Work Text:
“Phainon! You have an appointment in fifteen minutes!” Hyacine called.
“Yes, ma’am!” Phainon called back, spinning in his chair towards his desk to gather some of his notebooks. If he remembered correctly, this client didn’t want anything pre-drawn but it was good to have options regardless because the number of indecisive clients he’s had is ridiculous.
In the time it took Phainon to organise his little room, the client had arrived already because the next thing he knew, someone was knocking on the ajar door. He looked up and made eye contact with, quite frankly, the most beautiful man he had ever laid eyes on. His mouth ran dry and he cleared his throat, almost dropping the book he was holding as he stood and fumbled to put it down.
“Uh, Mydeimos, right?” Phainon asked, holding his hand out.
“Mydei.” The man said, his lips quirked up just the slightest bit as he took Phainon’s hand to shake. As far as Phainon could see, he didn’t appear to have any tattoos, but then again he was also dressed in trousers and a sweater so there could be some hidden gems beneath them.
“Mydei.” He nodded. “I’m Phainon. Do you know what you wanna get today? I can show you some examples of my work if you’d like?”
“It’s fine.” Mydei shook his head. He grabbed the ends of his sweater and just took it off. Phainon felt faint as he traced his eyes over Mydei’s well-built body, all sharp lines and well-defined muscles and the red. He had red tattoos all over his chest, in bright and bold strikes, although some of them looked unfinished.
“Nice linework.” Phainon hummed, tilting his head as he examined Mydei’s body, and the tattoos of course.
“They’re unfinished.”
“I thought as much. You want them finished?”
“If you can follow the same linework and expand, yeah.”
“Where do you want it? Other than continuing the ones on your chest?”
“Arms.” Mydei tapped his biceps and upper arms. “Back. My hips and a bit on the thighs.”
Thighs. Right. Phainon’s might went blissfully blank for a second before the professional part of it slapped him back into awareness. “Sure, that’s fine. You wanna sit down while I get some stencils done and we’ll see if you like how they look?”
Mydei nodded silently, sitting on the chair by Phainon’s desk as the white-haired man got to work sketching, having to look up every so often and examine the tattoos to make sure they looked right. “So, any particular reason you picked this place?”
“Cipher did my ears. She said there was a good tattoo artist here who could replicate the work I wanted.” Mydei shrugged and Phainon’s eyes flicked up to the gold earrings dangling from his ears, embedded with deep blue gems.
“Cipher, huh? Well she’s good for business at least.” Phainon murmured under his breath. “How come I’ve never seen you here before then?”
“Beats me.” Mydei went silent before he spoke up once more. “Your receptionist was singing your praises too, so I hope you can deliver.”
“Ah, Hyacine’s too sweet.” Phainon chuckled sheepishly. “You’re in good hands, Mydei.” Mydei hummed.
“Alright, let’s try this on.” Phainon stood after a while and pasted the stencils onto Mydei’s body, smoothing them out and trying to ignore how solid Mydei felt under his hands. He took a step back and examined them, humming. “They look good to me, there’s a mirror over there.”
Mydei craned his neck to examine the stencils now all over his chest, connecting his existing tattoos to them and nodded in satisfaction. “Good.”
“After you.” Phainon dramatically swept his arm towards the chair in the middle of the room and sat on his spinning chair, gathering all his materials and snapping his gloves on. “So, we’re going over the ribs which is going to be painful. I have some numbing cream –”
“I can take it.” Mydei denied.
“Are you… sure…”
“I will be fine.” Mydei emphasised, crossing his arms over his chest.
“If you say so.” Phainon sighed, putting the numbing cream away to grab his needle. “Let me know if you need a break, alright?”
“I won’t but okay.”
True to his word, Mydei did not need a break. Phainon pushed through the little twinge in the small of his back and finished off the last bit of red on a long line before he sat back and cracked his fingers. “Hope you’re aware this is gonna take a couple sessions.”
“I know.” Mydei nodded.
“Alright, we’ll stop there for today.” Phainon put the needle down and went through his rehearsed spiel about aftercare as he cleaned up, then he waved Mydei off and hung around behind his door to watch the blonde man walk out of the parlour before he slumped into the reception and threw himself against the desk.
“Oh dear lord.” Hyacine sighed, poking his forehead. “Phainon, you can’t do that here.”
“Hyacine.” He lifted his head, giving her a miserable look. “He’s gorgeous!”
“That’s why I hyped you up to him.” She gave him a little smile before noticing the door behind her open. “Oh, Aglaea, hi.”
“Hyacine, Phainon. Is he… alright?” Aglaea gave Phainon a look.
