She stared straight ahead as they walked, allowing a pleasant expression to remain on her face for Raphael's benefit. Whatever tactic she chose, he needn't have worried, for now was not the time to act. She was perfectly content to remain tacitly in his presence for as long as was necessary; there was no hurry, no appointment to keep.
Nevertheless, she occasionally glanced in his direction, watching him, in turn, for any suspicious movements. One couldn't be too careful. His intentions could be more sinister than expected.
When he spoke, her back stiffened, and she remained silent for a moment. She wasn't sure how to respond, as she herself never knew the answer to that seemingly simple question. What was her purpose anywhere?
“It's so much fun to keep secrets,” she reminded him after a beat. “Suffice it to say that my business here is no different from my business in any other city.” Survival. And pleasure, of course; in many cases, the two were one and the same.
It was typical for her to deflect a question by turning it on the asker, and she did so now. “And you? What brought you to the city?” After all, most of the men she found herself with preferred to talk about themselves. Why not let them?
An Opportunity, A Manipulation, and a Terror
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Raphael Quinn
- Outsider
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:02 pm
- Race: Human
He quirked an eyebrow when she answered him, amused and not surprised at her evasive answer, although it did capture his interest a little. She was something like himself, then [if she is being honest, he reminded himself]. A wanderer in pursuit of nothing, but everything as well.
Raphael grinned again when she turned his question around on him, but he answered readily enough.
"The pursuit of game." He was fully in his element, wordplay and double-meaning. He laughed a little as he led her around the corner of a side-street, at the end of which stood a somewhat broken-down building in which, several days ago upon his arrival in the city, Raphael had rented a room.
As they approached it, he expounded a little on his intital answer, "I make a living by being good at reading people. What they're thinking, what they're planning." His grin was a little devious. "I figure out their game before they figure out mine."
The first floor was entirely rented out by a clothmaker, and through the barred front windows as they approached one could see a variety of cloths and tapestries on display. But Raphael led her to the side of the building where a set of creaky wooden stairs led them up to the second story, which was rented by the clothmaker as his workship, and then another flight of stairs up to the third. It was here that the staircase ended at a single door, one that granted access to what was essentially the attic of the building. But as Raphael reached inside of his coat and removed the key, he looked over at Sable and grinned, his eyes flashing.
"I always stay in the penthouse."
Raphael grinned again when she turned his question around on him, but he answered readily enough.
"The pursuit of game." He was fully in his element, wordplay and double-meaning. He laughed a little as he led her around the corner of a side-street, at the end of which stood a somewhat broken-down building in which, several days ago upon his arrival in the city, Raphael had rented a room.
As they approached it, he expounded a little on his intital answer, "I make a living by being good at reading people. What they're thinking, what they're planning." His grin was a little devious. "I figure out their game before they figure out mine."
The first floor was entirely rented out by a clothmaker, and through the barred front windows as they approached one could see a variety of cloths and tapestries on display. But Raphael led her to the side of the building where a set of creaky wooden stairs led them up to the second story, which was rented by the clothmaker as his workship, and then another flight of stairs up to the third. It was here that the staircase ended at a single door, one that granted access to what was essentially the attic of the building. But as Raphael reached inside of his coat and removed the key, he looked over at Sable and grinned, his eyes flashing.
"I always stay in the penthouse."
Life is just a mind game.
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Sable Corvi
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:53 am
- Race: Human
The appearance of the building wasn't promising, and Sable had to remind herself that even just the chance to rest for a moment would be worth it for tonight. She had to admit, though, that it was a bit disappointing. She hoped the run-down exterior contained some measure of hidden wealth.
Nor was she how she felt about his answer to the question. "I figure out their game before they figure out mine," he said, and the words were ominous. Would he find Sable out before she could succeed?
No. He couldn't. She was more skilled, more practiced than most women, and he couldn't possibly suspect her of anything...or that was what she told herself to combat her nerves. Anyway, what could he do?
She grinned back at him as they stood outside the door. Hopefully, whatever was on the other side was worthwhile. Otherwise, she could extract herself if she felt it necessary. Probably.
"The penthouse? Classy," she laughed, leaning against the wall to one side of the door. Then, returning to the previous conversation, she continued, "I'm curious. Have you figured me out yet? What do you think my game is?" The question sounded innocent enough, playful, but his answer would be important. She could still leave if she had to.
Nor was she how she felt about his answer to the question. "I figure out their game before they figure out mine," he said, and the words were ominous. Would he find Sable out before she could succeed?
