of the night; @murderousmadame-blog - Tumblr Blog

Natalie Dormer by Nick Kelly for Z!NK Magazine, 2013.

lexblanc:

“You would think that assassins would grow bored of this drivel after a week, I know I have,” Cosette said with a frown. Meat and stew disagreed with her, she had grown up on the freshest and finest produce. She had of course later grown used to inn food which varied distinctly in quality but that had done little to diminish her refined palate. “Perhaps I ought to go on a food run, there’s got to be more than a fair share of people with far more in their coffers than they truly need. I promise I’ll share my findings,”.

She still felt uncomfortable being referred to as a member of a new family. Cosette often wondered what really made a family. Was it shared blood or shared talents? Would killing create the same kinship between her and her fellow assassins that mages felt with each other? Only time would tell, and that was of course all dependent on the Breton girl staying. “I’ve got tales a plenty. I’m afraid hearing about feasts does not fill bellies nor do tales of plump pillows bring better sleep. I suppose you would already know that but I feel a warning is in order,”.

Cosette was not sure what she took Carlotta for. She’d talked so much about herself and not bothered to question the other woman. She couldn’t help but wonder what her backstory was, not a woman or wealth or fortune but what of intrigue certainly. It wasn’t every day that a brothel madame left her station. There was certainly an excellent story lurking there.

“We find ways to keep things exciting around here,” Carlotta clipped; it was undeniable that things had slowed considerably around the Sanctuary as of late, but she never lacked in hope. Theirs was a righteous cause, and as long as they persisted, they could never be faulted. Contracts were sure to come with more frequency-- and with more fresh blood amongst them, like Cosette herself, there was no way that things couldn’t improve. “But the food,” she conceded, “could be better, I’ll admit. One can eat only so much horker stew before the brain begins to atrophy. If you come across anything even vaguely edible--” with a good-natured smile, she gestured to herself, “I will absolutely owe you one.”

She hadn’t the slightest idea why she continued to take it upon herself to welcome each and every new recruit with just as much fervor each time; perhaps it was her penchant for seeing to the care of others, or perhaps it was her determination to strengthen the Brotherhood beyond recognition. The women were always the easiest to welcome, no matter what sort of chip they bore upon their shoulder; the women were, in her opinion, the most worthy of welcoming.

“You mentioned a brother,” Carlotta continued, plunging forth with interrogation as if the endless line of questioning was commonplace; either way, she didn’t much like talking about herself, so to turn the conversation to Cosette was natural, “Did he get lost along the way? It takes a rather specific sort of person to stomach the Brotherhood; is his constitution not as steadfast as your own?”

#c: cosette

nazirdbh:

“my, the highest honoured form of recognition indeed! it warms my heart that you would consider such a task.” he snorted at that, rubbing his bearded jaw as if to hasten the stifling of his own laughter. “i would appreciate the chance to witness your actions in a tavern full of drunken nords someday.”

as a rule, carlotta hated men. from the get-go, it was up to the man to prove themselves better than the scum at the bottom of the lake -- nazir, coincidentally, had done so quite quickly. “you may joke, nazir, but there is no one better to have on your side in a tavern brawl than yours truly. if you ever find yourself in need--” she grinned, “--I’m your girl. but you’ll owe me; kicking nord ass is hard work.”

#c:nazir #carlotta: men are gross #nazir: *blinks*#carlotta: damn... . was i wrong #also @ carlotta same

dbxander:

“Ah, brothels. I hate them. They’d always try to scam me in some way or another. Not that the rest of the world was any more giving. I will accept resilient. You must admit though that the offer does seem quite intimidating. If I was afraid of poison at all, I likely wouldn’t have taken it.” He shook his head, chuckling a little. Her distaste of nobility had his lips quirking up again. “If it weren’t for the fact that they often give us our contracts, I’d be right behind you to poison their goblets. Not that we’d be alone. From what I recall there is always a slew of people ready for the kill when it comes to the more fortunate.”

“I resent that,” she raised one brow, though she could not manage to force the dramatics into her tone, “I’ll have you know I ran a perfectly honorable operation. No scams, no gimmicks; just honest women. Of course, there was the occasional murder, but that just comes with the territory.” The territory -- or the woman in charge. “You only hate brothels because you never went to my brothel. The nobles, on the other hand --” she scoffed, “as hated at my place as they were needed. It’s a shame that the world revolves around the coins in their pockets. Makes it all the more satisfying to turn the contracts back on them.”

