Been rough (Open)

[Djoser Aneksi]

Dj would give a playful smile. "Well if I'm allowed to suggest, I'd say let you deal with this and open up at your own pace. Though, in terms of immediate things to help, how about get you hydrated enough to sit up and kick the birds out of your hair. They have totally trashed the place."

[Kaia Galanos]

She was nodding along and with him until he mentioned birds in her hair.

"My wha-?"

She'd turn her head to look at the mess her hair had become.

"Oh for fuck's sake..."

She turns to start picking some of the twigs and leaves from her hair.

"Gods, I don't even know how long I've been here."

[Djoser Aneksi]

Dj would chuckle and offer her a big water bottle.

"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure I have one of my purses here." he would say opening the bag he had with him. He would eventually pull out one, opening it and pulling out a brush, a comb, and some products.

"Would you like me to do it while you sit up and drink some water?" He would say as though none of this seemed out of the ordinary.

[Kaia Galanos]

Kaia takes the water bottle, slowly cracking it open but stopping as she watches Dj fish out some brushes and products from his purse. She just nods in response to his offer to brush her rat's nest, apparently distracted by what she saw.

"Are...are you a hair stylist or just really prepared?"

Also ONE of his purses? Does he carry multiple? Is that a thing people do?

Either way she sits up and throws her lump of hair behind her so DJ can get to it.

[Djoser Aneksi]

Dj would smile and start going behind the bench as she spoke.

"I am a female impersonator and a dancer. Hair, makeup, sewing, it is all daily stuff for me. I just keep stuff on me in case I get invited somewhere and don't have time to go home."

He would say now starting to get to work, hands gentle and painless as he starts fixing up the tangles and cleaning out the foliage.

"How would you like it styled?"

[Kaia Galanos]

"Surprise me...I usually just leave it straight. Something new might be fun."

Not every day she let anyone touch her hair. As long as there's no scissors involved, she was open for a change. Even a small one such as that.

She'd take a few gulps of water, not having realized how much she'd needed it until now.

"What's a female impersonator? Like a spy?"

[Djoser Aneksi]

Dj would smile and continue working, now starting to apply light amounts of products and sprays to moisturize and and help him along. She said the magic words for him to do something really nice.

"There's another bottle in the bag if you need it." He would say with a genuine sweetness in his voice.

He would chuckle at the next statement. "Not quite that intense. It means I dress up and perform as a woman. Dance, act, sing, do comedy, and design looks ready for fashion week. Also called being a drag queen in some places."

[Kaia Galanos]

"Ah, so you're an entertainer. And a Queen to some people. So an icon."

She's not sure what the drag part implies.

"Sounds like the people here have accepted you."

[Djoser Aneksi]

Dj would giggle as he went about with her hair, now getting to the fun part of styling.

"Yup, I ended up making myself a decent life here. I'm pretty lonely, but otherwise fine."

He would say giving a smile, then asking "How about you, what living have you made for yourself?"

[Kaia Galanos]

"Lonely?"

As much as she wants to push on that subject, it was only fair to answer his question.

"First I went into a depression. Then I pulled myself out for like a week, trying to fulfill a promise to help others around me. I technically have an student but I can't figure out how to use my phone. Then the person I made the promise with to help people has disappeared. And then I tried to face my regrets but that just threw me into a new depression. I think this second one's going pretty well. A stranger found me on a bench becoming a bird nest."

She stares off at nothing, giving a wry frown.

"All I've managed to do is fight things, and at first it worked. That's all I know how to do. Fight. Fight people who disrespect me. Fight threats that appear. Fight, fight, fight. But I tried fighting for something that meant everything to me and it didn't matter. It all feels like a waste of time."

[Djoser Aneksi]

Dj would offer a simple nod when lonely was mentioned.

Then as she spoke again he would just listen. Taking it in while working on the finishing touches.

"Sounds like you are so used to fighting that you never learned to just put one foot in front the other. I can help you learn use your phone and help you find the person you made the promise to."

He would finish, taking a seat beside her as he sat down, offering a mirror to look at the honestly stunning work he produced.

"Ultimately though, the best advice I can offer you is to that YOU need to decide what's worth it to you. No matter what any other fuck says, you get to say what is valuable and everyone else can accept it or leave."

[Kaia Galanos]

She'd take the mirror, her face looking a bit embarrassed by then. But she'd give a soft smile as she looked at herself.

Somehow, whatever he did seemed to soften her features. Without the powerful stance she usually carried, Kaia was able to see a version of herself she wasn't sure ever really existed. It was...different. But the mirror also gave her a glimpse at the shell she was becoming. Tired. Unhappy. Hurting. It was more evident than she'd ever allowed it to show and it was almost disturbing.

"You really do good work...thank you." she'd say softly, mulling over the last bits of what he said.

"And you're right. I don't know if I'll ever find the answer but I'm the only one who gets to decide what it is at the end of the day. And I might not find that passion in myself for a while. Why is that bad? Why can't I give up for a bit? Maybe I need a break from trying to find immediate solutions."