Ten Things I Tell Everyone
1. I am married to a Count.
2. We have a daughter named, Caroline.
3. I am a writer.
4. I am a consultant on indigenous ritual, entheogens and sometimes my expertise is used to help law enforcement.
5. I am Scottish.
6. I travel a great deal in my line of work
7. I am a student of all forms of Power
8. I love Indian food.
9. Can’t is not in my vocabulary.
10. I am happy with who I am.
Ten Things I Tell No One
1. How much I truly hate my real father.
2. That when my husband and I met, we actually antagonized each other relentlessly for months.
3. It was that which convinced me that I was in love with him.
4. I never truly hated my foster mother, Morgienne. She just had all that I wanted and she needed to pay for her complicity in my mother’s death. It was simply the price of admission for my ambitions.
5. I think that Prince is rather talented.
6. I hate most desserts.
7. I think that there are those of my Fae kin who are pretentious bastards with a chip on their shoulder that is entirely too large and egos that are far from justified.
8. My true age…..although there are a very precious few who know it. Those who do know better than to mention it.
9. I dislike large social gatherings and would prefer a quiet night in front of a fireplace with a book and/or a loved one.
10. I often prefer the company of animals and plants to people.
Life Belongs to Sekhmet 
Ten things I tell everyone:
1. I am in love and loyal to only one woman, my queen. My wife.
2. I am a blackhearted bastard, with little to no redeeming qualities.
3. I have a daughter, Caroline, treasured in my heart.
4. I have an extensive sword collection – I get them from the men I’ve killed.
5. I am rather adept at guessing the vineyards that spawned certain wines by their color and flavor.
6. I regret NOTHING of what I’ve done, not now in the present nor in the past.
7. I am proud to be French. Or perhaps that is something they deduce after speaking with me?
8. I am not bad at chess, and becoming rather good at billiards I believe.
9 I enjoy Indian food, and Thai food as well. The spices, the curry, ah delicious!
10. I am at peace with my past, and await my future with desire and anticipation.
Ten things I will tell no one.
1. How much I had to hide my growing desire for my wife from Cardinal Richelieu, lest he begin to look upon her as well.
2. How much I hated not being the one to truly kill Athos, that day in the field.
4. And how much I wanted to resurrect him, simply to kill him again, and again.
5. How much I cried on the inside, all those years in limbo, wishing I’d just had the ability to tell my wife how I loved her when I died.
6. I wish I’d known my mother – she died at my birth. From all accounts, she was a woman to be admired and beloved of my father until the day he died, in spite of his marrying my stepmother.
7. I miss couer-nuir, my very first hunting hawk. She was more than just the feathered killing machine that was my hunting companion, she was beautiful, sleek, graceful. She was pure poetry in dangerous motion.
8. I hate modern city life. The air is unfit for man or beast, and the crowded streets are more for rats than man.
9. I don’t hate the musketeers anymore, not even my former friend Athos. Although I still find myself detesting that particular color of blue.
10. I do have regrets, though few in nature. Very few, but deep ones none the less.
A-1. I know this to be true. Even though we have both shared our beds with others on occassion, we have always been loyal to one another.
A-2. It takes someone with a special quaility to see those qualities. I believe I have seen them.
A-5. And you are truly amazing and well admired among the wine enthusiasts.
A-7. I don’t think it is possible for you to be anything other than French, mon amour. Except now, you are in at least a little bit Unseelie Fae, much to the chagrin of the Seelie Court, no doubt. Fear not. Soon you will be nearly as proud of that part of your blood as you are the blue-black French blood that courses through your veins.
A-8. Yes, you say that because you beat me quite regularly. Play Caroline more oten. *grins*
B-1. I was unaware of how much you had to do this. You never told me, mon lion.
B-2. Yes, I know.
B-3. You missed one. Is there one other thing you would like to at least confess to your wife? I am sure the omission was merely to see if I was paying attention. š
B-4. It took me four hundred plus years to resurrect you and it was nearly the death of me. I loved Athos in his way, but do not forget I was not willing to resurrect him as I did you. Surely this means something?
B-5. I always knew, mon amour. Your eyes always proclaimed your devotion, even if your words did not.
B-6. I have seen her in the scrying mirror. She was astonishingly beautiful and graceful. Caroline resembles her a great deal, I think.
B-7. We need to get you another falcon, Sebastien. It is time.
B-8. Which is why we stay out of them as much as possible.
B-9. I make it a point to never wear that colour.
B-10. We all do, mon amour. We all do.
A-1. Loyalty is of the heart and mind. In my heart, and in my mind, I shall always be loyal to you, beloved.
A-2. Perhaps, but then you have looked longer and harder for them than any other I have ever known.
A-5. Thank you. But I think that if ever Olivier were to toss his nose into the ring, so to speak; his knowledge and expertise would outshine even my humble self.
A-7. True, true. They do seem to become quite overly-quick at being annoyed with me. Is it something I say? Or something I ate?
A-8. I believe we have a match coming up this next week, or sometime during her next visit home. Unless you would like to make a special trip out to see her and surprise her with our presence? Or does one do that to ones children anymore?
B-1. It was not something for me to to talk about, Faelyn. It was something for me to do. Had I told you, it could have possibly changed your behaviors and patterns of action, thereby causing him even more reason to desire your presence.
B-3. Some things are best left outside of the public forum that we speak in now. However, I may indeed bring it up when we are truly alone.
B-4. It does indeed. Although I do believe that my desires to resurrect him had nothing to do with love at that time.