#c: xander

aloysvarro:

“My pleasure… though I don’t know if I can promise to do it again. I also don’t know if I can promise not to do it again. It’s wasn’t exactly a plan.” Aloys laughed, still a bit nervous but glad to see he wasn’t getting himself into any serious trouble with this. “It was looking very suspicious. I felt that it needed to be put back in it’s place. Which is why I was definitely aiming for it and nothing else.” After checking the arrow, he returned it to the basket next to the bow before turning back to her. “It is only fair I suppose. I’m called Aloys. Not really the introduction I was hoping for.”

“I take it you’ve not been practicing archery for long, then?” she smirked, one brow raised and halfhearted chiding on the tip of her tongue. Carlotta watched, hands propping onto leather-clad hips, as he checked the arrow, though she could not peg his particular skill set by sight alone, as she so often could. “Well, I suppose the Sanctuary as a whole owes you a debt of gratitude for stopping that dastardly bookshelf before it turned the tables on us,” she laughed as well, striding forward to the bookshelf to briefly examine the wound before extending a hand to the new recruit. “Carotta. I suppose this is as good an introduction as any; certainly not a forgettable one. Tell me -- have you defended the populous from bookshelves for long?”

#c: aloys

lexblanc:

“I might just have to pay that tree a visit, at the very least once a week. I’ve been informed that a number of diseases can be prevented by the consumption of fruit, it would be stupid of me to deprive myself of the cure,” Cosette said, thanking Carlotta with a smile. She had been deprived of female interaction for some time now, living with her brother for company had been a rather somber experience. She’d talked to the occasional inn keep or barmaid but it became clear that they had very little in common. She found herself enjoying Carlotta’s presence, there was something warm almost motherly in the way that she held herself.

“Of course, I’m not a murderer,” replied the girl that would happily attack an innocent mage unprovoked should she feel she could get away with it. Jealousy was a powerful thing, it could often drive a person to murder. Unfortunately, Cosette was jealous of quite a lot of people. “A rather unfortunately turn of events, sometime after my family discovered I possessed no magical abilities whatsoever and disowned my brother and I, I came into work. It was a way to provide for my lavish lifestyle, and a way to get away with what other cannot,”.

“If all else fails, I’ve got a stash of my own,” Carlotta smiled, unable to contain her instinct to impose care upon her new sister in arms; it seemed to be a recurring pattern, this insatiable need to stand behind and beside the women of the Brotherhood. They were, in her humble opinion, the more lethal sex -- but that did not mean they did not need to stand together. “The regular fare around here revolves entirely around meat and stew; I think I would have gone entirely mad long ago without the apple tree -- and without the generous merchants in Falkreath who know well my indisputable need for fresh fruit.”

She listened intently as Cosette spoke, nodding along absently with each puzzle piece slid deftly into place; each member of the Brotherhood was an enigma in their own right, but it never hurt to at the very least try to understand. “Well...” she began, after a moment of consideration, “Your family’s loss, and our family’s gain. You’ll certainly have to regale me with tales from your lavish lifestyle sometime; I’m afraid that transitioning from running a brothel to aiding in the operations of an assassin’s guild leaves little room for luxury. Though, of course, there is always room for improvement in that sense; at the very least, nothing is off limits here -- you can get away with absolutely anything.”

As long as our mages stay fully intact.

#c: cosette

dbxander:

“I don’t know that I’d say that. Perhaps I’m just used to it by now,” he commented with a shrug of his shoulders, not one to be blatantly nice in most situations. “Entirely indestructible? Clearly not but if nothing else harder to kill than people seem to assume. Most men can’t handle a lot of things, it seems. If they were any more resilient we’d have to put in much more effort. It’s true, and there aren’t enough of anything to be wasting, food included.”It was the truth but Xander had stopped being bothered by those facts and instead treated it with his usual careless attitude. “Very true. That depends on what my other option is. Popular or dead? I’ll take popular. It’s the noble circles where things really drag. Bandits can be fun.”

“Having spent the vast majority of my lifetime in a brothel, I’ve seen more than enough proof of the weak constitutions of men, and you, my friend, are certainly more resilient than the vast majority. You’re the only one to dare try the apple, at the very least.” The apple trick was one she’d employed quite often to toy with new recruits -- but playing such games with old allies was just as fun every now and then. “Nobles,” she echoed, nodding in wholehearted agreement, “The worst conversationalists. Now there’s an entire echelon I wouldn’t mind poisoning.”

