Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 5, 2008 19:00:37 GMT -5
I'd finally summoned my courage to face Darien. In truth, I did want to see him again - I'd just felt awfully awkward since the Coronation... and then life had interfered. I liked him, though, and four assignations overdue was a lot of marquing to do. I didn't want to wait any longer, and be incapacitated for weeks. There was that, as well.
So it was that after my encounter at Renfermer le Parfum with Christophe's beloved, I made my way to the Salon Kachine.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 5, 2008 22:22:29 GMT -5
I was sitting in the front room making notes about supplies I needed when the door opened. I looked up and was surprised at who I saw there.
"Well hello," I said.
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 5, 2008 22:26:48 GMT -5
"Hello," I replied, my hands somehow finding themselves knotted together. I took a few steps in his direction, enough to close the distance, without overcrowding him. I was tempted to give him the kiss of greeting, hesitated, stopped half way. I wasn't sure if it was appropriate. "How are you?" I asked with a little smile. I'd forgotten how calm Darien was. It helped.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 5, 2008 23:35:39 GMT -5
"Pleased to see you, and a bit surprised. I thought perhaps you'd decided on another marquist," I replied, my tone not accusatory at all just stating a fact. "How have you been?"
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 5, 2008 23:47:22 GMT -5
I shook my head, my eyes showing just a bit of regret. Of course not, I like you, I wanted to say. "I've been well, Darien. Busy, that's all," I said with a little smile. "In fact, you'll find I need quite a bit of work..." I grinned. "I'm pleased to see you too," I added, not wanting to reveal that I'd missed him, at times.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 6, 2008 14:49:09 GMT -5
"I'm glad you've been busy, as long as it was a good busy," I said with a smile. "How much work did you want done? Did you want an appointment or were you hoping to do the work now?"
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 6, 2008 21:08:14 GMT -5
“I’m not sure what I can do,” I replied with a little smile. “I had four assignations, and saved my patron gifts, at least the better part of them, to put towards my marque,” I explained. “What do you suggest?”
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 7, 2008 1:04:54 GMT -5
"Well, if you want it all done at once, I'd suggest an appointment so that I can have the time to devote to you. If you want a little done now and more later, then we can start now. I have a little time but not enough for what it sounds like for all of it." I was pleased to hear she'd been doing so well with her assignations.
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 7, 2008 1:50:28 GMT -5
“Getting some done now sounds reasonable,” I replied with a grateful smile. “How far along can we bring it, all in all, you think?” I asked, a little bit on the curious side, but also with relative eagerness. I had many good reasons to want my freedom. Besides, I had a bit of time ahead of me.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 7, 2008 11:55:20 GMT -5
"All in all depends on the size of your patron's gifts," I said with a grin. "Right now though we have time to ink half an inch and then we can make an appointment for the rest in a week or so? How does that sound?"
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
|
Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 7, 2008 14:59:56 GMT -5
I toyed with the purse, lost in the folds of my skirts. I had enough to pay him the half-inch today, I estimated. “Yes, of course,” I replied with a smile. “That’s fine, I didn’t want to carry around the whole thing, you know… looters…” I was growing more comfortable – there was no awkwardness between us, and I was thankful for it.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 7, 2008 22:25:47 GMT -5
"You know," I said, rising. "If you have an account somewhere, like with the Guild, I am more than happy to accept a note from them so you don't have to carry around the coins."
Smiling, I motioned to the back. "Shall we?"
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 7, 2008 22:36:40 GMT -5
"That's perfect," I replied with a little smile. I took a first step to the back of the shop, letting him lead me if he would. As I made my way to the back room, I asked, "You look well, Darien. Life has treated you well, yes?"
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 8, 2008 0:42:27 GMT -5
"It has," I said with a smile and a nod. "Things have been good."
"How did everything heal after your last appointment?"
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 8, 2008 10:04:46 GMT -5
“I’m glad for you,” I replied with a gentle smile as the working place was broached.
I moved behind the screen, and answered his question, “Nothing particularly unusual. You know, it itches some, but it’s nothing I’m not used to at this point.” I started to undo my dress – this was an easy one, to remove and put back on, thank Elua.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 8, 2008 11:46:35 GMT -5
Indulging, I let my eyes follow her as she moved behind the screen, the echo of her taste haunting my lips before she vanished from sight.
