Disclaimer: I really don't own Sorcerer Hunters, honest.
Author's Notes: I twisted the SH universe to suit my twisted plot, enjoy. Oh, and Ess is short for Ess Cargot (bad I know)…What? I had to think of a rich and snooty food. Thanks to everyone for the nice reviews.
"Get away from the window already. You'll make yourself sick if you stare any longer," a sympathetic reprimand poured forth from his younger brother's mouth.
"Umf," was Marron's only response.
"Okay, do what you like, but eat a little something tonight, alright?" Marron prodded. His brother seemed thinner each time he looked at him. Ragged and wretched.
There was no response this time unless Marron was to take a weary shift in position as Carrot rolled over on his bed.
" Fine. I'm sick of seeing you like this. You have to eat! Have you seen yourself lately? I've seen toothpicks with more meat on them than you! It's been nearly a year now and with each and every cycle of the moon I see you waning thinner. It frightens me to see you this low frightens and scares me! Can't you see how much we care? Even Gateau treats you kindly now; he practically tiptoes by your room so as not to disturb you! What else can I give to reinvigorate my dopey and perverted brother?" Marron began to speak in a gently but set voice, yet he ended up finishing with a near roar.
"Everything," Carrot whispered with pure emotion in his eyes. Staring out the window he looked into inky blackness and felt nothing.
"She's not coming back. Why would she want to if this is all you have to offer her," it was more a statement than a question, and it hurt Carrot. Good, Marron thought. Let him hurt. Maybe he'll reach the point soon where he can overcome his grief. Marron, who just moments ago had been completely unguarded, now exited the room cool and calm, but he couldn't wash away the hollowing feeling that he got every time that he looked at Carrot. It was sad when the dream was gone.
* * *
It was a hot day outside, but the oceanic breeze made it just comfortable enough to sit outside without sweat falling in one's eyes. The beach resort that the couple was staying at was classy, but just a bit more relaxed than Ess was used to. He much preferred a busy café to this blasé little hotel patio, but if Tira was happy, he was happy.
"Dear, what can I give you? Name it. Just name it. Pearls, tiaras, palaces, ships, the moon the stars. Anything, everything I am, everything I will be, is yours. All yours," a crisp voice lavished.
"I don't need all of that really. I said I didn't want the ring, I didn't mean that I didn't want you, dummy. The ring really is a bit much. Too much. Please, return it for some simple silver and emerald ring, something. I don't need this huge thing. I can hardly lift my hand, it weighs a ton," Tira teased.
Ess stared back at the secure and ravishing fiancé he had recently snagged. They were to be married in a month's time and on, that day that ring would be on the third of her left hand. That ring would seal their dream, their dream; he liked the sound of that. He liked the images his mind conjured at the thought of their future together; laughing, dancing, making love. He loved her. He was crazy about her. Leaning forward he pecked a kiss on her rosy cheek admiring the flush that spread from her hairline to the edge of her shirt collar. This felt right. This was perfect, she was perfect.
"What was that for?" Tira giggled in reaction to the affectionate gesture.
"Can't a guy kiss the one he loves without someone getting all bent out of shape?" he asked with a roll of his eyes.
Tira rolled her eyes in response.
"Okay, if you want to know the truth," he spread his arms and said with exaggerated charm, "I saw a star fall from the glory of your eyes and just had to catch if for my own, there are you happy now," he finished with a face distorted from mock pain.
"Nice answer, but no. No sex. Your sweet words and cheesy acting isn't going to work. You'll just have to wait three more weeks, " she wagged a manicured finger in front of his face.
None of her friends would have known the chic woman sipping a strawberry daiquiri while flirting with a rich man, any man. Confidence, beauty, humor. At times she hardly knew herself. It had been close to a year since she had left the Sorcerer Hunters and as far as she was concerned, she was better off. No Marron, no Gateau, no twitty sister Chocolat, or… Carrot. She felt her heart thump a bit harder as her thoughts drifted towards him. Carrot protecting her against some faceless sorcerer. Carrot smiling. Carrot running away from her birdbrain sister…and towards some other woman. In disgust, she mentally turned her back on the illustrations of her mind. Idiot. She had Ess now. She didn't love Ess, but she could. She could if she could just forget---
"Darling! Hello! Come back from cloud nine angel. Is the sea breeze getting to you? Do you need to come back to my room? I can warm you up, relax your mind…" Ess cut through her thoughts like a knife through soft butter.
