Pins + Needles // a Johnnie X OC story!

1. 🦇

"Deep breaths. Let me know if you need a break, alright? Take it easy.."
"Okay. I'm ready."

The soothing buzz of the gun filled the air, and as I placed my foot down on the pedal, the needle begun to rapidly jolt, back and forth.
The needle against the skin, piercing repeatedly as the ink sinks in, forming the lines of yet another butterfly.

God, I wish people were more creative with their tattoos. I mean, you book me? Marcelina? Having seen my work, and you decide to get a butterfly?
It's so repetitive, it kills me.

I wanted to do this job to create art. Something new and unique. Not the same idea over and over again. At least the money was good.

"You okay?" I asked the woman who's arm was currently being jabbed.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Okay," I spoke, and got back to work. "small tattoos are pretty easy."

- - -

After wrapping up her tattoo, I took her to the front. We got her rung up, and she left.
Quiet.

The shop is usually pretty empty at this time. I don't mind. It's calm.

I pick up my sketchbook and walk over to the stereo. I plug my phone in to the aux of the sound system and play my playlist. I sit down on the couch and sketch for a while, and I'm honestly not sure how much time has passed.

This is my favourite thing. Next to actually inking on skin. Sketching and listening to music.
"Darkness - Rage Against The Machine" played quietly on the speakers.
I could sit here for hours, however my thoughts were interrupted when I heard the bell of the door ring, letting me know someone is here.

I look up from my spot and see a figure looking around. "Just a sec!" I yelled, and scrambled to turn down the music. "Sorry for the music, I was jus-"
"No worries. I love Rage Against The Machine. Leave it on if you want." He spoke. His voice was soothing, yet someone a little raspy.

I walked up to the front to finally greet the boy who walked in. He was about 5'7", 8" give or take, and had an emo haircut, with red streaks in it.
He was covered in tattoo's and had a few piercings on his face. He seemed around my age, and he was pretty good looking, too.

"I'm Marcelina—Well, Mars. How can I help you?" I spoke, nervous, as I looked at him.
"Johnnie. It's nice to meet you!" He held out his hand, inviting me to shake it.
I took it and gently shook it. "Likewise." I smiled at him.

"I'm looking to get a tattoo. Shocker, I know!" He joked. "I don't have anything in mind, but my friend got a tattoo done by you and i loved the style of it. He said you let him chose it and that you hand drew it on the spot. I thought that was sick so I thought I'd come here and let you have complete freedom."

Holy shit. This guy just made all of my dreams come true. My eyes widened with excitement as a smile crept up on my face.

"I'd love to do that! Let's go sit down here and start thinking of ideas then, yeah?" I gestured to the small table by the sound system I was sitting at earlier, my drawing supplies already sprawled out.

"So, any ideas at all? Area, or vibe? I mean I guess I can tell based on your style, but I thought I'd ask anyways," I look up at him, he was sitting with his knees to his chest curled up against the wall. His head was resting on his hand, which had the letters "H-A-T-E" on each knuckle. It reminded me of Captain Spaulding, from House of 1000 Corpses.

"Well," he shifted his body so his hands were now on the table. "I love music and horror shit. Sometimes i paint stuff in my free time and i play guitar. Acoustic. I sing, too. Does that help? I'm sorry I'm kind of bad at this." He shook his hands, somewhat waving them in an apologetic way.

"All good. And yeah, it does."

I began sketching and we talked as I worked. I threw ideas at him, and he came back with thoughts. We ended up working together to create a design of lips with vampire teeth, holding a brain between them, as a reference of two of his songs he wrote.

I laughed when i realized the image is kind of like the "Lime Lips", but horror themed.

"So, you're wanting to do this tonight? Where and how big do you want it?"

We discussed the placement of his tattoo, and decided he come back tomorrow to get it inked.
I gave him my instagram incase something goes wrong, or if he needs to contact me in any way.

"Thank you, Mars. I'll see you tomorrow!" He smiled and waved as he left the shop, and part of me was exited for in to come back tomorrow.

- - -

854 words
I know this chapter is short but I promise I'll make 'em longer :,)
I'm rlly exited to write this, tho!! I have so many ideas ahhh