Salon buddies for @favoriteanalyst

[cuttingremark]

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 The link she sent him takes him to a rather outdated looking webpage for the "TVA Salon and Spa", an older establishment that apparently started in the 50's as a barber shop, but recent made the jump to full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.

Comments

[cuttingremark]

"There are some who would tell you that trusting me is a risky gamble." Not one Loki's willing to toy with today. He orders a traditional sausage dish for Mobius and fried herring for himself, making sure to tell Mobius what he ordered once the waitress leaves.

"What sort of food did you grow up with?" He knows he's from a some small town in America, but he also knows America is a large country with many different regional cultures. "Wait, where did you grow up, exactly?"

[favoriteanalyst]

"Nowhere you've ever heard, that's for sure. South of the Mason-Dixon, doesn't really matter where." A little shrug. He could be more specific, but with no plans of ever going back, he doesn't see much point. "Nothing exciting. Definitely nothing like this anyway."

[cuttingremark]

"...should I Google what the 'Mason-Dixon' is, or can you tell me?" Loki's been in America for a while, but he doesn't know as much as someone forced to learn American history as a child.

[favoriteanalyst]

"Oh--heh, um, south of Pennsylvania? Traditionally kind of the border after the Civil War that demarcates the north and the south. And yes, it's silly that everything from Maryland down is 'south', that's just--" He waves a hand. "That's all I mean by that."

[cuttingremark]

"So somewhere more culturally south. Understood." He did have a few classmates who explained at least that much to him. "I take it also a bit more conservative?"

[favoriteanalyst]

"And a lot poorer. You wanna know what foods I grew up with: pizza at the local parlor when I rode there on my bike with the guys. Pasta I could make myself. Soup. Didn't really get a lot of regional fare except when we could go out to eat. Don't get me wrong, we weren't destitute, weren't going hungry, but it wasn't elaborate home-cooked meals every night with the freshest ingredients."

[cuttingremark]

"Moving to New York must have been a big jump for you." A big risk, Loki thinks. Life in the city isn't cheap, even for someone who doesn't have expensive tastes like him.

[favoriteanalyst]

"It wasn't the first place I went, but yeah, finding a cheap enough place on not a whole lot isn't great. Honestly, I was lucky I fell into what I did. Like I said...I'm proud of doing what I've done. Ever since I left home, yeah, I've had help, but I pretty much built myself up, bought and paid for and worked toward on my own."

He stops, giving a sheepish smile, a rub to the back of his head. "I don't mean to get intense about it. I do have some fond memories of home, just...not all that many."

[cuttingremark]

"That I can relate to." Obviously they grew up in very different circumstances, but Loki knows something about complicate feelings about one's home and family.

"You've every reason to be proud. It's no small task, getting established on your own."

[favoriteanalyst]

"It's no small task for you, either. Getting away from your family that wasn't doing you any good. Choosing to do something yourself. Even if you had to go to rehab and get clean to realize it."

[cuttingremark]

Loki hums in response. "Perhaps we should write a book," He says jokingly.

The waitress reappears not long after with their food.

"Enjoy your meal!" She says with a very thick accent.

[favoriteanalyst]

Speaking of thick accents: "Takk skal du ha." It's an attempt! An attempt was made! The waitress at least seems to appreciate the effort with a little giggle and a big grin and what he's pretty sure is 'you're welcome' but isn't entirely sure.

He hums as she leaves. "A book about the dangers of growing up with shitty families? I think there's a ton out there already."

[cuttingremark]

Loki gives Mobius a nod to let him know in his own way that he sounded just fine (for a foreigner who'd only started learning a month ago.)

"You are right. Well, guess I'm back to a sex memoir."

[favoriteanalyst]

"You should. All the wild antics you got up to? All the stuff you've tried? You could make Hugh Hefner blush."

It's on the tip of his tongue, something about if maybe there will end up being a section about Mobius in there. With some time. But he doesn't say it.

[cuttingremark]

Loki chuckles. "Perhaps if I grow bored of law. It can be the next big hit amongst neglected housewives."

[favoriteanalyst]

"I dunno, you've had scandals aplenty. I think more than just housewives would be interested. Could do some writing while you're still practicing." A shrug. "I don't know if you write."

[cuttingremark]

"I hadn't really considered it until now. If I were to write something like it, would you read it?"

[favoriteanalyst]

"I think I'll probably hear about it from you. But yeah, of course I'd read it. Presumably I'll get a free copy from you. Maybe you can make a hobby out of quietly horrifying me with your stories." Hmmm. "Or quietly arousing me." Either/or. Both?

[cuttingremark]

"Hm, hopefully not to quiet." Loki gives him a playful wink.

[favoriteanalyst]

He smirks more at his food than Loki, trying not to let the excitement get to him. "You'll just have to wait and see about that. But this probably isn't a great place to talk about that."

Unless it is because no one here speaks much English, but frankly that's a poor assumption to make.

[cuttingremark]

Loki smirks at the reaction. Good to know that even after discussing some heavier topics he can still get a good reaction with flirting. Alas, time to change the subject.

"Here, try a bite," he says, pushing his plate with fried fish towards Mobius.

[favoriteanalyst]

And so dinner goes. The food is gorgeous, and the drinks are a delight. The company is the best part. They chat, more about softer topics. It's been a strangely heavy day. They flirt, because of course they do. They split a chocolatey dessert. They do not stay until close this time, and jet lag and adjusting to the time differential is still a thing.

They take their time on the way back, hand in hand. It feels good. The chill of encroaching evening is in the air, but not too cold yet. Mobius feels free to take in some of the sights, even if they aren't going far. A city is still a city no matter where you go, but each one has its eccentricities, cultural flavors, views from just the right street corner.

Loki's still the best view, he thinks.

They hold on until they reach their hotel rooms. And hold a little more.

"Well. This is my stop." To the door just before Loki's. The nerves are creeping back in. They've talked, sure. And they're both interested. And they're both sexual beings. Why does it feel weird to dive right into this, knowing even that it's okay? Mobius laughs at himself, covering his face with his free hand. "I feel about thirty years younger in a bunch of wrong ways here." And a couple of the right ways.

[cuttingremark]

Loki doesn't steer them out of the way to see anything in particular, more he decides to take the long way back to the hotel so Mobius can see more of the city. They go through the old town square, Loki points out a few buildings with interesting stories (both historical and personal), eventually ending up back at their accommodations.

It doesn't escape his notice that even though Mobius seems flustered, he doesn't move to drop his hand. Loki takes this as a good sign and gently moves the one in front of Mobius' face out of the way so he can see those beautiful blue eyes better.

"Would you join me for a night cap? Perhaps we could...have that talk you mentioned earlier."

[favoriteanalyst]

Loki's so gentle with him in so many ways. And it never feels coddling. Mobius grins through the nerves, smile lopsided. "Maybe we can even do more than just talk. I'd love to join you, yes."

[cuttingremark]

There's nothing particularly sexy about the way Mobius speaks, yet in the moment Loki doesn't think anyone's ever uttered such an arousing phrase. Ever. In the history of ever.

Okay, gotta calm down. They need to talk first, then sex. Loki wants to do this right, feelings and all, which means no slamming Mobius against the wall as soon as the door to his hotel room closes behind them. He deserves a god damn medal for his self restraint.

The bed is too tempting, so Loki leads them to the love seat, sitting down first to allow Mobius to arrange himself as he sees fit.

"I'm clean, for the record. Brought condoms if you want to be careful, though." Might as well get that bit out of the way first.