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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on May 15, 2010 22:40:51 GMT -5
Third Week of Winter, Year Two of Queen Sabrina's reign
Now that I had been a few days in the city, I found myself in need of a warmer cloak and gloves. I had last been in Eisande, on the coast, and had not thought to send for my warmer clothes from home before settling in the city.
Asking Margaret, the woman in charge of the house, where to find the best fabrics, I’d been directed to a shop in the Palace District. My eyes had drifted to the looming shape of the Palace as my carriage had wound through the streets. All my visits to the city, and I had never ventured there. Perhaps now that I was not just passing through I would take the time.
The carriage drew to a stop and I disembarked, telling my driver to find a comfortable spot to wait, I was likely to be awhile. Smoothing the skirt of my periwinkle dress, I entered the shop.
I was greeted by an explosion of colors and patterns, making my eyes dance for a second or two. I focused on the ones right in front of me and my senses settled. There were a few other patrons in the shop, so I decided I might have time to look around a little before being approached by a salesclerk.
I turned and headed towards an area that seemed to contain the heavier fabrics.
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on May 17, 2010 10:17:42 GMT -5
I was in need of a new pair of boots and so I went to Masion de Fournié since their wares were more suited to my tastes. I was looking for something stylish yet comfortable considering I was not one of those shallow sorts who would be uncomfortable simply to just make a fashion statement. I figured one could show good taste and advertise their good fortune without being overtly pretentious about it.
When I entered I paused to look around and get my bearings. I was greeted by the sight of a quite nice not to mention elegant behind walking away from me. Now I am in a rather serious relationship. Or I was till the rather terse missive I had received but I am not dead so I took a moment to enjoy the view before moving off in search of boots. I passed the lady who owned the behind and offered a mile “excuse me.”
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on May 17, 2010 13:50:42 GMT -5
A politeness spoken by a man as he passed me drew my attention from the emerald wool I had been looking at. It was wrong for a cloak, but it would make a lovely gown.
“Of course,” I said with a polite smile. I glanced at him enough to get the impression of a handsome man of good standing, but not much more than that.
I looked around a little, trying to locate the heavier fabrics. The ones I had found were not quite what I was looking for.
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on May 18, 2010 15:45:17 GMT -5
I gave her a wink of one of my distinctive violet eyes and made my way onto the footwear. Yes, it was a flirt and a bit on the pretentious side but what can I say old habits die hard even when I try to behave. I then began to go over the various offerings in boots and was rather taken by a nice pair in doe skin. Though my mind was still wandering a bit toward the unfamiliar lady I wanted to smack myself but I guess I am just a rogue at heart.
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on May 18, 2010 23:01:07 GMT -5
Only after it happened did I realize he’d winked at me. It was such an unusual occurrence in my life that it took me slightly aback and made me blink. My gaze moved back to him and I studied him closer. The eyes gave away his bloodline, but I had no idea who he was beyond that.
He was examining a pair of doe skin boots and it let me study him a little longer than I might have otherwise. Why had he winked at me?
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on May 19, 2010 16:43:22 GMT -5
I turned over the boots not bothering to look at anything except them for the moment. They would probably be too small as I was a very tall man and had accordingly large feet. This thought irritated me a bit and caused me to scowl.
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on May 20, 2010 0:32:03 GMT -5
His scowl brought a soft smile to my lips. He was taking the boots very seriously. I found myself intrigued with him for some reason and drifted closer.
“Pardon me,” I said to him. “Would you know where the fabrics suitable for a cloak might be located in this store? It is my first visit here.”
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on May 20, 2010 9:13:36 GMT -5
I smelled a hint of perfume and then heard the voice of the woman I had seen upon entering. She looked even better up close and I did my level best to not use my superior height to get a better view of her. Though the temptation was hard to resist after all I am a healthy young man. I titled my head in consideration “hmmm, not really but I can help you look for it if you might like.” I sat the boots that where clearly too small back in their place on the shelf.
