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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 9, 2007 21:40:59 GMT -5
I listened to her intently, taking notes. It was a bit of shambles, but there were a few things.
In my mind, a list of observations fell in place. The Siovalese were Shemhazai's scions, whatever that meant, and were strivers for knowledge. There was a house called Shahrizai that had distincitive features, though I didn't know which those were. House Courcel had a distinctive neck. Huh.
"So if I understand you well, the Houses of this Land have distinctive physical features that allow to identify them?" I asked finally, hoping to understand her more clearly.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Dec 10, 2007 20:06:48 GMT -5
"Yes," I said. "A few are more distinctive than others, though. The Shahrizais are scions of Kushiel; they have very blue eyes and black hair. Kushiel and Shemhazai, along with Elua and the other angels, are the founders and cultivators of this land, and sometimes you can tell which angels' blood runs in a persons line just based on how they look, though not always."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 10, 2007 23:05:22 GMT -5
I committed to mind all that she told me. The Shahrizai and their Kusheline traits, and that otherworldly notion of Angel’s blood running in the veins of her people. I remembered, vaguely, the tale a man told me once, a Yeshuite who lived in Terre d’Ange. It was four years past now, and his name was barely committed to my memory, for I’d called him Ayd, his friend-name, all these years.
I would have to find him.
“I understand,” I replied, nodding. “And though I am rather unlearned in such matters, you do have the eyes of an angel, Avive.” I said the latter with a rakish grin, finding her pretty and pleasant.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Dec 12, 2007 22:29:17 GMT -5
I blushed a deep crimson at his words and stared at my plate with newfound interest. "Thank you, Walid," I said.
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 12, 2007 23:24:09 GMT -5
She looked away, and I took to drinking my wine. Too straightforward, perhaps? But no, I had a recollection of a pretty girl, whose intelligence had bewitched me into mad thought of betrayal, and she too, was cold in her beginnings.
"No need to thank me for stating the obvious," I replied nonchalantly. And stirring the conversation away from it, for flirting could be intermittent, after all, "But tell me, are there some works you would recommend I consult, so that I may be learned enough for court, at least?"
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Dec 14, 2007 16:51:36 GMT -5
"Earth Begotten contains the story of Elua and his companions," I said, pleased that he was taking an interest. "And Of the Great Lines of Terre D'Ange gives the histories of the major bloodlines of this land."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 17, 2007 19:30:08 GMT -5
"Very well," I replied, committing the names to memory. "And do tell, what other interests do you harbor?"
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Dec 18, 2007 21:39:19 GMT -5
"Well, I don't know much about it yet, but my cousin the Duc breeds horses. He's been teaching me to ride."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 19, 2007 1:50:24 GMT -5
"Is that so?" I replied, eyebrows quirking in interest. "Ummayyatt prides itself on its horse corrals, do tell - what are the characteristics of the D'Angeline horse?"
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Dec 19, 2007 12:25:23 GMT -5
I flushed. "I couldn't say," I said. "My cousin breeds mostly red and brown horses. He tells me that some are 'good stock', and which ones are better for work and which are meant for riding, but I couldn't say why. But if you are interested in seeing them, I'm sure he would show you."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 19, 2007 14:34:47 GMT -5
"Perhaps one day, then," I replied with a smile. "Any Ummaiyyatti cavalier would be interested, truly, and none more than myself. But you are learning to ride? Would you like to ride with me, one day?"
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Dec 19, 2007 23:42:58 GMT -5
"I'd love to," I said, "once it warms up a little more."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 20, 2007 0:34:28 GMT -5
"It's a deal then," I replied, grinning wide. I took a sip of wine, and toyed with it, looking at her from over my glass. I wondered if she would ride in a gown, or otherwise. The thought was... just a little naughty. "I'm sure you make a lofty rider, Avive."
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Dec 20, 2007 18:55:08 GMT -5
"Hardly," I said, chuckling. "I can't go very fast yet." I took a few more bites of my meal.
