Maddock Square Golden Phoenix Saloon Barber Shop
At last, Maddock has a barber shop. The light-colored stain of the wainscoting on the lower walls matches the coloring of the ceiling and floorboards. The upper sections of the walls are covered with cream-colored paper with widely-spaced blue pinstriping. Against the east wall are some waist-high cabinets, and in front of the cabinets are two standard barber's chairs. On the wall over the cabinets is a large mirror. Some chairs and end tables are spaced along the west wall, and under the window in the south wall. Today, the end tables are decked with lace doilies and vases of fresh flowers. In the northwest corner sits a small stove, which provides some heat to the room but also provides the barber with a source of warm water. Today, a small table has been placed at the north wall by the door. On the table are some bottles of wine, several glasses and teacups, and some plates of breads and cookies. One the stove, in addition to the usual pot of water and coffeepot, are two teakettles. The light coming in through the window is beginning to fade, and the noise from the saloon's main room is growing louder. The shop is warm and stuffy, even with the door propped open to help circulate the air. The stove is off. A door in the south wall leads out to the porch, and another door in the north leads towards the saloon.
Matilda makes her way into the barber shop a little hesitantly, like a child who might be trying to sneak a cookie from a forbidden cookie jar.
Rick looks up from the vase he's straightening, and smiles, "Hello, come on in."
[Matilda’s Description]
Matilda Tempeste Moreau is caught in that coltish stage between girl and woman. Long, thick, light brown hair is tied at the nape of her neck with dark green ribbon, leaving the rest of the mass to tumble down her back. The girl's oval face is as mercurial as her personality. Naturally arched eyebrows seem to give her a perpetual expression of faint surprise. Her grey eyes can be as dewy as an April morning, as stormy as a July thundershower, or as chill as a November sky. Sunlight has tanned the slightly upturned tip of her slender nose as well as her slanted cheekbones. Above her decidedly stubborn chin is the full mouth used to express her honeyed voice.
She is wearing a dress of green-and-white gingham in small, checked print. Eyelet lace decorates the gathered hems of the short, puffy sleeves and eyelet fabric forms the squared yoke on the bodice. The dress is unadorned but for these touches and the little wooden buttons that dot from neck to waist in a straight line. The bodice lightly hugs her body above the waist, revealing her nubile curves. The skirt falls from the waistline in simple folds to end just below her ankles in an eyelet lace hem. Worn brown shoes are sometimes glimpsed below the hemline.
Matilda steps inward with more confidence. She smiles with enthusiasm to the barber. "Allo. This is where I come to have my hair cut, oui?" she asks him as she clasps her hands behind her back.
Rick nods, still smiling, "Yes, ma'am, this is the place." He gestures towards the barber's chairs, "Have a seat?"
Matilda moves to the chair and studies it curiously before sitting upon it. She carefully moves her hair out of the way so she won't sit on it. The green bow is still tied at the nape of her neck. "It is too long, do you not think?" She asks, glancing back to Rick with grey eyes that twinkle.
Rick spreads a small sheet over Matilda's dress to keep the hair off, and replies, "You're the one who ought to decide if it's too long. I don't need to cut very much off if you just want it trimmed up and evened off."
Matilda studies her tresses and considers as she purses her mouth. "I think," she says with care, "That I should like to have a foot cut off. That's it. A whole foot. Gone!"
Rick nods, and smoothes Matilda's hair down the back of the chair, then measures about a foot from the end and grips the spot in his hand. "About here, then? Do you mind if I untie the ribbon?"
Sarah strides over from the porch.
Sarah has arrived.
[Sarah’s Description]
A pleasant young woman around 20 years of age, Sarah Williams stands around 5'5" tall, and seems to be neither too skinny nor too fat. While not exactly a beauty queen, Sarah isn't ugly, either. Plain is a good description for her, although at least her skin is smooth. Her long ash-blonde hair is tied into a braid that reaches to her waist, and her expressive green eyes show her intelligence as well as her emotions.
Her outfit looks fairly standard for a young woman from a ranch or farm. A light blue dress in a floral pattern, plain brown shoes, and a hat to keep the sun off her head and face.
"Non non non. Do what you must do, monsieur. I grow tired of sitting on it by accident." She trustingly places herself into Rick's hands, sitting very still and seeming very pleased to be here as if this is a treat she is offering herself.
