Ren "THE RAPIST WITH BONY HIPS" Valin (renvalin) wrote in light_of_may, @ 2010-01-06 19:12:00 |
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Entry tags: | #group scene, 2009-06-29 |
The Coyote, The Bear & The Unsuspecting Customer
Who: Ammo, Imogene and Ren
When: Monday 29th | around 2pm
Where: Dog-Ink
Ammo had been looking for some new ink for almost half a year now. His older stuff could also do with a touching up, but that wasn't what he was looking for today. The design hadn't really settled in his head until a month ago, but now he couldn't get it out. It fit, and it fit surprisingly well. Glancing up at the name of the building he nodded, this was the place Torque had mentioned. What he had in mind was a bit of a challenge if nothing else because he just had a concept more than a final design right now. But that didn't scare Ammo, for the last tattoos he had he had learned to trust that the artists knew what they were doing. Well most of them. Stepping inside the building, he smiled as he walked up to the desk. "Hi, I'm looking to make an appointment for a rather big back piece?"
Thanks to her still rather restricting condition, Ren had set Imogene to work organizing documents at the front desk. Although she was massively better than she had been when she'd shown up bloody on the doorstep, a healing broken rib made things like cleaning and running errands rather difficult. At the sound of the door opening, Imogene glanced up, scowling absently. She was not in the mood to deal with customers. And she certainly didn't look like she ought to be dealing with them - although most of the smaller wounds had healed up, she still had some bruising visible around her neck, and her face was drawn, thin, and still rather pale underneath her tan. At best, she looked somewhat ill.
"Yeah?" Imogene gave the man a disinterested once-over. "Custom or you got the design?" Probably should fetch the boss. She stood, grimacing a little and moving stiffly to avoid jarring her side, and walked over to a nearby doorway. "REN! Customer!" Where was he, anyhow?
"Custom, got the idea and that is about it." Ammo looked her over as she walked. Yep that was someone who had taken a serious beating, and, having been there himself, Ammo knew much that hurt. Normally one of the employees looking like that was enough to have him turn in the door and leave. But Ammo trusted Torque's call, now that he thought about that might be a bad idea. Then again, from what he had been told this city had been hit pretty bad when it came to demons, maybe that was what it was, or maybe it was just something else, something that did not have to do with this place, like a car accident. Before she looked back at him however, Ammo turned a little, looking the place over. This wasn't just his usual looking over the place, staring at someone who looked that beaten up was a good way to make then annoyed, at least in his experience, and you rarely wanted the people doing your tattoo annoyed at you.
Ren huffed from the other room -- the bathroom, in fact -- and finished washing his hands, flicking them off to dry them instead of using a towel. He exited with raised eyebrows, all scruffy facial hair and greasy, slicked down hair. He hadn't showered in a few days, and he was donning less than flattering clothing. Taking care of Imogene had taken a lot of the fight out of him, or the will to try any harder than usual. "What's going on?" he grumbled, the sentence barely qualifying as a question. "Hey there," he said, greeting the man standing near the front desk.
"Says he wants a custom full-back." Imogene shrugged and glanced over at the man. "Seems more like your kinda thing, and I figured you'd want to give the design idea some thought before you'd let me book 'im." She stretched a bit - carefully. Sleeping on a couch left her stiff and sore in odd places that had nothing to do with nasty demons. "Also, we should pick up lunch." As much as she appreciated what Ren was doing for her (and she did appreciate it in her own misanthropic way), the man had very little in his house that could be considered food, and she was jonesing for something green. The man didn't know what vegetables were if they didn't come in a packet of instant soup. Without waiting for a reply, she headed back to the desk to continue her sorting. The customer came first, even here.
Ammo smiled at the little exchange and nodded a hello back to the new guy, Ren he guessed. "Hi, what she is saying is more or less the entire thing yeah. I am looking for a firebird or a phoenix, reds, yellow, orange that sort of deal." This was the first time he had walked in somewhere without at least a concept drawing of what he was looking for. At this point it was honestly more about the idea than a final design. He took a few steps back from the desk, letting the woman have her space to work.
