Routes taken during the foggy, frigid, miserable winter weather were much more bearable when spent in the proper company; so Lilliana was quite glad for the smooth, crisp gait of Z?ev Zayveon at her side. The two had met in passing times before, but as of late a comfortable friendship had arose. Bundled tightly, the witch kept stride with her taller companion easily, not wanting to dawdle should she freeze on the spot for a moment?s misplaced idleness. The warmth of their breath trailed behind them, quickly dissipating into the atmosphere.
?I don? know who ya? plan on wakin? a? this hour, bu? I?ll be sure t?tip him well. I?s t?oo damn cold t?be rousin? someone from their bed.? The witch offered with a soft, shivering snicker.
?No worries, I?m sure it?ll be fine. Long as that drawing of yours is there to go on, it?ll work it?s way out with no issues.? Z?ev replied with a nod and a smile, moving through the cold towards the farther corner of the markets. More specifically, the familiar, glowing fa?ade of his large shop nestled there; Dragon Acquisitions. ?? Have to make sure the fires are burning well so you don?t get so chilled.? He added, returning her wry expression with a soft smile of his own.
?Oh tha?s no? a problem, ya? would be surprised wha? I can ge? ou? o? this skir?.? A wry smile teased her lips as she spilt him a quick response.
The suspicion she?d been harboring seemed to be true; Zev was to be her artist for the evening, not a known associate. Sneaky man.
As he held the door, Lilliana stepped in with little more prompting than the allure of warm candles and the distant, hungry crackle of a fire. The light was dim but enough to move through, heat spilling freely and lapping greedily at their toes to eat away the traces of chill that still clung to them. Keeping with the amusing air that there was still someone to bring into their late night equation, she chuckled from behind the taller man as a hand lifted to indicate in no particular direction.
?So, I trus? ya? will give this t?him, then?? Along with her query came the drop of a hand to the ever shifting tiers of thosee aforementioned skirts. Out came the slim, sleek line of that leather bound ledger with it?s intricate, hand burned tracery to it?s heavy face; the design she meant to craft permanently into her skin this evening.
?Done? Truth be told, it is a bit late for me to wake one of the few I know that could do this for you. So I?ll have to simply do it myself and allow them their slumber. It is the kind and thoughtful thing to do, yes?? Suppressing a quiet smile, Z?ev movied further inwards past the impressive bulk of a display counter, he had things to collect you see.
?Would you settle by the hearth there while I gather the required items?? He asked politely with a nod towards the fire before disappearing behind the hard curve of a door frame.
?Tha?s oh so fair a t?ouch ya? have there swee?lin?? I shouldn? be so surprised w? ya? anymore.? The witch laughed in response with a shake of her head as her friend confirmed her suspicions.
Lilliana was all too happy to oblige, because the elegant sprawl of a 17th century couch rested near the hearth he?d indicated to. It was made of rich, red velvets and golf leafed claw feet, and no doubt all kinds of warm from it?s close presence beside the flickering flames. Undoing the bulk of her outer wear, she set her cloak, scarf and boots on a hook along the wall. As she went about rolling up the line of her skirt and undoing the clasps of her stocking?s garter, Z?ev was returning with a small cart with what he?d need. Vials and bits of metal from the instruments on the clinked and chimed as he neared.
?A woman I rent a shop to here in the markets is a tattoo artist. She gave me this as a gift of sorts, some of her industry?s trade items. I?ve not spoken with her in a while though, so you?ll simply have to deal with me applying the tattoo.? Out came his smile again as he pulled up a chair beside the couch Lilliana was beginning to primp and prop herself on for his work.
?Ahh, aren? ya? a clever thing? I shall have t?made due then, darlin?? I can only hope I don? make ya? blush.? The length of her leg already bared from beneath the neat roll of her skirts clear enough an indication of the site she?d chosen.
?I don?t think that it?ll be a problem, my dear. I haven?t blushed in a few decades Lilliana. It takes a lot.? Z?ev smiled, casting a soft wink to her as he touched a hand to the bare, fire stricken glow of her thigh. ?Upper right thigh, on the outside, yes??
