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Topic: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [complete] (Read 167 times)
corentin Guest
Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [complete] « Thread Started on May 3, 2012, 4:28pm »
(( 11 Bloomingtide, Lostwithiel Bannorn. At Siorus Cadogan’s estate.))
Corentin smirked as he stepped to the front door of Siorus’ estate. The journey had been entirely too long, what with mud and stinking things and, maker forbid, the first insects of the season all buzzing about like their sole purpose in life was to fly into Corentin’s ears and in front of his eyes and try to annoy him into dropping his Fereldan accent. It was enough to drive a lesser man to drink! How anybody could regularly make trips such as these through no-man’s land was beyond Corentin’s understanding. He swore that on his next trip, he would arrange for a horse-drawn closed carriage and fresh horses along the trip if it sent him to the poorhouse!
But that was not the reason why he smirked. While it was a relief to finally come to a place where he knew at least one person would understand civilized things, he was smirking because he was wondering if that same person would have been able to put her hand in the remodeling of this estate as well as the Denerim abode. He was talking about Renee, of course, Siorus’ lovely and capable herbalist-slash-companion, who understood nice things and was perfectly capable of getting Siorus to loosen his purse strings enough to acquire some. He imagined rooms with lace and figurines that caught the dust and the eye in the afternoon sun, and then imagined the look on his employer’s face when the former mercenary discovered how much those “useless things” cost.
And if Renee had not succeeded in getting her way, Corentin was perfectly prepared to join forces with her again and ensure that she did. Siorus was far too gloomy and somber. He positively needed those nice things to offset his dour demeanor!
Corentin looked to his side and smiled warmly at his elven cohort on this trip. “Let us announce our presence,” he said with a grin, then turned to the door and lifted the knocker. A few authoritative raps on the door echoed into the dwelling, and then Corentin stood back from the estate entrance and let his hands rest loosely clasped behind his back. “This should prove a productive business trip, I should think, now that we are finally arrived.”
Joined: Feb 2011 Gender: Female Posts: 446 Karma: 7
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #1 on May 3, 2012, 7:36pm »
Gerry’s clear relief at being back in ‘civilisation’ – such as it was this far from the capital – was honestly amusing to Paige. Being back amongst people who stayed in one place, having the option of a warm bed at the end of the day and meals not cooked over a campfire or eaten freshly plucked from a bush had improved the man’s mood exponentially. Paige’s mood had also lifted. While sorry to be away from the calm of the forest and air that did not carry a hundred different smells caused by human beings, she was also looking forward to having a stone wall between her and everybody else when she went to bed tonight. Being on the road had made it impossible to find a good moment to bleed herself and enjoy the resulting high without drawing attention her way, so she had not done it. It had been the longest time since she left the Tower that she had gone without using her powers and she was aching with the strain of keeping herself under control and behaving normally. Therefore Gerry’s reaction to being back amongst other people was a good distraction for a while.
Her jitters from withdrawal were not helped by wondering how things with Siorus would go. He would be helping the Collective, she was certain he already knew that much, so he had to be expecting her. If she just behaved normally and both of them did nothing to tip the scales in either direction, then it should all be fine. Her concern was that she might inadvertently tip the scales just by being in Lostwhithiel, or that something might have happened that weighed Siorus against her that she was as yet unaware of. Not that it really mattered. As long as she wasn’t greeted at his estate by an arrow in the neck, she would have an opportunity to right any discrepancies.
The bann’s house was a really nice one, and well looked after. Gerry was smirking at it for some reason. Perhaps he thought the few ornamentations visible were amusingly provincial. It wouldn’t surprise Paige. Gerry had been nice to her but he did also strike her as a complete snob in some ways.
Perhaps she’d misinterpreted that, though (a discomforting thought) – as Gerry’s smile brightened before being turned in her direction. He knocked on their behalf and then stepped back, hands behind his back. Paige mirrored him. She’d never had occasion to visit a bann’s estate before and thought it best just to do as he did, as much as was possible. “This should prove a productive business trip, I should think, now that we are finally arrived.”
Paige nodded. “Some interesting opportunities will result from this, I believe.” She was referring to the Collective rather than the materials bought from Liselle’s shop to trade, but the man who answered the door wasn’t to know that.
“I am Seneschal Beck,” he introduced himself, before addressing Gerry directly. “You would be Siorus’ business manager, Gerry Baker, correct? His lordship will be pleased you have arrived today.” He looked down at Paige. “I am afraid I do not have the pleasure of your name, miss.”
Paige couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or genuine. His courtly manners could be hiding anything. She gave him a slight smile. “Paige Langley.”