No. He couldn't. She was more skilled, more practiced than most women, and he couldn't possibly suspect her of anything...or that was what she told herself to combat her nerves. Anyway, what could he do?
She grinned back at him as they stood outside the door. Hopefully, whatever was on the other side was worthwhile. Otherwise, she could extract herself if she felt it necessary. Probably.
"The penthouse? Classy," she laughed, leaning against the wall to one side of the door. Then, returning to the previous conversation, she continued, "I'm curious. Have you figured me out yet? What do you think my game is?" The question sounded innocent enough, playful, but his answer would be important. She could still leave if she had to.
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Raphael Quinn
- Outsider
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:02 pm
- Race: Human
Raphael was turning the key as she asked her question and paused to look at her, his mouth turned up in a sly grin. This was a test, a playful one, but a test. She was trying to get a deeper feel for him, how he was thinking. What he was thinking.
This was an opportunity.
So he leaned a little closer to her, his hay-yellow eyes intense, leaving perhaps dozen centimeters between their faces, and let his grin die down a little.
He paused just a beat, his arm propped up against the door, then spoke very quietly, almost like whispering a secret.
"I think you're playing to get all you can and more. I think that you're interested- you might even be intrigued." That wolf-esque half grin flickered for a moment. "I think that you're beautiful and more intelligent in combination than any other woman I have known, and that makes you very," he leaned in just a trifle more, breathing the words, "very, dangerous."
He held her eyes. "And that makes you a woman beyond my abilities to resist."
Raphael didn't move for just a moment, holding the proximity, the tension. Letting it build and culminate.
And then he pulled back just a bit, quirked an eyebrow, and turned the key the rest of the way to unlock the door.
"The question is, captivating and enchanting Sable, how many secrets are you willing to let me try and figure out?"
This was an opportunity.
So he leaned a little closer to her, his hay-yellow eyes intense, leaving perhaps dozen centimeters between their faces, and let his grin die down a little.
He paused just a beat, his arm propped up against the door, then spoke very quietly, almost like whispering a secret.
"I think you're playing to get all you can and more. I think that you're interested- you might even be intrigued." That wolf-esque half grin flickered for a moment. "I think that you're beautiful and more intelligent in combination than any other woman I have known, and that makes you very," he leaned in just a trifle more, breathing the words, "very, dangerous."
He held her eyes. "And that makes you a woman beyond my abilities to resist."
Raphael didn't move for just a moment, holding the proximity, the tension. Letting it build and culminate.
And then he pulled back just a bit, quirked an eyebrow, and turned the key the rest of the way to unlock the door.
"The question is, captivating and enchanting Sable, how many secrets are you willing to let me try and figure out?"
Life is just a mind game.
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Sable Corvi
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:53 am
- Race: Human
She found herself leaning forward to listen as he spoke, her eyes locked on his. He thought she was playing to get all she could and more. He was correct – but did he understand what that meant, what it was she was playing for?
Ah, flattery. He was to seduce her with words, telling her she was beautiful and clever. If she had been another woman, she suspected he would have said the same. Nevertheless, it was always nice to hear.
Dangerous. She hadn't been called that in years, and it hadn't been to her face before. It was true, of course; the man wasn't stupid. He knew more about her nature than she would have expected, and thus he, too, was dangerous.
As she'd said, though, she loved a challenge.
Most important was when he declared himself unable to resist her. There lay her power, her advantage. There was the weakness she would twist, use, manipulate to the fullest.
She pushed herself away from the wall, moving behind him as he unlocked the door. “You may try for all of them, if you like. I'll warn you, however, that you may be frustrated. There are one or two you'll never extract, no matter how hard you try.” She chuckled softly. “That is, no one ever has. But you're different, aren't you? We'll just have to see.” She brushed a hand lightly against his shoulder, as if flicking away a speck of dust. “You should know, though, that I am intrigued, and I am dangerous. Perhaps more than you know. You may want to hold your deepest secrets closely, because I'll be searching for them, too. All of them.”
Ah, flattery. He was to seduce her with words, telling her she was beautiful and clever. If she had been another woman, she suspected he would have said the same. Nevertheless, it was always nice to hear.
Dangerous. She hadn't been called that in years, and it hadn't been to her face before. It was true, of course; the man wasn't stupid. He knew more about her nature than she would have expected, and thus he, too, was dangerous.
As she'd said, though, she loved a challenge.
Most important was when he declared himself unable to resist her. There lay her power, her advantage. There was the weakness she would twist, use, manipulate to the fullest.
