Whitzz/544K-RP-Datasets huggingface dataset:
Thread: [D&D] Revenge Has Never Tasted Sweeter;;

''Don't even go there,'' Elizabeth started, content that even without her interruption he managed to change the subject without having to insult her. Her hand moved away from her poket, the thoughts of getting a break to smoke pushed aside. It was probably better that way not having touched a cigarette since her late teenage years, she has started smoking once again after she has been released from the hospital. Dreadful habit. ''Alright,'' she shrugged, giving him an almost playful push on the back before walking off towards his office eagerly.
Thread: I Awaken From My Midnight Slumber [RavenxPretty]

Sulfuric yellow smoke and scents broke the night air, clearing away with a gentle breeze that followed. There stood but a man, robed in black cloth with leather boots and gloves with a terrible silver mask obscuring his face, a hood drawn about his head. He appeared wizards of the old style did, dark and mysterious - warrior-scholar rather than just a scholar. There were no visible weapons on his person as he stalked through the gloom of the gathering night with a waning crescent providing just enough light to send metallic beams springing off of his metalic visage but then again a proper wizard's weapons weren't those you carried on a belt loop. Darcia was his name, 'Dark One' in the old Elvish tongues that both the wizard and the associate he was visiting still knew and kept alive between themselves. As he trudged up the circular stones laid as a pathway in the grass up to the door of his host he took a pipe from his cloak, putting it to a slit in the mask of his mouth. Flame sprung at the tip, illuminating the ornately carved wood, as well as the dreadful stare of the man's emotionless head-gear before it sizzled away and long, circular puffs of smoke left his pale lips. He was early still...and it would be rude to come calling before his hosts were ready. The pipe gave Darcia time to think...to search within his prodigious memory and pull out every obscure fact about his friend and his family that he could recall. His host's wife had died, and now the man was left with a Half-Sidhe daughter named Meredith as he recalled, who the Elven Magus had seen when she was a small toddler but not since. As far as his friend was concerned though, they had gone to school together at the same academy centuries ago, and had seen one another off and on as the Sidhe Lord grew into his noble estate and required services from his old friend Darcia. Most notably, they had fought together in the recent Azulian War with distinction. No doubt they would regale each other and their dinner company with stories of the war utilizing dinner plates and trays of butter to represent friendly and enemy battalions. The Elf perked up, his pointed ear twitching under his hood...hitheto there had been bursts of activity inside - furious cleaning, the moving of chairs...but now that all seemed to have finished. If that was the case then there was no sense standing in the dark anymore. Darcia took his pipe, snuffing it out with his breath before placing it into his pocket - a finger went to his cheek and the silver mask that he wore dissipated as if it had been made of dark smoke the entire time, fleeing his features in small wisps. The hood fell back, and his absurdly handsome face with its platinum blond hair and intense, infinitely deep gray eyes could be seen perfectly, even in such poor lighting. A hand raised to the wood of the door, and his knuckles wrapped softly on it. It was time to go to dinner.
Thread: I Awaken From My Midnight Slumber [RavenxPretty]

The knock echoed through the hallways, easily heard by Meredith and her father. His smile broadened and he wrapped an arm around his daughter, leading her towards the main hallway. Looks like our guest of honor has arrived, robin, he said, using his nickname for her. He said that when she was a baby, her heart had fluttered like a tiny robin within her chest. He claimed that he could still hear it today. She didn't doubt it with those long pointy ears of his. Being only half Sidhe, her ears were slightly less long, barely poking out from her hair. A servant opened the front doors, bowing the man in the darkness inside. Meredith felt her breath catch in a small gasp. The man standing in her doorway was absolutely gorgeous. Her eyes raked over his tall frame, from his combed back blond hair to his dark boots and back to his gray eyes. She felt her father's arm leave her shoulder as he approached the stranger with open arms. Darcia, old boy, he said jubilantly, clapping the blond on the shoulder in a friendly welcome. I'm so glad you got my message. He turned and made a gesture to Meredith. I'm sure you don't recognize little Merry. Meredith took a steadying breath and smiled at the stranger. She approached the two men and swept her skirts out in an elegant curtsy. Sir, she murmured, the picture of a refined Lady. She could tell her father was beaming down at her, quite proud of his daughter. Isn't she a beauty, Darc? Just like her mother! listulistulistulistulistulistu
Thread: I Awaken From My Midnight Slumber [RavenxPretty]

