Hairpin Theatre

Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

Leaning against a lamp post, Jazz is observing people as they come and go. Mostly the Landers, actually, seemingly curious about their daily business here in catering to the adventurers. "Mmmmn..l She muses, quietly.
Kita
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

Though time has passed since the last time that Kita had encountered Jazz, the Imp still has that tired look to her. There are dark circles beneath her eyes, and a thinness to her features that suggests she's gotten neither enough food nor sleep as of late.

The mage is sitting at a table outside a small cafe, though the food set out in front of her, but she seems to be ignoring it. Likely it was only purchased to not be harassed by the Landers about the table. The girl has her head down, white bangs hanging forward as she works on a drawing in that relic book of hers.
Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

It takes her a moment to recognize her, but recognize she does. "Oi," she offers, moving towards her.

"No luck?" she asks. clearly meaning the hunt for her friend.
Kita
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

Kita looks up, her expression almost sleepy. She blinks once, reaching up to rub her pam against one eye and then push her glasses up on her nose. "Oh, hi." It seems to take a moment for her brain to churn over, "Jazuhanzu, right?" It's such a strange name, but who is she to argue?

"Not yet." Though what she is working on does not appear to be the same figure she had been drawing the other day. It looks to be some human male. The drawing is nearly complete, she's just adding in smaller details and shading to make it look more realistic. "But I made progress with the Alliances. They're giving me space to put up missing person fliers."
Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"Just Jazz is fine. It's not my real name but arguing over that seems like a pointless waste of time." She puts her hands on the back of the chair, "I will try to help, not likely much I can do, but..." That she'll keep an eye out is left unsaid.
Kita
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"Jazz then. It's less of a mouthful, to be honest." Kita chuckles to herself, running her fingers through her hair. The white strands mix slightly with blue before falling back forward across her forehead. "Sorry, I'm a little tired. I haven't been sleeping well." She mutters, glancing at the food set in front of her, "The fact that I've had something that actually tastes like real food has also soured me to this garbage."

The girl sighs, but then puts on a smile. "What about you? Still the master of magnetism?" She muses. "I was meaning to track you down about the hair thing, but got a bit distracted." Kita admits, tapping two fingers on the page.
Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"Apparently, though I suspect I'll be quickly outpaced by people who actually understand the relevance of magnetism to their chosen fields. I'm just a history major." She shrugs her shoulders.

"Real food, huh? What's you have?" She is indeed curious.
Kita
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"I was going to school for art-design, with a minor in music." Kita admits, "Not exactly the most applicable to the hard sciences." She places a thin bit of fabric at her page, then closes the book in front of her. "I was never the brain in the family, that was my mom." A shadow passes over her eyes at that comment, likely thinking about family left behind.

"Tea, of all things." Kita explains, "Nureha of Plant Hwyaden seems to have somehow figured out how to make food actually taste like food. Though she left before anyone could really asked how."
Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

Jazuhanzu just stares at her for a long moment. "Actual... tea?" she says after a moment. "Like... really?" More staring. More and more of it.
Kita
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"Just mint tea, yeah. But it tasted like tea rather than soggy rice water." Kita confirms with a nod of her head. "Though I haven't a clue how." The Imp waggles her fingers, "She kept it all very mysterious and left before we could ask anything about it."

She shrugs, and then reaches for a piece of bread, taking a bite of it and making a face. "It's progress, though. Small progress, but something that might make our lives here at least a little better." Kita scowls and puts the bread back down, shaking her head.
Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"Mmn," replies Jazz. She is left staring at the table for a long time. "So, mint tea..." She brings her hands together and puts them on the table, one over the other. "I never have any thought to the food, really. Sure, it tastes bad, but..."
Kita
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"When I was in Ezzo, food was kind of the big deal. Until the boats started running, there was pretty limited supplies and most of us were on pretty strict rations." Kita looks at the food in front of her, as if she were considering it a second time. "Even after the rescue started, it's still been pretty rough there."

With that thought, she sighs and actually tosses together the various bits of food into a sandwich. It all tastes the same, but at least the difference in texture is there. "Did you... want me to help you with your hair?" She asks finally, after chewing a mouthful.
Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"Y... yeah, sure. Why not. We've been here almost a month. I might as well figure out what to do with it and see if it works." She does not exactly sound thrilled by the prospect.
Kita
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

Kita sets the sandwich aside, then motions a hand at a nearby chair. She scootches her own chair closer to it. "If it doesn't, you could always cut it. Not sure how long that will last in-game, but it's an option." She pats the chair, "Come here. Let's see what I can do."

