⤿ the mall

@✶ kim youngdae *when you take hold of my hand with your other one, I look up at you and wonder if my little short-lived dilemma was that obvious or that simply a year of being together make you read me so easily. Regardless, I smile and wrap my hand around your arm, my fingers resting on your bicep with how close Im keeping myself to you. While you are paying, my fingertips are caressing your bicep mindlessly, feeling strangely proud to be recognised as belonging to someone in public, when Im so used to having others belonging to me instead and that no one owns me. When you turn to look at me, my lips full apart but Im late to form words, speechless for the moment*
...dont- now you gonna make it hard to surpass that the next times I take you out- *is all I could say out jokingly, concealing back the overwhelming feelings I have for you and how grateful I am to have you in my life*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /standing up after you and about to leave the room, I noticed your movement yet feeling no contact, to which I took it as you not wanting to get your hand dirty with the cooling gel the artist applied on my left hand. Reaching my right hand over to yours, I wordlessly take your hand to sling it around my left arm, no longer concerned about concealing our status after the kiss. Walking towards the cashier, I whip out my phone to make payment. Once the payment has been made, I nodded at the tattoo artist to thank them for their work before turning back to look at my inked finger and then up at you, lifting a smile before expressing my gratitude to you.
This has got to be one of the best dates and best gift I've ever have. Thank you, red.

@✶ kim youngdae *when the artist speaks again, I halt the kiss and my hand slowly lower from your nape, looking between your eyes momentarily before I look at him and smile unapologetically, nodding eventually. I stand up after listening to the tattoo care tips and leave the room with you, about to hold onto your hand but realize we both inked our left hands and I cant hold your hand just yet, afraid to hurt you*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /feeling your hand on my nape, I was about to take a seat on your lap to save my aching back when I heard the tattoo artist speaking. Opening my eyes as if to register the environment, I turned towards the voice and ask them to repeat.
“I have another appointment soon and need to clear up, so do leave soon.”
/the tattoo artist tries to usher us out as soon as possible before he reminds us how to take care of our newly inked skin and giving us some products to do so.

@✶ kim youngdae *when you give in into hugging my neck and get lost in the kiss, I hide a mischievous smile into the kiss that I got you to kiss me this openly and passionately in public, be it my little scheme and seduction. I lift my ink-free hand to curl into your shirt collar and higher up to feel your nape as I kiss you back languidly and a sense of possessive ownership*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /feeling you pulling me closer, I smiled before fluttering my eyes close for the kiss. Capturing your soft tiers, I slowly moulded my lips against yours, savouring the moment and the place that we imprinted our initials on our body part. Wrapping my arms around your shoulders, I tilted my head to deepen our kiss.

@✶ kim youngdae O h.. *voices when I see the artist is done and I can move my hand. I bring my hand closer to me and I check the design, a smile plastered on my face and I turn to look at yours and see how matching that is. Flickering my sparkling gaze up to your face and instead of thanking the artist right away, I pull you back in for another kiss*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /noticing that the machine is off, indicating that the work is done, I leaned back to peek at your new tattoo before looking towards you to see your expression of the work on your finger.

@✶ kim youngdae Mhmmh~ *hums in content as our lips mould together so perfectly, I take my time in on the brim between my own and tug on it, shifting my head to capture the other tier but before I could thoroughly enjoy it, the tattoo artist clear their voice, I blink and halt the kiss, reluctantly pulling aways from you and turning my head to the other side to peek at the artist and see if he is done already or why did he disturb us*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ Mmpf-
/surprised by your bold initiation in the public setting, I felt our lips pressing more firmly together, to which my hands flew to your shoulders to stabilise my position. Following your increasingly passionate pace, my eyes fluttered shut as I tilted my head to the opposite direction to deepen the kiss and get lost in the moment, moulding against your tiers greedily. Just when I’m about to bring my arms around your neck, I heard the tattoo artist clearing their voice in an obvious manner, as if to try and get our attention.

