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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jun 20, 2010 11:12:26 GMT -5
I was restless.
Assignations had come fewer of late, and with a waning stack of friendships, I had far too much time to focus on exactly where my life was. My marque was complete, but my life was anything but - it was as if with the last etching of my marque upon my back, new doors had opened, and realizations I'd never truly thought about before was becoming apparent.
If nothing else, I was in better physical condition now than I ever had been before. My skill with a sword was vastly improved to the point that my tutor was having a difficult time besting me, commenting more than once that he had nothing left to give. Still I pursued him though, having not much else to do with my time, making him work to spar with me rather than taking on a more leisurely stance as he did with his other students.. as he once had with me. A few girls from Jasmine came to watch as I fought, and though I jested and flirted with them after, I had no real interest in any of them. Too young, too giggly, too ready to oogle me when I changed shirts. Part of me liked it, knowing I was perhaps more attractive now than I'd been before, but mostly I was just... restless.
Lounging upon a bench, I sat with my rear near the edge of the seat and leaning back, one arm hooked up around the seat behind me, spread out. The air was biting cold, but the sun was warm, and I was doing one of the things that tended to amuse me when I had naught else to do - people watch. A small bag of candied almonds sat next to me, open, and I watched a dark haired couple riding horseback down the park a ways, wondering idly if they were friends or lovers.
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Post by Bryanna Rose Arceneau on Jun 20, 2010 17:56:27 GMT -5
I knew that I needed to get out of the Palace. Part of being the Dauphine's lady-in-waiting meant accompanying her places, and the Princess Coretta was not the type to sit around the Palace day in and day out, and every time we left I felt the familiar tightening in my belly, the breathlessness that made me think I might faint, and the nervous fear that she would notice my discomfiture.
I had decided that the best way to combat these annoying sensations was to get out more, and on my own. Today I had come as far as Elua's Square, and though part of me wanted to bolt, back to the palace or even better, Naamah's Sanctuary, so aptly named in my case.
Rather than do that, I found a bench that was occupied by only one other person, a handsome man who looked as if he smiled often. I sat away from him, not wanting to invade his thoughts, but in desperate need of a distraction from my fears. I smoothed the folds of my pine-green skirt, with a cloak to match, trimmed in black fur, a gift from the Dauphine, who had impeccable taste in clothes.
Glancing over at the man, I forced a smile and made myself do something that had been foreign to me, but that I was slowly getting used: making conversation. I saw that he was watching a couple on horseback, and so I said, quietly, but not too, "What do you think, friends or lovers? They ride their horses a bit too far apart for lovers, I think."
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jun 21, 2010 21:40:23 GMT -5
I wasn't unaware that someone had come to sit with me, though I was caught up enough in my study that I hadn't paid much more attention just yet. They laughed, and part of me wished I was the male - not because I wanted the girl, but to feel as if I fit somewhere there as well. Fit anywhere, really, than a House to which I had no strings to any longer.
Suddenly a female voice broke me from my reverie, and I glanced with my brows lifted, a smile already coming to my mouth. "I don't know," I said, cutting my gaze back to the couple again. "They were much closer a moment ago... Mayhap they're starcrossed, belonging to others, but they have to steal this time away," I offered with a grin, looking back at her again, and seeing her for the first true time. She was beautiful, with a face that looked ready to always smile, hair dark and tumbling about her shoulders in gentle waves.
"Then again, maybe one of them smells and the other is avoiding them." I grinned and looked to the couple again, watching as they went 'round a bend and disappeared from view before looking to her again. "I'm Troy no Jasmine," I offered, sitting up some so I wasn't lounging against the bench any longer.
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Post by Bryanna Rose Arceneau on Jun 21, 2010 21:53:02 GMT -5
I giggled at his response, pleased that he had a sense of humor. "If I had to guess, I'd say it was the man who smelled because we women all smell like flowers and tangerines," I jested, scooting a bit closer to him on the bench. Regardless of my nervousness about being out of the Sanctuary, I was still a Priestess of Naamah, and I could appreciate a handsome man.
