Discovering a new marquist

[Géraldine Grangier]

I'd been overall satisfied with my morning, and so I was on my way to the Marquist's shop when I happened on a lovely looking man, studiously sketching in front of a shop. Curious, I looked at the sign. Salon Kachine, Marquist. Well then, there was a new player in town, apparently. That was worth investigating, I thought.

Looking again at the handsome man with interest, I cleared my throat.

[Darien Kachine]

After my stop at Aramis's I had returned to the salon. After making myself a pot of kafae, and yes it was divine, I had decided to go outside and sketch some more since it seemed it would be a very light day today.

A shadow fell across my pad and I was looking up right as the adept cleared her throat.

"Good day," I said, smiling.

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Hello," I replied. Well wasn't he a pleasant sight ! I curtied and introduced myself, "My name is Geraldine no Heliotrope. I was wondering if Maitre Kachine was available for some work on a marque."

[Darien Kachine]

"I am, though you'll have to step to the right and wait for a moment while I finish sketching that carriage across the way," I told her, pointing with my charcoal.

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Oh." I blushed, slightly embarassed. "I'm sorry. Take your time, I'm in no hurry", I added with a smile.

I stepped to the right. The sun was warm and i relished the feeling of it on my skin. Master Kachine could draw the day away, as long as I could bask in the light of this beautiful afternoon.

[Darien Kachine]

"Nothing to apologize for, I just can't stop before it's done, it's a bit of a compulsion," I said, smiling. I went back to filling in the lines of the pair of horses drowsing in their traces.

"I haven't worked on you before, who has been doing your marque?" I asked her.

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Xavier D'Channing has been my marquist. I was on my to his place, in fact, but I noticed your shop and thought I'd try a new hand," I replied.

I peeked at his sketch book as I talked. He had talent, and he was younger. I wondered if he was more gentel then Xavier.

"Has your Salon been open for a long time?" I asked by way of conversation.

[Darien Kachine]

"Decades, though until four years ago Barnett was the head marquist," I replied. The cobbled street took shape beneath the carriage and horses… almost done. "Xavier does good work. How long has it been since you had any work done?"

[Géraldine Grangier]

I thought for a moment. "It must have been a month ago. I don't think it had been very damaged since, but I was hoping to get it a bit closer to completion."

[Darien Kachine]

A pool of shadows on the cobblestones and I was done. Closing my sketchbook, I stood up.

"Good, good. Let's see what's to be done," I said, motioning for her to proceed me inside.

[Géraldine Grangier]

Quietly, I followed Master Kachine into the store. I was always a bit nervous when I visited the marquist, but I was eager to get this done.

[Darien Kachine]

Once we were both inside, I led her back through the serenely decorated front room into the back room. I motioned to a screen in the corner.

"You can undress back there, and there's a robe to wear if you like. I'll need to look at your current marque and then we can talk about how much more you want done right now," I told her, smiling.

Turning to a small table on the side, I lit two candles - lilac for calming and carnation for healing.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I went to the back room as Master Kachine indicated and proceeded to undress yet again. As I had in the dressing room of the clothier's shop, I scolded myself for wearing this difficult dress. I couldn't help it though, I loved this green popeline.

I found the robe and slipped it on. Leaving my hair in its coil, I stepped out.

[Darien Kachine]

While she was undressing, I set out a few new items, colors used for the Heliotrope marque, freshly cleaned taper, and other tools of my trade.

I looked up as she appeared again and motioned her over to me. "Turn around please and drop the top of your robe so I can see your marque."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I obliged as he said and turned around. I'd attached the robe loosely and with a small shudder, the top of the robe fell off me.

It wasn't cold in the shop, but I felt a small shiver when my breasts were exposed. My body still remembered the extacy from the night, and being there, half nude, reminded me of the last time I'd shed my robe.

[Darien Kachine]

Moving close, I ran my fingers along the lines of her inked skin, feeling the texture to see how her skin held the ink. Next, I spread my fingers slightly, pulling the skin taut to check how well she retained the colors.

"Thank you, you can pull the robe up now," I said, stepping back and leaning against the counter. "Xavier's work is still in good shape, anything you want done will be progressive. Did you have a certain amount to spend or was there a certain length you wanted done?"

[Géraldine Grangier]

"I didn't think there would be much to do to my marque. I'm glad you agree," I said as I pulled the robe back up.

"I'd like to see my marque go up 2 inches. What would your fare be?"

