An Exploration of Sorts

[Cosette de Manon]

I had decided to explore the City and perhaps find employment for myself while Ansel was at work and running errands, and he had given me his blessing on that, simply telling me to be careful and kissing me before he left.

As I was walking around, I tried to mentally pinpoint landmarks and junctures in the City that I could at least use as a reference point so that I didn't get lost, but unfortunately that didn't work at all. I was hopelessly turned around and beginning to worry that I may not make it back to Ansel's. I wouldn't have wanted him to worry. Turning a corner, I came upon a building and decided to step in. As my eyes adjusted from the bright sunlight outside to the dim candlelight inside, I saw that it wasn't a shoppe at all but a salon. Well, perhaps the owner would be kind enough to at least direct me to a street that I was familiar with.

"Hello?" I called softly, wondering if the owner was in or if he or she was otherwise occupied. "Is anyone about?"

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I furrowed my brow in consternation as I stared at the ledger in front of me. This was quite possibly the most tedious task I faced as a salon owner--the settling of accounts.

It was even more irritating when the numbers refused to add up.

"Damnation!" I swore, glaring at the sheet as if it would fix itself out of fear of my wrath. I could have tossed it aside, but something about the numbers was...most bothersome.

I must needs hire an accountant for these things, I thought, but just then my attention was drawn towards the receiving room.

I had a visitor.

Suppressing a momentary twinge of annoyance that my recently-hired servants had not instinctively responded to an intrusion, I strode out of my office, which was close to the entrance. My visitor was a young woman, that in itself was not unusual, I had had the opportunity to meet many young women.

"Good day, my lady." I said, giving her my best courtly bow. "My name is Landis d'Ames, formerly of Mandrake House, and Master of this place. How may I assist you today?"

[Cosette de Manon]

I blinked. "It's.... Nice to meet you, my Lord d'Ames. I am Cosette de Manon, formerly of Namarre and now citizen of thie City. Unfortunately, I seem to be a bit lost," I said with an apologetic smile, bobbing a moderately deep curtsy to him. My blonde curls bounced as I straightened myself.

....Mandrake? Oh dear. I would have to be a bit more cautious in the future, I mused with a grin. And I'd definitely have to tell Ansel about this encounter.

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I chuckled softly at her admission. "It is not hard to become lost in this City, the gods know even I lose my way at times, and I have lived here since I was but ten years old. Tell me where you are bound, and perhaps I may provide you with some direction..."

I grinned. "Unless you have stumbled into my domain seeking an answer to a need your mind cannot bear to consider?" I liked to tease new faces who appeared at my door. I did have a certain...public persona...to uphold, after all.

[Cosette de Manon]

I blinked at his words, a flush creeping up my neck and staining my cheeks. Was he jesting? I was unsure how to take his words. I settled for ignoring the latter part and concentrating on trying to get back to where I had been.

"Well, I'm not quite positive where I am bound, really; you see, I have not been in the City long and I only really know landmarks, I do not know names of places or streets," I explained. "I only know the name of the man I am staying with and that it's just a short ways from the fountain in the Square."

Elua, the man was making me a bit jumpy. He reminded me of a coiled viper; beautiful to look at but dangerous if it decided to strike.

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I could not help but smile as a blush crept into her cheeks. This was a sport I particularly enjoyed: the seduction of the innocent, the throwing open of doors to infinite possibilities.

Behave yourself, Mandrake! She is lost and in need of assistance! I admonished myself. "A moment, if you please, I will draw you a map..." I said, disappearing into my office to fetch quill, ink, and tablet.

"Here," I said, when I returned. "Here is where you are," I explained, making a circle to indicate the salon. "To reach Elua's Square, you should head west. It is in the very centre of the City and so is impossible to miss. When you exit this place, turn to your left and head straight ahead, then turn right at the first fork you come to, that should take you to the Square."

[Cosette de Manon]

I watched as he sketched the map with alacrity, suddenly able to see where I had turned. I pointed to a lane off to the left as we were looking at the map... North, I think... And said, "There's house with a stable down that lane, and the man I'm staying with, Ansel Roux, lives there. Do you know of it?"

