Labyrinth - the Tattoo & Piercing Parlor (Knockturn Alley)

In midst of Knockturn Alley is a nifty little area called Labyrinth composed of two parts: Iron Maiden and Wraith's Dungeon. It is hidden from common view and is a bit of a challenge to find, but when you do you'll thank Merlin you did. Only in Labyrinth can you get any piercing or tattoo you desire from the best artists and piercers in the world! Sure, you may have to haggle, threaten, and maybe hex a bit to get the prices reasonable, (The piercers and artists have a bit of an ego and tend to inflate their prices quite outrageously) but no matter what the price, rest assured it is well worth it, for only in Labyrinth can you find the best of the best.

There is a bit of an age requirement: one must be at least sixteen to receive a tattoo or piercing or have written permission from a guardian. It is a bit of a nuisance, but take heed of a wise saying: Money is the best antidote... ~_^



So what'll it be for you?

Sevastyan had no idea where Amaranth Viper wanted to get her tattoo and piercing done, and hence allowed her to lead him to her destination. Though he knew how to apparate and had a license, the Russian opted for Side-Along apparition. After all, he noted to himself with an inward chuckle: she knew her way around this part of Europe far better than he did.

Once they were beyond the apparition boundaries of the school, Sevastyan felt the ground vanish from beneath him and noted a swirl of colors before his feet once again found solid ground. Looking to Amaranth, it became evident that apparition was indeed not one of her stronger skills. He bent forward for to catch her before she hit the ground...

... but once he had her in his arms he found himself falling too. Blasted equilibrium and the time it took to realign itself.

Sevastyan turned and with an 'oof!' found himself half-reclined on the cobblestone ground with Amaranth on top of him. Instead of being embarrassed or angry, though, he laughed. The tumble had actually been rather fun in the dizzying rollercoaster sort of way. Not to mention that the 'ride' came to a distinctly pleasant halt despite the sudden stop.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly and placed a gentle kiss at her temple. Sevastyan was well aware she couldn't feel pain, but he couldn't help but ask into her general well-being. And, personally, he didn't really care who noticed the public display of affection. It wasn't like they were doing anything indecent.

It is often said that one can do anything one sets their mind on. Well, to Amaranth Viper, that saying was nothing more than complete BS. She really did try to apparate correctly and well for once on her way to Labyrinth, especially since Sevastyan was with her side-along apparating. Unfortunately, fate could be quite cruel.

Instead of landing with her feet on the ground as Sevastyan had done, she found herself a few feet above it, with only Sevastyan to steady her by catching her. Or at least trying too...

She blushed lightly as she soon found herself on top of Sevastyan on the ground. For a moment, worry filled Viper wondering Sevastyan's reaction to her failed apparition, only to evaporate by the cadence of his laughter and the gentle kiss. Staring downwards at her love from her position, Viper wondered if Fate was much kinder than she had originally thought.

"I'm fine." she managed in between bouts of laughter. "I'm sorry, I should have told you I fail epically when it comes to apparating. Are you all right?"

Sevastyan sat up and held Viper close to him in an embrace, determinedly ignoring what looked like a hag watching them. "Regardless, I vould never just let you fall," he said automatically, a gesture of the fact that he did not have unrealistic expectations of her and loved the witch just as she was.

"And I'm fine - it vos actually rather fun," he chuckled. The grin on his face was one of good nature and a vague hint of suggestion. In a way, Sevastyan wished they'd fallen into a snowbank.

"So... this is the place?" Sevastyan asked, glancing up at the sign that declared the establishment's name as 'Labyrinth'. He was rather intrigued by the exterior decor.

Viper's smile widened at the response as she leaned into and returned the embrace. Although, she wasn't able to ignore the watching hag as easily as Sevastyan was, and therefore was unable to resist giving the watcher a rather rude gesture involving a finger.

An eyebrow arched slightly at Sevastyan's chuckled reply. "Really? Well I suppose I'll have to keep that in mind then..." she replied with the same hint of suggestion.

Her gaze followed Sevastyan's, glancing at the sign. She nodded before beaming with excitement. "It is. Nifty little shop, isn't it?" Viper's mind wandered back slightly, reminscing about all the times she had spent over here as a teen, getting her piercings, although she let most of the ones she acquired close as she and her style matured.

The nondescript hag went about her business after being given such a gesture. A smile inwardly graced the Russian wizard's face though he still pretended not to have seen what had happened.

