Strange Things

[Nox]

It was the third tattoo artist in Moscow she'd gone to see.  It wasn't that the others couldn't do the job, was more the vibe of the place was all wrong.  And the vibe was everything.  And this needed to be perfect.  The artist had to have a fine hand.  A skilled artist could do any design, but that wasn't everything.  The place had to feel right, be right, have the right balance.  And none of the other places had been right.  Something was always just a little off for Kali.

Every trophy needed to be showcased in the right light, in the right time.  Despite all it's glory this one had taken the longest.  Perhaps it was the fact that her prey alluded her.  She'd chosen the boy over the soldier.  The soldier would have been easier to find, there were only so many places he could hide.  But the boy, he was.... elusive.

Kali could have moved on, but that felt wrong.  And everything needed to be right.  She'd found a toy, he was suspetible, if a challenge.  And Kali didn't back down from a challenge.  It had been several years since she had left home, left the pointed expectations of her family.  The self servitude of serving the community - helping others and ignoring herself.  No, she wasn't a healer.  Far from it.

But she would never be taken advantage of ever again.  Not ever.  The boy was sweet in a cute little lamb sort of way.  Kali should just move on.  She knew this.  But she was stubborn, and that feeling of wrong never went away.  It had to be just right.  She kept telling herself.

This was the forth shop.  Maybe it would all be right.  The Dueling Dragons.  It was a quaint little shop, the door chimed as she pushed it open to find others standing in front of the counter.  A well sought after shop - that was a good sign of caliber.  Maybe she would get what she want here.  

A man in a suit, another dressed casually talking with the man who had to be the artist - or an artist, and a woman who was behind the counter but not.  She didn't work there.  That was good - getting along with customers was good.  Kali smiled as she stepped up between the two men and set down her purse.  Brushing each of their hands with a gentle touch filled with a desire to help her as she smoothed out her blouse against her hips.  

It was rude to interrupt but Kali smiled and would soothe it all away at a touch if anyone objected.  She pulled her design and set it on top of a picture laid on the counter.  At least until she saw the picture of the little lamb.  Her smile grew wide and she brushed the fingers tapping against the picture directed at the artist.  "A friend of yours?"  She asked sweetly.