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Post by Valmont on Apr 14, 2008 17:08:01 GMT -5
"An aunt," *he said, surprised.* "Er... do you?"
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Post by Valerie on Apr 14, 2008 17:11:40 GMT -5
"Only my parents," *she said with a shrug.* "And they live in the south, retired, now. I've not seen them in above a year."
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Post by Valmont on Apr 14, 2008 17:16:28 GMT -5
*Was the girl actually initiating conversation with him? He was good at that, anyway.*
"Do you miss them?"
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Post by Valerie on Apr 14, 2008 17:17:37 GMT -5
*She shot him a wry look over the rim of her cup and said nothing but raised an eyebrow as if to say duh.*
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Post by Valmont on Apr 14, 2008 17:21:18 GMT -5
*Valmont allowed himself a small self-deprecating smile.*
"That is to say, if it's not too much to ask, why are you here, and not with them? If it is the case that you do not avoid them by choice?"
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Post by Valerie on Apr 14, 2008 17:24:22 GMT -5
"I wanted to make my own way, and they understood that. I had finished my education at fifteen...I was tutored entirely at home--an only child. I had a brother who died in infancy. I recall playing with him...I would have been...seven, perhaps. He was almost three."
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Post by Valmont on Apr 14, 2008 17:30:54 GMT -5
*Valmont found himself nodding.*
"I had an older brother. He did not survive long enough for me to have known him. But I had a sister. An infant... I am sorry."
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Post by Valerie on Apr 14, 2008 17:41:06 GMT -5
"Why are you sorry? Were you responsible?" *she said with a small, sad smile into his eyes.*
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Post by Valmont on Apr 14, 2008 17:45:54 GMT -5
*Valmont frowned slightly, flustered.*
"I... no. I'm merely wondering... what it might have been like, to have a sister."
*He looked away.*
"She'd probably have been shipped off for a convent education, and I'd never have known the difference."
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Post by Valerie on Apr 14, 2008 18:18:55 GMT -5
"Rather a lonesome childhood, was it?" *she said with a trace of...understanding in her tone.*
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Post by Valmont on Apr 14, 2008 18:28:32 GMT -5
"I suppose so," *he said.* "I wouldn't know the difference, would I?"
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Post by Valerie on Apr 14, 2008 18:51:31 GMT -5
"I suppose you've never been lonely a day in your adult life," *she drawled with a knowing roll of her eyes.*
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Post by Valmont on Apr 14, 2008 21:50:52 GMT -5
"Oh, days, certainly," *he said with a well-practiced but mis-aimed leer.*
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Post by Valerie on Apr 15, 2008 1:46:11 GMT -5
"Ah, forgive my choice of words. I meant to include nights as well, though clearly in your case a distinction must be made between the waking hours and those darker, hushed times of intoxicating love-making," *she managed to deadpan every word of it.*
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Post by Valmont on Apr 15, 2008 10:52:29 GMT -5
*This was more like it.*
"I hate to draw attention to your inexperience, my dear, but 'hushed' is hardly the adjective I'd use. Unless we're discussing some sort of semi-public activity requiring discretion, which can, of course, enhance the experience. But you mean to imply that my empty life prompts me to see the depraved lifestyle I lead, as opposed to the other way 'round."
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