fandomtownies | Red's Tattoo Parlour: Open for business

Duce arrives at work and opens the door. "Red?" Hm, funny, he's normally here by now. Perhaps he's upstairs with the babies.

She goes through the implements and sets them out. From her backpack, she pulls out a large Tupperware container of.. greenish goo. Checking the top, she scowls at it. It hasn't quite reached dye release. Probably due to being in the fridge. She sets it on the counter to warm up and mixes up another batch. Henna, lemon juice, and the hold-her-breath portion: tea tree oil. She stirs it up and sets it aside to break.

Pulling out laminated sheets of bond paper from her bag, she sets out the possible designs, to give people inspiration. She has everything from modern tribal designs to more traditional designs.

Off to one side, she sets up a slotbox and many pads of drawing blanks. The blanks ask for name and some form of contact - either phone or email. A few pens are scattered on the counter nearby. The box has "Fill out a card for a chance to win a full henna workup for Homecoming!" in burgundy glitter across one side.

She sits and waits, and hopes people like this idea.

After awhile, people walk in.

*Paige walks in and looks at the sign and smiles* So what does this workup involve?

Duce smiles, "Hey Paige. The drawing? We're offering a full workup.. and that means whatever you want. Neck, arms, hands, torso, legs, feet, back.. any or all of 'em, designs of your choice. However," she cautions, "we're warning people that if they go for the full-bod treatment, they'd better prepare to be here all day. Henna takes at least an hour to set and you can't really move or you'll smudge the designs. It would be," she thinks, trying to come up with a good analogy, "kind of like a spa treatment, where you get a whole body seaweed wrap. The longer you leave it on, the darker the design will get, because the terps will have time to bond with your body's natural oils.."

Coughing, she trails off in a somewhat embarassed manner. Offering an apologetic smile, "Can't tell we're a henna geek or anything, huh?"

*Paige smiles* Not it's fine, I'm interested! Think is the dress I've ordered doesn't leave much flesh showing. I'm going for an innocent, demure look *she laughs* Well I can try right?

"You could get your hands and ankles done, or a design across your collar bone. If you have a picture of the dress with you, we could offer suggestions? Did you want to try a band today?"

Gesturing at the henna implements laid out, she smiles again, "We figure practice is never a bad thing."

*Paige smiles* Sure why not, they look pretty cool.

*she looks through the designs and choses a tribal arm band*

*she then looks in her bag for a picture of the dress and hands it to Duce*

Duce looks at the dress and hrms, "You could go for handflowers, or something across the collar bone, definitely. Your hair's probably too long to make a design on the back worth it.. unless you're wearing an up-do?"

Gesturing at one of the chairs, "Have a seat, and we'll position the arm so it's comfortable. Do you want it around your upper or lower arm?"

*Paige smiles* I am thinking for having my hair up, but well Red's already taken care of my back *She moves her hair to show Duce her new tattoo*

I like the sound of the collar bone thing though and I'll have this one on my upper arm please

Duce admires the tattoo, "He does good work. Looks like it's healing nicely."

She considers, "Well, you can sign up for the henna drawing, but if you don't win and still want the collar bone thing, the price would be based on how intracate the design was. Although, with that dress, we'd suggest something simple in a flower or flower petal motif. Something like that,"
She gestures to a Sudanese design on the page (ooc: 8th woman down on page) "would work well. Or, if you wanted to stick with Celtic, we could do a Celtic ward across the collarbone. Those are pretty, and have various symbolic meanings."

*Paige smiles* Yeah I'll think about that thanks, so how much will this arm band be?

Duce shakes her head quickly, "Today, they're free. We need the practice, and Red needed the publicity. Normally, it'd be around $30. Tribals are fairly easy and don't take that long."

She spoons green gunk into what looks like a plastic pastry bag and frowns at the design. Picking through a box of metal tips, she finds the one she's looking for and screws it on the end of the bag.

"When this is on, we'll cover it with plastic to hold the heat in. You won't want to move it too much. Do you need a clip or anything to hold your shirt sleeve up?"

*Paige smiles* Cool, to be honest I'm a little poor at the moment, I found out how much the dress is gonna be yesterday and well it's not cheap!

I think the sleeve should just stay up, it normally does.

I've been spreading the word about Red by the way, he's a good guy. My sister's gonna come get a tattoo the same as mine soon *she grins*

"It's all good. Looks like the dress will be worth it, though!"