“Aglaea, I just had the most beautiful client and I’m tattooing him everywhere.”
“Oh?” Aglaea’s eyebrows raised. “Interested, are you?”
“He’s so out of my league.” Phainon groaned, slumping against the counter again; Hyacine and Aglaea share a look.
cyweenie
i
am in love
????????
cyrene
i met a man today
oh gods
i was tattooing him
but wow
what a man
he’s gorgeous
okay and did u ask for his number
lmaooooo
ur funny
phainon 😭
listen
listening
i got nothing
ur hopeless
Cas
I found someone to continue my tattoos
really?
that’s great mydei, i’m glad!
how did it go?
Well
He’s… enthusiastic
👀
None of that, Cas
mhm
if u say so!
goldweaver’s tat parlour
boss lady aglaea
Phainon is interested in someone.
Romantically.
cipher 🐱
👀
is it who i think it is
cinny 🦄
who do u think it is
cipher 🐱
is it mydei
u all need to shut up
and stop meddling
cipher 🐱
so it is mydei
lol
cinny 🦄
it’s cute, phainon!
i hate u all
“Hi, Mydei.” Hyacine smiled when she saw Mydei walk back into the parlour a week later.
“Hyacine. I have an appointment.”
“With Phainon, yes!” She giggled, checking something on the computer in front of her. “Happy with his work so far?”
“I’m satisfied.” Mydei crossed his arms over his chest.
“Good! He’s great at what he does, isn’t he? I’ve seen some of his work, it always makes me so envious how artistically talented he is.” She sighed dramatically. “You’re all set, just through there.”
“I remember. Thanks.” Mydei nodded and disappeared.
“Mydeimos again?” Aglaea popped up.
“Gods, Aglaea, you scared me!” Hyacine gasped. “Yes, it’s him.”
“Hm. Interesting.”
“Ahem.” Someone cleared their throat and Hyacine turned back around with an apologetic look.
“Sorry, professor!”
“Shush now, Anaxa.” Aglaea waved him off. “This is more important.”
“What exactly is more important?” Anaxa sighed heavily.
“Her favourite show is on.” Hyacine giggled. “This client, Mydeimos, he’s back for another appointment with Phainon and Phainon really likes him. We think there’s something there.”
“So, you’re meddling. Typical Aglaea.” Anaxa scoffed.
“Oh, be quiet.” Aglaea rolled her eyes.
“Hyacine!” Phainon popped his head out of his door. “Some help with lighting, please? I want to get some photos before I continue. Oh, hey professor.”
“Phainon.” Anaxa nodded in greeting.
“Sure thing! Give me a sec!” Hyacine beamed. “I’ll keep you updated.” She said to Aglaea with a serious expression on her face before she skipped after Phainon with a light in hand.
goldweavers
[image: a picture of the red tattoos on Mydei’s chest, some unfinished. His face is cropped out so it’s just his chest]
[tagged: @mydeimos0847]
❤️ 💬 ↗️
goldweavers 🍷
“Aglaea, the sexual tension in that room was so thick I almost suffocated.” Hyacine reported when she returned to her spot at the reception.
“Do tell.” Aglaea rested her chin in the palm of her hand.
“They were just bantering and talking together and I swear Mydei was flirting a little but I think Phainon is a little dense. It was like I wasn’t even there.” She explained.
“Hm.” Aglaea hummed. “I see.”
“Can I pay?” Anaxa let out an exasperated sigh.
“What the fuck.” Phainon muttered under his breath later the same day as he scrolled through the Instagram account Mydei gave him when he asked which account he should tag in the photos they took. “How is he human?”
Mydei’s profile consisted of a bunch of very well taken pictures, some of him and some of what Phainon assumed were his surroundings. There were several that looked to be a library, some of food and a very liberal amount of gym mirror selfies that Phainon spent too long staring at.
Then he stumbled upon a picture of Mydei with his arm around a shorter, smaller girl with light purple hair. She had a small smile on her face and was leaned against him. The account tagged led him to her profile and she was apparently named Castorice, a student at the university near here. Were her and Mydei involved, then?
He turned his phone off before he sent himself into an overthinking spiral and groaned. Why did Mydei have to be so attractive?
Two seconds later, he picked his phone back up.
cyweenie
his instagram is insane
also he posted a pic with a girl
they look close
should i be worried
im worried
cyrene
CYRENE
DON’T ABANDON ME IN MY TIME OF NEED
I WAS IN THE BATHROOM
WHAT IS YOUR ISSUE
YOU GOT HIS INSTAGRAM????
