RP:Another Tat For The Khat

Part of the The Day I Tried To Live Arc

Summary: Meri and Khitti meet up at The Rebel Room, a super awesome brand new art studio in Larket, so that Khitti can be Meri's first customer and get her tattoos finally finished! The Khat bring cake and the two talk about life stuffs. It's almost like they're normal people or something!

The Rebel Room, Larket

Meri sent Khitti a note with an address of a place in Larket and had signed it M. As far as Meri was concerned, the two most important pieces of information had been given to Khitti: who and where. As in Meri wanted Khitti to come to that address. When Khitti arrives, the lights would be on and someone was clearly inside. All one had to do was peer through the window and, oh look, Meri! The front door was locked and the reason for that was obvious, this place is still a WIP with plenty to be done. Meri has acquired a bit of furniture but the product was still not quite here. It is cool, these things take time. Meri was just wanting to show off the new place to her first 'customer'. This time around she had perhaps anticipated a tattooing session, it does look like Meri has a set up going that is decent enough for a sleeve session with a friend. Not that Meri would give Khitti sloppy or unhygienic work, it was just a bit more lax. All things considered. Khitti would have to knock to get in, unless she was keen on trying to sneak up on Meri by shadow stepping inside. Meri is not as scary as a leviathan, that's for certain.

Khitti peered into the shop window and grinned as she saw Meri about in the building. She was in a much better mood today despite being in Larket (she hated it, but eventually she’ll have to come here anyway for one of those ingredients when she gets it figured out--just don’t tell her that), but it helped that there likely wouldn’t be any other customers, especially that weird Eleanor chick. Ugh. Well, she doesn’t shadow-step through the door to scare Meri because… she had a cake! Yes. It was a small-ish chocolate-flavored one (sadly she didn’t know what kind Meri liked), with two layers of cake, strawberry frosting in between and on top, and topped with fresh strawberries. It was big enough for two people to share for a couple days. Maybe she’d share it with that Catalian dude? Yeah, Khitti definitely knew he was, even if Brand was oblivious. Brand’s always oblivious though and if that storm mage wasn’t going to bring it up, then she certainly wasn’t! Khitti’d knock on the window first and wave, then would head to the door to await its opening, and greet Meri with an excited “Hi!” when she allowed Khitti to enter.

Meri likes cake. Chocolates are good, strawberries are even better. So when Meri's attention is first pulled toward the window where she spies a Khitti and then goes and opens the door for the woman, she is quite surprised. Who does not love cake? Seriously Khitti. "Hi!" Khitti was definitely allowed to enter, Meri would hold the door open while the redhead passed by. "So it is still a work in progress. But....! You did want to be my first client so I figured the best way to make that happen was to give you like...a pre-opening glimpse." That was a kind way to put it. Meri follows after Khitti after shutting and locking the front door once more. "So...I am really hoping that you baked that?" There was Alvina's wedding, but with so much going on Meri had not actually managed to make it to the cake. She really was focused on boozing (could you blame her? It was essential). If Khitti made it, maybe Meri would share with the Catalian dude. Maybe she'd eat it all. Hm. It is chocolate...with strawberries.

Khitti nodded, still grinning at the blonde, “Of course I baked it, silly. I can always send more zhis vay if you vant it, in vhatever flavor you vant. Zhe portal from Vailkrin, or zhe Tranquility vhen it’s docked, isn’t far, you know.” And yeah, she couldn’t really blame Meri. The need for booze that night was real. Even -she- didn’t eat any cake! Alvina had given her that ring and then Khitti got teary and Brand was oblivious (surprise surprise) and she went home instead to sob her eyes out because Brand’s dumb and won’t marry her. Okay, so he’s not -dumb-; he just has commitment issues (as if that wasn’t obvious months ago)! Khitti would take a spin or two around and nodded again, “I love it! I’m so happy for you! I hope I get to do something like zhis one day too!” The nearest counter would soon be the home for the cake unless Meri took it, the redhead taking another look around, “You be careful out here zhough, okay? I occasionally hear stuff about zhis place and it’s not always pleasant.” You know, the earthquake, the burning of witches, the fact that Macon is a big fat liar and loves power over everyone. Typical Larket stuff.

