Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 10, 2010 1:56:20 GMT -5
It was late, but I couldn't sleep. That was nothing new, but tonight I felt especially agitated. I finally gave up on even the idea of sleep and rose quietly. I had my own room finally, but I was still young enough and new enough to be wary of waking another adept on my midnight excursion.
First I raided the kitchen, where I managed to procure half of a chocolate cake and a jug of ice cold milk. I knew from past experience that eating it in the kitchen was a likely way to get caught and so I soon found myself heading for the storage room, one of the few places I knew around here that one could find some privacy, especially in the middle of the night.
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 10, 2010 2:07:52 GMT -5
As the days towards Naia's natal grew closer, I felt a knot growing in my stomach, not to mention with the excursion I had had with Gabriel. I had wanted him so badly, to take him as my own, for me to dominate him in some WAY of assuring myself that I was the one in control of the situation, that I could end this whenever I wanted and yet I found myself heated and flustered like I had never known before. Naia's natal rested in the back of my consciousness of all my activities and I could not help but groan a little because of it, or stay up at night worried. She said I would be contracted JUST to her and yet, something gnawed on me that this was not right. Just a couple of people... four, she had said, including herself. I could handle that, surely, especially if it was written in my contract but Elua's BALLS my mind was running like a fox during a hunt.
It had shown in my activities during the week. I was a bit more ornery and snappish with my fellow members of Valerian house and had given one of them such a verbal beating that I had almost brought her to tears (again). Not like it was anything new I just felt myself heightened. I didn't want to talk to anyone, my mind was so occupied. When the door opened, I felt myself jump a little, the boxes I had been sitting on shifting. "Who the hell is it," I snarled. Only with the small bit of moonlight from the window to go by, I could just make out the figure standing in the doorway.
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 10, 2010 2:14:13 GMT -5
I hadn't expected anyone else to be in the storage room, so the words growled out of the darkness startled me so much that I dropped the milk, which of course spilled all over the floor. "Oh, now look what you've done!" I exclaimed crossly, squinting into the darkness to see who had just ruined my snack. I could not possibly eat cake without milk!
"Sinclair?" I said, still frowning slightly. We did not really know each other well, but Sinclair was one of the few people that I admired, though I had never told him so. I liked the way he did not care what anyone else thought, the way his presence dominated the room, and the fact that he had come from Mandrake House was also intriguing.
Well, if I was going to be in the storage room with another night owl, at least it was someone that I wanted to get to know better. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, I thought everyone would be asleep by now," I said contritely, looking around for some way to clean up the mess.
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 10, 2010 2:26:41 GMT -5
I saw, by the look of it, some sort of glass and liquid spilling to the floor and merely shrugged my shoulders. "Not my fault you're a pig who wants a midnight snack." I could already tell now that it was just an adept and I had nothing to worry about when it came to how I acted as long as I didn't break any bones or injure. The rest were all interpersonal squabbles. I rolled my eyes a little when she said my name, whoever it was, and propped myself on one of the boxes as I lounged, still awake as if it were broad daylight.
"You didn't STARTLE me," I said in slight irritation when she would even SUGGEST something so stupid as that. "What the hell are you doing trying to eat in here anyway? It's only a few hours until sun up, Elua's balls," I huffed under my breath. As she stepped closer and my eyes adjusted, I saw the plate in her hand and scoffed. "Cake? Gods above," I said with a roll of my eyes. "Can't you find somewhere else to eat?"
Or was I just going to have to bully her until she left?
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 10, 2010 12:54:21 GMT -5
I ignored his jibe, as small as I was, I could be a pig if I wanted to, it made no difference. Finding a stack of washcloths I grabbed one and bent down to clean up the milk, setting the jug off to the side and my stolen cake atop a nearby box.
"Fine, you were not startled in the least," I agreed, moving further into the room and shutting the door behind. When he commented on my choice of snack, I merely shrugged and then started poking around in boxes curiously before pausing to answer him. "Well, I was going to share it with you, but if you don't like cake, more for me. And I'm sure I could find somewhere else to eat, but I like it here."
I stopped and turned to him, crossing my arms across my chest. "It's a public area, if you don't like it, perhaps you should stay in your room where you won't be startled by the presence of others?"