ATTABOY
well
…
more like i asked for it to tag him in the pics i posted on the tattoo parlour acc
COWARD
LEAVE ME ALONE
IM SENSITIVE RN
MF
THAT CANNOT ALWAYS BE UR EXCUSE
WATCH ME
“Goldweaver’s tattoo parlour; this is Aglaea speaking, how can I help?”
“Can I book an appointment for Phainon to continue my tattoo? Under Mydeimos.”
“Unfortunately, Phainon is away this week on personal business. Would you like me to book you under one of our other artists?” Aglaea asked.
“No, it’s… fine.” If she heard correctly, he sounded pretty sulky and resigned.
“If you’d like, I can book you in for when he gets back next week. Would that work?”
“Yes. Thank you.” Mydei responded, begrudgingly thankful.
“Of course, happy to help.” She went silent, the only sound heard was the clacking of keys. “Alright, I have you booked in for Tuesday next week. We’ll send a message to confirm the day before.”
“Thanks.”
“Have a good day!”
boss lady aglaea
Mydeimos just called to make an appointment at the parlour.
When I told him you were not available, he sounded dejected.
I offered to book him with someone else and he refused.
He’s booked in for when you get back :).
???????
what am i supposed to do w this info
Well, clearly he’s interested in you.
maybe he just likes my tattooing skills
Phainon.
Trust my instincts on this.
ur looking into it too much
You’re unbelievably obtuse.
rude
This time, when Mydei steps into Phainon’s tattooing room, the other man does not look as energised as usual. It’s all small tells but Mydei likes to think he’s good at reading people; Phainon’s hair is more mussed up, his jaw is clenched and there are just the smallest traces of dark circles under his eyes.
“Mydei!” Phainon greeted, turning around and plastering a smile on his face.
“Rough day?” Mydei does not like to waste time or beat around the bush.
“Ah, is it obvious?” Phainon laughed nervously. “Nothing to worry about, just some work stuff.”
“Tell me.” Mydei sat on the chair like he owned it.
“I wouldn’t want to bother you, it’s about another client.”
“Phainon.” Mydei said and Phainon’s eyes shot up to meet Mydei’s, watching his face soften. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“…yeah.” Phainon exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. “We are.”
“So tell me. It’ll make you feel better.”
That was all Phainon needed to sigh and start talking. He rambled on and on as he moved around the room, gathering everything he needed to continue Mydei’s tattoo, ranting about this client he had done a consultation with just before Mydei came in and how disagreeable he was.
“I just don’t get it! Okay, he came in here without a plan but that’s fine, a lot of people do that. But then he shoots down every single idea I give him because it doesn’t match his aesthetic, or the vibes are wrong and he doesn’t tell me why he doesn’t like it! So, I’m stuck here giving suggestions or asking questions that I’m not getting concrete answers to. He refuses to tell me what he wants, I can’t read minds!”
“What’s his address?” Mydei asked nonchalantly.
“I don’t know his… why are you asking?” Phainon whirled around with a suspicious look on his face.
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you again.” Mydei stretched his arms above his head and Phainon’s mouth went dry.
“What.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Have you beaten people up before?” Phainon asked, sounding a little incredulous as he dragged his chair over to Mydei and sat down to start tattooing. “Are you like in the mafia or something? I feel like you have the build for it.”
“Speak for yourself.” Mydei nodded at Phainon’s broad shoulders and defined forearms. “I do boxing, at the gym.”
“Boxing?” Phainon wiggled his eyebrows. “Is that what you do for a living?”
“I’m a librarian.”
“You’re messing with me.” Phainon pulled the needle away from his skin, giving him a wide-eyed look. “There is no way.”
“Are you stereotyping me?”
“No!” He paused. “Okay, maybe a little. I was convinced you did sports professionally or bodyguarding or something, I don’t know!”
“Sorry to disappoint.” Mydei scoffed, laying his head back against the chair and baring his neck. Phainon gulped.
“No, no, not disappointed. Just… surprised.”
“Sure.” Mydei tilted his head to give Phainon a side-glance. “I’ll just assume you’re surprised because you’ve never visited a library before.”
“Hey! I’ll have you know I’m a very well read individual!”
“Mhm.”
When they finish up, Phainon stands still as Mydei puts his shirt back on, twiddling his thumbs and trying to pluck up the courage to ask Mydei a question he’s been wanting to ask for a while.
“Hey, so… since we’re friends and all, does that mean I can have your phone number?”
“Yeah.” Mydei replied without blinking, tossing his phone to Phainon who scrambled to catch it with a squawk. “Good reflexes.”
