Occupation: Artist / Tattoo Apprentice at A Touch of Ink
Current Residence: Downtown Providence Peak, Colorado
Hometown: Newport Beach, California
Sexuality: Pansexual
Marital Status: Single
Children: 0
Piercings: 9
Tattoos: lost count.
HEADCANONS —
Lena has a black cat named Nyx.
Lena did several of her own tattoos.
Lena’s living room is occupied by a baby grand piano.
Lena’s dining room has been converted into a mini art studio. The walls are lined in canvases and paint.
Lena’s couch is on her balcony. (iykyk)
Lena is a candy fiend and always has some in her purse. Literally, always. Her favorite are blowpops.
Lena loves her boss’ daughter and treats her like a little sister when she’s in the tattoo shop.
Lena loves scary movies and all things Halloween. Probably because, she’d tell you, she wasn’t allowed to watch them as a kid or celebrate the holiday.
Lena has an unusual sense of style. Her outfits are always creative, sometimes pushing the boundaries of cohesive.
Lena didn’t learn to drive until adulthood and just obtained her license last year after moving to Providence Peak. She has a car but doesn’t like to drive and walks when she can.
Lena knows every one at a Touch of Ink’s coffee order, and their favorite take out too.
Lena’s ex wrote a bunch of songs about her. She gets visibly upset every time one comes on the radio and immediately turns it off.
FULL BIOGRAPHY —
TRIGGER WARNINGS: infertility, religious trauma, cancer, sex, homophobia, drugs, alcohol, death
In southern California, the Taylor’s struggled many years to conceive a child. They were told it was hopeless, and then their daughter was born. Their little miracle, which is exactly what Reverend Taylor told his entire congregation. Growing up the only child of a preacher meant the only life Elena knew for the entirety of her adolescence was church. Every Sunday, morning and night, on Wednesdays, too. Saturdays every now and then, and the once a year vacation bible school. If that wasn't enough to warp her world view, Elena was homeschooled, too. She only saw other kids at church and when her family went to homeschool co-op activities, so there was a lot she didn't know about the world. There was also a lot she did.
Elena was a born intuitive. Even as a child, hyper aware of other's feelings. Her heart was huge, and when it overflowed it did so into art. She dabbled in all kinds. Music, photography, and painting alike. She wasn't sure she had a favorite medium until after her first tattoo. An act of rebellion on her eighteen birthday, and the first of many mistakes she would make in the eyes of her parents.
For college, Elena had her heart set on Rhode Island School of Design for its Fine Arts program, but after her mother was diagnosed with cancer she knew she had to stay in California. So, instead she went to Coastline College in Newport and lived off campus with her parents. It was a hard couple of years for the Taylor family, but eventually Mrs. Taylor went into remission. Elena was a junior in college when she finally moved out of her parents' house, and it felt so good to be free. Too good. She couldn't get enough of it and went wild for awhile. There were so many new experiences to be had, and she wanted to have them all. She experimented with sex and her sexuality, drugs and alcohol, too. It all influenced her art. She was creating authentically for the first time in her life, but the closer Lena got to her true self the further she fell from her parents.
When she met someone, the one she once would've sworn, Elena was willing to risk it all. She was madly in love with another woman and proudly told her parents so. Her father condemned her instantly, urging her to pray away the sin, but her mother was more open minded. They continued to talk even after Elena cut off communication with her father, but her mom didn't attend her college graduation or wish her well when she and her girlfriend moved to LA.
They were both artists by trade. Elena worked independently on small, contracted projects and sold her work online. Her girlfriend was a singer in a band. They were truly happy for a time, but then everything changed overnight when her girlfriend’s band blew up. The demands of fame and success made their lives chaos, and Lena lost her love to the calamity.
The heartbreak was hard to heal from. Her parents weren't any comfort to her. Not that she expected them to be, especially as her mother was battling cancer again. It took precedent over everything. She even moved back in. Something she swore she'd never do after all the horrible, homophobic things her father had said, but time with her mother was precious. The cancer was more aggressive this time and took her in the winter before Elena's 25th birthday. Their relationship had never been perfect, even when Lena was young, but she was still her mom. It hit her hard, coupled with the break up, and she needed to get away for awhile. Out of California. Out of the US entirely. Elena used money from her mother's life insurance to see the world and allowed her travels and a little bit of time heal her.
