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Post by Valmont on Mar 28, 2008 15:43:11 GMT -5
*She'd been so... pleasant since popping out that brat. Valmont wondered what it portended. Surely she wasn't going soft?*
"My pleasure," *he said, sitting and beginning on his plate.*
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Post by Valerie on Mar 28, 2008 16:12:32 GMT -5
*Valerie cheerily dug into her lobster. Lord only knew why she fancied something boiled alive in its own shell, but God, it was delicious.*
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Post by Valmont on Mar 28, 2008 17:26:28 GMT -5
*Valmont enjoyed his food, but enjoyed Valerie enjoying hers more. What was wrong with him?*
Probably just that she owes you, now, old boy. Many times over.
*Yes, that was it.*
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Post by Valerie on Mar 28, 2008 17:29:58 GMT -5
*Valerie paused in the midst of licking a bit of the sauce from one of her fingers.*
"I'm being uncouth, aren't I?"
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Post by Valmont on Mar 28, 2008 17:32:09 GMT -5
*Valmont blinked, hoping he hadn't been staring. He was usually so good at masks.*
"How else would one eat lobster?" *he asked mildly.* "Apart from your tongue, I've never found fault with your manners."
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Post by Valerie on Mar 28, 2008 17:37:01 GMT -5
"Manners are only for when one wants to impress another with the sense that they possess something like manners. I've never known anyone who was truly polite and proper, all the time. It's one giant facade we all buy into, for some reason."
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Post by Valmont on Mar 28, 2008 19:13:10 GMT -5
*Valmont stared at her from under lowered lids.*
"That's more or less what I meant," *he said.*
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Post by Valerie on Mar 29, 2008 18:11:57 GMT -5
"Mmm. Only most times I'm the one with the edge when it comes to eloquence. We could both say the same thing, people would hear us both, but people would listen to me," *she said with a cheeky grin.*
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Post by Valmont on Mar 31, 2008 9:14:21 GMT -5
*Valmont raised an eyebrow.*
"You overreach yourself," *he said mildly.* "Because you underestimate my powers of... influence."
*A secret smile curled the ends of his mouth.*
"I am good at what I do, Valerie."
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Post by Valerie on Mar 31, 2008 11:48:35 GMT -5
"What DO you do?" *she asked with bald curiosity.* "Count your money?"
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Post by Valmont on Mar 31, 2008 12:06:04 GMT -5
"When you have the kind of money I do, counting is entirely unnecessary," *Valmont said indulgently.* "Surely you can guess?"
*He leaned his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand.*
"I make love. Very well. As often as possible. And you don't get the results I do without losing your standing in society by being ineloquent."
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Post by Valerie on Mar 31, 2008 12:24:46 GMT -5
"You see, my query was more wondering what kind of useful occupation you pursue. What benefit to society arises from spreading the pox and illegitimate mouths to feed?"
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Post by Valmont on Mar 31, 2008 12:34:31 GMT -5
"I do not have the pox," *Valmont said, aghast.* "And if women aren't reasonable enough to take certain precautions, that's none of my concern. Why should my occupation be any more useful than it is? Useful to whom? 'Usefulness' is reserved for... well, the maid."
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Post by Valerie on Mar 31, 2008 16:30:58 GMT -5
"I'd put all the money I don't have on you bagging the maid," *sneered Valerie.*
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Post by Valmont on Mar 31, 2008 16:37:31 GMT -5
*Valmont raised an eyebrow.*
"Perhaps. Depends on the maid; though in general they are far too easy to be any sort of a challenge. And what of it? It's a diversion for me and a brush with greatness for her. Nobody loses."
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