(2018-11-24) How to Buff a Bumper
Alex goes to check out the Mad Hatter, runs into it's resident Wise-Ass
Players:
august..alex..

Leaving the roar of his Harley outside, Alex makes his way through the entrance, looking around. He shakes the snow off of his boots on the entrance mat before stepping in further. He looks around at the ambiance of the shop and then the samples of work on the walls. He raises a brow as he notices the girl at the counter and smirks. He walks over to the counter and starts to thumb through the portfolio. "Hey there. Do you work here?" A dumb question at first glance, however looking at the amount of work done ON her, she could also be a client.

August glances up from her phone briefly at the rumble of a Harley approaching, but doesn't look to the door until it actually opens. The warm interior of the shop is momentarily interrupted by a slice of cold gusting through. This has the long-haired woman pulling on a slouchy grey cashmere shrug. Though it hides a lot of her ink, it also preserves her core body temperature, which is clearly something she did not take into account before moving to Colorado with this particular wardrobe.

"As little as possible," comes the amused reply from August. She gives Alex the full head-to-toe, just taking in the details. Yep, her eyes do pause on the leather. Lash-hooded eyes take in Fixer and NOMAD, and then her gaze returns to the biker's face. "Are you looking for something in particular?"

Alex smiles and bites back any smartass, creepy comment. "Nothing that strikes me yet. I'm just fairly new in town and well, since this is the only tat shop in town, I came by to check it out." He takes a look at her once again. "And… I'm guessing that you're not a native either?

Almost like she can sense a little self restraint, Auggie's smile blooms. She nods. "I am, also a bit of a wandering spirit." She lifts a hand, gesturing in a loose circle. "Colorado's a little colder than my usual haunts, but she's been good to me in our honeymoon period." She nods to the portfolio, which belongs to one of the other artists in back. A giggle erupts from the booth, loud enough to carry all the way up to the entry. She pauses, then says, "That's Ben's." She nods to the leather book studded with silver on the end. "Mine's custom black and grey and American Traditional." She says that like she's not particularly interested in other styles. "I came up from Florida," she finally says, glancing past Alex to the snow outside.

Alex nods, closing the book. he looks to her before looking outside and then back over. "Aye. Must've been quite a shock to the system, then. I'm from Cali… but the north gets as cold as here, so I'm a bit more used to it, thought I prefer it to be a bit warmer, and less white." He grins, offering his hand. "I'm Alejandro, but most people call me Alex." At the giggle, he rolls his eyes. "Kids these days." He looks around. "Do you have a book? Like I said, I'm not looking for anything in particular, but i like seeing a good sample of the different styles, in case something comes up. I mean, I'm from Cali, I ride a Harley, I *have* to keep along with the stereotype." He looks off to the side, as if he said that pointedly to a camera.

A light tap of her nails sounds as she puts down her phone, metallic case rose gold and otherwise plain. Must have spent it all on her own ink. August reaches over to take the hand she's offered, clasp firm. "Alejandro." She turns his hand to survey the knuckles, only then releasing his hand back to his own custody. "Sure do."R
August reaches for her phone again, pulling up Instagram. She turns her phone to him, open to her profile page. Along with the occasional selfie in various locations are progress and finished shots of realistic black & grey pieces, sleeves, full chests, a few backs, interspersed with pops of color of American Trad flash & custom back pieces in bright color. There are more than a few grizzled bikers in the mix, lots of eagles and knotwork, skulls, daggers, swallows, and ships. Lots of convention booth pics, too. Most recently, a photo of a shiny black 55 Chevy Nomad stuck in the snow #welcometocoloradoasshole.

A light tap of her nails sounds as she puts down her phone, metallic case rose gold and otherwise plain. Must have spent it all on her own ink. August reaches over to take the hand she's offered, clasp firm. "Alejandro." She turns his hand to survey the knuckles, only then releasing his hand back to his own custody. "Sure do."

August reaches for her phone again, pulling up Instagram. She turns her phone to him, open to her profile page. Along with the occasional selfie in various locations are progress and finished shots of realistic black & grey pieces, sleeves, full chests, a few backs, interspersed with pops of color of American Trad flash & custom back pieces in bright color. There are more than a few grizzled bikers in the mix, lots of eagles and knotwork, skulls, daggers, swallows, and ships. Lots of convention booth pics, too. Most recently, a photo of a shiny black 55 Chevy Nomad stuck in the snow #welcometocoloradoasshole. "Auggie."

Alex smirks as she pulls out her phone to show. "Heh… Kids these days.." he repeats. he scrolls through the pics, impressed. He stops at the pic of the car and cringes. "Aye dios mio, is that recent? It's a sweet car, was there a lot of damage?" His face lights up as he gets an idea. "I'm a mechanic.I work mostly bikes, but my boss does good work. Mechanical, body, anything you like, neat and clean." He says, handing her a business card for Gray's Garage. "If I'm not around, ask for Jo. She runs the place." As she introduces herself, he nods, smiling. "Well met, Auggie." He even holds back on the Auggie Daddy jokes. "Do you have any cards, or can I get ahold of you through this place?" he stops, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "I mean, to contact you."

"Yep." August's wince is subtle, but there. "Really." She hmms at that and says, "You're any good at pounding out dents," and it really hurts to say that, "The bumper took the worst." Not the chroooome. Yes, the chrome. "It's cosmetic." One can see from her entire person that cosmetic is something she does care about. "I can take care of the paint myself, but I haven't done body in years. My dad took care of that for me." So this little accident definitely isn't the first in her life. "My talents lean more toward surface decoration, custom airbrush, ink in skin."

August leans across the counter to reach for a little stack of square cards embossed with a deep letterpress impression of a silver foiled dagger. The flip side has her name, number, and the link to her IG portfolio. She offers one over to Alex. "Here or by that number. I do most of my bookings here." Most, not all. "I pay in cash, alcohol, or ink. Your choice. I'll send you a photo of the damage." She pauses, "If you can find it in you work a smart phone. Or should I just post it to you at Grey's?"

Alex raises a brow. "Damn. Beautiful and multi-talented. Girl, you're gonna waste yourself away in this town. Airbrush, si?" He nods and takes the card, pulling out a wallet chained to his jeans. He places the card in the wallet and returns the wallet. "And i can work a phone just fine." He chuckles and stands up straight. "Nice to meet you again, Auggie. I'll be seeing you around." He says as he backs closer to the door.

"Claro que si," August returns with a smile and a slight nod of her head. "I've painted more than my fair share of flaming skulls on tanks. You can find those under Lexington Customs," which is the name of her late father's business. Since his death earlier in the year, the location of the shop has gone from Jacksonville, Florida to Nomad, location tags on the photos themselves wending a path across the US all the way here to Colorado. There haven't been any new posts in a couple of weeks.

August brightens up a bit at the compliment, of course, "Drive safely, Alejandro." Her tone is warmer now that they've had a chat and become somewhat acquainted. She watches him go, eyes tracking his move. Just before he reaches the door, she says with a laugh, "I can't believe you let that pounding out the dents thing go with a pass."

Alex turns and chuckles as he opens the door, pointing in her direction. "I'm trying to be a good boy. Play your cards right and I'll show you how I buff out a bumper." He winks before smiling and heading through the door.

The sound of Auggie's throaty laugh follows Alejandro out into the night.

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