aeris-flores

[aeris-flores]

“If they’re an awful artist, I’ll send them your way to get them out sooner,” he throws back. Aeris doesn’t mean it, even if he doesn’t understand the desire to lock someone down like that. He waves out the door as if to the town and adds, “Plenty of fish out and about. You’ll catch one. Can even go the catch and release route.”

He shrugs and flips through the flash designs, noting her requirements. “Bo-ring,” Aeris sing songs, until he stops on a page and points at the tongue sticking out in the bottom corner. “Haven’t found a place, yet. I didn’t realize how hard it was to buy business space, but I really don’t want to go the rental route again. What do you think of this design?”

@thecelestexzhao

Celeste's smile fell a bit at his comment, lips morphing into a bit of a scowl as she huffed at him. Tyler leaving....it sucked. It sucked opening herself up to someone else, only for them to have to leave. Again. At least this time she got an apology and a goodbye, even if it hurt just the same. "I'll just have to wait and see who takes the next vacant spot. Third time's the charm after all." She shot back, words laced with sarcasm, hoping it hid the sadness that still lingered just the same.

"No tits or euphemisms." She told him as she dropped her bag onto a nearby chair, taking a look around before finally settling back onto him. "You here for long? When's the new place opening?"

[aeris-flores]

"Seems to be the trend. Those who talk the most about wanting a tattoo never walk into a shop."

In which case, Ink Box is the better alternative. Temporary tattoos for wimps and posers, those who can't handle a needle in their skin or committing to something as permanent as the real thing. It's just about the only thing Aeris can commit to, outside of being an asshole.

"Maybe they would," he muses, now distracted by the way the design looks right there on Lorna's arm. He's excited, impatient even, as he starts to ready the table and the cushioned stand beside it. "You can handle a little bit of stinging. You have enough of a tolerance. But if you're really worried, I'll give you a lollipop so you don't pass out on me."

A pink lemonade dum dum is pulled from a drawer and handed over. "Here. Now lay on your stomach, your arm will rest on the cushion next to the table, and make sure you're comfortable because you'll be stuck that way for about twenty thirty minutes - assuming your skin doesn't fight me and takes to the ink."

@dilcne

Fine. Lorna would take that as a compliment, probably one of the fewer ones she didn't have to fish for. Not that Aeris ever really bit, unless there was something in it for him at the end - which recently, much to her dissatisfication, seemed to be lesser than she would have hoped for.

At his question of when she had decided to brave the needle, she replied with a simple shrug, as her eyes were too distracted wandering the room in search for the dreaded prick. At least it wasn't like being at the hospital where the weapons and tools of torture were laid out in clean sight.

"I guess I just always really wanted one, but never had the balls to do it. But life's too short, right?" She finally puts him in her view, leaving the question hanging - but she knows better than to expect him to read between the lines. "Besides, I hear a lot of people think those with tattoos are cool... maybe my secret admirer would think they're cool." It would definitely serve as a conversation starter, if she were to ever meet said person.

After he'd worked, she does as instructed, and takes a few steps towards the mirror. She examined the stencil, bending her arm in various poses. She liked it, maybe even enough to actually go through with this.

"Yeah, no, it's good. Especially if it's minimal pain." She commented, before taking a seat and turning her head away. "Do it. Just don't make me watch."

@aeris-flores

[aeris-flores]

“So, I don’t like to stick to typical henna designs when I get the creative freedom to experiment, but the design isn’t too intricate. Thicker lines would make it look blotchy and not at all pretty.”

And it isn’t that Aeris is aiming for flashy pretty, or something too floral. He tried to keep in mind Nira’s vibe, and covering them in petals and glitter isn’t the route he intends to take. He opens the first image: a crescent moon with a few scattered jasmine and hibiscus flowers that don’t take away from the base.

“So, I figure this can go on your upper arm or your quad, so you can cover it up easy with clothes, and that gives me a lot of space to expand.”

@nirawu

"Aeris Flores, always so diligent in his homework," Nira teases with a hint of airiness to their tone. Oftentimes people are met with a much less friendly demeanor, though Nira has been trying their best with the museum gig to be a little less frigid. Piercing was about creating art, focusing on people's minds and perceptions to bring ideas to life.