Guys Khitti, guys. They all come with their set of issues, don't they? That is one of those topics to get into with two forks, a chocolate cake, and a bottle of wine. Alas, they really only have the cake. The wine is not here yet. What a fail on Meri's part, should have known the baker-lady would come baring tasty treats. "Oh no. Don't say that. I'll gain like twenty pounds." Meri makes a cross-eyed expression, how dare Khitti tease her like that. Not that Meri is one to count calories, but the things Khitti bakes are probably tasty. She will find out, while Khitti is looking around she is going to at least do some tasting of the cake by stealing a strawberry some chocolate frosting with it. "Eh, I mean...How much more trouble could I possibly get into than I do hanging out with you?" Let's see Khitti...bugs, shadow planes, mermaids, leviathans. "It'll be fiiiine." Maybe in a perfect world. "One day you will end up getting to do this too, I have no doubt of that." Khitti is given free roam but Meri is going to make her way over to a table that has inks and needles laid out on it while eating her strawberry. "So we're doing it, eh? It's happening. You still like mermaids enough to want one tattooed on you?"

Khitti smirked a bit as Meri headed over to the tattooing area, following her soon after as she took one more slow look around the place. Yeah, this studio was definitely awesome. “Yes, vell. I’m sure you’ll do just fine out here. It’s a hell of a lot closer zhan Rynvale, zhat’s for sure.” Travel to Rynvale was easy enough, but not having to cross the ocean was even better--at least when Brand wasn’t headed in that direction already anyway. “And yeah, definitely am. Still need zhe vater one you did before fixed, but definitely going vith zhe mermaid still.” Reaching into the pocket of her shorts, she pulled out a folded up bit of drawing paper. On the inside was a small underwater scene, big enough to fit on her forearm. The nautical star from before was beneath it, more waves added around it, the waves themselves diverting off the path around the star to make an oval frame around the scene above it. Within the frame, a very familiar looking purple-haired, orange tailed siren, wearing the very same bracelet Khitti wore now, was seated on a flat rock, elevated by a couple smaller rocks beneath it. Coral and vibrant underwater flowers filled the negative space of the grotto, and the mermaid herself looked quite poised and picturesque, as if she were sitting there waiting for her likeness to be drawn, like some fancy painting over a mantlepiece. “I’m going to go vith zhis.” Khitti seemed a little regretful about the way things went, despite how she’d acted that day to the mermaid herself.

Meri shrugged a bit at the mention of Rynvale for in ways Meri would miss it, even if it was not the most convenient place to get to. She did love the ocean though! Meri noms on that strawberry while she listens to Khitti's requests and examines the piece of paper that she pulls out of her pocket. The familiarity of the mermaid is noted along with the details of the bracelet, it brings about a bit of a smirk. Meri has no remorse for that day, perhaps one day she would have a change of heart but right now she felt worse for the leviathan that snotted all over Khitti. "We can do this, no problem." Of course it was no problem. the top of her strawberry is set aside on the table, she'd clean it up later. "Alright. Well I'm just going to freehand this." She was not asking Khitti, she was telling her this time around, this is what happens once Meri decides she likes you."And we're going to start with the touch up first and then move upwards to the mermaid." Starting with the outline and then moving in with the shading and color, much like the first time. "Have you thought about where you would want to open up a shop of your own?" She asks of Khitti while holding out her own hand palm up in expectation, looking for Khitti to rest her wrist on Meri's palm.