Sevastyan had no verbal response for her suggestive reply, but did instead gather her lips with his in as chaste a kiss as his love for Amaranth would allow to be seen in public. Snogging in the school for "revenge" was one thing: doing so out in the open like this was quite another. But he did love the woman currently seated on his lap, and he wasn't afraid to show it.


"Hmm," he uttered with approval. "It does look very interesting," the wizard articulated. Sevastyan had not been to either Diagon or Knockturn Alleys, but he could tell precisely what kind of place he found himself and Amaranth in. Despite the purgers, Sevastyan found himself intrigued at having been led to such a place. With the reputation tattooing and piercing held for some, it made sense that said establishment be located here. It didn't bother him at all.

"Shall ve then?" Sevastyan asked his love, curious to see what the place was like and what kind of adornments she wanted to add. Personally, he couldn't imagine why she wanted to add features: the Russian thought she was amazingly beautiful enough as it was. But he wasn't going to question what she wanted. Sevastyan was her boyfriend, not her father!

Viper nodded, smiling at his approval. "It is. Labyrinth holds alot of memories for me... I used to hang around here all the time when I was a kid." She laughed inwardly at the thought of her being a 'kid' was in reality only about six or seven years ago.

"Let's go." she grinned in excitement as she led Sevastyan by the hand into Labyrinth. She gazed around the shop in wonder, absorbing all the familiar surroundings. Not much had changed to her delight. Especially, she noted after a moment of looking around the owner: Greg House

"House!" she exclaimed happily, beaming at the older gentleman sitting behind the counter with his feet propped up, skimming through a magazine.

House tore his gaze away from the magazine , smiling brightly at the familiar face. "Amaranth Viper! Been while since I've seen you. Who's your friend?" he asked gesturing to Sevastyan.

Sevastyan followed her without hesitation, of course. He was glad to see her so excited and happy, not that she was any less in his company after he'd recovered from learning about his cousin's death. The wizard was just elated to learn she was in what seemed to him to be the brightest of moods on her birthday.

The Russian glanced around here and there, taking in the sights. This was certainly a different sort of place. At Amaranth's exclamation he almost thought 'House' was, literally, a residence. However, her gaze and the one-word greeting put together told Sevastyan that 'House' was the surname of the man reading a magazine. And, given the background input Viper provided, he deduced that this must be the proprietor.

He couldn't help but smile further at the friendly conversation. It was really hard for Sevastyan to believe that Amaranth was really unapproachable seeing her like this, but that was just his opinion. Then again, they hadn't been together in years past, either... that could easily have something to do with it.

When attention was turned to him, Sevastyan inclined his head in greeting. "I am Sevastyan Kaminski, Mr. House. A pleasure to make your acqvaintance," he replied congenially. By his and Amaranth's entwined hands, it seemed all too plain what their relationship was. He left how they were affiliated out of the introduction firstly because the man had already assessed they were friends, and two because Viper was practically glowing - metaphorically speaking - and assumed if anyone were to tell this friend of Amaranth's anything about their relationship it should be her. Sevastyan would even tell her this should she ask why.

"Ooh, interesting." House replied, noticing the entwined hands. "Russian, I take it by your accent? Spiffy place, Russia is. Very nice tattoing equipment and methods! Learned a thing or two myself from a Russian artist.

He removed his feet from the counter and hobbled off the seat, revealing a black cane with moving flames on the end. "So what'll it be today, Vi? Tattoo, piercing?"

"Both, actually." Viper replied with a small smile.

"Nice!" he nodded in approval with an "evil genius" look on him, before a slight frown took over. "You promise your going to keep these this time? I notice you ditched most of the others I gave you." House scanned Viper's face for a moment, observing the lack of body jewelry on her.

"Tsk tsk tsk. No more eyebrow ring, no more lip ring," he held her chin for a moment to look into her mouth, gaping at the result. "You got rid of your tongue ring too? Traitor..." He wondered briefly if she still had her navel ring, wanting to raise her top a bit to check, but in the end opted not to. After all, taking a quick glance at Sevastyan who was about half his age, taller, stronger, not mention cane-less... Yeah, he was definately better off not even mentioning Viper's navel ring.

Viper smirked with a half shrug. "They got out of style."

Cerulean eyes mock-glared with a pout. "Oh I see how it is. Oh well, you were getting too old for them anyway. You wouldn't have looked cool anymore, just lame."

