Work Text:
Ink was a very interesting form of art, he would give it that.
It didn't have the same appeal as the sight of a firework going off and it certainly didn't have that certain sensation that the sound and feeling of when the explosions goes off; the sensation of the shockwave, the sensation of having his ears ringing when his ear drums popped and then there was the scent of fire and gun powder that always left him with a sense of peace instead of the usual panic and anxiety it gives others.
Explosions weren't a very safe medium and certainly not a sane person's.
He always held it as a cut above any other type of art and nothing would ever change his mind on it.
Yet when Deidara passes the newly opened shop he is stopped in his tracks when he sees one of the tattoos designs through the window. In all honesty it completely catches him by surprise since normally nothing of ink and paper has ever drawn his eye to it before. Slowly he pushes the door open into the shop, so focused on the design before him that nothing else seems to catch his attention.
The shop itself was a soothing dark crimson; with many other tattoo designs on display with comfortable chairs in the front and there being a glass viewing case full of piercings of sterling silver and gold that shimmer in the soft glow of the Japanese lanterns. There's a large red curtain that looks to lead to the back-most likely where the tattoo artists go to tend to clients.
Yet nothing else existed as he stared at the art before him.
The young blonde with his fishnet mesh tank top, his ripped jeans with his sneakers and his own lip and ear piercings had his blue eyes fixated on the artwork before him. Never in his life has a drawing ever drawn him in to a shop like this. Never has it spoken to him like this-silent and flat, nothing like the beauty of explosions-and he almost wanted to reach out to touch it in the hopes maybe that would bring him some sort of answer.
While ink could never capture it completely, Deidara was entranced at the tattoo of fireworks before him; it was like someone had taken one of his very own amazing explosion and put it on this piece of paper with black, yellow and red ink. He swallowed thickly as he raised his manicured hand to touch over it as he felt his chest tightening.
Who made this? Was it available for purchase? Was it to be used as a reference for a tattoo? How much-
"Oh! Helloooo!"
Deidara jolted out of his trance with an annoying voice breaks through; ruining the moment completely. He turned sharply and grimaced when he sees who had dared to interrupt him.
A man around his age stands behind the glass case. He was wearing a snug turtleneck and gloves with a pair of black slacks, while an orange medical mask adorned his face. His right eye was a stunning onyx while his left was closed and he had spiky charcoal hair as well. Despite his off appearance he also looked rather cheerful as he waved at Deidara.
"My my my you're my first customer to come in today! See anything you like? Tobi drew almost all the tattoo images in the shop!"
"...Tobi?" Deidara raised a brow before he turned back to the tattoo design that has a iron grip on his soul. He leaned in to see a name was written in the corner in kanji and indeed there was was. The name 'Tobi' written rather neatly and nicely. So someone named Tobi drew this huh?
The man nodded, "Mhm mhm mhm, that's me! I am Tobi and Tobi is me!"
...You have got to be fucking kidding me, Deidara's eye twitched as he stares at the weirdo standing before him. This guy. This guy drew this. He drew something that for once made him stop whatever he was doing and come right in to make sure he was seeing this work of art the way it was intended to be.
Who for a moment made him question if his own philosophy of art being an explosion.
"You drew this, un?" he turned the image around for this Tobi guy to see.
"Yep! You have a good eye!" Tobi hummed as he leaned on the counter and rested his cheek on his hand, "I'm particularly proud of that one though it's not my most popular piece. Most people prefer my kitties or my more macabre work. But I'm still proud of all my pieces!"
Don't know why, this is the only good one, Deidara cleared his throat, "Hmph. This is a pretty okay design of an explosion I guess, un..."
"Oh?" Tobi tilted his head.
"I mean it's not something that would go in a museum, but I guess it's pretty good, un," He needed to not let him know that he liked it so much. His pride wouldn't allow it! If he could go four years without his old college roommate with the damned puppets changing his mind there was no way someone who just tattoos drawings on to skin was going to hear him-
"I'm so happy you like it so much!" Gloved hands close over Deidara's hand and suddenly he is being tugged forwards, "You're my first customer of the day, so you get a half priced tattoo! Did you have anywhere in particular you wanted it or did you want me to surprise ya?"
He was completely blindsided as he was pulled around the glass counter completely flabbergasted as he is pulled towards the curtain, "W-wait wait wait i didn't agree to get a tattoo I-"
"Ooohoho a surprise then! I have just the place to put it! You seem like quite the firecracker, Tobi likes firecrackers! They always seem drawn to Tobi's lesser known works! Come come, let's get you comfortable!"
"But but but but-!" Deidara attempted another protest, only to disappear behind the curtain as he was nudged forwards into the tattoo artist's space.
Hence when Deidara leaves the shop later he is starting at the foil around his arm and trying to fight down a slight smile while short quite the amount of yen...and that he was thinking of going back in a week or two to try and be the first customer again.