pirateangelbaby | Hair Braiding For All

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amelia

Hair Braiding For All

Summer has come to Asvera, and the locals will swear it has never been so green. Sure, the weather is still a cool thirteen degrees Celsius, and the stiff sea breeze often makes it feel just that little bit more drafty, but the mountain on the mainland seems to have exploded in a carpet of wildflowers and grasses, the greenery flourishing in the village itself along the edges of the roads. The juniper trees' twisted boughs are full, the lavender planted along the footpaths tall and thick. Fluffy clouds cast shadows across land and sea as they drift across the endless blue sky, the sun never quite dipping below the horizon, and every day the fishing boats return with their holds laden heavy with cod and coalfish and halibut. The wooden frames of the hjell along the shoreline of the islands are packed full of drying fish, and inside the greenhouse and in the field before Thor's home, crops ripen underneath the polar sun.

The village is a bit more crowded these days, between the Asgardians and the Sakaarans and the humans, and new housing has been built on neighboring islands and on the mainland. But Thor's house is where it always has been, up on the bluff apart from the densely packed homes on the little archipelago.

Inside the house is a little more chaotic than it once was. Today has been a more trying day than many of late. Thor's head aches from hangover and not enough sleep, having awakened a little too early by Eindrid seeking solace from some night terror, and then Una demanding breakfast since he was already awake. The kitchen is a bit of a mess in the wake of the children's breakfast, sugary jam fingerprints on the table and bits of cheese on the floor, though the ravens are making short work of the crumbs and squabbling over who gets the largest piece. Sigrid and Agnarr gather up the dishes to put in the sink while Eindrid toddles away in search of the television remote, and Thor has Una seated on his knee at the table while he tries to tame her hair. A half-eaten slice of salmon toast sits at his elbow next to a coffee mug that contains little more than the dregs, and smells faintly of mead under the roasted coffee flavor.

More than once he's had to start over already, and Una is fussing under his hands as he undoes yet another braid. They're due to have a visitor today, and normally he's much better about making sure the place is presentable - well, as much as a house with four children can be - as well as the children, but today he is dragging. What time is it, anyway?

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Thor sits back, mugs between flesh and metal hands both, watching her work with a small smile on his lips. Keeping up with four children on his own is exhausting, and he is not quite certain how Loki does it. But there has been no shortage of those willing to help, whether it be Mrs Hedgeworthy, Loki's friends, or Thor's own friends. And watching Amelia go about her work with cheer makes it feel as though some of his own burden is lessened from his heart. "You're doing a fine job with them. We should keep a copy of the photos for when..." When Loki comes back. When, not if. He has to believe this.

Una looks a little disappointed at having to give up the phone, but she hands it over reluctantly, twirling the end of one braid between her fingers. "It's okay. It's Sigrid's turn."

That little hesitation doesn't go unnoticed, but Amelia doesn't have time to address it before Una offers back her phone. She schools her expression into a neutral one to avoid any of the children catching on to their uncle's sadness, though she spares a teasing wink to Una as she takes back her phone. "We'll simply have to take more photos when I do your hair again - or make you go after your siblings so you can hold onto my phone for a little longer," she jokes.

With her phone again in her possession, the rogue takes a quick photo of Sigrid's hair before offering the girl her phone. "Let me know what you think. If it needs any adjusting, let me know." She offers a warm smile to Sigrid and then turns her attention to the remainder of Loki's children. "I didn't see who washed up next," she muses, an eyebrow arched at the boys. "Have you decided who comes next? I need to do your uncle's hair last to make sure I have enough ribbon for all of you."

It's a bit of a ploy on her part, but she wants to check on Thor while she has the chance. Between the state of the children when she arrived and the way he can't say his brother's name, Amelia's worried about him. She's not always the right friend to talk to about the harder parts of life, but she's known both Thor and Loki long enough to feel like she can at least make an attempt. If her friend needs her, she'll open herself up to him and offer her shoulder, ear, and whatever else she can to help him through what's ailing him.

Thor watches Amelia work in relative quiet, sipping at his coffee, a nostalgic look in his eye as the braids take shape. It's not exactly identical, but the style she's chosen for Sigrid reminds him of how his mother wore her hair at times. Just having this time to sit and worry about nothing more than keeping the ravens from raiding any unattended breakfast pastries, or going after the bits of ribbon that aren't being used just yet, is doing him well as he looks quite a bit more relaxed than he was when Amelia arrived.

Even though she can clearly see her sister's hair, Una still peers over Sigrid's arm at the picture on the phone. The older girl looks pleased with her hair, not spending nearly as long as Una to look it over. "It's very pretty. Thank you, Lady Amelia."