@✶ kim youngdae *glances around your face to see your reaction and note how you are also looking at the artist and seem to be considering it. When you mumble that and lean close, I cant help the grin that appeared on my face, I tilt my head and crane my neck while making sure my hand doesn't move. Fluttering my eyes shut, I kiss you back gently, heart fluttering at the initial gentle contact before my free hand comes to grab your nape and and press your face more to mine as I kiss you slowly but with increased passion*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /looking between your eyes that seemed to be twinkling with an idea before shifting my eyes down to see what you’re mouthing out, I glanced towards the tattoo artist, considering if I want to go bold and potentially mess up your tattoo or not. It is a rare opportunity that you’d initiate in such a public setting, adding on to how cute you look right now.
Don’t move.
/I mumbled before my fingers reach out to cup your chin, leaning in soon after to claim your soft lips as gently as possible, so that I won’t shock you and potentially make you move.

@✶ kim youngdae Fiftee-! *devastated its only half the time, I groan before an idea cross my mind and I glance at your eyes then down to your lips, wondering if you'd play along with me. Knowing damn well its very new for me, for us, but since we are out publicly (to others) as couple for once the artist shouldnt care much*
Hmmm....I wonder what to do to kill time and distract me..*purses my lips feigning deep thought before I peek up at you through my lashes and mouths at you soundlessly*
'Kiss me'

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /hearing your gritted words and seeing your eyes squeezing shut, I could only encourage you as I continue thumbing your knuckles, although finding you extremely cute in this situation.
You’re doing great.
/when you opened your eyes and mouthed if it’s over soon, I glanced over at the works, seeing that we’re only halfway there.
Deep breaths. 15 more minutes.

@✶ kim youngdae That still has nerve endings! *protests immediately through my gritted teeth to tolerate the strange and new sensation of the blade through my skin, speaking as if I truly have those exactly like an actual human. Opting to taking deep breaths instead of straining my jaws, I open my eyes after awhile to peek at you while the artist is working*
Is it over soon? *mouths for you to see how longer I gotta be tense and cautious for*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ It’s just the tip of the skin. It’s barely a prick.
/tries to assure you using facts before hearing the tattoo artist, to which I request for the procedure to be more gentle. Watching you whipping your head away and closing your eyes tightly, I gave a soft chuckle when I feel your hand squeezing onto mine. Thumbing your knuckles gently, I looked between the process and your adorable expression.

@✶ kim youngdae *settles on the chair, my eyes following the tattoo artist as he prepare the equipment briefly before I focus on you again when you take my head. Unable to find that believable, I frown as I look between your eyes*
Its literally a needle or micro blade going through your skin, how's that not painful? I cannot comprehend-
"Ready?" *jerks my head toward the artist, I gulp and with a glance your way I nod at him and hand him my left hand to transfer the design on and start engraving it. Looking away just when the machine came close to my finger, I shut my eyes tightly when I felt the first feeling burning and sharp, squeezing onto your hand*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /chuckles at your former words before getting off the chair and guiding you to sit. As the tattoo artist goes off to prepare the equipments again, I took hold of your hand, returning with an “it’s okay” smile before leaning in to lightly peck your forehead.
Don’t worry, it’s not painful but I will hold onto your hand throughout.

@✶ kim youngdae D u h?? *goes over the board confirming and fight back a snicker as I tug you close by my forearm you are holding*
Now everyone shall know you are taken. But Im single pringle~ *grins cheekily and mischievously but when you ask for my order and call me master, I cant help but chuckle but settle with a genuine and rather anxious smile*
Hold my hand while Im getting tattooed?

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /watching you flip my hand to look at the tattoo from different angles, I gave a soft laugh at how excited you look before hearing your subsequent words. Wanting to feign a reaction but that action was taken by the tattoo artist himself, I decided to go along with you.
B-branded? Is this modern day slavery?
/placing my free hand on your forearm before tilting my head up towards you, using a sickly sweet tone to amp up the act.
What’s your first order then, master?

