In through time-(Helena, Nevaeh, Open to salon patrons)

[Lyonel]

Subtle hints of pomegranate and lemon grass were lingering in Jolie's Salon & Spa on the second floor of Veil Tower where Jolie stood stocking the warm white salon towels near the massage tables in the back of the shop. Aromatherapy was new to the place and she was in approval as the sweet contrasts of the scents weaved their way through her. Her sandaled feet sparkled at the toes with the mocha polish catching the lights as she made her way back to the front of the shop. The height of the woman as she moved was accentuated by her lean figure. She was dressed for business in her khaki linen pants and ivory silk sleeveless blouse that blended well with the shops earthtones decor. Her smooth cocoa skin shimmered as she came under the lighting of the front desk. Candles strategically placed flickered for the soothing ambiance she desired her clients to have. A charm bracelet jingled with the movement of her right hand as she brought up the evening appointment log. She glanced down and smiled. Chocolate tinted ringlets fell over her bare shoulder as she heard movement and turned to look back and found her recent hire appear from the office.

“I can’t find my cell phone.” Alliesha strolls in with her eyebrows clearly knitting in frustration over her hazel eyes. The blonde looked around when she finally stopped short of the desk where Jolie spun the reception desk chair to face her newly hired salon manager. “I thought I had it in my purse.”

Jolie stood tall and stepped away from the desk to get closer to the woman missing her communication device. Dark eyes traveled down the petite form that stood still. Flawless color and shine in the hair that was anchored by warm undertones held Jolie’s approval. Of course it would. She did the work with her own two hands. The human body was a canvas and she was the master of hair, skin and nails. At least in her mind anyways.

“I found it whining for attention in the manicure station and put it in your desk drawer.” The call tone was something Jolie hoped she would eventually get out of her head now that the salon music was playing. “If I were you I would spend a couple bucks extra and get a call tone that doesn’t ask a ***** to shake her hips.”

“Dammit!” Alleshia spun on her heels to retreat to the office in a fast pace. “I almost gave up hope she would call me back! And CAN she shake her hips! Girl, you have no idea.”

That was more than enough information for Jolie to shrug her shoulders and fade back to the office in the same path of the Avril Lavigne look alike. Jolie found it an odd thing. Harper Rock was flooded with beauty and perfection. Both male and female. If she were into looks alone it would be a pleasure to sit in the stations and watch the parade of perfection in flesh as it worked its way in the monotonous process of transit. Then again that is what got her where she was currently. She smiled. She was captured in the most platonic way and was incredibly happy. Hooking up and being bound to a cell phone or a facebook page or a last name was never in the cards for her. She wanted to reach her goals and she had. the fact she was blissfully content and happy just doing what she was had been an incredible gift bestowed to her. For that she would be loyal and grateful always to the one who helped make it happen. She only wondered why more could not have the fortune of the same sense of purpose and peace.

“I don’t want any. We have a full night ahead so let us get to it. Lovergirl can wait a few hours I am sure.” Jolie leaned over the desk that was actually hers and grabbed the new samples of deep conditioning oil from some place in Europe where they know what it means to take pride in concocting the finest hair products. “We started our New Year’s promotion so please put the others on notice. The idea of sharing the experience by bringing a friend was a great idea. I thank you for that. We are double booked and will have full chairs.”

“No problem. I love doing promo and campaign work. My short stint going to school for advertising just didn’t pan out. Did you ever hear from the guy...what was his name? Bernard?” Alleshia popped up from where she was sitting in the way of Jolie’s reach. “The professional colorist and thief?”

“No.” Jolie deadpanned as her arms folded despite the samples in her hands. “I am sure wherever he is that he likely learned it is not wise to steal from the hand that feeds you.”

With that being said coupled with a sharp rise of her brow, Jolie spun on her heels and proceeded to lead the way back to the business interior of the salon. It was going to be a long night but one she looked forward to. Work was everything. She lived for it. a brilliant way to start the New Year.

[Zodiac]

"So where are you off to?"

