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Post by Valerie on Feb 28, 2008 11:18:34 GMT -5
((This is like the sickest re-enactment of that bit in Disney where Belle reads to the Beast...))
*Valerie obligingly pinched her nose and raised her voice by an octave.*
"How much for the girl with the pretty breasts, mmmm?" *she drawled tauntingly.*
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Post by Valmont on Feb 28, 2008 11:59:44 GMT -5
*Valmont snorted.*
"An actress, you are not," *he said.* "But I should like to hear more about the girl."
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Post by Valerie on Feb 28, 2008 12:37:56 GMT -5
"I'm supposed to be reading a story, not making one up," *she said, turning back to the book.*
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Post by Valmont on Feb 28, 2008 12:54:07 GMT -5
*There were, Valmont knew, breasts in that book. He'd seen them. But he waved a negligent hand.*
"As you wish."
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Post by Valerie on Feb 28, 2008 13:07:34 GMT -5
*Valerie continued to read aloud, not even hesitating over the more decidedly graphic passages, maintaining a dry and scholarly tone of voice.*
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Post by Valmont on Feb 28, 2008 13:29:39 GMT -5
*Valmont, for his part, forgot to guard the door. He drifted closer, listening with more avidity than he'd planned. She was no actress, but she had a strong, clear voice. And the clinical tone with which she addressed everything, coming from that lithe young frame, was strangely alluring.
Yes. He was just the tiniest bit jealous of whatever gadabout had had a piece of her.*
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Post by Valerie on Feb 28, 2008 13:34:52 GMT -5
*Valerie paused for breath and touched her finger to the tip of her tongue before turning the page, caught up in the story and very nearly forgetting that Valmont himself stood in the same room. Something in her voice softened a bit as time went on, weaving the threads of the story aloud with more fluidity and colour than the baldly printed words had.*
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Post by Valmont on Feb 28, 2008 13:51:53 GMT -5
*Valmont sank into a chair, boneless in his absorption in her words. He had never felt quite like this before; usually reading aloud bespoke of boring evenings out quickly abandoned for more one-on-one pleasures. True, the frequent mention of his name kept his attention, although as the story progressed it became harder and harder to credit the actions of the man supposed to be him.
Not that he'd worked out how on earth the book was possible. Merteuil would have put a stop to it, had it been legitimately published. And while he frequently wished to exclaim at the novel's ridiculous elements--or insults made to himself--he somehow knew better than to spook her.
Why he wished to maintain her presence in his rooms--fully clothed, that is--was beyond him.*
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Post by Valerie on Feb 28, 2008 13:57:16 GMT -5
*By the time she finished the last page and closed the book, the sun was low in the sky. Valerie hugged the book to her chest and ducked her head, hurrying for the door.*
"That's it, I suppose."
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Post by Valmont on Feb 28, 2008 14:07:45 GMT -5
*Valmont rose fluidly and blocked her exit.*
"Wait," *he said, still puzzling out the end and his--the book Valmont's--death. He seemed unaccustomedly agitated.* "Thank you. For reading. I do not know this Laclos, or how this book came to be. And I cannot deny that I am capable of every action in it--save love. Indeed, I do not regret such. And yet... I hope you do not judge me overmuch by what some unknown scribbler may write."
*He moved away, bland mask back in place.*
"I shall see you at the library, then, Mademoiselle Valerie."
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Post by Valerie on Feb 28, 2008 14:25:01 GMT -5
*She looked him up and down.*
"I will judge you only on your behaviour. Which doesn't give you much to hope for, Monsieur. Good day."
*So saying, she left.*
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Post by Valmont on Feb 28, 2008 15:00:58 GMT -5
*Valmont smiled to himself. Behavior could be changed.
Printed words were another matter.*
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Post by Valmont on Mar 26, 2008 17:12:33 GMT -5
*NEW DAY, AFTER VALERIE'S CONFINEMENT*
*Valmont lounged in his window seat, Wuthering Heights open on his knee. Idiots. He couldn't understand why they weren't all shagging each other and having done with it. He did rather like the irrational arguments, however.*
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Post by Valerie on Mar 26, 2008 17:20:48 GMT -5
((So this is after she's gotten able to walk and left?))
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Post by Valmont on Mar 26, 2008 17:23:42 GMT -5
((Not unless you want it to be--I was hoping to give you room to interact more. Or does he need to come to her room?))
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