She pushed herself away from the wall, moving behind him as he unlocked the door. “You may try for all of them, if you like. I'll warn you, however, that you may be frustrated. There are one or two you'll never extract, no matter how hard you try.” She chuckled softly. “That is, no one ever has. But you're different, aren't you? We'll just have to see.” She brushed a hand lightly against his shoulder, as if flicking away a speck of dust. “You should know, though, that I am intrigued, and I am dangerous. Perhaps more than you know. You may want to hold your deepest secrets closely, because I'll be searching for them, too. All of them.”
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Raphael Quinn
- Outsider
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:02 pm
- Race: Human
Raphael pushed the door open and took a half step inside, pocketing the key and glancing back over his shoulder, lightly catching the hand that brushed his coat, his eyes flashing back at her. He raised the hand to his lips but did not actually kiss, only pressing it there, feeling the smoothness and the pulse beneath the skin, taking in the sensation of it.
"Let's see, then." he breathed, looking up from her hand and into her face. He took a step backwards into the dark room, drawing her in after him.
He was grinning now, his teeth showing in the dim light as he loosed her hand and walked over to the fireplace on the west wall, which was glowing a dull red from still hot coals. He picked up a log and tossed it on the coals, which he raked into a more radiant orange and white intensity as the log began to catch fire, throwing a little light into the room.
It was somewhat plain, but adequately furnished dwelling. There was a table in the middle of the room, with one chair at it, and another chair with a cushion on it sitting before the fireplace. On the north wall [the wall opposite the door] was a neatly made bed of slightly larger than usual proportions, and at it's foot was a large trunk with an oversized lock on it. On the east wall was a window, and next to it was several pitchers and a basin, as well as a cupboard.
Everything was clean, neat, and in order.
Raphael looked up at her from where he was kneeling as he threw a second log onto the coals. The red in her hair seemed to glow in the firelight, the flickering shadows playing across her curves.
"Definitely dangerous," he murmured, the faintest hintings of a grin on one corner of his mouth.
After a brief second, almost unnoticably, the door eased closed behind her, closing out the cool night air as Raphael indicated the cushioned chair before the fire.
"Please," he grinned, "have a seat."
"Let's see, then." he breathed, looking up from her hand and into her face. He took a step backwards into the dark room, drawing her in after him.
He was grinning now, his teeth showing in the dim light as he loosed her hand and walked over to the fireplace on the west wall, which was glowing a dull red from still hot coals. He picked up a log and tossed it on the coals, which he raked into a more radiant orange and white intensity as the log began to catch fire, throwing a little light into the room.
It was somewhat plain, but adequately furnished dwelling. There was a table in the middle of the room, with one chair at it, and another chair with a cushion on it sitting before the fireplace. On the north wall [the wall opposite the door] was a neatly made bed of slightly larger than usual proportions, and at it's foot was a large trunk with an oversized lock on it. On the east wall was a window, and next to it was several pitchers and a basin, as well as a cupboard.
Everything was clean, neat, and in order.
Raphael looked up at her from where he was kneeling as he threw a second log onto the coals. The red in her hair seemed to glow in the firelight, the flickering shadows playing across her curves.
"Definitely dangerous," he murmured, the faintest hintings of a grin on one corner of his mouth.
After a brief second, almost unnoticably, the door eased closed behind her, closing out the cool night air as Raphael indicated the cushioned chair before the fire.
"Please," he grinned, "have a seat."
Life is just a mind game.
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Sable Corvi
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- Posts: 42
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:53 am
- Race: Human
She sighed pleasure at the sudden warmth, reveling in the sensation of the cold leaving her flesh, but it was the offer of a seat which most delighted her. “Thank you,” she murmured gratefully, dropping into the chair. For the first time that evening, she betrayed her weariness, stretching her aching legs with a soft groan, and then, also for the first time, smiling with genuine pleasure. There was something that differentiated this smile from the false grins she'd offered previously; it was small, but it lit up her face more than the others had, and was even more personable.
She looked around the room, curiously taking in the surroundings. They weren't lavish, certainly, but nor were they bare. The trunk was especially intriguing. What of his possessions was important enough to lock away so securely? But for the moment, it was the bed that interested her most. Not, perhaps, for the same reason as he, although that would most likely be a necessary step.
After a moment, her eyes flicked to the door, and she wondered when Raphael had closed it. She certainly hadn't noticed -- but then, she could have been distracted.
“You're very kind,” she murmured, crossing her legs and tilting them towards the fire. “And you were right. Secrets are much better discussed out of the night air. I'm interested to see if you discover all you mean to.”
