Magnolia felt the air whupf out of her lungs as she hit the floor for the third time, a foot on her stomach, and a fist inches from her face.
‘You’re slow today,’ Taylor chided, opening his fist, grabbing the front of her dress and hauling her to her feet.
‘Sorry sir,’ she said, requiring her hair back into a ponytail, and out of her face.
He threw a punch – a slow movement, a simple opener to gauge her reaction. She stepped around it, grabbed his arm and pulled it back, pulling him off-balance. He shifted behind her, her hands becoming empty, but she simply spun and shrieked in his face, the magic disorientating him long enough for her to land a high kick on his chest and knock him to the ground.
She felt her feathers twitch and flex – usually the reaction wasn’t so strong for such a simple use of magic. She ignored it, kicked it again, and snarled as he grabbed her foot and pulled her off-balance. She tried to grab him, but he shifted again, knocking her to the ground, and placing a foot on her back.
She strayed still, a measure of fealty, showing he’d beaten her for a forth time.
‘Grigori had more of an effect on you than I thought,’ he said, grabbing the back of her dress and pulling her up. ‘You’re useless.’
‘It wasn’t him, sir,’ she said, ‘I’ve been too busy to sleep. I’ve got six hours scheduled in for tonight, sir,’ she said, ‘and there’s nothing more strenuous than-’
‘And if we’re attacked, what then, recruit?’
‘I keep shots of adrenaline and other stimulants in my room, sir, you know that. If you want me to be at peak performance for-’
‘No, I’m…also off-form today.’
She looked at him for a moment. ‘Did you want to call it for now, sir?’
He pulled off his jacket and wiped the sweat from his brow before tossing it over his shoulder. ‘Schedule.’
‘Recruit-’
‘No,’ he said, holding up a form, ‘paper form.’
She immediately required it, attached to a clipboard for convenience, then handed it across. He flicked through the pages several times. ‘You aren’t on here.’
‘I only list myself on the main schedule when I’m on-task with another recruit, otherwise, it seems a little pointless.’
His expression was unreadable. ‘When is your next assignment?’
‘Nothing for today. Just more recruit training, paperwork, my own exercises and running a few of the recruits who have the potential for advanced training through a few scenarios.’
‘And which of that is to be done in the next six hours?’
‘Some of my training, a great degree of the paperwork and-’
‘Reschedule it.’
She pulled the clipboard back, pen automatically appearing in her hand. ‘What did you need me to do instead, sir?’
He put a hand on the schedule. ‘Get some sleep, Magnolia.’
She nearly dropped her pen. ‘S-sir?’
He turned away from her, peeled off his t-shirt and dropped to the floor and began to do push-ups. ‘You’re useless to me like this, Magnolia. Get some sleep.’ He looked at her from the corner of his eye. ‘And be back here at four. I plan to be on-form by then, and if you aren’t, I might just kill you.’
She felt herself smile. ‘Yes sir.’
There was three simple words to say. Words that others could say without thought. Words that could be said in a breath, while asleep, or as an automatic reaction. Three words that would, if spoken, end her life, even if she was allowed to remain breathing.
He paused in his push-ups. ‘You’re still here, recruit.’
The words raced around her mouth, begging to be let out, trying to bribe their way past her lips, but she paid them no attention. There was something that could be said instead, something that would not arouse suspicion…or anything else.
‘I’m glad you weren’t recycled, sir.’
He stared at the floor for a moment, then returned to his exercise.
…Young, disturbing, violent love. DON’TCHA JUST LOVE IT?
I guess we’re so used to this by now, that we all recognize romanticism when we see it… 🙂
…my job here is done, if you can read into the subtleties like that, I guess there’s no point in me finishing this book. 😛
hey ho! no joking about this stuff! It’s not because we’re used to it that we don’t need our shots!!!
Don’t worry, you’ll get more shots. I dunno, though, it’s weird writing GE. Mags and Taylor are a lot more developed than Ryan and Stef were the right time I wrote MF1.0 but it still feels the same – the chapters are defaulting to the shorter length and feeling complete, and I’m getting used to writing a different style of story.
It’s kind of neat. 🙂
Hm, it’s 2.42 in the afternoon, I think it’s time for breakfast. 😛
Yes, because I have so many noooormal relationships in this ‘verse. -_-
I think Stef/a cookie OTP is about the only pure and decent- wait, no, no, that involves eating one half of the OTP.
Fine. I have no non-disturbing relationships. -_-
Well there is Jones and Merlin, but that is more of a family relationship.
Then again we don’t see all of how they are either, but I do know that Jones does everything he can to protect Merlin. That makes him a good dad-mom to Merlin as he needs all the help he can get.
…except for those times that protecting Merlin means being a bad agent. >_>
…he was so cute and caring! ^_^
…he’s still too hungover. 😛
Well Magnolia did expect to be dead by breakfast, so she didn’t plan for living thru till supper so sleep was a waste.
If Magnolia ever does tell Taylor how she feels and he tells her, she might just die from a heart attack.
…what is obviously going to happen is the following:
1) Magnolia Confesses, in an over the top session of violence after putting Taylor in an especially difficult headlock. With guns.
2) Taylor mulls this over, and leaves the room.
3) Taylor, overwhelmed by the knowledge that someone actually gives a SHIT, turns over a new leaf, and pledges his life as Magnolia’s maid.
4) The two of them leave the agency and open up a small cafe in a quiet suburban town in the middle of nowhere and live happily ever after.
The end.
…no?
and pledges his life as Magnolia’s maid.
…thanks, I think I’m being driven to drink. -_-
That’s, um, one way it could end, I suppose.
Taylor? In a maid outfit?
how can you not LOVE that.
…frankly it’s terrifying and wrong. O_O
I mean, even him in bondage gear is less scary because at least leather and chains are manly and tough! 😛
Being SLIGHTLY more reasonable, Taylor as a leather daddy makes me giggle. And none-of-the-above. Clearly, Taylor will re-require his, ah, “manly weapon” back, in a newer and MORE EXTREME form, and they will have lots and lots of babies. But no pets. The babies keep killing them on accident. X3
…They will all be at war with the 12 fat grandbabies that Stef and Ryan end up having, and the series will derail into EPIC BATTLES between their hoards of kids. In chibi style.
Clearly, Taylor will re-require his, ah, “manly weapon” back, in a newer and MORE EXTREME form
I am…how can it be EXTREME? *wibble* Does that mean it has spikes and stuff? O_O
and they will have lots and lots of babies. But no pets. The babies keep killing them on accident. X3
>_> Mags as a mum, that would be *interesting*
…They will all be at war with the 12 fat grandbabies that Stef and Ryan end up having, and the series will derail into EPIC BATTLES between their hoards of kids. In chibi style.
…and will they fight on Kirk’s rock? 😛
And may I comment that Taylor’s weapon would surely be formidable indeed? Able to damage vast armies with a single blow! Bigger, stronger, and deadlier than any other before it! Only the mightiest of warriors can wield it and survive the battle!
Ok, I’m just rambling here. I tried to picture this, and ended up thinking of a picture of a buff, very naked Taylor, standing with his hands on his hips, with a giant sword pasted in the appropriate spot. Probably with a gluestick. And with inexplicable glitter.
…The Parkers would be jealous.
The brain killing comments about babies were mine. I forgot I was logged off. Sorry! (YoumustpostthemStormy)
(YoumustpostthemStormy)
< M Bison > Of course! < / M Bison >