The Mansion

[Light Ice]

"Let myself in? I did."

There was a smile in his words. It didn't quite reach his face. Appreciation was an awkward thing. It softened dialogues to that place where he'd never quite known what to do with them. He lifted his glass towards M, though, and left it at that. The loungers were open. He'd preferred a stool alongside the bar's counter.

And cursed himself for not ordering the baseball package. There was nothing good on.

 

[Mav Unlimited]

"Oh that's not what I meant. You can let yourself in anytime, I'm sure you know that."

He grinned inwardly at his reply. He was the same way. He tried not to make him feel awkward, speaking casually and walked over to the bar to pour himself a drink.

"I was talking about the bar. You know, Cait is going to absolutely love it. Nothing good on TV?"

 

[Light Ice]

"The Yankees." He almost sighed the words. Almost.

He'd never been much for the American League teams but his hatred was reserved for the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers had a special place when it came to the hearts and minds of Mets fans. It was a rivalry that had dwindled as the Mets had slipped in and out of irrelevance. For him, though, the flame burned strong.

It was nice to see Seattle beating their brains in.

The bar was well-stocked. He'd keep it that way.

 

[sombrablanca]

I'll drink to that *Said as I walk in.* Baseball almost as bad as golf as far as borin me goes but...I'm a New Englander. Fuck the Yankees. Jets too. *doesn't get into sports really, but has a lil hometown pride.*

 

[Light Ice]

Interesting. He considered the new comer for a moment before looking back to the game.

"Eloquently put."

 

[Mav Unlimited]

"Not much of a baseball watcher or follower." He smiled. "But I have always admired the talent of the players. And it would be interesting to study the hitting, swinging, and throwing mechanics or techniques. But since I have enough cricket to occupy my mind with when I want to watch sports, never really cared to venture into any other."

He stopped talking and let the guy watch his game. He would need to leave soon anyway. But for now he turned his eyes back towards the screen.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Upstairs in the study, she was busy typing away, unaware of all the male testosterone down in the entertainment room. M had gotten up from his desk, kissed the nape of her neck and disappeared. She had a couple more responses to supply before she could take a break. Then the RW was going to tug her back into its demanding realm for a bit. However, she had an inclination to go downstairs eventually and would.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Finally she was able to break away from her keyboard, see to the RW and came back. Deciding to wander down to the Entertainment Room where she had heard male voices earlier.

The stairs didn't take long to get down and once she turned the corner, she stood transfixed, staring where her old bar use to be. The men were gone by now. Her eyes roaming over the craftsmanship of the renovated bar, her mind ticked to figure out who and how...

She ran her hand lovingly over the wood working. Lovely. Absolutely lovely and very much reflective of her personality. Simple outdoor elegance. But the questions remained. Who and How?

There were a couple of glasses on the bar top, she picked them up and sniffed each glass and then she knew. Setting the glasses in the sink, her eyes scanned the stock, confirming what she knew. LI. He drank Bombay. She made it a point to learn that at one time. The only question was how. She had not a clue how to repay him for this generous work of art. She probably never would. There were some things in this world you just earn to accept, gracefully. But she had an idea.

Rummaging around in a drawer behind the bar, she took out a notepad and pen before she sat down and started to scribble a note. It wasn't long and she left it, sealed on the bar, with his name penned on the outside for him to find. Tucking notepad and pen back in the drawer, she headed upstairs once more.

 

[Light Ice]

Darkness. Shadow.

I find symbols in everything like this. Perpetual straw grasping. A hundred thousand messages for me to read and decipher. It is a disease that exists within the chasm of my mind, twitching, waiting for my energy to shrink against some unwitting adversity before pouncing to take hold. This is an old dance. I know the steps.

It breaks people. I've seen it. Life is not there to hand out scraps. Time waits for no man. This place is only as civilized as we perceive it to be. The reality is far more frightening. People, like beasts, live to consume. We are as far removed from the apes of our past as I am removed from this computer presently.

It is this harsh reality, the reality that we must fight and kill for our desires, that makes principles so much more than what they are commonly treated.

A principle, a choice in regards to our conduct, stands as the only pure desire for ourselves that we really have. The rest of our instincts, whether it is to horde wealth or fuck something, is partially dictated by our existence as a beast. We, like every other animal, seek to eat gluttonously and comfortably. We seek safety. We seek mates. We seek pleasure. Apes, Dolphins, Dogs, Rats.

But a principle is not dictated by nature. It is not an instinct dulled by the ages, honed into a need divined to us by the miracle of evolution. A principle is a concept forged in our minds, of our reason and desire, and lifted.