At the end of her travels Lena wasn't ready to go back to California, but she was tired of the road, craving roots, craving a home. A cousin from her mother's side offered her reprieve in the mountains of Colorado while she figured it out. It didn't take long. Elena knew quick. Providence Peak was her new home. Her cousins offered her the accepting family she'd always needed, and she accepted her dream job at a local tattoo shop as the owner's apprentice.
To say it was love at first sight, with his work, was an understatement. Their aesthetics and eye for design were so similar she knew, without doubt, Everett Daughtry had to be her mentor in the industry. Their was no one else who could. She was especially sure after a year at his side, honing her skills as an artist and happier than she'd ever been before. No worries of the heartbreak in her rear view mirror ... most of the time.
A woman who could give as well as she could take— Shay knew there was a reason she’d liked Lena from the moment they met. And no, not just because she wasn’t bad to look at.
Laughing softly, that gleam of mischief ever present in her eyes, she mused, “I mean, I have been known to inspire.” Irritation, exasperation, swift and limitless rage— Somewhere within the mix she was almost certain carnal desire factored in.
And if this fictitious customer needed a bit of extra oomph? Never let it be said she didn’t have a fair few tricks up her sleeve.
“Maybe I should come dressed in costume.” The tip of her tongue poking out from between her teeth, Shay let loose another throaty chuckle. “I bought this new latex, mesh, body harness bodysuit thing at Condom Sense a few weeks ago that might be perfect. Very hot, very dominatrix. I probably have a few props laying that’d pair nicely with it, too.”
This time, unlike with the client she claimed to have booked for Lena, she was actually dead serious. She did make a few impulse purchases at the adult store in town, and still hadn’t put them to any good use.
“Then again, I could always just wear it for you.” A thick fringe of onyx lashes kissed the curvature of her cheek when she winked. Again, she wasn’t quite joking anymore, but propositioning Ever’s apprentice wasn’t why she’d stopped by to bother her that afternoon. Getting down to business, she pulled her phone from her pocket and pulled up a series of photos.
“Okay. Think this as the inspiration, yet take that and completely make it your own.” At the end of the day Medusa was Medusa, but she was still confident there were a number of ways to take a pretty standard idea and turn it into something wholly unique. “I don’t wanna give you any specifics or shit. Just— let your imagination run wild and surprise me.”
“You have complete artist freedom here.” Eyes moving from the screen to Lena, she murmured, “I trust you.”
.
A hum of agreement resonated in Lena’s throat. Her full mouth dawned a knowing smirk. “Oh, I have no doubt.” There was something inherently sexy about Shay. One of those people that made almost anything look good. Elena could vividly imagine all the ways she inspired. Others and herself included.
“A little roleplay?” She continued to tease back. It was an effortless, back and forth, banter. Something Lena loved a lot as a shameless flirt. “Wow, that sounds..” She was a little at a loss for words as the mental image of the outfit Shay was describing formed in her head. At the offer to wear it for her Lena finished her sentence, practically eye fucking the other brunette as she did. “...hot.”
Was it unprofessional to flirt with a future client? No more unprofessional than flirting with her boss, she thought.
“Okay..” Her voice echoed Shay’s before trailing off to focus on the phone screen. Instantly, Elena had an idea of what she wanted to do and reached for her sketchbook from behind the front desk. Faces were among her favorite things to draw and tattoo. She’d captured the likeness of thousands, real and made up, over her life. A portrait or two of Shay might even exist in an old sketchbook, constantly inspired by the beauty in her every day life. “...give me just a few..”
Lena really did only need a few minutes. She had a quick hand and a clear vision. "I remember the poem you shared with me, back a few months ago..” Her nimble fingers drug a pencil across a pad as she spoke through a subdued smile. “...it was your original inspiration, yeah?” While it wasn’t needed as a reference point, Lena liked to understand the reasoning behind her client’s ideas, as she thought intention did matter.
