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Caitlyn dips her paintbrush in black ink and slides it across a red rose petal. Not too much ink or it will run and drip. She must take her time as her customers always deserve the best. Doing this once a week for the past month and she’s gotten used to it. Vi, her customer and next door neighbor from the Arcane Tattoo Parlor, has asked for this done but has not told Caitlyn why. She can see how black roses suit her, so no surprise there. She assumes they’re a gift for someone as bouquets usually are. Or a memorial perhaps? That would explain why she hasn’t divulged the info. Too soon.
Or maybe she just likes to spruce up her home? Caitlyn pictures a messy abode with black everything and a perfect bouquet screaming goth in the middle of her dining room table. Does just making things black count as being goth? Caitlyn is unsure of the rules of alternative subcultures, but black roses seem the epitome of goth to her.
The door bell dings and Caitlyn’s head pricks up, hoping it’s Vi come to claim her bouquet. But stepping out into the lobby she sees it’s a short man with a mustache instead. She tends to him while checking her watch, Vi is later than usual.
The day drags on and close nears but still no Vi. Caitlyn had greatly looked forward to seeing a ripple of biceps today because oh yeah, Vi is hotter than a desert summer.
Ten minutes till close and Caitlyn is alone in the shop, staring at the black bouquet and nursing her wounds when she hears the bell ding. She darts out, forgetting that she should not show such expectancy if it is Vi, but loses herself.
It’s her. Swaggering into the shop like she owns the place and not Caitlyn and her family. Caitlyn’s heart picks up and she hears static in her ears.
“Hey, cupcake. Sorry to show up ten till close like this,” Vi’s husky voice fills her ears like red wine in a crystal glass.
“No problem,” Caitlyn says, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Is that what she usually does with her hair? She’s suddenly forgotten. “The bouquet is done, let me just fetch it.”
Vi gives her a curt nod as Caitlyn makes her way into the back and grabs the blossomed black roses. Vi has her wallet out already as Caitlyn rings her up at the register.
“Fifty-three thirty-seven,” Caitlyn announces.
Sure is steep buying fifty bucks worth of roses every week, Caitlyn thinks. Do tattoo artists make good money? She hasn’t been inside Vi’s parlor but has browsed her portfolio online and Vi is greatly talented. Caitlyn can’t particularly see herself getting a tattoo, but if she did, she knows who to go to.
Vi pays and then leaves with a “See ya, cupcake.”
That trite nickname makes Caitlyn’s heart flip-flop in a way she almost feels embarrassed about.
***
The next week and Caitlyn has decided to go all out in preparation of seeing Vi. False wispy lashes. Floral perfume. New rainbow flag and lesbian flag behind the counter. They rest in a small flower pot with a few daisies. There is no way Vi isn’t some form of gay, Caitlyn can tell, and she’s trying to let her know that she is too. And you know, display her pride and all.
An hour till close and Vi darkens her door. Caitlyn holds in a squeal at the sight of her. The bouquet is already up front and ready.
Vi approaches her behind the desk. “Nice falsies.”
“Thanks.” She touches her temple. “Thought I’d be bold today.”
For you, she doesn’t add.
“The bouquet looks great as usual.”
“I always go above and beyond for my customers.” That was cheesy, Caitlyn internally cringes.
Vi takes out her wallet and pays, then glances down. “Fuck, untied shoe, how embarrassing.” She sets down her wallet on the counter.
Caitlyn chuckles. “Happens to me all the time.”
Vi ties her shoe and then stands back up. “By the way, I like your flags.”
Caitlyn smiles. “Every month is pride month to me.” Another cringe statement.
Damnit, why am I like this!?
Vi takes the bouquet and Caitlyn thinks she detects a slight wink as she departs.
Progress? Caitlyn thinks she’s made decent headway and—Vi’s wallet is still on the counter. It’s dark brown and has seen a few years of wear it looks like. Caitlyn picks it up and hurries out the door for the tattoo parlor.
Inside, she’s met with bright lighting and black tile with red carpet leading to a hallway with what looks like rooms. Is that where the tattoos are done?
Caitlyn’s pace slows, she’s out of her element, and she scans the establishment for Vi.
A girl with short blue hair tied in two twin buns appears. “Hey, I know you!” she beams.
