Genevieve Beaulieu skipped down the stairs wearing a comfortable pair of jeans and a plain black tshirt. She noted that her mother had not yet come down for virtual church, and she seized the opportunity to grab her small purse and ballet slippers and slip out of the door before anyone could confront her. Walking own the street quickly, she did not begin to slow until she as past the Stanley house by the community garden. There she slowed knowing that her best friend in the whole world Elise Girard would be walking up to her soon.
Today she was heading for the tattoo parlor. It was usually closed on Sundays, but it would be open for her, so that Dante could tattoo her skin with the design she had made herself. She was super excited and scared at the same time. Elise had offered to come with her and that made her relax. Like a lot.
Elise runs up to Gen with a big grin in her usual black toque with long black hair streaming, plaid shirt over tank top and black leggings as pants. She has on little black ballet flats and a little backpack style black purse. She’s holding her phone of course, a big iPhone 11 with a metallic mauve case. She grabs Gen in a hug, standing on her toes because Elise is a tiny adorable human who squeals and squeal she does “Today...today is the day! I can’t believe you got out of church. I thought your mom was like pals with the pope.”
Gen hugs her friend hard, so grateful for her support. “Yes! This is it!” then she laughs and heads down the street passing the yellow house, then the green house and finally the white house on the corner. “Maman wasn’t downstairs, so I just … left.” she explains. “She’ll probably be angry, but Sasha wasn’t home, either.” she sighs. “I just don’t … I don’t know. I just don’t … believe like Maman does.” she shrugs as they walk. “Now are you ready to hold my hand? I was thinking .. it might not be a good idea for me to laugh, even through the pain.”
Elise mock gasps “Scandal. You make me so glad my parents never pushed religion…..Metis or Christian…..although if I had to pick one I’d lean towards the Indigenous side.” she holds up her hand “This is yours for as long as you need it. I’ll pee first though.” she giggles and then sighs “No laughing.” She draws her hand down her face like she’s erasing all expression “I will be deathly serious. Where are you getting the tattoo on your body?”
Gen giggles and takes the hand. “Then we’ll stop at Perk first. I can distract myself with coffee, at least and you can pee. Although that would also distract me if you peed all over the floor. I don’t think Dante or his boss would be very impressed.” she turns onto Water street and places her hand between her breasts over her heart. “Here … over my heart. Dante doesn’t even know what I designed yet. I’ll bet you he thinks I want a butterfly on my ankle or something stupid like that.”
Elise giggles insanely “No peeing on the floor...no no no but yes to caffeine, always. God I love this place.” She looks at the placement between the breasts and grins “You know he’s gonna cop a feel. I hope Dante has a steady hand…” She teases as they walk into the Perkatory. She knows the coffee shop lady well now with her caffeine addiction “Hi Buni, how are you today?” She beams at her but then immediately looks down and scrolls on her phone.
Gen continues her smile. “Yes I love this place too. It’s incredible.” she moves up and twiddles her fingers at Buni. “Can I have…”
Buni Chuku interrupts Gen. “Da white chocolate.” she announces. “Double dark fo you ‘Lise?”
Gen giggles and even s Elise orders she leans over and whispers. “He will. I’m almost counting on it.”
Elise looks up from her phone and sighs happily at Buni “Yes you know us too well. You are my goddess of java and all the beans Buni.” She winks at Gen and then snorts “I’ll avert my eyes but still hold your hand...because I am THAT good.” She slides her purse pack off and fishes out her card “I’ll treat today. You’re a masochist...the least I can give you is coffee or chocolate.”
Buni grins. “Damn right I iz.” she proclaims and moves to make the coffees. Largest size possible for these two, she knows.
Gen smiles and nods. Buni is a goddess, no question. Then she giggles and looks touched. “And you’re giving me BOTH!”
Buni turns around and smiles, although she doesn’t have the coffees. “Ya two Trinidad coffees be up dere Shy Bon.” she calls and turns back to her other order.
