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Verdant grinned as they arrived at the tattoo parlor. It'd been easy enough to convince Faolan to come with him to Lapin Demonique- the promise of all the beer he could drink probably did the trick. He hadn't thought that the guy'd agree to go to such a place, but here they were, standing outside the filigree barbed-wire door of the best tattoo parlor he could find. His friend could ink with the best of them if he wasn't so shy.

"Well, here we are! Lapin Demonique is the best place to go for a good job, great booze, and an awesome environment." He looked at Faolan and stifled a giggle. It was also the best place to go to find hot guys who hated wearing anything except their skivvies.

Verdant chuckled and watched the girl get her tonue pierced. The tears were welling up in her eyes, but the expression in them was that of ecstasy, of pleasure.

"People do it because it makes them feel good. Others do it as a fashion statement or to be cool." Verdant pulled back his long hair and showed Faolan his ear piercings, all thirteen of them. Hoops, studs, and clasps decorated the nymph's ears. "I do it for the former." He gestured for the man to follow him into the back. Verdant flashed his ears at the tattooed men guarding the door to the back and thanked them when they moved out of the way. Through the door they went and found themselves in a blindingly white room with nothing but a chair and a desk with different needles organized neatly on it. Behind the desk sat a young incubus, maybe a year or so younger than Verdant. His clothes was form-fitting and stylishly tattered; even the arm warmers had a certain edginess to them. He looked up at the two older men, his dark blue eyes looking Faolan over.

"Verdant, buddy! Lookin' to get yerself a few more piercings? Or maybe a tattoo fer yer buddy here?" He stretched out his hand bashfully and grinned, his lip piercings glittering in the light. "Adam Gossard. And you?"

"Hey, yo, calm down! I'm not gonna hurt you or anythin'. Well, I'll try not to, at least; can't get a tattoo or piercing without a little pain, am I right?" Adam grinned and punched Verdant's arm playfully. "Seriously, lighten up! It hurts like b***h when you're all tense like that." The incubus picked up the needles, set them aside on a metal plate next to the chair, and lifted the lid off of the cooler that had been designed to look like a regular desk. Nestled in the ice were several bottles of beer, vodka, and rum. He offered the other demon a bottle of beer and took one for himself.

Verdant rolled his eyes and nudged Faolan. "He likes booze almost as much as I like men- almost. Anyways, I brought you with me so we could hang out- and because I hate coming to tattoo parlors alone. Besides, I know you like to drink and what better place to bring you than here, where you can drink until your liver shrivels up into a tiny ball of rotten flesh?"

"Ugh, you still have one hell of a way with words, don't you, Verdant?" Adam wrinkled his nose in disgust as he took a quick swig of his booze. "So, which one of you two are getting pierced? Well, aside from Verdant if he's got a date tonight. Zing!"

"I know, but if I can treat you to some free beer, then I will!" He stretched his back and removed his vest, leaving his upper body completely exposed. "I'll be getting a few tattoos today, Adam. And for your information, I don't have a date tonight... yet." He handed the incubus a sheet of paper with the tattoos he wanted and smiled. "Prince of the Flower originals."

Adam stuck his tongue out at the nymph and laughed before turnign back to Faolan. "Glad you asked, Faolan, glad you asked! Well, here at Lapin Demonique, M'sieur Lapin (that's me) will pierce anything: septums, nipples, shoulder blades, eyebrows, lips, and genitalia, if that's your thing. There are things I refuse to pierce though, just 'cos I think it looks stupid. I mean, those teardrop things are dumb-looking! Who gets those piercings anyway? People with bad taste, that's who." Adam was very critical when it came to piercings and tattoos. He hated when people flaunted their piercings to look cool. "Piercings aren't for fashion- they are an art form that has become mainstream. It's like skinny jeans hanging off of people's asses. You do NOT sag skinny jeans."

"We do navels too; I'm surprised I didn't mention that," Adam quipped. He usually had this whole speech ready for new customers about what they did, but he apparently needed to practice it some more. "Yeah, navel piercings are real easy, almost as easy as piercing ears, actually. Well, it is for me, at least. So, that's what you'll be getting, eh, Faolan? You kinda struck me as a nose ring kinda guy, but a navel ring or stud would look good on you, if you don't mind my saying so."

The incubus took the slip of paper and shook his head with a smile. "I should've known you'd get tribal tattoos; how many 'hot' guys have you slept with just because they had tribal tattoos?"

"Two, but that's none of your business. Anyways, Faolan can go first; my tattoos will take much longer than his navel piercing." He turned to Faolan and jabbed a finger at the incubus. "He's the only guy I trust to give me a piercing or tattoo. If you'll be getting a piercing, you'll want the professional doing it."

"Ah, you're married? Heh, I thought you were one of Verdant's lovers or soemthing. Well, you should try and get her to get a piercing too; I love it when couples get stuff together. Really shows their bond, ya know? That and I get a little more cash!" He slapped his knee and laughed a bit before nudging Faolan's shoulder. "I'm just kidding, yo! Seriously though, if you two ever want anything done, you know who to see."

Adam thought about Faolan's question, turned to look at Verdant, then looked back at the man. "Well, since Verdant trusts you enough to bring you to M'sieur Lapin himself, I'd say that it's on the house. What's one navel ring between buddies, right?"

Verdant chuckled and pointed to the chair. "Hop on, Faolan. He's going to clean off your bellybutton, then jab a searing hot needle through your flesh."

Adam gave Verdant a wry smile and shook his head. "You don't talk anymore, you stupid nymph."

"Uh, I guess not, but it might get in my way a little. Still, the customer's comfort is always one of my priorities, so keep it on, I guess." Adam shrugged and walked out of the room after saying something about forgetting to show Faolan the samples. When he was gone, Verdant looked at Faolan suspiciously.

"You aren't usually this reluctant to take off your shirt, Faolan. What gives? He's totally straight; he's not going to make a move on you, if that's what it is. Or... are you afraid I'll make a move on you?!" Verdant's eyes grew wide with shock. Ah, the bliss of being completely naive... "Like, I don't go for married men, especially not when the man's wife is one of my closest friends," the silly nymph said as he waved his hands in front of him as if trying to dispel the very notion of being with Faolan.