Beck nodded. “A pleasure. Paige. If you would follow me? I will show you to Siorus.” The pair of them followed the seneschal into the house and Paige took what time she could to look around and try to memorise what she saw. As with the outside, inside was well-kept – courtesy of the servants, doubtless – and it was surprisingly airy. Paige thought of her own stuffy little flat and imagined living in a place like this.
After leading them for a few minutes, Beck reached a door and knocked before walking through it, announcing himself and the visitors. “Gerry Baker is here, my lord, along with his assistant Paige Langley. Shall I fetch some wine for our guests?”
Joined: Sept 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 1,334 Location: The Arse-End of Ferelden Karma: 22
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #2 on May 4, 2012, 8:43am »
Two days’ hard labour left Siorus with a pleasant ache in his muscles—a fatigue he welcomed, even if it did not fully extend to his mind. The work of digging an irrigation canal and lining it with flat stones hauled from The Basin had allowed his thoughts to wander a little too far for his taste. Siorus countered the problem with the same meditative techniques he used during practice, but a man can only think of nothing, or even guide his thoughts for so long. The slips were always incidental, and daydream like explorations of events, past and present, crept upon him unnoticed. A scene had often fully played out, sometimes two times over, before the mercenary realised he had stopped creating a pattern along the side of the trench using the blade of his shovel, had lost count of the stones hauled from the cart, had run out of stones and stood staring at the horizon, some tool dangling forgotten from his fingers. Grumbling to himself—he worked alone—Siorus would refocus on his task and begin counting something else.
The work, at least, left him weary of an evening, and he arrived back at the castle in a calm, if sombre mood. A bath loosened grime and muscles, and the presence of Sol beside him in bed served as further comfort, even if he was too tired to do more than throw an arm across her in a possessive manner.
He did not finish the canal in two days, and though he would like to continue the work, Siorus recognised he could not. He was a bann. The people of Lostwhithiel welcomed him in their fields and orchards, they dutifully handed him an axe or a saw. But, they also required him to attend to less menial tasks. His desk awaited him, along with his seneschal and assistant and a pile of ledgers and correspondence—even if Siorus professed little interest in affairs outside Lostwhithiel, the rest of Ferelden had interest in him.
And he would probably require another two days’ hard labour after Corentin’s visit.
Siorus would not dress like a bann for his business manager and likely Corentin would not expect it. He would, however, clean his fingernails, as a matter of pride and because the task of removing packed grime and silt from his fingers would distract him from pondering the identity of the bard’s traveling companion. It would be Paige—the conclusion was unavoidable. Collective business formed half the purpose of their visit, therefore Corentin had been tasked with selecting a representative to accompany him. Being Siorus’ primary contact with the Collective, Paige was the obvious choice. He could not write to Corentin and suggest he bring another, that would only encourage the bard to investigate the matter. Siorus could only hope Corentin deemed the small elf too...small for the journey, or that Paige’s bland, public persona proved a suitable deterrent. Corentin would want to travel in interesting company.
(Here, Siorus could find a sliver of humour in the situation—if only Corentin knew just how interesting Paige really was...)
Mary had been duly informed of the impending visit and an easy truce existed between the bann and his cook. This, of course, made Siorus uncomfortable and that, in turn, seemed to please Mary.
Sol had been duly informed of the possible arrival of Paige. Siorus delivered the message in the manner of a quiet warning—not against any action Sol might take. He trusted her; he did not trust Paige.
His final preparation involved applying magebane to every dagger on his belt, the one concealed beneath his plain, dark tunic and the pair sheathed in his boots. He warned Sol he had done so. As he tucked the vial away in his belt pouch, Siorus decided he was glad Sol had discovered the poison. The small vial had served as a catalyst, and the effected changes in his relationship with Sol were for the better. His lover still knew very little about him and his past, but the door had been opened. More importantly, however, he had been able to prepare Sol for this visit, for this eventuality. It was odd to contemplate with some relief that he had been able to tell her his blades were poisoned. A variable had been removed from the upcoming engagement.
Siorus awaited his guests in the drawing room, as would be expected. He occupied himself with a book, one of the few volumes of poetry he kept. The mercenary would never admit it aloud, but he liked poetry. He enjoyed the game of words, the puzzle, and the structure appealed. The rhythm of it. He heard the knock, faintly, and Beck’s greeting. He had been listening for them. The small book landed on a side table so Siorus could take Sol’s hand, squeeze it quickly. Then he stood.
