Perfect Is Just Enough

Anabella Penrose || 39 || Tattoo artist || Single mum

[mackmontgomerys]

open

where: anywhere!

@fairfordstarters

“I wish I was shitting you,” Mack says, his index finger running along his tattooed forearm where there was no space for anymore inkings, hoping that they could use their imagination for what he was trying to explain from his last shift, “They got it done right here, just about the wrist. Their partner’s bitemark impression tattooed for life. I’ve inked a lot of crazy shit, but that one was new even for me.” 

[anabellapenrose]

Bella would love to say she was impressed by it but she really wasn't. Especially because as a tattoo artist, she had so many mad situations. She could have never imagined that people would actually fight in tattoo shop. And yet, they did. She never felt so helpless, to be honest, even in her worst period of life.

"That's not too bad, Mack. I had a situation where the couple were about tattooing their names. They wanted it separately blindfolded. The guy tattooed name of her sister as apparently he was always in love with her. She almost killed him there, I needed to send them away."

[buffyxlaurel]

open starter @fairfordstarters

location: the cutting edge salon

"So then, get this, he'd been with his girlfriend for ten years, right? Have a house together, whole nine yards. He goes and sleeps with her best friend in the bed that they share while his girlfriend is out of town at her grandmother's funeral. How crazy fucked up is that?"

Blowing a raspberry and considering her story concluded, she runs her fingers through their hair as she slowly spun them in the salon chair.

"So, what are you thinking? Shorter for summer? Highlights? Colored streaks? Dream big, your wish is my command."

[anabellapenrose]

Bella didn't find herself going too much in hair salon. She liked to get her nails done and did it regularly. Now it was time to get some change regarding her hair as well. Her daughter was the one who made her do that. She needed to admit that she needed some change on herself, apart from getting some new tattoo she had in mind for a long time now.

"Um, well, I would love to go for shorter hair. To be honest, my daughter said it was time. Apparently, she is claiming I am not spending much time for my hair. I wouldn't know if that's true."

[carabouletrp]

“It’s alright.” He shrugged.” I used to be angry at her for it but now I realized it wasn’t her fault and she had an illness.” He sighed.” I’ve been here for five years what about you ?” He asked.” 5 years doesn’t seem that long.” He laughed.

[anabellapenrose]

"Unfortunately, most of people like that have some kind of mental illness. I lost a friend like that. She was only sixteen at the time." She sighed. It was hard to remember those days, especially because they had big plans together. Or at least Bella thought so, probably her friend didn't find any reason to live for.

"Oh, I am here almost 21 years now. I came here while I was pregnant. Her dad is asshole so wanted to change my life completely. I am so glad I did."

[phoebebaker]

"I've gotten them done at various places. Most of the time on a whim." There was just something about spontaneously deciding it was time for a new tattoo and waltzing right into the nearest shop to make it happen.

[anabellapenrose]

"Sound like most of my tattoos. I've got my first one when I was fifteen. Mum was absolutely furious but I didn't care at the time. Now I have lots. And now I have to deal with my daughter begging me to get some tattoos herself."

[tallulahcarter]

open starter @fairfordstarters location: thadd and tyson's apartment (thalloween)

"Okay, since we're already microdosing the Halloween spirit out here, what's your most irrational fear? I'll go first -- I don't trust birds."

[anabellapenrose]

"Irrational fear, hm?" Bella needed to think about this for a moment. She didn't really have lots of fears in life. She wouldn't call herself brave, she just wasn't scared of most of things.

"I would say.. bugs? Maybe it is cliché but it is only thing that got on my mind."

[anabellapenrose]

rumor has it that you absolutely loathe some of ur daughters friends

I do think there’s certain friends from my daughter who are not exactly the right example. I wouldn’t say I hate them tho. I understand it all, they are young and want to explore things. I guess I grew up too fast so can’t be too judgmental here.

[windsorbay]

FAIRFORD MEME #2 — RUMOR HAS IT...

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Rumor has it...

