It was looking to be another slow day.

Dante was still working on building up business. While he'd made a few appointments today, things were still building rather slowly. At least he'd have some money a few days from now, anyway. The other artists were pretty cool, but he was working with a talented group; part of him just hoped he could keep up with them. Sure, he was talented; he knew that, but they were a little older and more experienced. But...they'd trusted him to do a good job, so...there he was.

Currently, he was propped up against the outside of the side of the building, cigarette between his lips. He was wearing a black leather jacket, with chains dangling from the pockets, and a pair of blue jeans with a similar chain dangling from the left side. On his feet were his traditional black sneakers.

He took a drag from the cigarette, letting the smoke stream into the air before sucking it into his lungs. That was one thing he hated about New York. The bloody cold. But his life was here now, after all, since the divorce his ex-wife and father-in-law had made it so he'd never get another tattoo-related job in the whole damn state. Lesson for the kiddos: Never marry your boss's daughter.

The young man put out his cigarette, then exhaled through his mouth, releasing a thin stream of silvery-gray smoke that spiraled and swirled as it left, making it stream and twirl elegantly, idly shaping it and making the vapor stream dance. As the stream lifted higher into the air, it spread, but not losing its form. The farther away the stream got, the less control he had over it, and once it got past nine feet into the air, it would lose its form and just become a cloud of smoke as physics took over.

He stuck his hands in his pockets, slowly making his way back inside. Maybe things would pick up soon, though he kind of wondered if using his ability inside would be considered smoking...

Kitra was seriously bored. She had recovered from the bar the other night fairly quickly, but wanted to go explore. New York had changed, yet still the same old. It was chilly enough for her dark green leather trench coat. Her mid-sized purse matched it as well. Kitra loved it though, it went near down to her ankles and went well with just about anything she wore. As she strode past people and places, Kitra finally decided what she would do today.

I think a new tattoo is in order", she mused out loud.

A few short minutes later, Kitra came upon a young man smoking outside, he had an interesting amount of chains hanging from his pockets. However, what was most interesting was the spiraling smoke trail that left the man's mouth. It was most interesting as she had seen him just put the cigarette out.

She mentally shrugged and moved closer as the young man started making his way back back towards the door of the building.
"Pardon me for bothering you. But, ah, would you happen to know where an excellent tattoo parlor is?" Kitra's voice was even-toned and polite. She regarded the man in front of her with a slightly hopeful expression, she really wanted a new tattoo.

Dante was somewhat lost in his thoughts; it had been a boring day, after all. But as he was walking back towards the front of the building, he was stopped by a rather attractive redhead. Looking for a tattoo parlor. It seemed like his day was starting to turn around. And if he played his cards right, he'd get some business on the books.

"Oh, you aren't bothering me; technically my break's over," he said with a small shrug, his voice casual but showing a little more of a professional tone than was usual. "You're in the right place though. And I just so happen to be a tattoo artist, if you want to come inside," he said, his voice brightening a bit.

He held the door open for the lady, both being nice, and sort of checking her out as she walked in. "My name's Dante," he said after a moment, walking to his desk, where he had notebooks of his drawings and samples already out. "So, was there something in particular you had in mind, or do you just wanna look at my work and see if you like anything?"

"Oh, you aren't bothering me; technically my break's over.You're in the right place though. And I just so happen to be a tattoo artist, if you want to come inside"

Kitra smiled brightly, matching the brightness in his tone. Her smile quickly turned to a quirky smirk as she noted he was checking her out as she smoothly walked through the open door.

"My name's Dante. So, was there something in particular you had in mind, or do you just wanna look at my work and see if you like anything?"

She followed Dante to his desk and slid easily into the chair in front of it and nabbed one of the notebooks in front of her. As her eyes and hands moved through the notebook she spoke in a casual yet interested tone. " My name's Kitra. I usually do my own work, however yours is rather impressive." Kitra glanced up to see his reaction before looked back down to spot an Ankh in his notebook. "Ah, here we are." Kitra's eyes and face had lit up and was smiling as she pointed to the Ankh. "Would you do this in a shade of gold-ish green and with an aura of purple around it? "(**think of sun rays**)

Kitra blinked and looked up at Dante, and smiled somewhat sheepishly, "Of course, I am open to color and shading suggestions."

He slid into the desk as she sat across from him and flipped through one of his notebooks. "You do your own work, eh? Sounds interesting. Maybe one day soon the roles can be reversed," he said casually; sure, he'd need money to pay her, which meant it'd be after he was on more solid ground, financially, but he hadn't been here very long, and therefore had to start somewhere, right?