She looked around the room, curiously taking in the surroundings. They weren't lavish, certainly, but nor were they bare. The trunk was especially intriguing. What of his possessions was important enough to lock away so securely? But for the moment, it was the bed that interested her most. Not, perhaps, for the same reason as he, although that would most likely be a necessary step.
After a moment, her eyes flicked to the door, and she wondered when Raphael had closed it. She certainly hadn't noticed -- but then, she could have been distracted.
“You're very kind,” she murmured, crossing her legs and tilting them towards the fire. “And you were right. Secrets are much better discussed out of the night air. I'm interested to see if you discover all you mean to.”
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Raphael Quinn
- Outsider
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:02 pm
- Race: Human
"You're welcome," he grinned, enjoying watching her relax and seeing the true relief and pleasure on her face. The way it touched lines on her face that a similar expression hadn't before.
Raphael put one more log on the now happily crackling blaze and stood up, unclasping the belt around his coat and sliding off both it and the gladius buckled to it, for the moment letting her statement go without response. He set the belt down on the table and slid his coat off of his shoulders, slinging it over the back of the chair that sat at the table before dragging that same chair over to the fireplace and sitting down in it, facing Sable.
He leaned forward a little, adjusting the unbuttoned cuffs of his dark blue shirt before again looking at his alluring guest, his eyes temporarily grazing the smooth, exposed skin on her crossed legs before readjusting to her face.
"My kindness comes easily when the guest is so singularly riveting." He found himself grinning again. "But in the name of discovery, allow me to pose a question-" He leaned back in his seat, letting one leg stretch out in front of him.
"What brought you here? I know," he raised a hand to ward of a potential interruption, "that you have the same reason for being here as any other, but you will forgive my curiosity- what puts a beautiful young woman on the road with a bag that could maybe carry two days worth of provisions and no traveling cloths?"
It was spoken lightly, with no serious demand or gravity of inquiry. He was, as he said, only curious. But curiosity it was, and he did hope for some answer more definitive or at least more interesting than the last she gave.
Raphael put one more log on the now happily crackling blaze and stood up, unclasping the belt around his coat and sliding off both it and the gladius buckled to it, for the moment letting her statement go without response. He set the belt down on the table and slid his coat off of his shoulders, slinging it over the back of the chair that sat at the table before dragging that same chair over to the fireplace and sitting down in it, facing Sable.
He leaned forward a little, adjusting the unbuttoned cuffs of his dark blue shirt before again looking at his alluring guest, his eyes temporarily grazing the smooth, exposed skin on her crossed legs before readjusting to her face.
"My kindness comes easily when the guest is so singularly riveting." He found himself grinning again. "But in the name of discovery, allow me to pose a question-" He leaned back in his seat, letting one leg stretch out in front of him.
"What brought you here? I know," he raised a hand to ward of a potential interruption, "that you have the same reason for being here as any other, but you will forgive my curiosity- what puts a beautiful young woman on the road with a bag that could maybe carry two days worth of provisions and no traveling cloths?"
It was spoken lightly, with no serious demand or gravity of inquiry. He was, as he said, only curious. But curiosity it was, and he did hope for some answer more definitive or at least more interesting than the last she gave.
Life is just a mind game.
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Sable Corvi
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:53 am
- Race: Human
She watched in silence as he set aside his weapon and coat and came to sit near her. His scrutiny of her legs didn't escape her notice, but she said nothing. The skin was bare for a reason.
She considered his question for more than a few seconds, slipping the bag off of her should and resting an elbow on it protectively. Unknowingly, he had asked a question which, if she answered it thoroughly and honestly, could uncover all of her most important secrets. She had to be careful, saying enough to keep him interested, but not enough to betray too much of her past.
Even after her long moments of thought, she carelessly said more than she should have. “Necessity,” she murmured, looking to one side. “Prejudice.” She rested her chin on one hand, closing her eyes. “Hatred.”
Letting out a deep breath, she waited a few beats before turning to look at Raphael. “Fear,” she added softly. She didn't specify whether the fear was hers or another's. She had said too much already, more than she had intended. No, she hadn't actually told him anything about her past, but the words she'd spoken hit too closely, dug too deeply. It was painful to voice them.
She didn't redirect the discussion this time, didn't turn the question back on him. His response to her answer would be more important, more telling, than his own answer to a similar question. She simply watched him, her eyes trained carefully on his. Waiting.
