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 Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 6:34 pm
Quote: Poisoned Apples (9) - Did you think it would be safe to get a sweet treat? Wrong. A nearby orchard, popular for their sweet and crispy apples, had no idea they were sending contaminated fruit into the city. Organic, healthy, and delicious, no one could have anticipated the issues that were going to arise this year. It wasn't caught quickly enough, and now many apple based fall treats are having surprising side effects. You'll know something is wrong by the first bite, the first sip; the apple tastes almost like a lemon and no matter what you do, the flavor won't leave. It lingers for a few minutes or a few hours. People are walking around town with watery eyes and puckered lips. Some have described symptoms like an allergic reaction, but most people compare it to eating sour candy. There doesn't appear to be any long term health issues, and Destiny City has come up with several online challenges and dares trying to make the best of the very sour apples. Many local establishments are using them in contests and promotions, so it seems like people are determined to have fun with it. But...should you really be eating an apple with juice so sour it can brown the grass it spills on?
The previous night, going on the assumption that they'd be busy, the owner had taken starbucks orders from everyone and had arrived with coffee and tea for everyone so they could start the day off with some caffine. Someone else, Ashley, had decided to bake some things that were all fall themed. From cinnamon buns to an apple pie there were other things which had been baked and left inthe backroom for everyone to nibble on as they worked today.
The energy fro mthe caffine and food was needed though, considering the gathering of people outside the shop as soon as they opened there doors. Not only were they doing a flash sale but for the whole month of October they were giving a half off price for anyone getting a vampire bites piercing - cause it was spooky month. The rush of people they'd opened to hadn't died down either, he'd been doing one person after the next, there hadn't been much of a break unless he had to run for a bathroom or ran to get some food from the breakroom. Between poeople he'd sent Kai a text letting him know what was going on and seeing if his shop was doing anything as insane as his own was doing.
The front room was packed witgh people talking, paying, deciding what they were getting and where as well as other conversations. Some people came in groups even, where everyone was going to get something done. It had him even considering getting something but he wasn't sure of what, though he had an idea of where, it would be something tucked away and somewhat hidden even. But for now Kioshi was just toying with the idea as he worked and pondered if he should try and step out for lunch or should just splurge and order food for delivery. It was a hard choice to make, because he was trying to save money, but god damn if escaping the place wouldn't be nice for a few minutes.
He'd already caught wind that the apple pie would be best avoided, it seemed the apples used were some of those bad ones. The news had been talking about apples delivered to the city which were bad, and tasted like lemons, so the pie wasn't exactly an apple pie and some other apple things were now lemon or lemon and cinnamon. Maybe a frosted cinnamon bun would be a good idea though....but not as a replacement for lunch.
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Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2023 7:26 pm
[size-11] Kai had heard through texting that Kioshi was having a hell of a time. Sales for small and discounted tattoos went fast and viral online. Lost of people usually debated a tattoo at some point, and those on the fence usually would bite the bullet if it was both small and cheap - just to wet their toes. For those who already had a tattoo, bringing a friend or partner along for something of a bonding experience was also common. He did not envy Kioshi for a workload, and he was hissed at by his coworkers if they so much as breathed that idea to Diesel. No one wanted to be that busy when the holidays were around the corner. There wasn't much Kai could do to help, but lunch was usually the best way to keep a solider trucking onward. Going to a local deli, he got Kioshi a sandwich, chips, a pickle, and some candies apple slices for something of a dessert - which were really cheap and on sale for some reason. Taking them, he walked into the packed lobby of the Tattoo Parlor and asked the woman up front that he had something for Kioshi.
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Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2023 8:13 pm
Packed was an understatement but at least the art was easy to do, and small, he didn't have to go drawing up things and worrying about getting it all right. There was no customer imput on these pieces and it made things easier, less stressful for him, at least in a way it was less stressful. he didn't have customers who didn't know what they wanted, or where they wanted it, or had lots of issues. The only thing he had was a lot of customers. He was busy, which was good, and the tips were coming in, but so many people was a lot. He didn't even get much time to piss.
He'd say it was a mixed bag on the clients. Some had ink already, some had a lot, and some had nothing but couldn't help it because a design being offered was cute and it was small - they could hide it. He knew this would draw in a lot of people, and perhaps keep some returning.
