[ i'm gonna be honest nobody's seen his hair without the beanie so it's truly a mystery. he frowns in thought, kind of rolling his eyes upward as if to look at his own hair. ]
It's not...really that. It's just been a while. [ for whatever reason, the emotional feedback is a little weird. like uncertain. a little bit of a dip into something more exhausted himself. maybe sad? vaguely curious. ]
...but sure. Couldn't hurt, I guess. [ he's not entirely sure what "it" entails, but kaveh knows what he's doing and he figures he could just say no later. also he figures it's a good distraction for everyone involved. ]
[Ah, well. If there's anyone who's going to graciously let awkward comments and feelings pass, it's Kaveh; he just nods and gestures for Jonas to come inside.]
Well, this one is free, and if we're going to be stuck in this horrible place, we deserve to take advantage of whatever amenities we can. [If they're going to have their brains fucked with every week then they deserve to be SPOILED!!!] I've always felt that a well-maintained appearance is a crucial part of success, but I won't slather you in paints and lotions against your will, of course. That being said, it does feel nice to have someone else work on your hair and your hands, even if you don't change anything about how they look. It's a bit like a massage.
[Which they also offer here but he doesn't think Jonas is really the type to go for that.]
[ thanks kaveh. he slinks further into the salon like an uncertain cat, still glancing around and taking inventory with his eyes. ]
I won't disagree with that. [ truthfully. this may not be his scene but he can appreciate the compensation for having to deal with the fuckery of every week. he listens to this...and he hums under his breath like he's thinking of what to say. ]
...I'm gonna be honest with you. I kind of gave up on appearances a while ago so that's part of it. [ as an explanation of sorts. ] I'm willing to try whatever you think might be best because I can always undo it if I hate it but I don't even know where I would start with most of this.
[Kaveh just nods, his expression patient and nonjudgmental.]
I understand. [He's been there. Or rather--he's been in a place where he understands why someone else would be there; he just couldn't ever afford to give this particular aspect up, for the sake of obtaining and maintaining his clients. He doesn't say that, of course--but he doesn't pry into Jonas's background, either. Common courtesy.]
Let's start simple, then. We'll get you a wash and a trim, and then maybe a manicure, if you're comfortable letting them do it. [THE SHADOW EMPLOYEES PRESUMABLY since Kaveh considers himself highly capable at a lot of things but he's like. Not a nail tech. The best he could do is file them and maybe put some protective lacquer on.] Maybe some neutral colors, if you're feeling adventurous. To be honest, I don't usually paint mine either, but there isn't much to do with my hands here.
[It's not like he's building anything or tinkering with any machines, so. Why not.]
[ very appreciative of kaveh just letting this roll. and it's not like he doesn't at least sort of have a sense of why kaveh appears the way he does. art is art, and when you're in a business like that you have to sell yourself. versus jonas who is just...sort of coasting by now.
prying isn't important for either of them. but he nods along with that. ]
The manicure's debatable, but simple's good. [ and a trim is probably also good because judging by the hair sticking out from under the beanie as-is, it's been a while. it's also questionable how much he'll let anyone actually cut but one step at a time. he is glancing at kaveh's nails though and sort of is just like "hm" about it. ]
It suits you. But I guess I can see your point. We're all kind of in a weird place where we're not going a lot of what we're used to anymore. So...why not? Take opportunities and all that.
[THE WAY I WROTE THE REPLY TO THIS TAG IN MY BRAIN AND THEN REALIZED I NEVER ACTUALLY SENT IT, HELP.
But that's valid, and he nods.]
Then let's start with your hair, and we'll see how you're feeling after that. [If he decides that's enough, or if he decides to try out a little color. Kaveh is here to facilitate!!] Do you want them to do it, or me?
[He can understand why you might not want shadow people touching you, even if they're harmless... still weird...]
[ i would also leave this thread forever, i Understand. but okay, no, jonas is just deciding this all makes sense and he's glancing at the shadow people a little nervously for some reason. enough that kaveh may get a very faint sense of something like paranoia. ]
...if you have other stuff to do, I don't want to hold you up. I can figure it out with them. [ even with not being super okay with shadow figures sometimes, he's more concerned about not dragging other people down and keeping them from doing stuff they want to do, or forcing them to do things they weren't planning. ]
[What even is Oxenfree... I will never know because I will die before memshare...
Kaveh can't help his own emotions from curling into concern, but beyond a brief look, he waves a hand.]
