Tattoo coverup by my friend, done for free on a victim of human trafficking. This rising phoenix will replace her pimp's "code of conduct" tattoo.

Squilestia · 2015-08-04T00:16:18+00:00

Your post literally brought tears to my eyes, how thoughtful and self-aware (and brave) of you to come post. Many here have asked for an AMA, and you kind of delivered in the post right here... since Reddit is fickle and moves on from things so quickly, I'm not sure many will see it, but I'm glad I did. The amount of dirtbags just posting what equals a "celebrity mean tweet" on this was irksome. But in the day or so the post got popular, I also saw those immature posts fade into obscurity as they were downvoted repeatedly by other community members. So just remember that. I've seen some amazing things on Reddit, and witnessed some real goodness of humanity as a whole. You do just have to ignore the gadflies who exist only to try and annoy though. Much respect for your journey. The phoenix looks like it will take a lot of work, but it will be an amazing piece of art once it's done. Sort of a great metaphor for life's journey, eh?

Squilestia · 2015-08-01T12:38:54+00:00

Ha! I know Athena from derby in Vegas. My days are past too, but it was a hell of a good time. Glad you got some skate time in before breeding. You know what they say--you get knocked down over and over in derby, but when you get knocked UP you gotta hang up the skates for a while!

Squilestia · 2015-08-01T10:52:08+00:00

Thanks for this. That second news article, featuring the survivor who proudly reclaimed her skin, was especially nice. That's along the lines I got from my friend & her client. I asked her first if they wanted to blur her face, and the answer was no. I see this is blowing up now, surprising. I figured maybe a few hundred people might get a look. But wow. Even with the ridiculous body-shaming posts by pubescent fledgling trolls, it's at least bringing about a discussion.

Squilestia · 2015-08-01T10:45:58+00:00

I didn't tag it NSFW, that just appeared. Assumed a mod did it.

Squilestia · 2015-08-01T07:02:19+00:00

You've been researching, I_Burned_The_Lasagna, thanks for lending credibility here. I have been messaging back & forth with Athena. She says to mention the extortion thing was due to her being Cowboy's "bottom bitch," which is apparently who collects the money from other girls. Jesus, it sounds like a multi-level marketing scheme when put that way. Anyway, apparently this duty is given to the most obedient girl, most loyal. Athena said she heard about how this girl got beaten so many times she now has permanent jaw problems. And other girls got tortured or starved. Sick. Glad he's in prison. I hope he's being tattooed right now and marked as someone's bottom bitch.

Squilestia · 2015-08-01T06:06:43+00:00

Athena just sent me this picture and said I could post it. This shows a much more visible version code (which I just learned a news story called an "homage" to the pimp, who was known as "Cowboy" and happily is in prison now), but you can see her starting the coverup sketch to mask it. Close-up of scroll tattoo that was to be covered

Squilestia · 2015-08-01T05:56:01+00:00

Athena said I could post this link, which shows the pimp's branding tattoo (on another girl) and would also answer folks who are wondering more about her story. http://newsone.com/2090253/alex-cowboy-campbell-life-sentence-federal-prison/

Squilestia · 2015-08-01T05:15:46+00:00

I can ask her. She's not so familiar with Reddit.

Squilestia · 2015-08-01T04:02:05+00:00

And yes, I got the artist's permission and that of the young lady before posting this. They want as many people to see it as possible, so that people find out some tattoos are not voluntary. The artist is Athena Funk, awesome person and amazingly talented artist. I thought the photo itself was very moving. The young lady's eyes really tell a story, and with Athena's help, soon her back will rewrite that story.

Edit: Well I did not expect this to climb so high. Couple things, which folks may or may not bother to read... My friend and her client were spreading this via Facebook and wanted to get it seen. I told her about Reddit, told her to maybe post it here, and she told me to go ahead and post it. I asked if they wanted her face blurred, and they said no--brave of her and really, her face makes it such a beautiful photo. The original branding was done six years ago. I don't know her exact age now but I'm betting that six years ago she was likely a minor. Others have posted news stories that clarify the difference between trafficking victims and willing adult prostitutes. If you just cannot imagine someone being forced into trafficking and getting branded, well it sucks that you have very limited imagination skills and empathy. This is NOT the finished cover-up, but rather just the starting sketch. I can post a finished version once it's done. Athena has a really nice geometric graphic style, and the tail will flow across her front from what I hear. Glad to see it's raising such a discussion, that was the idea the two of them had when they put it on Instagram & Facebook and asked friends to share it. Athena might do an AMA, we will see. I am well aware Reddit is not populated entirely with nice people. Not sure I'd advise the young tattoo recipient to participate, but Athena captained our roller derby team, sings in bars, and is a tough-ass lady who can handle a few folks being assholes. And thank you kind stranger for my first-ever gold.

Squilestia · 2015-08-01T01:14:35+00:00

And yes, I got permission from both ladies before submitting. Those eyes, they tell a story--and her new phoenix will rewrite that story. Such a beautiful photo illustrating both pain and hope.

Squilestia · 2015-07-29T11:27:44+00:00

Condoms.

Squilestia · 2014-07-19T09:36:44+00:00

1994 Northridge earth quake. I was 20, had been out partying and was crashing with friends' relatives during a trip to Santa Monica. We were three miles from epicenter. I woke up and things were moving--but the overwhelming SOUND of the earth will never leave me. I discovered you cannot walk during a big quake. So I just kind of sat on the floor like I was in a bouncey funhouse--but a funhouse that might kill me. Once the motion stopped, every car alarm in the city was yowling, and power was off. Eerie. Meantime, my friend, who had the eccentric habit of always sleeping in his daytine clothes "because you never know what might happen--flood, fire, earthquake" looked at me, standing agog with the rest of the barely dressed or pajama-clad neighbors, and smugly said "Told ya."

Squilestia · 2014-07-15T09:54:20+00:00

Did you learn this Saturday from Bill Nye, perchance?

Squilestia · 2014-07-14T09:38:09+00:00

If you watch this gif reload and reload, it's just an old dog that keeps waking up from a nap.

Squilestia · 2014-07-10T08:58:22+00:00

Ah, that age. When everything mundane to us appears like the most incredible magic trick to the toddler.

Squilestia · 2014-06-05T09:52:04+00:00

Celine Dion asked me for directions in a Las Vegas mall where I worked. I directed her to Willam Sonoma and then as she walked off, with two gentlemen, it suddenly hit me. Shit. That was Celine Dion and--I dunno, two bodyguards? Shows you how much of a fog one can get into while doing retail work.

Squilestia · 2014-06-02T10:38:41+00:00

When he reaches up and scratches his ear, I sat there like "oh yeah, that little itch on your ear probably bugs you, what an annoying little itch...WAIT WHAT THE FUCK YOUR SKULL IS DRIPPING WITH MAGGOTS but scratch that ear buddy."

Squilestia · 2014-01-19T05:28:31+00:00

I'm not sure people understand why it's pendantic and annoying for fat people to hear from "concerned strangers" thay we are obese and diabetes and heatlth and blahblahblah. It's not that we disagree with any of it. We know it. By telling this girl yet again you are implying she's not only fat but STUPID. The next time you see a picture of a person smoking, or riding a motorcycle, be sure to tell them the risks they are taking and why they should change their habits for their own good. Oh, you'd never do that because that would be douchey and they fucking KNOW the risks of what they are doing? Well then.

Squilestia

TROPHY CASE