1st Ink [video | un: inkmetal]

[inkedspell]

[Sarona's not really someone who makes a lot of declarations on the network, but it's been a wild ride since they got here and she's got her own plans to put underway.]

So, turns out to get a job spreading ink around here, you gotta have a body of work to show off and tattooing yourself ain't enough. Anyone want a free rune or two so I can use them for my portfolio? Protection runes, strength runes, tracking runes, stealth runes, soulmate bonds, you name it, I can ink it--or figure out how. It's not that hard.

No blood-ink unless requested and I'll even make it a temporary one if you're that much of a baby, but the special paper for my temp tats is limited. First come, first serve there.

And no, I don't mind a challenge.

[If she needs a portfolio for getting into Ursula's and making sure they are on legit or not, then that's what she'll get.]

Comments

[inkedspell]

Too young? I got my first one at twelve. Fourteen is pretty typical for protection runes. If you want one someone else already has, just get me a pic and I can recreate it.

[beforetheverse]

[... That's way better of a response than he was expecting.

In fact, it's kinda exciting to not be treated with kid gloves for once.]

S-sure, yeah! I've got one here. I wrote it down, I mean. Would this be pretty easy?

[inkedspell]

Oh hell yeah. I like it. [Sarona looks it over, checks the points, and looks for any ties to it.]

Simple, but effective. Protects against possession or some kind of corruption I'm guessing? Not much to it, but it does exactly what you need it for kind of thing. A bit of flare to mask it so it doesn't stand out?

[beforetheverse]

Yeah... Yeah! Something like that. It's not something I'm very familiar with; it's something I learn about when I'm a lot older, I mean. It was an, um — an anti-possession amulet at first, but my brother figured it was better to have it on your skin, so you can't lose it the same as you could a piece of jewelry or paper.

... I definitely don't wanna worry about possession here, anyway.

[inkedspell]

Smart of your brother. Tats are way more reliable than amulets. Amulets can be unreliable and you can lose them.

This one is no problem for me, I can put it on you whenever you're ready for it. Just check me out in Willful Machine. Name's Saeri.

[beforetheverse]

Thanks, Saeri. Do you think it'd be okay if I came by today?

After I talk to my brother.

I just wanna get it out of the way, so I don't have to worry about it anymore.

[inkedspell]

Sure, no problem. You'll find me by a carriage house--I mean, it's a real carriage that's been remodeled into a house. Haven't gotten it rolling yet, but I'm working on it.

[beforetheverse]

A carriage house....

[He smiles, a bit amused.]

I guess I can relate to that. My house back home was kind of on wheels, too.

[He didn't love it, but these days, he kind of doesn't hate it.

Not like he used to, anyway.]

[inkedspell]

I like being mobile, so it works for me.

[He says his house was on wheels and she assumes he lived in a trailer or an RV. Not unusual.]

You traveled a lot with your family?

[beforetheverse]

[Sam smiles, but it's a bit forced.]

... Yeah. Me and my dad and my brother. We travel around for the family business... I didn't really like it all that much. Mostly because I had to move schools so much, and it was hard to make friends and keep my grades as high as I could.

[inkedspell]

Believe me, staying at one school does not make it any easier to keep friends or keep your grades up.

{She'd begged for years to get to go to a regular school instead of being homeschooled. Turned out a lot of schoolkids are assholes, especially rich ones. If not for her running away from home, she might have been willing to go back to homeschooling.]

[beforetheverse]

... Not for me. I like school; I'm really good at school.

[Despite the isolation, the pains of being the new kid?

It was a place to be someone else.]

I was gonna — go to a good college. Maybe be a doctor or a lawyer, or something that would make me a lot of money, and give me, um. A lot of stability... but I guess I'll have to work on that here instead.

[inkedspell]

Ah...money. Yeah, I get it now.

[A kid stuck traveling a lot. Used not having any place to settle roots. Yeah, makes sense he'd see money as a great equalizer and fixer of problems.]

I'm sure you can get all the education you need for whatever you want to do here. "Stability" on the other hand...well, I hope you like improv.

[beforetheverse]

It's okay... I was in Deerington for a little bit, so I know how stability isn't all that possible.

Besides, home wasn't stable either, so... I've got experience, right?

[inkedspell]

Being an expert at balancing on the edge of a teeter-totter does have its pros and cons.

[A lot of cons, but the pros keep you alive. At this point Sarona might even say it's worth it.]

[beforetheverse]

I guess. I wish it wasn't like that, but this place taught me that getting what you really want's never gonna happen, so...

Might as well just do what you can.

[inkedspell]

You've got the basics figured out, so I'm sure you'll be fine, kid. Trust that head of yours and your gut.

[Smart, resourceful, and practical. Sam's a good kid and Saeri's happy to see it. She can't imagine it's easy being his age stuck in a place like this.]