Darcia swept into the foyer, picturesque elegance and high class refinement. Not a hair of his was out of place, and not a blemish could be seen on his pale skin. Indeed even his tacky clothes were worn tastefully...his cloak was tattered, but tattered in such a way to seem almost symmetrical and stylish. A servant even asked the guest if he'd surrender that same ratty cloak to hang limply on the coat rack - and this was accepted without comment. Two fluid motions and it was off, revealing Darcia's much nicer attire which fit his lean but muscular form well, showing naught but an inch of skin below his chin. Recognize? No. Remember? Yes. Charmed I am sur- He paused to embrace his old friend, who the wizard knew for the fact would never accept anything less than a chaste hug. Charmed, I am sure, he finished, gray eyes sweeping towards Meredith now. His gaze met hers and instantly she could feel the raw intensity of his look. Not only were his eyes immeasurably deep, deeper than the ocean with their foggy vagueness they also somehow managed to be piercing. An arrow pierced her mind, and it was as if for a single moment he could see into her very soul. It was unnerving and exciting in a way, and she would by no means be the first person to later claim that the thing they remembered most about Darcia was his eyes, if that was what she chose to focus on. The only thing that saved Meredith from further inspection was her father's use of a shortened name for his old friend. Those brilliant eyes turned to the full Sidhe which had just addressed them, threatening calamity and pestilence with their gaze. 'Darc' and 'Darce' and 'Darci' were simply not tolerated, and Ciel should've known that. Darcia largely suspected that his friend was just having cheap laughs to himself at the wizard's expense. No matter! Darcia could be the bigger man...until Ciel's back had turned. Petty and light hearted payback could come later though, and Darcia was forced to study the girl before him once more as she was compared to her mother, who Darcia had known for a short time before her death. She has her mother's complexion and hair I find, said the wizard definitively, and then added that she had her father's natural grace to stroke the doting paternal figure's fatherly ego. Very beautiful though, no doubt the envy of every boy for a hundred miles and I am sure they will also be happy to find her dowry well-founded as well. Infact that probably was not the case, half-breeds not exactly being a sought after commodity in much of the puritanical Elvish community...but Darcia himself felt that half-sidhe, half-human women maintained a very unique and somewhat exotic beauty. So, said the elf after a moment of silence in which no one seemed to be able to find something else to say. Dinner then? Or is there some business you wanted to brook with me, your note was not very clear though perhaps I can owe that to the couriers around here - it was soaked by the rain and some of the ink had run.
Thread: I Awaken From My Midnight Slumber [RavenxPretty]

