How Green Becomes Wood

"Oh cool," Sloan sighed, relieved, "I don't want to know what Peter would pick for me." Then she turned to Austin with a smile, "I'll get one if you do, we can look foolish together."
 
Austin gave her a shy smile. "Okay. Cool."

"The logo of your rival troupe, of course," Peter teased.

Becky stood up when her tattoo was finished and showed it off. "Look at it! It's so perfect! I love it!!"

"Wow, it looks really great!" Alec confirmed, marveling at it.

"Okay, your turn," Becky told him, giving him a little push.

"Alright," Alec chuckled.

Xander stepped up to the artist. "Actually, I'm the one picking out his, and it's supposed to be a secret."
 
Just before the artist finished Becky's face tattoo, she took a big fluffy brush and lightly dusted her face with cosmetic-grade glitter, so the whole thing shimmered.

"I'm not a girl scout," Sloan laughed, "That looks great, Becky, you did a great job."

Milo looked down at his camera, this was a rare moment he wished he had a polaroid. He didn't really like posed photographs, but he kind of liked... well, he supposed the aesthetic was fun, and he liked the idea of putting them all together. So, barely able to say the words at an audible volume because of his nervousness of actually speaking to someone he had never initiated conversation with before, he asked Becky, "could i, uh, take... um, i think it'd be cool if we all... you know...could i take a, a photograph. of the--face paint."

At this request, the artist's eyes lit up, "I think that sounds so much fun. Yes, absolutely. Okay you," she looked at Alec, "shut your eyes, and you can just point to what you want to get, okay? And then point to the colour or colours you want it to be in."
 
Becky gasped and clapped her hands in delight. "Oh, that is a lovely idea, Mike! I love it! Do you want to get individual pictures of each person's tattoo, as well, or just one of all of us together?"

Before he covered his eyes, Alec commented to the lady, "You look really familiar. You remind me of a lady who used to work in my uncle's store. She had a sword in a stone on her desk and went to study in Ireland." He then properly covered his eyes.

Xander made sure they were covered and then pointed to a snake coming out of a skull for rhe image and black and grey for the colors, smirking as he did so.
 
"I thought, um, individually," Milo replied, too embarrassed to correct her on his name, "That way I could make, um, a collage, you know?"

"Really?" The artist laughed, "That's funny!" Then, after Xander picked the design and colours, she asked, "And where are we putting it? I know earlier he told me he might want it on his arm somewhere."
 
"Oh, wow! I like that idea a lot, and it'll be easier to see the tatts," Becky agreed. "I'm totally game for that! How do you want me? Where's the best angle?"

"Arm is good," Xander agreed. "Is there a good spot where it'll last the longest?"
 
"Um..." Milo looked around the space and then pointed to a nicely decorated area, "There. That's good. The lighting is good. And then really however you want to pose. Just so I can see the... you know."

The artist clicked her tongue, "I mean really they last pretty well most places. I've had this one," she pointed to her inner wrist, where she had a rabbit done in a rainbow gradient, "since Wednesday. The upper forearm or upper arm can last a bit better, since they're less likely to be bumped when you're washing your hands, but it's February, so it may be hidden a lot."
 
"What are you going to get?" Becky asked, moving to stand where Milo indicated. She struck a pose, reconsidered, and tried something that looked at least a little more natural, her tattoo on display. "How's this?"

"Upper wrist, then," Xander agreed. "That'll be perfect."
 
"Oh, uh, I don't... I don't know," Milo replied, taking a few photographs of her, "Haven't really, um, looked."

"Alright," The artist replied, and after Alec gave her his wrist, she got to work.
 
"Hmm, do you know what you remind me of?" Becky asked, turning when he was done. "You remind me of a Renaissance unicorn! The shy, quiet, retiring type. I bet, though, if I got you mad, you'd do something about it, just like a unicorn would." She tapped her lower lip thoughtfully. "I guess a deer would be a real-world comparison. Or maybe a harbor seal. I don't know a lot about them, not as much as I know about unicorns, but they have those big, adorable eyes, and they always look so shy and friendly!" She giggled, using her hands as she talked to draw vague shapes in the air of what she saw. "Maybe you could get one of those. Or possibly an owl with the way you sit back and just watch everything." She smiled at him, her dimples coming through. "I'm kind of jealous. I am so bad at sitting still and not being, well, center stage!" She waved her hands dramatically to make her point.

