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 Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 12:14 pm
 
This is a private role play between Jianyu [Kuro-Mizuki] and Kiran [Kazu-chan].
Setting:
The Qian Tattoo Parlor.
Kiran arrives at the Qian Tattoo Parlor to get a tattoo from Jianyu's father. Or at least, that's what he thinks.
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Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 2:22 pm
Kiran whistled as he walked toward the Qian Tattoo Palor. After being dragged there the first time by Jianyu, Kiran had frequently stalked outside the building. Making sure that Jianyu wasn't present before getting up the nerve to actually go back inside. After their last encounter, he doubted Jianyu would be happy to see him again, and even less happy seeing him hanging out around his family's shop. Something about seeing all the examples up on the walls inside the building had taken root inside him. And Kiran hadn't been able to ignore the sudden, not-so-very quiet interest in tattoos that grew inside him in the days that followed. There was just something fascinating to him about being able to produce works of art like that using someone's body as a canvas. He had on occasion watched his sister turn a blank canvas into a beautiful work of art, and it had always amazed him to watch the progression from nothing to something.
There was one major problem in his desire to get a tattoo: his mother. She would be absolutely furious with him for getting one. Kiran couldn't be exactly certain about his father's stance on this particular topic since Baladeva never expressed one way or the other about his opinion on tattoos. That, of course, only meant that he would simply have to be careful about the placement of his tattoo. As long as he got one in a place that he usual kept covered, his mother would never notice it. He decided his back would be a good location. It would mostly covered up by his vest, so it would be out of sight from his mother.
Kiran entered the Qian Tattoo Parlor with a smile on his face. He had thought long and hard about what to get, and he was fairly certain his mind was made up. He walked up to a woman sitting in the front area. "I'm here about getting a tattoo," he announced, stating the obvious.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 3:13 pm
Jianyu was finishing up an intricate feather on the shoulder of a Fighter when his father walked into the room, wringing his hands with a small hand towel.
"Almost finished?" he asked, nodding towards the man, and Jianyu nodded, removing the needle from the man's shoulder. He reached over, picking up a cloth from the table beside him, and dipped it into the shallow bowl of water on the counter. Carefully he smoothed it over the man's back, wiping off any excess ink, and then set his needles down on the table. He neatly bandaged the new tattoo up, then sent the man on his way, moving to sterilize his equipment before receiving the next patron.
"I need you to cover a customer for me." Qian Liwei said, leaning against the doorframe as he watched his son work. "I mistakenly double-booked two people for the same time, and I can only work on one. Do you have someone scheduled for right now?"
Jianyu moved over to look at the small piece of parchment he had sitting on his countertop. Skimming down the list, he straightened and shook his head. "No," he said. "I don't have another customer until four. You are free to send whomever it is to the back, and I will take care of them."
His father nodded, then disappeared back out the door. Jianyu finished cleaning all of his instruments, and was just setting the last needle in place when their was a soft knock, and then a small creaking sound as the door was pushed open.
"Welcome," Jianyu said automatically, turning to face the newcomer. "I am...."
He stopped abruptly. Then his eyes narrowed, and Jianyu set down the needle, folding his arms across his chest.
"What on earth are you doing here, Kiran Tambe?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 4:54 pm
Kiran followed as he was led to one of the backrooms and told the tattoo artist was ready for him. After watching the Lunarian walk back down the hallway, he turned to face the door and wiped sweaty hands on his pants. He had already come this far, so the only thing left was to go in and get his tattoo. He knocked softly on the door then pushed it open.
As he entered the room, Kiran smiled about to greet the man. But he stopped short, his jaw dropping open as he stared at Jianyu. This couldn't be right. He was certain he had booked his appointment with Jianyu's father. He had been careful about making sure Jianyu wouldn't know that he came to the Tattoo Parlor.
"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" Kiran shot back. But of course, there was an obvious answer to that: Jianyu's family owned the place. It shouldn't be that surprising to find Jianyu there. But it was, for him, anyway. "You're not the one I made the appointment with."
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Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 1:05 pm
"What am I doing here?" Jianyu snapped somewhat testily. "This is my home, and my father's place of business, yet you have the audacity to ask me what I am doing here?" Jianyu glared at the young man standing in his doorway.
Kiran Tambe. The name sent bells of irritation ringing throughout him just thinking about it. The last time Jianyu had seen Kiran Tambe, the young man had been trying to steal from him. His attempts had been unsuccessful, of course (the attempts of an impertinent child, almost), and when he had caught Kiran, Jianyu had forced him into cleaning one of the rooms in the tattoo parlor. He had wound up sending the boy home earlier than he had planned - an oversight on his behalf, apparently, because from the horrified and angry expression on Kiran's face, he was just as stubborn and obnoxious as he had been at their last meeting.
"My father accidentally made a mistake in scheduling." Jianyu said, twisting a rag in his hands. "So if you wish to get a tattoo, you can either wait three weeks for another appointment with him, or you can have me do it."
