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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Feb 6, 2011 14:27:49 GMT -5
I'd decided that it was high time to have a little fun at Cygnus' expense. And who knew, perhaps he would actually loosen up and enjoy himself?
I'd gone to Mandrake and gotten him an adept. I'd picked the prettiest little thing, pale and blond, with such icy blue eyes, that while she looked like a pale flower, I was just a bit afraid of her. I'd explained the situation, and how I would prefer if she did not mention that she was an adept, and to my surprise she readily agreed. In fact, she seemed to find the entire thing amusing, but the perhaps that was not so surprising, in that this was a bit of a sadistic gift for my unsuspecting friend.
I arrived at Cygnus' home in the early evening, on a night he'd mentioned that his sisters would be out, and rapped loudly, before simply letting myself in.
"Cygnus?" I called, "Come out and have a drink with your commander, that's an order!" The woman laughed, the sound sending a little shiver down my spine, and for just a moment, I wondered if I had perhaps been too cruel.
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Post by Cygnus de Trevalion on Feb 6, 2011 14:55:32 GMT -5
It was about time that I got a minute to breathe and relax, not that being with my sisters was NOT relaxing, it was just a bit tiring dealing with women again after so long and boy did they talk and ask a lot of questions. I took it all in good stride, but when they went out for the evening I completely crumpled on the couch, gratefully with some tea and a book, meaning to fall asleep there so I could be assured that my sisters got home safely. When there was a banging on the door, I sat up though and put my book down with a raise of my brow. What in the hell...
And then there was James' booming voice and I jumped. Oh great. So much for a night of peace and quiet. I was just about to head around the corner when I heard the laughter of a woman and I paused. Elua's balls... this guy was unrelenting, wasn't he? I scowled, hoping he didn't mean to crash in my bed so he could have a bit of a fun night with his lady friend, just because the barracks were not as private. That was absolutely unacceptable behavior especially with my sisters living here as well.
"Evening James," I said, not seeming the least bit pleased and I hoped he realized that but regardless, I put on a charming smile and only James I was sure, could see my displeasure. "Ah, and hello my lady," I said, giving her a bit of a bow as I led the other two into the living room. "My name is Cygnus de Trevalion, though I'm sure James has mentioned it by now..." They were in my house, after all. "What may I call you?" I asked as I headed into the kitchen to fetch a bottle of wine. I was so not in the mood to drink, but I knew when James wanted to drink he was not asking for some damn tea to quench his thirst. I returned with three glasses and filled them all.
"We don't have hard liquor, I am not trying to deliberately disappoint you," I said with a slight laugh as I sipped at my wine. "So what is this about? You could have told me in advance you were coming, you know."
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Feb 6, 2011 20:32:19 GMT -5
It wasn't the type of assignation I would normally accept, but things had been rather dull around Mandrake House of late, so when I was given these odd parameters, I had decided to take it. I wondered if this poor fellow had any idea that he was being given the rather barbed "gift" of a Mandrake adept, or if he was the type that would enjoy such a thing. In the end, it didn't really matter, because the fun was in the game, not the actual assignation, so if he did not wish to submit himself to me, well, I earned my fee regardless.
Once I saw him, however, I did so hope he would be interested, with his chiseled features and well-muscled arms... I should have liked very much to watch him writhe beneath me. It was too early to tell, however, if I would have the chance, when Jaime just let us in. He was interesting as well, too bold by half, which I imagined was covering something up. Having him under me would also be interesting, but I suspected that he would never allow it, though I also suspected he might well enjoy it if he did.
"Avianna," I said, when he asked for a name, though I left off my surname by design. If he pushed it, well, I could always make something up. For a Prince, this one seemed rather ruffled by our presence. Well, I had been warned.
"Oh wine is perfect," I said, accepting a glass and sipping it delicately. I was trying to figure out the best way to get this Cygnus interested in me, and somehow I had the feeling that being too forward wasn't going to work.
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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Feb 6, 2011 21:52:04 GMT -5
She was good, this Avianna, and I never would have pegged her for a Mandrake if I hadn't known who she was. She accepted a glass of wine demurely, looked at Cygnus from beneath lowered lashes, and all in all behaved as one would have expected of a noble lady. I congratulated myself on my choice before accepting my own glass of wine, privately wishing that Cygnus had something stronger ... I had a better chance of this working if I could get him drunk. Still, enough wine would do the trick, so I raised my glass to toast.
"To old friends," I grinned at Cygnus, "and new." That was for Avianna, who I could tell saw what I was about as she cheerfully raised her glass. Cygnus had little choice but to join us or appear rude, and I knew he wouldn't risk it, not without knowing who Avianna was.
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Post by Cygnus de Trevalion on Feb 6, 2011 23:11:34 GMT -5
“Pleasure to meet you, Avianna,” I said, her name rolling off of my tongue. She indeed had a beautiful name and... well, was it odd for me to say that she was exactly my type? She certainly did not seem like the complete psychos that James usually tried to pair me up with though I had no way of knowing if the other had that intention or if he was just trying to show her off and make me burn with jealousy. Honestly, I had never felt a burning jealousy with any of James’ girls so I certainly hoped he intended the former rather than the latter. I was not looking forward to my sister’s matches at all, she hardly knew me and seemed to be like a harpy when it came to pairing me advantageously.
