Double Play (Ariadne & Wistful Dream)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Ariadne on 21-04-2010, 22:23:47</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>21-04-2010, 22:23:47</strong>
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				&nbsp;<div class="floatright">(http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz88/ari_elliquiy/Paired%20Characters/aderynandaedus.jpg) </div>“According to reports New Orleans is a balmy 80 degrees with scattered cloud cover.&nbsp; If you need to meet a connecting flight please check the monitor for your gate number.&nbsp; Please remain -…” <br><br>Aderyn tuned the flight attendants voice out, putting the ear-buds of her iphone back into place as she stifled a yawn.&nbsp; The sound of The Servant’s <em>Cells</em> filled her ears as she twitched the volume up again. The cabin lights dimmed then brightened for a moment, triggering a Pavlovian response in the passengers; the sound of multitude of buckles being undone filled the cabin.&nbsp; It amused Aderyn how folks always wanted to be the first on a plane during boarding and the first one off after landing. Unless you were on a private jet it didn’t make things move any quicker.&nbsp; Of course this was all academic. After the five hour return flight from Haiti she was just as ready to vacate the small metal tube with wings that was American airlines.<br><br>Aderyn was glad to be getting back to Nola after spending several months in Port-au-Prince in the aftermath of the massive earthquake that hit the country of Haiti.&nbsp; Her lips thinned slightly just thinking about the quake. She and a handful of others had been sent over to clean-up in the aftermath. Let the world think it was simply a natural disaster, it was better than the truth.<br><br>The isles in front of her emptied enough that she could stand. She stretched her long legs a moment then pulled her hair into a messy bun at the nape of her neck before reaching for the black zippered duffle bag that remained in the over head. <br><br>“That’s wicked.”<br><br>Aderyn looked back as she slung the bag over her shoulder at a kid a row back. He had multicolored shaggy hair and more metal in him than was surely legally allowed. Not to mention the amount of ink that was visible underneath the short sleeved shirt with the word Anarchy scrawled across it.<br><br>&nbsp;“Excuse me?” she asked.<br><br>“The tat…on your hand.” He pointed to his own hand to indicate where. <br><br>“Ah. Thanks.” She said glancing at her hand and the spider-web tattoo that was inked into her skin.&nbsp; It stood out against her alabaster coloring.&nbsp; She smirked. She supposed that it was quite wicked considering what it symbolized.<br><br>She moved forward through the plane as quickly looking forward to being on solid ground. As she entered the tunnel leading into the airport her phone vibrated.&nbsp; With a motion born of practice she flicked her finger across the device without looking down.<br><br>“Please tell me you’re waiting for me with a hot cup of java and a bag of beignets.” She said speaking just loud enough for the microphone in the ear-buds to pick up.<br><br>---@<br><br>Aedus pulled into the parking lot designated for arrivals, the Audi R8’s engine purred as he idled for moment checking the flight information on his phone. The flight from Haiti was just landing. Sliding the phone back into his pocket he cut the engine and opened the door. It was going to be a very humid day; the air was thick with moisture making everything feel like cling wrap. Locking the doors with a press of a button Aedus hurried into the arrivals terminal and the industrial air conditioning.<br><br>He was grateful that his twin sister had opted to take a more direct flight that arrived at a decent hour. He had glanced at some of the incoming flights from Haiti when she called to let him know when she was getting back. He much preferred an early afternoon flight as opposed to one that arrived at five in the morning or at midnight. It was just easier to be able to drive than it was to wait for that damned cab service once the sun went down.<br><br>Running a hand through his dark spiked hair, he scanned the area for a coffee shop. If he knew his sister, she would want something sweet the moment she could put her bag down.&nbsp; His blue eyes lit up at the site of a small stand advertising Café Du Monde. <em>Perfect.</em>.<br><br>“Two coffee’s and four beignets.” He said as he slid up to the counter.&nbsp; The beignets looked fresh and they smelled divine. <br><br>“Will that be all?” the girl behind the counter asked with a smile that could power a light bulb as she placed the doughy confections into a bag and placed it on the counter.&nbsp; Aedus wondered how anyone could honestly be that cheery working at a stand in an airport. <br><br>“Just the coffee Cher.” He replied shaking his head. <br><br>“Sure thing.” The girl replied.&nbsp; <br><br>Five minutes later he was on his way toward the baggage claim where he could meet up with Aderyn. As he moved through the crowd he realized that this was one time he didn’t envy her. With all of the reports that filtered through from the council, this was one assignment that he was glad he didn’t get.<br><br>Balancing the drink carrier and bag of sweets in one hand he pulled his phone out and hit the speed dial for his sister and waited for her to answer.<br><br>“Does Simi like bbq?” he chuckled answering her greeting. He watched as passengers flooded through the baggage claim and caught sight of his sister at the top of the escalator. About three inches shorter than his 6’1”, she wore a pair of dark blue jeans and a layered tank top. She was still pale as ever which amused him to no end. No matter how much time they spent outdoors neither of them seemed to be able to get much color. He raised the hand holding the drink carrier. “I’m over to your right.” He said.&nbsp; He watched her turn and look in his direction. Spotting him she smiled and gave him a wave.<br><br>---@<br><br>“Who can we assign to the new Darkhunters? Do we even have anyone available in Nola?”<br>“…The Lamonts. Both are currently Dorean status.”<br>“Notify them and the Darkhunters. Make sure to copy Acheron.”<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>22-04-2010, 19:19:40</strong>
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				"You are going to help someone." <br><br>The familiar voice, deep, use to being in charge, to being obeyed broke the silence around her. A yawn parted full lips as she idly buffed a nail edge, her dark eyes not lifting from the task even as the male who had spoken stood before her lounge chaise and waited for her to comment, to give in. Of course she would, she always would, it wasn't like she had much of a choice. And she rather enjoyed the times when she was 'unleashed' as it were, freedom as long as the followed the rules. She was one of the best kept secrets of the secretive world she had found herself in. For some women that perhaps would have been a problem, for her it was perfect. <br><br>"Zariada." A warning tone in her name from his lips. She obeyed the unspoken command and lifted her eyes, leaving her perfect nails alone even as she uncoiled on her lounge chaise. <br><br>"Yes, yes I heard you. I go to help, where, may I ask, am I to be sent this time?"<br><br>"New Orleans." <br><br>That made her blink, her dark eyes focusing on the face of her 'handler'. "New Orleans? Isn't that rather...risky? There are so many of the others there."<br><br>The dark skinned man smiled, white teeth in a face nearly as black as night. "Well then you'll have to work harder to stay under the radar while you do your job no? Challenges have ever been to your taste."<br><br>"Touche Marc, touche." She chuckled as she spoke, her voice a deep husky purr, one that would distract any man, for she had made a game of it to ensure it was so; though that had been far back when she had been merely mortal. Not that she had ever been merely anything. Her fingers toyed with a loose curl, the silk of it sliding between her digits as she considered what lay before her. New Orleans, there lived the son of the Goddess of Love and his immortal wife, along with Kyrian and his wife and no few others. If ever there was a hotspot for Dark Hunters it would be New Orleans, not that most who lived there were still Hunters, no they had mostly been freed from Artemis's service. <br><br>"It seems I shall walk into the lion's den." She commented to the air, knowing that Marc was unlikely to answer. They knew each other well, the once famed courtesan of a time long lost and the one time slave to the Roman's. Rome had touched both their lives, during its birth, its height, and it was in their life after death that they saw her glorious and through fall. Yet he surprised her, this once, for he spoke back, offering something more then she had expected.<br><br>"I'll be with you." She glanced at him then, the sable abundance of her loose curls shifting with the movement as her dark eyes weighed him, his words. Marc was a handsome man, skin of ebon and eyes darker even then that. They had been green, a rather arresting green when human. But that was a long time ago. He was tall, broad shouldered with a voice that was deep and gravely, muscled from fighting. He was the shadow that trailed her, protected her. And he was the one that always gave the orders she was to follow, outside of when Acheron or heaven help her, Artemis herself chose to speak to her. She rather preferred Acheron, he was fun, Artemis was too much of a diva to enjoy. Zaraida was use to playing center stage, though she and the Goddess had a odd sort of kinship in that.<br><br>"Well, little mercies just fill the world don't they?" Again came that seductive laugh and Marc just shook his head. <br><br>"I'll see the servants do the packing." She nodded, laying back down on the chaise to contemplate the task that lay before her. Marc would never tell her too much of the details, often times she had to piece things together. It was a game of chess nearly, but one she had requested of Acheron and of Marc himself. Immortality got boring when one knew everything and half her skills lay in keeping her mind active and working. Anything that was absolutely needed was laid before her but at least to start she would be left to her own devices, rather like any Dark Hunter assigned to a new location. Not that she was really assigned, no, her home was here, in Egypt, hidden in plain sight nearly. She had traveled the world bu always returned here, to where her death had taken place. To where the graves of the children lay. <br><br>"One more thing." Marc was paused at the door and she tilted back her head to gaze at him, her breasts straining against her thin shirt. "You'll be assigned a squire."<br><br>And then he was gone, swifter then a thought, for he knew exactly what response that would garner from her. Her lips thinned after she finally closed her mouth from the shock and she shifted on her chaise, muttering to herself at the very thought of having to deal with some mortal who would observe far too much of her. And what was Acheron going to do about the squire? It wasn't like they wouldn't remember her after so long. She rather liked her shadows.<br><br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br><br>"I. Hate. Flying." <br><br>"Yes Zari, I think the whole plane is rather aware of that." Came the suffering voice of her handler as he watched the porters haul their bags off the slim jet plane that had seen them from Egypt to New Orleans. Marc had a rather intimidating glower and it made sure that the luggage was safely handled, after all important things were in those suitcases. Yet he broke it for a sardonic grin at her. <br><br>"You really do pack horribly." This was after the tenth suitcase had been removed. Her lips thinned, arms crossed as she gave him a glare of her own, one that had made many men slink away with their tails between their legs. <br><br>"I packed to work Marc." Her tone was haughty but beneath it, for both of them was the understanding that this was a joke. A long one.<br><br>"Eh, woman's work, I'll stick with my duffel bag." Zaraida rolled her eyes, turning to watch the last of her things taken off the plane. "As if, I know you filled at least half of one of my suitcases with your things."<br><br>Things being weapons, guns and the like. Her weapons were mostly other things, oil with poison in it, silk scarves to strangle, truth serums, things that Dark Hunters didn't think to be wary of. She did rather like her matched pair of fighting daggers, in the style of Egyptian fighting daggers from her mortal lifetime of course, and she did have a small slim gun to use at times. Marc was an armory by himself. <br><br>"Ugh, the air is so thick here." she complained, catching her long waist length hair up into a long pony tail off her neck. Egypt was hot, nearly always, or cool at night, but it was a dry place, and New Orleans was certainly not that. The air was very different and she wasn't sure she liked it. It took only a matter of minutes for her to slide off the black trenchcoat she had worn on the plane, revealing her curvy figure, she was curvy yet supple, nothing extra, that perfect figure that all women longed for. And that had been something she had accomplished before her death. She knew many Dark Hunter's got 'upgrades' so to speak once they were pledge to the Goddess, but not her, the only thing Artemis had done for her was make her not have to worry about what she ate nor how little sleep she got. She was glad she had chosen a skirt over jeans, the skirt in question short, baring most of her long long legs, and black, clinging to her hips only to flare out loosely, a tease at the senses, feminine and yet edgy. Her torso was covered by a gold shirt, silk material, her favorite, to caress against her skin and held to her by a criss cross of black leather over her shoulders, cupping around her full breasts in the front. And of course, her heels, four inch stiletto's being only the normal, strappy and lacing up to her knees rather in a Romanesqu fashion. <br><br>"Of course it is, just wait till you see the Bayou, I hope you brought more practical clothing then that." The courtesan wrinkled her nose at her companion. <br><br>"Please, I brought what I needed, and there is nothing in the world that is making me go into the Bayou, I've heard enough stories about that thing..." She shuddered in distaste even as a stretch limo pulled up to the private hanger and the porter's started to load her luggage into that. A older human got out of the driver's seat and bowed to her and Marc.<br><br>"Miss Basva, Mr. Cerun, its a pleasure to have you with us. I'll be talking you to your lodgings, I'm Harold."<br><br>"Nice to meet you Harold." She flashed him a smile and got a expression of lust and surprise, after all most of the older Squire's weren't use to women who could purr words and flirt with them, at least not among the Hunter's.<br><br>"Please tell me you have decent AC in that thing."<br><br>"Yes Miss, of course."<br><br>"Oh lovely, come along Marc." She swayed her way to the limo and slipped in with her normal seductive grace, sighing in delight as she relaxed into the plush leather seats. "I think I like New Orleans after all."<br><br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br>A new city, a new squire, a new everything it seemed.