The Why and the Way of It and a bit of OOC
The perfect blend of tobacco lingered in the room, the occasional exhale drawn out in the savoring of an indulgent pleasure.
"Indulge me a moment, my friend. Curiosity I fear, will be the death of me."
The Marquis's fingers held the crystal stem as he slowly swirled the ruby liquid within causally. His long legs stretched across the carpet, ankles crossed as he spoke with his closest companion. "What is it that peaks your curiosity then, Dash? I'd think after all these years you'd know just about everything there is to know." His sardonic grin well known to his oldest friend.
"Riiiighht. I know what you let me know, and you know it." Dash paused, that sounded like utter crap and he looked down to his bourbon, the number of which he had lost track of. "Just tell me, Alphonse, what -is- it about that woman that still drives you after all this time? She's rejected you over and over and sorry friend, but, she's bested you time and time again. Granted, she's a beauty but, you've a bevy of lookers and she-devils to choose from. Hell, I've tasted a few of your left overs over the years and didn't mind a bit in doing so but, her, she's not like those you've kept or had before." Dash shrugged casually, shifting his weight in the leather chair as he drew in on the cigar deeply watching the face of his closest companion. "Ha. I see that look in your eye. No taking my head off. I simply have to know is all."
The Marquis settled back into his chair, considering the question Dash asked. Lifting the drink to his lips, he quenched his thirst and set it aside. "Consider this, old friend. Liken it to a researcher who studies a rare and endangered creature. Months and months of preparation and thought are put into the task. The judgement of the risks and end results must be weighed and considered carefully. Is the time and effort, the patience and investment worth the trophy in the end. Now, say the researcher decides it is, the trophy is most prized above all. The plan must be laid out. The first step is observation. The creature like all, has a territory it is most comfortable in. There are others it interacts with and a dichotomy within the group. A good researcher will invest long hours observing from a distance, learning how the creature moves and reacts to those within the herd. It requires commitment and patience to the extreme at times. There are steps the researches takes as I've indicating. Once the initial observations begin, the researcher makes small progressions, taking each step with careful precision and care. The goal, of course, is to move closer to the creature. If the creature is startled, it could run and be lost, or..a confrontation ensues and again, the out come is lost." The Marquis paused, letting his words sink in as he deeply drew on the cigar poised between his fingers.
"The creature must become used to your scent. It must see, from a distance, you are no threat. If that is accomplished, it goes on about it's daily life with no regard to the researcher at all and thus, the researcher gains valuable information. To make a long story short and to not tax that feeble brain of yours, the end result is to gain the full trust of the creature. Only then, my friend, can you hope to start the process of taming. You see, the lady has been long left to her own devices, surviving as best she can. She is wild, unfocused and without direction, doing what she can to protect herself and those she surrounds herself with. I intend to change all that."
Dash looked at his friend, confusion bringing a shake of his head, "Couldn't you have just said you want her and be done with it? Why'dya have to make me think, Al?"
The Marquis laughed, a rich rumbling tone as he signaled for refills to their glasses. "And that is why you eat from the left-overs, old friend."
(Thank you, Amariesse for allowing a lonely soldier the chance to escape from his life overseas and for giving him a chance to feel a part of something other than drudgery and duty. Thanks for gifting me this space on Tumblr that holds personal attachments for us both. I love ya, gal. Never stop smiling and being the sweetheart you are.)
