“Hey there, sorry I was distracted.” I walk toward her with all the confidence of a famous rock star and let the mask of normal fall over me. “I’m Jer.” I say and put my hand out. Jer is my pseudo name I use when I’m in the shop alone like this and getting the vibe they may not know who I am.
“Well Jer, I want to get a tattoo.” She says and starts looking at the flash ink on the wall that we all have added to over the years to make a compilation for PIT.
I do everything I can to avoid staring at her sweet round ass. This chick defines curves. Stacked with tits and ass, petite, so damn petite. Long blonde hair that goes to the small of her back and the chunky black streaks in it giving her that edge I cant get enough of in a woman.
“Do you know what you want to get?” I ask and try to keep my thoughts on topic.
She spins on her heel and smiles at me. “I do actually. I want to get a dandelion blowing off in the wind with the words blow me away somehow in it.”
I do as I always do when a boring, over used, tired tattoo is what the client requests. But, I will do my best to talk her out of it. “Well, I gotta be honest, the dandelion has been done and it’s no longer a unique image. Same as birds in flight… Is there significance to the tattoo that we can work with to give the same effect but not as common?”
She smiles and she knows damn well how sexy she is, fuck she radiates sex like no chick I have ever met. “I want it common and generic. It just works with why I want those words. It’s perfect.”
“Alright. Fair enough. Are you wanting a consultation or are you ready now?” I am looking at her golden sun kissed skin and no way, with her aura is she from Washington. She screams Cali.
“No way, let’s do it. I am only in town for a few days, but it’s about a whole new start. Being in Washington is part of that start.”
“Where ya from?” I ask even though I know the answer.
“California. Yorba Linda.”
Nailed it. Cali girls have a distinct look and this may be the hottest one I have ever seen. I keep watching the clock waiting to see if my client is a no show, but it was wishful thinking. The bell at the door chimes, breaking through my dirty thoughts as Sully walks in with my client. Right on time.
“Steve, hey buddy I’ll be right there.” I see Sully eyeball the Barbie doll in front of me and he is salivating right along with me.
“Well that’s your guy right there. Have a seat and fill this form out while I fill Sully in on what you’re looking to get and it’s in our hands from there.”
She takes a seat and I have a great view of her perfect C cup tits and want to cry at the unfairness. I hate tattooing tatterflies, but this chick… I don’t know there is something so different about her even if she looks like all the easy chicks that come in looking for status. This woman was not easy, not even a little.
“And if I want you to do it?”
Oooooh fuck she had no idea how bad I wanted to do it. I wanted time with this one and I have no fuckin clue why.
“I am booked a few months out. Sully is a bad ass though. We own this place 50/50 and he has laid a ton of ink on me.”
She has a frown, but not like the obnoxious easy bitches that pout thinking it’s sexy. “I promise he is a bad ass artist. I’ll guarantee you that you’ll leave feeling like your tat is the best tattoo anyone ever had. I’ll be here, I’ll pop in when Steve needs breaks. You’ll be great I promise.” I don’t know why I felt the need to comfort her or reassure her, but I felt the need to make her feel safe. Maybe the vibe I am getting is just that.
“Hey there.” Sully says and reaches his hand out to …
“I’m Bright.” She says and extends her hand to Sully. I can’t help but smile to myself over her name. Cali girl named Bright.
“Take care of this one, this tat has meaning.” I say to Sully. Bright doesn’t know it’s a code but Sam does. Its code for any client we take serious. We get way too much trash in the shop courtesy of fame so we created a code for the clients that take the art of tattoos serious.
“It was nice meeting you Jer.” She says and I hate the sound of my fake name on her lips.
I smiled and pointed to my booth for Steve to head back. “You too bright.”
And that was that.
Tayla walked into the PIT and made her way toward me and I knew after the text she sent me this morning, that this was gonna be an ass chewin' from Hessian Aggression records, hand delivered by the sweetest, yet most ruthless woman I know.
“T.” I say and smile pointing at the chair sitting beside my drawing table.
“N.” She replies with that smart ass smirk we all love and fear equally.
Tayla wasn’t one for games or drawing shit out dramatically. She handed me the stack of papers with the Hessian Aggression logo on them and I knew this shit was plum full of rules for the junkie on the bus. We were leaving on tour in a week and this was Hessians way of keeping me in line and feeling like they had the power. They had no idea that I had fully hit my rock bottom and it was all about repairing the damage now.
“So these are the stipulations for you to join the tour. It’s non-negotiable Noah. You fuck with this deal and you’ll be done with TAT forever. There is no leniency with this, it’s a take it or leave it deal. Robert Black wanted to be here himself to make sure you knew that you were out of favors and promises. The well is dry, do you understand that?”
