Celeste Gerras
Understudy
Diamonds are a girl's best friend!
Posts: 76
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Post by Celeste Gerras on Mar 17, 2008 2:15:09 GMT -5
They seemed to be even and therefore at almost a type of impass. She had not bowed to his will and he just seemed amused by the fact that she would not act the part of a typical lady. Of course, she knew that she was better than any lady and therefore above their rules and courtasies. That is after all what gave her the power that she had; her confidence, her movement, and her ability to act the way she did. She knew her own worth and it was higher than any social station ever could provide her. Perhaps that was why she could face any Count or King without shirking away. She knew that in the end, her worth was greater. They just didn't know it yet.
In this case however, Celeste was intruiged more than she normally would be. He was a Comte, a man of power, influence, wealth. She had met such men before, but they normally had never played the games she knew as well as this man. He was a challange. It was a refreshing thing for someone who usually found men to be trite and uninteresting unless they could better her position. No, he was a true player in this game fools called love. It was like a stalemated game of checkers. Neither of them had a choice of where to move without getting jumped, or putting themselves in a loosing position. At least not in public. He had used Johanna as a block. She would just have to skirt it.
After a moment of calm calculation, Celeste stopped dead in front of the man before her. She fixed his eyes in her own sparkling gems. He knew what he was doing and he would know she shared the same knowlege he did. Her flirtatious smile opened a little wider and Celeste let out a clear playful laugh. No little girl's giggle, but a full ringing laugh with the depth and beauty of a church bell's tone. She shook her head and walked back towards where Johanna was standing, posing herself next to the girl with a challanging look in her eyes.
The whole while she moved and reacted to him she never lost contact with his eyes. If she could keep that, she knew she would win at least one more meeting. Perhaps one more personal than this. "Monsieur, you lead me on. Just moments ago you very wisely stated that one should not speak if they cannot express their thoughts clearly and now you are urging me to silence. I do not know if I comply Monsieur, after all, I am merely a chorus girl and must keep my tongue occupied one way or another."
A suggestive smile and a moment of silence was left in the air for a moment before Celeste stepped slightly in front of Johanna and towards the gentleman once more the challange blazing full on in her shining eyes. "At the same time Monsieur I would hate to mar any impression. So which would you rather see Monsieur an honest woman or a silent one?" It was a challange. It was a formal throw of the gauntlet as clear as day and it was forcing him to make a move. The stalemate would have to be broken.
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Post by Angel Marcellinus on Mar 20, 2008 0:31:01 GMT -5
What an interesting game this woman and him could play! How many times he had played the game he wasn’t sure, but all ended predictively. However all of them were the predictable type. Hardly any gave him the thrill of something new. They were either the normal giddy ones or the ones that tried to be seductive but had to many morals to keep with it. Though he never admitted he was a good player he knew he was a better one then most girls could go against. That did seem like the case with this one!
A woman with a ‘come-hither’ look in her eyes right from the start was his kind of player. Actually there was a chance that she was a better player them him. A challenge fully welcomed. Coarse it also seemed that the game might end to quickly as easily as she gave that teasing smile. Did she meant to be misunderstood? With that way she continued it on how could she not? Either she knew to game well or was just easy. The blaze in her eyes though and the fact that she tried to slip him up made him doubt she was anywhere close to easy.
“I did not mean to mislead you Mademoiselle. I do enjoy a woman that lets her tongue flow freely, but she must be able to know when to hold it when in company that might not find it appropriate. I can stand a poisonous tongue, but as long as it can also be sweet when need be.”
Angel gave a mischievous smirk. If he knew that that someone was trying to make him move in one direction of the other, he decided to continue to ride the fence. If she wasn’t so coy he might have answered ‘honest woman’ but what fun would that be? She tried to move him now he wants to know what the next admit will be. Another question that pertains to the subject or a new one? Though his eyes weren’t burning with a challenge as much as hers they were shining with amusement and curiosity, they danced with it.