Siobhan steps up and takes both coffees. “Hey Gen I was just getting the coffees before I head in. You ready?” she is smiling and wearing ripped jeans and her favorite, a scarf top. This one is green with small white flowers all over it. She seems to have a bra or bikini top on under it.
Elise beams at Buni and then takes in the tattoo lady who knows Gen, assuming she’s one of the bosses. “Hi I’m Elise. I’m moral support.” She looks at all her tattoos and grins “You are just ART!” She exclaims happily. “It’s so beautiful.” She gets a notification ping on her phone and has to look at it and smiles about whatever little tidbit of social media chimed at her.
Buni turns and sets the two coffees down for Gen and Elise. “Dere ya go. Shy Bon, you paid on the line so ya hab a good day.” she turns to new customers.
Gen takes her coffee. “Thank you Buni.” she turns towards Siobhan. “I’m ready. Yes. I can hardly wait to show Dante my design.”
Siobhan smiles and heads for the door. “Well that time is now. It’s nine thirty in the morning, and he should be standing at the door waiting on me.”
Dante was indeed waiting for Siobahn and leaning casually against the door frame in a very James Dean devil may care pose “Ink Sensei.” He greeted with a grin “Are you ready to trust me with the woman I love. She’s brave enough to.” He was wearing his usual black punk t shirt and trashed black jeans with trainers. Today’s shirt just said Punk’s Not Dead.
Elise looks at Gen as she pays and then takes her coffee too “Thanks Buni.” And then she gestures to the door “Do we just follow her then? The tattoo lady….Shybon?” She had heard Buni but the accent made her question if she had the name right.
Gen heads out the door and heads next door. “It’s Siobhan, but Buni’s accent. You know.” she shrugs and beams hen she sees Dante, walking to him and giving him a kiss before he has to take his coffee. “I’m brave. Really, I am.”
Siobhan chuckles as Gen explains Buni perfectly. “The woman makes incredible coffee, she can call me Pennywise if it makes her happy.” she looks at Dante. “I’m ready to see you in action, absolutely. “Make me start counting the days till your 17th birthday, Dante.” she unlocks the door and opens it, letting them all inside. The place is small with two tattoo stations and a computer desk against the wall, where Siobhan puts her coffee. All over the walls are pictures of various tattoos that have been done by the Lenny and Siobhan, including one of a tree and a bunch of crows, two of the same tattoo on a woman and man expecting a red tree and a Japanese style bridge as well as what was on Siobhan’s body. “Gen, hand me your art and let's have a look.” she motions to the computer chair indicating that Dante should sit. “Let’s start with looking at the art.” she tells him. “If it’s on paper, we scan it into the computer and try and make it a size that the will look good wherever the customer wants it.” she looks at Gen. “Where DO you want this anyway?”
Gen hands Dante a small USB with the picture she designed on it. “I want it over my heart.” she explains. “I got the idea from Dante’s name.” she tells them. “The name Dante means Everlasting and is of Latin origin. There're Catholics in both of our families and I decided that instead of a regular old infinity symbol, I’d make one in the form of a cross.” she looks at Dante with complete adoration. "Love everlasting.”
Siobhan listens with raised eyebrows. “Holy fuck that’s deep. I love it!” she claps her hands.
Dante kisses Gen back tenderly before he takes his coffee “You are.” He grins at her and then looks at Siobahn “Thank you and I’m counting too.” And then he smiles at Elise “Hi Elise. I’m glad you came along.” Dante sits and takes the USB and then listens to Gen and inhales quickly looking emotional. He doesn't care that his boss and her friend are listening, he just reacts to Gen “I fucking love you.” He kisses her again but on her forehead and then scans it in. “This is gorgeous….how big do you want this Gen?”
Elise nods “Siobahn...like the Irish name….That’s pretty.” She looks around the tattoo shop at all the designs as they go in with wonder. Then she tunes into what Gen is saying and her design choice “Aww you guys…” She does a little hand thumping over her own heart's space and hangs back, not sure where to stand or sit yet so as usual she just absently scrolls on her phone..