I cleared my throat a bit uncomfortably. Still, the idea of being... matched with anyone was uncomfortable. “To friends,” I said, clinking my glass with James’. I had never been one for downing a drink in such a fashion, but it was just one toast so I saw no harm. I refilled our glasses as I looked the two of them over. James seemed awfully pleased with himself.
“So, how did you two meet?” I asked with a quirk of a brow. “It seemed you are awfully good at meeting people, even in new terrain like this,” I said with a light smirk as I observed James, before turning my eyes to size up Avianna. Entirely unexpected. How did a sweet girl like her get caught up with James? Unlike the other women James usually had, she actually seemed decent, noble, respectable.
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Feb 6, 2011 23:37:21 GMT -5
"The pleasure is mine," I responded, though I kept my tone demure, my eyes slightly downcast, as though I were shy.
I had to hide a smile behind my wineglass, it was quite obvious that these two had a history together. I had been able to tell by Jaime's descriptions, but seeing them together, there was a chemistry there. Not romantic, I didn't think, but rather they played off each others strengths, covered each others weaknesses. Well, they were soldiers, perhaps that was true of all such men?
Regardless, I kept my own drinking to sips, for I had found that it was harder for me to control myself with my tools of choice when I had been drinking, and thought I wasn't sure that I would be using them, I had better keep a clear head nonetheless.
"Oh, we met at the Queen's memorial," I said, giving out the story that Jaime had told me. "It's an odd place for a meeting, but then again, shared sorrow does bring people together."
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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Feb 7, 2011 0:02:25 GMT -5
Oh, she was perfect! If I didn't know any better, I would be all over her. In fact, I was sorely tempted, even knowing that she was a Mandrake. She was lovely, well toned and with such a picture perfect face, though I imagined that I could see the glint in her that spoke of darkness and pain and it made me itch between the shoulderblades. For just a moment, I felt some pity for Cygnus. It passed quickly, however.
"Yes, the situation is tragic, but of course I will always be there to comfort a fellow D'angeline," I said, giving Avianna's arm a light squeeze. I wanted Cygnus to think that I was coming on to her, so that his protective instincts would kick in, the way they had with his sisters.
"You're very kind," Avianna said, fluttering her eyelashes perfectly and looking at me as if she was quite grateful for my "comfort."
"Think nothing of it, my dear," I replied, refilling Cygnus' glass as if without thought.
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Post by Cygnus de Trevalion on Feb 7, 2011 2:51:04 GMT -5
Maybe it was because of the women that James often introduced me to in other countries were not my type, but this Avianna was... breath taking. It was hard not to stare and keep myself acting and thinking like a gentleman. I had been around d'Angeline men for so long and I could only help but wonder... was this what d'Angeline women were like? At least, the ones who were not my sister or sleeping with James. Well, yet. I certainly hoped James had no intentions, but if James was not trying to set me up, then he certainly had plans for her in his bedroom. There was no reason for James to be ONLY friends with anything this beautiful. I sipped at my refilled glass of wine suspiciously and when the other squeezed her arm, I cleared my throat, "James," I said in warning, giving him that look I had when he had tried to make a move on my sisters.
"Unfortunate that you had to meet in such a manner," I remarked, forcing my eyes on James' face so I no longer had to look at the delicate flower in front of me. "Well, you are definitely a welcomed member in this Trevalion household as far as I am concerned," I said with a nod. "What are your plans for tonight, James, my friend?" I asked with a raise of a brow, hoping he wasn't going to be too... brash about his intentions.
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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Feb 11, 2011 12:53:02 GMT -5
When Cygnus gave me 'that' look, I felt like cackling like the villain in a trashy novel, my plans were moving along perfectly.
"Oh, I don't know," I said slowly, looking over at Avianna and smiling. "I thought we'd come over and have a visit, maybe have a few drinks, see where the night goes..." I left it open ended so he could use his imagination on where I thought the night might go. Of course, he would be wrong, but only because I was having a little bit of fun at his expense. Well, my expense, really, Avianna hadn't come cheap and I still had to pay her, regardless of whether or not Cygnus let her into his bed.
I finished my wine and unobtrusively refilled both my glass and Cygnus'. The more wine he had in him, the better. Maybe he would wake up tomorrow morning with a hazy memory and covered in welts ... the idea threatened to make me laugh out loud, but I managed to keep it together only by turning away for a quick moment to regain my composure.
"What about you? Are you up to hosting a couple of friends tonight? Are your lovely sisters at home?" I gave him a bit of a grin, just to alarm him at the thought of me with his sisters and take the focus off of Avianna for the moment.
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Post by Cygnus de Trevalion on Feb 13, 2011 21:07:36 GMT -5
When James mentioned that he wasn't sure where the night was going to end up, my eyes narrowed at him. Oh, he knew exactly where it was going to end up, wasn't he? I wondered how such a sweet looking girl like Avianna had got caught up in a mess like James. Well, he did appear like a gentleman in most cases but I wondered if she thought she was going to spend the night with James and see him more after that... because there was never an 'after that' with James.
"No, my sisters are away for the night, I told you already." And I wondered if that was why he had brought Avianna over. It was definitely more discreet and welcoming than the army barracks. I eyed the other as he filled up my wine glass again. He knew I wasn't much of a drinker but that never seemed to stop him from trying. I placed the glass down, not wanting to get tipsy with the other here. "We have two extra rooms for both of you to stay in," I said, emphasizing the fact that there were two instead of one. I did not want James to be getting any ideas though I am sure he had them already.
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