"That's good to hear," I said as I turned and lit the candles in the corner. "With each successive appointment things will hopefully become routine for you and you won't notice the new ink for as long."
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 8, 2008 13:47:32 GMT -5
In the confidential space the screen afforded me, I smiled. There was a time where the idea of coming every day for a marquing had been very appealing – and somewhere deep inside, it was still true. I liked him, and I liked the way he treated me.
“That’s right,” I replied as I slipped the robe on. “I don’t mind, anyway. It’s for a good cause.” The thought of the cause in question made me smile. I stepped out, and asked, “do you wish to re-examine your previous work, before we start?”
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 8, 2008 16:35:14 GMT -5
"I do," I said, looking up at her. "I'd like to see how well your skin is keeping the ink."
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 8, 2008 18:52:15 GMT -5
“Alright, M’Lord,” I replied with a teasing grin. I took a few steps closer to the marquing table, and turned, letting the robe’s back drop, gathering the material to the front for modesty’s sake.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 8, 2008 21:31:43 GMT -5
Moving to where she was, I knelt down to look at my previous work. I ran my fingers softly over her skin, feeling its texture.
"How long was it tender?"
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
|
Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 8, 2008 22:19:12 GMT -5
“Just a bit under a week,” I replied. “Though it was never much of a bother.” I noted how gentle he was, a true memory of my last visit. “How does it look to you?” I asked in return.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 9, 2008 1:16:29 GMT -5
"Beautiful," I said, meaning not only the marque but the sweet curve of her lower back. Standing up, I allowed my fingers a gentle caress across the base of her spine.
"Ready to do more?"
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 9, 2008 2:06:17 GMT -5
Darien, I thought, was too modest to praise himself, and so his comment confused me a little, though I felt a small shiver of pleasure for his gentle caress. I couldn’t disagree, though – I knew he had talent. The paintings in his home were etched in my memory – I’d not forgotten any of it.
I’d had a lot of assignations, but I also had pent up desire from all my flirting, and so his touch did not go unnoticed, though I did my very best to keep the little shiver of pleasure he summoned under control. Maybe it was inadvertent, after all.
“Yes,” I replied softly. I turned, looked at him a moment, smiled, not saying more, before I turned again to lay on the table, my back bare for him.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 9, 2008 10:55:35 GMT -5
I returned to the counter and began gathering my tools and the inks.
"What have you been up to besides busy with assignations?" I asked.
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 9, 2008 11:56:07 GMT -5
I propped my head on my arms, looking at him as he readied himself. I smiled, because he was a pretty sight.
“The children, some gardening,” I replied thoughtfully. “I attended the Wedding of Elliott L'Envers, had a few friendly visits… some research,” I added with a bit of a mysterious tone.
So it was. Navarre's natal, my shopping with Christophe, Eddie's pursuits, and of course, Aaliyah, whose birthday was coming soon. I had to finish that embroidery for her, I reminded myself.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 9, 2008 17:16:15 GMT -5
"Research?" I asked as I set things on the table near where she lay.
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 10, 2008 1:26:16 GMT -5
“Yes, research,” I replied affirmatively. “I’ve been…” I hesitated, this was so personal… then again, it was with talking about it that something had turned up last time, and it wasn’t a state secret. I took the leap, and decided to tell him. Besides, I felt I could trust him. “I have been trying to retrace my father,” I stated quietly.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 10, 2008 3:01:09 GMT -5
"Are you having any luck?" I asked, running my hands over her back to smooth her skin.
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Feb 10, 2008 10:55:50 GMT -5
His touch was soothing, and I wagered it was his gift, to touch in ways that calmed anxiety prior to a marquing. “Somewhat,” I replied after I put my head comfortably over my folded arms. “I know now that he was still alive about nine years ago, and that he may yet still be sailing his ship. If what I found out is true, he got a promotion, and is now captain.” I said it quietly, thoughtfully. I wondered if Eddie had taken my dare and written to the Lady of Marsilikos. I found it unlikely that the fate of an adept would interest her, but still. Maybe there was somewhat there.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 10, 2008 11:21:19 GMT -5
"That all sounds very encouraging," I said, nodding as I turned to retrieve the tools I would need first. "It sounds like you've found some very good sources of information."
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