Not so much AU facts this time other than I really just wanted to write this scene out. Sorry if it gets muddy near the end. All editing and writing tips appreciated!
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âSunflowers?â Marius question didnât stop Mael from working on settling the new setup. The last batch of flowers had long since passed and he refused to let the brown foliage damage his businessâ good name.
âYes, theyâre a wonderful summer flower,â Mael adjusted the stems one more time and encouraged the flora to settle in their new home. âIt will add a little brightness to the place. Though i suppose I should have placed them near these terribly dark walls on either side of us.â
âRed is a wonderful color,â the tattoo artist mused while watching the final adjustments made to the greenery. âAnd this crimson makes a nice intimate atmosphere. Great for getting to know your customers.â Whether he meant the tone of the statement to sound how it did, the short laugh from the florist was a welcome sound. Work now complete, Mael stepped back and eyed the bouquet again.
The yellow sunflowers did stand out, nestled in the large leaves of variegated Pittosporum and housed in the vase that has seen better days. Note to self: He would replace this cursed object one day. Â For now, Mael felt it was a welcome change in this den of bright color images and metallic surfaces.
âIt must be a summer flower,â Marius voice cut through the other manâs thoughts but didnât stop there, âlately, Iâve done more than my share of them on men and womenâs thighs.â Blue eyes looked over to catch the light bit of color spreading on Maelâs face. Someoneâs imagination was getting the better of them. Oh this could be fun.
âYou know, I could do the same for you,â Marius stated and watched Mael roll his eyes while thumbing through a samples book. âWeâre slow at the moment. I could pencil you in a consultation during your lunch/restock the vase/harass my store hour.â Â A short, mocking chuckle is heard.
âPfft. Honestly. A âconsultationâ. Thatâs all I need?ââ
âJust to get the general idea. Concept, colors, size, locationâŚâ the last word trailed a bit with emphasis. Mael didnât need to turn around to know that Marius was watching him. And heaven only knows what that line entailed though the florist could only imagine..and there was no shame in imagining. Another short chuckle escaped him as he turned to look at some stock images mounted on the walls themself.
âOh is that all? Doesnât seem so complex,â Mael muttered while trying to remain disinterested. It was harder to do than he realized.
âIt isnât. After that itâs pretty simple, you just drop trou and let me mark that virgin flesh of yours.â The level of shock in the Maelâs step when turning again almost had him headfirst into the counter. Marius bit his tongue as his neighbor tried to retain his dignity in this situation. Mael audibly cussed under his breath. The words really meant nothing but damn that artist!
âAnd what makes you think Iâd want ink on my asâlegs??â Mael snaps back, the red in his cheeks betraying the quiet aggravation in his voice now. Â It took all of Mariusâ willpower to not laugh aloud at the tone coming from the floristâs mouth.
âReally, Mael, are you trying to make me beg?â Marius hummed the question with quiet satisfaction. It was fun to get under the other manâs skin. Mael turned away, refusing to look back over as he knew that lazy smirk was still there. Damn that -irresistible- irritating expression.
âCâmon there has to be something that youâve thought of at least once,â Marius said, trying to maintain conversation. Mael stopped his mindless pacing for a moment. At first, Marius was certain the florist was just preparing to drop the topic before returning to the building next door when he noticed a shift in demeanor.
ââŚI meanâŚI suppose I hadâŚonce or twice.â  Blue eyes widened in shock. DidâŚdid he hear that correctly? Did perfectly unmarked flower boy just admit to considering getting a tattoo.
âYouâre messing with me,â Marius states and continued to stare at the other man, waiting for a punch line of some sort. Mael shook his head.
âNo. Iâm not,â he shrugged in slight defeat of admitting this fact. âTo be honest, Iâve thought of getting one, possibly on my arms or shoulders, years before meeting you. I suppose you have dug the thought further into my head though.â
âI..wellâŚgreat!â the excitement in Mariusâ voice was a bit hard to hide but who cared! Hand upon sketchbook that he kept under the desk,the artist continued business as usual.
âIf you want, we could actually get you into an appointment this week, if only to discuss design ideas. Like I said, sunflowers are pretty popular but Iâm sure we can get you something ori-â
âSunflowers?â Marius froze at the question asked.
âWell, yeah. They started this talk. I assumed that was your favorite flower.â  It was then the artist realized his mistake. ââŚtheyâre not?â
âNo. Never.â Mael pushed back a stray golden hair that made their way out of his braid. A slight distraction as he gathered his thoughts. âI mean, they are beautiful and they do add character to a room but they are not my favorite. That would beâŚâ Mael stopped.
