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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 8, 2009 0:31:39 GMT -5
I drew in a deep, calming breath, and then let it out again. "As ready as I will ever be."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 8, 2009 0:36:37 GMT -5
“If you need a break, just say something,” I said before pressing the new set of needles to his skin and hitting them with the tapper.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 8, 2009 0:50:59 GMT -5
I couldn't help the sound that left my lips when the needles drove into my skin. It was like a searing fire, deep beneath the surface, where pain should never reach. But I forced myself to breath through it, though my lungs worked shudderingly.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 8, 2009 0:53:28 GMT -5
I had been prepared for a more intense reaction than before, so I didn’t jump. I did however continue on. The amount of pain was going to be the same no matter how long I took. He would stop me if he needed a break.
This was far intense than normal work, I had to place the needles more carefully and drive them much harder with each stroke.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 8, 2009 1:03:30 GMT -5
He kept going, and for that I was grateful. The sentiment might seem odd to an outsider, but the faster he worked, the quicker it was over.
After the first yelp, I was quiet except for the most painful ones, where the scar tissue ran the deepest. Then I could no longer hold the sounds behind my clenched teeth. I don't know how long he had been working for, but I called for a halt after a particularly painful hit of the tapper. "Break," I gasped, panting as I managed the pain. My entire upper back felt as if it were on fire.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 8, 2009 1:05:50 GMT -5
As soon as he said the word I stopped, straightening up and setting the tools aside. I took a cloth and wiped away the smears of blood gently so as not to give him any more pain.
“It’s about a third done,” I told him.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 8, 2009 1:10:52 GMT -5
"Camael's forge," I groaned at the news, my eyes closed as I willed the pain to come under my control. This experience was nothing like any lover had ever given me, and it was not enjoyable. "Could I get some water now?"
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 8, 2009 1:14:15 GMT -5
“Of course,” I said, moving to the side counter. I poured him a glass of water and put a hollow drinking straw into it.
Pulling the chair over again, I sat and held the cup up so he could drink out of the straw. “Try not to move much, it will only make it worse.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 8, 2009 1:23:01 GMT -5
By the time he had returned, my breathing wasn't quite as steady as I might have liked. I drank out of the straw carefully as to not jostle my back, drinking about a third of the cup before letting the straw slip from my lips. "Thank you," I murmured.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 8, 2009 11:48:05 GMT -5
“You’re welcome,” I said, setting the glass aside before turning to look at him again. “Are you certain you want to do this all now?”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 8, 2009 14:53:04 GMT -5
My breathing had evened out by then, though it was still faster than normal. "Keep going please. If it gets too bad, I'll come back on another day," I said.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 8, 2009 18:23:55 GMT -5
“Alright,” I said with a nod. Rising, I put the chair back and looked at his back again. I lightly dabbed a few drops of blood that had risen while he was drinking. Then setting the clothe aside I picked up the needles again.
“Ready?” I asked.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 8, 2009 23:25:08 GMT -5
I drew in one last steady breath and then nodded, waiting for the next round of pain.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 8, 2009 23:48:23 GMT -5
I set to work again. While not neglecting the details, I tried to work a little faster, hoping to spare him even a few seconds of pain. It had been a very long time since I’d been a party to such levels of pain from my art and it scraped at my soul.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 9, 2009 1:30:31 GMT -5
I don't know if it was better or worse. Better because I knew what to expect. Worse because the pain built on the the sensation of the first round of heavy needles. I might have not made as many helpless sounds as the first round if it weren't for that, but as it was I was left whimpering as the pain mounted.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 9, 2009 11:02:00 GMT -5
As much as I tried to ignore them, to focus only on my work, the sounds of distress he was making were getting to me. I could feel the muscles between my shoulders tensing and a dull throbbing beginning at the base of my skull. I knew that marquing was never pain free, but it was usually manageable and I could deal with the fact that I was hurting another by knowing I was helping them gain their freedom. This was so different there weren’t words to describe it.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 9, 2009 11:55:36 GMT -5
After a time, my mind began to drift on the sea of pain, no longer truly feeling it. No longer truly feeling anything. Somewhere in the dim recesses of my mind, I knew that I was dangerously close to passing out, but my mind was no longer functioning rationally. It hurt less in this place, and that was all that mattered.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 9, 2009 12:04:50 GMT -5
Suddenly I realized he wasn’t making any sounds. The silence wasn’t one of having dealt with the pain, but of no longer feeling it. I paused for an instant, torn. I was near to being done, but I was worried for him. Gritting my teeth, I returned to work, finishing the agonizing process.
