Saturday, August 16th, 2008
The Everchanging Ink Tattoo Parlor
Malyndas Outfit

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The Everchanging Ink was finally lit that evening, the tattoo emblazoned windows lit with flickering green and magenta candlelight, a flashing sign indicating "Grand Opening, Invite only" on the heavy door. Inside, the simple room was washed with hot pinks and bright greens. On one side of the room was a long table festooned with a black silk tablecloth sat a skull shaped cauldron filled with a bubbling pink firewhiskey punch as well as several bottles of Absinthe waiting to be poured into skull shaped goblets. Next to it was her birthday cake, a pink and black little number complete with her favorite skull motif. On the otherside of the room was another table bearing a young woman wearing nothing but small patches of green paper, on which were dozens of sushi rolls. It was a muggle idea, Malynda loathed to admit, but she thought it very fitting for the grand opening. She had even made sure the model was covered in tattoos to add to the effect.

The effect was perfect, as it should be. It was, after all, a triple threat event this evening. It signaled Malynda and Laneys graduation from Hogwarts, the Opening of the Everchanging Ink and Malynda's own 18th birthday. She had planned it all herself, from the ground up, just to make sure nothing went wrong. There were even bouncers outside to make sure no one tried to crash the festivities.

"Keep the Nigiri coming... Especially the shrimp...You! Get the Absinthe brewing...Wheres the music?? Cue the music!" Malynda snapped orders out left and right with an air of authority she had gleaned from her years as quidditch captain. Glancing at her watch, she realized that the first guest would be arriving any time. Dashing over to the stairs leading to her and Laneys small apartment on the second floor, Malynda hollered up at her "Hurry Laney, they will be here any moment!" before heading back to the party area, ready to greet the guests.

Finn was a few minutes early for Mal and Laney's party. He wasn't the kind of person to make a grande late entrance - afterall, when a person specified that they wanted you at the event for a specific time, it was because they wanted you at the event for a specific time. Finn didn't like people who tried to steal thunder. Besides, it was nice for him to attend a party he wasn't hosting himself for once.

Knockturn Alley was not somewhere he frequented often, and for good reason. An old hag tried to grab onto him as he walked past, but he managed to narrowly escape her grasp - much to her disappointment.

He arrived at the venue to be greeted by a couple of gruff bouncers who demanded to see his invitation. He felt in his pockets. "I..." He pulled his pockets inside out, and revealed that there was nothing there. He shrugged, but the bouncers looked less than amused, stating that entry was strictly prohibited without the production of an invitation. Well, the specific words they used were 'Get lost', but Finn assumed that had been what they were actually trying to say to him.

"But-" He started, trying to peer through the door. "Mal!" He called out, hoping that even if Malynda wasn't there, someone who knew him would be.

Slipping a flask onto her thigh-- just in case the queue at the party they were throwing happened to be a bit too long for her own liking-- Laney glanced fleetingly toward the mirror and tucked a strand of choppy fringe across her high, olive brow. Her bed sheets were a tangle at one end of the mattress, which was shrouded in various garments, splayed magazines, and bits of art she’d been sharing with Malynda. She was forever searching for new inspiration, new things to ink in subtle places on her figure, and the chicly shambolic room said as much. They hadn’t bothered unpacking in their effort to open The Everchanging Ink. Laney couldn’t be happier with the living situation. It was everything her stepmother would hate, and everything that she had come to love about her Hogwarts dormitory... without the curfew (not that she’d always abide).

Mal’s voice echoed up the stairs and Laney whisked away from the mirror, pausing only to grab a leather jacket from her bedpost. She tucked it over one arm and headed down to the newly-renovated shop in a pair of heels her stepmother would burn.

“Happy birth--” Before she could finish shouting across the room, hands cupped around her mouth as she strode from the last step into the pristine and newly decorated shop, Laney’s eyes caught the entrance. The sight of Finn Grosvenor being denied anything was laughable; the sight of Finn Grosvenor being held back from a party was hilarious.

Laney slowed her walk, floating toward the door like a curious cat. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted the smile-worthy moment to end before she could snap a picture-- and hey, look at that, a photographer! Grabbing the shoulder of an awkward, skinny, bearded man with a wizard’s camera, Laney gestured toward the door. Without word, the man did what they’d paid him to do, and snapped a priceless picture of Finn and the bouncers. A cloud of purple smoke went up, and Laney stepped through it, smirking at the owner of Signature. “Mal’s going to be pleased to see you,” she said, reaching through the pair of body guards to tug at the young man’s sleeve. “Let him in, he’s on the list.”

While still arguing with the bouncers and fearing for his young life, a cloud of purple smoke went up in the air. Finn blinked and his eyebrows pinched together in annoyance as he saw a man who was completely hairless save his beard brandishing a camera in Finn's direction. Finn was about to shout something about finding his humiliation amusing, when a hand weaved its way through the bouncers and grabbed his sleeve, pulling him through the gap.

Laney.

A grin spread across Finn's face as he realised the photo was for Laney's benefit. She would love to have any reason to taunt him in the future, and this photo provided the perfect reason - Finnley Grosvenor, owner of Signature the most exclusive, famous wizarding club in Britain, being turned away from a birthday party in Knockturn Alley. He could see the humour in it.

“Let him in, he’s on the list.”

The bouncers moved aside grudgingly, and Finn couldn't help but salute them. "S'lang." He sang in an American accent, stopping himself before he added 'suckers' on the end. Once they were in the room, Finn was fully able to appreciate everything. He pulled Laney to his side in a squeeze and kissed the top of her head. "Hey kid, how's adult life treating you?"

It was a lucky thing, that Finn had a good sense of humor. Laney would hate for Ava’s dear brother to be a drag. She’d also hate to have to shove him back out the door, since she’d only just pulled him in. (Of course, he probably couldn’t have wondered into any other place of his choosing, being who he was, and looking every bit the part.)

“That was a very smooth entrance, Grosvenor.” Laney nudged him as she was pulled to his side. Leaning up, she returned the kiss, but to the young man’s cheek. “But I needed a little insurance policy, you know...” She winked, finally taking him in properly.

How was adult life?

Peachy keen.

“I can’t complain... not having to listen to a dormmate’s bloody banshee alarm at six in the Merlin-forsaken morning...” (Quidditch practice excluded, for Laney would gladly rise in the dead of night when Mal wanted to keep the team on their toes). “On a Saturday,” she added, her face going darker than usual. “Who studies on a Saturday?”

But enough of that boring talk. It was all in the past, as far as Laney was concerned.

Her sly grin returning, she gestured with a tilt of her head toward the evening's other hostess, the birthday girl. Pulling Finn by the hand, Laney led the way to Malynda, sneaking up behind her and throwing an arm around the taller girl’s shoulder. “Happy birthday, I’ve brought you a present.” In the form of Finnley Grosvenor.