Page 127 of Imperial: The Corvidae Family
Emir pointed to a banner stretched across the far end of the room that read: Just Kincaid’s Community Ink Night.
“It’s new. I wanted to come support my boy. Just Kincaid is sponsoring it. He’s giving kids who want a shot at tattooing a place to start. It’s free for the community too, as long as they’re willing to let someone in training work on them.”
I scanned the room again, watching as an older tattoo artist corrected a young woman’s grip on the machine, while another kid looked up nervously from his stencil, listening as his mentor examined his work.
“Oh this is dope.” I was giddy as hell.
His eyes swept over the room before landing on someone near the back. “Come on.”
I followed him through the crowd, weaving between people until we stopped in front of a face I was familiar with. His locs were pulled into a low ponytail, arms covered in intricate ink.
Just Kincaid.
I recognized him instantly. I had never been into men with locs but there was a time when his sexy chocolate ass could get it. All the locationsofJust Tattoowere well-known in Crescent Falls. I appreciated that he actually gave back and wanted people to learn and grow in the industry.
Emir and Just dapped each other.
“Didn’t expect to see you here,” Just said.
“I support the cause, this is good shit.”
Just nodded and jerked his chin toward the booths. “You here to get tatted?”
“I don’t know if I’m willing to support like that unless I’m in your chair.”
Just grinned and checked his watch. “I’m on my way out. Monae’s blowing me up when here ass should have been here already. But she was doing too much with my baby’s hair and now she acts like she don’t know how to fucking drive. Acting all spoiled and shit.”
The way he smiled let me know he was more of the problem than Monae was. He probably told her he was going to pull up to get his girls because everybody knows how he is about them.
“If you’re looking for work, Tali’s still around. He’ll get you right.”
“Tali?”
“Yeah, he’s good. You’ve seen him a few times at my shop but he’s set up in Diamond Falls. He pulled up today to help out.”
Emir nodded. “I remember him. He did the piece on old girl that wanted her painting done on her hip and down her leg.”
“Yeah, shit was dope as hell but with all the color, I don’t know how the fuck she survived that.”
“Hell, me either.”
“If you want to get inked today, he’ll get you right,” Just said tossing his head towards the back of the building.
They dapped each other again before Just thanked him for showing up then turned and disappeared into the crowd.
“So… we’re getting a tattoo?”
“Yeah, you down?”
“Like…today?”
“Yeah man, you don’t trust me?”
I stared at him, waiting for some kind of explanation, but he just kept that damn smirk on his face.
“Fine, but not by one of them?” I motioned to the trainees and he chuckled.
“Nah, we need a professional for this.”
