The rest of dinner passes quickly, the market continuing to buzz around the two of them as they make a valiant effort to leave as little of the delicious mix of foods behind as possible. Their walk towards the previously spotted booth is slow, both of them stuffed, and once they get there they have to wait a little while, but soon enough the sole proprietor of the booth, a heavily tattooed woman in her 50s with short black hair that shows off
#HongKong – December 21, 2025
numerous spike piercings, snaps her fingers and points at the chair, gesturing for Jessica to get seated. The booth is little more than a canopy that houses the client chair, the proprietor's stool, and a couple of cluttered tables - some hold tools, others storage boxes, and one has a pair of folders, one is a tattoo portfolio, and the other has a list of body jewelry and a chart of piercing positions. Everything offered here is pretty
standard, no high tech stuff, but the owner seems to have both skill and experience. "Hmh... know what you want?" she asks, swapping to accented English after having spoken Cantonese with the previous client.
Yan Sun hovers nearby, at the edge of the canopy, taking in the makeshift setup and the woman it belongs to curiously.
Jessica plops into the chair, a little pep in her step despite the post-meal lethargy that's still hot on her trail. The question causes her to shoot a look Yan Sun's way, smirk tugging at the edge of her mouth. "What I am getting? Mmm?" she asks, keeping good on her word and seemingly rendering her judgement that Yan Sun has not, in fact, been a shit.
Yan Sun looks a little put on the spot. "You really meant-... uh. I mean... I don't know! I guess... I always thought the, uh..." She gestures at her own nose. "Nose rings... were... a really good look," she says, seeming almost embarrassed - perhaps she would have chosen different phrasing had they been alone.
The booth owner raises an eyebrow at the exchange, and swivels around to stack a fresh piercing needle, wipes, and a medigel canister on her tray given their topic, not butting in just yet.
Jessica raises an eyebrow, amusement playing on her face at Yan Sun's stammering. The suggestion causes her to bring her hand up and pinch her septum with two fingers, brows furrowing as if she's trying to envision it. "Like this...?" she asks, idly rotating her chair with her foot.
Yan Sun nods, sucking in her lower lip slightly as the corner of her mouth tugs upward. She watches Jessica for a moment and then asks "What about redoing some of the ones you used to have? she suggests, a half-remembered snapshot of a past she's never seen in person taking shape in her head. "I mean, depending on how many you want to get. They looked nice, and some of the holes still seem like they're okay," she adds, gesturing towards the
The middle-aged woman half-listens while leaning over to check something on a laptop at the back of the booth without leaving her little stool.
Jessica continues to rotate back and forth ever so slightly as she considers her options, but it doesn't take long for her to come to some sort of conclusion with a firm nod. "And you?" she asks, gaze once more leveling on Yan Sun. "What I am going to choose for you?" she asks, as if thinking out loud, eyes narrowing on the woman as a thoughtful hum escapes her. "Mmm?"
The woman still checking her computer lets out the faintest amused huff as she listens, easily lost under the noise of the market. When Jessica's chair squeaks her left hand reaches out without looking to firmly grab the backrest, keeping her from wiggling it.
Jessica shoots the woman a scowl, but Yan Sun's surprise draws her focus back, her smile slowly slipping back out. She leans a bit to one side, elbow on the armrest and her chin resting against her palm as she studies her, assessing the possibilities. Her gaze scans across Yan Sun's face. Then lower. Then lower. She gives a sharp nod, smile growing. "I know what you are getting!" she says enthusiastically, sitting up a bit more upright
Yan Sun hunches forward slightly, crossing her arms as a faint blush blooms across her cheeks. "No you don't," she blurts out.
The booth owner finishes with her laptop, turning back around and activating a holographic visor, focus shifting to something on the display.
Jessica cackles, bringing one foot up onto the edge of the seat, causing it to inadvertently swivel again, chair squeaking once more. "Fine, fine. I am only fucking with you, kitty cat." she admits with a sigh. Pursing her lips, she scans Yan Sun up and down one more time before seemingly deciding on something. She shrugs and issues a warning: "For now!" The grin plastered across her face mirrors her mood for the day and she brings a