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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Jul 31, 2006 0:07:41 GMT -5
My money situation being what it was, I was having to skimp slightly this year- no costume at Eglantine, but rather wandering the clothier's district and scouring the stalls for something moderately suitable. Black wolf, something snarling and angry and fearsome- that was my theme, and it shouldn't be terribly difficult to come up with.
A few stalls had found me a good wolfskin cloak with a mask that attatched to the hood, yellow-eyed and teeth bared. It would do. Now, just to find some clothing that would look decent...
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Post by mara on Jul 31, 2006 0:14:15 GMT -5
I was walking through Mont Nuit...I couldn't stay at Valerian as all my thoughts were of August. I hadn't heard from him so I assumed he had moved on, a walk through the city would do me good. As I began to walk through the clothier's district I found a familiar face but wasn't sure if he would see me that same. I watched him and then moved to where he was wondering if he would recognize me.
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Jul 31, 2006 0:21:57 GMT -5
Someone was watching me- I could feel their gaze. Looking up and around slowly, langorously, I saw a younger girl, slightly familiar, but so were many- as I had said, I was quite well-known a couple of years before. She smelled of Valerian in her very stance and it was sweet. Lifting my lip in a slight snarling grin I inclined my head to her and let my eyes glint. Let's see if she had any backbone other than that her House prescribed as acceptable.
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Post by mara on Jul 31, 2006 0:24:07 GMT -5
I smiled and stepped over slowly. "Mordred?" I asked softly.
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Jul 31, 2006 0:34:29 GMT -5
Well, at least she'd had the courage to approach. "Yes..?" I asked, taking her in with a quick sweep of my eyes over her body that raked like fingernails and then settled on her eyes, piercing into them with an air of dominance. "Do you know me somehow, little one?"
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Post by mara on Jul 31, 2006 0:40:17 GMT -5
I couldn't help but smile.
"My name is Mara," I said blushing softly. "I spent some time at Mandrake growing up. I doubt you'd remember me."
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Jul 31, 2006 0:47:52 GMT -5
"Unfortunately I don't, but if I had been smart and known how lovely you would grow up I would have made more of an effort," I said smoothly, allowing the small, feral smile to creep back over my features. "You seem to have remembered me- may I ask why?"
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Post by mara on Jul 31, 2006 0:54:15 GMT -5
I chuckled and smiled up at him before turning slightly to look at masques. "You pushed me in mud once." I said watching him from the corner of my eye.
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Jul 31, 2006 0:57:33 GMT -5
"Oh, really?" I said, raising a brow. "I wonder why I did that. Did you deserve it at the time?" She was slow to take offense and to cower, which gave me a certain satisfaction in itself- at least the Mandrake in her blood wasn't completely weakened. "Was it before or after you ended up at Valerian?"
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Post by mara on Jul 31, 2006 1:02:17 GMT -5
"Before," I said turning slightly. "I was twelve and new at Mandrake."
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Jul 31, 2006 1:07:14 GMT -5
"Then I probably thought you deserved it, at least," I said with a wider grin. "I've never been good with people a good deal younger than myself. Shall I offer a very belated apology?"
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Post by mara on Jul 31, 2006 12:13:56 GMT -5
I chuckled. "You could but its not necessary. One of the other adepts told me who you were." I blushed deeper. "I have to admit I had a bit of a crush on you."
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Jul 31, 2006 12:31:26 GMT -5
Hiding my satisfaction at her answer- it was always good to have prior good influence on people, even if it was some Valerian girl. "I'm suprised they didn't guess that you were better suited for Valerian from that alone," I replied with a raised brow. "Very few other Mandrakes can stand my presence, much less imagine bedding me. You did, didn't you? I think I'd be a little insulted if you didn't."
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Post by mara on Jul 31, 2006 17:16:18 GMT -5
I felt a flush of desire spread through my body and cleared my throat as my pulse began to race.
"I did well at Mandrake, and I had been fostered at two other houses. My parents were reluctant to move me to another house." I said trying to keep my mind on casual affairs.
"And yes, I did."