Ren nodded to Imogene, mouth open in slight exasperation. "Alright, we'll figure something out for lunch in a bit. I'll go to Sunny's or something." He turned back to the customer, shrugging. "Women. Anyway, that sounds good... full-back piece. It's gonna take a few sessions to complete, depending on how big, how much detail... all that. Do you have a drawing or would you rather pick something out?" He snorted and swallowed, moving toward him a few steps. "I can design something new, too." Ren stuck his hands in his pockets and watched the new guy.
Imogene snorted and glowered over at him, expression very clearly saying I heard that. If it weren't for Ammo standing there, she'd probably follow it with a snide remark, but she could behave halfway civil. For the moment. She went back to shuffling papers, attention tuned to the exchange going on more than to records of people's appointments and pay stubs. She finished one stack and stowed them neatly in a folder before she spoke up, not even turning away from her work, "Ask him to design something." As much as she bickered with Ren, the man was good. And he was best when he got to have free reign. She knew that much after only having been on the job for less than a week.
"I figured it would take more than once yeah," Ammo chuckled slightly. He had heard the snort and while he might agree at times this seemed like the good-natured bickering he was often a part of himself. "I've learned to trust the guys I let near my back with needles so I think I'll take the lady's advice. I don't actually have a drawing or an idea of how I want it to come out. It's more the idea behind it than anything else." He took a small step towards Ren. "As for size and detail, I was thinking most of my back, I am not sure about the detail yet though. Stylized is not really the look I am going for, but I am not sure. It depends on the over all design and what you think is best."
Ren sent a quick glance to Imogene, the expression a little difficult to read. He was a little inflated at the comment though, enjoying the confidence she had in his artistic hand. It was one of the only saving graces about him, and he was well aware of it. "Well then, I think we can work something out." He seemed a little more excited than previously, at least in his tone. Getting the rights to do what he wanted drew him in quicker than anything else. There was nothing he hated more than being handed a terrible design and expected to do it. "If you want, I can sketch out some things, see how you like them... I don't think I caught your name."
When Ren glanced over, Imogene didn't even bat an eyelash. Let him think what he wanted to. She was, however, more than a little amused at being called a 'lady'. How, exactly, did she look the part? Even in full health she was rough around the edges, and here she was all black and blue, wearing Ren's discarded clothes. She was many, many things, but a lady? Bah, not even close. She picked up another stack of papers and began leafing through them absently, keeping an eye on the conversation in the hopes of seeing Ren sketch something out. At least that would be entertaining.
Ammo smiled at slight improvement when it came to Ren's excitement. it was always nice to know that your stuff was done by someone who cared about their work. "That sounds like an excellent idea, I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with." That wasn't a lie, it was always fun to see what people came up with if you gave them a challenge, like Ammo just had. "I'm Ammo Kalani. You're Ren, right?" It was always fun to see people's reactions to his nickname and how he'd rather use that.
Nodding, Ren turned his full attention back onto the client. "Nice to meet you then, Ammo." He paused and then offered, "Ren Valin. Just Ren though. No need for anything more than that." He turned to head to the front desk to grab up his drawing pad and a pen. "Anything in particular you want to incorporate?" Ren flipped open the book to a few pages in, pausing on a few sketchings he'd done of a monkey for Peyton a while back. That tattoo had turned into such an amazing design. He flipped another few pages though, leaving it behind as he cleared his throat and his mind of the woman. "I mean as far as like, how you want the wings, the tail, all that good stuff." He was already drawing though, his right hand heavy on the paper as he took off on it, lines coming out of no where, effortlessly thrown down as though he'd already known where to start the moment he'd seen Ammo.
Honestly, the only time Ren looked like he was having fun was when he was drawing. Or high. Or hitting on women, though Imogene wasn't sure if that counted as 'fun' or 'lecherous'. She snorted at the customer's name, though, covering her mouth to keep from laughing. Did he actually think that was cool? Geez, what people came up with these days. She rolled her eyes and continued to poke through her papers, fully expecting to be shown the design as well when Ren was finished.
"I was thinking maybe it flying, but do what you feel is right." Ammo looked at what Ren was drawing, he knew it would be polite to look away, but at the same time this was his back they were talking about. When he heard the snort behind him, he half turned, glancing at her. "It's a nickname I've had for a while. Got it from the guys I used to work with. It is either that or just using Kalani." Turning back to Ren, he cast another glance to the drawing. Something to incorporate, now that was something he should have thought of. He was drawing a blank on that. All of the things he felt it was important to have inked he already had. "And the phoenix is enough of a symbol in and off itself."