“Yes, but I’m afraid I’ve forgot your name.”
“Powder. You’re Caitlyn. Vi talks about you.”
Caitlyn bites her lip. “Oh, really?”
Powder grins. “Yeah. Always gushing about the great work you do painting her roses.”
“I do my best.” The smile is impossible to peel off Caitlyn’s face. “Well, Vi left her wallet at my shop. Is she here?”
“Hey cupcake,” Vi greets from one of the back rooms. “Here to get a tramp stamp? Girlfriend’s name on your arm?”
Caitlyn stiffens. “Uh, no. And no girlfriend.” She says this a little louder than her previous words. “You left your wallet.” She holds out the worn thing.
“Thanks,” Vi says as she accepts it.
“You get a lot of customers who want their partners’ name?” Caitlyn asks.
Powder makes a gagging motion with her hand as she heads back behind the check-out counter.
“A few yeah,” Vi answers. “But I refuse to do those. Not being the artist who puts the name of someone they’re probably gonna break up with on them.”
“Understandable. I’d feel the same way.”
“I’ll do the names of someone’s children or of people who have died but never romantic partners. Too much risk.”
Caitlyn’s curiosity is piqued. “Any other tattoos you refuse?”
“Well, anything hateful or bigoted, but other than that anything is pretty much fair game.” She looks Caitlyn up and down, like she’s sizing up a meal. Caitlyn instantly blushes. “So, still want that tramp stamp?”
“Maybe I’ll get a black rose.”
Vi’s eyebrow quirks. “Really? I wasn’t sure what you thought of the bouquets you diligently paint every week.”
“They’ve grown on me.”
“Is that a pun?”
Caitlyn shrugs. “Yeah, they’ve really bloomed.” Ugh. So corny. But Vi seems to like it.
“Well, I think a black rose would suit you.”
“You still haven’t told me what they’re for.”
Something flashes across Vi’s eyes, but they regain their ferocity just as fast. “How about we go out for a drink sometime? I can tell you.”
Caitlyn suddenly feels like she’s floating off the ground. “I’d love to. I can go after the shop closes. Or is that too short notice?” She hopes suggesting today after work doesn’t come off as desperate.
“Works for me,” Vi says.
***
False lashes and a lesbian flag are the tickets to wooing a hot tattoo artist, Caitlyn thinks. She remembers the perfume, which she didn’t get a comment on. She smells the wrist she dabbed it on that morning—barely there. Maybe she didn’t notice it? She hopes this doesn’t mean she hates it. She decides to not apply more before seeing Vi at the bar they’ve chosen for their date.
Caitlyn arrives at 7:20PM, ten minutes before she’s slated to meet Vi. The bar is bustling, even on a weekday. She sits at the bar and sets her purse on the empty seat next to her. This earns her a few dirty looks from patrons but she doesn’t care. All that matters to her is that she has a date.
“Caitlyn, hey,” Vi’s husky voice fills her ears like red wine again. And as much as she loves being called cupcake, her actual name does sound even better in Vi’s voice.
“Vi, good to see you again.” Caitlyn picks up her purse.
Vi sits down on the stool. She’s put on a bit more eye shadow. Caitlyn is blown away by how beautiful she is. “Hope saving a spot like that didn’t get you into any trouble.”
“Just some ugly looks. Nothing I can’t handle.”
“So, you get a lot of Karens working the flower business?”
“People upset we don’t carry a certain flower. Like I cannot manufacture lotuses out of thin air.” She scoffs.
Vi chuckles. “Sounds fun.”
The bartender appears and asks for their order. Caitlyn orders a whiskey neat and Vi a cosmopolitan. They share a look.
“Seems it should be the other way around, doesn’t it?” Vi says.
“People always surprise you.”
“I love everything fruity.”
“Good to know you love yourself, self esteem is important.”
Vi furrows her brow for a second then laughs, a lingering laugh. “Good one, good one.”
They receive their drinks and they sip them.
“So, about those black roses...” Caitlyn presses.
Something flashes across Vi’s eyes again, but this time it doesn’t leave. “This is gonna bring the whole date down but... they’re for my father who’s in a coma. Been in a coma for a few months now. He had a stroke.”
