Blood from Stone [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

"They likely were at the time. The relationship... ended poorly. But Cindy Black, theoretically the daughter of a social-climbing merchant in Glaley, was thrown out of her home and locked away for the crime of same-sex attraction. It is well known that I prefer the feminine, although I am trying to expand the rumors to include my true bisexuality."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon's lips curve in a wickedly delighted smile. "Well well." No, don't rush. This is a miracle. Don't fuck it up. "I... I want... I want to embrace this third chance. I need..." She licks her lips nervously. "I'm afraid my only passion has been revenge for... well, almost three years now. But I want to... To have more again, if... perhaps we could... start with some more..."

[Coquette Blacquin]

She takes a step towards Shannon, looking her up and down, drinking her in in a way she hadn't had time for earlier. "You look lovely tonight, Lady zi'Marass," she says quietly.

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Gods yes, more that please. Shannon forces a smile. "Thank you, Cin. I... gather that using that a nickname is far less teasing and more apt than I would have guessed three years ago?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Oh, no," she teases. "There's no lace on my bottom. Why, beneath this gown, I'm wearing..." 

She smirks, then waves a hand. "But I'm sure you don't much care for the underthings of a lace-licker like myself," she adds. "It would be downright indecent."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Co, if you only knew the things I've done to... "I care a great deal about what you wear. And why you wear it. And..." She shudders a little. "My apologies, I am... this has been rather a shock and I am not..." She makes a vague gesture. 

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I understand," she says, dropping the flirtatious act. "I... I really have missed you, Shan. If I thought there was any way to get word to you... but I didn't think.. I didn't think it was safe to contact you. If our roles had been reversed, if you had been hiding in Glaley and had tried to get word to me, my father would have... no, I had no way to be sure. It's been... I've been so lonely, all these years. I never did have another friend like you. My gir-- ex-girlfriend was a totally different matter."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"I... I understand. Mostly. It... it does hurt, that you didn't.... trust me, but I understand why you wouldn't. After what that..." Her nostrils flare as she inhales sharply in temper. "After what Harrod did, what Melindre allowed... I cannot blame you for not trusting anyone you did not need to. But... now that I do know..."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Now that you know, perhaps we can begin anew?" offers Coquette, her voice soft, a note of fear creeping in.

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"I... I do not think I could simply... forget everything we had. But I would like to... start again, yes," Shannon says softly. "I have... the past three years, I... did things, took steps and... I had always know I would have to take control of the family businesses and influence. That is Marass tradition. But after you died- seemed to die- I... stopped caring about the long-term. Provided I took everything from daddy dearest and had enough power to kill Harrod afterwards, nothing else mattered." She winces. "I may have... made something of a mess of things."

[Coquette Blacquin]

A smile blooms across her face. "As it happens, I've become an expert in cleaning up messes in my work for zi'Tethras. I'd be happy to work for you instead."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"I would love to know how that came about eventually," Shannon says slowly. "I suspect it shall be a very long tale, and one I would trade for my own perhaps?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I have many long tales to share, but that one's simple: in rescuing myself, I also rescued his daughter. As we were cohabitating, and he desperately needed an event coordinator, I agreed to take on the job. Now that we're broken up, it's... a little messy, to say the least."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"Ah. Yes, I could see that being... messy. The ball is truly spend- fuck!" Her gaze snaps to the door with a wince. "The ball. Which I fled from, nearly at a run, after pushing Lady Aberlowe into- I think it was Lord Labrams, almost ten minutes ago."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Yes," she says too mildly. "And instead of being up there, resolving that matter, I'm down here, ensuring my own safety. Clumsily done on both our parts. Shall we... After the ball, would you like to get dessert at my place?" My empty house where I supposedly live alone with my magical cat, now that my girlfriend's moved out?