Duskwood: Unrecognisable

Part 32

As soon as I spotted the sign for "The Bad Apple" on the street, I knew it was the place. On the sign was a beautiful cartoon woman winking while holding a rotten apple. As we approached, I could hear techno music coming from the basement entrance. Jake led the way downstairs and opened the metal door for me to go in first. Inside was dark and moody, and aside from the spotlights at the various stations, was lit by neon lights that looked like they came straight out of a cyberpunk movie. There were six stations, but only three were occupied at the time with two male artists and one female artist. The female was the only one to recognise Jake, which immediately made me uncomfortable. She wasn't just attractive, she was gorgeous and her tattoos were so alluring that you could hardly take your eyes off of her. I'd like to think I wasn't a jealous girlfriend, but the way they looked at each other made it clear to me that there was history between them, and the knot in my stomach just wouldn't go away.

"That's Trix," Jake explained. "She'll be doing your tattoo."

"She is busy today," Trix shouted out. "You'll have to come back with an appointment and not just show up because you feel like it!"

"That's ok, I made space in your schedule for us," Jake smirked.

Trix lowered her tattoo gun and said something to her client, before coming over to us, "What the fuck, Nym!? You can't come out of fucking nowhere, pull this shit and expect me to be ok with it!"

"You were booked for like the next month! This can't wait that long," Jake argued.

"I rather think it could," I interjected.

"No, it can't," Jake glared at me. "Our time here is limited."

"It's just a tattoo," I shook my head.

"No, you're getting it done now!" Jake stressed.

"Are you using again!?" Trix narrowed her eyes, then turned to me. "Tell me he hasn't been using again!"

"Uh, no, he hasn't," I responded confused as I didn't even know I needed to worry about that.

Jake rolled his eyes, "I've already rearranged your schedule so it's not like you have anything else right now."

Trix tilted her head in annoyance, "My computer is running slow. Fix it."

"I'm not your IT support," Jake shook his head.

"And I'm not here to answer to your every whim. Go fix my computer, jackass!" Trix pointed to the backroom. "After that, we can discuss this tattoo you want done. And how you intend to pay."

Jake sucked his teeth, then responded reluctantly, "Fine. I will be right back, MC."

Trix glanced at me as Jake walked off, "So you're MC."

"You know of me?" I asked out of surprise.

"Understatement of the year. I still have another 20 minutes or so of work on this client, so please make yourself comfortable," she gestured to the empty seats in the waiting area. I couldn't tell if she was being serious or mocking me.

"Um, thank you," I nodded nervously. "I am sorry. I don't know what's with him and this tattoo today. He's been suddenly incessant on getting it done right away."

"I wish I could say I am surprised, but this is just how he is," she sighed. "I'll be back soon."

Trix went back to her station and I sat down to browse the various ideabooks and portfolios while I waited. Trix's works were absolutely stunning. Each example was more intricate than the next. I couldn't help but feel our request was beneath someone of her skill level. I couldn't understand why Jake was so determined to have her tattoo his red eye on me today. We could've gotten it done at literally any tattoo parlour at any time. I didn't understand why it had to be with her. Was it simply because he didn't trust anyone else or was it something else?