Post by The Librarian on Sept 2, 2011 6:01:13 GMT -8
As the year changed with the passing of the moon, Phaen lay on the bed feet propped up on the embroidered pillow talking and laughing and telling hushed secrets to no one... no one ever really seen in the freehold, Mei Jin Song lay on the floor beneath the bed, the Sluagh and the Sidhe, sharing a night of girlish reverie like they had for as long as Phaen could remember. Mei was a shadow almost always at arms reach, ever watchful, ever protective. Both woman sharing a life of secrets and stories that few would ever know about.
Phaen heard Mei open her sketch book, heard the graphite on paper beneath the bed, " 'ell me abou' yer hammer, and the roses Phaeny", Mei whispered from her hiding place, " 'ell me again..." Closing her eyes Phaen pictured the image from her dreams. Phaen spoke slowly as the image came into focus, Felucca's soft blue overlaps Trammels pale vanilla, I can see the craters and pock marks clearly on their surfaces. The hammer head is shadow iron, the handle is blood wood. A rose cane is etched into the hammer head and as it meets the handle is carved along it to the top. The cane is hardy and heavy with thorns. From the top live rose canes grow, curling like a bell back towards the ground. Three fist sized white winter roses in full bloom hang from the canes, delicate and kissed with a soft blush in the center. The light of the moon illuminates the roses petals so they glow in the night. Phaen paused her eyes unfocused the image dancing at arms length before her, it wasn't till she felt Mei's cold hand in her's Phaen came out of the trance.
"Come with me Phaeny, I can do i' now", Mei said in whisper as she pulled Phaen from the bed to follow her. The two women walked from their chambers, down the hall to the bathroom, Mei locking the door behind them once inside. Mei reached up and pulled the tie from Phaen's hair letting it fall to her back in long waves, reached round her friend helping unfasten her leathers preparing for a bath. Mei shed her own clothing and armor turned and dropped rose and lavander oil into the bath as she drew on the hot water creating a cloud of steam in the room. Gently Mei lead Phaen into the tub sitting behind her the two women gently soaked the hot water and scent of florals washing away every care in their world. Mei collected a sea sponge and lathered it up with one of Sage's concoctions that bore a soft vanilla to mix into the rose and lavander. With loving care Mei bathed her friend, caressing Phaen's body with the sponge drawing it over her skin to gently slough off any residue or dead skin. Turning and taking the sponge Phaen did the same for Mei the two woman savouring a moment of solitude to show the love and caring the shared for each other.
Once washed, rinsed and relaxed Mei stood and drew Phaen from the tub wrapping her in a thick cotton robe, Mei collected their clothing and armor and the two woman returned to the warmth of the hearth in Phaen's outer sitting room. Mei went to the vanity in their bed chamber and drew out a small box containing the needles and inks Mei used in her artistry. Mei was the only person to touch Phaen's body with needle and ink, she had worked her mastery in the ships wheel on her lower abdomin below her belly button, the dagger and rose on her left thigh, the tiny albatross above her right ankle. This was to be the largest work Phaen had asked for, a full back piece in full colour of the image that repeated endlessly in her dreams. Mei layed Phaen down on the loveseat near the fire, drew close several large solstice candles to light the work area, wiping over Phaen's back with a solution of water and witchhazel Mei waited for it to dry before she began to mark out the piece.
Minutes drifted into hours as Mei's whispered song echoed in the room while she worked tirelessly, needle after needle bringing the image to life stopping to work the glamour to heal the mastework then begin again. Inks infused with the glamour in her song as she drew the moons, the hammer and the roses in an almost photographic representation on Phaen's back. Phaen lay still as she could her body washed over with many feelings and emotions as Mei worked, a wince in pain would bring Mei's hand to the spot to heal the tender area, the glamour causing Phaen to shiver. Moments of arousal under the gentle caress of her friend, mixed with a deep relaxed lethargy as the hours slipped by and Mei's song touched her ears gently.
Phaen awoke to her room filled with bright sunlight not sure when it was in the day or how long Mei worked on the tattoo. Mei was curled up spooned infront of Phaen, her head resting on Phaen's arm. As Phaen moved gently Mei opened her eyes and smiled up to her friend, Phaen smiled back and whispered, "I am so telling Gavin you drool", Mei look horrified and rolled over tickling phaen vicously. The friends fought mercilessly till they both roled off the bed, Phaen stood her robe having slipped from her shoulders she caught the first glimpse of her back.
Letting the robe fall to the floor Phaen stood turning her back to the mirror over the vanity, looking over her shoulder in awe as the image from her dreams exactly copied now adorned her back. Mei handed her a hand mirror to see the image without twisting, Phaen's eyes flared with gold on fire as she saw her friends precious gift. As Phaen admired the work and gushed words of appreciation and thanks and love for her friend, Mei began to pull the curtains and drapes over the windows, slowly as the room darkened first whispered in the edges of the roses, but slowly in the carving and etching on the hammer, a fire built in the tattoo, golden flames kissed the edges of the roses in the darkness, licked at the highlights in the canes on the hammer and once in full black of the blocked sunlight phaen's body disappeared from the mirror and on her back the silouette of the trinity of roses hung suspended in the shadowed room. As phaen twisted her body the flames licked through the silouette alive and responsive with the Sidhe's every move. Phaen felt Mei move to her wrapping her arms about her and gently tracing the rose with her fingers on her back, Phaen watched as parts of the flames receeded to her touch then flared in the passing of Mei's fingers on her back. Mei rested her head on Phaen's shoulder and in her whisper she said, "I love you Phaeny", Phaen whispered back, reapeating the words, holding the Sluagh tightly as her tears ran freely down her cheeks to Mei's shoulder. Softly after a long moment Phaen said, its the work of a lifetime Mei, I will wear it proudly and with honour of your friendship. Mei kissed Phaen's cheek and in her whisper said gently, "you better cus I know where you sleep, and I will 'ake it back if you don't..." The two women laughed in each others arms for a time before opening the curtains again and preparing for the day ahead...
