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“I can’t believe this!!! You almost just LEFT!?!? Without telling us?!!” Mairwen’s voice pitched upwards again in annoyance. Sam cringed at the new octave his sister had reached, thankful their dad or Oliver weren’t nearby to hear it.
“It’s not that big of a deal…really it’s just-“
Mairwen stopped midway through another tussle of one particular spot of hair that refused to settle, “it’s a date! And you weren’t gonna tell us!!”
“It’s not a date!” He looked to Gauge for assistance. The young Paladin in training was sitting on the table beside the siblings, feet dangling back and forth as he watched the entire interaction while eating fruits from the bowl in the center.
Gauge shrugged as he bit into pear, “it’s kinda a date.”
Sam glowered at him, “you’re no help…”. He winced as Button tugged at a knot, “‘ey! Watch it!”
Button didn’t respond, instead booping him on the back of his head lightly, “if you’d listen and brush out your hair after swimming it wouldn’t get like this!”
“What would you know about that?? You have completely straight hair! My hair is all curls and springs!! Brushing won’t do shit!”
Gauge rolled his eyes as the siblings started up their often revisited argument. For a moment his mind drifted, wondering if Nyxia would have had an answer to the fight. He didn’t think so really. Nyxia’s hair, from what he remembered, was curly but not springy like Sam’s. The only person he could think of that would care enough to learn other people’s hairstyles would be-. Gauge straightened as the idea struck him, he glanced over to see the two still bickering, Sam refusing to be tugged and prodded further and Mairwen insisting she could “fix” his hair. He silently slipped out of the house, hoping he’d catch a good time to call before they started throwing things.
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Mairwen was just about to throw in the towel, and Sam was about to just start throwing things. His head hurt, his scalp was sore, he’d been poked and prodded by Mairwen’s claws as she tried to figure out a workable hair style for his “date” as she’d called it. He felt like almost crying. He missed his mom in moments like this. Sure she might not have known what to do with his hair either but she would’ve tried, and with less poking and tugging and yelling.
“Stop squirming! I think if I try this it might work.”
“Squirming?? You’ve been at this for forever! It’s been so long even Gauge left!”
“Gauge left?” Mairwen glanced over, realizing the Paladin had indeed disappeared. “Huh….I thought it was colder in here…anyways! I think I can get it if you
-“
“OW! Okay stop!!! Stop touching my hair!! Sto-“ both teenagers froze as the door opened. They heard Oliver excitedly squealing from nearby. Gauge walked in as if he hadn’t ditched them without a word. “And where have you been while she’s been tearing my hair apart?”
Gauge raised a hand before Mairwen could rebuttal the comment, “I brought back up that might actually help get this done before you’re late to your date.”
Sam crossed his arms grumpily, “it’s not a date.”
“Oh come now Sam! It may not be a date but that doesn’t mean you can’t look your best for whatever meeting you have planned!” Both teens paused as they looked past Gauge in confusion just as Jack swept into the room. His colorful purple coat and feathered hat sprinkled with the snowflakes that had begun to fall. He took the hat off with a sharp wave, clearing it of snow before setting it on the coat and hat hook near the door. He carried an oddly lumpy bag in one hand and his cane in the other, tapping his boots with it to clear them. That explained Oliver’s squeal. He must have brought Ari with him, which meant poor Miss Lacie was in for the ringer. Sam made a mental note to thank her extra next time he saw her.
“What are you doing here uncle Jack?”
Jack smirked as he took a step into the house. “Gauge told me there was a hair emergency that needed fixing, so of course I came running.”
“Isn’t running a bit of an exaggeration?” Mairwen made a snarky motion towards his cane, a playful smirk on her face.
“For your information missy, it’s cold up here so my leg is acting up but I can run just fine! Now I have to fix the mess you’ve made of your brother’s hair. Go on, shoo! Go talk gossip with gauge or something.” He tapped at her feet and legs gently with his cane. Despite the limp and relaxed nature Jack had developed over the last few years both kids knew he was still a force to be reckoned with if they tried their luck, so Gauge and Mairwen ducked out quickly.
Sam blinked up at Jack, noting his lack of coils or springs, instead his hair being natural flowing waves. “Uh no offense Jack but-“
Jack gently took some hair into the palm of his hand, stepping behind Sam as he did so. “Oh please Sam, do you know how many rats I met and bags I had to brown nose with this type of hair? Trust me, I won’t tug like Mairwen either…I can practically see where she did.” Sam relaxed slightly as Jack started gently leafing through his hair before going for the bag he brought. “Okay so first off your hair is much too dry, you need to keep it moisturized better, I assume Mairwen makes you dry it after you swim?” He pauses his rummaging to glance over his shoulder, Sam nodding quickly. “Yeah that checks out, don’t do that, not with your hair type. You’re also using the wrong brush, you need a comb, preferably ceramic, especially if you’re styling it.” Jack sat up quickly as he held one such comb up in victory, “here we go! Now! We’re going to wet the hair and untangle AS we comb.” Sam nodded immediately trying to keep track as Jack continued to work, giving him pointers and tips.
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A few hours later found Sam returning to the home. Stomping the snow from his boots as he did. Gauge was sat in the living room, forced to be a human heater for the kids as they giggled and colored on the floor. Mairwen sat beside him, half asleep as she leaned against him and talked about the latest gossip of the monastery. Jack meanwhile still sat at the table but now with his boots propped up on it and chair leaned back so only two legs remained on the floor. He was pretty sure his mom wouldn’t have allowed that if she was here. Judging by the smirk on Jack’s face when he saw Sam looking, he was also pretty sure Jack knew that. Jack leaned forward and took a sip of tea, raising an eyebrow, “how’d it go?”
Gauge and Mairwen immediately sat up straight, looking at him with earnest as well. Sam sighed, “I told you it wasn’t a date. And if it was, it didn’t go great. We just talked about training the whole time and then went our separate ways. I told you, I dont want to date.”
“Was she cute though??” Mairwen oofed as Gauge elbowed her hard. “Ow! What? It’s a valid question!!”
“Dating is hard,” Jack held up a hand before Sam could protest, “and not every
one needs or wants to date. And that’s fine too. I’m sure if your mom was here she’d tell you to just relax. Let whatever happens, happen.”
Gauge snickered, “actually I think first she’d say ‘Jack get your damn boots off my table!’” Jack shrugged and then nodded in agreement.
Sam chuckled slightly before sighing and starting towards his room. Just before he closed the door he remembered something, peeking back out of the hallway quickly. “She…she did say she likes my hair though…”
Jack’s usual smirk paused for a moment before becoming a genuine, soft smile at the young man. “Well then, tomorrow I’ll give you more pointers so you can do it yourself if there’s a next time. Deal?”
Sam smiled and nodded, “deal.”