When he had come to the Opera House he expected innocent or smutty women, both simple. This little encounter made him think that he might meet all interesting type of girls. But was there another one like this raven hair woman? If not then he might try to drag the game out longer then she may like it. That is if she didn’t give up every tactic at once to try and get him to play more. Keep his interest and he’ll make sure for pace to go how he wants it.
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Celeste Gerras
Understudy
Diamonds are a girl's best friend!
Posts: 76
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Post by Celeste Gerras on Mar 25, 2008 3:01:38 GMT -5
He couldn't make her out. Celeste could tell by the look in his eyes that he was at least slightly confused by her. She was a confusing girl to be sure, but only when she wanted to be. In her mind she was clear as day, but to a man, well, they had no chance of figuring her out until she revealed her true purpose. She only did so when she was tired of playing though. If the game was not worth ending for one reason or another on her end she would not end it. As far as Celeste was concerned, she jumped at no man's will. He would follow her lead in this dance.
This one was no different. He maintained contact and would not break it, same as she. He kept to her subject and would not change it. He was biding his time as most men did with her. They were only worth keeping though if they kept her amused, kept her challange, and could put her gaurd up. Her gaurd was up now, but somewhere she was questioning if he would ever be able to throw her off and really put her somewhere uncomfortable. No man had been able to yet. She was unbroken and as far as she was concerned she would remain so. Unless he had a few suprises her freedom nor her spirit were at risk with this man.
With a playful seductive smirk Celeste answered him cheekily, "Monsieur I promise you then that I will let my tongue flow freely with both honey and poison when the times are right so I may at least be in the right where you are concerned." She paused for a moment and smirked slightly raising an eyebrow before moving a little closer to him. "However Monsieur, if I may be so bold since you have given me free use of my tongue; if you are who I think you may be Monsuier I venture that your personal tastes in anything range more towards poison."
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Post by caitlinthemiller on Mar 25, 2008 15:19:18 GMT -5
When Celeste had popped out that Johanna had been taken aback. But once she had began on "gentle ears" Johanna was put wise. Life at the Opera was a popularity contest, art from aside. but this harpy was different, and Johanna had seen her at work before. Celeste didn't flounce around like a showgirl (like many other dancers); she would find a girl that wasn't as pretty, quiet, not as good a dancer or other reasons and she would take advantage of the fact that men were men and almost force him to compare her with the victim he had been talking to.
To Johanna it looked like her duet with the Comte was up, and Celeste would take the stage for the ballet. But no! Like in the American vaudeville, a cane appeared and pulled her back onstage. The cane in question was being lead on by the Comte with something pooling around it.
Before the Comte could reply to Celeste's last remark of poison, Johanna bobbed a minute curtsy and said, "In regard to your question before this fine lady appeared, Monsieur, no, I was not going somewhere. But perhaps I have an appointment. Good day and pleasant meeting you." She turned as if to walk of then mad a move as if to consider and came back. "By the way, Monsieur, your cane seems to be leaking."
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Post by Angel Marcellinus on Apr 19, 2008 22:47:29 GMT -5
Maybe this game wasn’t a cat and mouse. In fact it was most obvious that it was cat against cat. She has seductiveness, he had a contradictory nature, both were coy and quick witted. Surely it one of them lost one time the other would win the next time. Such ‘skill’ of theirs could get them far in whatever way they wish to excel in.
What a team they would make if they ever decided to be on the same side. Rare it was to be able to say that about person on first meeting them. He could tell that she thought the same thing as well, and whether she would use him to rise in her pursuit or not he didn’t care. So long as he knew about it and it was amusing there didn’t seem to be a problem to him.
“Then I am glad. I do enjoy both and a person that is masterful at when to use one or the other.”
He said with a coy smile. Not once had he looked away from the enchanting woman, that is until Johanna decided to speak up. She hadn’t left yet? Not that he wanted her to leave, but he would have if he had been left out of the conversation. After giving a sidelong glance at the raven-haired woman he turned to Mademoiselle L’Engle and gave a genuine smile.
