Not her natural color?! No way.

[Wendy Eponine Moira Davreaux]

Even though Wendy wasn't new to Walten City, she was still not familiar with it like she used to be. As a child, she liked to stay inside or play in the park, never one to really run off and play in the dirt. Hell, the last time she was really here was when she was still a child. Things hadn't changed all that much, but at the same time, some of the store fronts were different and someof them weren't even there at all. She still remembered teh Jolly Rogers candy store and the old music place, but places like Slade's lazar tag were new. It was intensely sad knowing that she had missed out on so much that happened in the town. It had been her choice though, one that she didn't regret, even if she did feel sad about it.

She was back though, Wendy Eponine Moira Davreaux was back, and that meant a huge adjustment. No more New York city streets where you were pushed aroud. No more high end boutiques to shop in, and also no more hairdresser that knew your every secret. Robert was the best hairdresses and just before she left she had managed to get an appointment with him. He was always chattering away about his latest boyfriend, while he processed her hair and she always loved bouncing book ideas off of him. She would love to fly him down to Walten, but sadly it just wasn't possible and she had gone long enough to start really noticing her roots. When she has first noticed it, she grimaced and pretended it wasn't there, but another week later, it was just starting to look a little dull.

That's when she had to make an appointment with someone in town. There were very few salons in Walten, but she picked one anyway and made an appointment. Hopefully, she wouldn't come out looking like a poodle or something equally as awkward. Now, Wendy had always been a redhead. Her brothers weren't even close and it was always really annoying as a child, but she loved her red hair. Well, it was mor a natural strawberry blond a dark version of it, but all the same. Most of the time, she would only get the color one or two shades darker and then a shine boost, to make the color just really pop, and she was thinking that is exactly what she would do today. She needed a little girl time, plus her thoughts were all over the place, with her publisher trying to call her damn near everyday, and the meeting with Rachel, and then the whole Jean thing on her mind; she felt like her plate was getting rather full and she just was't hungry.

Leaving Mode, with several bags in hand she pulled out her phone and checked the time She had just enough time to head around the corner and down the street to get to her appointment on time. Heading toher car, she placed the bags in the back of the dark blue prius, and smiled, as she replaced her lip gloss onher lips and started walking. Walten really was a lovely city and she had missed it a lot, but New York would probably always be home or maybe walten would. It was so confusing. Sighing, she pushed her way through the door to the salon and went to the reception desk. Taking her sunglasses off, she shifted her purse and spoke. "Wendy Davreaux, color with Lilianne please." The receptionist smiled and told her to have a seat.

Moving to one of the lush couches, she sat down and set her bag next to her, thinking of her purchases earlier that day and how she really did need to call her publishing house, avoid her boyfriend or was it ex boyfriend, well avoid whatever he was and tell them that her script was coming along wonderfully and that she had a new idea on a book. She absorbed in her thoughts as she flipped through a magazine and missed when her name was called the first time. On the second time, when the women spoke a little louder, she looked up. Grabbed her bag, tossed the magazine to the side and followed the person until she got to the seat. That was where she met her new favorite hairdresser. "Well hello there, Lilianne." She said as she set down her bag again, and sat in the chair. "I'm not completely sure what do with it." She picked up a dry lock of hair and let if fall. "While I lived in New York, I got it colored with a shine added, but I'm not sure. What do you think?" She asked the gorgeous blond while looking at her through the mirror.

[/color][/b];; lilianne
`notes;; finally!
`words;; nine hundred and ninety nine
`outfit;; smexy clothes
`lyrics used;; use somebody - kings of leon
`graphics by;; x_faline of caution
`credit to;; rora @ hos[/font][/size][/ul]

[Lilianne Madeleine Lawrence]

Although she refused to class being efficient as a bad thing, when she was sat in work at a quarter past seven in the morning, she found it hard to accept being early as a good thing. One hour and forty-five minutes early. For a job in a place she owned, a job where she was completely in charge. If she were late, there was no boss to reprimand and eventually fire her (though, of course, taking advantage of this too often was just bad form). And so, as she stared at the clock, she found herself wondering: why? She had slept perfectly, but had awoken far earlier than was normal for her, and without a hint of tiredness. Trying to return to sleep was not an option, so she’d gotten up and began to get ready for work, taking advantage of the fact that time, for once, was on her side. And she was still pulling out of her driveway at seven a.m., figuring she’d find something to do at the salon since her own home appeared to have gotten so boring without bothering to notify her that it was happening.

