Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 17:48:37 GMT -5
"My ego is already large enough, is that what you're saying?" I asked, grinning wryly. "Not that I can really argue with that. I have never had to deal with a lack of self-confidence."
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 18:32:34 GMT -5
Smiling, I chose to not answer his question purposely, focusing instead on his statement. "It's better to be too self confident rather than not enough," I said. "Though, generally speaking, there's a fine line between being confident and egotistical."
I didn't mean it for him, and I hoped he wouldn't take it that way; teasing or no, it wasn't something I woud say even in jest.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 18:37:23 GMT -5
"True, but then again that fine line between enough and too much exists with most things in life, doesn't it?" I observed with a smile as I leaned forward again and took another sip of champagne. "The trick is knowing how to toe the line without crossing it."
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 19:04:26 GMT -5
"Very true," I agreed, leaning back in my seat slightly. "And do you think you've toed such a line without crossing it, Quinn?"
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 19:54:45 GMT -5
I didn't miss the fact that as I leaned forward, she leaned back, keeping distance between us. Perhaps she growing tired of my particular sense of humor.
"In some things, while in others I know I go overboard," I said with a shrug. "Such as with books, I refuse to believe there is such a thing as too many."
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 21:08:32 GMT -5
I smiled, remembering fondly the morning after the Longest Night when he had sat curled over a book, bathed in a slender patch of sunlight. Leaning inward once more, I reached out and touched his hand lightly, not wanting to overstep and seem too forward. "When I think of you, I think of books, the smell of ancient pages, easy afternoons basking in knowledge hidden upon pages." Lacing my fingers through his gently, my smile softened. "If you ever think there's too many books in the word, I'll wonder who you are, and what happened to the Quinn I've come to adore."
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 21:12:40 GMT -5
She couldn't have caught me by surprise more if she had slapped me. I was speechless for a heartbeat or two before I smiled and said, "I don't know what else to say to that but thank you."
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 21:20:48 GMT -5
His reply caused me to be painfully aware of what I just said, and I could feel my cheeks heat with faint spots of color. Retracting my hand almost immediatly, I was saved having to answer with the arrival of our food, and I took the distraction for a moment to regain my wit. Giving the waitress a smile, I took a drink from my champagne glass and held it a moment upon my tongue, feeling the burn-like sensation as thousands of bubbles rippled across the tender flesh.
Swallowing as they began to die, I picked up my fork and glanced at Quinn, giving him a small smile. "It smells wonderful."
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 21:25:11 GMT -5
I silently cursed the timing with which our food arrived, wishing we'd had another moment of privacy. Joie had reacted like I'd pricked her and I wish I'd been able to smooth things.
Instead, I focused on my food. "Yes, it does," I agreed. "Let's hope it tastes half as good."
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 21:29:49 GMT -5
"If it tastes anything like how our Cook used to prepare it back at my parents manor, I'm sure mine will be wonderful." Gathering a piece of warm spinache leaf on my fork, topped with crumbled goat cheese, I took the first bite, chewing thoughtfully.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 21:34:48 GMT -5
I cut off a piece of the beef fillet, swiping up some of the spicy sauce and then taking the bite. It was wonderful, the beef was butter tender but everything was spicy and flavorful.
"This is delicious," I said after I had chewed and swallowed.
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 21:37:47 GMT -5
I nodded, using the tip of my fork to weed out a slivered almond from where it had settled between slices of spinache. "It is," I agreed quietly, raising the fork to my mouth as I successfully got hold of the nut. "I'll have to come here more often, I think."
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 21:41:48 GMT -5
"I can see why this place is so popular," I commented before taking a couple more bites.
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 21:46:27 GMT -5
I smiled, working more at my salad before speaking. Generally I would have gotten something more filling than this, but I'd eaten quite a late breakfast before setting out purposely so I wouldn't get hungry while shopping; I'd not expected in the slightest to run into someone I knew. The linen bag settled on the floor next to my chair shifted as I moved my foot, and I glanced to Quinn, looking thoughtfully at him. "This may be abrupt, but it just occurred to me that I don't know how old you are, and yet you know my age." A small smile lifted my lips, and I settled my fork on the plate momentarily. "Isn't that backwards from the norm?"
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 21:51:20 GMT -5
Chewing and swallowing the bite in my mouth, I followed it with a sip of champagne.
"I'm 24," I told her.
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 22:12:02 GMT -5
"Ah," I said, picking up my champagne glass. "I thought you were younger." A tease entered my voice as I relaxed more, and I raised my glass to my lips, hiding my smile behind it.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 22:17:19 GMT -5
"Disappointed?" I asked, grinning wryly and raising an eyebrow.
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 22:21:41 GMT -5
"Not at all," I said, lowering the glass without actually having drank any. "I merely thought with as self-confident and borderline egotistical you were, you'd have been younger." I kept my face schooled for the most part, though a small raise to my lips, a slight crinkling of my eye gave way to my amusement.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 22:29:07 GMT -5
I laughed and shook my head slightly. "I've been like this my whole life, no matter the age," I told her, then returned to my food.
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 22:32:22 GMT -5
Following his lead, I concentrated on my meal, enjoying the warmth of the leaves; the staff had even placed hot towels under my bowl to keep it warm, and for that I was ever grateful. The goat cheese was tangy, spiced with a zest, and added to the nutty flavor of the almonds and small bits of sunflower... I truly enjoyed it.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 22:35:43 GMT -5
I finished my meal, even trying some of the rice, and then set my fork and knife down. I took another drink of champagne and then leaned back in my chair to watch her.
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 22:40:19 GMT -5
A bit of the spinache was still there, though I settled my fork once again as Quinn sat back, obviously full. I wasn't far from it, and in all good reality I didn't like to push too far past where I was right now; otherwise it left me feeling heavy-stomached.
"How did it all taste," I asked quietly.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 22:44:47 GMT -5
"It was all divine, very spicy," I answered. "How was yours?"
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 22:46:01 GMT -5
"As wonderful as I hoped," I said, smiling warmly.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 22:50:27 GMT -5
"I'm glad," I told her, smiling. "Would you like dessert?"
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Joie de Mornay
Aristocrat
Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 22:57:58 GMT -5
"Oh," I said, lifting one hand to wave my fingers slightly. "No thank you. I ate a late breakfast, and honestly I wasn't sure if I'd eat as much as I did." I glanced to him as I let my fingers fall, sitting contentedly back in my chair. "Feel free to have some yourself, though, if you'd like. I wouldn't want to stop you."
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 23:00:12 GMT -5
"I'm quite full, that was too good to leave any," I said, smiling. I lifted the champagne bottle, asking her wordlessly if she wanted me to refill her glass.
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Joie de Mornay
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Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 23:04:32 GMT -5
"I understand now why this place comes so highly recommended," I said, looking from him and to the dozens of lit candles making the room aglow, even in spite of the sun outside. "No thank you," I said as I looked back to him, seeing the bottle lifted with a smile.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Apr 13, 2007 23:07:58 GMT -5
"It is a very nice establishment," I agreed, setting the bottle down.
The server appeared, clearing our dishes and I asked for the bill.
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Joie de Mornay
Aristocrat
Engaged to Quinn du Paras; House Mornay
Love and be loved.
Posts: 1,724
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Post by Joie de Mornay on Apr 13, 2007 23:10:37 GMT -5
I sat back quietly as the server took the dishes, then looked to Quinn. "Thank you for lunch," I said. "And for the champagne."
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