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Post by Scarlett Booth on Dec 13, 2007 16:56:38 GMT -5
*In the days following That Incident At the Stables, Scarlett stayed mostly around the house, carefully avoiding the stables, the horses, and especially Michael. She tried to keep herself busy- she wrote to her family and friends back in Paris, walked around the gardens, explored the house, and went with her godmother to make calls. Slowly, invitations to teas and a plethora of other social events began to come in for her. She attended all of them, easily befriending her host and the other guests. She was charming, she was bouncy, she was 'fresh' and boyish, and everyone was enchanted by her. One evening, she caught a ride to some little party or another with her friend Jacob. He was a handsome boy, a bit older than she was, who stood to inherit quite a bit of money and a lovely estate. He was absolutely charming, though something about him warned everyone except the adoring girls around him that he was...well, a bit of a player. But he and Scarlett got on wonderfully well, and when they returned late that night he escorted the giggly and slightly tipsy Scarlett back up to the house, cracking jokes the whole way. When they had almost reached the door, Scarlett stopped abruptly.* Oh! Jake, you just have to see the horses, they're spectacular! *She turned and practically dragged him to the stables, forgetting about Michael in her excitement to show her friend the horses. They slipped into the stables as quietly as possible, though their constant laughter ruined their attempts at silence.*
((A nice long post for you ;D I probably won't be on until late, my cousin is visiting so we're all going to see him.))
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Post by Michael on Dec 13, 2007 21:05:20 GMT -5
*Michael, of course, heard them immediately. He stiffened a bit when he heard a male voice, but he reminded himself of his place. He had been settling into bed, so he only had on a half-open shirt and his breeches. He went from his rooms out to the stable, and put on a coolly respectful face.*
"Miss Scarlett? Did you need something?"
*She was tipsy. He had seen it a hell of enough times to tell--and so was he.*
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Post by Scarlett Booth on Dec 13, 2007 21:12:37 GMT -5
Michael! *She giggled, holding Jacob's arm a bit tighter to stay on her feet.* We were just visiting the horses, Jacob and I. Because we like horses. A lot. *She giggled some more, not noticing the smirky, 'I'm totally gonna get some tonight' look that Jacob shot Michael.*
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Post by Michael on Dec 13, 2007 21:15:03 GMT -5
*Michael didn't trust the boy a whit. And it showed.*
"Let me know if you need anything--I'll be in my rooms."
*But he didn't go to his rooms, which were a few hundred yards away in the caretaker's house. He slipped silently up to the hayloft--a feeling of deep-seated mistrust was in his stomach, and if he knew one thing from working with horses, it was that you went with your gut.*
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Post by Scarlett Booth on Dec 13, 2007 21:26:31 GMT -5
Bye! *Scarlett kept giggling, but finally managed to get her body under control enough to walk. She dragged Jacob from stall to stall, showing him the horses and chattering away tipsily. Finally, they reached the last stall, Aithne's. She peered inside, leaning against the door and not noticing that Jacob was coming up behind her rather than beside her. He caught her hips, spinning her around to face him and pressing her against the stall door. She giggled, trying to push him off playfully, but instead he held her to the wall and went in for a kiss.* Jake, what are you doing? *He smirked, running a hand down her cheek.* You're very beautiful, you know. * Her smile was fading now- even in her tipsy state, she knew something was up.* Jacob? *He kissed her roughly.* Oh, c'mon, Scarlett, what's the matter with you? You know you want it. *She pulled her face away from him.* Let go of me, Jacob. *He smirked.* No way. I want you, Scarlett Booth, and I always get what I want. *She managed to struggle away from him slightly, but his arm snaked its way around her waist and brought her back to him. He kissed her harshly, holding her tightly though she struggled to get away.* Jacob, stop it!