Touring, however, is just pointing out what people say about their own art. It's somewhat stifling for a person used to working with their hands, but it's also offered a freedom to pick up their camera more to take that creation to film.

"I'm happy to see what you've cooked up in that brain of yours before I start rattling off half-baked ideas."

@aeris-flores

[aeris-flores]

🍵 + ziggy!

“Ugh, fine. Only because I know he’d drag my name through the dirt if given the chance.

He was a good friend. Was. Until he decided it was easy to cut that off, all over one thing. I won’t call it a mistake, I made that choice, but if it wasn’t me, Maura would have fucked someone else. So I saved him time, and what did he do? Snip snip. I’d say maybe one day, big maybe, this could be resolved, but I’m not really feeling it. 

I try not to put that much energy into thinking about him, and it’s pretty easy considering I’m doing just fine without our friendship.”

@ziggykyeons

[aeris-flores]

🍵 + mack!

“First glance? Not my type of guy. Not sure why. We can get along just fine, we work together, but I don’t go out of my way to make plans with him, but that definitely is because of my unwillingness to hang out with my employees outside of work. He’s a weirdo, but I have to admit, his energy is contagious. It’s never a bad day in the shop if he’s working. 

That tattoo thing he did, though? To win a girl? Sure, it worked, but he’s out of his fucking mind. No one is worth that dedication and commitment. And I mean in the ‘permanently inked on his body’ kinda way. That is a forever commitment, unless they ever break-up, then maybe I’ll be doing a cover up.”

@mackmontgomery

[aeris-flores]

𝐟𝐨𝐱𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 : what lies has your muse told to protect themself or someone else? how far are they willing to go?

"I haven't kept track. It's hard to remember which were for good intentions, and which ones were lying just for the sake of it. I think most of them are the latter. But I will manipulate the details of a situation to get rid of any responsibility.

Accountability? Who is she?"

[aeris-flores]

🍵 + jordan

"Jordan is my own version of the white whale. I don't mean in that I long after her wistfully, I mean that I know she won't give me the time of day and is ever elusive, but I will still try to win her over because I think she'd be a good lay.

And she humors it, so much so it can be infuriating, and yet, she's got me tailing after her. I guess it's an ego rub for her, or maybe it's because I end up being somewhat of a doormat or a punching bag, or a combination of both.

It's a shame she's off the market. Not that that has ever stopped me before..."

@jordanmitchell

[aeris-flores]

"Oh, hey, stranger," Aeris greets her, surprised to see Celeste here with Tyler currently not in the building - or town for that matter. "It's all walk-ins today, and since the hotel is off the beaten path from the pride events going on, we're slow. I think I can squeeze you in."

Aeris looks around and adds in a tease, "Hope you're not thinking about chasing off another one of my artists. Mack's taken, and I'm not sure Nina is the relationship type." He pulls the sheets out to look them over, mentally picking out the designs. "Tell me your hard 'no's when it comes to designs, and I'll give you my top three."

@thecelestexzhao

closed - @aeris-flores

where - pride flash tattoos

Celeste hadn't gotten a new tattoo in a while, and when she'd heard about the shop closing (and its subsequent flash event happening at the hotel) she decided to go check it out-both to support the shop and to donate to a good cause.

"Have time for another walk-in?" She spoke up in lieu of greeting, giving Aeris an easy little smile, "I'll even let you give me some of your own choices to pick from on the flash sheets."

[aeris-flores]

Aeris lets a smirk curl his lips in a way that isn't subtle, cocksure and slanted. "A friend. Sure." Not for the fact that he can't pinpoint Zana as a friend, exactly, just another tail he is chasing as she entertains it, but because Jordan seems interested in that little factoid.

That said smirk falls to a look of annoyance, and then Aeris is rolling his eyes. "You snuck us into the wrong apartment, Jordan. I had every right to throw a fit."

Aside from simply entering the wrong place, the person who rented is was asleep in their bed. That could've ended poorly for him.

"And not for nothing, there isn't much for me to be confident about when it comes to you taking the fall for it. You'd leave me in the dust, and I have a, uh." He winces and runs his tongue over his bottom teeth when he hesitates. "A previous charge, so that wouldn't look great for me."