"Sorry, what were you saying again?" Tira veered her emotions forward, into a bright future with Ess, away from a past of…dreams.
* * *
Ess was a wealthy merchant, well known throughout Spoolner, as a savvy business man dedicated to gaining just what he wanted. It was common knowledge that Tira was just what he required. Some speculated on his reasoning for perusing Tira. At well over six feet, with broad shoulders and an engaging face many felt he could have had any woman.
In their dressing room that lay situated between their respective bedrooms they both rushed to ready themselves for a cocktail party given uptown at a local bistro. Tira sat at her armoire plaiting her hair in a stylish chignon, her black dress emphasizing every curve. There was a light in her eyes now, a healthy glow in her narrow, fine-boned face. She was both beautiful and desirable. At least that was the way Ess made her feel. He lay on the fainting couch, eyes practically burning holes into her back. She was flattered and guilt ridden at the same time. Guilty that she didn't return the interest. Standing, Ess walked within inches of where she sat and encircled her tiny waist with his strong arms. Tira felt like she was suffocating.
"I adore you. You're so damn pretty, like a goddess or something of the sort," she watched his grin flash in the mirror, fast as lightning across his smooth and refined face. She mused that he had that type of face that belonged in a painting or carved in marble with its strong, sharp bones and sexy poet's mouth. His firm hands stroked down her sides, one slow, possessive move that reminded her…that it didn't make her stomach flop.
Carrot.
Rising from her seat she crossed the room to her closet. Filtering through the latest fashions she settled on a neat pea coat edged in black lace. Tira pulled both arms through the warm sleeves and hoped that the chill in her heart would subside. Offering her hand she beckoned Ess, "Come on Prince Charming…"
Author's Notes: I twisted the SH universe to suit my twisted plot, enjoy. Oh, and Ess is short for Ess Cargot (bad I know)…What? I had to think of a rich and snooty food. Thanks to everyone for the nice reviews.
"Get away from the window already. You'll make yourself sick if you stare any longer," a sympathetic reprimand poured forth from his younger brother's mouth.
"Umf," was Marron's only response.
"Okay, do what you like, but eat a little something tonight, alright?" Marron prodded. His brother seemed thinner each time he looked at him. Ragged and wretched.
There was no response this time unless Marron was to take a weary shift in position as Carrot rolled over on his bed.
" Fine. I'm sick of seeing you like this. You have to eat! Have you seen yourself lately? I've seen toothpicks with more meat on them than you! It's been nearly a year now and with each and every cycle of the moon I see you waning thinner. It frightens me to see you this low frightens and scares me! Can't you see how much we care? Even Gateau treats you kindly now; he practically tiptoes by your room so as not to disturb you! What else can I give to reinvigorate my dopey and perverted brother?" Marron began to speak in a gently but set voice, yet he ended up finishing with a near roar.
"Everything," Carrot whispered with pure emotion in his eyes. Staring out the window he looked into inky blackness and felt nothing.
"She's not coming back. Why would she want to if this is all you have to offer her," it was more a statement than a question, and it hurt Carrot. Good, Marron thought. Let him hurt. Maybe he'll reach the point soon where he can overcome his grief. Marron, who just moments ago had been completely unguarded, now exited the room cool and calm, but he couldn't wash away the hollowing feeling that he got every time that he looked at Carrot. It was sad when the dream was gone.
* * *
It was a hot day outside, but the oceanic breeze made it just comfortable enough to sit outside without sweat falling in one's eyes. The beach resort that the couple was staying at was classy, but just a bit more relaxed than Ess was used to. He much preferred a busy café to this blasé little hotel patio, but if Tira was happy, he was happy.