#c: xander

tristynisms:

“But perhaps that’s what you want me to think.” Tristyn played. ”That it’s far too obvious for me to believe it to be poisoned, which means it would be perfect to poison as I wouldn’t think you were stupid enough to try something so obvious.” He mused. “I don’t see the use for modesty.”

Pointedly, with gaze never breaking from his, Carlotta took a bite of the apple, lips curling into a smile as she chewed. “You sure do have me pegged, don’t you? I’ll admit -- I do have a particular taste for poison.” The apple, of course, was untainted, but it would never hurt to play along. “Modesty is overrated.”

#c: tristyn

aloysvarro:

Even if he was still unsure about how he felt about the people in the sanctuary so far, Aloys still couldn’t help his look of absolute horror as the girl dropped to the floor, thanking her good reflexes as he quickly shook his head. “I’m really not sure which option would be better at this point,” he said with a small laugh, hoping a little bit of a joke could help them move passed it. “Can we pretend I was aiming for the bookshelf?” he suggested, setting the bow down on a nearby table as he went to pull the arrow out from where it had lodged. “And uh… sorry. I know. I got a little bit distracted. I promise you that the arrow wasn’t supposed to go anywhere near you. Trying to kill you seems like a very bad idea.”

“I hadn’t been shot at in weeks; I suppose I should thank you for testing my reflexes,” brow raised as she watched him step away from the bow -- for the best, perhaps -- Carlotta dusted the thin layer of displaced dirt from the cover of her books. “The bookshelf, however,” she let out a huff of a laugh, “had it coming.” Had he shot at anyone else, the poor boy might have lost a few fingers in retribution; it was lucky for him that he’d found her in a good mood. “I don’t think I got your name,” with furrowed brow, she took a curious step toward him, finger drumming absently atop her books, “If you’re going to be shooting arrows at my head, I think I should at least know what to call you.”

#c: aloys

childishsgambino

#[ inspo ]

i’m off for the night -- i’ll be back with resident garbage alastair and carlotta to bother you all some more tomorrow !! sleep well, or have a wonderful day wherever you are !!!

#[ OOC; ]

dbxander:

“It also has the added bonus that if I ever need to poison someone I know who to go to. Unless you were looking for me to say you’re also easy on the eyes but sorry. Easy on the ears at least,” he joked, leaning back on the couch with a shake of his head. “It took years. Still working on it to this day. Which, incidentally, is not an invitation to slightly poison my food.” He chuckled, not meaning his words. “Popular in certain circles, that is true. And I appreciate that.”

“Ah, well I’ve often been told that I’m a bit shrill, so I appreciate that sentiment more than you may realize,” she laughed, falling into a comfortable posture not oft found with the men of the Sanctuary. “It’s not you that I’m eager to poison; either way, you seem to be entirely indestructible, so it would be a lost cause and a waste of poison. Most men can’t hold their Lotus Extract, I’ve found.” She was glad that he couldn’t see her lips quirk up into a smile at his words; it gave her undue pleasure to make him feel even the slightest bit better. “In the circles that matter. Who wants to be popular in, say, a bandit clan? No one -- that’s who.”

#c: xander

lexblanc:

“Another time perhaps,” Cosette was no stranger to playing dress-up with one’s emotions. She had played the seductress, the maid, and countless other roles with varying degrees of success.The people she was trying to fool were not within these walls however, no, her brothers and sisters were far too clever. Too adept in their own disguises, her poor acting would do her little good here. “Yes, I must say everyone I’ve met here hasn’t shared the lust for life I’ve found in the rest of Skyrim. I suppose I’ll soon learn why,”.

Cosette’s hand darted out and plucked the apple from Carlotta’s. She took a bite, chewing delicately savoring the taste of the fresh fruit. “It’s been a while since I ate anything that felt like it’d once been alive,” the meat they were served sometimes felt like a poor imitation of meat rather than the remains of a once living creature. She chewed and thought, trying to think of something particularly unusual about herself. It was hard to tell what Carlotta might find unusual. “Once I was a lady of high birth, now I spend my days hunting mages when the gods favor it,”.

Cosette reminded her immediately of a number of the women she’d called her sisters back in Riften; though the lot of them had been separated by right of blood, they were all united by circumstance and common cause, and that had been enough to constitute family. Cosette, in all her crypticism and uncertain facade, was a part of the family now. Though she did her best to remain impassive when new recruits came into their folds, she could not help but feel for the women. Her whole life, after all, had been dedicated to protecting her women.

