Redesign [Karina Docere]

[Jesse Fforde]

I give a nod and a shrug, accompanied by a twitch of a smile. I don’t need the thanks, but people are inclined to give it. I am used to it, in my line of work. Most customers will thank me in some shape or form, even if they are paying me and I am only doing my job. It comes with the territory, I suppose, especially if the tattoo is one that means a lot to them; especially if that tattoo is done right, and to the customer’s specifications.

I toss the used gloves into the nearby bin. The shoulder pieces are complete, but the design is far from finished. We are perhaps halfway through, maybe a little less. I glance up at the clock; there are still a few hours left of the night. I am happy to keep working. I like being lost in the world of the tattoo, of the ink and the colour, in the tantalizing scent of mixed ink and blood. My thoughts drift and disperse so that my mind is blank, just like the canvas that I like to work upon. To immerse myself so much in a tattoo is to meditate, in a way; to relax my mind and my body, to focus all my concentration on the one thing.

I sit back and watch Karina for a few beats. The silence extends between us; I know that silence can be a discomfort to some, but it is a balm for me. My ears ring in the absence of the buzzing tattoo gun. I feel like I can still hear it, though I know that I have turned it off. I spin on the chair and stretch my arms up over my head; the bones in my neck and back crack, though they do not ache. They do not hurt. I feel like if I sat still enough for long enough I might turn to stone, and the cracking of my bones is only the indication of the beginning of the process.

On the table, I find my pen and pad. I write:

”I can keep going. It is up to you. We have a few hours left. I can do a little more tonight, and finish tomorrow night.
I can finish tomorrow night, regardless.
Might be more comfortable for you – give your shoulders time to heal properly before you have to lie on them.”

I take the piece of paper to Karina, and hold it down in front of her, so that she can read and make her decision.

[Karina]

Jesse had finished or so it had seemed. She tried to twist a little more so that she could see it but heaven forbid if her head turned anymore, they would either think that she was truly an owl even through she looked human or that chick from 'The Exorcist'. She chuckled to herself. It didn't matter, she trusted Jesse and she had seen the drawings before they started.

It was only when the paper was down in front of her that she realized that Jesse had moved from the chair. Reading over what he had to say and then smiled as she moved to sit up not caring that she was half naked in front of him. That was trust. If she had any doubt, she would have grabbed her shirt first. Turning to look outside as she thought over his words, she nodded her head.

"I personally am good either way, though if you think that my shoulders should take the night to heal before we continue then maybe we should do that."

Slipping off the table, Karina walked over to the clothes that she removed earlier to get started and began to get dressed. The time was starting to creep up on them. That same time every night where she would have the thirst in her throat, burning and itching until she fed. That same very time that she would have to run to the ritual alter to protect all the owls within from the outside forces that desperately desired to cause them harm. Waiting to finish the following night was looking better and better the more she thought about it.

"We will definitely finish tomorrow night. It will give me time to check the defenses on the Eyrie and for my shoulders to heal."

She rolled her shoulders a bit as her body still tingled from the constant vibration that had moved through her body from the tattoo gun. It was interesting much like your whole body falling asleep and waking up all at once. She chuckled to herself about the feeling before nodding to Jesse. She would stop to get his gift before she would return the next night.

"You have a wonderful night, Jesse. I will see you tomorrow and if you need anything, just ask." She gave him a beaming smile before he left him in peace for the remainder of the evening.

[Jesse Fforde]

Karina mentions the things that she has to do, the things that she needs to do before the night is up. I suppose there are things that I could get on with, too – though I’m not sure that my particular hobbies have any worth to the faction as a whole. I suppose if I continue to tend to the greenhouses on either side of my living space, that is contributing at least a little – I am growing the plants and herbs that the other ritualists might one day ned, and I will have in abundance. I give Karina a salute as she leaves the hut, returning her beaming smile with a small one of my own. I probably won’t need anything within the next eighteen hours – or however long it will be before I see her again. I stand at the door, shoulder leaning idly against the edge of it, as I watch Karina until she disappears. I hope that she is happy with the work that I have done for her. And I hope that Lions is happy with it, too.

As soon as I lose sight of the woman I return my attention to the hut, and to the station I have set up for tattooing. I set about cleaning, disinfecting everything, until every surface is spotless and the space smells like cleaning alcohol. One could almost get high on the stuff. Once the space is clean I find my leather jacket and push my arms into it, shrugging it over my shoulders. I pull on my boots, and exit the hut, making my way to the elevator, and down to the exit. The thirst is an ever-present demon, and one that I cannot ignore. To while away the hours before sunrise, I go for a romp through the sewers, tiring myself out so that then when I do finally feed, I can do so with relish, and a deeper kind of satisfaction. If one indulges in something that they love too often, it becomes dull and boring, and no longer loved. I do not want this ritual of feeding to become something that is dull. I want it to remain pleasurable.

