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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 2, 2009 21:30:56 GMT -5
It startled me how suddenly close he was, how clear those cerulean eyes were in the artificial light hanging overhead. How intelligent those eyes looked. And for reasons unknown to me, my instincts didn't tell me to back up. "You probably wouldn't find it all that interesting," I admitted sheepishly. "I mostly live for my job. Opportunities to help people and teach them something that could come in useful is usually more my thing than bars. I'm usually just a tagalong when I do go."
Okay, the itch in my costume had to go whether he was there or not. But how to make it graceful? I arched my back from the seat to scratch a spot just under my shoulder blade with my thumbnail, keeping it as discreet a gesture as I could manage. At least I'd had the sense to make it partly from silk--all things entirely spandex drove me insane.
------
There was a grunt from the other side of Cenna's door that was all the affirmative Rain was going to get.
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Post by Rain Gunji on Mar 2, 2009 21:51:30 GMT -5
I smiled and walked in softly with a sigh. "Thats one heck of a stuffy party down there, they could benefit from some beer and Southern rock." I chuckled moving closer to my aunt, I always liked her. "I uh... went and saw dad today."
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Post by Asmodeus on Mar 2, 2009 22:10:20 GMT -5
Sometimes things were just too easy for Darmstadt. It was like opportunities just presented themselves to him. "Here, let me get that for you," he remarked casually, scooting closer and scratching her back with gentle fingers. "Now, have I heard right that you teach at the YMCA? It sounds like you like it a lot."
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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 2, 2009 23:43:07 GMT -5
"Yeah, I do." Don't notice the odd texture under my dress. What excuse could I come up with to make it seem normal? "I teach a self-defense and an aikido class there." Those fingers shouldn't feel so good.
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Post by Asmodeus on Mar 2, 2009 23:57:23 GMT -5
"Interesting. How'd you get into that? You've been a fighter for a while, I presume?" Slowly Darmstadt slid his fingers down her spine and let them linger at the small of her back. "Tell me about it."
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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 3, 2009 1:32:45 GMT -5
I could feel my good sense rebel against Wolfe's touch, but I didn't move--my skin may have tingled, but my voice managed to sound normal. "I was small and my aunt and uncle were police officers. There was more crime then and there was a rash of little girls going abducted, so they encouraged my parents to send me to some sort of self-defense class that I took to immediately. Since then I've branched out into other forms. Originally I wanted to be another Jackie Chan, doing my own stunts." A bemused expression overtook my face for a second; "But I fell to teaching instead. I like what I do." I shifted, unable to ignore how good his fingers felt.
And then that tiny, reasonable voice in the back of my head nagged at me. I reminded myself of the primary reason I was here--not to flirt, not to gossip, not to schmooze in any way, shape, or fashion--but to watch. And when I glanced around my brother's back yard, I noticed that I had seriously failed in that task. I didn't see Madeline anywhere.
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Post by Asmodeus on Mar 10, 2009 16:27:25 GMT -5
She was looking for someone. That was no good. Vigilance was no good. Darmstadt scooted a little closer until his thigh just barely touched hers and slid his hand down to her opposite hip. "Stunts, eh?" he repeated, keeping his voice low so only she could hear. "Sounds like you're a bit of a daredevil. You're fond of dangerous situations?"
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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 11, 2009 17:05:12 GMT -5
I didn't mean to shiver. It was cold. You can sweat in eighty-nine degrees with humidity and be cold, sure.
"Probably a little addicted to the thrill," I answered. Ugh, did that come out like I think it did? I shifted a little further away and spotted my twin brother Tyberei talking to another guest. I wished he'd look my direction, probably see my expression and intervene or something. That's what brothers were supposed to do. I had to find Madeline.
"Hold that thought," I said, standing. "I think my niece just disappeared."
I had half a mind to ask Wolfe to help, but would he? I was grappling with several feelings about him at once. I liked him already. I didn't yet trust him. I had the notion that he was one of those strong, rare men like my brother who rose to meet whatever came at them. People like that had an aura that hung around them, magnifying them to a space twice the size of what they actually occupied. If Darmstadt Wolfe could forgive this little interruption in our meeting, I'd like to see what else I could find out about him, including his number.
