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Post by Octavia nó Camellia(D) on Jun 7, 2006 14:34:24 GMT -5
The heat quickly became stifling as I stepped of the blustery street and into the cozy shop thick with the heady smell of bound volumes. I shrugged off the heavy, dark cloak that had been doing a fairly good job of keeping me warm outside and draped it over one arm. I waved off the clerk who tripped over himself to offer me assistance and insisted that I was merely browsing and yes I’d find him if I thought of anything I might need.
I pursed my lips a bit in distaste as he trumped away. His obsequious manners and lascivious gaze was almost enough to put me in a bad mood. But the service at Armand’s was usually exemplary and I’d had an exceedingly pleasant day up till then so I let it slide as an unavoidable hitch. And made a note to not look like I was in need of advice when he was near. And with that I glided off through the mostly empty shop in search of a new novel.
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Post by LaValle nó Alyssum on Jun 7, 2006 14:44:25 GMT -5
Quietly I slid in the door and closed it behind me, eyes cast at the floor as I began to wander between the aisles in search of something to read. I'd read every book of some interest to me while recovering from having my marque inked and another was sounding like a good idea. After all, I would have to have more work done soon.
Walking among the aisles I caught sight of a somewhat familiar face from my childhood, tinged in my memory with something that made me blush. Softly I walked closer and said, "Octavia, is that you?"
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Post by Octavia nó Camellia(D) on Jun 7, 2006 14:54:47 GMT -5
I turned at the soft sound of my name to see a fair Adept looking at me a little quizically. Cocking my head I slid the wholly uninteresting tale of intrigue back onto the shelf and said, "Yes. Are you- " I paused as his face resolved into familiarity, "LaValle?" Glad I'd recognised him before having to ask for his name, an awkward thing at anytime, I smiled to see that he was blushing a little. He had always been ment for Alyssum.
"What brings you out into Night's Doorstep this day?" Stupid question, books obviously. But the surprise of running into someone you haven't seen in nine years can render one a little tongue tied.
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Post by LaValle nó Alyssum on Jun 7, 2006 15:00:40 GMT -5
Blushing a little- she remembered me!- I said softly, "I just got the bottom of my marque limned and ended up reading all of my books while waiting for it to heal, so I decided to buy another. What about you?" I asked shyly.
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Post by Octavia nó Camellia(D) on Jun 7, 2006 15:08:55 GMT -5
"Well I've run out of books in the much more conventional method of not having bought a new one in almost a year. But it amounts to the same." I said with a soft smile.
"But you've started your marque? That's wonderful, LaValle. Whose done it for you?" I wanted to see it, for I was sure his fair skin would hold ink beautifully but that was not a thing you asked an Alyssum, in public. And seldom in private for that matter. "Does it still itch horribly?"
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Post by LaValle nó Alyssum on Jun 7, 2006 15:20:55 GMT -5
Every on my shoes, I glanced up for a moment at her question, then back down. "Jasper de Montchristien- he's very good I think. It doesn't itch as bad as it did, but I'm wondering if it will ever stop."
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Post by Octavia nó Camellia(D) on Jun 7, 2006 15:30:33 GMT -5
I'd forgotten just how shy he could be, poor thing. But those gray, green glances would reel in clients by the barrel in his House, wether he ment them to or not.
"It does stop itching, though it never feels like it will. With each addition I'm sure this will be the stretch that nags at me forever." It was a novel thing to be carrying the conversation. Outside of Alyssum I'd been pegged as quiet, if not shy. But LaValle was shy and that made the difference.
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Post by LaValle nó Alyssum on Jun 7, 2006 15:46:25 GMT -5
Smiling widely, I said, "Thank you- I knew it was supposed to itch, but I didn't understand how much until I did it. Still, I know there will be a lot more episodes like this, and the cream I got helps a lot."
I considered recommending Jasper to her, but I would have to show the little bit of my marque I had done and the idea of doing so in such a public place made me nervous.
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Post by Octavia nó Camellia(D) on Jun 7, 2006 15:55:40 GMT -5
Smiling I trailed my fingertips absentmindedly across a few book spines, none of the titles seemed even vaguely interesting. I'd filled away the marquist's name. I had nearly enough squirreled away to make a visit worthwhile, and it couldn't hurt to look into it. Even without a viewing of the display across LaValle's spine.