Rick nods again, removing the ribbon and setting it on the cabinet. He picks up a comb and starts gently combing through Matilda's long hair. Looking up briefly to smile at the newcomer, he says "Come in, have a seat, or a drink, while you wait."
Matilda flashes a smile to Sarah, while sitting perfectly still. "Allo," she says to her. The girl folds her hands in her lap and then starts to relax at the combing like a cat who becomes contented after a few pets.
Sarah smiles shyly at Rick, and gets a cup of tea before finding a seat. She watches curiously, not having watched a barber at work before. "Hello," she replies to Matilda.
The combing done, Rick picks up the scissors and starts to work. The first few cuts are made just to mark the length, then Rick starts being more careful as he trims everything up to the same length. A foot of hair is a lot, and soon the floor around the chair is piled with the cuttings even though the job is mostly just begun.
Matilda darts her tongue across her lips, nervously. She hears the scissors and she can -feel- what they do as they lighten the weight of hair that grows from her scalp. Still, a foot of hair -is- a lot even if she asked for it and for just a moment the girl's face is uncertain.
Rick pauses, noticing the look on Matilda's face. "It should still reach your waist. Your hair was quite long." Of course, once he started cutting it this short, he can't exactly leave the rest long, so he resumes work.
Sarah watches the impressive pile of hair build up, and smiles softly, "It does still look quite long. Not like our sheep after they're sheared."
Matilda tries to stifle the giggle that rises in her throat. "My head feels tingly. Do you think that I shall float now when I walk since so much hair is gone?"
Rick chuckles softly, "I doubt it, Miss. But I'm sure you'll feel the difference for several days, before you get used to it."
Sarah bobs her head, "I think you'll find it a much easier task to comb it, and to keep the snarls out. Sometimes I envy the men, with their short hair that never tangles and doesn't stay damp all day when they wash it."
Matilda bites her lower lip and then hopefully asks, "Will you comb it again when you are done? My Maman used to comb my hair every day and I miss that now that she is gone."
Rick smiles, "Sure, I can do that. I'd have to anyway, to make sure I got it all even."
Sarah says, "My sister and I used to brush each other's hair. But she got married and moved away."
Matilda quietly says, "Papa and Maman died of the grippe. That is why I had to leave Quebec. I had it, but I was not so sick. I had it first and Maman nursed me. I think that is how she caught it."
Sarah looks sad for Matilda, "I'm sorry, that must have been awful for you."
Rick shakes his head slightly, but doesn't say anything as he stops cutting and starts combing again. Occasionally he stops to make a few more snips with the scissors.
Matilda says, "My priest, he said that it was not my fault, but it is hard not to think so." She holds her head as still as she's able like a talking statue in Rick's chair. "I do not intend to ever be sick again."
Elise walks over from the porch.
Elise has arrived.
[Elise’s Description]
Long, golden hair is pinned back into a coiled braid, a hair style too old for the young face it frames. Only in her early twenties, the woman's porcelain skin is free from any wrinkles and hints at a life spent indoors. A pair of silver-rimmed spectacles perch on her upturned nose, covering eyes of hazel-green. One could not call her beautiful, but she is pretty in her own way. A beautifully designed russet gown molds to her form, the skirt flaring out slightly at her slender waist. A pair of sleek ankle-high black boots take over where the dress makes its end, each highly polished to a mirror-like finish. Around her neck rests a locket of gold, the filigreed design gleaming whenever a stray bit of light hits it. Hailing from the Northeast, Elise Montgomery's accent and manners clearly mark her as a lady.
Sarah is sitting in a chair with a cup of tea, watching Rick cup Matilda's hair. She smiles at Elise when the woman enters.
Elise slips in quietly, standing by the door as her eyes scan the room. She returns Sarah's smile with one of her own, inclining her head politely. The writer watches on with interest, moving a few steps forward.
Rick looks up, and smiles warmly at Elise, "Hello, Miss Montgomery. I'm glad you could make it." He returns his attention to Matilda's hair, turning the chair so she can see herself in the mirror. "Well, what do you think?" He turns the chair partway around again, smoothing Matilda's hair down so she can see how much length is still there.
O'Dwyer saunters over from the porch.
O'Dwyer has arrived.
Rick glances at the door, "Sorry sir, shop's closed. Ladies only."
O'Dwyer enters the barbershop, removing his hat as he does so. "Pardon?"
