#halek

blade: trauma/hypervigilance. doesnt trust someone with something sharp (scissors, clippers, razor) near his head. just chops pieces off himself with a knife when it bugs him. a very noticeable, shitty haircut. 

side: makes noticeable for any assassins. possibly so no one else can be mistaken for him as a side bonus so no one else gets hurt?. possibly had an actual haircut at some point but due to trauma/hypervigilance, does not any longer

other sidenote: theory: doesnt chop it all off because thats too close to norm nobles being bald??

trouble: doesnt care, just goes and gets a buzzcut a few times a year when it gets too long. not sure if he does it or a barber in ashtown does it. if ashtown, i bet the barber tries to do it for free and also begs him to do something with it. trouble pays anyway plus tip.

side note: i regret to inform everyone that trouble probably has a mullet/close to a mullet like at least a third of a year due to this. im so sorry

tallys: her cultural background and clan are important to her so she probably keeps her hair in specific styles and cuts deliberately. likely in protective styles and/or styles her clan traditionally had. may cut/braid her own hair, likely at least sometimes goes to the elven quarter for cut/styling/braiding/etc. i bet she has a big hair care routine with specific oils and herbs added to soaps she may have bought in the elven quarter. wash day feels like it would be a big big event for her, even more so. 

side note: if her clan had hair styles to denote grief i feel like she probably keeps her hair similar to those styles. maybe her hair is kept shorn/short in mourning, or kept simple instead of elaborate braids/twists/locs, or only simple braids/twists/locs

shery: shes from a norm merchant family and likes comfortable, calming things, and has long hair. she probably doesnt need to get her hair cut much, and also isnt in the field, so trims the ends of her own hair and goes to a good but not overly expensive salon occasionally. a nice haircut with hair washing and nice smelling soaps and such sounds like something she would really enjoy

chase: likes to look good, knows he looks good, fashionable. goes to a hairstylist fairly regularly when he has money (wont prioritize food/his people over it). good to maintain cover by looking good but not too good, or too bad to the point people know him by a bad hairstyle (potentially blade), or maybe even too distinctive hairstyle. probably changes it with whatever is fashionable because wants to stay “in” in both a genuine kinda vain way and ironic/joking way if anyone asks and also to not be too identifiable. 

riel: gets his hair cut regularly in a respectable, practical style that is low effort to maintain but is good looking and sets the right tone for interactions with merchants and rich people (i am rich and competent). doesnt want to deal with hair much but is aware of appearance and showing the correct image for the people he interacts with, and does want to look good. 

ayla: canonically long hair in a braid with a stone on the end. was a caravan guard and guide around blest and especially the jalis desert, so likely didnt go to a hairstylist. probably just chopped at her own hair occasionally. protective styles? her braid is made of smaller braids? never really seen otherwise. maybe has some hair oils she keeps that is probably the most expensive stuff she owns that she uses sparingly. what is the humid haven air doing to her hair now?

red: access to hair products, in the circle theoretically someone knew how to cut hair but not sure who. did students go back home frequently? if so gets hair cut at home if no one available in the circle. gets it cut a “usual” amount, styles hair himself in “artful mess” style. knows he looks good in a distant, kind of embarrassed way (the popular nerd thing from teenage circle days). enjoys looking nice and takes care to look good, but not overly so. as noted before, bright fucking red hair that is extremely noticeable. 

halek: personally i’m uncertain what hunter/reach specifically cultural hairstyles are. hes the sol so whatever he has is probably dripping in meaning/cultural significance. long, elaborate braids and beads to denote status? long hair in general? shorn for practicality against fighting demons (as specifically hunter culture)? must think on it more. likely chilled out some as in canon and does less of that in haven. if long hair, maybe less braids/beads/elaborate hairstyles. if short, maybe grew it out some. fucking tired as hell all the time and is away from the reach, so any rebellion he’s done against hunter cultural norms is increased in haven, including hair

briony: pre-amnesia, i dont really know. given the strong possibility of being a mercenary pre amnesia, maybe long enough to pull out of face, maybe short enough she didn't have to think about it. post amnesia, in the gladiator ring, likely had no resources to take care of hair, unless nathe knew anything about hair. long enough/style to have a red ribbon in her hair. any skills briony had regarding hair care she likely utilized (she says on the way to sponsor that she likes looking nice and kinda girly for a change) but uncertain what knowledge/skills she may have had pre-amnesia that she still has (has no memory of events but has skills). in haven, she cuts her own hair, as a control/identity and learning about herself kind of thing. probably not great at cutting her own hair but she’s having fun. as noted other places, pink hair that is extremely noticeable.

lavinet: rich norm noble. access to all haircare products, hairstyles, hairstylists. canonically long auburn hair (natural hair color auburn). given historical practices regarding rich noble women and hair, likely has a lady/ladies-in-waiting/servants to help with hair, hairstyling. may or may not be some wild ass rich people hairstyles (in discord there were mentions of rococo france, ancient chinese empress hairstyles). rich people are Fucking Weird. 