Viper raised an eyebrow. "Says the man nearly three times my age who still has a piercing on his-"

"Oi!" House exclaimed, pretending to be taken aback by Viper's reply, though the grin on his face gave him away. "Not everyone knows about the piercings there and I'd like to keep it that way, thank you!" he snickered. "Kids these days, eh?" he snickered at Sevastyan.

"What about you? A quick prick or the torture chamber?" he asked pointing at the piercing and tattoo areas with his cane, grinning evilly and tapping his fingers together in a 'Mr.Burns' fashion.

Sevastyan nodded, smiling slightly at the fact that House had been able to pick up on where he was from. Not that it really mattered: he was proud to say he was Russian. "Is that so?" he asked in surprised reply. "I am glad to hear your visit vos apparently a pleasant vone."

Sevastyan noted the embellishment on the end of the cane, but did not remark upon it. Perhaps, when or if it ever came to a time when he needed a cane to get around - a time he hoped was far, far away with no offense intended toward House - Sevastyan would have one decorated similarly. However, at his present age of 34... he could wait!

The Russian could not prevent the slight rise of one eyebrow as House spoke of other piercings Amaranth had had previously. As House seemed to take in her facial features, Sevastyan did the same... trying to imagine whereabouts she had gotten piercings. He could picture her with an eyebrow ring... but personally thought the lip and tongue rings would have been painful. Would have been - if not for her inability to feel the pain. A blessing and a curse, it seemed... especially the former in this realm. Feeling eyes on him, Sevastyan glanced at House just as the other man turned to mock-glare at Viper.

He couldn't help but blink in surprise at where this conversation on piercings nearly headed, and sort of did for a moment, but recovered a look of neutrality seconds later. Sevastyan chortled quietly at the comment House had made in his direction. "Vell... Amaranth is not a child to my eyes, and she does have a point," Sevastyan returned, snickering. The man seemed open to humor... "But to each their own," he added, well aware that his grandfather bore a couple of tattoos to this day.

As he was asked whether or not he was here for a tattoo or piercing, Sevastyan contemplated his options. To be honest, he had just come here to help Amaranth pick out what she wanted. He looked to his love as he contemplated. Perhaps he should surprise her: after all, he had no markings to speak of. And it would likely make her birthday much more memorable if he went along with it. Making up his mind, he returned his gray-eyed gaze to House but kept Viper in his peripherals. Sevastyan wanted to see the look on her face when he said this.

"I think I vill do both as vell... The same as vot Amaranth vould like, only on the opposite side," Sevastyan replied with a grin of his own as he surveyed Viper's reaction from the corner of his eyes.

Noticing the suprise in Sevastyan's face as the piercings banter between her and House progresse, Viper smiled at Sevastyan, mouthing "On his navel." to him to help clarify her previous statement. It was only seconds after she uttered the words that she had realized exactly how they could be interpreted.

House gaped dramatically in response of Sevastyan's reply before stiffening in a mock-dignified manner. At least, as best as one could when using a cane to keep their balance. "Well, I see this is what happens when I'm surrounded by a youngsters: a poor sense of style and fashion! Don't you two know that metal lives forever and never dies?"

He shook his head. "Well, Ms. 'Piercings get out of style', go nuts and pick what you feel is 'in style'." he inclined his head towards the framed sketches of the tattoos along the walls of Labyrinth.

The middle-aged wizard grinned at Sevastyan's response. "I like this one, Vi! He's a keeper!" he exclaimed to Viper in whole-hearted approval. "Be nice to this one, dearie. Not alotta blokes out their are willing to get inked -and without a refund, mind you- for their girl!"

Viper, for her part, momentarily stunned by Sevastyan's reply, though once she overcame her shock, she smiled warmly. "Even if I choose to get a hot pink butterfly with the words 'I'm a pretty pretty princess' on it?" she asked teasingly with a quirk of her eyebrow.

Sevastyan nodded with raised brows, enlightenment dawning on his face. He trusted her to be honest with him, as she knew he was equally honest with her. The only reason he had to lead her astray was if he had a surprise, not unlike the one that was to come later, in mind for her.

The smile never left Sevastyan's face at House's returned remark regarding 'youngsters'. If he had a ruble for every time he'd heard his grandfather say something similar... well, his family was already financially loaded as it were.

He was actually a bit surprised by House's next statements, though he hid it well. How many times had he heard references that he was a keeper? Well... since he hit the age of twenty... quite a lot. His mother would be the one saying it via floo to someone who had a daughter around his age... trying her darnedest to get her eldest son a girlfriend after the young lady he fancied had found another man. Therefore, it was somewhat odd to hear those words repeated by a gentleman. At least for him it was slightly odd, but oh well. Sevastyan would go with the flow, as they say.