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on May 20, 2010 10:28:44 GMT -5
"I would hate to take you away from your own shopping," I said, smiling and gesturing towards the boots. "You seem to be in your own struggle."
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on May 21, 2010 12:41:51 GMT -5
I rolled my shoulders “it seems most things around here are made for those of considerably smaller stature than me.” I gave her a smile that could not help but be more than a little flirtatious “so I suppose that means you can take me away anyplace that you might like.”
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on May 21, 2010 18:13:35 GMT -5
I was distracted for a moment as he mentioned his height, my eyes running over him as one would a column and gauging his height. Indeed, he was taller than what seemed to be the prevailing height of men I had seen in the city. He was well proportioned though and did not appear to be in danger of overbalancing.
Coming back to myself, I thought on his last words. Flirting, he was flirting with me. I might not know even his name, but his eyes did give away his heritage enough for me to know I must be polite. One couldn’t risk angering his entire family just because I found the immediate flirting tiresome.
“At the moment the only place I am seeking is the one that hides the fabrics I needs,” I said with a smile, one I knew to be friendly. “Perhaps there might be a suitable fabric for you to have made into boots as well.”
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on May 24, 2010 9:14:01 GMT -5
"I cannot say that I know much about fabric but we can see." Something occured to me so I had to ask "but you do not seem like a seamstress to me. Am I mistaken?"
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on May 24, 2010 21:34:22 GMT -5
My smile became one of actual emotion, he was at least not completely without a brain.
“You are not mistaken,” I answered. “I am an architect by trade.”
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on May 26, 2010 9:39:15 GMT -5
“Ah” I rolled my eyes “too much math for me. I suspect I might make a better seamstress.” I considered a bit more “if you are having servants do the stitching I might suggest Eglantine. One does not have to take advantage of their ‘other’ services if one is not inclined and they have some very skilled fingers about the place.”
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on May 26, 2010 12:25:38 GMT -5
"Is that so?" I asked, still smiling. I was finding myself amused by this man, in a rather pleasing way. "And have you made use of their skilled fingers personally or is by reputation only that you recommend them?"
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on May 27, 2010 9:52:29 GMT -5
“Ah but a gentleman does not kiss or in this case stitch and tell” I smiled a little and tipped my head. It was actually a policy I did tend to follow as I found it kept me out of hot water and that is always a good thing. “At present though we seem to have become distracted” I looked around the shop to get my bearings “I think the materials you seek are in that direction” I pointed.
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on May 27, 2010 18:01:45 GMT -5
I looked in the direction he indicated, seeing that it did appear he was correct, then looking back at him.
“Yes, it seems you are right,” I said, smiling and inclining my head to him. “Since you seem so much more acquainted with the City, might I be able to trouble you for your opinion on which of those fabrics might be the most in fashion for the winter?”
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on Jun 1, 2010 9:33:49 GMT -5
“I can do my best, but I warn I am not an overly skilled fashion plate.” The conversation was well nice and she was clearly well learned. Indeed she might be smarter than me, but then again I have that nasty streak of rather low level cunning that often seems to even out such matters. It offered a bit of a distraction and even if I had sworn off women I could not help myself and I decided to get a bit friendlier “I suppose I can try and help you though if the lady would favor me with her name.”
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on Jun 1, 2010 15:01:11 GMT -5
“Tabitha d’Armel,” I said with a smile and a polite curtsey. “Hmm… am I going to have to help you pick out boots to earn your name, monsieur?”
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on Jun 2, 2010 13:30:39 GMT -5
“A pleasure to meet you m’lady” I reached out and lightly took her hand and bent at the waist to place a light kiss on the back of it. I then gave her a roguish grin while I wondered why oh why I was going down this path. Gods know that Coretta went through my life like a wrecking crew. Before her it was Arianna carving my heart from my chest. It was enough to make a lad swear off women but here I was at it yet again.
“Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue” I offered as I released her hand “but if you are offering to work off your debt I might be swayed by say dinner?” I raised an eyebrow in question and cursed myself in the back of my mind. But at least this lady was attractive and intelligent. Mayhap I had been spending too much time in the company of the flighty members of the more fair gender.
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on Jun 2, 2010 23:27:42 GMT -5
Surprisingly, I felt myself returning his smile after he kissed my hand. He was charming in an obvious sort of way, but I found it amusing right now. Had the situation been different and something else been vying for my focus, I might have found him tiresome, but right now it was pleasant.
“As long as you aren’t expecting me to do any actual cooking,” I said with a chuckle.
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on Jun 3, 2010 9:06:23 GMT -5
I pondered a bit looking up and to the right for several reasons. One it gave the impression of deep thought and two it distracted me from her cleavage. Of course at this particular moment I was also cursing myself mentally for even pondering a woman when I had good reference material that they were all evil shrews and that my sinister sibling was a prime example of what women had to offer.
“Now that you mention it that indeed might offer an amusing diversion for an evening out we could even see if your architectural skills could design say a cake in layers that defied gravity.” I then looked back down and met her eyes and concentrated on only her eyes while willing myself to defiantly ignore her other assets. “But mayhap a simply elegant dinner would be more relaxing than a working meal.”
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on Jun 3, 2010 23:52:07 GMT -5
“Designing the structure of a cake I would accept, but for it to be edible the baking would need to be done by another,” I told him with a soft chuckle. “An elegant dinner sounds much more enjoyable, for the present. Perhaps another day I shall ponder the challenge of a gravity defying cake.”
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on Jun 7, 2010 9:10:18 GMT -5
“Mmm I am sure you are selling yourself far too short. Cooking is not complicated and you are obviously an intelligent and bright woman.” I was laying it on a bit thick but she was clearly a lady more interested in her brains than beauty and mayhap that had been where I was going wrong in my dealings with the fairer sex. I had a tendency to look at looks and not consider the entire package.
“But we seem to have become distracted” I reached out and simply took her hand as I headed in the direction I thought the materials were located “we were looking for you some material.” I gave her a smile “and when would you like to do dinner?”
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on Jun 7, 2010 20:35:59 GMT -5
I was surprised when he took my hand and began to lead me to the other part of the store. I covered it quickly though and followed him without faltering.
“I am free for the next two days,” I told him with a smile. “Whenever you are available, we can arrange for me to pay my debt.”
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on Jun 9, 2010 9:46:50 GMT -5
We arrived at the section I figured would contain the materials she sought and I released her hand while giving her a sideways glance. “Well I hope it is not an overtly large burden of debt” I did my best to put a wounded tone into my words. Considering recent events it was not really that hard to sound wounded I reflected.
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on Jun 9, 2010 15:16:18 GMT -5
“Not too overly large at all,” I assured him with a smile. I chuckled softly and shook my head a little. “Choose the day and I will be there.”
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on Jun 11, 2010 14:30:22 GMT -5
"Hmm" I considered and then deftly reached out with my index finger and lifted her chin stroking her flesh a bit on the underside. I studied her face and then mildly asked "mayhap when we are done with your shopping?"
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Post by Tabitha d'Armel (R) on Jun 12, 2010 21:27:58 GMT -5
I lifted my chin away from his finger and stepped just out of his reach. The minor flirting was amusing, but he was crossing the line.
The smile didn’t leave my lips, but it faded a little. “After we are done shopping would be lovely,” I said. I turned and began looking at the fabrics.
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Post by Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue on Jun 14, 2010 9:48:18 GMT -5
I dipped my head and more or less left her to her fabric selection. The whole process was foreign to me. Utterly and completely, I did my best to browse a bit but the more I tried the more it made me feel like a large square peg attempting to fit in a round hole.
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