A Second Home

[Avive de Rocaille]

In the days after Longest Night, I found our lovely library to be lacking in the latest and greatest literature of the modern day. It was with this in mind that I set out for Armand's, to try and cram another book or two into our already brimming shelves.

A bell chimed as I entered the shop. Nodding to the keeper, Armand I presumed, I headed for the fiction section. Selecting a book with a rendering of a Tsingani maid on the cover, I began to skim it. It soon drew me in and I began to read.

[Christelle de Dimitri (I)]

Still exploring the city, I spotted a bookstore. The townhouse had a poor library so I decided to go in and see what was there. I greeted the man behind the counter and set in to explore.

[Avive de Rocaille]

I looked up from the book as a pretty young woman entered the shop. I was close to the front of the store, so I smiled at her.

[Christelle de Dimitri (I)]

I looked aross the room and saw a beautiful woman smile at me. I kindly smiled back and curtsied. "I am Christelle de Demitri." I politely introduced.

I looked at the book she was reading. "That looks like an interesting book your reading."

[Marcella de Tourais (D)]

I had spent my time continuing to read over items of importance, will's, history's, everything I could get my hands on related to the House Courcel and House Shahrizai for the last one hundred years. It didn't seem enough though, I needed more references and perhaps something more interesting...something that had nothing to do with my family. I entered into the book store and began to look around. I noticed two woman that were just beginning to chat. Picking up a book I watched them from the corner of my eye.

[Rainier de Anwell (I)]

Having grown bored of sitting in the house, I walked into the bookstore. I had high hopes of finding a transaltion of an old book of poetry I seemed to have misplaced. I saw two women taking and walked slowly by. Slightly overhearing and saw one other woman reading, casually I smiled.

[Marcella de Tourais (D)]

I noticed the entrance of another...Shahrizai as it were. I smiled to him softly and then went back to my book curious as to how things would turn out here.

[Avive de Rocaille]

"Avive de Mauvais," I said. "And it is. It's a new novel by someone I have never heard of before, but I think I will take it."

[Rainier de Anwell (I)]

Walking to the back of the store I found just the book I was looking for and took a seat to finger through it.

[Christelle de Dimitri (I)]

Highly interested I asked, "Would there happen to be another copy? It looks quie intriguing."

[Marcella de Tourais (D)]

Always interested in what others had I moved toward the women and where they stood.

"Which book are you speaking of?" I asked curiously, my tone calm and flat. My demeanor revealing nothing.

[Avive de Rocaille]

"There's another one here," I said, pulling it from the shelf and handing it to her. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the other woman approach. When she greeted us, I replied, "It's a new novel about the Tsingani, by a Lyuba Urbini."

[Marcella de Tourais (D)]

I raised a brow and nodded.
"What's it about?" I asked curiously, my features stilled.

[Christelle de Dimitri (I)]

Taking the book, I looked it over and glanced at the other woman. I smiled at her slightly and turned back to address Avive, "Thank you very much." While still standing there I opened the book and skimed it.

[Avive de Rocaille]

"I don't quite know yet, I've only just started it," I said. "But from what I can gather, the heroine is the eldest of a family of only daughters, and she needs to save her kumpania from an evil man who wants to take it over." I flipped the pages. "There's also political intrigue and mystery, but I wouldn't want to spoil it."

[Rainier de Anwell (I)]

Looking up from my book I watched as the three women chatted. It appeared to be over a rather interesting book. Looking away from the book, I looked at the women. All very beautiful but at least one looked as if she had Shahrizai blood. Having never met a kin of blood before, I became curious.

[Marcella de Tourais (D)]

I felt a pair of eyes on the three of us and looked over. The Shahrizai man was looking this way, I smiled and winked at him before turning back to the others.

"Hmm, perhaps not the book for me then." I said pursing my lips together.

[Avive de Rocaille]

I smiled. "To each his own," I said. "Or in this case, her own." It was then that I noticed the man in the corner looking our way.

[Marcella de Tourais (D)]

I saw her look toward the man and smiled to her.

"He's Shahrizai." I said raising a brow to her.

[Rainier de Anwell (I)]

I saw one of the women start to turn towards me and tried to look away but she had already seen me. I watched as she smiled and winked at me. Curious. I thought. Then in an attempt to not get caught staring again I returned to my book. Only looking up occasionally.

[Christelle de Dimitri (I)]

I cast a glance toward the man in the corner that the other woman had looked at. He was reading but I could see him glance up now and again.

[Avive de Rocaille]

I might have guessed from his looks. "I thought so," I said. "Do you know him?"

[Rainier de Anwell (I)]

Seeing as how all three women had noticed me I got up and began browsing the other poerty books. Looking for anything of interest. And also getting slightly closer as to possibly over hear but probably not still being quite a ways away.

[Marcella de Tourais (D)]

"Not personally," I replied. "I do know most of the Shahrizai in the City either by reputation or by chance meeting." I looked over my shoulder watching the boy as he moved.
"Dominic, Malabelle, Anacrasia..." I said the names curious if it would ellicite a response.

[Avive de Rocaille]

At Dominic's name, a cold shiver ran through me, but I tried not to let it show. "I have not had the pleasure of meeting them yet," I said, "my lady..."

[Marcella de Tourais (D)]

I smiled widely. One of those names had struck a cord and I would deduce that it was Dominic, though the others were also possible.

"Marcella." I replied. Oh, what the hell. "Comtesse Marcella de Tourais."

[Avive de Rocaille]

My eyes widened and I curtseyed. "A pleasure, Comtesse," I said. "I am Avive de Mauvais."

[Marcella de Tourais (D)]

Mauvais, yes I knew the family. The Duc de Mauvais was a curiosity of mine, this must be his little cousin.

"The pleasure is mine Lady Avive." I replied.

[Christelle de Dimitri (I)]

The ladies having their own conversation, I sat down at the table Avive had been when I first saw her and looked further into the book. Eyeing the Shahrizai as he moved ever so slightly closer. Trying to over hear, I presumed.

[Avive de Rocaille]

Straightening, I smiled politely. "What kind of books are you looking for?" I asked.