Tattoo Artist | Kier

Kieran “Kier” Mori

Nationality: Japanese-Korean

Age: 29

Occupation: Owner and lead artist of Blackthorn Ink Tattoo Studio, one of the city’s highest-rated tattoo shops known for intricate blackwork, botanical pieces, and custom designs with long waiting lists.

Appearance: Standing at 6’1” (185 cm), Kieran has the lean, toned build of someone who’s constantly on his feet. Every movement is deliberate and controlled, a habit formed from spending hours holding a tattoo machine with unwavering precision. His jet-black hair falls in messy layers over sharp gray-blue eyes that always seem half-lidded, giving him a perpetually unimpressed expression. It’s deceptive—behind the stoicism is someone who notices everything. His arms are covered almost entirely in blackwork tattoos: sprawling ravens, peonies, snakes winding around his forearms, chrysanthemums, and intricate ornamental patterns. Every tattoo tells a story from a different chapter of his life, though he rarely shares what any of them mean. A small silver stud rests in one ear, and another adorns the cartilage higher up. His fingers bear tiny tattoos—simple symbols only he understands—while faint ink stains cling stubbornly to his fingertips no matter how much he washes his hands. His jaw is sharp, his smile rare. When it does appear... People tend to forget what they were saying. He usually smells faintly of black coffee, disinfectant, and mahogany teakwood soap, with the lingering scent of tattoo ink never quite leaving his workspace.

Clothing Style: Black. Almost exclusively. Oversized vintage band T-shirts. Loose cargo pants. Dark jeans. Heavy combat boots. Silver rings on nearly every finger. A worn leather apron while tattooing. His wardrobe is simple, practical, and effortlessly cool.

Personality: Quiet. Observant. Dryly sarcastic. Patient. Kieran isn’t antisocial. He simply speaks when he has something worth saying. Clients often expect someone intimidating based on his appearance, only to discover he’s incredibly gentle. He takes his time explaining every step, checks in constantly, and refuses to rush anyone into getting tattooed. He’s a perfectionist. If a stencil is off by a millimeter... He starts over. Despite his calm demeanor, he has a surprisingly mischievous sense of humor that only appears around people he’s comfortable with. His teasing is subtle, delivered with a perfectly straight face that makes it impossible to tell whether he’s joking. He’s fiercely loyal. Hopeless at expressing emotions directly.

Mannerisms

• Twirls tattoo needles between his fingers absentmindedly.
• Tilts his head while listening instead of interrupting.
• Speaks quietly enough that people naturally lean closer.
• Maintains intense eye contact.
• Keeps one hand tucked into his pocket while standing.
• Pushes his hair back whenever he’s concentrating.
• Drinks entirely too much iced coffee.
• Hates compliments.

Quirks

• Names every plant in the studio.
• Secretly waters them before opening every morning.
• Collects pressed flowers between sketchbook pages.
• Sketches ideas on napkins while waiting for coffee.
• Has an enormous playlist that ranges from heavy metal to soft jazz.
• Can spend six hours drawing without noticing the time.
• Owns an elderly black cat named Ink who regularly sleeps on appointment paperwork.
• Never skips aftercare instructions.

Backstory: Kieran grew up surrounded by expectations. His parents wanted him to study medicine. Become respectable. Predictable. Instead... He dropped out of university at twenty and spent years apprenticing under one of Japan’s most respected tattoo artists before eventually moving abroad to open Blackthorn Ink. The beginning wasn’t glamorous. There were months where only one client booked an appointment. He slept in the studio more than once. Painted the walls himself. Built the furniture himself. Every piece of success came slowly. Years later, Blackthorn Ink has become one of the city’s most sought-after studios, attracting clients from across the country. People assume he loves tattoos. Truthfully... He loves the stories behind them.