-- A continuation of the previous entry, which you should read before reading this.

I'm serious. Read the other thing first.

--- at the keyboard ---

"What, at that age you were already realizing he was cute? Do you expect anyone to believe that, even of you?"

She winces again as fingers seem to nearly crush one wrist, pulling her hand up long enough to stop her typing the story she is struggling so hard to put into words. Managing a smile despite the pain - or if you were to accept what she would say, because of it - she glances over her shoulder.

"My Lord, you know how much of a slut I am now. D'you really think I didn't know cute and nummy, even then? He was fucking gorgeous, and you know it, and I know it, and sure as anything he knew it too, he said so often enough, telling me I'd never be good enough for anyone as beautiful as he was, not as ugly as I was."

A snicker is the only answer she gets, the dark form behind her not bothering to answer with denial or with acceptance, the pain of his hand digging into her flesh fading as he releases her and steps back. Apparent her answer is pleasing, or at least amusing enough for now.

She watches her fingers moving over the keys, pouring out bits of her memories, and thinks back for a moment to Man. Of all of them, he was the gentlest. He only punished her the once, and that was the first time in what, four years? Five? Something like that. She blinks back something that could have been a tear, and could just as easily have been a prick from a wayward strand of auborn hair.

Man was the first, and Blade was... was he anything? Not the cruelest, that was Piker. Not the most beautiful even, that title was easily saved for Rav'n. Talon - who leans over her shoulder, grinning, to stare at his name on the screen - wins the title for most imaginative. Blade could best be typecast as the strong one. He had more control than any of the others. She smiles a bit, thinking back, once more searching for words... --