Sorry that I look like a mess

-

“A lot of people go for the arm first, bicep.” Ingrid motioned to the man’s arm. “You have a good fit, so it would be a compliment for you.” Ingrid then walked back and grabbed a journal. “How about an emblem? It’s simple and has a decent composition that would work for your arm.”

-

Ingrid scoffed at the apology. “Why sorry?” She asked, shrugging her shoulders. “It’s not like you know anything about tattooing.” Her head then tilted, eyes scanning the other’s body before her lips pursed. “I can do it, no joke. Think of this as a consultation.”

“ Uh, maybe we can slip away somewhere a little quieter and talk? “ Harlow spoke with a raise in her voice now to be heard over all of the people who surrounded her. They had so much really to catch up on. That couldn’t really be done in one night but it was a good start. “ I just need to tell him husband. “ Harlow said as she searched the room with her eyes for him. “ That way he doesn’t think I was kidnapped or something. “ Harlow said rolling her eyes as she finally spotted him. @ingriddduh @alexandrawilscn​

        As the initial shock started to wear off, Alexandra relaxed a little and felt her nerves drift away. Having Harlow by her side and seeing Ingrid as rigid as they were was comforting. Now that they were face to face and meeting for the first time, it was time to take steps forward in one way or another.

“Yeah, I like that idea,” Alexandra quickly responded to Harlow’s idea of getting away from the crowd around them. The party was thriving and she knew that it wouldn’t stop if they all weren’t there. The bartender’s eyes froze on an empty space away from the festivities by scanning the area surrounding them. “I just found us a good space to talk. Far away from the loud drinks and close enough that people won’t miss us.” She smiled as her eyes locked back onto her younger sister and new half-sister. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m ready to bond.”

@harlowwilson​ & @ingriddduh​.

-

They seemed nice enough, accepting enough. The feat that they wanted nothing to do with her, thankfully, was subdued. Alex, the oldest of the two sisters, apparently had a place where they could talk in private, which was appreciated. It was so strange. Usually, Ingrid was an incredibly outgoing person, someone who would go up to strangers and start conversation or go too far in jokes. However, this was different. The two women before her were family. Unlike her, they had been raised together, had history. What did she have? Ingrid’s mom hooked up with their dad? That was the only connection. 

Ingrid motioned vaguely, inviting the other two to lead the way toward the quiet that had been spotted. 

“The stage? Oh do I understand that. What did you do on stage?” She asked, sitting up a little more. Excited to meet another person who experienced life on the stage. 

-

“Could also be that this is just all I know,” Ingrid admitted with a shrug of her shoulders. “Why move away from that?” It also didn’t help that New York was no different: too many people and tall buildings, it was all the same to her.

Ingrid caught the other’s interest and sat up straight as well, eager to talk about her ‘second job’. With a twinkle in her eye, Ingrid explained, “I’m in a band. We’re starting up, so we really aren’t known, which sucks. But we’re still awesome.”

        At first, happiness and relief ran through Farah’s body when the other woman similarly responded to her. Her enthusiasm was reassuring and what she had to say caught the counselor off guard. Unexpectedly shocked, all she could do was nod at the other’s words and watch her upcoming actions. Her new ally made the drunk creep fall back and helped get them to somewhere safe in the arcade bar. “Holy shit, thank you so much for all of that,” Farah spoke truthfully to her aide once they settled into their new spot. “Can I please buy you a drink? It’s the least I can do for your generous help.”

-

Ingrid stood up straight with her chin up high. Walking the creep turn away was incredibly satisfying. Way too many men thought they could just do whatever they wanted women, so being able to shut one up... it felt like a gift. 

Her eyes landed back onto the other woman, who seemed quite relieved now that the drunk patron had gone away. Ingrid was close to doing the same until the mention of a drink hit her ears. “Well, I can’t say no to that, I think that’s just illegal,” Ingrid joked with a grin from ear to ear.

- 

A sincere smile snuck onto Ingrid’s lips, which she hid behind her fingers. She shook her head and leaned forward, eyes narrowed as she scanned the man before her. “Nahh, I could tell you’re a softie... but now for the ink, that all depends on what you want, when you want it, how big or small. I’ve had some take like two weeks, just because we both had to agree on what looked good for them.”

-

“Maybe that’s why I’m here,” Ingrid teased with a large grin on her face. She nearly danced her way onto the chair, cup close to her nose as she spoke. “You know they say things happen for a reason, so that could be why.” Her eyes then scanned the mess at the table. It was quite large, and one that would easy be a dining table if need be. 

“I got a caramel mocha, like a total cliché. I just wanted something sweet.” Ingrid’s eyes fell back to her drink and her brow quirked. “Wanna try?”

-

Ingrid leaned forward, her hands wrapped around the cup. “Don’t tempt me, I might order you some,” she continued to tease with her finger now directed to the fellow bar-goers own drink. She really hadn’t expected to get his name, but it was polite enough, and she decided to return the favor. “Ingrid,” she greeted back. She extended her hand formally, smirk formed on her lips as she waited.

