Discovering a new marquist

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Valeraine is a lovely woman and I am grateful to have her as my Dowayne. Hopefully, things will pick up. I have been having trouble getting assignation these past few months, and it worries her, righfully so," I replied, wincing just a bit as the powder entered my opened wounds.

[Darien Kachine]

Noticing her wince, I told her, "This will help, I promise."

Powder applied, I reached for some soft bandages, folding them to the right size as I told her, "Marquists as much as anyone know the cyclical nature of House popularity. Heliotrope as a whole seems to have slowed, but it will pick-up, it always does."

I put the bandages in place and then began to secure them.

[Géraldine Grangier]

"True enough, Darien. True enough," I replied. My brow lifted as the idea fell in. "Would you say love and romance, as Heliotrope sees them, are becoming obsolete?" The thought sent a chill down my spine.

[Darien Kachine]

"Not at all, I just think that at the moment there is a throng of people who have confused what is fashionable with what they truly desire," I said as I finished with her wrapping. "For a while it was Gentian, with everyone wanting to know their futures right this moment. Now it is Valerian, but soon those not meant to hold a whip will grow tired and look for what they truly desire."

Letting my hand slide across the small of her back, I stepped back from the table. "All done, but you don't have to get up just yet if you're not ready."

[Géraldine Grangier]

He was reasonnable and wise, in an off-beat sort of way, this marquist.

"I hope you're right, Darien. It would be too sad otherwise." I tried to lift up but winced a little in pain. "I'm not ready to move just yet," I conceded as I let myself lie on the table a bit more.

I had enjoyed his touch, but it was a bit of a strange sensation. "How about you? Do you enjoy holding a whip yourself ?" I asked teasingly.

[Darien Kachine]

"Gods no," I said, laughing as I began to tidy up. "The hardest part of learning to be a marquist was dealing with the pain I was inflicting. It's why I try to do everything possible to easy the pain." I gestured to the candles, the bowl that had held the powder I ground. "I know there is no way to do this without some pain, but I try to make it as minimal as possible."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I laughed again heartily as I saw my jest come to life, then I bit my lip as the pain shot through more sharply then it had before.

"Then you should definitely turn down that wonderful demeanor of yours. You are inflicting the cruelty of laughter on me again," I replied to him, smiling though my eyes were watery.

I took in a deep breath. "I didn't think you were of the whipping kind, Darien. And you have done a great job of easing the pain for me," I said as I smiled and searched his eyes.

[Darien Kachine]

I sobered slightly, truly not wanting to cause her undue pain. "I am glad," I said, meeting her gaze. "Marquing should be an experience an adept looks forward to, not something they fear."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I held his blue gaze. Why is it blue eyes trouble me so? I swallowed my heart and smiled. "I would definitely look forward to my next marquing with you, Darien," I replied.

"How long do you foresee before my marque should be complete?" I asked.

[Darien Kachine]

"That all depends on your funds," I said, smiling but trying to keep from making her laugh. "Should you come across a windfall, I could set aside a day and finish it for you, though honestly you would be bed ridden for a couple days afterward while it healed. Smaller progress is better, if a bit frustrating."

I finished putting away the things that didn't need to be cleaned, and setting aside those that did, then leaned back against the counter.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I smiled to myself. I could see the value of his advice, in more then one way.

I took a deep breath and lifted myself from the table in one powerful push. Sitting across from him, I took in the full sight of him for the first time, not realizing my breasts were still nude and exposed.

I think I must have gaped. He was the tallest man I had ever met. I am myself rather tall, and most patrons I had had been my size or just a bit taller. But Darien, Elua! He made me feel tiny.

[Darien Kachine]

I saw the look of surprise on her face, one that obviously had to do with me and not her marque, and I glanced down at myself, wondering if I had gotten ink all over without realizing it.

"What?" I asked, a bit confused.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I forced my mouth closed and swallowed a bit of saliva. I blushed and chastized myself in the secret of my mind.

Smiling, I looked down and then realized I was nude, I gathered the robe to my chest as I said, "I'm sorry Darien, I didn't mean to put you ill at ease. It's only that you are the tallest man I've ever met."

