The following morning’s wake up was not nearly as pleasant.  She ached from trying to sleep on her stomach and not roll around at all during the night.  It wasn’t only that though, it was the fact that her body was annoyed with the needled it had been prodded with for over an hour last night.  Granted, she had rolled over in the morning to get off the bed, not recalling it outside, which made the ache all that much worse.  Thus began the cycle of the hourly application of an unscented lotion to the new tattoo upon her skin, after the initial, painful washing had been done. 

Skipping the shower for now, she pulled on some loose clothes, ones that would cover the new tattoo from the sun headed out for a morning run, intent to squash the throbbing with some good hard exercise. 

It had been a delightful surprise to run into Jaqi last night.  Glacia’s kids were pretty well-behaved when they were needed, and seemed that Jaqi was one committed to the family cause, even if Eti was a little over protective of his daughters.  But within an hour, they were all set up and she was resting her arms and head on the back of a chair was while Jaqi chatted away and worked on the tattoo now firmly painted within and on Laviera’s skin.  Four weeks and she had to go back to see about touch-ups, but otherwise, keep it out of sun and rub lotion on it often.

The tattoo design in and of itself was not a wholly complex one, but carried a lot of meaning for her.  The centerpiece was a heart - broken of course, as she still felt she was broken in some ways, but with the city in the background, just the overall skyline.  It was home, still a home to her cause she could never forget the years it had given to her.  A place to which she still returned to run with the Dragons and feel the dust and grime that was always present. 

Behind was a pair of crossing bones, paired with stars on either side.  No meaning per say, just added details to fill it all out. 

Then there was a torn ribbon which flowed throughout behind the heart and bones, across the top flowing free which read “FIGHT TO LIVE”.  A motto some might see, but one she had found that when really back over her life, had always been there.  But it was always a controlled fighting for her. 

Always in control.  It was odd to hear herself saying it now, all of times.  It was a phrase she had heard often growing up from her Father, and then Tashi…he had seemed to take up the banner.  The control she had over her temper and the decisiveness that came with having that control.  It had made her one who could easily be taught and trained, and one quality that made her a well-breed fighter. 

The past year had left her in a sea of emotions, flowing and ebbing in so many directions, she had lost that control in some points, but even then…Tashi had been there just when she needed someone to keep her mindset clear. 

Cresting the hill that gave a good view of the Recruit Tavern, she jogged in place, looking for any life to be present.  None there, she pressed on, not wishing yet to deal with people until she was a little more along with the healing.   It seemed so weird where her mind was taking her, back through the memories and the life which she suddenly felt others were influencing far more than she had ever realized. 

It constantly left her with one question - Did Tashi know her Father? 

There were so alike in their training of her, and even just how it was always a constant guardian role that Tashi played even when Laviera was who she was.  The guys in school never getting close because of Tashi, and yet…he was nothing remotely in that sense. 

But who to question?  Who was the best to get the truth from?  Tashi told her nothing when he did not wish to.  He could end a discussion with a shake of his head.  This time it would have to be from Father, and what a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving than to hopefully give his daughter some answers.