ladylike;

sanem emel arslan.

[s-arslan]

Is that SANEM ARSLAN I see over there? You know they have quite a reputation of being the ARTISAN around town. The 27 year old has been seen around these parts living in CHESTNUT APARTMENTS for HER ENTIRE LIFE and within that timeframe has landed themselves a job as a TATTOO ARTIST/ARTIST. I overheard that they can be quite SELF-DEPRECATING but their saving grace is that they are CREATIVE. They remind me of PAINT-SPLATTERED DENIM AND THE SMELL OF CLEAN LINENS but you’ll have to decide that for yourself.

Sanem Emel Arslan was born to two people who honestly shouldn’t have had kids. They were two young people caught up in the moment and thought marriage was better than nothing. Sanem was given up for adoption at three years old alongside her younger sister Nazli when it became obvious that kids couldn’t fix a relationship and she spent most of her life bouncing from foster home to foster home.

She was adopted at age seven by Elizabeth and Garrett Thomas, a couple who was more performative about their work than anything. They had adopted seven kids by time she arrived with Sanem being the youngest one of all. They had attempted to change her name from her Turkish name to one that didn’t suit her and it only stopped when it became clear that she wouldn’t answer to it. They adopted kids from unfortunate circumstances for no other reason than martyrdom. After adopting Sanem, the state finally told them they couldn’t adopt or foster anymore because they ran out of room.

By the time Sanem turned fourteen, she had been threatened with a group home five times unless she “played ball.” She couldn’t keep any money from babysitting jobs she did or any odd jobs, as her siblings often stole it out of their room. Sometimes, it was simply because she had to “earn her keep” and give her parents money for rent and food, despite the checks given to them by the state.

Sanem was kicked out the day after her eighteenth birthday with nothing but a backpack of clothes and about fifty dollars to her name. She was forced to move onto her neighbor’s couch until she could figure out her next move. With no phone and hardly any way to get one, she took odd jobs to make enough to buy her own phone. Her biggest stress relief growing up was art and she wasn’t just good, she was good. Few things came naturally to her, but art was it. The one gift she ever received without strings or expectations of repayment was an art set and a small section of the house to work. She was accepted to Paier College and worked as a waitress and as an artist in the meantime in order to pay bills until she met someone who changed her world forever. It’s from them that she heard the four words she hadn’t realized she was dying to hear her entire life: let me help you.

Having someone pay for college, an apartment, and an actually decent lifestyle was completely foreign, but for the first time, she knew what it was like to not have to struggle. She could focus on school instead of working herself into the ground.

Headcanons:

Became a sugar baby to pay for art school, still very good friends with said former glucose guardian (it wasn’t a romantic/sexual relationship, but instead a mentor/mentee-esque relationship. this person only wanted to help her succeed when everyone wanted to hold her back. they also helped her get sober) (Connection filled by Matthieu Dixon)

Recovering alcoholic, started her journey of sobriety two years ago. She still struggles, but she’s determined to not relapse. Smokes both marijuana and nicotine for the oral fixation, both vape pens and cigarettes. Surprisingly great at being hydrated, she has a large refillable water bottle on her person at all times.

Became a tattoo artist upon seeing Miami Ink and loves the challenge. She specializes in animals and flowers, as well as calligraphy. She’s currently honing her people-drawing skills, as well as big cats. Strangely talented with dogs/wolves/all things canine.

Well-known for having a light touch and a close attention to detail.

Has a black Lab named Bosco.

Allergic to cats and strawberries.

No contact with her adoptive family, despite their attempts to get in touch with her.

Recently got into contact with her biological parents and learned of her younger sister’s existence. Hasn’t gotten into contact with her sister quite yet.