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Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 3:24 pm
Kiran rolled his eyes at that answer. "Well, I knew that already."
He folded his arms, mildly frustrated at Jianyu's announcement. Of all the times to double book an appointment, it had to be with him and it had to be Jianyu available to do his tattoo. The world must have decided this was one huge karmic joke at his expense. Someone out there was probably laughing at his misfortune. He almost strained an ear to see if he could hear that person laughing.
Three weeks was a long time to wait though. He was already here, after all, ready to get his tattoo. And trying to get it done without Jianyu's knowledge was already a failed idea. He shrugged with one shoulder.
"All right. I guess there's no reason to object to you doing it."
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 8:08 pm
"I appreciate your generosity in accepting my work in place of my father's." Jianyu said, somewhat sarcastically - a tone he rarely used, but it seemed as if the boy brought out his less refined side. Giving a short, impatient sigh, Jianyu collected together his materials, carefully sinking each one into a basin of water to sterilize them before setting them one by one on the cloth set on his work table. He selected a few basic colors and lined them up as well, making sure everything was neat and in its proper place before turning back to Kiran.
"Please sit down." Jianyu said, gesturing to the chair. "And please describe to me in as best detail as you can manage of what you want, so that I can cater to your specific wishes."
It was the standard line Jianyu gave to all of his patrons, but this time it came out sounding rather flippant. He scowled, twisting the rag tighter in his fingers. He had to act a professional in this matter, regardless of whether or not he wished to be. This was his father's business, not his own, and his father's reputation was at stake here, not Jianyu's. He ground his teeth together, closing his eyes briefly before settling back into his cautious, calm facade.
"Please," he said again, this time much less biting than the last. "Sit."
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 11:48 am
Kiran pursed his lips, his eyes narrowing a small fraction. It was obvious that Jianyu wasn't happy to see him as his next customer. If he hated him that much, Jianyu could always just tell him to get lost and not do the tattoo. But that would hardly be polite of him. Not that Kiran would go running off spreading word of it if Jianyu did kick him out. The problems between them were, well, between them. He saw no reason to tarnish Jianyu's family business because of their less than friendly attitude toward each other.
Kiran's mouth twitched. But if Jianyu was going to make the effort to act politely during this encounter, then he would try not to annoy the other Lunarian too much. Though he seemed to annoy Jianyu with little effort. His mere presence seemed to be enough to anger him. "Thanks for fitting me into your schedule."
He walked over to the chair. "I was thinking about a pair of wings to go on my back. You know, like at the shoulder blades." He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper. "This is kind of what I had in mind." He unfolded the paper as he sat down on the chair. Then he held out the paper with the design on it to Jianyu. Over the last week or so, Kiran had spent some time talking over designs with his sister and finally settled on this one. Xiuying hadn't asked what exactly he wanted the designs for, but Kiran suspected she had some idea what he was planning.
"That shouldn't be too hard, right?" he asked in a somewhat hopeful tone. He didn't think it looked too complicated, but he was no tattoo artist.
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 4:47 pm
Jianyu let his breath out slowly. He had to remember that Kiran was a customer, and he would do his best to treat him the same as he did the rest of his patrons. Even if this particular customer was not one that he was that pleased to see again, especially after their last meeting. But he would show Kiran his due respect, however grudging it may have been on his own part.
Reaching out, Jianyu took the offered piece of paper, smoothing out the creases with his thumbs. It was a simple design, clean and relatively easy to do, although the size of it would be somewhat time-consuming. Tattooing was a delicate art, but one that Jianyu took pleasure in doing. It took his mind off of the hassles and stress of his life otherwise.
"I can do this." he said gently. "Take off your shirt, and lay down, on your stomach."
Glancing at the paper once more, Jianyu began gathering together the right materials needed. He carefully selected three needles, all different sizes, and then set up the small bowls filled with colors, each one vibrant and thick, and started to mix a few of them together to get the desired hues. Once he was finished he turned back to Kiran, holding his needle ready.
"So, Kiran Tambe," he said. "What made you decide to get a tattoo, if I may ask?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:32 am
Kiran was glad to hear the tattoo could be done. He had worried a little that Jianyu would reject his design for a tattoo. As ordered to, Kiran removed his top and set it off to the side, out of the way. Then he lay down on his stomach, waiting for Jianyu to get started on the tattoo.
Kiran kept glancing over his shoulder to see what exactly Jianyu was doing, watching as he set out needles and mixed colors. He wasn't familiar with everything that went into tattooing, so he watched each step of the process with curiosity. He turned his head back around to the front and lay still when it looked like Jianyu was ready to get started on his tattoo. He didn't want to accidentally move and cause Jianyu to mess up.
"Well, Jianyu Qian," Kiran said, pondering over what response to give him. He almost shrugged but managed to keep his body still. "I don't really have some big meaningful answer to give you. I kept remembering all the works on display in the hallway. They look like such masterpieces. And I don't know. I guess I just wanted one for myself."