Matilda looks toward O'Dwyer and then studies her hair, critically. "It is perfect," she announces with an emphatic nod and a grin. Long tendrils of hair, each a foot long, litter the floor around Rick's feet.
Rick straightens up, and says apologetically, "I'm closed to regular customers today, so the ladies can have their hair done, too."
Sarah smiles shyly to O'Dwyer, before looking to see how Matilda's hair turned out.
Elise smiles at Matilda's enthusiasm, chuckling softly. Looking towards Rick, "Have you been very busy?" She clasps her hands in front of her as she asks the question, making sure to stand out of the way.
O'Dwyer nods. "I see." He puts his hat back on, and turns to go out the door.
Matilda says, "Monsieur? Wait!"
Rick removes the sheet carefully, to avoid getting the hair clippings on Matilda. "That's twenty-five cents."
O'Dwyer looks back at the door.
Rick shrugs at Elise, "Not too busy, but I've had a few customers, as you can see."
Matilda bobs a curtsey in O'Dwyer's direction. "Mon oncle will be mad with me, if I do not find someone to walk me back to the boarding house. Will you do so, monsieur?" She rises from the chair and reaches up to tie the green ribbon around her hair again.
Sarah looks at the two barber chairs, and asks Rick, "Which one should I use?" She sets down her teacup and stands up.
O'Dwyer looks at Matilda for a second. "I'll be outside now." In his Irish burr.
O'Dwyer strides off towards the saloon porch.
O'Dwyer has left.
Elise glances towards Matilda at her request. Oh. Right. The whole women-don't-go-anywhere-alone thing. The writer wrinkles her nose a bit, giving a slight shake of her head.
Rick smiles at Sarah, "Try the other one, so you don't have to wade through as much hair. I'll be right with you, I just need to sweep this up a little." He puts actions to words, getting a broom and sweeping the hair to a pile by the wall.
Matilda digs into her purse and retrieves the requested payment, carefully counting out the pennies. Yes, pennies. She steps up to the handsome barber and pinkens a little as she hands them over to him. "Merci beaucoup, Monsieur. You have been very kind."
Rick smiles at Matilda as he pockets the coins, "Thanks for coming by."
Sarah sits in the indicated chair, removing her bonnet and laying it in her lap. She concentrates on not blushing too darkly, as the sheep-nibbled section of hair becomes visible.
Matilda curtsies to Rick and smiles as she turns and passes Elise.
Elise steps aside a bit more to make sure Matilda has room to pass, her eyes shifting to scan the room. She finally looks back towards the barber and Sarah, watching on curiously.
Rick drapes a sheet on Sarah, clipping it at the back. He raises his eyebrows as he sees the raggedness in the back, but he doesn't comment.
Sarah manages to speak up slightly louder than a mumble, "Not too short, just enough to fix where the sheep tried to give me a haircut."
Matilda strides off towards the saloon porch.
Matilda has left.
Elise casts a sympathetic look towards Sarah at seeing her hair. The writer had gotten a glimpse at it before, but hadn't truly seen the extent of the sheep's doing. She looks like she might say something, but stays silent instead, not wishing to distract Rick from his work.
Rick smiles reassuringly, as he picks up the comb and starts working. "No problem, ma'am. I can't be having any sheep trying to cut in on my business. I shouldn't need to take off very much." He glances up briefly at Elise. "There's tea, wine, cookies... help yourself while you wait."
Sarah slowly relaxes. It *is* nice having your hair combed by someone who knows what he's doing. She resists the urge to look over her shoulder, "I couldn't see how bad it was, did she eat very much?"
Elise moves to the tables, but offers apologetically, "I actually cannot stay long. In truth, I just wished to check on how it was going for you." Not to mention have a chance to get out of the boarding house.
Rick pretends to look hurt. Maybe if his eyes weren't twinkling, it would be more effective. "Not staying for a trim, Miss Montgomery? You've had several chances now to see my handiwork." To Sarah, he replies, "No, she mostly grazed along the edge, not much length." Picking up the scissors, he starts carefully trimming above the ragged section, trying to leave as much as possible.
Elise's lips twitch, though she attempts to keep her expression contrite. "Another time perhaps. I do take quite a lot of convincing." It’s a tease, to be certain, for the writer does know that Rick is good at his work.
Sarah starts to nod, then catches herself, and says simply, "I'm glad to hear that you can fix it without needing to take most of it off."