“You’re insane.” Phainon breathed out. “And your phone is unlocked.”
“It doesn’t have a passcode.” Mydei shrugged, checking his hair in the mirror as Phainon put his number into Mydei’s phone.
“I texted myself from your phone by the way, so I could save it on mine.” Phainon handed the phone back. “I’ll see you next week?”
“Mhm.”
What Phainon didn’t expect was to run into Mydei outside of the tattoo parlour at the gym he frequented. His eyes landed on the blond man the second he walked through the doors, considering it was pretty empty at the moment. Mydei was standing by a punching bag with his hands in punching gloves and the same pretty, purple-haired girl from his Instagram was sitting on a bench beside him.
Phainon let his eyes rest on Mydei for a while, watching him land strong punches to the punching bag, sweat trailing down his neck and disappearing into his shirt. His arms were on full display and he could see the red marks of his tattoos (Phainon’s tattoos) peeking out from his neckline.
Mydei and the girl appeared to be engaged in a conversation but the girls eyes caught his and widened before she said something to Mydei, causing him to turn around and spot Phainon as well. Mydei beckoned Phainon over with a nod of his head and Phainon, helpless, gravitated towards them.
“Fancy seeing you here, Mydei.” Phainon greeted. “I don’t believe we’ve met?” He said to the girl.
“Castorice. You’re the one doing Mydei’s tattoos, right?”
“That I am!” Phainon nodded, forgetting his one-sided beef with her momentarily. “Boxing, huh?”
“I did tell you.” Mydei shrugged.
“How come I’ve never seen you here before then?”
“I’m usually here early morning but I was babysitting last night and this morning so…” He sighed.
“Siblings?”
“My friends sisters. Triplets.” Mydei shook his head.
“They love him.” Castorice giggled.
“They love my food.” Mydei corrected.
“You cook?” Phainon’s eyes widened.
“I cook.” Mydei nodded.
“What can’t you do?”
“Math.” Castorice interjected.
“Castorice.” Mydei groaned.
“Got you beat there.” Phainon grinned.
“I can’t draw either, you have me beat there too.” Mydei admitted.
“Oh no! I have to go, I’m gonna be late!” Castorice gasped, checking her phone as she hurriedly stood up. “I’ll see you later, Mydei. It was nice meeting you, Phainon!”
“Say hi to Polyxia for me.” Mydei ruffled her hair as she waved, leaving the gym. “Hungry?”
“I could eat.”
“Come on, my treat.”
Mydei took him to a small Italian place just around the corner from the gym where the chef greeted him by name and pointed at a table in the back with a smile. “Come here often?” Phainon asked, trying not to think about how intimate the setting was.
“What gave it away?” Mydei deadpanned. “They have good food.” He shrugged.
“I’ll be in your care then.” Phainon smiled. “Just nothing spicy.”
“Weak.”
“Hey!”
cyweenie
he bought me food
[image: a plate of pasta]
[image: a disgruntled Mydei with Phainon’s hand forming a peace sign in the corner]
THAT’S THE GUY YOU’VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH????
ur so right he is out of ur league
i can’t even be mad u said that
bc ur so right
HE’S BEAUTIFUL wow
WAIT
PAUSE
HE BOUGHT U FOOD?????
yea
ran into him at the gym
was this a date
perhaps
perchance
…
i
don’t know
ffs
“Good morning! Here for Phainon?” Hyacine greeted brightly when Mydei walked into the parlour for his next appointment.
“Yeah, I have an appointment.” He nodded.
“You’re all set, he’s in the room.” She smiled.
“Is it fine if Castorice waits here, she’s dropping me off.” He pointed a thumb back at Castorice who came in behind him.
“Of course!” Hyacine nodded.
Before Mydei could walk to the room, the door to it opened and Phainon poked his head out, beaming when he spotted the blonde man. “Mydei! I was worried you got lost.”
“I never get lost.” Mydei scoffed, following him into the room as the door shut in the middle of their chatter. Hyacine snuck a peak at Castorice only to notice the other girl was also looking at her, eyes twinkling.
“I’m not the only one who sees that, right?” Castorice pointed at the door.
“I promise you we all see it.” Hyacine giggled. “We’ve seen it since the first time Mydei came in for a tattoo appointment.”
“He messaged me after that first appointment and I thought there was something there. It’s good to know I wasn’t losing it.” Castorice sighed in relief.
“Oh no, don’t worry, you’re not alone in this. I’m Hyacine by the way!”
“Castorice.” Castorice smiled, shaking her hand.
mydei 🍷🦁
mydei!
coffee tomorrow morning?
