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Post by Shadi on Feb 11, 2009 17:37:39 GMT -5
In truth, she had no idea why she'd agreed.
Except that it was the worst thing she could think of to do at the moment, the thing that would hurt the most, and maybe there was that little bit in her belly that was spurring her, too. The part that let him call a cab, and once seated in it, let him draw her onto his lap, cap lazily discarded, her shirt collar undone before she could blink, his dismissal of her as a person as clear and palpable as his lust. She knew he thought less of her than he did a servant, but she didn't care.
She welcomed it, in this state of mind.
They rolled up before the house, and she could barely see it, but she tottered out of the cab and up the stairs, not caring who saw them.
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Post by Valmont on Feb 11, 2009 18:10:51 GMT -5
His staff were discreet, but it still annoyed him, to have her tottering around like a lamb. A fetching lamb, to be sure, and the lamb who had rejected Rochester for no good reason he could see, but a silly little thing nonetheless. He followed after her casually, scenting blood in the water and in no hurry because he knew well who the strongest swimmer was.
"In here," he said, motioning into the parlor, and then the hidden bedroom beyond. She followed like an accident victim, her shirt hanging open as she gazed dully around at the gilt and mirrors and things. He loosened his cravat.
"Are you just going to stand there, then?" he asked, his tone cracking across her. "You've wanted this since the moment you saw me, but darling Rochester had your heart, didn't he? Silly thing."
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Post by Shadi on Feb 11, 2009 18:17:46 GMT -5
That woke her up. In an instant she was standing before him, her slap ringing, the imprint of her hand blooming across his face.
"He's ten times the man you are," she snapped.
"I meant you," he said coolly. "And you're here now, so try to enjoy it, just a bit. It makes no difference to me, really, except I really do want to see what he saw in you, and I doubt it resembled a log."
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Post by Valmont on Feb 11, 2009 19:18:34 GMT -5
What she was now was anything but a log; Shadi pinned him to the wall, her nimble fingers at his buttons, her gin-soaked breath against his neck as she slid up his body. His fingers worked too, and he peeled her plain white shirt away from her body, and smirked a little when her breasts, once revealed, hardly needed binding.
"I see what he saw in you," Valmont murmured. "Neither a real woman or a man. Rochester always was something of a lightweight." Unexpectedly, she shivered slightly at his touch, and he continued. "You really went wrong there, you know. Ruined him, and yourself in the bargain, I think." He arched into her answering hands, his coat pushed to the floor, her cool fingers sliding under his shirt. "He'd have given you anything you wanted. Could have had me, in the bargain. Badly done, that. Your sort has, at most, a few months. But you had him in the palm of your hand. He was in love with you, and all you had to do was keep him happy. Which, simple thing, couldn't have been too hard. But you're young. You're new to this."
"Shut up," she said roughly, her fingers at his trousers. "Don't talk about him."
"But you like it," he said, his actions mirroring hers until she stood before him, slim and brown and desperate. People, Valmont thought, were amazing. What she wanted was exactly what she wouldn't ask for, exactly what she didn't need, and he was only too happy to oblige. "You want to hear just how terrible you were to him. Just how you hurt him. How much power you had over the poor bastard." He propelled her back towards the bed. "And before you go, you're going to show me exactly why."
Without a word--he noted she didn't tell him to shut up again--she spun him and it was he who fell back on the bed, she who pursued. He would turn the tables again, and let them be turned, as many times as he needed before she broke down utterly and surrendered.
**FADE OUT**
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Post by Shadi on Feb 11, 2009 19:26:30 GMT -5
**FADE IN**
Shadi didn't think it was possible to hate herself more than she had before. But as Valmont rolled away, she curled onto her side, her physical satisfaction only another sickening fact to add to the list of things that were wrong with her. Tears leaked from her eyes, but in sheer drunken exhaustion she drifted off into a heavy slumber.
Valmont, for his part, merely chuckled to himself and dressed, peering at her nude body before idly tossing the fine linen sheet over her. It had been entertaining enough--he thought perhaps she'd have been better with less alcohol in her, she didn't seem the repressed type--but now was when the real fun began.
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Post by Valmont on Feb 17, 2009 10:35:13 GMT -5
**LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER**
The carriage rolled up to Valmont's door, a footman dashing up to let down the step from the carriage. Valmont glanced at Rochester, wondering if he could possibly guess.