Corentin’s appearance brought a brief smile to the bann’s lips. The bard appeared...travel-worn. Stepping forward, Siorus offered a hand to his business manager and welcomed him warmly. “It is good to see you, Gerry." He eyed the man's posture and attire. "The mud of the bannorn suits you.” A blonde brow arched in amusement.
Allowing his more usual, sardonic smile to crook his lips, Siorus turned to Paige. He offered his hand again, clasping Paige’s delicate fingers in a firm grip. “Welcome to Lostwhithiel, Paige.” A dangerous spark lit his eyes as he turned to the side, slightly. “Allow me to introduce my companion, Renée. She had been looking forward to meeting you.”
Paige would recognise Sol, no doubt. Siorus did not think the young maleficar stupid enough to miss the change of name, or the implication his lover knew what had transpired in Denerim. Again, he thought back to the sequence of events that allowed him to play this hand. Sol was his partner now, truly, and it comforted him to play this game with someone at his side.
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #3 on May 4, 2012, 3:26pm »
More than anything, Sol's unease at the upcoming visit illustrated to her how much she had changed.
A few months before, excitement would have trickled through her limbs at the thought of coming face-to-face with the maleficar who had violated Siorus. It would have been a game, a grand game, one to be explored and enjoyed fully. It likely would have ended with pain and death, as well, a conclusion that Sol would still find fitting. It wouldn't be pursued now, however, and not just because it was dangerous.
Because she didn't want it.
As much as she wanted Paige to pay for her actions against Siorus, what Siorus wanted was more important. He wanted to use Paige, to "collect" her, but beyond that…he wanted to give her a purpose. He had done the same for her, had he not? Could she deny that opportunity to Paige?
Part of her gleefully said oui, but, for the moment, she ignored it.
Siorus was not eagerly anticipating Gerry's arrival either. He kept himself busy—busier than usual and away from the castle, most days, returning only to eat, bathe, and sleep. She didn't begrudge him the time or the distance; he needed it. She understood. He wasn't trying to shut her out, as evidenced by the fact that he had shared that Paige would likely be accompanying Gerry. He just needed the time to making sure his self was well in place.
When Beck announced their guests' arrival, she looked over at Siorus, worry plain on her features. Siorus squeezed her hand and stood, and she followed suit.
Beck showed the familiar form of Gerry into the drawing room and Siorus greeted him warmly. It was good to see, an illustration that although Siorus might collect useful people, he cared for them too—in his way.
Sol held out a hand to Gerry as well, a welcoming smile upon her lips. "Good to see you again," she said. "And ignore Siorus, the mud doesn't suit you at all. We'll have a bath drawn up."
She settled herself at Siorus's side as he greeted Paige. The elf was smaller than Sol had thought, from Siorus's memories of her; not as menacing, either, though that could be an affectation for pleasant company.
Siorus took Paige's hand. “Welcome to Lostwhithiel, Paige.” He turned slightly to indicate Sol at his side. “Allow me to introduce my companion, Renée. She had been looking forward to meeting you.”
"Enchantée," Sol said, a slight smile on her lips even as she caught the elf's gaze with her own. "Siorus has told me a great deal. I think you and I shall have a good talk, no? Without the boys present." Her smile widened, a warning obvious in her eyes. "Come, no doubt you're both thirsty, after your journey. Tea?"
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #4 on May 7, 2012, 2:16pm »
Corentin had seen a few Ferelden nobles’ estates by this time, having acted as Siorus’ business manager, and while he had been less than impressed by Fereldan decor, he had been heartened to see that not all traces of Orlais had been rubbed from Ferelden’s lifestyle. Frequently the homes he visited had at least a smattering of ornate pieces and decorations designed to give an abode a feel, so that the estates had a feeling of being lived-in by someone with a personality. Even if the personality in question was rather overly fixated on canines, Corentin felt that he could at least see something of the person within the home.
The same was true, alas, in Siorus’ establishment. Well, it was if Siorus chose to advertise the part of his personality that was practical and austere. As Corentin and Paige followed Beck, Corentin eyed walls that were drab and bare of decoration and fought the oppression of a complete lack of color. It was positively depressing! One would think that Fereldens would embrace color, not allow the insides of their abodes to be as brown and grey and cold as their outdoors environments were!
They were shown into a room where Siorus and Renee awaited their arrival. Siorus spoke first, saying that it was good to see “Gerry.” Corentin smiled, this time more genuinely. It was good to see Siorus. He had missed their intellectual and verbal battles since they had seen each other last. Siorus looked well, he thought; perhaps he was a bit tired and reserved, but Corentin caught the welcome in Siorus’ expression as he joked with the bard about road conditions.
