>"Deep breaths... It won't be that bad..."
>Caramel went along down the alley, with dainty storefronts on either side.
>There was still uncertainty in his step however, making him pace around the raised flowerbeds
>The shopkeepers gave him a passing glance, the dull afternoon and heat easing everyone into their seats
>Not many ponies this time of day, to the annoyance of the shop owners
>However, one business always seemed to attract some hooves at the far back of the alley.
>Across from the local laundromat, stood the small tattoo parlor
>Caramel gazed up from under the red gazebo from the adjacent diner and saw the sign which read Marked, in a flamboyant grey font.
>He looked back in a moment of hesitation, to the counter of the diner where a bored and aged mare stood
>"Perhaps a drink? For the nerves..." he thought aloud to himself.
>He shook his head however and regained his resolve.
>"No!, better get this over and done with. Otherwise the boys back at the ranch won't let me hear the end of it."
>He pushed aside the glass door, a bell chiming his arrival as he stepped inside
>It was rather refreshingly cool inside, with the ceiling fan slowly humming away above
>the walls were decorated with a vast collection of drawings, great and small
>often with a pony brandishing it cocksure, or on faceless ponies' rumps.
>the blue pony behind the counter stirred, his eyes drawn up from the magazine he read, accompanied by a smile when he saw the stallion at the doorway.
>"Hey hey, how can I help you today?"
>"Oh, hi..." Caramel said, "Yeah.. uh.. I was wondering, about getting a tattoo maybe.. and uh..."
>Caramel's voice hinted with a tone of unease still, his eyes moving about
>The blue pony rose from his seat, flicked his silvery mane aside and adjusted the collar of his race jacket
>"Well you've come to just the right place. Best parlor in town, runned by yours truely." he said with a faint smile as he walked around the counter
>Caramel simply nodded, before his darting eyes settled on the stallion before him.
>He could not help but admire the vast artwork snaking along the blue stallion's body
>Some monotone ones where rather simplistic and faded
>Other's seemed fresh, grand, and alive with color
>Caramel noticed as well the piercings along the stallion's ears, glinting in the light
>His eyes stopped when it met that piercing amber gaze
>"So... whatcha want to get inked," the blue stallion asked, rather casually
>"Well you see.. I haven't really had one before and..."
>"A fresher?" the stallion said with some surprise, "Well now, rest assured, you're in good hooves here. Name's Pokey, but you can just call me Pierce."
>he extended his hoof to Caramel, who took it in his
>"Caramel. It's a pleasure to meet ya."
>he gave a nervous smile in return
>"So, have any ideas perhaps?" Pierce asked
>"A couple you might say... or.. well one in particular."
>Caramel scratched the back of his mane, before continuing
>"I'm a rancher by trade, so I was thinking something along the lines of a lasso, maybe?"
>"Lasso, eh? Cool, cool, that's not a bad choice to get first time round."
>Pierce propped himself against the counter, a quizzical expression on his face
>"Where do you want it?"
>"See, well... I want to get it on my lower belly.."
>Caramel's cheeks burned red, as Pierce cocked his head and stood before him again
>"A belly tat aint for the lighthearted. Must have a lot of meaning for you then?"
>"Heh, I guess you could say that." Caramel added with a nervous laugh
>Already at the back of his mind Caramel was regretting this more by the second
>But, a cider bet's a cider bet.
>The alternative would be him wearing a milking apron for a month on the ranch
>Besides, the other studs already have some ink on them. High time it was his turn soon enough anyway.
