cuttingremark | Salon buddies for @favoriteanalyst

Salon buddies for @favoriteanalyst

It started about a few months ago. Loki needed to relax after making the mistake of spending his winter holidays with his 'family' (which ended in another spectacular fight with Odin that resulted in one broken window and a lost snow globe Loki has thrown through said broken window), but his normal esthetician was booked solid for the next year and couldn't fit him in outside of his own pre-scheduled appointments no matter how much money he offered to throw at her. Wanda was the best in the city, probably the whole country, so it made sense, but there's still the issue of Loki needing something to relieve his tension so he didn't strangle his paralegals. The thought crossed his mind of setting up a tindr profile for a quick fuck, but he isn't in law school anymore and that was just a disaster waiting to happen.

Wanda saves him from making a bad decision by texting him the information for another technician she helped train. She claims he's new, but very talented, which he figures will do in a pinch. The link she sent him takes him to a rather outdated looking webpage for the "TVA Salon and Spa", an older establishment that apparently started in the 50's as a barber shop, but recent made the jump to full salon under new management. Despite the clunky UI, he's able to schedule an appointment for a basic manicure the very next day with the young man Wanda had told him about.

Casey is a nice young man. Not anywhere as skilled as Wanda, but his nails come out looking acceptable with their basic black polish and the hand massage he gets to begin with is utterly divine. He doesn't go into detail about his family problems, but the other gets the gist that the holidays were strained and is more than willing to play the oh-so-important role of listening ear even if his platitudes do ring a little hollow.

When the appointment is over, Casey hands him a card for a free deep conditioning treatment or 30 minute shoulder massage.

"These are really just for family and friends," he explains, "but you really seem like you need something to help you relax." He thinks about declining, but decides it isn't polite and takes the card anyway before handing the young man a $400 tip.

The stern looking woman at the front desk gives him a serious look as Casey nearly passes out in the background. "I'm going to be checking those to make sure they're real."

"But of course, I would expect nothing less." His usual winning smile does nothing to lighten her glare as she rings him out. She asks if he wants to use the card to schedule something today. Why not? It's a charming establishment and he has some free time coming up.

The masseuse the card is good for, Bee, is apparently booked solid for the next month, but the stylist, Mobius, just had a cancellation in the following week that fit perfectly in his schedule.

That appointment was the beginning of the end for Loki.

So in he walks six months later, having ditched his normal high-end stylist for a middle-aged man who looks like he works in a cubicle rather than a up-and-coming salon. It isn't his normally scheduled appointment, but his cases have been crazy and Thor just left for his "journey of self-discovery" aka backpacking across Europe, so all of Odin's attention is now on his youngest.

Joy.

If Loki were the sentimental type, he'd think it a shame that the lobby area of a salon is more comfortable for him than his childhood home.

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Loki's smile and his brand of compliment alone do wonders to make him relax. Seems like this one's a winner, and that's good enough for him. Not all of it is going to scream Asgardian, nor does he want it to. But a couple little things. To broaden his cultural horizons.

There are, of course, other places to go/get dragged to, so he doesn't necessarily want to get too much all at once. They can always come back later, or he can come back on his own to get a piece or two--but he doesn't leave empty-handed.

It's a little strange that Loki's paying. Makes sense, part of the all-expense paid trip sort of scenario, even if the clothing he gets is all liable to be worn outside of the trip. But he allows it, at the first store. Allows it at the second they stop at, too. At the third, he starts to feel a bit guilty, puts away quite a nice pair of shoes because good god there is no reason for shoes to be that expensive, even dress shoes. Loki ends up buying them anyway for him.

At the fourth store, it's all starting to feel a little unnecessary, and he starts to pull his wallet out, over Loki's protestations. At least let him cut Loki a check when this is all said and done. To cover at least some of it. They can work out the details later. It's...just too much to be simply a gift.

He also insists on carrying the bags. They're his clothes; he'll do the carrying. Loki can tend to them while he's trying things on and that's it.

"If," he starts delicately, on the way to whatever is next (a bespoke suit?), "I was interested in you paying for everything I want, in a..." Sexual way? Hrng maybe not going to say that out loud. "In that way. Is that something you'd actually enjoy?"

When Mobius starts to talk about checks and payment, Loki knows he's done it again. It's something Sylvie had warned him about when they first became friends. He had showered her with gifts until she threatened to stab him if he bought her one more fucking thing. After she'd calmed down she explained why it made her uncomfortable and they agreed he was only allowed to do it on holidays and her birthday. (Of course he stretched holidays out to mean any federally recognized holiday, but over the last few years it had become more of a gag than anything.)

The last stop is indeed the suit store. He knows Mobius said he has one, but while their out, it couldn't hurt? Or maybe it could. Maybe he's fucking this up right at the beginning. Classic Loki.

He's grateful that Mobius brought this up here, at the car, rather than out on the street. Mobius didn't get a lot of stuff (by Loki's standards, at least), but they were passing the garage on the way to the suit store, so stopping to drop of the bags only made sense. He closes the trunk and sighs, rubbing the back of his neck as he tries to think of an appropriate response.