Ciel preened at the compliment that Meredith had inherited his grace. Meredith remained quiet, looking over the blond man. There was a moment when his eyes had met hers... it had felt like he had torn down her natural defenses and laid bare her soul. Chills ran down her spine, but she did not drop her eyes from his. She stood a little straighter, her chin held high. Her defenses slammed back into place, leaving her feeling cold. Her father noticed none of this, or he chose to ignore it. He continued to smile at his old friend and draped an arm around the man's shoulder, as he had done with her. We can talk over dinner. Its nothing too terribly important. I just wanted to see your smiling face again. Of course the Sidhe was teasing. The Elf had not cracked a single smile since entering their home. Meredith wondered vaguely if the intense blond man was capable of a smile. She turned and lead the way to the dining room. It was a large impressive room, the walls were a dark stained wood and the carpet was a deep red, the color of blood. The table was laden with all sorts of food, suckled pig, roasted venison, greens and wine. The table was fairly small for such a small room circular with six chairs. Meredith sat near the venison, that being her favorite. Ciel smiled and told Darcia to sit where ever he wished, and sat opposite of his daughter. The servants when around the table, pouring wine and serving food. Ciel all but ignored their presence while Meredith quietly thanked each one. They all gave the lady a smile. It was obvious that Meredith was kind to them all. It was Ciel who broke the silence, of course. So, he said with a broad grin, where have you been the past two hundred years? It was very hard tracking you down. Meredith listened as she ate, taking delicate bites of her venison. She was curious about this friend. He wasn't the sort her father usually brought home. Her father seemed intent on Darcia, oblivious to his daughter's presence for now. He got that way with old friends. It saddened her slightly that he could cut her off so completely. listulistulistulistulistulistu
Thread: I Awaken From My Midnight Slumber [RavenxPretty]

It was not easy for a young woman to understand how her father could be such a different person in the presence of an old comrade - of an old master, and Ciel had every reason to change around Darcia. They had been revolutionaries together back at the academy before their dreams were quashed and their other friends scattered. After that they had fought together in countless conflicts, and had even stayed with one another when they fell on hard times. It was for this reason, a sort of masculine bond of brotherhood, that poor Meredith was occasionally shut out. Darcia, for his part calmly accepted everything that was thrust in front of him, including salad and venison and fruit and all sorts of other things. Special attention was given to the wine however, as in that at least Darcia was something of a savant. As for the dinner, it passed by amiably, and as usual Ciel was one to beat around the bush. Rather than guessing at what his old friend wanted, Darcia decided to instead shift his attention to the charming woman who sat one seat down from him. It was always polite to make children seem important...if she was a children infact. Darcia had little concept of her actual age, but then it was hard to guess when you'd lived for a millennium. Meredith, he finally would say, calling her attention to him. He liked the rapt way with which her young, perky eyes would turn towards him. It was that charming little gift that eager young people sometimes had before pessimism began to rule them, when they were so happy to hear what you had to say that their gaze alone could make you feel like the only person in the world that mattered. Darcia's own gaze with its unique qualities previously mentioned now found Meredith's eyes again, completely. Not that Meredith had any reason to lie, it could be supposed...but even so when looking into this mans pupils you were scared to tell a falsehood...it was like you were just convinced that somehow, in someway he would know if you lied to him. Where do you go to school again? Your father used to write me and tell me about your work. Do you do well there? How do you like it?
Thread: I Awaken From My Midnight Slumber [RavenxPretty]

Ciel blinked as his guest addressed his daughter, but did not interrupt. He leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile teasing the corners of his lips. Despite what he said earlier, this was the reason he had called Darcia to his home. The Sidhe laced his fingers together and watched the two silently. He knew how this would play out. Meredith raised her golden eyes to Darcia's stormy gray ones. She looked surprised that the Elf had interrupted her father, her eyebrows raised slightly. His question put her off-balance. Just what had her father been telling his man about her? Her eyes slid over to her father and was immediately suspicious. He looked far too pleased with himself. I go to Falathrim, she said, looking back to Darcia. She refused to answer the rest of the question. It was bad enough she had horrid marks, this man didn't need to know. That is, if her father hadn't already told him. Truth be told, she hated the school. She didn't want to be a Mage, but her father had insisted that she go to the same school he did, as though it were an honor. Frowning slightly, Ciel sat forward. Go on, Merry. She looked at her father again, her brow puckering in a small frown. I hate the school. The professors are boorish and ill-tempered. The library is outdated and the campus is a mess. Her eyes never once left her father. He had put her in this situation, and she would tell him the truth, even if it hurt his feelings. It seemed to have the opposite effect on him though. He only smiled and banged his fist against the table. Hear this, Darcia? Falathrim is a ruin. I can't have my daughter doing to a second-rate school, missing out of the education we had. He grinned at that. Their lessons had been of a more violent sort, but educational all the same. I need someone I trust teach her the trade. Ciel had no doubt in this mind that the Elf would catch his drift. Meredith, on the other hand, looked completely lost, looking from one man to the other. She wasn't entirely sure what had just happened. listulistulistulistulistulistu
Thread: I Awaken From My Midnight Slumber [RavenxPretty]