As soon as she is pulled from the cave, her hands and knees on the ground, the snow begins to soak her clothes. The wind chill bites at her nose, her cheeks, her exposed ears. Instead, she feels even more like death.

But then Halek is there. The weight off her back lifts and it is all Aeryn can do from falling over right there beside him.

His hands, slender and soothing, cup her face. She can feel the warmth of his breath on her lips like a sip of fresh water.

"I could kiss you right now, you god-sent Shepherd!”

Against her will, the muscles of her face contort into what she’s sure must be a clumsy display of a smile. She tries to open her eyes to see him but is blinded by the light and closes them back again. She settles for leaning forward to allow herself rest against his forehead. Halek continues to offer praise, seemingly unaware of this.

“…You've done it. You've saved my people."

A smirk curls her lips apart but she is far too relieved to properly play coy. “A kiss, you said? Well, don’t let me stop you.”

Faintly, she registers some sort of sound from Naolin behind her. In her exhaustion she cannot tell if it is derision or exasperation. Halek chuckles and she feels suddenly as though she may melt right into him.

“Perhaps another time.”

That, she thinks, is where it started. Her…fondness of him. Her curiosity about him. Never had she been one to pursue yet whenever she could, there she was. Smirking and teasing and asking.

Aeryn thrums with an anxious excitement whenever he is near. Insatiable curiosity had always been more of Red’s fatal flaw yet she found herself unable to care. Soon, a dance began to form between them. A stolen look across the courtyard, a smirk more sincere as a parting gift, secret nights spent trading playful comments and wistful hypotheticals.

Some might say that their relationship seemed to change overnight. Aeryn doesn’t think so. Since the moment she met him she’d say there was something there. She’s not sure what exactly but something so palpable and tangible she felt she could reach out and touch it.

The night was warm as she stepped out into it. Nights like these aren’t uncommon for her. Sleep is elusive on the best of days. Frankly, she’s just grateful it keeps the nightmares away.

She only meant to take a stroll around the compound, maybe expel the rest of her energy with the task. Her feet sink into the grass, still wet with the remnants of the day’s rain. The heel of her shoes click quietly against the stone floor when she crosses the courtyard. She turns a corner to head to the kitchen but is stopped by a tall, looming figure already slumped against the wall.

Neither of them say a word—likely trying to gauge each other out. No features can be discerned in the darkness until the clouds part to allow the moonlight to illuminate their face.

He takes a slow drag from his cigar, blowing the smoke past his lips. “You’re up late.” Is all he says in greeting.

Aeryn snorts in dry amusement and looks pointedly at the cigar dangling between his fingers. “And you’re smoking? In this heat? Seriously, Halek?”

The Hunter merely shrugs and Aeryn frowns as the smoke reaches her nostrils. The smell burns them slightly and she turns away from it. “What?” He smirks and she can hear the tease in his tone. “You going to lecture me on my health and performance the way Blade does?”

She rolls her eyes and leans back against the opposite wall, crossing her arms casually. “Please, you know I could care less what other people do with their time.”

Halek hums in apparent agreement.

“What are you doing out here, anyway?”

“I thought you didn’t care what other people do with their time?”

She closes her mouth, swallowing her initial objection and clicks her tongue. He smirks and takes another drag. This time, he tips his face up to blow the smoke in a different direction and she tries not to pay attention to pale barred skin of his throat. Hael, she must be insane. That’s all she knows. This is also the moment she notices his state of undress.

His buttons unbuttoned all the way to his chest, his hair messy and uncontrolled like he’s just rolled out of bed. His shirt even gently billows through a suspiciously well-timed breeze.

It’s rather unfair.

Aeryn scowls at his quip—or rather it’s truthfulness—and Halek stomps out his cigar with a bored sigh. “I came down for something to eat,” he explains, gesturing down the corridor towards the kitchens. “Nothing nefarious.”

“Oh, good,” She teases, her voice shifting a small octave higher. “I’m so relieved.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Halek dismisses her sarcastic tone and pushes his hands into his pockets. “What about you?”

Aeryn can only shrug in response. “Couldn’t sleep. Went for a walk.”

“Aren’t we just lucky then.”

“Lucky, huh?” She smirks, her posture immediately loosening and shifting into something more open and inviting. Her body turns to face him properly as though pulled towards him.

His own lips curl into something similarly devious. A piece of stray moonlight catches on his eyes causing them to shine. “I’d say so. Wouldn’t you?”

Her feet take compelled steps forward, bringing her closer to him. He looks down at her as she does, content to watch her as she settles beside him.

“Halek,” she begins, licking her dry lips briefly and his eyes dip down, drawn to the movement. “What is it, exactly, that you’re hoping will happen here?”

This time he inches closer, his pale eyes wandering over the apple of her cheeks, the slope of her nose, the rustling of her hair by the breeze. Her chest swells with a heavy inhale that gets stuck in her lungs. All thoughts leave her brain as they hesitate there, suspended in the moment.

She forgets how long they’ve been standing there when Halek speaks again. “I imagine it’s whatever you’re thinking about, Aeryn.”

Somehow, she manages to grin. “I hope so.”