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Post by Michael on Dec 13, 2007 21:29:00 GMT -5
*Michael made a low sound, deep in his throat, and jumped down from the hayloft. He strode over and tapped Jacob on the shoulder, mock-polite. His voice was anything but.*
"I b'lieve that th'lady asked you t'stop." *He growled, his accent becoming thicker in anger.*
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Post by Scarlett Booth on Dec 13, 2007 21:40:11 GMT -5
*Jacob turned, still holding Scarlett, and shot a smirk over his shoulder at Michael.* C'mon, be a pal, would ya? I've been working on this girl for ages, and I've finally got her alone, and you come and bust it up. She doesn't need to be rescued, alright? She wants this, trust me. They always protest at first, but inside they're dying for it. So back off, alright? It's fine. *He turned back to Scarlett, kissing her roughly. She tried to push him away, but she was still too off-balance and out of focus to really get him off of her. Her wide hazel eyes met Michael's for half a second, hazy but pleading.*
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Post by Michael on Dec 13, 2007 21:42:45 GMT -5
*His eyes sharpened and glinted in the dim light. He laid a hand on Jacob's shoulder and tightened his grip, yanking the young man off of Scarlett with one lithely-muscled arm.*
"I said... leave 'er alone."
*His voice was low and dangerous, and he was much bigger and stronger than Jacob was. He struck a very intimidating figure, with the moon shining in behind him, almost obscuring his features.*
((Oi said... layve er alohn.
*giggle*))
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Post by Scarlett Booth on Dec 13, 2007 22:10:44 GMT -5
((Oh God, the accent! *swoons*))
*Jacob turned to face Michael, quite steady on his feet. Scarlett, caught off-guard and off-balance, stumbled back against the stall door and slid down it to the floor. Jacob smirked, holding up his hands in mock surrender.* Hey, just relax, alright? I'm not going to hurt her. I understand that you want her for yourself, but why can't you just share for one night? A lovely woman isn' t like a motor tyre, she doesn' t wear out. The more you use her the better she goes.
((*steals from Rebecca* *is proud*))
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Post by Michael on Dec 14, 2007 7:06:52 GMT -5
"Y'know it's funny how an Irishman from a farm can be better raised than an Englishman set t'inherit a fortune and title--evidently, yer mam never taught you not t'touch a woman against 'er will."
*As he had said this, he had taken even, controlled steps towards Jacob. His voice was even and mocking, but underneath the facade was barely controlled rage. In his drunken state, Jacob didn't expect it when Michael raised one big Irish hand large right fist to punch Jacob square in the jaw, easily knocking the smaller man back a good few feet.*
"Don't. Touch. Scarlett." *He growled. The way he stood between her and Jacob made it clear that Michael was letting no man touch her, much less this one.*
((I realised something--we do Titanic strikethroughs ALL THE TIME.
Y'know it's funney haow an Oirishman from a faahrm can be better roaised than an Eynglishman set to inherit a foartyoune--Evidently, yer mahm never taoght yew nehver t'touch a woman against 'er well. Don't. Touch. Scaahrlett.))
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Post by Scarlett Booth on Dec 14, 2007 17:25:03 GMT -5
*Jacob glared at Michael as he regained his balance.* You'll pay for that, you...you... *Unable to think of a word bad enough, he stumbled away in silence, slamming the stable door behind him and zooming off in his car. Scarlett looked up at Michael hazily from her place on the floor.* Michael?
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Post by Michael on Dec 14, 2007 18:23:55 GMT -5
*He knelt down to her level and gently propped her up against the stall door.*
"Are you alright?" *He asked quietly. He was mad at her, too, but he had a feeling it would be pointless to yell at her at this point. He also reminded himself that the both of them had a better story and better backing than Jacob did.*
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Post by Scarlett Booth on Dec 14, 2007 18:29:51 GMT -5
Yeah, I...*She looked slightly dazed, shaking him off and getting to her feet. Her movements were a bit too fast for her, though- she swayed dizzily on the spot, grabbing the stall door until she regained her balance.* I'm fine.
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Post by Michael on Dec 14, 2007 18:32:23 GMT -5
*He stood and put a hand on her arm to steady her.*
"You're not fine." *He said softly... it wasn't a nice soft, either. It was controlled and even, but there was definitely some anger there. How could she do something so stupid?*
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Post by Scarlett Booth on Dec 14, 2007 18:37:14 GMT -5
*She moved away from his touch automatically, not quite meeting his gaze.* Of course I am.
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