Khitti made a face at Meri’s smirk but ultimately nodded to the artist, “Vhatever you vant. You know more about zhis zhan I do.” With Meri being the sole tattoo artist she’s met in her lifetime, and knowing that she’s a damn good artist, she trusted her judgement. “I’m not sure. If I -did- open a bakery, I don’t vant to compete vith Mrs. Mallard’s. She’s been zhere so long, but… Cenril is really zhe only place zhat makes sense. It’s zhe main place Brand docks at. She’s got more of a cafe anyway zhan a full on bakery zhough, so it might not be so bad.” She shrugged, finally offering up her arm to Meri so the woman could begin, her thoughts straying her from the task at hand. “Vith you not in Rynvale now, I’m not so sure I’d vant to have it out zhere.” Khitti waved her free hand, “I’m not sure. It’s likely just a pipedream anyway.”

Meri notes that face that Khitti makes but it does not seem like a story that is going to come spewing out, probably for the better. Most stories that brought about such disdain were not exactly good stories anyway, who wants to hear a sob story in the light of good things like the opening of shops and new tattoos? "Yeah, I get it, not wanting to compete," Meri did not exactly want to compete with Lita but work was work. And Meri was going to get right into work by finishing off the piece she had started for Khitti. Well, first she was going to repair a piece and Khitti would soon feel that familiar sting. The tattoo is fresh enough that the ink has not had a chance to fade in color and Meri does not -have- to go inking over the entire star. So the touch up work went far more quickly than the initial piece did, with Meri using the appropriate blues and blacks. All of these colors were mixed before hand to keep the prep time, minimal. "Well, what about some sort of in between place? Like on the road between Kelay and Cenril?" As Khitti has said, it's not that far of a trek from there to Larket. Just outside of the city wouldn't be stealing from Mrs. Mallard, would it? "Only as much of a pipedream as you let it be. I guess there is no reason to rush these decisions either. You're still on the hunt for ingredients...It is hard to focus on a business right now, I am sure."

Khitti winced a little after the initial prick of the needle, brows furrowing somewhat as it brought distant memories to the forefront of her mind--it’s not like that was difficult as they’d been made fresh again by the attack on House Dragana. Thankfully though, Meri keeps the conversation going as she works, Khitti’s attention soon drawn back to the blonde, “I mean, I guess it could be in Cenril. Especially if I’m focusing more on just desserts.” Haha. ‘Just Desserts’ would be a great name for a bakery (as in someone got their just desserts). Gonna have to write that down for later. “Something to keep in mind, I suppose… And yeah, it has been difficult to think of other things lately. Zhere’s just been so much going on vith zhe cure… and Alvina’s wedding. Lionel’s back now too. I guess Hildegarde made him Steward of Frostmaw.” The redhead quieted herself for a few moments, watching as Meri fixed up the tattoo that Amarrah’s dad had so carelessly cut through, studying the artist carefully. “I really am happy for you,” Khitti said at length, “After all the work you do and helping people, you deserve to be out on your own.”

Just Deserts. That would be a cute name...depending on perception. "I mean I don't think Mrs. Mallard does catering services either. That might be an option." For weddings and birthday parties. Hudson and Alvina are bound to have a party for those kids of their eventually, right? Baby showers. The touch up work does not take Meri long and when she is done she will go through the process of wiping up the excess ink so that she has a clean slate before starting part two. No bandaging is applied yet, it will just get in the way of her work right now. "Yeah. We'll see how it goes and how long it lasts." This may sound a little bitter on Meri's part but in her experience good things in her life do not tend to last. Karma probably, damn she-devil. Then again, she has been drawing the short end of the stick for awhile....and Meri did think it was a good idea to try and start a business in Larket of all places. "But so far things are going smoothly so I will try and be positive about all the good things going in my life right now." Which thankfully has not been too hard for her to do, so far at least. With the arm sufficiently cleaned Meri pauses a moment, mentally working out her plan of attack before switching out the head of her needle for one more appropriate for outline work. Khitti would have a brief break of about two minutes and then work will begin again. "How has life on a ship been treating you?" And life with Brand too on that ship, duh.