âThat would beâŚâ Marius rolled his hand with pencil still in hand, a bit irritated in waiting to make this design, âyou need to finish the statement, Mael, or this doesnât work.â
âOh I think it doesâ This. This is perfect. And a good bit of possible revenge for earlier.  âI have a proposition on top of your tattoo propositionâŚ.a wager actually.â
âI am curious and concerned. What is this wager?â
âI will let you tattoo me-â Marius braced himself for what could possibly be the dumbest task imaginable, âIF you can guess my favorite flowering plant.â âŚ.what?
âThatâs it?â The artist laughed. âGuess your favorite flower? And you get your first tattoo? From here? By me?â
âI choose location and size but, yeah, all the other details are correct.â Mael didnât flinch or feel any worry. The idea that Marius would get this on the first try would be short of amazing.
âThis canât be too hard,â said artist grinned and took a second to think. âLetâs see: Rose.â
âNo.â There was a bit of silence between them. Okay, maybe that was too easy a choice and Marius tried for a slightly more obscure option.
âFine then, petunia.â
Mael shook his head at the statement, âno.â
âTulip. Carnation. Lily?â
âNo. No. And that last one is you.â
âDammit,â Marius huffed. This wasnât going at all the way he planned, âOkay, daisy?â
âWhat is going on here?â Santino interrupted as he stepped behind the desk, lunch bag still in hand.
âIâm trying to guess Maelâs favorite flower. Is it daisy?â
âItâs flowering plant and no, itâs not daisy,â Mael corrected the statement before shaking his head again.
âDammit again.â Â Marius took a moment now to mull over his next guess. Santino looked to one then another then the first person again before finally deciding that neither was going to speak up.
ââŚOkay, but why are you doing this?â the younger man looked confused still.
âI get it, I get to ink him,â Marius swiftly answered before looking back to Mael. âIs it carnation?â
âWait, really?â Santino asked. Surely flower boy wasnât the type to wager his flesh?
âYes, I agreed to this,â Mael stated, a perfect example of a shit eating grin upon his face, then faced Marius. âand, no, it is not.â Â This was exciting! Santino started to open his purchased meal and pointed to Mael.
âCan I get in on this?â he asked as Marius rolled his eyes.
âNo, itâs between u-â
âSure,â Mael cut the artist off. Santino looked ecstatic while Marius was completely stunned.
âYes!â
âNO.â
âIs it Mums? Mums are flowers right?â Tino quickly asked as he slid over and worked to push his boss away.
âThey are and no it isnât,â Mael stepped back from the desk as minor struggle was starting between the two with Santino fighting to stand up front.
âStop it, Tino!â Marius snapped at his employee to no avail. Santino simply laughed.
âMake me, MarMar! Is it a rose?â
âThat was already guessed,â Mael bit back another laugh. He hadnât expected this reaction in sharing this little wager from his neighboring business owner but after all the teasing, he had a hard time feeling any remorse for Marius. âHonestly, Iâm beginning to think this might be too easy.â
âToo easy, Mael?â Marius was now becoming more irritated as a shoving Santino still urged him to move. Dammit, how was this shrimp so strong? âThere are only so many options and yet I still havenât gotten it. What, geranium??â
âHeavens no. But at this rate you might get lucky too soon,â Mael took a moment to think. âEspecially with two against one. Have to make this a bit more challenging.â
âOOH. Letâs limit it to one guess each time we see ya here!â Santino cheered while elbowing back into his boss. Â A sharp wheeze heard was the insurance that his mark was made.
âGenius,â Mael snickered.
âOh fucking hell, Tino!â Marius gasped out.
Santino threw his arms up in dramatic fashion. âBetting game: hard mode! Also youâve had 1,000 guesses already so-by the way, is it iris?â
âNo, that was guessed too.â Mael stepped further away as the argument seemed to be escalating.  Whether or not it was a conversation about guessing or simply how they treat each other was hard to tell as both were starting to yell at each other in Italian.  The joys of another language. He took this moment to make his swift escape back to his building.  âIâŚIâll leave you to this then. Good luck.â
ââââ
Fyi, I do know what Maelâs favorite flower is in this AU. Iâm going to eventually forgive him for it not being sunflowers. >:c
Scene you donât see: BJ screaming from other side of counter at both Marius and Santino to stop shaking the fucking thing! Some people are trying to set up appointments over the phone! (BJ we donât use that fucking language over the phone!) Itâs on MUTE. *singsong* Welcome to Atramentum Tattoo Parlor!













