#tftsd flower shop/tattoo parlor au

[lunarifie]

Tftsd Flower Shop/Tattoo Parlor AU

(Set in modern times)

Part 1 / Part 2

- Hearing the doors chime one day, Bart spots a tall blonde with a steampunk-esque prosthetic arm waltz in. He introduces himself as Kyborg, explaining he booked an appointment on call and that he was there for a tattoo on his arm. He looked as if he was trying to hide his evident excitement, but it was difficult due to the way he spoke and stared at the place in awe.

- Bart nods, showing him some examples of what he requested, which Kyborg approves of. Bart then asks him the dumb question of “which arm?” To which he almost slaps a hand over his own mouth.

- Kyborg blankly stares at him for a solid second before breaking out into laughter. “I dunno! Does your gun work on titanium and steel?” He jokes, allowing Bart to relax and chuckle sheepishly.

- Bart gets to working on Kyborg’s right arm, which was already littered with a few intricate tattoos. He personally found the request of a heart with a feminine name on the edge kind of cheesy, checking in with Kyborg before placing the stencil on his shoulder. “Hey, buddy, don’t wanna assume anything, but getting a tattoo is pretty permanent. You’re a hundred percent certain that your relationship with this girl will last?”

- Kyborg laughs nervously, cheeks growing hot in embarrassment as his eyes glance to the side, muttering shyly that it was for his mom.

-“Oh!” Bart apologizes immediately, explaining that he’s gotten too many customers who regretted getting their partners name on their skin.

- Kyborg chuckles in amusement, letting Bart place the stencil. Bart was especially careful now, always a sucker for familial love, more so when it came to mama’s boys. There was just something about a kid loving their mother enough to always be reminded of it.

- Bart tries to strike up conversation, asking questions regarding Kyborg’s mom. “Does your mom know you’re getting this done? Is it going to be a surprise?”

- Kyborg laughs awkwardly, “you could say that.” He avoids most questions regarding his mother, just enough for Bart to stop asking and assume the worst.

- From then on, Bart avoids asking about Kyborg’s family, bringing up other topics. Bart’s always had a knack for creating a comfortable environment for his customers, even when they were being put through excruciating pain. He knows just the right topics to bring up, clinging onto anything that his customer is fascinated or excited by. It doesn’t take long for them to figure out that they have many mutual interests, as well as a similar sense of humor.

- Through the process, Bart always checks in with his customers pain and comfortability, even if its a relatively simple design and done on a practically painless part of the body. But as Bart expected, Kyborg doesn’t even flinch, accustomed to the pain from his past tattoo endeavors.

- After an hour or two, Bart completes the design, wrapping up Kyborgs shoulder and bidding him goodbye. He was a bit sad to see him go, their conversation having been relatively entertaining. He yells out a quick “Come back soon!” Before Kyborg exits the door.

- He doesn’t expect to see the same steampunk blonde enter his parlor a week later, carrying a portfolio and a tattoo gun that can apparently be transferred to his left arm as a prosthetic.

[lunarifie]

Tftsd Flower shop/Tattoo Parlor AU

(Set in modern times)

Part 1 / Part 2

- Bart and Gum Gum have known each other ever since they were placed in foster care. They stuck around each other until they were 18 and legally allowed to take care of themselves. They end up renting an apartment, doing freelance gigs and odd jobs to keep themselves afloat.

- At some point, Bart runs into his past mentor, Marge, a tattoo artist who’d taught him a few things back in the day. She claims that Bart’s a natural artist, and that she has plans on retiring after holding onto her tattoo parlor for some time now. But to do so, she needs to hand it off to someone she can trust, therefore, she takes Bart as her apprentice.

- After a year or two, Bart picks it up relatively quickly and replaces Marge as the owner/main tattoo artist. He keeps the parlors name “The Jebediah” in honor of his mentor.

- With a now sustainable job, Bart tries to train and hire Gum Gum, but after a few months, its obvious that Gum Gum doesn’t have the same talent as Bart. Gum Gum admits that he can’t see himself inflicting pain on others for the sake of art (only for the sake of protection). Bart understands, and knowing Gum Gum’s affinity for flowers, convinces him to try and apply to the newly implemented flower/coffee shop down the street, known as Mudd’s Plants and Coffee.

- Gum Gum enters the shop and immediately forgets what he was there for, entranced by the variety of plants and differing floral. He notices a dried up plant hidden behind a big-leafed one, nudging it closer to the sun and hydrating it with a nearby watering can.

- Gum Gum jumps when he hears a - “What do you think you’re doing?” - from behind, turning around to face the tall shopkeeper. The shopkeeper stares at him sternly before widening his eyes and cursing, shoving past Gum Gum to inspect the almost dying plant.

- He reaches for the watering can but Gum Gum interjects, “don’t worry! I already watered it. If you do that again it’ll drown.”

- Mudd pauses, hand hovering over the watering can as he eyes Gum Gum, “customers aren’t supposed to mess with the plants…”

- “I wasn’t messing with it, I was helping it.”

- “Uh huh.” Already annoyed by this meddling customer, Mudd asks Gum Gum if theres anything he can help with, ready to have this person on their way.

- “Actually, yeah. I’m here to apply for a job, do you know where the shop owner is?”

- “I am the shop owner.”

- Gum Gum blinks, staring blankly at Mudd before splitting into a wide grin. “Perfect!”

- Mudd is hesitant in considering the applicant at first, but with the surge of customers who want to try out the aesthetically pleasing cafe/plant shop, he can use all the help he could get.

- Mudd is often busy at the counter, ringing up orders, brewing coffee, and adding his signature herbs to his recipes. Its hard for him to pay attention to every single plant and flower in his shop.

- After a week or so, he notices he no longer has to rush to his plants to make sure they’re healthy. From the counter, he can see his flowers blooming, bright and vibrant thanks to his new employee. Its obvious that Gum Gum has a talent for finding the dying forgotten plants and helping them thrive.

- Bart is ecstatic over Gum Gum getting a secure job, teasing him over it, “my boys all grown up!” He often takes short trips to Mudd’s shop to visit Gum Gum, whose always excited to see him and greets him with a “Bart!”

- Eventually, Mudd ends up introducing himself after the red-heads name is yelled enough times.