"This one." Her voice rang out clear, confident, with a slight smile, as she gazed down at the page, at the eccentric twists of knot work, lingering on the page. The eyes, so deep and almost bottomless, a sadness that she seemed to be able to reach down and touch lingering, with a jagged line racing down from the corner of the eye, it's

Rabbit looked up at the girl who'd been in his shop very few times, though every time she was, she was in for hours. His eyes fell on the book she held in her hand-the book he swore he had burned. For a moment, his breath hitched in his throat, as he glanced around, making sure no one was there. His throat was dry, as he strode over, and took the book, pretending to look down at the symbol she had chosen. He already knew though, what it was-it was Niall's tattoo. They'd had a brief need, a year or so ago, and three years after Leslie's ink exchange, for the exchanges again. But then the mortals hadn't been reacting well. They had died, during the simple tattooing. They didn't go strong like Leslie had… They hadn't truly wanted the tattoos, hadn't had the pull to them, just liked a pretty design they had found.

"I can't do this tattoo." Rabbit's voice was only faintly hoarse, as he looked up, and gazed levelly into the girl's beautiful eyes, surprised to find a mortal with eyes he found attractive, though this girl's eyes were a profound blue, deep and sweet, with little flecks of gold.

"Why not?" she asked, one thin eyebrow raising, as she crossed her arms over her chest, one knee bending in such a manner, he would have thought she was pouting, though he was pretty sure he'd seen nothing yet from this girl.

Rabbit swallowed, and glanced back down at the book he held in his hand, snapping it shut. "I don't have the proper ink."

"Well then I'd wait until you got it." The girl countered, unreasonably feisty.

"Hold on…" Rabbit muttered, though he took the book with him-he didn't want more mortals encountering it, though his shop was thinning out. He moved into the very room, where he had performed the most famous ink exchange known to the dark court, of Leslie. His hands were shaky, as he peered around the corner of the door, and saw the girl still standing there, her hands linked behind her back. She looked oddly content, waiting for him to come back out… It made him gulp.

Sleepily, the Dark Court's king voice echoed in his ear, slightly hoarse. Rabbit heard the flick, as someone-not Niall; the man didn't smoke-flicked open a lighter. Then a woman's purring voice could be heard, before Niall made a gentle 'shush' noise. "Rabbit?" he asked.

Rabbit sighed, "I burned the ink exchange book."

"Yes, I know. I was there, those years ago. I helped you, Rabbit."

"There's a mortal here. And she is in the book."

For a moment, Niall said nothing, and Rabbit thought that he had lost the fae, but then slowly Niall spoke. "As in an image of her, in the tattoo?"

Though he heard the hope in his king's voice, Rabbit had to tell the truth. "No. She has found the book. I know I destroyed it, Niall. But she's found it… And she's chosen a tattoo."

In his room in an eerie old mansion, Niall sighed, and ran his hand tiredly over his face. In the bed next to him, a woman, desperate for his attention, was drawing her hand up and down his chest, and whispering to him. Agitated, he waved his hand at her, telling her to leave. Though the girl's face creased in confusion, and agitation, she let out a small dignified 'hmph' and strode from the room.

Niall had to think of his court. Currently, things weren't too horrible. However, that was only because he was feasting more than he needed-and funneling what was needed out to the court. He'd learned some things from Irial. The economy wasn't the best it had been, which was good for his court, but Keenan and his fey were still strong. The events were balanced out, though it was slightly in Keenan's favor. Slowly, Niall sighed. "Whose tattoo has she chosen?" He hadn't made a decision, not by far. If it were some meek fey, why would he need it, he could just have the mortal chose another tattoo. Niall waited patiently for Rabbit's answer, his eyebrows raised.

"Yours." Rabbit's voice came out in a murmur, and for a moment Niall wasn't sure if he had heard correctly-he was about to ask, when Rabbit spoke again. "This girl has chosen your tattoo."