>"Well then, let's get you prepped then. You can pay me when we're done. Policy and all that, making sure the customer likes what he gets...but I'm certain you'll love it afterward" Pierce said, grinning all the while
>Caramel followed cautiously, as Pierce lead the way to the back of the store, past the carved wooden room separator
>"Make yourself comfortable, and I'll be with you in a jiff." Pierce said, as he fished about in the nearby cupboards
>Caramel proceeded to climb atop the plastic covered chair, ashen in color as it stood solemnly
>Pretty much a combination between a massage chair and a dentist one, squeaking underneath his every shift
>Though Caramel couldn't shake the comparison in his mind of a cow being led to the stalls for a milking
>Pierce returned to his side, with an assortment of ink cartridges, and packages of sterile cloth, placing it gently on the side table
>"Now then, go ahead and spread em' "
>"E-excuse me?" Caramel said
>"You want a good belly tattoo don't you? Ain't gonna happen with you lying on your side like that..."
>Caramel's cheeks became rosy once more, as he turned, forehooves by his side, and his lower legs and gaskin spread revealing his soft fuzzy underbelly
>...and his sheath with gonads underneath
>Nonchalantly, pierce tore open the packet with his magic, and took the dripping cloth to the exposed area just above Caramel's sheath
>Caramel gasped, as the coolness bit him, letting him sigh as Pierce went and massaged the tender skin
>Caramel couldn't help but start to feel a stirring in his loins from all this new found attention
>Satisfied that the area is nice and clean, Pierce levitated closer a marker, once uncapping the tip
>As he went about drawing across Caramel's belly, some of Caramel's member spilled from his sheath, enticing a smirk from Pierce
>Brandishing a mirror, he brought it before Caramel and asked, "S'all good?"
>Caramel noticed the fine drawing, though still lacking in minute detail, his thoughts were more preoccupied with his now publicly displayed member
>"Oh, sure, sure it's great," Caramel added quickly, an awkward smile the only compensation for his arousal
>"Sweetness, now..."
>Pierce levitated closer his tattoo machine from nearby, metallic and ornate, much like his own piercings.
>"...hold still as best you can. First time is always a stinger."
>The moment the machine buzzed to life and the tip met with the exposed skin, Caramel's eyes shot open
>It felt like a tiny hornet and he couldn't help but grimace and grip the armrest in silent protest
>His arousal was all but gone now, replaced his seething breath though his clenched teeth
>Unhindered, Pierce went about like an artist, though still in slow strokes, his amber eyes locked on the trembling canvas as the needle passed over it
>In moments of brief relief, Pierce would wipe away any residue ink, only to resume with the painstaking work
>Caramel tried his best to keep his mind occupied, on thoughts back at the ranch, though it still lingered how long this agony could go on
>To his surprise however, after quarter hour, Pierce announced triumphantly, "...and done..."
>Clicking the machine off, and with a final wipe he asked, "Wasn't all that bad, eh?"
>Caramel sighed, his breath uneasy but himself relieved it to be over
>He looked down and saw the aftermath of Pierce's work
>Though still red, like fresh sunburn, he was quite impressed at the outcome
>The rope, fibers curled and twisted, looping just above his sheath and ending in a fine knot
>Knows his lassos, that's for sure Caramel thought
>"So, whatcha think?"
>"Looks mighty fine, I have to say."
>"Nice, now stay right there... This is worth a picture for the books"
>"Oh... uhm... okay then..."
>Caramel gave a weak smile, blushing all the while whilst Pierce took a snapshot with his Polaroid
>After the flash and whirr, Pierce took the photo and helped Caramel off the seat and escorted him to the counter
>Caramel handed over the agreed bits before Pierce greeted him with his hoof once more
>"Well, thank you for coming in today Caramel, till next time then?"
>"Yeah, heh, you've got me 'roped in'..."
>Pierce only laughed as Caramel made a hasty departure
>Once outside, Caramel facehooved himself at his quip
>"Roped In? Really? Really...." He sighed and made his way back out the alley and onto the busy street, his thoughts on his next visit
>Meanwhile, back in the store, Pierce looked over the developing photo, Caramel blushing in the nude in all it's glory
>"This one's a keeper for sure," Pierce thought aloud, giving a satisfying smile, pocketing the photo in his breast pocket
 
~end~