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A Park
Jun 16, 2008 15:04:36 GMT -5
Post by Valerie on Jun 16, 2008 15:04:36 GMT -5
*On her day off, Valerie had found a quiet and secluded spot beneath some trees, laid out a clean though worn-out blanket and sat with a pile of books and a basket with some apples in it and a bottle of wine, from which she periodically took a swig while munching on a dusky red apple. She'd kicked off her shoes and socks and wriggled her bare toes against the cool blades of summer-green grass, the heat of the day making her grateful for the dappled shade.*
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A Park
Jun 16, 2008 15:59:06 GMT -5
Post by Valmont on Jun 16, 2008 15:59:06 GMT -5
*No. It couldn't be. His eyes tricked him ten times a day, but Valmont was certain that Valerie sat just before him, a mere thirty feet or so away. He had, true to his word, attempted to make do with the reality of her being alive, if not in his sight. He had not sought her out. He had thrown himself into his usual activities, with mixed results.
But he thought of her often. He wondered if she knew the anonymous gifts--the atlas, yes, but also the book case and the leather-bound journal and fountain pen--were from him. If so, had she kept them?
His lips twitched into a smile as he watched her for a moment. Back from the dead--or whatever mass hallucination he'd witnessed--and none the worse for it. She looked, in a word, alive. It made him oddly happy, which confused and dismayed him a little. He couldn't afford to bother with the happiness of others. But hadn't he been over all this before, to no avail?
Valmont strolled up and stopped before her blanket, his walking stick on his shoulder.*
"Keeping out of trouble, I see."
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A Park
Jun 16, 2008 16:23:47 GMT -5
Post by Valerie on Jun 16, 2008 16:23:47 GMT -5
"Given that trouble, to you, is a very narrow field, I should think it nearly impossible that I should not be keeping out of it," *she replied, biting into her apple.*
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A Park
Jun 16, 2008 16:36:47 GMT -5
Post by Valmont on Jun 16, 2008 16:36:47 GMT -5
*He smiled despite himself--and her.*
"The fact that it is a minor accomplishment does not render it beneath notice."
*He paused, watching her devour the apple for a moment. His face was as impassive as ever, though his eyes betrayed interest not entirely lewd.*
"How have you been, Valerie?" *he asked quietly.*
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A Park
Jun 16, 2008 16:37:48 GMT -5
Post by Valerie on Jun 16, 2008 16:37:48 GMT -5
"Keeping out of trouble," *she said in a dry, sing-song tone.* "What do you THINK I've been doing? Working. Eating. Sleeping."
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A Park
Jun 16, 2008 16:59:11 GMT -5
Post by Valmont on Jun 16, 2008 16:59:11 GMT -5
*After a moment's pause, Valmont dropped to his heels, on a level now with Valerie. His mouth smiled, but his eyes were serious.*
"I didn't say 'what.' I said 'how.'"
*He knew very well that "what" and "how" for him were quite different things.*
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A Park
Jun 16, 2008 17:02:56 GMT -5
Post by Valerie on Jun 16, 2008 17:02:56 GMT -5
*Valerie fought the urge to recoil, her skin growing cold in the shadow he cast over her.*
"Fine. I've been fine," *she murmured, tearing her gaze away from his, trying to force herself back into her book, turning a page, scanning a line.*
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A Park
Jun 16, 2008 17:41:30 GMT -5
Post by Valmont on Jun 16, 2008 17:41:30 GMT -5
"Clearly," *Valmont murmured. She did not look fine. Not at the moment, anyway. At least she wasn't yelling at him yet.* "That's good. I've been fine as well, thank you. A little distracted."
*His manner changed abruptly, his face anything but impassive. Something about seeing her again had rubbed his patience raw. She was so close, and her presence did nothing to diminish his interest. Oddly enough.*
"You can pretend all you like," *he said, his voice dropping in volume but not intensity.* "I know you've thought of me. About that night. Your precious principles aside... you liked it."
*He traced the back of her free hand with a finger. When he reached her wrist, he turned her hand over and ran his thumb over her palm. He paused for a minute, then let her go, rising in almost the same motion.*
"But this is rather public," *he observed, moving out of her light.* "And I'm a very patient man."
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A Park
Jun 17, 2008 1:03:44 GMT -5
Post by Valerie on Jun 17, 2008 1:03:44 GMT -5
"Of course I liked it. I'm not a fool," *she snapped.* "Why else do you think I've been avoiding you? Your lack of prowess would have been the first card I played--however I did not hold it in my hand."
*She shut her book with one hand and rubbed her forehead with the back of her wrist, still holding her apple in one hand.*
"Besides--things have changed since then. My friend Alexei...he loved me. He gave up his life for mine. Do you think I would disgrace the memory of him and what he did by wasting my time with you? He has done more for me that you ever have or will."
*She reached for her bottle of wine and uncorked it, pressing it to her lips and tilting it upwards.*
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A Park
Jun 17, 2008 9:37:18 GMT -5
Post by Valmont on Jun 17, 2008 9:37:18 GMT -5
*The twitch in his mouth betrayed Valmont's unease.*
"You're probably right," *he said quietly.* "But you'll never know. I wasn't there; I don't know what happened or how this boy was able to do... whatever he did. But I'm certain it was something I haven't the ability to do, quite apart from temperament. I'm certain it was something no one human could have done. So you will hold humanity to the standard of this strange boy, and shun the company of all? Or just me--so far beyond the pale even of my fellow men."
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A Park
Jun 17, 2008 10:07:02 GMT -5
Post by Valerie on Jun 17, 2008 10:07:02 GMT -5
"Just you," *she said hoarsely, her voice roughened by the wine as it burned her throat.* "I hate you as I have never hated anyone."
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A Park
Jun 17, 2008 10:23:00 GMT -5
Post by Valmont on Jun 17, 2008 10:23:00 GMT -5
"Well now," *he said.* "That's something, anyway."
*He gazed down at her unreadably for a moment.*
"You're a hypocrite," *he announced.* "You hate me because I reflect something in you that you don't wish to see. Because you do want me, and you can't reconcile that with your perfect little world where right and love and lust all fall into line like tin soldiers."
*He dropped to his heels again, tilting her chin up with his fingers so he could search her face with dark eyes.*
"Hate me all you want, Valerie. Revel in it, if it's what you need. But don't keep me from your bed. Take it out on me with your body, your cruel words. It doesn't change the way you feel. But the way you feel doesn't change who you are. You'll always be a 'better' person than me. F*cking me won't alter that. And the faster you learn that, the happier you'll be."
*His hand dropped.*
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A Park
Jun 17, 2008 11:03:49 GMT -5
Post by Valerie on Jun 17, 2008 11:03:49 GMT -5
*Valerie sincerely hoped she wouldn't some day be driven to murder the bastard.*
"You will never make me happy," *she said darkly, pushing away from him and turning to gather up her books into the basket she'd brought.*
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A Park
Jun 17, 2008 11:29:01 GMT -5
Post by Valmont on Jun 17, 2008 11:29:01 GMT -5
"You must be upset, if that's all you can come up with," *Valmont said, rising.* "One day, you'll want me to try. And I'll be there."
*He nodded in her direction.*
"Until then, Mademoiselle."
*And strolled away.*
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A Park
Jun 17, 2008 11:32:08 GMT -5
Post by Valerie on Jun 17, 2008 11:32:08 GMT -5
*Valerie threw everything in her basket and stalked back home, furious.*
"I'll never want him that way. Never," *she swore quietly to herself.*
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