“Mum, you don’t have to come to-”

“Shush!” she hissed to Cye. His mother’s wings were clicking like crazy as they approached Anxiety Free Tattoos. “I know you’re hiding something there!”

“Mum-”

“Just shut up and let me protect you!”

Cye’s mother burst through the doors of the tattoo shop, eyes full of fire and righteous indignation. Everything she saw displeased her, even with the shop being virtually empty at the moment. Max was sitting at her desk eating a McDonald’s burger while Sidney was giving their smiling girlfriend, Lizzy, a small tattoo on her leg.

“Oh what is this?!” Cye’s mother howled, making everyone pause and turn their attention towards her.

“Mum,” begged Cye. “Please don’t-”

“Oh, are you a customer?” Max asked, mistaking her disgust for some kind of enthusiasm. She put down her food and went to greet the mother carvation, holding out her hand. “I’m Max.”

The eyes of Cye’s mom went wide, and she swatted away Max’s hand in disgust before turning her nose up. 

“As if I would vandalize my body with your… your… your barbaric markings!”

Everyone looked nervously at Max, who looked ready to throw the woman out and slap a lifetime ban on her. Forcefully. The mom just kept talking though.

“Just, ugh! This shop is disgusting! It employs… things like that!” she shouted, pointing to Sidney, who looked like they were going to have a panic attack. “And serves customers like that thing! Not even carvation!” This time she made a gesture at Lizzy, who turned red and looked ashamed. “Not to mention it’s run by a-”

“Run by a what?” Max asked with gritted teeth and clenched fists. 

“By a dirty-”

In only 45 seconds, Max threw the woman out, and banned her from ever coming in again. Max dusted her hands and popped her neck.

“Good riddance,” she mumbled, going back to her lunch.