The details of which really don't matter, and Aeris hasn't wandered back to his parents' to violate the restraining order. He has since left them in the rear view, but that doesn't mean it would bode well for him to get caught in another breaking and entering situation.

"I don't know. My friend gives me the time of day, if you catch my drift. Not that you can do that now, being shackled to someone."

@jordanmitchell

"A friend? That must be one hell of a friend for you to be their uber." Jordan was more curious about this friend he went out of his way for and how many others he had on his rolodex.

They'd always focused on her dating life and hadn't had the opportunity to delve into whatever, or whomever, he was doing.

"We kiss and make up every other month." Except the bump in the road that was his prison stint. "Never say never— but does that mean you've had a change of heart now because you made quite a fit about it last time I roped you in."

She watched him and smirked. "You haven't been the best partner in crime. You dragged your feet every step of the way so I'm thinking you're not really devoted enough. But maybe this friend of yours is more your speed."

[aeris-flores]

There is nothing familiar about the scene. Prom dresses and heels and a night back in time. He wonders if this is how his own prom night would have looked if he had gone.

"Sure, but not too annoying for you to bum a ride, did I get that right?" He taps the steering wheel and casts her an expectant look. "Far enough for a head start. I'll manage."

'Savior' is the word Aeris holds onto. The positive undertone suggests the opposite of his actual intentions, he's just smart enough to not point out he isn't picking her up out of the goodness of his heart. He simply asks as he pulls off toward the exit of the school parking lot, "Who or what am I saving you from, exactly? If there's drama, I don't need the details, I'm only looking for the quick answer."

Maybe something that he can use to stroke his own ego.

"We can go for drinks and food, if you want to show me up in public looking like that next to-" Aeris waves to his very un-prom look. "This. Not the club, let's hit up Tejas for a Paloma and apps. And if I'm lucky, maybe I can get another rendition of a Taylor Swift song."

@abcwithmsz

As much as she had a good cry, had fun, and the experience teenage her dreamed of, she was ready to be done for the night. It would've been more complete catching a snack or a drink in someone's basement with a game of spin the bottle, but Zana had long come to the conclusion some things were better left in the movies.

Instead, her night in tinted windows arrives.

A honk of the horn, a bright smile replaces the expression she was wearing on her face, heels in one hand, the other giving him the middle finger as she walks across the headlights to the passengers side.

"You're so annoying!" She laughs grateful to get off her feet finally. "It will do for now, but just know your brownie points for being a savior of the night won't get you far." She teases back, searching through her clutch for the hairtie she brought for the end of the night. "Where are we going anyway? Yours? Mine? Food? Drinks?"

[aeris-flores]

Jordan knows what Aeris thinks if the attention he has paid her means anything. Even if he is well aware that after two years of knowing her, he doesn't have a chance.

Aeris regards her with skepticism, first at the face she makes, then at the mention of a 'baby daddy'. Pieces to connect in this forever mystery.

"That goes without saying. And no, I was picking a friend up." The term friend a loose term here, Aeris hasn't reflected on if Zana is actually one. There is something else he wants to pry about. "So, I guess you guys kissed and made up? No more dog heists for you. No more dog heists I'm being roped into. Unless..."

"You think that'll go to shit and you'll need a partner in crime again."

@jordanmitchell

"I looked hot, right?"

She takes the beer from him and then flashes him an amused smile. "So you were kinda stalking me?" Of course she was teasing, which is why she let it go that easily. Her eyes darted to the drink after she took a sip, grimacing but still going in for a second.

Not her first choice, not the worst.

She nods. "Yeah, my baby daddy to my non-human baby."

"Who were you picking up?"

[aeris-flores]

Aeris is mid-scrolling on his phone while he moves, one step behind Lydia and occasionally glancing up to make sure he won't bump into her. "Yeah," he replies, finally puts his phone away and then adds, "If everyone's winning, they aren't making money. But I guess they're handing out pity prizes now."

He notes the kid, unsure if they'd actually won that one. Aeris did tune in late to that one, so he isn't sure.

"It'll probably start collecting dust in their house somewhere by this time next week." Or be lost at the park or the pool or stuffed under the bed. Ignored and no longer played with, and a waste of money. "No. Parents never brought us, but I never thought I was missing out. Carnivals are just the Walmart version of a theme park. What about you?"

