The hot water streamed over and down my skin, gradually washing away the dirt and grime. I lathered myself with the luxurious feeling products that caused the scents of
lavender and vanilla
to fill the air.
With a little curiosity, I try to manipulate the 'wand' and find it excellent for aiming the pressurized stream underneath my bust and into
other crevices
that the water falling overhead simply does not get to.
Taking care of my body on my own is lovely, to be honest. It is certainly more work than letting servants handle you like a
newborn kit
, but if there were three women poking and prodding at me with their bony fingers right now...
I'd probably
bite
their hands off.
After all, I don't have to take that sort of 'help' here if I do not want to do so. I can be independent.
Not just a princess that must suffer the
whims
and
norms
of the royal life I was born into.
More Citra
only
. A woman whose pettiness is no smaller than her ample chest.
> Sorry. Are all the surfaces in this world so mysterious? Should I just be walking around and pressing them all? <
When I popped into my mindscape and asked
animatedly
, my companion just raised their paw and
swatted
at my snout. Not sure if they think I'm being silly or if they are still upset about the snakes.
The attendant's hands were gentle as she attempted to work on the lower end of the braid first. But after only a few careful tugs, she paused.
"This is quite an intricate pattern. Is it a traditional weave of some kind?"
I frowned slightly. She seemed to be
completely
human, so it was unlikely she knew anything.
"Yes. A bit of a family requirement where I grew up, you could say."
After another minute of
careful attempts
that were better than my own, she set the comb down and stood up with a professional smile.
"I think this might be beyond my expertise."
"Oh."
The
disappointment
that came out of me with that simple syllable was almost
manipulative
. I could see her face twist with concern.
"Normally we'd handle hair styling after your bath and massage treatments. That's just how the course is generally laid out. But in this case..."
She gestured to the wet and dark source of my darkened mood.
"I believe it would be far more comfortable for you if we adjusted the order slightly."
"Is that possible?"
Helene's
mandated
braid felt almost like the last thing keeping me from feeling 'at home' in this form.
"Of course. Our priority is your comfort throughout the experience."
While there were certainly plenty of arguments about the
wisdom
behind getting attached to this body... even if it were possible to give it back to the
deceased
woman, I'd prefer it to be without this symbol of her pack.
And if she truly wanted to in that instance? She could get someone to put it back up herself.
Call it the price of me helping that
hypothetical
her survive.
"I'm sorry if it is any imposition, but I really would prefer to have it undone as soon as possible."
"No problem at all. The salon specialists would simply be better equipped to handle this without causing any damage or discomfort."
Tess extended her hand and helped me to my feet. Ten minutes later, after waiting for a free 'stylist', I found myself seated in a salon chair.
Nimble fingers of a woman with
vibrant pink
hair carefully worked through my braid.
"This is a very distinctive style. Quite unusual to see in the city, though I've met a woman with it before. "
She commented in a friendly manner as she applied some kind of
sweet-smelling
detangling solution. I merely
hummed
in response, not wanting to explain its origins.
"She definitely didn't like my suggestion that it would be better clipped off, haha. Oh, don't worry, though. I was just trying to get her in my chair that day. I'll save yours right away."
As promised, it came undone under the stylist's
expert
hands. Long, straight dark hair I'd only seen in memories was left.
Memories
that weren't truly mine.
With the last strands free, I felt another piece of Helene's life falling away. The whine from the wolf inside proved I was not the only one who felt that way.
"There we go. Would you like anything else done while we're here? An easy trim perhaps?"
I considered it briefly, running my fingers through the loose hair. It was not the light, tawny,
cream color
I was familiar with.
Not the hair from the years that I'd been able to
transform
into a human from my original fox form.
But it was still
thick and healthy
looking. I had no doubt it might look passable if placed up in my preferred hairstyle.
The high
twin-tails
were one of the few things my mother allowed me to pick. To represent myself in public as an
individual shifter
in her human form.
"No. Nothing more for now."
I speak my answer
quietly
. While I'd already named myself for the soul now inside out loud to the Rimecoat's Alpha...
Styling this body after my old self may be just
a step too far
too quick. I can at least wait
a few hours
to see how I feel.
The pink haired woman only smiled while
brushing
it out for me one last time.
"You have beautiful hair. I hope I'm not too busy later to work with it, but another stylist can continue after your other treatments if I am. Please enjoy the rest of your visit."
Tess led me back to continue with the
original sequence
of treatments after that. I caught myself staring at the
reflection
in one of the many mirrors lining the hallway.
With this hair hanging loose around these shoulders, I looked quite different. Less like a
Duskpaw
she-wolf.
More like someone capable of making her
own choices
.