<br><br>It had happened to him before, after all one couldn't stay too long in one place. Part of him hated it, the other loved it. He had been a simple man when he had been a man, before accepting the brand of the Goddess of the Moon; simple enough to love his homeland of France and hardly travel beyond those borders. Though he had, when the Renaissance had flourished, he had gone to Venice and Florence, he had traveled to see the world and gain knowledge, and yet he had returned home, to Paris, to Celeste. <br><br>What a fool he had been. <br><br>About the woman, not about the traveling. Gauvain de'Merill shifted gears, turning his slim sports car around in a rather fast spin, one that most men would have never dared but when the only thing that could kill him were the very things he hunted her wasn't very worried about death. Reckless fool that he was. Why, he wondered, did he keep thinking himself a fool? Perhaps because he was, though most Hunter's never thought about that, no arrogance seemed almost to breed within them after a few centuries. But he was chasing something that kept him very aware of his short comings, though it wasn't an official chase by any means. Celeste. He should have killed her when he had the chance, all those years ago on the night when he was granted his vengeance. But he couldn't, for all that she had tricked him, betrayed him and killed him he couldn't take her life. When he looked into those familiar pale blue eyes he had thought of the young girl he had fallen in love with, of the orphan child who had always been so lonely that his Mere had encouraged him to play with her. Of the muse that had inspired his greatest works.<br><br>So he had killed the others and let her go. Fool, a hundred times over.<br><br>New Orleans was his new assignment, fresh from San Francisco California, and before that Boston, and before that Napal. New Orleans seemed some sort of lucky stone for Dark Hunter's, at least five in the area had gained their freedom once they found love with a mortal near by. He was happy for them, but he didn't think such a thing would occur for him. His heart was still wrapped up in the woman that he searched for endless, or rather, the monster. He was her foe now, and she his. He was what she had made him and it was with grim satisfaction that he thought about finally giving her the justice she deserved. <br><br>Celeste. <br><br>His foot pressed down on the gas and the car all but leaped forward, speeding him back toward the city itself, the city he had left behind to try out the new car left for him by the Council, or by Acheron, either or, he had needed air, space after the plane flight and initial settling in. Once back in city limits he let the car slow down some, explaining himself to police wasn't really something he wanted to have to do the first night in a first city and his reckless side he tried to control for the most part. Gauvain was vaunted for his self control in most things. The French man made the necessary turns, having already memorized the way back to the secluded house that had been arranged for him. It was lovely, a reminded of the country homes from his own homeland, for many French had settled in New Orleans. It also made him a bit edgy, to be in something so similar. He had had a Victorian in San Francisco, neutral enough that. <br><br>The Dark Hunter parked the car in the covered parkway, knowing that he would likely go out again in the night and so there was no reason to both with the garage. He unfolded himself from inside the car and strode toward the house, his long legs making short work of the task. A breeze floated by on the thick night air, ruffling his dark waves of thick hair, hair nearly as dark as his eyes. The darkness of sin, he liked to think in his poetical nature. He was a well built man, broad shouldered, leaner though, then other's, more like a great cat of prey then the wolves some of the other Hunter's made him think of. His pocket buzzed, or rather, his cellphone did and he pulled out the thing, smiling at the Tilt as he did so. He loved the phone, one of the best things of modern day, he thought. Flipping it open he realized it was a email, sent by the Council. <br><br>His squire. <br><br>For a moment his mind went back to Henry, his last one, from San Francisco. He would have taken the twenty nine year old with him, a good drinking buddy and a well versed Squire, but the man was engaged to be married and he had truly lost his heart in San Francisco. Gauvain couldn't ask him to give that up for New Orleans when he didn't know how long he would be here himself. So, a new squire, again. How many had he had in the past ten years with all his moves? At least four. At least.<br><br>He had been given someone called A. C. Lamont, from a Blue Blood family. Interesting. Shrugging to himself he put the phone back in his pocket and opened the door to the house, realizing that there was no food yet in it. He hated grocery shopping. <br><br>"Squire better get his ass here soon..." he grumbled to himself.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>27-04-2010, 19:55:26</strong>
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				Aedus felt the air rush from his lungs as he landed unceremoniously with a loud thud on his back. He stared at the ceiling for a moment as stars danced in his vision. <em>Good gravy when had his sister learned that move?</em> He wondered. She had swept him off his feet effortlessly and he hadn’t even seen it coming.<br><br>“Had enough?” he heard her ask as she came closer. He debated her question. They’d been sparing for the better part of two hours and he for one was drenched. Rolling to his side he pushed himself up with his elbow. His sister offered her hand to help him the rest of the way. <br><br>“I give.” He said already beginning to feel the pain from various bruises. Aderyn nodded as she let go of him. She didn’t say anything as she moved to cut the music that blared through the speakers wired into the corners of the practice room. <br><br>The sudden silence was punctuated by his heavy breathing. He picked up one of the towels folded up on the bench next to the door and wiped the sweat from the back of his neck. With the adrenaline fading he began to feel the bruises he sustained.<br><br>“You’re improving.”&nbsp; Aderyn said as she picked up the second towel. <br><br>“Thanks, Adi.” He said and meant it. Even if he didn’t feel like he had improved one iota.&nbsp; It was rare for his sister to give a compliment regarding their sparing sessions that had picked up again the day after her return from Haiti. She had long ago outpaced his abilities in that arena. It was the reason she had taken the oath as a Blood-rites squire and he had not. <br><br>“We’ll have to schedule them after today.” She said as she took a swig of water from a bottle.<br><br>He nodded.&nbsp; Their ‘charges’ were to arrive today. It had been a complete surprise earlier in the week when a notification came from the council that Aedus and Aderyn were to be assigned to a Dark-hunter. The Lamont family had always been Dorean squires, serving in whatever capacity needed as required. This was a first in the family history a Squire was to be assigned to a specific Dark-hunter.<br><br>&nbsp;He and his sister were providing a lot of firsts for the family…well his sister was at least. He watched her for a moment as she set the bottle down and re-adjusted her ponytail. While it was not unusual for a Lamont woman to become a squire, they had never been a Blood-rite. That duty had always fallen to the male of the line…until now. <br><br>“Hey Ed…stop staring off into space.” She chided. “Did you learn anything about your Dark-hunter?” she asked.<br><br>Aedus shook his head. “Nah, Cher, there wasn’t much in the database about Zariada beyond basics. And that was pretty sparse. The most I can tell you is that she might be from Egypt. But that’s just based on her name.&nbsp; I couldn’t find anything in the Squire files at all. What about you?” he asked.<br><br>Written and gathered by Squires for Squires with the express purpose of making their lives easier, the Squire files were filled with notes on every Dark-hunter there was. Everything from what foods they liked, how they worked, what their personalities were like. Anything a squire recorded ended up in the file. It wasn’t complete and there was a lot of opinionated crap that you had to sift through, but it helped in the long run. That is of course when the information is available. Not every squire is forthcoming. The Dark-hunters with the most information were also usually the hardest to work with.<br><br>Aderyn shrugged her shoulders. “Same. G-man is French…or so the files say. Which I am inclined to believe given the surname.” She said. “Guess we’ll find out tonight. Speaking of…” she glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. “We should get a move on.” <br><br>Aedus nodded slinging the towel over his shoulder. “Yeah. Talk to you later?” he asked opening the door that led into the main house proper. <br><br>“Of course.” She said following him out then turned down the hall to head to her own rooms. “And I was just getting used to being back home too…” she muttered. Aedus laughed.<br><br>--@<br><br>&nbsp;<br>It was well after dark when Aderyn pulled her bike into the drive of one of the more elegant New England houses she’d seen in the outskirts of New Orleans. Most houses of this caliber were nestled in the Garden District. She stared at the two story white washed house surrounded by a white picket fence for a moment before cutting the engine to her K13. It looked eerily idyllic.&nbsp; &nbsp;Sliding off the bike she noticed the car and let out a whistle of appreciation as she removed her helmet.&nbsp; <br><br>Shifting the small duffle from her back to her shoulder, Aderyn secured her head gear to the strap then ran a gloved hand through her hair. Pulling a hair stick from a zippered pocket she twisted her dark hair into a loose bun. She loved riding her bike, she hated helmet hair. Satisfied that it didn’t look atrocious, Aderyn turned her feet into the direction of the front door. <br><br>Without preamble she walked in. “Hello?” she called when she didn’t immediately see anyone in the entry way. <br><br>--@<br><br>Aedus stared out of the grimy window of the taxi at the streetlights and trees moved past the car. It would have been faster if he had driven himself, but no, according to Council regulations if a squire is out at night they are required to take the taxi service. It was a way of protecting them from any potential Daimon attacks. At least that was the reason given. Aedus wasn’t so sure. With a sigh he sat back into the leather seat.&nbsp; The least they could do is spend some money on getting a plush ride or to actually clean the vehicles they had he thought as his eyes drifted toward the floor of the taxi. <br><br>“And we’re here.”&nbsp; Conally said from the front seat. Aedus looked up shaking his head. He’s charge was living twenty minutes away from his family home. He could have walked it. Opening the door he moved across the seat to step out of the car hoping that nothing on the seat could actually stain his clothes.<br><br>“Thanks Conally.” He said pulling a bag out of the trunk. <br><br>Conally waved a hand in acknowledgement. “It’s what ‘m paid ta do. Don’tchya get inta trouble ya hear…” he said as he pulled away.<br><br>Aedus smiled and turned to go meet the newest Dark-hunter to grace the city of New Orleans. <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>27-04-2010, 21:46:09</strong>
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				Surprisingly, at least to her, Zariada loved the beautiful little town house that had been given to her. Though she supposed little was only in comparison to her estate of sorts in Egypt, and her vacation homes in Italy and Crete, yes, the New Orleans house was by all means for America a mansion of sorts, with seven bedrooms and five baths, gleaming hardwood floors and wide windows, a little courtyard attached to it and all of it set in the midst of the Garden District. At least Acheron always made sure she only got the best, traveling in style. <br><br>When she had arrived earlier in the night the once courtesan had regarded the building from the outside with slightly mistrust, beautiful as it was it looked so compact and small. She hated being cramped, though she would of course obey her orders. But Marc had gotten her inside and she had fallen in love with the place. <br><br>Now completely unpacked, she now prowled the house, a touch edgy and frustrated. But Marc had made the order's clear, no leaving the house till the pesky squire appeared and could brief her about the city and the dangerous therein. The sable haired beauty was not overly happy about that, in fact she had refused to share dinner with Marc because the man was being so stubborn about not letting her outside of the house. And the bad thing about spending centuries upon centuries with someone was that there was no way she could give him the slip out of the house. Not unless she wanted to be hauled back over his shoulder; been there, done that, about thirty years ago in England. So she would stay and wait like a good little girl. And seethe the whole damn time.<br><br>Zariada Basva did not <em>need</em> a squire for anything. <br><br>Useless to assign her someone, hopefully the girl wasn't too chatty or insipid, Zariada hadn't been able to stand that when she had been mortal, she certainly didn't want to put up with it now. Her eyes moved to the clock on the mantle of the fireplace in the back parlor and she nearly wanted to growl herself. Where the hell was the damned squire? She wanted to get out of the house, to prowl the streets instead of the spacious New Orlean's home, to start fitting together the pieces of the puzzle of why she was here. It was hard to solve anything in one location and one that was 'Council' safe. She rolled her dark eyes and drew out her matched fighting daggers from their leg sheaths, her feet starting the swaying dance of practice as she sliced at the air with them. <br><br>It was unlikely the squire would know anything about true dagger fighting, modern mortals had no interest in such things. So much the pity, not even Marc would spar against her with them anymore, he disliked the things and preferred larger or more automatic weapons. Her body was a line of dangerous movement, though she didn't once get close enough to endanger breaking anything in the parlor. Perhaps she should have gone outside in the courtyard but she was here and the parlor was a different sort of battlefield, good to practice and make sure she could whirl, jump, flip and stab without harming any china or lamps and other such nick nacks. <br><br>Then the doorbell rang. <br><br>The dark haired beauty drew to a halt, sheathing her daggers again and shaking out the mass of her long hair, worn loose and rippling to her waist tonight. A smile touched her lips, finally. Quickly she strode from the parlor toward the front of the house, her knee high leather boots soundless on the wooden floors, though with the four inch heels that were a part of them that was a feat. Tonight she was dressed for 'business' or rather fighting. Tight dark pants, like a second skin to her shapely legs, her leather boots and a tight black shirt. Her pants and shirt were only parted by a thin golden chain length that appeared to be a decorative belt, looped three times. Only it wasn't soft gold, it was titanium silver, strong as hell and painted to look harmless. Chain length was useful, move it fast enough it could act like a whip of sorts, or use to keep one tied up till questioning. Her black shirt was a thin cotton, easier to breath in the humid air, like a second skin to her torso, with a low cut V and short sleeves, revealing the valley between her breasts, drawing attention there to distract. The only other color was a decorative gold and lapis necklace, in ancient design. <br><br>Marc was at the front door already, a smirk on his lips. "I never thought you would be so eager to welcome him."