Zodiac looked over her shoulder at Jennifer and gave a small smile while stopping short of stepping on one of the peacocks that had the run of the floor. "I have an appointment," she replied while crouching down and caressing the head of the bird. "I remember you used your gift card for there already."

"Oh! Jolie's," the redhead laughed. "Yes I did. Those girls do good work."

"Yes, I have noticed."

"Wait! Did you send me over there as a guinea pig or something?"

The mystic busted out in pearls of telepathic laughter. "No,no,no. Miss Jolie has done my hair before. You don't think I will these highlights into place, do you? She knows what I like and does not surprise me with something new. Did she work on yours?"

"No, she was busy with someone else but as you see," Jenn fluffed her hair out. "I'm happy."

"You almost finished here?"

"Yeah, I am. I will probably be heading home by the time you are done."

"Then I will see you tomorrow. Have a good night and be careful going home."

***

The gypsy left The Eye of Zodiac and made her way across the second level to the shop in question. The holidays were finally behind them now, the returns dealt with, now it was time to slip back into some form of normalcy for a time. The Christmas displays were still in place in the mall itself, but the shops were already stripping down. Christmas candy and cards replaced by Valentines candy and hearts. The thought of that holiday made her brain hurt. The festive lights were still showing through the windows of her place, making them stand out among the other establishments. How soon all the talk of 'Peace on Earth' was forgotten as the stores rushed to get the next big sale into place. It was a necessity, but a sad one in her view. Soon all the stores and the streets would be back to drab normal and the second phase of winter would begin. As she had seen in a cartoon on Facebook, winter came in two parts. The first part was the holidays-all bright, happy and fun. Now for part two- just a cold grey freezing bucket of suck till spring.

Someone seriously needed to rethink the winter months.

She entered the salon and spa and looked around for a moment before approaching the reception desk. She smiled and pulled her dry erase board out and wrote for the woman to read.

Blessings of the evening to you. Can you tell Miss Jolie her seven o'clock appointment is here, please? Mistress Zodiac. She pointed at her name in the appointment book.

[Nevaeh]

*Helena twitched as she brought Skoll back into the hut. This time he hadn’t dragged her through any mud. This time of year it was too cold for that. No, instead he ended up tackling her into a snow pile. She let him off his end of the leash and unhooked it from her end, the bracelet. Patted his head with a sigh and looked at the clock. freezing and wet from melting snow was not good for her hair or skin. She pursed her lips and squinted her electric blue eyes in thought before making up her mind to slip her way and a plus one rush appointment into Jolie’s Salon. Why a plus one? Well, that was where her second call went, “Nev? Meet me at the Salon and Spa, Jolie’s. You need some serious TLC to help show how pretty you are.” Really, that woman didn’t even seem to brush her pretty hair.

*Nevaeh was sitting at home, next to Adam and Alice on the couch watching Frozen, for the millionth time, with Luna when the phone started buzzing on vibrate on her hip. She pulled the flat screen phone from the pink leather phone case keeping her from sitting on it. Her nimble fingers swiped the front of the screen before hitting the answer call on the pink bedazzled cell phone. “Hi, you’ve reached Nevaeh. Please leave a message at the beep. Beep de Beep boo bop!” She said into the receiver. This had made Alice and Adam giggle at her while she smiled down making gestures and motions at them, silly faces that sent them into fits of laughter. “Oh sure. I want to look pretty for Emmy and Jayd! You should see their faces when I come in looking all fancy and my hair doesn’t have an inch of brown roots under the red.” She was already leaning down to kiss the kids, and Luna’s head to leave. Her short time with them was up anyway. She was good about making sure there wasn’t too much time, but just enough time spent with the rugrats.*
‘
*Helena grinned at the woman’s acceptance. That was the spirit! She hung her phone up and put it in her pocket, going to change clothes and brush her hair out. As it was wavy, the spars with Skoll could leave it a bit tangled and she did not intend to go to a spa looking a mess. When she was dressed in dry clothes and her hair was combed, she pressed a kiss to Skoll’s muzzle before disappearing. Reappearing in an empty alleyway nearby. She went into Veil and up to the second floor to see if Nev was there waiting for her. She patted her wallet in her back pocket. It was there with her cash and everything was ready on her end.

