Tip of the Iceberg

The whole experience is rather strange, though he has nothing to compare it against; it's not like he's bothered going to a salon before!

The results are definitely complete, even if they're rather alarming to the poor guy. Ultimately, it's only three things that change: the lush red locks, sculpted brow, and thick eyelashes. Just those three things do a lot to make Matt look far less masculine. It frames his face in a much different way and softens his look significantly. It's almost frightening as he looks at the results in the mirror.

He can't help but gawk at what's happened to his hair even as the AI explains the technology behind it. When he reaches up to tug on it, he feels it pull in his roots: Even if it isn't real hair, it's definitely in his head. He yelps and withdraws his hand when the mechanical ones easily tease the tresses into different styles. He has no idea what exactly is being done to cause this, but—as before—it's impressive in the worst way.

After the awe at the technology wears off, he considers what it would be like to go out like this, and he grits his teeth.

"No. I can't go out like this..." he begins to explain.

The AI chimes, as if to acknowledge the answer. It's the same pleasant sound as always, but it's hard for Matt not to think of it as a bit... ominous.

The mechanical arms that had been styling the SynthHair suddenly restrain him again. "Your dissatisfaction is noted. Incomplete styling will now be corrected. Resuming body modeling."

As the AI pitched the SynthHair, it is quick to advertise the scientific miracles of what was to come: "SynthSkin, part of the same tech line by Diamond Ltd., uses similar developments to allow for hyper-realistic and durable prosthetics. Even dermatologists have trouble recognizing the difference between SynthSkin and the real thing!" It almost sounds like this part of the AI was pre-recorded...

The chair Matt had been sitting in reclines backwards and his limbs are stretched out in different directions, leaving him completely exposed as another set of mechanical arms carefully pull the long, red hair back to keep it from getting caught in the process.

"Validating permissions. One moment." Matt tugs weakly at the restraints as the AI checks the agreements that the real Vanessa had signed when applying for the vacation. As it turns out, she was looking forward to trying out these technologies, and had signed a waiver to test it out.

"Validated."

A set of mechanical arms place a small ball on the end of an empty hose into Matt's mouth, which suddenly inflates to plug it, preventing him from speaking, and then smaller ones in his nostrils. "You will need to prevent any of the SynthSkin material from getting inside your mouth, nose, or eyes. Please rest assured that while other guests are not allowed to test our line of SynthBody technology, it is still widely-employed by our resort staff, and has been extensively tested and safe."

A hose-like mechanism emerges from the floor right in front of Matt's reclining body, extending out and pouring a thick, goopy material clumsily onto his body. He flinches from the warmth, not unlike a hot wax that would be used for hair removal. It's even worse due to how sensitive his skin had become from the chemicals he was bathing in just minutes ago.

Air begins to flow into his mouth through the gag as his body is absolutely slathered in the strange material, eyes shutting tightly for fear of what might happen if the strange substance did get in there.