The Chaotic Bunch

The tattoo

'Guys come on we haven't done anything for like 3 days!'
Serulia was laying upside down with their legs draped over the back of the sofa they shared with Austen and Quirieth.
'Business has been slow', Mazekeen deadpanned.
'What business we're all unemployed?', Serulia said rolling their eyes.
'We steal shit', she replied.
'We do not!', Apollo piped up from his spot across the room.
'We do', Austen, Quirieth, Yuna and Serulia said in unison.
'I mean... we don't hurt anyone right?', Apollo asked cautiously.
'We cover your eyes for that bit', Erica replied, not looking up from polishing their axe.
Apollo fell silent, picking up one of the pebbles they've collected and balancing it on top of the tower they made.
'Welp you hoes are boring as fuck', Serulia spun round, nearly kicking Quirieth in the face, and jumping off the sofa like a fucking gymnast.
'Watch it bitch!', Quirieth yelled, swerving to avoid the boot.
'Oh you're fine', Serulia waved a hand.
Quirieth grumbled but dropped it. Austen looked up from their book and asked, 'And where are you going?'.
'To cure boredom dearest', Serulia replied with a wink, 'I'd be happy for you to join~'
'Get a room', Mazekeen interjected.
'Never said you couldn't come', she turned on her heel and strutted out, leaving the sound of their boots clacking against the hardwood.
'Seru wait!', she turned and saw Apollo making their way towards her.
'Yes child?'
'Could i come?', Apollo blushed.
'Sure', and with that she linked her am through his and ran out the door.

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'Where are we going?', Apollo asked, after 5 minutes of wandering around town.
Serulia didn't answer, only walked on, dragging Apollo behind them.
She stopped suddenly, 'HERE'.
Apollo looked up, dazed. 'A tattoo parlour?'
Serulia looked down at them and beamed.
She walked forward and opened the door, dropping their arm to fit through the narrow passageway before entering a small room containing a chair, a table, photos on the walls, a counter and a very angry looking halfling sitting behind the counter.
'Nel!', Serulia said suddenly, a wide smile breaking through the look of concentration.
'Its Arnel', snapped the angry looking halfling, not looking up from his drawing.
'That's not what we were cheering as you downed that litre of cider 4th year of military training', they smirked, crossing their arms.
Finally the halfling looked up, his lips breaking out into a grin, 'Ru!'
He got up from where he was sitting and strolled over to where Serulia was standing. Serulia crouched down and drew the halfling into a tight embrace.
They pulled away and Serulia looked him up and down.
'You look shorter than usual', she said, with mock confusion.
'Wider not shorter', he replied, punching her arm. 'Sharp enough for both of us'.
He looked over to Apollo, suddenly noticing their presence, 'who's your new kid?'
'This is Apollo, and they're not my kid.'
'Bullshit', he said turning to Apollo and putting a up hand to cover his mouth from Serulia, 'she mothers everyone'.
Apollo smiled shyly and reached to shake his hand, which he gladly accepted.
Serulia butted in, 'so where's your partner in crime?'.
'Elwing? Oh she's gone chopping wood', he replied nonchalantly, 'why are you here?'
Serulia stared at him, slowly looking around, a shit eating grin ghosting her lips.
'Ok ok fine put your sarcasm away', he said, laughing, 'what style do you want?'
'I was thinking...', Serulia began walking over to the chair, 'a... snake'
'A snake?'
'A snake.'
He sighed and walked over to a locked cupboard in the corner of the room, he got out a key and shoved it in the keyhole.
Upon opening the cupboard he withdrew a bottle of ink, a bottle of alcohol, tissues, a towel and a needle gun. He collected the items in his arms and walked over to the table in front of Serulia, hopped up on the stool and set his equipment to the side, laying the towel out in front of him.
'Where?', he asked, opening the bottle of alcohol.
'Up my arm, the head on my wrist', Serulia pointed.
'You like the head don't you', he muttered, straight faced.
'You haven't changed', Serulia smiled.
'Well it has been a whole year'.
Serulia looked up and caught his gaze, 'yeah I suppose it has been'.
'Don't start getting soppy on me Ru', Arnel snorted, 'how'd you remember I work here?'
Serulia snickered, 'you doubt my memory?'
'Well you're not exactly one for remembering. Galaco?' he smirked.
'Come on man that was 4 years ago!', she snapped.
'That hamster was innocent!'
Serulia reached out her other arm to slap Arnel, who dodged their strike.
'Anyway what's a rough high elf like you doing around here? This town ain't big enough for the two of us.', he joked, wiping Serulias arm with some alcohol on a tissue.
'I'm just staying here for a bit with my team', she replied.
'Your team?', Arnel glanced up, raising a split eyebrow.
'Yeah I collected some loners I found off the street', they said sarcastically, grinning as they watched Arnel load up an ink gun.
'And do these "loners" have a name?'
'Duh', she rolled her eyes, 'Austen, Yuna, Quirieth, Mazekeen, Apollo', she pointed behind her at Apollo crouched in the corner watching curiously, 'Erica and Hubert.'
'And have any of these won lover elf Seru's heart?', he smirked.
'Well- ow!', she looked down to see Arnel had started the head of the snake.
'Oh shut up I know it doesn't hurt'.
'Still could've used some warning', she grumbled.
'Well?', Arnel urged.
'Well... I have started hooking up with Austen...', she said sheepishly, looking away.
Arnel picked up on her reluctance and smirked, 'hooking up or...'
'I'm not sure', she replied, surprised by the truth of the statement.
Arnel, deciding to not push it further, started talking about his life over the past year, distracting Serulia as he began working his way up her arm creating the snakes body.
When Serulia left to explore the world, he stayed at the tattoo parlour to work and provide for his family. His parents got sick but some extra shifts bought the medical care they needed to partially recover, yet he still keeps a close eye on them. His wife, Elwing, fell pregnant and got assessed by a doctor who confirmed she was going to be a mother. They were both worried but he was happy to accept her decision to keep it. They both worked hard to prepare and ordered a midwife round when Elwing went into labour. She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy she named Eroan.
'The first thing I noticed were his eyes, like saucers, big and blue like hers', he looked deep in thought but still keeping a steady hand as he started on the tail.
'You gonna let him join the army too?', Serulia asked.
'If he wants', he said.
'And Elwing?'
'Oh she's fine now, she's gone back to her work as a carpenter. She made Eroan's crib', he chuckled.
He finished connecting the lines and looked at Serulia for approval.
'Nailed it', she winked, laughing when he beamed.
'Still got it'
'How much do I owe you?', Serulia asked, standing up.
'A favour for a friend'.
'Nel no, you're short on cash as it is'
'Actually El's work has caught the attention of some wealthy sucker so she's making more once she completes his order', he grinned.
'Classic El', Serulia smiled.
'So what about you're friend?', he asked, turning to Apollo.
Serulia turned to see Apollo crouched down, rock in hand, gazing up at them.
'No thank you', they replied.
Serulia looked at Arnel and shrugged, admiring his look of amusement.
'I'll always have one loyal costumer', he winked.
Serulia laughed and drew him into a hug with her non-tattooed arm.
He hugged back and pulled away turning to Apollo, 'it was nice to meet you'.
'It was nice to meet you too', they replied getting up to shake his hand.
'Feel free to come back any time', he laughed.
Serulia looked at her arm and smiled, 'for sure'.
They hugged again and Serulia began walking towards the door.
'And Arnel', they called over their shoulder, 'me and Austen, we're lovers'.