Then I set my tools aside and went around to kneel in front of him. “Christophe,” I said softly, searching for signs that he was alright.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 9, 2009 12:40:31 GMT -5
I heard my name as if from a great distance, and followed it up toward the light. But before I could quite get there, I slammed into a wall of pain. I gasped, trying to work through it and swim up to the surface at the same time, and after a moment Darien's face formed before my eyes. "Is it fixed?" I managed, praying that I wouldn't have to go through this again.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 9, 2009 14:45:36 GMT -5
“Yes, it’s done,” I said softly. “Don’t move though, the ink hasn’t set yet.” I took a breath, trying to calm the unease inside me at seeing him in such pain. “If I was to off you something for the pain, would you take it?”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 9, 2009 14:55:48 GMT -5
"Kushiel yes," I replied with barely more than a breath. He didn't have to tell me not to move, moving hurt more than lying still.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 9, 2009 14:58:40 GMT -5
Rising, I went to a draw and pulled out a packet of powder. Retrieving the glass of water, I stirred in enough of the powder to hopefully take the edge off his pain. I returned to him, kneeling down in front of him again and holding the straw to his lips. “Here, drink,” I said.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 9, 2009 17:53:29 GMT -5
The water tasted like it did when I was abed with the infection, and I knew whatever Mala had given me for the pain was the same as what I was being given now. After a few moments, I sucked the last of the laced water through the straw, hoping he had put enough in. "My fiancée is going to be mad. She asked if she should come, and I told her that I would be fine," I said, waiting for the drug to work its magic.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 9, 2009 19:37:33 GMT -5
“You’ll know for next time,” I said, setting the glass aside. “And truthfully, it’s probably a good thing no one who loves you was here, they couldn’t have handled it.” My gaze dropped for a moment. “I barely know you and I could hardly handle it.”
Straightening up, I moved to look at his back again. “Another minute or so and I’ll apply the ointment. It will help with the pain too.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 10, 2009 12:44:49 GMT -5
My hand went to his wrist in a gentle grasp, wanting his attention. "I'm sorry that you had to deal with that. But I just want you to know how much I appreciate it. Without Valerian, I would have been nothing. Less than nothing. My marque is more than just a sign of my freedom from indentured service. So thank you," I said, looking up at him. I squeezed his wrist softly, and then let it go.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 10, 2009 12:49:39 GMT -5
His grasp on my wrist surprised me and I looked at him as he spoke. I nodded when he was done, understanding, and touched his arm gently.
“I am glad I could fix it,” I said softly then stepped away to gather ointments and bandages.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 10, 2009 13:10:14 GMT -5
He understood, and I was glad. I needed him to remember more than just my pain. Pain without meaning was an ugly memory. I didn't impede his work further, lying still and letting him apply the ointment to my back.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 10, 2009 13:13:34 GMT -5
I used two ointments on his back instead of the usual one, the one I applied to the scared area was much strong and the pain relieving element of it far more concentrated than the normal ointment.
When I was done, I set the jars aside for him to take with him. Then I pulled up the chair again so I could speak to him. “When you’re ready, we’ll put on the bandages. There’s no need to rush. The jars are for you to take with you, the green one is for the scared area. The ointment will help the healing and ease the pain.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 11, 2009 2:11:02 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said, not moving just yet. The drug had yet to begin its work, and I wasn't silly enough to start moving around without it. I had learned that particular lesson. "I ran out of the regular ointment anyway."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jun 11, 2009 12:35:03 GMT -5
“Whenever you need more, just stop by or send word. I always have plenty in stock,” I told him. I looked at him for a moment. I had to ask. “Your fiancé, did she do that to you?”
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