Renee, on the other hand, looked positively radiant. She seemed to be flourishing in this backwater spot with little to offer in the way of activity, and while she’d seemed self-confident to Corentin in Denerim, the confidence she displayed and the ease at being ‘the lady of the house’ she exuded made Corentin smile. For a simple herbalist, she had done well for herself.
Both Siorus and Renee had a different reaction to Corentin than to Paige, which Corentin found interesting. Something indefinable, yet mildly challenging, encroached upon Siorus’ expression and Renee’s eyes held an outright warning. Corentin found himself wanting to look at Paige and see her expression as well. Had the elf shown some actual backbone to Siorus, perhaps even tried to climb into his bed? Based on the words that Renee spoke in greeting, about ‘girl talk’, Corentin thought that this was possibly the case. Of course, any mage in the collective would consider nobles to be excellent allies, presumably, and what better way to cement an alliance by developing an emotional attachment? There were certainly men in the world who liked subservient women, although Paige had read Siorus all wrong if she assumed he was one such man. Corentin had learned rather quickly that Siorus seemed to enjoy his challenges.
Corentin took his turn to respond to the couples’ greetings. He grinned at Siorus, fully aware that the bann would have taken him to task if he bowed and called him ‘my lord’ in greeting. “Well, I wanted to blend in, you see, and I thought that perhaps I would try to wear the same colors as your lovely home.” After a pointed look and arched brow around the room, he turned back to his employer. “I almost achieved my goal, except that I chose to wear an actual color for my jacket.” His grin turned wicked, then, as he turned to Renee. What was the fun in seeing Siorus again if he could not attempt to rile up the fellow? And there was a lovely lady in the room whom Corentin had not seen in some time!
“Lady Renee,” he said, turning on the full charm. “I would have said, if you were not present, that it was merely laziness on Siorus’ part that he did not liven the place up.” He bowed low to her and then straightened with a definite twinkle in his eye. “Instead, I see that he must have wished to feature your loveliness and make it stand out as the shining jewel in this place that it proves to be.” He tilted his head to the side briefly to indicate Siorus’ presence before continuing. “However, one would think that he would be aware that your visage would shine above that of the crown jewels themselves, and that more color would only accentuate that there is no decoration that can surpass your beauty.” He let his smile widen and raised one eyebrow a fraction of a fraction, as the rake he was, and continued to let mischief brighten his eyes. “A bath sounds most delightful, m’lady, and I would be a fool to pass over the offer.” He kept a teasing note to his voice, as if Renee had personally offered to wash his back. It was far more fun this way!
Joined: Feb 2011 Gender: Female Posts: 446 Karma: 7
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #5 on May 7, 2012, 6:54pm »
Paige was not a stupid person. She had allowed for the probability that Siorus had bought his lover with him to Lostwhithiel. She had planned simply to be pleasant and quiet, playing the role of Gerry’s servant or business partner, whichever he chose to explain her presence to Solange. With luck she would be considered beneath the woman’s attention. The Solange in Siorus’ memories was indeed dangerous but also brash and fairly easily read. If Paige painted herself as uninteresting then she should simply fade into the background, especially when placed alongside the gregarious Gerry. There was no reason that Solange should take an interest in her, without Siorus having broached one of the terms of their agreement.
Nonetheless, Paige had to fight the urge to turn and leave immediately when they were shown into the drawing room and Siorus and Solange stood up together. It was very strange to meet somebody who she knew in such detail without ever having spoken to them. She had gone through the memories stolen from Siorus after they had parted ways, examining every aspect he had gleaned about his lover and memorising her, as much as she could. It was insurance. She had spared Siorus’ life because of Solange but she wouldn’t hesitate to throw both of them to the wolves if it became apparent that they were preparing to do the same to her.
Siorus was as much a master of the pleasant, civil mask as she remembered from the last time they had spoken. After greeting Gerry in a manner that suggested friendship as much as a business partnership, he held out a hand to her and Paige took it, a small smile slanting her lips. Neither of them increased the pressure of the handshake or attempted any juvenile form of dominance over the other with the gesture. There was no need. They had equilibrium. Siorus introduced his companion as Renee, not Solange, and Paige took it in her stride.
Then the vague sense of confidence on which she had stood collapsed beneath her as Solange greeted her and Paige recognised the look in her eyes. "Siorus has told me a great deal. I think you and I shall have a good talk, no? Without the boys present."
She knows.
