01
A quiet evening in a dimly lit tattoo studio on the edge of the city. Rain taps on the windows. Adrian is cleaning his station when the bell over the door jingles. Sera steps inside, hood up, clutching her notebook like a shield.
Adrian Blackwood
*looks up, calm voice* You’re late.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Pause, startled* ...... Excuse me??
Adrian Blackwood
*smirks slightly, setting down his cloth* You’ve been pacing outside for ten minutes. I figured you’d either come in or drown out there.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*hesitant, tugging her hood lower*
… I wasn’t pacing.
Adrian Blackwood
*raising a brow*
Sure. Then the shadow twin of you has commitment issues.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*sighs, mutters*
Great. A tattoo artist with jokes.
She moves closer, eyes darting around the studio—inked sketches on the walls, the faint buzz of a machine lingering in the air. Adrian watches her carefully but not intrusively.
Adrian Blackwood
First time?
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*defensive*
What makes you think that?
Adrian Blackwood
*shrugs, wiping down his chair*
You’re standing like the floor might swallow you. People who’ve done this before walk straight to the chair.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*tight-lipped*
Maybe I’m just cautious.
Adrian Blackwood
Or maybe you are scared.
She narrows her eyes, clutching the strap of her bag tighter.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
I'm not scared. I just don't...... Trust easily.
Adrian Blackwood
*nodding slowly, voice steady*
Good. You shouldn’t. Trust should be earned.
The words hang in the air. She studies him, almost expecting a smirk or mockery, but his expression stays calm, unreadable. That unsettles her more than arrogance would have.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*looking away*
… I’m here for a tattoo. That’s all.
Adrian Blackwood
*Picking up his sketchbook*
Then sit. Tell me what you want, and I’ll draw it.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*reluctantly sits, her voice low*
… A phoenix.
Adrian Blackwood
*pen scratching lightly across paper*
Cliché choice.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*glares*
Excuse me?
Adrian Blackwood
*glances up, eyes steady but not mocking*
Most people want a phoenix for the aesthetics. Flames, rebirth, yada. But you-
He tilts his head, studying her like he sees too much.
Adrian Blackwood
You want it because you’ve burned before.
Her chest tightens. She grips her notebook until her knuckles whiten.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
… You don’t know anything about me.
Adrian Blackwood
*quiet, even*
True. But I read scars like pages. Yours are loud, even if you hide them.
Silence stretches. Rain drums harder against the glass. Sera swallows, torn between walking out and staying planted. Something in his tone isn’t prying—it’s observant, almost protective.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*finally*
… Do you always psychoanalyze your clients?
Adrian Blackwood
*half-smile*
Only the ones who pretend they’re here for ink when they’re really here for something else.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*sarcastic*
And what am I here for, oh wise one?
Adrian Blackwood
*meets her gaze steadily*
To be seen. Without anyone asking you to explain why you’re still standing.
Her throat tightens. She hates the way his words feel like they slice through her armor. She looks away, blinking fast.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*muttering*
...... You think too much.
Adrian Blackwood
*soft chuckles*
Guilty. Comes with the job.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
I thought your job was stabbing people with needles.
Adrian Blackwood
Only after they trust me enough to let me
She stares at him. The air feels heavier, charged. Her instinct screams to leave, but her body stays glued to the chair. For the first time in years, she doesn’t feel like prey...just… observed.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*whispers, almost to herself*
… And if I don’t trust you?
Adrian Blackwood
*leans back, voice calm, patient*
Then we don’t start. Simple as that. You call the shots.
Her lips part. No one has ever given her that choice before. It rattles her.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*after a long pause*
… Draw it anyway. I’ll decide later.
Adrian Blackwood
*nods, sketching quietly*
Fair enough.
For the next ten minutes, the only sound is the scratch of his pencil and the rain outside. Sera watches his hands steady, deliberate. She expects him to push, to ask questions, but he doesn’t. He just works. Finally, he turns the sketchbook around.
Adrian Blackwood
Here. Phoenix in ashes. Not rising yet just waiting. Thought that might suit you better.
She stares at the drawing. It’s raw, imperfect, but powerful. Her chest aches.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*softly*
it's.... beautiful..
Adrian Blackwood
*shrugs*
Just lines on paper until you decide it’s yours.
Her fingers trace the edge of the page. For a moment, she imagines it inked into her skin proof that she survived, even if she isn’t ready to rise. She looks up at him, searching for the catch, the hidden agenda. There isn’t one.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Hesitant, voice cracking slightly*
… Why do you care?
Adrian Blackwood
*Meeting her eyes, tone steady*
Because someone once cared enough to sit with me when I was burning. It saved me. Now I try to return the favor.
Her heart stumbles. She quickly looks away, biting her lip hard. She hates how much his words sink in. Hates even more that part of her doesn’t want to run.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*forcing sarcasm*
…Well, congratulations. You’ve officially made this the weirdest tattoo consultation ever.
Adrian Blackwood
*Grinning faintly*
Good. Means we’re off to a strong start.
The rain eases. Sera clutches her notebook, still debating whether to flee or stay. But for the first time in a long time, she doesn’t feel completely invisible. And that terrifies her more than anything.
See you in next chapter ｡◕‿◕｡
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