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 10, 2010 14:05:02 GMT -5
"Yeah more for you indeed," I said with a grunt. What, did she expect me to be HURT that she wasn't going to share a piece of cake with me? I rolled my eyes a little. "I think I'm going to find SOME way to live," I said sarcastically and clucked my tongue against the back of my teeth. There was some...unwritten Valerian rule that the storage room was my territory. I was in it long enough running errands for Trinette back and forth and most just duckedi n and ducked out. Rarely did someone actually go in there to STAY and it seemed that Manon was, much to my irritation.
I merely shrugged her off when she said it was a public area. "Well go ahead and continue to make a mess then. I can see why you wouldn't want to eat in your room," I said with a wrinkle of my nose. Who the HELL was this girl anyway? A Valerian no doubt, but it wasn't like I spent time trying to memorize names.
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 10, 2010 14:21:01 GMT -5
I could see that I was irritating him, and for some reason, I found that amusing. "I don't suppose you know where there's a fork.." I muttered, continuing to poke about while Sinclair continued to make rude comments. I supposed that it was lucky for me that I did not take it all so seriously, but I already knew of his reputation for unpleasantness. Mostly I wondered how he got away with it - I had spent just last week cleaning every cat and crop until it gleamed for a minor infraction.
"Well, now you know why I'm not in my room, why aren't you in yours? It's the middle of the night, even adepts with as few assignations as you get need to sleep."
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 10, 2010 14:36:08 GMT -5
I used to get in a lot of trouble, back when I was younger and the Dowayne tried to work such habits out of me, but it soon became clear that that only caused me to rebel more and that keeping me busy usually allowed me to calm. When in a good mood, I tended to only make a few scraping comments and most knew by now to stay away from me so it didn't cause MANY problems. I merely grunted in response when she asked me for a fork and continued to just try and fall back into my day (or night) dreaming, though she quickly disrupted it with her words. I wondered if it was impossible for her to shut up. I would have certainly believed it.
"I'm not in it because I don't want to be," I said flatly, my eyes narrowing at her in irritation. I really honestly could not tell if her comment after had been a jibe at me or if she was just that plain stupid. She seemed innocent enough. "I know how to take care of myself, thank you very much. As for how many assignations I have, that's my damned business. So will you SHUT UP already? This may be a public space but I have no intention to spend it chit chatting with some dumb twit," I growled, before closing my eyes and hoping beyond hope she would get the picture.
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 10, 2010 15:27:02 GMT -5
"A-ha!" I exclaimed, finding a box of spare silverware. There were no forks, but a spoon would do. I grabbed my plate and settled down right next to Sinclair. I was sure he would not want me there, but well, who died and made him king of the storage room?
"Fine." I said, and then proceeded to eat the cake, which was incredibly delicious. I raised the spoon with a big bite on it toward his face. "You sure you don't want some?" I asked, through a mouthful of chocolate. "It's really good."
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 10, 2010 15:35:49 GMT -5
She sat RIGHT next to me and I could only feel myself growl and grumble a little in irritation. Wow this girl was REALLY annoying wasn't she? I didn't want to move since I was here first, damn it all, but when she began to move the spoon towards my face I slapped it out of her hand. "Elua's balls get that shit away from me!" I snarled and gave her a decent enough push with my knee. "Can't you just sit somewhere else or FIND somewhere else? Damn it, I'm not playing this idiotic game with you!"
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 10, 2010 21:54:38 GMT -5
I knew he wouldn't want me sitting right next to him, but I was still annoyed when he knocked the spoonful of perfectly good cake out of my hand. Well, if it was going to be wasted ... I leaned forward and "accidentally" spilled the rest of the gooey chocolate cake right into his lap.
"Oops."
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 11, 2010 18:46:47 GMT -5
I rolled my eyes at her and was just about to get up and go to sit on another box when the cake when STRAIGHT into my lap. I had it half in mind to throttle her but I did NOT hit girls. Normally. My hands clenched into fists, "You BITCH!" I snarled, snatching the plate from her as I dumped the chocolate cake onto that, though I had a good fistful of it that I shoved into her hair as I got up. "Damned annoying women can't SHUT UP or keep their hands to themselves, ELUA'S BALLS!" I snarled starting to head out. So much for trying to calm my mind to resting!
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 11, 2010 20:54:56 GMT -5
I couldn't help it - I laughed. Not just a giggle, but really laughed, holding my sides even as he smeared cake in my hair. How angry he was becoming at what was essentially a harmless piece of cake was horribly amusing to me, and when he started to storm out, I just couldn't stop myself.