Caitlyn’s heart sinks. She places a hand on Vi’s. “I’m so sorry to hear that.” Then she does a double take. Black roses? For that? “But you... take black roses to the hospital I presume?”
Vi huffs. “I know, and speaking of ugly looks I got some at the hospital. But my father would appreciate the personal touch. He knows I love black roses.”
“Oh.” Caitlyn’s sunken heart warms. “I see. That’s so very sweet of you.” She sips her drink again. “I lost my mum a year ago. Car accident. I know you haven’t lost your father but I can imagine it must feel like you have.”
Now it’s Vi’s turn to take Caitlyn’s hand. “Sorry for your loss. And yeah, it does feel that way. He went from this figure that’s always there in the background to just. Nothing. They don’t know when or if he’ll wake up.”
“The not knowing would kill me.”
“Yeah, it kills me.”
“Well, I sincerely hope he wakes up soon. I mean that.”
She gives Caitlyn a sincere look. “Thanks. I know you do.”
They share a smile. A deep one that fills Caitlyn’s heart with warmth. Vi is so rough in nature but seems to have a gentle spirit that uplifts Caitlyn’s onto a pink cloud. She’d like to stay there with Vi forever.
They decide to play pool next. Vi is more experienced than Caitlyn and shows her the ropes. Vi hovers behind Caitlyn and holds her arms in position as she holds the cue. Caitlyn’s skin goes all hot. Her mind fills with other ways she’d like to be this close to Vi.
Caitlyn strikes the ball and accomplishes a carom shot.
“Not bad,” Vi says. “You’ll be surpassing me pretty soon.”
Caitlyn waves her off. “Really laying it on thick, huh?”
Caitlyn regrets that. It sounds unironically critical even if it is just a joke.
But Vi laughs. “You know it, cupcake.”
A song comes on the radio Caitlyn loves—Blackpink’s Whistle.
“You like Kpop?” Caitlyn asks.
“I don’t hate it, but I’m more into rock, metal, grunge.”
“I kinda figured.” She tucks her hair behind her ear again, still not remembering if she actually ever does that. “But if you wanna dance anyways...”
“Sure.”
They take to the small dance area and embrace the slow rhythmic beat. Vi keeps to the tune well and definitely doesn’t dance like a stereotypical white person.
“This song isn’t bad,” Vi says.
“It’s one of my favorites by them, if not my very favorite,” Caitlyn explains.
“What’s the group?”
“Blackpink. The song’s called Whistle.”
Vi moves in closer to Caitlyn. “I like the mix of Korean and English.”
“So do I,” Caitlyn says. “Can be harder to sing along though.”
“I get that. I like a German group, Rammstein, but I’ve managed to nail down some songs.”
Caitlyn moves even closer as they dance to where their arms keep brushing one another. “Maybe you can teach me.”
“Sure.” She looks her up and down. “Mind if I touch your waist?”
Caitlyn grins. “Go for it.”
Vi puts her black nail polish-clad fingers on Caitlyn’s waist and Caitlyn’s skin goes all hot again. Her heart skips and she gazes into Vi’s beautiful eyes and thinks it’s cliche to say you’re lost in someone’s eyes but she is. Like she’s on a raft in the middle of the ocean but she doesn’t care she’s lost. She’s exactly where she wants to be.
They dance for a time more, to a few more songs. Caitlyn hasn’t had this much fun on a first date in so long. She forgot first dates could be this fun and that it’s not always knots in your stomach and shakiness. She feels a familiar comfort with Vi.
Vi tells her she has an early rise the next day, which disappoints Caitlyn but she’s just happy she got this time to spend with her at all.
They stand by Vi’s car.
“Had a great time tonight, cupcake,” Vi says. Crickets chirp around them.
“So did I. Would you like to do it again sometime?”
“Would love to. How about next Friday? See a movie? Something with explosions, if I have anything to say about it.”
Caitlyn laughs. “Metal music and explosions. But still drinks cosmopolitans. I love it.”
“I’m a grab bag.” Vi’s lips part.
Caitlyn thinks she’s signaling what she wants so Caitlyn leans in as does Vi.
Their lips meet softly and they linger there for a few moments before moving. They melt together as they kiss and Caitlyn feels on that pink cloud again.
And still, she wants to stay there forever.