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<blockquote data-quote="ajanders" data-source="post: 929857" data-attributes="member: 3271">Enter Damion (or, Exit Damion)Every entrance is an exit from another place: this is a law of all that is, was, or will be.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Damion Gray felt himself sharply remind of this as he entered Baron Gunard's great hall, Fulgrim atop his shoulder.&nbsp; A muffled whisper lapped around him as he came down the long runner towards the throne, but he looked neither to the left nor the right.He halted some fifteen feet from Gunard's throne and bowed once, precisely.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Baron Gunard, you have called me and I am here.&quot;Gunard sat on his throne, as Damion had known he would be without even looking.&nbsp; Someone else was sitting on the arm of his throne, however, which he had not known would be.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The sorceress Lerisse was sitting at Gunard's right hand: more precisely, on the right arm of his throne.&nbsp; One elegant bare arm stretched along the back of the throne to support her languid repose.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Gunard looked like a child forced away from a sweetshop as he turned from her cleavage towards Damion.&quot;Master Grey, I thank you for your swift attendance.&nbsp; You have honored us for years now with your careful attention to our needs, and it is fitting that at the last you remain faithful.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Fulgrim bristled at the words &quot;at the last&quot; and Damion quieted him with a sharp look.&quot;At the last, Baron?&nbsp; That has an unpleasant ring to it.&nbsp; Am I about to meet with your house guards?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Gunard flushed.&nbsp; &quot;Please forgive my unfortunate expression.&nbsp; You have always attended to my material requests quickly and well, and I have no desire to repay that loyal service as you imply.&nbsp; But the times have changed, master magister, and so have my needs.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Damion raised one eyebrow at the flattery, but spoke not a word.&nbsp; Gunard rushed on.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;As this little incident has revealed, magister Grey, while architecure and alchemy are very valuable to me, I now require certain training and advice in personal interactions.&nbsp; This training Mistress Lerisse has graciously agreed to provide, along with her other skills.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Damion smiled.&nbsp; &quot;Her magical skills, you mean.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Lerisse answered him in a smoky contralto.&nbsp; &quot;Of course, silly man.&nbsp; My talents will be invaluable to milord as he seeks to gain fame in the thrust and cut of politics.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Baron Gunard turned away from Lerisse' neckline again to address Damion.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Lerisse -- Mistress Lerisse is proving an essential part of my household and fulfilling my new needs.&nbsp; Sadly, my barony does not permit me to support two court wizards.&nbsp; I must therefore reluctantly terminate your employment with me immediately.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Fulgrim started violently at this news and half rose from Damion's shoulder, hissing angrily, until Damion spoke a single word in a language not usually employed by humans and he settled, fanning himself agitatedly.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Very well, Gunard.&nbsp; I assume Lerisse will be taking my apartments?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The baron sat up straight.&nbsp; &quot;Yes, Master Grey, Mistress Lerisse will indeed be requiring the apartments of Baron Gunard, who has permitted you to stay there while you were in the employ of Baron Gunard, who appreciates you remembering his title in the past and would prefer you continue remembering it in the future.&quot;&nbsp; Fulgrim's hiss this time was loud enough to make the entire room startle back and he crouched on Damion's shoulder, ready to spring.&nbsp; Damion laid a firm hand on his head and forced him down as Lerisse laid a soothing hand on the Baron's brow.&quot;Please!&nbsp; Gentlemen, we needn't squabble so.&quot;&nbsp; She trailed a delicate finger down his shoulder and arm as she turned a brilliant smile on Damion.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Milord, I've known Damion for nearly ten years now and as old friends, we aren't always as formal with titles as we should be.&nbsp; And I know you don't always use them among your intimate friends yourself.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; She undulated down the stairs towards him.