I was up in a flash, grabbing for the jug of milk. It wasn't quite empty so I flung it outward, splattering milk all over his back. "Watch who you call a bitch, you JACKASS!" I said, my laughter still ringing through the small space.
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 12, 2010 3:13:00 GMT -5
It wasn't about the cake it was the PRINCIPLE. The mere fact that she would have the audacity to do something like that to me. To ME. I wondered where she got the nerve and I had it half in mind to go back to her and make sure that she cried and would want to be a hermit for the rest of her life by the time I was done with her, but she stopped me by throwing her jug of milk all over me. And she was LAUGHING about it. I whirled around and grabbed her hard by the neck, slamming her into the wall behind her. I am sure I must have looked ridiculous, all wet and soaked with cake and I was breathing hard, too, grinding my teeth.
"Cunt," I snarled, digging my thumb hard into her throat. "You'll learn to keep your distance from me or you WILL get hurt, is that clear?!"
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 13, 2010 0:54:48 GMT -5
My laughter died pretty quickly when he slammed me into the wall by the throat and a scream slipped past before I was struggling to breathe. Really now, this was going to far! A flash of anger raced through me and with all my strength I brought my knee up between his legs, my hands at his wrists trying to get him to let go.
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 13, 2010 2:12:45 GMT -5
When she kneed me in that area, I groaned. What could I do? I grabbed at the sensitive area, letting out a loud yelp of pain, half wanting to kill her at that point as my knees buckled. "You crazy BITCH I'm going to throttle you!" I snapped, trying to make a grab for her arm.
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 13, 2010 2:20:01 GMT -5
Being much smaller than he was, and more agile, in my opinion, I danced easily out of the way, giving him last kick in the shin. I couldn't resist taunting him before I ran off, so I said with a grin, "Oh really, Sinclair? I heard you're the bitch ... didn't a certain Prince leave you all tied up with no place to go?"
Being smarter than the average taunter, I then decided it was time to beat a hasty retreat and turned to take off running down the hall at top speed before he could recover.
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 13, 2010 2:28:07 GMT -5
When she mentioned Gratien, well, my blood boiled like it never had before. Things that my patrons done was nowhere near as infuriating as this. Even getting screwed while I was asleep was nowhere near this bad! I reached out and tried to grab her, cursing her loudly as she escaped my grasp. I was going to MURDER her. It was entirely different. She was another adept, not my patron.
"YOU GET BACK HERE!"
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Post by Dante nó Valerian on Apr 13, 2010 2:34:07 GMT -5
I was transversing the darkened hallways back to my rooms at the other end of the house from the fosterling quarters after comforting a young adept who was entirely homesick. A bit of spiced candy fixed that. I was not entirely a man who loved children, I was impartial to them. They could not exactly speak in the way a person should or understand. They made things difficult, but still, I tried to help out where I could, though I was not much for cuddling and coddling either. I could hear the pounding footsteps headed my way and braced myself, catching whoever had been running in my steel like arms. I held her fast, hearing the roaring of another adept and my lips pursed.
"Manon. Now, now, what have you done?"
As Sinclair approached, I held Manon fast and looked him over. "Sinclair, I'm sure we can settle this. Take a deep breath."
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 13, 2010 2:42:07 GMT -5
Dante seemed to come out of nowhere and all of a sudden I was entangled and held tightly in his arms. While Dante was not precisely an authority figure, I saw him in that light, for all the times he had administered a punishment or mediated a dispute, and besides all that, he was the first Valerian I had ever seen.
"Dante, thank Naamah!" I quickly drew from my repertoire of dirty tricks and large alligator tears appeared in my dark eyes. "I went to the storage room to have snack and Sinclair was there and, and.." I was working up to a good wail by this point, "he took my food and rubbed it in my hair and called me a bitch and a, and a," I lowered my voice and whispered the other offending word into Dante's ear. "And he tried to choke me!" I wrapped my arms around Dante's neck and made myself as small and pitiful as I could, wondering what Sinclair might say to gainsay my tale.
Everyone knew that he was mean and grumpy, and while I was known for my escapades, they were nothing compared to his. Besides, I was barely debuted, practically a child still, or at least I was fairly sure I was in Dante's eyes, and wasn't that what really mattered here?