Khitti frowned a bit at Meri’s pessimism, but it’s not like that train of thought was wholly unfamiliar to the vampiress; she just didn’t like that sort of thing coming from her friends. Khitti would just nod, however, leaving that part of the conversation to rest. No point in arguing when Khitti pretty much felt the same about her own world. “Ship’s been fine. Onyx is still a jerk. Brand’s...vell...Brand.” She shrugged a little, “I don’t know. Nothing’s really changed much, I guess. Still vaiting for him to up and leave mostly.” It was still a legit worry of hers, though Brand had gotten better with things lately. He called her ‘his woman’ awhile back. TO HIS CREW. It was a shock. But it was soon overshadowed by him yelling at her because she’d ordered Onyx around. It was a whole thing. But, they made up, of course. With sex. Lots of it. “How’s zhings vith you? Besides zhe shop, obviously. And getting cake. And having to do zhat ridiculous dance at Alvina’s vedding?” Yeah, she saw it. Unfortunately for Meri.

Meri understood the sentiments all too well, not that she was fully aware of what Khitti was thinking outside of that familiar frown that she gave her own friends when they got like this (lookingatyoukhitti). "I don't know what I think of that Onyx. I went to come say hello to you and Brand one day and uh...bad timing." Sorry Khitti, she tried to tell Onyx, as Meri is about to explain, "And while I tried to tell him? Her?" So Meri's player may understand that Onyx prefers the they pronoun, Meri as a character does not yet. "Him right?" Halp. "Anyway, I tried to tell Onyx that I would come back later and that jerk spelled me to the ground!" Well they tricked the psion into thinking that her feet could not move via an illusion and because it was not a physical image being thrown up before her, Meri's mind had a harder time debunking that illusion. "When is Onyx's birthday? I want to buy them a book of manners. Or maybe some etiquette lessons." Yes, let's gift Onyx with this for their birthday. With some clients conversation flowed more easily than others, probably because Khitti was not a client at all. She was a friend getting a sneak peek at Meri's future shop and an informal tattooing session that, at this point, Meri would not even charge for. Friends. The outlining would continue, the process very similar to the first tattooing session they did together. Meri would periodically pause to clean up excess ink with a clean rag. Sometimes she would twist Khitti's arm this way or that to try and get a better angle, other times she would get up and move herself because Khitti's arm can only bend so many ways before it hurts! "I have a hard time imagining Brand ever leaving you. It seems like that guy would follow you to the ends of the earth." Or into another realm at the very least, which is saying something. "You did not see the look on his face when you almost got eaten by the sea monster. He was pretty much frozen in horror. So...." Of course Meri got it. It could be hard to have some faith in that area. The subject shifts back to her and Meri smiles faintly, a little hesitantly. "I mean you've got the gist of it. New shop. Horrible dance that was worth it for embarrassing Alvina..." A pause, as she considers if she wants to ramble on. She kind of does...but Khitti might tell Brand and then Meri might get in trouble. But it's not like Meri has many people she's willing to 'girl talk' with -- sorry Eleanor. "New relationship too."

“Onyx is… difficult, I guess, is zhe nice vay of putting it. Zhey go by ‘zhey or zhem’. It’s not something I’ve ever really talked to zhem about because, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, zhey don’t really like me. But my theory is it’s because zhey’re so old zhat zhey’ve just lost zhe concept of gender entirely. I’ve read about it happening to other races too, like vampires. You just hit a point vhere it doesn’t matter, you just exist--you just -are-.” Khitti shrugged, watching as Meri went through the outlining process, the rather deep conversation of gender helping to keep her distracted from the pain, “I don’t know. I’d talk to zhem, but… zhey don’t particularly care for anyone, especially me. Zhey don’t like necromancers--and zhat’s perfectly fine and I understand zheir anger--but, it’s funny, because I really don’t either.” The redhead frowned again, those crimson brows of her knitting together, “Zhey von’t even give me a chance to tell zhem zhough.”

