burn it to the wick (barracuda!)

[scionofkushiel]

She's back

Comments

[ohmaiden]

This is not a good day to be Iphigenia.

She walks into the main room, sees Melisande, and promptly starts to back away, pale with fear.

"--Oh!--I'm--sorry--oh--"

[scionofkushiel]

Oh, well look who it is. Melisande's terrible smile blooms, and she is pleased. "--dearest. It's been such a long time - come sit a moment. I'm sure you have much to share. Young ladies are always so...active."

There is nothing in her air, whatsoever, to indicate malice. It's like nothing ever happened. That's probably worse.

[ohmaiden]

She shakes her head fervently. "No, no, I'm going to go--" Iphigenia knows this is a bad idea, but can't seem to move, out of fear.

[scionofkushiel]

Oh, this is lovely. Her smile widens, and she arches one eyebrow. "Come now," cutting smoothly over her protest. "Surely your activities can wait a moment and you can spare just a little time for me. Sit, Princess."

[sweariwontdie]

Armand, still musing over recent events--the nicer ones, for once, brings a cup of tea into the room to sit by the fire when he spots her. He's surprised, because it's been so long since he's seen her, he thought her long gone. "Melisande? Pardon me, mademoiselle, but I cannot recall your family name."

[scionofkushiel]

Here's someone she hasn't seen in some time, and her smile is wholly genuine and certainly pleased. She stands, gracefully, and offers a curtsey. "Armand St. Just," with impeccable memory, of course. "It has been some time - I have sorely missed the pleasure of your company. Come and sit a while? I'm sure there is much I have to catch up on..."

[sweariwontdie]

He bows in return, balancing his tea, then reaches a hand toward her. "I have been in retirement for some time, only recently returned. I am sure your news will be much more exciting than my tales of family, children and pets."

[scionofkushiel]

She offers her hand as well, plainly pleased to see him. "Retirement, you? At such a young age? For shame, Armand. You needn't retreat that way yet, not by far." Her smile is teasing, and light, and utterly unbeguiling. "So you have been well? I should be pleased to hear it."

[knightscholar]

There's a comfortable anonymity in wearing his normal clothes since more people saw him arrive as Lia, so D'Eon isn't particularly worried about looking around and being seen. If she visits the kitchen she'll find a young man, a bit too serious, exploring the cabinets. His hair is tied back in a tail, but otherwise, his dress may seem a bit like Armand's only more old-fashioned.

[scionofkushiel]

She does slip into the kitchen, after some time, to refill her customary glass, though this time with water. It wouldn't do to cloud her head. Not when she will need all her cleverness.

"--good afternoon," pausing in the doorway, "--chevalier?"

Just a guess, but she figures it's a flattering one, and she may as well make it.

[knightscholar]

The accurate guess at his status as a knight startles D'Eon, and he turns quickly toward her, to see who she is. No one he knows, though Lia is now alert and feeling protective. Luckily for Melisande, D'Eon is currently unarmed.

"You know that noble term?" he asks, a bit cautious.

[scionofkushiel]

--"It is used in my homeland," she murmurs. "I only guessed as much from your manner and bearing. Did I guess correctly, then? It has been some time since I found any of that noble order here."

[elven_irs]

...

...

...

There are no words. NO. WORDS.

"You."

He's standing in the doorway, his hand is already twitching. Killing her again would be so easy. So tempting. So... ah! But he also has made promises to himself about the darkness within him. Inward conflict? Caranthir is reinventing it just as we narrate his entrance.

[scionofkushiel]

....oh, dear. Well.

Melisande is not going to run now. She determined that one. And she's certainly not going to run from that one. No more letting him think that he frightens her. Even if he does. Kind of. A little. "I have a name, you know. Or have you forgotten it? I certainly still remember yours."

[elven_irs]

"Only part of it - you never knew the name that mattered," he replies coolly.

"What are you doing here?"

[scionofkushiel]

"The same thing you are, I am certain." She inclines her head. "Taking a bit of a respite. Would you care for some wine? I would not mind sharing."

Heheheheheee! >.>

[pandora_antioch]

Pandora has felt this. Oh yes she has. She's not going to approach Melisande just yet - no, rather, she is lurking in the shadows, observing.

Ready to make a fierce point about who she isn't allowed to touch.

[scionofkushiel]

Melisande can feel the hair on the back of her neck trying to stand up, and stands, and turns, not liking that feeling at all. If there is one being she truly, genuinely fears, it would be that one. She searches the shadows, not making any move toward a weapon, keeping her gaze deliberately cool - though of course her thoughts betray her agitation, to one such as Pandora.

[pandora_antioch]

Oh, Pandora hates you, Melisande. And she intends to make you suffer as much as she can. The shadows are deceptively quiet - nothing moves.

For now.

[scionofkushiel]

...hm. Melisande sits, slowly, eyes warily watching the shadows with suspicion aplenty. She does not trust that silence, but she senses calling out would produce nothing.

She sips her wine, pretending that her hand is not trembling.