(D6, LE) Art and Artifice

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

A quiet sort of hum settles into her exhalations, not entirely consciously, the tension held away from her leg finding its way elsewhere. "You're calm, and kind. I think that'll help make you a good teacher when you want to be." Another soft hum and slightly silly grin. "also beautiful, with amazing hands...and kisses. Buuut, I don't think those are traits to assess in a teacher."

"I'm really looking forward to watching it develop. hmmm, and I guess I can tell you if the colors feel any different than the black...though I guess it'll start kinda sore." She blinks a bit. "Watching you so focused is..." a sigh huffs out, "the second best way to spend an evening."

There's very little pause before the odd non-sequiter, "do you ever name the tattoos? Just to keep each crane or dragon, or ki-rin a bit more separate in your head?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

There was a pause in the needling as he chuckled a little, it resumed again shortly "No I think you're right, some of those traits are only useful in very particular situations."

"The colors should feel a bit different as I'm doing shading, the black is a constant, same depth to each plunge, same ink in each jab. It needs to look uniform. Color and shade is different more ink, less ink, deeper and more shallow punctures to get fuller and lighter parts." He explains, then he pauses again to smile to her with a mischievous glint to his eyes "but you are right about this only being the second best way to spend time together." He said before stretching up to give her a kiss.

In the small pause he resumes working "No, not really. Usually just the tattoo and the person associated with it. Like this is Sriyani's Ki-Rin." She could hear the smile on his voice as he continues "though if you wish to name it something personal it is not unheard of."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

There's a short gasp as the stabbing resumed after the pause. She hadn't really noticed the stopping, but the starting registers. "Well, I"m learning lots, so maybe this is one of those situations?" Her hands flex as she hums gently through the explanation, heat flaring in the depths of her eyes as he nears for the that greedily accepted kiss. She leans forward to keep contact as long as she can when he returns to his art. "Deeper is darker? So...more of that on darker skin?" she asks, settling back with a sound midway between pained and pleasurable moan.

"So nice to watch you work, but second best because it's so hard not reaching out..." her hand lifts, slowly miming lifting his hair so it flows through her fingers. Her bemused smile remains. "I feel a bit...not drunk exactly. Hmmm. Don't think I should come up with names now. I guess I think of it as your Ki-Rin, but then it's confused with the one you're wearing. Easy to tell apart though with your eyes on this one." her hand continues up, joined by the other in a very careful stretch as her grin widens. "Eyes on it in both senses now. Will it be odd having them look back at you?" She blinks a moment, then shakes her head carefully. "pfft. I'm sure you've looked in mirrors before...sorry...babbling a bit."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

For his part Yoshiaki didn't seem to mind her talking. There were many different kinds of reactions to the process. Some slipped into meditative silence, some seemed bored, others strained and fought against the pain, and then some, like Sriyani, tended to distract themselves with talking.

"It's ok riya-chan, everyone deals with the process in their own way." He says gently "it is true it is my work but it is your body, this is much like a gift. Once I am done it is yours you do with it as you please, display it, talk about it or hide it keep it as something for yourself. All your decisions to make." He said looking up to her briefly.

"You have asked a great deal about me but tell me more of yourself. Why do you make jewelry?" It was both a simple question and not.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

She smiles as he looks up to catch her gaze. Her gaze is a bit distant, muscles a bit tight along her jaw, as she follows his eyes back to where he works on her skin. "Have to adopt some Mantis styles to display it, no?" "Something see through?"

There's a moment of thought before she answers. "It's part of my practice, at least it began that way." Lifting an arm bare of all but the collection of bracelets there, she shakes them with a small jingle. "We ask the kami to live within a type of charm and do something for us when we ask later. This destroys the charm. I was good at designing ones they would like, and agree to settle in." Her arm drops back into her lap. "Then I thought...well I can make something just for me, or for a gift, with the same skills...and it just kind of continued. Found an instructor and learned more techniques. Made more jewelry." Her hand lifts again to gesture out toward the town. "And now I'm here."