Khitti shook her head, letting the conversation switch back to Brand. Olive green eyes would settle on Meri, studying the woman as she spoke her thoughts about the Catalian and how he acted when they’d dealt with that aquatic monstrosity. Meri didn’t think he’d leave her? He’d...follow her to the ends of the earth? It was one thing to hear it from Alvina; she always had something nice to say about everyone and was always there to comfort those that needed it. But, Meri? The artist was about as cynical about pretty much everyone as Khitti and Brand were (though Khitti’s cynicism was a hell of a lot worse lately) and to hear that Meri thought that about Brand, well, it damn near brought tears to Khitti’s eyes. “I zhink I vant to marry him after all of zhis vith zhe cure is over, but I don’t zhink he’s zhe type. Alvina--she gave me her mother’s engagement ring. It vas something I realized awhile ago, but being zhere at zhe vedding vith him and getting zhat ring, I zhink I vant it more zhan zhe cure now--or at least, just as much. Zhat’s not his life, zhough. Zhe ‘domestic vhatevers’, as he put it.” Khitti shrugged again with a sigh, but soon lit up again at the mention of Meri’s own new relationship, “Vhat? Really? Is it zhat other Catalian?” A grin swept across Khitti’s lips, quickly replacing the frown that had been there, “Poor guy vas so vorried about you vhen he found out you vere going vith me to zhe Shadow Plane, so I told him he should come vith us and offered him a decent chunk of gold for his help. He didn’t take it, zhough.”

For the first part of what Khitti has to say, Meri bobs her head along in a nod every so often to signal that she was listening. After the account of Onyx is finished, she'd chime in with a quick, "That has to be awkward." Onyx being the first mate of Brand's ship and him not even being willing to give Khitti a chance. Meri could say more on the subject matter but Khitti goes on, not that the tattoo artist minds. It is easier for her to listen to people talk while she tattoos than it is for her to multi-task. The subject shifts from Onyx to Brand and Meri can't help but smile just a touch as Khitti expresses her want to get married but that smile fades when the redhead states she is not sure Brand wants to. It's the subject after that is the real doozy for Meri. Dangit, Khitti! If there was ever a moment where Meri might choke up and mess up a tattoo it would be this moment, the artist cannot even successfully contain her shocked expression. Thankfully no error is made on Meri's part and even if she did goof up a little bit, they are also just finishing up the outlining stages of the tattoo and so any mistake could have been easily covered up. The finishing touches on the outline are put on and then Meri repeats the process of cleaning up Khitti's arm before they can move on to the more time-consuming next step. She also uses this time to figure out what the hell she is going to tell Khitti. In one hand she does not want to lie to the redhead, they are friends. In the other hand, she doesn't want to go telling Callum's secrets and getting him mad at her. Quite the pickle, Meri is having some regrets to the confession right about now. "He's not a Catalian," maybe a middle of the road little white lie, sorry Khat, this lie is probably not going to fly anyway. "...But yes. That guy. He's a good one, I'm pretty damn convinced." And Meri is just going to leave it at that, swapping out the heads of her needle once more so that she can start on the coloring. She would work from the mermaid's head down, shading and coloring things in appropriately. "So is it really that big deal if Brand does not want to have some fancy party announcing that you two want to spend the rest of your lives together? I mean that is all a wedding is...A big party to get a piece of paper. It's not like that paper actually dictates how long you guys will or will not be together so....Then again, I know these things are really important to some people for reasons. But...in his case, I don't know, from what I have seen. He'll stick around, even if he is not the wedding type."