@lydiainlace

location: Aurora Bay Carnival! for: @aeris-flores

"I know these games are rigged but I still can't help but want to play." She sighs as they walk, trying to choose the least likely of the games to take her tickets and leave her with nothing. Deep browns watch as a child struggles, their father patiently helping with aim just enough they earn a small stuffed animal as a consolation.

"Did you ever come to carnivals as a kid?" She asks, popping another mini donut into her mouth, fingers dusting off the cinnamon as she looks up at Aeris.

[aeris-flores]

👀 + Rank your coworkers from most to least likely to win The Hunger Games.

"I really had to think about this one, but I've got the list as follows. Starting at the top— Aeris or Nina. Aeris is a cunning dude, he's also like, wildly secretive, which is kind of odd because I've known him for sometime yet know nothing about him. So he'd definitely be able to sneak around and win by just avoiding. Nina is kind of the same, because I've spoken maybe three sentences to her. She did however re pierce my lip and she has a light hand so I imagine she'd do some damage. It's hard to say if Mack or I would have a better sense of survival, I think we're pretty level on that field? Honestly I can see us pulling a Peetah and Katniss and weaponizing love to win the games— sorry Cricket."

@aeris-flores @mackmontgomery @ninaxgray @cricketcampbell

[aeris-flores]

👀 + how do you actually feel about Lorna?

“I don’t know. It was weird when she wasn’t talking to me. I didn’t like that at all. Probably because she lives in the unit below mine so I couldn’t just pretend she didn’t exist anymore. I guess she’s the closest thing I have to a friend right now. I don’t have a lot of those, but she actually worries about me. I don’t like it when she fucks off with anyone else, but that’s because I’m better than any of them.

I get caught up between feeding into the attention and back pedaling, it's confusing and frustrating. Usually I don’t give a fuck about that, but I really don’t want to upset her to that extent again. It’ll make it all a mess again.”

[aeris-flores]

👀 + When will you release Lorna back into the wild?

"Release her? Like she's a trapped animal? Hah. Lorna can go frolic off into the 'wild' whenever she wants. She's not shackled to the cellar downstairs or anything like that.

Is this the time I make a 'she's a catch... and release' joke? If she hears that, she might start another silent streak."

[aeris-flores]

“Is that a suggestion? If so, why stop at Hawaii? We should go to the Maldives, rent us a little villa on the water… just throwing that out there. Retired married couples go to Hawaii.”

It’s only wishful thinking. Tonight is San Diego and, at Esma's suggestion, definitely a hotel. But that would be whichever one they could roll into after the club where he heads straight toward once he hits the highway.

I-5 straight up the coast line until they hit the city lights. To Aeris, they pale in comparison to Los Angeles, but it'll do for the evening. There is no use cutting into their time to make a three hour drive, not on such short notice. This club works just fine with the strobe lights, the expansive bar selection, and the way the bass can be felt deep in his bones.

Aeris moves in close to the counter with one arm behind Esma and his hand against the edge. "Two shots of clase azul blanco ahumado. See that bottle up there?" His other hand is used to point it out on the top shelf. "And then you can pick the cocktails. Just stick to tequila for me."

@esmaxdemirci

"Aeris, I'm the prettier one here I will always be the passenger princess," she quips as they walk out the door. She realized he was joking, but she would naturally always get the last word. "Sounds good." As usual, the brunette was up for anything and her favorite thing was spending money, so it sounded like the perfect night out. "He says I deserve the best, so only top shelf."

She smirked. "Go hard. He would not care if we did that, then decided to book tickets to Hawaii or something. He's rich rich." Crossing her leg over the other, she pulls her seatbelt on just in case he decided to go boy racer on her. "We can find a fancy hotel to stay in whilst we're at it." @aeris-flores

[aeris-flores]

👀 + will you ever get over yourself and let yourself actually be happy?

"Woah, slow down. You came in hot there.

Get over myself? That's rich. You're talking to the wrong guy. I'll get over myself when everyone else does the same. People all act self important and in their own interest.

As for letting myself be happy - I am. I don't have what I used to, but I'm getting by, and I made myself a place in this town. For the better, too. At least I don't owe anything to anyone, I can go about my business and do what I want when I want with no expectations to meet."