✈　❛ tattoo parlor

@❛ jungkook jeon。 To be fair, she did not exactly seem like the type of girl who would voluntarily make her way into a tattoo parlor. She radiated of innocence, brightness, and to older adults of a different generation, cleanliness. The traditional perspective on a tattoo shop, let alone a tattoo itself, was the assumption that it meant dirtiness. Dirty place, dirty person. A clean canvas versus marked skin, something that should not be done on an otherwise perfected complexion. But Soojin was never open to accept these remarks of criticism, instead embracing the idea that people can indeed do whatever they want. And frankly, she adored the tattoos that adorned his arms, firmly believing that pieces of artwork fit him so well in appearance and personality. So to say that she was excited to see more of his work is quite a bit of an understatement, as indicated by the delight upon a toothy grin. She only had time to meekly wave to his coworkers before he pulled her along into what she assumed was his workstation. “Wooooow...” She exclaims in genuine awe as she releases her hold on his hand so that she could closely and properly examine the art on his wall. “They’re so...cool! So pretty.”

@❛ soojin seo。 "Really?" Jungkook's head almost shoots up. No one has ever said that about his occupation or workplace before. Most of the time, people had harbored judgement and criticism, and although his heart had hardened against such statements, it was unfamiliar with sentiments such as this one. In that moment he feels a bit lighter, more refreshed, and seeing Soojin under the shoddy lighting of the streets, he thinks she looks so beautiful. He takes her hand, tighter than he usually does, and guides her in through the push door, the bell indicative of their entrance into the building. "Hey guys. I'm not due in shop for a bit but this is Soojin. We're just stopping by so I can show her around." And before they can retort, he tugs her into his space, where there are papers upon papers neatly pinned to cork framed on the wall. Suddenly he feels a bit self-conscious, a bit nervous because he's never revealed so much of his art to her at once.

@❛ jungkook jeon。 “Run down...” She repeats in a whisper, umber irises glazing over the small building, somehow failing to take note of the appearance of its almost-decrepit walls in comparison to the more pristine presentation of the neighboring buildings. It was not exactly the newest in structure, but it certainly was eye catching. “I don’t see what’s wrong with it.” She replies innocently, turning to meet his eyes with knitted brows. “Yes, please.”

@❛ soojin seo。 He holds his hand out to her, a bit nervous about bringing her inside because this meant that his coworkers would get to make fun of his weird, jumpy self around her. Nevertheless he's glad that she seems happy about the destination, and although most would think it odd for a guy to bring his date to work, the look on her face is enough for his inhibitions to wash away. "It looks a bit.. Run down, but the people inside are great to work with. Wanna head in?"

@❛ jungkook jeon。 To say that she was quite surprised that the destination of their date was the tattoo parlor is quite a bit of an understatement; not because she held expectations for where he would have taken her, but because she ultimately would not have guessed for this to be the place. Nonetheless, the smile curled upon her tiers is beaming with pure excitement, gaze fixated upon the establishment. “I finally get to see where you work. Exciting!”

@❛ soojin seo。 The ride to the parlor was a fairly smooth one, quick and easy as the parlor wasn't far off from the complex. Although quite dingy and not aesthetically pleasing to the eye, the parlor held deep meaning in his heart and Jungkook found it difficult to part from the place. He opens the door to his car, waiting for Soojin to hop out of it as his eyes train on her figure within the cabin. "I brought you to work. Well, not cause I'm on a shift. Just cause, I wanted to show you around."

@❛ baekhyun byun。 Never did Jungkook think he was going to be making a living off of permanently marring someone else’s skin. He always thought that he’d be something much more.. boring, to be honest. From a young age his imagination ran wild, which was why his blank papers were morphed into colorful canvases, with hues of the entire spectrum of shades. Perhaps this was the reason why that Jungkook finds himself immersed in the gruesome hours of the night, back hunched over and machinery in hand, ink blotched over gloves and paper towels as he toiled away to proliferate the idea that body art is a natural form of expression. It had been his passion once he entered high school and although it had always been a dream of his, things never quite came to fruition until he had entered the last year of high school. Jungkook remembers with a smile, the day he came home with an aching arm. His parents hadn’t been particularly pleased with the new addition to his body, but the satisfaction that settled deep in his chest was so incredibly pleasing, that in his senior year of college he had practically inked his entire arm. There were more scattered here and there, and each one held special meaning. Tattooing became more than just a hobby to him, it became a way for him to express his artistic liberty in ways he’d never thought possible.

Admittedly, the place he worked in now wasn’t so luxurious. But it was the first place that hired him straight out of training, and it would always hold a special place in his heart. The quiet jingle of the front door opening has Jungkook raising his head curiously. There weren’t supposed to be many clients today, but he finds a fairly normal, decent looking man with eyes indicative of what seemed like fear induced by unfamiliarity. He approaches, hand held out towards Baekhyun. “Jeon Jungkook. What can I do for you today?”

@❛ jungkook jeon。 Baekhyun had seen a lot of scary things in his life; in his short life of twenty-three, he had witnessed both his parents' deaths, been in numerous car accidents, and even cut up dead bodies as his job, for god's sake. But in this moment, standing outside the tattoo parlor, he felt as though he had never seen anything so eerily terrifying. Now, the parlor itself was not scary but the mere thought of permanently marking his skin, somehow did. He had never been the type to admire tattoos, finding them unusual and ultimately grotesque once the skin aged. He knew that many tattoos embodied important ideas and memories to others, and at first they may seem beautiful to many, but being a medical student Baekhyun worried about how the skin would grow weaker as people aged. The idea of body art/modification never appealed to him, and in his entire life he had never had the desire to have a tattoo of his own. But strangely, lately he had found himself taking interest in body art; and here he was, standing outside with an appointment for a tattoo. This father must be rolling around in his grave right now. With that thought emitting a soft chuckle from him, he finally made his way inside the small shop.

He didn't know what do expect before walking in. A dark, grimy sweatshop with chains hanging from the ceiling? Frightening employees with grueling expressions? Perhaps those were the exaggerated visions that Baekhyun's overactive mind had drawn. Instead, he found himself in a small but well-kept shop, seemingly empty save for a few people. He announced his appearance after a stiff clearing of his throat. "I have an appointment," he informed. "My name is Baekhyun Byun."