A Chance To Think

<span style='color:gray'>'Voj smiled as Paushlatt took the offered fish and frowned a little as Tai di not. Well, that was back to front in his mind, but that didn't matter. Taking the rejected fish, he bit into it, savouring the taste. This was the bast way to cook this type of fish. Really tasty and full of flavour. As he chewed, he watched as Sakura, obviously disappointed, settled down next to Tai. Running a hand like paw through his long soft spikes, 'Voj stretched and yawned, apologising to the two. He peeled the skin off of the fish and popped it into his mouth, contemplating Tai's words.

"A tattoo is something that is mostly unique to yourself, or, as in the case on the mask I have, unique to a family." 'Voj ate a bit more of the fish, red eyes fixed on the female. "Is there something you believe is special to you, something that defines you, something that happened to you that may only have happened to you?" 'Voj pointed to a winged serpent that was quite simple in design and smirked a little. "This for example. This was from when I was younger. I had a run in with one of the strange beasts that fly around these areas, but that also hides within the snow. It has no name as we Khell believe, but not many Khell have had a run in with it and survived. I was lucky that it was a little one, but even then they have a nasty temperment. That is why when I got home, I designed something that looked like it, so I could remember the event with pride."

'Voj got up, placing the striped skeleton of the fish into the fire. moving over to the paper strewn box, he gathered a few sheafs of clean paper and took the pencil from behind his ear. "Describe. I'll draw what I think and you can get it done when you feel like it by some great Master of the Trade." 'Voj smiled and sat back down, leaning on one knee, red eyes watching her.</span>

 

<span style='color:gray'>'Voj nodded, pencil scratching. The strange mountainous, mammal came into being, strange large paws accentuated over the egg she had described. He made thick lines around the outside to show the creature was white, and he also sketched in large feathery wings. The creature was reared as he drew it, large mouth open and the teeth bared. The eyes he shaded and made a quick sketch to show that they were going to be a much more interesting colour to draw the eye before they were drawn to the detail of the wings and face. He frowned at it, and gave it to Tai, still contemplating a way to make it more interesting.

"What you were thinking? Oh, WAIT!!!" He snatched it back quickly before placing pencil to paper and sketching in the long tail, turning it into a cresent moon befind the beast, wings becoming the other side and inner part of the crestent to make a full moon. In areas he thought he should be blank, he crossed them out with cross-hatch like shading and grinned at the design, the first true grin since he had seen the two. It was evident that the Khell 'Dragon was truely happy when he was drawing and designing. Thinking about it, he realised she had said it was a pendant. Making a loop in the top of the design, he drew very authentic looking chains that, if were to be tattooed, would go around the neck of the tattooee and so make what looked like a real pendant. Nodding in happiness, he handed it back and placed the pencil behind his ear and his red eyes seemed to dim a little in apprihension. He hoped she liked it, as he was pretty pleased with how it had turned out for a quick sketch.

"What do you think? Worth anything other then the fire's grasp?" 'Voj smiled unsure and his tail started to twitch.</span>

 

<span style='color:gray'>'Voj nodded to her question and smiled, glad she liked it. He relaxed a little more, no longer worried by being with these two. He took the sheaf of paper and moved over to his small work area, taking out a few coloured chalks and highlighting some colour around the tattoo. He nodded at the quick sketch, making sure he was sure of it before bringing a few of his equipment pieces over to where they sat, pulling the box closer so the instruments didn't go on the floor. He pointed to one of them with a small gap for inks to go in.

"This is what will be used to make the tattoo." He said, handing it to her. It was like a gun, but the needle was only moved through pulling repeatedly on a small piece of wire that made it move and inject the inks that would die the fur that would regrow. "It's a long process, and if you want a few colours can last almost all of a day. But for you, I will work well and make sure it is perfect. This is what I will use." He showed her how it worked and handed her a vial of the ink, which had a thinner piece of glass at one end to puncture onto the tattooist gun. "I shave the area of fur first, so that there is absolutely no fur, and then draw on the design in the detail that is wished. Then go over it in these inks that will cause the fur to come up a different colour. The white will come up good on your fur, and the darker areas on this sketch is your own fur." He smiled and took the equipment back.

"I can do this now, and work into the night if necessary, or we can wait until we reach the big city where I hope to reach and perfect my skills." 'Voj tilted his head at her, awaiting her answer.</span>

 

<span style='color:gray'>'Voj nodded and smiled, standing and picking up the few inks he would need and also pen like ink vials that were used to draw the design on the skin. He picked up the equipment needed in order to clear the area of skin from the fur and sat down infront of her, inspecting the array of instruments carefully and each one like it was a wound that needed cleansing. He placed the needle in the fire for a moment to kill off any germs and held up the blade that would clear away the fur and looked at it, the fire's gleam reflecting off of his eyes and onto the blade, a deep red glow that made him look eerie.

"You must understand this. If I start, I cannot stop, or you will look very odd indeed. It will sting, but it will look good when done. Are you sure you want me to continue. If it really starts to hurt, I will get some ice to numb the area, and carry on. If you faint I will have to stop. I'm sure you know all of this any way. I will shave the area first and then place a pack of ice on it. If you are still certain you want it done, I will do the outline and any of the areas in the same colour. The chain part will be the last bit, as it is not a necessary part. Are you ready?" He smiled and gripped her shoulder reasurringly. He looked to the side for a moment, taking note of the conversation going on between cat and 'Dragon. He smirked at the two, getting used to the others in the room.</span>

 

<span style='color:gray'>'Voj grinned and set up his equipment, placing the requirted ink vial into the gun and set it down. He picked up the blade and shaved away an area at the top of her chest and cleared it of all hair. Standing suddenly, he walked outside for a little way and packed some of the snow that had settled into a hard lump and came back in. He placed it on the shaved area and, taking Tai's hand, put her hand over the ice, murmuring for her to hold it in place. He then took the sheaf of paper with the design on it and went over all the major lines in the strange ink pencil that he would use to go over her skin before he did anything. 'Voj nodded in satisfaction as the beast came to light, going over it in a cross hatch way to show shaded areas were in which colour. Nodding happily, he sat watching Tai for a moment, showing her the tattoo.

"What do you think? Do you like it? Speak now or forever hold your tongue!" He grinned and took the ice from her chest and place a claw to it, pushing quite hard. "Is that quite numb? If so, we'll start."</span>

 

<span style='color:gray'>'Voj looked at Paushlatt with a smile and took the ice away from her now fur bare chest and picked up the numerous ink vial pencils and made a copy of the tattoo onto her chest, licking his padded finger to wipe away any leakages or areas he thought needed to be changed and re-marked the areas. Once he was pleased with the drawing he waited for it to dry before wiping off the dried ink, and underneath was a stained area for him to follow. Looking at her with a caring look to his bright red eyes, he placed the thin needle contraption and started. The ink in the vial darkened the area where he followed and he looked pleased. His tail was still with his concentration, ears perked forward, the curls of white fur on the end shifted slightly from their place with the extent of their perked position. Moving his hand slowly from side to side, the beast started to come into view. The ink was a greyish white, and was bleaching the skin underneath. He went over the areas needed and then took the needle away, replacing the ink vial with a dark red for the eyes.

"Are you ok?" He asked as he started again, this time making eyes come into shape. Once he had done the eyes, he stopped a moment to look up at her. He quickly changed the vial for a white one and started again. This was going to take a much longer time, as the white was the main colour on the amulet tattoo. "Just say if you need a moment to gain your thoughts." He murmured as he slipped into a trance of tattooing.</span>