And a man of the Night Court, even. I smiled, I considered the adepts brethren of a sort. "Bryanna Arceneau, Priestess of Naamah." I said, turning my attention to him fully as the couple disappeared into the park. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Jasmine, hmm? I have oft considered a visit, Jasmine seems like the closest House to being a Priestess." I didn't know why I had just told him that, words spilt from my lips like liquid and I blushed suddenly at it.
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Post by Shea de Vermandois on Jun 21, 2010 21:57:37 GMT -5
There was too much of an edge of ice in the air to take my birds out, so that meant I had to find a different manner in which to entertain myself. Dressed in something comfortable yet stylish I headed out to walk and perhaps find someone to pass the hours with in a nice warm bed.
I bought a bag of spiced nuts from a street vendor and wandered around the square, keeping an eye out for someone interesting looking.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jun 23, 2010 14:02:08 GMT -5
She took my tease and returned it, and I found myself laughing at her banter, light and nonassuming as it was. "Ah," I said as she revealed her name, my grin growing a little. "A Priestess of Naamah. Mayhap I should be kneeling at your feet, Bryanna." My grin flashed a little more, though before either of us could say more a man appeared, walking while dining on something small. My grin lay on my face still as I glanced up at him, giving him a conversational nod of my head.
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Post by Bryanna Rose Arceneau on Jun 23, 2010 22:41:11 GMT -5
"Mayhap you should," I said, before my gaze followed his to someone else enjoying the day as we were. Following Troy's example, I gave the newcomer a welcoming smile before pulling my cloak in a little closer, the chill of the air seeming colder than it had been in the Sanctuary.
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Post by Shea de Vermandois on Jun 24, 2010 1:18:12 GMT -5
Hmm, very interesting…
“Good day,” I said with a smile, returning their nods.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jun 24, 2010 14:48:01 GMT -5
Her reply was teasing and light, and I chuckled before greeting the newcomer, a smile on my face as I finally took my arm down from the back of the bench. "Afternoon," I greeted. "'Tis a nice day for a stroll.. I think I've seen half the city walk past so far."
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Post by Bryanna Rose Arceneau on Jun 24, 2010 23:21:40 GMT -5
I had to smile at that, adding my own greeting, "Good day. As my friend here has pointed it, it is quite the lovely day, despite the cold. Or maybe because of it, I'm undecided." It felt good to be out talking to people; I'd nearly forgotten what it was like.
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Post by Shea de Vermandois on Jun 25, 2010 0:07:44 GMT -5
“I would have said despite it a little while ago, for the weather kept me from my plans, but now I think perhaps the weather just led me to other interesting pursuits,” I said, smiling charmingly t them both. I motioned to the empty spot on the bench. “May I join you?”
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jun 27, 2010 12:52:55 GMT -5
I looked at Bryanna as she spoke, admiring the way her hair fell across her shoulders in gentle waves. She really was pretty, as much as the newcomer was handsome. Wasn't I the lucky one.
"Of course," I said, quite aware of the fact that given Bryanna had scooted closer to me before, she'd have to come over even closer now to make room for the man. I couldn't help but wonder how she'd like that, with as little as the bench was, pressed between the both of us. "Third parties are always welcome," I added, a coy grin on my mouth.
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Post by Shea de Vermandois on Jun 27, 2010 17:55:44 GMT -5
Catching the man’s eyes, my smile grew. My but wasn’t he gorgeous. My eyes moved over him slowly before I looked at his companion. “And you, my lady?” I asked. “Would you mind a third party?”
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Post by Bryanna Rose Arceneau on Jun 28, 2010 21:39:35 GMT -5
"Not at all," I said, wondering if it was just me or if I was hearing a double entendre? Probably just me, it had been too long by far. I slid further down the bench, closer to the Jasmine adept, making space for the newcomer.
"Well met, my lord," I said, making another round of introductions. "I am Bryanna Arceneau and this is Troy no Jasmine."
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Post by Shea de Vermandois on Jun 29, 2010 0:46:27 GMT -5
"Shea de Vermandois," I said as I took the spot on the other side of her. "It is a pleasure to meet you both."
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jul 8, 2010 7:22:43 GMT -5
I could almost feel my grin get bigger as the mans eyes traveled over me a bit, and as Bryanna started talking, I turned my gaze towards hers. She slid closer to me to make room for the other, and I readjusted how I was sitting, angling myself towards her and the other man a little more to be able to talk easier.. but it also let me press my knee against hers. Very light, very casual, but I could feel the heat of her flesh after a moment, and it nearly made me shiver.
