151 » see through her without looking

[ironwind]

[ The funny thing about it all is that Aether never set out to become a cosmetologist. But there wasn't really enough money in the household to sponsor college educations for both him and Lumine, and of course she'd taken the position that if he didn't go then she didn't want to either, and he knew that as they were both finishing high school, and he also knew that it would all just be easier for everyone in their family if he just found something else to do and pretended that he liked it.

It wasn't particularly hard. It was especially easy in the sense that there wasn't anything else that he wanted to do. It's not as though Aether is unintelligent, or that he didn't like being in school — he did, and he always earned reasonably good grades — but the he never really found anything that ignited brilliant passion in his heart, and Lumine had ambition that Aether didn't.

So he started picking up shifts at a local hair salon just to earn some extra pocket change, doing things like sweeping hair clippings and picking up lunch for the ever-busy hairdressers. Easy stuff that any kid could have done, really. It helped that he was good-looking enough to catch the eyes of customers in the store whether they liked pretty boys like him or not. The owner felt he had potential, offered to sponsor his classes if he promised to work there afterward; that turned into a real license and a good few years of experience.

Then he'd run into Barbara one day, fixed up her hair and her dress when she'd been having a bad day and spilled something all over herself, didn't ask anything in return because he just didn't want a pretty girl to look so sad — and he hadn't known at the time that she was this up-and-coming pop star, the type that was being promoted on reality TV shows but already had big contracts in the works. She'd caught fire on the charts shortly afterward, and she liked him a lot for the simple reason that she felt safe with him, and young women in the entertainment industry rarely have experiences so sweet.

Aether has his own studio now, but he sees all sorts of clients. Not all of them are as famous as Barbara. Most of them know him through word-of-mouth — because he has a social media page but isn't good at keeping up with all of the new platforms or producing content often enough that he'd go viral anywhere — and they tend to be reasonably well-to-do types who often need to be presentable at functions, but not all of them are. Aether has a reputation for cutting his prices whenever someone really needs it, mostly because he's already making more money than he ever really wanted or needed, and sometimes he just does someone's hair because he wants to listen to their story.

Kaveh's that type of client. The kind with interesting stories, and the kind that's allowed to pay for Aether's services in ways that don't necessarily involve Mora. ]

You're a little late, Kaveh.

[ In anybody else's mouth, that'd sound more like damning chastisement. But Aether only holds his hands out to take Kaveh's bag and coat, patient and nonjudgmental. He looks as effortlessly pretty as ever, a quality that is only impactful in the way that it seems as though he should be able to make you look just as beautiful. There's something very relaxing about walking into the subtly woodsy scents in his studio and knowing that you'll be in his hands for the next few hours. ]

It's okay, though. You're my only appointment today, so I'm not in any rush.

Comments

[ironwind]

[ At the chair, once Kaveh's got his barber cape on and safely tucked around his clothing, Aether removes the towel and lets all of his fine wet hair spill out over his shoulders. The weight of the water has dragged it down and flattened it out; experimentally, the stylist fluffs the blond strands a little bit, just to see how the strands are hanging. Gently, he begins sectioning layers of it out of Kaveh's face, careful to avoid getting any stray drops of water into the man's eyes. ]

Hmm... that depends.

[ His gaze is sharp as he contemplates what to do with Kaveh's hair, touching and moving it around; this does, however, lend to the impression that he is staring rather deeply into Kaveh's eyes, his attention completely and unwaveringly focused on the handsome architect in his styling chair. ]

Before I divulge my secrets... why don't you tell me what kind of "spoil" you mean?

[suitcases]

[ it's hard to sit still when he's got Aether's eyes on him, but he thinks of himself as some kind of model trying to keep his pose. it helps, at least for the moment. (he knows if he shifts, even a little, that the cut may be uneven.) ]

I don't bring you coffee with the intention of spoiling you, anyway. It's just something that's ... [ he tries not to get distracted with the touching. ] – It's just something nice I want to do for you.

[ his hair is malleable, surprisingly easy to manipulate, soft at the edges despite the color, and fine. there's just a lot of it. ]

Spoiling means you get something that you want – more of an indulgence. That makes the person spoiling you happy. Honestly, I'm not sure what I'd do to spoil you. What would be your indulgence?

[ironwind]

Mm... You make it sound so tempting.

[ Aether's soft as he makes his noncommittal reply. Kaveh's hair is all sectioned out now, so he's going in for the cut, aiming to give him a series of wolfish layers that will complement his usual styling habits very nicely. The gentle sound of the scissor snipping through his hair is pleasantly satisfying, maybe even a little tingly. Or are the tingles from Aether's breathy voice instead? ]

I feel pretty indulged when my clients are happy, though. But I think I get what you mean. [ A thoughtful hum. ] Spoiling, huh...

[ He likes taking care of his clients. Lumine used to take care of him. But it's been years now since he was the one being taken care of. Funnily enough, because of the nature of how his particular practice bloomed in popularity, he doesn't really have other friends in the cosmetology industry. He cuts his own hair, styles himself. He doesn't really get styled, doesn't really get doted on.

