The Beginning Colours of a Cereus

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I walked into Darien Kachine’s shop with a tentative step. I was incredibly nervous, and even more excited. The skin of my back wouldn’t be bare for much longer, I would be marked with Cereus’ symbol forever. A shiver went through me at the thought, and I took in a deep breath, calming myself down.

I would have called out, but the bells had already announced my presence. I did hope I hadn’t gotten the time of my appointment wrong. Or perhaps not. Neither Keegan nor Jacob had been able to come with me today, and I had a feeling I was going to want a hand to hold.

[Darien Kachine]

The bells on the door chimed softly just as I finished setting everything out for Nyx's appointment. I moved out front, smiling.

"Good day," I said, taking note of her obvious nervousness. "You're right on time."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Hello, how are you?" I replied with a shy smile. Formalities always gave me a chance to gather myself if needed.

[Darien Kachine]

"I'm very well, thank you," I replied. "How are you I think is the real question. Are you still ready to start today?"

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I drew in a deep breath and made my smile brighten. "Yes, of course. I've just been eagerly anticipating this day for too long," I replied, stepping further into the room so I was no longer in front of the door and ready to flee.

[Darien Kachine]

"Good," I said, smiling and stepping to the side slightly and gesturing to the back room. "Shall we?"

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I looked around the back room as we entered, curiosity overriding my other emotions. "I've never been in a marquist's salon before," I commented. I wasn't good enough friends with any older adepts to have had the opportunity.

[Darien Kachine]

"Would you care to look around a bit before we begin?" I asked, still smiling. There was no rush and what was important was that she was comfortable and at ease. "You can ask me about anything you see."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I wandered around to just take everything for a moment. Finally I came to his tools. "How do these work?"

[Darien Kachine]

I picked up the calipers and showed them to her. "These are what I use to measure your back and create the scale of the marque that will go there."

Next I showed her the tightly bunched needles and the taper. "These are dipped into the ink and then pierced into the skin to embed the ink there."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"I'm going to bleed, aren't I?" The idea wasn't the most appealing, but it didn't really faze me. As long as I knew what I was getting into, I was positive the end result would be worth it.

[Darien Kachine]

"A little," I told her honestly. "But unless you have a condition that lends to excessive bleeding, or you've had a lot to drink today, the blood isn't terribly much."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I nodded. If my shoulders hadn't been already straight, I would have squared them. "Alright, how do we get started?"

[Darien Kachine]

"I need you undressed and on the table," I replied. "You can undress behind the screen there and there's robes if you'd like."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I smiled. "Thank you," I said to him before slipping behind the screen and undressing. I took one of the robes, but didn't tie it very tightly. Stepping back out from the screen, I hopped up on the table.

[Darien Kachine]

As she changed I lit the candles in the corner and rechecked all the entrustments.

"I need you to lay on your stomach now and uncover your back," I told her, smiling.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I did as he requested, letting the robe fall away so that it covered my legs and most of my buttocks. I was glad that I had braided my hair up in a circlet and I didn't have to worry about it any further. I settled my head on my arm, watching him prepare his tools and smiling from the smile on his face.

[Darien Kachine]

Stepping closer to her, I lightly ran my hands over her bare back assessing her skin. Then I took my calipers and began taking measurements and making notes.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

The sensation of his hand was strong as he seemingly zeroed in on the most sensitive places. I shivered, though not from the cold. "How long did you study, to become a marquist?" I asked, partially to keep my mind on task, but mostly out of curiosity.

[Darien Kachine]

"I've been studying for ten years," I replied as I worked. "I don't think I'll ever truly be done learning, for each new client is a new experience."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I smiled, thinking how true his words were for both of us. "What's new about me so far?" I asked, unable to stop my curiosity. Not that I tried very hard.

[Darien Kachine]

"The shape of your shoulder blades here," I said, drawing my forefingers along the inside arcs. "They have a very unique slope."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I shivered again as his fingers drew the curved lines. "And apparently sensitive," I said with a chuckle.

[Darien Kachine]

"Apparently," I said with an answering chuckle.

I returned to measuring her back.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I stilled my tongue for now, letting him do his work. He didn't seem to be an overly gregarious individual, so I let him be. I followed the lines of the calipers along my back with interest, noting where he measured.

[Darien Kachine]

Time passed as I took the detailed measurements until finally I straightened up.

"Done with this part," I told her, taking the tools and notes back to the counter. "If you need to move around any, this is your last chance before I begin the inking."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I slipped the robe back on as I sat back up and hopped back down off the table. I did a few stretches to settle myself, and then was back on the table. "Ready."

[Darien Kachine]

While she stretched, I prepared the inks, then brought everything over to the table.

I touched the very base of her spine. "This is where I'll be starting," I explained.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I nodded my understanding. "You'll talk me through it?" I asked, hoping he would. My nerves were creeping back.

[Darien Kachine]

"Of course, if that's what you'd like," I told her reassuringly. I let my hand stroke over her back again, both to soothe her nerves and to relax her muscles. It would hurt much worse if she was tense.