"Lord de Vermandois," I repeated, my attention drawn to him with his introduction. Wracking my brain, I tried to recall where I'd heard that family name before, but it was like semi-congealed broth through my fingers; almost remembering, but not quite. "It's nice to meet you, of course."
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Post by Shea de Vermandois on Jul 8, 2010 13:35:18 GMT -5
“Shea, please,” I said, smiling settling where I was angled to speak more easily to them both. Bryanna was rather nicely captured between us. “Today doesn’t seem the time for formalities, does it?”
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jul 19, 2010 14:04:48 GMT -5
"I don't think so," I agreed, casting a sly grin at Shea before looking at Bryannas pretty face. "Quite the opposite, in fact."
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Post by Bryanna Rose Arceneau on Jul 19, 2010 23:45:10 GMT -5
I smiled, though I was suddenly quite aware of my position between them, and the tension that seemed to hang in the air. Or maybe it was just me? I had not been around people very often until just recently and I was still reacquainting myself with things like body language. Still, I definitely felt something.
"Agreed," I said, laughing slightly. "It's more like a day for a warm fire and brandy, don't you think?"
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Post by Shea de Vermandois on Jul 20, 2010 0:14:36 GMT -5
“Indeed,” I agreed, smiling. My eyes ran over them with unabashed desire. “In fact, I have both if you two wanted to come back to my place.”
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jul 20, 2010 16:13:45 GMT -5
My grin bloomed; I couldn't help it. "Well, that sounds like a fine idea to me," I said, then glanced at Bryanna. "And you, my Lady? May we both have the pleasure of escorting you?"
Double meaning, perhaps, but a twinkle entered my eyes as they crinkled from my grin, my entire demeanor playful and boyish.
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Post by Bryanna Rose Arceneau on Jul 20, 2010 20:45:58 GMT -5
I felt a shiver run through me at the offer, and mere weeks ago I likely would have demurred. Now, though, well, things had changed, and the idea made my blood run hot.
"You may indeed," I said, favoring each of them with a warm smile. I rose gracefully from the bench, "Shall we?"
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Post by Shea de Vermandois on Jul 20, 2010 22:40:55 GMT -5
Oh gods, but this was so much better than just walking around. Rising, I took one of Bryanna’s arms.
“It’s a little bit of a walk, shall I hire a carriage to get us there faster?”
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Post by Bryanna Rose Arceneau on Aug 7, 2010 17:37:05 GMT -5
I shrugged slightly, not minding the walk, but not minding the idea of the privacy of a carriage either. "I do not have a care either way, what of you, Troy?" I asked him, putting him in the role of 'tie-breaker' and wondering what he would choose.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Aug 25, 2010 12:43:42 GMT -5
I chuckled; Shea was smooth, though none of us were hiding the fact that we wanted to find privacy to shed our clothing together. "A carriage sounds like a fine idea to me," I answered, flashing Shea a quick grin before looking at Bryannas pretty face. "In fact..."
Strolling ahead, I peered down the street and paused, searching for the mark of a livery. Once found, I whistled and motioned for it to come near before turning back to my companions. "My lady, my good sir," I toned, light and teasing as the carriage rolled to a stop. "May I hold the door for you?"
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Post by Shea de Vermandois on Aug 25, 2010 14:04:17 GMT -5
“Ladies first,” I said, chuckling and motioning for Bryanna to precede us into the carriage.
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Post by Bryanna Rose Arceneau on Aug 25, 2010 21:56:09 GMT -5
I smiled, admiring the way Troy had taken charge, and in turn the gentlemanly way that Shea behaved. It seemed I had fallen in with two men who knew how to treat a woman, and Naamah's grace was already fueling my blood as I stepped up and into the carriage, settling myself in the seat and smoothing my skirts as I waited for the two of them. It was odd to think that I had come out this morning to overcome my fears, and now here I was, aflood with desire. I had noticed during my training that the flame of desire had always had the effect of making me forget my fears, and it appeared that today was no different.
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