Welcome to Gaia! ::

Na'ima was having a pleasant day. Today she had decided to work on unfinished research she hadn't had a chance to play with and experiment on before the islands had fallen. Nothing toxic, she would never do that in the tend she resided in, just a simple test to see if these ingredients mixed well. She barely flinched when Hel barged in, though when the mare realized it was her name Hel was calling out and not Salbei's she did look up with mild suspicion. What now? "Hel," she acknowledged her, pulling a veil across the lower part of her face and cleaning up her work space.

She was learning. Unless she knocked the ghoul out again there was no way she was going to be able to get rid of her. Na'ima hated that.

"And to what do I owe the pleasure of your smiling face today, child?" Because Na'ima was just so excited to see you, Hel.

The maul? Na'ima hadn't actually been there since that first time she met Amarus. That was...a long time ago. Huh. But it was so loud and noisy there, why was Hel making her go? "I have no interest in going to the Maul, Hel." Na'ima then picked up a small jar of ink and a small brush, holding her left hand out and eyeing it thoughtfully. She was making a point of finding something else to do, something calming and fun for her but perhaps boring for Hel.

Go away.

When Na'ima spoke of Salbei there was an affectionate fondness to her voice, something she reserved only for Salbei and Falair. "He is usually out. His work as a Sage involves science as well as networking, it's something he is excels at, so Salbei is usually out doing his job," because he has better things to do than entertain children. "He also often gets lost. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident." Na'ima chuckled. "He does sometimes return at night, but not every night."

"Do I look as if I eat much, Hel?" Na'ima shook her head. Food did not interest her, though she would often indulge in a nice tea. Salbei had also encouraged her to give the scarelings more credit, but Na'ima just was not comfortable around them.

Especially this one.

When asked what she was doing she opened the jar, dipping the back of the brush in it and beginning to carefully draw along her fingers. For now it was simple, she would figure out what she wanted to do as she continued along with this. "In the human world they refer to this as 'henna'. It is derived from a plant and it stains the skin, making a very lovely temporary tattoo that goes from orange to a rich, sometimes shimmering brown color." Na'ima could go on for a long time about this, really. In vivid detail.

When Na'ima took interest in something she liked to find every last bit of information she could find about it.

"And why do you wish me to accompany you to the Maul? I hardly doubt I am better company than someone your own age."

The design began to get more intricate as she worked, covering her thumb as while Hel watched her and spoke. At first it seemed Na'ima had tuned Hel out completely, concentrating entirely on her own design. It was partially true. Na'ima definitely wasn't paying much attention to Hel but she did at least her what she had said. It was only out of politeness she bit back a remark about not being surprised no one her own age wanted to go to the maul with her, because she didn't either. If she told Hel to go away would she actually listen?

Though the hopeful question did get her to finally look up. She wanted this? Na'ima looked surprised. How was she not getting bored? "It will require you remain sitting still while I work, and you have to give it time to dry. Are you sure you can do that?" Na'ima asked with a raised brow, looking and sounding rather doubtful. "I can do it for you, yes.." Her eyes darted to Hel's arms as she said this. Flesh arms. It had been so long since she could do more than her own hands...

Na'ima still didn't believe it. Could Hel really sit still and quiet for however long this took? What had happened to going to the maul? She frowned behind her veil and returned to her own hand, paying no attention to Hel while the ghoul was busy getting herself situated. She still had her doubts.

When Hel first announced she was ready Na'ima didn't look up, Hel had told her to wait a second later anyway so it was good she hadn't wasted the effort, holding her own hand out to check her work. Yes, this was good. It would do. Her eyes finally turned to Hel when the valkyrie announced again that she was ready, though the first place they went to was the ghoul's injury. "Have you been doing as I told you?" Na'ima asked as she gestured to the wound, fanning her hand to help the drying process. "How much do you want? Just your hand or would you like it higher?" The ghoul had removed so many layers, but Na'ima didn't want to get too excited.

It had been far too long since she could do more than a hand or a leg. Her bones didn't take well to henna, it didn't last long enough and it didn't stick well enough to properly dry; it was a huge disappointment to the mare. She would never, ever, admit she was actually rather excited to be marking up an entire arm. This was also more fun for her than going to the maul.

Perhaps she would get lucky and Hel would forget all about that trip.

"Very good," was as much praise as Hel was going to get from Na'ima. The Sage was preparing to mark up Hel when the ghoul asked whether to sit or not. She nodded. "Yes, sit."

She waited patiently for Hel's answer while already getting to work on her hands, quietly asking which was her dominant hand before she started to work on the opposite; she was at least being polite. When Hel did finally give an answer it made Na'ima smile behind the safety of her veil. So much flesh to work with! This would actually be fun! "Then you will be sitting here for a long, long time."

Golden eyes flickered up toward Hel as she brought up the maul trip again. "When does it close?" Perhaps she could take her time and prevent the trip, if nothing else she could at least delay it. She was taking her in, concentrating intently on the intricate design that was climbing up Hel's hand and wrist and slowly making its way up her arm.

All day and all night. Na'ima narrowed her eyes slightly, an action that could be misinterpreted as just really focusing on the henna. Hel knew. She knew this was going to take her a long time to get Na'ima to go with her..that or she intended on keeping Na'ima for a really long time.

Neither option was acceptable.

"An event?" She asked idly while working her way up Hel's arm. The design was intricate and bold to match the personality of the annoying ghoul in front of her. Complicated and difficult. Perfect. And it would take such a long time.

Na'ima wasn't much of a talker especially when she was focused and working on something, and she took her sweet damn time with marking up Hel. By the time she was finished she had done both of Hel's arms from fingertip to shoulder and then swooped down along her collar and down to the little v of her cleavage, stopping there and sitting back when she was finally done. She hummed and looked it over one more time to make sure she had not missed a spot or made any mistakes.

No, it was perfect.

"Done."

What time was it? Would Hel leave now? Alone, perhaps?