Beginning of the end

Part 4 [April 15 '21]

Once upon a time, in a simpler life, one child ago, Blake and her lover were exploring the latter's childhood memories. Exploring the childhood clubhouse in the woods and getting to know a side of him that she could only really imagine. It was around that time, only a few months into things, that Kiefer called Blake a goth princess. She wasn't entirely aware of her style through her life, but she had become more and more aware as she became increasingly public. Blake was a public figure, and she got more comments on her Instagram posts than she could read. That felt really weird. Carla, Blake's best friend and bassist, also told her not to read them because Blake was a bleeding heart, and some comments were just meant to make you bleed. Carla was, as ever, correct. It was why she managed the public relations for so long, and why Blake still deferred to her.

Blake probably did look like a goth princess today, in her half and half dress and black boots. The chest area was strapped up like a pentagram, making Blake look decidedly edgier than was fair. Blake wasn't edgy. Blake was a perfect ball of cotton candy and rainbow sugar. Delicate, sweet, and easily destroyed with a bit of moisture. Today was a sunny day though, and she bounced happily into Body Image. Kiefer was based out of A Taste of Ink, but he still owned and operated Body Image. Living about A Taste of Ink obviously put her there more often, but she did come to Body Image sometimes. She came to Aberdeen to see the future in-laws, and to visit a few friends. Sabrina was a friend, and she'd told Blake about the "new guy" at Body Image. Sabrina made him sound nice and talented. Sabrina wasn't mean, but it wasn't for nothing that she said good things about strangers.

So there was a man named Elias Novak, and he sounded nice, and Blake was going to meet him, and they were going to get along famously. She cheerfully greeted the receptionist just after lunch time on a random Tuesday.

"Is Mr. Novak in?" she asked, before giggling slightly. It sounded so formal. She was in a good mood today. A lot of the time she struggled with her moods. Ever since getting pregnant, but especially after the birth, she'd been out of whack. Yet today was one of those rare days where she genuinely felt good. Instead of just feeling okay and pushing in into what she wanted, today was a good day. Kiefer woke up with Zelda, and Blake got to sleep in without feeling like she was letting down the two-year-old for not being awake every single moment with her. Kiefer was working, and Blake was bringing Zelda with her. After checking out Body Image, Blake was going to let Zelda visit with her grandmother. She might have dropped off Zelda early, but she figured the visit would be short. Besides it being convenient, keeping Zelda with her kept Blake in a good mood. The little girl looked strangely angelic next to her mother. Fairer skin, blond bouncy girls, and a red and black polka dot dress with little ladybug embellishments.

With a direction assigned to her, Blake went to find the new man. She held Zelda's hand, careful not to let her run off in the less familiar tattoo parlor. "Hello? Anyone... you're Elias, right?" He didn't look familiar, and Blake knew all the employees. Less so than Sabrina, but she could still name and identify them.

The man before Blake wore a deep green v-neck shirt, with art on display all over his skin. He fit the bill as a tattoo artist. They were often inked up more than those from other walks of life. Blake like to see all the artwork in the open, even as her own had been mostly hidden for a long time. On the stage she did not strip down enough to show all her pieces, but they were more visible than on a trip to the grocery store. She had no idea if this man normally covered up, but arms were often on display. They struck Blake as being life, and death, and macabre. Black, and white, and definitely pretty. If he was the man that Sabrina had referenced, Blake could see the reason.

Though his personal art did not necessarily mean anything about his personality, or skills.

The man smiled when they entered but looked back down over some drafts he appeared to be working on. When Blake said his name, he looked up. The man spun in his seat to face her, speaking with a pleasant tone that Blake felt would put him more in the center of the country than the edges where they found themselves. "Yes ma'am, that's me. And who are you and your lovely sidekick?"