Jackunzel Drabbles (The Original)

How to Reject a Valentine

He hated this time of the year.

Absolutely despised it.

Everything was pink and red. It was literally December one month ago but as soon as Christmas Day came to an end, the day of love pounced for the kill. It was everywhere. Pink curtains and cut outs, flowers in every window, large balloons about jewelry blow out sales and chocolate prices sky rocketed. Not that he particularly liked chocolate but the concept was the same. Either way someone looked at it, Valentines Day was a capitalism at its finest, supported by the young and stupid.

No matter his relationship status, he told every girl right out that he did not do Valentines Day. No matter how they pleaded or cried or begged, hell he had one girlfriend threaten to withhold sex from him, the answer was always no. He couldn’t make himself do it. The practice was ridiculous and shallow. Why was there one day out the year it was mandatory to show someone you care? Isn’t that supposed to be what the rest of the fucking year was for?

“Whats got you in mood?” the thick Russian accent cut through his inner rant, forcing him to look up from his work. North looked down at him with big jolly eyes, running his hand through his beard.

The man was the owner of the tattoo shop Jack worked at. The shop itself was not very big but big enough to fit four chairs and equipment along with a back area for two body tables. The Guardian was known all over the country for their exceptional work. It took a lot of work to get hired here, a lot of hours slaving over sketch books and needles, gaining enough clients and references to actually get a chair of his own. The place was decorated with reds and golds, the walls were down with beautiful art work along with pictures of them standing with celebrities who had come to them for their ink.

Besides him there was North, Aster and Sandy. There was a woman here they called Tooth before him, but she had opened her own hair salon across town.

“Nothing.” He replied, shading red into his new tattoo sketch for his sample book. North raised at eyebrow at him.

“Does not seem like nothing.” He stated, large arms crossed over his chest. He looked like an ex-biker with his white beard and sleeves. All he needed was a pair of sun glasses and a Harley. Jack almost chuckled at the image that popped into his head.

“He’s just being a winger cause its Valentines day, aye mate?” The burly Australian chuckled, the sound of buzzing pausing for a moment before continuing its work. The young man under the needle squirmed a bit in discomfort before sucking it up.

Valentines Day was the Fools Parade for tattoo shops. That’s when young couples came in to get each others names permanently on their bodies or other stupid matching symbols that they’d regret in the next year or so. Jack refused most requests unless it was a big project like a spouses face or an actual tattoo that didn’t bleed pink and red heart confetti.

“You are taking girl out, yes?” A wangle of thick eyebrows only received an icy glare from the young white haired man.

“Hardly.”

“Oh? The shelia not doin’ it for you?” Aster commented, switching out the ink in his gun.

“Elsa is a cool girl but Valentines Day is a waste of money and time. If shes expecting something, shes gonna be fucking disappointed.”

A small chuckle was heard from the back of the shop. Jack gave a look over his shoulder at the amused blonde unpacking new supplies. Sandy was the quiet one out of them all. He was a small man, blonde and fair skinned with hazel eyes. He didn’t have tattoos like the rest of them but instead was their piercing expert. Small gold studs decorated the arch of light eyebrows, more found be found along the middle of his tongue as well as in various other places. He dressed in white for the up coming holiday, button up rolled up at the sleeves with a loose fitting pink tie with a single heart at the bottom. Jack scowled.