"Well if you've done all your reading in the past weeks maybe some of your find were more recent than the one I've just finished, which I believe I got around the time of my dedication." I said, angling my head to subtly encourage him to look up, "Any suggestions?"
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Post by LaValle nó Alyssum on Jun 7, 2006 16:02:39 GMT -5
"I'd be happy to," I said, smiling widely. "In fact, you wouldn't have to buy anything, I can let you borrow the books I've finished reading. That way I don't have to feel guilty if you don't like the books." Glancing up at her, I flushed at my forwardness and looked back down. I'd had a bit of a crush on her as a child and she was just as lovely as I'd remembered.
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Post by Octavia nó Camellia(D) on Jun 7, 2006 16:11:15 GMT -5
The only changes I could mark in him were due to the fact that he had been eight the last time I saw him, he seemed still to be that sweet quiet boy who could barely open his mouth without turning at least a little red. "I'll take anything you can part with for a while. And I will enjoy them. I enjoy any book even if only because it's a good excuse to be left alone."
I wondered if he'd ever caused any accidents starring at his toes like that. "But I'm sure you have excellent taste in literature. And so long as it's not about an Adept overcoming all the odds and marrying the monarch, it already has a huge lead on my last read."
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Post by LaValle nó Alyssum on Jun 7, 2006 16:15:06 GMT -5
Smiling slightly, I looked up at her more fully, my hair hanging slightly over one eye. "I think they're all sightly better than that," I said whimsically. "And I can part with all of them, I've read them at least three times each."
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Post by Octavia nó Camellia(D) on Jun 7, 2006 16:25:09 GMT -5
"Then my purse is full for another day." My fingers itched to tidy his hair but I left them still by my side, if a smile could ignite his skin I couldn't dare touch him, he might faint. "Is there somway I can pay you back? A meal sometime perhaps? I understand Desir is offering lunches exclusive to Adepts."
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Post by LaValle nó Alyssum on Jun 7, 2006 16:35:42 GMT -5
Pushing my hair behind my ear I smiled brightly. "That would be nice," I said shyly. "I've never been to Desir, have you?"
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Post by Octavia nó Camellia(D) on Jun 19, 2006 13:15:48 GMT -5
“I have, though never with another Adept for company. And never with coin from my own pockets, so perhaps it is good that I need not spend it here today.” I said with a smile, adjusting the cloak tucked over my arm smoothly. “In any even, you can trust me when I say the food is every bit as good as you’ve heard.”
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Post by LaValle nó Alyssum on Jun 19, 2006 13:34:30 GMT -5
"I've only heard about the place, so trustng your opinion sounds fine," I said with a smile. I was finally starting to relax a little, almost against my will. "Do you want to go pick up those books now or wait until another time?"
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Post by Octavia nó Camellia(D) on Jun 27, 2006 4:35:15 GMT -5
"I in fact have a wholly free day. Which is why I'm out here in the first place." I said with a smile, though I did not add that this was my first free day in nearly two weeks. Even such a vague mention of assignation might be unsavoury to one such as LaValle. Though he did seem now to be settling a little.
"So if you're free aswell, I think it would be foolish of us to ignore such serendipity."
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Post by LaValle nó Alyssum on Jun 27, 2006 6:54:43 GMT -5
Smiling, I nodded slightly in agreement- I was settling in and starting to become more comfortable in my surroundings. "In that case, let's go before something happens to distract us from our mission."
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Post by Octavia nó Camellia(D) on Jun 29, 2006 6:11:29 GMT -5
"Yes lets. It will be nice to see Allysum again." I said smilling, then added after a pause, "That is where you were dedicated right? It always seemed like home for you, so I assumed. But I didn't think to ask." I swung my cloak on and began to make a bee-line for the door.
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Post by LaValle nó Alyssum on Jun 29, 2006 6:52:23 GMT -5
Smiling, I nodded and walked with her. "Yes, I'm dedicated to Alyssum; I don't think I would fit anywhere else."
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Post by Octavia nó Camellia(D) on Jun 29, 2006 6:55:43 GMT -5
I took his arm companionably as we reached the door. "It doesn't matter if you fit anywhere else. So long as you fit where you are." I said, quickly fastening my cloak.
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