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Gideon always held a special place in his heart for tattoos.
Growing up, tattoos were a sign of remembrance. His fathers arms were covered in flaming tattoos to honor his Genasi mother. Whose flame extinguished shortly after giving birth to him.
Not long after his father was killed by hobgoblins and he was trapped on that cursed train, tattoos meant something different to Gideon. They were a source of freedom when everything else had been taken from him.
After long hours feeding the hobgoblin’s train, Gideon was allowed a few hours of rest before starting the cycle again. Although he would mainly use the time to eat and sleep, he would sometimes observe the other prisoners near him.
One prisoner, Gideon faintly remembers being named Noah, had a needle and ink, and would do stick-and-poke tattoos on himself and any other prisoners interested. ‘As a way to take back control over our bodies’ he would say, and after some time, taught Gideon the basics of tattoo work.
Gideon’s first tattoo was done by Noah, and was a very simple outline of a mountain ridge he could see from his childhood home in Yona. Even for its crudeness, it reminded Gideon of his home and brought him comfort in the long hard days fighting for freedom.
When Gideon finally broke free from his chains on that horrid train, he had the clothes on his back and in his hand, Noah’s needle and ink.
To make ends meet, Gideon started selling his services as a tattoo artist and swiftly gained experience in the craft.
He could multitask easily, talking to a client while creating detailed designs with needle and ink. Eventually, learning how to use a tattoo gun allowed him to do a variety of designs and increased interest from clients. With the funds from his craft, he was able to buy a small tattoo parlor in the downtown district of Agwae.
Gideon enjoyed his craft, it kept his hands busy and there was always something new to learn. As he gained more experience, he also practiced his work on himself, now littering his arms with art. Black ink flames on his neck and calves complimented the natural ones gifted to him from his mother. A wild Meadowlark on his left bicep represented his father, and thick black chain tattoos engraved with the year of his enslavement and freedom on his left and right wrists respectively represented his captivity and strength to set himself free. Beyond these ones, he added a few each year of anything cool or complex he wanted to add to his growing collection.
Now, somewhere in his thirties, he could dismantle and reassemble a tattoo parlor gun without even trying. He even moved to a bigger tattoo parlor last year after cosigning on a building with a prodigy tabaxi. Morning Frost, even though he was a stick-in-the-mud often, handled a lot of the finances that honestly gave Gideon a headache just to look at.
Said stick-in-the-mud had just walked into the parlor looking weary and already done with the week even though it was only the equivalent of Tuesday.
“Hmn. Good morning Gideon”
“Mornin’ Frosty”
“I believe I will take an extra long break for lunch today as there is a new shop called 'Lecroux' opening farther down the road from us”
“Oh is that so? Well you can tell me all about it as you stay extra late today”
“Hmph. Well, I guess that is only fair. Now if you excuse me, I must prepare for the day. I have a client booked for a three hour session later today.”
Gideon grimaced. “Yeah ok Frosty, I’ll stay out of your way”
With their morning greetings completed, both friends set into their morning routines of opening the parlor. Although they both disagreed on many subjects, Gideon and Frost worked well together. Their knack for finer details and dedication to their craft gave their parlor, simply called Agwae Tattoo Parlor, a reputation of quality that hardly ever left them without customers.
Soon enough, it was time for their lunch break. Gideon, only a little disgruntled that he would have to eat lunch by himself, said goodbye to Frost as he went downtown to see this new shop.
And right on the hour mark, Frost came back to the shop with a distant look on his face.
“So, how was the shop man? L..la something?”
“Lecroux, and. Well.” Frost stopped and paused, “It was very interesting.”
“Come on man! There’s got to be more to say than just ‘interesting’, what type ‘a shop was it?” Gideon leaned closer on the counter.
“Well, if you must know, it is a plant shop, with some pretty overcharged wares, are you content now?” Frost glanced around the room and his tail twitched slightly, clearly irritated.
“Alright alright man! Geez! I don’t get you sometimes Frosty” Gideon griped, before going back to work.
Even though Frost said the store was overpriced, he left almost daily during his lunch break to go to this plant store. Which left Gideon eating alone most days, not that didn’t like being alone! No, thats not it, he just wants to know whats the big deal about this so-called “Lecroux” plant store. It wasn’t even a good plant store name! How were you supposed to know they sell plants! He didn’t get it. Frost never actually buys anything there either so it must be something else catching the tabaxi’s attention and Gideon was going to get to the bottom of it.
The next day when Frost mentioned leaving during lunch to “check for new plants” at Lecroux Gideon jumped at the (non-existent) invitation to join.
“I hafta know more about this place, since you find it so ‘fascinating’ to go visit almost every damn day!”
“Hm. Very well, you may join me. Just, well, nevermind”
“What? What were ya gonna say hm?” Gideon asked while grabbing his flannel and keys to lock up to store while they were out.
“Just don’t say anything embarrassing while we are there” Frost shuffled in his robe.
“Is that so?” Gideon asked with a grin. “Is there someone you are trying to impress?”
“Of course not! Just, well, we should just go” Frost said before speeding off in the direction of the plant store.
Gideon snorted. It was surprisingly easy to get under the tabaxi’s cool demeanor if you knew the right buttons to push.
Rolling his shoulders, Gideon walked down the street to find out what's so interesting about a store called Lecroux.