Gen considers how big she wants it. That's like asking how big is her love for him. She considers. “Like Siobhan? So if I want to hide it I just wear a tshirt, but there's a hint with a vneck. But if I wear a bikini … everyone sees it.”
Siobhan smiles at Elise. “Yea, I like it. And yes. My last name is O’Leannain. So .. Irish.” she smiles and listens to Gen. “That’ll take all day, just to warn you.”
Gen nods. “As long as it takes.” she looks at Siobhan. “This is important.”
Dante looks at Siobahn’s tattoo and back at Gen “That’s big...I love it….but yeah it’s a lot of time and probably some pain….” he gestures at the top of the chest where the collar bone area is “Especially up here…” He looks between the two other women and Gen “And you’re going to have to have your top off for all of it….” He smiles a bit at that and blushes.
Elise smiles and then when she hears it’ll take all day and then sees Dante get all smiley and blushy about the top off she giggles “Well good thing you’re her boyfriend then.” Then she gets a curious question in her head and has to ask Siobahn “So what do you do when someone who’s not someone’s girlfriend asks for a tattoo on a boob...or has any guy ever asked you for one on his dick? I mean is that a thing?”
Dante cracks up at Elise but then visibly crosses his legs.
Gen takes in a deep breath. “I’ll be OK …” she tells him. “Love is pain and this is a symbol of love.” and she laughs. “Well I think the women here have all seen boobs and you’ve seen mine.” she thinks his blush is sort of adorable. Then Elise asks about what to do and … dick tattoos? She blinks and looks to Siobhan.
Siobhan nods. “It’s a tattoo.” she tells Gen. “As one guy put it that my father worked on, it’s more permanent than a wedding ring .. so you still have a few minutes to be sure. Because it will be with you the rest of your life.” she hears Elise and Gen and laughs. “Well .. I don’t have MUCH in the neighborhood of boobs, but ….” she reaches for a box or large square bandages. “Pasties or your nipples, if you want them.” she explains. “As far as … other tattoos.” she shrugs. “We won’t shave the area .. that’s on the person being worked on to shave their own pubic region and … I have been asked to tattoo dicks before.” she smirks. “I refer them to my father … and he’s never tattooed a dick, lets just put it that way.”
Gen considers all of Siobhan’s words. More permanent than a wedding ring. She smiles. “I understand. And I want that.” she looks at Dante and blushes.” at the pasties she shrugs. “I’m ok without it. I don’t think I’m going to get turned on by this, somehow.” and she blanches at the shaving and dick tattoos and laughs hen Siobhan says her father never did any.
Siobhan nods. “Alright then. Make up the work Dante. Take off your shirt and bra if you’re wearing one and lay over there …. Dante will glove up, stencil you, and we’ll get started.”
Dante looks at Gen with love about the words more permanent than a wedding ring. He melts a little when she says she wants that. Before Gen’s shirt comes off he makes doubly sure the blinds are down and secure on the windows. He laughs about Siobahn’s statement that her father has never done a dick tattoo even though men have asked her “Sick fucks…” He mutters as he works away at the computer and prints, then gloves up. Dante moves to Gen, ready to work on her but gives her a last chance to back out “Baby are you sure about this?”
Elise rolls her eyes about the dick tattoos guys asked for just to see if they could get Siobahn to do it but rejected her father as an option, or maybe her dad scared the crap out of them? She moves a stool to beside where Gen is “Alright, flash your ladies. I’m ready.” She teases her friend and is ready to hold her hand. But with her free hand she’ll read on her phone like it’s a vice, when she’s not drinking coffee, her other vice.
