Almost Done

[Kaden nó Gentian]

Second week of Winter, 2nd year of Queen Sabrina's reign

I figured to visit Marquist Kachine with the patron gift that Lord Pierre Somerville had given and get the second to last visit completed. It's taken some four years to do, but it's nearly complete. I walked into the shop and felt the warmth of the fires going and closed the door to make sure little heat escaped. I freed the patron gift and held it.

[Darien Kachine]

Hearing the bell on the door, I stepped out of the back room and smiled at the adept who had entered.

“Good day,” I said, inclining my head.

[Kaden nó Gentian]

"Good day, Messire Kachine," I replied. "I'm here to add to my marque."

[Darien Kachine]

“Would you like to make an appointment or if you’d like I have time right now,” I answered.

[Kaden nó Gentian]

"Now will be fine." I removed my cloak and hung it on the stand.

[Darien Kachine]

“Wonderful,” I said, smiling and holding the curtain aside so that she could proceed me into the back room. “How much were you looking to get inked?”

[Kaden nó Gentian]

I headed for the curtain he held open for me. "As much as this can give me," I answered, holding up the purse that contained my patron gift. "I'm sure I'm going to be back again, judging by how much there is yet to be done."

[Darien Kachine]

“Well, if you’d like to change,” I said, pointing to the screen in the corner and the robes hanging on their hooks, “I can take a look at what is left and give you an estimate.”

[Kaden nó Gentian]

I nodded and headed for the screen, grabbing a robe on my way. I changed somewhat quickly and emerged from behind the screen, purse still in hand.

[Darien Kachine]

While she was changing, I lit the candles in the corner and then set out my cleaned instruments.

I gave her a smile and then motioned to the table. “If you would lay down, I can look at what is left to be done.”

[Kaden nó Gentian]

I lowered the robe and laid down on the table, resting my head on my folded arms.

[Darien Kachine]

Stepping to the table, I gently ran my hands over her back, testing her skin and examining the previous work.

“How long has it been since you’ve had marquing done?” I asked as I continued to examine her.

[Kaden nó Gentian]

I felt his hands on my back. It felt good in a way, but I wasn't there for pleasure. If I wished for that, I would have gone to Balm. "Can't recall. Mayhap the last time I received a patron gift for my last visit."

[Darien Kachine]

Her words made my hands pause in their examination and my brows furrow a little. I had never heard of an adept who couldn’t recall their last marquing. It was a rite to them like all the others.

“Do you recall any problems?” I asked as I picked up my calipers and began measuring the points on her back.

[Kaden nó Gentian]

"None. I do remember that much." I should have recorded when I last added to my marque, but it seemed to have slipped my mind. I felt him working again on my back.

[Darien Kachine]

“That’s good,” I said, then noted down the measurements and stepped away. “You can sit up now.”

Turning, I did some calculations as I gave her privacy to cover herself.

[Kaden nó Gentian]

I sat up, grabbing the robe as I did, and covered myself. I waited patiently as he worked, as I didn't want to interrupt him.

[Darien Kachine]

I turned towards her again and offered her the sheet with my calculations. "This is what the cost will be to finish everything left on your marque," I told her. "I don't know how much you have or how much inking you want done at once. Personally, I would suggest breaking it up into two sessions. I do have the time right now to do the first session. Your skin looks like it takes to ink easily, you've very little fading in the previous work."

[Kaden nó Gentian]

I looked at the calculations and figured that what I had with me would cover the first session easily. "I can pay for the first session, Messire Kachine." I motioned to the purse that I had placed at the head of the table.

[Darien Kachine]

“Very good,” I said with a smile. I took out a contract and quickly filled in the relevant information before offering her the quill to sign it.

[Kaden nó Gentian]

I took the quill and signed the contract, handing it and the purse over.

[Darien Kachine]

I signed my name to the contract as well before setting it and the purse aside.

“If you would lay back down, I fill get the inks ready,” I told her as I began to prepare everything.

[Kaden nó Gentian]

I merely removed the robe, and laid back down, using the now bundled up robe for a make shift pillow.

[Darien Kachine]

Inks ready, I returned to her, using the calipers to mark the points I would work to. Then I dipped the stylus in some ink and held it just above her back.

“Ready?” I asked.

[Kaden nó Gentian]

"Yes." I braced myself for the initial hit of the stylus.

[Darien Kachine]

I took a breath, steadying myself and finding my center before bringing the tapper down, driving theink into her skin. My movements fell into the smoothness of memory, flowing easily.

[Kaden nó Gentian]

I had to control where my wince went at the first tap of the stylus. As he continued, I grew accustomed to the tapping and found it relaxing. I had to fight the urge to fall asleep to it.

[Darien Kachine]

As usually happened, time slipped away from me as i worked, sending the ink that marked her accomplishments into her flesh.

I reached the marks that delineated the stopping points for this session and finally straightened up. "Don't move yet,' I said softly, setting my tools aside.

[Kaden nó Gentian]

I laid there, feeling like there was only a little left of my marque to complete before I would be considered to be a free D'Angeline. I didn't move as he put his tools down.

[Darien Kachine]

"How is the pain?" I asked as I washed my hands.