No, I'm not busy. I just didn't want to make you uncomfortable. [Especially given they've had two weeks of being Super Touchy with strangers and all. But he waves Jonas over toward the sink.] It won't take that long. I can't do anything fancy on other people.
anyway, it's fine. everything is fine, and just as quickly as those feelings had come up, they sort of fizzle back out to something neutral and quiet. ]
I think this entire game's designed to try and make us uncomfortable, but...you're definitely not the worst person here. [ kind of a compliment. ] And I trust your judgment anyway, fancy or not.
[ at which point he wanders to the sink. he's settling into the chair in front of said-sink and he only hesitates briefly before prying the beanie off to reveal he is actually bald.
and by bald i mean his hair's pretty thick and kind of messy under it. it's sort of growing to the point of being shaggy like he hasn't trimmed it for a few years, but it looks clean and healthy enough. ]
Most of the time I'm wearing this thing, so...I haven't really looked at my hair that much recently.
That's all I get? [Not really offended, but like, also, RANG IS HERE??? AND ALL HE GETS IS "NOT THE WORST"... he sees how it is.
But wow congrats Jonas on your baldness, this will be a very quick haircut--no. As he does this, Kaveh goes to fetch the cloak, some scissors, and the shampoo and conditioner. He's just gonna do everything at the sink because he is not a professional by any means. He doesn't react to Jonas's hair when he comes back beyond giving it a thoughtful glance, gauging how to handle it.]
I don't blame you. We've had more important things to worry about.
I like everyone on your team? Does that count? [ it should because there are some people with team members that he's more lukewarm on. go to sleep has been pretty decent in his books.
either way he's not rushing this, staying seated to let kaveh look him over even if he eyeballs the shampoo and conditioner. ]
There's been a lot going on here. But even before this I didn't pay attention much. There was a lot going on there, too. [ conversational if anything. ] And not dealing with it was cheaper than even trying to figure stuff out.
I'll allow it, though I can't imagine anyone disliking Nahida.
[Hat Guy doesn't count.
Anyway, once Jonas settles in--] It's easier to cut wet hair, so I'll wash it first. I'll be quick, since the water doesn't get very warm. [He'll tell Jonas what he's doing as he goes, since it's kind of rude to just shove his head under the water and start blasting him.
Btu he nods as Jonas talks.] I understand. I'm lucky, in a way--I've always kept mine long, and I didn't put much effort into my appearance while I was in school. So no one's ever found it odd if I've had to keep it up for a few days in a row.
[Sometimes you're homeless and you master the art of "my hair is in a bun because I like it not because it's dirty haha"]
Yeah, I've figured the same. She's too nice for her own good half the time. [ which elicits a tiny thread of worry on her behalf from him, but it wavers out easily. the other thing is, the longer kaveh actually explains step by step the more he may pick up that jonas seems to be settling down. it wasn't very obvious to begin with, but it's a little more clear now when the guard drops bit by bit. sometimes you are a person who has a very hard time trusting people and situations. sometimes you don't want to admit that, so when people at least give you warnings...it helps.
there's a noise of interest at that because that's not really a thing he thinks people should understand. it also doesn't entirely fit his mental image of who kaveh is, but he's starting to notice this pattern where he's talking to people and still not entirely sure who they are or what they're like. he had this same realization with shu, actually, which is funnier given they're teammates. even as he lets kaveh get to the preparations he's still talking. ]
I feel like maybe being in school would've been a good enough excuse, but I get the feeling things in Sumeru are really different. [ in terms of status and the like. there's a moment where he's not sure where to go from there, but he does decide to tentatively keep up that line of conversation. ] For a while, it wasn't really that unheard of for me not to go home at night and still have to go to school the next day. Eventually it started being more of a style choice than a cover. I guess I should maybe consider changing that here, but...it's still sort of one of the things that I don't have to think too hard about.
[ it's comfortable, is what he means, when everything else is fucking chaos. ]
[That's fair, tbh. Kaveh also worries about her, though he hasn't figured out a good way to deal with it yet. They're too similar already, but she has an advantage, given that he can't look at her without seeing the god and ruler of his nation.
But since Jonas isn't showing any resistance, Kaveh will guide with a gentle, steady touch. True to his word, the water is lukewarm, as is typical of a salon... but his hands are gentle and efficient, and he hums in acknowledgment as Jonas talks, showing that he's listening. There are a lot of different possibilities that filter through his mind as Jonas talks--none of them particularly pleasant. But for all that Sumeru seems so much better than other worlds he's learned about, it's not as though he's never met or heard of suffering kids before. Granted, Jonas is basically a young adult, but from the way he talks, Kaveh assumes he's been self-sufficient for a while.
But, well. Who is he to judge that?]