She gave a shake of her head when Elena asked if she knew them. “No, I believe they were friends with the owner of the gallery. That’s why they entrusted the pieces would sell well with us.” Dylan was being honest about both facts, but of course she’d gotten to meet and speak with the art collector’s estate attorneys since the deal was put on the table. She had definitely more than a few questions about how the collector had come by some of these works. Seeing the pensive look on the other woman’s face, she chuckled a bit as the truth came out. “Well, better they be covered with lots of art than no art at all? If ya need any help I’ve got plenty of experience with art placement.” She gestured to around the gallery to show just one example of her work.
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It was a disappointment not to be able to connect with the original collector. Their eye for art inspired Elena, and she was often drawn to other artistic types as her muses. Hence, her current situation. An intense infatuation with her artistic mentor. “Gotcha.” Her tongue clicked against the roof of her mouth, and she shrugged. There would be other opportunities. “Agreed. I can’t stand a bare wall. I’m definitely not on the minimalist trend. I’m a maximalist, for sure. Especially with art.” Her eyes of rich mahogany followed Dylan’s gestures. “You set all this up?” She nodded in approval. “Nice job. Really. The whole gallery flows. Like a story.”
It was obvious that Elena was excited for the tattoo session, and Ever wouldn’t lie and say he wasn’t either. Mostly though he was excited to see her reaction to the design and placement that he had decided on since it was something that she had left completely up to him.
He quickly made a call to Leo to explain that he was going to be staying late tonight to work on Lena’s tattoo. Thankfully neither him or Savannah had any complaints, and they were already making plans for what junk food they were getting for dinner before Ever had even hung the phone up.
Heading back downstairs he stopped at the front desk to print off the design onto the stencil paper and brought it into his room with him. “So do you want to see it now or wait until I’ve placed it?” He asked, glancing over at the Lena sat in the chair. “Either way, I’m set on this design for your thigh piece.”
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The sound of the printer caught her attention. She knew what he was doing now and counted the steps until Ever stood before her, design in hand. Excitement twinkled in her dark eyes, but she insisted. “I want to wait.. I trust you.” In ways she couldn’t utter now but thought about in her head. Though not for long as he announced where the tattoo would be hoing. “Yeah?” She was grinning, a wide smile that dimpled her cheeks. “Can’t freakin’ wait!”
It was an addiction; tattoos. There was something about the pain Elena liked. A weird thing to admit to just anyone, but Ever wasn’t anyone. “I really kind of love it.” She told him as she stood. “You can go the whole piece.” Without a second thought her nimble, tattoo clad, fingers freed the button of her jeans and pushed the denim down. A thong might’ve been the worst choice of panties for today, but how was she supposed to know where he’d choose to put her tattoo? After, off came her sweatshirt. Not for any reason that pertained to tattoo access, but because she wanted to be comfortable. “I won’t need a break.”
“Thank you, mina.” Leo exhaled in his own cloud of bliss, staring affectionately at his ring. It was perfect really, as if Ever had the ability to see inside of Leo’s mind and had crafted the ring himself. “No, no. No date yet.” He shook his head. “He hasn’t even met my family yet. So definitely have to wait for that to happen.. and I have to meet his family too.” Leo bit his lip, quieting for a moment. “Do you think his family would like me? I know I’m a lot sometimes.. but I’m good for Ever.. and Savy.. right?”
.
While the term of endearment wasn’t one Lena had learned growing up, she’d pieced together its meaning over the times Leo had used it. It made her head drop in shame. She was eaten a live by guilt about her feelings for such a sweet friend’s partner. If she could wish them away she would. It’d be easier not to feel, but Lena could never do that. She always felt too much. “No? Well, you have time.” She said like she knew all about planning weddings. When in fact Lena knew nothing at all. She wasn’t even sure she herself wanted one. Love just seemed like something she’d always be reaching for. “I don’t know a lot about his family.” She admitted. No one seemed to. Ever was extremely private in that regard. Lena could only assume it was bad, like hers. “But if they don’t then it’s on them and not you.” If Lena knew anything it was that. “You really are.” It hurt so much to admit because she wanted it to be her, but the truth tumbled from his lips as sharp as glass anyway. “You make him happy. I can tell. Savannah, too.”
