damned_institute | Day 56: Pearl's Beauty Salon Hair and Nails (noon)

The last trip into Doyleton, Tifa had been shoved into a nearby beauty salon while it poured rain. Rain, she was pretty confident, wouldn't kill you (unless you were in Midgar. Those storm clouds practically glowed with the amount of radiation they absorbed), but her former nurse hadn't been very receptive to criticism. It had ultimately worked out for the best since she had a coupon for a free manicure, but the one other girl in the store wouldn't stand for it.

Yuffie never struck the older woman as the girly type, but to turn down a free service was unfathomable. She had put her foot down, and no amount of tantalizing tasty burger coupons had fixed that.

So for now, Tifa watched the manicurist from the street outside the shop's large window as she finished up a local appointment. It wasn't as if Tifa was afraid to brave it alone, but it would be nice to have a partner in aesthetics. She looked around casually hoping to spot someone she knew. Perhaps a burst of spiky yellow hair would come walking down the street? It could happen!

[For ~~Cloud~~ Claude]

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Walking down Main Street often reminded him of Ashton. He recalled his first time in Doyleton when he'd found his good friend in Pearl's, and the two of them along with Guy had gotten burgers together afterward.

That had been the day after his damn "sleep studies", Claude darkly remembered. He'd suffered from nearly crippling headaches that day. And here Claude was now, in Doyleton without Ashton, a full week after his own experiments. He thought he could feel the tattoo on his arm itching, even if he knew it was probably his imagination.

Claude wondered how long this would last. Would they prevail against the Institute someday? Or would it outlive them all?

Briefly closing his eyes, he tried to shake himself out of that line of thinking. Everyone was trying so hard. The least he could do was try to keep fighting. After all, Natalia had come back, hadn't she? Maybe Ashton, Dias and Dad were okay, too.

Still, he was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't immediately notice Tifa. When he looked up from the street, however, he caught sight of the woman and immediately brightened. Claude approached her with a smile, his boots crunching against the snow.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked. "Aren't you cold?"

Tifa heard the footsteps before the voice. She turned, wary of who would be coming up to her on the street, but her face shined with a genuine smile once she heard Claude's unique voice.

His question prompted her to look down at the simple hoodie and jeans they outfitted her with. Oh and the giant, gaudy neon galoshes. "Nah, I've been in far less during a snow storm before. I'm a tough gal. But--" She bent her hand and brought her nails up for a critical inspection. Tifa didn't like what she saw. Most were chipped. And her cuticles! They were out of control. "I was thinking of getting my nails done." Finally Tifa shifted her big brown eyes to Claude, beseeching his softer side. "Wanna be a bud and get your done with me?"

Edited 2011-05-13 23:42 (UTC)

Claude couldn't judge the galoshes, seeing how he was wearing a bright, plaid coat with fake shearling, not to mention a hideous sweater underneath that. Instead, he focused on Tifa's bright smile, and was glad to see that she appeared to be in good health.

When she invited him to get his nails done, though, he faltered a moment. "Oh, uh..." Rubbing the back of his head, he peered through the window of the beauty salon. "Is that...okay? I mean...you know..." He wasn't sure how people here would react if a man showed up to have his nails done. Not that there was anything wrong with it! Claude just didn't feel comfortable when people stared at him too much.

Granted, Ashton once had his done, and the last time he'd gone inside there were far more men than women. He suspected it was because of how disproportionate men and women were to each other, but it'd still been interesting to see.

Edited 2011-05-14 02:35 (UTC)

Tifa's eyes narrowed when she heard the backpedaling begin. She took a step forward and regretted all the layers she had on. The days of tissue-thin shirts and miniskirts were easier. There would be no way to physical persuade subtly, so Tifa needed to try another approach. She would not sit in there by herself!

"Yeah, why not? I've known guys who've done it!" They had all been male prostitutes in the slums, but... "Nothing wrong with upkeep. Clean nails tell a person you care about your health and well-being! It's a nice feature in a boyfriend, mmm?"

As Claude considered, Tifa glanced through the shop window. The last client was up at the register paying. This would be the perfect time to get their nails done, and with each other! They needed to catch up, and what better way than while getting pampered for free? Tifa hoped her expression wasn't too desperate.

He listened to Tifa's reasoning, considering it for a moment. "Really?" he asked, looking at the young woman with a curious expression. He wondered if it was common for guys to do that back in Tifa's home. Claude could understand why some people wanted to take good care of their hands, especially if they made a lot of public appearances. It just didn't seem like a very practical thing for a soldier or swordsman to do.

Still, he felt kind of bad turning down Tifa's invitation. Now that he'd heard her say all that, part of him also became self-conscious that she'd think he was some kind of slob if he said no.

"Well..." After glancing down at his hands, Claude's gaze wandered over to the salon's window. "I guess it wouldn't be so bad." He smiled at her. "Sure, why not?"

"Thank you!" Her usual polite and chipper attitude covered up deeper desperation. Claude would never know how much this meant to her, and that was how Tifa wanted to keep it.

"C'mon," Tifa beckoned, grabbing the door for her blond friend. He was already doing something he wasn't all that comfortable with, so it was the least Tifa could do to show her appreciation. A bell above the door announced their presence and one of the women looked up from the register.

"Can we help you?" One employee asked, not exactly brimming with enthusiasm.

"Yes, we'd like to get our nails done. We've got coupons for them." Tifa was pretty sure the manicurists never enjoyed hearing those words.

"Both of you?" The employee glanced at Claude, but Tifa refused to let anything hang in the air. If Claude got cold feet, the brunette would have to sit there by herself.

"Yes, both of us! Can we take any seat?" She didn't usually push, but it was now or never! The woman pointed them to last two chairs and closest to the window. Tifa decided to be merciful and take the furthest one so the world wouldn't see a man getting his nails done.

Day 56: Pearl's Beauty Salon Hair and Nails (noon)

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omg this is so short I am so sorry

no worries!

LOL HE'S A CUTE LUMBERJACK XD

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