Stacked with: Shipping Wars; Summer Bingo; StL; ER; FPC; BAON; Star; SF
Individual Challenges: In a Flash; The 3rd Rule; Gryffindor MC; Ravenclaw MC; Slytherin MC; Red Moon Quindrabble; Witches Coven 2; Flags and Ribbons (Y); Inks; Times to Come; Shipmas; Themes and Things B—Jealousy (Y); Themes and Things C—Bandage (Y)
Representations: Luna Lovegood/Ginny Weasley; Draco Malfoy; TattooShop!AU; Size Matters
Bonus Challenges: Clio's Conclusion; A Long Dog; Larger than Life; Unicorn; Second Verse (Bechdel Test; Not a Lamp; White Dress; Nontraditional; Unwanted Advice); Chorus (Endless Wonder; Odd Feathers)
Tertiary Bonus Challenges: Satisfaction (FR); Terse (T3); Thimble (T3); Yarrow (LiCK); Narcissus (LiCK); Poppy (LiCK)
Word Count: 970
Shipping Wars: Ship (Team): Luna Lovegood x Ginny Weasley (Dreamy Redhead); List (Prompt): Summer Micro 1 (Vengeance)
Summer Bingo: Space Address (Prompt): 4C (Growth)
Warnings: Extensive discussion of needles and other tattoo paraphernalia; actual depiction of tattooing process
Author's Note: Luna probably seems a little out of character, but I can't forget that Draco was one of the people keeping her captive in that cellar. Though she doesn't pursue straight out vengeance when given the opportunity (I mean, she's armed with a needle and he can't see what's happening—I wouldn't be that nice), I figure even her graciousness has its limits.
Ginny heard the incessant knocking the moment her feet hit the fireplace grate. She hustled out of the Floo to unlock the front door and found herself face to face with Draco Malfoy.
"Weasley, your posted hours say that this… establishment should have been open three minutes ago," he sneered, pushing past her into the lobby.
She quickly stepped in front of him, although she hardly felt ready to go toe-to-toe with the man before she'd had her morning tea. "Good morning to you too, Malfoy. How can I help you today?" she asked in a saccharine tone.
"I want a tattoo, obviously."
"Then you've come to the right place, obviously."
"Let's get on with it, then!"
"I don't do tattoos."
"What do you mean you don't do tattoos? Is this not a damn tattoo parlor?"
"It is, but I don't do tattoos, numbskull."
"Then what in Merlin's name are you doing here?" he growled while scrubbing a hand down his face. "And you may own the place, but here's a little tip—it's not very good business to insult your customers."
"I only insulted you because you deserved it," Ginny shot back. "And I don't do the tattoos, Luna does. Trust me, I'm only good with piercing needles. I can show you if you'd like."
Malfoy flinched. "And when, pray tell, does Luna plan on arriving?" he asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Ginny put a fist on her hip. "She'll be here whenever she damn well—" The Floo chime echoed through the empty shop. "Lucky for you, she's just arrived. I hope she's more willing to put up with your nonsense than I am, Malfoy."
She cleared her throat and called, "Lu, you've got a customer!"
Luna quickly entered and raised her eyebrows at the scene in front of her.
"Babe, Malfoy here says he'd like a tattoo. Do you have any openings?" Though it would be the perfect opportunity for vengeance, Ginny knew Luna would never take advantage of it. She hoped she would say no, just to spite the ferret-faced jerk.
Luna made a show of glancing at the clock. "I suppose I have a bit of time. Follow me." She turned on her heel, not waiting to see if Malfoy would join her.
The two blonds disappeared behind the beaded curtain, and Ginny opened the shop and started drafting some promotional materials. Half an hour later, the pair emerged from the consultation area. Draco looked rather pleased with himself, and Luna rolled her eyes behind his back before directing him back to the chair.
"This is going to take a few hours," she told Ginny.
"Need any help?"
"No, we'll be fine. Besides, I don't know that I trust you and Draco together in the same room. Too much potential for property damage."
Ginny's face flamed. "There's—we don't—I—I can control myself if he does!"
"Uh-huh, I'm sure you can. All the same, you're better off out front," Luna said before she kissed her cheek and flounced back to the work area.
Ginny tried to focus on the advertisement she was drawing up for the Quibbler and the Prophet, but she couldn't ignore the pained sounds echoing through the shop.
...
"Ow. Ow. Ouch, woman! Cut it out!"
…
"Sssssss—was that really necessary?"
…
"How can you sit in silence this long? I'm going mad here!"
"Easy. I need to concentrate."
"But do you really need complete silence? Surely we could chat a bit or I could—"
"Unless you want a fat lizard instead of a dragon, hush."
…
Finally, Malfoy sauntered back into the lobby, his chest puffed out to show off his new, freshly bandaged tattoo.
Ginny's eyes grew wide. "Is that...?"
"Why yes, it is a Hungarian Horntail. Draco is Latin for dragon, you know," he drawled.
"So you decided to get a tattoo that looks exactly like Harry's?"
"It's not exactly like his!" Draco thrust his nose in the air and sniffed haughtily. "Mine is bigger."
Ginny tried her best to stifle a laugh.
"Apparently everyone at the Ministry was oohing and ahhing over the one I did for Harry a few days ago, and Draco here decided that he wanted to one up him," Luna explained, fighting to keep a straight face.
"Did not!" Malfoy protested. "I just—"
"I don't seem to remember Harry crying about his," Ginny said through her barely-suppressed laughter.
Luna choked out, "Oh, Draco didn't cry. He just threatened to murder me under his breath every few minutes."
As the two women fought to compose themselves, Malfoy angrily dumped a pile of Galleons on the counter. "There, paid in full! I swear I'm never coming back to this place. I'm going to tell everyone what a terrible experience I had, and that the management is horrendous, and my father will…"
Malfoy kept up his rant all the way out of the shop, and, when the door slammed shut, Luna and Ginny finally allowed themselves to collapse in hysterical laughter.
"How much did you charge him?" Ginny finally asked, wiping the tears from beneath her eyes.
Luna chuckled through her hiccups. "Sixty Galleons."
"That's my girl," Ginny said. "Do you reckon he had the good grace to leave you a tip?"
"The odds aren't good."
"And what are the odds he comes back for a follow-up appointment?"
Luna snorted and started laughing again. "Even worse."
As they were getting ready to close up shop that night, Harry burst through the door of the shop panting.
Luna shot him an exasperated look and then cocked an eyebrow at him. "Let me guess, you want me to touch yours up and make it bigger than Draco's?"
Harry nodded, looking at least a little abashed.
Luna sighed and motioned him back toward the chair. "Come on, I've already got it drawn up."