When he got a text on his phone, from Ashley, telling him Kai was here and with food he sent a message back asking for the other to be sent back. He was just finishing up with someone, they had gotten a small planchette tattoo behind their left ear. As he was finishing it up he went to clean things up with a smile in place. "There ya go, now why don't you get up and take a look in the mirror." With a handheld mirror, plus the large mirror he had in his room, she could see behind her ear with ease.
He was hoping to get her scooting out at the same time Kai was coming in with food - because he was hungry. The other was lucky his shop wasn't doing this, as several about the city were, and it was intense. He was figuring he'd wind up with a migraine from it all but he was hoping it would hold off till tomorrow or maybe the next day or something...anything but today.
Seeing as it was some sort of special day, or event, at the shop he'd decided to dress up a little bit. it still was an all black wardrobe though, as if he'd ever add much if any color to his wardrobe. A sheer black button up, the top and bottom buttons undone, it was pinstriped black on black and worn over it was an equally sheet, though longer, shirt that had no buttons and looked a bit flimsy as if on purpose. The pants were low fitted black pants, though that was more for comfort than anything. He didn't like high waisted pants really as they tended to put preasure where he didn't want them to.
His sleeves were rolled up and about his neck gleamed a loose chain of silver which went from it's center point down below his shirt and circled about his waist. The sleeves were kept back, showing his own ink, so the material didn't get in the way of his work while his hair was a bit of a mess from just how busy he'd been thus far. He was sure he didn't look as nice as he had when the day had started; but he had tried.
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Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2023 8:37 pm
Kai was sent back and he gave a polite wave to the woman at the front desk who was working to get people signed in and give estimates of times and what people wanted. He could see the roster of those working and times, and hear them explain that if they weren't getting a tattoo that they didn't have room to keep them inside. They could wait outside for their friends for the time being.
Squeezing his way through, he was glad to leave the lobby and enter the back just as a client was inspecting their tattoo and leaving.
Waiting outside the door, Kai made sure the client was gone before walking inside and breathing out. "You guys sure took on hell for this event. I hope it works all out for you all. I don't envy it." He did, a little. It was nice to be busy and wanted, but he didn't like being rushed or stressed either. Diesel wasn't for the type of events like these, instead liking to just keep things as they were. He frowned on what he considered to be gimmicks.
"I brought lunch." He said, setting the bag down on a clean counter space that wouldn't need to be wiped down for a client.
"You have time to eat real quick before your next client?" He asked, moving over to fix some loose hair from Kioshi's face. The guy looked frazzled and he wished he could give him something to pep him up. He did bring him a soda for some much needed sugar and caffeine.
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Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2023 9:16 pm
"I've got my medication at the ready, I'm going to wind up needing it I'm sure." He was certain this was going to give him a migrane if not from the noise than the stress of it all. It was a lot to take on but he also wasn't going to turn it all down, the tips were good all on there own, the fact he also got paid by the hour was nice. He could make alot in tips today, perhaps more than usual, if he got enough people in. He wouldn't sacrifice quality for quantity buut the work here was honestly quick and easy to accomplish.
"I don't envy myself but the money should be good." Shrugging as he motioned the other to join him and sit. "Thanks, I could use the food. It's been intense." Enough that he was ready for the migrane later, he knew it would come, he just hoped he got home before it really hit.
"No, I can take some time to eat, they don't exactly want us passing out. That wouldn't be good for buisness." That might even cause a few people to leave, realizing how overworked the artists were. Leaning into the touch he pressed his lips to the others hand.
"Someone brought starbucks this morning, not my favorite place but it works, and someone else did some baking. We have applie pie in the back...but I wouldn't go trying it." Not unless Kai happen to like sour things, and he figured with it being all over the news Kai would know what he was saying without saying it.
"I'm even thinking of getting something small inked by the end of the day. I'm not sure what though." But if Kai was around maybe he'd rope the other into doing it for him? He might not work here but Kai was a tattoo artist and he wouldn't mind letting his boyfriend ink him.
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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 1:36 pm
He settled down next to him, not as exhausted but still having done work and would be returning back in a hour.
