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Post by Soleil Belfours on Nov 30, 2006 15:14:42 GMT -5
At precisely noon, I stepped out of my carriage in front of Desir. Anacrasia had not yet arrived, and I wanted to be able to properly greet her after all these years, so I waited, glancing up and down the street for her occasionally, and tugging at my skirts, making sure I was presentable. As old as I was, old habits die hard.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 30, 2006 15:31:23 GMT -5
I finished some window shoping to spot Soleil waiting outside Desire, and I walked over with a smile on my face.
"Soleil, how good to see you again."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Nov 30, 2006 15:35:49 GMT -5
"Anacrasia." I smiled and opened my arms to embrace her. "How are you, near-cousin?"
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 30, 2006 15:45:09 GMT -5
I hugged her back, happy to see her again. Though she grated on my nerves slightly when we were younger, there were too few people from my childhood that I wished to see again.
"Oh, I'm well enough. Still sorting out my townhome to my liking. And how have you been?"
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Nov 30, 2006 15:48:04 GMT -5
"As you say, well enough," I said, releasing her and beckoning her into the restaurant. "I found a dress to wear to the Shahrizais, and contracted an adept a little while ago. The latter was a disappointment, but the former is to die for."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 1, 2006 18:36:30 GMT -5
"Disappointments merely make the rest of life that much sweeter." I replied philisophically, letting a grin tug at the corner of my mouth as we went inside.
We were seated in short order, and I continued, looking through the menu. "As for my own gown, I am waiting to see the final product. If my clothier can produce what she can sketch, I'll be very pleased."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 1, 2006 19:39:33 GMT -5
"What does it look like?" I asked, glancing at my own menu. Quickly I settled on roast of guinea fowl and a cup of tea. Simplicity, that was what I wanted.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 14:26:36 GMT -5
"The corset is white lace over blue silk. The skirt is the same Shahrzai blue. It's a timeless design, really."
I subtly waved the server over, since Soliel was obviously ready. But then, I have known her for a long time. "Chicken a l'orange with the rice, and a glass of lemon water."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 4, 2006 16:44:04 GMT -5
"Roast guinea fowl and carrots for me," I said, "and a cup of your finest tea."
Once the waiter had scooted into the kitchen with our orders, I turned back to Anacrasia. "Sounds lovely," I said. "But then, you were always a timeless sort, the perfect Shahrizai daughter." I gave her a sympathetic smile, we were both daughters of families where much was expected of us.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 17:42:46 GMT -5
I returned a little smile. "What is your dress like?"
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 4, 2006 17:47:14 GMT -5
"Black satin," I said, with a satisfied smile, "with black matte embroidery and laces up the back. It makes me feel quite the dominatrix."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 17:55:10 GMT -5
My smile took on a wicked edge. "You're going to Malabelle's fete?" I asked, though I thought I knew the answer.
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 4, 2006 18:02:46 GMT -5
"I'd be a disgrace to my fostering if I didn't," I replied, smiling equally as wickedly. "That kitchen boy you had on your estate, that Oberon...he would have made quite the Valerian."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 18:09:55 GMT -5
"Ah yes, I remember him. He was quite wrapped around your little finger, was he not?" I paused as our drinks arrived, then continued. "I always wondered what you did to make him so compliant."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 4, 2006 18:19:28 GMT -5
"It was simple really: He loved pain, and I loved giving it to him," I said, my eyes briefly glazing over with nostalgia. "That and we loved each other, in that idyllic way young people love each other. I still think of him often."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 18:23:28 GMT -5
I smiled at her memories. I had gotten my own pleasure from the servants at around the same time.
"Have you seen him since?"
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 4, 2006 18:25:05 GMT -5
"Not since I left your home," I said, frowning. "Is he still there? How is he?"
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 18:35:07 GMT -5
"Yes, he's still working the the kitchens. First assistant to the head chef, or something similar. He seems quite happy. And he's settled down, his second child was born just before I left for the City." I knew at least the basic details of everyone on my estate.
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 4, 2006 18:41:07 GMT -5
I hissed under my breath, though why I was jealous I could not say. Perhaps it was still the sixteen year old in me who loved Oberon, but the twenty seven year old had bigger, better things to look forward to than the cries of a kitchen boy, no matter how sweet the cries.
"Oberon, a father," I mused. "My, how things change." Painfully, I was reminded how I had no children of my own, how I was yet to meet someone good enough to father my child, my daughter.
"Are you yet betrothed, Anacrasia?" I asked. "Or being courted, at the least?" At her age, I would be surprised if she wasn't being courted, the Duchesse de Shahrizai was a hot commodity amongst the nobility of Terre D'Ange. Most ducs and duchesses were, at that.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 18:56:13 GMT -5
I could see the pain flash across her face, and the fault line that dove into her soul. But I let her steer the conversation away.
"No to both. The men courting me before my father's death were all very put out when I didn't have time for them." I made a face. "They were all fools anyway. When I finally felt I had everything under control, I came to the City for the social season."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 4, 2006 19:01:49 GMT -5
"You did indeed," I said, "and I think you will have your pick of the young and single nobility." I gave her a mischevious look. "It should be interesting to see who turns up at this fete."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 19:07:09 GMT -5
"It should be very interesting indeed." I winked at her. "Do you have someone in mind?"
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 4, 2006 19:11:29 GMT -5
"I have not been in the City long enough to meet anyone," I said with a dramatic sigh. "You were here for the Masque; can you think of anyone interesting? No one you have eyes for, of course," I said hastily. I wasn't interested in going after someone else's love interest.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 19:18:50 GMT -5
"Not really. I spent most of the night fencing with Theodore." I paused, a mischievous grin coming to my face. "Now that would be an interesting match."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 4, 2006 19:26:56 GMT -5
"You would unite half of Kusheth with that wedding," I said ruefully, my political mind working furiously. "Ah well, if we don't meet our true loves at this fete, there will at least be plenty of Valerians to play with."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 19:33:50 GMT -5
"Nah." I dismissed the idea with a smile. "I have too much fun making his life difficult, and I believe he enjoys being annoyed at me too much."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 4, 2006 19:35:23 GMT -5
"Then he'll want to keep you around," I remarked, "so you can torture each other all the days of your life."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 19:43:00 GMT -5
"You are giving me some very naughty ideas Soliel." I warned with the same mischievous smile. "It would be quite the relationship."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Dec 4, 2006 19:45:19 GMT -5
"I'm giving me some very naughty ideas," I said with a grin. "Though I probably had them to begin with."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Dec 4, 2006 20:13:41 GMT -5
"The downside of having an overactive imagination." I commented with a grin before taking a long drink.
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