As always, afterwards, I return to the Eyrie. The daytime hours are spent in the hut. I don’t sleep – I like to avoid sleep like the plague, because is like a plague to me, infecting me with… I don’t even know what. But I don’t like it. I don’t like that I can’t seem to control myself when asleep, as if my subconscious is forcing me to do things that I don’t want to do. There’s a boundary it’s trying to break through, and I won’t let it.

When the next night rolls around, I prepare the space again for Karina – and I make sure that the rest of the project is ready to be transferred.

[Karina]

The defenses on the Eyrie were something that Karina worried about. Through out the day she would check randomly to make sure that her mystical barrier was still in place as there had been times in the past that someone had countered her ritual, opening the Eyrie up to the whole city. She tried to make sure that this wasn't repeated but when it's done, there is nothing she could do but warn her sire that there was a security breach and wait for orders to follow. The last thing she ever wanted was one or more of her fellow peers to get hurt because she made a mistake.

Rushing down to the base of the tree, she poked around for her wraith. There were times that she wished that she could see Lovely but there were others where she was glad that she couldn't. Lovely had been her best confidant over the last two and a half years. It had been amazing and she had been extremely helpful in many ways. As Lovely confirmed that everything was still good on the barrier, Karina took the time to run out to the store. Jesse was finishing tomorrow night and she wanted to get him a gift. It would be small but it was something that she thought might help.

Heading into the mall, she went to the first electronics store that she could find. Walking around until she found the area with the tablets, she looked them all over. Choosing an iPad mini with an attachable keyboard cover, she made her way to the sells counter to pay for her purchase. Stopping over to the party store, she picked up a gift bag, some colorful tissue paper and ribbon. Everything was set and set off to prepare the gift and get some rest.

Upon entering the fort, Lovely let her know that it was time to reenforce the barrier. Looking at her watch, Karina nodded in agreement before rushing up to the ritual alter. It was only a few moments later that she watched the Demi-Fae run off to do what she commanded it to do. Pleased with the results, she went to her hut, prepared the gifted and went to sleep.

Waking up the next day in the empty bed surprised her but then she remember that she had sent Lions off for errands and told him that she would let him know that it was okay to come home as she had a surprise. Stretching, she smiled as her shoulders were healed and danced with the colorful design that Jesse had carefully etched into her body. Sitting up, she popped her neck before slipping on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and pulling her hair back into a casual yet messy bun that rested on the back of her neck. Shoving her feet into her shoes, she looked up at the clock. She had over slept but put her closer to the time that she needed to be at Jesse's. Nearly dancing out of the hut, she grabbed the gift and rushed to Jesse's. Once she reached his door, she took a few moments before knocking so that it didn't seemed rushed or that she was trying to break the door down with excitement. Letting her knuckles rap a couple of times against the door, she waited patiently for Jesse to answer.

[Jesse Fforde]

The door is unlocked, as it always is. I don’t bother to lock it. Everyone is welcome here, and I don’t have anything to hide from anyone. Though I do appreciate the knock when it comes – there are still times when I’d prefer not to have company. Though I suppose whenever I’m not in the mood for company, I go elsewhere, rather than staying in the Eyrie. Perhaps I ought to be worried that someone one day will barge in while I’m getting changed, but I know that’s not the case. Naked bodies are nothing to be ashamed of. It’s how we are all born.

Regardless, when I open the door I am dressed properly. I wear track pants and a tank top, loose-fitted and old. I have no reason to dress in anything less casual; I am not going anywhere. If I were at Masterpiece it might be a different story. When working at the store there’s a particular professionalism to uphold. But when at home, people should know what to expect. They know me, and my state of dress isn’t going to dissuade them of my professionalism.

I gesture for Karina to come inside, eyes fixed on her face rather than on any other part of her. I glance away if only to wave my hand in the direction of the chair. We’d been through all this the night before. She knows where I need her, and she ought to know exactly how to position herself and what is required for me to do my job. I do not think that I have to tell her what to do.

It’s only when I turn back to her that I see she has something in her hands. Something that looks suspiciously like a gift. I try to ignore having seen the thing at all. I do not require any kind of payment, nor do I expect any gifts or favours. I suppose it is social etiquette; but social etiquette was never something that I put much stock in. I meander toward the table with all the ink, and continue to fiddle with the first needle and gun that I will be using for the evening.