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I closed my eyes, trying to recall the place that she spoke of. After a while, I shook my head. "No, I do not recall seeing any such place, but there cannot be too many houses with their own stables near the Square." I tried to smile in a way that was reassuring. "But I am certain if you ask anyone who is out and about in the Square, they will be able to direct you. I do not visit the Square as much now."

[Cosette de Manon]

Glancing around the salon, I nodded absently. "Thank you, kind sir, it is very much appreciated," I said as I folded the map into squares and tucked it safely into my satchel.

"So... What does one do in a Mandrake salon besides... Well, besides the obvious?" I inquired, curious.

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I chuckled. "What do you consider 'obvious' regarding the doings in a salon owned by a Mandrake, my dear?" I gestured towards the hall which held the neat rows of doors that led to the assignation chambers and the room I used for sterilizing my tools. "Well, besides what happens in those...there are accounts to settle and servants to manage..." I shrugged. "I imagine it is much like any household."

I felt a slow smile spread across my face. "Are you curious to know my specialty? I could give you a tour, if you wish. No adept charges for tours."

[Cosette de Manon]

As he invited me on a tour, I look at him dubiously. "And what will this tour consist of, exactly? Certainly not...Demonstrations, I trust?" I asked nervously. He had that air about him, of confident superiority. I understood fully why he was a former Mandrake. He was good at it.

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I laughed, a rich sound that I was unaccustomed to hearing as of late. "Ah, no! My lady, not unless you desire such, and only on your own flesh if you sign a contract!" I placed a closed fist over my heart. "No adept of Mandrake House would stoop to such heresy. On my word as a gentleman, I would not dare risk offending Naamah and Kushiel, who I serve with utmost devotion, by acting so...callously to a guest..."

[Cosette de Manon]

"Oh, I apologize, messire, I certainly did not mean to offend you, nor any member of Mandrake House!" I exclaimed, clasping my hands in front of my chest in dismay. "Please forgive me, I'm merely new to the City and have not ever met an adept of the Night Court so to stumble upon the salon of an esteemed former Mandrake has come as a bit of a shock!"

I sighed, hoping I hadn't truly offended Messire Landis. He really was being very kind and helpful, and I was interested to see the salon of a Mandrake.

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I found it amusing that she believed I would be so easily offended. "There is no need to apologize, my dear, and I am hardly esteemed...yet..." I grinned. "It would be my pleasure to speak to you of such things that only adepts of Mandrake and Valerian know...intimately...you only need to ask, and I will answer as best I can..."

[Cosette de Manon]

I grinned and nodded. "All right, so tell me about the dynamics between Valerian and Mandrake, about how you work together.... About the art and beauty of dominance and submission," I said. Living in Namarre, I hadn't learned much about the Night Court other than what their House names were and what aspect of pleasure each House served.

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I nodded. "Of course, shall we take a seat?" I gestured to the table and chairs that were at the far end of the room, right where the parlour was situated. The room was not used as much as it could have been, since I was currently the only adept servicing patrons, but it suited our purposes.

I slid into my seat, my fingers forming an arch as I looked for a suitable place to begin. "You are, I trust, familiar with the House canons of Valerian and Mandrake? They are 'I Yield' and 'Yield All', respectively. Tell me, what do you think it means to 'yield'?"

[Cosette de Manon]

Tucking my feet under me as I was accustomed, I sat in a comfortable chair near to him so that we could comfortably converse.

I thought on his question for awhile before I answered. "I think that yielding is being openly willing to do what the person who is wanting you to yield asks you to do, and doing it with grace. I think it's wanting to follow the other person's command for the sheer joy of it and not simply because they are telling you to," I finally said, watching for his reaction.

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I had expected her to say something a little more pedestrian, so her answer both surprised and delighted me.

"Just so," I replied. "If you would know aught of us, Valerians and Mandrakes both, know that power can only be taken if it is first given freely, that is the essence of our exchange, all the rest is...decoration...so to speak..." I considered her for a moment. "You would make a fine member of either of our houses, I think, with such a philosophy."

[Cosette de Manon]

I blushed and smiled at his kind words. "My thanks, my lord," I said shyly. "I am honored by the compliment. May I ask how you came to be at Mandrake, or is that too private a tale for you to share?"