[s-arslan]

denveradamson​:

denver hadnt really thought this plan all the way through. what he did know was that he needed to get this note to sanem and that was his plan. though when he arrived and her door opened he felt his stomach turn. what was he supposed to say or do? 

part of him wanted to run away. it was what he was used to in his own life.. running away from problems and from people. though he had been working through all of that in therapy lately and he knew that wouldnt solve shit right now. so instead. “i- am an idiot.” was the first sentence that came out of his mouth before he chuckled. “i am here because i wrote you letter. i missed the cut off date to get it to you by christmas so i figured i would just walk it over and leave it.. but here we are face to face so it seems pretty weird to hand it to you and walk away right now.” he chuckled nervously once more. “bare with me because i feel really foolish standing here telling you this.” his fingers fiddled with he envelope in his hand.

.

“A letter?” she repeated with a tilt of her head. This was at least something versus last time. After their conversation, was he ghosting her again?

Sanem squeezed herself through the opening of her door and closed it before Bosco realized said door was open. She glanced down and quickly pulled the zipper up on her black puffer coat. Even if it was a short walk to the mailbox, she still bundled up. In the meantime, she could think.

“I was just on my way to the mailbox over there. Would you like to join me?” she offered with a toss of her head in that direction. “Or is that something I should be sitting down for?”

[miraydanerarchived]

Melisa Aslı Pamuk Erkege Güven Olmaz (EGO) | 1st Teaser

[s-arslan]

open starter for @rwstarters

location: grocery store

The price of food was insane. Over twenty-five dollars for five dozen eggs? Sanem lived alone and therefore, bulk shopping wasn't the best idea, but now she toyed with the idea of investing in a bulk store membership. It would make buying dog food much easier.

Someone aggressively flirting with her made her blanch. After all, who wanted to get picked up in the bread aisle? She just wanted her butter bread.

"I will buy your grocery haul if you pretend to know me," she murmured to the nearest person.

[mneverland]

Ayça Ayşin Turan

via instagram

[s-arslan]

denveradamson​:

@s-arslan​

denver was unsure about the letter he had wrote sanem. he had been doing his best to stay away, he had even been trying his best to make things right with dhaila once again. the last thing he wanted to do was hurt BOTH of the women for a second time.  though after he had ran into sanem before the holiday and shared coco and a conversation he certainly felt like he didnt get to say what he wanted about everything. taking time to write the women a long letter he hand it in his hand and made his way to her house. going to leave the envelope on her porch he was startled when the door opened. shit. he jumped and leaned back up with the envelope in his hand. a small smile tugged at his lips as he searched for what to even say to her for being there on her door step. “i-” he shook his head and sighed. “h- hey.” was all he came up with hanging on the envelope tightly in his hand for now. 

.

Sanem’s world had tipped on its axis with Denver resurfacing. In a way, it was one of her big tests of sobriety. If she could handle seeing him in light of their history, she could handle nearly anything. She was able to navigate the deep feelings that resurfaced and she could navigate it well. 

The mail truck had only just gone by and it was her little habit to go collect the mail before the area became a little crowded. As she pulled her door open, she took a step back when she spotted Denver. Of all the people she expected on her porch, he was low on the list.

“What are you doing here, Den?” she inquired. 

[gvzel]

AYÇA AYŞIN TURAN   |   1.04  －  The Protector

[s-arslan]

denveradamson​:

“bosco,” denver repeated after her when she introduced the dog. “he is adorable. and he is a great sobriety gift, he looks like he has been a big help.” the man pointed out to her. “he seems to be pretty good behaved too.” he explained with a nod. he was thankful to hear her doing so well, though it hurt just a little knowing she couldnt have did that with him. it was something he would keep to himself though. 

“i dont think so either, i think having things like him around is a good reminder every day of why you are doing what you are doing.” he reasured her. “you look great.” he pointed out. “happy and healthy look really wonderful on you, i mean it.”

.

“I don’t even remember where I got it. I just remember looking at him and it suited him,” she admitted. Sanem understood the hype surrounding having a dog almost immediately after taking him home. She’d even gone as far as to buy him little booties for the winter and a jacket for when the mercury dipped low. They wore matching pajamas at night and it was as much habit for her to get him ready for bed as it was for her to get herself ready. 

That, and she was finally loving her work. Before, art had stressed her out as much as she loved it. The pressure to create something perfect had been immense, but she finally found joy in the imperfections. 