She wondered if he knew he'd gained a small victory. She certainly did, and it infuriated her.
She considered his question for more than a few seconds, slipping the bag off of her should and resting an elbow on it protectively. Unknowingly, he had asked a question which, if she answered it thoroughly and honestly, could uncover all of her most important secrets. She had to be careful, saying enough to keep him interested, but not enough to betray too much of her past.
Even after her long moments of thought, she carelessly said more than she should have. “Necessity,” she murmured, looking to one side. “Prejudice.” She rested her chin on one hand, closing her eyes. “Hatred.”
Letting out a deep breath, she waited a few beats before turning to look at Raphael. “Fear,” she added softly. She didn't specify whether the fear was hers or another's. She had said too much already, more than she had intended. No, she hadn't actually told him anything about her past, but the words she'd spoken hit too closely, dug too deeply. It was painful to voice them.
She didn't redirect the discussion this time, didn't turn the question back on him. His response to her answer would be more important, more telling, than his own answer to a similar question. She simply watched him, her eyes trained carefully on his. Waiting.
She wondered if he knew he'd gained a small victory. She certainly did, and it infuriated her.
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Raphael Quinn
- Outsider
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:02 pm
- Race: Human
Raphael knew how to read people- he could get a sense for when someone was putting on a front, a show. He could tell when there was a bluff and when there was hesitation.
And the long silence before her first word of response was almost as deeply telling as the words themselves. It was a pure silence- not a restless one as stories were conjured. And then the simple but deeply powerful words she chose to answer the question why. The way all of the tendons and muscles in her neck stood out with strain as she said them.
When she looked back at him and he read the focus, the intensity there within those spellbinding blue eyes, there was not a doubt in his mind that she had spoken words of truth. Words that captured things and feelings from inside of her, that she could not fake.
She was beyond merely intriguing, merely beautiful, now. Now he saw that she held a power and a passion within.
She truly was an enchantress and beyond his ability to resist. It was more than just her appearance and charm- now she possessed a depth that spoke to his deeper side, arousing what vestiges of compassion and empathy he still held.
Silence held the room, aside from the momentary crackle from the fire and its soft chattering, both people were still.
"What secrets you hold, Sable." He finally murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know that I would ever try to pry such secrets away, knowing they were so costly."
He in turn rested his chin on his fist, leaning forward and meeting her gaze, letting silence return for a moment before adding,
"Sometimes our secrets are all we have."
And the long silence before her first word of response was almost as deeply telling as the words themselves. It was a pure silence- not a restless one as stories were conjured. And then the simple but deeply powerful words she chose to answer the question why. The way all of the tendons and muscles in her neck stood out with strain as she said them.
When she looked back at him and he read the focus, the intensity there within those spellbinding blue eyes, there was not a doubt in his mind that she had spoken words of truth. Words that captured things and feelings from inside of her, that she could not fake.
She was beyond merely intriguing, merely beautiful, now. Now he saw that she held a power and a passion within.
She truly was an enchantress and beyond his ability to resist. It was more than just her appearance and charm- now she possessed a depth that spoke to his deeper side, arousing what vestiges of compassion and empathy he still held.
Silence held the room, aside from the momentary crackle from the fire and its soft chattering, both people were still.
"What secrets you hold, Sable." He finally murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know that I would ever try to pry such secrets away, knowing they were so costly."
He in turn rested his chin on his fist, leaning forward and meeting her gaze, letting silence return for a moment before adding,
"Sometimes our secrets are all we have."
Life is just a mind game.
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Sable Corvi
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:53 am
- Race: Human
The silence was excruciating. What was he thinking? Was he deciding whether she could be trusted? Was he wondering if she was lying to elicit his sympathy? Was he judging her? Multiple times, she tried to bring herself to break the stillness, to demand that he speak, but she couldn't. She couldn't ask him why he was so silent, because she couldn't bear to let him judge her as so many already had.
She hadn't thought she still had the capacity to care what strange men thought of her. The knowledge that she did, that this man had even that small power over her, was repulsive.
When he spoke, his words were nothing like what she had expected, and her response betrayed how much that mattered as she drew a quick, shallow breath. Who was this man? Why should she care what he said, how he saw her?
All she had wanted to do was sleep.
She didn't know how to respond. The best thing, of course, would be to stand and leave. Now. She could sleep on the street. Or not: she was sure someone else out there would pay to spend an evening with her, and, repulsive as the thought was, she would escape this seduction, this wretched game...