Later on, Paige would consider it a feat of her own will that she hadn’t let her fear show beyond a slight widening of her eyes, one quickly mitigated by matching it with a smile. Her stomach clenched as she remembered some of the things Siorus had worked out about this woman on her own and what she had blurted during her fever in that cabin in the ‘arse-end of nowhere’. Solange didn’t need the crude instruments she might have used before, though. She was a blood mage, one who had been practicing for a great deal longer than Paige had, and she could make Paige relive memories she had spent a very long time trying to bury.
Paige locked her knees against the urge to bolt and smiled up at the other woman. “I would like that. We may have more in common than meets the eye.” That was skirting dangerously close to the line and Paige knew it. She was gambling on Solange knowing enough about Paige’s arrangement with Siorus not to try and gain retribution when they had their inevitable talk.
Gerry was prattling on about Solange’s beauty and Paige let the words wash over her head for the moment. How had the other blood mage learnt of her actions against Siorus? Had he told her or had some poking around in her lover’s head betrayed the secret? If Solange did not completely dominate the conversation when they were alone, then Paige might be able to use either situation against her. Or at least persuade her not to tear her mind apart before murdering her brutally.
One aspect of what Gerry was saying did finally catch Paige’s attention. “A bath sounds most delightful, m’lady, and I would be a fool to pass over the offer.” Paige ignored the flirtatious note in Gerry’s tone (although she did glance at Siorus, wondering how he was taking this), and nodded.
“A bath would be very welcome.” She was looking forward to a chance to sit alone and feel her muscles unwind from the tight cramp that had seized most of them upon realising she was in a room with two people who had very good reasons to loathe her and were both very skilled at killing people.
Joined: Sept 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 1,334 Location: The Arse-End of Ferelden Karma: 22
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #6 on May 7, 2012, 8:08pm »
Sol did not pass up the opportunity to join the game. She greeted Paige in familiar manner, insinuating they had much to talk about, 'without the boys present'. With some satisfaction, Siorus watched the elf’s eyes widen slightly. Then, finding her tongue, Paige replied rather boldly, suggesting she and ‘Renée’ would find they had much in common.
Half grin tugging at one corner of his mouth, Siorus briefly wondered at Corentin’s thoughts. No doubt, the bard would register a deeper level to the polite greetings, even if he did not understand the exchange. Underestimating Corentin’s ability to piece things together would be a mistake on all their parts, however, therefore Siorus resolved not to toy with Paige overmuch in his presence. He would have to trust Sol to keep herself in check, rely on the fact she read people well. She did not know Corentin was a bard, but she would know Siorus did not ally himself with idiots.
At Sol’s offer of tea, Beck excused himself to carry the request to the kitchen. Tea and light refreshments would be served shortly. If the guests preferred something stronger, a selection of spirits and wine awaited them on a credenza in the drawing room.
Corentin had apparently been studying the room. As the bard joked about the lack of colour and frippery, Siorus attempted to evaluate the drawing from a guest’s perspective. (He could not do so from Corentin’s perspective, the Orlesian expected everything to glow as if reflecting a damned rainbow.) While the room pleased the mercenary’s aesthetic sense, he could see how it might offend almost everyone else. It was...bare. New curtains had been hung, the old having suffered too much damage during the period the castle was unoccupied, or served as a squat for roving bandits and refugees. The sofas and chairs had been recovered in dark leather, but the rugs covering the stone floor had been retrieved from the cellar. They were also dark and the pattern was hard to discern in low light. The walls were almost unadorned, except for sconces. A lone painting hung over the credenza, and even Siorus had to admit it was bland.
But, it was his house, and the severity of the bare walls and spare furniture pleased him. No doubt, oddments and knick knacks would eventually invade; he kept a useless rock on his desk and Sol kept the statuette he had bought on Summerday up in the bedroom. When he started tripping over more than vases of fresh flowers, he would put a halt to the staff’s subtle efforts to ‘brighten the place up’.
After both praising Sol’s loveliness, at length, and poking Siorus about his lack of taste in everything but women, Corentin decided a bath sounded ‘most delightful’.
Paige then made Siorus’ day. “A bath would be very welcome,” she said.
Leaping upon the opportunity provided, Siorus glanced from Corentin to Paige and allowed a wolfish grin to replace his nice, polite smile. “Of course.” Striding toward the door, he leaned through, and, as suspected, found Nia hovering outside. Grinning at the elven maid, Siorus passed on the instructions she waited for. “A bath for our guests, Nia. And Pedr can put their bags in the front guest room.” One bath, one room.