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Post by Rochester on Feb 17, 2009 12:01:52 GMT -5
*As they pulled up, Rochester arched his brow. He hadn't been here, but it didn't mean he wasn't aware of it, Valmont's reputation being what it was and all.*
"If there was a particular accessory that you were looking to indulge in..." *He purred suggestively.*
"...you might have asked. I might have one. There was no need for you to host me. Though it is most generous of you."
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Post by Valmont on Feb 17, 2009 12:38:09 GMT -5
As they entered the foyer, Valmont was tempted to indulge himself in Rochester before the real climax. It was an attractive prospect, indeed. But no; he was too impatient for that right now. He led Rochester into the parlor.
"Welcome," he said. "I've done my homework, dear boy, and I am absolutely certain you do not have one of these. I do hope you'll be pleased, old man. I went to considerable trouble."
He strode over to the hidden mirrored door, his manner as always deceptively languid. Valmont was pleased, when he opened the panel, to find the girl still sleeping. She could not have been better arranged had he done it himself; her clothes lie strewn about, her hair in a messy tangle about her tear-stained face, and her nude body lay only partially covered as she sprawled on his rumpled bed.
"You've been looking for something like this, have you not?"
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Post by Rochester on Feb 17, 2009 12:45:23 GMT -5
*Rochester followed the man merrily, characteristic swing in his hips. He grinned conspiratorially as the door opened. He did so delight in surprises. He first notice skin, appealing enough.* "For moi? You shouldn't have, old chap..." *But the longer he looked, the closer he stepped, the more wrong it seemed. She was too much like...no, it couldn't be. Not her. His face blanched, even under the powder. His lips parted, as if part of him simply refused to understand. He felt like his knees would give.* "Shadi?" *He barely breathed her name, willing it all untrue.* ((I feel the sudden need to do something really really nice for Rochester. ))
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Post by Shadi on Feb 17, 2009 14:00:34 GMT -5
((Me too. I hope I can come up with something--especially considering it's my fault.))
Shadi wasn't sure why she awoke. Or where she was. Her face felt hot and sticky, her mouth full of cotton, her body otherwise cold. Her lids felt heavy, but there had been a voice, something familiar that drew her from sleep. She blinked, pushing the mop of hair away from her eyes, and when she saw Rochester she smiled.
But that only lasted an instant, as she recalled she wasn't living with him anymore, that he had in fact died, that it had been her own fault. And suddenly she was awake, scrambling backwards, her face pale and her eyes wide as she clutched the sheet to her body and stared wildly about the room.
"No," she moaned, wondering if absinthe produced flashbacks. "I'm dreaming," she said softly to herself, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.
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Post by Valmont on Feb 17, 2009 14:03:18 GMT -5
Valmont clucked his tongue, leaning casually against the wall.
"Is that any way to show your gratitude? For bringing you lovebirds back together? Don't pretend you weren't sobbing over your great lost romance; either of you."
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Post by Rochester on Feb 17, 2009 14:10:58 GMT -5
*If only it could be a dream. But the sick feeling in the pit of Rochester's stomach made him think otherwise.*
"I...I don't understand." *He whispered, taking a step back. It was all too much, overwhelming him and it felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. Now that he could see her, he couldn't pull his eyes away, not ready to deal with the full ramifications of the situation.*
"What are you...doing here?" *He asked, almost innocently. Because she couldn't be doing what it looked like. She just couldn't.*
((It was too good to pass up. We'll figure out something for them.))
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Post by Shadi on Feb 17, 2009 14:23:57 GMT -5
Shadi just shook her head.
"You're dead," she said flatly. Her head pounded and her whole body felt sore. Her eyes seemed dull and lifeless as well. "He told me." She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again, as if the view would be different. And now her gaze traveled over to Valmont, whom she fixed with a bleak stare. "What did you do?" she demanded.
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Post by Rochester on Feb 17, 2009 14:59:16 GMT -5
"Dead?" *Rochester's face twisted up in the word.*
"Dead?" *His eyes turned hard on Valmont as well.*
"You told her I was dead?" *There was an anger swelling in him and his chest puffed out slightly as the blood rushed back into his face.*
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Post by Valmont on Feb 17, 2009 15:10:47 GMT -5
Valmont rolled his eyes.
"Good heavens, no," he said. "I didn't have to." In fact, he hadn't known that was her problem. "Found her sobbing on the sidewalk. You should thank me."
He sniffed. Of course, he'd also taken advantage of the situation, but it wasn't as if she hadn't been taken advantage of before. It could hardly be anything new, to either of them.
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