Phaen heard Mei open her sketch book, heard the graphite on paper beneath the bed, " 'ell me abou' yer hammer, and the roses Phaeny", Mei whispered from her hiding place, " 'ell me again..." Closing her eyes Phaen pictured the image from her dreams. Phaen spoke slowly as the image came into focus, Felucca's soft blue overlaps Trammels pale vanilla, I can see the craters and pock marks clearly on their surfaces. The hammer head is shadow iron, the handle is blood wood. A rose cane is etched into the hammer head and as it meets the handle is carved along it to the top. The cane is hardy and heavy with thorns. From the top live rose canes grow, curling like a bell back towards the ground. Three fist sized white winter roses in full bloom hang from the canes, delicate and kissed with a soft blush in the center. The light of the moon illuminates the roses petals so they glow in the night. Phaen paused her eyes unfocused the image dancing at arms length before her, it wasn't till she felt Mei's cold hand in her's Phaen came out of the trance.
"Come with me Phaeny, I can do i' now", Mei said in whisper as she pulled Phaen from the bed to follow her. The two women walked from their chambers, down the hall to the bathroom, Mei locking the door behind them once inside. Mei reached up and pulled the tie from Phaen's hair letting it fall to her back in long waves, reached round her friend helping unfasten her leathers preparing for a bath. Mei shed her own clothing and armor turned and dropped rose and lavander oil into the bath as she drew on the hot water creating a cloud of steam in the room. Gently Mei lead Phaen into the tub sitting behind her the two women gently soaked the hot water and scent of florals washing away every care in their world. Mei collected a sea sponge and lathered it up with one of Sage's concoctions that bore a soft vanilla to mix into the rose and lavander. With loving care Mei bathed her friend, caressing Phaen's body with the sponge drawing it over her skin to gently slough off any residue or dead skin. Turning and taking the sponge Phaen did the same for Mei the two woman savouring a moment of solitude to show the love and caring the shared for each other.
Once washed, rinsed and relaxed Mei stood and drew Phaen from the tub wrapping her in a thick cotton robe, Mei collected their clothing and armor and the two woman returned to the warmth of the hearth in Phaen's outer sitting room. Mei went to the vanity in their bed chamber and drew out a small box containing the needles and inks Mei used in her artistry. Mei was the only person to touch Phaen's body with needle and ink, she had worked her mastery in the ships wheel on her lower abdomin below her belly button, the dagger and rose on her left thigh, the tiny albatross above her right ankle. This was to be the largest work Phaen had asked for, a full back piece in full colour of the image that repeated endlessly in her dreams. Mei layed Phaen down on the loveseat near the fire, drew close several large solstice candles to light the work area, wiping over Phaen's back with a solution of water and witchhazel Mei waited for it to dry before she began to mark out the piece.
Minutes drifted into hours as Mei's whispered song echoed in the room while she worked tirelessly, needle after needle bringing the image to life stopping to work the glamour to heal the mastework then begin again. Inks infused with the glamour in her song as she drew the moons, the hammer and the roses in an almost photographic representation on Phaen's back. Phaen lay still as she could her body washed over with many feelings and emotions as Mei worked, a wince in pain would bring Mei's hand to the spot to heal the tender area, the glamour causing Phaen to shiver. Moments of arousal under the gentle caress of her friend, mixed with a deep relaxed lethargy as the hours slipped by and Mei's song touched her ears gently.
Phaen awoke to her room filled with bright sunlight not sure when it was in the day or how long Mei worked on the tattoo. Mei was curled up spooned infront of Phaen, her head resting on Phaen's arm. As Phaen moved gently Mei opened her eyes and smiled up to her friend, Phaen smiled back and whispered, "I am so telling Gavin you drool", Mei look horrified and rolled over tickling phaen vicously. The friends fought mercilessly till they both roled off the bed, Phaen stood her robe having slipped from her shoulders she caught the first glimpse of her back.
Letting the robe fall to the floor Phaen stood turning her back to the mirror over the vanity, looking over her shoulder in awe as the image from her dreams exactly copied now adorned her back. Mei handed her a hand mirror to see the image without twisting, Phaen's eyes flared with gold on fire as she saw her friends precious gift. As Phaen admired the work and gushed words of appreciation and thanks and love for her friend, Mei began to pull the curtains and drapes over the windows, slowly as the room darkened first whispered in the edges of the roses, but slowly in the carving and etching on the hammer, a fire built in the tattoo, golden flames kissed the edges of the roses in the darkness, licked at the highlights in the canes on the hammer and once in full black of the blocked sunlight phaen's body disappeared from the mirror and on her back the silouette of the trinity of roses hung suspended in the shadowed room. As phaen twisted her body the flames licked through the silouette alive and responsive with the Sidhe's every move. Phaen felt Mei move to her wrapping her arms about her and gently tracing the rose with her fingers on her back, Phaen watched as parts of the flames receeded to her touch then flared in the passing of Mei's fingers on her back. Mei rested her head on Phaen's shoulder and in her whisper she said, "I love you Phaeny", Phaen whispered back, reapeating the words, holding the Sluagh tightly as her tears ran freely down her cheeks to Mei's shoulder. Softly after a long moment Phaen said, its the work of a lifetime Mei, I will wear it proudly and with honour of your friendship. Mei kissed Phaen's cheek and in her whisper said gently, "you better cus I know where you sleep, and I will 'ake it back if you don't..." The two women laughed in each others arms for a time before opening the curtains again and preparing for the day ahead...