No! It was her game. She couldn't, wouldn't let a sympathetic word or two get the better of her. She was above that. She knew she was above that. But what could she say to show him? And to remind herself?
She exhaled slowly. “And...and you? Are your secrets so costly that you would be less...less human if someone were to uncover them?” The question was directed at him. Why, then, did she feel as if she were asking herself?
The mask was back in place. But it was slipping.
She hadn't thought she still had the capacity to care what strange men thought of her. The knowledge that she did, that this man had even that small power over her, was repulsive.
When he spoke, his words were nothing like what she had expected, and her response betrayed how much that mattered as she drew a quick, shallow breath. Who was this man? Why should she care what he said, how he saw her?
All she had wanted to do was sleep.
She didn't know how to respond. The best thing, of course, would be to stand and leave. Now. She could sleep on the street. Or not: she was sure someone else out there would pay to spend an evening with her, and, repulsive as the thought was, she would escape this seduction, this wretched game...
No! It was her game. She couldn't, wouldn't let a sympathetic word or two get the better of her. She was above that. She knew she was above that. But what could she say to show him? And to remind herself?
She exhaled slowly. “And...and you? Are your secrets so costly that you would be less...less human if someone were to uncover them?” The question was directed at him. Why, then, did she feel as if she were asking herself?
The mask was back in place. But it was slipping.
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Raphael Quinn
- Outsider
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:02 pm
- Race: Human
Raphael knew his words had affected her, but at the moment he didn't congratulate himself for being accurate or intuitive about his word choice. He was truly focused on this woman, enraptured by what he saw- true, scarring hurt, not trussed up and used as a crutch or to draw sympathy, but locked away so it didn't have to be dealt with. Didn't have to be seen.
Lots of people were hurting and he usually didn't care. But this person was in his lodging, staring at him with beautiful, flashing eyes, almost daring him to press further, her defenses and shields coming back into place.
He paused for a moment, considering her question. Nothing would make him rush his answer. This game was more serious to him now, more was at stake and on the line than he had ever guessed there would be.
Was he actually concerned now that she trust him?
Don't be a fool, Rafe, he mentally chastised himself. The game is the game.
He was somehow unconvinced of this core tenant of his dealings as he looked at her, contemplating her face, her secrets, her figure- everything about her.
Did he want her to trust him?
Another moment passed. Raphael slowly extended his hand a little, toward the fireplace, almost as if he was warming it-
And he made a gamble. Showed some of his cards.
One of the smaller logs resting in the bin next to the fireplace rustled a little, almost inaudibly, and then very gently, without any noise at all, lifted up into the thin air. It held there for a just a moment and then drifted over to the merrily burning fireplace, hovering briefly over the flames before dropping into them with a small clatter, the other logs sparking and crackling as it did so.
Raphael exhaled softly and lowered his hand, turning his head to look back into his guest's eyes.
"Having secrets is the cost of being human." His eyes flashed, not like before, but from a different emotion. "No one knows what a human is, so we make up a lie of what one looks like and hide everything that doesn't fit."
He tensed and relaxed his fingers, looking at the fire for a moment. "All secrets are costly. What we truly are we must never let anyone know, or we are undone."
What was that? He ignored himself, and thought of a young boy who never told his mother or his father about his greatest secret. Who could never confide or let himself be known.
He knew that boy. And he got the feeling that this woman did too.
Lots of people were hurting and he usually didn't care. But this person was in his lodging, staring at him with beautiful, flashing eyes, almost daring him to press further, her defenses and shields coming back into place.
He paused for a moment, considering her question. Nothing would make him rush his answer. This game was more serious to him now, more was at stake and on the line than he had ever guessed there would be.
Was he actually concerned now that she trust him?
Don't be a fool, Rafe, he mentally chastised himself. The game is the game.
He was somehow unconvinced of this core tenant of his dealings as he looked at her, contemplating her face, her secrets, her figure- everything about her.
Did he want her to trust him?
Another moment passed. Raphael slowly extended his hand a little, toward the fireplace, almost as if he was warming it-
And he made a gamble. Showed some of his cards.
One of the smaller logs resting in the bin next to the fireplace rustled a little, almost inaudibly, and then very gently, without any noise at all, lifted up into the thin air. It held there for a just a moment and then drifted over to the merrily burning fireplace, hovering briefly over the flames before dropping into them with a small clatter, the other logs sparking and crackling as it did so.
Raphael exhaled softly and lowered his hand, turning his head to look back into his guest's eyes.
