The Beginning Colours of a Cereus

[Nyx nó Cereus]

His hand told me to relax, so I drew in a deep breath and complied. "Yes please."

[Darien Kachine]

"Alright," I said, my tone even and soft.

I picked up the tightly bound needles that would embed the ink in her skin. "I'm going to dip these in the ink and put them in position for the first mark." My hands carried out the actions as I narrated. "The next step is to tap them and begin your marque. Are you ready?"

[Nyx nó Cereus]

Another deep breath - I was determined to keep my nerves under control - and I whispered, "Yes."

[Darien Kachine]

"Here we go," I said, making the first tap, sending the ink deep into her skin. "It's best to keep moving." I went on to the next spot. "But tell me if you need me to stop."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

Naamah's tits, it stung! My hands clenched, but I kept myself otherwise still. It was a different sensation from any other pain I had experienced. It was almost as if ten hands were pinching me, all in one spot.

[Darien Kachine]

"Breathe slowly," I advised her as I kept working. "Deep, slow breaths. It helps push the pain out." My hands continued their steady pace, permanently changing her appearance. "Have you always lived at Cereus?"

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I had been concentrating so hard on keep still and quiet that I hadn't realized that I had forgotten to breath. Come on Nyx, multitask. It's no different from being with a patron. Well, the only difference was the pain instead of the pleasure.

"No, I came to the City when I was ten to join the Night Court."

[Darien Kachine]

"Have you enjoyed your time there?" I asked. If nothing else, talking would keep her breathing and it might draw some of her focus from the pain. I feared if she focused too much on the pain she would tense up more and the pain would be immense.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I thought on the last six years, trying to ignore his oh so slowly growing work. "The short answer is yes," I replied. "Life at Cereus can get fairly... intense."

[Darien Kachine]

"I can imagine," I said. "I was at Eglantine for awhile and the demands on an adept can be intense sometimes."

I covered the needles with more ink and continued working.

"Do you ever wish you weren't an adept?"

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Deep..." I paused in my speech as he drove the needles in. "Deep down, no."

[Darien Kachine]

"But on upper levels you do?" I shifted my position slightly as the marque began to grow up her spine. "Is it the structure and regulations that you chafe against?"

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"It is difficult, when you can give your heart, but not your body." I replied, the tapping creating a rhythm that my body could follow. "That is when I almost wish I wasn't an adept."

[Darien Kachine]

"Ah," I said in understanding. My movements sped up slightly as it seemed she was adjusting to the pain. "And is there someone you'd like to give your body to?"

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Yes." I replied simply, then added with a small, impish smile, "It's a rather logical progression with us."

[Darien Kachine]

"True," I agreed with a chuckle. "I wish you the best of luck in your desires."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Thank you, that's very kind," I said with a smile. Then another tap, and it caused a particularly strong shot of pain. I closed my eyes tight and tried to keep my breathing even.

[Darien Kachine]

I kept going, even as she struggled with the pain. It was better this way, both for the marque itself and to finish all the sooner.

"What do you like to do when you have free time?" I asked.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Visiting my friends, mostly." I replied, glad he had given me something to concentrate on other than the pain. "My best friend is at Eglantine."

[Darien Kachine]

"Eglantine? I haven't been there for a decade, but is it someone I might know?" I asked beginning to add touches of more color.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Maybe. He's been there for about that long. His name's Jacob, he's my age." I replied.

[Darien Kachine]

I thought as my fingers moved. "Hmm, the name is not familiar. But then again, I paid little attention to anything but art, which is why I never made it to a debut," I said with a chuckle.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

It made sense. Eglantines were Servants as much as the rest of us, though they were also artists. "Where did you go after Eglantine?" I asked, curious as always.

[Darien Kachine]

"Here," I answered. "Master Kachine bought my services from Eglantine and trained me as his apprentice."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I was silent for a moment in thought, though the constant tapping was distracting. "Do you ever wish you weren't a marquist?"

[Darien Kachine]

"No," I replied, moving further up her back. "I love this work and it gives me time to paint as well."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"What do you like to paint?" I asked as he inched his way higher.

[Darien Kachine]

"Everything and anything," I said with a chuckle. "People most of all though." Another new color and her marque grew further.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"What in particular draws you to people?" I asked as I slowly lifted my head to scratch my nose, not wanting to disturb his work. "And I'm sorry if I'm peppering you with questions. My friend keep telling me curiosity killed the cat, but I never listen."

[Darien Kachine]

"It's fine," I said with a smile. The talking was obviously helping her deal with the marquing, and that was my goal.

"I am drawn to people because no matter how often you paint or draw them, they are always different. A building is a building for the most part, it takes either large amounts of time or a momentous event to change it. People change from morning to night."