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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 14, 2009 9:52:49 GMT -5
Most of the morning and afternoon was spent cleaning my mother's old shop. It's remarkable how layers of dust can build up so quickly. Sweeping, and dusting, and mopping, and organizing; any other Dahlia adept might have hired someone to do this undignified work. In fact, the Dowayne would not be pleased if she knew exactly where I was and what I was doing. But - I would have had no other hands do the work in this place. It seemed to be my only true sanctuary.
By late afternoon, it was time to lock up. I removed my apron, hung it up neatly, and brushed any invisible dust off of my cream-colored frock. Looking at my disheveled features in the mirror, I decided to plait my hair in a modest fashion, exposing Mother’s gold earrings that dangled from my ears. The dark locks still managed to keep their unruly nature, but there was nothing else I could do to tame them. I made my way out the back door, as presentable as possible, and turned the key in the lock.
Reluctant to leave the Artisan's District, I walked towards Dahlia House at the leisurely pace, soaking up the heat of the sun. I took in all the sights of the Artisan's District. To any newcomer it would seem busy, but all I saw was the disturbing effects of the plague. I could not help but frown at the thought.
As I passed by the Cachette, one of my favored places in the City, I decided to treat myself to a refreshing cup of tea to cool my disposition. I found a shaded table outside, and was greeted by a smiling face who asked for my order.
Returning the smile, I replied, "One of your citrus teas, served in a teapot, please. I expect to be here awhile." She nodded politely.
I brought out a small book of poetry from my handbag, wishing to clear my head of the dread that still lingered.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 15, 2009 23:11:07 GMT -5
I was still trying to get my bearings in the Artisan’s District. There were so many people and so much going on all the time that I still found myself getting overwhelmed at times, especially if I’d been apart from Aleron most of the day. That was happening more often now with us both having employment. I tried to soak up as much of his solidness as I could every night when I lay in his arms, but there were still days when I was worn thin by the time I returned home.
I was done at the Salon, but I knew it was still too early for Aleron to be home and I wasn’t in the mood to return to an empty apartment. So I decided to stop for a cup of tea and maybe buy something sweet to take home for later.
Upon asking, I was shown out to the patio and took a seat. It was empty except for a woman reading a book. I ordered a cup of peppermint tea and sat back in my chair.
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 16, 2009 13:26:52 GMT -5
Too enthralled by the final verse of a Thelesis de Mornay classic, I only heard the footsteps of another customer. My eyes drifted over the verse a second time, attempting to memorize it. I could never grow tired of such poetry. Blessed Elua knows how many times I've read this particular passage. Such beauty.
If only I had a gift for writing...
I sighed, closed the book, and set it next to the pot of tea. Oh! I must not have noticed that the tea had been brought! Smiling, I poured myself a cup. As I brought the rim of the teacup to my lips, my eyes came upon the sight of the young woman who had walked in a few moments before. I set the cup down, opened up my book again, and pretended to read as I tried to determine what was so.... different... about this woman. My eyes glanced up, ever so discreetly, to take in her image.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 16, 2009 13:34:35 GMT -5
I glanced up as the other woman on the patio sighed and closed her book, but looked away again so as not to be caught staring. I was getting better at such little social niceties, with Aleron's help.
She opened her book again and my tea arrived. I thanked the server and leaned forward, inhaling the wonderful scent as the leaves gave up their color to the surrounding hot water. I wondered idly at who was the first person ever to think of dropping leaves into water and drinking it. I'd have to ask Aleron if he knew.
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 19, 2009 16:45:16 GMT -5
The tea was quite strong. I enjoyed the bold flavor, whilst pretending to read my book. The Dowayne would be appalled, but I could not help watching this young woman as she received her tea - curious, and almost childlike.
Another sip of the citrus tea, and I decided to be bold myself.
"Pardon me, but do I know you from somewhere?" Of course, I had never seen her in my life. It was the oldest trick in the book, but there was no harm in it.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 19, 2009 20:04:00 GMT -5
I’d been watching fascinated as the water in the cup became stained, first in little invading rivers and then the rivers became an entire brown lake within my cup, when the other woman spoke. It surprised me and I jumped a little, and then looked around to see who else had joined us on the patio.