What if I was going to the gym?
u can’t go to the gym
u got a tattoo yesterday
Tomorrow morning then
Where?
!!!!!
[location]
mydei 🍷🦁 reacted with ‘👍’
“Morning!” Phainon waved enthusiastically when he approached the coffee shop to find Mydei waiting outside. “Hope I didn’t make you wait too long?”
“I got here early.” Mydei shook his head.
“Come on, this place is great.” Phainon opened the door for him.
cyweenie
on a coffee not-date
not-date?
we’re getting coffee but
i didn’t ask him out on a date
i asked him to get coffee
thus
not-date
please ask him out and end my misery
ignoring u
“That tattoo of yours.” Mydei nodded his head towards it, his ring-adorned fingers wrapped around a steaming mug. Phainon wished they were wrapped around his –
Not the time, Phainon.
“Oh this old thing?” Phainon tugged his collar aside, baring the golden sun on his neck. “I got it the second I turned eighteen.”
“Any particular reason? I haven’t seen very many people with golden tattoos.”
“I haven’t seen many with red ones either.” Phainon smiled mischievously. “It’s gold because that’s Aglaea’s signature colour she tattoos in and she was looking for someone to practice on and I offered.”
“Why a sun? Or is it just a sun without any more meaning?” Mydei leaned back in his chair, legs spread slightly.
“Ah, this is a little embarrassing.” Phainon laughed nervously, sipping from his iced coffee. “My sister, Cyrene, used to make up stories for me as a kid and she made me the protagonist and I had a sword called Dawnmaker so it was kind of an ode to that.”
“Your sister, huh? Cute.” Mydei’s lips quirked up. “She much older than you?”
“Uh –” Phainon fought against the flush threatening to overtake his cheeks. “A couple years, so not too much older, but she’s always had a very vivid imagination. What about you, any siblings?”
“It’s just my mother and I.” Mydei shook his head. “But Castorice and her sister Polyxia are as good as family.”
Family, he said, Phainon internally cheered and fist bumped.
“Is your mother anything like you?”
“She’s much cooler than I could ever dream to be.” Mydei chuckled. “She taught me to box when I was little. Got me into cooking and gave me all her hand-me-down jewellery.”
“She sounds great.” Phainon beamed.
“She is.”
Mom
I met a boy
Oh?
I think I really like him
I’m happy for you, Mydeimos.
Can I meet him?
I want you to
But I have to ask him out first
He’s a little oblivious I think
Do your best, son.
Do you have a picture of him?
[image: a screenshot of a picture on Phainon’s Instagram. It’s a candid of him focussed on drawing something in a notebook]
He’s the one doing my tattoos
He’s very good-looking.
He is
I look forward to meeting him, sweetheart
Mydeimos reacted with ‘❤️’
The next time Mydei goes to the parlour, he has two appointments. One with Phainon as per usual and another with Cipher, to get another piercing. He has Castorice drive him as his bike is still at the service shop and she is more than happy to, having made friends with Hyacine the last time she dropped him off.
“Hello!” Hyacine greeted with her signature bright smile. “Seeing Cipher first today?”
“Mhm.”
“You can go right in.” She waved and Mydei went down a familiar corridor to Cipher’s room, opening the door without knocking.
“Morning, little lion.” Cipher smiled when he walked in.
“Morning.” He sat down in the chair.
“So, what are we thinking?”
Mydei merely tapped his nose. “Septum.”
“I like your style, little lion.” She giggled. “Alright, settle in. This shouldn’t take too long.”
He sat back and closed his eyes while Cipher got everything she needed ready. The pain was minimal, or maybe Mydei’s pain tolerance was just very high, but it barely hurt and then he was finished, wiping his watering eyes.
“I hear you’re seeing Phainon after this.” Cipher said casually as she cleaned up.
“Continuing the red tattoos. We’re done with the chest and arms so it’s just the thighs and back left.” Mydei explained.
“Asking him out anytime soon?”
“Why is that any of your business? Besides, I don’t even know if he likes men.”
“Oh, he does. Trust me on that one.” She snorted. “But hey, keep your secrets.”
“Watch me.” He grumbled, following her out into the reception where Castorice was chatting with Hyacine and another green-haired man.
“That looks great, Mydei!” Castorice smiled when she saw his new piercing. “Oh this is Professor Anaxa, he teaches my Philosophy class.”
“So, you’re Mydeimos.” Anaxa hummed. “Phainon’s new project, huh?”
“I… suppose so.” Mydei replied slowly.
