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 Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 7:59 pm
Eight and a Half was the name of the place.
Christa sighed, looking down at the map she'd printed from Yelp that detailed how to get to the highest-rated tattoo parlor in twenty miles. Clean, sensibly priced and commenters seemed to post regularly about the service they'd received there. Where had her life taken her, she asked herself, to think that she would be walking into downtown Destiny City... to get a tattoo?
My how times had changed.
She'd printed up a picture of exactly what she wanted (figuring an Elder Sign was incredibly appropriate, given her nightly duties as the Senshi of Madness) and had worn loose-fitting clothing per the instructions on the website. As she approached the place, the gray-haired teen sighed again. A tattoo, she reminded herself, was permanent, but she felt better knowing it would only be in black and she could always have it removed later on in life. But really, what better way to commemorate her upcoming two year anniversary of becoming a senshi than a tattoo of one of the symbols that appeared on her boots?
Naturally she chose a spot that would be covered by her fuku at all times in case something happened and she could be identified. Still, the glamour produced when transformed saved her from being recognized as one of the very few people in the entire city to have gray hair in her teens. Go figure. Stopping in front of the shop, Christa held her print outs close to her chest and pushed open the door.
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Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:17 pm
Kor took great pride in his place. It might be small, but it was clean, a comfortable temperature, and quiet for the most part. The dark skinned man sat behind the desk, his dreadlocks down about his shoulders, hitting the desk as he talked on the phone, booking an appointment. He was wearing his usual muscle shirt and pants combo because it was warm against the bitter winds that seemed to blow. His bright green eyes were focused on the computer screen as he laughed at something the customer said.
When he heard the bell ring, indicating a walk-in, he looked up and greeted the girl with a bright smile. Of course Kor knew he could look intimidating, tattoos, piercings, dreadlocks, he looked like a walking add for what they called 'freak' style. But, contrary to belief, he was a very easy going man with a good nature.
"Hey there. Welcome to Eight and Half. Take a seat and I'll be right with you," he said, trying to make his voice sound warm. With that, he talked on the phone a few more minutes, typing on the keyboard before getting out a calculator. This customer wanted a price, to make sure they had everything ready.
On all of the walls were various tattoos she could look through if she was curious enough. There was a snack machine as well as a drink machine. Rules were posted on a large, framed poster and as well as on the front of the desk. No doubt she'd read them online.
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:44 pm
Christa felt so entirely out of her element, like a piece of tasty fish in an ocean full of sharks. She hated that feeling. She would rather be knee-deep in books at the library or shopping for school supplies at Office Max. Her mouth stretched to a thin line and she allowed herself a sobering sigh before finding a place to sit. The gray-haired teen was modestly dressed, long brown skirt, high brown boots and a loose fitting beige sweater over an even looser camisole. She told herself if she didn't do it now, it'd never be done. And so she was here. The teen nodded to the man behind the counter and wondered if she looked as intimidating as he did when in full senshi regalia. Maybe she'd play that up a bit next time she henshined. But for now, she waited patiently, brown eyes darting from the rules posted on the walls to all the examples posted everywhere. And the place smelled clean, just like in the reviews. Very good.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:08 pm
After a moment, Kor got off the phone and wrote something down on a piece of paper before he stood up to his tall, full height of six foot five inches and sighed. He wandered towards the girl who was dressed a little timidly and offered her a smile as he extended his hand to her. She might notice the heart like tattoo on his wrist beneath a few of those multicolored plastic bracelets he wore. The kinds the teenagers used to, not so long ago. "Hello, I'm Kor. Welcome to Eight and Half! What can I do for you, ma'am?" He asked, hoping his light tone would calm her down a bit. Honestly, she was like a scared rabbit and he kind of wanted to reach out and pet her. He wouldn't touch her, however, because she might bolt if he did. "Are you looking for a tattoo or are you wanting to get your ears pierced?" Honestly, he didn't see her as the tattooing type, so he had her pegged for piercings. However, it wouldn't be the first time he would be surprised by what she chose. Honestly, he was surprised that she was here by herself. She looked very young. A bit too young to be in here without parent permission. So the next statement was necessary. "Ah.. How old are you? If you're under eighteen, I'll need one of your parents here to sign a written consent, for tattoos or piercings."
