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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Sept 29, 2007 22:06:39 GMT -5
"It does," I said, "they are made more for sneak attacks then hand to hand combat type situations, but they are doable. You have to be able to move fast in order to get close and then away from your target before they get to you. I have thought about buying some vambraces, like what the Cassaline wear just for that reason."
I took a drink and then answered her question, "I have learned some traditional self defense from Dahlia. But, I learned most of my offensive skills before hand."
For someone who wanted to hid her past I sure seemed to find it difficult to lie about. Dahlia had taken some of my habit to lie out of me. Though I did find it easier with patrons at least.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Sept 30, 2007 8:22:28 GMT -5
“I understand,” I said, nodding. “It’s very different training than that which one does with a sword. Speed matters, of course, but it’s mostly about strength and accuracy… The sword does give a better range…”
I finished my soup, and smiled in appreciation as I set the plate aside. “Beforehand?” I said, “How old were you when you joined the Night Court? One of my brothers entered Gentian at the age of nine… it seems a rather young age, to learn before even the Cassilines start training…” I thought of Leo… He had left for the Brotherhood at nine as well.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Sept 30, 2007 15:55:16 GMT -5
I finished the drink and put down the empty mug. I thought about having it refilled but I waited. Though it would take more than one more mug to mess with my senses I still wanted to stay in a good frame of mind.
I nodded as Julie spoke of her brother. I of course knew of the Cassalines. I wondered what their training was like, to not start learning until the age of 9 but still be considered one of the best. It made me a little envious, my skills would probably not match theirs. Especially since I have not been able to practice very often properly and felt that I was starting to slip.
Shrugging to make out as if I felt little about it I said, "real world experience. I didn't join Dahlia until 13 actually. It was a bit unusual but managed to pull off the appearance of a proper adept in only 3 years. The downside to that is that I spent so much time training for the day I would sell my marque that I became short of practice in my other skills."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Sept 30, 2007 16:16:15 GMT -5
“Ah,” I said, speechless for a moment. Real world experience? What kind of experiences could a kid get so young? My mind raced, and I didn’t dare ask for a bit, then I did, because, well… because I had to.
“You can tell me to go to hell if you want, but I just have to ask. I mean, that’s a pretty cryptic statement you just made…”
I was trying really hard not to gape. I was making sure my eyes didn’t quite roll out of their orbits – but likely, my wonder would still be rather visible.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Sept 30, 2007 21:12:56 GMT -5
For some reason Julie's expression made me want to laugh, though I did not. As far as I knew I was the only Dahlia who had a history anything like mine. For a long time I thought I was the only adept, but alas I had found another. Something told me he was better at keeping his secret than I was at keeping mine.
"It is your right to ask," I said, "though if I do tell you, then you can't spread it around. I fear my number of patrons would decline even more than it already has."
In truth my brother could be the biggest ruin to my current station, if he chose to pursue his want for me to play his sister. He seemed to be willing to stay back, however. Of that I was grateful. In truth I knew nothing of being a sister, being an adept was difficult enough at times.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Oct 1, 2007 12:45:27 GMT -5
“My lips are sealed,” I replied with a tender smile. “I don’t gossip about personal storied told in confidence,” I said very seriously. “Though if it makes you feel better, I can take oath.”
I wondered why she was so worried about her patrons, and how bad it could be. She didn’t even look like an adept to me – in truth, she had more class than I had, and I wondered if she didn’t feel a little bit concerned without reason. After all, we had shopped for a dress for an assignation, had we not?
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Oct 3, 2007 19:44:14 GMT -5
I leaned in close to Julie so that no one would over here. I would only give her the basics here. If she was curious for more we would have to go elsewhere.
"I was taken in, as an infant, by a man who ran a small bandit camp. It was he who taught me how to fight. I also had to know it for self defense, though I usually had him or one of his men near by to keep me out of most trouble."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Oct 4, 2007 7:20:48 GMT -5
My eyes widened a little bit more for every word Ellette said, until my mouth gaped. With my hand, I forced it closed, and then laid a gentle touch on her shoulder. “That’s an extraordinary story. It will not leave my lips,” I said, voice still full of wonder.
“You must have a lot of stories to tell,” I added, still taking it all in. “But I guess I’ll have to wait for a less public venue…”
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Oct 8, 2007 20:59:31 GMT -5
It was interesting to see how people reacted to my secrets when I did tell them. Julie's was amusing, but at least not one that made me regreat my openness.
"I guess you could say I have stories to tell, most of them are not really pleasent ones though. But, I wouldn't repeat them here. I don't need those rumors to start and Dahlia wouldn't like them much either."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Oct 9, 2007 14:18:00 GMT -5
“I didn’t think you would want to talk of such things, here, indeed,” I replied thoughtfully. “And I understand your concern – but your secret is safe with me. I’ll swear it by Cammael, if you like.”
I took a look at my ale, sighing a little regretfully at the fact that it was empty. “Maybe I should tell you a secret of my own, to put us on even ground….” I looked up, and smiled. I didn’t want Ellette to be ill at ease with me – I liked her, truly I did.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Oct 12, 2007 20:50:41 GMT -5
Julie came across as honest enough, when dealing with those of questionable nature one must notice at least the obvious signs of someone who is dishonest. I was not perfect at it, but I believed that Julie was not being shady with me.
I was curious to know what sort of secret Julie had. While I didn't think she had as much in common with me as Bayard did, it would still be interesting to know. I had noticed her look of distain at her cup and said, "how about a secret over another drink? I will call the waitress over if you like."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Oct 13, 2007 14:46:30 GMT -5
“That would be acceptable,” I replied with a confident smile that was just a little quirky. “I would like that,” I added more softly.