Knowing Corentin as he did, Siorus would not put it past the bard to seduce Paige somewhere along the road, particularly if she forgot to play the meek and mild elf for a minute. Whether they had shared a bed or not, however, it amused Siorus to assume they had. It would make Paige uncomfortable, yes? And Corentin always seemed to appreciate a good joke.
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #7 on May 8, 2012, 10:50am »
Paige's eyes widened at Sol's words, the only sign the elf gave that she understood the currents beneath Sol's invitation to chat. She paired it with a smile, quickly, but Sol hadn't missed the fear that had flickered in the other woman's gaze.
Excellent.
As Sol had stated to Nicolette only a few days before, she was not a nice woman. Fear was something to be toyed with, drawn out, increased, if only for the entertainment value. She would not do so overtly, not now—but the other maleficar's discomfort was definitely a balm. She and Siorus were in control here, and that fact was exhilarating.
“I would like that. We may have more in common than meets the eye,” Paige suggested, her smile firmly in place.
Sol's own smile grew in response, acknowledging the other mage's attempt at scoring a point. Oh, ma petite, you will lose at this game.
She turned her attention to Gerry, then, as the man waxed somewhat poetic about her beauty in such a dull environment. “However, one would think that he would be aware that your visage would shine above that of the crown jewels themselves, and that more color would only accentuate that there is no decoration that can surpass your beauty,” he concluded.
Sol shot a glance at Siorus, tinged with a challenge, then faced Gerry once more. "Why, thank you, m'sieur. It has been far too long since someone complimented me."
“A bath sounds most delightful, m’lady," he continued, "and I would be a fool to pass over the offer.”
Oh, vraiment? "Do you like to provide foot massages?" she said, her voice carrying a teasing tone.
Before she could say anything more, Paige commented that she would enjoy a bath as well. Siorus all but leapt at that statement, his nice, polite grin exchanged for a more wolfish, predatory one—the type she adored. He called for a bath to be drawn—a bath, singular—and for Paige and Corentin's bags to be placed in the guest room.
One bath. One room. Terribly presumptuous on his part, and if it had been a peer, another of the nobility visiting, Sol knew Siorus would never have assumed that arrangement. But this? He wanted to make Paige as uncomfortable as possible. She felt a momentary pang of remorse for involving Corentin, but she reasoned that Siorus would not have done so if the business manager could not take care of himself.
"Perhaps the two of you would like to enjoy an hour's repose before dinner?" Her eyes held a hint of mischief, a gleam that said, in their place, she would probably make use of the soft bed after days on the road.
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #8 on May 8, 2012, 7:01pm »
Ah, this was more like it! They were back in civilization (such as it was), there was the promise of hot food prepared by an actual kitchen staff, a warm bed to sleep in and a hot bath to clean the grime of the road off of their persons. To complete the picture, a lovely woman was willing to flirt along with Corentin, a lovely redheaded Orlesian at that, although the green eyes and particular shade of red hair were not quite correct for the picture Corentin would most have enjoyed painting. Still, Corentin was not one to wallow in his past, especially with a present time that needed to be fully enjoyed and a past that was highly unlikely to ever be revisited. So instead of wishing for things that were highly improbable, Corentin found that his enjoyment of the moment was far superior than any of the ‘moments’ that he had experienced since he had left Denerim.
Apparently, Siorus viewed Corentin’s game as a challenge, and perhaps he wished to pay Corentin back for all the teasing the darker-haired man had enjoyed at the bann’s expense, for he instructed his servant to set up one bath and one bedroom for both Corentin and Paige the very moment that both of them expressed a desire to bathe. Renee was not the least bit helpful as she suggested that the travel-worn pair ‘rest’ for an hour.
Corentin laughed! With a full-throated chuckle, he bowed ever so slightly to Siorus. You won this round, friend. But there will be more to come. “Your hospitality is unparallelled,” Corentin replied with a smile and a flourish. “Although it is a shame that you will not partake of my foot massages, my lady.” He grinned openly at Renee. “I am told that I am famous for them, in fact. Ah, well. I cannot blame Siorus for wishing to keep you to himself.” Corentin affected a slight pout (albeit a manly one) before turning to Paige.
He extended an elbow. He had not been the only one who had been outwitted by the blonde and redhead who lived at the estate; if Paige required a chaperone to keep her from attempting to climb into Siorus’ bed - not that Siorus would find his bed empty of company from the look of him with Renee - then who was Corentin to refuse the offer? “Shall we, Lady Paige?” He let his eyes twinkle with humor as he wordlessly invited the elf to allow him to escort her to ‘their’ chambers. “Ifyou like, I can massage your feet instead.”
