Long Overdue

[Géraldine Grangier]

“Not as good as I would want them,” I admitted, not citing them, though. “But it’s nice to see some developments. Until my marque is done, there is little else I can do,” I added after a while. “I would have to go to Marsilikos to make my inquiries, and I don’t think Valeraine would agree to such a prolonged absence, even if I did have the funds for such a voyage… so patience is all I have.”

[Darien Kachine]

"Have you visited their Embassy here?" I asked as I positioned the needles over her skin. "Ready?"

[Géraldine Grangier]

I almost, almost turned around, surprised at his suggestion, but then I remembered that for one, if I did, I would be once more inadvertently showing him my breasts, and secondly, that he was just about to start, and likely that a sharp object was in the vicinity of my skin, and so it was just a little twitch, though I schooled myself to inertia as I felt the cold metal on my skin.

“Ready,” I replied after I’d exhaled. “Darien, I didn’t know about their embassy. I was told the Lady of Marsilikos was in town, is that who you are referring to?” I asked, keeping my mind focused on the discussion, and off the pain to come, though I knew I would bear it without as much as a tear.

[Darien Kachine]

"Perhaps embassy was the wrong word, sorry," I said as I began to work. "I do know there is an official office for arranging matters such as shipping through Marsilikos. That's what I meant."

[Géraldine Grangier]

“Ah,” I said, keeping myself from hissing as the first needle entered my skin. “I've been told, that if one wrote to the Lady of Marsilikos, such matters, likely, were tended by underlings who may yet be able to supply such answers…” I wondered if Darien and Eddie had the same advice. I smiled, that was a thought that didn’t displease me, though I wasn’t sure why.

[Darien Kachine]

"I can see how that might happen, but it never hurts to try eh?" I said with a smile as my hands settled into a good, comfortable pace.

[Géraldine Grangier]

“I guess,” I replied pensively. “A letter, then?” I said with a wistful smile. He was working on my back at a rhythm that was regular, almost relaxing, were it not for the tingles it induced. Still, I did not squirm, or tense. I trusted Darien.

[Darien Kachine]

"Perhaps a letter to start and then an in person visit if you don't get results," I replied. "Or you might even start out delivering the letter in person, but a face with the request."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I would have nodded, but I was lying down, and so I made a humming sound of agreement. “Thank you, that is good advice,” I said softly. “Have you ever had such quests yourself?” I added after a while.

[Darien Kachine]

"I haven't," I answered, my hands moving constantly as we chatted. "I've always known who my parents and sister were, as well as all the other family I have. I haven't had any great quests like that for anything else either. I don't know if that's good or if it makes me boring."

The last was said with a chuckle.

[Géraldine Grangier]

“To tell you the gist of it, I know who my parents are. I know my mother is dead. I just don’t know what became of my father….” It was different, because it meant I had roots to cling to.

“And, Darien, you are not boring,” I added with a bit of protestation in my voice, along with warmth.

[Darien Kachine]

"Thank you, it's good that I at least don't appear boring," I said, smiling.

[Géraldine Grangier]

“You’re welcome,” I said softly, letting my thoughts wander a moment as I felt his hand working on me. After a moment, I asked, “So have you painted anything new since I last saw you?”

[Darien Kachine]

"Oh yes," I answered. "Quite a few things in fact."

My hands moved on to begin the final section of work for today.

"I am in the middle of a commission right now. The portrait of a woman and her lover."

[Géraldine Grangier]

“Oh, you are?” I replied interested. “That’s quite different from street scenes,” I observed. “Do they have to sit in patiently while you work your magic, then?”

[Darien Kachine]

"There was one session where I had them sit, just to get down the structures of their faces in a study, but they want to be captured dancing so there isn't a lot of sitting still for the rest of it," I told he, smiling.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I could hear the good humor in his voice, and smiled myself for it, glad beyond words that he was having such a complex commission – aside from being, apparently, a stimulating challenge, I assumed he could expect a good fee for his work.