@✶ kim youngdae *follows you and the artist to the chair of tattooing, I stay by the chair, close enough to observe the intricate work but not enough to bother the artist, gaze flickering now and then between your face and the needle piercing your skin, wincing for you instead as I feel my legs going rather wobbly at the imagination of what you could be feeling. Though, seeing you solid I wonder if its truly that tolerable. When you are done and show me the finished product, I perk up excitedly and admire your hand flipping it right and left to see how the tattoo shows and flashes*
Perfect. Now that you are branded we can go. *playfully maintains a serious face as if scamming you into getting the tattoo yourself only and I slip soundly from it which make the tattoo artist himself surprised and confused*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /letting you hold onto my hand, my eyes roamed around your expression of excitement. when you volunteered me to be the first, I chuckled again with a nod.
Okay, I'll be the first.
/nodding again to signal to the staff, I got up to the seat where they do the tattooing. As the tattoo artist prepared the equipment, I looked over at you, wondering if I should scare you in the process. It was not long before the artist started doing the job, with a steady grip, I felt the work being done on my ring finger. Perhaps it's the dopamine and adrenaline at the thought of being permanently branded with our names that I don't feel the pain and within half an hour, the artist applied a cooling gel and told me how to take care of the tattoo. Looking at the red ink on my ring finger, I smiled before holding it up and showing it to you.
This is the final product.

@✶ kim youngdae *retracts my hand from the design and watch the staff write it again and watch intently how he transfers it onto your finger, reaching my hand to hold yours and look the design up close, I nod with poorly concealed excitement*
Looks really beautiful. Great lets start with you! *throws you under the bus to go first since I never had a tattoo and would like to see someone getting tattooed in front of me first*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /surprised that we picked the same design, I chuckled aloud as well before telling the tattoo artist that this is the design we wanted. With a nod, the artist rewrite the initials with the font we want and transfer it onto our ring fingers for confirmation before the actual tattooing. Looking at the placement and size of the design, I nodded before showing the design on the side of my finger to you.
Is this okay? Subtle yet at the same time, not
/I smile at you before dropping my gaze back onto the finger of mine to admire the pre-ink.

@✶ kim youngdae *looks at the examples carefully, mentally excluding some at the first glance because didnt appeal to me and I find me gravitating toward the YDZT more and I wonder why as Im always obsessed of being the first and how my name gotta preceed any couple or ship name. Eventually I point at one with red ink and clear initials, I look at you when we seem to be picking the same design which make me burst out laughing*
I guess we agree.

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /as our request seemed quite simple, within minutes, the staff provided us with our initials in various fonts. looking at the examples, I was searching for something easy to read and tell our initials.
What do you think of this one?
/I pointed at a minimalist font from the paper as I asked for your opinion.

@✶ kim youngdae *just when I see your awkwardness do I realize that and I look over at the artist to see him keeping a straight face. Professional. I thought to myself then I find your suggestion to be even better, to have /both/ of our initials on instead of one another only*
That sounds good! *turns to the artists to see what he'd draw and suggest for us on the papers*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /raising my brows, not expecting you to remember, moreover bring up the collar, I looked over at the tattoo artist to see for any signs of judgment before faking a cough.
Ahem- yes but I'm thinking more of YDZT or ZTYD, instead of our full names.
Do you think you can do something small and simple?
/quickly and indirectly asking the tattoo artist to get to work and design the tattoo for us.

@✶ kim youngdae *feels you tugging my hand and I let it rest on your lap, silent gesture of how my hand is yours to have. Watching how you use my hand for an example and raise it up as you explain how the unconventional tattoo could go, looking at the spot you choose on my ring finger then turning my gaze to check it on yours*
That sounds pretty and perfect! And we gonna use our initials? Like in the collar you gave me? *questions out loud, not realizing the tattoo arist eyeing us but im sure collar wouldnt be wildest thing that he came across*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /hearing you confirming my thoughts, I couldn't help but beam at your words before looking at your slender fingers. Nodding in agreement, I tug your left hand closer to me before focusing on a particular finger of yours and showing it to the tattoo artist.
Yes. How about instead of a ring, we have it on the side of our finger?
/stroking the side of your ring finger with my thumb to allow the tattoo artist to visualize, I look back at you, wondering how you'd feel about the option, seeing that we are unconventional, which would mean that we wouldn't want to tattoo it as a ring either. Looking at my left ring finger to visualize it as well, I nodded again to confirm that it is what I'd like.