House of the Rising Sun

There is a house in London Town They call the Rising Sun And it's been the ruin of many a poor girl And God I know I'm one

[maria-azenha]

@sofiedekker

maria: I hope you and laurent have a great time!

[sofiedekker]

Sofie: With the date he planned, I don't think it's possible for us to have a bad time.

[etiennebrickcanet]

Étienne pulled her back in for seconds, this time for a slightly longer kiss. Now this is what was Valentine's Day all about. "Absolutely." A chuckle left him. "See, don't you feel better already? You should do this more often."

[sofiedekker]

"Why do I have a feeling you're going to be insufferable if you admit I'm right?" Because he's French, that's why. And yet.... "You're right, Étienne, I do feel much better after that. Now tell me, how many more of those is it going to take to get a hint about your date out of you?"

[leylaayilmaz]

"Thanks. Really. I appreciate it." At least he'd come back in one piece. "You have fun, too, okay?"

[sofiedekker]

"I'll take any excuse to visit back home. So, I'm looking forward to it. And for what it's worth, I'm sorry. I recommend only eating and drinking from sealed containers. Just to be safe."

[leylaayilmaz]

@sofiedekker

"Can you... " It didn't seem right to ask someone to keep her fiance drugged up. "Care for him?" That sounded awful, but what she meant to say was more along the lines of 'make sure he doesn't die'.

[sofiedekker]

"Yes, I will make sure Laurent is high as shit for the entire weekend so he doesn't spend the entire time freaking out."

[sofiedekker]

@laurent--stpierre

"I saw drugs and knew it was you immediately. And after this, I think you need them."

[etiennebrickcanet]

"I do." Though in his mind, Vixen and the Auction were two entirely different things. He expected the tease with the dancers here he just wanted a different kind of approach. With a satisfied grin on his face, he listened to her, his hand gently placed on the low of her back. "Of course, we couldn't have it any other way, right?" Though he wasn't going to do that. This evening, Étienne really didn't want to chase. "That's good, that's all you need to do."

[sofiedekker]

Sofie bit back a laugh as she looked at Étienne. He was being such a good sport. She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "Is that better?" Any heightened anxiety when they'd first arrived was now completely dissipated. Like Étienne said, all she needed to do was trust the French.

[etiennebrickcanet]

"You said it." He grin, and his grin only widened as Sofie leaned in for a kiss. "Could have made for the lips, why so shy?" Yet he stayed still, happy that at least she no longer seemed to be shaking. "Consider? Well, it's something. But you could hide it in the least expected place?" He pointed to her eyes, gently brushing the one that was no longer there. "I don't trust them, not one bit."

[sofiedekker]

"Now, now, I know you spend enough time at Vixen to understand the art of the tease." She leaned in close enough that her lips were just a hair's width from his, but did not close the gap and instead moved to whisper in his ear. "Where's the fun in giving up the game immediately? I like to make people work for it." She patted his cheek and leaned back once again. "I know you don't, and I don't either. But, I trust you."

[etiennebrickcanet]

Étienne looked at her with a questioning look. "Are you really asking me that?" He really wanted to laugh, though he did not. It would have been rude and insensitive of him, and the man was not that. Of course, he saluted her for her bravery, for wanting to stand up for herself and all... But the casualties could always be worse than what Sofie herself went through. "I really beg of you to reconsider the AirTag." He grinned instead, trying to lighten the mood somewhat.

[sofiedekker]

"It's a figure of speech, Étienne, I know what else they could do to me." She reached out and cupped his cheek as she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his other. "I really do appreciate your concern. And I will consider the AirTag." Her eyes twinkled. "I could incorporate it into my act. Wouldn't that be a sight?" She understood his and the other French's concern. Her missing eye and finger were constant reminders of what could happen again. But sometimes they went overboard and she didn't know how to reassure them.

[etiennebrickcanet]

"If it makes you feel any better, we're not allowed to act out here." Meaning they were all under strict instructions that they were not allowed to turn the charity event into a sort of bloodbath. "Why do you choose to do this?" Sofie had harsh dealing with the Russians, and while she was a strong girl, she didn't look, at least to him, like someone who would handle a bad decision. "You could always just.. Not participate?"

[sofiedekker]

"Because then they'd win. The Russians have been tormenting me for almost half of my life at this point. I could hide away, but they took my freedom from me once. I'm not going to let them take it from me again." A gilded cage was still a cage and when she set foot on that flight out of Florida thirteen years ago she promised that she'd never live behind them again. "Besides, what could they do to me that they haven't done already?"