"Oh, I actually brought you some. Chocolate covered apple slices. They say the tartness and the sugar kinda - makes it all work? I had one already. It wasn't that bad with the chocolate to it. But I like lemonade too so.." He shrugged. The apples slices were coated in a hard chocolate shell with purple, green, and orange sugar sprinkles on the outside. The bag had some individually wrapped toothpicks to pierce the slices and eat them if you didn't want to just hold them and get chocolate on your fingers.
"I know you always work hard, and you wanna get to a better place, but I hope they don't run you too ragged here. Maybe if they do this again, I'll bring stuff over before your shift so you can have a packed lunch or something with snacks." Something to keep him going the whole day. Kai usually had a stash of snacks due to usually getting hungry rather quickly throughout the day. His mood could shift into grumpy fast if he didn't have something to keep him going.
Many a time someone had given him some animal crackers or a candy bar when he hadn't noticed he was grumbling a little too much.
"So, you have plans for after all this work event is over - as a reward?" He asked, enjoying this brief bit of time together.
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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 2:52 pm
Normally he didn't have a sweet tooth, he prefered savory foods really, but he wasn't going to turn his nose up either. He was mildly curious how the taste would work anyway, especially when Kai spoke of having tried them himself. Nodding his head he reached out for the apple slices and went about stabbing one with a toothpick so he could nibble on it. It was sweet, for certain, but that gave way to the sour and the combination really wasn't all that bad.
"Mmm, I hope I don't regret working hard today." but he had a feeling he would, he was nearly certain of it infact, but the money he was sure would be worth it. He was putting all the money he could away, saving it, so he could get his own place. He just needed to find ways to get even more money, somehow, he was greedy some might say but he prefered the word ambitious. "I think, when the next friday the thirteenth comes up I'd like that. So long as your shop doesn't decide to join in on this insanity." Which he really didn't think the others shop would, as the other had explained how against it his boss was, when he'd mentioned this to him the other day.
"I have honestly been waffling about getting a small tattoo today. It feels like something I want to do and join in on things." Which normally he didn't feel, he diodn't like giving to group things, but he did like tattoos and he wouldn't mind a new one. It had been a while since he'd been inked, all too long, as he'd been focused on other things for himself.
"Mmmm..." Already going for his sandwich he let himself roll his thoughts over in his head before speaking, slowly. "Would you want to ink me today? Here in my area?" He doubted anyone would care, some might even find it cute or something. He was fairly certain his co-workers might feel the need to watch, and perhaps coo over it even.
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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 5:33 pm
"Nah. Diesel isn't for that. He just keeps things as they are and since everyone is doing their job and does what they need to get booked, no one really has to do these kinds of deals. He says he's too old for this bullshit. He's old school and they didn't do this thing in his day, so he ain't about doing it now. He says the reputation and work should stand for itself. No offense to your shop or nothing. That's just how he is." He explained.
"Here?" He asked, looking around. "Isn't that a bit - taboo to have a outsied tattooer in your shop doing work?" He asked, not sure about the decorum of the shop compared to his. Diesel probably wouldn't give a ******** as long as the outsider wasn't getting paid or working on a client.
"Did you know what you wanted?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 6:17 pm
"Oh, no offence taken. I know it's a thing that a lot aren't into, especially more old school shops. I mean look at the newer school nonsense about knocking a client out in a hospital and hjaving multiple artists tattooing at once. That I would never do." Though he was certain the artists in the shop which did that, some shop on the west coast, made damn good money for what they were doing. He wasn't interested in it though. It felt like cheaping out by skipping the time and pain it took to get inked. He felt tattoos had to be earned to some extent.
"The art is good at least but it's small flash things...like you'd get out of a capsul machine." He'd seen some shops had those set up. A whatever you got from the machine was what you got inked. He wasn't big on those...the randomness of the picks and the possability it would be somehting you'd hate. Yeah, not his thing.
"You aren't doing a client of ours - your doing a worker. They know we're dating as well so I doubt they'd care." He also might just glare asnyone to death if they did complain, not that anyone would dare to complain. He knew his co-workers well enough, and he was certain they all knew Kai was here by now. He was certain they'd even be whispering and smiling about it.
"I have a few ideas but I think I know which one I'm down for." It was simple lineart but it was cute and he could most certainly live with it. Shifting his chair, and moving to grab the book they had for the occasion, he flipped to the page full of flash that someone had contributed. "That one." It was a small cresent moon with webs and a small spider hanging from the webbing. "I'll let you pick where for it." Because so long as it wasn't his face he didn't mind where it went, he already had a sleeve, so he didn't need to worry about it impacting his job or anything. People were going to stare at him no matter what anyway.