She'd found an Ankh he'd drawn; he really favored anything surreal, fantasy-based, or rooted in history or mythology. He inwardly gave a sigh of relief; if she'd wanted something like a portrait or something more realist he'd likely end up referring her to one of the other artists. Each one had their own distinct style, and he'd just so happened to have an area of expertise they were looking for. He listened to her request, visualizing the colors. "Hmmm...Goldish-green, with an aura of purple sounds like a good mix to me."

He smiled back at her, thinking. "So, how big were you thinking? And where would you like it?" he asked, propping his elbows on the desk and resting his head on his fists as he looked at her, already working on the rough idea in his head. He was also admiring the pretty face in front of him, but he was mostly working.

"You do your own work, eh? Sounds interesting. Maybe one day soon the roles can be reversed."

Kitra noted with amusement that he sounded legit yet casual about that.

"Hmmm...Goldish-green, with an aura of purple sounds like a good mix to me. So, how big were you thinking? And where would you like it?"

Kitra smiled with relief and even more amusement as Dante propped his head in his hands while looking at her but also had the look of someone visualizing art in his mind."I was thinking three inches in length and possibly an inch to and inch and a half width." She stood and deftly undid the buckles/buttons on her trench coat and removed it and her purse. Her shirt was dark green, long sleeves and was a modest cut. Her leggings matched, but her skirt was a dark purple that stopped nearly two inches above her knees. Kitra's boots put her at 5'8, an inch above her normal height.

She sat back down with her trench coat and purse in her lap. "I was thinking on my left inner shin and ankle area." Kitra crossed her legs and looked at Dante with a smirk. "Unless, of course, you have a better idea where to put it." (Kitra's hair is in a long braid, and her shirt actually shows some of the wings tattooed on her back)She blinked a few times and chided herself inwardly, "I seriously need to cool it on being flirtatious. It's going to end up getting me hurt one of these days. Again, that is." Inward scolding done, she again smiled at Dante awaiting his reply at her suggestions.

In his mind, Dante was already doing the math and figuring the dimensions as she spoke. "Yeah that seems like a decent size," he said as she stood to her feet and removed her coat. He had to say, he really admired her style. Though, he didn't get paid to admire the potential clientele; he made the money by getting appointments on the books and putting ink to skin.

"I was thinking on my left inner shin and ankle area....Unless, of course, you have a better idea where to put it." He smirked, giving a light chuckle, though his cheeks grew warm to reflect the light pink they were turning. That was...flirting, wasn't it? It'd been awhile, but he was certain she was--no. He wasn't here to flirt, he was here to make money.

"Oh, I could think of a few places, but I like that idea," he said with a wink, somewhat taking the bait, but at the same time playing it professional and going with her idea. After all, no harm if it was all in good fun, right? Maybe. "So, if you don't have any plans, I can actually get this one drawn up real quick and we can go ahead and get this one done," he said after a few moments, standing to his feet.

Kitra noted the slight pink that tinted Dante's cheeks and chuckled slightly. She also noted the wink when he spoke next.

"Oh, I could think of a few places, but I like that idea. So, if you don't have any plans, I can actually get this one drawn up real quick and we can go ahead and get this one done."

Kitra also stood a few moments after Dante did. "I hadn't planned on going anywhere, wouldn't have taken my coat off if I had." She motioned to one of the free tables that looked to be his work space. "Do you mind me setting my things there? I'm guessing that area is yours?" Once Kitra was shown where to put her things and she stashed them in said place, she turned to Dante. "Price isn't an issue by the way," Kitra spoke casually and hoped that it would't offend him. Plus, if she really did like his work and he didn't try to deliberately overcharge her. Then she would happily give him a good tip. And probably end up being a return customer as well.

"That's true," he murmured, biting his lip a little as he pulled out two sheets; one to sketch on, and one for the final selection. "Oh sure, you can set them there, or over here by the desk if you want," he said, his pencil moving quickly yet meticulously across the sketch page.

He'd sketched out several Ankhs, some basic, some more complex and elaborate. Some had very sharp features, others were more rounded. They ranged from traditional to things that he'd only just now come up with. All in all, he may have sketched out ten or so of them, and one of them was exactly like the one in the sketchbook, so there was sure to be one she'd like.

And price wasn't an option; not that he planned on overcharging her. Hell, he'd thought about cutting his first few clients a deal, and then making his money off of the business they brought in. Also could help make return customers out of them, and this was one he had to admit he wouldn't complain if he saw again.

"Alright, here's a few you can pick from. The basic one is there, but I like to give the option of something with a more personal touch," he explained. Honestly, this part was something he had a love-hate relationship with. It all depended on the client, but she seemed nice enough, and with Dante, what you gave was what you got.

Once she decided, he'd drawn out the final one, making sure the measurements were exactly as specified. Then, once everything was situated, he grabbed his equipment and prepared to get started. Part of him wished he'd recommended somewhere else, but this would look really good where she'd said, and while he hated people in general, his customers were a different situation.

