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Post by Valmont on Apr 1, 2008 15:47:57 GMT -5
"You think I'm very simple, don't you?" *Valmont said.* "Couldn't possibly understand the life of a young woman forced to work. Well, you're probably right. But you invite all sorts of speculation when you clam up like that."
*He eyed her.*
"Whatever it is, they're not paying you enough."
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Post by Valerie on Apr 1, 2008 15:53:15 GMT -5
"I don't need anyone to worry about me," *she said.* "My work keeps me safe," *she said evasively.* "On average. From the everyday villains, at least."
Kind of puts me directly in the path of unspeakable levels of evil, though...
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Post by Valmont on Apr 2, 2008 10:01:49 GMT -5
"Enigmatic," *he said approvingly.* "But hardly to the point. It doesn't seem to keep you safe from having babies on the sidewalk."
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Post by Valerie on Apr 2, 2008 11:28:26 GMT -5
"That was not included in my training--and I'd begun all that before I change vocations. It's over and done with, now, and I don't plan on having any more children. If I can put it behind me, why can't you?"
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Post by Valmont on Apr 2, 2008 11:45:01 GMT -5
*Valmont felt his jaw clench and it surprised him that he had to bite back a retort about putting it behind him when he didn't have to see her sleeping on the street. He smoothed his expression.*
"Very well; consider it forgotten. You just cannot expect me to drop my books in front of you any time you get into trouble."
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Post by Valerie on Apr 2, 2008 15:43:47 GMT -5
"I wasn't in trouble," *she said defiantly, shaking her head.* "Merely...reduced circumstances."
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Post by Valmont on Apr 2, 2008 16:00:04 GMT -5
"Fine," *he snapped.* "Call it what you like, but I don't like it."
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Post by Valerie on Apr 2, 2008 16:01:24 GMT -5
*Her eyebrows shot up, but she said nothing for a moment. Then--*
"Excuse me, please," *she said, standing and going back towards the room she'd occupied.*
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Post by Valmont on Apr 2, 2008 16:08:44 GMT -5
*Valmont sat at the table, stewing. What had made him say that? What did he want from her, anyway? Wasn't she just a burden, and an infuriating one at that?
The problem was, he didn't like the idea of anyone else infuriating her. That place was reserved for himself. He got up suddenly and followed her, stopping in the doorway to her room.*
"You're better than that," *he said, no less snappish.*
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Post by Valerie on Apr 2, 2008 16:32:15 GMT -5
"I'm better than a lot of things," *she snapped back, twisting her hair into a knot and pinning it in place before grabbing her dress--which had been washed--and going into the bathroom to change out of the robe and back into her streetclothes. Soon she came back out, still buttoning her cuffs.* "I come from a good home, good parents, a decent life...but I still wound up where you found me. Because I was determined to make it on my own. I'm thrilled that your sneering at me can now be justified by my failure on that point, but I'd prefer to lick my wounds in private. Stubborn fool I may be, but pride is all I've got left," *she spat, grabbing her bag and making a dash for the door.*
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Post by Valmont on Apr 2, 2008 16:51:40 GMT -5
"You haven't begun to see me sneer," *he called after her. Though she was basically justifying his point, he felt a pang at her turned back. He dashed after her at a speed he usually reserved for... well, nothing. He grasped her wrist in an effort to slow her.*
"Promise me you have someplace to go."
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Post by Valerie on Apr 2, 2008 16:58:47 GMT -5
"The library. I've got to get back to work," *she said, letting her hand remain in his grasp solely so he could realize that he did not faze her.*
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Post by Valmont on Apr 2, 2008 17:13:25 GMT -5
*As if coming back to himself, Valmont dropped her arm and stepped back in one fluid motion. He was embarrassed by his reaction now, not knowing where it had come from. What did he care? What was this bit of skirt to him? Why hadn't he had her and had done with it by now?*
"Of course," *he said smoothly.*
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Post by Valerie on Apr 2, 2008 17:15:18 GMT -5
*She went to the door, but half-turned back for a moment.*
"Thank you--" *she said shortly, her hand moving as though she were going to reach out to him for a moment before she realized the strange futility of the gesture and instead disappeared through the door and quickly left the hotel.*
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Post by Valmont on Apr 2, 2008 17:31:57 GMT -5
*Valmont blinked at the space she'd vacated, completely at a loss to understand what had happened. He sighed, finally.*
"I really need to get laid."
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