Ren continued to draw even as the others spoke, not really paying all that much attention to what they were saying. "Yeah, it is," he muttered, mouth parted slightly as he worked. The lines took form, coming together, a general shape and idea being laid out. When that sketch was lined out nicely he stopped, his hand scraping the paper lightly before laying down again. Another drawing was started, this time a little different, the wings posed higher up, more open than the last drawing. He had a few ideas, and phoenixes were something he'd been asked for in the past. It wasn't totally new to him, the concept of a flaming bird. "Tell me if you have any other ideas... or whatever..." Ren licked his lower lip and then bit it, hanging on as he began a third drawing, this time entirely different in pose and style.
"At least that would be your actual name." Imogene spoke before she could stop herself, unable to bite back her sharp tongue any longer. At least this guy seemed like he could take her attitude. "What's wrong with what your mama gave you?" That comment was lighter, less of a jab, but it still came out harshly to those who hadn't spent much time around her. She stood and walked over again to glance over the drawings, restless now that she had healed enough to be acceptably mobile. Maybe she could eat lunch on a tree. Or the roof. It couldn't be too hard to get up there from a window, right? And heights always made her feel better.
"Well she named me after my grandfather, who on a regular basis used to beat his wife and children." Ammo had more stories he could share but he really didn't see the need. He also didn't really pay attention to her. Mostly he was watching Ren work. Now he was really happy he had gone to this place. Just the fact that Ren drew more than one drawing was a good sign. So far Ammo liked what he saw the man draw too. With a slight smile he glanced over at Imogene again. "Call me Kalani if you prefer, I really don't care." The two names had both been used for so long that he instantly reacted to both.
Ren listened to Imogene and Ammo, figuring the man could handle himself well enough. He seemed like the type who could keep up with Gene, which was good considering she didn't seem to want to let things run smoothly today. He could understand some of it, though. Having to deal with so much pain was never an easy task, and even harder for women -- or so he imagined. They sure as shit whined a lot, after all. "Anything look good to you yet?" he asked, not quite looking up from the paper. "I mean concept wise."
"Then why let him ruin the name for everyone else?" She leaned on the counter and peered at the sketches, squinting nearsightedly. In her mind, the only way to get rid of bad connotations was to replace them with good ones, rather on dwelling on the thing your whole damn life. Had she been privy to Ren's thoughts about women whining about pain, she probably would have decked him. All in all, she felt she'd been a remarkably good sport through the whole mess. She'd like to see him handle it.
This whole little argument was rather amusing. "Because I don't think that cleaning up after him is my job." Ammo shrugged and leaning over looked at the drawings. "I really like the way the wings are on that second drawing you have. But I also like the style in this one." He pointed to the last drawing. "You think combining them would work?" He was quite impressed with the work, it was better than what he had expected. He definitely trusted Ren after having seen him work. He seemed to really care.
Nodding with an easy shrug, Ren looked over the two pictures, turning the page to immediately start another set of designs based on what Ammo had liked and pointed out to him. "Definitely will work," he muttered into the paper, his hand collecting graphite as he sketched, the movements furiously concentrated. Ren was lost in the drawings for the moment, this one thing he could really allow himself to be good at, the one thing that saved the rest of the being he'd become from total apparent damnation. "I like the name," he said, commenting on their conversation. "Nothin' wrong with it."
"You would." Imogene sniffed a bit and wandered over to adjust a crooked picture that was bothering her. "Men." She bumped against a chair on her way back and drew in a sharp breath, but kept her mouth shut. At least the pain wasn't so sharp as it had been, but damn, who put a fucking chair right in her way like that?
Ammo nodded when he saw the drawing take form, that was pretty much what he had meant. Imogene's comment just made him chuckle. He had several times complained about women and how impossible they were and was not surprised that women thought the same about men. He watched her move, once again wondering what had happened. He knew he could ask, but judging from the current conversation he was more likely to get his head bit off than an answer. And while he was confident in his abilities, picking a fight with the assistant of the guy who was about to give you a tattoo sounded like a very bad idea. Instead he focused back on the drawing. "That was exactly what I was thinking."