“Good luck.” Anaxa said seriously, patting Mydei on the shoulder before he left.
“What.”
“Don’t mind him. Professor Anaxa is a little eccentric.” Castorice hid a giggle.
“He was wishing you luck on your romantic endeavours.” Cipher teased.
“You be quiet.” Mydei threatened. “I’m going in now.”
“Bye, little lion.” Cipher said in a sing-song tone. Mydei threw up a middle finger behind him as he walked, opening the door to Phainon’s room.
“Mydei, hey –” Phainon turned with a bright smile but furrowed his eyebrows upon noticing something. “Something wrong? Your eyes –”
Mydei brushed his palm over his eyes quickly. “’S fine. I just got a piercing and my eyes watered.” He pointed at his nose.
“Oh!” Phainon made a sound of realisation. “Had me worried for a sec, I thought I was going to have to beat someone up.”
“Like you could.” Mydei scoffed.
“Looks nice, by the way.” Phainon offered. “The piercing. It suits you. Gold suits you.”
“Thanks.” Mydei’s lips quirked up in a slight smile. “Legs today?”
“If you’ve got it in you.”
“Trust me, I can take it.” Mydei raised his eyebrows. “I assume these need to come off.” He slipped two fingers beneath the waistband of his trousers.
“Uh, yeah.” Phainon nodded, whipping his head away just as Mydei started taking them off. When he turned back around, the blonde was already on the chair in just his boxers. Gods, grant me mercy, Phainon pleaded. “Ready?”
“Always.” Mydei smirked.
It was a few hours later that the incessant buzzing of the tattoo gun ceased and Phainon sat back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head and cracking his back. “My back is gonna be so sore.”
“Weak.” Mydei teased, going to stand and stumbling as soon as he was on his feet. His eyes widened and he would have toppled right over had Phainon not caught him around the waist and sat him back down on the chair.
“I know I have a tendency to make people weak in the knees but damn, you too?” Phainon laughed.
“Have you seen yourself?” Mydei deadpanned and Phainon froze. That might have been the boldest comment from Mydei yet and Phainon just didn’t know how to react. He could feel his cheeks growing warmer and he took an involuntary step back. “You okay?”
“Haha! Yeah! Let me… grab you a drink.” Phainon rushed to get out before he practically ran from the room, leaving Mydei in there confused. Later, after he paid and left with Castorice, he told her what had happened.
“Ohh, I saw him leave the room and run to Hyacine. He was really red.” Castorice said, nodding with wide eyes. “Mydei, I think you should go for it.”
“Really red, huh?” Mydei mused.
cyweenie
he complimented me today
<3
?
he stumbled after the tat
cause his legs were numb
and i caught him and said smthn abt making peoples knees weak
and he just goes
“have u seen yourself”
cyrene.
oh that was smooth asf
i panicked
and ran from the room to get him a drink
LMAOOOOOO
DON’T LAUGH AT MY MISERY????/
THEN ASK HIM OUT
HE’S CLEARLY INTO U
BUT!
HE’S SO OUT OF MY LEAGUE
brother WHY is ur self-esteem in the gutter
idk built diff
kys
painon reacted with ‘👎’
“I’m never seeing him again after this.” Phainon groaned, draping himself over the reception desk.
“Now, now.” Hyacine said soothingly, patting the top of his head. “I’m sure it won’t be. You have his number, don’t you?”
“It’s not the same! I don’t need an excuse when he comes here to get tattooed.”
“Phainon, I think you need to man up and ask him out.” Aglaea sighed.
“You’re crazy.”
“What’s the worst that could happen?” Hyacine asked.
“He could say no?” Phainon’s eyes widened as he thought of that dreadful possibility. “He could reject me and then I’ll be miserable and depressed and I won’t leave my place for weeks and I’ll only eat instant ramen and ice cream and cry myself into a dehydrated husk and –”
“You’re so dramatic.” Aglaea facepalmed. “Why did I hire you?”
“Oh, so you hate me.”
“Phainon…”
“Mydei!” Hyacine broke up their conversation by calling out loudly as the door opened. Phainon stood up straight and wiped the pout off his face, beaming at the blonde.
“There he is!” Phainon waved.
“Here I am.” Mydei nodded.
“No Cassie?” Hyacine asked.
“My bike’s fixed so she didn’t need to drop me off today. She’s considering her own tattoo though so she’ll probably be back.” Mydei offered.
“Bike?” Phainon’s eyes widened and he tossed an arm around Mydei’s shoulders. “Tell me more, come on!”
“How does he not see it?” Aglaea murmured, watching the pair disappear into Phainon’s room.