Niall wasn't sure what to say. At first, he chuckled, and then shook his head. But it was a mask. Deep inside, he was feeling pain-immense, mind numbing pain. He was the king of the Dark Court, whether he liked it or not… And the last time anyone of importance was chosen, for an ink exchange, had been Leslie and Irial. Though Irial remained part of his court, Niall had to admit that he still harbored resentment, for taking away his Leslie…

"Rabbit, are you sure?" Niall asked finally.

"Yes, she's standing out here, right now."

"And has she been in before?"

"Yes, she has."

"Can you suede her to another tattoo?" Niall, while being the king had affected him, had no heart to deny someone something, which was one of the problems of the ink exchange.

"She refuses, Niall." Rabbit's voice was soft, his eyes bleak as once again he peered out at the girl. Now, she was waiting for him, barely showing signs of impatience, leaning on the counter, her head in her hand.

For a while, Niall was too stunned to speak… He didn't WANT to speak. The events were too alike, and he hadn't seen Leslie, in far too long. That was what being a king did to you. For the first few years, he'd visited her, remaining unseen just as he had when he was on Keenan's guard. But then the court had worsened, and he'd had more pressing matters to tend to, though he loved his Leslie, very much… But she was happy. She was mortal, and she had what she deserved. He regretted not seeing her, but he couldn't regret his decision to wipe the ink off her back. It had freed her.

"Niall?" Rabbit spoke again, and Niall could just imagine the man, sitting there in his office, stroking his goatee and concerned-exactly as the man was doing.

"I'll send…" For a moment, Niall wasn't sure who he'd send to check up on the mortal. But suddenly, he could only think of one, the man who was still in his court, and the most experienced of all when it came to ink exchanges-Irial. "I'm sending Irial." Niall finally managed to choke out, though he wondered what the consequences would be. He was no longer addictive… But Irial was. If he couldn't keep his hands to himself, then they would be in trouble. And things like that, becoming a drug to mortals and then letting them wither away, wasn't something that Niall freely allowed in his court-those who partook in that sort of activity suffered severe consequences, while they tried to tend to the mortals…

"Irial… Are you sure?" Rabbit questioned, once again gazing back out at the mortal in his shop. She seemed happy, and positive that she was getting her ink. He couldn't help but smile, at her eagerness.

"Yes, I'm sure." Niall finally said, before tossing the phone down. He sat up in bed, reaching for his boxers and yanking them on. "Irial." He merely had to speak aloud, and then the fae was there in front of him.

Perhaps Leslie's leave had taken more of a toll on Irial than it had on Niall. There were shadows, in the man's eyes, and he no longer was fierce as he used to be-though that was partially because he was no longer a king. For a moment, Niall sighed. "A mortal found our ink exchange book at Rabbit's. She wants my ink." he muttered, clearly reluctant.

Irial's mouth formed an 'o' of surprise, before he quickly straightened. "Refuse to do it." Was all he uttered. He had been against the ink exchanges from the beginning, because of his promise to Leslie. But Niall hadn't made any such promises to his Shadow Girl. And at least Niall hadn't been cruel and had the little 'parties' Irial had, in order to keep Leslie satisfied.

"She's chosen my ink, Irial… I need you to go to her. Check on her, see if she's worth it…"

Irial's eyes darkened. "You know what I promised Leslie. I cannot break that promise."

Niall suddenly looked weary. "I know damn well what you promised. You think I like doing this? But maybe she could help stop these little bouts of starvation in the court… It isn't definite, Irial. Just go," the next words that were to leave Niall's mouth, he hated having to issue, but he knew he had to, "And that is an order from your king."

Irial looked at Niall, shocked, before his eyes narrowed to slits. His ringed fingers brushed back the hair that had fallen in his face, and he crossed his arms over his chest. He stared at Niall, before sighing, reluctance written across his face.

"Do it, or I'll go through immediately with the ink exchange." Niall's voice wasn't a threat this time, but a softly issued attempt to make Irial go in peace.

Finally, Irial stared at Niall, slowly smiling. "You do make a good king, Gancanagh." He murmured, before disappearing, and reappearing outside of Pins and Needles. He pressed his hand to the door, and went inside, in search of the mortal that would be the first ink exchange in many years