<br><br>That made the Hunter pause, a frown on her pretty features. "Him?"<br><br>"Your new squire." <br><br>Shock and anger both chased each other in her eyes and across her face as the door was opened and she got a good look at the squire she wouldn't keep. "Don't even both coming in, Marc call the Council, I refuse to have a male squire if I <em>must</em> have a squire." she snapped, not carrying for proper introductions, hostile to an extreme and glowering, a fierce lioness. <br><br>Her handler chuckled then and gestured for the man to enter. "A. C. Lamont I expect?" <br><br>"Marc!" her voice was sharp. "I said no!"<br><br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br>A soft voice intruded into his senses as he stood over the stove, music playing gently in the background and that made him pause. <br><br>No. They couldn't have. A female? Gauvain felt his breath stop for a moment, not that that mattered overly much to a Dark Hunter, he supposed, before it picked up once more and this time painfully. His eyes shut for a brief interlude, blocking out the world as he struggled to think about what to do, how to handle things. He had avoided women, always, unable to trust them or himself around them, unable to let himself get attached to a female. Celeste did not approve, damn her. <br><br>His mind flashed to the year 1764, he had been stationed in southern Italy and there had been a young woman there, a poet and singer, drawn to his paintings, for he had started to paint again by then. They had met in a gallery and Rosamia had been enough to draw him out of his melancholy and make him feel lively again outside of his art, outside of his work as a Hunter. He had courted her, wooed her with flowers and coaxed her to sit for him, showering her with gifts and she returned it with her laughter, that bright clear sound so innocent. And he had been the cause of her death. Celeste was still out there, still alive and she would never allow a female close to him, not without attempting to kill them. And the Council knew that, or so he had thought. <br><br>The man inhaled, eyes opening as he stirred the sauce pan before him without really thinking about it, the scent of his cooking lightly wafting through the house. His stay in Italy had influenced his taste buds, apparent in the tomato and olive oil sauce currently cooking gently, basil, garlic, oregano, all of those and some more worked into it, fresh, of course. Water was boiling for a pasta, nearly done and the scent of fresh baked bread mingling. His meat was browned and merely waiting to be added to the sauce but that would have to wait. He turned down the heat on his food and reached for a towel to whip his hands clean, straightening his dark green shirt. The house had come with a well stocked kitchen, as those who placed him here were aware that he loved to cook.<br><br>Silently he made his way to the main hallway of the house, staring down it to the dim figure of the woman who had entered, for he had turned off most of the lights outside of those of the kitchen. "Bonjour mademoiselle, may I help you?" <br><br>He asked the question hoping he was wrong, that this was not his squire, that something else was going on. That he would not be forced to endanger her life to the madness of the woman who had killed him and never stopped haunting him, pulling on his strings.&nbsp; 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>29-04-2010, 05:07:16</strong>
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				Aedus could only nod at the tall dark man who stood at the door as he watched the Dark-hunter throw what he could only define as a tantrum. It would have been funny had it not been for the fact that she could literally break him in half without a second thought.&nbsp; But then again, he wasn’t always the smartest when it came to keeping his mouth shut. This time however he managed to contain his amusement to a chuckle.<br><br>“That I am. Aedus Cahir Lamont reporting as orderd. Marc, I presume?” He said raising his hand in a mock salute as he stepped inside the house. “I take it she wasn’t expecting me?” he asked as the Dark-hunter stalked away leaving him with a very nice view. A very nice view indeed.<br><br>Marc nodded. The smile on his face the only indication that he was highly amused. “You could say that. I do believe she thought she was going to be assigned a woman, though how she came to that conclusion is beyond me.”<br><br>This time Aedus did laugh; the sound deep and rumbling. “I get that a lot actually.” <br><br>“Oh? You get confused for a woman?” Marc asked closing the door firmly behind them before moving down the hall waving Aedus along to follow.<br><br>“Sure. Folks are usually expecting my sister. We have the same initials.” he explained as they moved further into house toward a flight of stairs. <br><br>Marc paused and looked at him. “This is too perfect. Truly.” He glanced past Aedus toward the front room with a smirk.<br><br>“She can complain to the Council all she wants. It won’t do her any good.” Aedus said unable to resist adding what his sister would call the cherry on top of a mischief sundae.<br>Marc raised an eyebrow at Aedus’s declaration. “Oh?” he asked.<br><br>“All placements are finalized by him of the ever changing hair –Ash.” Aedus said smiling. Leaving the rest unsaid, namely that unless Ash decided to change the assignment, Zariada would have to learn to deal. Because everyone knew that Ash very rarely, if ever, changed his mind on anything.<br><br>Aedus started up the stairs, “Does it matter which room I take?” he asked. “If the computer system isn’t set up give me a few minutes to set my things down.”<br><br>--@<br><br>&nbsp;Most of the lights were turned down or off making it somewhat difficult for Aderyn to see the décor. Not that it would matter much; she could look at it later. Right now her concern was to find the occupant of the house.<br><br>Adyern’s gaze was drawn toward the dim hall where a tall well dressed, and well built man walked toward her, his steps barely making a sound. The clothes he wore fit extremely well. She knew without a doubt that this was Gauvain. But it was more than that; he had an air danger about him that seemed to sit just beneath the surface. He must have been in the kitchen, the scent of strong herbs clung to the air around him. As he drew closer she thought he looked concerned.<br><br>She smiled as she took her gloves off. “Gauvain&nbsp; de'Merill? Hi. I’m Aderyn Lamont, your squire while you stay in Nola.” She said stuffing the gloves in one of the pockets in her leather jacket and holding her right hand out to shake his. “Sorry I’m late, would have been here sooner but traffic wasn’t cooperative.” She added.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>29-04-2010, 06:21:51</strong>
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				The men were 'chummy'. How perfectly wonderful. <br><br>Zariada had stalked back to the back parlor muttering under her breath and seething, she was not use to being ignored, her opinion counting for nothing, not even with Marc. He at least respected her for the most part outside of their jokes with one another. But she could hear them speaking even as she paced the back room again, hands itching to pull out her daggers and scare the shit out of the boy man on her doorstep. Maybe if she scared him enough he would go away. <br><br>But...no Marc would likely punish her for that. In a humiliating way. <br><br>The courtesan swore again, listening as the door was closed and Aedus Lamont shared the little tidbit about his sister. It could be worth a shot, to try and get the girl assigned to her instead of the boy, after all a girl would be less of a bother, she really didn't want to have to deal with a man outside of Marc, she had no patience for them. Well save for Ash himself but then Ash was a bit more then a man. <br><br>When they neared the staircase though she whirled and stormed back out of the back parlor, down the hardwood floors, stalking with each stride nearly, a dangerous feline on the hunt and her dark eyes snapping fire at the mortal male. She came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, hands on hips and spoke in a voice that promised castration if not heeded. "Yes, it does <em>boy</em>, the last door on the right is <em>my</em> suite and if you ever, <em>ever</em> take so much as a step in there you'll wish Ash had assigned you to Alaska." <br><br>Marc regarded her with a raised eyebrow, his night dark eyes clearly amused. "What she means is try the first three rooms and no the computer system isn't set up. She refuses to touch the things and I am better with weapons then stuff like that. We have a female servant back home that takes care of the security systems, computers and the like. You sure you can handle all the tech stuff though? Easy enough to call the Council and..."<br><br>Zariada's lips had thinned when Marc blazed over her and spoke as if her words had no meaning. "Fine Marc, play buddy buddy, squire's here, as you said. So I'm off, I'm not staying here one more minute." She stormed to the front door, jerking it open and slamming it shut before stalking down the front walkway and to the street inwardly ranting even as her dark eyes took in details at a incredibly fast rate. She really needed to kill a some Daimon's.<br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br>She was beautiful, he thought, this female squire the Council had sent him. Not in the glorious way Celeste had been, Celeste had been like the sun, hair of gleaming gold silk, eyes as flawless blue as the summer sky and hair of the palest gold. But this girl radiated strength and quiet competence; it was clear she knew how to take care of herself in the way that she moved. He would still try to get her assigned to someone else, if she was all they had then he would forgo a squire while he was in New Orleans, however difficult that proved to be. He couldn't risk someone's life outside of his own. <br><br>But he would have painted her, once. <br><br>Now he merely painted landscapes and flowers, still lifes and abstracts. No people. <br><br>Gauvain glanced at her hand as she extended it before slowly taking the final step toward her and taking her hand as well, though not for a handshake. Instead he lifted it, bending himself slight and pressed a soft kiss across her skin, a ghost of a touch, his eyes as dark as sin as they took in the details of the girl. "A pleasure mademoiselle Lamont, however I fear the Council was mistaken, I will not need a squire. However, since you are here, come into the kitchen, its better for talking then a too empty hallway."<br><br>He flashed a smile then, revealing a slight dimple in one cheek, his expression welcoming but there was a steel beneath it, a man use to getting his way and never giving a quarter. And yet deeper still was the melancholic air that gave him a flair he would have never thought of himself. "I did not expect company but a beautiful woman is never a bad dinner guest, I hope you enjoy Italian, I have a soft spot for the food ever since my time spend there a few centuries ago."<br><br>He was trying so hard to be polite, to not tell her to just leave, to handle her with kid gloves, this woman that seemed so competent and self assured. He tried to be the man his Mere had raised him to be and hoped he did her spirit proud. "May I take your jacket?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>03-05-2010, 20:23:45</strong>
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				Aderyn took the Dark-hunter’s comments in stride. It was going to take more than his declaration to get rid of her, even if he didn’t realize it yet. She filed away the little tidbits of information to be added to the Squire files as soon as she had a moment on her laptop.&nbsp; The Frenchman was certainly trying to be polite. She couldn’t remember the last time she had met a Dark-hunter who even made an attempt at it. She smiled at him as she unzipped the leather cocoon that protected her when she rode her bike revealing the thin black t-shirt layered on top of a lace burgundy camisole that peeked out from the hem of the shirt.<br><br>“Thank you…” she said handing him her jacket and noting where he placed it. “Mamma always said it was impolite to refuse hospitality when it’s offered.” She said remembering one of the many things Mamma Lo was fond of telling the squires that came into her establishment. Unless you had a particular wish to be maimed the one thing you never did was refuse something Mamma offered.<br>Keeping the small duffle with her Aderyn followed Gauvain into the kitchen. With a cursory glance she nodded impressed with the layout. She could do some serious cooking in there. That was if she decided to learn more than just the basics of scrambling eggs or boiling water. Which given the obvious indications that her charge knew a thing or two about cooking was a possibility.&nbsp; <br><br>“It smells wonderful.” She said as she looked around a little more. She noted the position of the windows and doors already thinking about how to make them more secure.<br><br>--@<br><br>Aedus continued up the stairs without watching his charge leave. “Don’t take her room. Got it.” He said chuckling. Dropping his bag in the first room he came to he didn’t even bother looking around. As long as the room had a bed he could crash on it would work.<br><br>He made his way back down the stairs to where Marc was standing. “So…give me the skinny on Miss Storms-a-lot. Anything I need to know to keep my appendages, aside from the fact that she seems to have an aversion to Squires and has something of a temper?” He said stating the most obvious. He didn’t wait for Marc to answer as he moved past the dark skinned man. He moved through the hall and the sitting room as if he had lived there his entire life. His innate sense of where computer systems were kept in a house had yet to lead him astray and true enough he found his way into a rather large study just off to the side.&nbsp; He smiled seeing the computer and set about getting things running.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>04-05-2010, 20:54:54</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Marc sighed, shaking his head as the courtesan went charging out into the night with little to no forethought about the location. New Orleans as a different world from the one that Zariada was use to, he at least had picked up on how different it was from their normal home. But the minx would do as she liked and there was nothing he could short of hauling her back by force and sitting on her to keep her at home. One night learning the pros and cons to the city by herself wouldn't be too bad of a thing, he hoped. <br><br>When the Squire reappeared he frowned for a moment at the nickname before laughing, a great deep boom of a sound even as he followed the young man into the study. "Ah good, you take your work seriously. As for Zari...Zariada Basva, she is a very complicated woman and has never stopped being so in all the many many centuries I have known her. We both predate the birth of Christ, so that should tell you something." Marc settled down in a chair, content to wait while Aedus did his magic and talk. "She's more dangerous then one would give credit to a woman looking as she does, but she is also a very important secret for Ash, so young man..." here his gaze was intent, dark and menacing, gone was the laughing giant and in place was the warrior of steel. "You won't tell anyone anything about her nor enter information into that Squire thing that the Council uses. She's not suppose to be remembered."