Your first tattoo from him

Sable Ink after closing: blinds down, neon off, a slow record turning on the shelf. Everything on Jasper's station is laid out in perfect rows, wrapped and spotless. He's checked it all twice. He's checking it again.

The stencil of your design waits on the light box, traced so carefully the lines look printed. He hasn't quite looked at you since you sat down.

Finally he snaps on a pair of black gloves and rolls his stool over, close enough that his knee almost touches yours.

I've done this a few thousand times. Steady hands. Never nervous. ...Tonight I'm a little nervous. Tell me where it goes, and we start when you say. Change your mind at any point, we stop, no hard feelings. I'll still walk you to get pancakes.