Gen takes in a deep breath and takes off her tshirt and bra. She isn’t big breasted .. as a matter of fact she’s kind of flat. But Dante never complained, and she feels much better about her body with him than before she met him. She folds them neatly and sets them aside. Looking at Elise she giggles. “Oh shut up.” Then she lays down and when Dante asks if she is ready, she looks at him with the utmost confidence. “One hundred percent sure, baby.” s he assures him, takes another deep breath and prepares to relax. “Oh wait.” she sits up and grans for her coffee, taking a big sip. “OK, now I’m ready.”
Siobhan watches them interact. Dante as a good kid, she knew. Both of them were natives. She knew all he’d been through over the last three years and she was glad to see him finding the ground beneath his feet. Now she looked at the stencil on Gen’s chest. “The whole thing is technically a black ink tat.” she explains. “But these lighter spaces are more shading. It’s going to be nice. Think you can do it without lines?” she asks Dante, but then sits back. “Go for it, kid. You’ve been practicing with the gun … now its showtime.”
Dante looks down at Gen without her shirt and bra and can’t help but bite his lip briefly. He loved her body, every inch of it. He chuckles at Elise and then grins at Gen and laughs when she has coffee to fortify herself. Then he grabs and sips his “Good idea.” He listens carefully to Siobahn and nods at her “Yeah….showtime..” He begins and his work is both careful and precise. This is indeed a labour of love for him and it shows.
Elise sets down her phone to sip her coffee and then takes Gen’s hand and holds it “You can squeeze if it hurts. I know I look like a helpless kitten but I’m pretty strong.”
Gen feels the beginning of the tattooing and inhales very slowly. She squeeses lightly. "I hope so." she teases her friend. "It .. hurts but it's like ... maybe being bitten by an ant? Or being pelted by hail .. that really fine hail?” she inhales again deeply and blows out a breath. “Tell me a story? Like about scuba diving or something.”
Siobhan doesn’t hover, but she does watch Dante work. He’s a natural. Then she looks at Gen. “Try and breathe through the pain .. like cramps. And yes .. Distraction is a good idea.”
Dante keeps working with a steady hand and steady focus. He’s glad to hear Gen’s not in a lot of pain. “Just breath Gen. You’re doing great…” He keeps on, moving the gun around as he goes.
Elise nods “OK a scuba story…..oh I have an interesting one. It's more just the story of a place.” She taps away on her phone “Oh yeah here's the name of it... Have any of you heard of Lake Minnewanka in Alberta? It’s not far from Calgary. We went there on a dive vacation. From the top it just looks like a regular lake. But when you dive down...beneath the lake..” She pauses dramatically “Is an underwater ghost town.” She foes on to explain. “So it was a town in a sort of lowland area. But then during world war two, there was a hydroelectric damn built and it flooded the basin and covered the whole thing. It’s perfectly preserved. It helps that it’s a cold lake so that keeps the wood from getting as wrn I guess. I dunno it was one of the cooler dives we’ve ever done.”
Gen breathes and listens to the story. She glances at Dante and his face is all concentration. He tattoos and wipes away the pools of ink and goes right back in. She’s never had a tattoo before but he LOOKS professional. Her next gasp is not in pain, but at the story. “Really? Taht is so cool. I men .. I think I’d be scared to go in … I mean what if you run out of air or something.”
Siobhan watches Dante and listens to the story. Her father and she had talked to him and her father had given him the advice he used. Listen. Communicate, but give the bulk of your attention to your work. Dante was concentrating. This was his girlfriend, and they certainly seemed to be in love. That made him pay particular attention to the work.
Dante kept on but enjoyed the story “That’s wicked. I love the idea of a ghost town...I’ve always thought of them as dusty old places.” He doesn’t comment much more and just keeps working.
Elise giggles at Gen “Scared says the half naked lady getting a tattoo?” She shakes her head “You can always tell how much is in the tank. They’re pretty sealed.” Then she has a question for Dante “So are you going to get a tattoo for Gen next?”
Dante smirks “Thinking about it for sure…” He licks his lips and keeps going after a look up at Siobahn.