“Gods know.” Hyacine sighed. “I miss Cassie already.”
“Well, that’s all of it done.” Phainon stepped back, admiring his handiwork. His ink done by his hand all over Mydei’s body. Something about it unlocked something deep in Phainon, a blazing fire in the pit of his stomach.
“I love it.” Mydei looked in the mirror, tracing his eyes over all the red strokes that overlapped perfectly with the ones Hephaestion started all that time ago. “Thank you.”
“It’s my job.” Phainon laughed lightly.
“So it is.” Mydei hummed, putting his shirt back on and Phainon internally mourned the loss of that golden skin, watching it disappear from view. “Say…”
“Yeah?” Phainon turned around to see Mydei much closer to him than before, so close in fact, that he could feel his breath brushing against Phainon’s paler skin.
“Now that we’re done…”
“Uh huh…” Phainon gulped, feeling warm from the intensity of Mydei’s gaze.
“Can I take you out?”
“Can you… what?” Phainon’s eyes widened as he processed what Mydei had asked him. “You – really?”
“You’re either really stupid or just oblivious as hell.” Mydei deadpanned, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Hey!” Phainon pouted and Mydei took hold of his chin, his thumb on one side of his mouth and his other four fingers on the other side. They locked eyes; warm, intense gold with swirling deep blue. “Mydei…”
“Phainon.” Mydei’s voice went low, the name flowing from his tongue as smooth as butter, stirring something in Phainon. “Let me take you out. On a date.”
“Hm? Oh, yeah.” Phainon nodded, in a daze. Mydei smiled, leaning in to press a kiss to Phainon’s flushed cheek before he let go.
“I’ll message you.” He said, tossing a wave over his shoulder as he left the room. Phainon waited ten minutes and then peeked into the reception, seeing it lacking Mydei. He barely made it to the desk before he slumped against the wall.
“I’m never recovering.” He whispered to Hyacine. “I am simultaneously so turned on and romanced.”
“I will pay you to never tell me that.” Hyacine pulled a face. “Did he ask you out?”
“How’d you know?”
“He looked really proud of himself.” Hyacine giggled. “Told you it’d work out, didn’t we?”
“Ugh, shut up.”
“So how’d the date go?”
“I need to marry him.”
“That good?”
“Yes! Cyrene, he’s – I don’t even have the words.”
“Walk me through it, Phainon, come on.”
“Okay, well he wanted to pick me up but he doesn’t have a second helmet for his bike so we met at the restaurant instead. He did say he’d buy a second helmet though.”
“Do you frequent all the good food places in the city?” Phainon asked when they were sat at a booth in the restaurant Mydei suggested.
“Most of these places my mother shows me.” Mydei admitted. “She’s a big foodie, I learned to cook so I could make her her favourite things.”
“You’re a sweetheart under that tough exterior, aren’t you?” Phainon cooed.
“Sure.” Mydei rolled his eyes playfully. “Am I picking for you again?”
“I’m in your safe hands tonight, Mydeimos.” Phainon rested his chin on his joined hands. “I trust you.”
“You’re such a flirt.”
“So is he! You’re just saying that because you’re getting a one-sided view of things.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“By the way, my mother wants to meet you.” Mydei mentioned casually, taking a sip of his wine.
“What? Really?”
“I did talk about you. She was intrigued. She also said you were good-looking.”
“Oh my god.” Phainon laughed nervously. “I’m a little scared, I won’t lie.”
“I can assure you; she likes you already.”
“It’s the principal of it!” Phainon shook his head. “She raised you; I have to impress her.”
“Meeting the parents already? You move fast.”
“Just the mother. He’s never mentioned his father so I’m going to assume he’s out of the picture.”
“What are you bringing for his mother?”
“Flowers for sure. Maybe a bottle of red? Mydei seemed to really enjoy the one we had so maybe she will too.”
“Good idea. So anyways, did he kiss you?”
“I think I should’ve asked you out sooner.” Phainon commented, watching Mydei straddle his bike, helmet in his hands.
“You should’ve. I would have said yes.” Mydei said, turning his head to lock eyes with Phainon who was illuminated by the street light above them.
“Curse my overthinking.” Phainon joked. “Thank you for asking though, I had a good time tonight.”
“Good.” Mydei looked satisfied.
“I bet I can plan a better date though.” Phainon continued.
“Oh yeah?” Came the raised eyebrow and mock-sceptical tone from Mydei.
“Oh yeah.” Phainon nodded, smiling. “Just you wait.”
“I’ll wait.” Mydei nodded. “One more thing. Come closer.”