Gray eyes focused on Amaranth now that his request had been placed. Her stunned countenance made Sevastyan chuckle inwardly. Sure: it was an impulsive move, but one he'd make without regret, for her. His smile grew when she smiled back at him... though the stormy orbs widened slightly at her teasing suggestion.

Sevastyan chortled. "Vell, then I vould vant it tveaked just a little... but have it vere it is obvious that it is almost the same," he replied, shaking his head as he laughed lightly. The butterfly... I might be able to live vith provided it vosn't pink. As for the vords, though: they'd need to be changed or omitted altogether,' Sevastyan mused with no small amount of humor.

House rolled his eyes. "Oh sure, tongue piercings get out of style but hot pink butterflies are totally rad?" he shook his head in disapproval. "Are you trying to hurt me?" he asked in a mock serious tone as he hobbled over the corner to get his equipment ready.

Viper laughed in response from her mirth, breaking her gaze away from the tattoo collection. "Would it say 'I'm a pretty pretty prince' instead in 'bitchin blue' ink?" she asked in a teasing tone as she led him by the hand to the tattoo and piercing collection.








"Which one catches your fancy, love?" Viper asked Sevastyan, looking through the collection. She liked many of them, to be certain but if he wanted to have the same one she did she certainly did not want it to be a tatoo he found revolting. In fact, she'd prefer a tattoo that was symbolic and meaningful to the both of them.

Sevastyan chuckled in response to her continued teasing. "Something like that... and yes: 'bitchin blue' ink vould be much more preferable than pink," he replied with a grin as he was led over to the framed displays.

As he perused the variety of already-available artwork, Sevastyan saw several that appealed to his own eyes. But, like Viper, he wanted to make sure it was one they could both agree on wearing. Something that meant a great deal, at least symbolically, to the pair of them. "I really like the design around this vone..." Sevastyan noted, pointing to a tattoo with a pinkish-red butterfly in the center. "But... how vould you feel about this in the center, instead of the butterfly?" he asked, pointing to the image of an infinity symbol, with a heart just above it.

Viper looked to what Sevastyan was pointing at, a smile illuminating her eyes in approval. "Perfect." she beamed. It was certainly symbolic to the couple, yet provided an edge and style so it wouldn't be sappy and lame. It would be Sevastyan and Viper.

"I was planning on having it done on my wrist. Is that alright with you?" she asked Sevastyan, getting his opinion on tattoo placement.

Sevastyan's smile widened at her approval with his idea. "Did you have anything in mind? I do not vant to dictate vot design you vant..." he queried, just to make sure she knew he did not want to monopolize the decision-making in their relationship. That wouldn't be fair to her at all. Perhaps a decade ago he wouldn't have worried about it. But this was now.

At Viper's question, Sevastyan lifted the hand that was entwined with hers and appeared to examine his own wrist. However, he was imagining the "bracelet" tattoos on both their wrists. After all: what she was going to get, he would get on the opposite side. "That is fine vith me. Vich wrist vere you thinking of?" Sevastyan replied and then queried as he allowed their entwined hands to lower back to their sides.

Viper shook her head. "No, not particularly. Alot of them are quite appealing, but your idea is perfect. Very symbolic and special." she smiled, squeezing his hand gently as Sevastyan lifted their entwined hands to examine them.

Green eyes followed grey eyes, examining the wrists. Viper smiled to herself as she pictured just how awesome it would look. "I was thinking about having it on my left wrist, as I am right handed." she replied.

"Thank you," he replied sincerely to her opinion on the tattoo they would both be getting. Furtively, the Russian leaned toward her and gently kissed her forehead. A subtle public display of affection.

Sevastyan nodded, and smiled at her reasoning for placement. "Vell, I am primarily left-handed... so I vill go vith the right," he said. Technically he was ambidextrous, but his statement was true nonetheless.

Viper beamed at the affectionate gesture and Sevastyans reply and opened her mouth to respond, when her words were cut off by an interruption from House.

"Rad!" he nodded, grinning with approval as he held a rather lethal looking tattooing needle. He twirled the needle around his finger as though it was nothing more than a twig, seemingly oblivious to the fact it had the potential, and likelihood to gouge out his or another unfortunate soul's eye.