And so there she was, waiting for the rest of the staff to show up and finding ways to kill time. Full manicure, full pedicure, re-curled hair, another coat of nail polish. Eight a.m. She contemplating calling someone, and then realised that everyone she knew was either going to be asleep, in work, or on their way to work. Lilianne did not deal well with being left alone, with nothing or nobody but her thoughts for company. It made her think too much, and that could never be a good thing. An hour of reflection to begin a day full of appointments, where she had to smile and be chipper and pretend to care about Mrs. Whathername’s daughter’s friends drawing of a puppy-tree hybrid? Not a good idea. She pulled open the drawer which contained the vast number of nail-polishes, the colours staring up at her, startling in the clean-white which adorned the majority of the place. She set to organising the shades properly, throwing out the empty bottles and noting that she needed to order more of certain ones in. That was how she was when everyone else arrived, and she was glad of the company.

Three hair trims, two leg waxes and a bride who had to have absolutely everything done to the highest of standards, Lilianne checked her book. Wendy Davreaux. She paused and thought for a moment, then decided that she’d never actually seen this girl before. It was always best to think about it first, otherwise you could end up with an awkward situation where you tell someone else’s secret because you’ve got your clients mixed up, or where you say ‘nice to meet you!’ and it’s actually the third time you’ve seen the person… Though on the whole, Lilianne was pretty good with people and names and conversations. She’d taught herself to retain information just in case of aforementioned situations, where embarrassment could be avoided with a little bit more attention. Perhaps that was why she could not do some of the things some might consider ‘essential life skills’ very well… like cook. She smiled a little to herself as she waited for her next client, hoping she would not be completely dull… goodness knows she’d had enough of those types today.

It had already been a long day, and she knew that coffee was helping her situation along. And yet, even before her first cup of what she called ‘liquid energy’, she had not felt tired. Honestly, she’d started drinking the stuff this morning because she felt like she should, probably because her five o’clock wake-up had completely baffled her. As completely baffled went, anyway. But she was feeling incredibly chipper – more so than was usual – and knew she had better reign herself in or she’d just bubble away or something… this was weird. She should be in a bad mood, or at least tired, but the thought only made her grin a little to herself as her reflexes made her blow on the already-cold coffee which she cradled between her palms. She set it down away from her when she saw who she assumed was Wendy coming towards her, and admired the shade on her hair as she sat down.

She quickly adjusted to the fact that this girl was pretty straight to the point, nodding (as was custom, she had quickly learned when she was just an apprentice in shop back at home) as Wendy told her what she was used to doing with her hair. “I think I refuse to put any shade other than red back on here,” she replied, “You don’t see enough redheads around this town. It suits you.” She disappeared for a moment and came back with a book, flipping it open to reveal a page full of little samples of hair in different shades of red. “Maybe a little darker?” She gestured to a shade just up from the one who thought Wendy already had on her hair, and then added, “So you’re from New York?” The blonde couldn’t really understand why anyone would want to move from New York to this small town in North Carolina… not that she didn’t love the place, but didn’t everyone usually talk about the irreplaceable hustle and bustle of city life of New York? Still, that lifestyle wasn’t for everybody. Perhaps what Wendy had to say about the place would shed some light on the matter for Lilianne.

[Wendy Eponine Moira Davreaux]

Wendy didn't consider herself ugly, that just wasn't very nice. Truthfully everone had something about them that was gorgeous. She also didn't think that she was completely obsessed with her looks. She was very in the middle. At home, when she was chained to her laptop because her muse had decided to pop in for a chat, she was usually in a pair of sweats that didn't match or had holes in them, bare feet, and her hair in a mess on the top of her head that if normal people looked at would probably say that there was some sort of birds nest in it. At the same time, she loved clothing and looking nice when she actually went out. She wasn't really a label whore or at least she didn't want to consider herself a label whore, even if it might be slightly true. She liked good fashion and looking pretty and fashionable when she was actually seen in public.

Now grooming whent with the territory. She got a manicure every once in a while, eyebrow waxing among other areas, pedicures, hair, the works. It wasn't really required and if she had ever the need to cut back on things, those items would probably be the first to go, but it was nice to spend money on yourself and just have a day where you looked stunning, plus it was extremely relaxing, and at this moment she needed some serious relax time. She knew she was being abrupt when she sat down in the chair and started talking about what she would do with it, but at the same time, she wanted to get that boring part over with, because she just really wanted to chat. She just needed someone to talk to and no not a therapist, they were just way too stuffy.