Carlotta leaned against the side of the chaise once more and watched Cosette consider the apple, and her probing question. “If you ever find yourself in need of a slice of life, the apple tree just yards from the entrance to the Sanctuary never seems to run dry,” she offered, “Nazir’s proclivity for horker stew does not extend to all of us; a little fruit now and then is healthy.” She listened as Cosette spoke, doing her absolute best to appear attentive; it was a relief that she was unlike some new recruits, who seemed determined to remain silent, and ‘mysterious’ to maintain a baseless allure. “Hunting mages?” she quirked one brow, “I trust you’ll give the Sanctuary’s mages no trouble. How did you find yourself in such a profession?”

#c: cosette #carlotta: *sees troubled young girl* this is Mine

lexblanc:

Cosette’s cheerful demeanor evaporated as quickly as morning mist. Her smile slacked and her arms rested limply at her sides, “no I’m usually not– I was trying it on for size but it seems that nobody has taken to it quite the way I would have imagined,”. Underneath the charm, the long hair, and rosy lips was nothing particularly sinister, but a calculating thinker nonetheless.

“Carlotta? I suppose I ought to have heard your name before but it doesn’t ring a bell. I have erred in not introducing myself, my name is Cosette, Cosette LeBlanc,”. She looked the blonde up and down, glad that she wasn’t the only lady to have maintained her looks. “If it’s alright I’d still love to sample that apple of yours,”.

Carlotta’s nonchalant facade fell with a notable thunk as the poor girl’s cheer disappeared. She’d not meant to ruin her fun; for a cold-blooded killer, she surely was far too concerned with the feelings of others. She oft wished she could be more business -- and less camaraderie. “Well don’t give up,” Carlotta sat up, snatching back her apple, “We’re all a bit moody nowadays, is all; we don’t bite the nice ones.”

“Cosette,” she repeated the name in as welcoming a tone as she could muster; it was lucky the poor girl had run into Carlotta, surely, for not all would be as patient. She loved her brothers and sisters dearly, but they could certainly be a dreary bunch. “Well, it’s a pleasure, Cosette,” she held out the apple once more, “Tell me about yourself. Something unusual.”

#c: cosette

nazirdbh:

“absolutely. perhaps i’ll be better appreciated that way. serves us right for being so far down south; now the pale or winterhold – those would be teeming with horker. i actually prefer elk. would you wrestle an elk for me, carlotta?”

“you’re plenty appreciated; don’t sell yourself short. for example -- everyone appreciates how you always faintly smell of stew. reminds us all of home. as for the elk... i could be convinced. i’ve wrestled worse -- and only some of them were men.” she couldn’t help but chuckle at her own joke; there was no one who appreciated her horrible humor than herself.

#c: nazir

dbxander:

Listening attentively, he was less surprised to feel the hand on his wrist and stayed relaxed as the apple was placed there. “Much,” he said, nodding and taking a large bite of the apple, chewing it thoughtfully. “Doesn’t taste like poison. Good. Not the only one, but it’s a pretty huge one. Not that poison is really something that will get to me much. Natural resistances,” he said with a shrug, taking another bite of the apple before moving over to sit next to her and hand it back. “I wasn’t very popular.”

“Good to know that the promise of slightly prolonged mortality is one of my few benefits,” she snorted, “I feel oh so useful.” Carlotta took the apple back as she shifted over on the chaise once more, set upon giving him perhaps more room than he rightly needed. “Did it take terribly long, to build up these natural resistances? None of us are very popular; you’re popular now, at the very least -- if that makes you feel at all better.”

#c: xander #this is literal trash i'm sorry

lexblanc:

“I suppose it couldn’t hurt,” Cosette smiled. It couldn’t hurt to make a few friends around here, and if eating a possibly poisoned apple was what it took than it was an easy enough price to pay. The Breton was rather knowledgable about poisons after all, if she were in any real danger she would know it. She reached out to take the apple. “And what might your name be? Other than she-who-is-oh-so-fond of apples of course,”.

She refrained from rising as her newfound companion -- with a cheery demeanor and a strangely peppy smile to rival that of Nazir post-stew -- reached for the apple, instead holding it up in a languid display of laziness. For a moment, she felt a twinge of guilt for acting so lackadasical around someone new, but today was an off day. “Won’t hurt a bit. Picked it m’self just this morning,” she smiled, “I’m Carlotta -- much easier to say than that other moniker. Are you always this cheery, miss..?”

#c: cosette

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