Basic Tattoo Training (continued...)
Brightening 41 of the Fourth Cycle of Ioannes
Summer of Era I of the Celestine Mandate
Era X Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening
Kédrelyn
Kédrelyn entered Dagger Gaude Tattoo Parlor as she had been instructed by the black-haired man some cycles ago. It seemed like a long time ago but she had been busy and it had taken her awhile to find the tattoo she wanted.
Once inside, she immediately looked for the elf. She found him quickly and walked over to him already knowing what she'd say. If she didn't, she'd stumble over the words and end up saying the opposite of what she intended. Definitely not one for socializing, that was for sure. However, she found it quite easy to talk to someone when she was mad or annoyed... like when strangers visited her shack. But obviously that wasn't going to work for her at the moment so she planned it out beforehand.
"Serale, I talked to you a few cycles ago about getting a tattoo. I have decided on the tattoo I'd like to have and was wondering if now would be a good time?" Her eyes traveled over to the Ratta and she wondered who would be doing the tattooing. It didn't matter to her, all she cared was that it was done well. "Oh, could you also tell me what this will cost?" she added, almost forgetting. She handed Vyoma a picture of the tattoo she wanted as well.
Vyoma:
Vyoma looked up from the scrolls that Ben had given him. It had been nearly at the begenning of the Ionnes, in the second cycle, he had come to her for the first class. Vyoma had expressed his objection on practicing on animals if ever he was asked to do so by his master. What Ben felt of it, he did not know, but Ben had just ignored his questions and considerations on that topic. She had continued to guide him in the discipline.
By now he had gone through the lot of scrolls that Ben had somehow acquired could be found going through them even now, at the end of Ionnes. He had also observed carefully how Ben worked with other customers. Though she had asked him to meet only twice, he spent most of his time there at the tattoo parlor. Ben did not object for reasons known only to her and Vyoma never seemed to realize her reasons. Anyway he was a clerk there. yoma's job as a clerk in the tattoo parlor was as the name of the job. He worked it with no mind on hit. His mind was filled with the aim of learning how to tattoo. Even the fact that he would get 50 crowns did not make him pay attention to the job more.
For him, learning tattooing was the primary aim. For now. He did want to be a spell caster and a druid but that too never came to his mind. He observed and listened to Ben the Ratta keenly and with dedication. His only concerns during these times were only that the customers he had attracted in the streets had not come.
Now, going through the scrolls he was happy to see the pale skinned elf there. He was not sure would Ben allow him to tattoo her. He looked at Ben and spoke, "This is one of the customer I spoke of, master," he looked at the elf and "Come, take a seat here, lady." He showed her a seat and took that picture from her. It was a rough sketch. He pulled out a parchment and took the charcoal and coloured pencis and skeched his own version and colored them. Vyoma showed the parchment to her. "Is the color scheme fine, my lady?" He then remembered that she had asked of the price. "And about the price... I do not know for exact. My master would tell you based on many factors.
Kédrelyn:
The elf took the drawing of the tattoo and began redrawing it, adding color, and changing the design a little. He was quick and she was soon looking at a modified version of the tattoo she wanted. It looked nice, but it wasn't what she had in mind. She liked the slightly messy and calligraphic look of the original drawing.
"Actually, I would prefer it to be in black and as similar to the design as possible," She said, giving the elf a small smile to show that his work was appreciated.
Handing back his drawing, she turned her attention to Vyoma's master, whom she gathered to be the Ratta, and waited for an answer on how much the tattoo would cost.
Vyoma:
The look on her face made a hollow in Vyoma's heart. It was more of the rejections the world could throw on him. The hollowness in his chest seemed to expand as the heavy knot in his stomach pulled his essence down towards the earth, as if to take him to the deep core, to the magma. The life that seemed to be so different seemed to be the same.
But was it?
She had completed her opinion and given him back the parchment he had drawn. Drawn fast but with passion. The thing that caught Vyoma's eye was the smile that seemed to fade in and out of her lips just like the fish in the pond that would emerge, but not for long.
Vyoma realized that he had been seeing the world through only his eyes and from no where else. Did she not have her own desires and opinions as he had? The entities themselves represented a universe of ideas, plethora of passions. How could one guarantee them to be same as the other?
Yes. One has to agree to disagree.
The realization made Vyoma smile wide from ear to ear, but within himself. Not a twitch of muscle could the other see on his face. Why he did that? Not even he knew it. He just accepted the parchment back from her and turned to his master.
Ben would be the one to decide.