All of that isn't something that he'd dump on the architect without forewarning, though, so after a pause (during which the stylist gently finishes up with Kaveh's bottom layers), Aether eventually relents. ]

...I guess I've really wanted a back rub for a while. [ Experimentally, as if to suggest his sore spine, Aether rolls his shoulders and neck a little. ] I do a lot of standing on my feet repeating the same motions, you know? I've thought about going to a masseuse, but I keep putting it off.

[suitcases]

[ Kaveh's life winds him up into a little ball of stress tied so tightly that it almost seems impossible to pull him apart, but Aether manages it to it. it's like magic, and it's one of the reasons that Kaveh keeps coming back. honestly, Kaveh's not entirely good at taking care of himself, and at times is downright self-destructive when put in his own element, but he knows well enough that coming here is a relaxing experience. he can give himself that. ]

Well, I know that feeling too. There's a certain pride to take in your work when your clients are happy.

[ his are different from Aether, but there is something special after someone says I love it. ]

But if your body needs some work, I wouldn't mind sticking around to give you a shoulder rub. It's the least I can do.

[ even though Kaveh has quite a lot to do, and quite a lot he promised, he still wants to linger here for a little while before he has to face all that. besides, he'll have to pull an all nighter, anyway. ]

[ironwind]

[ Aether sighs. He'd like to flick Kaveh's nose, but that seems a little mean, and he doesn't want the poor architect to flinch too much, so he just gently taps the man's cute little nose instead. ]

Don't you have a very busy schedule today, Mr. Kaveh? Materials to negotiate for? A client that wants everything changed at the last minute?

[ Not to stress him out or anything, of course. ...And not like Aether doesn't really, really want that back rub. But his client's priorities take place over his own,so he goes on evening out little bits of Kaveh's hair, making sure the pieces around his face frame his jawline just right. ]

Like we were saying before this, though... I wouldn't say no to drinks sometime. When your life isn't crashing down around your ears.

[suitcases]

[ oh damn, Mr. Kaveh does have a very busy schedule today, doesn't he? this is really his only reprieve, and he's already milking it dry. it's just his luck, really, to make some headway on Aether while simultaneously over-promising to one of his clients.

his nose scrunches up, either because Aether's tapping it or because of his realization. ]

It'll have to be sometime while my life is crashing down upon me like a demolished building, otherwise I'll be leaving you waiting quite a while. It'll be worth it.

[ he knows just how messy his life is, and that's ... well, it's a step, he supposes. ]

So, what's your aesthetic? Cozy divebar cocktails, or five star restaurant with an impressive list of vintages?

[ironwind]

[ The part of Aether that tut-tuts over things like responsibility and duty doesn't quite approve of Kaveh's tendency to make things harder for himself at every turn — but another part of him always wants to trust that his clients have their lives well enough in hand without him, so he relents. He takes a moment to let his golden eyes linger on Kaveh's fine features, just the same way they have a thousand times before, only... with a renewed sense of appraisal, this time.

Does he really want to do this?

Should he do this?

And... was that Kaveh's imagination, or did Aether just intentionally brush his fingers along the man's jawline before taking up a new lock of hair? ]

Cozy cocktails, if I had to choose. Not that I don't enjoy five-star restaurants... but I'm not the type who would expect that on a first date.

[ Is it a date? Are they using the d-word? The thought makes the young stylist smile. Aether hasn't gotten to feel this giddy about flirting in a long time now. He thinks he might like the feeling: warm, fluttering, delicate as silk in his chest and throat. ]

I've got a favorite haunt. Angel's Share — it's not far from here. Want to play hooky with me and go for drinks after we finish your hair?

[ He makes it sound so full of delicious promise, with that soft voice of his. ]

[suitcases]

[ perhaps Kaveh is a little bit of a mess, perhaps he's being a bit ambitious in asking out his cute, grounding hairdresser out on a date. perhaps he's feeling particularly affectionate – or lonely – and it's fueled this moment of the chase. he swears that he can see interest, in the way that Aether responds, in the way that he touches him.

there's a bit of hair that tickles his cheek as Aether takes it for a trim, and Kaveh lets out a breath he didn't know that he had been holding. ]

It would get me ready for a long day.

[ was that too eager? well, it was sincere, because he knows it will. there's a lot ahead of him, and while yes, there are a lot of responsibilities, he knows his own boundaries.

most of the time. ]

I do have to show off a new cut, otherwise hiding it away while I'm taking calls would be a waste, don't you think?

[ Aether's craftsmanship should appreciated, after all. ]

[ironwind]

[ Aether laughs as he brushes loose trimmings out of Kaveh's hair, admiring the new texture of it, the way it falls like a silken brocade over his shoulders. They're almost done now; the stylist gently fluffs it up with his fingers, brushing it out. It's still wet, but Kaveh can likely see the shape of it, the style. ]

Okay, okay. When we finish up, we'll hit the town so I can show you off.

[ Ostensibly a hair appointment is usually much much longer than this, but it's fine, this is RP and we can do what we want.

Anyway, Aether goes to reach for the hair dryer, humming softly to himself. Before he switches it on, though, he does very deliberately lay one hand on the architect's shoulder, looking attentively at his reflection in the mirror. ]

...Do I still get that shoulder rub, or do you want to hold off until — [ he lowers his voice in a particular sort of way ] — tonight?

[ The suggestive nature of the comment? Surely that's just Aether being Aether. Kaveh can read into it... or not... at his leisure. ]