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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 3, 2009 2:01:39 GMT -5
The morning dawned cold and clear on the day of the last posing day for the painting. I woke up with feelings of dread and sadness in my stomach. Sadness, at what this day would mean, and dread, for I was going to do something I had never done before, say the things I desperately wanted to say. I didn't even know if I could do it, but I was going to try.
I dressed in my work clothes and packed my basket. The gold dress was at Darien's; I'd left it there so it wouldn't get ruined going back and forth. Privately, I wondered if it had accrued any damage from being left on the floor in the heat of passion...our passion. It had to mean something, this pattern we had fallen into. I wanted to know what.
I spent the day at the market, gathering the choicest meats, vegetables and spices for what could be the last meal I ever prepared for him. I even scraped together enough to purchase a small cake. The icing was decorated to look like a garden of flowers. I hoped he would like it.
Close to five o'clock, I made my way over to his shop. I took a deep breath, and closed my eyes. Then I knocked on the door and pushed it open slightly. "Hello?"
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 3, 2009 15:58:50 GMT -5
This period of time that had passed while doing the portrait of Merav had been some of the nicest I could ever remember. I found myself looking forward to this last session with eagerness and sadness. I was eager to see her again, but said that this would be the last time for who knew how long. Normally content in my solitude, I found myself missing her company on the days we didn’t see each other. We’d fallen into an easy and comfortable pattern in our time together. Time spent on the various stages of the portrait, dinner, and then passion taking over and guiding us to bed. I was finding the bed too cold and empty those mornings I woke up and she wasn’t there.
Five was drawing near and I made sure everything was arranged. The cloth hung over the portrait, shielding it from her view. I wouldn’t let her see it until it was complete. Her gown lay neatly over a chair. I’d paid a neighbor lady a few coins to press it after the fabric had spent too much time crumbled on the floor.
“Hello,” I answered when I heard her. “I’m upstairs, do you need help?”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 3, 2009 16:18:03 GMT -5
"No, I'm all right," I called back, before I made my way up the stairs. Darien was there, and I went to greet him with a kiss. "Hello."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 3, 2009 21:25:03 GMT -5
“Hello,” I said again, smiling and returning her kiss. “How are you?”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 3, 2009 21:44:13 GMT -5
"Fine," I replied. "I got some good things at the market today. How are you?"
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 3, 2009 23:05:36 GMT -5
“Good, a bit busy today but good,” I answered. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 3, 2009 23:13:01 GMT -5
"Is this a popular time of year for marquing?" I asked curiously, by way of acknowledging his busy schedule.
I set the basket on the table. "Well, that depends," I said. I pulled out the two orange tubers from my basket. "How do you like your sweet potatoes? I also got steaks, asparagus...I wanted to make an especially good meal tonight." I said that last carefully, trying to keep the sorrow out of my voice.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 5, 2009 15:34:00 GMT -5
“It all sounds wonderful,” I said, smiling. “As for sweet potatoes, I like them roasted. And yes, it’s a pretty busy time. Lots of adepts wanting to be healed from their marquing before Longest Night.”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 7, 2009 18:24:12 GMT -5
"I see," I said with a smile. "That makes sense." I thought for a moment. "Can you please bank the embers around the potatoes? They'll take the longest to cook. When they're done, I can grill the steaks and boil the asparagus at the same time."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 7, 2009 18:26:31 GMT -5
“Of course,” I said, going to the fireplace and kneeling down to do as she asked.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 7, 2009 18:31:20 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said. I unwrapped the asparagus. "I'll just trim the ends on these, and then we can paint for a while while the potatoes are roasting."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 7, 2009 20:26:02 GMT -5
“Sounds good. There’s not much left to do,” I commented.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 11, 2009 17:49:28 GMT -5
"How much longer do you think it will take?" I asked, taking a seat at the table to slice the asparagus ends.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 12, 2009 0:19:39 GMT -5
"Half an hour to an hour," I answered.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 12, 2009 21:20:44 GMT -5
"That's good," I said. "The potatoes will be done by then, so I can change out of the gold dress and we can cook the steak and asparagus." I smiled. "I can't wait to see it."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 12, 2009 21:33:41 GMT -5
“The steak and asparagus?” I teased, casting her a grin.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 14, 2009 22:06:51 GMT -5
I giggled. "No," I said. "The painting." I grinned back. "I know what steak and asparagus looks like."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 15, 2009 0:24:11 GMT -5
“Ah, okay,” I said, chuckling. “Just checking.”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 15, 2009 0:44:39 GMT -5
I laughed too, finishing up my slicing. Taking out the cake, I set it away from the steaks. The steaks were on ice, but I didn't want the cake to freeze. "I got you something," I said. I carefully lifted up the little cake and walked it over to where he was by the hearth. "I thought the icing looked like brushstrokes, so I thought of you when I picked it out."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 15, 2009 17:24:01 GMT -5
My smile turned tender. “It’s beautiful, thank you,” I said. Rising, I leaned in carefully so as not to bump the cake and kissed her softly.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 16, 2009 17:38:46 GMT -5
I returned his soft kiss, feeling a few tears gather behind my eyelids. His tenderness was almost too much. "You're welcome," I whispered. I moved to set the cake on a nearby countertop. "I should probably put on the gold dress," I said, blinking away the tears so that they would not fall.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 17, 2009 18:06:23 GMT -5
"Sounds good," I said, smiling. I went over to the painting area, opening windows and getting everything ready.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 22, 2009 14:15:32 GMT -5
I went over to the dress. It looked fresh and clean, not like I remembered. "Did you have the dress cleaned?" I asked curiously, as I began to undress.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 22, 2009 19:09:59 GMT -5
“I did,” I answered, smiling at her before focusing on the bowl I was filling with water. “It got rather wrinkled after our last session.”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 22, 2009 19:42:42 GMT -5
I blushed a little. "Yes, I suppose it did," I murmured, as I stepped out of my clothes and into the dress. "Thank you for having it cleaned, it looks very nice."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 22, 2009 20:33:21 GMT -5
“The lady down the street does a very good job, I take all my clothes to her,” I said, stealing a glance at her as she moved from one dress to another. I wondered if she’d come back after today or if her attention would move elsewhere.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 22, 2009 20:57:23 GMT -5
"I see," I said. "I could do that for you, if you like." I said this last hesitantly, before approaching him. "Can you lace me up?"
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 23, 2009 15:29:06 GMT -5
“Of course,” I said, setting down my things and stepping behind her to lace up her dress. My fingers worked with practiced ease.
“I wouldn’t feel right you doing my laundry,” I admitted softly. “I know it sounds silly.”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 26, 2009 0:06:53 GMT -5
"No, I understand, I suppose," I said. I just want...need a reason to be near you. "Thank you for doing my laces."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 26, 2009 20:32:30 GMT -5
“You’re welcome,” I said, my fingers lingering at her shoulders, unwilling to stop touching her.
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