Duce rolls up Paige's sleeve, and it does indeed stay up. "Cool. Red could use the business. He's a good artist, but he absolutely sucks at advertising. That's ok, though. The website will be live this week, and that should help."

She thinks about something for a moment and asks, "You knew your tattoo's the Celtic symbol for protection, right?"

*Paige sounds suprised* Is it? Someone said it was something to do with the number 3, he seemed to think cos I'd found it in a magic book it was signified the 3 witches, I guess it means a few things huh?

Duce nods as she cleans the area with an alcohol pad. "It might've come to mean that in later times, but the tricorner symbol was what the ancient Celts used as a ward of protection. Eternal protection, past, present, future. We're assuming the circle means unity."

Tossing the alcohol pad in the trash, she lines areas above and below where Paige wanted the band with Vaseline to prevent stains from any potential drips. Squeezing the carrot bag, she puts a few drops on a piece of wax paper, to get it edged.

Starting with the apex of the tribal, she begins working on the design with slow meticulation.

*Paige stays very still* Oh right, that's really interesting, I had no idea. I was just drawn to it

Duce nods, continuing the lines of the design, "That design's been around for eons. Greek and Roman women used to use it multiplied on the hems of their gowns as protection from evil spirits or sickness." She gives a small laugh, "But then, they were ignorant and thought evil spirits caused sickness, so hey."

*Paige laughs slightly* Guess it's pretty lucky I got it then, seeing as the school doesn't seem all that safe!

Duce grins, "Yeah. Could be worse. Could be a Catholic girls' school. Talk about hell on earth." She grimaces dramatically.

With a flourish, she finishes the design and sets the applicator aside. She waits a few moments for the henna to breathe before carefully wrapping it in a sheet of Saran Wrap.

*Paige laughs* I'll just sit here then shall I?

Duce grins. "Yup. There are magazines, if you want to flip through them." She gestures to a tray of magazines, within reach. "We're going to go help that lady over there, will be back in a bit to unveil you."

*Paige smiles* no problem

After about an hour, Duce unveils Paige and wipes her arm off with a wet cloth, displaying a dark brown design band. Using a mild detergent, she wipes off the vaseline and presents it to Paige for inspection, "Ta-da."

*Paige grins* Wow thanks Duce that's really cool. I hoping Geoff's into the whole body art thing.

*she pulls out a $5* There you go, put it towards advetising or something

Duce grins, tucking the cash under the book for now. "Thanks! We're glad you like it! Aw, Geoff'll probably love it if it's on you."

*Paige giggles slightly* Thanks Duce, tell Red I said hi too, ok?

Duce nods, smiling and waving as Paige exits. "Will do! He should be in later tonight. Probably had to take the babes to something."

edward wonders in, having heard of the henna tattoos. He looks kinda out of place in red's tattoo parlour. Then he sees Duce.
"Hey, you were there yesterday, with the strange coffee-addicted girl-boy...did he get better in the end?"

Duce smiles at Edward, "If the screams of anguish coming from the coffee shop this morning were any indication.. no, Jake's still female and not getting any better at it."

"ow, that's bad. He didn't seem very happy as a female...maybe he needs a henna tattoo, to chear him up? Like, a coffee tattoo?" 0.o

Duce considers that and nods, "Actually, coffee's used in henna to make it darker, so he'd go for it. Can you do us a favour? We'll be here all evening, so can't go hunt up Jake - if you see him, taunt him with the idea of a coffee tattoo and see if you can get him in here?"

"will do" Edward says, as he smiles and heads for the door to go look for Jake.

Trying to catch him before he leaves, "Hey Edward? Are you going to homecoming?"

"oh..uh, don't know yet," edward says as he turns to look at Duce. "I haven't got a date the right clothes, i guess".

"Oh. There seems to be a rash of that going around." She considers, "My roommate doesn't have a date a dress yet either, so we're not sure she's decided whether to go or not. But, if you don't have a date, she'd probably love to be asked. Do you know her? Wednesday Addams? She lives with me in the gatehouse up at the manor. She was helping us find Oz the morning he was missing."

"oh yeah, i remember her. She got an awesome pallor. When i see her, i'll ask her to be my date for homecoming, thanks" Edward smiles

Duce grins at Edward, "Awesome! You two will look great together."

((ooc: *glees*))

[Deb]*walks in and looks around*

The tattoo shop is extremely well set up. There are all sorts of tattoo-flashes around as examples or choices. A display cabinet is set up with pieces of jewelry, both traditional body-piercing calibre and some handmade pieces.

