(D8, LE) Another Layer of Ink and Memory

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

She leans forward looking at the forming tattoo. "Are you saying you're done and just poking at me for....for your future enjoyment then?" Mock aghast, one hand brought dramatically to her chest. "And all for vigor?! Maaaaybe all this resisting temptation will just make me too tired to do anything but doze off here...in this comfy throne. Then what?"

Pausing a moment, with an exagerated, thoughtful 'hmmm,' she adds, "well, hopefully that reward is ..rousing.. Or I'll forget to give you the piece I've made."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He chuckled again "Not quite, though it is an idea. No more just a nice side effect to the process I've found." He gave her a small but cheeky grin "and I think we both know sleep is one of the further things from your mind."

"And I'm sure you'll like the reward well enough. You won't even have to get up." He says.

"Did you say you finished a piece?" He asked pausing and looking up as his mind caught up.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

She raise an eyebrow, but settles back. "Won't even have to get up, you say? Now I'm curious...and as you say, definitely not planning to sleep." Her tone holds all sorts of promises and expectations, though it shifts to something prim. "But it's really my devotion to art that's keeping me from risking yours. Of course."

Reaching for her tea again, she nods, "I did. The piece is in the small box at the top of my satchel." She gestures toward said satchel slumped beside the table. "If you're planning on a break... Otherwise, there's time tonight."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

"Well continue being good and your curiosity will be thoroughly satisfied." He said with a little smile as he continued working.

"If you don't need a break I'd rather power through, almost done really just a few finishing touches and we'll be there." He says as he's making finishing shades and a few details.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

She humms a bit as he runs over already sore spots with his shading, but focuses on setting the cup down carefully. "You can keep going, I'll be ok. Though I sort of wonder what happens if I stop being good. Hmm? I sort of doubt you'd clean your tools and fall asleep any more than I would."

There's a soft sigh, eyes half-lidded. "But for you, I'll be good."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

His voice has an amused touch to it as he nears the end of his work "Well no of course not, that would be depriving me as much as you at that point." He chuckled a bit

He quieted into focus as he moved to put the last touches on the work each needle fall deliberate and exact in its placement. After a few moment he took a deep breath and set the needles in the bowl of water.

"That should do it." He said with the satisfaction only another artist would know. Of a long project finished, the happiness and satisfaction of completion and a tiny touch of melancholy that it's all over.

On her thigh sat a ki-rin rendered in exquisite detail back lit by the colors of a rising sun yellows, oranges, a touch of purple tones all blending across her skin. The final touch, if one looked closely the eyes on the ki-rin were a dull silver.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

She leans forward, for all the pull between them, the art demands an audience first after all of that work. Her nerves jangle with the absence of that steady needlework, just leaving their ache behind. The ache, and this glorious piece of art. She knows it will be even more intense when healed.

"Oh." For a moment there are no other words, just appreciation.

Her fingers hover over it, hardly believing that this is actually her skin. The faint heat between her fingers and thigh makes it real. "Stunning, Yoshi-kun. I'm...in awe that I get to keep it forever." She reaches to take his hand in both of hers, pulling gently to stretch out the tension she knows quite well from her own long sessions of creation. "This has to ache after all that." There's a genuine desire to offer some ease, and a bit of skill that says she's massaged the ache out of her own hands before, but also that hunger to touch finally given some outlet.

"And I'm feeling...blessed to have this remind me of you for just as long." Her thumbs press and push along the muscles and tendons to sooth them. "I know my motives weren't all the best when I first asked to be your canvas. Now? Where he's concerned, I'm just sad he probably won't see the beauty in it."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He sighed contentedly as she massaged his hands "Oh my" He said in almost a whisper as he felt the tender attention from her hands to his.

He simply closed his eyes as he enjoyed the feeling of her touch for a while

As she finishes speaking he opens those silver eyes slowly "Well the only person whose opinion I care about regarding it is right here in front of me." He says with a smile.