*The woman moved off the couch looking at Luna, who gave her that nod knowing Nevaeh was leaving, it was time she did. They had the routine down by now. With a few last kisses to those chubby precious cheeks she went off, not bothering to change out of the Doctor Who tee shirt and jeans that were once the woman she was meeting up with, oddly these ones hadn’t been tailored to Helena’s shorter stature so they actually fit Nevaeh’s longer legs. Her hair was wild, knotted in ball clumps that hung down her back. She took the elevator down from the eleventh floor to the second where she would meet up with Helena, of course given the proximity she got there first. She did live in the same building, so you think that she would be there at Jolie’s Salon getting her hair done everyday. Since she was waiting, she leaned against the wall and texted Jayden, ‘I will have a surprise for you later. But I gotta do that grooming thing people like so much first. I will pop into your head and tell you I am coming when I come or get there or am on my way.’ She at least was giving him fair warning she was going to use her witchy mind trickery on him. Even if he didn’t like when she did it, she still did it every once in a while since a fine oil machine would rust, she didn’t want her mind to rust. When Helena appeared from the elevator her mouth dropped. “But Hellie Bellie, you are already prettiful!” She said looking at her like she was crazy for even thinking she needed to go into the salon. Of course, Helena could probably nitpick herself to death but all those things were just in her head. The woman was a walking magazine model.*

[Helena (DELETED 4251)]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

*Helena blinked and grinned, chuckling. She wasn’t exactly sure what prettiful was, but the way the woman toned it sounded complimentary. “Prettiful? Tak, I think?” Hel moved over to the woman eyeing her up and down before leaning up to press a kiss to the other woman’s cheek. The salon had their work cut out for them whereas Nev was concerned. But the woman was obviously a diamond in the rough and she would make jaws drop if properly cleaned up. Helena offered a smile and an arm, going to open the door so she could lead the other woman in.*

*The doors pulled open by the smaller blonde haired woman at her side opening the golden and white hued room before them. Nevaeh stuck out like a sore thumb against the classy theme, but those who knew her, knew she didn’t fit in at all. However that didn’t seem to phase her all at, because she didn’t care about the judgement of people outside her own family unit, like this woman beside her was, a sibling. To Nevaeh, even her opinion mattered. She walked to the desk, asking for Jolie personally. Her eyes narrowed when the woman said she was occupied with another customer. She turned to Helena, “I think we need to make a fuss because the woman isn’t ready yet!” She nodded.

The receptionist jumped up from the chair hushing Nevaeh, having obviously dealt with her before. “You know, I have someone just as good, if not better then Ms. Sweets and she is ready right now for you!” The woman whispered like it was some big secret.

Nevaeh’s eyes widened, “Oh! Someone better! Hellie Bellie, we get someone better!” Neva didn’t quite get the concept the two women would get two different hair stylist, but thought since they came together they would be getting one to work on the both of them. She didn’t mind sharing. “But will she know my hair color?” The receptionist nodded to Neva in confirmation. “We’ll take her just this once to see if what you say is true or not. But… if she isn’t, it comes out of your tip!” Nevaeh waved a finger at the woman sitting back down in the chair. The receptionist hit the key talking into the phone quietly so Nevaeh couldn’t hear while she waved the two women to take a seat, their… one stylist… would be out for them soon.*

*Helena listened quietly to the two, blinking in quiet surprise. Neva had obviously been here before. She just gave a small nod of her head as the woman directed them and followed the wave to go take a seat. From the looks of this… This would be a very interesting spa date. Not a bad one though, it was quite endearing to see how child-like and excitable Nevaeh was. Helena stared at her spa date with curiosity, “Would you mind… Terribly if I directed them to try something with your hair?”