Eindrid still seems fairly drawn to the television, which is still on, but Agnarr looks reluctant to go first. The toddler's hair isn't quite long enough to do something elaborate, but it seems unlikely he'll mind much. Sigrid hops up out of the chair and holds her arms out to the little boy, who lets her pick him up without much fuss. "Come on, Ein, we need to do your hair so you can be pretty like us."

While Sigrid works to get Eindrid set up in the chair for getting his turn, the rogue spares a moment to look over at Thor. It's not unusual for him to be quiet if she comes over early in the morning, but between her presence and all of his charges, he usually has at least a little more to say. It's worrisome to see him sit there and offer nothing unless directly spoken to. Her lips press into a thin line briefly as she narrowly avoids sighing in silent frustration. She's going to need a way to talk to him without the children overhearing their conversation.

But that will have to wait until after the children are fully braided and ribboned. Amelia turns her attention back to Sigrid and Eindrid and huffs a small laugh. "I have several ideas for shorter hair," she says, her eyes focused on the small boy. "I can do a braid that uses much of your hair across the top of your head or I can do a few small braids. Do you like one idea over the other?"

Eindrid shrugs, mostly just caught up staring at his sister's hair in curious wonder. Sigrid offers Amelia a small smile, getting back on the chair with her little brother on her lap. "I wanna see the big one," she suggests.

Thor does not catch the look she gives him, draining the rest of his coffee to the dregs and absently combing his fingers through his beard. Huggan hops up in front of him on the table, intent on copying him, which shortly turns into an actually attempt to groom him. Thor chuckles under his breath and doesn't move to stop the raven, just leaning forward on his elbows. With a little fortified coffee in him, and a reprieve from trying to corral all four children, things aren't quite so overwhelming all at once.

"Una, will you help wash up the dishes?" he asks, once Huggan gets distracted. The pastries are down to crumbs, and everyone's cups emptied, and normally he'd just stack the dishes in the sink to deal with later, but they have the time to clean up the kitchen properly.

Amelia watches Thor and Una make their way into the kitchen before turning her attention to the two children sitting in front of her. "A larger braid it is," she affirms. She shifts her chair to allow her a better angle to weave a braid across the top of Eindrid's head, being extra gentle with the small boy. From all her time with Loki's children, she's determined it's best to use a lighter touch with the small boy when they do things like this. It works better for a braid in short hair like this, too, especially with the extra time it takes the rogue to work in a length of ribbon into a braid that doesn't leave much space for it.

Once she's finished her work, she looks over the braid carefully and then smiles brightly at Eindrid. "It looks very handsome on you, if I'm allowed an opinion." Amelia winks and then quickly takes a picture with her phone so she can show it to the boy. When he has the picture in front of him, she sits up and turns her attention to Agnarr.

"It's your turn next. Do you have something you'd like me to try for you?" She offers her hand to the boy to encourage him closer. "I have plenty of ribbon and all the time necessary to get this just right for you."

There are moments here and there where Eindrid squirms or fidgets, not because of anything in particular that Amelia is doing, but because it's hard to get a toddler to sit still long enough for this sort of thing without anything to distract him. Aside from that, however, Amelia is able to finish her work without any major incident, and when she hands him the phone he blinks at it. "Me?"

"Yes, you," Sigrid answers, giving him a little hug. "Say thank you, Lady Amelia."

"Tank you," he chirps obediently, not looking up from the phone. There's only so long a still image will hold his attention, of course, admiring his hair or not, and he leaves the phone behind as he wanders back in the direction of the television. Sigrid goes with him, picking up the dropped phone to hand to Amelia before she goes, making sure the youngest among them isn't left unsupervised.

Now that all his siblings have been seen to, Agnarr seems to have no problem letting Amelia work her magic with his hair. He hesitates a little at the question before he signs, tracing lines on his scalp to indicate the style that he remembers from old Asgard. With his sisters occupied and his uncle washing dishes, no one stands ready to translate sign for her, but the older boy does his best.

The rogue laughs softly at the interaction between siblings, not at all offended by the way Eindrid's attention wanders. Despite how long it's been since her own sister was the boy's age, Amelia remembers very well how difficult it was to keep the girl's attention on anything for any length of time. That it's happening now while there are so many other things going on in the cottage doesn't surprise Amelia at all. If anything, she's surprised how well all of the hair braiding has gone so far. Three children are fully set and the last is waiting patiently for his turn. That's a victory in and of itself.