[Karina]

As the door opened that familiar feeling of excitement rushed through her as her eyes met Jesse. He was dressed very casually but why shouldn't he, he was working in his own home. Hell he could be in boxers for all she cared and she wouldn't mind at all. It was Jesse and on top of that, he was a member of Tytonidae and looked at as family as most in Ty were...she trusted him completely and even with her life so why not dress how he would like especially in his own home.

The whole adventure of getting the tattoos was more than she expected. Yes it was simple and many people got them daily but this was something that she never thought to get herself until recently and such a large design at that. It was all deeply thrilling like that of a kid in a candy shop for the first time. It was the feeling that she looked for ever since this adventure started.

Stepping in as he held the door open for her and directed her toward the chair, she tried to keep her cool and not just rush in. Striding over to the chair where she was just 24 hours before and took a seat on the edge. As he made his way over, she held up the small package so that he could see.

"I brought you a little something to show my appreciation. Nothing too terribly grand but hopefully useful."

She set the gift down on his table but careful not to disturb any of his equipment that he would be using as she would hate to break anything. Karina then began to remove her top and get herself situated on the table as to how he had her the night before. It was easy to remember and what she could do on her own to make his job easier, the better. Repeating instructions at least for her was annoying and a headache so she would do what she could to not give Jesse those similar headaches if she could at all help it. Once she was completely settled in, she smiled as she waited for him to begin.

[Jesse Fforde]

I’m not sure what my expression might look like, as Karina holds up the present. I’m not really accustomed to receiving gifts; I don’t know how to react to it, other than to eye it warily and pretend that it’s not there. At least for the time being. I offer a smile of thanks, but nothing too grand; I’m not sure what the etiquette entails. To open now, or open later? Having never been too concerned about awkwardness, however, the notion soon slips from my mind. There’s a job to be done, and the way that Karina efficiently gets herself set up, I’m assured that she’s keen to continue.

She has settled in the same position as last night. That won’t do – I’ve already finished the back design. I need to get started on the front. I notice that she has removed her top and I wonder whether she’s concerned about lying there, face up, with nothing covering her. Again, I retrieve the sheet from nearby, so that she can cover herself if she is so inclined. With the sheet in hand I find my pen and pad and write:

”I have finished the back.
I need to start the front.”

I hold out the piece of paper for Karina to take, and to read, and I hold out the sheet for her once she has finished. I am sure to keep my expression blank. I know that I have a reputation with some; a bit of a whore, probably, but I can also be professional. Sure, if we were at True Love and Karina were human, and I were human, and she were my client, perhaps I’d have asked her out for a drink afterwards. She is, at the core of it all, a woman that I might have an interest in.

But we are not human and Karina is taken. Which, in normal circumstances, might not have dissuaded me. But I have met Lions, and he is a cool guy. I would do nothing to steal that smile from his face, or to ignite his ire. There’s always a difference in playing around when it’s with people you know. That’s just one huge no-no.

So I keep my expression blank, and I hold out that white sheet, waiting for Karina to take action before finding the pre-drawn designs, ready to be transferred to her skin.

[Karina]

Karina took notice that Jesse didn't open the gift but that was okay as she wasn't one of those giddy girls that when a gift is given that the person receiving said gift has to open it right then and there just to see what their reaction is. Nope, if he wanted to open it later, that was perfectly fine and his choice. Why be annoying and pushy like that?? It gets someone absolutely no where if they ever tried or they might succeed with annoying and pissing the other off. She would okay with watching one of those girls get the hell beat out of them for their attitude. She chuckled to herself at the thought as she was never one of those girls even while she was solely focused on ballet. Nope, she was a bitchy, focused, very talented, know-it-all dancer that always looked down at the girls that would let sleep, relationships, and family get in the way of their career. Jesse did smile over the gift and that was all she needed in terms of appreciation towards the small package.

Being pulled from her random thoughts of the day as she saw Jesse move for a pad of paper. Tilting her head as she read what he wrote and smiled as she nodded her head. Carefully she slipped off the chair to sit in it properly, not caring if Jesse could see her breasts. Hell in her mind, it was probably easier for him then to fight around fabric since she didn't wear a tube top that day. She was far from shy and she had ballet and Lions to thank for that. Smiling at him, she gave him a playful wink.

"Ready and all yours!"

Karina was definitely enjoying the time that she was spending with Jesse. The silence wasn't a bother as she always understood why but that made him unique. It also never impaired him, in fact he had a strength in it but his silence never kept him from communicating which she adored. If one was new to meeting Jesse then it might be harder for them but that was never the case with her. She knew that she could theoretically have a conversation with him. He has his own unique of communicating, almost like an art form. Well that at least is how she looked at it because even with notes, there is body language. A simple perk of a brow, a little widening of an eye, the momentary pause, etc....it speaks more volumes than someone with an actual voice. It was why she loved dancing. The story one could tell with just the movement of their body to music that conveys their feelings. Now that's special.