Elijah wouldn’t say that he was anxious. He wasn’t. Regardless of the fact that the heel of his foot was rapidly tapping against the floor of the tattoo parlor’s lobby, and his eyes were averting between the several displayed artworks on the wall and the ticking clock above them, he was totally fine. Just eager — yeah, eager. Something that had been pretty high up on his bucket list of ‘things to do that he hasn’t done yet’ was finally free from the backburner of his mind, after months of back and forth with himself and he was just eager about it. The longer that Elena took, the more eager he became; soon enough his fingers were absentmindedly twiddling together, and he fought off the urge to check his phone for the nth time to make sure he hadn’t missed any messages since approximately three minutes ago.
The soft click of a door in the distance caused his head to snap upwards, and he found himself smiling at the sight of the woman he’d been waiting for. “Lena, hey!” He stood quickly, and wiped the palms of his heads against his thighs as he crossed the room in strides. “You’re looking lovely as ever, it’s nice to see you.” The tension in his shoulders practically rolled off as he relaxed them, forcing himself to be in the moment rather than think about what was going to be ahead. He had to calm down, this was only the consultation. “Thank you, for, um — for humoring me, by the way. This is something that I’ve been wanting to do for awhile and I think you were actually the kick in the arse I needed to do it.”
.
After over a year in Providence Peak Lena was surprised to run into someone from her past, but at least this was a harmless someone from her past. A musician she’d met while living in LA who had performed in the same space as her ex. The ex. A woman Lena had yet to shake from her dreams. Someone she would never call harmless. The opposite of, in fact, after everything she’d put Lena through. Not that anyone really knew about that. All the songs her ex wrote about her after their break up made Lena out to be the bad girl(friend), but there were two sides to every story. Even if one was a catchy tune.
“Hey Eli.” Her greeting was warm and genuine. Nervous clients were apart of the business, and Lena was especially good at soothing them. “You’re so sweet. It’s nice to see you, too.” The anxiety emanating off Eli was obvious, and she wondered if this was his first tattoo. “Yeah, of course! I’m so honored you chose me. Let’s have a seat -- and just talk.” She was quick to assure. “We can get on the same page with ideas, and go from there. Easy peasy.” She flashed a smile at the end before tipping her head towards the artist lounge. A collection of comfy couches that made a consult, she thought, less intimidating.
Ever studied the girl beside him. He still felt so very strongly about her but had been working hard to keep things solely professional between the two of them. Leo deserved everything and more and Ever wasn’t going to ruin their happiness over a silly little crush that had gone on for far too long. They had a chance over a year ago but neither of them made a move, so it was far past the time to leave it alone. Yet it was brought up again, she was his work wife.
“Si, muy importante.” He replied, turning his head away from Lena now to look over the balcony into the empty front lobby. “If you want to get things set up downstairs, I’ll be there in a little bit. I want to talk to Leo and let him know that I’ll be home later than normal, and to get Savy to bed on time instead of letting her wait up for me.” It didn’t seem right for him to not tell Leo what was going on, especially when Ever was always home at the same time each work night. He couldn’t let anyone worry about him. “We only need black ink.”
.
Pride lit up Lena’s face, twinkling in her dark eyes with authenticity. “Ev! ¡Tu español está mejorando!” She’d take credit for that. The second she figured out Ever was trying to learn Spanish she offered to be his teacher. A role reversal for them, but she liked it. Lena learned as a child, alongside English. She also spoke some Portuguese and a little French. The benefits of a homeschool education.
“Yeah, sure.” She was already up, obviously excited to get started. It was more than an opportunity for Lena to spend time with Ever. Rather, more importantly, the first time he’d ever tattooed her. It was a long, long time coming. She thought. After a year knowing one another. “I’ll take care of it.” A beat passed in which Lena considered whether or not to say anything about keeping him from his real family because it felt a little more serious this time than his playful tease prior. “Tell Savy I love her.” Sometimes less was more with words. Less hurtful, at least.
Only black ink. Lena was already excited and set up Ever’s private tattoo room quickly. She could’ve done it in her sleep after all this time. Perfect in all the ways he liked, because she knew what he liked. When she was finished she sunk into the client chair. Her first time in Ever’s, but definitely not her first time. Lena was covered, and she began to wonder where he’d choose to tattoo. There was certainly space left, just not any she could see with all her clothes on.
