maasmuse

[maasmuse]

Fallon grinned and pocketed her knife she was offering.

"Now was that so hard?" She said in mocking voice as she went to start preparing their food.

"It's alright though." She said after a moment. Surprisingly sincerely. "You're our flower."

“You wouldn’t. Unless you are insinuating I am a bad teacher… Or that you really are a flower that won’t prepare what you eat?” She said with a raised eyebrow. Still holding out the dragger and animal.

[maasmuse]

Manon hummed. "Please do. Just for me." She echoed, moving her thumb over his cheek.

"Don't apologise for others. None of this is your fault." Manon said, softly yet sternly. "Let's head back. Afternoon nap on the sofa?" She offered. She wanted to be close to him right now.

Manon was fine with the quiet. She understood quiet anger. She just had to remind herself it wasn't directed at her.

At his words, the look in his eyes Manon softened. Her hand leaving his to cup his cheek.

"Your British comes out when you are angry. It's kinda sexy." She said with a smirk. It really was.

The bags in her other hand did feel heavier though. It had to be the first day Manon had really said yes to anything big that his parents show up and poke at that wound.

[maasmuse]

Manon wasn't shocked by Julian holding her hand. He loved physical touch. It soothed him and Manon was always happy to comply even if she found it hard to initiate. It soothed her too. Not that she let herself think that. She didn't want to rely on it. Couldn't think of another thing being taken away. But it did help. Touching Julian as she read through her past written in black and white.

Manon had never considered herself a child. A burden, a mutant... never a child. She read though it detached. The hand not in Julian's scribbling notes as her eyes scanned the pages. Procedures she had long since forgotten begin to pull at her mind but nothing showed on her face. She would pay for this all later she was sure but right now nothing would really register. She might as well have been reading a novel. Not her whole life laid bare.

The only flicker of emotion to come from Manon was from that hand in Julian's. A slight squeeze, her thumb stroking the back of his hand as she felt his moods shifts while reading something terrible. Her palms becoming sweaty, although she never let go. Things were things she couldn't hide from him or herself as they delved into her file. The life of 117.

That was until a phrase appeared.

Terminator order for 117. By order of the King.

"Julian. I don't want you to read the next bit." It was out of her mouth before she could stop herself. So overwhelmed by her need to not have Julian read the next entries that all of her conditioning failed as she turned white.

"Please." She whispered.

Arguing with Julian was always a very hard thing for Manon to do and with the stress of everything else she kept the words back she wanted to say.

That he was responsible for his subject. She wasn't that. She was his. And even if she was, choosing not to read that wouldn't make him neglectful.

She did settle down a bit at his promise though. She hoped he would keep it.

Manon moved her chair closer to his so that they could read at the same time. Shoulders almost touching. A bit of comfort even if she couldn't bring herself to close the gap.

"Ready when you are."

[maasmuse]

Arguing with Julian was always a very hard thing for Manon to do and with the stress of everything else she kept the words back she wanted to say.

That he was responsible for his subject. She wasn't that. She was his. And even if she was, choosing not to read that wouldn't make him neglectful.

She did settle down a bit at his promise though. She hoped he would keep it.

Manon moved her chair closer to his so that they could read at the same time. Shoulders almost touching. A bit of comfort even if she couldn't bring herself to close the gap.

"Ready when you are."

"Only if you promise the same." She said softly. She could tell Julian was pushing himself. And if she was honest maybe even punishing himself with it.

"None of this is your fault Julian. I admire you wanting to know but you can face too much too."

[maasmuse]

"You wouldn't. Unless you are insinuating I am a bad teacher... Or that you really are a flower that won't prepare what you eat?" She said with a raised eyebrow. Still holding out the dragger and animal.

“That is a great point.” She grinned. A sparkle in her eye that ment trouble. Jaskier was not getting out of this one without saying he was a baby that would eat meat but not prepare it.

“The most useful thing you could be doing is learning. Luckily I have two of these and multiple knives.” She unhook one of the animals from her belt and pulled out a knife, flipping it so its handle was offered to Jaskier along with their soon to be meal.