Truth was, I had very few secrets – the only one I had was old, very old, and mattered very little now. But nevertheless, it was a secret, one that I had kept, even from Kendrick, one which only Vince knew. I gave her a look of honest trust – she was of Dahlia. I didn’t think it was in the habit of Dahlia adepts to betray the trust of their friends.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Oct 13, 2007 14:57:00 GMT -5
I saw one of the waitress' and caught her eye. She came over and I told her what we wanted. I waited until she had returned with the drinks and left again. I took a drink, smiling both at the flavor and at Julie. "I am here to listen if you truly would like to tell," I said.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Oct 14, 2007 22:53:43 GMT -5
I nodded, smiled, and had a quiet sip. A moment, I reflected in silence, gathering my thoughts. “Years ago, I stole money from my family, to pay for my first sword, and lied about the source of the weapon when it was found,” I whispered in deep shame. I had repaid it recently, dripping money in the coffers from the small income I had, mostly my own pocket money which I had leaked in the coffers before I left for the City.
It had been a source of shame for several years – and I had never admitted it to anyone. As I had spoken, I was looking into my ale, unable to stare Ellette in the eye. “This, few know, really.”
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Oct 15, 2007 21:32:53 GMT -5
I nodded. Though in ways I could say that I did worse, I only commited acts against strangers. I had never stolen from my previous master or anyone who actually meant anything to me.
"That would be difficult to come to terms with, but everyone makes mistakes. I would judge by your demeaner that it's not something you do on a regular basis. So, I would not fret about it to much."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Oct 16, 2007 12:49:29 GMT -5
“It is a source of shame, though I did repay when I started getting pocket money,” I said with a shrug. “It was the only way I would be allowed to train, I figured. Now, my father no longer minds, and mayhap it was my fanciful mind – I elected to get it myself, rather than to plead and plead and plead, and it was wrong. But as it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie, I’ve simply repaid and let the matter rest.”
I looked up at Ellette, and gave her a smile. “Thank you, for not judging me. I feel better, now that I’ve confessed.”
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Oct 21, 2007 19:50:29 GMT -5
I noded in understanding. "It nice to just bare yourself and let other's see you. Espcially if bad things do not come of it."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Oct 22, 2007 18:16:35 GMT -5
I smiled, and held my mug up for a toast. "I'll drink to that, Ellette, truly I will."
I even let a small chuckle, and added, "I'm also drinking to bumping into kindred spirits in the streets !"
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Oct 24, 2007 14:41:07 GMT -5
I raised my glass as well. I thought about Julie's kindred spirits for a moment, but I suppose we did have some things in common. If anything it was nice to know that there were others who enjoyed fighting probably as much as I did. Some of the girls at Dahlia enjoyed the sport of it, but most of them had not been in a real fight. I did not know if Julie had been in a fight outside of training, but my instincts told me she would not shy away from one if she did.
So I smiled and agreed with her toast, "to kindred spirits," and with that I finished what was left in my glass and let out a very unusual, small, but still open burp.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Oct 24, 2007 16:08:27 GMT -5
Ellette's burp summoned a girlish giggle. I assumed that it was an indicator that she was at ease with me, seeing as she was Dahlia, and concluded the toast on that merry note. I liked the fact that she was at ease in my presence, truly I did - and seeing as I was myself rather unfond of protocol, and etiquette, I let out a belch, and grinned.
"So what are you doing this afternoon?" I asked playfully.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Oct 24, 2007 23:15:41 GMT -5
I laughed with Julie at my silly burp and laughed a little more with her own. The dress was still on hold at the store and I could still get it later. "I have no plans, I have acomplished what I wanted."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Oct 25, 2007 8:28:27 GMT -5
"A satisfactory errand, then," I commented with a grin. "Would you be up for a bit of a spar, then? I have no idea as to where to do so, though," I offered contemplatively.
I was curious to see what she could do with her daggers - and I was in need of a training partner. If Ellette was available, it would be just the perfect set up.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Oct 25, 2007 13:56:25 GMT -5
The only person I had spared with recently was Alli and her infuriating staff. That was a weapon I needed more practice against. Though in truth I probably needed skills in something besides daggers. They were more of a offensive weapon than a defensive one. Meant for a quick kill not combat.
"A spar would be very welcomed," I told her, "the gods know I need more practice. We should be able to find a park somewhere that is not to open. I don't know how you feel, but I am not really a fan of audiences."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Oct 25, 2007 14:05:51 GMT -5
I was happy that Ellette was into this idea, and smiled widely. At her observation, I shrugged, smiling. "I don't mind either way. Battles are rarely solitary ventures," I explained, "But I don't feel the need to show off either. Besides, maybe we can learn from each other?"
But then, a thought occured to me. "We can do it at my house, in the garden, if you like. Although in a few days would be better, I need to handle a few things, for that."
Indeed, I did. Including removing unwanted obstacles.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Oct 25, 2007 14:32:04 GMT -5
I nodded, "that does sound like a good ideal, I can then take my dress back to the House in a timely manner." I had been use to the bandit life in terms of fighting and had not really thought of it in a warriors stand point. Instead of relying on comrades our fights were hidden, so that no one could see. Or, at least, that was the preference. The conversation with Julie had perked my interest. Could I be a fighter in Terre d'Ange as a way of life legally? I had no ideal how I would live after my marque was complete, but this was a possibility. It was something to think on anyway, though I still had plenty of time for it.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Oct 25, 2007 15:29:13 GMT -5
"Great," I replied with a wide grin as I picked up the tab in the most natural way there ever was. "I'll pick you up at Dahlia, then."
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