Oh, she was speaking to me.
“No, I don’t think so,” I said, looking at her. Now that I really looked it occurred to me just how pretty she was. “I work at a place not far from here though, so you might have seen me around here.”
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 20, 2009 18:05:22 GMT -5
I winced as the poor woman jumped at the sound of my voice. It did seem to surprise some people. I always thought it was because strangers expect me to have a strong Menekhetan accent. Setting down my book, I gave her my full attention.
"Apologies for startling you, madame," I replied pleasantly, "Now that I've had a good look at your features, I think I might have been mistaken. How silly of me! And now I've gone and interrupted your quiet afternoon..."
There was not much I could do now, but continue the conversation.
"My mother owned a shop not far from here. I practically grew up in this district. Where is it that you work, if you don't mind me asking?"
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 20, 2009 18:12:34 GMT -5
“At Séraphin's Salon, just that way,” I said, pointing in the direction of the building. “And you’ve not interrupted my afternoon, I was sort of daydreaming and that’s why I was startled.” I smiled a little self consciously. “It happens a lot.”
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 20, 2009 18:42:33 GMT -5
"Ah, yes!" I smiled, "I know the place. Only in passing, though, I must admit." I took another sip of tea, not minding that it was already luke-warm. Daydreams.
"I was daydreaming earlier, as I was cleaning my mother's shop." Unsure of why I felt so comfortable admitting to such things, I had to mask the confusion that briefly ran across my face. "Must have been the heat."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 20, 2009 19:32:11 GMT -5
“Or the surroundings,” I said. I started to open myself to her, but stopped, forcing myself to remember my manners. She wasn’t a client at the Salon, she might not want to be read. “Daydreams are nice though, they are usually far more pleasant than other sorts of dreams.”
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 23, 2009 5:30:31 GMT -5
Her comment stirred my thoughts. My brows slightly furrowed, but I remembered to keep the mask tightly bound to my facial features. It came naturally after ten years of training, though some days were more difficult than others.
"Yes, I don't mind the occasional daydream," I replied, gently placing a hand on the book of verse. "Since I was a child, I often daydream whilst reading Thelesis de Mornay’s works. Do you enjoy poetry?"
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 23, 2009 14:51:25 GMT -5
“Sometimes,” I said, tilting my head slightly. “It rather depends on who is writing it. I like poems with a lot of descriptions or ones that make you thin. I don’t like the ones that are written just to go on and on about a person or an event, they usually aren’t true.”
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 27, 2009 4:33:10 GMT -5
"True," I sipped on my tea. "Although, I've always found it fascinating how the poet imagined their world. Even if some of the events weren't true, or exaggerated, there must have been reason as to why their work was popular. I prefer the classic works, though. I am not at all a poetry expert."
Laughing, I continued with, "I do find it annoying when poet's write about a so called 'hero' that lived hundreds of years before their time."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 27, 2009 14:53:55 GMT -5
“Heroes and villains are all in the eye of the beholder anyway,” I said after a sip of tea. “Everyone who is a hero to one person was a villain to at least that many more. Even if you are living in the time of that person then you can’t honestly right about them as only one or the other.”
I realized that I was being rather unkind to something she said she’d enjoyed. “Forgive me, I forget myself and don’t think before I speak.”
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 28, 2009 11:44:20 GMT -5
"Oh, please don't apologize! You make a good point..." I paused a moment, realizing that I was conversing with someone who's name I knew not. "Perhaps I should be the one to apologize, I'm forgetting my manners. I haven't introduced myself."
"I am Khepri nó Dahlia, and it is a pleasure."
Ten years of endless training masked the wince that I experienced immediately after the words left my mouth. It was how my mother had always introduced herself. Softly emphasizing the word 'pleasure'.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 28, 2009 12:20:52 GMT -5
“Riva…Carle,” I said, still having to remember my new name. For a person who’d had no family and no name for so long I’d certainly had a lot of them in the past months. “And it’s a pleasure to meet you Khepri. I used to be at Gentian, are you still at your House?”
