"You can't be serious." Wren couldn't help but giggle at the innocent girl in front of her.
"Wren I have to! This is all I've ever wanted! I don't care if it hurts!" Courtney begged. Dramatic as usual
"I need it." Her eyes pouted as she held her hands together like a prayer.
"Fine!... Twenty bucks you'll cry" Wren said swatting at her hands.
"Will Not! It's just a tattoo..." Courtney crossed her arms over her black hair.
This was Courtney's first tattoo. She's only a few months younger than Wren but somehow seems so much more innocent and feeble. Imagining her with ink isn't something anyone could easily picture.
"what are you getting?" Wren asked.
"It's for my mom." The snickering died down taking on a very serious note. Courtney's mother was always bedridden with a weak immune system that couldn't even defend against a cold or a cough let alone Lukemia. She died leaving Courtney a pendant adorned with half a silver clam. Her mother wore the other half when she was buried. Wren clutched onto the sleeves of her dark grey knitted sweater with grief not for herself but for Courtney.
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They stood outside the parlor with big block letters that spelled out "Killian Ink." This place had the best reputation in San Fransisco.
"You're so lucky your aunt married the owner." Wren watched as the people walked out of the parlor with unnatural hair colors and strange body modifications. It felt like they were peeking into a parallel universe.
Upon entering this unfamiliar territory a small girl with immense hazel eyes, who looked like a spin off on a modern pin up girl, greeted us with a wide smile and open colorful arms.
"Hi, my name is Dot short for Dorothy. Y'all must be new to this place." She handed us two clipboards with a series of personal questions.
"oh no I'm just here as support." Wren gave back the clipboard with the chained pen.
"that's nice, ok so the only artist in right now is Ryker... Ryker!" she waited a moment and then gave us a little smile
"huh... where is he...." She seemed nervous. She mouthed one moment holding up a finger with a pointy crimson finger nail and headed through the bright red curtain. Wren and Courtney looked at each other and heard a girlish scream along with a crash like something metal falling. A muffled yell was heard from the back room
"what have I said about working on yourself?! I told you I'd do it for free! Ryker! Are you even listening? Oh crap I have people up front! Jesus Christ Ryker. heyyyy...." Dot peeked through the curtain motioning Courtney in with a toothy smile. We pulled behind the red curtain and an older guy sat on a tall metal bar stool. His hair looked like spilled coffee it was so sleek. The black bring me the horizon T rolled up at the sleeves. It was body hugging, making him seem so muscular. He had a sleeve starting on his right wrist that looked somewhat botanical inspired on his olive skin. The dark blue ripped jeans were slim and ended at his black combat boots. He had a very stern expression with incredibly dark brown almost black eyes. Wren thought he looked like a try hard punk. Courtney sat on the long black couch next to the metal tray with the silver rotary needle. Ryker pulled on the dark purple latex gloves still no emotion on his face.
"Sure you're ready for this, princess?" Courtney nodded at the rather sneered comment.
"I'd like a clam? But I don't want it to stand out so much like, um..." Courtney's voice shook and she seemed so uncomfortable.