<br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br>Her jacket placed to the side he inwardly side and guided the girl back toward his kitchen; though his dark eyes did take the moment to take in the details of her body, the manner in which she dressed. She was a tomboy he would guess, what with a leather jacket and the very functional attitude in clothing, yet still feminine. The lacy camisole revealed that. They should have never assigned him a female squire. <br><br>Gauvain kept pace with her just about until they reached the kitchen and shrugged at her thanks before putting the island in the kitchen between them, half surprised with how wary he was of the Squire. In the light she had skin of pale ivory, use to the night hours of the Hunter's no doubt, and eyes of a deep color, lean and graceful yet still womanly. Perfection, but not anything he would contemplate too long on regardless of he thought she would look captured in oils. Her compliment to the smell earned a slight twitch of her lips in what passed for a smile for the French man now and he inclined his head before going back to the stove to see to the last parts of his cooking. <br><br>"My thanks mademoiselle, it is always nice to know food smells good. It should only be another few minutes or so. Squire's are not allowed out after dark alone yes? I will drive you home after the meal if you wish." Polite, but so firm. She was not staying. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>04-05-2010, 23:27:06</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Marc sighed, shaking his head as the courtesan went charging out into the night with little to no forethought about the location. New Orleans as a different world from the one that Zariada was use to, he at least had picked up on how different it was from their normal home. But the minx would do as she liked and there was nothing he could short of hauling her back by force and sitting on her to keep her at home. One night learning the pros and cons to the city by herself wouldn't be too bad of a thing, he hoped. <br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <br>When the Squire reappeared he frowned for a moment at the nickname before laughing, a great deep boom of a sound even as he followed the young man into the study. "Ah good, you take your work seriously. As for Zari...Zariada Basva, she is a very complicated woman and has never stopped being so in all the many many centuries I have known her. We both predate the birth of Christ, so that should tell you something." Marc settled down in a chair, content to wait while Aedus did his magic and talk. "She's more dangerous then one would give credit to a woman looking as she does, but she is also a very important secret for Ash, so young man..." here his gaze was intent, dark and menacing, gone was the laughing giant and in place was the warrior of steel. "You won't tell anyone anything about her nor enter information into that Squire thing that the Council uses. She's not suppose to be remembered."<br><br>Marc’s comment regarding keeping Zariada secret was interesting to say the least, enough so that he paused sorting through the cables and turned to look at Marc.&nbsp; “Really? Secret? Good luck with that. Especially here in Nola.” He commented, and before Marc could even muster a dark glare Aedus shrugged. “The only thing I would have put in the file would have been h-a-w-t.” and turned back to the mess of cables. “If she’s supposed to be a secret then why is she here?” he asked. “I can give Thad a call after I get this set up if you want more security…he’s the go-to guy in these parts when it comes to security.<br><br>Marc laughed again then, the good natured giant flashing back as he shook his shaved head. "Zariada takes care of herself and she doesn't mingle with others, nor would other Dark Hunter's recognize her. She'll be kept secret and no, you handle the computer part, I'll handle the weapons. The less people that see this house the better. The Council think you are serving me lad, not the courtesan." <br><br>Aedus only nodded thinking it might be better not to mention the fact that the notification he had been sent specifically stated Zariada’s name as the Dark-hunter and Marc as her handler. Granted it was odd to hear of a DH having a handler. But if she was supposed to be a secret then Aedus supposed that having a handler wouldn’t be that strange. Within a few minutes the tangle of cables were sorted and bundled, color coded to mark which system and device they belonged to.&nbsp; “I can take care of the tech. If you needed someone with weapons skills they would have assigned Adi to Z.” He flipped the switch on the large flat screen monitor. “Let’s just say that I know just enough to keep me out trouble.”<br><br>A hand clapped down on Aedus shoulder, heavy and strong and Marc grinned at him. "No worries, I can handle weapons well enough for five people, or so I've been told. However you are suppose to be helping the courtesan, so why don't you go play friendly with her?" A cellphone lay in his other hand, offered to the Squire "Her number is the only one programmed in here and there's a GPS link to her cell, which she knows to take. Have fun."<br><br>Aedus stared at the phone for a moment before shaking his head. “I can see you’ve never been around a squire…” he said sliding the phone into his back pocket for the time being. “We don’t go out at night. It’s a rule. Keeps us safe and all that stuff.” He fell silent as he brought the system up, his fingers flying across the flat keyboard with ease. A map of New Orleans appeared on the screen. Pulling the phone out of his pocket again he typed in the number and a code of some sort after it. A purple dot appeared on the map.<br><br>“Does she have a Bluetooth set or is she anchored to the phone itself?” he asked looking up at Marc. Marc nodded, “Blue tooth.” He said watching curiously. Aedus hit the speed dial and sat down in the leather chair. “So are you lost yet?” he asked when the speaker picked up.<br><br>Marc flashed Aedus a smile with a chuckle even as he moved to leave the study. "Ah well then perhaps she won't kill you after all if you have to stay in the house." and with that the man vanished, off to his own tasks.<br><br>The sable haired woman had gone fuming out into the night and made her way just fine at first, tracking by senses and exploring the new city. She had even found a Damion to kill and thoroughly enjoyed the action. Back in Egypt she wasn't allowed to do so very often. However a half an hour after that had her lost and muttering to herself, even considering calling Marc for help. But she would not give him the satisfaction of that. Suddenly her phone rang though and startled she answered it, expecting her handler only to get the Squire. "Someone is very chipper, let me guess you and Marc are connecting over long necks?" she gave as her reply, not overly eager to say yes that she was lost. The human didn't need to know that.<br><br>“If you turn left on St. Ann’s you’ll be able to see St. Louis Cathedral…or at least one corner of it up one block.” Aedus said with a chuckle. He leaned back, placing his hands over his head as he watched the marker on the screen. “And no. I don’t think we’ve reached that level of comradeship.” He responded to her question. “Oh Just past the Cathedral is Jackson Square. You should stop by Café Du’Monde sometime. They have excellent coffee.” <br><br>"And what makes you think I want to go see a Cathedral boy?" she asked him, amusement making her nearly want to laugh. He at least seemed to have wits about him and it was interesting to talk to someone outside of Marc for a bit. But still, he was mortal, human and a Squire, not to mention male. He was not someone she had any plans to befriend any time soon. The mention of a cafe had her sighing even as she turned in the opposite direction. "I don't know if Marc told you but I'm not suppose to mingle with people, its the shadows for me."<br><br>“Yeah, he mentioned it. But I figured knowing where the Cathedral was would help you get your bearings. That way when you do get lost you’ll know which way to go.” Aedus said, letting the Dark-hunter know that he knew exactly what had happened without really saying it point blank. “If you need to keep to the shadows as much as you seem to think, then wouldn’t it be a good idea to know where those things are?” he asked her. “It’s your loss about the coffee though. It really is good. And the beignets are melt in your mouth good…”&nbsp; He glanced at the computer; she was at least heading in the right direction if she was planning on returning to the house. <br><br>--@<br><br>Her jacket placed to the side he inwardly sighed and guided the girl back toward his kitchen; though his dark eyes did take the moment to take in the details of her body, the manner in which she dressed. She was a tomboy he would guess, what with a leather jacket and the very functional attitude in clothing, yet still feminine. The lacy camisole revealed that. They should have never assigned him a female squire. <br><br>Gauvain kept pace with her just about until they reached the kitchen and shrugged at her thanks before putting the island in the kitchen between them, half surprised with how wary he was of the Squire. In the light she had skin of pale ivory, use to the night hours of the Hunter's no doubt, and eyes of a deep color, lean and graceful yet still womanly. Perfection, but not anything he would contemplate too long on regardless of he thought she would look captured in oils. Her compliment to the smell earned a slight twitch of her lips in what passed for a smile for the French man now and he inclined his head before going back to the stove to see to the last parts of his cooking. <br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <br>"My thanks mademoiselle, it is always nice to know food smells good. It should only be another few minutes or so. Squire's are not allowed out after dark alone yes? I will drive you home after the meal if you wish." Polite, but so firm. She was not staying. <br>&nbsp;<br>Aderyn leaned against the island, watching the Dark-hunter go about his cooking. “Thanks for the offer, but my bike is outside. I don’t leave it anywhere when it’s not necessary.” She said. Her arm snaked out across the island and she filched a piece of Parmesan. Popping the salty piece of cheese into her mouth with a smile.<br><br>Gauvain turned with the sauce pan in one hand, placing it down on the cutting board and frowning slightly. "But it would not be gentlemanly for me to not escort you home." His cooking apparently done he pulled simple white plates of good china out from under the island and started to plate the food with a style that would not have been out of place in a restaurant. <br><br>“If I were going home, you would be right.” Aderyn said. “But since I am not. You don’t have to worry about it.” She pushed herself back from the island and moved toward the fridge. A blast of cold air hit her when she opened the door. “Oh…nice.” She murmured seeing a variety of beverages at her disposal. “What are you going to drink?” she asked looking back at the Dark-hunter.<br><br>The Hunter turned to gaze at Aderyn as she moved through her kitchen, a touch nonplussed, he was not use to a woman not obeying his gentle hints. "You can not stay here..." he murmured out loud, glancing at the fridge and responding politely "Ginger ale, I don't go for anything too heavy or caffeinated. But it is not safe here for you Miss Lamont."<br><br>Aderyn grabbed a Ginger ale for Gauvain and a coke for herself. She almost snorted at hearing his declaration that it was not safe for her to be there. She found it amusing. “Not safe? I think you might be the first Dark-hunter to ever claim that…In my estimation it’s the safest place to be unless they’re pissed.” She said putting the cold bottles on the island. “Look it’s sweet that you feel the need to…” she paused trying to think of the right word, “Protect me…but I assure you. I can handle myself. And quite frankly, you are stuck with me until I’m told otherwise.”<br><br>He had laid the plates out on the other side of the island where the stools were, along with the garlic bread and salad, watching the girl. She seemed...to find his words amusing, not to be taken seriously. A frown passed on his handsome features. "I only say it because it has been proven true in the past, I am not so high on my ego that I forgo the safety of others for my own sense of poweress." He moved around the island to sit, a good few feet from the stool that was clearly meant for her. Gauvain found his eyes drawn to her hands, to the shadow of something on her left hand and his frown deepened. "You are Bloodrite? A woman?"<br><br>The note of disbelief in Gauvain’s voice was enough to wipe the smile from her face.<em> What was it with men? There were plenty of female Dark-hunters out there in the world that kicked ass and didn’t bother taking names. Why was it so hard for them to accept that a human female could do the same thing?</em> Popping the cap off of the coke bottle she took a quick swig before answering with her own question, “Do you have a problem with that?” It had taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears to become a Bloodrite, and she wasn’t ashamed of that accomplishment. But on some level she could understand a Dark-hunter’s hesitancy. Considering most Bloodrite’s remained Dorian Squires so they could carry out their duties as needed.<br><br>"I do not have a problem with women being warriors, no Miss, I would not be so backward as that." he replied softly in his deep voice, picking up his fork to toy with the food on his plate. "I simply was surprised that the Council would assign you to me, there is no need for me to have a Squire, nor a Bloodrite one." He offered her a peace making smile even as he opened his drink. "I am sure you have far more important things then to sample my cooking."<br><br>A half smile returned, making her brown eyes lighten a little. “Maybe they decided I needed a vacation.” She said. Picking up a fork in one hand and a spoon in the other she twirled the thin spaghetti noodles onto the tines of the fork and took a bite. She nodded happily to find that it tasted just as good as smelled. And thankful that the smells filling the kitchen hadn’t lied. There was nothing worse than a heavenly smell turning into something foul tasting. She glanced up at Gauvain before continuing with her meal. “I don’t think you’ll ever get rid of me now.” 