Head First, Fearless (Lucy)

[Aryana Darcy]

So Rya was 18 now, and she had been desperately wishing for a tattoo. She hadn't had the money until now, when her mum gave her some extra spending money for her birthday. She hadn't spent it yet, not knowing exactly what to spend it on. But as she walked into Ink on the Vine, Rya then knew.

She wanted her tattoo.

This did have meaning to it. Fearless. What she wanted to be in life, but how she outwardly acted. There were many things that scared her. Intimacy for one, but also betrayal. This tattoo would forever remind her of her goal, but it would also bring her down to earth when she has went too far off the ground.

The familiar sight that the ink shop provided her with some comfort, and it also brought some familiarity back to the game. Her lips twitched upward into a signature half-smirk, image of the design in hand.

Placement was her only issue in this case. Rya did have a high pain tolerance, however, she didn't want to get anything that was unbelievably painful on her first go. She was a daredevil, but she wasn't an idiot. The brit narrowed it down to her ankle or her wrist, the knowledge that the former hurt less made her lean toward it, but even still, she was indecisive.

She'd find out soon enough, right?

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

It'd been a fair amount of months since Lucy procured herself a job with the older tatted up meta. As much as she was a precise slave driver, she was also a pretty cool chick. As complex (read: frustrating) as it was to have to sit there for hours and listen to her talk about the interconnectivity between artistic skill and tattooing, the Australian had to admit that it all made sense. She got the hang of it quickly.

And it helped that she could literally do no wrong. Ivy never scolded her for using her ability - rather, she encouraged it. So long as she didn't get lazy and rely on it alone.

Swinging around in her chair, Lucy's dark eyes fell on a slightly familiar face. Initially she had to assume the chick was from Hammel, but what person around her age wasn't in Pilot Ridge? They must have shared a class or two from time to time. But her name, whatever it was, was unknown to the ink manipulator.

"'Ey," Lucy started anyway, folding her arms on the counter and leaning forward, "You got an appointment?"

[Aryana Darcy]

"I wouldn't be standing here if I did," The brit commented, turning to the girl who questioned her. Her body was decorated with tattoos, and she recognized a few of them. Those with a myraid of colors across their body always attracted Rya's eye. She was curious about them, and she was envious. Rya wanted that body for her own.

But law stated that anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian's consent to get inked, and well, her mum wouldn't even consider a yes. So she simply waited. Not that she'd ever admit that. If anyone asked, it was because she couldn't decide on a design.

"You're an intern? I recognize you from Hammel."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

"You might be." The Australian replied, her eyebrows raising slightly. It wasn't as if an appointment dictated where a person could stand.

She knew when her tattoos were being looked at. It was usually the first thing people noticed about her. It wasn't as if they were hidden in any capacity. She didn't shift or flinch when her eyes travelled the lines of her artwork. It was normal.

It seemed like the recognition was mutual, and Lucy was a little glad for that. "She doesn't call me that." Lucy pointed out, unfurling her arms and waving her hands back to beckon her over.

Or what she was holding. "Show."

[Aryana Darcy]

"Doesn't matter what she calls you, does it? You're the chick who doesn't get paid to do what you do. You're the intern." Her statement was matter of fact as she stepped forward and handed the paper to the girl. A snicker passed her lips at the way her words were almost like a demand.

"I forgot how hospitable Australians were, really."

There was something about the girl that captured her attention aside from the tattoos. It was the accent. It was the voice in general. She recognized it from somewhere.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

"Who said I don't get paid?" Lucy asked, her lips twisting into an amused grin. It didn't matter regardless, because she got the paper in her hands and pulled it back so she could lean in her chair; "She's the boss lady, Brit. Her word means a shit load more than yours."

She chuckled to herself as her eyes primarily scanned the paper. "Bet I'd love to meet the Aussie's you've been hanging around." She volleyed the sarcasm back, her eyebrow twitching slightly. It had to be drawn in pencil.

"This is uhh-" Momentarily, the ink manipulator stopped her train of thought. Like she recognised it, but the specifics escaped her. So she moved on; "Where d'you want it?"

[Aryana Darcy]

She resisted the urge to smile. This girl knew how to throw it back at her, which she could definitely appreciate. Not everyone could do what this girl was doing without ultimately getting irritated or getting deterred. "Your boss lady can have her say, but nobody's word means more than mine. Sorry to fuck up your reality, dear."

The displeasure that played on the Aussie's face caused Rya's own brow to raise. She had spent a while figuring out which tattoo she did want, and ultimately decided that the fearless rune was the way to go. Drawing it didn't take much time, but it was a bit of an insult to see her face contort in such a way at the drawing. However, she merely brushed it off.

"Not sure, either the ankle or wrist."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

"Do all Brits walk around with poles this far up the ass, or are you just special?" Lucy asked instinctively. She didn't sound aggressive in her response. Rather, she seemed amused by the fact. It was moronic to think a random person would have more swing in a tattoo shop than the tattoo shop's owner, so she barely acknowledged the statement for what it was.

Lucy leaned forward again, placing the sketch beside her and glancing at it briefly before giving the other girl a distinct once over. Never mind how hot she was, that wasn't what she was looking for.