“Oh Mademoiselle Johanna! Well I’m sorry that I didn’t get to chat with you as much as I wished. But I’m sure we’ll be able to later, and remember what I’ve already told you. Pleasant meeting you.”
Angel said with an encouraging smile until Johanna had turned around like she was going to leave. Which of coarse meant that he returned his attention to the minx who had taken a step closer with a devilish look in her eyes and smile. With his own luring smirk he took an inviting step forward and leaned a little closer to her as if he was going to say something deliciously secret.
“Only if the persons tongue is masterful…at it.”
Angel said with a wicked smirk that showed he could be just as enticing her. He was about to ask her if her was when Johanna chimed in again. Effortlessly he changed back to his pleasant self and looked back at Johanna questioningly. His cane was leaking? He didn’t seem to understand at first until he remembered what would be in his cane to leak and the incident before that would make it. Sure enough liquid was seeping from the crack in the cane.
“Oh yes…thank you.”
He said quickly taking his handkerchief and wrapping it around the crack to prevent it from leaking more. Well this was most unfortunate. Luckily though the poison wasn’t deadly, merely an irritant. Still he’d probably have to properly dispose of it soon.
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Celeste Gerras
Understudy
Diamonds are a girl's best friend!
Posts: 76
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Post by Celeste Gerras on Apr 20, 2008 18:52:57 GMT -5
She had him pinned. She had not won the day yet, but she had him interested which was just enough. She had seen enough men interested in her to know that once they got to the point where they blocked everyone else out, every other woman out, that they were hers for the most part. In this case, Johanna had been not been a part of the conversation for quite sometime. Celeste relished that fact.
This patron was hers for now. She could not say for sure as she could with other men. After all. This was not her usual game where she could bait them. This one knew what she was doing. After all, she could see him measuring her the same way. The pattern of his speech, the way his eyes scanned her and he was focusing, she knew he had done things like this before. She knew, like herself, he was used to winning. It would be interesting because it was a challange and she liked a challange. He was standing here and blocking out Johanna so obviously he did as well.
The only hitch in her plan was that git of a girl Johanna. She had not left. The fact that she had broken the moment, the careful dance of call and response between the two of them infuriated Celeste though she did not show it. She was better than that. She was smarter than that. A woman playing this game who did that was showing a weakness, her true purpose and nature and that is an immediate surrender in this careful game of hidden truths and strategy that the two were playing now.
Thank goddness he was already intriuged. One quick bait from her side to catch him again and he was responding without a second glance to the fleeing twit Johanna. It made her glow slightly at the extent of her skills, but she knew she couldn't. To do so would be to put herself in a position where she could be taken by him with a single phrase she was not expecting. After all, he was another hunter.
Still, hunter or not, he was good at what he did. When he leaned in she could have sworn she felt her heart speed. There was something dangerous about the way he leaned in. The seductive nature of his smirk and his eyes. She was playing with fire but she was not about to get burned. She had never been burned before and she was not about to start now, so of course she hid her heart beat and merely smiled prettily, with the same dark nature about her own features as he backed away once again to deal with the absent minded girl once again.
Celeste honestly wanted to kill her for interrupting once again. Giving up with grace was something that insolent git needed to learn. Celeste was looking forward to teaching her at a more appropriate time. Still, sure enough, his cane was leaking which confirmed Celeste's suspicions. There were rumors of a man who liked posion a little too much, a Patron none the less. This must be him...
With even tempered grace Celeste backed away gracefully and raised an eyebrow as he mended his cane. "It seems Monsieur that I was correct about your tastes in poison, and Monsieur it seems then that more than one of us know how to use it with skill. Though I dare say in far different forms." Playfully, Celeste let her lips form another seductive smirk as her eyes lowered slowly back down to the tie on the cane and then back up to her advisary's eyes.