She tilts her head, looking at the Dragon a moment, quizzically. "For that matter...with a clan of many tattoo artists. Why send you, Yoshi-kun?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Even though he was clearly deep in focus and made no sounds of acknowledgement to her words there was some sense that he was listening very closely to her. There was a bit of a pause "Is jeweler a common profession among your family?" He asks casually

"As for why I am here it's because I'm the best. That and because I asked to come." He said just as casually "probably more the second but the first is no less true." His voice had a hint of humor to it.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

She chuckles...lightly, to avoid movement. "It's good that modesty isn't one of the tenets. Honored to bear your work...and as a gift..." there's gratitude to her tone, then a sharp inhalation. "Oh! Well. Too late to refuse it twice to be proper...though I asked." Her forehead wrinkles in a slight frown. "Nevermind, that's all a little muddled. I'll worry about it later...though I'd like to make you something."

Another shake of her head. "Not exactly. Well, I'm one of the Horiuchi's many orphans, so family isn't like the nakodo tracing your ancestors back. The charms are a part of our school, and how we learn to work with the elemental kami. The woman I apprenticed with, mostly, was Ujik. Her family'd come to the Unicorn when she was young, and she carried on their craft traditions. Then learned what I could by copying things, and bugging the smiths for lessons."

Another slight frown. "Least the Dragon sent their best. And the Unicorn..well I'd already gotten some notice from outside the clan. So they knew I could make something that people might understand. But the Scorpion? They're trying to host this competition next and they send someone who just casually pisses off his hosts and offers insult to their guests." Apparently anger offers a reasonable focus against pain too..though it's honestly not as good as settling dreamily into the endorphins, the ache feeding back into the anger. "I'm not terribly good in the courts, but even I could see that was a mess."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Yoshiaki is a great listener when he works "No need to play the game. It is a gift to me as much as it is for you, getting to leave my mark on you is exciting. Knowing a part of me will be with you forever." He said honestly "but I'd like something to remember you by as well."

Yoshiaki made a subtle chuckle at her words "Bayushi-san is an acquired taste. Not the best samurai out there but my personal interactions have been mostly positive."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

The frown deepens a bit with a small huff. "Mostly negative so far. I didn't appreciate the idea he was being 'courteous' to highlight a tradition that continues to mark us as outsiders. If that was a fight worth having, we'd have it for ourselves, thanks. Insulting our hosts, offering spiritual impurity on a platter, and leaving me to look rude refusing it, or..." Pausing, she takes a deeper breath, then another, trying not to wince away. "Spoke a bit yesterday, and he's no better. 'sorry you were offended, but...kind of thing. That's the nonsense everyone'll worry about if doing this kind of event in their lands. Themes that poke fun, or try to dig for information or other advantage. I'm not thrilled with the Mantis running it, but even that would be better."

There's another calming breath and a shake of her head. "I...don't want to assume why you ate the dish. Not upset at the folks as tried to smooth things a bit..."

Reaching back with another jingle of charms, she pulls her braid forward, starting to unravel it, giving her hands something calming to do. "Feh. Sorry to vent to much. I'd really rather think about keeping a bit of you with me...and what I might make in return." She offers an apologetic smile. "You don't seem to wear much jewelry though. Maybe netsuke...they're useful."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Between pricks Yoshiaki gives a shrug "If large parts of an entire clan consume it even somewhat frequently I figured it had to at least be safe." He said explaining his own actions "besides it taught me something about where you came from, food is a powerful cultural tool." He gave the side of her leg a gentle squeeze "I am sorry it caused you distress though." The tone was sincere "but one bad apple does not a whole clan make. Shosuro Otoko has been rather nice, she apparently does most of her travelling through Dragon and minor clan holdings." He says remembering the conversation from days ago.

But he moved on as she did not invested enough in defending Scorpions to belabor the point "We are not all called to be ascetics like normal monks are. Some embrace it, believing that material wealth clouds the mind to enlightenment. Others find it doesn't affect them in such a way. I simply have never had much use for jewelry myself. But whatever you gifted me I would wear happily." He said with an earnest smile.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"Course she's pleasant. Most are when trying to sell something," she mutters, then sighs. "No, it won't hurt you outright, mostly. Upsets the stomach for some. But purification is sensible after. It's still a pollution. You notice it more working with the spirits." She huffs a breath through her nose. "And honestly we have goat a good sight more often than...I guess it was ox. Second bit of such heavy meat I've ever had. Could've made his point without offense with just a little research." She shifts slightly in the chair as he squeezes her leg, taking advantage of the pause to adjust a seat held long enough to need a little movement.

