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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 20:29:18 GMT -5
I had received word from one of the many Shahrizai making their way to the City for all the festivities. This one I knew little about, had met only once several years ago when he was still a child. Before he went off to play in the army. I also hadn't had a chance to speak with Sirena since Talenon had left, and decided to kill two birds with one stone, and invited them both over for tea.
I sat patiently in the receiving room as the hour of their arrival drew near, casually flipping through a book I had picked up the other day.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 20:37:26 GMT -5
Smiling and in good spirits- it wasn't terribly often that Ana actually asked us to come around, but it was far too fun a time to decline even if it wouldn't have been terribly rude. Tal wasn't home yet- but he would be. I knew he would be. Always tomorrow. A soft hum of music left my lips.
Finally I reached Anacrasia's door and knocked on it, only to be shown inside by one of her completely impeccable servants. "Hello cousin," I greeted brightly once I saw her, my gown of sea-grey swirling around me. "It's been far too long."
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 20:43:29 GMT -5
Having been invited over for tea at the Duchess’s home I of course made sure to arrive at the appointed time and in the appointed place. I got the buckskin stallion from the stable after cleaning up and hung my sword on the pommel of the saddle. The twin daggers I favored were kept at my side. It brought a smile to my face to see the stable lad nursing a nasty bite on his arm. I did warn him my horse bit.
Arriving I handed over the stallion with the normal warning. “Careful he bites” And before the servants took him away I slid my well worn sword off the saddle and transferred it to my hip. Then made my way in and awaited for the next round of servants to announce my presence
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 21:01:00 GMT -5
I rose as Sirena entered the room, smiling before giving her the appropriate kiss of greeting. "It has been too long Sirena. How have you been faring?"
But just then, Henri knocked softly. "Gadleon Shahrizai here to see you, Your Grace."
I smiled at the entering figure, choosing to ignore the sword swinging from his hip. "Gadleon, greetings, after so many years." I kissed him as family should. "You remember Sirena?"
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 21:24:36 GMT -5
I kissed her back in kind and then shifted my attention to Sirena. "Yes, of course though I must say she has grown up a lot since last I saw her. Well not so much grown up since she is my senior but came into her true beauty." Then disengaging from Anacrasia I moved over to Sirena and gave her the kiss of greeting as well. "It is very nice to see you once more cousin." Though as with most in our line my manner as always had that predatory way about it. It was ever an eternal game of cat and mouse.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 21:32:55 GMT -5
"And you as well, Gadleon," I replied, returning the kiss of greeting as I smiled. "I've heard you've been off on adventures the likes of which those of us at home can only dream. Will you tell me a tale later?" My lip lowered into a cute pout as I gazed up at him pleadingly. I knew how to counter his manner.
Looking at Ana I smiled wider and winked- I knew she'd want to hear some stories as well, if only to distract her from more boring business. This one, I remembered, was a flatterer- and I liked to be flattered, but this was Ana's house and I played nicely with others.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 21:40:33 GMT -5
I smiled indulgently at the wink. "And leave me out?" I asked in mock protest, smiling as I motioned for them to sit.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 21:47:26 GMT -5
"But of course." I replied to Serena and stepped back. "And I would not dream of leaving you out your Grace." I try to be proper but at times it is a struggle. "As far as the tales go I can share them, but nearly getting killed by a nick is kind of anticlimactic." I shrugged and shook my head. "And I must admit I am very short of knowledge about what has been taking place in the city and such. Well aside from the obvious."
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 21:53:59 GMT -5
Laughing lightly I sat gracefully in a chaise across from Ana. "And what about this City is obvious?" I asked somewhat wryly, remembering Tal's words. "it's all contrived, every single portion of it. The beauty is in the hidden things, the darkness they try so hard to not shed light on."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 22:09:06 GMT -5
I murmured my agreement to her words. "But then what is darkness, without that pitiful light?"
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 22:16:08 GMT -5
I pondered a moment before replying. "Well at least around here one is kept on their toes by the subtleties. The whole ax in the forehead thing on the boarder sort of takes a bit of the mystery out of it." I shrugged and laughed. "Though I must admit that I am so far behind now that I have arrived here I might get that verbal ax and be dead long before I even realize it has happened. Though I shall endeavor to not think only with my blade."
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 22:23:06 GMT -5
"We're all trying out best to behave," I teased lightly. "And there is a good deal going on, so a verbal blow is a good possibility. I will say, though, that the family is involved little and therefore we've received a bit of a reprieve in all of this tragedy."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2007 23:22:28 GMT -5
I smiled at Rena's jest. "Well at least you'll have lots of family here, to cushion you're fall when someone takes a shot." I told him after the proper sombre moment. "It seems everyone is climbing out of the woodwork for the summer social season."
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 5:31:12 GMT -5
I remained standing in proper military at ease position with my hands laced behind my back. I had not been given leave to sit, but all the same such a position as most came easy to me as I sized up my pair of ranking cousins and sought desperately to turn my mind back to more subtle word play. "I see, though I find it hard to believe all of us are behaving as proper angels." A small predatory grin creased my features. "What is that they say when we are bad we are better?"