Quick Ki'Tera:
Ben the ratta rodenti was immensely pleased with her new apprentice's show of professionalism. As he had promised, a new customer had arrived and it was a lovely young lady. Depending on the colors and the size of the tattoo, it would still not be over 100 crowns at the most. This was what she told Vyoma and Kedrelyn. With black as the color, well, Ben could give the tattoo at 80 crowns.
"Very good work Vyoma, I must commend you. Now, as you are still a learning apprentice, I shall give this young lady here the tattoo. As I do, I will also teach you... that is if the young lady does not mind..." Ben could not help it. She gave Vyoma a slap on the back, well, a pat actually to show that she was impressed with him and fond of him.
Ben's beady eyes sparkled in anticipation. She was very excited. Once a needled was in her hand, she made works of art on the skin. And this would be great experience for Vyoma. He'd learn, watch, and soon he'd be the tattoo artist of Medonia with work and dedication. Now all they had to wait for was Kedrelyn's permission. Once she gave them the go, Ben would first warm a needle with the fires of a candle. Then she would wipe the area of Kedrelyn's lovely skin. For a young lady, she'd suggest Kedrelyn not have the tattoo too large or too noticeable. If she were to pursue let's say a noble area of profession in the future, people would not look too grandly upon her if she possessed a large and noticeable tattoo.
Supplies would be retrieved, vials of ink, different needles, cloth, a bowl of warm water, some herbs, and some natural antiseptics.
Kédrelyn:
"I don't mind." Kédrelyn could understand the reason for Vyoma watching if he was learning. It helped to actually see something you were learning instead of just reading about it.
Knowing as well that a large tattoo would probably not be a good idea, she asked Ben to keep it around 3 inches. As the Ratta gathered the necessary supplies, another thought came to Kédrelyn. "I was wondering, could I get my ears pierced here as well?" It was the only place in Medonia she could think that might offer such a service.
Vyoma:
Now Vyoma was happy that his contact did provide some buisness to his master and taking him as a apprentice did not go in waste. He was also happy that Kédrelyn was asking of the other services provided at the Parlour.
Vyoma did like to know how piercing was done and could not afford to train for that too. He did not dare to ask Ben for his salary and offend her. He reminded himself that he had been working as a clerk for few cycles now. He just watched his master, the Ratta.
Quick Ki'Tera:
Many orders of business here needed to be dealt with and so, Ben began with Vyoma's salary. It was merely coincidental that she brought up the matter. He had been their clerk for some time now. For the whole of the summer he worked, amassing a total of 50 crowns a cycle for five cycles. That meant 250 crowns. As for the month in the Autumn season, he'd earn another 250 crowns.
ooc: Vyoma can add in 50 crowns per real life week to profile, or u can use the fluid time system and add in crowns.
Now for the training. Ben told the lovely Kedrelyn that they could give her ears piercings for 50 crowns. Silver earrings will cost 10 crowns each. Gold 20 and as for white gold, 50. They were not beautiful earrings and so Ben suggested she take the 10 crown earrings first and wait a month before purchasing better earrings at the local Knight of Destiny or the Jenapples.
Now, the tattoo. Kedrelyn was led to a seat where she was asked to relax. Ben cleansed the area where the tattoo would reside gently with a warmed cloth and natural antiseptic. When Kedrelyn was ready, the tattooing began. With one ratta hand, Ben stretched Kedrelyn's skin. Her beady eyes widened and Vyoma could easily see that her hands were steady and her vision clear.
The vials of ink were ready, the necessary colors there. Ben heated a needle. When the needle cooled, she dipped the needle point into the ink vial. She made the first puncture and then the rest came. Insect bites they felt like to Kedrelyn. Blood seeped out of the wounds but very soon, under the wonderful care and expertise of the smelly ratta, Kedrelyn's tattoo was complete. The ink would remain on Kedrelyn's skin. The pressure and strength Ben used ensured that the lines were thin when they needed to be and thick when they needed to be. The design was delicious! It was a beautiful tattoo!
Gently Ben cleansed the area red with blood and black with ink. The wound would heal completely in a cycle.
"M'dear, your tattoo is finished. You must never rub it and cleanse it each brightening with antiseptic we will provide you. No, are you ready for the earrings?" Ben wrinkled her nose and waited for an answer from Kedrelyn and questions from Vyoma.
Vyoma:
Vyoma watched carefully. He watched his master do all the preliminaries and these seemed normal to him. He could do it anytime. But what made him hold his breath and observe closely was the actual process of tattooing.
He had leaned over and gazed at the needle. He had squinted his elf-eyes an concentrated on the ink-dipped tip of the needle, as it pierced the stretched skin, stretched by the ratta, his master's firm hands. As they punctured the skin every time, he thought he heard a distinct sound. It pierced the skin, not too shallow, not too deep. His masters steady hands had completed the tattoo, no shaky or jerky lines were of the result; they were smooth and perfect. The process, for once seemed to take ages to complete, but that was because he had indulged in each moment, one behind the other. Once the tattoo was completed, he stepped back and admired the beauty.