[Lyonel]

Jolie Sweet was kneeling down in an attempt to fix the unruly hair dryer that was attached to an even less than cooperative salon chair. Her right hand held a pocket size troubleshooting guide that was supposed to fix the minor issue. It was really no more help than the man on the toll free service line that she called forty minutes ago. Her hand dropped the cord that was her last attempt at solving the problem herself. She gave up. She would call Lyonel later and see if he time to drop by after he was done with business. Hopefully he would understand and be as kind as he had been the past four times she asked for his help with the salon. It felt awkward doing it. It was after all hers. He said he didn’t mind. A few runs through the slums after she closed up always left her with a few items he seemed to make use of. She released a sigh as her lips bunched to the side and floated a chocolate ringlet upward from the spot it had been dangling against her cheek.

“Ms. Sweet?” Alliesha’s voice caught Jolie’s attention and her dark eyes lifted as did her body to stand and see who was going to save her from failing to fix the chair. “Of course she is…” Alliesha looked back over her shoulder finding Jolie standing. “Mistress Zodiac.”

Jolie smiled slowly as she approached the reception desk. Her eyes taking a long look at the gypsy that stood petite when she arrived. It had been awhile but Jolie remembered Zodiac very well. Not only had she been doing the woman’s hair for quite some time but there was VEGAS. She had first seen her at Lyonel and Eva’s ceremony. After that she was given the pleasure of becoming one of her stylists. Now that she thought about it she wondered if Eva was going to come in. The New Year was beginning and those gift certificates would expire at the end of 2015.

“Welcome Mistress Zodiac.” Jolie smiled while Alliesha spins slowly in the seat to watch the interaction take place. “Nice to see you again.”

Jolie finally looked over to Alliesha who was doing a wonderful job of watching the desk as well as Zodiac. She lifted her brows as her smile widened considerably. That was her way of signaling to get back to work. That didn’t appear to be working as the blonde continued to sit where she was waiting for something else to happen. What exactly Jolie was not quite sure of but it was making her uncomfortable and she wanted to redirect the female before it made Zodiac feel the same. Alliesha was not going to start trying to hook up with the clients.

The sounds of voices in the salon brough Jolie’s attention to where they were coming from. Her brow raised recognizing Neveah and a face she didn’t know. They were with someone quite capable so that was not her concern. She looked to Alliesha and nodded the direction where the women appeared to be in discussion about trying something new.

“Can you please take some time and go over and monitor just what is being suggested with the ladies hair. One of them has hair that is be treated with extra care. Keep an eye on the brushes too.” Jolie stepped back and nodded once towards the shampoo station where she began making her way. “If you follow me this way we can begin our routine unless you prefer to try something new as well?”

Alleshia shrugged and parted company with Jolie and Zodiac. Of course she would go make sure no one ended up losing more than they came in with needlessly. Her head turned once and looked back at the boss and Zodiac and gave both a last look. If her cell didn’t ring by the time her shift was over then perhaps she had a few more ideas on what she was willing to spend the rest of the night doing. Her eyes and head corrected in enough time to step up the women discussing something new.

“Evening ladies.” Alliesha was ready to make sure the clients were being taken care of. “How are things going so far?”

[Zodiac]

From the corner of her eye she watched the girl at the front desk watch her. Part of her flushed a bit. She made no secret of her sexual preferences and was used to the occasional look of curiosity or interest, but not from a mortal like this. On impulse, she turned her head and gave the woman a long, slow appraising look as well. A pretty little thing, but she was not shopping for the services this girl might offer this evening. She was here for something more important.

When Jolie appeared, she smiled brightly and opened her arms to hug her. She did not honestly know that much about the girl personally. She knew she worked for Lyonel (perhaps one of his thralls? she did not push for details but considering she knew about vampires and things like mindspeak and the small fact Lyonel had not killed her, she was betting on thrall.) and had met her the night she performed the binding ceremony for himself and Eva. Beyond that, she found her easy to talk to and a wizard with a set of scissors. One of perhaps three she would even consider getting near her hair with anything sharp.