She smiles to hear that it's not some rule about jewelry that keeps him from wearing it. "I'd love to do something for your amazing hair, but something like a wrist or upper arm cuff probably suits you better." Her gaze slips from spot to spot, imagining what she could put there. "You'd be amazing in formal kimono, hair up in rosy gold or brass combs." After a pause, and warmer smile she adds, "just a different kind of amazing to how you look now...all focused and ink-smudged"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He smirks a little "don't know if I've ever actually wore formal kimono. I tend toward wearing the one layer out of respect for formality at important greetings. I tend to mostly be shirtless most days at the High House of Light, as are many of the monks."

"Regardless, anything you make me will be greatly cherished. What's more important than how it looks is who made it. I leave all the technical aspects up to your expert eye."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"hmm, are you sure? I know it's not so permanent as this," she gestures toward the work in progress, "but still seems like you should have some input. Like...I expect a lot of ornament is in the way for someone who fights, yeah?"

"Also, the High House of Light sounds a bit distracting. Not that I ever expect to see it...they don't really hold court there that I've heard of." That slightly vague gaze settles on him again, cheeks coloring a bit. "But happy to have you nearby and topless any time."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

"Luckily I'm not much of an actual fighter." He says with a little grin on his lips "I only practice it to keep my body sharp and in balance."

"It is not common for many courts there no, but I believe it has happened. Though I doubt it is likely to again." He chuckled at her words "It is not so distracting if you grow up with it. A body is just a body until it is given context, intent."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

A slow nod. "You're right. Usually nothing to think about much. My context's just a little biased where you're concerned now, I think." Grinning, she levers herself forward a bit, careful not to move her leg, to look at what she can see. "How's it going? Leg feels almost like...it's not quite mine now. I guess that's kinda appropriate while you're working on it though. I know you'll give it back just fine."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

"And mine for yours as well." He said a tiny bit of heat in his voice threatening to break through his concentration and focus. He perseveres however and soon leans back with a satisfied look nodding "pretty much finished." He retrieved the rag and water and gingerly wiped away the excess ink and little bits of blood that welled up.

What was left was a rather well depicted ki-rin standing proud and looking off into the distance. The skin around the black lines an angry red color and very slightly starting to puff up a bit.

"It will look better once the skin finishes the healing process." He says reassuringly. Though the work certainly didn't look bad now as it was.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

She spends a long moment looking at it, smiling softly and reaching as if to touch it but holding back a bit. "It's beautiful," she breathes. "It's starting to sink in that I'll get to see it every day... that it's mine to keep--and every bit laid into my skin through your hands." There's a soft warmth to her voice, a bit amazed.

Her lips twitch, while her tone grows mock solemn. "I suppose I need to take great care with it while healing? Cover it and move carefully. Avoid...vigorous exercise?"

She reaches to sip more of the half-forgotten tea. "We're obviously creative, or we wouldn't be here, I suppose we'll have to prove that tonight, hmmm?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He smiles gently to her as he finishes cleansing the area and his tools before the needles are placed back in their box.

"You will need to be careful with it Riya-chan. It will need to be bandaged while you are up and about, left uncovered to breath at night." He said simply

"And yes we will have to get a little creative tonight and the rest of the nights moving forward." His gentle smile became a bit mischievous as he returned to her hands going to her sides and he leaned in to kiss her deeply and slowly.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

With a warm smile, she returns to a normal tone of seriousness, "of course I'll take care of it. I treasure the work you've done."

"..and you," she murmurs as he moves closer, leaning into his embrace with a small, hungry sound. The frustrations of time spent so close while carefully not interrupting his work are evident in a long, relived moan against his lips, and hands trying to catch up with the caresses that have been running through her mind.

Words no longer seem particularly necessary when lips have much better things to do for the evening.

/ftb