Mine do not bend. They do not tremble. I stand with them, ruthless in the way I cling to them and wield them when the troubles of life begin to stack against me. I endure with my principles or not at all. I live by my principles, friends or otherwise. My friends long ago learned not to approach me for charity. A dollar for the Jukebox or twenty dollars for a movie. Do not ask it of me.

I am always evolving. Changing. I add tools and strengths to my resume.

But my principles never change.

I fight the world and its trials. I fight the people in it who are attempting to take what I desire. I fight the people in my life when they struggle to understand my methods and meanings.

I will always fight. That's what I do. That's my nature.






"One cannot violate the promptings of one's nature without having that nature recoil upon itself." - Jack London

 

[Mav Unlimited]

She had kissed him after waking up and left the bedroom. He waited patiently in the study, typing away while she went to prepare breakfast in the kitchen. He had a very strong desire to follow her, but work came first. It was not like she would be in there for hours. Probably just a few minutes. But he missed her even if she wasn't around him for one minute. How silly, he thought. But he was fond of silliness. Most of the time.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Her footsteps took her directly to the coffeepot.

Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.00.

Coffeepot first. That first sip. It must be what a thirsty man feels when water is found.

Then breakfast to contemplate. Her affliction required a certain amount of carbohydrates per meal. The same amount three times a day. As close as she could get. She pulled out cottage cheese, fresh strawberries and container of cherry pomegranate yogurt and knew it wasn't enough carbs. Sighing, she regarded the contents of the refrigerator while her eyes held dismay. How in hell was she suppose to eat all this food? So much vegetables, so much fruit, per day. It was maddening. She pulled other things from the frig and whipped up something for M as well and loaded everything on a tray, hauling it back to the study.

 

[Mav Unlimited]

He looked up and smiled as she returned. She had a tray filled with food in her hands. He stopped typing, got up from the desk, walked over towards her before she could reach all the way in and grabbed the tray with both hands, moving it to one side, leaning in and giving her a quick kiss.

"Welcome back, darling."

He paused and glanced at the food, grinning. The tray was then set down on her desk as he turned to look back at her.

"You made something for me too?"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She glanced from all the food on the tray and over at him.

"Of course I did."

She handed him a plate with bacon, eggs, toast and some of the fresh strawberries, followed by a smaller plate with a stack of three pancakes on it and a glass of juice.

"If I have to eat, so do you."

She then sat down and looked at the food she fixed for herself in dismay.

 

[Mav Unlimited]

She was going to spoil him. But he didn't mind. He loved it. What's not to love about bacon, eggs, and pancakes? Oh and syrup. Don't forget the syrup, he told himself. He was suddenly hungry.

"Thank you, love."

He leaned down to kiss her cheek as she sat down to eat, before grabbing his plate and sitting down in the chair himself. He watched her as she looked at her food.

"Want me to feed you the strawberries? You'll have to come sit in my lap for that to happen."

Even as he was saying that, he took a bite each of the cake, eggs, toast and a piece of bacon, stuffing it all into his mouth along with a sip of the juice. Once it passed down his throat, he looked at her as she watched him, and blushed slightly.

"What? I'm hungry!"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She grinned.

"The question is, my darling... just what are you hungry for? Not that I mind sitting in your lap and having you feed me strawberries."

 

[Mav Unlimited]

He stopped chewing on the next bite as soon as her words hit his ears, before continuing to finish the rest of the food in his mouth. He turned towards her, wiped his mouth with a napkin, got up from his seat and took a step towards her chair where she was sitting, grinning at him. Leaning in close to her ear, his hand slid to her ponytail as he gripped the base and yanked it gently with his fingers, tilting her head back, his mouth hovering close to her neck, before lips pressed against the tender flesh and suckled softly, teeth barely digging in. Then he moved his mouth over her ear and whispered, "You." before flicking his tongue over the earlobe, releasing his grip over her hair, going back to sit in his chair and taking a gulp of the juice.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She watched him, nibbling on her breakfast, as he came toward her. She was never quite sure what he was going to say or do, especially when, all of a sudden, she had this overwhelming feeling of being stalked. As his head leaned closer to hers, she could feel her heart start to race in her chest, her breathing become shallow and rapid as he tugged on her ponytail, yanking her head back to expose the tender sensitive flesh of her neck to his mouth. She felt his lips close in on her flesh, suckling there with teeth and teasingly, with the barest of touches, sink against it. It was enough to to make her stop breathing altogether. His whispered word in her ear made her fingers crush the berry she was holding.