[Darien Kachine]

Turning, I pulled over a sheet of prepared parchment and began filling in the blanks such as her name, House, the date, what she wanted done, and the fee. I knew she'd agree to the price, for my fees were less than Xavier's. Once everything was filled in, I stepped aside so she could look at the contract.

"If you agree, just sign he bottom and we can get to work," I told her with a smile, offering her the quill.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I didn't sign the contract before I had a startled look at the difference in price. It was a good thing I'd been curious, I thought.

Smiling, I turned to him and added "It would be difficult not to agree." Besides, his touch was gentle and I felt a keen sense of trust.

I then set myself on the table, my back exposed to him so he could engage in his skillful art.

[Darien Kachine]

"Xavier has more expenses than I do," I said in regards to her comment. "Plus, his reputation has grown to a point he charges more. He deserves it though, whatever he can get."

Turning around, I found her lying on the table, her back bare. I ran my hands over her back, ensuring the skin was smooth and settled. Next, I used a small charcoal to place distance marks on her back, giving me the top points of the two inches she wanted added. I had down House marques so many times that I could limn them blindfolded. Though I didn't think she'd appreciate that.

"How are you with the pain?" I asked as I worked, wanting to know before I got to a part where any pain was involved.

[Géraldine Grangier]

When he ran his hands across my back, I tensed a little bit out of anxiety, but also from the sheer pleasure of being touched.

As he was working on me, I allowed my mind to wander a bit, until his voice called me back to him.

"In all earnest, I'm no anguissette. But I can take my fair amount for a good cause," I replied as a small smile made its way to my lips.

[Darien Kachine]

"Yes, it this is pain no adept really seems to mind to the point of avoiding, at least in my experience," I said with a chuckle.

"Don't move," I told her as I turned to retrieve the inks taper and other tools for the next part.

After dipping it in the ink for this section, I placed the cluster of tiny needles at the starting point of my work. "Ready?" I asked.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I took a deep breath, exhaled, and let my mind fill itself with sunny thoughts.

Eyes closed and head rested on my arms, I murmured peacefully "Go ahead."

[Darien Kachine]

With that, I began my work, letting myself fall into the familiar rhythms of my calling. The tapping sound, the blooms of ink in her skin, the practiced sway as I moved from her to the ink bowls and back again. A small part of my mind said alert for any sounds of distress from her, but the rest of me was consumed completely in a world of ink and flesh and needles.

Two inches was not the much, for me, her skin held the ink very well and bled minimally, so it was in good time that I found myself with no more distance points to reach. Straitening, I rolled my neck slightly to dispel any knots and told her, "Keep still, please."

I went to the cabinet to retrieve a few more items.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I kept very still at his order. His hands had been masterful and I felt a familiar tinge of pain, but it was nothing I couldn't handle.

"You are very gentle in your work, Master Kachine," I observed softly.

[Darien Kachine]

"Thank you, and please call me Darien," I said as I walked back to the table.

In a bowl a combined turmeric, zedoary, and clove then crushed them into a fine powder. "This will help with the healing and any lingering pain," I told her. "I just have to wait another moment for the ink to set further, then I will bandage you up."

[Géraldine Grangier]

You should call me by my first name too, then," I replied. Having my marque worked on always made me feel like I was changing skins, I mused to myself.

Setlling into my new skin, I jested "I could wait a long time to be bandaged. This is actually rather relaxing, once the pain is settled in." A thought came to mind and I asked, "If you hadn't been here in this shop, I might have mistaken you for an adept. Do you have a link to the Night Court, other then your marquist activities?"

I couldn't help but think that such a handsome man would have been a delicious addition to Balm or Eglantine.

[Darien Kachine]

"I spent some time at Eglantine, but left before I debuted," I replied, carefully and gently touching around the edges of her fresh marque. "I had no skill at all the intricacies of being an adept, all I wanted to do was draw and paint. I was the bane of my Dowayne's existence."

Chuckling, I looked up at her profile. "Barnett rescued me and saved the Dowayne's sanity when he took me away."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I laughed at his self deprecatory comments. Darien had a sense of humor and it was a delicacy.

When I laughed, I winced as the pain got a little sharper.

"You are cruel to make me laugh, Darien," I added with a painful chuckle.

Settling back in the lingering pain, I took a deep breath. Thoughtfully, I declared "We have something in common then. I have been driving Valeraine crazy this last month," I added with a soft smile.

[Darien Kachine]

I knew the Dowayne of Heliotrope, she was in here periodically to have her marque touched up.

"That is a skill on your part. She has always struck me as rather calm and patient," I commented, grinning.

I reached for the bowl and began sprinkling the powder lightly on her back.