professional sleezeball.

“Cheap Sunglasses” by ZZ Top

Now go out and get yourself some big black frames With the glass so dark they won’t even know your name And the choice is up to you cause they come in two classes Rhinestone shades or cheap sunglasses

for: anyone .ᐟ.ᐟ

from: xochitl .ᐟ.ᐟ

xochitl had been sitting around swept away studio, waiting around for their next appointment. they'd hoped for a walk in to fill the time, but whilst they waited, she started sketching some new flash in the notebook she kept at work. she was trying to experiment with some traditional pieces, using her leopard gecko sol as inspiration for the drawing. they'd gotten pretty emersed in their design that they almost didn't notice the shop door open.

after the front desk checked them in, they were delighted to see that the walk in was heading toward their chair. they made quick but thorough work of sanitizing her station, their tray decorated with heart shaped ink caps ready for whatever color the individual's request required. after pulling on a fresh pair of nitrile gloves, she greeted them with a half smile, rolling their way in her chair. " 'sup. so, what are we getting today ? " their brow quirked up in curious anticipation.

jude had a rare day off from the shop, and he meant to take advantage of the time. he had spent the morning actually sleeping in, and figured instead of heading straight to the bar upon waking - he would check out the tattoo shop. most of his ink was old - the result of too much whiskey and not enough guidance to save his skin. however, it was the knife on his forearm that he wanted gone, tired of looking at it and remembering who he had been twenty odd years ago. he figured, hey, he'd been in pinehaven long enough - longer than anywhere else he had stayed. might as well commemorate the occasion with some new ink. so he had arrived, checked-in, and was headed back to the artist's chair when they greeted him. a small twitch to the corner of his mouth, nearly a smile, as he rolled his sleeve up to reveal a shoddy blade tattooed down his forearm. "you good with coverups?" he asked, eyes searching their face. "want a pine tree over this old thing."

                    a   gasp   sounded   out   as   cece   walked   into   the   lobby   of   her   salon   .    “   stop   right   there   !   ”   she   insisted   ,   pointing   directly   at   the   person   standing   by   the   front   desk   .   they   were   flipping   through   a   hairstyle   magazine   ,   most   likely   trying   to   decide   ,   but   she   was   certain   they   didn't   need   that   old   thing   .   “   you   .   are   .   divine   ,   ”   she   nodded   ,   rushing   up   to   them   and   framing   (   but   not   touching   )   their   face   with   her   hands   .   “   the   bone   structure   you   have   -   to   die   for   !   you   would   look   so   amazing   with   the   hairstyle   i   have   in   mind   for   you   ,   do   you   trust   me   ?   ”   she   blinked   innocently   .   if   there   was   anything   she   knew   ,   it   was   hair   .   how   to   do   it   ,   but   also   how   to   make   people   feel   like   a   million   dollars   simply   by   changing   it   up   .   “   come   ,   come   .   sit   in   my   chair   ,   i   have   already   decided   you're   my   latest   muse   ,   darling   .   ”

jude was tired of looking at the mop of hair he tried to tame every morning. it had been entirely too long since he had last given himself a cut - but he figured he would turn himself over to the professionals for once. this was a big step for him - salons were most certainly a place he had been avoiding for his fifty-odd years on earth. however, his hair was beyond him at this point. it was time, so here he was, flipping through the pages of a men's style magazine, hoping to spark some inspiration when he heard a gasp, and suddenly, (too suddenly), there was a small woman approaching him. he nearly balked when she reached up for his face, but he was never one to turn down a compliment, especially from a pretty woman. he threw on his best sheepish grin. "divine? never heard that one before." a laugh that sounded more like a bark. "honey, i got no-one else to trust, so my life is in your hands. you got any bright ideas to tame this mop of mine?"

location: mcnasty's pub

jude was more at home within the walls of mcnasty's pub than he was in his run-down apartment. he was a regular barfly, taking up residence in his usual seat at the bar, a glass of whiskey gripped in his right hand; a glass he had been nursing for the past half hour. pulled out of his thoughts by a question beside him, jude tuned back into reality and offered a small chuckle. "first time?" he asked, with a knowing tilt to his head and a smirk twisting his lips. "i don't think everyone comes here for fun, perhaps just to escape the monotonous merry-go-round of life for a few hours. have a drink or two and everything else fades into the background." he lifted his whiskey glass in a gesture of cheers.