"Having secrets is the cost of being human." His eyes flashed, not like before, but from a different emotion. "No one knows what a human is, so we make up a lie of what one looks like and hide everything that doesn't fit."
He tensed and relaxed his fingers, looking at the fire for a moment. "All secrets are costly. What we truly are we must never let anyone know, or we are undone."
What was that? He ignored himself, and thought of a young boy who never told his mother or his father about his greatest secret. Who could never confide or let himself be known.
He knew that boy. And he got the feeling that this woman did too.
Life is just a mind game.
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Sable Corvi
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:53 am
- Race: Human
She couldn't tear her eyes away from the fire, so great was her shock. Why? Why had he shown this to her, a complete stranger? From his words, she could see that this was not a secret he revealed to just anyone...and yet, knowing that she could report him, ruin him, he had shown it to her.
Her. She, the woman who intended to manipulate him, to rob him blind if she could. And he had trusted her enough to divulge what must have been one of his greatest secrets. A better woman would have felt guilty. She didn't – this was what she did to survive, and there was no changing it. Nevertheless, his choice stirred emotions in her that she rarely felt. Not quite sadness, not quite pity, and not quite anger, but something akin to each, deep and roiling and pervasive.
She turned to face him, a disturbed frown twisting her mouth. “We're only as human,” she responded, “as we see ourselves. No one can impose their perceptions on us unless we let them.” But oh, it was hard not to let them. “How others see us depends on how deeply we believe the lie.”
She had a choice. She could report him to the guard, now, tonight, and hope for even a small reward. It was the smart thing to do – after all, she was here to profit, not to trade secrets in a fit of emotion. It would be in keeping with her character, with who she was.
Rather, it would be in keeping with the lie she lived...
Or she could tell him now. She could confess: not her greatest secrets, but the more immediate ones, the game she was playing with him, the plans she had made. She could give him the chance to send her away now and save himself from her.
But the lies we tell ourselves are ultimately inescapable, and she had believed them for too long to throw them off, to be someone different from the role she'd played for half of her life.
So she did neither.
“Don't believe them,” she continued. “Don't let the lies decide who you are.” Don't be like me.
Her. She, the woman who intended to manipulate him, to rob him blind if she could. And he had trusted her enough to divulge what must have been one of his greatest secrets. A better woman would have felt guilty. She didn't – this was what she did to survive, and there was no changing it. Nevertheless, his choice stirred emotions in her that she rarely felt. Not quite sadness, not quite pity, and not quite anger, but something akin to each, deep and roiling and pervasive.
She turned to face him, a disturbed frown twisting her mouth. “We're only as human,” she responded, “as we see ourselves. No one can impose their perceptions on us unless we let them.” But oh, it was hard not to let them. “How others see us depends on how deeply we believe the lie.”
She had a choice. She could report him to the guard, now, tonight, and hope for even a small reward. It was the smart thing to do – after all, she was here to profit, not to trade secrets in a fit of emotion. It would be in keeping with her character, with who she was.
Rather, it would be in keeping with the lie she lived...
Or she could tell him now. She could confess: not her greatest secrets, but the more immediate ones, the game she was playing with him, the plans she had made. She could give him the chance to send her away now and save himself from her.
But the lies we tell ourselves are ultimately inescapable, and she had believed them for too long to throw them off, to be someone different from the role she'd played for half of her life.
So she did neither.
“Don't believe them,” she continued. “Don't let the lies decide who you are.” Don't be like me.
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Raphael Quinn
- Outsider
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:02 pm
- Race: Human
She was, for the moment, beyond his ability to read. Possibly because she for the time couldn't read herself, couldn't pin down what she was thinking or feeling. Raphael sat still, watching her face. It was strained, stressed- rigid with emotion that it didn't like expressing. But still beautiful, still holding his attention captive in a way that he was not used to having it held.
This is a pure gamble, now, he thought, looking back to the fire. No clues, no tricks or tipped hands. Just two people, neither giving a thing. All there that existed to judge were the words they traded.
"I decided who I was a long time ago." He said after a long pause, looking back at her. "We form our own lies and truths so we can be whatever we wish to be, regardless of what we may have been."
The half-grin twitched back, but not as it had been. The lines on his face that the expression created spoke of irony instead of cunning. The look in his eyes held sardonic bitterness, not charm.
"And thus," he leaned back in his chair a little, "you have a beautiful young woman and a dashing young man who will spin themselves however they wish to gain the advantage in a game of perceptions."
This was a truth they both knew. But to voice it was in violation of all the rules of the game, he knew.