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 21, 2007 20:26:38 GMT -5
"You must nonetheless look beautiful as you ride," I insisted, trying to figure out what had gone wrong in my complimenting. Had I picked the wrong word, perhaps? I sipped some more wine, and nibbled the end of the chicken, leaving to the side, for now, the vegetables.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Dec 21, 2007 22:34:06 GMT -5
"I can try," I said, blushing for what seemed like the hundredth time. Noticing he hadn't touched his asparagus, I said, "Try the vegetables, they're very tasty."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 22, 2007 16:23:38 GMT -5
"If you insist," I replied, and good-naturedly, I let myself taste the green, wood-like things. Surprisingly, they were of a pleasant texture, and seasoned with gusto. I wasn't completely in love with the string-like effect I felt as I chewed, but I could eat it without being ill. I smiled, though, hiding my misgivings, and said, "What do you call this? I've never had it before..."
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Dec 24, 2007 11:37:54 GMT -5
"Asparagus," I said. "It's very healthy; clarifying for the body."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 24, 2007 15:58:16 GMT -5
“As-pa-ra-gus,” I repeated, trying to commit the alien name to my mind. “I shall remember,” I added after a moment, of mental note-taking. “We have a lot of lettuce for that,” I commented matter-of-factly, referring the cleansing of the body.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Dec 25, 2007 17:28:05 GMT -5
"How do you eat it?" I asked him. "There are so many different ways to eat asparagus; but lettuce is almost exclusively used in salads here, or for garnish."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 29, 2007 15:14:49 GMT -5
“Soup,” I replied matter-of-factly. “It is something we took from the Chn’se, in fact, they have a large trading outpost in Ry’ad, and so their culinary habits have translated into ours at times. It’s rather different in texture.”
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Dec 30, 2007 18:31:19 GMT -5
"Soup made of lettuce?" I repeated. "Does it have much flavor?"
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Dec 31, 2007 17:50:54 GMT -5
“Oh, yes, it does,” I replied with an enthusiastic nod. “The soup includes balls of ground beef, and other vegetables, and many, many spices.”
A thought came to mind, and I said, “Perhaps one day you would come to my house, and I would have my staff prepare it for you?” I shrugged easily, grinning wide, “see for yourself the wonders of Ummayyatti culture…” and my smile became just a little more wolfish.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 1, 2008 16:22:59 GMT -5
I could not help noticing the smile on his face, but I didn't let it faze me this time. "I'd love to," I said. "You may send a missive to House Mauvais whenever you like."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 1, 2008 16:29:25 GMT -5
She took my offer as it flew by, and I nodded, smiling more innocently. "I wouldn't proceed any other way, Avive," I told her quietly.
I was done with the food, and I set the plate aside without a second thought. Wiping my lips with the napkin, I let out a polite belch of thanks, though it was contained in the way only men from Ry'ad do it, and I whispered a small prayer of thanks. "Ahmdalahila," I said under my breath.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 1, 2008 22:55:23 GMT -5
He said something, head bowed over his empty plate, and I took it to be some kind of thanksgiving. I was also finished, but I craved sweetness. "Do you care for dessert?" I asked.
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 1, 2008 23:39:05 GMT -5
So there was more to eat. I figured it was over, when no-one had come with a selection of sweets as soon as we were done. Well, then, it seemed I had much to learn about the D'Angelines.
"Oh, yes, I do very much care for dessert," I replied with the enthusiasm of a child. "Do you as well? What do you recommend ?"
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 1, 2008 23:44:56 GMT -5
He seemed so happy that I suggested dessert that I could not help smiling very widely. "There is probably a menu for dessert," I said. "But some common things are chocolate cake, rice pudding, and a Serenissiman dessert called tiramisu which I am particularly fond of. Shall we ask for a menu?"
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 2, 2008 1:06:34 GMT -5
“Yes, please,” I said with a grin, though I changed my mind, and said, “no, let’s simply order one of everything, and have a sampling, if you like. I should like to know about the D’Angeline desserts.”
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 2, 2008 12:09:33 GMT -5
My eyes widened at the prospect of having every dessert Desir could offer on our table. "If that is what you would like, I will not object."
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