“Yes, he is,” Khitti said with a grin, seeing right through Meri’s lie. “I can tell. Zhey all smell very similar and yet still different. All of zhem smell like sea, definitely, and maybe a little bit of zhat mist zhat happens in zhe early morning just before the sun comes up. Zhe differences, zhough, are interesting. Brand’s scent is like a bonfire in the summertime. Lionel smells like a hearth in zhe vinter, like cinnamon-scented vood used during Yule. And your guy, vell, it’s zhat earthy scent zhat happens just before a rainstorm.” Suddenly, Khitti was worried that maybe Meri might think this is entirely bizarre and she’s quick to defend herself, “I-I’m not trying to be creepy, zhough. I’m around two of zhem enough to notice it. I zhink I only can tell because of zhe vampiric senses; it makes every smell more intense. I don’t know. Sorry, if zhat’s veird. It’s just… kind of become zhe zhing zhat smells like home to me.” The redhead stared down at the tattoo as Meri continued her work, brows furrowed, “Brand and Lionel don’t know, if zhere’s a reason for zhem not too and I von’t tell either. And, I zhink zhey’re all good--even if zhey don’t zhink so.” Then the conversation shifted again, back to one Catalian in particular, “I don’t know vhy it’s so important to me. All zhose stupid fairy tales I read, I guess? I should just be happy vith vhat I’ve got. Maybe I vill be after zhis cure is finished. I’m starting to vonder zhough if I should’ve even bothered vith any of it. Brand never cared about -vhat- I am; he just couldn’t ever stand my lack of confidence and he’s certainly helped with it over the past year. I just can’t bear zhe zhought of him dying before me. A few years is fine; it happens to everyone. But, forever? Being immortal isn’t zhe great and vonderful zhing everyone zhinks it is. Even if getting married vasn’t some big zhing like Alvina and Hudson’s vedding, it’d still be one of zhose moments of good for us. Zhere’s so few of zhem, between zhe two of us, after everything ve’ve been zhrough.” She paused, dwelled on the subject, and sighed, “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to make zhings sad. Just trying to explain my point of view.”

It was good conversation that helped to make tattooing sessions go by all the more quickly. Meri concedes to Khitti's insistence that Callum was Catalian with a good-natured roll of her eyes, not really willing to continue to outright lie to her friend if she was not willing to accept it. Judging by the smile that is held on Meri's lips, she did not find it -that- odd that Khitti had put a scent to at least three of the Catalians. Admittedly Meri has not gotten close enough to Brand or Lionel to be able to agree or disagree with her chosen scents for the guys. It would be a little more weird for a human to try scent a person out than a vampire. "I mean he is a storm mage...so..." That explains the before a storm scent Cal has. There was a nod of affirmation that it would perhaps be best to not let Brand and Lionel know about Cal, and...that is where Meri leaves that subject. Meri works down Khitti's arm, periodically cleaning her needle so that she can swap out colors being used. From the purple of the hair, to the orange of the tail, to the blues of the water Meri was trying to not let her mind wander back to their encounter with mermaids, discussions of Brand were welcomed even if the tone was somber. "I guess when you put it like that, I mean...it's just a party and a piece of paper. What is the big deal about not doing it? That is sort of a tough one..." Meri did not want to provide Khitti with those assurances that maybe Brand would come around. That was a point she was less confident about. The fact that Brand was crazy about Khitti she was pretty convinced of though. "I guess Brand not caring if you are a vampire or not is exactly how it should be, no? I mean...That seems to me how it should be. It sounds like this cure thing is for you, more than anything else? Something you want. Because like you said...being immortal probably is not everything that it is cut out to be." Meri did not even need to bring up the somber logistics of Khitti living on while Brand got all old and wrinkly...I mean maybe she could make him a vampire too but...Sometimes the more difficult path is the better one. "We're almost done."

Khitti doesn’t press any further on the subject of that other Catalian nor does she say anything right away on the subject of Brand and weddings. She did open her mouth to say something eventually, but she couldn’t really put her thoughts to words and instead just frowned somewhat at it. It felt incredibly hard to explain how much of a crushing weight it is to be an immortal surrounded by mortals that you care about. Mortality was, of course, something that had always weighed heavy on her mind, as it did many other mortal races, but it was even moreso now that she had not the power to give this gift of eternity to anyone else. It was a young vampire’s curse sadly; she was not considered an elder of her kind by any means. Thankfully, though, Meri mentions that she’s almost finished, and this brings Khitti back to reality, olive-green eyes shifting down to the tattoo as the blonde was finishing it up, a smile replacing the frown. “It looks amazing. How much do I owe you?”

