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 The link she sent him takes him to a rather outdated looking webpage for the "TVA Salon and Spa", an older establishment that apparently started in the 50's as a barber shop, but recent made the jump to full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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"I suppose so, but what if I want to bring my hair dresser?" He does his best not to pout, feeling weird about how disappointed he is that Mobius doesn't want to go with him.

"You're a wonderful conversationalist, you already know the issues with my family, so that wouldn't be a surprise. I enjoy spending time with you." What was that? Weird!

"Just, think about it? You don't have to commit to anything in this exact moment."

He's going to pretend he doesn't hear all of that over the sound of (literal) hot air blowing. Because he doesn't really know how to respond to that. Enjoy spending time with him? Is that why comes so frequently? Is it really just--does this guy really think--is he--

Or maybe it's pity? Or really wants someone to be a sugarbaby and for some reason 'older fella working with hair' strikes him as pathetic enough to be into that? Or maybe it really is just a good amount of teasing, and it's going to come bite him in the ass the second he relents.

No, don't think that way. Loki's a nice guy. Friendly. But if it's not that...

"I'll think about it. You got a business card on you so I can let you know?"

If it's hard for Mobius to hear, it's impossible for Loki under the hairdryer. Luckily he has some skill in reading lips and is able to get the general idea. Under the cape, he digs a business card out from his wallet. It's a sleek black card with gold lettering for all of Loki's professional contact information, but that will only work if Mobius wants to reach him during working hours. What if he wants to call after hours? Or text?

"Hand me a pen?" Once provided, Loki jots down is personal number on the white back of the card before holding it out to Mobius. "Call or text any time."

It feels a little surreal. Yeah, a card is one thing, but then he adds what must be his cell number, and that's another level, right? On the other hand, no reason he should have to go through official channels for something like this, right? He nods his thanks and tucks it away.

If he lets Loki sit there drying like a dog at the groomers for a little bit longer than is perhaps strictly necessary, well, that's just coincidence. And not needing to take five real quick and deal with this internally.

But return he does to make sure it's good enough to work with and not still sopping and leads Loki back to the usual chair. Has it been dealt with internally? Haha, no, not really. He mostly doesn't think he'll bring it up, move along to another topic, but--

"You wouldn't prank an old man, would you?" While getting a comb through that no-longer-mop.

Loki relaxes in the chair, as usual, but his mind is going a thousand miles an hour. Was giving him his personal number a bad move? He was under the dryer for slightly longer than usual. Wait, was he? Or did it just seem like it?

"No!" He wants to keep at least a little bit of his trademark snark in his voice, but it comes out much more earnest than intended. "You've been nothing but kind to me, I would never do something like that to you."

Shit. Not cool enough. Gotta save it! "Also, you aren't that old."

Nailed it.

His hands pause at the earnestness of Loki's reaction. And the...everything else. "Well, that's kind of you. This grey sure isn't dye, though, in case you thought I was making a fashion statement." Meh, age is relative, he knows. Still.

"Just...I'm sure you've got friends who could use a break. Rather than invite someone you barely know to come hang out at home as a buffer between you and your family."

"You wear it well." He's not trying to flirt, really. Just saying something that is obvious. Loki has eyes, Mobius is an attractive man.

"I suppose I'll ask around." He frowns slightly, trying to think of someone who knew about his family and also was tolerable to be around. Sylvie maybe? No, she's more likely to attack Odin when he inevitably says something annoying. Korg? Hiking with Thor. Val, same problem as Sylvie. Bruce?

Shit, he can't do that to Bruce, the man would combust.

Shit, does he really not have friends? Is that why he's insisting on this? "I promise I'll think about it. I wouldn't want to intrude, or be in the way." Just in case Loki wants someone to be in the way. He runs his fingers back through dark hair several times, the way he knows Loki likes.

"Maybe tell me more about what to expect? A grand gala full of press and whispered drama, or a hotel buffet of barely polite conversation and a big fake check to show off?"

"More the second." An easy smile slips onto his face now that they're well away from the topic of his miniscule friend group. "There will be a couple local reporters, an open bar, and waiters walking around with platters of tiny foods."

A shiver runs down his spine as Mobius combs his fingers through his hair. God, he wishes he was able to just pay to have the stylist do that for hours, but that would probably be weird.

"It's my job to go around and play nice with potential donors. Other than a few photos, Odin generally leaves me alone, so you wouldn't have to worry about family drama. Mostly they're just dreadfully boring."

"Well gosh," he drawls, "you make it sound like so much fun." He's poking fun. Loki doesn't even want to be there; probably they would find their own fun around town for the most part with the actual event being a small part of the equation. "I don't mind being fed and liquored up if it keeps me from having to try and explain to people that English is my one and only language."

He makes a face in the mirror for a moment.

"Unless you count a couple years of mostly-forgotten Spanish."