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>12-05-2010, 06:36:59</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Her lips compressed even as her eyes narrowed, the Squire was damn lucky she wasn't there to show him just what she thought of his smart mouth at the moment, it would have involved a tight fist and his balls. The Hunter turned on her heel, heading toward the Cathedral, more to see the building itself then to scent the coffee he mentioned. Perhaps she would make him get her the food thing he had mentioned earlier during the day. And he was still in her ear so she decided to give him a come back of sorts, all but purring out her voice in a way she knew no man, not even Ash could completely stay unresponsive to.<br><br>"So thoughtful aren't you Aedus Lamont...perhaps I should ask you, the Southern gentlemen to get me the beignets then." She smirked to herself, wondering how the Squire would deal with his Hunter sounding like a wet dream over a phone line to him. Most males seemed to react interestingly, even Marc couldn't resist her charms when she decided to play them against him, which was part of the reason why she didn't, usually. Rather save that weapon for when it was needed then waste it. The woman took a quick step to the side as a couple came down the street toward her, into an ally and headed into the shadows even as she lifted a hand to push her hair off her neck.<br><br>"Is it always so humid here?"<br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br><em>Or maybe they think Celeste is getting crazier and needs to be taken down....</em><br><br>The thought flashed unbidden in his mind at the smile on the Squire's lips, wondering then, if she had been given to him to slay the Damion he apparently couldn't. But it wasn't like he had ever caught up with Celeste since the 1800's, his once love was far too clever for his comfort, but he was gaining on her, and after so many centuries spent studying her he believed he could take her out. A Bloodrite might be needed though, to see it through if his heart betrayed him.<br><br>Again.<br><br>Still he did not speak those thoughts though they stayed heavy in his dark eyes as he watched the girl eat the pasta and savor it. At least she knew how to savor good food, that was necessary for any Squire of his. His own fork moved finally, and he ate with all the fine manners of a lord born and bred, neat and efficient, making it nearly an art form. "Well then I suppose I should stock up on more food...though are there any good markets nearby?" He tried to make polite conversation, after all there was no need for her to know that he was planning to talk to Ash the moment he was alone again. He could be polite to a young girl and give her a good dinner. As long as she was far far away from him by the time he found Celeste or she found him. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>12-05-2010, 23:27:02</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Satisfied for the moment that Gauvain wasn’t going to continue trying to get rid of her, Aderyn focused on eating the food in front of her. It was really good and all too soon it seemed to vanish from the plate. She mused on how she had lucked out on getting assigned to a Dark-hunter that knew how to actually cook. One would think that all Dark-Hunters would have this skill given the time that some of them had been around to learn, but no.&nbsp; She had heard some horror stories from other Squires about the lack of skill around the tables at Sanctuary as they wolfed down copious amounts of chili.<br><br>However, his insistence that he did not need a squire was irksome to say the least.&nbsp; He was being overly polite and she could swear that he was trying to keep her at arms length –heck she got the feeling that he really didn’t even want to be in the same room with her as if she contagious or something. She didn’t think it was because she was a Squire.<em> Maybe it was because she was woman? </em> The thought seemed to gel with his earlier reaction to learning she was a bloodrite, regardless of what he said afterwards. Either there was something in his past or the man was gay. It was more likely something in his past, but Adi had long learned never to discount possibilities. She glanced over at the Dark-Hunter as he ate in silence. <em>Anything was possible.</em> <br><br>Aderyn slipped from the stool and picked up her plate, automatically taking it over to the sink and rinsing it off before stashing it in the brand new dishwasher.&nbsp; She looked over the cook top and the remaining food. There wasn’t a lot left, but more than enough for at least one more meal for one person.<br><br>“Do you keep leftovers?” she asked looking over at Gauvain.<br><br>--@<br><br><br>Aedus had little trouble believing that the Dark-huntress on the other end of the line had been a courtesan in her former life.&nbsp; And he had no doubt that she had used that voice to get what she wanted on more than one occasion. And he would have said something to that effect had she not followed up with a question regarding the humidity. The plaintive note in her voice was quite the cold shower and he was glad that she was not actually there to see his grin.<br><br>“Oh it’s not so bad.” He said. He’d actually gotten quite used to the weather – of course he had grown up in these parts. “What’s it like in Egypt?” he asked pausing to pull up some more schematics of the house and making notes about additional security.&nbsp; Just because Thad couldn’t come out to the house didn’t mean Aedus couldn’t go to Thad tomorrow and go over some ideas before picking up some beignets.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>18-05-2010, 03:39:27</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>"Oh its not so bad."</em> That comment earned a roll of her dark eyes as they flashed in the night, though in truth her lips were quirking with humor, after all the boy was keeping up with her moods and quick changes, which said something for the human. And he was a new male, something she didn't usually have introduced into her life unless she was suppose to be investigating them and then likely cleaning up after them and their deaths. She wasn't a tool that Ash used lightly for good reason. <br><br>Why give her a Squire though? And a male one at that? It would needlessly complicate things wouldn't it? Perhaps it was part of what she was suppose to be figuring out. Her thoughts flew within, thinking about how the male had mentioned that he had a sister, a twin sister. Perhaps that was the key, the Hunter his sister worked with was the one she had been called here for. To help, not kill. <br><br>She would see how well that went. <br><br>His question about Egypt made her come back to herself and she laughed softly, moving past the cafe he had mentioned and scenting the air curiously. It did smell good. But she really couldn't go in there, she was too much of an eye catcher, strolling through the night by herself was one thing, that would lure out Damions, but interacting with humans was suppose to be avoided and she did listen to orders. "Its hot, but not a liquid heat like here. Bright during the day, hard to avoid the sun unless you are very very good at what you do. Most of our compound is beneath the ground, though we have a nice 'upper' house and gardens. Lots of sand, of course, and its...a fierce beauty, starker then here by far."<br><br>Her voice was soft, it was clear Zariada loved her home, though she was not pinning for it by any measure. "What's it like having a twin?" she asked in return, pausing a few blocks from the town house to frown as she looked around her, something seeming off. <br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br>The taste of tomato holding together the rest of the sauce filled his mouth as he finished off his pasta, reaching to eat the last of the bread as well with his eyes carefully watching the Squire move around his kitchen. She seemed very at ease, or at least, very talented at making herself fit into any situation she was presented. It was likely the later, most weren't at ease around Dark Hunter's, least of all him. Gauvain brought his drink to his lips again and took a swig just before her question, swallowing before speaking. <br><br>"I keep them, usually at least when I have a squire around. I got in the habit of making enough for an extra serving of dinner so they would have lunch the next day while I slept." His voice gave her the answer in English with an archaic French accent slightly. The man stood then, gathering his own dishes to rinse and put in the contraption that was now a dishwasher. A marvel of the modern world in truth, and handy as hell. Certainly his mother's servants would have loved one. <br><br>He left the dishwasher instantly though, putting space between himself and the girl as he reached for the tupaware, another modern invention and went to carefully see the food put into it, as detailed and through in it as he was in everything. "I hate grocery shopping, that will be something you are expected to do while you are here. I will give you the list of what I desire for the day, I prefer to keep my food fresh, buying meats, produce and herbs as I need them rather then keeping them around to die. Grains and the like may keep, and those I have already gotten for myself along with what I cooked with tonight. I hope you don't mind overly much but I like fresh food." <br><br>Gauvain was a quiet man in most respects, and certainly he had presented himself as a perfect gentleman for the most part up to that moment but his dark eyes and the depth of his voice spoke of a will that did not expect to disobeyed. It was clear he was use to command and enjoyed the control over his life he now had. His elegant fingers popped the lids on and he moved to the fridge to place the leftovers on the sleeves, which was done in a rather precise manner as well. "I will show you to a guest room now, and then I must tend to the dishes and go out for the night."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>19-05-2010, 21:43:38</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Aedus shrugged even though Zariada wasn’t there to see it. “It’s no different than having a normal sibling I guess. Well that’s not true…everyone tends to compare us and think that we like the same things and all that. They forget that we are different people.”&nbsp; He said.<br><br>It was something that both he and his sister had to remind even their family about on occasion. “Just because one of us is good at something doesn’t mean that the other is too.” He mumbled turning to look at the monitor to see where the Dark-huntress was. The blip indicated she had stopped a few blocks away. <br><br>“I would say you would like Adi…but I’m not sure the two of you could be in the same room.” Aedus could imagine the sparks that would fly if they ever met. They were both stubborn as hell. “Is everything alright Z?” he asked when the blip hadn’t moved.<br><br>--@<br><br>Adi watched the Dark-Hunter’s movements, how precise and exact they were. <em> Great…</em> she thought to herself. “You don’t suffer from any OCD’s that I should know about do you?” she asked opening a cabinet door that hid the recycling box and tossed her empty glass bottle into it.<br><br>“I can take care of the dishes and find my room if you just want to get to work.” She added as she straightened. Adi chose not to comment about food. She could tell that he was used to being obeyed by the way his tone changed over the course of his little laundry list of things to for her to get. His last Squire might have been meek or even mild mannered, but she didn’t take kindly to being bossed around when all it took was a simple ‘please’. Gauvain had a lot to learn.<br>&nbsp;<br>“Trust me. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself here while you go kick some ass.” She said. Not waiting for him to reply she moved to the sink and turned the water on.<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>25-05-2010, 05:07:54</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Something was off. <br><br>She listened, half at least, to Aedus as he spoke in response to her question about his twin but her attention was also focused around her, her senses cast out into the night. Zariada heard footsteps and moved then, not wanting to seem odd if what she sensed was correct, instead she strolled down the street as if she owned it, hips rolling in a languid sensual manner sure to draw attention to herself. Her long dark hair shimmered around and she breathed in the night, letting its wild power fill her even as her heart picked up pace. <br><br>Oh this would be fun. <br><br>"Everything is perfect." she whispered, husky and all but purring the word perfect, rich amusement clearly coloring her words. <br><br>And then they came. Two of them, one before her, one to the side, handsome, but then their kind often was, tall and broad shouldered with eyes that gleamed. If she hadn't known better she would have thought it just lust, but though they might well lust there was more there, hunger for something no human would understand. She was hard pressed to keep from smiling that her bait had worked so well. <br><br>"Well hello gorgeous...what do you say you join us?" <br><br>She glanced at them, her dark eyes warm, lips spreading in a dazzling smile. "A girl does love to hear she's gorgeous." she replied, playing for all the world like a simple modern wanton. And of course they believed it. It earned her smiles as she stepped closer to the one in front of her, lush lips smiling in a way that was full of promises and she wondered if Aedus could hear the Damion's as well. <br><br>"Fools." One word cracked through the night from her back and she turned, eyes widening in mock surprise at the slim figure of a woman behind her. She was beautiful, but then most Damion's were in a utterly deadly way. <br><br>"Ah...so no secret to you then?" The courtesan asked with a laugh, the two males near her blinking in surprise. <br><br>"Not in the least Huntress..."<br><br>"Thanks Princess, you just made my night a lot more interesting." She drew her daggers in a flash then, the matched pair appearing from apparently no where as she backed away from the three of them, putting a wall solidly to her back.<br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br>The question caught him off guard and he glanced at the girl with a slight furrow to his brow before shaking his head. "I do not suffer any disease, merely a liking for knowing exactly where things are. It helps, to know ones environment always." And he truly, deeply believed that after all that had been what had saved his life no few times in fights against Damions, knowing exactly where things were. Like say a pan of boiling oil. <br><br>That memory caught him quiet off guard and he looked away, out the window, not truly seeing as he strove to fully bury it once more, listening to the Squire's words but not really hearing her. "As you wish then." <br><br>He was curt, polite yet stiff and he gave her a slight bow before turning on his heel and striding down the hall toward his study to ready himself for his hunting. He needed air. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>25-05-2010, 19:40:17</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Adi barely caught the ghost of something cross the Dark-Hunter’s face when she looked back at him just as he was turning to leave. His movements were rote, bred into him from a past she knew nothing about and he disappeared like so much smoke on the wind.