He leans forward and up kissing her deeply, full of that longing, that yearning for touch they've both felt over the last couple hours.

As they pulled away "And I feel as honored as you do blessed, such a beautiful canvas my work hardly compares."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

Her hands tighten on his, growing still as her attention focuses on that kiss, pulling his hand to her without thought, just the instinctive need to bring him closer. When they part, it isn't far, her breath whispering across his skin. "mmm, my patience feels well-rewarded already."

"But," she kisses the corner of his lips. "open that little box in my satchel first. I want to see my gift on your skin first."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

There was a touch of heat to those eyes now and the voice she heard "Oh you've not yet begun to be rewarded my little flower." He says with a quick peck before looking down to his tools and cleaning them quickly, needles are back in the box, vials stoppered before he rises.

He walks over and picks up the box walking back to her and kneeling in front of her again "I admit I am rather excited about this." He says with a smile as he opens the package.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"A night to remember," she sighs happily, watching his hands move with such practiced skill, then watching with anticipation as he opens the simple wooden box. It's one of many in her kit of equipment, padded inside to protect whatever it holds.

Which at the moment is a bracelet of slender silver links, oval beads of Labradorite* and malachite*, and a central lozenge of moss agate carved with a depression just right to settle a thumb in, polished smooth. The fuzzed green inclusions of the agate branch and rebranch like a river or…well…moss. Several very small charms dangle from the chain between beads, cast from various metals—a silver moth at rest, wings held flat, rather than upright as butterflies tended to settle; a bronze flower, wide petals reminiscent of poppy; a teapot that seems to be iron sealed with enamel; and a tiny silver calligraphy brush tipped with blue enamel.

"I didn't properly get measurements, so hopefully it's not too tight. I can add a few links tomorrow, if it is." She reaches to help clasp it around his wrist if he wishes. "The large stone is something my sensei called a Worry Stone. It a size and shape that's easy to hold and just kind of rub your thumb along. It holds luck**, as well. Though...mostly the spirits holding it need someone of my school to set them free to grant it. But...luck calls luck, so it may prove lucky even without setting loose the kami housed within it." Her small fingers are as practiced with the small, sliding clasp as his are with his needles, brushing his skin where she can.

***************************
*which would undoubtedly have a different name in Rokugani
**a Meishodo charm containing Reversal of Fortunes.

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He presents his wrist to her for her to clasp it closed. As she does he pulls back and looks at it, his silvery eyes scanning the bracelet with a quiet awe.

"Truly one of the most beautiful works of art I have seen." He spoke quietly, almost reverently "it fits more than well enough. It will be my most treasured possession." He said smiling looking back to her leaning forward and up he placed hands on either side of her thighs on the chair to support himself as their lips met.

He kissed her deeply, passionately, an inner fire stored inside him leaking out into their kiss. One hand moved to her waist and pulled her slightly toward him as they kissed.

When they finally separated his breath was somewhat quick as he leaned his forehead against hers "Thank you." Came the words behind the passion.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

Her fire isn't hidden at all, hands reaching--one to tangle in that amazing hair, and one wrapped around his ribs--everything yearning toward him, despite any ache awakened by the movement. Something about the exchange of such gifts, with that bit of themselves that all art holds, makes everything feel like more than just an evening's dalliance. It still might only be the pleasant memory of this season in the end, but at the moment, it feels like everything, and that's what she offers in her kiss.

Hunger and gratitude and wonder deepen the kiss, pausing only a bit to reach for another. When they pause, her eyes are soft with desire and skin flushed with the heat between them. She strokes her fingers through his hair as he presses against her forehead. "You're so, so welcome."

Where she might normally deflect his praise--it was made with things she had on hand for the competition...too small for what he deserved...too simple for all he'd come to mean--instead she sighs, letting go of the impulse. "Less permanent than what you've given me, but as willingly given." Her hands urge him closer. "We can reward one another, then, my shining moth?"

Which is probably moving to an inventive evening of /ftb