laughed.

"Let's just get you this pore filler for now and see what happens." California snickered putting the bottle in the basket. "Okay, we need to ask someone to help color match you."

"S-Someone....oh no it's fine...."

"Rosie it's fine." California said squeezing DC's hand. "They're used to it, hang on I'll find someone." With one final hand squeeze, California walked off leaving DC alone in the aisle. DC tried to remain distracted by all the make-up, intrusive thoughts telling him that the salesperson would just laugh at California and kick them both out.

"Rosie." California called making DC glance up. His boyfriend was standing in front of him with an overly-eager salesperson with a strange machine in her hand.

"Peter here says you need a foundation match." The salesperson said with a smile.

"I-If you can." DC mumbled, taking California's hand.

"Course! I can just scan you with this and we'll figure it out." The salesperson announced. DC would never admit in a million years that he flinched when the strange handheld machine touched his face, but nothing happened. No shock, no pain, just the cold machine against his skin.

"Do you know your skin type hon?" The salesperson asked taking the machine off.

"Skin?" DC asked innocently.

"Guess we'll figure that out later." The salesperson said with a giggle. "You're on the warm ivory scale with a yellow undertone." DC looked at California with confusion over the strange new words, and the sunshine state smiled and kissed his cheek.

"May I suggest the Ulta brand to start? That way you can determine what you like without spending too much money." The salesperson suggested.

"Yeah....that sounds good." DC said with a soft smile.

"Plus some of those high-end foundations aren't worth it." California pointed out.

"You'll also need a beauty sponge to apply the foundation with." The salesperson announced.

"Can't I just use my hands?" DC asked. Silence fell between the three.

"Oh rosie." California chuckled, kissing DC again. "You have so much to learn."

California flicked between a few palettes as DC studied a couple himself, in the more higher-end area of the store. California was about to turn and ask his opinion on one he was considering when he watched DC practically digging into one of the pans and evaluating the color on his fingertips.

"No, baby, no." California whispered, putting his palettes back. "Watch." He took the palette from DC, gently put his fingertips in the pans, took DC's wrist, and ran the eyeshadow across his wrist.

"Oh." DC whispered eyes wide.

"You like it?" California asked.

"I don't know this is all so much." DC muttered looking back into his basket which was now full of foundation, primer, blush, bronzer and a few cheap brushes. He put the eyeshadow palette down and picked up a larger, glittery looking eyeshadow. "Can't I just use this for eyeshadow?"

"Oh no rosie that's." California laughed. "That's a highlighter." DC crocked an eyebrow and California snickered and took the highlighter from his hands.

"Watch this." California dipped his pinkie into the highlighter, then gently took DC's face and tapped his pinkie on the top of his cheek. Then he grabbed one of the eyeshadow palettes and held it up so his boyfriend could see himself in the mirror.

"Ta-da!"

"Oh my God." DC gasped taking the mirror. "I....I love it."

"That really looks good on you." California pointed out as DC admired himself.

"Poppy I love it!" DC said and by his happy stimming, California knew he had opened a door.

"We'll get it rosie." California said with a smile tossing the box into the basket. "Maybe we can get you some glitter too."

"THEY HAVE THAT HERE?" DC gasped and California laughed.

"God we've created a nightmare." California teased kissing DC.

"Hold still."

"I can't wait! I want to see!"

"If you don't stop moving I'll mess it up!"

DC smiled widely as California put the finishing touches on the look he was painting on his face. The two had just gotten back to the Statehouse an hour ago and DC was already eager to try out his make-up. California couldn't help but smile at his boyfriend's enthusiasm; whatever it was, make-up caused him so much gender euphoria, and it made him happy to see DC happy.

California finished up and leaned back, lowly whistling.

"What? What!" DC asked, opening his eyes. "Does it look bad?"

"Baby you look amazing." California whispered, handing over the palette. DC looked at himself in the mirror and his mouth dropped. California had done an amazing job; his eyes looked amazing, colorful and wild with glitter all over the sides. He could barely speak, he was so enticed.

"What do you--" California was cut off by DC leaping forward and kissing him hard.

"Rosie, rosie!" California giggled pushing DC away. "You'll ruin your lipstick."

"Don't care, I feel so good." DC said excitedly and California couldn't help but break into a smile. He gently took DC's hand. "C'mon let's show the others." The two gently stood up and walked out to the main floor of the Statehouse, DC feeling a little timid, worried what some states might say.

"Why DC." A voice called from the kitchen and DC whipped around.

"You look prettier than a lily blossom on a tree." Kentucky compliment standing in the kitchen with Texas.

"Thanks 'Tucky." DC said blushing.

"Is that my partner? Nah couldn't be." Texas said approaching DC and taking his hand. "God you're pretty."

"I....poppy did it." DC said with a giggle. Texas smiled and brought California and DC close to him.

"Doesn't matter. You both are perfect." Texas whispered.

"HOLY SHIT DC." The three jumped at the shout and turned to New York who was just coming into the kitchen with Louisiana, looking for a drink.

"I can't stop lookin' at ya darlin'." Louisiana whispered.

"Wow that....ahem....make-up brings out.....wow." New York added unable to speak.

"Excuse you." Florida interrupted leaping out from in front of the couch and tumbling to the floor. "Dee looks pretty in whatever he wears."

"You think you can teach me some of that stuff?" Kentucky whispered.

"Let me figure it out first, then I'll help." DC said with a giggle as Louisiana engulfed him in a hug.

"You did a good job poppy." Texas said with a soft smile throwing his arm around California's shoulders. "But did you have to introduce him to some glitter?"

"Oh shush bonnie, look how happy he is." California whispered gesturing back towards DC. DC blushed hard as Louisiana held him, as Florida gazed at his make-up, and New York couldn't stop kissing him.

"This is the most comfortable he's felt....ever....I think."