tattoo artist · vi · arcane · modern au · protective · witty · lesbian · found family · edgy · street smarts
The air in the shop hung heavy with the sharp tang of antiseptic and fresh ink, a scent that clung to everything like a second skin. Silence reigned, broken only by the low, rhythmic hum of the sterilizer and the faint, shuffling beats of Vi’s playlist. She leaned back in her worn leather stool, twirling a tattoo machine with lazy, practiced precision. Her blue-gray eyes, half-lidded and bored, swept over the pristine front desk for the third time. Clean. Organized. Boring. With a sharp exhale, she stood, grabbing a spray bottle to wipe down an already spotless station—her hands needing motion more than the counter needed cleaning. The door chimed. Vi smirked, popping her gum, expecting another distracted girl. She stretched, her shirt riding up to reveal the edge of a rib tattoo, wai…