Evening, Day 5

[lei_miao_shan]

The gazebo is lit with lanterns draped in soft, red silk.  Lena brought them down from my rooms earlier today and set them as I'd asked her to.  They are too small and few to give much light, but what illumination they do give spills like blood along the gazebo's painted floor.   I smile at the sight.  It has been almost three weeks since my last

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[kora_gareth]

The courtyard is stunning and Miao even more so. I've never seen something like this before and I am so impressed. I'm standing with Carmelo and Alana. They're sweet, everyone that works here is, in their own way. Carmelo doesn't talk much but he keeps eyeing me. Alana isn't quite as friendly as Miao, but Miao is like my big sister. Adonis is so over-protective of Karina; it's cute.

Karina takes these dances very seriously. Lena hasn't been available all day, because she was preparing everything for Miao. And the doors of Follow Me Boy have been locked for the duration of the performance. It's obvious that Miao and Karina have a very special relationship. It makes me jealous that it's not me.

The dance starts and I'm just awe-struck.

[valmont_vicomte]

After Karina's coolly polite goodbye to me after the carnival, I thought it best to stay away from Follow Me Boy for a day or two. What a frustrating evening that was - two opportunities dashed in one night! I haven't had that sort of bad luck in a while

[kora_gareth]

Miao's dance is amazing and the men around the gazebo are silent in their appreciation for her. I wonder who in this crowd she'll pick for her bed tonight. From the way she moves as a dancer, I imagine that will be a very lucky man.

I'm aware of someone standing next to me. I glance at him and look back at Miao. He's very attractive and he's staring at me. I look back at him and smile sweetly.

[valmont_vicomte]

Ah, this girl's a charmer. I don't know if she's naturally sweet and shy, or if it's an act, but either way it's quite fetching.

I shift myself a little closer to the girl, so that we're only a couple of feet apart. I decide to play this one gently - to be charming but not devilish. There are lots of ways to seduce, after all.

I purposely look intently at Miao.

"She's very lovely, isn't she?" I murmur quietly. "Are you a fan of dancing? I haven't seen you here before." This is the moment to glance over at the girl and compliment her, so I do. "I would remember someone like you." I smile slowly, fixing her gaze with my own.

[kora_gareth]

"She's very lovely, isn't she? Are you a fan of dancing?"

The man moves a little closer. He seems hesitant to close the distance between us. It's sweet that he doesn't want to come on too strong, or maybe he's shy. He talks softly to me, considerate of the performance going on. I close the distance between us to hear him better. My shoulder brushes his arm as I stand beside him and watch Miao.

"She really is. Miao is an amazing lady. I haven't seen much dancing before, really. Never anything like this. I love it."

"I haven't seen you here before. I would remember someone like you."

His compliment makes me blush. I smile and look away. I do so love male attention.

"Thank you. I know I haven't met you before."

[valmont_vicomte]

I smile to myself as the girl leans in closer. I can smell the perfume on her hair, and I imagine running my fingers through its waves. My blood is up again, but I need to play this one delicately.

"Thank you. I know I haven't met you before."

I extend my hand to her.

"My name is Valmont. Valmont Laclos." I keep my voice low so that Karina won't tell me off. I wonder if this girl has had time to hear anything about me. It doesn't usually take long. "I assure you, anything you have heard about me has probably been exaggerated - unless it's good, of course." I flash a smile at her. "You are?"

[kora_gareth]

"My name is Valmont. Valmont Laclos. I assure you, anything you have heard about me has probably been exaggerated - unless it's good, of course." He smiles again. "You are?"

He is quite charming and his smile sets butterflies a-flight in my stomach. He has gorgeous eyes. I find myself more captivated by his attention than Miao's show for a moment. I shake his hand delicately.

"I'm Kora. It's very nice to meet you, Valmont."

[valmont_vicomte]

She gives me a beautiful smile. After my frankly confusing evening with Karina, her sweet and apparently easy-to-read behaviour is refreshing.

"Kora," I say, taking her hand in mine. Her fingers are small and delicate, and are swallowed by mine. I hold them for a moment too long and let them go.

