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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 15, 2007 23:55:42 GMT -5
"Baron Yvan-Etienne d'Lantier. That was a suggestion of mine one of my cousins actually took, amazingly enough. Though I must admit, I hadn’t expected anything this formal so quickly. Especially with things concerning Talenon being what they are." I took another bite of fish and ignored her comment about having to be mad to marry Sirena. I half agreed with her.
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 16, 2007 0:07:34 GMT -5
"Who is he?" I asked. "And why so eager to marry Sirena off?" Anacrasia complained about not having enough of a hand in her cousins' affairs, but this had her work written all over it.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 16, 2007 12:43:51 GMT -5
“A sculptor, among other things. His estate is about an hour south of the City. I introduced them, thinking their personalities might be compatible.” I shook my head. “She fascinates him. And Rena loves the attention. You should have seen the way they looked at each other at lunch. Yvan was besotted, and Rena was playing with him.”
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 16, 2007 16:35:38 GMT -5
He must be utterly mad, I thought. "Compatible or not, you haven't answered my question. Why must she marry so soon? She is still young." I didn't say it, but in truth, I thought it was poor of Sirena's future to be decided without Talenon around. He was the first man in Sirena's life from the start, and being replaced couldn't be good.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 17, 2007 0:55:21 GMT -5
"Rena apparently needs attention to remain stable, which is why I haven't said anything against it. She is twenty three, not a child. And only four years younger than you, I might add. It was their choice to marry." I replied calmly, eating around answering.
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 17, 2007 16:21:11 GMT -5
I wrinkled my nose. "Something seems not right about it," I said. "I dread to think what will happen when Talenon returns."
I set my fork down, slowly. "Ana," I said deliberately, "you are the matriarch of your family. I beseech you, exercise your authority. Call a family gathering."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 17, 2007 16:44:57 GMT -5
"To what end?" I asked, fixing her with my gaze. She had a point to make, and was trying very hard to call upon our friendship to make me see the same thing.
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 17, 2007 17:08:01 GMT -5
"You said yourself that none of your kin speak to you, and therefore you cannot keep them safe," I said. "Speak to them all. Assert yourself as their matriarch, but also as a guardian, someone who is there to protect them. Keep correspondences with all your cousins; not just the ones in the city." I frowned at my own thoughts. "Or simply hire people to watch them; that way you will certainly know their goings on. Whatever else, you must show that they answer to you. It is your blood right."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 18, 2007 11:20:17 GMT -5
Now that was an idea that would more easily explode in my face than actually work.
"I spend all day writing letters." I told her. "It's not the ones in Kusheth that seem to be the problem. I have at least one loyal person in every household who keeps me appraised of their going ons. It seems to be the younger ones in the City, who never truly knew my father, that are the problem." I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my face. "I'll have to think on it. It would have to be carefully constructed so it wouldn't spiral out of control."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 18, 2007 14:34:33 GMT -5
"Instead of a grand family meeting, you could meet them one on one," I offered. "But you are right about the problem being with your younger cousins. Act with caution and wisdom, and you will succeed." I had much faith in Anacrasia.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 18, 2007 15:16:00 GMT -5
I smiled at her faith in me. It was comforting. "You're to good to me Soleil. Listening to me rant on like this. There are so few I can confide in." I reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
Why say one thing when you can say two in as many words? We had been friends for years, and I did appreciate it. But I also didn't want her repeating my words, even if she had never broken my trust before.
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 20, 2007 20:51:46 GMT -5
"You have always been there for me," I replied. "It is my prerogative and my pleasure to return the favor."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 21, 2007 0:44:04 GMT -5
"I'm glad you are." I responded honestly. "It's just... all been building up lately, and I've found myself becoming frustrated more readily."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 21, 2007 15:02:46 GMT -5
I nodded. "I understand," I said. "Perhaps we ought to go to Balm House sometime, you look like you could use some tender loving care."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 21, 2007 15:28:33 GMT -5
I smiled a bit wryly. "Or perhaps I could just order my family to take care of us. I could see Aramis rubbing your feet." I teased. "You know, as their way of getting back in my good graces for not talking to me."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 21, 2007 15:36:10 GMT -5
"Hmm," I said thoughtfully, "I've always desired Gabriel, can we make him do it instead?"
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 21, 2007 15:42:12 GMT -5
I grinned. "Oh do you really? Ever done anything about it?"
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 21, 2007 15:47:58 GMT -5
"Oh no," I scoffed. "It was always a passing fancy. He's far too self-indulgent to make a good lover."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 21, 2007 15:57:50 GMT -5
I laughed. "Well at least he's staying out of trouble. Of course, he is living with me, so getting into trouble is just that much harder."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 22, 2007 15:27:45 GMT -5
"Ah, yes, of course," I said, taking another bite of fish. "But he always was one of your more amiable cousins, and eager to please, I am told."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 22, 2007 15:32:32 GMT -5
I chuckled lightly. "You should find out for yourself." I teased her with a raised brow.
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 22, 2007 15:46:13 GMT -5
"Maybe I will," I asked. "In my delicate condition, I need the best care."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 23, 2007 9:10:13 GMT -5
I grinned. “So is that it? You want to go to Balm to be pampered, relaxing me is the added bonus.” I teased her. “For you, I think we can make the trip. If it were just for me, I would have stayed at home.”
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 23, 2007 16:32:57 GMT -5
"I don't need to go," I said. "My new friend Sebastien is very good at pampering me. But I don't much feel like sharing him."
In truth, I thought of Sebastien as more of a friend than a lover, but right now I was in good spirits and would have my jest.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 24, 2007 0:47:08 GMT -5
"Sebastien?" I asked, brow raised. "Do tell."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 24, 2007 23:02:19 GMT -5
"He is a new friend of mine," I said. "He taught me a valuable lesson at an inn the other day, then proceeded to comfort and make love to me. He is very good to have around; wise and caring. But he loves another, which is alright. I don't think I could stand to have my heart wrenched around again like before."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 25, 2007 0:47:00 GMT -5
It was a lot of information all at once, but I didn't miss at beat. "So is he handsome then?" I asked her with an impish smile. "And more importantly, what lesson?"
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 25, 2007 14:52:15 GMT -5
"Very handsome," I said. "The lesson: Not all men are incompetent oafs."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 25, 2007 16:37:25 GMT -5
"An interesting lesson then." I replied. "Good. You deserve all the pampering you can get."
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Oct 27, 2007 18:58:33 GMT -5
"But then we come back to my original point: that you deserve some too," I said. "Which makes it seem to me that it is all the more imperative that we take ourselves to Balm house."
I surveyed our table. "There is a fruit tart in the kitchen if you would care for it to be served," I said.
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