Duce looks up from her work on Paige's arm and smiles a greeting, "Hello. Feel free to poke around. Were you looking for a tattoo or piercing, or were you interested in getting a free henna design today?"

Henna please. I'm not ready to commit to a tattoo.

I was thinkng one of those pretty traditional flowers around my bellybutton. Something pretty and sexy and just for my man.

Duce nods, "We can definitely accomodate that, but you'll have to stay still for about an hour while it sets. Hope you're not ticklish. There are designs on the counter," she nods her head in that direction, "if you want to pick one out, we can start on you as soon as we're done with Paige here. Should be about another fifteen minutes, maybe?"

Thanks, honey.

*checks out the book and starts picking out her design*

"Hey, while you're waiting, if you want to - you could sign up for the free henna workup drawing." Duce gestures to the box next to the books.

*laughs* Oh no. Let one of the little girls be pretty for her boyfriend or girlfriend I just want a little something to surprise my Carl.
[Deb]*sorts through pages*

This one.
The third one on the second row.

Duce looks the design over, "Moon and stars? Good choice." She digs up some black plasic claw clips, "What we'll need you to do is clip your shirt up to the bottom of your bra, and shove the waistline of your pants down and clip those too, so they don't fly up and smudge. Are you comfortable doing this in a chair out here, or would you like to use one of the privacy rooms?"

Sweetie, I gave birth in a teaching hospital. After having your crotch on display for a whole bleacher section, privacy is a lost cause. I'm fine out here.

Duce gives a wry grin, "That'd do it, yup. We have to ask, though. Ok, hop in that chair over there," she gestures to the empty chair near Paige, one set to recline, "and we'll get ready."

Filling a new carrot bag with the henna, she looks at the design and lays out a set of fine tips.

[Deb] *lays back, relaxes and tries to imagine the look on Carl's face*

Duce cleans the area thoroughly and gives it a moment to dry before beginning.

"Don't you run the restaurant here in town? We could swear we've seen you around."

Sure do. The Dive. We've also got a vintage clothing store and *lowers voice* head shop.

I think I saw you last weekend. It was kind of confusing, but I know I saw someone with snakes. Just don't, you know, stone me, okay? I prefer Panama Red for that.

Duce smiles wryly, "Probably us. We're the only person we know running around with snakes for hair." Her smile turns genuine as she begins the design. "Promise we won't stone you. We usually reserve that for, y'know, people trying to kill us."

"Vintage shop, huh? We'll mention that around.. Homecoming theme is the 80's, and most of the girls weren't alive back then and have no clue what to get for it."

I don't kill anything that isn't already dead, sweetie. Carl says it's a sin what I can do to a good steak.

Already had a customer shopping for homecoming. He bought a couple of those poet's shirts that the boys were almost brave enough to wear.

One of Duce's eyebrows peeks over the top of her glasses, "Poet's shirts? Do you happen to remember the boy's names? Cuz this, we gotta see."

Duce continues the design, working her way through the star pattern around the navel. "We'll have to drag the roommate out for dinner sometime soon and come try your place."

No, I don't. It was that tall kid with the real pretty boyfriend. I know you've seen him around: short, middle-eastern, and prettier than most girls. Brave enough to wear eyeliner in public.

The shirts were both extra small, so I think they're for the boyfriend.

Duce frowns, trying to think if she knows anyone that fits the description. "We think we've seen the pretty one in history class. Bagless or something is his name. Huh. The shirts'll suit him."

She continues the almost-finished design, edging it.

Well you and the roommate come by any time. We always have the regular meal, a diet plate and a vegetarian plate. Lemon bars on Monday and Thursday.

Duce grins, finishing off the design. "Great! Roommate's a herbivore. We're not." She gestures to the snakes, "They need meat or they get cranky."

She covers the design with Saran Wrap. "That'll need to sit for about an hour. Do you want a magazine or anything to look through while you wait?"

*looks at snakes, a little curious but not overly disturbed* Do they need it cooked or raw?

You got a copy of The Advocate around?

"Oh, they don't eat it themselves. Food goes in the mouth on the face. We share a blood system, so they get the nutrition they need. Kind of like parasitic twins."

One of the snakes winds around to look Duce in the face, and hisses at her. She gently bats it out of the way, "Quiet, you. You know what we meant."

((ooc: Player is on today, will be unavailable this evening due to Serenity midnight showing and necessary nap beforehand.))