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 14, 2010 2:37:52 GMT -5
When I got close enough I let out a loud enough curse. Elua's Balls, Dante! Ugh, there was no getting around that annoying Valerian who seemed to like butting his heads in everyone's affairs. This wouldn't be the first fight of mine that he had interfered in and to be honest, I would have much rather have Manon on her own so I could strangle her without any witnesses. Then she started to CRY and blame all of this on me without filling in any of the things she had done. "No, wait a second! She was on me first and I told her to leave me the hell alone because I'm in a SOUR mood and what does she do? Drop cake in my lap because I wouldn't eat from her damn spoon like a two year old!" I scowled, knowing how immature this next bit was going to sound, "So that's why I put the damned stuff in her hair and she spilled a pitcher of milk all over my back and then guess what? KNEED me in the groin!" I was still limping a little thanks to her and shot her a glare.
"Oh shut UP you were just laughing minutes ago don't you start bawling now!"
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Post by Dante nó Valerian on Apr 14, 2010 2:43:38 GMT -5
Well, Manon was soon wailing and I rubbed my forehead. I had thought I had just finished with wailing six year olds with that fosterling who was sick from home, but apparently not. As soon as Sinclair got up there, well, he was just whining as loudly as well. I sighed a bit and stroked her cheeks, removing her tears, which I knew were quite fake. I knew Manon well enough by now to know she would not cry over something like this. Nay, she probably enjoyed it. "Well, save those fake tears for your assignations and save yourself a good whipping," I said, prying her arms from me, though I gave her an affectionate pat on the head. "Good girl," I said simply as I looked over at Sinclair and sighed.
"Alright, both of you just calm down. Both of you just get cleaned up and let this rest for the night. It just sounds like a childish dispute, to be honest. You'll forget about it by morning." Before Sinclair could protest, I had him by the arm as well as Manon and was dragging them towards the baths. "If I have to scrub you two myself, it will get done and I don't want to hear a word, is that understood?" I looked over both of them. "Or would you prefer that I let Trinette or Karina know?" I was sure that would be enough to stop the both of them. "Manon, you and I can just get some cake tomorrow if you are a good girl and get some sleep for the night."
Sheesh. Sometimes I felt like this whole house was a nursery with constant crying and wounds everywhere.
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 14, 2010 18:56:14 GMT -5
I settled down immediately, pretending to be suitably chastised. I liked Dante, he was always kind and he usually had candy on or about his person somewhere. I allowed myself to be led docilely toward the baths, leaning back to look at Sinclair. When I caught his eye, I stuck my tongue out. Then I leaned forward again and looked at him around the front of Dante. "I'm sorry, Sinclair, I should have left you alone and not tried to share my cake with you." I hoped I sounded contrite enough for Dante's case.
There was no one at the baths at this time of night, but also no one to fetch water. I piped up immediately, "Sinclair, would you fetch us some water and I'll get the soap?" Which would take me all of ten seconds, while fetching water was quite a bit more of a pain.
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 14, 2010 19:06:06 GMT -5
"I didn't WANT your damn cake I told you that from the beginning." I felt like such a little kid getting dragged by the arm by Dante. Now, if it hadn't been for the fact that he could quite easily tell the Dowayne or Second about this then I would have been cursing the man out. He never got in trouble. I could never pit my word against his. "You put that damned cake in my lap on purpose you twit!" I snapped as I stumbled to keep up when my loins were still aching and I found myself still limping.
I scowled when Manon asked me so sweet to fetch the water while she got the soap. "Over my dead body! You're the one who needs the bath, not me." I could just take my clothes off and this whole situation was just frustrating. I had never thought my night could turn into something as idiotic as this!
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Post by Dante nó Valerian on Apr 14, 2010 19:29:06 GMT -5
"Manon," I warned with my tone as I released both of them when we finally got into the baths. I sighed a little. She could be quite the actress, couldn't she? "Sometimes I feel like you were meant for Eglantine, I'm not going to lie," I said and shook my head as Sinclair began to burst in with one of his rants. I swore, if I wasn't here the two were going to be at each other's throats in seconds. I tapped Manon on the shoulder, "Come with me to get the water. I won't make you carry anything, so don't pout at me like that," I said as I took her to come with me outside. I rolled up my sleeves, revealing quite muscled arms as I began to pump in the cold brisk air.
I just didn't want her and Sinclair fighting besides, I thought the cold air as punishment and then a cold bath would be enough for Manon, even if I never said it was a punishment. I filled four buckets and carried two in each hand as I dumped them into a tub. It took me three trips to fill two tubs. After all, I wasn't going to make Sinclair and Manon bathe with one another and by the end of it I was wet, cold and tired, but a complaint never reached my lips. "I need to rest I have an assignation tomorrow. So both of you need to take this cold. I don't want to hear a word of complaint."