B-6. I have seen portraits, and oui, Caroline does resemble her grandmother.
B-7. Is it? Perhaps. But I fear that none can take her place.
B-9. And if I have not before now? I thank you for that kindness.
B-10. Oui.
A-1. I have never asked, nor have I ever hoped for more than that. You are always foremost in my mind and heart, Sebastien.
A-2. But you were always fascinating to me, mon amour!
A-5. Humble? You? Has the Earth somehow ceased its orbit around the sun? *teasing grin* Yes, Athos is an excellent judge of wine – perhaps better than you and I combined.
A-7. It is probably a little bit of both, my darling.
A-8. Parents do, and we shall. It would be good for us to travel together once again, and for her to be surprised by us.
B-1. I never liked him, and avoided him at every opportunity. I often wanted to ask you why you endured that detestable man, but I knew you had your reasons.
B-3. I have an increasing desire to be alone with you, my husband.
B-4. But you did love him – once. I have always said, have I not, that there is a thin line between love and hate. I think that you and Athos/Oliver lived on both sides of that line at varying times.
B-7. Yes it is, and I think that you would feel a little differently if you were to capture and man her yourself.
B-9. You have, and you are welcome.
Ten Things I Tell Everyone
3. I am a writer. I have read some of your works, Faelyn. It truly surprises me how you do not attempt to get them published. You have a masterful touch with the pen.
4. I am a consultant on indigenous ritual, entheogens and sometimes my expertise is used to help law enforcement. Oh? You have been busy in the past four hundred years, mon chere. Tell me more of these entheogens, and all.
5. I am Scottish. You most certainly are; delightful, amazing, completely mesmerizing, and totally tenaciously Scottish!
6. I travel a great deal in my line of work Would you like more companionship in your travels, Faelyn? I find myself with a veritable lifetime at my hands to travel with you if you but would whisper that you want my company.
7. I am a student of all forms of Power A student perhaps, but more a teacher these days I think. It seems you have learned many of those lessons quite well. I however, am just a babe in the woods when it comes to such things, and I do believe more lessons are in order – if you are willing to instruct me in these finer points? *winks at her with his one good eye*
10. I am happy with who I am. As am I, Faelyn. Oh, as am I.
Ten Things I Tell No One
1. How much I truly hate my real father. *eyebrow raises* Is this why you never speak of him?
2. That when my husband and I met, we actually antagonized each other relentlessly for months. Antagonize? Such an interesting word, mon chere. But truthful, oui?
3. It was that which convinced me that I was in love with him. *just smiles*
4. I never truly hated my foster mother, Morgienne. She just had all that I wanted and she needed to pay for her complicity in my mother’s death. It was simply the price of admission for my ambitions. Hmm, how alike we truly are.
5. I think that Prince is rather talented. Which prince? Who’s prince?
6. I hate most desserts. You are more than sweet enough without them.
7. I think that there are those of my Fae kin who are pretentious bastards with a chip on their shoulder that is entirely too large and egos that are far from justified. Pretentious? Bastards? Unholy egos? Why Faelyn, how kind of you. However I do think you forgot one little thing. They go excellent with a touch of salt, and perhaps a bit of rosemary.
8. My true age…..although there are a very precious few who know it. Those who do know better than to mention it. My lips are sealed.
9. I dislike large social gatherings and would prefer a quiet night in front of a fireplace with a book and/or a loved one. As would I, mon enchantreusse.
A3. I thank you for saying so my Lord and husband. However, I am a published writer, Sebastien. *grins* You missed a bit whilst you were….asleep.
A4. I have every intention of initiating you,….should you choose seek it from me.
A5. *laughs softly, delighted* Most people treat the Scots as little better than Barbarians, but you never treated me that way.
A6. I never want you any further away from me ever again than a breath….even closer if I had my way.
A7. Ask me, Sebastien. If you seek Initiation into these Mysteries, you must ASK it of me. *gives him a hopeful look* Do, and there is no Doorway, no Path that shall be barred or unknown to you. Think of what you might do with that knowledge, mon lion!
A10. And I with you…more than you could ever possibly know.
B1. Partially. My true reason for never speaking of him is that I was fully an adult – I had already usurped Morgienne’s throne and was a new Queen before my father ever acknowleged that I was his bastard. That is why I truly hate him. I am grateful for my Fae blood, but in the Courts, he did no favour for me except the blood that gives me immortality. Everything else I’ve hard-won on my own.
B2. We did antagonize each other. Until, I thinks when you realised who and what I was, and that we had a bond, in spite of our different upbringings and trainings and views. I was not Catholic and pretending to be one to avoid suspicion, you were Catholic and pretending not to have lost your Faith so that you could continue working for a man whow as far more interested in his own personal ambitions than in serving God. You gave me Faith that not all Catholics were frothing would-be inquisitors and you ensured my safety countleess times in several situations. We still do tease and niggle each other, but with different results. If anyting I think it inflames our desires for each other rather than our tempers at each other, Oui?
B-3. And I still am…..very much in love.
B-4.Aye, we are.
B5. *soft laugh* His name is Prince Rogers Nelson. I believe he is Creole, to use a term you may understand. Given his passion for lace and finery and his features, I would be very surprised if there is no French blood in his veins. Perhaps that explains his talent. *grins*
B6. *smiles* You are partial, I think.
B7. You always did have an excellent hand with spices in the kitchen or campfire if given leave to do so.
B8. We shall grow older throughout eternity together. We are everything, Sebastien. We are Immortal.
B9. Then that is what we shall do.