Mm. It's not exactly a top priority here. [Even though there's not much for them to do besides wait to die (or kill), Kaveh won't fault anyone for not wanting to bother. He'd meant what he said--that he feels they deserve to take advantage of everything they have for as long as they can--but he'll only encourage people to do so, rather than drag them into it. He hasn't known anyone here nearly long enough to be comfortable doing that yet.
After a moment:] Unless you have someone you'd like to impress, I guess, in which case we might have to change our strategy.
There's always something else. [ close to an agreement, at least. it's not a top priority because there's always something happening or someone changing things. he doesn't flinch from the water, and he says pretty still while kaveh's hands work even with the little tendrils of dread that blip in and out. do or die has always been the name of the game.
but simultaneously, they do have several days before then to take time to do other things. if people can find pleasure in other things, that's all the encouragement jonas needs to think about trying it themselves.
even if it's a joke, there's a weird squiggle of an unidentifiable emotion that settles on embarrassed briefly before dropping away entirely. ]
Right. Yeah, changing a look would be enough to change an impression. [ it's a joke back. ] Can't say there's anything like that, really. Not that I'd blame anybody that did have a case for that.
But Jonas has been kind enough not to comment on any of Kaveh's emotions, so Kaveh will return the favor, at least for now. True to his word, he's quick; once he's done washing Jonas's hair, he dries his hands, then hands Jonas a towel so that he can dry his own hair. Let him have a break from being touched before Kaveh starts on the trim.]
Now or never, you mean? [He hums thoughtfully.] I'd agree with that.
[Not that he'd ever dissuade it anyway, but truly, far be it from him to tell people they shouldn't look for love in their final days.]
[ sometimes you run very fastly from your emotions and also the emotions of other people. he can respect kaveh minding his own business, even with the beat of gratefulness in his emotions when the man hands over a towel and takes a step back. all of this has been fine, but the space is much appreciated and slightly needed. ]
Never, really, but also especially now. If finding happiness in someone else helps make a miserable existence less miserable, then sure. Who are we to stop them? [ toweldrying, toweldrying. ] Or even people who're using love as their motivation to find their way back.
[Sometimes you are simply a volatile and emotional creature who lashes out and runs away just as often as you crave friendship and touch, so you're pretty good at gauging emotions even when they aren't leaking out. He busies himself with checking the scissors to make sure they're the right type, since he doesn't know what clippers are.]
It's not the most romantic way to phrase it, [very lightly teasing, here] but yes, I think that's true. [A little melancholy, then.] I can't fault anyone for having a reason to fight, especially when that reason is love.
[ yeah i'm sorry that i have to say that this is a mood for both of them. it's something of interest, the way kaveh handles these things. it's something maybe he'll poke around later. ]
You get what I mean, shitty wording or not. [ but he pauses as he thinks on it. ] Plus there's the idea that love means many things. [ he raises an eyebrow, gauging kaveh again. ] You don't have to tell me what it is. But you have a reason, right?
I do. [Get what Jonas means. When he thinks there's probably been enough time, he turns back to Jonas, scissors in hand, looking contemplative as he decides what to say.]
I want to try and find some way to save as many of us as I can. [He settles on.] For now, that's my reason.
[He doesn't know if he could bear the cost of survival if he only thought about his own future. There's no way he can view himself as worthy of dozens of lives.
Also:] Would you rather I start from the front, or the back? [He thinks probably the front, given how skittish Jonas is, but he'll leave the choice up to him.]
[ it's a respectable answer. for a moment, jonas looks at kaveh as if he's trying to assess if it's true or not. and after a few moments longer, he nods. ]
Front's fine. Just a little. [ is what he says first, because yeah. he would prefer to know what's happening at the moment. it's only when kaveh approaches with the scissors and looks like he's close to starting that he speaks up again. ]
Pretty sure that's Alex's goal, too. So I get it. It's not a bad reason.
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ohthehumanities) wrote2023-06-16 10:38 pm
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It's not...really that. It's just been a while. [ for whatever reason, the emotional feedback is a little weird. like uncertain. a little bit of a dip into something more exhausted himself. maybe sad? vaguely curious. ]
...but sure. Couldn't hurt, I guess. [ he's not entirely sure what "it" entails, but kaveh knows what he's doing and he figures he could just say no later. also he figures it's a good distraction for everyone involved. ]
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Well, this one is free, and if we're going to be stuck in this horrible place, we deserve to take advantage of whatever amenities we can. [If they're going to have their brains fucked with every week then they deserve to be SPOILED!!!] I've always felt that a well-maintained appearance is a crucial part of success, but I won't slather you in paints and lotions against your will, of course. That being said, it does feel nice to have someone else work on your hair and your hands, even if you don't change anything about how they look. It's a bit like a massage.