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Post by Angel Marcellinus on May 18, 2008 0:37:37 GMT -5
Angel frowned down at his can with the broken bottle and strange liquid inside. So it had shattered when him and Johanna took that little spill. No pun intended. At least now he knew that a thicker cane was needed and with some sort of cushion in it, what he was not sure, but something to protect it from a crash to the ground. If only he had checked before, well actually if he had, he probably would have darted off and not really have met Johanna or the ever more intriguing ballerina.
Turning his palm up he saw a few red burning spots, but nothing to worry about. He poison was a very subdued irritant. Though if the whole contents on the bottle had spilled onto his hand he would be in quit some pain, as he had intended any pickpocket or attacker to be in. But the little amount that had smudged on was harmless for the most part. Besides he had become so used to different creations finding their way onto him that he developed a sort of tolerability to them.
Oh well another person to know his secret. He didn’t really care for the most part of people finding out, but he did care however whether he’d still be able to be a patron here. But the owners must have at least known something about it, and plus he doubted that he was speaking with a person that would go and gossip about this. Unless she had a good reason for doing it. He wasn’t too fearful he figured as he glanced back up at the woman’s seemly knowing face. Angel raised an eyebrow at her raised eyebrow as if asking if this was out of the ordinary for her.
His smirk grew with every word she said though not falling for her own seductive smirk that she put at the end. Did she think that she just gained an upper hand? Surely not. A simple fact that he did not go to any length to keep secret was not something to use.
“Far different. But I do find that I am attracted to most any form of poison. Tangible or not. Now it seems you know who I am and it’s only fair that I can put a name to your enchanting face.”
He said in his lower alluring voice with his own enticing smirk and taking a few steps closer to her. When he was a foot from her and gazing down at her without looking away he took her hand in his and brought it slowly to his lips to place a gentle kiss in her fingers joints.
“Comte Angel Marcellinus at you service Mademoiselle…?”
Though it was gently he held fast to her hand only planning on letting it go after she answered his inquiry of her name. He must know. Not because he pined for it, but to keep the game fair.
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Celeste Gerras
Understudy
Diamonds are a girl's best friend!
Posts: 76
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Post by Celeste Gerras on May 21, 2008 12:30:14 GMT -5
Every Patron had their own strange quirk about them. Not everyone could be perfectly normaly after all. Usually those inclined to support the arts were a bit artisitc and out of the ordinary themselves; they just hid behind the facade of money and riches to keep everyone from finding out about their...other habits. With enough time in the Populaire one began to not only learn this fact, but to learn the other side of each patron. With this one, it was posion, with another it was his facination with women's clothing. It made no difference it was just helpful in finding a good sponsor for further endevours as she was doing. Besides, somehow the poison made the whole thing a slight bit more exciting...at least more dangerous and that was something her life often lacked. She needed more adventure and if he was going to provide that for her, well, she wasn't going to protest.
Now was not the time to think of such things however. The game they had put on a slight hold so he could check his cane was now back on in full as he raised an eyebrow to question her and then asked for her name. It was an interesting move on his part. In her experience a name was an important fact in this game. Once you gave the name you were making a silent agreement to see eachother again in some sense. It was a loose agreement, not too binding, but it was a form of interest and surrender. If he was a hunter like her, giving her name would be a resignation and he would loose interest. The way people like them played was by taking interest in a challange. She had ensnared him so far by proving a challange and she had to keep this up. She would be his new poison if she played this all right; infecting his mind and soul until the only remedy would be to find out everything he could about her.
With the same seductive smirk he had given her resting on her own lips Celeste raised an eyebrow and laughed prettily once he pronounced his name. She had been right with who this Patron was luckily. He had not been hard to miss with all his talk of poison, but it was still a small victory. It was a small victory that he was keeping interest in her, it was a small victory that he was holding her hand right now and that he had just kissed it. She knew he was not pining to hear her name, he was in it for the challange and that she would provide for him in full.
