October 11th, 2016 at 06:00am
Saturdays were the shops busiest days. From open to close, XIX Tattoo was crowded with all different walks of life. Eighteen year old's who were getting their first tattoo,older woman who want to spice up their life, regulars who need touch ups and people just looking for a good artist to ink their skin forever. As Corey, the last artist to arrive, pushed open the shop door, he noted the welcoming ding that announced someone had entered. It smelled like antiseptic, and cigarettes.Not his favorite scent in the world, but he was used to it. He pushed passed the throng of people waiting for an artist, waiving at Jessica the receptionist.
The humming of tattoo guns nearly drowned out the mellow music that was playing through the speakers. A hypnotizing sound, a constant buzzing that stuck to the back of his head, and resonated with him well after he closed up shop and went home. Corey made his way to the back of the shop to his little hole in the wall, work space and turned the over head light on, it buzzed and flickered before brightening. He took a glance around at his wall of art.
The wall was covered in outlines, and drawings,stickers he had collected over the years, and various collectibles and artifacts. He threw his black bag in one corner and slid into the office chair. He had about an hour before his appointment showed up. It was an older man who needed a touch up on a section of his arm piece. Nothing to difficult. He enjoyed touch ups, but he loved the thrill of having to create something on the spot. He tried not to use the computer to much and preferred to free draw for his clients. It was busy enough out in the lobby that he was sure he'd have more than a handful of surprises.
Corey had seen things, things he hadn't wanted to. He had tattooed every portion of the human body. He considered himself experienced. He was great with black and white, but preferred bright bold color. He always found script interesting but loved the difficulty of a portrait piece.
Corey wiped down his work space with antiseptic cleaner, and placed new plastic wrap on his bench and laid out his still covered tools.When he was satisfied with the way everything was set he ventured out into the lobby, maybe he could get a small tattoo done for someone before his appointment arrived. Walking to the front, he peaked into his coworkers nooks. He saw one man taking a rib tattoo like a champ, one woman cringed at a wrist tattoo and another tearing up at a foot tattoo. Everyone was different, Corey had learned quickly. What was pain for one, could give another an orgasm. He had seen it all.
"Hey Jess, got anything small. I have about an hour before Chris gets here for his touch up." He leaned over the thin woman, she was dark hared and covered from head to toe with ink. She had her ears stretched, and wore layers of make up. He was unsure why, she was a pretty girl, she'd look just fine without it. Corey took a moment to look around at those waiting. He stood up straight and stretched his arms. He was in for a busy night.