Meri could not help but feel like she had gone and made the conversation weird, which seems to be something she has a knack for lately. The conversation seems to stop on all fronts. From Callum. To Brand. To the curse. And Khitti was frowning, which forced Meri to fight the urge to frown herself. That would probably only make matters worse. The one thing that did seem to make the woman brighten up was the fact that they were almost done and that the tattoo had turned out well. Khitti does not receive an answer right away but Meri makes it clear that she is heard as blue eyes briefly connect with Khitti's own olive-green eyes and a smirk is flashed. Back to work though, the finishing touches put on the tattoo, the needle discarded, the arm cleaned up one final time, bandaging was optional -- if Khitti wanted it after she had gotten final looks that Meri would most certainly. "Let's see, how much do you owe me..." Meri takes a moment to make show of trying to math out some numbers in her mind, blue eyes setting upon the ceiling and tapping her chin thoughtfully. "One chocolate cake with strawberries....which oh look. It seems like we are paid in full." There is a wink, and that is the only answer that Khitti would get out of Meri. "I hope that it turned out exactly as you had hoped for. Do you mind if I keep your drawing here for my wall?" Meri points to a rather empty looking wall nearest to them.

Khitti eyed that smirk suspiciously, a single crimson brow raised as the blonde rattles off that she’s already been paid in full. “Hrm. Fiiine. If you insist,” was said finally in response to the subject of payment before she’s nodding at Meri’s inquiry. “Vell, yeah. Of course! And it’s exactly vhat I vanted.” She conjured up a pen--shadow ink’s pretty cool and stuff, you know--and signed the drawing with a short message that read: “Meri, everything’s going to work out for you! You’re going to do amazing things! I just know it! And it all starts with this drawing! Love, Khitti.” The aforementioned art is handed over then with an innocent grin, the pen disappearing into a wisp of smoke. Khitti’d let Meri go and put up the bit of paper as she tended to her new tattoo, wrapping gauze around it loosely; she likely didn’t need it, but she -is- clumsy after all.

The lifted brow that Khitti lobs her way is met with a too-innocent bat of her lashes, but frankly Meri was not super inclined to charge people that have become her friends. Besides, it is not like this is the woman's only source of income these days. It does not hurt the pocket book significantly. "I do insist." The note that Khitti scrawls is read as she is writing it and that smirk morphs into a proud grin, the drawing of Khitti's claimed for her own and fastened to the wall. The supplies to pin pieces of art to walls are numerous in this particular shop so Meri is able to do this task with ease without having to fuss too much about locating a tack. "Well the care is all the same. You know that. And if you do anything to your ink and need it touched up, you know where to go." Meri points to her own chest, like the answer were not obvious. Come to me, Khitti, duh. "I have a feeling you will be coming to me with a new tattoo idea before too long..." For what? Who knows. Just a hunch of Meri's. With the drawing hung, and Khitti tending to her own bandaging, Meri can start the cleanup process but the blonde is not moving with a quickness or purpose as it is not like there is a client waiting behind Khitti.

Khitti finished with her bandages, nodding with a grin as Meri points at herself, “Yes, yes. I know. Who else do you zhink I’d go to, hm? Practically sold my soul to you, I zhink, vhen it comes to tattoos.” It was a bit of a necromancer joke and not really a good one at that. “Really? You zhink so? Hm.” The redhead thought about it for a bit, coming over to help Meri with the cleanup where she could. “I didn’t really zhink about it past zhe two stars and zhe mermaid. Any suggestions?”

