Backposting: Confiding in the lark

[Shona Tertignan]

“Oh, it was fun alright,” I replied, blushing a little. “It was a lot of fun, and I intend to have as many assignations as I can in the upcoming years. But that’s fun with patrons, Larquel – and you know as well as I do, that it is not where one expresses themselves fully.”

I grinned mischievously – I couldn’t help but wonder how it was, to sleep with another adept. Oh – I would love to do a showing, given the chance. I saved the thought for later; it was just too early.

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

"No, I suppose not." I finished. I leaned back from my cushion, and was able to see behind me an adept lead one patron away to the Dowayne's chambers. Got another one I see. I leaned my head back up with a smirk.

"But, the important thing is to make fun where you can, am I right, or am I right." I shrugged gleefully. It was getting harder and harder to wait for my debut. My virgin price had already been bought ahead of time, lucky me, so now it was just a waiting game.

[Shona Tertignan]

“You are right, you are right,” I replied with a smile. “So, what of your own virgin price? Are they auctioning you? Or have you caught the eye of a half-sighted cow with a large purse?”

I winked as I said it –he knew I found him dashing, for all the teasing I gave him.

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

"Actually," I started pragmatically. "Funny you should mention that. So my debut auction would have been in about six months from now to follow my 16th natal. However, I was entertaining another adepts patron a few weeks ago right. Well, she thought I was the smartest little pup she ever did meet, so she said. When I told her I was not yet available for contract, she through a fit." I gave big huge smile. "Poor Alexdrine nearly wept to tears as she got chewed out, it was quite the scene." I was nigh chuckling to myself now.

"In any case, a deal was struck, and I had my virgin price purchased in advance. Now I'm just cooling my heals. Not a bad setup, don't you think?"

[Shona Tertignan]

“She got the pup portion right,” I said with a wide grin. “I’m happy for you. Is your patron agreeable, at least?” I said it as I nestled close by, letting my hand caress his arm in an affectionate gesture.

Larquel was my best friend, for as long as I could remember, and I often found myself cursing at Jordan for sending me to Bryony rather than Orchis – her love of traditions had put me in a House where I did well, but often times, I found it a little too serious. I might have evolved differently – but Bryony made me a little careless, and that was something I had to work hard not to fall into the role of the fickle adept.

What saved me was my determination to stay me, and yet, I noticed greed was growing on me like a disease – it was taking me over slowly, and it was a little scary.

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

I leaned my head on her shoulder as she settled closer. "Mmmhmm. I think she's very agreeable. She's almost as fiery as you are." I said in a quite tease, giving her a grinning sidelong glance. "I hear she's ticklish, too, maybe like.." I worked my fingers on her ribcage.

Shona was always the big sister I never had. Ever new piece of knowledge she learned, she brought to me, and I did my best to soak it up. I teased her, but only in love, I would never harm her. Ever since I became fostered in the Night Court, she was one person who would listen to me for no other reason than because she wanted to.

[Shona Tertignan]

I was about to say it was sweet, and he started tickling me, and I couldn’t help but let out a girlish giggle. Years later, I would think of myself as one that didn’t giggle, and rightfully so – nine years of assignations, betting and scheming would have turned anyone into a serious adept, though even there, I would find ways to laugh, and amuse myself.

I squirmed, and fought him a little, trying to tickle back, laughing. Larquel was who kept me so light, so happy – just because he had the spirit of his name, and that was what made him so dear to me.

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

She fought back and soon enough we were laughing and giggling like two kids all over again. Had we not been in Orchis house, I bet the act would have been unseemly. Still, I'm sure we gathered a few pleasant looks. At some point we stopped, out of breath.

"Wonder how many times we'll get to do stuff like that again I wonder?" I breathed starring at the ceiling, almost panting being out of breath from to much laughing.

[Shona Tertignan]

“I don’t want to think of it, birdy-bird,” I replied with a happy grin. “I’m happy, here and now, and it’s what matters…”

I didn’t really desire to consider such things – it was scary, to think of it. The debut was the loss of innocence, by many ways, even for all of our training. Larquel would find it out in his own time, though it occurred to me, that he might yet stay innocent for ever.

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

"Alright then, how bout this to think about." I poked her on the nose. "Do you remember the first time we met. It was at the Longest Night Fete, and you were scolding me like a mother in front of all the other little foster lings."

I wasn't going to press what would be. It was a lot to think about.

[Shona Tertignan]

"Rightly so," I replied with a teasing grin. "Without me, you were spilling joie all over the place, and getting whipped for it," I said, wagging a finger at me. In mock pride, I added, "For all you know, you owe me your life !"

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

"Owe me your life. It was your Bryony bluff that got me to take a drink in the first place. What was I supposed to do?" I shrugged with a grin.

She'd made a bet that I couldn't walk straight if I took a drink before the fete started. I was pretty small back then, so it had more of a kick than I was wont, and I only tripped once. But Shona thought it would be funny to scold me when we ran into each other again after we met to get new trays. I might have been mad if the Joie didn't taste good.

"Remember when I got you to take a drink after me?" I snickered.

[Shona Tertignan]

“What I remember more is the whipping I got after that,” I replied with a grin. “Refresh my memory, will you?”

I was fully pretending – I remembered vaguely that I had swiveled with the tray, that Larq had bailed me out… But I liked to hear him tell the story, and so I kept my pretense.