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[tallulahcarter]

open starter @fairfordstarters location: thadd and tyson's apartment (thalloween)

"Okay, since we're already microdosing the Halloween spirit out here, what's your most irrational fear? I'll go first -- I don't trust birds."

[anabellapenrose]

"Irrational fear? Hm, let me think for a moment now." Bella was seriously trying to get to one. She wasn't easily scared and didn't really have too many fears. She wouldn't call herself brave, it was just the thing she learned how to be strong no matter what.

"I would say.. bugs? It might be cliché but I can't come up with anything else."

[ofsvnshine-deactivated20250104]

he nodded. " it's a good thing. especially with summer. usually we are slower. " not everyone wanted to deal with healing a tattoo in the summer, having to miss out on swimming and whatnot. it was good that their books were filling up quicker. felix owed that success to the talented artists that worked there. their work spoke for itself.

they smiled warmly. " maybe she thinks her mom is cool and wants to be like you, eh ? ever think of that ? "

[anabellapenrose]

"I agree with that. I like it when we're busy." She really liked that. Bella, as a perfectionist and huge ocd couldn't just sit around and do nothing. It wasn't something that would make her happy in the slightest. Of course, there was a promise to her princess that she will bring her to Spain which was her wish for good few years now.

"Well, maybe she does. But I don't know, I just don't see her as someone who, well, have tattoos. Maybe I am wrong though."

[anabellapenrose]

open starter for everyone @fairfordstarters

location: ink tattoo shop

Bella was fairly busy today but she preferred that way. There is nothing worse than being bored on job. She liked her job so much though. She always kind of knew what she wants to do once she get that opportunity.

She was sitting on the reception and doing some sketches. They were on her mind for a longer time now and she wanted to see how it is going to look on paper. She heard the bell but it didn’t stop her from sketching.

“Come on in, I’ll be with you in a minute.”

[srivas]

After lunch, Stevie slips into Ink City — normally, any random day past noon wouldn't find her inside of a tattoo parlor, but she's notorious for finding somewhere to give her ink any time the slightest of problems arises in her life. Ink is a personal type of therapy for her, and the itch brings her here instead of elsewhere. Could be worse, Rivas, she says as she pushes open the door and the tinkle of a bell sounds overhead.

"Oh, uh — okay," Stevie replies as she bellies up to the counter, glancing around at the different sketches and designs posted to the wall. "I was just wondering if you had time to squeeze me in? It's... not a big design or anything. I can pay extra if I need to, I just... heard good things about here. Figured I'd give it a try." Her lips pinch up into a small smile.

[anabellapenrose]

When she entered the shop, Bella just tilted her head towards her. She was so familiar and she couldn't understand why. Maybe she was seeing it around, but her face was definitely like.. on a cover? Maybe she was singer or actress, that could explain it very well.

"Don't worry, I have actually time now. What did you have on your mind? And I am sorry to ask you this, but are you singer? It is just.. your face is so familiar to me."

[phoebebaker]

“Thank you,” Phoebe smiled as she wiggled her fingers around, showing off her dainty tattoos. “It’s just the price we pay for the cuteness of them. If you have time right now, that would be great!”

[anabellapenrose]

Bella liked all kind of tattoos and it was one of those things she was really proud of. Being able to make them for people and make them happy entirely. "I have indeed. Oh, you have more of them! I love it. Where did you get it done?"

[tysonchapmans]

"If you were me specifically? Why? Is it because I'm tall?"

Though he wasn't all that sure whether or not 6'3 was that tall. He had seen some towering oddballs wandering around town.

"I do actually like the high ones though. They tend to freak people out and that's the real thrill of it for me."

[anabellapenrose]

"No, silly! It's because they are usually more terrifying than the others." Bella answered with a smile on her face. Maybe she should try to go on that one as well.

"Well, there you go. That's what I was talking about. And you know what? I think I am going to give it a try as well."