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Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2023 4:16 pm
"Yeah, Diesel is very old school. He liked the more traditional route. I mean, good for him to let artist who do more new stuff and have more freedom, but he thinks a lot of stuff is gimmicky. You gotta work on him to change his mind and no one at the shop is really pushing for a swarm like that out there." Maybe it they were more strapped for cash around the holidays, but most were doing fine enough.
Leaning over, he looked at the book and considered a few things. "You got plans for certain parts of your body for other tattoos?" He asked, not wanting to disrupt a place that might be good for continuing a theme.
"I guess if no one cares then - yeah I can do that." He'd just have to hear the jokes of being a traitor in enemy territory from his own shop, but only in the sort of playful way.
"Why a moon and spider?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2023 7:48 pm
Sighing he leaned back, figuring it was safe to lean his weight back into the other, and tilted his head back to rest on the others shoulder. "Mmm, only my back. I have an idea but I've not drawn it out yet. I'll need someone else to do the work though." He'd likely ask the other when the time came, though he didn't say that now, but he'd had an idea for a while now that he wanted to do. "Anywhere else is fine, aside from my face and hands." He wasn't into face tattoos, he didn't know why some people were, and hand tattoos were just not his cup of tea to be honest.
"A moon for the night, which I prefer to the harsh loudness of the day and why not a spider." His words were followed by a shrug, or as much as he could manage as he was leaning back into the other.
"I'm certain you wouldn't place a tattoo in a bad place on a client." Sitting back up right he went to finish his food, nearly choking on a bite in fact, he really had been hungry and hadn't noticed just how hungry he'd been till food was here. "At least you know if anyone at your studio thinksof this idea you can tell them how chaotic it will be." And he was certain they weren't the only studio in the city doing this, he'd seen social media and facebook pages for studios mentioning this sort of deal as well.
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 7:46 pm
"Hmm. I mean that still leaves a lot of options. If it's small, the wrist works, but that might be a tad too close to hands. We can just do the safe bet and do either a ankle or your upper arm, though upper arms as best for bigger pieces. Such a small thing - can be tucked pretty much anywhere. I'm not sure - do you have plans for your arms?" He asked.
He welcomed the weight, throwing his arm around the other and giving him a little squeeze.
"You should do a little break for yourself when this whole event is over for good. Maybe....I can take you out on a date." He softly presented.
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 9:14 pm
"So far nothing for the one that's not already done. But you can tuck it anywhere you want." His wrist wasn't off the table, as he told the other before polishing off his food, he really was glad for the others thoughtful gesture of bringing him lunch. "I t hink I'll keep it small in size, so it leaves you a lot of choices." And he really was going to leave it to the other mostly, he trusted Kai not to mess it up or poorly place it. It was something they all did as artists who were permitted to mark someone for life. It was a lot of trust being given to them and they were wise to not ruin the trust.
"I actually took tomorrow off so I can rest after today. I know I'll need it and the chance of a migraine is there. I'd would agree to a date though." A date appealed to him, it was something to do with a day off and a good way to spend time. Actually it was a perfect way to spend a day off.
"Wherever you put the tattoo it'll most likely be something only yo uand I will see."
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 6:37 pm
"Tuck it...anywhere. ....only you and I will see." His mind wandered and he felt himself getting warmer. "Um...Uh yeah. I can try and think of placements. When did you want this done again?" He asked, trying to think and not think at the same time.
Maybe the hip would be best, but maybe that was still not secretive enough.
"Um..." He thought of something. "Is there any tattoo that matches that?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 7:32 pm
While his mind didn't tend to wander to such places he wasn't so naive as to not know how that sounded, to not know the others mind was likely wandering. "We can do it now if you want, I don't have any clients right now and it shouldn't take you too long." Plus he at least had food in him, so he wouldn't get sick. He'd seen a customer or two pass out, one falling as they passed out, because they had no food in them when they came in to get tattooed. It was not a smart thing to do.
"You mean to be like a matching pair with this one? No...but I could do something - why? Did you want a matching one?" He asked, a hint of of a smile and glittering eyes. "I could make something nice that'll fit it well."
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