Take the pain for the sake of art!
It was art indeed.
But now again, the thought of the crowns came to his mind. He nearly opened his mouth but somehow realized he would get it that day. He had seen her count and keep it aside as he had come that brightening.
His mind reverted to the tattooing. He was very sure, the before and the after process were trivial and needed not any skill. It was all in the process. He opened his mouth again to ask how one attained the mastery in the art. But he closed his mouth. He realized it was a experience and could not be told. He felt confidant he could do it now. He felt he could tattoo now.
Kédrelyn:
Ben led Kédrelyn to a seat, asked her to relax and began the preparations. All the while, Vyoma watched everything Ben did with keen eyes. An interesting fellow... Kédrelyn mused, regarding the elf with interest. He seemed to take everything he did seriously and with a very strong determination. Something slightly foreign to Kédrelyn. In her mind, she didn't see the point in wasting her time on a world full of cruelty and deceit.
From those thoughts she moved on to others, her unfocused eyes still on Vyoma, her face relaxed and thoughtful. Her expression didn't change much even when the Ratta began the tattooing. If anything, she relaxed even more. Strange elf that she was, she didn't mind pain... enjoyed it, actually.
"M'dear, your tattoo is finished. You must never rub it and cleanse it each brightening with antiseptic we will provide you. Now, are you ready for the earrings?" Kédrelyn shook her head slightly to bring herself from her thoughts and looked at Ben.
"Yes, I'd like the silver ones. The tattoo is lovely as well, thank you." She said as she pulled her knotted hair back from her ears.
Quick Ki'Tera:
Kedrelyn was a brave soul, bless her heart. Ben smiled at her bold nature and the ease at which she put her trust and well-being in the hands of the Ratta. Naturally, the ratta was skilled and nearly perfect as a tattoo artist. Piercing however was not exactly her forte. Kedrelyn had to worry not, however. Ben had contemplated much in the past how one would go about to prevent pain to the customers when piercing their intended parts.
She had considered knocking them out cold. She had considered numbing the area with ice. Sadly, there was no available ice in Medonia for her at the moment; therefore, her only option left was drugs.
Ben retrieved some herbs, the antiseptic, and some water. She blew curette powder over the tattoo wound now to soothe the pain and prevent blood from seeping out the holes that punctured skin. To prevent infection, Ben would tell Kedrelyn to mix provided crushed Dablett flower petals with honey and apply it over her tattooed area.
Now, the earrings.
"Miss, earrings will hurt. Therefore, I apply dragonmilk, a minute bit on your earlobes. The herb has numbing properties. You will not feel a thing."
Ben smiled. Vyoma learned again! A tattoo artist could do well with herbal knowledge. He needed not to worry. Ben would teach all he needed to know, she assured him of that.
"We shall begin then!"
Ben retrieved the dragonmilk and applied the salve on Kedrelyn's earlobes. Within minutes, the half-half elf would feel as if she had no ears to begin with! Ben sterilized a piercing needle with the flames of a violent candle. The point was hot.
Another item of interest was a slice of hard apple. Ben pressed the beneath the earlobe with one hand, managing to stretch the lobe with the same hand. The other hand held the needle. With one strong movement of her wrist, the piercing needle made a single hole on the lobe, blood mildly-gushing out. The needle was held in place for a minute and then Ben removed it.
She repeated the procedure with the second lobe after placing the silver stud in the newly formed hole. Each ear received the powdering of curette. Blood ceased to visit the wound. Kedrelyn felt no pain. It was complete!
Vyoma:
This came as a bonus for Vyoma. He had paid his master for the tattoo-training and now was witnessing some other skills.
He came to know of a bit of herb-lore as she put the herbs on her tattoo. He also saw the dragonmilk being applied on Kédrelyn's earlobes. This was interesting. Vyoma felt his brain working on its zenith as it chronicled the knowledge as it came down the hallways of his mind.
Then he looked at the process of piercing. This looked much less skill and more of knowledge than the tattooing. He looked intently and he felt his own ear-lobes twitch as the needle pierced hers.
Kédrelyn:
The ear piercings were next and as the Ratta had promised, Kédrelyn felt no pain. She took a look at her new earrings in the mirror and nodded, satisfied.
"Thank you, they're perfect." She paid the Ratta 140 crowns. 80 for the tattoo and 60 for the earrings. She stood up and made her way toward the door, then she stepped out onto the streets and was on her way.
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