Joined: Feb 2011 Gender: Female Posts: 446 Karma: 7
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #9 on May 8, 2012, 7:40pm »
Solange’s smile broadened at Paige’s response. Was she storing it away as added incentive for whatever she was planning for their conversation? Paige started to wonder how difficult it would be to avoid the other woman for the entire duration of her stay. She definitely did not want to be alone with her if it could be avoided. If she had to, and somehow got out of the situation in one piece, she would wait until she was safely back in Denerim before setting events in motion for her retribution. If Siorus had told Solange about her on purpose, their contract was broken and Paige had no incentive not to throw him and his lover to the templars.
Gerry mentioned that he would like a bath, and Paige agreed. She needed somewhere to fret in peace and a bath might clear her mind enough for her to see a path out of this dangerous situation. If it was possible, she’d like for her arrangement with Siorus to continue. It all hinged on whether his lover could contain her evident eagerness to cause Paige harm in the long run.
It wasn’t just Solange that was enjoying taunting Paige, as it turned out. Siorus went to the door to speak to a servant outside, and Paige tensed as he ordered for a single bath and for her and Gerry’s belongings to be placed in a single room. It was bad enough that she would have to share a space with somebody else, but did he somehow know that after travelling all the way from Denerim her cravings were reaching fever pitch and she needed to be alone?
Her mask cracked again, enough for a murderous light to flare in her eyes in the bann’s direction. Solange’s contribution to the game she and her lover played did not help. "Perhaps the two of you would like to enjoy an hour's repose before dinner?"
Paige’s mana spiked but didn’t manifest itself as a spell; she managed to tamp down the urge to sear all three of them with lightning and then bolt. It had been a long time since she felt this angry, or trapped. There was no revenge she could seek or punishment she could give them which would go unreturned; even if she killed all of them right here her description would quickly be circulated to the local templars, and she would be on the run again. And this time, playing the part of weak mage begging to be taken back to the Tower after struggling to survive wouldn’t work.
She managed to regain her mask of pleasant neutrality before Gerry turned to face her again, elbow held out for her to take. “Shall we, Lady Paige? If you like, I can massage your feet instead.”
Paige smiled, ignoring the urge to throw him across the room with a bolt of lightning as she wound her arm around his. “It would be a pleasure.”
She didn’t trust herself to look at Siorus or Solange directly. She wasn’t sure what she disliked the idea of them seeing most; her anger or her fear.
Joined: Sept 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 1,334 Location: The Arse-End of Ferelden Karma: 22
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #10 on May 9, 2012, 9:10am »
Siorus’ rude gesture met with delight from Sol, amusement from Corentin, and barely masked fury from Paige. Resisting the urge to rub his hands together in a gesture of satisfaction, Siorus simply allowed his inappropriate grin to follow his guests out of the drawing room. He did feel a twinge of concern for Corentin, but assumed the bard could take care of himself. Corentin had survived ten days on the road with a blood mage, after all.
Being a prudent man, Siorus knew where to draw the line, however. He had scored a point, now he would be gracious, and step back. He did not want to alienate his business manager, or his contact with the Collective. Neither would he invite disaster by needlessly taunting a blood mage.
Glancing at Sol, Siorus let his grin hook up on one side. “Perhaps you will have more success inviting Paige to rub your feet for you.”
It amused him that Sol continued to remind him of that one failing. Though he suspected it had become a joke, like his apparent fondness for turtles, he did wonder what her reaction might be if he did relent one day, invite her feet into his lap.
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #11 on May 9, 2012, 12:10pm »
Gerry played along, a laugh rumbling from him. He likely didn't understand the reason behind the bann's game, but he seemed amenable enough to participate in it. He joked about Sol missing out on one of his foot massages and she automatically affected a disappointed look—but she was far more interested in the reaction of the tiny mage at his side.
The elf was furious. Sol had been in her place often enough—impotent but yet suffused with rage that could not be released. She did not miss the flash in her eyes that suggested Paige would happily murder them both; that crack in her mask only made Sol's heart lighter, her smile more bright.
In the end, however, rather than wreak retribution upon Sol and Siorus, Paige played along, even entwining her arm with Gerry's. She did not look at either Sol or Siorus as she left the room with the bann's business manager.
Once they were gone, Siorus suggested that Sol might have better luck in enticing Paige to rub her feet. She giggled at the thought, then launched herself at the bann for a thorough, heated kiss. This was a game they had not yet played together—not on the same side, anyway, as a team. She found it exciting, on many levels.