"I haven't...It isn't a type of relationship I would naturally seek out." Loki tries to follow the way Mobius carefully skated around mentioning any sort of intimate interaction. "I have the means, and I enjoy giving gifts to my friends, so if my partner was so inclined, I wouldn't...it wouldn't be a turn off. If that is something you would want, I would be willing to give it a try."

"No." But then, that sounds a little quick and harsh in his own ear, and he takes a breath. "I mean...is that all this is? Giving gifts? The clothes and this day out and then the...whole trip. That's a lot more than just a gift, Loki. I'm not a charity case. You don't see me like that, do you?"

"No!" Like Mobius, the word comes out of his mouth a bit too fast, a bit too much behind it. "I don't, I promise, I just...got a little caught up in the moment." His hands start to fidget, one going to pick at the palm of the other. He thinks of all the bags in his trunk and suddenly flushes with shame.

"Do you...should we take some of it back? Or maybe you can pay for dinner?" Or maybe he just wants to go home. Loki would be disappointed, but he would understand.

It seems more than just a little caught up, but then, Mobius has never grown up with and lived with that kind of money to slap down on a whim. Maybe this is normal for Loki. Maybe he's making too big a deal of it? "No...no, not if you mean it genuinely. It just seems like...a lot. I guess I don't really know what you want in return."

"I don't want anything." Loki knows it's hard to believe, past experiences had taught him much the same thing-- everyone wants something. Does he want Mobius to stay around? Yes, of course. Was he maybe spending money to facilitate that? Possibly. Would he hold it against the man if he left anyways? Absolutely not.

"If you were to leave now and say you never wanted to see me again...well, I'd be sad," an understatement, "but I wouldn't think any of this a waste. Time or money. Nor would I demand any sort of repayment for either."

"No, I don't want to leave." His brows furrow. "And of course I want to see you again. I just...have to get used to this being normal, for you. It's a little strange." More than a little. But if there's no harm meant, and it isn't a weird kink, and he doesn't expect anything in return, then...okay. Weird. But okay?

"I'm still going to write you a check. For something. I feel like I can't just accept all of this without a little compensation."

It's weird how Mobius saying he doesn't want to leave makes his mood lighten almost instantly.

"If it would make you feel better, cut me a check for however much you want." He doesn't know what he'll do with the money. Maybe donate it? "Do you...still want to go to the suit store? Or we can skip it and have an early dinner."

"We can still do the suit. We're this far already, might as well get something I know 100% I'm going to use when we go on the trip." It does...feel better to have spoken even briefly about it. It's still an odd feeling to wrestle with, but being sure that it's Loki being loose with his money and not a Weird Sex Thing is better.

"I got a feeling you really want to see me fitted, and you're definitely paying for the privilege."

Loki chuckles, turning to check the lock on his trunk to hide the bit of color that comes to his cheeks.

"Well let's head off then. We have an appointment in 30 minutes and the walk will take about 15." He offers Mobius his arm. If they're going to do this, might as well do this right.

One of the things he likes about Loki is that he seems so genuine. He seems to mean everything he does and says. Knows himself and is true to it through and through, even if the results are not always particularly popular. He offers his arm to an older lower class gentleman like it's the most natural thing in the world, and Mobius believes that it is for him.

It's damnably endearing, and he threads his arms in Loki's.

'Genuine' is not a word Loki has ever heard describe him, but then again it's easier to call someone a liar than admit they're speaking a truth you don't want to hear.

That and he's really good at lying.

Still, the offer is sincere, as is Loki's smile and the conversation they make on their way to a small fitting store several blocks away. It may have been faster to drive, but Loki isn't confident in finding parking this time of day and he finds he doesn't want to end the day any faster than necessary.

The front of the suit store is small, having only a few tailors who do the fittings and alterations of partially finished pre-made suits sent to them by a host of designers. The tailor who meets them discusses the specifics they're looking for- fit, occation, color, material. Loki lets Mobius take the lead, seeing as it is his suit, but jumps in if the older man looks to him for an opinion. He makes sure to let the tailor know that the even is a black-tie political affair, but that the suit should be something Mobius could reuse for less formal occasions, so nothing as stuffy as a full tux with tails.

The tailor gets him in a shell and brings Mobius out in front of the mirror to do the proper fitting. Even with the suit turned inside out and pinned, he can already see how the shape accentuates Mobius's strong shoulders and thighs and has to try very hard to not stare.

"Which side do you dress to?" The tailor asks as he begins working on the pants. Loki suddenly becomes very interested in the book of lining fabrics he had been idly flipping through.

It's all a little overwhelming, not gonna lie!

The basics, that's fine. He knows colors he likes, ideas for type of fit to look for. He hasn't really bothered with material, used to off the rack types and not...the kind of prices that he'd caught glimpses of on entering the store. Jesus. He guesses a bespoke suit is going to be worth a pretty penny, but hitting four digits seems unnecessary.