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Post by Asmodeus on Mar 12, 2009 0:20:09 GMT -5
Darmstadt let out a soft chuckle and looked up at her, pushing his hair back again from his eyes. "Well, it is a party. People are allowed to mingle, even at their own houses." It was a delicate performance he would have to pull off here. He couldn't try to appease her so adamantly that she got suspicious, but he still needed to dissuade her so that she wouldn't raise the alarm about Madeline and Sawley. What could he say to draw her attention without her knowing that such was his intent?
"Hey," he said, rising to his feet beside her and brushing her fingers with his, "come get cake with me. I'm starved and a half."
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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 12, 2009 8:02:13 GMT -5
He'd beaten me to an invitation, and now I was stuck. How would it look on Asaph if I made a big deal out of Madeline's disappearance? He didn't need that sort of scandal. And cake with Darmstadt?
I didn't see Abel either, so I assumed he was with her. Hopefully. If he was, they wouldn't be in too much trouble. They might have snuck off to play Super Smash Bros. while I wasn't looking. That had to be it.
I'd give them fifteen minutes or so before I mentioned it to Ty and Ace. If neither of them knew anything, then I'd go looking. But for now, cake sounded like the wisest option.
It didn't even require his fingers brushing mine to make up my mind. "Sorry," I said, managing to ignore the thrill that shot up my spine. "I mean, sure--you're probably right. I don't see my little brother around, either. They're probably just trying to drown each other in the pool."
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Post by Asmodeus on Mar 12, 2009 13:59:47 GMT -5
Darmstadt laughed again. "I wouldn't be surprised. Miss Madeline is far too energetic for quiet socials like this. Sorta makes me wonder why a thrill-seeker like you is content to stick around." Gently he set his fingers on her back and guided her toward the refreshment table.
This was where he would always disagree with Nicaea. It didn't always take the use of one's power to get others to do what you wanted. Sometimes the real challenge--and the real advantage--came from using the quite mundane gifts one already displayed on the surface.
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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 12, 2009 20:29:47 GMT -5
"I promised my brother I would. I'm stickin' to my word." I flashed him a grin as I walked with him, allowing him to lead. I caught snatches of conversation among the guests--the topics ranged anywhere from market prices to yachts to wives and children to pesky tabloids to what those people over there were wearing. Then, of course, there was always a hushed conversation or two that I couldn't discern. It would be fruitless trying to. I already knew who a couple of the scumbags were--Asaph didn't ever invite many at once--because of my nightly prowls, but I felt no immediate need to follow up on them at the moment. It wasn't my job to start problems here.
The cake was set out on little plates next to the giant fruit bowl from which I snagged two strawberries and half a dozen grapes. I wasn't in the mood for eating much. To Darmstadt I asked, quite casually, "So are you usually a quiet social-going type, or did you just stop by to keep your name out?"
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Post by Asmodeus on Apr 1, 2009 23:20:47 GMT -5
"Well, I certainly enjoy the advantages of the name recognition," Darmstadt answered, plucking a grape from the fruit bowl and popping it into his mouth. "But that doesn't mean I can't have a good time with the social interaction." He set his hand on the small of Sky's back again and handed her a plate of cake. "Especially if the company is good."
It wasn't all hot air and deception, either. He had to admit that he actually liked talking with her. She was casual and daring and unconventional, and it was gratifying to see her responding to the lures he trailed out for her. He would really enjoy bringing this scheme to fruition.
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Post by Sky Verati on Apr 7, 2009 22:29:19 GMT -5
It was dang good chocolate cake and I knew it, so I told my inner health nut to shut up and took it. "I'm glad you're enjoying it." Were those his fingers in my back? Why didn't I feel threatened by this? I was letting him get too close and distract me from my job. I would've liked to have met him on another night, when I didn't have to worry about my brother's reputation and could talk to Darmstadt Wolfe without all the little shallow conversation topics that inevitably stole valuable time at shindigs like this. But what did I want to know about him? What could I say? Was it useless for someone like me to try and keep him interested, I who have never been much into the business world beyond that of watching criminals and their schemes play out around Asaph? And what was I after, a date? A date with Wolfe? No way. My dating life was pathetic at best. I should really concentrate on finding Madeline.
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Post by Asmodeus on Apr 11, 2009 19:29:32 GMT -5
Now was as good a time as any.
"You know," Darmstadt murmured, lowering his voice so only she could hear, "I'm starting to think this isn't really your scene. I would love to take you out to dinner tomorrow night. I know a nice quiet spot where we can actually sit down and talk." He brushed his fingers up and down her spine feather-light. "Would you like to come?"
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