Gen giggles at the comment about her fear. “This is different. It’s Dante…” she nods and then does a double take to look at Dante. “You are? What? When?” she is thrilled and curious as he works on her body.
Siobhan looks at him. “Me or Dad could to work on you.” she offers. “As long as you don’t want ‘Property of Gen’ tattooed on your dick. That’s Dad’s department.” she teases.
Dante grins down at Gen “Stay still my love…” he chuckles “I’m still working that all out in my head.” then he actually has to pause tattooing when Siobahn even jokes about him getting a dick tattoo “No dick tattoos...and no one touches the goods but Gen and I….for all time.” He carefully gets back into the work.
Elise just giggles “Well then you don’t even need the words on it to remind you.” She looks very pleased with her joke and smirks up at Siobahn “Ok more scuba stories...on the topic of dicks….my sister Cherie happened upon a pair of divers who were fully doing the deed. Apparently doing it underwater can be bad for a bunch of reasons too. Anyhow they all surfaced in the same place at the dock and it was very embarrassing for them.”
Gen does try to stay still and not giggle and move her chest. She is honored that Dante was considering getting a tattoo and she absolutely beams when he mentions no one touches him but her and him for ever. “Damn right.” she replies, almost possessively. She is still looking at Dante in awe when Elise talks about sex while scoba diving. She stares. “How would you …. No never mind, I don’t want to know.”
Siobhan grins at the kids. They seemed to be possessive of each other and that could be an OK thing. At the idea of scuba sex, she cracks up. “Oh my god.” she rolls her eyes and arches her back. “I should have gotten tea.” she drinks deeply of her coffee. “Fucking cramps.” she growls.
Elise giggles at Gen’s how would you question and then looks sympathetically at Siobhan “Oh poor you. But then you get that dilemma right? Coffee can make cramps worse but if you don’t have the caffeine you get the withdrawal headache...so you have to decide between the war in your body.” She looks at Dante “Being a girl is hard. You’re not one of those squeamish guys about period stuff are you?” It’s almost a challenge because Elise will say anything to anyone.
Dante smirks at Gen’s possesive tone about his body and laughs about the scuba sex. “Could be challenging to get momentum when you’re floating...but yeah I’ve heard it’s not a great idea underwater too. It can hurt the woman.” Then he hears Elise’s question and laughs “Nope. Not squeamish at all. Respectful...because I know women have to take on a lot in their own bodies to be able to bring life into being. So as far as I’m concerned you all can have whatever the fuck you want from us men to deal with all that shit.”
Now Elise looks impressed “Well Gen, you heard him….whatever the fuck you want.” She giggles.
Gen looks at Siobhan. “Yea, we kinda can’t win. Massages sometimes work. I’ve heard getting on the pill helps. Papa was thinking about it but … things got a little crazy in my house. Maman would have said no, because we’re Catholic.” the turns to look at Dante and grin. “So fucking mutual.”
Siobhan smiles. “Then pay attention, Dante. Tea, massage and yea the pill can help. But you’re Catholic.” she blows out a breath, licks her lip and then scrapes them with her teeth. “I should probably keep my mouth shut on the church.” she looks over at Dante’s handiwork.
Dante smiles as he works at Gen’s words of so fucking mutual. And he nods at Siobahn’s “Noted. Tea and massages….” He snorts about the church “Go ahead Siobahn I don't think you’ll offend either Gen or I...I don’t know what you believe Elise.”
Elise shrugs “I say just go on the pill if you want and don’t tell your mom. I mean would she rather you be in pain or have an unplanned pregnancy.” Then she smiles at Siobahn and Dante “Not super anything. But you know, I should just start my own church….or maybe a cult.” She muses “Where cute boys bring me coffee and sushi. It’s a bit self serving but aren’t all cults?” Elise, as usual, was highly amused by her own weird ramblings. And now she was down a rabbit hole on her phone looking up cults.