[maasmuse]

"Technically I could." Celaena said with a wince as she shifted to sit up against the tree more. "Then I can go anywhere but that means I have to do what anybody says. Not just who is wearing the ring." It just took the energy from whoever was close by.

Celaena reached out to grab his hand at his promise. Giving it a squeeze.

"And until then. I trust you with everything I have. I might as well be wearing it if it is on your finger."

Celaena was quiet while he saw to her horse at the beginning. Just breathing.

"Don't leave me." She whispered after a while. Shinning cat eyes looking at Julian.

"Not just because I need you but the rings a tether." She said softly, voice crocking. "I don't know the exact distance but if we are too far apart I won't be able to move. I will be stuck in crippling pain."

A dark weak chuckle escaped her.

"They really planned every part of this."

[maasmuse]

"Your phone is loud and annoying." She mumbled, refusing to open her eyes at first. She didn't want to move. She hadn't slept with someone in this sense in months. She was comfy and warm. His heartbeat in her ear.

Eventually though she opened one eye and looked up at him.

"Good morning.... Do I gotta move?"

Fallon would stir when Manon got up. She was going to leave the bed until Manon basically ordered her not too. That and she was pretty wrapped up in Jaskier. The boy could cling.

It didn't take Fallon long to settle back to sleep with someone else's heart beat in her ears. And like Jaskier, she was a fan of sleeping late. She would awake around the same time as Jaskier would. Still snuggled into his chest.

[maasmuse]

Manon watched he walk away, biting her lip. A tingle of nerves seeping in admits the excitement but it still was mostly excitement.

In her room was the second part of her idea. Fallon had bought her a black baby doll and matching knickers months ago. She had yet to have the courage to wear them but she wanted to try.

The supporting part of the underwear was like nothing she had worn before. Focused on making her breast almost spill out the top. Sheer fabric falling from it 'covering' her stomach and the very top of her thighs. Not really hiding anything. Certainly not the smallest underwear she had worn either. Lace.

Manon undid her hair and removed her glamour. Shedding the parts of her that were like armour. Including her choker with the king's crest on it. That was always hard. Her hands shaking as they did so. But it was important. She wanted to just be Manon right now. Manon and Julian. Partners and nothing more.

One last look in the mirror and she took a deep breath. Waiting for his call.

Manon grinned and leaned in to kiss him again. Savouring it before pulling away slowly.

She left his side with a grin and moved to pull a book from the shelf. One with two bookmarks still in it.

"I've marked the bit. Why don't you get comfy and give it a read in your bed and I'll get changed. Give me a mental bell when you have finished."

It was slightly less of a struggle to keep it sounding not like a question this time. She had been practicing. And there was a slight hint of mischief in her eyes. A playfulness not often seen.

Yes, this was a very good day and Manon didn't want to waste it.

[maasmuse]

Manon was fine with the quiet. She understood quiet anger. She just had to remind herself it wasn't directed at her.

At his words, the look in his eyes Manon softened. Her hand leaving his to cup his cheek.

"Your British comes out when you are angry. It's kinda sexy." She said with a smirk. It really was.

The bags in her other hand did feel heavier though. It had to be the first day Manon had really said yes to anything big that his parents show up and poke at that wound.

Manon followed along, quiet for a moment. Part in cold rage and part in panic. After a few steps she turned around though, the rage winning out as she walked back to Jaskier's parents.

"Mr and Mrs Pankratz, you can both say what you want about me. Lord knows I have been called worse but your son is bright and funny and the kindest man I have ever met. So insult me all you want but don't insult your son."

She didn't give them a chance to respond. She made her way back to Jaskier quickly. Slipping a hand into his and continuing to walk away.

[maasmuse]

Manon grinned and leaned in to kiss him again. Savouring it before pulling away slowly.

She left his side with a grin and moved to pull a book from the shelf. One with two bookmarks still in it.

"I've marked the bit. Why don't you get comfy and give it a read in your bed and I'll get changed. Give me a mental bell when you have finished."

It was slightly less of a struggle to keep it sounding not like a question this time. She had been practicing. And there was a slight hint of mischief in her eyes. A playfulness not often seen.

Yes, this was a very good day and Manon didn't want to waste it.

"I do like spending time with the Princess."

Manon grinned at the compromise. A wide smile on her face as she leaned in to give him a kiss.