Still. A sleek dark blue, single button. It's the fit that makes it bespoke, and standing around with a scrappy inside-out outfit with pins everywhere is...really weird. The tailor asks the question, and Mobius blinks, taking a few moments to really parse the question. Oh. It's...look, it's a fair question, he supposes, just not one he gets asked. He does not look at Loki. This is normal. This is a normal question and not invasive and no one needs to think about dicks any more than they have to. He indicates a side and mildly clears his throat and they can all move on.

He wants to make a joke about not getting pins where they shouldn't go, but that might be insulting to a professional?

"It's hard to picture the finished product," he says instead, more to Loki or really just...out loud. He feels like a ragged pincushion.

Loki quietly files the information away for later, more private use.

"Have you ever had a fitted suit before?" Obviously he knows the kind of work this establishment does, but even if this were his first time here he's had enough suits fitted to see the shapes the tailor is getting as he pins.

"Really curious what kind of swanky black-tie parties you think I've gone to before."

So, no, to answer the question. He can see where they're getting at, sure, but it's a long way from a finished product.

"I just go in the store and pick up my size off the rack. Give it a try on to make sure it looks good and fits okay."

"I don't know, perhaps you were a groomsman at some point?" Probably not a groom, though maybe. Loki's realizing he doesn't really know a lot about Mobius' life. They'd have to fix that over dinner.

The tailor gives Mobius a friendly pat on the leg and let him know that as soon as he saw how a suit is really suppose to look, he'd never be able to go back.

The appointment wraps up not long after that with Mobius picking out the lining fabric from the assortment offered by that particular designer. There were options from simple solids to humorous and niche prints. Loki didn't offer any commentary, just noted what Mobius picked in case it became relevant later.

"Ready for dinner?"

He winces a little. "Rental tux." For being a groomsman.

Not a groom. But then. Loki didn't say groom.

Also, listen, some of the funny prints are definitely noted for later. Not going to happen for this, because...out of some kind of fear of disrespect for Loki's parents? Misplaced, especially since it's just lining, but... (Maybe for another suit.) (Will he ever need another suit after this??) (Would Loki pay for that, too?)

"I didn't think shopping would work up an appetite, but I am absolutely ready to sit down and eat my weight in something and ruin all the measurements that guy just took."

"To be fair, we have done a great deal of walking today." It's been a while since Loki has been out his much. It feels nice to not spend his weekend cooped up in his condo waiting until it becomes a reasonable out to head out without it seeming sad.

Even more so with the company.

"I didn't make any reservations. Is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go?" He'd driven so much of their schedule that day, he thought it would be nice to let Mobius pick where they eat.

"Depends. Are you gonna pay for this, too?" It's...a half-joke. He's pretty sure Loki would, and that would be fine at this point. "Because we could go to a fancy steakhouse, and I'll clear out your checking account or max out your credit card." Also a joke! He wouldn't deliberately choose somewhere fancy just to take advantage.

But also if Loki wanted to. Would he turn that down?

"I can if you want me too. Wouldn't want you to feel like a charity case." Loki grins, trying to make light of their earlier conversation.

"Sadly all the best steak houses have reservations at least a month out. If you want steak we're going to have to settle for something with fewer Michelin stars than you were hoping for."

It's fine to make light. It's fine that all of this is happening, in fact. It's fine to--he reaches, casually enough, to take Loki's hand in his as they walk. It isn't so far from linking his arm in Loki's, right? "I can promise I am just as fine with burgers as with steak. Or Chinese. Or sushi? Or Italian. Let's do Italian, there's gotta be casual Italian around here."

See? Casual.

Maybe it's the fact that Mobius initiated the contact this time, but the way he gently takes Loki's hand feels so much more intimate than when Loki had offered him his arm earlier. Intimate in a good way, of course, as Loki adjusts their grip to thread his fingers between Mobius'.

"Italian sounds lovely. There isn't much in the way of food in this district, but I know a little place I think you'll love."

And so they make their way back to the garage with only their growling stomachs to keep them on something of a schedule.

It feels good. If it's a date, they might as well lean into it. If Loki's really sure about spending all this money on someone he only thinks he's going to like in the longer run.

He kind of wants to press his luck. Looks at Loki in profile, soft, and...then doesn't. The doubts are clawing at the corners, and he's trying to hold them at bay.

"Thank you," said gently, sincerely. "For all of this. I don't know what you think you see in me besides a decent haircut, but I'll take it."

"You sell yourself short. You're funny, kind, intelligent, an amazing conversationalist..." Is he laying it on too thick? Oh well, no going back now. "Do you remember the first few times I came in? I told you about myself, where I was from, that my father is a politician."

"The first time I mentioned Thor, maybe on my third or fourth appointment, you asked 'Who's that?'." He gives Mobius' hand a squeeze. "I was surprised because I had assumed you would have googled me at some point, learned about all the scandals of my youth, about my golden brother who could do no wrong. Everyone else I'd ever met had, and either you have the best poker face in the world or...you didn't."

It's kind of a lot. Not overwhelming, though. "No, I wasn't gonna rush home to my computer and look you up. Like a research project. Maybe find your facebook, but no, I don't just look up my customers. And I still haven't even now. I'd prefer to learn about you and your family through you." He shakes his head. "If you wanna tell me about the scandals of your youth, I'm not stopping you."

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