[Which they also offer here but he doesn't think Jonas is really the type to go for that.]
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I won't disagree with that. [ truthfully. this may not be his scene but he can appreciate the compensation for having to deal with the fuckery of every week. he listens to this...and he hums under his breath like he's thinking of what to say. ]
...I'm gonna be honest with you. I kind of gave up on appearances a while ago so that's part of it. [ as an explanation of sorts. ] I'm willing to try whatever you think might be best because I can always undo it if I hate it but I don't even know where I would start with most of this.
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I understand. [He's been there. Or rather--he's been in a place where he understands why someone else would be there; he just couldn't ever afford to give this particular aspect up, for the sake of obtaining and maintaining his clients. He doesn't say that, of course--but he doesn't pry into Jonas's background, either. Common courtesy.]
Let's start simple, then. We'll get you a wash and a trim, and then maybe a manicure, if you're comfortable letting them do it. [THE SHADOW EMPLOYEES PRESUMABLY since Kaveh considers himself highly capable at a lot of things but he's like. Not a nail tech. The best he could do is file them and maybe put some protective lacquer on.] Maybe some neutral colors, if you're feeling adventurous. To be honest, I don't usually paint mine either, but there isn't much to do with my hands here.
[It's not like he's building anything or tinkering with any machines, so. Why not.]
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prying isn't important for either of them. but he nods along with that. ]
The manicure's debatable, but simple's good. [ and a trim is probably also good because judging by the hair sticking out from under the beanie as-is, it's been a while. it's also questionable how much he'll let anyone actually cut but one step at a time. he is glancing at kaveh's nails though and sort of is just like "hm" about it. ]
It suits you. But I guess I can see your point. We're all kind of in a weird place where we're not going a lot of what we're used to anymore. So...why not? Take opportunities and all that.
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But that's valid, and he nods.]
Then let's start with your hair, and we'll see how you're feeling after that. [If he decides that's enough, or if he decides to try out a little color. Kaveh is here to facilitate!!] Do you want them to do it, or me?
[He can understand why you might not want shadow people touching you, even if they're harmless... still weird...]
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...if you have other stuff to do, I don't want to hold you up. I can figure it out with them. [ even with not being super okay with shadow figures sometimes, he's more concerned about not dragging other people down and keeping them from doing stuff they want to do, or forcing them to do things they weren't planning. ]
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Kaveh can't help his own emotions from curling into concern, but beyond a brief look, he waves a hand.]
No, I'm not busy. I just didn't want to make you uncomfortable. [Especially given they've had two weeks of being Super Touchy with strangers and all. But he waves Jonas over toward the sink.] It won't take that long. I can't do anything fancy on other people.
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anyway, it's fine. everything is fine, and just as quickly as those feelings had come up, they sort of fizzle back out to something neutral and quiet. ]
I think this entire game's designed to try and make us uncomfortable, but...you're definitely not the worst person here. [ kind of a compliment. ] And I trust your judgment anyway, fancy or not.
[ at which point he wanders to the sink. he's settling into the chair in front of said-sink and he only hesitates briefly before prying the beanie off to reveal he is actually bald.
and by bald i mean his hair's pretty thick and kind of messy under it. it's sort of growing to the point of being shaggy like he hasn't trimmed it for a few years, but it looks clean and healthy enough. ]
Most of the time I'm wearing this thing, so...I haven't really looked at my hair that much recently.
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That's all I get? [Not really offended, but like, also, RANG IS HERE??? AND ALL HE GETS IS "NOT THE WORST"... he sees how it is.
But wow congrats Jonas on your baldness, this will be a very quick haircut--no. As he does this, Kaveh goes to fetch the cloak, some scissors, and the shampoo and conditioner. He's just gonna do everything at the sink because he is not a professional by any means. He doesn't react to Jonas's hair when he comes back beyond giving it a thoughtful glance, gauging how to handle it.]
I don't blame you. We've had more important things to worry about.
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I like everyone on your team? Does that count? [ it should because there are some people with team members that he's more lukewarm on. go to sleep has been pretty decent in his books.
either way he's not rushing this, staying seated to let kaveh look him over even if he eyeballs the shampoo and conditioner. ]
There's been a lot going on here. But even before this I didn't pay attention much. There was a lot going on there, too. [ conversational if anything. ] And not dealing with it was cheaper than even trying to figure stuff out.
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[Hat Guy doesn't count.
Anyway, once Jonas settles in--] It's easier to cut wet hair, so I'll wash it first. I'll be quick, since the water doesn't get very warm. [He'll tell Jonas what he's doing as he goes, since it's kind of rude to just shove his head under the water and start blasting him.
