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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Oct 31, 2006 0:23:07 GMT -5
Smiling, my brow smoothed beneath his lips. "I can find an old scrap of something around if I need it once we get back and see what she thinks."
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Oct 31, 2006 0:45:00 GMT -5
"That sounds like a good idea," I told her. "I'm just glad you and she get along so well."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Oct 31, 2006 0:51:09 GMT -5
"Of course we do, I knew you would pick out the perfect kitten," I told him, grinning and then kissing him again.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Oct 31, 2006 9:10:00 GMT -5
My reply was muffled against her lips for a moment but I really didn't mind- how could I? She was so sweet and part of me wished she could get all of it done today. Still, the debt to her House would still be owed and there was no way to get around it.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Oct 31, 2006 12:54:51 GMT -5
The kitten jumped down from my shoulder to my lap, and with a satisfied meow began to clean herself.
"I think she's happy you picked her too," I said, chuckling. "Where did you get her?"
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Oct 31, 2006 12:59:48 GMT -5
"I just found her wandering the Liatris grounds," I told her, watching the kitten with an amused sort of interest. "No one will miss her."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Oct 31, 2006 15:10:46 GMT -5
I giggled as the kitten's tongue brushed over my hand as she cleaned her leg.
"This is the most wonderful present anyone has ever given me," I told Aleron, grinning happily.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 1, 2006 1:12:58 GMT -5
"I'm glad," I replied, taking simple joy in her happiness. "I know you two will be great friends."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 1, 2006 1:15:52 GMT -5
"She likes you too, I can tell," I said confidently.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 1, 2006 1:20:42 GMT -5
With a smile but just a hint of skepticism in my gaze I looked at her, then back at Riva. "Not as much as she likes you. I can tell."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 1, 2006 1:25:36 GMT -5
"That's because she knows she's going to be living with me," I told him, chuckling at how obvious that was.
I sighed softly.
"It's time for my appointment," I said, softly.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 1, 2006 1:29:57 GMT -5
Nodding, I held out a hand for the kitten so I could place it back in my pocket. "We should get going then, it's rude to leave the marquist waiting."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 1, 2006 1:33:08 GMT -5
Gently with my mind, I urged the kitten to jump to his hand, smiling when she did.
"I'm ready," I told Aleron.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 1, 2006 1:36:36 GMT -5
With the kitten in my pocket after patting it gently I kissed Riva and then stood, holding out a hand for her.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 1, 2006 11:33:26 GMT -5
I took his hand and stood, but didn't start walking yet. Instead, I leaned over and whispered against his lips, "One more for courage." Then I kissed him passionately.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 1, 2006 16:00:49 GMT -5
With a small sound of pleasure I kissed her in return, the back of my hand stroking her cheek as my fingers toyed with her hair. I would give her all of the courage I possessed if she needed it and not make a single complaint.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 1, 2006 18:02:42 GMT -5
"Now I'm really ready," I said, smiling against his lips.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 2, 2006 0:57:32 GMT -5
"Then we should go before I lose my senses," I teased, taking her hand in mine and twining fingers. "Do you know how they do the marques, or do you want to know? Sometimes knowing what to expect can help."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 2, 2006 10:49:50 GMT -5
"I know. I talked to Hannah about it. It did help a little, but I know it's still going to hurt," I said, squeezing his hand as began to make our way over.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 2, 2006 11:11:19 GMT -5
I squeezed her hand slightly as an attempt at offering comfort. "After awhile you don't even really feel it anymore."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 2, 2006 17:50:23 GMT -5
I nodded, though I didn't believe him. Then we were there and I smiled at him before leading him inside.
The marquist remembered me from yesterday and told us it would just be a moment.
"This is it," I said to Aleron, laughing nervously.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 2, 2006 21:44:54 GMT -5
Smiling in what I hoped was a comforting fashion I squeezed her hand again. "It'll be alright, I won't let it hurt too much," I told her softly. "I mean it."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 2, 2006 21:56:21 GMT -5
Nodding slightly, I leaned over and kissed his cheek, not trusting my voice. My lips had just left his cheek when the marquist called me back.
Trying not to tremble, I followed him back, knowing Aleron would come too. I handed the marquist my coins, we had settled on the amount to be done yesterday. I took off my dress and laid on the table where the he indicated.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 2, 2006 22:14:34 GMT -5
With a great deal of effort I managed not to stare at Riva's body as she undressed and moved about, listening to the quiet business that being marqued always entails. She would be fine, I knew she would- even if she didn't know it for herself. Eyes cast at the ground for the moment I kept still, waiting until she was lying down before I moved closer.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 2, 2006 22:18:12 GMT -5
I stretched my arms out above my head so that Aleron could hold my hands. I knew that would be the only way I would be able to make it through without crying out. I could hear the marquist mixing his dyes and it was getting harder and harder not to tremble.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 2, 2006 22:24:30 GMT -5
Her hands were warm but clammy around mine and I let her grip them as tightly as she would like, wishing I could go into that place and fill her with my confidence. Instead, I just smiled and caught my gaze with hers, hopin gshe could feel and understand what I felt and how much faith I placed in her strength.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 2, 2006 22:31:08 GMT -5
The marquist said something, but I wasn't listening to the words. I felt his hand on my back and the stylus and it was all I could do not to bolt away.
I was looking into Aleron's eyes, but the instant the stylus pierced my skin, my eyes squeezed shut and a whimper escaped me.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 2, 2006 22:39:37 GMT -5
Reaching out a free hand I stroked her hair, crooning in my best attempt at comfort as a slight itch of pain started at a mimicking spot of my lower back- still, I drew on it, trying to feel it more acutely in the hopes that she would feel it less.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 2, 2006 22:48:56 GMT -5
It was awful, absolutely awful. It hurt so badly, but unlike when Octavier had whipped me, the pain wasn't so intense that I could surrender to oblivion. I pressed my forehead to the table, feeling tears fill the space between my eyelids and the table. Even though it had just started, it felt like it had been going on forever. I clung to Aleron's hand.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 2, 2006 22:57:29 GMT -5
With a feeling of resignation as her tears and sounds of pain seemed to crush in on me I simply did what I could, crooning and talking lowly about our house and the kitten, what we could do after her marqing for the day was done. I didn't know what else to do and fought off despair at that fact.
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