Arcadia Ink Max Caulfield X Reader (Life is strange)

Part 4 Renovations

The next morning, I woke up with an energy I hadn't felt in years. The loan had been approved, and it was time to get to work on transforming the space I'd chosen into my dream tattoo parlor. The building I found was perfect—a little rough around the edges, but it had potential and plenty of space to bring my vision to life.

I arrived at the building early, a mix of excitement and nervousness buzzing in my veins. Steve had agreed to meet me there to help with the initial cleanup. As I pushed open the door, the interior greeted me with dust and cobwebs, but I could already see the possibilities.

"Morning, boss," Steve said with a grin as he joined me inside, taking in the place with an appraising eye. "Looks like we've got our work cut out for us."

"Definitely," I replied, rolling up my sleeves. "But it's going to be worth it."

We spent the first couple of hours clearing out old furniture, sweeping up dust, and scrubbing the floors. It was hard work, but with each bit of grime we wiped away, the space started to feel more like my own. I could see where the reception area would be, how I'd set up the stations, and the perfect spot for a small gallery showcasing my artwork.

By midday, we'd made significant progress. The space was starting to look less like an abandoned building and more like a blank canvas waiting to be transformed. We took a short break, sitting on the floor and sipping water, when I heard a knock at the door.

"Expecting someone?" Steve asked, raising an eyebrow.

I shook my head. "No, but I'll check it out."

I got up and walked to the door, opening it to find Max standing there with her camera. Her face lit up with a smile when she saw me.

"Hey, Y/N! I hope I'm not interrupting," she said.

I blinked in surprise, pleasantly shocked to see her. "Max! What are you doing here?"

"I was passing by and saw the door open. I thought I'd drop in and see how things are going," she replied, glancing around the space with interest.

"Come on in," I said, stepping aside to let her in. "We're just starting the renovations."

Max entered, her camera clicking away as she took in the scene. "This place has so much potential. It's going to look amazing when you're done with it."

"Thanks," I said, feeling a surge of pride. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but I'm excited."

Steve joined us, extending a hand to Max. "Hey there, I'm Steve. You must be Max."

"Nice to meet you, Steve," Max said, shaking his hand.

We spent the next few minutes chatting, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for the support of my friends. With Max's encouragement and Steve's help, the daunting task of renovating the space seemed much more manageable.

"Do you mind if I take some photos?" Max asked, lifting her camera. "I'd love to document the transformation."

"Not at all," I replied. "Go ahead."

Max moved around the space, capturing shots of the building and our progress. Her presence was a welcome distraction from the hard work, and I found myself smiling more as she clicked away.

"Do you need an extra pair of hands?" Max offered after a while, setting her camera down. "I'm not much of a builder, but I can help with the cleanup."

"Absolutely," Steve said before I could respond. "The more, the merrier."

"Great," Max said, rolling up her sleeves. "Just tell me what to do."

We spent the rest of the day working together, clearing out debris, scrubbing walls, and preparing the space for the next steps. Max's enthusiasm was infectious, and her ability to find the beauty in the midst of chaos was inspiring.