Yan Sun lets out a quiet, relieved breath, the last warning met with a brief extension of her tongue.
#HongKong – December 28, 2025
The woman with the glowing visor raises an eyebrow, her eyes obscured, but no doubt on Jessica. "What are you getting?"
Jessica rolls her eyes at Yan Sun, though the fond look on her face betrays her theatrical annoyance. "Mmm. Piercings." she says simply. She repeats her previous gesture, pinching her septum with her index finger and thumb. "This one." she says. "And-..." she uses both index fingers to poke her cheeks, "...these. And-..." she trails off and purses her lips in thought for a moment before shooting another glance Yan Sun's way. "We are
drinking tonight, yes?" she asks, attempting to confirm their previous plans to grab a bottle of Baijiu- whatever that is- and go somewhere with a view.
Yan Sun nods, a brief look of confusion in her eyes before she grasps the likely reason for the question. "Yep. I mean, that's what we talked about, anyway..."
Jessica gives a few nods. "Mmm. Maybe no tongue then for tonight." she muses. "I know how you are getting when you are drunk, kitty cat. I am probably needing my tongue tonight." she continues, no doubt specifically attempting to embarrass Yan Sun. She snickers as her focus lowers to the omni-tool she pulls from her pocket, poking at the bottom of her front teeth with her tongue as she swipes through the device to bring up the
Yan Sun 's lips thin as embarrassment makes her flush, shooting Jessica a wide-eyed 'oh god please shut up' scowl - that clearly was not where her mind was at.
The body artist seems unfazed by Jessica's crudeness, instead scooting her stool closer and leaning over to take a look at the photo. "You want all of these redone?" she asks after a moment of studying it, having caught what Yan Sun said earlier.
Jessica pays Yan Sun no mind, instead brow furrowing as she studies the old photo. "Maybe if I am getting this-..." she pinches her septum again, "...then I am not needing this-..." she touches the bridge of her nose. She frowns in thought for a second before confirming that decision with a nod. There's a few piercings in her ears in the picture, but she taps her own ear with a finger, "And maybe a few more in the ears." After looking
the picture over for a few moments longer, a smile creeps into the edge of her mouth. "Is going to fuck with how I talk today if I get it, yes...?" she asks, clearly wanting the tongue piercing, but recalling the annoying day or two after she had it done the first time. "Even though I am already having the hole there..?" She pokes the tip of her tongue against the back of her bottom teeth and bridges it outward to show the divot
The woman nods as Jessica speaks, her visor snapshotting the photo for reference. The final question makes her turn her head to study Jessica. "Hmh... it will not swell as much redoing it. But today? Most likely."
Yan Sun listens curiously from the edge of the booth. "I don't care if you sound silly!" she chimes in with a small grin.
Jessica frowns for a moment, seeming to consider it. But Yan Sun's addition seems to serve as a bit of a nudge and she sighs. "Fine. Let's do it." she says, bringing her foot down from the edge of the seat and swiveling just a smidge more to better face the woman. The omni-tool interface dissipates and she shoves it back into her pocket, once more looking to the woman that's about to put some holes in her. "Fuck me up." she smirks.
The corner of the woman's mouth quirks ever-so-slightly upwards, and she slips on a pair of latex gloves before swiveling around to take out a box full of compartments, picking out various titanium piercings that she put on the tray with the needle, wipes, and medigel. "You are familiar with how this works?" she asks as she does, not exactly expecting anything but an affirmative answer.
Jessica gives a hum of affirmation as she settles back in the seat. Given the amount of work she's had done, it's probably no surprise that needles don't bother her.
The booth owner adds a forceps to the tray as well before turning back around to face Jessica, mirroring her hum in confirmation of her affirmation. She grabs her by the chin, unceremoniously tilting her head to one side and then the other, visor HUD tagging the requested piercing spots, matching them to the old healed over ones where possible, as well as highlighting any surface level veins that need avoiding. After that, she grabs the wipes
Jessica peers at Yan Sun out of the corner of her eye. "You are deciding what you are getting next, kitty cat?" she teases, amusement coloring her tone as she does her best not to move.
Yan Sun 's gaze snaps back to Jessica, shrugging and opening her mouth before the piercer's interjection silences her as well.
She works quickly and efficiently, moving Jessica's head this way and that as she cleans, steadies (sometimes with tools), and pierces, each tagged location. A piece of titanium jewelry is added every time, and then finally a layer of transparent medigel that will serve both to keep the wound clean and to keep the piercings steady in place, making sure that the ones that are rings cause no healing problems by moving around. She saves the tongue
for last, leaving Jessica with one last stinging pain to join the others, soon soothed partially by the addition of a layer of cool medigel, which feels strange on the tongue, and tastes of antiseptic. She sits and watches with the forceps still holding Jessica's tongue in place as she waits for the medigel coating to solidify, looking like she derives some measure of subdued amusement from her having to wait like this.
