Feel so Empty [Luthien)

[Deleted]

March 11 2026

It was a slow day at Mystery Ink, Idris' place of employment. He had made himself comfortable in one of the seats, with a sketch pad out, he worked on design ideas for new tattoos. The receptionist just as board. It was quite a slow day. Not many people came to get tattoos in the middle of the week. The impending full moon looming around the corner. Just starting to feel the effects, his body preparing for the illness that would come soon.

The werewolf drew from his own pain as inspiration, drawing moons and wolves, along with other ideas that stemmed from that. He didn't mind working the slow shift, he could relax, and didn't have to interact with anyone he didn't want to. But then he heard the bell. A familiar sound that said that a someone had just walked in. "Welcome to Mystery Ink" he heard the all too chipper receptionist state. Idris putting his book away, and the pen he was sketching with down as he made his way from where he was lounging, and peered out from around the corner as he looked at the woman who had entered.

@luthien

[Deleted]

Luthien had heard rumours of a man working at the tattoo parlour with a most peculiar last name. The first half seemed to match her own, although that wasn't something she could so easily disclose. Since she was still in hiding and still hunting people down it wasn't as if she had much time for a break. Yet she'd decided to take a break after a brief visit to Knockturn Alley with some of her former associates (the ones that enjoyed gossip) and well, quite on the fly had decided she wanted a small tattoo only for the purpose of finding out who on earth this man was. She could easily hide it, her gifts as a metamorphmagus considered so she didn't really worry about long term effects.

She'd stopped using her gifts to hide the scars on her arms, since she'd long since decided that was where she needed the tattoo. She'd stepped in and walked straight up to the reception. The woman was friendly and Luthien had opted for a disguise that involved some dark brown curls and her usual hell green eyes that were a trademark to her normal appearance. She made sure she wouldn't look recognisable, but she looked like she could easily be related to her original face. She walked up to the counter and smiled briefly at the receptionist. "No, I don't have an appointment." She answered as the woman opened her mouth to ask. "Yet I'll pay double for getting a tattoo right now. I'm not too fussy about the design." She'd looked into the womans eyes so that she could peer into her thoughts and she'd figured out that the man she wanted to actually seee had a free spot in his schedule at the moment anyway. The receptionist blinked a little sheepishly and brought her to the waiting space where Luthien absently leafed through a magazine while the young lady went off to fetch the tattoo artist.

@idris

[Deleted]

Upon hearing the bell, Idris set his work down and moved towards the receptionist desk, spotting the woman. She had an interesting appearance, something about her seemed familiar. Stating that she had no appointment wasn't necessarily an issue for him. Had they been busy, she would have been turned away. But she also said she'd pay double for something right now. He wondered what kind of rush she was in. Normally tattoos weren't something to go on impulse. He leaned against the wall, watching the woman. But didn't stay long, he moved to a space where there were binders full of standard tattoos that they offered.

The receptionist came and told him about the woman, he nodded. "Sounds good. I'll take it from here." Holding one of the binders he walked out to the waiting room. "Hey, so, what kind of tattoo are you looking to getting?" Idris' social skills weren't the best, plus he knew that she had said she wasn't picky, but he wasn't going to give her something she didn't want.

@luthien

[Deleted]

The moment she saw the man she could instantly see the resemblance the man bore to her father. She'd mostly just seen pictures provided by their shared grandparents. She hadn't really kept in touch after her disappearance but well, it was plain as day. Unlike her, he didn't seen to have her abilities to change her appearance at will. It certainly kept things a lot easier. She smiled a smug little smile as she took in his appearance, her eyes running over the images on his arms. She then looked at the binder in his hands and couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm not looking for anything you have in there, that much is certain." She said, no arrogance in her voice. It was merely amusement. She realised perfectly well she was not quite the regular visitor. Most people would never take anything on impulse.

She walked over to him and pursed her lips for a moment. "Grayscale and yellow only." She said thoughtfully after a moment. "I am fine with anything that displays either weapons of any kind, an oldfashioned sailing vessel, sail and all, a rekynii, if you know what it looks like or a combination of all of those with whatever other elements would suit the design. Any size you wish but I want it on my arm." She said, figuring that a brief but to the point idea would do. Then a twinkle of mischief lit up her eyes as she rolled up her sleeve. "Alternatively you're free to do whatever crazy idea you've always wanted to try but never got around to or ran out of skin for." She said, clearly very curious to see if he was like her, chaotic by nature. "I'm slightly impulsive, but I don't make a habit out of regretting things." She told him, her eyes very intent as she looked at his face. She wasn't fully sure how to breech the topic but either way she was having plenty of fun to start right here. At worst he'd give her a nightmare she'd constantly be covering up with her abilities. At best she had a masterpiece to show off on the Jolly Roger.

@idris

[Deleted]

Working as a tattoo artist had it's ups and downs. While at work, Idris mostly wore sleeveless shirts, a way to show off a number of his tattoos. But it also meant that there always seemed to be people who wanted to look and see what he had before they told him what they wanted. He saw the woman, without tattoo on her, looking at his. He had a binder, one that had a number of images that they offered. Though it also wasn't uncommon for people to have their own ideas. He only brought it out because she said she didn't care. It seemed as though she didn't know what she wanted yet. But she mentioned that she didn't want anything they had in there and he shrugged, dropping the binder down to the table. He gave her a slightly crooked smile. "Well then, what is it that you are wanting?" He always insisted that people choose, rather than let the artist have their way. But if they insisted, Idris was not the artist they wanted. He guaranteed that they would regret it.