"This your first?" She asked curiously, meeting her eyes again. She couldn't see anything, but Lucy had plenty of tattoos hidden from plain sight.

[Aryana Darcy]

"Oh, I'm just special."

She could feel the girl sizing her up, scanning her body for tattoos. So when the question came from the foul-mouthed Australian, it didn't come as a shock. She didn't feel insignificant, nor did she feel foolish for saying "Yes." It was short and simple, but factual. Everyone started somewhere, anyway.

"I've heard the wrist is more painful than the ankle, but I'd like an opinion." The Brit endured constant wear and tear to her body, but she hadn't done much with needles and such. It'd definitely be a learning experience for her.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

"Hot." The Australian said simply, tying off the conversation with a singular word.

Lucy offered a simple nod. She had nothing against people getting their first tattoos; she was obviously a few years older than Lucy had been when a pair of birds graced her skin below her hips.

"It's not the best choice for a first, nah. But it's completely up to you in the end." Shifting slightly, the ink manipulator offered her left wrist out towards her. Playful banter or no, she figured she could at least offer insight through proof. She ran ha finger form her other hand across either side of her wrist, trailing past the line of the shield; "The closer to the edge, the closer to the bone. That's where it hurts. Across the middle is just... Weird. It's not as even as it would be on your ankle."

Pulling back again, she turned her dark eyes towards the sketch. "Ankle's got a little more substance. The lower you go, the more it's gonna sting, but at least its easier to keep still. The general shape's good enough to look good on either spot."

[Aryana Darcy]

So she was being steered away from the wrist option, as expected. There really wasn't any difference for her as to where it was put. As long as it could be visible, she was alright. The ankle was a bit more hidden to her eye, but really, she could just as easily get another tattoo later on to satisfy that concern.

With another look at the tattoo on the Australian's wrist, Rya nodded. Her decision has been made. Ankle it was.

"Ankle is fine, then. Figure out how it feels, then determine if I would be able to handle it afterward." Rya had a feeling she would. The Brit was a tough girl, no doubt, but she always made sure to know her limits. And since it has never been done, she didn't know those limits.

"So you going to do it?"

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy's eyes lit up with encouragement when she decided on a spot. Bitchy Brit or no, Lucy appreciated the definitive choice she made. "Save the wrist for later, anyway." She replied. She was living proof that the tattoo-bug was indeed a legitimate thing. Once bitten, the desire to get more never really faded.

The girl's question posed an eyebrow raise from the ink manipulator. "Do you want me to?" She asked instead. Some people were strange about her presence - she looked young, but she was backed by the fact that she wore almost impeccable looking ink herself.

"I don't suck, if that's what you're asking." She added anyway, "I can prove that shit to you before you let me have a go."

[Aryana Darcy]

"Yeah," Rya nodded, her mind already deliberating a second tattoo design. Call her a proactive thinker, but there were so many ideas. Now, she probably wouldn't end up like the girl in front of her, though Rya thought she was absolutely gorgeous in the first place. She'd get a few here and there, but then again, nothing was absolutely definite. She could change her mind in a few years.

"I don't know if it's your inviting personality, but I think I trust you." Rya trusted her to do a good job, however, that didn't stop her from wanting proof. The girl still didn't know much about the Aussie, except that she was absolutely sure that she went to Hammel.

"Even still, work your magic and show me before you work me, kay sweets?"

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy's mouth tugged into a grin when she admitted it. So she was thinking of more tattoos! She'd have to keep that in mind, because now she was a little more invested in the situation. And the girl.

She breathed a genuinely amused laugh at the concept of her own inviting personality. "It's charming, I know." She replied with a nod, "I figure it's the accent, yeah?" Lucy added for good measure. She definitely knew there was something attractive about the way this Brit wrapped hers around her words.

The Australian raised an eyebrow at the choice of wording. Well, she did offer to prove herself.

"Normally I wouldn't hesitate to go at myself with a needle, but I can't be fucked cleaning another bloody station for that." She admitted, pursing her lips at the thought. Raising her hands out, she offered her both arms in full, indicating with a nod down that she should look. On the left, the lion's locks began to curl and shift as if blowing in the breeze. His whiskers moved to twitch, to add the slightest of details.

On her right arm, she pressed her fingers lengthways halfway down the blade, literally severing it in two. The pieces separated, trailing across her skin before coming together with proficiency. As if untouched by the ink manipulator at all.

"It's my thing, sweetheart." She said deftly, her dark eyes glancing back up, "Think these hands are magic enough to work a body like yours?"

[Aryana Darcy]

It didn't take much to catch Rya's attention, and when the lion's mane began to sway as if there was a breeze present, the Brit began to stare. Of course, she didn't allow her mouth to gape or anything of the sort. Rya was far too sophisticated for such things, after all.

The manipulator moved to the next arm, severing a sword in half. Rya watched intently as it stitched back together, as if it were like that all along. If only she could have such a useful power. Hydrokinesis is interesting, but manipulating ink like that... That would be amazing.

Reason number two Rya seemed to like this foul-mouthed Aussie.

"Yeah, just one question. Do you have a bedroom here?" She responded, her lips in a smile while a single brow was held up in a suggestive manner.