-

“Yeah, totally into the whole city smog thing,” Ingrid admitted. It wasn’t fully true, she was just used to the city, she’d always been in a city of some kind. Nature was not something that she was surrounded by constantly. Tall trees were replaced by buildings, birds by sirens and voices. She saw the beauty for she wasn’t blind, it just wasn’t for her to appreciate. 

Ingrid’s eyes fixated on the sky as she thought of the answer to the stranger’s question. She tried to think of something, but everything was vague, all but one thing. “I guess the stage.” Ingrid grimaced but soon smiled. 

Eyes still on the artwork, Eden listened carefully. “Don’t we all?!” she chuckled. Pushing a strand of hair away from her face, she asked “How long would it usually take you to draw one of these? On your own or on order maybe.” she assumed there’d be a different timeframe, considering one was entirely up to her inspiration and the other was somewhat predetermined. “God, you must have really steady hands too…” she mumbled.

-

Ingrid shrugged at the question. It really depended on the reason behind each piece or if she had a certain amount of muse. “I mean... that’s complicated.” She motioned to the piece the other woman was still eyeing. “That one’s taking me a week, I don’t know the hours because I don’t care too much,” she admitted with a tilt of her head. The second comment caused a laugh to erupt from her chest. “Yeah, why? You wanna test that out?”

        A good mix of emotions ran throughout Alexandra’s system ever since she met Ingrid and learned about their shared familial connection. The truth was hard to believe when Harlow confessed about the email chain, but it all made sense once they knew their father was a pathetic screwup. Approaching Pike Place, the bartender was more than ready to learn all about Ingrid, even if the fact that she was going to be spending time with her half-sister still needed time to sink in.

“Hi, Ingrid,” Alexandra greeted Ingrid with a wide smile spread across her features. Even though she barely knew who her father was, she now stood before another who resembled him in one way. They were family and the eldest Wilson child couldn’t have been happier to spend time with the other woman. “Sorry if I kept you waiting. Have you been here long?”

-

Ingrid scuffed her boot against the sidewalk as she waited for Alex to arrive; She just watched as the black front of her rubber sole faded from the repeated abuse. Her fingers then fidgeted with the pleather strap that dangled freely from the left breast pocket of her jacket. There was still the worry that she wouldn’t be liked by the eldest sister, for some sort of reason. Ingrid didn’t know much about their father, and even though it seemed as though the two Wilsons were not close to the man at all, it was new territory, and people were quite protective with those familiar ties. Even if they did suck. 

At the familiar voice, Ingrid tilted her head up, a tense smile on her face right away. “Hey, sup. I wasn’t waiting too long.” Ingrid swung her arms before standing up straight, fixing her posture. “So um... what do you wanna do? Just walk around or like... something else?

The name catching her forgetting about her sister for a moment her head snapped to Ingrid. “ Ingrid? “ What were the happen chance that they would run into each other before the time they had planned. Honestly probably high since they were stuck on a boat. “ No, no don’t leave. “ Harlow said as she grabbed her hand so she couldn’t get away. Yes Harlow was also nervous about meeting up, but she was also family. “ I’m Harlow, and this is my sister Alex who I told you about in the emails. “ She stated rather bluntly because as their father was really irrelevant in their life, she didn’t want Ingrid to feel that way.  @ingriddduh @alexandrawilscn​

        Ingrid. The name Harlow spilled from her lips and shocked Alexandra to her core. She interrupted a first meeting between the two and now she was face-to-face with her half-sister. Watching her little sister grab the other woman’s hand tugged at multiple heartstrings, and just like the other Wilson offspring, she didn’t want her to leave just yet. Still shocked to her heart’s content, the bartender relaxed her features and a small grin spread across her lips.

“Hi, Ingrid,” Alexandra greeted Ingrid before reaching her hand out in her direction. “It’s nice to meet you finally. I’ve heard a lot about you. All good things, of course.” A light chuckle escaped her lips as her eyes flashed between Harlow and their newest family member. “Again, I’m sorry for intruding. I thought I was interrupting a regular conversation, not a first-time family meeting.”

@harlowwilson​ & @ingriddduh​.

-

Oh, so there really was no time to let it all sink in. Ingrid just had to suck it up. She hated the feeling in the pit of her stomach; the feeling of panic and utter fear. There was a mix of excitement deep down, yes, but it was all twisted. 

Ingrid sucked in her lower lip before she reached over and took Alex’s hand. “Hey...” She greeted quietly. “You don’t have to apologize, I mean might as well just getting this all out of the way, right?” Yikes, that probably didn’t come out well. Her eyes squeezed shut and honestly, she would have hit herself at that very moment-- a swift punch to the face. “Um... so... What now?” Yeah, that wasn’t any better.

Ingrid grinned broadly at the compliment. She was in no way modest when it came to her talents seeing how much effort and money was put into her talents and her job. Ingrid’s eyes drifted back to the sketchbook and onto the flash in question: a woman’s portrait, hair in curls and braids. Jewels hung around her neck and in droplets on her earrings. The crown on her head was interrupted by the movement lines of what would be a wolf surrounded by moon phases while the woman was in front of faint lines that would soon be some sort of stain glass imagery. It was almost completed, which excited Ingrid. “I liked the idea of having the face of a pretty lady and it being right next to some angry animal. Makes it seem like she’s got a lot more going on than what she lets on.”