said, "I want free access to the gun range. I'm going to want to be down there at least three times a week. Minimum."
Wrath's mouth lifted on one side. "We'll name the bitch after you, how about that?"
John felt like a voyeur standing between the two of them and saying nothing, but he was fascinated by the change in Qhuinn. Gone was the jocular front. He was all business, suddenly more hard-core than his hard-core clothes.
Qhuinn pointed to a door. "Does that open into his bedroom?"
"Yup."
"Evening, ladies."
Vishous walked into the room, and Qhuinn's eyes weren't the only ones that flared. In the Brother's hands were a length of heavy chain with a tag on the end, a pair of pliers, and a tackle box.
"Sitchass down, boy," V said.
"Go on." Wrath nodded at the bed. "Time to get chained - that dangler has John's crest on it. You're also getting tattooed. This is for life, like I told you."
Qhuinn sat without a word, and V came up behind him, linked the heavy weight around his throat, and then cranked the open link closed. The medallion hung just a little lower than his collarbones.
"Comes off only if you're dead or you get fired." V knocked Qhuinn in the shoulder. "By the way, if you get fired, under the old laws, your pink slip's a guillotine, true? That's how we get the chain off. If you just kick it, though, we'll break one of the links. 'Cuz defiling the dead's tacky. Now for your tat."
Qhuinn started to take his shirt off. "I've always wanted one - "
"You can leave that on." As V popped open his tackle box and took out a tattooing gun, Qhuinn pushed one sleeve up to his shoulder. "Nope, I don't need your arm either."
As Qhuinn frowned, Vishous plugged in the cord and snapped on two black latex gloves. Over on the bedside, he opened one little black jar and one little red one and a larger container that had a clear solution in it.
"Turn around and face me." The Brother took out a stretch of white cloth and a sterilizing pack as Qhuinn swung his New Rocks around and put his hands on his knees. "Look up."
On his face? John thought as V wiped off the top of Qhuinn's left cheek.
Qhuinn didn't budge. Not even when the whirring needle came at him.
John tried to see what was getting inked and couldn't manage it. Odd that red was being used. He'd heard that black was the only color that was allowed -
Holy... shit, John thought as V pulled back.
It was a single red teardrop outlined in black.
Wrath spoke up. "Symbolizes that you're willing to shed your own blood for John. Also lets everyone know, in no uncertain terms, what your position is. If John dies, it will be filled in with black ink, signifying you served someone of interest honorably. If it doesn't work out, it will be boxed with an X to show your shame to the race."
Qhuinn stood and went to the mirror. "I like it."
"Good thing," V said dryly as he came over and smoothed some clear ointment over the ink.
"Can you do one other for me?"
V glanced over at Wrath, then shrugged. "Whatchu got?"
Qhuinn pointed to the back of his neck. "I want 'August eighteenth, 2008,' in the Old Language here. And don't make it small."
Today's date, John thought.
V nodded. "Okay. I can do that shit. Hafta be in black, though. That red is only for specials."
"Yeah. Good." Qhuinn went back to the bed and shuf fled around so he was sitting cross-legged on the edge of the mattress. Bending his head, he bared his nape. "And spell out the numbers, please."
"Gonna be big."
"Yup."
V laughed. "I like you, true. Now hold your chain up and let me get to work."
It went relatively quick, the whine of the ink gun fluctuating like a car engine, revving and settling, revving and settling. V added a nice artistic swirl underneath the design, then ran it all around, so the tattoo looked like a fancy plaque.
This time, John stood behind V and watched the whole thing. The three lines of text were gorgeous, and given how long Qhuinn's neck was and how short he kept his hair, they would always show.
John wanted one. But what would it be?
"You're solid," V said as he wiped the skin with the once-white cloth, which was now covered with smudges.
"Thank you," Qhuinn said as V smoothed on more of that ointment, the fresh