Communicating with Agnarr can be a challenge, but Amelia has become all the more patient as she learns all of his signs. The translation ring she wears wasn't designed to interpret this sort of language, so she's picked up a few phrases from books and from asking the boy directly to help her understand. It helps that she can still speak to him to ask for clarification if she's struggling.

The style the boy is trying to direct her to now is one she thinks she knows, but she wants to make be certain before she does anything to his hair. With a thoughtful smile on her face, she lets down her own hair, carefully tucking her hairpin into one of her pouches, and then lets out her braids. Her hair cascades everywhere, but she quickly works her fingers through it so she can try something. "Let me see if I have the right idea," she begins softly, her smile growing warmer, "and if I do, I'll stop doing my hair and do yours, all right?"

The pattern Amelia weaves into her own hair isn't exactly the same as what Agnarr was trying to indicate, but the rogue hopes it's fairly close. She has a lot more hair to deal with, which will necessitate adjustments to the style for the boy's sake and hopefully get them to a style he finds agreeable.

Agnarr watches her gravely, then shrugs and holds his hands further apart to indicate a greater spacing, then nods. It will be close enough to what he wants.

Across the kitchen, Una stands on a chair as she splashes in the sink, scrubbing at the dishes with a vengeance. If these were foes to vanquish, they would all be dead now, banished under the force of her soapy sponge. Thor watches her in mild amusement as he rinses the plates and places them in the rack to drip-dry. "I think it's clean."

"Not yet!" the little girl grunts, scrutinizing the plate and squeaking a finger across it. She plunges it under the soapy water again up to her elbows.

Even this little bit of direction helps a lot. Amelia nods and ties off her braid to free her hands. "Wider than what I have. I understand. I'll give it a try, and if it's not quite right, I'll try again. I have all the time in the world for you today." She smiles warmly at Agnarr and then quickly gets to work on his hair, her touch gentle but deft as she weaves his hair into a style that's very nearly what he's looking for. It's still a bit softer than he envisioned, in part because of the addition of the ribbon, but she has every intention of making sure all of the children have braids they're happy with before she starts on Thor's hair.

Though speaking of the other children, Una's exuberance earns a small laugh when Amelia peers over at the commotion coming from the kitchen. "Never interrupt a warrior on a quest," she calls over, still laughing a little. "I'm sure Una will know when the dish is truly clean."

As she finishes Agnarr's braid, Amelia ties off the small bun with another length of ribbon and then pulls out her phone. She's still uncertain about capturing the style correctly, but there's only one way to find out. Still smiling warmly, she takes a picture of the boy's hair and then offers him the phone as she kneels next to him. "What do you think? Be honest - I'm happy to adjust any part of the style for you."

"I know everything!" Una answers without looking over her shoulder, splashing the front of her shirt with soapy bubbles. Thor raises his eyebrows but doesn't argue. What will it hurt?

Agnarr nods and sits quietly, in stark contrast to Eindrid's irrepressible wriggles. From the living room, there are quiet sounds of colorful cartoons and a toddler's giggles, more sounds of domesticity that this house has not seen for a long time.

When Amelia is done, Agnarr carefully explores the braids with fingers that delicately brush over her handiwork, even before she shows him the photo. There's a look on his face that says he's thinking of something sad, but he nods, and signs thank you before reaching up to touch them again.

She can't tell if Agnarr is upset with the work she's done for him or something else. Her hope is the latter, but she'll still worry at least a little until someone assures her otherwise. After storing her phone in her pocket, she signs you're welcome to him and offers him a warm smile. "Thank you for trusting me with this," she tells him. "I can't wait to do this for you again sometime."

Getting to her feet, Amelia turns her attention to the kitchen. "That leaves only your uncle to take care of, and I believe I have just enough ribbon left for him." She holds it up with a hand and smirks at him. "If Una is ready to release you, I need to fix you up to match all of your charges."

Agnarr nods in response, and goes to take Thor's place at the sink with Una, holding out his hand for the towel expectantly.

Well, there's no arguing with that. There's not much left of the dishes anyway, mostly just Una using the opportunity to splash around, which will no doubt lose her interest soon enough. Thor hands over the dish towel, smiling at Amelia. "You're going to save a copy of those pictures for Loki, right?"

"Of course. I'll send them to you as well, in case the children would like to see the pictures again before Loki returns." Because he will return. Amelia believes that without hesitation. She's not one for blind optimism or hope, but Loki is a survivor and a man of many talents. Even with so many struggles between him and his return to the Nexus, the rogue is certain he'll make it.

Once Thor is seated in front of her, Amelia leans over his shoulder to smile at him. "Do you have any preferences for your hair style today? I'll happily take any direction you might have before I get started."

