Prompt 8: Imprint
FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge
Prompt 8: Imprint (Extra Credit/Free Day)
Welcome (or welcome back, technically) to Streamer AU Sunday!
“You didn’t tell me Aymeric was your tattoo artist,” Alisaie mock grumbled as she filled out the intake paperwork.
Aymeric laughed softly, a hand curled just in front of his mouth, and Brigid’s own laugher all but covered it up. “Only one of me artists, darlin���,” she soothed, brushing her hand over Alisaie’s hair. “‘Sides, he’s enjoyin’ the surprise.”
“When people learn the heir to the Borel house has a ‘day job,’ none expect this,” he added, blue eyes twinkling behind reading glasses.
Haurchefant passed behind, collecting Alisaie’s identification and taking it over to the copy machine. “It’s the suits, my friend, they cover up all my hard work!”
Alisaie handed Aymeric her design for the man’s perusal and sighed in thought, looking around the parlor. Flash designs ringed the room, and three convertible chairs were set up, each with plastic covered trays next to them. Thick portfolios sat on Aymeric’s desk, each one bursting with previous work from the three artists in residence.
They had been a recommendation from Brigid, who sported several of her own tattoos, all carefully hidden under her clothes. Most were done by Haurchefant, but the one Alisaie had admired most, the dagger down Brigid’s spine, had been done by the artist she was meeting today.
“Fascinating,” Aymeric murmured, eyes running over the design. It was a stylized rose, leaning against a fencing sabre. Something about Aymeric’s tone caught Haurchefant’s attention, making the man lean over his shoulder.
His eyes widened slightly, taking in the details. “Yes indeed,” he agreed, reaching out for and being handed the design. “It does certainly suit you, my dear. Quite lovely work, but I don’t believe this is your brother’s?”
Alisaie shook her head, settling back into her seat once Haurchefant returned her ID. “Not for my first one,” she replied, looking around the room again. “A friend owed me a favor, and put me in touch with Yusuke Kitagawa.”
Both artists looked up sharply at that, eyes wide, and then as one looked back down at the drawing. Haurchefant lowered it slowly, as though it had suddenly become something of reverence.
“A Kitagawa original,” Haurchefant breathed.
“I was under the impression he wouldn’t do tattoo designs,” Aymeric agreed.
Alisaie huffed softly. “Give that man enough freedom and feed him a few times and he’ll do anything out of gratitude.”
“Who’ll do anything?” came a Doman accented voice, and the group looked over to the door to find the third of the three artists in residence entering the building.
Brigid waved and smiled brightly. “Mornin’ Hien~!” she cheered, and Hien smiled just as brightly.
“Ah, my lady Bri!” he nearly cheered, quickly going over to the others. He took her hand and dropped a gallant kiss to the back of it. “Back so soon?”
She laughed and pulled her hand from his, only to pat his cheek gently. “Oh no darlin’, just bringin’ you a new client.”
Hien chuckled as he turned to face Alisaie. “Miss Alisaie, then!” He bowed, and Alisaie scrambled out of the chair to do the same. “An honor to meet you, I’m Hien Rijin.” They rose at the same time and Hien gestured for Alisaie to sit, then put his things away.
Then he turned, and his eyes fell on Alisaie’s design. He blinked, then looked at her. “Is that a Kitagawa?” he asked, eyes wide. Brigid just laughed softly.
Alisaie nodded, leaning back and crossing her legs, hands hooked on the top knee. “Which suits your art style, judging from the work you’ve done for Brigid.”
Hien nodded, nudging Haurchefant out of the way to get a closer look. Haurchefant breathed a laugh, but moved easily to stand behind Aymeric. “A fair amount of detail, but not so much it would be unrealistic to transfer to skin… you said in the booking you were looking at a shoulder placement?”
Another nod, and Alisaie turned to offer her left shoulder. “I thought my non-dominant one, to make healing easier?”
Hien glanced up and nodded, before looking back down at the artwork. “Should curve nicely, but we’ll have to play with it a bit. Hopefully Kitagawa won’t mind, he’s usually so protective of his art.”
“Overprotective, one might say,” Alisaie grumbled, making Hien laugh.
“You’ll have to tell the tale of how you managed to get your hands on this, then,” he said, standing. “Come, we’ll make the stencil and begin preparations!”
Alisaie looked at Brigid, who nodded with a smile, and the two women stood, Brigid following Hien to his workstation while Alisaie was pointed to a small changing room to get her clothing situated.
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