presents...
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Little Games
As his recovery proceeded, Salvador found himself once again able to entertain the ladies in the fashion which they so seemed to enjoy. Near the top of his list of island dalliances was Celestina, the courtesan from the mainland who had been sent to replace Marifi. Each was curious about the other's vaunted reputation, and they spent a pleasant evening satisfying those curiosities.
Countess Odessa, whose unnatural lusts respected no conventions, was also intrigued by Celestina's reputed athleticism and skill in bedroom sports. Alas for the countess, Celestina was not interested in accepting courtship from another woman.
Salvador, hearing of the countess's disappointment and wanting to sympathize with his favorite lover, arranged a small and intimate dinner for the three of them. He didn't honestly expect for anything to happen, past good food and conversation, but just creating an opportunity would perhaps win him favor with the countess.
There was good food and excellent conversation, which turned to banter, which quickly turned risque. Odessa, being shameless, took the opportunity offered and ran with it, suggesting that all three retire to the bedroom. Celestina was privately uninterested, but looked to follow Salvador's lead. After all, she knew him primarily as another agent of Sophia's Daughters. She knew he was involved with this noblewoman, who she understood to be popular in the Montaigne court, and perhaps this entire dinner was a ploy to get her support for some effort of the Daughters. If that was the case... well, she was still privately uninterested, but that would make it business. And the courtesan was certainly a professional.
Salvador was not about to sabotage Odessa's fancy, and it was off to the bedroom the three went.
Both women wanted further words with Salvador the next day.
The Countess
"What a wonderful dinner last night. But I am curious..." Odessa raised an eyebrow "So however did you effect that change of heart?"
Salvador smiled. "I heard your desires and thought that I would see if I could help. Celestina and I have been flirting and isn't pushing limits what it is all about?"
"Is the lunge what fencing is all about?" she asked
rhetorically. "So you... flirted her into
acquiesence?" She sounded skeptical but not entirely
disbelieving.
"No, not the lunge, the getting into the mind and determining where and when the best time to strike is. The lunge is simply the end result of something already determined. But you already know that. If I interupted your game, I am sorry. If there is a particular endgame you are looking for with someone, I shall try and not disturb it again."
"The mindset?" Odessa laughed. "Oh, Salvador. Go
and reread 'Means to Ends,' starting with the
title." She shook her head. "No no, there's
nothing to be sorry for. I found it excellently
diverting."
She turned her head to regard him sidelong; the smile
faded from merriment to something more sly. "And how
did you find it? Pushing boundaries, that is."
"Pushing boundaries was interesting. Something that might be worthwhile to do again, but I much prefer just being one on one. I can devote so much more time and energy that way - and don't have to think so much."
The countess looked genuinely confused for a moment.
"Just being one... oh! Ohh," she chuckled and nodded,
understanding. "Well, that is so terribly considerate
of you. But I think you heard a question other than
the one I asked." Sitting, she rested her hand on her
chin and regarded him. "You have still failed to
satisfy my curiosity on the nature of the persuasion
you employed on the girl. Which," she shrugged, "I'm
not inclined to hold against you. Perhaps it's a
trade secret." She smiled widely for a moment, but it
faded as her look turned speculative. "But...
somehow, you persuaded. Pushed. Our young lady
Manon, too, as I recall, and she's a skittish little
creature. I thought she'd bolt; that was well done."
She arched a fine, pale eyebrow. "You like these
little games of persuasion?"
"Ah... little games of persuasion can be fun. Nothing to serious or that someone would hurt someone. And you know - can't tell all of my secrets, that wouldn't be fair."
She laughed again, a low, dark sound unlike her
earlier merriment. "Are we quite certain you're
Vittorio's?" she asked, getting up again. She kept
her eyes on his as she glided across the room. She
stopped just in front of him, looking him up and down.
"Not that I care," she added, leaning in and
putting her arms up around his neck. Into his ear,
she whispered, "I think I like you better."
"I am sure that I am my father's son. And thanks - I think." Salvador decided not to think about or pursue any implications or thoughts for what that could mean beyond the basic on the surface meanings. Since she was close and he was a slightly flustered young man, he kissed her to stop this slightly disturbing discussion...
The Courtesan
The look Celestina favored him with recalled being grabbed and pulled by the ear, marched off by Mother as a child. She tilted her head toward an empty chamber, and he took the cue. She closed the door, turned to glare at him and ask, "What was that all about?"
Salvador, with a smile somewhat hidden, replied, "Celestina, thank you so much for indulging Lady Odessa. I know that you had put her off earlier, but cultivating her favor may work well in the long run. She is a porte sorcerous and would be very helpful in just that respect, but she is also a noblewoman of some standing in Montaigne, although of somewhat dubious reputation."
Celestina had crossed her arms over her chest and
somehow gave the impression of tapping her foot
without actually doing it. "You might have told me
that, oh, when I got here. Or even a few hours
before supper. Theus, as it was, I just barely
managed to dissemble it. I'm not building a
reputation for my lightning wit, Don Salvador. I need
time to wrap my mind around things."
"I apologize profusely. In the future, I will be sure to remember to warn you of any such persons."
"Theus willing, in the future, I'll be Gallisus's
woman and I don't get the impression he shares well
with others." She was still glaring at him with a
fair measure of suspicion, but it had softening
slightly after he apologized.
"Ah yes, he is not the type to share. I am sure you will have him wrapped around your finger in no time."
"Hmph. All right." She uncrossed her arms. "Just
have a care, Don Salvador. We rarely have the luxury
of working with teammates for any length of time.
Assuming what people can or will do is liable to get
someone in trouble some day. You ask so many
solicitous questions in bed - try a few when you're
upright, hm?" With a toss of her dark curls and a
flounce of her skirts, she turned to go.
Don Salvador appreciated the view as she walked away. He pondered the advice, and realized that it suited him well...
Back to Game 20 log.
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