"Monsieur, you gave your name so freely but unfortunately I am not so sure I can give you mine. You see Monsieur Comte, your name has value behind it, mine has little. It would not be a fair trade."
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Post by Angel Marcellinus on Jul 2, 2008 18:28:14 GMT -5
Of coarse she wouldn’t give her name up easily! It might seem like a silly thing that he was after and she wouldn’t give, but they knew that value of a name in this game. Sure he could just ask someone else what her name but only a person new to the game would do that. It’s what she would want him to do. No, that would put her ahead of him and he was planning on leaving today on an equal score. Angel was only so unfortunate as to have a reputation. One though that only she seemed to know about, or brave enough to mention.
Maybe if he had taken the time to introduce himself to the performers he might already know her name. On the other hand they would probably be in the same place they are now. But he’d probably have more time if they had meet on a different day, a day where his cane was in danger of becoming dangerous and when he hadn’t spent all his time talking.
Angel would try one more time to get her name before having to leave. If he didn’t…well it was a loss. However he knew that he would be able to get it out of her sooner or later because as much as he was intrigued by her he was sure she was interested in him. However if he had to keep working for a silly name, even though he might have been interested before, he will become impatient and not care anymore. Hopefully she wouldn’t be stubborn and carry out more then their next meeting.
“What’s in name? My name is no more important than yours. I’m afraid I’d be very disappointed if I had to leave without knowing what to call such lovely creature as yourself.”
Angel said with every word dripping with charm with a smile to match. Taking a step forward he brought their bodies close enough to where there was only a few inches between themselves. He looked down at her with smoldering eyes as he purred out a flattering lie.
“Please. For I believe I shall lay awake at night wondering why I’m unworthy of hearing your name.”
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Celeste Gerras
Understudy
Diamonds are a girl's best friend!
Posts: 76
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Post by Celeste Gerras on Jul 3, 2008 23:18:34 GMT -5
If she kept this up it would be a solid win. Wins were dangerous things with men like this. Either they would just want to find you and win next time with even more fervour, or they would get upset and mope, leaving you to your own devices and avoiding you for all time. The smart ones pursued. Pursuing and biding ones time in these games brought profit and greater rewards and satisfaction when you won the war. She knew that. Any decent player knew that rule of the game. She hoped this one, she had an inkling, that this one knew that well and would consider this just a battle in the war.
It really was a shame about his cane if the truth be told. She knew that if that had not happened perhaps this would have gone on a bit longer. The man would have had a chance at her name on their first meeting. It would have been one of the few times it happened. Very few were as good as she was at this game. She perfected it from years of observation and practice. She was sure he had as well. They were evenly matched for the most part but time was on her side.
A playful, mysterious smirk took Celeste's lips as he gave her what she was sure was one last try. It had to be one of the last tries. For the most part stratagy stated that you tried politely first. There was a compliment, something sweet and endearing such as his mention of a lovely creature. Of course disvaluing the name and lowering positions from the deal helped too. It ruined her argument and made her look coy and cruel. That would be enough for most weak minded women. Most would giggle and divulge at that, but this man was not playing. He knew what he was dealing with.
He just didn't know what extent she was used to. Perhaps that is why him stepping closer did not phase her. Perhaps that is why she did not feel any fear or her heart did not flutter at the fact that their bodies were only a few inches apart. She merely kept the same mysterious smirk on her face despite the fact that he could easily come closer to her now and do something unthinkable. She was not worried. She was intriuged. "Then perhaps you will find the answers in the skies because my name is of the stars. The heavens actually."
Taking a moment, holding her position, not flinching, Celeste stared into his eyes, the same smoldering look burning in her eyes as ther was in his. She knew he was lying though. So she smiled and backed away after that single look. "Perhaps with that you can find my name. If not, i'm sure you can." She smirked and started down the hallway, still looking at him as she gracefully floated backwards down the hall. "You are a smart and worthy man after all. I wouldn't be suprised if you found it right here."
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