[Darien Kachine]

I smiled and shook my head slightly. "You didn't, I thought perhaps I had spilled over myself," I told her. "Am I really? I so used to how tall I am that I forget about it."

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Oh, tall, you are, Master Kachine," I smiled teasingly. Still gathering the robe around me, I stood off the table and painstakingly walked to him. Standing in his shadow, I looked up and afixed my eyes into his. "I rarely need to look as high as I looking now." Silent, I kept my gaze onto his face for a moment, until I absently added, "it's a lovely sensation to be next to someone so tall."

[Darien Kachine]

Smiling again, I looked down into her eyes. "I'm glad you like it," I said. "Some people are intimidated by it."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I kept my eyes locked into his and held his gaze silently for a moment. My lip trembled a little, and I felt a small shudder as some cool air passed on my exposed back. Still holding the robe to my breasts, my arm ached a little and I moved it again, unwittingly exposing a little more cleavage. Still, my eyes were locked into his.

I said nothing and did not budge, as I merely smiled and enjoyed the sensation.

[Darien Kachine]

I had strict rules about interacting personally with adepts in my salon, no matter how tempting.

"You should get dressed before you catch a chill," I said softly, smiling so that she knew this wasn't a never, but a not now.

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Of course, Darien," I said soflty. I regretfully looked down. He was right, though, I was getting goosebumps.

"Do note I am not looking down because you intimidate me," I added with a chuckle as I walked slowly back to the screen and started putting on my green popeline dress. It hurt a bit to put it on and I winced. Somehow, in the process, my hair let loose of its coil, so I only let it hang over my dress. It would be too painful to reach up again and redo the thick braid, that was one thing I knew.

Walking back out of the screen, I looked up at Darien and smiled inwardly, knowing he had wanted me, at least a short moment.

[Darien Kachine]

I mulled over the pleasing glimpse of Geraldine's naked front that I had caught as she dressed, wondering if perhaps a visit to Heliotrope in a week or so might not be a bad thing.

Looking up as she came from behind the screen I smiled again. "Do you have a carriage to take you back to Heliotrope?" I asked her.

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Oh, no. I walk everywhere, you know." A wry smile went up to my lips as I added "It's one of the things that drive Valeraine to the brink, but I love to walk about unfettered. Besides, you didn't hurt me enough that I won't be able to get back to the House."

[Darien Kachine]

"Alright," I said, nodding. "I'm glad to know it wasn't that bad."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I blushed just a bit as I admitted, a bit under my breath, "Maybe I shouldn't be saying this, but your touch is much more gentle then Xavier's." In so many ways. "You have nothing to worry about in this respect."

[Darien Kachine]

"It's never bad to hear a thing like that, thank you," I told her, smiling. I glanced around, making sure she hadn't left anything, knowing that all that was left was payment and then she would probably be gone.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I pulled out my copy of the contract and looked at the amount. Pulling it out of my purse, I set it on the desk, carefully placing the coin in stacks easy to count.

When I was done, I waited for Darien to verify that the sum would be there.

[Darien Kachine]

Lost for a moment in appreciating the way she looked and thinking of different poses in which to sketch her, it was only the feeling of being waited on that drew me back.

"Sorry," I said with a small grin. I looked at the stack of coins, calculating their amount and then back at Geraldine. "I guess that's it then."

[Géraldine Grangier]

Looking at him mischievously, I smiled "Is it then?"

I smiled, eyes locked into his as I whispered, "It's been a pleasure to meet you, Darien."

[Darien Kachine]

"It's been a pleasure to meet you as well, Geraldine," I replied. "I hope to see you again soon."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I smiled and replied softly, "and I, you." With that, I thread softly and indolently towards the door, pausing one last time to enjoy the sight of him before I joined the crowd of the street.

[Darien Kachine]

I watched her go, waiting for the door to close before moving. I began cleaning and sterilizing my instruments, preparing for the next client.

A week and she would be healed, I thought. Yes, perhaps Heliotrope would be a place to visit then.