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“My god, your hair is so soft!” Barry mentioned, only having lightly touched it as he moved the strands away from Mitchell's face. The man turned red slightly, no comment. He very rarely had his hair down, and sure as hell didn't let anyone touch it. He's had…a surprising couple incidents surrounding how edible his hair looks.
“It's…rather easy to take care of.” He admits. Really, all it needed was hot water. Which…also sounds edible in hindsight.
Barry hummed a small tune as he grabbed out his makeup, unsurprisingly chipper. “Well it's beautiful. I think you should let it down more!” He exclaims, before taking a quick glance of himself in the mirror as he turns to Mitchell. “Which is a bit…uh…”
He trails off, looking for the word, and Mitchell tries to tell him in the nicest way possible. “Hypocritical?” He mutters quietly. Barry snaps his fingers.
“Yeah! That one. It's rather hypocritical of me to say that, I guess. But my hair isn't that soft, that's for sure.”
He pulls out a soft brush, and Mitchell reminisces on how he got in this position.
“Barry asked about doing my makeup one day.” He hummed casually to Freddy, no food or drinks in his hands for once. The fridge looked at him, eyebrows shooting up.
“Oh, cool! What did you say?” He asked, and Mitchell tensed slightly.
“Uh…I told him I'd think about it. I'm not sure how makeup would benefit me, really.” He admitted. Freddy shrugged.
“Dude, he's not asking you just to make you look pretty. He's asking you cuz he wants to hang out. Barry is really sweet, I'm sure you'll like him.”
And that's how Mitchell had found himself here, currently sitting in a chair and staring at himself through the mirror. Barry seemed happy enough, and Mitchell felt the tension in his shoulders slowly start to burn away.
“You're doing makeup for everyone now?” Mitchell asked, vaguely remembering when Reggie had walked through the house with newer makeup just days ago. Mitchell hadn't thought much of it, but immediately Scandalabra had somehow pieced it together and bounced around telling everyone.
When Reggie caught wind of that, he really wasn't happy. Mitchell hadn't heard from Scandalabra much in the last few days…
Barry shrugged with a small smile. “Ah, anyone who is agreeing. I've been so bored, and doing makeup on myself has become quite old…”
He opens a compact, blowing off some leftover powder. “I'm worried others will find it annoying that I'm asking, but…oh, I'm just so stuck these days. Talking to others helps.”
Mitchell actually listens along, nodding his head. He can slightly understand that, just slightly. He's aware his food criticism can seem…harsh, sometimes, but Mitchell is no stranger to sometimes wishing the others liked him a bit more.
He stays silent, letting Barry fill the silence with his rants. The more the man talks, the more he regrets not talking to him more. Barry's words were oddly comforting, even if they weren't addressed towards him. Sure, he tended to go off topic—in fact Mitchell wasn't sure if he was ever on topic—but Mitchell didn't mind it much. He thought he would have to hang onto every word, but it seemed not even Barry could remember what he was previously saying.
“Y'know, I was gonna ask your friend as well. Freddy?” Barry mentioned, brushing off some stray powder on Mitchell's face. The critic looked up at him finally.
“Oh, really? He is the one who convinced me, I'm sure he'd say yes.” Mitchell replied smoothly, thinking it over. Yes, Freddy might not mind this at much. Except for…
“His fur makes me nervous.” Barry chuckles. “I don't wanna mess it up. Or get any product in it.”
That draws a slight laugh out of Mitchell, who agrees. “He wouldn't mind it much, he'd probably laugh it off.”
“Hm, you two are close?” Barry asks absentmindedly, leaning down to Mitchell and gesturing for him to close his eyes. He runs his fingers over the man's eyelids, blending out something. The touch is gentle.
“Oh, Of course we are. Freddy is a huge contribution to…well, keeping me alive I suppose.” Mitchell finally answers. Immediately, he can see Barry perk up when he opens his eyes.
“Oh! I forgot about that. I always wondered how that stuff works, Y'know? Like, I have an expiration date and all but I assume it's way more deadly for you. And like- do you have to stay near Freddy constantly? I always think about Daisuke as well, however the hell that works-”
Mitchell lets Barry ramble again, hearing himself be addressed several times but knowing he doesn't actually require an answer.
Eventually, Barry takes his hands off of Mitchell and lets him admire himself. Mitchell of course can't lie, he looks flawless. He'd never been one for makeup, and dolling himself up, but looking at his face he feels the sudden urge to…do it more. Because up until now, he had no idea he could look this good.
Even down to his hair, still out of its natural ponytail, it looks good for once. He had always had trouble with the curls, but they seemed to compliment his face in some sort of way. Perhaps sensing his shock, Barry laughs.
“Everyone here looks amazing, but there's nothing wrong with looking different.” He laughs, gathering up his makeup. Mitchell looks at him, gratitude pouring, and silently realizes he said ‘different’, not ‘better.’
“Thank you Barry…” He says softly, still admiring himself. And then he clears his throat and tries to regain his slightly stern composure, but even then he can't say anything critical. “5 stars.” He simply settles for, watching Barry's grin widen.
“Oh, I'm so glad you like it!” He exclaims, clasping his hands together.
Barry reaches over to the counter, grabbing Mitchell's ribbon and handing it to him. “I'd love to do your hair, but I don't want to touch it so suddenly.” He admits. Mitchell takes the ribbon and stares down at it.
“I…might keep my hair down.” He says quietly, looking down at the ribbon and then up at himself. Barry claps his hands.
“Go for it! You look beautiful with or without it.”
Mitchell listens to him, but doesn't break contact with the mirror. Just softly smiles.
He really does.