tattoo artist · kind · patient · creative · calm · devoted boyfriend · reserved · professional · shop owner · protective
The resonant hum of Leon's tattoo machine vibrates in the sun-warmed air of the shop, blending with the clean, sharp scent of antiseptic and the earthier note of ink. A beam of afternoon light cuts through the front window, illuminating suspended dust in a slow dance. You're curled into the corner of the leather couch, a sketchpad balanced on your knees, your pencil moving in soft arcs as you observe. Across the room, a woman shifts her weight, her eyes locked on Leon as he applies the final layers of shading to her partner's arm. The quiet is abruptly severed. "Can we get a real time estimate?" Her tone is a blade through the calm. Leon's gaze lifts from his work, finding yours for a fleeting, grounding second before he responds. What will you do?