She laughed slightly when Lili said that there weren't enough redheads around town. "Oh I totally agree! It's such a shame. So red it is." She waited a beat until Lilianne came back with a look book filled with colors. Looking down at her suggestion, she quickly looked in the mirror, analyzing the choice. "Works for me darling, this is your thing after all. I'm clueless when it comes to hair." She gave a warm smile. The thing most people didn't really consider was that you had to have complete and total faith in your hairdresser. If you didn't trust them then you could end up with some wretched hair that looked worse then it was before you walked into the place. That is why certain salons cost a fortune and some required monthly training. That is also the reason that most hairdressers were friends with their clients. Having your hair done is not only theraputic but a great way to make friends and at the same time enemies. Settling herself into the chair to get a little more comfortable, she began to answer her early question. "Oh yeah, well, I guess you could technically say I'm from here. At least Walten is where I was born, but New York will always hold a special place in my heart. Are you from here or somewhere else?"

She removed her leather jacket, tossed in on the top of her purse, and picked up a magazine, while not really looking she started to flip through it as Lili got all the things that were required for a hair color. Crossing her ankles, she took a deep breath and tried to let all her worries go as she put her hair in the hands of a professional.

[/color][/b];; lilianne
`notes;; not as long as I wanted, but sill okay i think.
`words;; eight hundred and twelve.
`outfit;; smexy clothes
`lyrics used;; use somebody - kings of leon
`graphics by;; x_faline of caution
`credit to;; rora @ hos[/font][/size][/ul]

[Lilianne Madeleine Lawrence]

In a town which was obsessed with beauty, in a country which was obsessed with beauty, in a world which was obsessed with beauty, it was strange for a beauty salon in the centre of that chaos to be struggling. When most people had at least something about them they did not like, something they wanted to improve on, a business with little competition, such as that of Lilianne Lawrence, should be thriving. But facts and figures were just that, unalterable and impossible to ignore, and lately, they had been playing on Lilianne’s mind far more often than she cared to admit. A dip in a graph, a change she noticed even without the aid of a mathematically trained eye. Decline in profit. The red line redder and steeper week on week. Lilianne’s worry and the resulting smile increasing with the descent of her livelihood. She had to do something, she knew that, and she would. Just as soon as she worked out just what the required ‘something’ was. She would be brainstorming, asking customers, roping in her friends until she could work it out. This could not go on. Give her a month. Give her a month, and she would start so save her salon.

As she straightened up the numerous bottles of skin lotions in what she affectionately deemed ‘the nail area’, she giggled to herself. She was surprised to find that thinking on methods of advertising her services, as it were, was fun. The idea of producing posters with images of her helpful friends sporting awful hair-dos, excess facial hair and other things one might deem, in the world of perfection, ‘ugly’. It was amusing, but not because it could not work. She had no doubt that it could, because really, what was going to shock people into spending out to improve on their look than images of the most ‘un-groomed’, and yes, unfortunate? But that would be politically incorrect, and the result of people avoiding her salon like the plague was not entirely implausible. Maybe she just needed posters. Good, old-fashioned advertising posters, with no doctored images. Something just over-the-top enough to catch people’s attention. In her head, she constructed the images and thought about where would be best to go to get them properly designed and produced, until she was informed that her next client was here.

She was pretty, striking in a subtle sort of way. This only led to a similar thought she’d voiced at the gym only last week: it was rare that she saw truly unfortunate, or even plain, looking people in her salon. Hell, in this town. Perhaps there was a section she’d missed at the airport which prevented ‘them’ from entering the city. It was like something from a film, and rather amusing. But the people who visited Lili were, on the whole, very pretty already. Just like the people she saw at the gym were, on the whole, very fit already. Still, there was something about Wendy. She had presence, personality, and Lilianne knew that she liked her already. Straight to the point. Conversation always seemed easier that way, not so much of a job. That was one of the ways she would later rely on to separate her paying customers from her friends. She was also very glad that Wendy Davreaux had not come here to instruct her to put a different colour on her hair. She always hated having to listen to customers when she knew what would and would not suit them, whilst they seemed to be completely clueless. That was why she sometimes… well, misheard instructions. And the end result was, nine times out of ten, pretty good anyway, so the born-brunette couldn’t really complain when her hair was dried to reveal only caramel highlights and not a full head of peroxide blonde. It would be senseless.