"I'd like that," Thor says honestly, already trying to decide where he might be able to display the photos. There's a bookshelf with space for a frame or two, someplace where he and the children can both see themselves and remember the day. And maybe... maybe when Loki returns, they can add a sixth.

There is something oddly freeing about turning over his part of his care to another. His own mental health aside, it has been a very long time indeed since anyone outside of his family touched his golden tresses. And though it's grown long again since he was forcibly shorn, it lacks the meticulous grooming that Thor had given his hair up until he became a man. A little rougher, not as smooth or straight, nor as shiny. It will take time to reclaim his former glory, time and effort together, more than he has been able to devote to it alone. Having a little helping hand is a relief of sorts, requiring nothing more of him than to sit still, a feat he has mastered well over the past few years.

"I've always favored styles to keep it free of my face," he tells her thoughtfully, absently twisting the braid with Loki's dark lock in it between his fingers. "Like a thin crown, of sorts, over the rest. But... if you have other ideas, I trust you."

Thor's hair is still nice compared to others she's handled in the past and Amelia handles it with care as she combs it out with her fingers. Any knots or rough patches will be worked out properly before she begins any weaving, which gives her friend plenty of time to explain what he'd like. The idea is something she's fond of for him and that has many variations for her to choose from. The theme of the day is fancy, though, so her final choice is a relatively easy one for her to make.

"I have just the style for you. You'll have a proper crown when I'm done." She finishes combing his hair to flash him a smile and then begins her work, weaving ribbons into the sturdy crown she creates for him. As she's done in the past, she avoids touching or including the familial locks woven into his hair, leaving them to frame his face and offer him a more regal look. It suits him very well, in her opinion, though the children will be the true judges.

"Here," she offers Thor her phone after taking a quick picture so he can see. With that in his hands, the rogue turns about to get the attention of all of the children. "Did I do well for your uncle?" she asks them, a grin on her face. "I need everyone's approval before I can properly call my work here done."

Whatever style she's chosen takes some time to weave, but Thor does not mind. Her fingers in his hair are soothing, and if he was more tired, he might be tempted to nod off. As it is, he sits quietly, relaxed, listening to the sounds of the children in the living room and in the kitchen. Una eventually finishes dunking the plate she'd been so focused on, scampering out to the living room to join her sister and young brother in watching cartoons.

Thor's eyebrows arch when he sees the picture on her phone. "That's very elaborate," he says, not in a disapproving manner. It is the theme of the day, is it not? Thor does not wear a crown of precious metals - though he could easily have one made, if he'd desired - but this suits him better, he thinks.

Eindrid has little input, of course, but Una pouts a little. "It's fancier than mine," she says.

"That's because he's the king," Sigrid replies, with a small nod of approval. "He's supposed to be fancier."

Una considers that. "Okay then," she agrees.

"Everyone has something fairly elaborate," she reminds Thor with a teasing voice. "You weren't going to be the exception when the children are all ready for a fancy party." She laughs softly then takes back her phone. While the children inspect her work, she sends a copy of all of the pictures - Thor's included - to her friend so he can do with them as he will at his leisure.

Amelia arches an eyebrow at Una and then smirks at the small girl. "How about this: On your birthday, you will have the fanciest braid of all. A crown, if you like, or something even more fancy if I can find the right ribbons or hair decorations for it. It'll be your day and everyone will know it simply by the elaborate state of your hair. Deal?"

"Of course not," Thor agrees easily with a small chuckle. "We all have to match, don't we?" He doesn't just mean the children, of course. Amelia is part of this little get-together too, and she is the expert today.

Una's eyes light up, a childish anticipation in her gaze. "Can I ride the pegasus too?"

This is not the first time she's asked, judging by the look on Thor's face. "You'll have to ask the lady Valkyrie," he reminds her. "But I'll put in a good word for you, if you like."

This is apparently acceptable, because Una looks pleased by his answer. "Okay then."

"If we all have to match, I need to finish redoing my own hair," Amelia laughs. Her half-done version of the style she created for Agnarr is charming, but she has far too much hair for it to look nice the way everyone else's hair does. She also lacks enough ribbon to fill her hair, but that's a secondary issue at this point. She'll leave it for now, though, as her attention is best reserved for Thor and the children.

The rogue tilts her head curiously, then asks, "What's a pegasus?" Somehow she thinks this is going to be a terrible thing to ask (she should probably know this one by now), but it hasn't been a topic of conversation previous so she has to know. Knowing more about what the children like is always a helpful thing.

"I can give it a try, if you like," Thor offers, a little boldly. He doesn't know if she'd permit it, of course, which is why he leaves her an out if she would rather do it himself. But it seems appropriate to offer, after she's helped them all today.