The woman described what she wanted, giving vague instructions, but seeming to leave everything up to him. He wasn't phased by her movement towards him, if anything he was simply observing her, remembering that he was in his place of employment. He thought as she spoke. That was doable. Though she still gave him license to do whatever he wanted. She rolled up her sleeve and he looked at the surface he would be working with. Stoic as he listened to her. She mentioned that she didn't regret things often. Well, it was her money. Tattoo's weren't exactly a cheep expense. A short time later, his lips curled into a sadistic grin. "Exactly how much time are you giving. Higher quality tattoos take time." He was proud of his work, and rarely did something half hearted. Though, his ideas did seem to change based on time. She didn't have the widest arm, but it was still quite possible to get some interesting ideas out.

@luthien

[Deleted]

The man started off as rather stoic and she found it a little hard to believe that somebody like him could possibly be related to her. She saw nothing of herself in him and no hint of the reputation her father had. Still, she recognised some of his features and found it almost boring that he was so... normal. Perhaps normal was relative since he was covered in ink and worked in a tattoo shop rather than an ordinary store but she'd expected something wilder. Yet the moment that sadistic grin spread across his features she felt her heart soar in excitement. There it was! This had to be her brother, it was almost impossible to believe otherwise now. Her own grin spread at the sight, mirroring his.

She took a moment to consider as he asked about a time. She pursed her lips. "Not a whole lot today, but I can come back over an extended period to finish it. Whatever time it takes to finish what you have in mind." She said then, knowing money was sure not to be a thing if she even survived this latest ordeal. "For today it's probably about four hours before I have places to be." She mentioned, knowing that her job for Bjorn was probably the most important thing in her life right now if she wanted to keep herself alive. Yet being here actually did help, as it meant she was less likely to be suspected of being on to the trouble while 'wasting time' at a tattoo parlour. While her choices were unpredictable and often not thought out they always served some form of purpose. She then looked at the man for a moment, figuring that there was no harm in being overly forthright with him. He was as bad as she was if his grin was any indication. "I figured getting a tattoo would be a nice way to get to know the man that shares a last name with me.Although only the first part." She mused for a moment, her green eyes flashing with mischief. "I didn't realise I had siblings until recently though. Quite the shock...." She mused, although she hardly sounded shocked. Whatever came next, she was fine with it. That included him throwing her out. She wasn't overly invested in the tattoo and knew she could hide it if he decided to mangle her skin with some atrocity. Simple enough, but anything was worth the risk to make life interesting.

@idris

[Deleted]

Idris knew that he had a talent for upsetting people and picking fights. But he had made a deal with himself and his boss, that he would do his best to be professional. As such, he preferred not to attach to things and rather do his job. This led him to being classified by most as stoic, but at least he wasn't picking fights at work. Though he wasn't exactly the one you wanted to give free rain to, or even make upset while he was doing your tattoo. The moment he had grinned, the woman mirrored it. That wasn't the reaction he usually got, though he wasn't complaining.

The subject of time came up and she thought about it. Her answer was vague at first, but she did settle on four hours. Idris wasn't one who liked leaving things unfinished, so he had a good idea of what he could do with the time allotted. Should the woman choose to come back, then he could easily expand on it if she wanted. "I can work with four hours." Tattooing took time, but he wouldn't tell her his intention of making it seem complete, whether or not it was. He looked at her arm, already starting to plan out the designs and where he would start.

He was about to lead her to his station when she spoke again. Her words made his green eyes snap to her face. He knew that the first part of his surname came from his father, a man that he never knew. He knew some things about the man, and the last name wasn't exactly common. His confident grin returned. Now that he looked at her, he could recognize some similarities. And apparently that grin, ran in the family. "So, let me get this strait. Just because we supposedly share a similar surname, you think we're related." He shrugged. "And, what, because of that, your expecting some sort of discount or something?" As far as he was concerned, Idris had no family left, and therefore didn't give discounts. He didn't even give discounts to those he was romantically involved.

He gave a sigh after a moment and motioned towards his tattoo station. "If your going to try to convince me, might as well take a seat so I can get started." He had half a mind to kick her out, but he was board. What would he do if she left? Sit around drawing designs that would rarely be given life on skin? Nah, he might as well get started.

@luthien

[Deleted]

He could make due with four hours, which was just as well by her. She needed time to think on the task she had ahead of her and either sitting still while enduring a small amount of pain or having an interesting conversation with the same addition of pain really ought to focus her mind. The fact he went on to suggest she was mentioning the family thing in order to get discount got him a very insulted look. "Oh please don't insult my bank account. I could have every last inch of my body covered at double the price and still have money left." She said in irritation. How preposterous. She shook her head as a slightly cold glint was in her eyes. "And there I was, hoping that the distrust was not quite inherited." She said in a very sarcastic tone, but her eyes turned warmer again as she looked at him, seeing the resemblance she had with her little brother. Who'd have thought indeed.

He motioned to his station and she followed him, every last movement with the grace of a fighter and the tense atmosphere of somebody not overly fond of being in unfamiliar surroundings. She was a criminal, no matter which face she carried and currently hunting others that would not hesitate to kill her if they could. She sat down and took on a stance of relaxation, despite the fact it was still efficient enough to move at a moments notice. "I was actually hoping that we could exchange what little information we have on our father. Perhaps figure out if we are indeed related or not. I am more curious than actively invested, but either way it wouldn't hurt to know in my opinion." She said with half a shrug as she glanced at the skin he was set to work with. Not quite accurate. With a small breath she let go of the tight control she held over her skin, allowing the extensive network of fine scars that were like spiderwebs on the surface come to light. If he was any good, the state of her skin wouldn't matter, but she felt as though she might as well get the tattoo on her real skin, as she wasn't sure if the metamorphmagus abilities she was born with would influence what it looked like or how easy it was to apply. It would be too much of a waste to put all this time in and end up losing it.

@idris