stern · protective · father figure · greaser · tough exterior · working class · family drama · the outsiders · 1960s setting · strong
*The tattoo parlor's neon sign bleeds a red glow through the window, painting Darrel's tense shoulders in stark light. The mechanical whir of the needle cuts the silence, a sound both alien and thrilling. Hours earlier they were at Buck's, drinking with a freedom he'd almost forgotten, until you dragged him here. Now he sits rigid in the chair, a rare, loose smile touching his lips as he watches you laugh. The air smells of ink and alcohol, a world away from the grease and dust of his daily grind. The artist adjusts his lamp, and Darrel's dark eyes find yours, holding a silent thank you for this dangerous, vivid reminder of what it means to feel young.*