Ah so that was it...Darcia had sniffed out the reason for this little meeting without even intending to. The thought of complying with his friend's round-about request was enough to make him turn his nose upwards...but Falathrim in ruin did give him a welling spring of joy deep within his stomach that pleased him all the same. Hm. That was all he could manage to say on the matter, just a little grunt of acknowledgment towards Ciel that Darcia understood his friend perfectly...and where this was going. Immediately his agile mind threw itself into overdrive, considering this and that, and how he could possibly squirm his way out of this so carefully laid trap. A covert glance towards Meredith confirmed his suspicions that she had no inkling of this setup, and therefore no great yearning to become his pupil as of yet. The key point was would she warm up to the idea mid-conversation? Ciel... said Darcia softly, raising the brim of his wineglass to his lips in order to buy time...he still had formulating to do, but by the time the crystal vessel had touched the table again, the wizard was ready. You know as well as I do that I've never taken a successful apprentice. And besides...I travel alot, and your daughter would necessarily be away from home for long periods of time. How would she ever find a husband then, or have friends? Of course, Ciel also knew well that of Darcia's former apprentices exactly half of them were dead, with the rest failures, washed up and performing parlor tricks for fat nobles to laugh and clap their hands at. But then again...stealing a student from Falathrim would be a snub at the school that he hated...and perhaps Meredith could also tell him more about the state of the academy in detail he still entertained vague and mostly unsubstantiated notions of someday storming it once again. So...I'm just not sure that it'd work out - not that I wouldn't just love taking on such a refined, elegant apprentice etcetera etcetera, but you know...
Thread: I Awaken From My Midnight Slumber [RavenxPretty]

Ciel took a undignified gulp of his wine, and stared at his old friend intensely. But none have half the potential that Meredith has! Its in her blood! She just needs the proper training. And you're the one to do it. You know I gave up magic after Elizabeth died. Elizabeth, Meredith's mother. Ciel felt that his powers should have saved her somehow, and when he failed, he had forsaken all this training, turning his back on his powers. He couldn't break the oath he had taken. Not even to teach his own daughter. For a Sidhe, twenty years is barely a passing moment. His wife's death was still fresh in his mind. The daughter in question had, of course, caught on by now. She glanced sharply at her father, silently cursing him for putting her in this position. While she hated Falathrim, she couldn't guarantee that this man would be any better, and she would have to leave her home to do it! She had been born in his great house. She didn't want to leave! Besides, Ciel continued as though Meredith were not there, you know as well as I that few are willing to marry a half human Sidhe, even with her dowry. He didn't mean to sound cruel, Meredith knew, but it had hurt all the same. She cast her eyes down to the table. Not once since she had become eligible for marriage had a man come forward to even court her. Sidhe thought that the human in her would taint them with her mortality. None wanted to risk that. What's the harm in trying? If she can't cope, you could always send her home. listulistulistulistulistulistu
Thread: I Awaken From My Midnight Slumber [RavenxPretty]