Jessica frowns but thinks better than vocalizing her protest to the woman who is about to start jabbing sharp instruments through her body. To her credit, Jessica is a solid patient. A wince here or there, but she keeps still and lets the woman work at her own pace. A far cry from the whining young girl Burd had to deal with back in the day. As the piercer holds her tongue in place, she levels an unamused look on the woman.
A faint hint of a grin tugs at the corner of the woman's mouth before she announces that "We are done." and lets go. "Well done," she adds, in acknowledgement of her solid effort of staying still through a rather large number of piercings. She peels off her gloves and hands Jessica a mirror to inspect her work.
Yan Sun has remained off to the side, occasionally wincing along with Jessica, but she shoots her a smile as the piercer finishes up.
Jessica looks unamused, but as her tongue is released, she relaxes and takes a moment to contort her face this way and that to work out the sting that remains. She brings the mirror up, turning her head back and forth to get a better look at the work done. There's a strange, almost uncomfortable recognition in the face that looks back at her. Like looking at a new picture of someone that she hasn't seen in a long time. Someone she
thought missing, maybe even dead. Things have changed, sure. Those changes are carved in deep lines that scar the face in the mirror in ways that are more than skin deep. But, for the first time in a long time, she can't help but feel like that person she used to know might still be in there. Somewhere. But those are dangerous thoughts. Thoughts she'd rather not dwell on right now. So, doing her best not to linger on that, she
pulls in a deep breath and, soon, a grin replaces that unamused grimace. "Is good, yes?" she asks, shooting a look back to Yan Sun as she sits up in her chair to let her have a better look.
Yan Sun 's smile is soft and warm as she watches, and Jessica's question makes it widen. "You look great," she says, stepping closer and leaning in to plant a quick kiss against her temple, staying far away from any of the freshly pierced areas.
Medigel, thankfully, is quite the wonderful advancement when it comes to piercings, speeding healing, reducing pain and swelling, and ensuring that the area will stay clean. "Medigel should last until healed. But if it peels too soon, replace it. Some may be stubborn, and need ultrasound," the woman running the booth instructs.
Jessica's grin grows slightly at Yan Sun's assessment and she continues to study the mirror for a moment longer, nodding away the woman's instructions. Passing the mirror back, she fishes out her credit chit and hands it off to the piercer. "And if I want more work done, you are here a lot?" she asks, seemingly already considering more possibilities.
The woman takes the chit, smirking and nodding. "Of course," she assures, activating her omni-tool to tap the chit. "Maybe some ink next time? I like your sleeve," she adds with a glance towards Jessica's arm.
Jessica's attention turns to her own arm and she reflexively lifts it, giving it a little turn. "Mmm." she hums, studying the work on her arm. Her gaze inevitably turns to the other arm and the small bursts of color peeking out between scarred, coarse flesh. "I sthill have-..." she frowns as the inevitable lisp slips out, and she shoots a look Yan Sun's way, as if warning her not to say anything. "I still have some ideas that I am wanting to get." she says, talking a bit slower as she rises from the seat.
The artist nods. "I will be here," she assures. She lingers for a moment as Jessica gets up, making sure she doesn't seem wobbly before relaxing. "You may feel fuzzy from medigel. It will clear in the next hour."
Jessica nods as she steps over towards Yan Sun. "Ith fine. I am planning to be futhy-..." she swallows, swirling her tongue around her mouth as if exercising it, "...fuzzy from booze by then." she says, giving Yan Sun a nudge.
Yan Sun sucks in her lips as she does her very best to muffle the snort that she lets out, fighting hard not to smile in a amusement as she nods in agreement with Jessica. Serious thoughts! Think serious thoughts!
Jessica gives Yan Sun a playful shove, frown flashing across her face. "Don't be a... Shit! Or I will hit you!" she threatens. It's a slow, meticulous threat as if to ensure it's not undercut by another lisp which, unfortunately, only ends up making her sound ridiculous. "Now where we are going?"
Yan Sun breaks into giggles as she hastily slips out of the booth to stay out of Jessica's striking range, although she does end up snatching her hand at the last moment to make sure they're not separated in the crowd, pulling her along. "I'll lead the way! Gonna be a bit of a walk."
Jessica glances back towards the booth, raising a hand towards the woman as she departs. Despite her threats, it's easy to see she's in high spirits, grin once more spreading across her face as Yan Sun tugs her along. "Next time I am making you get something, too!" she warns.