“You look great, too. How’s the practice been going? You seem to be getting a lot of business,” she remarked.

[s-arslan]

gracianade​:

Grace had decided to fully embrace the festival this year. Living her entire life in Ravenswood, it was something she didn’t exactly always go to, but she figured after being back after so long she thought maybe she’d refresh herself on it.  She had done a lot of the activties, had decorated cookies and tried so many foods she felt like she might explode, she even went ice skating.  She was walking around with another nutella crossiant in her hand, just sort of exploring, picking out gifts for family members and friends, browsing and enjoying the crisp winter air, and the music from the choir. 

There was excitement coming from a booth, and, Graciana, ever curious, ever a chismosa, had to know what was going on. So she walked over, watching as the little girl squealed and embraced the artist.  Graciana took the moment while she was busy to take a look at the booth it self, at the art hanging. 

“Your work is amazing,” she compliments, taking a closer look at a vase on a shelf, something her mother would love.  “I’d be honored to get my face painted, something christmassy, if you can,  and then, I think I’d like to buy some of your art.”

.

Not many adults took her up on the offer for face-painting, but there was something extra heart-warming about it. Christmas was, by far, Sanem’s favorite time of year. Her favorite part was sitting in her pajamas with hot chocolate and watching a Christmas movie with Bosco. 

“Thank you,” she answered with a small smile. So far, her art had gone over well. Selling it at the same time as her face-painting services and her tattooing services had been an amazing idea. “I’ve got a flyer for my studio as well, if you’d like to see some more of what I have.” 

She knelt down and pulled out a few of her face paint tubes out. While some had opted to simply dip and go for their face paint, Sanem was a stickler for cleanliness. If she ran out on her palette, she could simply squeeze more on versus starting completely over. “How about an elf hat and a candy cane?”

[s-arslan]

nazliarslan​:

Nazli was a sucker for small and local businesses. She would much rather buy from a small no name shop than Walmart or Target. The experience of shopping always seemed better not to mention the quality was. She also liked to know that the money she spent was making a difference to the people receiving it and not just adding another zero to the end of a billionaires networth.

Nazli didn’t have any tattoos. It wasn’t that she didn’t like them or believed that they were bad in anyway she was just way to indecisive to choose a design to permanently mark her body with. Something that she really liked in this moment might have zero interest to her in the future. She would stick to canvases and stickers for the moment. 

“You tattoo.” She spoke, glancing over the card that the women who had handed her. “You know I give you props for that… I draw and paint on paper and canvas but I don’t think that I could ever do it on somebodies skin.” She disclosed “I mean I just don’t think that I would trust myself let alone expect someone else to trust me.” She laughed softly.

.

Sanem ordinarily had no problem bartering with people she was friendly with, but strangers demanding either a barter or a free commission was out of the question. Having someone support her art simply to support her was a breath of fresh air. 

If she had a dollar for every time someone admired her work for tattoos, she would be richer than Bezos and Musk combined. It was never a matter of being annoyed, simply that she felt a little proud. “It’s a real learning curve, but it’s a rush,” she admitted. 

[s-arslan]

denveradamson​:

denver was grateful that the other had been doing so better, she had looked fantastic and so healthy. it was nice not seeing her head in a toilet bowl or completely hungover, it was a wonderful look on her. once he had came back out and handed over the cups he had took a moment to take his own coat off feeling the heat from the heaters already. 

“don’t mention it,” a smile took his lips when she thanked him. he had watched the dog lap up the cut with only made him smile bigger. “he is cute.” he pointed out. “i’m sure it helps calm them down if they are a little nervous. what is his name? looks like he has been keeping you in line.” he teased playfully taking a drink of his own drink.

.

“His name’s Bosco. I got him as a reward when I hit six months sober after getting out of rehab. I figured if I was taking care of a living thing, it might help me get out of bed in the morning and do things,” she responded. Bosco had saved her life in more ways than one. He was still her greatest investment. As a puppy, she needed to get out of bed to walk him and take care of him. She couldn’t drink and afford to feed him, so she picked him. 