"Dear, what can I give you? Name it. Just name it. Pearls, tiaras, palaces, ships, the moon the stars. Anything, everything I am, everything I will be, is yours. All yours," a crisp voice lavished.
"I don't need all of that really. I said I didn't want the ring, I didn't mean that I didn't want you, dummy. The ring really is a bit much. Too much. Please, return it for some simple silver and emerald ring, something. I don't need this huge thing. I can hardly lift my hand, it weighs a ton," Tira teased.
Ess stared back at the secure and ravishing fiancé he had recently snagged. They were to be married in a month's time and on, that day that ring would be on the third of her left hand. That ring would seal their dream, their dream; he liked the sound of that. He liked the images his mind conjured at the thought of their future together; laughing, dancing, making love. He loved her. He was crazy about her. Leaning forward he pecked a kiss on her rosy cheek admiring the flush that spread from her hairline to the edge of her shirt collar. This felt right. This was perfect, she was perfect.
"What was that for?" Tira giggled in reaction to the affectionate gesture.
"Can't a guy kiss the one he loves without someone getting all bent out of shape?" he asked with a roll of his eyes.
Tira rolled her eyes in response.
"Okay, if you want to know the truth," he spread his arms and said with exaggerated charm, "I saw a star fall from the glory of your eyes and just had to catch if for my own, there are you happy now," he finished with a face distorted from mock pain.
"Nice answer, but no. No sex. Your sweet words and cheesy acting isn't going to work. You'll just have to wait three more weeks, " she wagged a manicured finger in front of his face.
None of her friends would have known the chic woman sipping a strawberry daiquiri while flirting with a rich man, any man. Confidence, beauty, humor. At times she hardly knew herself. It had been close to a year since she had left the Sorcerer Hunters and as far as she was concerned, she was better off. No Marron, no Gateau, no twitty sister Chocolat, or… Carrot. She felt her heart thump a bit harder as her thoughts drifted towards him. Carrot protecting her against some faceless sorcerer. Carrot smiling. Carrot running away from her birdbrain sister…and towards some other woman. In disgust, she mentally turned her back on the illustrations of her mind. Idiot. She had Ess now. She didn't love Ess, but she could. She could if she could just forget---
"Darling! Hello! Come back from cloud nine angel. Is the sea breeze getting to you? Do you need to come back to my room? I can warm you up, relax your mind…" Ess cut through her thoughts like a knife through soft butter.
"Sorry, what were you saying again?" Tira veered her emotions forward, into a bright future with Ess, away from a past of…dreams.
* * *
Ess was a wealthy merchant, well known throughout Spoolner, as a savvy business man dedicated to gaining just what he wanted. It was common knowledge that Tira was just what he required. Some speculated on his reasoning for perusing Tira. At well over six feet, with broad shoulders and an engaging face many felt he could have had any woman.
In their dressing room that lay situated between their respective bedrooms they both rushed to ready themselves for a cocktail party given uptown at a local bistro. Tira sat at her armoire plaiting her hair in a stylish chignon, her black dress emphasizing every curve. There was a light in her eyes now, a healthy glow in her narrow, fine-boned face. She was both beautiful and desirable. At least that was the way Ess made her feel. He lay on the fainting couch, eyes practically burning holes into her back. She was flattered and guilt ridden at the same time. Guilty that she didn't return the interest. Standing, Ess walked within inches of where she sat and encircled her tiny waist with his strong arms. Tira felt like she was suffocating.
"I adore you. You're so damn pretty, like a goddess or something of the sort," she watched his grin flash in the mirror, fast as lightning across his smooth and refined face. She mused that he had that type of face that belonged in a painting or carved in marble with its strong, sharp bones and sexy poet's mouth. His firm hands stroked down her sides, one slow, possessive move that reminded her…that it didn't make her stomach flop.
Carrot.
Rising from her seat she crossed the room to her closet. Filtering through the latest fashions she settled on a neat pea coat edged in black lace. Tira pulled both arms through the warm sleeves and hoped that the chill in her heart would subside. Offering her hand she beckoned Ess, "Come on Prince Charming…"