"I would translate for you, should the need arise." Loki gives him a friendly smirk in the mirror. "Would you like to learn a few words?"

"Can't promise I'll retain them, but if you like lost causes, by all means." He starts in on the trim proper, though it's really not needed. Even out a couple ends, mostly. "I'd also have to dust off my suit. Couldn't tell you the last time I've been to a fancy function."

"If you need any fitting done to it, let me know. I have a tailor down on 5th who works wonders."

Loki tries not to get his hopes up, but the more they talk about it, the more it sounds like Mobius is warming up to the idea of joining him on the trip.

"Okay, first word is easy. Hello is Hallo."

"You really don't have to spend money on me. More than usual, I mean." He'll look fine. He'll look fine! Probably. It'll be fine. Hell, if he needed to he could probably get a whole new suit from the tip Loki's bound to give.

"Okay. Hallo, easy enough, normal word, just accented. Maybe I'll get a dictionary, or get on one of those websites that promise to teach you languages."

"A few alterations are hardly going to break my wallet. If I'm whisking you away to a foreign land, the least I can do is help you get your suit taken in." He wants to offer to buy him a whole new suit, but has a feeling that would be going too far.

"I think I still have my Norwegian to English dictionary somewhere. I'll have to dig it out. Now, another word...ah! Thank you is spis dritt."

"It won't break my bank, either." It just won't be as fancy and high end. He can take it to the guy at the dry cleaners. They do alterations. If it needs altered. It might not even need altered! It's a perfectly fine suit.

Thinking too hard. Okay, he's thinking a little too hard about this. "Okay, yeah, let's get all the polite words out of the way first before we get to 'please get me a rum and coke no ice'. I'd end that with spis dritt."

Loki has a very good poker face, but hearing the mild-mannered hair dresser say 'eat shit' is even funnier than he anticipated. He isnt' quite able to stop the snort the comes out.

"Okay, okay, don't say that. Thank you is actually Takk skal."

"Loki." It might be a warning tone, but it's a playful one. Probably! "You can be honest about whatever the hell I just said later, always have to get to the impolite things too, but let's focus on the polite things first. Are you sure that's 'thank you' this time?"

"Yes, yes, I promise it really is 'thank you'." Loki's grin is wide. It isn't often he gets to exercise his more mischievous side these days with his oh so important and serious adult job.

"Jeg beklager."

"Some might say it's not wise to tease someone with scissors and sharp objects that you're at the mercy of. You're lucky I'm a professional and would like to still keep a job." You know, just pointing that out, no big deal. Still, what a smile. Charming. Delightful. Mobius can't keep himself from at least smirking in an attempt not to break into a smile himself. "So. Takk skal, and am I going to have any regrets saying jeg beklager?"

"No, jeg beklager is said after you've done something to regret. Means 'I'm sorry'." Loki closes his eyes, enjoying the tiny tingles across his scalp as Mobius trims.

"But really, if you don't want to go, there is no pressure." Normally Loki had no problem using coercion to get what he wants, even if it isn't what's best for the other party. With this, though, he is suddenly worried about pushing the other man into something he doesn't want to do.

"It's just kind of a lot to spring on someone out of the blue. It's a big deal. But I promise I'll think about it, okay?" It's a lot to spring and a lot to think about. And not something he's going to make a decision about right here right now.

"Think your brother planned his little sojourn deliberately to throw you under the bus?"

If Mobius had asked Loki that a year ago, he would have answered with an emphatic yes. Thor and Loki's relationship wasn't at it's highest point, but the brothers had made time to talk about the unpleasantness around their family. About Loki's feelings regarding Odin and his apparent adoption.

"No." Loki gives a dismissive wave. "If Thor postponed for every one of these events, he never would have been able to go on his trip. Odin always has something else coming up, even after he's in office."

"Good, then he'll pull his fair share of the weight another time. Wouldn't mind meeting him after what I've heard, but still wouldn't hold a candle to you." A big truly Nordic looking lumberjack type man with the heart of a golden retriever? Yeah, he sounds like a blast. But Loki's better by default. Mobius doesn't make the rules.

"We're about done here, unless you suddenly want it all cut short for some reason, which would be a real shame."

Despite the warm feeling it gives Loki hearing Mobius proclaim that Loki would always come first in his eyes, he doesn't really believe it. He may think that now, but when he meets Thor, it will be like everyone else. Loki is...well, not okay with it, but resigned. It's been his whole life, and as long as Mobius wants to remain friends with him after, then it's okay, right?

"No, you aren't the only one who prefers it long." It's uncommon in his profession but something he can't quite shake from his upbringing in Asgard. He'd cut it short once while in law school and felt like shit the whole time until it was long enough to pull back again.

He regards himself in the mirror, smiling at the excellent (if minimal) work. "Superb work, as always."

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