Gen sighs. “She’d rather I wait for marriage, Or that’s what she said before I found out that she and Papa didn’t wait.” she scoffs, as that still annoyed the hell out of her. “Hypocrite.”
Siobhan like her lips one final time. “Don’t be TOO hard on your mother, Gen. She might just feel guilty because she didn’t wait, as pointless as I think waiting for marriage is.” then she shrugs. “I believe in go, but I think he might do best go get on with other problems in the world like Corona and starvation and wars instead of worrying about who is in my bedroom … or my living room … or the kitchen.” she smirks and drinks more of her coffee. “My dad talks to that priest. Father O’Keeffe, and he says he’s actually really cool. Apparently a real Catholic rebel.”
Dante looks sympathetically at Gen. He knew of her struggles with her mother. He hears Siobahn too “Yeah you might be right about the guilt, I mean it’s a Catholic staple.” He chuckles about all the rooms Siobahn had as options. He at least had oen for he and Gen. Then he nods about the priest “Punk Rock Padre…..my kinda Priest.”
Elise keeps holding Gen’s hand, squeezing it a bit when her friend expresses frustration “That sucks. Join my cult, you’ll feel better. I’m sure Dante can learn how to make us sushi. Do you cook? Because you can’t worship us in the cult if all you can make is toast.” She looks at Siobhan “Yeah god’s a slacker. That’s why it’s up to us. Join us Siobahn.” She jokingly prosthelytizes.
Dante laughs and has to keep his hand steady “Well shit. Yeah I can actually cook. But am I allowed in if I only worship Gen….no offense Elise. I’m sure you’re a great spiritual leader and all.”
Gen giggles. “He’s been to our house, but I haven’t met him.” she sighs. “I’m just … the church doesn’t call to me. I don’t even want to get married in a church. Civil thing.” she grins about the cult. “Yea … I’d have to worship Dante. But maybe we can fish for your sushi or something.”
Siobhan cracks up. “I understand .. the Church and religion thing is a bit much I think,” she lets her eyes go wide. “All hail Elise … keeper of the sushi … All hail…” she blinks. “That reminds me … I’m hungry. …”
Dante doesn't miss a beat on the tattoo work but comments on Gen’s feelings on the church and marriage “Civil it is.” He remarks casually, but there’s a hint of a grin on his face. “Sushi keeper, can you cook? Can you make this revered sushi of which you build the pillars of your faith on?” He teases Elise.
Elise looks at Siobahn. “I’m hungry too….why is there no sushi? And yes I can make it. Dante you’re a smart ass. I just want instant gratification. Is that so wrong?” She asks to everyone “Maybe we should order something in.” She checks her phone for restaurant menus.
Gen looks up at Dante and his grin. “Then 2024 .. it’s a date.” She looks at Elie. “Oh no, Ellie.” she mock protests. “Let’s go out. Dante can work between courses.” she rolls her eyes.
Siobhan smiles as the kids begin to tease each other. The only reason she interrupts is to get their lunch orders which she orders from different places through Spare The Dishes. Once the food and drink arrive, they eat and laugh, Gen opting to remain topless.
After lunch, Dante gets back to work on Gen’s tattoo. It as in three shades; black, grey and medium grey. He’s finished the black and just started on the grey. That took a couple more hours and, finally he began on the medium grey.
Siobhan looked at Gen admiringly. Both of them really. This was a huge job for Dante’s sake, but he was handling it like a veteran, and she was proud of him.
Dante is still steadfast in his work, even in this last phase. “I never thought I’d get to spend this time with you with your top off with other people.” He teases a bit “Not that I want an audience for it on a regular basis.”
Elise is on a new cup of coffee again and rolls her eyes “OK Dante, sometimes you are such a boy! I mean you can be all oh i worship her and women can have whatever the fuck they want...but at the end of the day it’s all the tits.” She giggles at Siobahn “It’s a great tattoo though.”