&nbsp; &quot;I really think the audience is over, as you no longer have any place in the Barony, Damion.&nbsp; But I'd love to help you pack your things.&nbsp; Why don't we do that now?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; She was good, Damion thought ruefully.&nbsp; The good ones always had&nbsp; more than just the Art in their corners.&nbsp; Judging from the way Gunard was staring after her, she had at least one other asset he was appreciating.&nbsp; And that was just from behind.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; He bowed low and swept his hand behind her, then followed her out the door.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="ajanders, post: 929857, member: 3271"] [b]Enter Damion (or, Exit Damion)[/b] Every entrance is an exit from another place: this is a law of all that is, was, or will be. Damion Gray felt himself sharply remind of this as he entered Baron Gunard's great hall, Fulgrim atop his shoulder. A muffled whisper lapped around him as he came down the long runner towards the throne, but he looked neither to the left nor the right. He halted some fifteen feet from Gunard's throne and bowed once, precisely. "Baron Gunard, you have called me and I am here." Gunard sat on his throne, as Damion had known he would be without even looking. Someone else was sitting on the arm of his throne, however, which he had not known would be. The sorceress Lerisse was sitting at Gunard's right hand: more precisely, on the right arm of his throne. One elegant bare arm stretched along the back of the throne to support her languid repose. Gunard looked like a child forced away from a sweetshop as he turned from her cleavage towards Damion. "Master Grey, I thank you for your swift attendance. You have honored us for years now with your careful attention to our needs, and it is fitting that at the last you remain faithful." Fulgrim bristled at the words "at the last" and Damion quieted him with a sharp look. "At the last, Baron? That has an unpleasant ring to it. Am I about to meet with your house guards?" Gunard flushed. "Please forgive my unfortunate expression. You have always attended to my material requests quickly and well, and I have no desire to repay that loyal service as you imply. But the times have changed, master magister, and so have my needs." Damion raised one eyebrow at the flattery, but spoke not a word. Gunard rushed on. "As this little incident has revealed, magister Grey, while architecure and alchemy are very valuable to me, I now require certain training and advice in personal interactions. This training Mistress Lerisse has graciously agreed to provide, along with her other skills." Damion smiled. "Her magical skills, you mean." Lerisse answered him in a smoky contralto. "Of course, silly man. My talents will be invaluable to milord as he seeks to gain fame in the thrust and cut of politics." Baron Gunard turned away from Lerisse' neckline again to address Damion. "Lerisse -- Mistress Lerisse is proving an essential part of my household and fulfilling my new needs. Sadly, my barony does not permit me to support two court wizards. I must therefore reluctantly terminate your employment with me immediately." Fulgrim started violently at this news and half rose from Damion's shoulder, hissing angrily, until Damion spoke a single word in a language not usually employed by humans and he settled, fanning himself agitatedly. "Very well, Gunard. I assume Lerisse will be taking my apartments?" The baron sat up straight. "Yes, Master Grey, Mistress Lerisse will indeed be requiring the apartments of Baron Gunard, who has permitted you to stay there while you were in the employ of Baron Gunard, who appreciates you remembering his title in the past and would prefer you continue remembering it in the future." Fulgrim's hiss this time was loud enough to make the entire room startle back and he crouched on Damion's shoulder, ready to spring. Damion laid a firm hand on his head and forced him down as Lerisse laid a soothing hand on the Baron's brow. "Please! Gentlemen, we needn't squabble so." She trailed a delicate finger down his shoulder and arm as she turned a brilliant smile on Damion. "Milord, I've known Damion for nearly ten years now and as old friends, we aren't always as formal with titles as we should be. And I know you don't always use them among your intimate friends yourself." She undulated down the stairs towards him. "I really think the audience is over, as you no longer have any place in the Barony, Damion. But I'd love to help you pack your things. Why don't we do that now?" She was good, Damion thought ruefully. The good ones always had more than just the Art in their corners. Judging from the way Gunard was staring after her, she had at least one other asset he was appreciating. And that was just from behind. He bowed low and swept his hand behind her, then followed her out the door. [/QUOTE]

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