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[elfenix]

A Touch of Ink…

Timeline: 22nd September 2016, Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Location: It’s Your Mark Tattoo Shop, Salt Creek Summary: Àngel meets Shadow for the first time and receives some advice on what sort of piece to get on his back…

[Timeline: 2016 September 22nd, Thursday, 8:30pm, It’s Your Mark]

Shadow had crossed paths with Marcel Bertrand a few times since his move to Salt Creek. The building the man now owned was a few blocks from the tattoo studio and on occasion when the artist was headed into town he’d peek into the space before continuing on to his destination. They’d exchanged a handful of hellos but it was the whiskey that made Marcel a lasting figure in Shadow’s mind. He ordered at least two bottles a week and the habit was quickly becoming an addiction. They’d discussed exchanging favors a few times - A case of whiskey for the start of a tattoo sleeve on the man’s arm. It was all a joke but when Marcel reached out to him, he thought the man had actually decided to take him up on the offer. Disappointed when he found out that it was a request for an appointment for friends, Shadow didn’t turn the business away. The appointment was set for Thursday evening. When the time came the shop was empty of other clients and artists. The sound of Zack de la Rocha’s voice blared through the speakers over guitar riffs and bass drops. Still he heard the ding of the bell when the door opened. Emerging from the back of the studio, Shadow was all business when he greeted his guests, “You must be Marcel’s friends.”

//

Àngel couldn’t wait for the day to end. Truthfully, when Marcel approached him early that morning to let him know about the appointment made with the tattoo artist they have been talking about, he had been rushing the hours to pass. Fortunately, there were a lot of things to still do around the distillery and so before he knew it, he was heading out to pick up Isabel at work. He tried convincing Marcel to go with them but another delivery was due to arrive very soon and someone had to be around to receive it. He walked to Tanaka’s where Izzy waited for him and together, they headed towards the shop not very far from Serafine’s. He then realized he knew the building as he passed it all the time but never really paid attention as to what housed it. Now he knew. Entering the shop, they were greeted by a tall man covered in ink. His blue eyes immediately roamed over the man’s arms, checking out the art that covered them. “Yes, we are,” he then responded with a smile, a hand offered to the man. “I’m Àngel. This is our friend Isabel,” he said motioning to Izzy who stood next to him. “Cool place,” he then commented, looking around. “How long have you been here?” He asked, wondering if the man actually owned the place.

//

Shadow didn’t pay much attention to the two at first. Most were excited when they entered the door. New ink wasn’t cheap and months of waiting to get the next or perfect piece usually led to excited adults who chattered way too much throughout the process. When he finally allowed himself to look at the guy, he noted the work he’d already had done - Some better than others but definitely not local. Finally he extended his hand in greeting, “Nice to meet you Àngel…Isabel.” He didn’t know much about the two, just that they must be important to Marcel. He’d given Shadow the okay to do whatever they wanted, no price constraints and he’d handle it. Laughing at the other’s remarks about the place, “Its not that cool but it’ll do.” He knew the man was digging, trying to find out more and maybe it was nervous energy. Shadow wasn’t the type to share. He’d spent weeks, months now in friendly conversation with Marcel and all that Marcel knew - he was an artist turned inker, who studied at Parsons. There was nothing else he was ready to reveal. Especially the details of his true nature. “Do you know what you’re getting today?”

//

Àngel was very good at reading people and he knew when someone wanted to talk or just wanted to go through their business in a polite and professional manner. The man who took his hand to shake who didn’t give them his name [which he already knew, anyway] seemed nice although he appeared quiet. Marcel wouldn’t send him to someone who the man didn’t approve and his best friend seemed fond of the artist. “Yes,” his head nodded, thinking of what he’d wanted inked on his skin this time. “I want to work on my back -” He started, “I have ideas but I’m not entirely sure how it would look. I printed out some stuff I saw from other people but I don’t want the same exact thing on me. I want’ something unique and different, obviously but I’m no artist. I was hoping you could help me with that?” He said, glancing over to Izzy who sat down and flipping through a book that held previous works of the place.