He instantaneously made her body ache for him.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

As evening started to settle in, she sat her desk studying posts, letting her mind open up to each character's personality to determine how each would proceed. She glanced out the open glass doors periodically to watch the sun set as she sipped cold water from a tall glass.

The house was quiet. She was the only one awake. Without sexy distractions, she was able to concentrate or should be able to. Music played softly in the background as she sat forward, read again, this time letting the images build in her mind. Felt them. Now to write.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Done for the night. My last post has drained me of what I had left to give, mind and soul. With a throbbing head, I turn out the light on my desk and through the dark I easily find my way out of the study. It is not a long walk in the darkened quiet house from the study to the bedroom.

There are times I prefer the night, times I want the light and still others when I desire the in between. The bedroom door opens quietly and closes just the same way. Engulfed in darkness I shed my clothing, gathering them up and laying them in a nearby chair to be put into the clothes hamper when I rise in the morning. I pause by the sliding glass door and open it to let in the night air. The moonlight of the late rising moon will filter through gauzy curtains as it moves across the deeper hours. I slide between cool sheets, putting my head on an equally cool pillow that feels like blessed relief for a throbbing head.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Green tank top tucked into tan shorts, hair in its summer style of a simple ponytail, bare feet, the day finds me ready to meet it head on. It's going to get hot according the weatherman. The question simply remains, how hot? Yesterday was 106 degrees and the prediction was for 101. Today, the predication is for 103. Does that mean it will get to 108? It's quite possible. August, has always been the hottest month of summer with the heat rising to 120 on occasion. Fry an egg on the sidewalk? It's been done.

Things have changed however. I remember as a child and as a young adult, that the hottest part of the day came around noon, one o'clock. Now, the hottest part of the day comes around 3 pm. I've noticed that for the last three years or so. I'm sure there's a reason for it and one of these days, I'll go looking for it. Not today.

It's Friday again and I am not enthused. I must join the masses this weekend. Food shop. Gods, I hate shopping. Of any kind. I have little to no patience with it. Get in, get what I need, get out. I have even less patience with crowds. I shall endure, however.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She stood in front of the jukebox in the Entertainment Room, her fingertips going down over the list of songs in the jukebox and then punched out the numbers.

Forever and Ever Amen
The Woman In Me (Needs The Man In You)
Your Man
Whiskey Girl

 

[Mav Unlimited]

He left the note on the bedside table, placed a kiss on her forehead, closed the bedroom door quietly and headed out of the Mansion to tackle the day. It was going to be a long and tiring one.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She woke up alone, though she had faintly stirred earlier. It must have been M on his way out this morning. A small yawn, a stretch and her eyes found the note. Reaching out, she took possession of it and read. It was not going to be an empty day for her either. She was running late since she woke around 1am and couldn't go back to sleep until 5. Ugh. She hated nights like that. She slept soundly then simply woke up unable to return to sleep.

Slipping from bed, she headed for the shower. Time to be cracking.

 

[Mav Unlimited]

The ache had subsided a bit but his head was still throbbing from the day's activities. The weather hadn't helped. It hadn't been all bad however. Right now, he was just glad to be home. Home, where she would be waiting for him with open arms. Maybe already asleep? He would soon find out. But he was positive she would be awake. He walked into the great room. It was very quiet. Saturday, he thought. She was probably in the Study. He was certain she would notice his arrival and join him as soon as she could. He went straight into the bedroom, threw his bag down onto the chair, kicked off his shoes and threw himself down onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling for a minute or two, before his eyes began to slowly close. He was exhausted and even though he didn't want to admit it, sleepy.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She quietly let herself into the mansion, tossing her keys into the bowl on the table there in the hallway. It's late and M is probably in bed already. One hand is idly rubbing the nape of her neck as she moves to the kitchen to fix a cold glass of water. She stood leaning against the counter drinking it as her mind wanders over what needs to be done tomorrow. Some housework for sure. And if she's really lucky, she'll get some writing done.

Placing the glass in the sink, she goes to shut off the kitchen light before navigating her way in the dark to the bedroom, opening the door quietly. His side of the bed is closest to the door and she pauses there, brushing her fingertips over his hair and his forehead before she leaned over and kissed his forehead ever so lightly.

She was already pulling off the ribbed tank top and her sports bra, dropping them at the foot of the bed. Her shorts and underwear were last as they joined the rest of her clothing. She slipped under the sheet, sliding closer to him before she closed her eyes and prayed she didn't wake with lower back pain again.

The heartbeat of the house grew quiet. But she felt it. It beat in sync with her own heart.