"So who's getting inked first?" he asked, pointing the needle back and forth between Viper and Sevastyan.

Sevastyan looked to House and noted the tattooing needle. He'd never really been this close to one before, and despite having delved into some pretty nasty Dark Arts the Russian had to confess to himself that he was a little nervous about this. That's not to say he was chickening out. Not a chance!

He then looked to Viper, contemplating. "Vell, they say 'Ladies first'... but I'll go first if you vould like..." Sevastyan offered with a hint of a grin. Though he had a high tolerance for pain, he could picture Viper getting her tattoo without even flinching.

Viper shrugged with a smile. "It's alright, I can go first." she leant forward to give him a quick kiss before sitting at the chair House was gesturing to with his head.

House grinned with anticipation as the witch made herself comfortable on the seat. He always had fun inking and piercing Viper. not only because she was fun to talk to, but also, and particularly because she almost never noticed whenever he messed up. Although it was rare when he made a mistake, be assured, it did happen. After all, despite the nifty cane and tools of the trade, Greg House was after all human.

He briefly wondered if perhaps Sevastyan had the same CIPA condition as well. Deciding to test the theory himself, rather than ask (he always felt this was more fun and informative) he leaned towards the wizard and briefly jabbed Sevastyan's hand with the needle, seeing what reaction would occur.

Sevastyan smiled, and met her half of the way in the kiss, before watching her get situated in the chair House had gestured to. He hadn't noticed the grin on House's face, but given the fact that the two seemed good friends the Russian wouldn't have jumped to conclusions.

The wizard jumped the moment something that felt like a needle made contact with his hand, a soft grunt of pain escaping unexpectedly from his lips. Sevastyan put his 'injured' hand in the other, but aside from that and a brief but sharp facial quirk that settled immediately afterward he didn't really react any more than that. However, Sevastyan did turn in the direction of where the source of the needle-like pain would have come from, and found House standing there.

Assuming that this was some sort of first-tattooing initiation test, Sevastyan offered a small smile and discreetly massaged the slightly sore patch of skin out of reflex.

"Bummer." House muttered as he noticed Sevastyan react to the needle. "You do feel pain. Ah well, at least your tolerance is fairly high."

House plopped down to the seat beside Viper, reaching for her wrist. "You know, I had an old one here a few weeks back. Bloody woman wouldn't stop fidgeting and get a grip. Well, no, that's a lie. She got a grip. A good one, might I add. That was part of the problem. Here I was inking away at her shoulder, she panics from the pain, jerks her arm and splat tattoo is ruined and I get a black eye!" He exclaimed.

Viper snickered. "Maybe you're losing your touch, House. Or getting older."

House grinned in response. "Sadly, I'm not sure which scenario to hope for."

Taking the needle, the artist began the process, staring intently on his task, setting to work with his device. Little by little, spots of black ink merged together, forming an image, although throughout the entire process Viper didn't even flinch, instead keeping eye contact with Sevastyan.

"Is there any particular piercing you find yourself drawn to?" she inquired, glancing at the poster on the other side of the room.

Sevastyan didn't react to House's statement, but he did think something along the lines of: 'You could have asked.' But, he supposed, the other wizard could have considered it humorous or was more of the 'hands on' type.

As the pair talked, Sevastyan couldn't help but hear the conversation. He snickered slightly milliseconds after Viper did, and observed as House went to work on the tattoo.

The wizard gazed at the poster Viper had glanced to. While his eyesight was good, he still meandered over that way for a better look. There were some he fancied, a few he was indecisive over, and others still that in no way really interested him. There was no way he wanted a navel ring, regardless of any and all encouragement from House or Amaranth.

"I think I vould prefer ear..." Sevastyan replied after a few minutes of thought. "Since I suggested the tattoo, vy don't you pick the piercing?" he suggested, turning to smile at Viper as he said it.

"Not a navel ring?" Viper lightly teased with a mischevious look.

House looked up as well, the same mischevious grin. "You could join the club..." he nodded. "Viper, do you still have your navel ring?" he asked with genuine curiousity, though his focus remained on his work. "Or was it one of the many piercings you ditched?"

Viper nodded. "No, I still have that one. I don't wear the ring that often but its still there, so have no fear. You're not the only one in."

House stuck his tongue out her, reaching for another needle to darken and define the inked image.

"I'm leaning towards a cartilage piercing." Viper replied to Sevastyan's question. "Like that one." she gestured with a slight tilt of her head towards the piercing on the left corner.



"What do you think, love?"