001. a tattoo parlour, buzzing with machinery and walls lined with artwork .
𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒
it's unfamiliar territory to eddie, being in a tattoo parlour. a legitimate one. funny, considering he's got five tattoos already. in the process of the sixth. all designed by himself, sleepless nights spent doodling ideas for hours. && for a cheap price, engraved on him forever by the neighbourhood 'artist' ... from a kitchen. not very hygienic. hey, there's yet to be any infection. maybe ink drop, && maybe he's tried to fix it himself but who cares??
this time, however, eddie didn't design anything. chris did.
an unfinished sketch caught his eye, yanked from his friend before any protests to quit it. AWE would be the correct word to describe his reaction, enough so he'd spent days pestering chris to show him the final drawing.
what harm's one more demon tatt when the whole town thinks him the devil already?? considering the amount of time && talent put into the sketch, eddie saved up the cash (that perhaps should have went toward more groceries) && opted for a parlour instead - sorry for the lack of business, mr. wuertz.
it's far cleaner than a trailer park kitchen. a sterile smell in the air mixing with the cloud of smoke from an adjacent artists cigarette. frames of designs adorn the walls; portraits of animals, myths, creatures && skeletons. nothing as cool as the art almost approaching its final form on his left arm. excess ink is wiped away from the shading, revealing the design as the artist nears the end. exactly like the picture, eddie had insisted, && this parlour didn't disappoint.
his gaze finally lifts from intently watching the masterpiece unfold && he looks to chris, sitting on the waiting couch across the room. " hey, " loud enough to catch the attention of other patrons waiting, " do i have to get your signature inked underneath this?? y'know, for credit. copyright. " he smirks, " 'cause i'm not paying fucking extra for that. " the tattoo artist doesn't smirk, rolls their eyes in fact, followed by a quick " no offence. " from eddie.
the buzzing ceases as it's done, the final reveal ... && it's perfect. metal as fuck, evident by the excited smile across his face. not only is it a work of art, creepy at that, but technically also a tribute to his best friend too. worth the high price && weeks of saving. cooler than anything he's drawn himself ... though he's yet to admit that aloud.