Una's eyes go wide because how does Lady Amelia not know what a pegasus is? "It's a flying horse!" she proclaims confidently. "Every Valkyrie has to have one so they can ride it into battle."

"Val keeps him stabled on the far end of the village," Thor adds, which may explain why Amelia hasn't noticed it around. "We didn't think it was a good idea to keep him with the goats, in case they didn't get along. He is a war mount after all."

It's been a few years since she last let anyone do her hair; Partly because the rogue prefers to have control over how it's done, partly because there are few people she trusts enough to touch her at all. It's her way to give to others rather than let them give to her, but this is a unique case. Thor is a trusted friend and they've all been enjoying each other's company today, so it feels right to let him close like that.

"I'd like that," she tells him with a smile. She grabs a nearby chair and pulls it close, then frees her hair from the partially done plaits to allow Thor full access to all of it. With a last shake of her head to loosen any remaining knots, she offers him a last, reassuring smile and then turns her attention to Una, motioning for the girl to come closer so they can speak while Thor works on her hair.

"Valkyrie must keep him well guarded, then, which is why I'd never seen or heard of him." Amelia also has little reason to interact with the woman when she comes to Asvera to work, but that's something she doesn't need to offer to the child in front of her. "Even if you can't ride him on your birthday, I say we march our way to Valkyrie together and at least ask if we can meet him properly. He may be a war mount, but I'm sure he has a favorite treat we could offer to win his affection."

Not for the first time, Thor is grateful for Hephaestus's craftsmanship. The fingers of his prosthetic hand are nearly as deft as the living one, gently combing out her hair so it lays flat and straight before he begins separating locks for weaving. There are a few styles he knows, some more suited for her than others may be, but he has a feeling she may like this one, using the last bit of her ribbons to tie it off at the end.

Una's eyes glint fiercely at this suggestion, a look that may very well be mischievous if not for the fact that an adult endorsed this plan, therefore it must be above-board. "I bet he likes apples. Horses are 'sposed to like apples. But we don't have any gold ones."

"I'm sure Fjodrflotti won't be too picky," Thor assures her with a faint chuckle.

Amelia will be easygoing about whatever style Thor chooses, even if her own tendency is to choose something complicated for herself. The simple act of allowing someone to do this for her is what's important right now and the feeling of fingers parting and weaving her hair is enjoyable. A little jarring still, but far easier to handle than she would have assumed.

"Horses often love apples," the rogue confirms with a grin. "Gold, green, or any color. If there aren't any here in Asvera when your birthday comes, I'll bring several bushels from the Nexus. What our pegasus friend doesn't want, we can enjoy together instead." If Amelia happens to go out of her way to ask Valkyrie about other treats her steed enjoys to make sure they're available for Una's birthday, then it will simply be all the better when they go visit. With every option covered, there will be no need to worry about the pegasus not wanting to take something from the girl.

Thor's hands are large but gentle, taking care to separate the locks evenly and cleanly before patiently weaving them back together. It's something he finds soothing almost as much as Amelia working on his own, and he finds himself humming faintly deep in his throat as he works. When he's done tying off the last ribbon, he asks for her phone, and takes perhaps an excessively long time making sure the photo is framed correctly before tapping the button to save it. If she swipes back, she may find another photo or two in error, blurry or cut off at the border. But there is one that comes out well, and it is on the screen as he hands it back to her with pride. "There. What do you think?"

Una looks pleased by this proclamation, and leans into Amelia for a hug, something much easier accomplished with her sitting down. "Thank you, Lady Amelia."

The rogue is in the middle of looking over the picture on her phone when Una's arms are suddenly wrapped around her. She's familiar enough with the children that this kind of affection is all right, though she does issue a small 'oh!' in surprise. She hugs Una back for as long as the girl wants and then offers her a warm smile when she draws back. "You're welcome, Una. Always."

Once the girl's attention has shifted, Amelia looks back down at her phone. She doesn't comment on the extra photos Thor took, focusing instead on the final one that showcases his work. She gently touches the braid with her free hand to understand it better, her smile becoming wider as the complexity of it settles in. "It's beautiful," she tells him, turning her smile up at him from her phone. "Thank you. It's perfect for the theme of the day and you managed to use the last of the ribbon, too." She huffs a soft laugh as she gets to her feet. "I couldn't have done better myself, really."

Pleased that she likes it, Thor beams back at her. "You're welcome. I appreciate the chance to practice," he adds, wiggling his fingers a little. It's not really necessary to maintain his arm, of course, but any excuse to participate and help Amelia be included is worth it to him.

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Hair Braiding For All

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