The flesh was full and warm beneath his touch, completely smooth. Upon his inspection of the site, there was a friendly humor touching the edges of her molten eyes as they bore upwards, nodding. ?Ya? will jus? have t?tell me then wha? burn? yer cheeks the las? time so I can be?tter top i?.? She moved carefully, grasping one last pillow to brace herself against and better affix her posture for his work.
Smiling lazily as he moved and went about preparing the needle and its? gun, Lilliana cast her glance over the edge of her shoulder, tucking back the bulk of her hair to better see him. ?Have ya? done this long?? She asked quietly.
?Actually I have. But such was done for the purpose fo marking troops and guards, guardians and the like? Long ago.? Nodding his head as he spoke, the fingers of one hand chose a black ink and dipped in while the other moved to settle back on the thick of her thigh. It started low before rising along the full exposure of her flesh, leaving a warming sensation in his fingertip?s wake. The sensation budded the gypsy witch?s flesh for a momentary spell of goose pimplies.
?Ya? have made war then?? She asked the obvious if only to keep him speaking; his voice was soothing.
?Long ago I was a Guardian to many lands. There were scores of us back then, and we protected those that could not protect themselves. Sometimes it was entire kingdoms, other times it was the smallest of villages.? The fine whine of the gun moved through the air to start it?s work. Z?ev?s eyes balanced between the plain of her thigh and the point his needle rested on, to the sleek ledger he?d taken from her earlier.
It?s design was intricate and sensual with curve; symmetrical whorls of pagan knot work, a five pointed petal trinity representation of the body, soul, and it?s oneness with the world?s elements lay within the hallowed triple moons. All of it hovered above the smooth, supple curves of a minute Goddess form, ankles together, arms high above her head. It was a design of a devout confident in not only the love of her Goddess, but the power of invoking the symbols of such onto her very body. The tattoo would help with the power behind her magic, substituting on a more permanent level for the painted smears she often applied for similar spell casting reasons.
Z?ev had given his silent approval long ago of the witch?s choice, for he himself held a pattern of ink to his body that evoked his sense of balance to the world and it?s elements. As he worked, the caring touch of his fingertips preceeded the touch of the gun; the result was nearly a complete void of pain, and in it?s place that odd, soothing warmth dominated. Soothing, numbing? Hard to say, but pleasure thrived instead of pain.
?I don? know who ya? plan on wakin? a? this hour, bu? I?ll be sure t?tip him well. I?s t?oo damn cold t?be rousin? someone from their bed.? The witch offered with a soft, shivering snicker.
?No worries, I?m sure it?ll be fine. Long as that drawing of yours is there to go on, it?ll work it?s way out with no issues.? Z?ev replied with a nod and a smile, moving through the cold towards the farther corner of the markets. More specifically, the familiar, glowing fa?ade of his large shop nestled there; Dragon Acquisitions. ?? Have to make sure the fires are burning well so you don?t get so chilled.? He added, returning her wry expression with a soft smile of his own.
?Oh tha?s no? a problem, ya? would be surprised wha? I can ge? ou? o? this skir?.? A wry smile teased her lips as she spilt him a quick response.
The suspicion she?d been harboring seemed to be true; Zev was to be her artist for the evening, not a known associate. Sneaky man.
As he held the door, Lilliana stepped in with little more prompting than the allure of warm candles and the distant, hungry crackle of a fire. The light was dim but enough to move through, heat spilling freely and lapping greedily at their toes to eat away the traces of chill that still clung to them. Keeping with the amusing air that there was still someone to bring into their late night equation, she chuckled from behind the taller man as a hand lifted to indicate in no particular direction.
?So, I trus? ya? will give this t?him, then?? Along with her query came the drop of a hand to the ever shifting tiers of thosee aforementioned skirts. Out came the slim, sleek line of that leather bound ledger with it?s intricate, hand burned tracery to it?s heavy face; the design she meant to craft permanently into her skin this evening.
?Done? Truth be told, it is a bit late for me to wake one of the few I know that could do this for you. So I?ll have to simply do it myself and allow them their slumber. It is the kind and thoughtful thing to do, yes?? Suppressing a quiet smile, Z?ev movied further inwards past the impressive bulk of a display counter, he had things to collect you see.