The girl uses a free hand to open her inventory, taking out a few simple grooming items. There is a hair brush, a few hair clips, and a couple of ties that appear on the table next to her. "I'm guessing you kept your hair short enough you didn't have to really mess with it in the real world?"
Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"I was curious if hair growth was modeled and I cut off a tip. I didn't want to change my appearance substantially in case Benjiro did make it in on another account but..." She turns to let her have access.

"I never had any particular urge to grow my hair out in the real world. I kept it short for practical reasons and, besides, most men who do don't usually grow their hair /this/ long."
Kita
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"In the real world, I used to mess with my hair all the time. I sort of figured that if people were going to treat me like a freak anyways, I might as well look the part." There is a hint of amusement behind her eyes, though it doesn't really reach her expression. "This is what I ended up sticking with. Better than my natural color if you ask me." The blue and white does seem to suit her, and at least goes along with her witchy aesthetic.

Kita grabs the brush, but before actually taking it to Jazz's hair, she instead uses her fingers on her free hand to work through the strands, taking care to break up any larger tangles. Her hands are remarkably gentle in the process. She doesn't even bat an eye at the fact that Jazz revealed their gender in the real world. "It makes sense. The most important things with hair this long is to make sure you brush it out at least a couple of times a day. It keeps tangles from building up and turning it into a mess."

Only then will she start in on the brush, making sure to take her time to ease it through Jazz's hair bit by bit.
Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"For the most part the hygiene system seems to keep it from getting too tangled." She makes a face at being brushed. It's not they it hurts, but rather, it is just an awkward and pointed reminder of how foreign a feeling it is.

"Noted, however, but brushing this is ... slow."
Kita
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"It has its uses, but you'll probably want to learn to take care of it yourself." It does take a few minutes to go through the long strands, but the fact that they aren't particularly tangled means it is a lot easier going. "A few minutes a day won't be as big of an impact as you think."

Her lip quirks, just a faint hint of her own thoughts playing out on her features. "In the real world, it took me about a day to dye my hair like this. Two sessions of bleach, then toner, then two separate dye jobs." Kita explains, "And I'd have to re-touch it pretty often."

One the hair is brushed through, Kita starts to section it out, working on braiding the strands together from the top. "Besides keeping your hair out of your face, a braid can also give you really nice waves if you leave it in a few days. It would probably look really pretty on your avatar."
Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"Or keep cutting it," remarks Jazz, listening to her speak. "I never got much into dying my hair," she agreesC making a face at the talk of being pretty. "Bad enough I have people trying to make hay of my supposed cuteness to swing free food."
Kita
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

Perhaps drawing leaves Kita with nimble fingers, but she's able to handle the braid in only a matter of a few minutes. She's obviously had practice with it at some point or another. "That's an option. I haven't really played with hair styling much within Elder Tale."

When she is finished, she uses a bit of ribbon to tie off the end of the braid, leaving it to dangle behind Jazz. "That should help a little. Haven't helped someone with one since I moved out of my parent's place. Jurou always keeps her hair short, so I don't really have as much to play with."

That little hint of a smirk shows again as she gives a faint laugh. "Like I said, you've got an asset in your avatar's appearance. You might as well use it if you can. Just don't let other people take advantage of you. There's lots of people who will, if you give them the chance."
Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"Ugh," is Jazz's answer to the idea of 'using' her cute. "Ugggh," she says. "For what it's worth, I appreciate the help. It's been ... difficult to deal with on top of all the rest" She has her hat off, of course, and resting on the table now. "I wonder..."
Kita
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

This time, Kita does manage a real laugh. It has a tired edge to it, but it is there none the less. "I get it. It's hard not to be seen as yourself sometimes." She hesitates, thoughtful, "Then again, it can also be a freeing experience. To let yourself not be tied down by the chains of who you are?" She shrugs then, drawing her hands away from Jazz's hair and sitting back.

"If you need a friend, you're always welcome to add me. I'm... not the best at social graces. I get angry, snarky... But so far as Jurou tells me, I'm supposedly a good person beneath it all." She smirks again.
Jazuhanzu
Carmina Gadelica - Main Square

"Oh, right. The friends system." She flits through the menu for it, bringing it up to sling Kita an invitation.

"Trust me, I had to keep up with Benji's banter, I can keep up with anyone's. She raises her hands up to let it fall through her fingers.

"For some..." She trails off, as she tries to address her question and the starts over again. "For some, maybe. But I don't see that for me." She glances over her shoulder at her. "I appreciate your help, though. I'm not sure I know what I'm doing... But, then, who does?"