Now the girl at the desk was watching them watch her. What did this woman hope would happen she could not say and it was one of the few times she had to bite her mental tongue and not speak out. What the hell do you think happens now? We all go back to the spa and do full body massages on each other or what? but she held her smile patiently as Jolie gave the woman something else to do that did not involve her staring at them both. As the woman turned for a final glance, the devil took Zodiac and she winked at her while giving her the hand sign to give her a call before quick stepping to catch up with the owner.

"Well," she kept her mindspeak tight and focused just on Jolie now as she moved her hands in sign language to cover the fact how could Jolie know and respond to nothing. "Of course I need my basics but I have been considering a new experience. I am open to suggestions of course, just as long as they don't stray from my norms." Her norms were the purple highlights in her black raven locks and her nails. She paused at the shampoo station and unwound her bandanas and shook her hair free before taking a seat and leaning back. Her eyes quickly flowed over the chart of available services. Seaweed Body Wrap? Ayurvedic treatment? Some of this was new to her. "Do you have something that is nice, simple, and relaxing? Has been a mad holiday season and something to mellow me a bit would be amazing."

She glanced around and found the reception girl staring again at them. Mentally she nudged Jolie to look and then whispered in her thoughts. "I am sorry. I am almost tempted to pull you down into a kiss just to see if it makes her blow a rod out of the side of her head. What is that woman's problem anyway?"

[Lyonel]

Jolie flashed a brilliant white smile at Zodiac and shook her head. Her hands reached up and her fingers splayed to thread through the waist length chocolate ringlets that would need to be restrained while tending to Zodiac's own hair. A slow and thoughtful combing through had her fingers gathered and formed into a loose french twist in the back of her head that was secured with an ivory clip. She pulled the folded gold apron from the chair that was seat level aligned with her hip. She tapped the pedal to bring it down to accommodate Zodiac's petite height.

“I wouldn’t worry about Alleshia too much. If she gets too chatty and you aren’t interested let me know. I can make sure she is kept busy. As for you…” Jolie’s fingers reached for a several strands of Zodiac’s hair and looked at the ends. Each was solid and no split ends. The hair spilled from her fingers and fell back in place.The products she sent her with were doing their job. “Looking great as always.We can start off with the usual then and finish off with perhaps one of our Ayurvedic treatments or Seaweed wrap.” Jolie waited for Zodiac to get seated and situated. “The next couple hours will give you a chance to decide.”

Jolie went about gathering her supplies needed and returned back to where Zodiac was perched in the chair. The woman’s hair was amazing to work with. It was clean, silky and full in body. The length was easy to work with outside having to take care in making sure the special coloring treatments were done just how the woman preferred them to be. Her next few hours were going to be spent focusing on the woman in the chair. She reached to the small drawer on the washing station and pulled it open. Her dark fingers pulled out a list of the salon services and handed it to Zodiac. She closed the drawer then wrapped the apron around the woman’s cool neck and fastened it at the back.

“Take a look at the packages we have and give it some thought.” Jolie pulled the length of hair up and inspected it some more. “This is your time to enjoy. We will make sure to make it memorable as always.”

The sound of the appointment desk phone became instantly annoying. Jolie made the effort to ignore the sound until she realized it was not being answered. She smiled while squeezing the top of Zodiac’s shoulder gently.

“Pardon me. I will be only a moment.” It was apparent that the receptionist had taken off without announcing her shift was over and she would be leaving. “I am now multi-tasking.”

Jolie glanced over at Alleshia as she walked through the front of the salon on her way to the reception desk. It appeared she was on task and the customers were being taken care of that she was currently with. That left her to pick up the phone and book a block of appointments for a bridal parties hair setting. Once that was complete she returned back to Zodiac.

“Sorry for the interruption. Shall we begin?” Jolie smiled while turning the chair Zodiac had remained in.

(Permission of Zodiac player given prior to post for modding)