Gen giggles slightly. “Leave him alone, Elise.” she protests. “He has never complained about me having a chest smaller than his, so I’m not complaining about his looking at them all day.”
Siobhan cracks up. “Amen, Gen!” she looks at Dante. “You may as well start on aftercare instructions. Because that effects you, as well oh great grand tattoo artist.” she winks.
Dante can’t help but visibly blush at Siobahn’s words and prompting. He clears his throat “Mmm… k” He exhales and begins explaining “So we’re going to bandage it after we’re done here. You can take that off maybe by the time you go to bed. It might ooze….like plasma….bit of blood and ink. That’s ok. Keep it clean with unscented soap. I have some if you don’t at home. Then put some vaseline on it and just leave it. Then over the next few days wash it twice a day and put some moisturizer on it, nothing with alcohol, you don’t want to dry it. You should drink lots of water. But try not to sweat too much..” He bites his lip at that one and tries not to smile “Also it’ll scab. Let it. Don’t pick. It’s part of the process.” He looks down at her breasts and the tattoo “You might want to skip wearing your bra home….and no Elise I’m not being a boy….it’s just about irritating it.” He looks at Siobhan “Did I get it all?”
Elise just sips her coffee as Dante as he had snipped her bra joke from the air in front of her brain as it formed as a thought bubble. She sighs and looks back at her phone.
Gen listens carefully to the aftercare instructions. When he mentions that she should avoid sweating she can’t help but smirk. “So we’ll play old married couple for a few days. Yes, dear.” she nods. “I’ll shove it in my purse, and we’ll just hang out and stay cool … as cool as we can for July.”
Siobhan nods, but also shakes her head. “You remembered it all … you’re doing a great job.” she pauses. “As a matter of fact … you’re better than I gave you credit for. I’m going to talk to Dad, but I can’t look at this and not want to hire you on the spot as an apprentice.” she pauses. “Not you won’t be working when you should be in school, young man.” she insists, almost like a big sister would.
Dante laughs at the old married couple banter and then wiggles his eyebrows “2024.” He had committed the year to memory already. Then he beamed at Siobhan “Oh my god…...yes please!” He looks incredibly happy and impulsively kisses Gen on the lips.
Elise listens to and watches everyone and then chides Dante when he kisses Gen as a joke “Not too hot and heavy kids..” He reaches his hand back and flips Elise the bird but she’s already scrolling on her phone.
Gen laughs. They could marry in 2024 … when they were both 19. She gasps when Dante is given a job and kisses him back. “I knew you could.”
Siobhan laughs and watches them kiss. “Well, finish the job.” she orders. “And this is the only client you can get away with kissing.” she tells him. Not that it isn’t obvious.
Dante recomposes himself after his celebratory kiss and gets back to work, just beaming as he finishes up. “She’s the only one I’ll ever kiss, don’t worry.”
Elise giggles and looks back down at her phone as the kissing starts and then ends and Dante finishes “Congrats Dante. Oooh my Banff homegirls have a new video. Stranger Things parody….”
Gen remains laying as Dante finishes, waiting for the bandage, although she looks down at her chest with a smile. “I love it! I love you.” she doesn’t care who is around to hear that.
Siobhan looks at the work. “Good job.” she shakes her head. “And Gen, that’ll be .. nothing .. since this was basically Dante’s showing me he can handle the gun … and this was a big piece. He’s a natural.” she smiles. “I’ll talk to my Dad, but … lets start you at part time for now. Dad ants to open up as soon as possible, but we need to rearrange things. One chair on either side of the building, for example. Social distancing. We already wear gloves when we work, but starting tomorrow .. masks too. You can wear pretty much any kind of mask you want. We won’t stop your creativity at all.” once Gen is properly bandaged, she’ll offer Dante her hand. “Welcome aboard, apprentice.”