Ah... said Darcia, the single word hanging in the air followed by the silence as all eyes fell irrevocably on him. He'd forgotten about Elizabeth and that silly oath of Ciel's. People sure didn't like leaving Darcia many choices in life... Darcia looked back towards Meredith, judging her shrewdly. Whether he was looking for an excuse not to accept or, or a reason to actually embrace her as a pupil was not known even to the dark wizard. Of course, what he did see was the tragic face of a half-breed, who as Ciel so amply stated would probably never be able to marry. Doomed to the life of an old maid through the long years ahead of her, and moreover thrust by a father into a school she hated in a discipline she was still uncommitted to, if Darcia said no. Heart strings were tugged...and he sighed. When Darcia sighed Ciel knew that he had won. Darcia always did have a soft spot for those deemed to be 'of the second class' by the haughty people on top. The Magic World's greatest mind wrestled with itself to find some excuse, no matter how far-fetched but alas, there was none. Darcia was too much of a gentleman these days...years of wealth and dealing with high circles had smoothed the rough edges of his youth, and there was just no way around it - if he said 'no' then his friendship would be hurt, and the wizard would feel like a great big villain for a week or so. Alright...I'll do it, how soon can she pack her things and be ready to go? He leaned back, drumming his fingers on the table in defeat while his handsome ears listened to whatever words of thanks or explanation Ciel would have, as well as any that Meredith might produce in her own futile attempt to get out of this. Either way, Darcia could derive a modicum of petty pleasure out of being able to handwrite a letter to Falathrim explaining why one of their students was leaving in the most colorful terms imaginable he'd need to be sure to get all the details! and then, once he had signed 'Darcia' at the bottom...would they wonder? Darcia liked to amuse himself by thinking they would, no matter how absurd...but then again, in the vaguest terms he was something of a legend there still. All ready his mind turned, gleefully, from preparing excuses for not accepting Meredith to instead readying the next salvo in his ongoing war with his old academy.
Thread: I Awaken From My Midnight Slumber [RavenxPretty]

Obviously pleased, Ciel clapped his hands loudly thrice. She can be ready by the morn, old man! I insist you stay here tonight. He took another mouthful of wine and demanded more from the nearest servant. The Sidhe was apparently happier about this arrangement than his daughter. She sat, quietly, staring at her plate. She didn't know what to make of this. She saw ups and downs to both end. With Darcia, she could leave Falathrim and wouldn't be the half human failure, but would have to leave her home. With Falathrim, well... there wasn't really any ups besides staying home. She knew her father wanted this for her though, and she did anything her father asked. It was the reason she enrolled at Falathrim in the first place. If she had her way, she would be a historian. She loved the idea of working alone, surrounded by ancient scrolls and books, translating texts and finding some ancient treasure. That was the life she wanted, even if it she were a spincer the rest of her life. Books judged no one. She pushed her chair back and stood, excusing herself quietly. I'll start packing. She glanced at Darcia and curtsied before him. Thank you for taking me as your apprentice, she murmured before leaving the men to themselves. Ciel watched her daughter go with a fond smile. It was obvious he truely did love his daughter, even if she could never be the heir of the Phantomhive legacy. He turned his attention back to his old friend and launched into memories of the Azulian War, his mind off his daughter once more. Meredith went straight to her rooms and began packing. She doubted that she would have a need for her fancy gowns with Darcia. She packed a few simple dresses, underclothes and, for safe measure, two fine gowns. It didn't take her long to pack, and soon she was surrounded by her ladies in waiting, stripping from the restraints of her current gown. After she had been undressed, she dismissed her ladies for the night. It was quite late now, though she did not feel the slightest bit tired. She was too anxious. She was leaving her home for the first time in twenty years tomorrow. She doubted she could sleep at all. Instead of wating out the night, she crept from her room dressed in a simple cream nightgown. The fabric was thin and breezy, draping over her form sensually. Of course, no one ever saw her in these things except her personal servants. She didn't feel the need for a robe. Her father and the Elf had probably retired by now. She made her way down the carpeted hallways silently, a single candle in hand. She headed towards her personal library. It was smaller than her father's, but it was filled with books she loved and treasured. It was a circular room, dark blue carpet muffling her footsteps. A single dark couch sat at the back of the room, a small table beside it. She set her candle down and chose a book, falling down on the couch with a sigh. It was a very comfortable couch, warm and familiar. She lasted only five pages before she was sound asleep, the book propped delicated on her chest. listulistulistulistulistulistu