"I like this one the most," Kitra was smiling as she pointed to the more rounded Ankh. She swiftly moved to the table/chair and hopped up on to it with an fluid like ease. Her boots she removed just as easily and had unzipped her left legging up to her knee.

Kitra made a small grimacing noise and looked up at Dante, "My other tattoo won't be in the way will it?" Kitra looked down at her left leg and did a quick look, she didn't think it would be in the way. It ended on the outside of her left leg but she wanted Dante's opinion if it would look odd.

She again looked at Dante with a small smile, " Depending on how this turns out, what do you think of touch up work?" Kitra's smile turned slightly sad as she spoke again. "I am not sure I can do it myself anymore to be honest." She wasn't being dishonest, she simply hadn't tried to ink her wings with her paper manipulation. Thankfully, they weren't really faded, but did need touch ups.

Simple, yet rounded. "Good choice; I think it'll suit you nicely," he complimented, watching as she prepared.

The grimace didn't go unnoticed, and he understood her concern. Leaning down, he took a look. "Oh I think that's an easy work around. Especially if I put it here," he motioned to the area, "And then I can have the aura so they sort of compliment each other. It'll work out fine." He gave a sure nod.

"Oh, I'm not above touch-ups. In fact I'd be glad to help out," he said with a smile. Though when she mentioned she didn't think she could do it herself anymore, his smile sort of faded. "Well, the only way to really know is to try, but I see where you're coming from," he said gently, encouraging her.

In the shop, it was almost like he was a different person, but then again as mentioned, customers were a different breed. At least while he was on the clock.

"Ready?" he asked, getting his ink and everything ready as he prepared to get started, getting everything prepped and ready to go.

The young mutant's hand was quite steady, and not needlessly hurting as he hurt. He could say what he wanted about his former in-laws, but they'd taught him well.

Kitra merely nodded at Dante's words and settled into a more comfortable position. He was quite good, no more pressure then necessary. No unnecessary movements either. SHe nearly drifted off to sleep, pain really didn't bother her much. It was easy to phase out with meditation and this was nothing compared to when she had done the wings on her back.

It didn't seem like long before Dante finished her tattoo and was cleaning it up. Kitra examined his work, she was rather pleased with it. "You're quite good!" She spoke in a happy, pleased tone, the smile on her face showing her pleasure at his work as well.

"Would you like to take a look at the tattoo I would like touched up?"

She was one of the best he'd had as far as people went; she was perfectly still the entire time, almost as if she didn't even feel it. But she'd had a few more tattoos, so maybe she was used to it. Regardless, it was nice; she never once even flinched, almost as if he was drawing on her with a marker instead of giving her a tattoo.

The time went by quietly, not that he minded. Some people seemed like they'd explode if they were quiet for more than two minutes, but this was rather refreshing, and it made him more able to work, and made the work go even quicker. The tattoo turned out rather well, if he did say so himself, and just as he'd thought, it complimented the part of the tattoo it shared real estate with just as well as he'd hoped.

Then, he took to cleaning it up, and the silence was broken by her compliment, which made him smile. "Thanks," he said simply with a smile. "Yeah, I'd be happy to take a look." Not only because it would be extra work to do down the line, but he also liked admiring other artists' work.

Kitra nodded and gave Dante a small smirk, "I have a tank top under my shirt so no free show, sorry." Her tone was more amused then anything. She carefully pulled her shirt over her head, her tank top was cream colored and higher in the front but the back showed off her entire tattoo of her leather dragon wings.

Kitra turned her back to Dante so he could look it over. Mind you, it would be a lot to take in. They were well detailed with the creases and mix of brown and black leather. In all actuality, the wings looked down right real, as if they could pop off her skin at a moments notice. While Dante was examining those, she spoke again, somewhat hesitant this time. " I have two whip tattoos, one on each leg. I also have my dagger here." She turned her left wrist over, and looked back at Dante awaiting his responses.

He gave a light snort at not getting what she called a 'free show.' That was just how it worked sometimes. "Oh well, I'll manage to get over it," he teased lightly as she took off her shirt, revealing the tank top that showed off her back. Not to mention--Damn!

He let out a low whistle as he admired the work on her back. The wings looked realistic; he would have said almost, but they did live in a time where quite a few people actually had wings. "This is really great work," he said, taking it all in to the last detail.

He noticed the hesitation in her voice as she mentioned the other tattoos, and showed him the dagger on her wrist. "I think I'll be able to touch you up," he said after a few moments. "You have some really nice work here. Very cool," he said with a smile.

"Just let me know when you'd like to set a date, and I'd be happy to have you back."