He needed her so Sanem owed it to him to do better. 

“I don’t think it’s dramatic to say he saved my life.”

[aceharrowsmith-deactivated20240]

✧･ﾟ— OPEN STARTER @rwstarters

SETTING: Milton Family Laundry ; late morning

Ace’s foot tapped impatiently against the tile floor as he watched his laundry spin around and around and around in the machine opposite where he was sat. It felt as though he’d been there for hours. He had nothing better to do but to sit hypnotised by the bubbles and the blur of colours tumbling around. He refreshed his emails countless times, scrolled through the news app until all the juicy gossip dried up, and even looked up old photos on his camera roll just to pass the time.

Ace would have gone for a walk if it wasn’t for the fact that it was raining heavily outside. The laundry itself was quiet so he didn’t mind being stuck there, watching clothes tumble around and the rain hammer on the windows. In a way it was relaxing, but he couldn’t help but feel painfully bored.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Ace sunk down in his seat and found himself at the very beginning of his camera roll. The very first photo was a picture he’d taken of another photo of him with his parents one Christmas holiday. They were dressed in their finest attire: Ace and his father in their tuxedos and his mother in a glittery red dress. They all wore smiles too. With Christmas now approaching, Ace missed his parents more than anything and wished he could tell them just once more how much he loved them. That would be the only Christmas gift he’d ever want or need.

Waiting for his laundry to get clean seemed so trivial now.

[s-arslan]

aceharrowsmith​:

“Oh, thanks for that,” Ace said, both surprised and grateful. He would most certainly have to keep that in mind. Even if using those specific machines meant he would spend five minutes less doing his laundry then it would be a godsend. 

“But, yeah, I think you’re right. It’s nice to know you can talk to someone and they listen to what’s going on now rather than judge you for what’s happened in the past. My worst nightmare is oversharing, so please, if I ever get to that point, tell me and I’ll keep schtum.”

.

It was a long time of trial and error. Sanem still mourned many a T-shirt that met its end at the hands of the machines. She had her favorites and they were currently in use. When it came to people she knew somewhat, she didn’t intend to gatekeep. 

“I think that’s why so many people benefit from going to therapy. I’m not someone who goes, but I think there’s something really cleansing about a third party,” she commented as she rolled her socks into a ball. “Believe me, I’m a tattoo artist. You wouldn’t believe the outlandish stuff clients have said to me because they were nervous.”

[s-arslan]

denveradamson​:

denver had so much love for the woman he had found it so hard to sit and pretend like she was someone in his past or someone he didnt know.  though he knew for the sake of the woman the best thing he had to do was keep a distance. all he wanted was for her to be safe and healthy and if that meant he kept his distance and pretended to be a distant stranger then so be it.

though as the two stood and talked he figured this conversation should be somewhere that wasnt the sidewalk in front of his dental office where people were visiting. when she had pointed out the dog he nodded. “of course, where ever we need to sit.” he gave her a small and began to walk across the street with her. “i’ll run in and get us some if you want to grab up a table.” he pointed out before making his way inside to order two hot cocos and a little pup cup for her dog. once it had finished he carried the three cups outside and took a seat a cross from her, “for you..” he handed it over. and for this little one.” he handed the cup to her not sure if her dog was allowed it.

.

They had had a good run when it came to avoiding the other, but now it seemed as though it would happen again. Only this time, Sanem was much healthier than she was before. It was likely she would have a lot to talk about in the next meeting. In two years, she hadn’t missed a single one. 

Sanem followed Denver across the street and found a more secluded outdoor table for them to sit and talk. Bosco’s chin rested on her knee and she gently rubbed at his ears. It was still cold, but the outside heaters helped a tad. She shrugged out of her black peacoat and hung it on the back of her chair. 

She accepted the pup cup and set it on the ground for her dog to immediately lap up. “Thank you,” she said as she accepted her cup. The sugar was more than welcome. As of late, she knew she needed to cut down on her sugar intake, but hot chocolate seemed to be her vice with the cold weather. “I got him about a year and a half ago and he comes with me to work all the time. My clients just love him.” 