"What is it you do in Excolo?" I ask delicately. I am wondering if perhaps she is a new recruit to Follow Me Boy - she's different to the other prostitutes here, but Karina has a good eye for providing variety in this house. However, if she turns out to not work here, she might be offended I suggested it.

[kora_gareth]

"Kora."

Hearing my name sounds beautiful coming from him. His skin is soft but his grip is firm. From his handshake alone I imagine that he would be a wonderful lover. His lingering hold on my hand implies he wants to do more than just talk. If Miao doesn't choose him tonight, then I'll make sure he's mine.

"What is it you do in Excolo?"

I blush a moment, wondering if I should really tell him what it is I do so early in the conversation. If he's here, though, he is most likely looking for companionship, so it's worth the risk.

"I'm brand new to town and Miss Karina has given me a place to stay." I stop to gauge his reaction. I can tell that he understands what I mean. I hope he isn't put off by this. He is simply too attractive.

"What do you do?"

[valmont_vicomte]

"I'm brand new to town and Miss Karina has given me a place to stay."

The way she phrases this is interesting. She doesn't want to be brazen... But she doesn't lie to me. There's something very appealing about this girl indeed.

"Ah," I say softly. "I might have guessed." I let my voice drop a little in pitch, getting warmer and more intimate. "Karina has an eye for spotting unusual beauties." I smile at her gently to show that I'm not shocked by her job.

"What do you do?"

"I run The Whitechapel Inn. It's not much of a place yet," I say, "though you should have seen it when I first bought it six months ago." Well, bought may be stretching the facts a little, but she doesn't need to know that. "I'm slowly improving it over time, though a single man isn't always the best person to do these things. It needs a woman's touch." My voice lingers over the last word, letting it caress her.

[kora_gareth]

"Ah, I might have guessed. Karina has an eye for spotting unusual beauties."

Valmont's voice drops lower and I turn in to him more. I want to know what that voice sounds like right next to my ear.

"I run The Whitechapel Inn. It's not much of a place yet, though you should have seen it when I first bought it six months ago. I'm slowly improving it over time, though a single man isn't always the best person to do these things. It needs a woman's touch."

"Do you have a woman in mind whose touch might be just right?" Strong, I know, but he certainly seems interested enough.

[kora_gareth]

I ask Valmont which woman's touch he wants when Alana puts a hand on my shoulder. She indicates Karina who has Carmelo and Adonis near her already. Must be a staff meeting.

"I'll be back soon, Valmont." I run my hand along his forearm. "Don't wander off."

[kora_gareth]

I return to Valmont's side, quite happy to see that he hadn't moved. Alana was not happy that his attentions were focused on me, but she'll just have to get over it. She's old news to Valmont, I'm sure.

"Sorry for leaving you. Karina had to take a meeting." I'll let him take whatever meaning he wants from that. I smile up at him sweetly and tuck my hand between his arm and his side.

[valmont_vicomte]

Ah, Karina would find a way of disturbing my fun. I'm sure she's still annoyed with me about the carnival, so when she saw Kora falling for my charms she made her go to a meeting. Perhaps it was to serve a client, but if so, Kora is not gone very long. Then again, a lot of the men of this town lack... let's say finesse.

"Not a problem, my dear," I say, smiling at her as she takes my arm. "I'll wait all night for a pretty girl." A strand of hair has fallen in front of her face, so gently I smooth it back, letting my fingers graze her cheek.

"Would you like to talk somewhere more privately, perhaps? I see that Miao's dance is nearly finished, and then there will be a clamour to see who she chooses," I say, to show that I don't want Miao to pick me.

[kora_gareth]

"Not a problem, my dear. I'll wait all night for a pretty girl."

"You are such a flatterer." His gesture strikes me as so compassionate and his touch thrills me. I imagine that soft touch running down my side and I shiver.

"Would you like to talk somewhere more privately, perhaps? I see that Miao's dance is nearly finished, and then there will be a clamour to see who she chooses."

I can tell he doesn't want Miao to choose him for her partner tonight. That suits me fine. I look over to the back door and see Alana standing close to it, scowling in my direction. I smile up at Valmont. "Why don't we slip inside?"

[valmont_vicomte]

[ continues here.]