"Sold me your soul? Naw, you baked it into a cake and I am going to eat the heck out of it too." As soon as Meri has the chance to get it to a fork. Khitti's bad joke is met with an equally bad one, that Meri is looking quite proud of based on the grin on her red lips. Before Meri can even think about locking the doors and dragging that cake to a fork...Clean up, which for now is going to be the quick and lazy version of Meri just capping a few things and wiping a this or a that down. The woman was not going to go about boiling water and the whole routine, she would at some point..but what was the rush? It could wait until tomorrow, ultimately. "What do I think? I think that I didn't have half of the tattoos I had planned out. I got the Kraken first, then I was like....man. My other arm is bare. I need to color on it more." Which led to the mermaid tattoo. And that is just a quick example with some of her more obvious tattoos. "You do love spiders...I think a web tattoo could be a lot of fun. I mean you do keep one of those nasty things as a pet." Sorry, Khitti, maybe you think it is adorable but it is just one of those -those- pets. "I guess we'll see."

Khitti tilted her head at the thought of a spiderweb tattoo, perhaps on her back, and grinned. “Zhat’s actually not a bad idea.” Maybe even give Francis a home in the webbing too? He was such an odd spider. Normally, a hunter-type didn’t have spidersilk, but Francis sure did. He helped decorate for Yule! Spiderwebs covered in frost looks just like those icicle things people used to put on their Christmas trees back in the day. “I always did kind of prefer zhe whole goth look from Vailkrin.” The redhead nodded at this thought, then eyed Meri. Was she done? She was done. Or at least close enough. “Alright, you. You’ve done enough vork for today.” Sidestepping behind the blonde, she linked her arm with Meri’s and shadow-stepped the two to the counter where Meri’s freshly baked cake lay. “Time for you to go snuggle vith your boyfriend and eat some cake. It’s zhe best vay to relax--even if you don’t vant to share zhe cake vith him.” This might mean that Brand allows Khitti to snuggle with him and eat cake in bed. That doesn’t sound very Brand-like, though. Maybe that whole tough-guy thing is just an act. Maybe. Who knows? Even Khitti can’t tell half the time. Brand’s sort of weird like that.

"Well it looks like I got those gears turning in that brain of yours," Meri states proudly as Khitti links arms with her...and then before she knows it she is standing right in front of a cake. Hinthint. Brand might be a tough guy but Meri would without a doubt believe that he likes to cuddle with Khitti and eat cake. I mean, Meri's a tough girl and look at the grin that is forming across her lips at the notion of snuggling with her dude and eating cake. "Oh I was just being a brat. I'll share. Can you imagine the looks that I'd get if I didn't?" And then sat there eating the cake right in front of Cal, after declaring she was not sharing. Yes. This is too cruel even for Meri. All of this is explained as Meri and Khitti venture to and through the front door, which Meri locks once they are outside. With Khitti's assistance. She needs to hold the cake while Meri does the thing with the keys. "And he'd probably always remember that moment I did not share the chocolate strawberry cake with him...." Maybe this was true, maybe this was not, what was accurate it that this is pure speculation on Meri's part. "I can see us going out to eat and my wanting a bite and him....reminding me of that one time I did not share." The woman rolls her eyes. Door locked, cake back in her own grasp, "Come by whenever, yeah? Even if you just want to hang out." No tattoos, no ingredients, just a couple of gals chatting.

The redhead grinned and nodded, “Yeah, I know zhe looks. Brand gets a little pouty when I don’t share cheesecake vith him. He’s such a damned baby sometimes.” Okay, so he’s not -always- like that. Just usually after a hard day of working on the ship. Poor guy gets tired and needs his desserts! And whiskey, don’t forget the whiskey. “Yeah, of course. I’ll try to come by. Ve’re almost done vith zhis cure, so regardless of vhether or not it vorks, I’ll have more time. Off you go zhen, before something tries to steal your cake from you.” Khitti shooed Meri off, then headed off herself towards the city’s exit.