Leo narrowed his eyes at Lena for a few seconds, but ultimately he let the subject of her mysterious rendezvous drop. He was nosey as sin, but today was really about him sharing his good news. He could follow up about her business some other time. He shrugged, pleased enough to hear that he was among her faves. He ordered a second bellini, quietly sipping from the remnants in his glass as Lena ordered something stronger. “Tequila, huh?” Leo blinked at Lena, voicing some surprise when the server stepped away. He supposed it was 5 o’clock somewhere. “I guess a shot is in order becauuuseeee..” he stretched out his words, opting to shove his ringed hand at Lena, his grin wide on his face. “Ever proposed!”
.
“Well, you know it’s my favorite..” Just not usually before noon, but today wasn’t a usual day. As Leo quickly announced. It was hard for Lena to understand her emotions. She was both happy and sad, which seemed impossible within the extremes that she felt them yet so undeniably true. “Congratulations, Leo. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.” It took every ounce of resolve Elena Taylor possessed not to burst into tears, yet her words were deeply earnest. She loved both men, albeit a little differently, and did genuinely wish for their mutual happiness. It was just a shame, to Lena, that she wouldn’t be included in that. “Have you set a date yet?”
In general most art collectors were certainly a different breed in Dylan’s eyes. They all had interesting quirks or secrets that one would probably not find out about until after they were six feet under. “Yes, very interestin’.” She agreed with a small laugh as she shifted her attention back to look at Elena. “Ah, it’s their estate that’s sellin’ it.” Dylan shared as she didn’t want to break too much confidentiality as to who the previous owner was, that was more for their own records, and they’d just give the certificate of authenticity to the new owner. Unless someone publicly shared they had a certain painting there was a bit of taboo surrounding the art community. Someone might want a painting solely for who owned it before and not for the actual art itself, which personally the art curator found a bit silly. But she didn’t want to ramble on too much about that to a patron. “Have you got any ideas as to where you’re gonna place it?”
.
There was a certain cadence to the way Dylan said the word interesting that made Lena wonder if she thought more than she said. Perhaps it was the accent. The California raised brunette had spent very little time in the Souther United States. “Oh yeah?” She wondered if art was the only thing being sold in the estate sale. If these people had as good of taste as the painting, she might be interested in their other items as well. “Do you know them?” She gave Dylan’s question some thought. Her full lips pursed before she shrugged and admitted, “No. I don’t. I’ve about outgrown my apartment in the way of art. My walls are basically covered, but I’ll find a place. Every piece has a home within its collection..”
“Some people.” She answered in turn. There was a lot to be said about it, so much so that Aksel’s head buzzed with tales of her own woes in love. More so lately than it had been in a while, but when it rains- it pours. At least it felt that way. Aksel had never been gifted when it came to drawing. Basics were as far as she got. It was one of Lena’s talents that made her social media presence interesting to follow. “Just any hands?” She asked, her curiosity piqued with what may as well have been a throwaway comment.
Aksel’s eyes swept away from Lena’s face when she laid down her phone. She nodded towards the bar, just in time for her drink to arrive a moment later. “Do you like shots?” Aksel asked with a shrug. Whatever Lena was swiping for, Aksel wasn’t sure and didn’t think it was her place to ask. Still, in the off chance that Lena was looking to drink away her problems, Aksel was in no position to not encourage losing themselves to a night of fun. Pulling out her credit card, part of her thought she’d regret the charges later when responsibility slapped her with a hangover. Before she could talk herself out of it she slid the card across to the bartender. “Tequila?” It was her preferred, especially when she needed to numb her mind to the reality she could put off for at least a few hours.
.
The way Aksel asked just any hands made Lena, momentarily, wonder if she knew. It was impossible though. Lena had told no one. She was inherently private. Even in the beginning when her feelings were just feelings and not contempt for another relationship. She just shrugged in response. Lena didn’t need to give anyone any ideas about her inspiration before she spoke about it to the muse himself.
“Tequila shots.” Lena answered at the same time Aksel ordered with the bartender. The girls probably had a lot more in common than the liquor they drank, but until tonight they’d never been just one on one to figure it out. She looked forward to the possibility of that changing. "To being the hottest girls here.”