"You are a devious, devious man, Siorus Cadigan," she said, her voice adopting a mock scolding tone. "But that was a victory, no?" Her expression sobered. "I will not request a foot massage from her, when we chat. I will make sure she understands that should she attempt to harm you again, in any fashion, it will not be your sword that she should fear."
She held Siorus's gaze for a moment, her own deadly serious. She already owed Paige a debt of pain for what she'd done to Siorus, a debt that she was waiving for the moment, at his request. She would not do so again.
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #12 on May 14, 2012, 12:07pm »
Oh, but the tiny elfling - for that was the moniker Corentin had put in his mind for the diminutive woman - was angry. She looked as if she might spit fire at any moment. And were it not for the fact that she was a member of the Mage’s Collective, Corentin might have treated the thought as a turn of phrase, nothing more. As it was, he thought that perhaps some damage control might be in order, before there was actual damage to control. Mages could be unpredictable sometimes, yes? And if Paige was, indeed a mage...
Corentin patted the elf’s arm the moment they were out of eyesight and earshot, then loosened his arm so that she would easily be able to pull free. “I will make myself scarce when we arrive at the room, so you can have some privacy,” he promised, smiling down at Paige. “As much as I would not mind at all spending time with a lovely woman as yourself, I do try to keep business and personal relationships separated.” Except for with one person, but he had been reminded some time ago why that was not usually a good idea. It was difficult at best to deal with the loss of both a friend and a valued colleague at the same time, even though there was no fault involved between the two of them unless there was discord of which Corentin should have been aware. He had steadfastly maintained in his own mind that external forces were at work in that particular separation, however.
Anyway, back to the task at hand. Corentin walked with Paige to the directed room, not saying anything else until they reached the door. At the threshold, he bowed low to the small woman and smiled. “I shall wait over there until you are finished,” he said, indicating a bench at the end of the hallway with a bookcase nearby. “Please rest assured that I will neither molest you nor interrupt your progress.” With another smile, he turned and walked to the indicated seat and took up residence, awaiting further command.
Joined: Feb 2011 Gender: Female Posts: 446 Karma: 7
Re: Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? [closed] « Reply #13 on May 14, 2012, 6:55pm »
The last time Paige had felt this out of sorts, this desperate to escape a situation, she’d been kneeling on a damp forest floor raising a raw rabbit to her mouth and cursing her inability to conjure fire. Then, she had been lucky enough to have Vaia arrive and undoubtedly save her from being either taken by darkspawn or simply passing out from fever in the middle of the forest and getting eaten by the first thing to come along that had a taste for flesh. Gerry’s form of rescue lacked the resonance of Vaia’s appearance, but it was just as welcome. Paige had been entirely unsure how much longer she could go standing in the same room as Siorus and Solange without her composure cracking completely.
Still, she couldn’t relax properly as they left the parlour. If Siorus had meant his instruction to the servants, she was going to have to share a room - possibly a bed – with Gerry. She very deliberately did not think about the single tub that awaited them. She didn’t want to be thinking at all. What she really wanted, even more than the need for the release that only her blood would bring, was to lie down and sleep, and for a few blissful hours forget where she was. With only an hour before dinner, it wasn’t an option.
Mercifully, Gerry let go of her arm almost as soon as the door shut behind them, and hastened to assure her that once they got to ‘their’ room he could give her space while she bathed. “As much as I would not mind at all spending time with a lovely woman as yourself, I do try to keep business and personal relationships separated.”
His attitude towards her really did appear to have changed since the bandit attack on the way to Lostwhithiel. Either that or he found it easier to keep up his flirtatious patter now he was well away from mud and knew a large, comfortable bed waited for him at the end of the night. Either way, Paige was glad to learn that he wouldn’t be taking advantage of the image she and Gerry had unwittingly given Siorus to try anything.
In response to his statement, she managed to gather herself enough to offer him an illusion of her relaxing, and a small smile. “Thank you, Gerry.”
They reached the chamber they were supposed to share and Gerry indicated that he would wait outside while she bathed. “Please rest assured that I will neither molest you nor interrupt your progress.”
She nodded at him in gratitude that was quite genuine before heading in. In other circumstances, she might have marvelled; here she was, an elven blood mage, with a room inside a lord’s castle set aside for her use. It was a plain room, but bigger than any bedroom she’d been in before. And there was a steaming bath waiting for her.
As it was, she was too busy trying to ignore the itching that seemed to reside in every vein. With Gerry outside the door and the probability that servants would come in to see if she needed anything, she couldn’t indulge right now. Instead, all she could do was discard her travel-rumpled clothing and sink into the water, trying to let it wash away her tension along with the dirt of the road.
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