Snip, snip, clip, clip. "Maybe I ought to borrow this young lady's sheep to snack on your hair, Miss Montgomery, so you'll be in need of my services." Rick says this, without looking up.
Elise appears momentarily startled before she laughs and shakes her head. "If you indeed have such a devious plan in mind, Mr. Porter, then I dare say you ruined it now." Her eyes sparkle with mischief. "For if I see a sheep in your vicinity, I shall know to run the other way."
Sarah giggles, but manages to stay still. "Well, sir, now that I know why you'd want a sheep, you can be sure that if you come asking, I won't be lending you one."
Rick switches back to the comb, to be sure everything is even. Looking up at Elise with a grin, he says, "I wouldn't need to resort to such tricks. I'll open up the shop for you any time you like."
Elise grins towards Sarah at her promise to keep the sheep away before looking towards Rick. "Ah, You say you would not resort to such tricks, but is that merely an attempt to calm our suspicions?" She arches a playful brow, tsking in an admonishing manner. "I think I shall still have to be on my guard."
Rick trims a few stray wisps, then turns her chair to face the mirror. With a hand-mirror positioned for her to see the back, he says, "You were lucky she wasn't very hungry."
Sarah smiles appreciatively. "Yes, thank you, it's still nice and long." She seems much happier, with her hair fixed, not too short, and best of all nobody laughed at her.
Elise takes a step closer in order to get a better view before smiling. "You seem to be in the habit of making your customers happy, Mr. Porter. I have yet to hear of a dissatisfied one."
Rick grins as he removes Sarah's drape, and shakes the hair onto the floor. "I reckon I'll get more business this way." A nod to Sarah, "Twenty-five cents, please," and he turns back to Elise. "There was one gentleman who didn't care much for the conversation, but he had no complaints about the haircut."
Sarah hands over some coins, "Thank you, sir." She smiles shyly, "I'm glad you had your shop open for us today."
Elise chuckles, shrugging her shoulders, "Ah well, some are just not conversationalists. I would hope that this was not the same gentleman that you were forced to ask to leave?" The woman casts a curious glance in Rick's direction.
Rick shakes his head, the smile turning to an almost angry frown, "No, I never got around to cutting his hair. I sent him on his way before I had the chance. And with him, it was _me_ not caring for _his_ conversation."
Sarah looks curious, but isn't about to ask. Although maybe she could convince her brother to ask around for her.
Elise is curious as well, but it'd be rude of her to ask, wouldn't it? Her eyebrows raise in unison, her comment carefully worded, "Then I can only hope you are not forced to deal with him again."
Rick shrugs, calming down somewhat, "It's been a while, if he kept a civil tongue in his head, I wouldn't mind having him back here."
Sarah ties her hat back on, and slips out.
Sarah moves off towards the saloon porch.
Sarah has left.
It's a rather unfair thing to have the curiosity of a writer. Its worse then that of a cat. Still, Elise smiles and inclines her head, venturing softly, "Perhaps the man was merely having a bad day."
Rick shakes his head, "No, I think he just forgot where he was."
Puzzled, Elise tilts her head slightly to one side. "Forgot where he was? What do you mean?" She hopes she's not asking too many questions, but one can only expect so much.
Rick exhales sharply, "I might be renting space in the saloon, but this end is for polite company."
Elise ahs, offering Rick a wry smile. "Some men do not have better manners outside of the saloon then they do in. " But she can see the subject is irritating the man, so she lightly states, "In any case, I should not bother you further."
Rick manages a smile for Elise, "You never bother me, Miss Montgomery. I enjoy your company."
Elise chuckles, murmuring softly, "It is kind of you to say so, but it would not be fair of me to take your attention away from those who might also wish it. " She glances towards the door, adding, "And I really should be getting back to the boarding house."
Rick nods, looking like he's about to say something more, but simply says, "Thanks for coming by."
"Of course, and I do hope business continues to go well." Elise grins merrily, inclining her head in her usual nod. She moves towards the door, pausing there to look back over her shoulder. "Good day, Mr. Porter."
Rick picks up the broom again and sweeps up all the piles of hair.
Elise walks off towards the saloon porch.
Elise has left.
[Public] Rick waves hello to the doc, and offers a big thanks to Matilda and Elise for coming to play tonight. And all the men, for not kicking up a fuss at being excluded. :)