Asmo loves doing people’s hair.

It’s a different kind of happiness from painting nails.

Combing his fingers through the silky strands brings him an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort, akin to touching the clouds he once so loved back in the Celestial Realm.

The scent of the shampoo envelops his senses and encloses him in a blissful moment, no noise, no self-doubt creeping up on him very much like the rose vines entwining his bed. It’s just him and the person before him.

Yet among all the hair he’s ever done,

+ Eira's is his favorite.

Asmo adores her hair.

He delights in its rich color, the way it gleams like polished onyx under the light. He revels in its thickness, in the way the long strands fall elegantly down the small of her back. He relishes in its fragrance, the smell of

plum blossoms intoxicating yet calming all at once.

She has such gorgeous hair and yet she always keeps it simple, never styling it save for the occasional ponytail to keep it away from her face whenever she cooks or does chores. One day he broaches the topic to her and she

shoots him a small, sad smile. “I’m not one for fancy hairstyles Asmo. Besides, they would be wasted on me. I’m too plain.”
Asmo becomes indignant at her answer. Too plain? Did she not see how beautiful she was? How she radiates light and goodness and elegance that not even he,

the Avatar of Lust possesses? He glares at her, about to give her a lengthy lecture when he sees her torn expression: eyes filled with a mixture of longing and resignation, and he decides to hold his tongue. Forget it. If he was going to convince her, actions were more

+ effective. And so the day after that, Asmo barges into her room just as she was getting ready for RAD. “Asmo what are you doing here?” She asks him, shock and slight irritation flashing in her hazel eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be down getting breakfast?” He clicks his tongue

+ and gently pushes her down to a seat in front of her simple vanity.
“Sit.”
“Wha- I-” She flounders and he lightly taps her shoulder.
“Stop fiddling around and let me do your hair for you.”
“But it’s-”

Asmo shoots her a knowing look. “Wasted on you? Pointless?” Eira averts

+ her gaze and he sighs as his eyes fill with affection and love. He would show her how stunning she was. He would prove to her that she was worthy of everything and so much more.

From that day on, him fixing Eira’s hair has become a daily routine he cherishes the most, a time

where it was just him and her in the safe confines of her room free from the meddling of his brothers vying for her attention. In those quiet moments, he feels the most appreciated, and the most free he has ever been. There were no condescending comebacks, no stinging jabs about

how all he knew was how to make himself even more beautiful, no meaningless chatter. Eira let him work as much as he wanted and was content to sit still, her soft voice filling the silence with light conversation as he finds solace in the way he runs the hairbrush through her

+ strands, in the way he threads her fingers through them, making sure each and every lock was placed just right. He feels his heart grow warm at the slight blush staining her cheeks at the care he gives her and vows he’ll never care for anyone else the way he did for her.

The hairstyles he gives her varies. Sometimes he gives her twin buns that highlight her innocence and give her an overall cute vibe. Other times, he styles her hair in soft waves that frame her face and enhance her features. But often he weaves it into braids: fishtails, French

+ braids, braided updos… It’s his favorite look for her and if the small, pleased grin on her face is any indication it’s hers too.

Through his loving ministrations, he notices her increasing confidence, how she shies away less from the compliments he and his brothers dish out

+ to her, the usual stuttering responses replaced by a small, gracious smile. How she dawdles in front of the mirror to admire her reflection as opposed to when she would refuse to look longer than five seconds. As the days pass, her self-confidence grows and with it Asmo feels a

+ surge of pride bloom inside his chest, as well as something more. He loves her and he finds himself yearning for her. Yearning for her smile, for her soft, loving gazes, for her lingering touches.

“Look at me.” Asmo internally pleads.

But she never does. She only has eyes

+ for his eldest brother. Eyes that sparkle with so much love and affection, eyes that never look his way.

“Please look at me too.” His heart cries out with every pull of the brush through her tresses.

“Please see me.” His mind screams with every lock of hair he expertly

+ twists into a braid. But she never does. She never looks at him the way he wishes to be gazed at, to be seen. And it fills Asmo with so much pain, it cracks his perfectly bubbly veneer. How pathetic. The former Jewel of the Heavens, the irresistible Avatar of Lust himself who

+ always ensnared whoever he wanted was never able to capture the heart of his beloved. Still, despite the torment whittling inside, he could never, he would never force her to love him too. For the first time in over a millennia it WASN'T about him, it was about HER.

Her happiness and her newfound self-confidence.

Never mind it wasn’t him who made her laugh like the tinkling of bells.

Never mind it wasn’t him who made her blush such a lovely shade of red, it rivalled the most exquisite rose.

With her, it was NEVER about him and he was fine with that. He would live with that.

As long as Asmo got to spend the mornings with her …

Loving her was enough for him.

-fin-

Inspired by @/faikittyy's "on Asmo and nails" thread. I figured Asmo would love doing people's hair too. Although it's a different kind of comfort, it's a welcome one nevertheless.

Him and Eira have a special kind of friendship and he's Eira's closest friend after Satan.

Tagging my Asmohoes friends as well as some people as per their request:
{ @sqooma @optimismisgone @weird_lynne @Elastrael1 @7sinsbride @soraouu_ @RyuuXin @ThatsSoRavenea @vulpinecleric @ArcaneNonsense @spica_starr @usagi_akahoshi @arysteli @marsobeyme @_Zeotrope_}

Also this was me channeling all my sadness from today so if this was angstier than usual, I'm sorry. I really do hope I still got Asmo's character right. I love him to bits.

Tagging some more people here too:
{ @AngelusLorelei @Jaz_Do_It_ @Garbagefiregob1 @devilsdoms @m0onie9}

I thought you might like some Asmo content.