Phainon moved closer, standing right by the bike, when Mydei reached his hand up to cup Phainon’s cheek and draw him down into a kiss. His hand radiated warmth against Phainon’s cheek and his other hand cupped the other side of Phainon’s cheeks. Phainon’s own hands found themselves on either side of Mydei’s waist (how was it so slender?), pressing them together.
“Hey.” Phainon whispered when they pulled away, foreheads pressed together and their breath brushing against each other. “What do I call you now?”
“You can call me whatever you want.”
“So if I wanted to call you my boyfriend…”
“Then I would be your boyfriend.” Mydei pulled their foreheads apart, brushing his thumb over Phainon’s cheek gently, reverently. “And you would be mine.”
“Gag, you’re so cringe.”
“Cyrene!”
“Ew!”
“You literally asked!”
“TMI, man.”
“I hate you so much.”
mydei 🍷🦁
What time will you be around?
maybe in 3 hours?
i have one more client
mydei 🍷🦁 reacted with ‘👍’
“Gorgo, right?” Phainon smiled at his client.
“That’s right.” The older woman nodded. She was adorned in golden jewellery of all kinds and her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back in a bun, a pair of sunglasses resting atop her head like a crown.
“I’m Phainon! Do you have any ideas for what you wanna go for today? It’s okay if you don’t, I can show you some sample designs and we could go from there.”
“A rough idea.” Gorgo smiled. “I was browsing your page on Instagram and I caught a picture of a tattoo you did, all bold red lines and such?”
“My most recent project!” Phainon lit up. “I’m really proud of that one. It was actually a continuation of another artists work.”
“How interesting. I’d like something similar.”
“Anywhere specific?” Phainon grabbed his pen and some stencil paper, along with a sketchbook.
“Just on my upper right arm. So nothing too major.”
“I can work with that. Sit tight while I do a couple sketches and we’ll see if that works or if I should change anything.”
“That sounds great.”
“Good evening, my beloved!” Phainon cried out when Mydei opened the door to his flat.
“You’re so weird.” Mydei shook his head but accepted Phainon’s kiss. “What’s all that?” He gestured to the things Phainon was holding.
“Flowers and wine. For your mother. My parents raised me right you know? Can’t visit someone’s place without gifts.”
“Where’s my gift then? Considering this is my place and not my mothers.”
“That’s for after dinner. Save some space for dessert.” Phainon winked and Mydei was torn between being very attracted to this man and also cringing at the delivery.
“You’re so stupid.” He settled on the middle ground.
“Tough crowd.” Phainon murmured, following Mydei into the flat and stopping in his tracks when he spotted the woman sitting on the sofa. “There is no way.”
“Hello, Phainon.” Gorgo greeted with a knowing smile.
“I! What!” Phainon swung his head back and forth between a confused Mydei and a smug Gorgo. “I’m literally speechless right now.”
“What is happening?” Mydei asked.
“Remember that errand I said I was running, sweetheart?” Gorgo mentioned before she took her cardigan off to reveal the tattoo on her arm, all bold red lines identical to Mydei’s. His jaw dropped.
“Did you go to Phainon for this?” He asked, his voice significantly higher than normal.
“Your mother was the last client I had today, oh my god. How did I not connect the dots?” Phainon whispered, eyes wide in shock.
“I just scouted ahead.” Gorgo shrugged. “I had to meet him without you being there, Mydeimos.” She pinched her sons cheek. “You chose well.”
“Thanks, mom.” Mydei had a soft smile on his face as he kissed his mother’s cheek. “Phainon brought gifts for you.”
“Did he?” Gorgo turned a questioning gaze to Phainon, who snapped out of his stupor to hand her the flowers and wine. “How lovely, thank you Phainon.”
“Uh, you’re welcome ma’am.”
“None of that now. Gorgo to you. I’ll go find a vase for these in the kitchen, Mydeimos.” She disappeared through a door, leaving the two of them alone.
“I did not know she was going to show up to your work place.” Mydei sighed. “Sorry.”
“No, it’s… fine. I just wasn’t expecting it.” Phainon shook his head. “She’s really nice.”
“Yeah?” Mydei smiled the same soft smile and Phainon felt his heart squeeze.
“Any particular reason she got those same tattoos you did?”
“They’re traditional tattoos from back where we’re from. Castrum Kremnos.” Mydei said.
“Really? That’s cool! You’ll have to tell me more.”
“My mother has plenty of stories, come on.” Mydei tugged him towards the kitchen. “Between the two of us, we have so many you’d get bored eventually.”
“Nah, I’d never get bored.”
~ the end ~