?Would you settle by the hearth there while I gather the required items?? He asked politely with a nod towards the fire before disappearing behind the hard curve of a door frame.
?Tha?s oh so fair a t?ouch ya? have there swee?lin?? I shouldn? be so surprised w? ya? anymore.? The witch laughed in response with a shake of her head as her friend confirmed her suspicions.
Lilliana was all too happy to oblige, because the elegant sprawl of a 17th century couch rested near the hearth he?d indicated to. It was made of rich, red velvets and golf leafed claw feet, and no doubt all kinds of warm from it?s close presence beside the flickering flames. Undoing the bulk of her outer wear, she set her cloak, scarf and boots on a hook along the wall. As she went about rolling up the line of her skirt and undoing the clasps of her stocking?s garter, Z?ev was returning with a small cart with what he?d need. Vials and bits of metal from the instruments on the clinked and chimed as he neared.
?A woman I rent a shop to here in the markets is a tattoo artist. She gave me this as a gift of sorts, some of her industry?s trade items. I?ve not spoken with her in a while though, so you?ll simply have to deal with me applying the tattoo.? Out came his smile again as he pulled up a chair beside the couch Lilliana was beginning to primp and prop herself on for his work.
?Ahh, aren? ya? a clever thing? I shall have t?made due then, darlin?? I can only hope I don? make ya? blush.? The length of her leg already bared from beneath the neat roll of her skirts clear enough an indication of the site she?d chosen.
?I don?t think that it?ll be a problem, my dear. I haven?t blushed in a few decades Lilliana. It takes a lot.? Z?ev smiled, casting a soft wink to her as he touched a hand to the bare, fire stricken glow of her thigh. ?Upper right thigh, on the outside, yes??
The flesh was full and warm beneath his touch, completely smooth. Upon his inspection of the site, there was a friendly humor touching the edges of her molten eyes as they bore upwards, nodding. ?Ya? will jus? have t?tell me then wha? burn? yer cheeks the las? time so I can be?tter top i?.? She moved carefully, grasping one last pillow to brace herself against and better affix her posture for his work.
Smiling lazily as he moved and went about preparing the needle and its? gun, Lilliana cast her glance over the edge of her shoulder, tucking back the bulk of her hair to better see him. ?Have ya? done this long?? She asked quietly.
?Actually I have. But such was done for the purpose fo marking troops and guards, guardians and the like? Long ago.? Nodding his head as he spoke, the fingers of one hand chose a black ink and dipped in while the other moved to settle back on the thick of her thigh. It started low before rising along the full exposure of her flesh, leaving a warming sensation in his fingertip?s wake. The sensation budded the gypsy witch?s flesh for a momentary spell of goose pimplies.
?Ya? have made war then?? She asked the obvious if only to keep him speaking; his voice was soothing.
?Long ago I was a Guardian to many lands. There were scores of us back then, and we protected those that could not protect themselves. Sometimes it was entire kingdoms, other times it was the smallest of villages.? The fine whine of the gun moved through the air to start it?s work. Z?ev?s eyes balanced between the plain of her thigh and the point his needle rested on, to the sleek ledger he?d taken from her earlier.
It?s design was intricate and sensual with curve; symmetrical whorls of pagan knot work, a five pointed petal trinity representation of the body, soul, and it?s oneness with the world?s elements lay within the hallowed triple moons. All of it hovered above the smooth, supple curves of a minute Goddess form, ankles together, arms high above her head. It was a design of a devout confident in not only the love of her Goddess, but the power of invoking the symbols of such onto her very body. The tattoo would help with the power behind her magic, substituting on a more permanent level for the painted smears she often applied for similar spell casting reasons.
Z?ev had given his silent approval long ago of the witch?s choice, for he himself held a pattern of ink to his body that evoked his sense of balance to the world and it?s elements. As he worked, the caring touch of his fingertips preceeded the touch of the gun; the result was nearly a complete void of pain, and in it?s place that odd, soothing warmth dominated. Soothing, numbing? Hard to say, but pleasure thrived instead of pain.