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 28, 2009 13:10:37 GMT -5
Ah, Gentian. Perhaps the reason why I found her odd at first glance. She seemed even more lovely, and mysterious to me now. I caught the hesitation of her name, and was quite puzzled. Maybe she didn't want to disclose her real name to me... how intriguing.
"What a beautiful name," the compliment came naturally, "And yes, Dahlia still holds my contract. Only for a while longer. My marque is almost made. And I am quite anxious to get on in life." I began to drop the masked emotions. No need to fake around a previous adept of Gentian. "How are you enjoying the... freedom?" I couldn't decide on a better word.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 28, 2009 17:00:25 GMT -5
“It’s nice. I was never happy at Gentian. I’m still finding my way though. My marque was bought by a man who then died from the plague. His will set me free, but it all happened so fast that I am still off balance a lot of the time,” I admitted, then took another drink of tea, trying to seem normal.
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 29, 2009 11:43:00 GMT -5
Copying her motions, I took a sip of tea. "My deep condolences for your loss. If it's any consolation to you, I've also felt off balance since the plague." I took a moment to muster up the willpower to say this, it came out as a breath, "I lost my mother."
I decided it'd be best to change the mood of the conversation, because I didn't know how long I'd be able to hold my emotions back.
"The salon is a nice place to work, then?"
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 29, 2009 13:36:06 GMT -5
Before I could offer her condolences in return she changed the subject and I struggled for an instant.
“Yes, it is,” I said, nodding. “The owner is very nice and I like it far better than when I was at Gentian.”
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 29, 2009 15:38:56 GMT -5
"Oh, that is good then!" I tried a smile. "I find that work distracts me from those dark thoughts. For the past month, I've worked as much as possible. Errands for the Dowayne, et cetera. Anything to keep me away from my mother's shop. I finally went there today," I admitted.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 29, 2009 19:27:37 GMT -5
“Why?” I asked curiously. If it hurt her, why did she go?
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 30, 2009 4:13:30 GMT -5
"It has been a month, and I thought it was finally time to face the reality of what has come to pass," I stated, firmly. I paused a moment, sipping tea. My lips formed a smile on the tea cup. "That... and my mother would never approve of a dusty shop," I chuckled.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 30, 2009 12:12:23 GMT -5
Her words helped me understand. “Was it harder than you thought it would be?” I asked.
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 30, 2009 13:16:34 GMT -5
I sighed, "Well, I woke up this morning dreading the thought of entering the shop. I nearly turned around half-way there, but decided that I had to come to terms with my situation."
I paused to refill my tea cup, steam rising from the hot liquid.
"It was odd, walking in to the empty shop. The first hour was strange, but not as difficult as I thought it would be emotionally. I think I've finally accepted her passing... and it is a relief..."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 30, 2009 13:19:54 GMT -5
I nodded as she talked. “I understand how that is. Once you know it’s true, once all of you understands, there is a sense of balance that returns to the world. The pain of loss is still there, but it’s not warring with disbelief and hope that it was all a mistake,” I said.
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 30, 2009 13:44:13 GMT -5
I watched Riva thoughtfully, and smiled, "It is always nice to find someone who understands. But I'm sure, being a previous adept of Gentian, there are some things that you found you did not want to understand. I am unfamiliar with Gentian myself, but you know how rumors go..."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 30, 2009 17:16:56 GMT -5
“There are plenty of things I’ve learned that I wish I never had. More than the things I’m glad I do know,” I answered, looking down and fiddling with my tea cup.
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Post by Khepri nó Dahlia(I) on Mar 31, 2009 6:39:09 GMT -5
Holding the tea cup up to my lips, I blew on the steaming liquid so as not to burn myself. "Given the choice, I think I would choose to know things than to not know things. Certainly there are ways to cope with unwelcome knowledge."
I sipped at the tea, but still managed to singe my tongue and winced at the pain.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 31, 2009 16:08:49 GMT -5
Things I wish I’d never learned stampeded through my mind and I drew in on myself a little.
“Perhaps for some people there is a way,” I said softly, then took another drink of my tea.
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