<br>She shrugged her shoulders and returned her attention to the sink, her dark eyes watching the bubbles forming as the sink filled with water. After a moment she turned the faucet off. “Let’s see what we can find on the satellite radio…” she murmured wiping her hands on a towel.<br><br>She flipped quickly through the stations, stopping only briefly to hear a beat or two and deciding if it was what she felt like listening to. Finally she stepped back from the device. Picking up the remote that controlled the volume she turned it up, the sound of an alternative band filled the kitchen. “Now there’s something I can listen to.” She said. <br><br>Sticking the small remote into her pocket she picked up one of the pots and took it over to the sink to wash.&nbsp; By the time the song finished Adi had washed all the pots and wiped down the counters. Gauvain had either cleaned up as he cooked or he was just that careful about what he used. Since there were only a few dishes in the dishwasher there was little point in running it.&nbsp; Folding the towel she used to dry her hands she turned the radio off and headed down the hall to find her room.<br><br>--@<br><br>Aedus listened to Zariada chuckle without actually doing so. From the sound of it he got the feeling that she had just run into some Daimons.&nbsp; Either way, he remained silent and hit the mute button. If she was about to start a throw-down he didn’t want to distract her. He wondered how many other squires ended up listening to fights happening through their headsets. <br>&nbsp;<br>He could hear two males. Which given what he had seen of the Dark-Huntress, he knew they didn’t stand a chance. Her responses to their come-ons were dry and sarcastic with a huge dollop of trollop, how it didn’t tip them off was beyond Aedus. But then again presented with the package that was Zariada , a lot could be over looked.<br><br>The addition of a third voice, this one female –though muffled, made him sit up in the chair. Daimons traveled in even numbers. That there were three was anomaly. He heard the unsheathing of weapons and knew there were some Daimons not long for this world. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>25-05-2010, 20:09:37</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Safely ensconced in his study he had been able to breath again and for a moment he rested his back against the door, breathing in to calm himself and examine his responses as a whole. He had been perhaps too curt with his Squire in that last moment, but with reason. Wait...his Squire? When had he started to think of the girl as such? It was not safe for her to be anywhere near him. <br><br>Gauvain shook his head at himself, running a hand through his dark hair to push it back from his face before moving toward his desk and tapping a key on the keyboard to make his monitor light up with the information he had been looking at earlier. City grid maps to make sure he didn't get lost. The Hunter picked up his phone then, making sure that they had downloaded to the handy little gadget, which they had of course. At least something was functioning as it should. <br><br>His attention turned to the large walk in closet that was to the left of the desk and he slipped inside, changing his slacks for leathers, the neatly pressed green button up for a simple dark navy shirt and a vest shrugged on over it, full of weapons and stacks of course, but slimly made to hide such things. It was as he was putting on his boots that he heard music playing through his home and frowned. What was <em>that</em>?<br><br>The man surged to his feat, a furrow in his brow at the alterations in his living space and opened the door of his study only to nearly collide with Adi. He drew up short, still frowning slightly at the girl but kept his gentleman's air. "What exactly is that music?" <br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br>"A hunter!" one of the large males hissed and the courtesan found herself laughing even as her back came up against the stone of the wall. <br><br>"Huntress would be the politically correct term." She smiled sweetly even as she said it and earned sounds of exasperation from the Daimons. <br><br>"And a snarky one at that." The female commented, watching as the two men closed in around Zariada. The sable haired woman's eyes glinted in humor even as she shifted her daggers in her hands, the elegantly curved hilts providing plenty of base to hold onto them outside of the grip itself. Her arms lifted, crossed as the first Daimon male lunged at her. She whirled, ducking down and sent him face planting into the wall before stabbing straight through his back into his heart. <br><br>"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.." she purred out, clearly trying to put off the remaining Daimon's in front of her. The second male was glaring at her in hatred and she beckoned him forward with one dagger, a daredevil smile gracing her features. He lunged forward and again she whirled, a kick connecting to his groin, her dagger slicing across his throat and ruining it. He fell forward onto the pavement, clutching his neck and she didn't waste anytime with stabbing down through his back toward his heart as she had the first male. <br><br>Dusted, two in a short amount of time. It was good to know she hadn't lost any of her edge.....<br><br>Pain sparked through her rib cage, a knife buried in her side and she let out a breathless cry of pain before whirling to see the woman. The Daimon female didn't waste any time, kicking her back into the wall and the force of it made Zariada's head loll, her eyes crossing with the pain. Breathing was thready, erratic and she shifted, her hands still gripping her daggers, now her knuckles white. <br><br>"You should really pay more attention. Though I suppose you are only use to even numbers Huntress..." the voice was as sweet as an angel's but sinister in intent. Cloying in its sweetness really. <br><br>The courtesan steeled herself and then took both her daggers in one hand and lifted her free one to rip the knife out of her side, hissing at the pain. "Your certainly a different sort Princess."<br><br>That made the haughty blond glower at her as she stalked closer and Zariada lifted the woman's knife and threw it at her like another would a dart. It caught her just above her breast, more shoulder area then anything else. And that got a shriek. Apparently the Daimon had no fear of discovery. "Bitch! I am one of a kind! I am a noble amongst the rubbish!!"<br><br>Police sirens rang in the night then and that did draw up the Daimon female, though she threw Zariada another glare. "This isn't over Huntress."<br><br>"I certainly hope not Princess, you're the most interesting party I've had in awhile." there went her dry wit again, but the woman was already moving, vanishing down the street. The siren's blared louder and the courtesan winced, sheathing her daggers with one hand, holding the other against the wound in her side even as she cursed fluently under her breath and forced herself to start running, taking to another ally, this one darker and danker then the first and she kept moving, weaving her way toward the house. <br><br>"Squire....be useful and have a med kit ready."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>25-05-2010, 21:03:40</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Adyern stopped moving as Gauvain came out of one of the rooms in the hall and nearly collided with her. Her gaze traveled just enough to tell her that he had changed clothes and was now wearing leather before she focused on his face. She couldn’t tell if was actually scowling or not.<br><br>“The music? Oh. Black Lab. Good alternative band. Why?” she asked. It wasn’t as if she were blaring the music at unacceptable decibels. Not that anyone would hear it out here. Besides she had turned it off once she was done. <br><br>The Dark-Hunter stared at her like she had grown a second head or maybe another set of arms but didn’t immediately say anything. She checked her shirt to make sure that she hadn’t gotten anything on it just in case and ran her hands down the length of her pants to brush any errant crumbs that might have stuck. <br><br>“Actually.” She said as she felt the bump of her phone in her pocket, “Let me see your phone. Should probably sinc them…kinda need to know how to get in touch when needed and all that right?”&nbsp; Adi said slipping her phone out of the pocket. <br><br>--@<br><br>Aedus was already out of the chair and headed toward the hall by the time Zariada made her request.<br><br>“Marc!” he called moving toward the stairs. Aedus still didn’t know where everything was in the house yet, that would be remedied over the next day. Until then he had to rely on Marc to know where things were.<br><br>The tall dark skinned man leaned over the railing at the top of the stairs. “Yeah?” <br><br>“Zi’s gonna need some patching up. Where’s the supplies?” Aedus asked.<br><br>Marc looked worried and almost flew down the stairs. “How badly?” <br><br>“She’s still moving under her own power.” That seemed to relax the big man some. He pointed to the back of the hallway at a closed door.<br><br>Aedus moved to open it and found an entire medical closet completely stocked.&nbsp; He whistled the sound low in his throat. “Damn.” He murmured before grabbing some bandages and assorted cleansers. Anything beyond that he would come back for if needed. He heard the front door open&nbsp; as he moved to the parlor items in hand.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>25-05-2010, 21:39:45</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Black Lab. What an odd name for a performer, it wasn't even the name of a person. But then that was all the rage now, or rather had been for the past hundred years or so, bands and groups with odd names instead of actually composers. He had stopped in his music interest about the 1920's, unable to understand or enjoy many later movements. "Alternative?" he echoed, that furrow still in his brow.<br><br>When the Squire held out her hand for his phone he eyed her warily and then turned to stride across the room of his study toward his desk. The study was clearly a masculine room, done in shades of deep brown and green, somber and strong in the lines of the furniture. "Come in if you please." He called out to her, disconnecting his phone from the cord that had attached it to the computer. He may have forgone 'modern' music but he knew how to work a computer and the like readily enough. <br><br>And the equipment he used was only of the best, top of the line even by Council standards. "What is it exactly that you are going to do to my phone?" there was honest curiosity in his voice, just because he knew how to work the things he needed to didn't mean he had ever expanded that knowledge beyond basics. He just had the best possible given to him with the most basic instructions. Part of him wished the world had stopped moving forward so fast more then a few decades back, longing for the things of his own time period that were now long gone. But that was not something he would ever express. <br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br>She managed to get the door open, the blood from her wound welling out between her fingers and leaking down her side, staining her clothing which did not put her in any better of a frame mind. Just who the hell had that female Daimon been? She wasn't like most of them Zariada had met, though granted the courtesan didn't usually fight the soul suckers, rather her task was her own kind. <br><br>A curse fell from her lips as she saw Marc loom up in front of her, a frown on his face. She met it with a defiant glare even as he helped her to the parlor, wincing as the wound pulled. "You really shouldn't go looking for trouble Zariada."<br><br>"Yeah well this time it found me without me looking. I was on my way back here.." She hissed out her breath as he eased her down into a chair and then reached for his pocket knife to cut away her shirt. The material parted easily enough before the razor edge and fell in pieces around her to bare her toned golden abdomen. The knife wound was like a jagged smile against her skin. <br><br>"One hell of a throw whoever did this. What happened exactly?"<br><br>"Three of them, took out the males no issue, the female though....damn it where's the Squire?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>25-05-2010, 23:02:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“Right here.” Aedus said behind her. He’d back tracked for a suture kit on the off chance that it was a more serious wound and from the shredded shirt surrounding the chair it was a good thing. Sometimes intuition was a good thing to follow. He moved around the chair to where Marc knelt in front of the Dark-huntress.<br>&nbsp;<br>Aedus didn’t say anything as he dropped the items on rug that ran the length of the hardwood floor. There were no snarky remarks about the wound or her abilities as a Dark-Hunter. Instead he focused on cleaning the jagged wound to determine if it would need stitches to help the healing along.<br><br>“It looks like a shallow wound.” He said to no one in particular as he wiped away the blood with a disinfected cloth. Pulling a couple of butterfly sutures from a sterile package he taped the wound shut. Satisfied that she wasn’t going to continue bleeding all over the place Aedus rocked back on his heels. “Good to go.” He told her, giving her a nod as he started to pick up the remnants of her clothing, trash, and unused supplies to be returned to the medical closet.<br>“Need anything else?” he asked as he rose to his feet. <br><br>--@<br><br>“Sync them.” She said taking the phone from him. Of course the easiest way was to simply bump, but she had no idea if he used that handy little app or not. It didn’t take long to figure out that while the man had all the nifty gadgets a geek would tremble in ecstasy over, he knew nothing beyond the basics. She quickly downloaded the app among a few others she would show him later. “This is one of the easiest ways to transfer information between phones.” She said switching to her own phone for a moment to pull up the information she wanted to transfer. A moment later she literally bumped the two phones together – lightly – then handed Gauvain his phone back after checking to make sure the transfer happened correctly.<br><br>“See. Nothing to it. Now if you need me, hit your speed dial. Number 2. I’d be number 1 with a bullet if it weren’t for voice mail.” She said. Then just to make sure she asked, “You do know how to use the speed dial right?”&nbsp; It wasn’t that she didn’t think he knew how, it was just better to cover everything. She slipped her phone back into her pocket as she looked around the room. The office was just as orderly as the kitchen. It made Adi smile. Damned if the Dark-Hunter didn’t have a disorder of some sort. She’d never heard of one that was this precise in this living space, but then again this was her first time being assigned to a Dark-Hunter.