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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 14, 2009 12:19:48 GMT -5
I contemplated the glass in my hand. "Different combination of fruit I think. The palate wasn't quite as lush. Doubtlessly there is a better selection of fruit this time of the year."
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 14, 2009 12:24:49 GMT -5
I smiled at him wryly. “You’ve certainly grown sophisticated in your time here in the city.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 14, 2009 15:36:56 GMT -5
I chuckled. "The Dowayne took in a dirty little boy in need of a home, applied some hot water, soap, and some good manners, and here I am," I said with a grin.
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 14, 2009 15:40:48 GMT -5
“I’m guessing a lot of hot water and soap,” I said with a laugh.
I glanced around at the restaurant and at the city seen through the windows. “Do you really think I’ll be able to fit in as well? Really, not just as my brother.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 15, 2009 23:04:36 GMT -5
I watched her as she took in her new surroundings once more. "It's a big adjustment Marie, I won't try to lie. But I believe if you wish, you can find happiness here."
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 15, 2009 23:10:20 GMT -5
My eyes moved back to him. “I’m not so concerned about happiness, I just want freedom,” I told him softly. “I’d rather be unhappy and free than blissful and trapped. You can’t imagine what it’s been like since Mama died. Between father and Pierre….” My voice drifted for a moment. “The only thing they didn’t do was put the actual chain on my ankle.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 16, 2009 0:18:59 GMT -5
"Oh Marie," I said softly, my hand going to her arm. "I will judge your employer, your friends, the men you bring home. I'm your brother and it's in the job description. But I will never judge you. That freedom I can promise you."
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 16, 2009 0:24:03 GMT -5
I trembled a little and nearly cried, but I took a deep breath and settled myself.
“Thank you Christophe,” I told him.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 17, 2009 0:34:17 GMT -5
"No need to thank me. I'm the morally reprehensible one, remember?" I asked, winking at her with a crooked smile.
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 17, 2009 13:14:37 GMT -5
“I’ve never thought that, and neither has Henri,” I said. I sighed softly. “I still don’t understand the way Mama, Papa and Pierre reacted, but then again I am not surprised.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 17, 2009 22:22:26 GMT -5
"We hate what we do not understand," I said with a sigh of my own. "It was always Mama's reaction that hurt me most."
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 17, 2009 23:46:29 GMT -5
“That’s because she always told us she’d love us no matter what,” I said. This time it was me that reached over and squeezed his hand.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 18, 2009 19:13:30 GMT -5
"Yeah," I whispered before my jaw clenched. With my free hand, I took a drink of the sangria.
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 18, 2009 20:11:05 GMT -5
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I wish I knew what to say to make it better.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 18, 2009 23:31:58 GMT -5
I looked at her then. Putting my sangria down, I took her hand in both of mine. "Just seeing you, knowing that you're going to stand by me at the wedding... means so much to me Marie," I said, my voice soft. "The past can't be changed, but you've made the future brighter for me."
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 18, 2009 23:36:33 GMT -5
“I’m so happy you invited us here. I can’t wait to see you and Malabelle married,” I told him, smiling.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 19, 2009 14:48:30 GMT -5
I smiled then, and released her hand after a quick squeeze. "I can't wait either. She's the great love of my life, it's what's kept us together."
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 19, 2009 16:57:20 GMT -5
“I can see that just by looking at you too together,” I told him. “You two make a good couple.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 19, 2009 17:26:07 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said with a happy grin before the server returned, bearing our meals. Just the smell of it caused my mouth to water.
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 19, 2009 17:29:16 GMT -5
The server set our food down and retreated.
“Oh gods, this looks so good,” I said, smiling. “It smells so exotic too.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 19, 2009 21:24:11 GMT -5
"It smells tasty. I'm starving," I said with a grin, pulling my paella pan closer and picking up my utensils.
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 19, 2009 21:26:06 GMT -5
“It’s nice to know some things never change,” I said with a smile as I picked up my fork and then took a bite of the sausage. It was spicy and different and completely wonderful.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 20, 2009 0:08:24 GMT -5
I began to dig in, then chuckled. "I think the Dowayne almost got rid of me again when he saw how much I ate," I said after I swallowed.
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 20, 2009 0:09:49 GMT -5
I smiled at him as I finished another bite. “Did he make you do more chores to offset the cost of your keep?” I teased.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 20, 2009 0:28:58 GMT -5
"I think I just ended up doing more chores because I didn't complain about them," I said with a laugh. "Being country born was certainly good for that, I wasn't whiney. Unlike some of my Housemates."
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 20, 2009 0:31:57 GMT -5
“What was it like there?” I asked, letting loose my curiosity. “Tell me all about it.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 20, 2009 0:58:59 GMT -5
I paused and thought best how to describe it. "It's... a strange world. I didn't leave Valerian's walls except on very special occasions until I'd had my debut. And only then after I'd proved that I could be trusted to wander the City alone. Safety is, was a major concern for us. Not because there is criminal activity or anything, but because sometimes patrons can become a little... too affectionate. The bad ones just view us as one more plaything."
Then I shook my head as if to clear it. "Anyway, living in Valerian, it's like constantly being ready in your best clothes, all primped up, for the man you're courting not to show up. You get used to the wait, fill it with all sorts of activities. And then a patron arrives, and it's like someone has kicked a beehive." I grinned at that.
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 20, 2009 14:03:58 GMT -5
I ate as I listened avidly to his story.
“And the assignations, what were they like?” I asked.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 20, 2009 14:38:06 GMT -5
"They were... all so different. The simplest to the most complicated requests. It all depended on what the patron desired. I certainly had more female than male patrons," I said, trying to explain. "The Night Court is a place for fantasies, and Valerian even more so. Some patrons go there not because they're particularly violent, but because they're afraid that some of the more... conventional Houses would shy away from their particular fantasies."
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Post by Marie Legard on Sept 20, 2009 14:41:51 GMT -5
"And did you enjoy them all? I mean truly enjoy them?" I asked before taking a drink of sangria.
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