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Jul 31, 2006 21:54:06 GMT -5
At her admittance I rewarded her with a wide smile- it was always good to provide encouragement for the answers you enjoyed hearing. "But I see you ended up at Valerian anyway, little Mara. Tell me, how did I do in those fantasies? Do you think they would match up to reality?"
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Post by mara on Aug 2, 2006 0:03:21 GMT -5
I felt my flesh crawl and walked toward him standing close enough to feel his heat.
"I guess theres only one way to find out." I whispered looking up at him.
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Aug 2, 2006 8:51:03 GMT -5
Was I really having some Valerian girl throw herself at me in the middle of the clothier's district after only a few moments of conversation? Trinette must have a lot of trouble with this one. "I don't think so, sweetheart. Firstly, there is no way in hell your marque is completely and I would prefer not to hand over my balls to Trinette on a silver platter, or have reason for her to demand them; trust me, you would not be returning to your House unscathed. Also, I still have a costume to look for." My eyes stayed on hers, wondering what sort of reaction she would give to my answer and reasoning; not because I cared, but because I was simply curious.
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Post by mara on Aug 2, 2006 20:20:25 GMT -5
I shrugged and turned away looking back at that which I had been scanning.
"Your loss." I said in a calm tone.
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Aug 2, 2006 20:23:01 GMT -5
Smiling slightly at her seeming calmness. "Perhaps," I replied quietly. "But you can't begrudge an adept being careful."
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Post by mara on Aug 2, 2006 20:29:42 GMT -5
I shrugged.
"Careful, scared. Same difference." I smiled softly, a smile of content and uncaring then anything else.
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Aug 2, 2006 20:36:00 GMT -5
"There's no fear when one knows that no pain can come of an action, only inconvenience," I said, nonplussed. "The same as convincing a patron or Valerian not to use their signale. Their fear is what makes them require such a tool."
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Post by mara on Aug 2, 2006 20:43:14 GMT -5
I sighed and turned away some what displeased. Of all the people he seemed less likely to follow rules.
"Well, that would be the sort of thinking of Mandrake House."
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Aug 2, 2006 20:45:36 GMT -5
"You would know, they thought you had a fitting nature to be there," I said, noting her displeasure but only encouraged by it. "Before you were lashed and they discovered your tendencies. The entire House turned out to see it."
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Post by mara on Aug 2, 2006 20:47:25 GMT -5
I turned the corner of my eye to him. "I remember," I said softly. "It was a great day, did you get to watch?"
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Aug 2, 2006 20:54:41 GMT -5
Catching the corner of her eye with mine I replied quietly but with eyes flashing in amusement, "But of course- and I'm not suprised you consider it a great day, many do they first time they fall under a Mandrake's lash. Have you had the chance to since?"
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Post by mara on Aug 2, 2006 20:59:15 GMT -5
I shook my head and blushed softly. "No, very unsatisfying." I said keeping my gaze slightly toward him.
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Aug 2, 2006 21:07:42 GMT -5
Smiling slightly wider- I was beginning to wonder if I could actually get her to admit that she was willing to break rules at her own peril for a chance to be under a skilled lash- I gave a soft sigh. "That is too bad- patrons can be so ineffectual sometimes, as they're usually only concerned with their own pleasure and forget the art of it. Still, I suppose that's why there's showings, so a patron can choose which ones they imagine themselves being."
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Post by mara on Aug 2, 2006 21:14:56 GMT -5
I nodded. "I so long for a skilled patron." I said turning back slightly toward him. "Or any skilled person to remind me of why I'm a Valerian." I said raising a brow.
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Post by Mordred no' Mandrake on Aug 2, 2006 21:19:38 GMT -5
Cocking my head sideways and in my best scholarly tone I replied, "Well, you could always sign up for a reciprocal, but those can take months to go through, especially during the colder seasons. It seems that all of the adepts like to bundle up together to keep warm. Do you get cold and long for the spilling of hot blood when the nights are the most chill?"
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Post by mara on Aug 2, 2006 21:31:37 GMT -5
I turned back to him. "I long for a rented room." I said stepping toward him. "I long to scream with absolute pleasure and joy from the taste of the lash and a skilled hand." I walked completely toward him and pressed my body to his.
"I long to beg for release, to crawl on my hands and knees."
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