"Good." Ren tossed the pencil down a few moments later and turned to searching through his pockets for his cigarettes. He needed a smoke after dealing with Gene's bullshit all morning -- not that he didn't love how moody she could be, of course. "I'm assuming you want it in color," he said, looking to Ammo as he headed toward the front door. "Full-back, a couple'a colors... probably three appointments to get it done. You're looking at somewhere around seven or eight hundred. I hope that isn't a problem."
Gene sat down again with a grunt, pulling out the appointment book and opening it up to the next couple weeks. Might as well make herself useful. She took a pen from a nearby can and waited, watching the other two work out a deal. Sounded like a pretty nice job all around, but the price reminded her just how unlikely she was to ever be able to afford proper ink.
"Not a problem at all. And yeah I would like it in color." Ammo smiled at Ren as he headed for the door and then turned Imogene, not letting the smile drop. "I am free when ever you guys are." Ammo had been saving up for this and even with the tattoo factored in he could live comfortably for the next couple of months, but even so he should see if there was any work around here. "Just say when and I'll be here."
Ren lit up, standing with his foot holding the screen door open. He bent to press the lock into it, and left it propped while he enjoyed his cigarette. "Good," he called into the shop, easily picking up everything that was being said, even from this distance. Having a were's abilities came in handy when one wanted a smoke. "Go ahead and pencil him in, Gene. Whenever he's available and there aren't other appointments." He smirked, loving the act of giving her a hard time. A filthy thought crossed his mind and his grin turned wicked. He would certainly love giving her a hard time, if she'd let him.
"How's tomorrow?" Imogene rolled her eyes at Ren, deciding to ignore him. If she played nice he might let her have a smoke again, but frankly, in her current condition the thought was less appealing than usual. "We've got a slot open early afternoon. That's good, because you'll be sure Ren is fully conscious." She said the last just loud enough for her boss to hear, perfectly fine with making jabs to his face. "I can block out the first appointment here, and the next a week later, and so on."
"Tomorrow sounds good to me. And fully conscious sounds best to me too, if there is one time I wouldn't want anyone falling asleep that would be it." Actually there were several others as well, but that would sort of ruin the joke. Ammo chuckled a little at the interactions between them. It sounded so familiar it was rather funny. "So I'll be back here tomorrow. Anything else?" He didn't assume there would be so he started for the door and waited by it for her reply.
Ren's blue gaze darted back inside to Imogene when she taunted him about being awake, eyes narrowed obviously. He didn't really mind it, though she didn't know that. It was - in all honesty - a little funny. "Not really," he said to Ammo, a bit of a grin on his face. He flicked the end of his cigarette and brought it to his lips again. "Just be here a little before the appointment, and we'll get started. Maybe bring something to bite down on if you don't think you can handle it." Ren laughed, though he was really only teasing. Ammo didn't seem like the type of man to show a lot of pain.
"Yeah, yeah, you're all set." She didn't even flinch at Ren's glare, as piercing as it was. As far as she was concerned, if she wasn't actually yelled at for it, she could get away with it. Ren let her get away with a lot, which in turn meant she both respected him more and pushed his limits more. She was an odd girl like that. "Have a nice day, or whatever." The banal nicety coming from scowling Imogene in her low, grumbling voice was almost comical.
"Have a nice day." Ammo gave Imogene a last smiled and closed the door behind him. "She's a handful?" He asked Ren when he was outside. "Ah, you see I left the gags back in Boston so you'll have to be gentle with me." Ammo smirked, he didn't actually own any gags, never had. And he most certainly did not need them for this, after you had been shot, blown up and just in general taking some serious beatings for a living for a while, a tattoo was a piece of cake. "I'll see you tomorrow." He smiled and turned to walk back to Torque's place.
"Yeah, she can be a handful." Ren smirked, laughing despite himself. "At least she's cute, right? Makes it a little easier to swallow, y'know?" He waved briefly at Ammo, glad the other man seemed relatively easy-going. For whatever reason, he didn't quite rub him the wrong way like most men did -- which was good for Ammo. "Tomorrow," he confirmed, dropping his cigarette to the ground to put it out.