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>26-05-2010, 02:11:09</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				She found herself blinking that Aedus was in fact ready with first aid supplies, after all she had though he would leave Marc himself to tend her. However she stayed still as his hands worked on her skin, her eyes half shut as she tried to control her response to the pain and not bite the poor man's head off. She wasn't exactly at her best when she was hurting, and though it was not deep it still <em>hurt</em>. It brought back memories of her human life, of when her customer's had enjoyed pain play and she had given it, hating them ever moment. Of her death. <br><br>"Shallow...that's good." she managed, trying to sound as if she were listening to him, though her mind was&nbsp; falling through many memories and thoughts as she clenched the chair's arms that she was resting in. What surprised her though, and kept her from going too deep within her own memories was how clinical he sounded. Her body was not one many men could be detached about and view. <br><br>After all it was honed to perfection, curvy, supple and full. Her skin was like satin to touch, pampered daily with lotions and treatments, scent with amber musk and speaking of the night and hours spent in bed. When he stood she frowned up at him, her dark peru eyes regarding him as if he were some strange manner of creature. "..."<br><br>"That good enough lad." Marc cut in, which seemed enough for the Squire to head for the door. The courtesan turned a glare at her handler in response, hissing out at him.<br><br>"Just what was that about? I can speak for myself."<br><br>"Yes but you weren't about to thank him, you were going to either berate or insult the boy for not noticing your figure."<br><br>"I....I..."<br><br>"Zariada, you are gorgeous, you know you are. Perhaps he merely doesn't swing that way." That earned a snort from the female as she pushed herself out of the chair and stormed toward the archway of the parlor to make it to the stairs. <br><br>"Perhaps, perhaps he would prefer you then. Have a fun time with the Squire Marc." His chuckle drew her up as she neared the stairs and she turned to look at him. <br><br>"I'm going out Zariada."<br><br>"Well...I...damn you." She whirled on her heel, muttering under her breath about men as she stopped in the hallway, hands upon her hips and gazed at the Squire that had been assigned to her. Her fast paced breathing was making her breasts strain at the cups of her black bra and her skin was flushed with color as she gazed at him with glittering eyes. "So, are you gay then?"<br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br>He watched her quietly as she took his phone, the man's eyes narrowing to follow exactly what she did, she seemed to be downloading something to his phone. His previous squire had handled that for the large part, updating any new technology that was needed. Still he was curious as he listened to the Squire lass explain how it would help transfer information, which would in truth be handy he supposed. Was it like a text message then? Or a picture message? He could get emails on the phone, he knew that just not how to send them in response. The touch screen keyboard was not something he liked nor wished to use overly often. <br><br>The furrow in his brow eased as his phone was handed back to him and he looked it over carefully to make sure the bump had not put a scratch on the piece of electronic equipment. That was how he thought of his phone, like a gun or a stake, it was a piece of equipment to function when he needed it and nothing more or less. Simplistic perhaps, but it kept him focused upon his purpose and not distracted like so many of his peers about their duties. <br><br>Curious about her words, to see if they held true the Frenchman taped the dial icon and then hit the 2, a new number with a New Orleans area code, presumbably her's, popped up on the screen. He exited out of the dial function though, shoving the phone into a pocket near his narrow hips. "I know how to use the phone for its purpose of calling and receiving calls yes mademoiselle, I simply do not know how to do the extra additions to such things. There is no point to distractions, my purpose is my duty and so I perform that. Recreation should be something that is of use, such as cooking or training, both further preparation and ability to carry out ones duty."&nbsp; <br><br>His slightly accented words carried a confidence that his manner upon first meeting did not often reveal. Something about the girl drew out his more true self though and that made him all the more wary of the young 'Adi'. Gauvain turned toward his computer, gesturing at it. "The security is set up through this computer, if you need to look at it or anything else you are free to do so. I do not use it for anything personal other then music. And even that my previous Squire was kind enough to handle. Computers..confuse me." he admitted the last nearly painfully, hating to admit any weakness or flaw in himself but it was the true and who knew, perhaps she would able to better arm the house. <br><br>"I would like if you looked over the security system and had suggestions to offer when I return. No place is truly safe from attack."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>26-05-2010, 04:58:02</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Aderyn nodded at his ‘semi-suggestion’. “As long as you don’t invite a Daimon into the house we should be golden…but I’ll give Thad a buzz and have him run a diagnostic. See if anything needs to be tweaked.” She said moving over to the desk to look at the computer. It looked like the standard set up as far as hardware was concerned.<br><br>“Computers confuse a lot of people. It’s really not that hard to understand as long as you keep an open mind and don’t try to think about it.”&nbsp; And it was true, at least that was what her brother kept telling her over and over again when they were much younger.&nbsp; She’d learned it was the same with just about everything in life really.<br><br>“Have fun out there.” Adi said turning her attention to the computer as she pulled her phone out again. “I gave you a list of safe places to go if you find you can’t get back here before dawn. If you need me to come get you just call.”<br><br>--@<br><br>“Hell no, Cher. I’m far from it.” Aedus said trying not to laugh. He also knew he was far from immune to the wiles of a beautiful woman and would have to be made of stone not to acknowledge that Zariada was beautiful. Especially with the way she stood at the bottom of the steps staring up at him with those dark eyes. He had told Marc as much, though not in those exact words.<br><br>But just like her, he took his job seriously. And if it meant he had to ignore certain things in order to do that then so be it. He sighed. “I was going to order a pizza. Before sitting down and trying to figure out if the female Daimon you fought has been seen by anyone else. Want anything?” he asked trying to focus her attention on something else. <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>26-05-2010, 20:23:38</strong>
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				Her comment about inviting a Daimon into his home summoned back that furrow to his brow, a wariness flickering in his eyes as he wondered exactly what she had meant by that. Likely a joke, he would hope so at least, not that he understood most senses of humor. Unsure of what manner of response would be fitting Gauvain simply nodded and took comfort that she would have someone else look over the house and security, Thad must be the security system guy for the local area. <br><br>She truly was an odd girl, this Aderyn Lamont, telling him to have fun while he was out hunting the soul suckers, telling him not to invite a Daimon into the house, as if he would be that foolish. He shook his head and turned toward the door, leaving her in his study. "I'll let you know then. Have a good night mademoiselle." <br><br>He gave her a slightly stiff bow and then left the room, shutting the door behind him and shaking his head even as he walked toward the in table near the door where he had left his keys. Once out of the house he rotated his shoulders, releasing the tension in his back and made his way straight to his car. He did love the car. Inside it, reving the engine up he thought it was one of the best gifts of the modern world, to drive something like this. He peeled out of the drive way and went flying down the road toward the city and yet even in that he stayed utterly composed, his methodical mind thinking over the city map. <br><br><em>Celeste...where are you? What are you doing here?</em><br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br>"Oh." Zariada blinked in surprise as his answer, wondering why he had called her Cher. Did he mean it like the French word or like the American singer that was all glitz and glamor? Either could have negative aspects and her eyes narrowed warily as she watched him, wondering if she should even trust the American boy. Marc was chuckling behind her and she turned and gave him her dark eyes which cut off the laughter. <br><br>"Zariada, you are too easy to bate sometimes."<br><br>"Yes well screw you slave."<br><br>"Happily but as you've told me, I couldn't afford you. Now play nicely with the Squire, I'll be back in a bit." Marc was out the door then and Zariada rolled her eyes to herself, a smile twitching on her lips. As aweful as they sounded to each other it was how they let one another know they cared. He had made her stop thinking of pain, driven her to finding out Aedus' sexuality and now was no doubt out hunting the female that had knifed her. He was a good friend. <br><br>The courtesan swung her gaze thoughtfully back to her new Squire and then shrugged. "Pizza and looking for the Bitch Princess sound fun enough."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>29-05-2010, 22:35:53</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				“Preferred toppings?” Aedus asked moments later sitting in front of the computer again. This time a menu and order page pulled up on the screen. “I tend to like some spice and the pizzeria has an awesome spicy sausage and pepperoni combo.” He clicked the mouse a couple of times putting in his part of the order.<br><br>An incoming message pinged in the background of the monitor. Aedus switched programs bringing the blinking message to the foreground.&nbsp; “And it looks like the blonde Princess Bitch has been in town for a little while….” He said as he typed a response, “I’ll see if there are any more details than that.” Then went back to the order screen and clicked another item.<br><br>--@ <br><br>Alone in the study Adi opened the desk draw and found one of the many remotes that controlled the sound system that ran through the entire house.&nbsp; Smiling she activated the speakers in the room and turned the volume up. Concrete Blonde piped in. Satisfied for the moment she tossed the remote on the desk and hit the speed dial on her phone. She hummed the first few bars of Bloodletting before a voice came on to the line.<br><br>“Hey Thad. How’s it hanging these days?” she asked. “Yeah, I got back last week. Glad to be back.” She paused listening. Shoving the mouse across the mouse-pad the computer screen in front of her woke up again. “Yeah, so I need diagnostic tests run on the new place. The G-man wants to make sure the security is up to spec.” she laughed. “Yeah.”&nbsp; <br><br>Typing in a few numbers she sat back and watched the cursor start to jump around as Thad took over the terminal. Thad was the best at security that everyone around these parts relied on. She watched as he set out to see if he could break any part of the security system.&nbsp; “Thanks Thad. Call me when you’re done? I’ve got some things to do.” She said after a minute or so then disconnect.<br>“I have a house to explore and see what trouble I can get into while the cat is at play…” she said to no one in particular.&nbsp; <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>01-06-2010, 05:29:28</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The engine purred for him as he maneuvered through the tight streets of the city's center, and he was grateful that his windows kept out some of the smell of the place. New Orleans was no where near as clean as San Francisco had been, and though both were off the ocean the swamp near New Orleans tended to add to the over all 'scent' of the night down here in the 'South'. He had never been stationed in the South before and its humid clime was far different from the sort of environment he had been born and raised in. Then again he didn't think there was another place on the planet that was quiet like this party city. <br><br>He parked in a carport attached to a law firm, it would be safe enough here at least, and it was a decent length from the hot spots of the night that would likely prove to be his 'hunting grounds'. After all where humans got drunk and lost their senses was where Daimon's were likely to have their best luck at luring some poor soul to their eternal end. <br><br>Gauvain unfolded himself from the slim powerhorse of a car and stretched out his long arms as he shrugged to readjust his vest over his shoulders. The door shut and he clicked the little button that would mean the thing was locked before starting toward the elevator that would lead him down to ground level. The thickness of the air made him wrinkle his nose slightly in distaste, he was going to need another shower by the time he got him, sweat working its way into his clothing and salting his dark hair in the most annoying manner. What he wouldn't give for a San Francisco breeze. <br><br>His time in the elevator passed quickly enough and then he was out on the street, strolling along down it like a man of wealth and power, which he was, and a predator, which he also was. But the fluid deadly grace of his movements wouldn't read to most human's, just to those that he meant to make sure they turned to dust. And for them, well there wasn't much hope for them left if he got that close. After having the girl around and thinking so much about Celeste he was more then primed to take out soul suckers. <br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br>Arms crossed beneath her breasts and eyes narrowed in a observant wariness Zariada watched her new Squire like a hawk as he sat down in front of the computer again, eying the piece of electronic glory with a clear distaste. She missed the old world, the older ways, computers seemed invasive, bothersome and temper provoking. Certainly the one time Marc had tried to get her to use one had resulted in her actually physically throwing the thing at a wall because it wouldn't stop blinking and beeping at her for no reason. The squire however seemed to have mastered its confusing ritual of use. <br><br>"That sounds fine, the combo, I don't like vegetables on pizza." She offered in response to the question, her brow drawing together in a slight glower as he moved his hand around on the little odd shaped oval thing called a 'mouse' and seemed to operate the computer and the 'net' with no issue. Men always seemed so blasted clever at inventions, she was better in bed. A slow smile curved on her lips as an idea began to form in her thoughts though she stayed silent and tilted her head slightly when he mentioned the female Daimon by the same pet name she had given the creature. <br><br>"Princess Bitch really was so fitting wasn't it? Though I suppose most men would have liked her, all that willowly blond perfection." She rolled her eyes at that, unable to understand why anyone would want the blond 'innocent' and deadly looking beauty that the other woman held compared to the sultry promise of her own looks. "Thank you, I would like as much info as possible before I kill the bitch."