When his mother learned of this, she would throw a fit. But she had allowed him to get piercings. Was a tattoo really all that much worse? He guessed, in her opinion, it was.
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Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:25 am
Jianyu let out a soft, derisive snort, dipping the first needle into the vat of color. He let it sit for a moment, the metal absorbing the hue, and then pulled it out, moving to stand as close to Kiran as he could, readying his brushes and needles. The process of tattooing, although not horrendously painful, was not painless, as the needles were rather sharp. But most bore it with a good natured smile, or a disinterested nod. Some even fell asleep. And then there were those that went to the opposite extremes, and screamed and ranted and raved of the pain. Those particular ones were the most difficult to tattoo, and Jianyu sincerely hoped that Kiran Tambe was, in fact, not one of them.
"No story, eh?" he said, and pressed the needle into Kiran's shoulder, just past his shoulder blade. "That is not exactly interesting. However, the fact that you remembered mine and my father's work is quite flattering nonetheless. We are pleased to have made an impression upon you."
Jianyu drew the needle down the middle of Kiran's back, forming the base of the wings. He did not press harder than need be, but focused carefully on the design and the placement, working to keep it even and centered. Then he moved the brush over the lines, smoothing out any discrepencies.
"Speaking of impressions," Jianyu said as he worked. "Have you learned anything form your last experience at the Qian Tattoo House?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 4:07 pm
Kiran rolled his eyes. "Sorry I couldn't give you a more exciting story. Do your customers usually have some fascinating tale behind getting a tattoo?"
The first p***k of the needle made Kiran bit down on his tongue to keep from shouting out. He knew the experience would hardly be painless. But he hadn't considered how painful continuous pokes of a needle would be. He clenched his fists with each poke, telling himself it was only a little pain to endure for a work of art on his flesh.
Kiran smirked a little. "Other than not to piss you off?"
He waited, wondering if the question would earn an especially painful, hard jab with the needle. It probably wasn't the wisest move to annoy the Lunarian sticking him with a needle. But Kiran would have to admit he was hardly the smartest Lunarian alive. He knew he couldn't outsmart Jianyu, but provoking a rise out him could prove entertaining.
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Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 12:32 am
"No, not always." Jianyu said absently, running the needle along the outside of Kiran's shoulderblade. "However, the ones with the 'exciting stories' as you so put are usually the ones who are higher paying. I was curious to see which you would be."
The outline of the first wing done, Jianyu reached for the cloth laid on the tray beside him, dipping it into the basin of water. He smoothed it out over the drying paint, removing any excess drops or smears, and then patted it dry again before leaning over him once more, dipping his brush into the next color. He gave a snort of amusement at Kiran's flippant reply.
"You mean you haven't learned not to steal from those capable of taking out your head with one shot?" Jianyu asked lightly, smoothing a dark line across Kiran's back to emphasize the curve of a feather. "My my, what a sharp tongue you have. It goes well with your thick head."
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Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 12:55 pm
"Sorry if I can't be one of those higher paying customers," Kiran mumbled. He didn't make much money off his scams. Especially when he got caught in the act or discovered afterward and had to return the money. He did make some money selling fish he caught at the docks. But his profit there varied depending on whether he could get some customers. A lot of days ended up being slow with few people buying from him.
Kiran relaxed as Jianyu worked on the tattoo. Getting stuck with a needle was hardly something he could simply ignore. But the conversation helped to take his focus off what exactly Jianyu was doing.
"I think you're the only one I've met capable of that," Kiran replied with a light smirk. "I've never seen another archer at your level of skill." He wasn't lying about that either. Jianyu's skill with the bow and arrow was incredible. Kiran's lips pursed at the next comment. "Was that an insult?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 7:48 pm
Jianyu momentarily paused in his work to peer curiously at Kiran, arching one dark eyebrow. "Was that an actual...compliment that I heard just now?" he said, somewhat in amusement. "I did not think that you had it in you to admit that someone is good at something. If it was a compliment on my skills as an archer, then I appreciate and thank you for your comments. However, if that was merely sarcasm, then I am reminding you of the needle I have in my hand that I am capable of jabbing you with quite painfully."
Moving lower, Jianyu traced the outline of the second wing. They were quite a bit more detailed than many of the other tattoos he had done that day, and the details within each feather were quite intricate. It took a lot of dedicated attention to create such a design, but Jianyu was confident in his abilities and in the work that his father had taught him, so he moved carefully and slowly, taking his time to complete each individual feather.
"It most certainly was an insult." Jianyu said, almost absently, as he wiped Kiran's back with a damp cloth before bending down over him again. "That sharp tongue and thick head of yours add to your hotheaded temperament. That, and the fact that you attempted to steal from a Fighter several years your senior, are what got you into trouble in the first place."
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