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

"Oh, you mean when you dropped a tray of empty glasses, and you would have been forced to leave for the night had I not told them I did it. Refreshed enough?" I said wryly. It was my first fete, perhaps hers also, and she looked really excited to be there. I didn't want anyone to miss out on such an occasion, so I took the blame. As it turned out, we both got punished in the end for our little ploy, but we'd forged a friendship from it.

"That reminds me, I need some feedback on some new," I gave her a shifty-eyed look, "ideas" Ideas that more or less involved good old practical jokes. It helped to have someone to iron the creases out with.

[Shona Tertignan]

“Enough, yes,” I replied with a small grin. “I never did thank you enough for it, did I not? So here’s to thank you, years belated !” and with that, I planted a large smack on his cheek, something that was more ridiculous than anything else.

“Now, what of your ideas? I’m all ears!” and I straightened up a little, already eager to hear what he had cooked up in that green-eyed head of his.

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

I wiggled a little under her pick of a kiss like a little child. Clearing my throat in a over dramatic gesture, I bent in to a more hushed voice.

"Well, I have a couple. The first one involves," I counted on my fingers. "Some chickens, extra honey, some rope, and an ambush point, which is related to a target I don't have." I gave a mischievous smile.

[Shona Tertignan]

The visual his words conjured in my mind summoned a giggle, and a curious look.

I’d given up on looking at Larquel like he was moonstruck a while back – I knew it had little, if no effect on him. Instead, I smiled, and encouraged him, “Hmmmm hmmm?”

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

"Oh, come on, I've run out of people not expecting a ploy. Do you have anyone in mind, I need fresh meat to try this one out on." I gave a waiting eyebrow. Surely my gambling ducat counter might have made some minor enemies that needed a good humiliation.

"Maybe your first patron would be a good target," I muttered slyly.

[Shona Tertignan]

“Come again?” I said, only hearing the last part. I felt as though my eyes might pop out of their orbits, even if it were my ears that were required for this. I did not play with patrons – and I did wonder why Larq would have a sour tooth against the poor unwitting thing.

I gave him time to address that first question, still thinking on whom I could possibly plague with Larquel’s pranks. In truth, there were a few people I could think of.

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

"I was thinking of your first patron. Surely he'd never see it coming," I said more loudly. "Or, perhaps the Dowayne of Bryony house. I'd get a whipping, but it would be so worth it." I was lost in thought.

"What about a palace guard, those guys are way to stiff." I was giddy with the thought. Feathers and armor, a pretty ridiculous image.

[Shona Tertignan]

“There is no pride in feathering the idiot,” I replied, a little miffed that he assumed my recent gains were solely based on my patron’ gull. “I think I should like to see Roy no Dahlia all feathered up, what do you think?”

That adept had annoyed me profoundly – all pride and guile – he thought he was better than everyone.

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

"Dahlia?!" I burst out laughing. That was perfect. It had all the flair of bringing a noble down to unsnobbery levels, without the usual harsh punishment. Oh, I could just see the look on their faces now.

"Oh, I couldn't think of anything wrong with that idea," I said calming down. I rubbed my hands together in mock conniving display. "So, a target I have now. Where would be a good place to catch the suc...I mean...adept."

[Shona Tertignan]

I chucked at his acte manque, and said, "But where better, than at the Patron?" I said sultrily. "Unless we peg him in the foyer of Eglantine?"

I paused, looking him in the eye, "I'm not getting flogged over this, though. That budding marque I showed you... it stays impeccable, yes?"

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

"Oh, but of course. At this rate, I can only do these good pranks and get away with the punishments while I don't have my own marque yet." I said it like it was obvious.

"I guess you could say I need some grandiose prank to be a finale of mine before my transformation into full manhood and adept, don't you think." I gave her a wink. Indeed, it felt like it, this big change looming upon me.

[Shona Tertignan]

I grinned, and sighed, “Oh, the heavy weight of being an adept,” I said dramatically. “Your friends take the hit for you, you get to know ecstasy untold, and to annoy the snottiest adept ever. Oh… what a life…” I reclined languidly against the cushions, feigning the pause of a lazy noble.

What gave me away? The budding giggle in my belly, that was begging to come out – and the look of amusement. I did wonder how Larq could hold his patience like this. I was myself raw with need when the time had come, truly, I was.

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

"Oh please I think your exagerating a little bit on every front." I rolled like a lazy cat and flung my arm around her, burying my face in the pillow, and talking through the cushion.

"So, your not going to bribe me with money for this little extortion endeavor?" I mumbled.

[Shona Tertignan]

“With money?” I replied, grinning. “Since when do the Bryony bribe their friends, for starters?”

I ruffed up his hair, and lazily let my hand caress it. “Fine, you have me, mumble-boy. Name your price.”

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

"Oh, I don't need money." I said equally placid, resting on the cushion. I wanted a moment, feeling like a kid under her touch.

"Chocolate." I murmured slowly from the couch. Then I leaned back up. "We should get chocolate, your treat." I said with a grin.

[Shona Tertignan]

“Chocolate, my treat,” I replied with a light tone.

Why was he talking to the couch? I wrapped my arms around him, pressing him to me. He was almost a man, what was I saying, he was a man, and soon, such an embrace would be… a little strange. But for now, it was still Shona and Larq, the troublemakers.

[Larquél nó Orchis (D)]

I leaned into shown as she held me, at least for a bit. At some point, I might have felt myself get to relaxed, and given that we were still in the Salon, and well, it was Shona, I getnly extricated myself.

I stood up and offered my hand to help her up as well. "Good, now we just need to find a proper vendor." I said with a smirk.

Mmmmm, chocolate with friends, I was quite content as she was.