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 Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:58 am
It had been seven whole years ago, that Casey first decided he wanted a tattoo. Something that wouldn't need a complicated explanation; something that looked cool whether you knew their story or not. Something...oriental, without being too girly or overdone. Something that would make him happy every time he looked at it, for the rest of his life. He would never admit why he chose the designs he did, of course, not to anyone; he was lame enough as it was, right? Actually believing that your tattoo might keep you safe in some way...it even made him laugh at himself.
He'd only ever seen real Guardian statues up-close once, but he was so overwhelmed by the energy they seemed to give off, he could never take his mind off them since then. Looking into the eys of the powerful, imposing stone statues, the feeling that welled up inside of him was too much to ignore.
The idea of something so evil-looking, so gigantic, so powerful and amazing watching over and guarding places was very intreguing to him. To have something like that on your side...well...
But Casey waited. Procrastinated. Allowed the idea to grow stale, and put it aside into all the other fun things he'd never given himself the chance to do. It was his new girlfriend who seemed to pick these things out of him, and force him to go do them, one by one, and he seriously regretted having mentioned the small tattoo on her shoulder.
She was now standing beside him, peering over at the laptop screen as he searched for tattoo parlours. Reluctant, but secretly brewing with excitement, he found one that seemed to have a lot of positive reviews going for it. The website seemed a little out-of-date, but comments and customer photos were recent and plentiful.
The distance, Jay insisted, was no trouble at all. "It's worth it. You can't let just anyone mark you for life, love," She insisted, and forced the phone into his hand. It was already ringing, she'd dialed it while he was distracted browing through the site.
Casey fumbled a little with the phone, before putting it to his ear and waiting anxiously.
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:44 am
The shop needed something new; some sort of face lift or decor.
Ace was painting; something both she loved to do and Nate loved to watch. Although an artist himself, Nate loved the way Ace took life and put it into a different perspective. This time she was painting something he didn't quite understand. Her inspiration came from the most ridiculous things. He figured that he should ask.
It wasn't until the phone rang and Ace turned around that she noticed Nate sitting there, "You KNOW I hate it when you see it before it's finished!"
"I know, I know." Nate smiled, sighed, got up and left.
Hitting talk on the cordless phone, Ace put on her best smile, "Vishnu Ink! Ace here; what can I do for you?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:04 pm
Casey stuttered for a moment, slightly startled, as the phone was answered on the other end. Having been quietly hoping no one would answer, the sudden voice shocked him a little. "O-oh! Hello, I...I saw your shop's website, I..." He fumbled around awkwardly with his words, shooting Jay a panicked, frustrated glance as if to say 'you know I can't do this, woman, you're killing me!' to which she replied with a small 'of course you can, stupid' grin.
He heaved a deep breath and tried again.
"I've been looking for a while, for a decent tattoo shop, and I saw some of the examples on your website. Are those all recent? I'd really like to try and get an appointment, if I could, with whoever did those." He managed, shooting Jay another glance. She just smirked right back at him, watching quietly to be sure he didn't hang up and run or something.
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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:27 pm
Ace giggled to herself a little. Oh, how she loved when tattoo newbies called. Although, she was like that once, when she went to go get her pelvic bone tattooed. And since then she's added a full sleeve, half sleeve, chest tattoo and now she's going for a full back piece.
Guess it's true. Getting inked is like a drug.
"Oh man, that website hasn't be updated in .. nearly a year. I do the concept sketches, Nate does the tattooing. Definitely have to say, if you're impressed with that work, then you'll love the improved stuff we do now. Ace grinned into the phone, "Can I get your name, sir?"
He was nervous. Ace decided hitting on him (as she tended to do with anything with a p***s .. whether it be in person, phone or the internet) would probably not be the smartest choice right now; no point in scaring off a potential!
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Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:37 am
"S-so you guys have gotten a fair bit better since then," Casey said, in more of a commenting fashion then a question.
Sometimes when he was nervous, he'd repeat things back at people ("parroting" Jay jokingly called it) or ask the same question two or three times. Being this nervous had always made him uncharacteristically scatter-brained, more uncoordinated then usual, and just overall a flailing wreck.
"Oh, uh-!" He blurted, before choking out an awkward, "I'm Casey. J-john! Casey John Stevens," and wished deeply that he could have just arranged this online, over some sort of instant messenger. He couldn't help but imagine that any minute now his heart was just going to give up and explode like in a cartoon, and he'd topple over sideways off his chair.
He shot Jay another panicked glance, and she returned it with a calm smile in her usual fashion. He knew he'd come too far now; there was no backing out!
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Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:23 pm
It escaped; Ace let herself give a slightly audible laugh, "Nice to speak with you, Casey." She wrote his name down on the note pad next to the appointment book, "You seem nervous? Ah, don't worry about it. Happens with all our first timers!" It was obvious; Ace was pretty sure if she wasn't hammered when she made her first appointment .. and got her first tattoo, too, she'd had been just as nervous.
By the sounds of it, this wasn't just going to be a little tattoo either. He seemed nervous .. real nervous.
"So, Casey! What were you thinking of getting done?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:57 am
Casey took a few heavy breaths, gathering the image and the years of devotion to the idea all into one feeling before opening his mouth.
"Two, really, one on either side of my chest, probably sprawling back a little over onto my shoulders. Chinese Guardian Lions, or Fu Dogs, whatever you wanna call them." He managed, almost in one single breath. That was it. Complete dedication to the concept now. In his hazy and almost-panicked mind, there was no possible way of backing out of it; that would just be more complicated, more nervewracking, and most of all, Jay would throttle him if he did.
People with little motivation often observed that Jay was 'pushy.'
Her closest friend, a man she'd grown up with almost her whole life, said that people with no motivation simply couldn't see how brilliant her methods were. Being forced to go through with something you've always wanted to do is no less then a blessing. Casey was the type of guy who needed an encouraging and pushy girlfriend, so it worked.
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:35 am
"Ouu," Ace jotted it down. A tattoo she'd actually have to do research for! Awkwardly enough, it was something she enjoyed doing. A lot of her knowledge about cultures came from tattoo research, so maybe she'd learn more about the Chinese culture this way.
"Nate's going to love that idea; he's really into things like that."
Just as she said that, Nate came around the corner and gave her a look. She mouthed the words "Fu Dogs" and Nate's grin seemed to expand.
Yep .. definitely loves it.
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