<br><br>The courtesan moved over toward the study's desk then and braced her arms on the side of it, leaning in toward him and since she hadn't bothered to replace her shirt her breasts strained at her bra's cups as she smiled at him, sensual promise all but oozing from her. Her smile certainly spoke of wicked delights and her dark eyes were warm as a small gathering of her hair slipped and cascaded down over a shoulder, the scent of warm dark amber lingering in the air. "So....I've never understood computers much and you seem good at them. If you help me learn I could teach you....well how to make sure you can get any woman you like."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>29-07-2010, 19:34:30</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Half an hour later Adi had pretty much covered the entire house and knew every nook and cranny, every possible hiding place and deposited her small duffle bag in one of the extra rooms. She’d even located Gauvain’s room. It was hard not to look around though she didn’t touch anything. Going into a room was one thing, riffling through items was something altogether different. <br><br>At the moment though, she was lounging on a rather comfortable couch with a small netbook open in front of her. Her thin fingers flew across the keyboard as she typed up her initial notes to be sent to the Squire Archives. Any future squire was going to want to know that G-man was an excellent cook. Adi smiled at the thought. She’d lucked out with that. On the other hand she was concerned about his reticence at even allowing a squire near him. Adi was certain that it had something to do with her being a girl, but until she knew more about her Hunter she wanted to reserve judgment. To that end she sent off her notes over the secure lines and began her search in earnest to know more about Gauvain de'Merill. <br><br>--@<br><br>Aedus’s&nbsp; blue eyes barely flickered over to where the female Hunter leaned over giving him a view any red-blooded man would drool over. She was not going to make being her Squire easy. She was trying everything in her power to provoke him.&nbsp; Aedus shook his head as he maneuvered the final steps of ordering dinner. “I can show you how to use the computer…but I am going to have to decline on those lessons. I appreciate the offer though.” He replied.&nbsp; “Food should be arriving in twenty.” He said as a notification came through telling him that the order had been received.<br><br>Aedus returned his attention to the search for more information on this new Daimon all the while completely aware that Zariada was in arms length of him. He might have scoffed at the Squire rules while going through training, but he certainly appreciated them in this situation.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>05-08-2010, 07:46:57</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The darkest shadows of the night gave him a home as he flowed through them, more shadow then man, but then he wasn't really a man anymore, in many ways. He was a thing of vengeance and duty, hunting, haunted...haunted by females. The pale glorious beauty of Celeste swam before his eyes one moment, as she had been in their adolescence, and the next was replaced with the vivid beautiful dark beauty of Rosamia, and then the young woman, his poor Rose, dead and pale from the drain of her blood. His fists clenched at that memory, rage and guilt in equal measure rising within his form as his long legs carried him down an ally way, following faint noises; he had caused her death, had gotten too close, been stupid. <br><br>Why would the Council assign him a female Squire knowing his past? Granted it wasn't in the files most Squire's got to see but it was still there and Ash usually made sure that females were kept a decent space away from Gauvain, it had been silent, that gift. A gift that had suddenly vanished. <br><br>The blond beauty of Celeste and the olive skinned sensuality of Rosamia was replaced then, both of them fading as the face of the new girl, of his Squire. He would not be responsible for her death, he would not lead the insane woman who had betrayed everything to her; but there was so little he could do without knowing where Celeste was. It was more then just his Squire though, over the centuries he had learned, had seen Celeste change, she enjoyed what she did now, she thrived on pain and fear, slowly taking her victim's, tormenting them. How many she had killed he had lost count of long ago just like the number of how many Damion's he had dusted. But it was never enough, not until he caught her. <br><br>His boots splashed through a slight puddle in the darkness of the ally, he was down near the clubs now, his feet having guided him there while his mind was caught up, spanning the many years of his life and the battle that seemed never ending. The darkness of his eyes was deeper then just mere black and when he saw two Damion's go into a club from the back he found a nearly cruel smile curling on his lips; it was time to work.<br><br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br><br>If she hadn't been insulted by the way he hardly looked at her she would have been impressed. He must, she decided, be gay after all to not simply stare at her in shock, she hardly ever tried, and certainly wasn't really now, but still, she had made some effort, him in a lusting state hardly able to think would have been nice. She sniffed when he said he would decline the lessons and informed her the food would be arriving, straightening and shaking out her long hair, still unbothered by the fact that she was without a shirt and revealing most of her toned torso, her full breasts threatening a time or two with the right movements to fall out of the black satin cups. The Dark Huntress twined a strand of her silky hair around one finger, dark eyes narrowed on him. <br><br>"As you wish then not gay Squire." It was clear by her voice she didn't believe him but she wasn't going to waste any more of her time with him for the moment, or at least not here. She had been a courtesan too long and too well to throw herself at a man that seemed to want to resist her. There were better ways to get around such reluctance; she had had the Egyptian Court at her feet at one time, some boy wouldn't be very hard at all. <br><br>Why she was so bent upon breaking his 'rule' she didn't know, perhaps in hope that if he saw that he couldn't help himself around her, and no man who was sane would be able to for any length of time, he would leave. Leave her in peace. She did not need a Squire. So she would use him to hone her arts, to tease and tempt and drive mad. What a good use for a Squire, she smiled then, bright, sultry and promising, it was a smile that boded little good for most and then turned, swaying her way out of the room as she thought of what ways she could bring him to his knees. "I'll be training." She tossed behind her, not bothering to elaborate. <br><br>Her training involved far more then usual weapons though. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ariadne</strong> on <strong>04-01-2011, 05:47:41</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><br>TwiliteStalker: I am being punished aren't I?<br><br>ButterflyBullet: Why do you think that?<br><br>TwiliteStalker: Oh. Just that my Hunter is trying her damnedest to get a rise out of me. <br><br>ButterflyBullet: Rise how?<br><br>TwiliteStalker: ......<br><br>ButterflyBullet: *laugh* I'm sorry. Suck it up billyboy. At least she can stand being in the same room.<br><br>TwiliteStalker: Your Hunter not throwing himself at your feet in adoration?<br><br>ButterflyBullet: More like running as far away as possible.<br><br>TwiliteStalker: Well...you do scare a lot guys Sis.<br><br>ButterflyBullet: Ha ha. Funny. Not. Seriously though, it's really odd.<br><br>TwiliteStalker: Not saying it isn't. Have you heard anything on the wire about a new Daimon?<br><br>ButterflyBullet: Be more specific. Lot's of Daimons about these days.<br><br>TwiliteStalker: Female. Evading most Hunters. Apparently Z ran into her this evening.<br><br>ButterflyBullet: And the blonde bitch isn't dead?<br><br>TwiliteStalker: No. Apparently there are skillz...had to patch Z up.<br><br>ButterflyBullet: Skillz to pay the Billz...got it. Can't say that I have. But G-man was all hot &amp; bothered by something earlier. Maybe the two are connected?<br><br>TwiliteStalker: Don't see how.<br><br>ButterflyBullet: Couldn't say but I wouldn't discount it.<br><br>TwiliteStalker: Yeah. Hey did you get the feeling that your Hunter wasn't expecting you?<br><br>ButterflyBullet: I certainly didn't get the welcome I was expecting. He almost sent me packing.<br><br>TwiliteStalker: *nod* I get the feeling that Z's never had a squire before...gotta jet food is here.<br><br>ButterflyBullet: Pizza?<br><br>TwiliteStalker: Naturally.<br><br>ButterflyBullet: Enjoy.<br><br>TwiliteStalker: Later.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Double Play (Ariadne &amp; Wistful Dream)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>06-01-2011, 03:44:18</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The humidity of the night that had hung like a oppressive blanket over the city when he entered the club going after the two blond males had resulted in a early shower, meaning it was about three am when he left the pulsing throng of humanity for the empty ally and was confronted with a drizzling rain. The Dark Hunter's features showed a slight annoyance at this even as the French man adjusted his jacket on his shoulders. Dark eyes flickering both ways down the ally that was bathed in the ruddy amber of the street light a good twenty yards to his right. Nothing, it was quiet, no doubt because of the sudden rain shower. No matter, the club would be busy until five in the morning easily enough, a weekend night in NOLA was always busy till the wee hours of life. <br><br>Gauvain turned to his left, away from the meager light of the street lamp and started down the damp back street. <br><br>A whisper of the air around him was all the warning he really had before hands were teasingly moving down his back, wrapping around to his torso and with that a blond woman he knew far too well came into his sight. He stiffed, his dark eyes fixed on her as if she were about to disappear. Apparently the rain didn't bother her, several droplets clung to that familiar wealth of marigold hair and her too familiar eyes met his. The generous lips that as a youth he had pined over moved into a smile that promised so many delight, the only thing that had changed in all the years since his 'death' was her scent. It was something new and over bearing, as adolescents she had always worn soft rosewater. Simply, heavenly, he had thought then. Torment through all the years, part of why he never stayed anywhere with roses. <br><br>"Celeste."<br><br>"Gauvain, you look a bit peaked handsome, perhaps I could take care of that for you?" She was flirting, trying to seduce him now even as she had then, all those centuries ago. He caught her hands as they tried to move lower on his body and leaned in close to her face, fangs flashing. <br><br>"I don't think so Celeste." <br><br>She pouted, a moue that had once broken his heart to see made him want to snarl. "But Gauvain, you came here for me, you always come for me, no matter where we are. Its been centuries and its the same dance, just like it always was." It sicked him to think that she believed that, that he followed her because he was still in love with her, not because of the fact that he knew her best. He knew her weaknesses; including him. The question now was was he willing to use that to finally put them both out of their misery. <br><br>"Well then why don't we bring the dance to an end?" He purred at her, backing her toward a wall, more aggressive now then he had ever been while alive. He had a lot more anger now though, a lot more to be aggressive for. He wasn't going to let her crook her finger and use him again. Still her eyes looked up at him, so delighted at his response. She thought he was going to let her win, let her have her way. For heavens sake why, when he was alive, could he have not noticed how horribly selfish this woman was?<br><br><br><div align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~</div><br><br>The room she had claimed for her 'training' was one of the bedrooms upstairs near her own rooms, the master suite of course. This room shared a door with her rooms though, probably the wife's private bedroom when the husband hadn't wanted or needed her. Ah time changed but people never did. Still the room was a decent size and she had ordered all furniture save the bed moved out. The bed was moved up against one wall though, rather then the center of the room that it had been in before and her trunks, three of them, sat against one wall. These were not her clothing trunks, or rather they were in part but only for clothing meant to attract men and lure them into being foolish. She was so good at that. <br><br>Zariada had entered the room still plotting how best to trip up her Squire, that thought had faded though as she moved around the room, placing candles and lighting them, lighting a stick of incense as well. It was a personal blend she had overseen the making of, smokey, sensual and exotic. Candles lit she was glad to turn off the electric lights she still found to be offensive at times and she let down her long hair from its ponytail, shaking her head to loosen its strands. Her side still ached a touch but she ignored it, realizing that if she were going to match that blond bitch Princess she was going to need to be very limber indeed. <br><br>So she danced, rather then running, rather then lifting weights or jumping through obstacles like many of her male counterparts would do. Zari embraced the skills that had made her so very good at what she did back before she had sold her soul to Artemis, or rather, seemed to sell it. A smile toyed on her lips as she let her body move, still in her boots and skin tight black pants, not bothering to put on a shirt. The air was muggy, humid and her body felt best, for the moment with out it. Her dancing was not just shimmies and sways like most modern dancers stuck to, but flips and quick turns, almost a gymnast. That was the reason for the bed up against the wall. <br><br>Still even in her trance like state of movement she heard the doorbell ring and figuring that either meant the food was here or Marc had returned she stopped, pausing only a moment to blow out her candles before going to her actual rooms and stripping out of her clothing. Her hair she wove into a long messy braid, confined but not. The courtesan picked up an elegant black robe and shrugged it on, its sheerness over some parts clearly illustrating her lack of concern for modesty. Eying herself in the mirror she paused, wrinkled her nose and then shrugged off the robe, picking out an oversized green silk shirt instead. It hung down to her midthigh, loose and breezy. It was sensual, but in a more subtle way. <br><br>She wanted him to leave, she just didn't want him to leave thinking she was easy or actually running. Besides now that she had decided to start the game it seemed like a fun challenge to keep her mind busy when she was stuck at home. How much to tease and tempt, oh what a wonderful question. With a smile on her lips that promised wicked things she tugged back on her thigh high boots and headed down stairs in search of food and her Squire. 
			</dd>
		</dl>
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