And she also appreciated how willing her new customer was to trust Lilianne. There were not many who would do that, particularly not straight off the bat. She grinned as she slipped the sample hair piece free of its clip in the book and held it next to Wendy’s hair, her face. The shade wasn’t actually that much different, but it would be noticeable when it was all done. Revitalised. She was quite looking forward to seeing the outcome, for it wasn’t often she got to play with red hair. “I’m sure you’re not. I mean, you made the decision to go red in the first place. Or is it completely natural?” She then set about gathering her things, not bothering to ask one of the girls who seemed to just flit about all day (did she really need to employ her?) to neither get her the colours nor return the book. It was quicker if she did it herself. She knew where everything was. “I see. So which one do you call home?” She looked between Wendy’s mirror-image and the foils she was folded, quickly but carefully. “Me? Oh, I’m terribly English. Oh crap, I’m doing that really annoying accent-slipping thing, aren’t I?” she bit her lip with over-emphasised horror, then grinned. Leo had pointed it out to her first, that she would sometimes slip into the accent of the city depending on who she was with. Not a good thing, since it could be perceived as mocking. Maybe the woman just needed to spend a little longer at home next time. “What’s it like, in New York?” She diverted, acknowledging the potential awkwardness and trying to divert the conversation. Besides, the little girl who dreamed from the big city in her was desperately curious to know about this place she’d not yet had chance to visit.

[Wendy Eponine Moira Davreaux]

Wendy could admit that since moving back to Walten she was a bit lonely. It was hard just picking up everything you had, leaving your friends and heading back home to a place that held such interesint memories. They weren't always bad, and she loved her mother immensly, but there were certain things that she would much rather forget or not encounter. Some called it avoiding, Wendy liked to think of it as strategical emotional diversion. Okay, so perhaps it was avoidance, but whatever. She didn't want to deal with her brother's angry words or her father's hate for what she did, she just wanted things to magically work themselves out. Life didn't work that way though, so she would just have to make due. She was good at making due, she Wendy knew how to balance life, or at least she thought she did. She was sure that certain people would have very different opinions on that matter. She was flipping through the magazine with a flippiant uninterest about her. She didn't really care what the models were wearing or how skinny they looked or how to loose a guy in ten days or whatever insane articles were there. She was merely doing it, so amuse her hands, because if she didn't she would probably tap against the arm of the chair. Not out of boredom or annoyance, but simply because she was always moving.

As Lilianne moved around, moving books and grabbing tubes of color and stuff. Wendy smiled. "Oh well, I'm naturally a redhead, but most times it's a lighter shade. I just to go a bit darker every once in a while. I don't think i've every really changed the color." She thought about it a moment. "Oh well, actually, I went super close to blonde. Not sure if I will ever do that again." She gave a little laugh and looked at herself in the mirrior. She always found it rather interesting the coloring process. Even if it was horrible for her hair, it was still pretty interesting. As long as you stayed true to your natural color, those people that walked around with streaks of neon strips in her hair were just ugly. Why did people think it was okay to do that? "Have you ever done anything besides blond with your hair. Which looks amazing, by the way." She let her speak, and smiled again in the mirrior. She was doing a good job, Wendy didn't feel like her head awas being pulled in a million different directions.

"Oh, man, I consider New York my home, probably, after all my publishing house is there, and where..." she was about to say her boyfriend, but he wasn't really her boyfriend anymore. That whole mess was more complicated then she wanted to get into. Although she desperately needed someone to talk to, about the whole mess. "Well that's where a lot of my friends are there, so I guess yeah." She waited for a moment, laughing at her self in the mirrior, she did look a bit silly with her hair half in foils. "England, well that awesome. I actually spent a lot of my school years in France, took me forever to get rid of the blossoming accent." She looked around the salon a bit, admiring it charm and ability to put you at ease. Perhaps if Lilianne had an open spot, she would extend her hair coloring, to a mani and pedi combo. "Oh New York is extremely fast paced, your always doing something, never stopping. Also you don't drive anywere, which si something that I'm really loving in Walten. I love having a car." She giggled. "Tell me about England, my brother went to school there, but I never really got to visit much."