//

“Can I see what you’ve done so far?” Àngel’s arms were exposed but the mention of having more work done to his back, told Shadow there were already pieces there. Anything he decided to add would have to compliment and it was possible he’d have to blend or possibly correct work or coloring he didn’t deem acceptable. “How long have you know Marcel?” Small talk seemed to be what this human wanted. He was outgoing and while it wasn’t in Shadow’s nature to talk just for the purpose of speaking, he sensed that this would calm and maybe even please his customer. Comfortable customers returned for more work. “Let me see what you brought with you.” It was always interesting to see what people chose. He often got questions about his tattoos - both the amount and why he placed what he did on his body. Expression was always the answer. Free expression. Some things were tied to past events, things he wanted to forget, or accomplish in the future. “What about her?” Shadow nodded towards the girl, is this a one man show or is she here to get something too?” Shadow spoke of the girl but his eyes remained on the human. He was an interesting character. Full of life and brightness but there was an intensity in his eyes, something similar to what he’d seen in Marcel’s when they first met. It had him questioning if this man was truly human. Returning his focus to work, Shadow cleared his throat, “Shirt off. Let me see what kind of space I have to work with.”

//

Àngel walked over to the tattooed man and showed him his upper arms which had various pieces that he had done through the years. There was no central theme that pulled the piece together; random ink he’d decided to get in memory of something important to him. Despite the chaotic appearance of his tattoos, he was proud of all of them, especially the ones he got with Marcel while they were in Russia. “Almost a year,” he replied, keeping his answer short and simple. He already knew the man wasn’t going to sit and chat with him all day. This was being polite and in many ways, he appreciated it. “Ah, the thing is, I don’t really have anything yet. Like I said, I’m not an artist. Everything I want done, I have in memory,” he told the man with a smile. He frowned when the artist asked about Isabel. He shrugged his shoulders then, “She wanted something done. It would be her first tattoo but she isn’t sure what she wanted to get yet. So, it’d just be me today.” He thought maybe he’d have some touch-ups done since he wasn’t sure what he wanted done on his back yet. “My shirt?” His head nodded, turning his back on the man before pulling his shirt over his head, exposing his back to him. There was nothing much going on on his back. At least not yet. “What do you think?”

//

“Tell me about it…What’s in your head.” Shadow had listened, fingers lightly trailing ink adorned arms as his client spoke. He was right, there was no theme. Just pieces. Some nice and others that he would have avoided but tattoos were as much about choice as they were expression. “Ink looks good on you.” It was an absent comment. A stray thought that had slipped from his lips. Tattoos weren’t meant to be worn by everyone but they enhanced the humans skin. He stepped back, waiting for the shirt to be removed. He didn’t say a word as he examined the newly revealed skin. His eyes immediately went to the space between shoulder blades and then they traveled along the curve of the other’s spine. There was plenty of room to work with. A blank canvas so to speak. He wanted to make a statement, color outlined in black, but he needed to know more about the human and the vision he had in his mind about the pieces he wanted. “I think I want to start here…” His fingers touched the blank skin between blades. Shadow traced imaginary outlines, “You could go a few different ways - script or images, maybe both.” His hand fell from the human’s skin, “Tell me about your ideas.”

//

Àngel felt overwhelmed because he’d been wanting to get more tattoos but didn’t have the means or the right person he’d trust to ink him. But he felt good about the man who fingers now trailed the marks he had on his arms and then back. “Thanks,” he muttered followed by, “Flames,” he looked up, catching the man’s eyes. He didn’t know where it came from but it felt strong. “But I don’t want just any flames…” He paused to think of some details he’d like to add. “How much will it cost by the way? We’d probably have to do small sessions, right? Since it’s a big piece?”

//

Shadow paused, finger still in the center of the human’s back. He sounded uncertain or maybe it was nerves. Realization sometimes hit and the response was often stunned hesitation. “Flames,” he repeated as he sketched, sliding along the humans skin. “But you don’t want just any flames?” He contemplated, “Are the flames symbolic of something or a stage in your life?” He took a few steps back, assessing what would be his canvas. “Cost isn’t an issue. Marcel has that covered. But the sessions - three at the least maybe five depending on the final design.” He walked around to the face the man, “Did you want to get started today?”

