Duke put some oil onto his hands and rubbed them together to melt it, then moved to very gently start smoothing it into the tattoo. There was a certain art to it at this stage, getting even coverage without rubbing the skin too hard and breaking off any scabs or healing skin, but he was an old pro, not just from taking care of his own tattoos, but helping Evi out with hers.

"Has it started to itch yet?" he asked after a moment. "Or is it still just sore?"