Alec tried not to watch, but Xander did shamelessly. "Not bad," he commented, nodding.

"She's that good?" Alec moaned. "I can't wait to see it!"
 
Milo stared at Becky in surprise, not knowing what to say to literally any of that. He swallowed awkwardly after nodding along to everything he said, "I just, you know, um." Then he shook his head and shrugged, "I dunno. Different strokes, I guess."

"Hey, you keep your eyes closed," The artist laughed, "I'm almost done, but you can't see it until I'm finished."
 
"Sorry, I talked too much and scared you, didn't I?" Becky said sheepishly. "Sorry. My bad. I tend to do that. Will you show me your collage when you're done?"

"I'm trying," Alec assured her, holding as still as he could, his eyes closed. "I can't see anything at all."
 
"No, it---it's okay," Milo replied awkwardly, "Yeah, I'll... I'll show it to you."

"You're almost done," The artist promised, and after a few more finishing touches, she removed the stencil, "Okay, there. You can look now."
 
"Really?" Becky's face lit up in a smile. "That's awesome! Thanks! Oh, Alec's tattoo is done! Let's go see!" She reached out absently to take Milo's hand but wouldn't mind if he pulled away to avoid that, already focused on dashing over to see Alec's tattoo.

Alec opened his eyes and looked at it. "A snake and a skull!" he yelped. "I'm a delinquint!" Then he laughed and shrugged. "It looks fantastic. Really!" He stood so Xander could take his spot. "Nice choice."

When Xander closed his eyes, Alec scanned the options until he found a ridiculously adorable octopus waving its tentacles. Then chose pink and blue and whispered for her to do whatever she wanted with the colors and possibly glitter.
 
Milo blushed deeply when Becky grabbed his hand and was much too anxious to pull away as she dragged him back to the group.

"Can I see what you got?" Milo asked, looking over at Alec.

"It makes you look very hardcore," The artist grin, "Are we putting this one in the same place? I can do the same area on the wrist but the opposite arm for a little twin moment?"
 
"Yes! Definitely! Go for it!" Alec grinned. He turned and showed Milo his grey skull and black snake. "It looks really cool, don't you think?" He turned to show Emma, as well.

"It is... different," she said with a tight little smile. "I'm just glad it's not permanent."

"I think it looks super cool! Hardcore!" Becky enthused.
 
"I think your dad would freaking love it," Sloan grinned, "It makes you very much look like his kid."

"I um, thought it'd be cool to take pictures of all of them," Milo said, "make a collage, you know? But you can say no."

"Are you feeling nervous?" The artist asked Xander as she began to work on him. "Since you set the tone and all, you may end up with one as payback."
 
Alec laughed. "You're absolutely right! He glanced toward Xander. "Once he's done, we'll go show him." He turned to Milo and smiled. "Alright, let's do it!" he agreed. He still held hesitations that he didn't understand toward cameras, but he didn't want to say no to Milo. It was such an innocent request.

"Nah," Xander assured her, trying not to flinch or twitch. "I wouldn't expect anything less, and, hey, it's just a temp tat. If I really hate it, I can do something about it. I doubt I'll need to, though."
 
"I took Becky's over there," He pointed, "It'll be quick, and if you want it can just be your wrist. Actually, um, do you think you'll get another? Because if you want that, maybe it'd be better to wait? I don't want to stress you."

"That's a good attitude to have," The artist said as she worked, "You wouldn't believe how grumpy some people get about it. You'll have a whole group of people wanting to have fun and that one curmudgeon."
 
"Thanks, Milo," Alec said softly and sincerely. "Actually, I would like to get another, but I want to wait until the others get theirs first. Just in case we run out of time. I hope you don't mind waiting."

"Oh, I understand that," Xander said, thinking of Emma. He carefully did not say anything or even look.
 
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