[carabouletrp]

He nodded his head.” Yeah it was for my mother, She passed away from a drug overdose when I was like 17 and just had graduated high school.” He said.”I got the tattoo when I was 18. Just a year ago it was starting to fade a bit.”

[anabellapenrose]

"Oh, God, that's terrible. I am so sorry to hear that." Bella didn't have anything similar in her family but she knew people who were drug or alcohol addicts and ended up tragically.

"I will do my best to give it a new shine. I did similar thing for tattoo I have for my grannie. Freshen up is the best. Are you here a long time?"

[yunxminho]

"I appreciate it." Minho's face continued to linger on a soft pink color as Bella continued to compliment him. He was fighting the urge to cover his cheeks and half succeeded, managing to only lift one of his hands and shield himself.

"That was the part I wasn't sure on. I want o do the skyline, and they're all pretty similar in, but I wasn't sure if one of them suited a tattoo better than one of the others. So, I figured I'd leave that part up to you."

[anabellapenrose]

"I am just telling the truth, kid." Bella answered. She really meant every word she said. He was a real talent. It would be such a shame to waste it on something else.

"I can see you have a few in there. This one would work the best in my opinion. Like a tattoo it would be definitely the best."

[thaddcarter]

"A tattoo?" His eyes widened, looking around the shop, as if for the first time discovering just what they did there. "Fuck no, I'm scared of needles." He shuddered.

He once had been, but the little bit of fear in exchange for something sick looking felt more than fair to Thadd.

"What about Mack?" He'd been planning on going to see mom today, but if she wasn't around and dad was available, he could switch up what side of his body he was planning to add to. Though, if Mack had been in, his presence surely would've been made known by then.

His fingers drummed along the countertop as he contemplated. "A back tat, huh?" A little bigger than he was thinking, but maybe Anabella had a point. Go big or go home... "Are you only saying that because you're working on a back piece right now?" Another attempt to peek over at what she had been so intently sketching while he'd been standing there.

[anabellapenrose]

"Are you really? I would never guess it. Doctors have fun time with you then." She teased him. Of course she could understand that some people are afraid of needles, but she couldn't imagine herself being one of them.

"Mack is here, having someone right now. I think it's one of those long hours tattoo, so you will need to wait a bit." She said. Bella liked to do few session tattoo, although it was a lot to do. She couldn't bare with it at first and was sure she will not be able to do them. Practice makes perfect indeed.

"Well, these are actually sketches, something that just came up on my mind this morning. Take a look if you want."

[phoebebaker]

"No worries," Phoebe nodded with a smile. "I was just looking to get a couple small touchups." She displayed her delicate fingers tattoos that had faded over time. The word 'love' scrawled inside her left ring finger in finely done cursive work had faded the worst. "Just these two," she said as she pointed to the 'love' tattoo and also to a faded heart outline on her opposite pinky. "I know finger tattoos are a pain in the ass, but I just think they're so cute."

[anabellapenrose]

"I really love those! They are the cutest, I have them myself." She replied. Throughout the years, Bella had her own tattoo taste, even though she had small ones as well as big ones. When she was younger, she didn't want to limit herself in any single way. That's way she ended up by covering some old ones.

"I know, that's what my tattoo artist 10 years ago told me but it didn't stop me from doing it. Would you like me to do it now for you?"

[yunxminho]

"It's nice to meet you. I go by Milo." He held out his hand shyly to shake hers. What had seemed like a last minute, rash decision was playing out far more interestingly than Milo could have ever imagined. Maybe he needed to consider a new career.

"I'll think about it for sure. I work freelance drawing stuff right now, so it wouldn't be too different in some ways." He picked up the little notebook and flipped through a few more pages. "You can look through it if you want. It's where I do all my first draft stuff."

[anabellapenrose]

"Nice to meet you as well! It is always nice to meet somebody, especially so talented." Bella admitted- She saw a lot in him. Especially because he reminded her of herself when she was his age. She was so eager to succeed, especially because she had somebody to take care of.

"Oh, wow, they are so good. So which one of them is for your tattoo?"