Getting to know the City

[Raegan Brice]

It had been a few days since my visit to the Night Court and I had decided to go shopping. Dressed in a modest gown and wrapped in my favorite cloak, a chestnut velvet that matched my hair and lined with bronze silk, I stepped out of the carriage and looked around.

There were a few things on my list of needs, but mostly I felt like just looking for now. My eyes settled on a book shop and I smiled. Perfect.

Making my way across the street, I entered the book shop and looked around. A man behind the counter looked up when I entered, a pleasant smile on his face. I told him I was just browsing for now, and he nodded, telling me to call if I needed help.

Turning to the right, I began down one of the aisles, walking slowly so as to peruse titles as I did.

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I was in desperate need of reading material. Okay, maybe not, but I did need to get out of the house, and my favourite bookstore was just around the corner.

I left the cold air outside as I entered Armands, saying a familiar hello to the shopkeeper before going to wander the aisles.

[Raegan Brice]

I was so engrossed in the stacks of books, the as I turned the corner into a new aisle, I almost ran into someone. Looking up, startled a little at my own distraction, I smiled softly.

"Forgive me," I said. "I guess I should look up now and then."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I had been intent on the new arrivals stack, and suddenly found myself quite close to a girl around my age. I took a step back and was instantly glad I had worn one of my new gowns. Hers was modest, but definitely of the City.

"It's quite understandable." I replied with a smile of my own. "It's easy to lose yourself in these books."

[Raegan Brice]

"Easier than I realized," I said, smiling more. I was grateful she hadn't been upset with my almost running into her. "It's my first time in here and I am having trouble trying to decide where to start."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"Would you like a tour?" I asked, surprising myself. Usually it takes longer to open up. It was probably the idea of showing off one of my favourite places in the City. "I've been poking about this place for years."

[Raegan Brice]

"Oh, that would be wonderful, thank you so much," I said. It was so nice to meet someone friendly and helpful. I still felt like a bit of a tourist in the City.

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I held out a gloved hand. "I'm Juliette L'Envers."

[Raegan Brice]

I took her gloved hand, curtseying as was proper. "It is a pleasure to meet you," I said, knowing by the name alone she stood above me on the social ladder. If nothing else, father had drilled proper manners into me. "I am Raegan Brice."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"Oh, please don't." I protested her sudden manners. "We were having such a nice conversation. I was just hoping for a handshake."

[Raegan Brice]

"I'm sorry," I said, smiling and shaking her hand. "My family deals in 'customer relationships' as my father calls them and I was taught to curtsey before I could walk properly."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"It's all right." I said with a smile, letting the matter slide. "Let me show you around Raegan."

I led her up and down the aisles. "Let's see... Here's the fiction section. It's the biggest part of the store. Some real gems in here."

[Raegan Brice]

"Oh," I breathed, my eyes lighting up. "I love fiction stories. All those wonderful tales, I always wonder how people come up with such stories."

Smiling, I ran my fingers over the spines of some of the books, as if to try and absorb the stories by touch alone.

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I smiled at her infectious enthusiasm. "Oh, I have no idea. It takes a lot of imagination, but I don't think I could ever write. I wouldn't even know where to start."

[Raegan Brice]

"The only writing I manage is accounts and ledgers… give me a crop of olives to track and I am fine, ask me to write even a letter and I flounder," I told her, laughing a little at myself.

My wandering fingers stopped on the spine of large book bound in black with gold lettering. "A Romance of Souls," I said softly, smiling at the title.

"What sort of books do you like?" I asked her.

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"Fiction when it's light and fluffy... For more serious reading, I like to read diaries. It takes a bit to find a good one, but it's worth it." We wandered through the fiction until it ended and reached a small shelf, tucked away, that held the diaries. "Here they are."

[Raegan Brice]

"I've never been able to feel comfortable reading diaries," I admitted, going to look at those she found. "I always feel as if I am intruding or prying."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"The travel diaries are what I really like." I replied. "Some court diaries are fairly... unwholesome in their love of gossip."

[Raegan Brice]

"From what I've heard, that is most likely a trait that endears them to some," I said, chuckling. "Some people seem unable to exist without gossip."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I shook my head as we travelled down another aisle. I wasn't about to tell he how much I hated court life. "Here are some histories, mostly of Terre D'Ange, though occasionally Armand brings in some really good foreign ones."

[Raegan Brice]

I wrinkled my nose a little before I could stop myself, then smoothed my expression with a little chuckle.

"Histories aren't really my thing," I told her. "As silly as this may make me sound, I think I like romances the best. Epic, sweeping romances with connected souls and love that conquers all."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I grinned. "Like I said, give me light and fluffy fiction, and I'm perfectly happy. Romances are definitely in that category."

[Raegan Brice]

"A kindred spirit," I said, grinning happily. "It will be so nice to have someone to talk about books with."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I smiled in response. It would be so nice to have a friend around my age.

"If you don't find anything here, I have a bunch of books at home that you're welcome to borrow. Including tales of great bravery, strength, and love." My smile turned to a wry grin.

[Raegan Brice]

"Thank you, that is so sweet," I told her. "Once my books are unpacked and in some semblance of order you are welcome to borrow any as well. I am still settling in and keep finding myself more interested in seeing things outside the walls of the house instead of supervising where things should go."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"I am of the firm opinion that order is overated." I told her with a small smile. "Though my mother disagrees."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"I am of the firm opinion that order is overated." I told her with a small smile. "Though my mother disagrees."

[Raegan Brice]

"My father is never satisfied unless everything is in proper order, I never really knew there was another way to do things," I told her. A smile tugged at my lips. "Though, it seems that since I am here away from him I might have an unordered streak that is coming out since I have not yet unpacked anything completely."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"Quite the rebel." I teased with a soft smile.

[Raegan Brice]

"Hardly," I said, blushing slightly even as I chuckled. The thought of me being rebellious was such a completely foreign notion that I found it hard to even joke about.

"I think I'm going to go pick out a new romance to read," I said, glancing back to that section.