"And in the spirit of working on us..." She said keeping close with the grin still in place. "I was reading one of your books and I found something I would like to try... If you want a break?"

[maasmuse]

Cheryl was a little bit nervous at the sharp look but she made herself relax as he spoke.

"Seats always available. Can't play poker to save my life but I am a master at go fish. Happy to provide some entertainment. Especially when my clothes can stay on for once." She joked.

Cheryl shrugged at the raised eyebrow.

"The cat wasn't the only one that enjoyed your company." She answered his silence question. Too bold, maybe. But she had said it now.

She smiled at Niss for not leaving her hanging.

"Good. Maybe I can beat you at a game of go fish." She grinned.

[maasmuse]

"That is a great point." She grinned. A sparkle in her eye that ment trouble. Jaskier was not getting out of this one without saying he was a baby that would eat meat but not prepare it.

"The most useful thing you could be doing is learning. Luckily I have two of these and multiple knives." She unhook one of the animals from her belt and pulled out a knife, flipping it so its handle was offered to Jaskier along with their soon to be meal.

“I’ll let you have that point if you watch me prepare these all the way through.” She challenged.

[maasmuse]

"I'll let you have that point if you watch me prepare these all the way through." She challenged.

Fallon raised her eyebrow at him

“Flower? Jaskier.” She finished for him with a chuckle and moved to start preparing their meal.

[maasmuse]

Cheryl shrugged at the raised eyebrow.

"The cat wasn't the only one that enjoyed your company." She answered his silence question. Too bold, maybe. But she had said it now.

She smiled at Niss for not leaving her hanging.

"Good. Maybe I can beat you at a game of go fish." She grinned.

At first Cheryl was concerned she did something wrong but the more she studied both spiders the more confident she became it was something else.

"Can do if you want shot of me. I am always up for a nightcap though if either of you two want company?" She offered softly.

[maasmuse]

At first Cheryl was concerned she did something wrong but the more she studied both spiders the more confident she became it was something else.

"Can do if you want shot of me. I am always up for a nightcap though if either of you two want company?" She offered softly.

Cheryl leaned back against the couch when the document appeared. Not even stupid enough to try and look or, quite frankly, even wanted too.

Instead she downed the rest of her drink and stood to leave as Angel did.

"It was a pleasure meeting you Husk." She said with a genuine smile before following the spider out.

As soon as she was away from Husk her nerves that she had kept a very good damper on sky rocketed. She hoped she hadn't fucked up. She knew she was walking the line with teasing her overload and being so familiar but he asked her to be charming. She felt that was her best angle.

If she did cross the line, she didn't really care what he did to her, as long as she kept the drug. She could weather anything else but couldn't be without it again.

[maasmuse]

"Only if you promise the same." She said softly. She could tell Julian was pushing himself. And if she was honest maybe even punishing himself with it.

"None of this is your fault Julian. I admire you wanting to know but you can face too much too."

The way Julian looked at her made her want to burst into tears. She wouldn't. Not a hint of that showed on her face. But nothing was. No emotion was shown on her face since she stepped back in here. In her voice just now was the first slip she had made.

"I do. I was experimented on first. The most often. I need to know what is in there. I just... wanted to warn you. 117. That's me..." It was burned into her skin. The trainers never used her name. 117.

[maasmuse]

"I do like spending time with the Princess."

Manon grinned at the compromise. A wide smile on her face as she leaned in to give him a kiss.

"And in the spirit of working on us..." She said keeping close with the grin still in place. "I was reading one of your books and I found something I would like to try... If you want a break?"

Manon melted into the touch as she always did.

"Thank you." She whispered first as she laid a hand over one of his and squeezed.

"You make me happy." She smiled at him. "Abraxos makes me happy. Seeing the Thirteen and your sister taken care of makes me happy. I wouldn't even know what to buy!" She said. Not to argue but just to share her thoughts.

"I can't think of a single thing that buying would increase my happiness. I owned absolutely nothing for fifteen years. The fact I have more things that I can list now is unreal to me." She tried to explain.

"Let me help with some of the costs and in return, when I am in my new role, you can help me spend some money?" She offered as a compromise.