Dante is hovering with the bandage when Gen tells him she loves it and him “I love you too.” He kisses her lightly and briefly before putting on the bandage carefully “It’s good. I’m happy with how it came out too.” He also will help Gen gently pull on her shirt if she needs him because he knows how tender she must be feeling. He hears Siobahn as he steps back from doing that and nods “Well I don’t sew...but I have a few construction type masks...um a bandana...might make me look like a robber…” Which he’s determined not to be anymore. He takes off his gloves and shakes Siobahn’s hand “Thank you.”
Elise is fully into a video but looks up briefly and smile at both Gen and then Dante “So cool….and a free tattoo...woot good job being the guinea pig.”
Gen takes the help putting her shirt back on. She is aching but happy. And she feels like she needs a nap. Maybe two before bed. “I saw a sign in the window of that shop. Platinum Pleats. They’re making masks for people for 15 bucks. Paige works there and I bet she ould make you plenty.”
Siobhan laughs and nods. “I was about to suggest that, Gen. Thank you. I ordered a few, but it’s like a new addiction. Fashion face masks. The new fucking normal.”
Dante starts cleaning up the work space “Oh hey cool...that’s Sasha’s girlfriend right? I’ll check it out.” He laughs about the new normal “What can we do? We’ll all just look like surgeons.”
Elise glances up “Oh there’s youtube reviews on mask makers now even. We should get this Paige some notoriety. I can send some to the Banff Babes. I used to be a Banff Babe…..Maybe I should start a new channel for here….so much work to get followers again…” She pines and then looks at Siobhan, Gen and Dante “Your tattoo place here could have a channel,,,”
Gen shrugs. “Yes. Sasha’s girlfriend. If it keeps us even a little bit safe. It feels like I only need to wear them if I’m around a lot of people I don’t know...or if I am not on the island.” she looks amused at Elise and hen curiously at Siobhan.
Siobhan laughs. “I don’t have enough to do, I need to try and upload YouTube videos?” she shakes her head. “As it is, we are trying to rebuild our customer base. I know a channel would help. But we also have to figure out how we will be doing business in this new world order. Probably no more than five people in the shop at one time. Appointments only. Even if we had a wildly successful channel, we might not be able to handle that many customers.”
Dante nods as he wipes stuff down and puts things away “Yeah keep it simple. Masks when you need them. Don’t speak mostly,” He jokes and then smiles at Elise “We know you mean well. Do a scuba one for your family’s place.” He’s pretty much ready to turn off the computer now and be done.
Elise nods at Siobahn and then Dante “I get it. It’s a struggle all around. We can’t do any rentals yet...you know mouth pieces. So we’re basically offer glorified swimming lessons this summer and stuff for sale.” She picks up two empty coffee cups and finds the recycling bin to put them in “Ok Gen I’m not going to hug you with your big owie zone so I’ll just blow kisses. Siobhan you’re awesome. Dante you too. You make my favourite bff happy and I appreciate that. Laters all.” She bounces to the door and turns and blows kisses.
Gen watches as Dante cleans and smiles. This was his job. She finds that she isn’t even worried about him doing a chest piece for another woman, because he loves her. It’s a level of security she loves. She blows Elise a kiss. “Man I’m ready to go home and sleep.” she looks at Dante. “Unless I can nap in your bed. Old married couple practice.”
SIobhan helps Dante prepare to close. “We’ll figure it out … and we might just keep at it one Covid is gone.” she smiles at Gen. “Just wait till the adrenaline wears off. You’ll be fine in a couple of days. Ibuprofen is your friend. Aspirin is not.” she advises and heads for the door. “Thanks for giving me something to do on a Sunday. You guys have a fantastic rest of the she’ll let them out and lock up, before heading home herself.
Dante had thanked Siobahn again for everything and was now walking home holding hands with Gen “Yes you can sleep in my bed...I love you in my bed and not just for sex Gen. I just love you anywhere in my life….so that tattoo you’re still feeling sting you….I might get a version of it myself somewhere with your name on top of the cross. Dante and Genevieve everlasting.”
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