[/color][/b];; lilianne
`notes;; sorry this took so long, I feel horrible about it.
`words;; ...
`outfit;; smexy clothes
`lyrics used;; use somebody - kings of leon
`graphics by;; x_faline of caution
`credit to;; rora @ hos[/font][/size][/ul]

[Lilianne Madeleine Lawrence]

Although it was far from the life she had dreamed up as a young girl in a world where anything was achievable, Lilianne was sometimes struck by the realisation that she actually liked her job and the lifestyle that accompanied it. Little things. Groups of giddy teenaged girls getting their first manicures. The occasional blue rinse with the politically incorrect old lady. Red hair. Today, it was Wendy Davreaux who delivered this reminder, and it was welcome. She had not been in a bad mood, but tiredness was approaching, and that was usually accompanied by a dampened mood for the blonde. At least she had more than nails to do this afternoon. And red. She was, embarrassingly, rather relieved when she was told that it was staying, because otherwise, she may have been going against this new customer’s wishes. She liked to at least make them think she was a good listener, keen to do as the client asked no matter what looked better, before she decided to do what she wanted anyway. But she knew she would have either refused to put a different colour on the girl’s hair, or simply have done ignored her instructions to do so anyway. Because after all, she would be right about this one if Wendy actually requested anything other than… well, red. Lili hummed to herself as she gathered the things required for a colour job, smiling at the lady getting a pedicure as she flitted about.

“Blonde, you say?” she asked on returning, pausing her work to place a bit of her own hair next to Wendy’s face and shaking her head. Completely the wrong tone. And besides, ‘super close’ to blonde was not the bright and, frankly, unsubtle blonde which Lilianne went for. “I imagine it would suit you. But I love red. I mean seriously,” she mouthed the word ‘love’ dramatically as she continued to swathe the younger woman’s hair with the orange mixture which seemed to alarm the first-time red-heads, who seemed to believe their hair would turn out that shade, too. Seriously, did they think Lili was that bad at her job? She saw things which would suit other people, she was gentle and she tried to keep the customers distracted – so not to put her off – and relaxed. Polite chit chat was absolutely key to this profession, and who knew, perhaps you’d make a new friend out of it in the end. Actually, when she really thought about it, most of her friends and acquaintances were people she’d met through the salon. Great. That was lovely. Could she be more popular? She responded to Wendy’s question with a playful curtsy and a smile, “Why, thank you, Miss. But nah, it’s been the same for years now.” She paused for a moment, let out a small sigh, then continued, “I went brunette when I was sixteen and having a real identity crisis crossed with a desire to change completely. You know, the usual angsty stuff. My best friend talked me out of that decision pretty quickly.” Thinking about it made Lili feel a little weird, but she thought it might be in a good way, and relaxed again once she realised that.

She sensed that Wendy wanted to say more about New York, though she didn’t completely trust that it was not simply her desire to hear more. But she was usually pretty good with that type of thing, and thought maybe she’d bring it up later, or try and get her new client to talk with as much subtlety as she could manage. The thought was actually quite amusing, but Lili herself never knew what she could do when she decided to actually do it. “You’re a writer?” she enquired, further intrigued. “Do you miss it? I mean, apart from the driving factor – excuse the pun – what’s keeping you in Walten?” It was very strange to her, that somebody would sacrifice that sort of lifestyle for this… though, she supposed, she didn’t really have anything to tie her to this small town, and she was still here nearly ten years later. Wow, had it really been that long? That kinda hurt her head to think about. “Are you serious, France? That’s awesome.” She smiled brightly, strangely excited by this new news, even though she probably should’ve guessed there’d be some French connections there, given the red-head’s surname and all. “So tell me, Miss Wendy… is Walten your original hometown, or…?” She giggled a little, moving towards finishing the colouring of the last small sections of hair, plastic gloves rustling as she did so. “England… well… it is, first and foremost, wet. I mean, seriously. I miss the rain sometimes,” she laughed, amused by the fact that this sheer-ridiculous statement was actually true. “It’s not a bad place, but… I don’t know.” She shrugged, not quite wanting to voice the opinion that there was no reason to stay in England unless you had people there to stay for. “Were you in France while your brother was in England, or something?” She asked, wanting to get away from Lilianne and back to Wendy.

(I'm so sorry this took so long, and that it's kinda terrible! xD)