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 5:52 pm
Christa had to swallow a lump in her throat when the man stood, and he towered over her five-foot-seven frame like it was nothing. A prodigious oak next to a sapling by her estimation. She held onto her folders and kept them tucked under one arm. She never did think she'd ever be mistaken for being younger, given that her nickname in school had always been 'little old lady' or 'grandma' due to the color of her hair. She gave a polite nod. "I'm eighteen, attending Destiny City University. I have my identification and driver's license if you need it." Christa had read that it was only polite (and, well, legally important) to provide the right types of ID. "And... I would like a tattoo, please. I have references printed out." The teen cleared her throat. Social situations were incredibly awkward to her though her New Years Resolution was to try and be more outgoing. It was tough work. "I have the money as well. Since it's only in black, would something like this take very long?" She held out the printed copy of an Elder Sign.
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:40 am
When she looked a bit shocked at the asking of her age, it made him wonder if he'd made some grave mistake. Though, most women wouldn't get offended to being told they look younger. Hm. Interesting. He hadn't really noticed the gray in her hair until he looked her over when she said she was eighteen. "Standard policy is I need to ID everyone, so if you could?" He asked. When the cards were handed to him, he looked them over and nodded. "Gonna scan in your driver's license for my records, alright?" Before he moved, however, he looked at the printed copy of the Elder Sign and his brows rose a little. He knew what it meant, but he hadn't seen on in a long time. Not since the time he'd been living on the streets. This girl was getting more and more interesting. "Mn.. This is easy enough." He motioned her to follow with a flick of his wrist and a grin. "So, tell me, Christa," of course he read her ID, "How did you come across this symbol? Do you know what it means?" His tone wasn't accusing or rude, Kor was just curious about how she knew it. It wasn't like it was a widely known sign. At least, not that he'd seen. "Ah, and how big do you want and were? The prices range by size because of how much ink I use and the time, as well. So, you're answer to how long it will take comes with those questions." He gave her a little wink, not trying to be flirty, but that was classic Kor.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:05 pm
Christa stood by silently as the man did as he needed to for his records. The fact that he was going through these hoops made the tattoo parlor seem that much more professional. It made her feel more at ease. The reviews online were definitely correct about the owner's demeanor and professionalism. She'd have to remember to give him a good review once this was all done. And hide her tattoo from her father, of course. When Kor returned and asked her about the symbol, Christa chuckled quietly. "I'm a... collector... of all things Lovecraft, I guess. I've been a fan of his works for many years but only recently started re-reading everything." she said with a shrug. "I'd like it to be the size of my hand in the middle of my back, if possible." She opened up her hand and turned around, placing the hand about where she thought the middle of her back might be. "Are you a fan of his works? I figured... in these times, we could use all the protection we can get, right?" Christa cleared her throat and nodded to herself. She'd saved up a bit of cash for this.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 1:28 pm
"I know of him, but I'm not sure if I'm a fan. I know I'm fairly interested by his works," Kor replied with a chuckle. He watched her turn and what not after returning her things to her and nodded. Tough spot to tattoo. She would be in a world of pain. With how slim she was, a tattoo on her spine wasn't going to be too fun for her. He chewed on one of his lip rings for a moment before nodding. "I guess we could. Crazy things happening lately, right?" Sighing a little more he rubbed his neck. "I'm not going to lie to you, Christa. A tattoo on your spine is going to be painful. There's less flesh there doesn't have as much muscle and the nerves are very sensitive. If you're sure about it, I'll charge you about..." He thought a moment again, tapping his fingers to his chin. "How does seventy-five sound? You look like you're a virgin when it comes to ink." He really wasn't making a crack at her actual virginity or anything. "Means you have no previous ink. Virgin skin." Kor felt that could be taken wrong, so he needed to explain himself to her. Sighing a little more, he nodded. "Do you want it today?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:40 pm
Christa nodded to him with a slight smile. "You might like his works. A bit hard to get used to because his language is so archaic, but the symbolism is extraordinary. I really enjoy it." The teen nodded to Kor. "Seventy-five sounds just fine. I brought cash with me. Should I pay you now or when everything is finished?" Truth be told, Christa kind of figured her desired placement for the tattoo would be painful but hearing it from a professional confirmed her suspicion. While she wasn't a stranger to pain, this sort of pain was different than the kind she suffered when in uniform. She tried to play it off with a chuckle. "I... kind of figured. But... wouldn't it be worth it for a little extra protection from the supernatural? It's all over the news." Who knew how much Kor had watched or what he thought about the whole thing? Maybe they could talk about it during the process? "I would like it to be done today, if possible. Better now than be anxious about it later, if that's alright."