[etiennebrickcanet]

@sofiedekker

"Tell me, what's your level of anxiety?" Étienne knew how Sofie felt about the Russians, and he was sure there were going to be a few of them participating in the event. He, of course, didn't understand how they were allowed to participate in such civilized events, but unfortunately, the Frenchman had no say. "Have a drink, and if all falls to shit, have Thierry or someone get you home."

[sofiedekker]

"Higher than my baseline, nowhere near the highest it's ever been." Not that she would be this calm if she wasn't completely surrounded by the French. She'd already caught sight of Svetlana and Viktoriya, but this was why she was practically glued to Étienne's side. "If what happened last time happens again, I'll pay whatever reparations TWI requires and just not go."

[amaroadriana]

"Oh, we're still young, darling. You never know what will happen tomorrow."

[sofiedekker]

"Good thing I live my lift to the fullest. Was there something you wanted or did you just miss me that badly?

[amaroadriana]

"Well, I kind of thought you'd be dead by now... So."

[sofiedekker]

"I thought the same about you. Guess we'll both just have to live with the disappointment."

[amaroadriana]

@sofiedekker

"And? You've been good?"

[sofiedekker]

"Better than ever. Thriving, even. Thanks for asking."

[sofiedekker]

Ⓐ

Attractiveness:

repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || bossy || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted ||  egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || I’m asexual || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || we are already having sex

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual friends || friends || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend ||

First impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

How good of a kisser:

worst kisser ever || terrible || bad || awkward || just okay || alright || pretty good || good || makes me moan || excellent || exciting || oh god they’re good || I dream about it || fucking amazing || absolute perfection || we haven’t kissed

[sofiedekker]

"Don't worry, my lips are sealed. I have no desire to provoke the wrath of your husband." Sofie shot Val a conspiratorial smile as she accepted the bottle and took a swig. "Speaking of, how the fuck did you convince Yves to dress up like that? I've been trying to figure it out all night."

[val-dautremer]

The question of the night it seemed but she understood why. It only made her smile wider. "The secret, Sofie, is to find a man so obsessed with you that he won't refuse you anything. Until then, flattery and booze works 85 percent of the time."

[sofiedekker]

"That's not a bad percentage. Think if I add my tits in to that equation I can bump it up to at least 90 percent?" Sofie giggled. Men were ridiculously easy to manipulate. If they weren't, she'd be out of a job.

[val-dautremer]

"Alright, you can have one swig of the rum but don't tell Yves. He made me promise not to share it." Her conspiratorial glance and slight of hand passing off the heavy bottle was enough to make her look like she was closing on a drug deal. Anything to keep this piece of knowledge from her borderline alcoholic husband. "And don't you dare tell anyone else. This costume comes with a very large knife. and I just barely know how to use it, making it considerably more dangerous for the both of us."

@mobscene-starters

[sofiedekker]

"Don't worry, my lips are sealed. I have no desire to provoke the wrath of your husband." Sofie shot Val a conspiratorial smile as she accepted the bottle and took a swig. "Speaking of, how the fuck did you convince Yves to dress up like that? I've been trying to figure it out all night."

[odilestpierre]

"Bribery, honestly, sound advice. Maybe I’ll get her that Chanel polish she’s been eyeing. She’s the only woman in this city who’s seen my true roots, after all." and that was a horror show when left too long. No one needed to see that.

"Jean in a dark corner? Quelle surprise — shame he's not over here entertaining," the corner of her lips tilting as she turned her head to Sofie in a grateful nod. The French were not just her brother's family, but her own now. And people like Sofie brought her comfort in situations like this one, even when her eyes kept searching for Laurent in the room. She had someone as good as a sister beside her. "If I can’t find any decent eye-candy, I might just become the scandal myself, and see what options are left over in this Sahara Desert of men."

[sofiedekker]

"Sounds like that polish is the least of what you owe her, in that case." Not that Sofie had any room to talk. Beauty this good took a lot of work.

"He lasted an entire five minutes. I was so proud of him." She almost joined them herself, but she had slightly more willpower than the French did. Which her wallet greatly appreciated, in more ways than one. "Or, you become the scandal anyways and use that to weed out the eye candy that won't run screaming for the hills."