Btu he nods as Jonas talks.] I understand. I'm lucky, in a way--I've always kept mine long, and I didn't put much effort into my appearance while I was in school. So no one's ever found it odd if I've had to keep it up for a few days in a row.
[Sometimes you're homeless and you master the art of "my hair is in a bun because I like it not because it's dirty haha"]
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there's a noise of interest at that because that's not really a thing he thinks people should understand. it also doesn't entirely fit his mental image of who kaveh is, but he's starting to notice this pattern where he's talking to people and still not entirely sure who they are or what they're like. he had this same realization with shu, actually, which is funnier given they're teammates. even as he lets kaveh get to the preparations he's still talking. ]
I feel like maybe being in school would've been a good enough excuse, but I get the feeling things in Sumeru are really different. [ in terms of status and the like. there's a moment where he's not sure where to go from there, but he does decide to tentatively keep up that line of conversation. ] For a while, it wasn't really that unheard of for me not to go home at night and still have to go to school the next day. Eventually it started being more of a style choice than a cover. I guess I should maybe consider changing that here, but...it's still sort of one of the things that I don't have to think too hard about.
[ it's comfortable, is what he means, when everything else is fucking chaos. ]
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But since Jonas isn't showing any resistance, Kaveh will guide with a gentle, steady touch. True to his word, the water is lukewarm, as is typical of a salon... but his hands are gentle and efficient, and he hums in acknowledgment as Jonas talks, showing that he's listening. There are a lot of different possibilities that filter through his mind as Jonas talks--none of them particularly pleasant. But for all that Sumeru seems so much better than other worlds he's learned about, it's not as though he's never met or heard of suffering kids before. Granted, Jonas is basically a young adult, but from the way he talks, Kaveh assumes he's been self-sufficient for a while.
But, well. Who is he to judge that?]
Mm. It's not exactly a top priority here. [Even though there's not much for them to do besides wait to die (or kill), Kaveh won't fault anyone for not wanting to bother. He'd meant what he said--that he feels they deserve to take advantage of everything they have for as long as they can--but he'll only encourage people to do so, rather than drag them into it. He hasn't known anyone here nearly long enough to be comfortable doing that yet.
After a moment:] Unless you have someone you'd like to impress, I guess, in which case we might have to change our strategy.
[He's joking]
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but simultaneously, they do have several days before then to take time to do other things. if people can find pleasure in other things, that's all the encouragement jonas needs to think about trying it themselves.
even if it's a joke, there's a weird squiggle of an unidentifiable emotion that settles on embarrassed briefly before dropping away entirely. ]
Right. Yeah, changing a look would be enough to change an impression. [ it's a joke back. ] Can't say there's anything like that, really. Not that I'd blame anybody that did have a case for that.
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But Jonas has been kind enough not to comment on any of Kaveh's emotions, so Kaveh will return the favor, at least for now. True to his word, he's quick; once he's done washing Jonas's hair, he dries his hands, then hands Jonas a towel so that he can dry his own hair. Let him have a break from being touched before Kaveh starts on the trim.]
Now or never, you mean? [He hums thoughtfully.] I'd agree with that.
[Not that he'd ever dissuade it anyway, but truly, far be it from him to tell people they shouldn't look for love in their final days.]
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Never, really, but also especially now. If finding happiness in someone else helps make a miserable existence less miserable, then sure. Who are we to stop them? [ toweldrying, toweldrying. ] Or even people who're using love as their motivation to find their way back.
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It's not the most romantic way to phrase it, [very lightly teasing, here] but yes, I think that's true. [A little melancholy, then.] I can't fault anyone for having a reason to fight, especially when that reason is love.
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You get what I mean, shitty wording or not. [ but he pauses as he thinks on it. ] Plus there's the idea that love means many things. [ he raises an eyebrow, gauging kaveh again. ] You don't have to tell me what it is. But you have a reason, right?
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I want to try and find some way to save as many of us as I can. [He settles on.] For now, that's my reason.
[He doesn't know if he could bear the cost of survival if he only thought about his own future. There's no way he can view himself as worthy of dozens of lives.
Also:] Would you rather I start from the front, or the back? [He thinks probably the front, given how skittish Jonas is, but he'll leave the choice up to him.]
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Front's fine. Just a little. [ is what he says first, because yeah. he would prefer to know what's happening at the moment. it's only when kaveh approaches with the scissors and looks like he's close to starting that he speaks up again. ]
Pretty sure that's Alex's goal, too. So I get it. It's not a bad reason.