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:16 am
He nodded when she spoke, watching her attentively and looked down at the picture. It wasn't the first time he'd have to tattoo a protection symbol on someone. It certainly wouldn't be the last. "Today? Yes, we can do it today. I have several spots open. It usually gets picks up after dark." Kor gave a little laugh and shrugged. "You can tell me about his works during the tattoo. Alright.. If you want to come back in maybe twenty to thirty minutes while I sketch? Get yourself a coffee or something. Or you could wait here, if you want. I have to transfer this to tracing paper." Kor was good, but he didn't freehand anything. If he did, he used a marker to draw on the person's skin so he knew what he was doing. Hey, who was he to deny her? She said she could handle the pain, her IDs seemed to be legit and she had the cash. She met all the requirements, including dress code, for him to tattoo her.
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:10 pm
"Today would be wonderful." she agreed, dipping her head in a small bow to Kor. "I'll go get a smoothie or something while you do what you need to do." Whatever it was, including getting tracing paper, seemed very important to Christa. She didn't want to interrupt the process, nor did she want to be a bother by watching Kor work. After a moment, the gray haired teen excused herself and walked out the door. Roughly thirty minutes later, Christa returned with a half-consumed berry smoothie. The way she figured it, the smoothie would keep her mind and stomach occupied for the duration of the tattoo. "Is it going well?" she asked when stepping through the threshold. No new clients seemed to be in the building. Perhaps today was a slow time? Saint Sergio Hope you don't mind me speeding up time a little. I thought it might help. n_n
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:07 pm
Kor looked up when he heard the bell again and smiled to the girl. He'd just finished tracing it onto the right paper and held it up to show her. The grin on his face couldn't have been wider. "Yep. It went really well. It was easy to trace. I found a few more references on line and did a little reading. Not much, mind you. It basically confirmed what you said, so.." He shrugged and gave it to her for inspection. "Tell me what you think. I didn't do an exact trace, but I added a few pieces around the outside of the star. To get a better flow so it's not just ...there. You can add more to your back if you think you're comfortable with the pain level. After this, I mean." He laughed and pushed his dreads off his shoulders, waiting. He was standing now, resting his hip against the desk again. His hands were moving as he spoke, something he did when he got really excited about his job. It wasn't hard for Kor to get excited, either.
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:19 pm
Christa took the paper gratefully and turned it over and over in her hands, inspecting it from every angle. Her smile slowly formed and then widened. She gave him a decisive nod. "I love it." And Christa saying she loved something was very rare indeed. The teen blushed at little in embarrassment at her admission. "I think I'm ready. I picked this for a few reasons, the first being that it's small and the second being that it's one color. I figure, if I don't end up being able to handle a tattoo, at least this experiment will be over shortly." And I won't end up with a sleeve full of ridiculous octopi and naked mermaids and whatnot. "I think I'm ready whenever you are." She then thought, if Paris ever found out about this, she'd never live it down.
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Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 2:31 pm
The girl's admission had Kor grinning from ear to ear. He wasn't a bad guy in the least bit. A laugh escaped as he shook his head and listned to her a bit more. "Octopi and naked mermaids? Well, some get that, but the ones who get full sleeves often have more of a reason. They're all different, you know. I did this full sleeve on a girl before of her life, basically. It started off nice and bright colors, flowers, stars," he pointed to her upper arm and moved slowly down, not touching her. "As it went down, it got darker. Lightening, crows, twisted images to show the pain and struggling she went through. Then she found her reason for life. A little baby and it moved into happy colors. It ended with her baby's name across her wrist. That took a few sessions.." That woman had turned into a lover, and he helped take care of that baby for a few years. However, all good things came to and end. His brows knit at the memory and gave a sigh. Shaking his head, he pushed his bangs out of his face and put that smile back on. "Anyway. Let's get you to a room. You said you wanted it on your back, yes?" He moved through a door behind the desk, expecting her to follow. "You'll have to pull your shirt up and tuck the back of it under your chin. I'm guessing you're not alright with taking it off completely, so that's the other option." Kor led her to a smaller room with a TV playing some random show in front of the chair. The room was clean, white and a few more pictures of his tattooing hung on the wall. There was a large mirror covering one side. Straight across from the door was a cabinet, complete with a sink. On the cabinet was his gun, some ink bottles, various supplies and antibacterial things, paper towels and the remote to the TV. "Alright, now, what I'm going to need you to do after you've fixed your shirt, is straddle the chair like guys do. So your front is pressed against the back, giving me access. I'll sit behind you." He gave a bit of a nod and actually ended up turning away from her. Mostly to get his supplies ready, but to also give her privacy while she got ready.
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