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[veilstrike]

Who: Leilani
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Blue Fish, later
When: Now!

[ The feed opens with the camera focussed on someone's back - it takes a moment to settle, but then Leilani peers over her shoulder, a soft smile on her face. What she's showing off is quite clear; where her skin was once bare, there's a winding tattoo that covers her spine from the small of her back up to her shoulders.

The centre is a green stalk, like a plant, with roses of bright Fade green and blood red surrounding it, coloured in a watercolour style. Weaving through the stem of the flowers is a bright purple snake that seems to have... Bull horns on the top, and a pair of red, glowing eyes. The stem branches out into curves and patterns across her back: anyone familiar with Dalish vallaslin will recognise the design. ]

Leilani grins, even though it makes her wince a little - the tattoo is fresh, and it's red and a little sore from where it's starting to heal. At least she has the decency to make sure she doesn't flash anything by holding a shirt over her chest. ]

I used to have tattoos on my face. For my people, blood writing - the vallaslin - was a sign of becoming an adult. You would get the markings of one of the Gods placed on you, and you would have to sit in silence or you would not be allowed to be given the writing at all.

[ She takes a deep breath, quiet, before she breathes it out. It's obviously hurting, both the ache from the tattoo and the loss of her actual vallaslin. ]

I lost my vallaslin, so I thought it was time to get something new, something for myself rather than for the Gods. [ She finally smiles properly, tilting her head. ] And I'm fishing for compliments, now. I'd like to hear what you think - Loyalty.

[ She ducks out of view before she can finish the sentence, and whoever is holding the camera ends the feed as she goes. ]

Comments

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[whatisright]

[Justice is scowling as he turns off the camera. She did that on purpose, didn't she? She absolutely did that on purpose. It's not unjust, so he can't snap at her for it, and it's not malicious, so he can't be angry about it, but he can still scowl at her.

He hasn't put on a shirt yet, but he doesn't see how it might be odd for two people to sit alone in a bedroom without shirts on.]

[veilstrike]

If the wind blows your face will be stuck like that.

[ Leilani moves, shifting to step to the side of her room, almost tripping over the cat as she goes. The tattoo artist had given her some suggestions of how to care for her back, and she does the best she can before she shrugs one of Dorian's shirts on and makes her way back over to Justice. ]

Smiling won't hurt you, Justice.

[whatisright]

I never smile.

[Which is completely honest. Smiles do not come naturally to him even at the best of times, and the past few weeks have hardly been the best of times.

Loyalty, for her part, is coiling around Leilani's legs, rubbing herself on her calves and purring. Justice doesn't stop scowling, but he softens.] The tattoo is beautiful.

[veilstrike]

Then it's something else to try with your new body.

[ Bending down again, Leilani lifts the cat into her arms and smiles softly, fingers scratching behind her ears before she sits down on her bed again. ]

Thank you. There were lots of things I wanted for it... I'm glad it doesn't look messy.

[whatisright]

I doubt I would be any good at it.

[Loyalty purrs in Leilani's arms, happily basking in all the attention. Why she doesn't just stay with Leilani, Justice doesn't know.]

The artist said it would look messy only if you do not take good care of it while it heals. If you require assistance caring for it, I can help. [He's sure that she knows how to take care of tattoos, but she'd still have trouble reaching her back.]

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[bryces_pup]

[There's a soft knock on Leilani's door a bit later, once she's in.]

Leilani? May I come in?

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[veilstrike]

[ Justice is gone now, sadly, and Leilani does Riona a favour by putting a shirt on before she answers the door. ]

My door is always open.

[bryces_pup]

Just wanted to make sure. [She'd have felt terribly awkward if she walked in on her half naked.] How's the tattoo? It looked absolutely lovely in your broadcast.

[veilstrike]

[ Leilani would only have like 20% of an issue with that. Laughing, she moves and turns around, letting her shirt slip down a little. ]

Sore, but I love it.

video.

