<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/OV6LkpI.jpg)</div><br/><br/><strong>Name:  Chantal (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=266077.msg13129713#msg13129713)</strong><br/><br/><strong>COURTESEAN</strong><br/><br/><strong>Situation:</strong>making the acquaintance of a potential client<br/><br/><br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Araxis<br/><br/><strong>Content Warning:</strong><em>None</em><br/><br/><br/><br/><hr/><hr/><br/>His arm was gentle, yet strong.  Since coming to the Bazaar, Chantal had come to learn, to understand, that there were many degrees of strength.  Yet after a point it mattered little how truly strong the one that held you might be, for you would be left just as broken if it took but a tenth of his strength or its entirety.<br/><br/>The loa had given her this gift, the gift of mastering her fear, of turning it to desire, and the courtesan did not shrink from it, but welcomed it and even dared to reach for his arms.  Her long, slender fingers tipped with squared nails, buffed and polished to a soft pink shine, closed about the arm, stroking over the fabric of his shirt, acknowledging his claim.<br/><em><br/>“He spoke to Madame when I passed by, zhe possessor of zhis magic.   She haz buziness with him in zhe morning, after he haz had his pleazhures.  She wishes to hire him, I zhink, but I do not zhink she wishes for him to be a bride.”</em>Chantal’s eyes smiled as she looked up into those jewel-hued eyes, tracking the lines of his face, the smoothness of his cheeks, the dark beard that framed lips that looked capable of being both sensual and cruel.<em> “I betray no confidence.  Zhe does not conduct buziness in public if it is zhomezhing zhat zhe would keep zhecret.  Zhis you know.”  </em><br/><br/>It was something of a concession, her recognition of Araxis as one of note within the walls.  She would not have betrayed Madame – Chantal understood the concept of loyalty very well.  Yet she also understood the benefits of making herself useful in small ways that went beyond that which her body could give.<br/><br/>And, also, it might well keep him with her for the night, instead of chasing another desire, if it were likely that he could have both.<br/><br/><em>“Zhere is always somezhing to watch here, Sir.  I would watch with you, if it iz your pleazhure … yet I would razher give you reason to turn your eyes upon me inzhted.  Your eyes ... zhey are beautiful.”</em><br/><br/>She had trained from an early age to give a man her undivided attention, whenever he wanted it, however little she truly cared for his doings.  With Araxis, with all those who were more than men, she did not need to pretend, and perhaps that was the most refreshing thing of all, as shiny and irresistible as the glitter of gold and gems, the cool allure of platinum and silver.<br/><br/>And the show, the dance, in the reception room, would go on without them, this night and all the nights after, always the same, ever changing.   Perhaps she should have feared it, but her fears had long been focused on another thing, and boredom and fear do not make compatible bedfellows.<br/>