Watching Jesse as he searched for the pre-drawn design that would go on her chest, she smiled. If she never got close to Lions and had still been single, she could see asking him out a time or two. It was a thought she kept to herself as she perked her brow and smiled inwardly to herself. Running her hand through her hair, she turned away before he caught her checking him out. Yes, she was taken but that didn't mean that she couldn't look. Hell she was a woman and often indulged in things that would wind her up even if that meant that Lions received the benefit of it like he had that one night in hunter raid for all to hear. Quickly she pinched her leg to keep from drifting off in thought and giving away that her thoughts were far from pure or about the tattoo. Gaining her composure, she bit hard on her lower lip for a few seconds and shifted in the chair to get a little more comfortable. She was back on track and was ready for Jesse to continue when he was ready.

[Jesse Fforde]

I snort – a sound that I cover with a cough. Given the path of my own thoughts, the all yours could be deciphered in many different ways. Or well, two different ways – innocently, or with mischief. I’ve never been an innocent kind of guy. I’d have been hard-pressed to keep the imagery from bombarding my mind, especially with that wink she throws my way. If I were any less professional, and if I had any inkling that Karina was that kind of girl, I might have attempted to ravish her. I might have been tempted to take her, just as she had given herself up – all yours, she had said. Too many men would have seen that as an invitation.

Instead, I take a deep breath and focus on the work at hand. She is referring to the tattoos, of course. Her body is mine, for the next few hours. Not the entirety of her body; just her skin. And just a specific patch of her skin. My canvas. I roll my head on my shoulders and remember why it is that she is here; I summon Lionheart’s grinning face into my mind, and release the breath that I had pulled.

I return to my canvas and, the same as the night before, I place the design down against the canvas; with a damp sponge, I carefully press the design out of the paper, transferring it to the skin. I make sure that it matches up with the design that I have already finished on Karina’s back – though it doesn’t matter, in the end, if the outline doesn’t fit perfectly. It is a mere outline. It’s not set in stone. I can change it as I please, when I begin my work.

Which I do, all in good time. The paper is tossed in the trash, and the plastic gloves are pulled over my fingers with a snap. I take up the gun, arrange the tub of black ink into an easily accessible place, and begin. The mechanical, buzzing whir of the gun again becomes our soundtrack; a stopping and starting that will serenade our ears until I have finished the outline, until we are ready to move on to the colours.

[Karina]

Karina had caught the snort hidden behind the cough and smirked as she realized that his thoughts, at least in her interpretation, was on the same path as her own. They might be in for an interesting day but she set her mind up that she wouldn't assume the events of the day or the possible outcome. She was here for a tattoo and Jesse was her artist. That seemed innocent enough. At least she thought so anyway, though she was curious as to his thoughts when he took a deep breath only to release it moments later.

Brilliant and bright orbs watched him as he began to work. Placing the paper upon her chest, dabbing the water to press the ink to her flesh to create the stencil of the desired design, placement of the plastic gloves that made her smile with the snap, the little containers that held that delectable black ink that would forever dance upon her skin and the whir of the gun as it buzzed to life. It all seemed very comfortable and ritualistic with the drawing appeal of addiction. This was her first tattoo and she went with one so large that it feed into her desires of art, pleasure, and pain. She could see her body soon become more than just a partical display of art work to a more complexed design that would consume her body.

She was a vampire and had to remain in Harper Rock. She couldn't do anything more than teach her first love to others in hopes that they will carry on the dream. Karina couldn't deny what she was but she didn't have to die along with her mortal life...Tytonidae had shown her that. Kacee saved her but Tytonidae helped her survive. It was because of that, she would become a walking canvas because she didn't have anyone to please anymore but herself. Now she was expressing herself in a new way other than dance and Jesse was the artist to help her with that.

As Jesse worked, she would occassionally glance down to steal a peek but she didn't want to move too much especially while he had the gun pressed to her flesh. It wasn't hard for her to figure out that the vibrations of the gun mixed with her movements, no matter how subtle, would cause the tattoo to change from the designated path of the stencil. She didn't want to cause more work for Jesse because she screwed up the design. Hell she wasn't even sure if it would piss him off if she accidentally screwed it up with a simple yet subtle movement. Instead, she sat in the chair, completely still like the dead that laid frozen in coffins, not even breathing though it was simply unneeded for her survival. Only her eyes moved to steal a peek to ensure pure perfection.