//

Àngel grinned at the question, eyebrow quirked he eyed the artist. “Symbolic?” He raised his hands with opened palms. “I shoot flames out of my hands,” he replied in a joking tone. “What do you think of a Phoenix…” He them said with a frown. He sometimes felt like one with all the changes that happened in his life lately, mostly for the better. It made him proud of himself. “That’s it. That’s what I want. I want a Phoenix,” he said, determined. “No, no. I can’t let him pay for this. It’s cool enough he let me off work today. I’m paying you. This is our deal. I’d appreciate if we do it that way? I - can’t probably start today. We can work on the details of the art then start then? Up to what time are you open?” He glanced over to Isabel and decided she probably wouldn’t want to sit through a tattoo session so it’s best to come another day.

//

Brow arched, Shadow waited for an answer. His head nodded up and down and his lips twitched with a smile. He didn’t laugh at the mention of flames shooting from the human’s palm. His guess was right, not quite human. How could he judge, when he could shed skin and take another’s form. “You’re proud of those flames shooting from your hands, aren’t you.” It was a tease, nothing more and no judgment. “A Phoenix is what I was thinking. Flames in the shape of a Phoenix. I like the idea. We can work on an image, sketch it out and set up appointments for you.” The money was going to be an issue, “You know that friend of yours is stubborn and if I don’t take something from him, he’ll hurt himself trying to kick my ass.” Shadow moved to grab a pad and his pencils.”Your the client and I do what the client wants.” He momentarily glanced towards the girl, now engrossed in book three, “That’s the piercings book. Your girlfriend might not want to go too deep.” At the mention of times and scheduling, “I can work around  you. I’m a night owl. Don’t need to sleep much as people like you do.” He slowly began to trace an outline, ‘When are you free?”

//

Àngel shook his head with a smile at the question, not meaning for the man to actually believe his words. He didn’t really talk about the power he wielded although he had a feeling the tattoo artist was familiar with Marcel’s powers. He just had a hunch. “That sounds good…” He laughed at the remark. “That’s Marcel. I’ll talk to him. He’ll understand that I’d want to pay for this so, if you can give me an estimate by the next visit, I’d appreciate it,” he told the man, nodding his head. He grinned at the mention of Isabel; he saw her frowning as she went through pictures before glancing back up to the artist, his shirt put back on. “No. I think she just wants to look at the pictures,” he replied without correcting him about his true relationship with Izzy. “Ah, night time? Weekends would be best, if that’s good. I could probably do a week night here and there but I’ll have to call you for that. How’s that?”

//

“Now I see why you’re friends - You’re both stubborn.” Shadow believed they shared another connection but he’d save confirmation of that revelation for the time they spent completing the tattoo sessions. Àngel’s comments about the fire from his hands, left the shifter curious. He knew a little about Marcel. He was a witch. Well versed in divination and elemental magic. There was a rumor that he had skills with blood and black magic because of his bloodline but he didn’t seem like the type. He’d met those witches before and the chef with the lazy drawl wasn’t one. This human, Shadow shook his head as he thought to himself, Àngel was something more but now wasn’t the time to explore or play nosy. He dropped his pencil on the paper. “You talk to Marcel. I’ll sketch my idea for you and give you an estimate. Would you like to come back this weekend or maybe next week?” The shifter shrugged, “I ink people with bad decisions in the middle of the night after they drunk too much or smoked too much green. I’m used to weird hours. I can work around your schedule. Night owl, remember.” He stood, extending his hand, “I’d say we have a deal.”

//

Àngel laughed at the comment and nodded his head, unaware of the thoughts that went through the man’s head. “I’ll talk to him. I’m sure he’ll fight me, too. And probably try to kick my ass, too, but, he’s just going to have to live with my decision. Night time is good, yes - night owl,” he smiled. “Got it. I have the shop’s number so I’ll call you. I’m thinking next week is good. We’ll talk then,” he decided, turning to Isabel, motioning that they were leaving the shop soon. “Thanks for having us, man. I’ll see you soon.”

//

“Have you seen him try to fight?” Shadow laughed at the image of the shorter man who often found himself on the floor. “Tried to lift a bar one time back there in the gym. Remind me to send you the video.” The laughter faded and his brow arched at the man calling him a night owl. “Funny but I am and I won’t deny it.” He nodded at the mention of the call, “Call me and confirm and I’ll see you when you drop by again.” Shadow offered a wave to the woman as she tried to reorganize the books. “No problem. See you next time, Phoenix.”

[end]