Tattoo Days (Pt 1)

Lyle parked his bike and stood up popping his back as he stretched. Grabbing his bag he walked Towards the entrance of the bar to get a drink.

Inside the bar would a woman with pink hair, a bit of tattoos, and she wore simple black jeans and a tank-top. She was chatting with the bartender about a book lying open in front of her that was full of sketches and designs. “Just come by when ya wanna get it.” She said with a friendly smile toward the man cleaning a glass.

“Mind if I sit here?” Lyle asked giving her a friendly smile while gesturing to the seat next to her.

“Sure, go ahead,” Seele said absently as she flipped through the old book. There were plenty of odd sketches and tattoos in it, some she’d even taped into it due to drawing it on paper or a napkin at the time.

As for most of the other women in the bar, they all had jealous looks in their eyes as they watched him choose to sit by the pink haired girl.

Lyle took a seat glancing over to her book. “You a tattoo artist?” He asked “those are really good.”

“I am,” Seele replied with a proud smile. “You interested in getting ink?”

“Yeah been thinking about getting more ever since I got out of the military” he admitted rolling up his sleeve to show his old unit tattoo.

“That thing is totally fading and so bland.” Seele made a face and couldn't resist poking his arm, loving the sight of those muscles.

“Yeah got it while I was on leave and drunk before they shipped us out” he chuckled rubbing the back of his head. “got any open appointments?”

Seele slid a card over to him with her number on it. “I accept walk-ins.” she said in a flirtatious tone.

“How about right now then?” He asked giving her a wink while pocketing the card.

“You’ll need to walk me to the shop.” Seele said with a giggle.

Lyle finished his drink and placed money on the counter with a generous tip “shall we?” He asked holding out his arm.

“Oh, so there are some gentlemen left?” Seele cooed as she hopped from her seat and took his arm. “See ya next week, Al!”

The bartender waved them goodbye.

“Mother raised a gentleman” Lyle chuckled as he walked alongside her.

“I wish I knew her. I'd tell her to be proud.” Seele said as they took a turn to a tattoo shop. Pulling out her key she went to unlock the door with a symbol etched into the handle that was a sign of safety for metas.

Lyle smiled as they entered the shop “nice place you got here” he whistled looking around the place.

“Thanks,” Seele replied as she turned on the lights and checked the equipment. “I fixed it up after buying the little place. Took a long while but I got it done.” Tapping her book as she set it on the counter, she smiled. “Take a look and figure out what ya want.”

“Thanks” he replied looking over the various pages “so how long have you been doing tattoos?”

“Most of my life, actually,” Seele replied as she brushed fingers through her short pink hair and turned on some more lights in the back room.

Lyles's eyes wandered on her for a moment before looking back down “Any recommendations?”

“Everything!” Seele chirped, unwilling to pick for him as she kept setting everything up in the shop.

Lyle chuckled before looking at a drawing of an angel in armor with a flaming sword “this one.”

Walking over, Seele looked over the image and nodded. “That’s an old one, but I’ll happily give it to ya. Where ya want it?” She asked.

“How about my left bicep?” he offered, rolling up his sleeve to show the empty skin and flexing.

“I can do that,” Seele found what she needed and led him to the backroom. Gesturing to the chair, she got her machines into position. “Sit and relax.”

Lyle nodded before taking off his jacket and shirt exposing the multiple scars before sitting down.

Seele froze and couldn’t help but stare for a moment. Shaking her head, she grabbed her tools and got to work, slowly getting that amazing tattoo on him. “What brings you into this city?” She asked.

“Fresh out of the military made myself a promise to myself if I survived combat I'd explore the country on my bike” he answered.

“I see, well…the world is kinda going to shit right now.” Seele said as she kept working. “I dunno if you noticed, but a lot of people are being treated…badly.” She didn’t want to use the word meta in case he was against them.

“Yeah I've seen it a lot during my travels” he sighed “part of me wants to leave the country another part wants to do something.”

“What do you mean by do something?” Seele asked as she finished up and added the appropriate bandaging. “Don’t let this get wet for three days.”

“Make a difference when i signed up. It was for all citizen human and meta to be protected not made into slaves for MegaCorp.” He sighed.

“So you’re a meta-activist, too?” Seele asked as she got up and started putting things away.

“I've helped where I can during my travels” he admitted “just feels like I should be doing more.”

“We all feel that way, sadly.” Seele said as she went to a door and opened it. Inside were a lot of drawers that she slid open. Pulling out a purple wig, she got it on, the long straight tendrils falling down her back. “I often go around in disguise to keep people off my trail. Sure, I’m human, but I still don’t wanna be followed, ya know?”

“I know what you mean i keep looking over my shoulder like I'm still in a warzone” Lyle admitted.

“This is a war,” Seele said it as if that were obvious. “You realize that Thrane guy just wants the world to burn, right?”

“Yeah wouldn't mind putting a bullet between his eyes” Lyle sighed.