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 14, 2010 19:42:53 GMT -5
"Oh fine," I said, sighing and trailing after Dante, glad to at least be away from Sinclair. Outside the night was frigid and I shuddered in my thin nightdress. "Can't I just wash it tomorrow...?" I said, rubbing my arms to warm them up. Dante was much taller than I and I had to scramble to keep up with him.
"I can carry one..." I said, feeling bad that Dante was doing all the work while I simply trailed along. Of course he wouldn't hear of it, which made me feel worse. We padded back and forth three times, with Sinclair doing NOTHING to help the entire time.
I balked at a cold bath, but after watching Dante carry in all that water by himself, I didn't dare say anything. I stripped off my nightgown without a care, I was not the modest type, though I wished that my bare back had at least something of a marque on it yet, but I was as yet untried in the assignation chamber.
I grit my teeth as I sank into the frigid water. It was the fastest bath I'd ever taken, the water turning my skin a bluish tint as I scrubbed cake out of my thick, dark hair. "This is all your fault, Sinclair," I murmured under my breath, my teeth chattering all the while.
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Apr 14, 2010 20:28:46 GMT -5
Well, I didn't help out for obvious reasons. Dante told me to stay here and get the soap and I guess, watch the tubs. I wasn't really sure but I knew he didn't want to leave me and Manon in a room by ourselves while he went to fetch water. I wasn't sure what Manon was complaining about. She acted like she was doing her fair share of the work toting after the older adept's heels like some lost puppy. Once the tubs were filled, with cold water, I frowned a little but did not complain at all. I was more than certain this was one of Dante's punishments. "Oh don't you start blaming this on me," I said with a scowl as she jumped out of the water. I was just as quick, especially since I wasn't even that dirty as I wrapped the towel around my waist. I had no clothes to change into, after all.
"Can I go now?" I asked, irritated as hell from this night.
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Post by Dante nó Valerian on Apr 14, 2010 20:32:22 GMT -5
"I already pumped the water so you are going to bathe now, "I said flatly, watching as Manon took the quickest bath in her life. Once she got out, I wrapped her in a large towel and checked her hair just to make sure there was no more cake smeared into it. "Yes, you may go Sinclair," I said over a shoulder, watching as the other adept quickly ducked out holding his clothes. I sighed. "You should know better than to irritate that one, Manon," I said as I began to walk to take her back to her room. "Now, no more midnight snacks. If you want a treat you know all you have to do is ask me. You know where my room is." I pulled a candy out of my pocket and unwrapped it, before I popped it into her mouth.
"So be a good girl for me, alright?" I kissed her on the forehead, smoothing some hair out of her face. "Good night, Manon."
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Manon nó Courcel
Adept
Valerian House
Personal Courtesan of Prince Delauney de la Courcel
Posts: 285
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Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 14, 2010 20:52:16 GMT -5
I was glad to see Sinclair leave, but I didn't really want to go to bed yet ... maybe I could stay up the entire night! So, I followed Dante instead.
"Are you going to sleep? I had a bad dream, I don't feel like sleeping yet... but I don't want to get into more trouble..." I trailed off, pulling my lower lip between my teeth as I was wont to do. "But I guess I should let you get some rest, don't worry about me..." I peeked up at him for some clue as to whether or not he was buying this at all.
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Post by Dante nó Valerian on Apr 14, 2010 21:06:54 GMT -5
I looked her over as she pulled her innocent act. She didn't want to get into any more trouble, huh? "Had a bad dream? Is that why you went to go eat some cake, poor thing," I said this though I was being sarcastic. I wasn't too obvious though, my voice tended to be relatively flat. I stroked her head in affection, especially when she started on the 'oh don't worry about me' business. She knew that that was exactly what I was going to do, the little siren. "Fine, come on, if you are going to pull that number we might as well go to my room." I lead her down the corridor to my own. It was definitely a nicer one, but I had earned it through my service.
I turned on the light, revealing my stacks of books that lined the walls. They were all organized in my head but I was sure that to anyone viewing it, it would seem like such a disheveled mess. I moved to the bed and patted a spot for her. "So what did you want to do then? Talk perhaps? Your debut is coming up in only a matter of days, how do you feel about that?"
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