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I shook my head. "I do not mind, I imagine it is considered common knowledge among my acquaintances. My mother was an adept of Mandrake House, as she tells it, she caught me playing with her whip..." I smiled to myself, I recalled some of the event, but I was separated from that child of ten by many years.

"When she questioned me as to what I was doing with her whip. I told her that Lord Kushiel had given me permission." I shrugged. "I do not recall ever having a conversation with the statue in our shrine, but that is how she tells it. I was sent to Mandrake before the week had ended. My mother, I believe, saw it as a sign that I was to follow in her footsteps." I made an all-encompassing gesture. "Follow, I did, and now you see the result..."

[Cosette de Manon]

"A prestigious salon-- Or, at least, soon to be prestigious!" I teased lightly, smiling a full smile. He really was very kind. "I must confess, I had this strange preconception that all Mandrakes were rather harsh characters, putting on an air of pompous superiority and ruthless violence. Of course," I added with a shake of my blonde curls, "That could have just been my older brother's way of trying to keep me away from the Night Court."

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I nodded. "That perception is accurate, to a degree. We Mandrakes are individuals, after all. The Second of my House, Demetrius, is rather agreeable. He is a good friend of mine, and skilled, 'tis why he's the Second."

I shrugged. "I have found it is easier to catch flies with honey than vinegar, but some do adhere to a...particular type, and the House itself selects individuals who display certain characteristics as well."

[Cosette de Manon]

I nodded, understanding. "Yes, it's not as if everyone fits the exact mold in a House; if they did, it would get boring, there would be no variety within the House," I pointed out.

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I nodded. "Of course, it takes many kinds of adepts to please many patrons, after all. In Mandrake, adepts are more specialized than most, some are more practiced with flechettes, others, like myself, prefer flagellants. Some enjoy the less...physical...aspects our trade, the stuff of the mind and its manipulation, most possess many talents. It is important to make inquiries if you have a particular preference in mind."

[Cosette de Manon]

I took the information in. "What is a flechette, and what are flagellants?" I asked. I figured since I was here and Landis was being kind enough to answer my questions, I had better ask as many of them as I could. 'All knowledge', as they said....

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I smiled. "Wait a moment," I stood and walked across the room and into the hallway. Entering the first assignation chamber, I opened the armoire and withdrew the wooden case that held the blades. Making a quick detour to the upstairs rooms, I fetched my whip and the flogger that Demetrius had gifted me at my salon's inauguration.

"These are flechettes," I explained when I had returned to my seat, turning the case so that she could see into it as I opened it. The blades were in neat rows against the velvet lining of the container. "They are very fine, sharp razors, there is no better tool for cutting skin..." I explained. "As for flagellants: whips, floggers, cat o' nine tails." I set the two examples I had selected on the table. "The flogger has steel tips embedded in the tails; they add a little...bite...to each swing." I grinned, my hand moving to caress the snakelike single-tailed whip. "This was the whip that belonged to my mother."

[Cosette de Manon]

"Ah, the one that Lord Kushiel gave you permission to wield," I nodded. I took him seriously; one did not mock the gods or goddesses of Terre d'Ange without consequence.

As I examined the flechettes, I felt my stomach turn. I did not know that I ever wanted to find out how those felt on the skin; indeed, I was not one for pleasures quite that sharp. I didn't want to touch them, I figured they had been cleaned thoroughly and my hands were probably a bit dusty from all of my walking.

Glancing over from the flechettes, I ran my fingers over the steel tips of the flogger and wondered what it would feel like as well. Hm...

"There are so many choices," I said thoughtfully. "How do you know which one you prefer to wield? Simply try them all?"

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

"As apprentices, we are schooled in the use of many tools," I explained. "Preferences naturally surface in the course of our studies. I myself came quite naturally to prefer the whip, but I have tried to broaden my horizons considerably now that I have access to a more diverse clientele. My patrons have their own preferences, after all. Some would prefer it if I employ tools of a more...intangible nature."

[Cosette de Manon]

"Intangible?" I frowned and shifted my legs so that they were cross-legged. "As in, mental stimulation?" I continued, slightly confused.

[Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake]

I pursed my lips in thought. "Mayhap, some patrons find release in...being humbled, in being made to serve others. Shame can be very arousing to some, for others, being called a whore or a slut can be freeing. It gives them...permission to express their desires...in a sense..."