[ofkirkwall]

[ Marian takes a moment, head tilting to the side as she inspects the image before her lips press together in a whistle. Oh, she most certainly approves. ]

Very nice, Leilani.

[ Just looking at it makes her wish she could trace the tattoo with her finger. ]

[veilstrike]

[ She grins, picking up the camera herself to reply a little later. This time, she's wearing the shirt. ]

You like it?

[ofkirkwall]

[ For a brief moment disappointment flashes across the Champion of Kirkwall's face, before her smile returns a moment later. ]

Definitely, it looks amazing on you.

[veilstrike]

[ She beams, settling down to make herself comfortable. ]

Have you considered getting your own?

video;

[trudge]

Fish no longer. It looks absolutely marvelous on you, but I bet it looks even nicer in person.

You should come show me once it's healed. [ or before. you know, he's not picky. ]

video;

[veilstrike]

[ There's no way for her to hide her grin, especially when she sits up a little to reply properly. ]

Oh? Are you interested in getting your own?

[trudge]

[ he laughs. ]

I certainly won't rule out the possibility. Besides, some of my favorite people have tattoos. [ i glances at zevran. ] You have any recommendations? I don't think flowers would suit me as well as they suit you.

[veilstrike]

I think you'd look dashing with a rose.

[ But, ah. Zevran has some form of vallaslin, and that's a topic she's keen to avoid. ]

Something dangerous, perhaps? Or something for one arm.

Video

[crowkiller]

[He is trying rather hard not to ask about her lack of vallaslin. He did well their first meeting, but now that she has mentioned it....he wonders still. He didn't think it was possible for the markings to simply disappear once they were inked on. Unless the Dalish weren't as great of tattoo artists as he thought.]

What a lovely piece. I've been thinking about adding another to my collection.

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[veilstrike]

[ There's a moment's hesitation - more vallaslin? Should she tell him? - before her expression softens and breaks into a more charming smile. ]

Would you have me come and hold your hand?

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[crowkiller]

[While all of his tattoos are Antivan, none came from Dalish needles. It's true he got inspiration for some of them in his time spend with the Dalish, but he was an outsider to them. Even if they had been his mother's clan. True vallaslin had been forbidden for a "flat ear".]

But of course! I may weep without your support.

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[veilstrike]

[ A part of her would be glad to hear it - he doesn't deserve vallaslin, not because he isn't a Dalish elf but because he doesn't deserve to be branded without the chance to have it removed. ]

We cannot have that. I will gladly bear your pain with you, lethallin.

action, of course

[fantachetic]

[ He visits her later, or rather, walks into his quarters some time after the video is broadcast. He'd seen the video and had the intention of responding at the time, though he'd been a little distracted. Dorian is loathe to leave the warmth of Philias, when it reminds him so much of home and it has been the only decent planet he's visited. Still, he does need to talk to Leilani and to wax poetic about her tattoo. It's lovely, but he's not certain about the symbolism.

He moves into the room with ease, sitting on the corner of the bed with his legs crossed. ]

As lovely as your video was, it is even better to see in person.

[veilstrike]

[ Of course she ends up in Dorian's room; when Justice had picked up Loyalty and left, the threat of Riona a little too strong, she had disappeared back into the warmth and comfort of Dorian's room. She beams when he walks in, shifting a little to make herself comfortable as he sits down beside her, and when she looks at him she smiles. ]

I'm generally better in person. [ Beaming, she moves and settles down, resting her head on Dorian's leg. Deal with it. ] Sometimes.

[fantachetic]

Always, carissima.

[ His hand settles on the crown of her head, fingers idly rubbing at her scalp. He studies the tattoo now that he's closer. It is beautiful, and it does suit her, running down her spine. It's hers, and he knows the loss of her vallaslin has tortured her, so having this is good. ]

I would have accompanied you, you realize.

[veilstrike]

[ She hums, quite content; her back is still sore and she's a little put out by some things, but she's also incredibly comfortable with being curled up near Dorian again. It's always wonderful to be around him, to feel at peace with the person she trusts the most. ]

I know. I asked Justice to go with me.