“That’s probably quite challenging,” I said softly against the panel, “to capture such movement… have they given you much artistic license?”

[Darien Kachine]

"There weren't any limits put on my skills. They had seen enough of my other work to know what I could do. Dancing happens to be an important part of their relationship and they want it captured. It's proving quite a challenging and enjoyable task."

The work on her back was almost done, and I found myself regretting it a bit.

[Géraldine Grangier]

“It’s wonderful to have such patrons,” I replied, my voice filled with happiness for him. “It sounds like you are pleased with this commission, I’m glad for you, Darien.” I said softly, my voice dripping with sincerity.

I was enjoying this conversation, in truth. The only thing that could have made it more agreeable would have been to see his handsome face while it happened. That, and not having needles pressed into my back. Thank Elua, he was gentle, though, and so there was very little pain to bear.

[Darien Kachine]

"Thank you," I said, smiling.

My hands stilled and I set my tools aside. "All done, but don't move."

[Géraldine Grangier]

He told me not to move, and so I didn’t just like the last time he’d asked for immobility, though the context was wholly different. The memory brought a flush to my cheeks, and I was grateful that my position gave me a measure of privacy.

“Alright,” I replied quietly, a bit sad that it was over, though I knew more marquing was to come when I'd healed. Patiently, I waited for him to pursue. As I recalled he had sprinkled something on the newly wound marque, last time.

[Darien Kachine]

Before I began tending to next part of the process, I let my finger trace slightly along the line where the new ink blended in with the old.

"Your skin really does look lovely with ink in it," I said softly.

[Géraldine Grangier]

His touch was very intimate, and it made my skin prickle, memories once more flaring through my mind. I’d made a point of recording our night together, and it was flowing back to me in a relentless wave, though I managed not to whimper for him, only feeling warmth radiate through me.

“Thank you,” I whispered under his touch. Gods. I wanted to tell him not to stop, but I didn’t, concerned as I was about the fine line the situation was threading.

[Darien Kachine]

How easy it would be to let my fingers spread and caress along the oh so feminine curves of her body. Instead, I curled my fingers against my palm and turned away to gather the items I needed to finish up.

"Do you still have some salve left or do you need more?"

[Géraldine Grangier]

I felt his hand leave me, and though it was the sensible, the reasonable thing to do, if filled me with a light taste of regret, slightly sour. I suppressed a sigh, still not moving.

“I think I have enough left,” I replied to his inquiry.

[Darien Kachine]

"Alright. Should you need more, you know where to find me," I said with a smile as I finished the process and applied a coating of salve to her back.

I stepped back slightly. "If you'll sit up I'll bandage you up."

[Géraldine Grangier]

“I will,” I replied with a little smile. I sat up, trying to gather the robe and failing. There was desire between us, and it made things complicated in the context of a marquing session, even if it was somewhat of an enjoyable torture, even if I trusted him to be appropriate. I looked up at him – oh, how I enjoyed the fact that I had to tilt my head to look at his eyes – and said in a gentle whisper, “I won’t be so long to come by again, next time.”

[Darien Kachine]

"You're welcome to come by even if you don't need marquing," I said, smiling at her as I wound the bandages around her. I kept my eyes on hers, my hands knowing their task.

[Géraldine Grangier]

Gods. We hadn’t really locked gazes since I’d come in, and that fact, coupled with his words, made me let out a small gasp. I’d never quite considered it, for the sheer fact that as an adept, I couldn’t quite consider pursuing a peer, much less my marquist.

“I’m glad,” I replied softly, still looking into his eyes, “and I will honor that.” I missed you, I wanted to say, but I didn’t, though I knew my expression was likely transparent.

[Darien Kachine]

Gently, but with all proper decorum, I tied off her bandages and then stepped back. The desire to kiss her soft, full lips was there, but I would not come anywhere close to crossing that line. This was not the time or situation to let myself do such things.

"All done," I said softly, smiling.