[s-arslan]

She’s taking her time making up the reasons to justify all the hurt inside Guess she knows from the smiles and the look in their eyes Everyone’s got a theory ‘bout the bitter one They’re saying “Mama never loved her much and Daddy never keeps in touch That’s why she shies away from human affection”

[s-arslan]

nazliarslan​:

Nazli’s face lit up at the mention of custom work being available “Oh I would definitely be interested in some custom work.” She hummed “Something about owning one of a kind pieces just speaks to me.” she smiled “Do you have like a book that I could jot my order down in?” She asked.

It was easy for Nazli to speak to Sanem because she was unaware of the true connection between the two of them. In her head they were simply two strangers who seemed to have a common love for the arts. Nazli has never actually dived into her biological parents. The thought had crossed her mind, that she had to have a family out there somewhere, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins… however whenever she had started the process of finding them she wound up chickening out, if her parents hadn’t wanted her than who was she to assume that anyone else in the family would?

“I think that I’ll take the vase for now probably and than commission the mugs and bowls if that’s alright?” She asked, looking over the women’s existing work anyway. 

.

Sanem hadn’t remembered her younger sister, but then again, she had been too young and had dealt with trauma in the time following. Hell, there were a lot of things she blocked out.

“Well, me and my small business appreciate you,” she responded with a chuckle. She knelt down to pull out the clipboard. “I’ve also got some cards for you, too.”

Not a lot of people were willing to support local businesses such as an artist, but Sanem worked hard to get her name out there. Thank goodness for Mattie and their willingness to help. 

“The address is on the card for both my studios, I work at Everlasting Tattoos and Piercings in the midtown area.”

[s-arslan]

birdiehayes​:

Birdie watched the little girl in front of her barely be able to hold in her excitement and it had put a smile on her face to watch. Once the painting was finished, the girl squealed with excitement and she couldn’t help but laugh and wait for her turn. “Oh. no face paint for me, but I am looking for some artwork for the studio.” She said as she looked at all of the work that was behind the other. 

“Do you do commission work as well?” Birdie asked curiously. “Because I would love some dance related artwork, maybe even a whole mural.” She said, running through some ideas she had in her head.

.

“I do commission work. I have several open spots for the holiday season and I do have different examples available of the styles I do,” Sanem confirmed. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask just what kind of studio it was, be it a gallery or a dance studio, but her question was immediately answered. “I do murals as well, price varies, and I am open to a barter system for small, local businesses, but that’s just between us.”

Bartering was a trade as old as time and one that was oddly satisfying, almost as if it was some secret society. 

“I also have some pottery, if you’re interested?”

[s-arslan]

denveradamson​:

denver gave her a small nod when she had told him she just wanted to tell those she hurt. part of him wanted to lie, to tell her that it was okay that she didnt hurt him. but he couldnt lie to her, he couldnt pretend that it didnt break his spirit to let her go like he did. at the end of their relationship he had seen a therapist to try to talk through things and it had really helped him to a certain extent. however it didnt matter how much talking or listening he did from others, it wasnt that easy to be okay without her. 

“well you will be happy to know then that i forgive you for all the hurt and that iam very proud of you.” that was the truth, that was what he stood behind and he wanted her to know that he didnt blame her or hold any anger towards her about any of it. all he wanted was her better with or without him. 

when his assistant came back he had gave her a small nod, “hey- how about we run across the street and get some hot chocolate. i think with the holidays they are serving those cute little coco bombs we used to get all the time.” he offered as he took a step from around the table. “i mean if you have the time of course.”

.

Sanem wouldn’t have been able to blame him had he not forgiven her for everything she put him through. Some things weren’t that simple, after all. It wasn’t as if she had spilled something on something new. There was only going forward. 

Bosco had laid down beside her by now and Sanem cast a glance down to her dog. “Mind if we sit outside? I don’t think they allow dogs in there,” she requested. Would she make time for him, even if she didn’t technically have it? Absolutely.