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 The link she sent him takes him to a rather outdated looking webpage for the "TVA Salon and Spa", an older establishment that apparently started in the 50's as a barber shop, but recent made the jump to full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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Loki chuckles before taking a sip of wine. "Thor isn't going to hate you. He's gotten in plenty of fights with Odin, he knows how he can be." If anything Thor would likely be happy Loki found someone willing to defend him from their father's cutting words.

"He's going to love you."

"It'll be a fun conversation when he comes back to civilization. You've got a boyfriend now, and one who gave dad the shock of his life. Surprise!"

"Odin ending up covered in wine is probably the thing that will surprise him least about the whole thing."

"And he hasn't bothered to just...leave, like you? I suppose if he was never treated the same as you, but still, if he knows what a disaster his dad is..." But, at some point he's sure he'll meet the fabled brother.

"I think we should get some dessert to go and enjoy some luxury back in our rooms, yeah?" Something something feed each other sensually, mayhaps.

"Odin's always let Thor do more of his own thing. He only realized a few years ago that the old man has any flaws."

Loki smirks and raises an eyebrow. "Perhaps something with a lot of whip cream? Strawberries?"

"Well, I wasn't thinking quite along those lines, but if it floats your boat... You into food in bed?"

"'Into it' seems a bit strong. I enjoy it on occasion and am not turned off by the idea."

"Then let's keep the food out of bed for now and just have a nice time feeding each other and sharing food away from prying eyes. Besides...the food's not dessert. You are."

Loki winks at him as he waves the waiter over for a to go order and the check. It doesn't take long for the boxed up slices of cake to arrive along with Loki's card. A nice tip is left for their waiter (who on multiple occasions stood purposefully to block others view of the couple. Loki made a mental note to put in a good word for them with Volstag later.)

No sooner had they stepped out of the restaurant than they were blinded by the flash of a camera. Before either could recover from the surprise, a reporter holding up a recorder starts babbling questions at them in heavily accented English.

"Loki! Who is your mystery man? What happened last night with Odin? Have you been disowned? Are you beginning your own campaign against him?"

Loki just rolls his eyes and ignores them, looking down at Mobius.

"You still okay with what we talked about earlier?" There's a big difference talking about kissing for the camera and actually doing it when the lens is right there.

It's...a lot. Alarming and a little overwhelming. But they talked about it, and while he's never been on camera before, he tries to take a page from Loki's book and just ignore it, to focus on him.

"Yeah. Very okay." And that's the only warning given before Mobius slides a hand up along Loki's face, fingers along the back of his head to guide him down into a very thorough kiss.

And despite the nerves, his eyes are dancing with gleeful mischief when they part, a chuckle on his lips.

Can't resist saying something on record, though. He keeps a hand touching Loki the entire time when he turns back to the reporter. "His mystery man is his boyfriend who had a disagreement with Odin. Fuck off."

Loki barely notices the camera flashes a few times as they kiss. His stomach does a flip when Mobius speaks to the reporters and he can't stop the dopey grin on his face as they walk away. Luckily Volstagg comes out of the restaurant at that moment, getting between the paparazzi and the couple, preventing them from being followed.

"They're going to get so much money for those pictures."

"I want a cut." He's a little floaty and giddy and breathless from the rush now that there's distance, and he dares a moment to glance back. "That was more exciting and nerve-racking than I expected. Now everyone'll know we're boyfriend. That's okay, right?"

Loki giggles, pretty sure that isn't how paparazzi work.

"It's more than alright. I realize this is going a little fast, but...I like you. And I enjoy your company a great deal."

"Well. Good. I'd hope so. They're still gonna have to reverse image search me to figure out my name. And then, soon enough, it won't matter anymore. But you've got a mystery man boyfriend willing to start shit. It's intrigue."

"My favorite kind of intrigue. The type I know all the answers to." They get back to the hotel without further issue, Loki giving Mobius a sweet kiss as the elevator doors close.

He certainly hopes that they won't wake up tomorrow to find the hotel surrounded by curious locals about the mystery man. For now, he'll relax and indulge in his boyfriend and their dessert. When they're in their room (Loki's room, their room, same thing at this point) he sets up by a little table by the window. It feels better than pretending not to notice the stares and the quickly turned heads, here.

"I really have had a good time here, all things considered. It's been a crazy month, and I can't believe we're doing this." It might all fall apart. It might not last. It might only be a passing fling after all--but he hopes not. "I can't believe you look at me and see anything at all."

Loki casually rubs his foot against Mobius' leg. It isn't an overtly sensual motion, more founded in his need for contact than anything.

"And I can't believe I've told you all this bullshit about my past and family and you haven't gone running for the hills."

"Please," he says with a scoff and a mild roll of the eyes, "my dad was a cop in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. A less than strictly tolerable parent who just happens to be in the public eye isn't enough to get me to blink. But it's apparently enough to get me to almost throw hands, so."

"And that fire is one of the many things I find so attractive about you." He scoops up a bit of chocolate cake on his fork and holds it out for Mobius to take a bite. "That and your rugged good looks and amazing dick."

His lips are just wrapped around the fork for that last bit, so he's struggling not to laugh while doing so. Doesn't quite work out, but nothing goes anywhere, so, success. "If only old partners of mine had been so gung ho about my dick; maybe I would've gone into something like porn when I was still finding my footing."

Loki snickers at the reaction. "You know that was my backup plan if Odin ever cut me off."

"What, get into porn?" He wiggles his own fork around in thought for a moment before cutting off a piece of strawberry cheesecake to offer up. "Now that I can see. You're a bit... I don't wanna say desperate. Overeager?"

Loki chuckles before leaning forward to take the bite, eyes closing to savor the flavor.

"I may have a high sex drive. It's been a bit higher the past few weeks. Can't imagine why." He winks.

"Am I your type?" An honest and interested question. "Older gentlemen do it for you?" something something daddy issues something

"Occasionally, yes." He cocks his head, considering Mobius carefully. "It's not just that, though. It helps, don't get me wrong. But I think I would have been attracted to you even if you were a younger man."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject