I awoke next morning to the sounds of Bloodstone. The yelling of traders selling their wares and the invitations of the Games Master to gamble your life away. I attempted to return to my slumber but had little success so I decided to head downstairs and open up the shop. I slipped on my usual trousers and boot attire and headed down the rickety steps and into my cosy shop, lighting up the oil lamps and propping the door open as usual. I settled into my chair, preparing myself for the wait between clients and trying to quash my nerves about tattooing Sparrow. I had never messed up a tattoo in my life but there's always a first time for everything...
As if on cue, in sauntered Sparrow, Skree skipping along at his heels. His eye's scanned the shop and spotted me, a small smirk gracing his features as he walked over.
"Awrite Jamie, where dya want me?" It was still shocking to hear the seldom spoken Hero talk to me, especially in such a casual manner.
"It's just the standard tattoo sets on your back and shoulder you're wanting, yeah? Just sit on that stool there love" I froze after the endearment slipped out, watching to see if he'd notice. He cocked an eyebrow at me before smiling and sitting on the offered seat.
"Aye it is" I relaxed, I really needed to get my head together so I didn't fuck things up.
"Oh and you might have to remove your...gear so I can get at your back." I blushed upon saying this, I mean how do you politely tell a man to unstrap and remove his battle axe, heavy rifle, and leather belt?
He stood up wordlessly and moved over to an empty table. He removed the massive axe from his back and placed it on the table with a dull clinck, next went the rifle, sitting beside it's melee brother. He then unbuckled the holster that held all of his weapons in place and dropped it on the table, rolling his shoulders before taking his seat again. He looked no less intimidating without his weapons, that fact that he lifted that axe with one hand was proof enough of how strong he was.
"Thanks, I need to draw the designs on with ink now so I have a template, I'll do your back first, just put your elbows on your knees, it's not gonna hurt or anything." He snorted derisively at my last words, I could see why, those scars showed that he could cope with a lot of pain. He pulled his braids over his shoulder to give me a clear place to work.
I fetched my ink and paint brush, setting up a stool behind him. I started inking out the designs, again impressed by the amount of heat he was giving out. Up close, his skin was glowing faintly through little marks on his flesh. He was quiet while I worked, chin resting on his hand and the other scratching the ears of Skree, who was sitting next to his master as per usual.
I finished tracing the designs and stood up, he shifted slightly and watched me over his shoulder, those slitted pupils following my every move. I moved back to
the table and pulled out a large box from under it, unlatching it to reveal the metal motor and equipment of my tattoo gun, I clicked a clean set of needles into place, flicking on the switch to make sure the device was working properly. It sputtered into life and the needles started moving correctly. I turned it off and set it back down.
"Right, this'll give ya a slight stinging sensation but I'm sure you've had worse, eh?" I smirked at him, taking my seat behind him again. I picked up the gun and started the motor again.
He turned disinterestedly away as I began to mark his skin, the only indication of any discomfort was the twitching of his fingers where they supported his head. I put my other hand on his back to stretch the skin taught, feeling firm muscle shift beneath the skin and the steady beating of his heart.
My breath caught in my throat as I struggled to keep concentration on my work, I took a deep breath in through my nose, only to be caught by his alluring scent. He smelled of grass and the wilderness with something spicy like cinnamon and an earthy aroma that was somewhat primal.
I shook my head to get out of my stupor, lifting the gun off his skin and adjusting myself on the stool a little, I decided to think of something completely irrelevant until his session was done, letting my growing fixation with him interfere with my work could present significant problems. Namely: Sparrow taking that massive axe and using it to cut me in half.
I sat up from my hunched position, vertebrae cracking as I became upright.
"Okay then, that's you finally finished" I stood up with a groan and rolled my aching shoulders and neck. Sparrow sat up from the table I had placed him on to do his chest piece, seemingly un-phased by the hours he had just spent getting stabbed with a tattoo gun. He hopped down and stood beside me, a grin spread across his face as he looked into the offered mirror, twisting to view the ones on his back.
"Aw mate, that's cool as shit, thanks a lot. How much do I owe ya?" He clapped me on the shoulder, his huge hand leaving a tingling sensation in its absence.
I told him the price and watched him dig in his deceptively small bag attached to his belt for the gold. He handed me a small bag with the correct amount and I threw it in the register, too tired to separate it.
"They'll take about a week to heal and you should avoid direct sunlight in case it messes with the healing process." I informed him casually.
He smiled in a bemused way "Ah no worries, watch this"
He closed his eyes and seemed to concentrate before taking in and letting out a deep breath, there was a dull hiss and the slightly bleeding marks all closed up to reveal healthy skin and jet black tattoos beneath.
I gaped in awe "That's amazing! They're completely healed"
A small chuckle escaped him as he walked back to the table where his gear lay and started strapping on his weapons. "Aye, it's a pretty useful ability, one of the perks of the whole glowing thing."
He finished adjusting his belts and moved over to where I was standing, offering his hand to shake. I was beginning to grow used to the feeling of being dwarfed by him, as his hand enveloped mine. The handshake was firm but not too much so, even though he could crush my hand if he chose to.
"I'll definitely be seein' ya around, Jamie. I have a feelin' we're gonna get on great." His last words were accompanied by a predatory grin, revealing his sharp teeth. Shivers ran up my spine as he exited the shop, there was something about that man that made me feel...strange.
I cleaned up the shop for the rest of the days work, tattooing barely literate sailors and whores until it was time to go home. Oh well, at least the morning had been eventful.