As if he cared about the unspoken rules. In this room, tonight, there were none. Conversations with individuals like this did not occur often in a lifetime, and somewhere in the course of this discussion Raphael had ceased to care so much about his initial goal of diversion.
"Or would you word it differently?" he asked, quirking the eyebrow again, but tinged this time with the irony that his grin still held. And he knew then that he wanted to hear her answer for the sake of the answer, and not for an impending desire to merely intrigue and win her over.
What have you done to me, mysterious Sable? He thought quietly in his head.
This is a pure gamble, now, he thought, looking back to the fire. No clues, no tricks or tipped hands. Just two people, neither giving a thing. All there that existed to judge were the words they traded.
"I decided who I was a long time ago." He said after a long pause, looking back at her. "We form our own lies and truths so we can be whatever we wish to be, regardless of what we may have been."
The half-grin twitched back, but not as it had been. The lines on his face that the expression created spoke of irony instead of cunning. The look in his eyes held sardonic bitterness, not charm.
"And thus," he leaned back in his chair a little, "you have a beautiful young woman and a dashing young man who will spin themselves however they wish to gain the advantage in a game of perceptions."
This was a truth they both knew. But to voice it was in violation of all the rules of the game, he knew.
As if he cared about the unspoken rules. In this room, tonight, there were none. Conversations with individuals like this did not occur often in a lifetime, and somewhere in the course of this discussion Raphael had ceased to care so much about his initial goal of diversion.
"Or would you word it differently?" he asked, quirking the eyebrow again, but tinged this time with the irony that his grin still held. And he knew then that he wanted to hear her answer for the sake of the answer, and not for an impending desire to merely intrigue and win her over.
What have you done to me, mysterious Sable? He thought quietly in his head.
Life is just a mind game.
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Sable Corvi
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:53 am
- Race: Human
”We form our own lies and truths so we can be whatever we wish to be, regardless of what we may have been.”
Did she believe that? She wasn't sure. She certainly hadn't lived as if she did. Instead, she had lived up to others' expectations of her, as vehemently as she believed that such expectations had been founded on false assumptions.
She had been running all her life, but she had never really escaped. Maybe that was because she had been running from herself.
The game had changed. She saw that in his expression, newly tinged with bitterness. But his words were what really betrayed the transformation of what had started out as a intriguing encounter into something with much more weight.
She didn't know how to play anymore, and that frightened her.
“Is that all it is?" she murmured in response. "A game of perceptions? Perhaps it's been more than that from the beginning.” She angled her head back, looking to the ceiling as if for guidance. “Part of a game is the prize, don't you think? The ends define what you play, how you play, and, especially, why you play. To understand the game, to really comprehend it in full, you have to know the stakes."
She paused for a moment, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, her face tilted up to look at him. "I'd be willing to bet that you and I are playing for very different prizes...which would mean we're playing two very different games.” She smiled musingly at him. “I'd be interested to know what it is you're reaching for. Beyond the obvious, beyond the surface,” she added. “Not necessarily what your prize is tonight, but what your game...what all your games are centered around.”
He might not answer. She didn't know if she would be able to, in his place – would she even know the correct response to such a question? What was she playing for?
She had a sneaking feeling that her prize, too, was a lie.
Did she believe that? She wasn't sure. She certainly hadn't lived as if she did. Instead, she had lived up to others' expectations of her, as vehemently as she believed that such expectations had been founded on false assumptions.
She had been running all her life, but she had never really escaped. Maybe that was because she had been running from herself.
The game had changed. She saw that in his expression, newly tinged with bitterness. But his words were what really betrayed the transformation of what had started out as a intriguing encounter into something with much more weight.
She didn't know how to play anymore, and that frightened her.
“Is that all it is?" she murmured in response. "A game of perceptions? Perhaps it's been more than that from the beginning.” She angled her head back, looking to the ceiling as if for guidance. “Part of a game is the prize, don't you think? The ends define what you play, how you play, and, especially, why you play. To understand the game, to really comprehend it in full, you have to know the stakes."
She paused for a moment, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, her face tilted up to look at him. "I'd be willing to bet that you and I are playing for very different prizes...which would mean we're playing two very different games.” She smiled musingly at him. “I'd be interested to know what it is you're reaching for. Beyond the obvious, beyond the surface,” she added. “Not necessarily what your prize is tonight, but what your game...what all your games are centered around.”
He might not answer. She didn't know if she would be able to, in his place – would she even know the correct response to such a question? What was she playing for?
She had a sneaking feeling that her prize, too, was a lie.