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 10:25:22 GMT -5
“The smart ones will think they know better than to trust our goodness, and are smugly waiting for our return to the treacherous games.” I replied, studying him subtly. I truly had too many cousins, to not to have seen him in so many years. The three years he spent hiding with the army was one thing, but it had been longer. I was interested to see what the child had become.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 10:50:19 GMT -5
I inclined my head and met Anacrisia’s gaze with my own daring to hold eyes that could be twins to my own before I enquired. “All well and good but do you suppose any would be interested in a hired sword? I recon my funds will not hold out forever living a life of leisure and my skill is all I really have to sell. Jaiden Liatris has been recommended to me as a possible patron, but I felt it proper to enquire of my family elders first.” In spite of myself I could not help but pick a bit at the still red scar on my left cheek that it was common knowledge in the family nearly killed me.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 15:55:28 GMT -5
He shifted topics on Ana and tried to do his best verbal swagger- and I almost wanted to laugh. He was almost half her age, I remembered, and while she was playing nicely at the moment she didn't have to. I could almost feel the testing of him, like heated metal, for malleability and density. "What you mean," I said, teasing lightly with only a slight jab of jest, "Is that you were hoping your elders were looking out for you after so long."
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 16:18:32 GMT -5
I raised a brow at Sirena "No dear cousin, but simply ensuring I do not seek service with one that my elders might loathe"
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 17:02:18 GMT -5
Laughing, I smiled widely. "It's that the smartest place you could be, close to a family enemy as a trusted guard?" I replied rhetorically, still playing at verbal sparring. "Just because we behave doesn't mean we idly sit by."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 17:53:14 GMT -5
"Indeed we don't." I said, cutting in between thier banter before it could get heated. "If it is your wish, and you think you can... manage Jaiden Liatris, feel free." I didn't think he'd have much luck. She and I were too much alike to get along, though I could respect her as a powerful figure in this land.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 18:28:30 GMT -5
My eyes cut toward Sirena and I could feel the sparks all but shooting from them. Though at a word from Anacrasia I set my jaw and ground my teeth. The clenched muscles at the sides of my face soon serving to ease if not my tension well to at least get my mind to work before my tongue. Though the urge to throttle my dear cousin was strong. But when my words came they were in the same level tone as always despite the fact it was probably blatantly obvious my goat had been gotten. "Thank you, Your Grace. And it is not a matter of me thinking I can manage anyone especially Jaiden Liatris. My sword is what I have to sell and that seems the most likely place." I relaxed a bit and smiled a true smile as a bit of self disparagement slipped naturally into my tone. "Though I am somewhat familiar with the application process. She is probably going to beat the living shit out of me."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 18:58:51 GMT -5
I laughed at his words. "Probably." I agreed, still chuckling. In fact, the laughter was more honest than it could be. It seemed my cousin was sensitive, and had wanted to lighten the tone to begin with. But his candidness amused me.
The maids arrived, efficiently and gracefully setting out the tea cups and little plates of baked goodies. "Unless you wish for something stronger?" I offered, ever the gracious hostess.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 19:09:16 GMT -5
"This is excellent your Grace" I simply replied then pointedly sat down close enough to mildly invade Sirena's space without seeming to do it on purpose. Deftly slipping my word out of the way as I sat through long practiced habit.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 21:34:14 GMT -5
Smiling widely and acting as though it weren't unusual to have Gadleon nearly sitting on my lap I took a cup of tea. "Thank you Ana," I told her graciously, adding a couple lumps of sugar and some cream. "The Liatris woman has some interesting stories circulating though," I told my younger cousin.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2007 21:59:27 GMT -5
"Not heard them yet" I sipped my tea. "Care to enlighten me?"
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Jul 11, 2007 14:37:09 GMT -5
"She's terribly cold," I replied as I delicately swirled the contents of my cup. "And that she's recently wed. Things have been so quiet about her that someone must be controlling the rumors coming through. That, in itself, is interesting."
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 11, 2007 15:03:53 GMT -5
I sipped my tea once more my elbow slightly catching Sirena in the ribs as I raised the cup. The action was absent minded enough to be called an accident though firm enough to continue the intent in the little game. “Well I am not seeking to bed her only seeking gainful employ so I do not really care if she grows ice sickles on her nether regions.” I delicately set the cup down and then turned my full attention to my dear cousin. “Though I recon I might learn many interesting things if I do manage to gain employ.” I made a face then though. “But I also must admit the idea of once more residing so close to Skladia is more than a little disconcerting.”
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Jul 11, 2007 15:18:33 GMT -5
"Bad experiences?" I asked with an innocently shocked expression, rib smarting the smallest bit as I shifted the cup- also 'accidentally' and from his bump- to slosh on his thigh. "I thought I'd heard of such a thing. Well, don't fear; I hear she's to remain a while longer, so you won't have to confront the harshness of the cold and its people."
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 11, 2007 15:39:36 GMT -5
I did not show any reaction as the hot tea missed my sensitive bits by a hair’s breath and kept up the little game in earnest. I dare say I was greatly enjoying the chess match. “Well more a matter of odds really, aside from my injury one only walks in certain places so long before one’s luck runs out.” I leaned over to reach for a small cookie to nibble bringing myself even more uncomfortably close to my dear cousin. In the process my elbow found the same spot on her ribs and ground in as if I were trying to reduce a stone to powdered sand. Then leaning back I carried on as if nothing had happened.
“And I actually find the cold invigorating in many situations as compared to the unfocused heat.” I delicately brought the cookie to my lips and nibbled it not unlike a mouse might enjoy a treat one small bite at a time. “Of course both cold and hot can be amusing all depending on the manner that they are presented.”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 11, 2007 19:47:11 GMT -5
I had to stop myself from quirking an eyebrow at their behavior. I suddenly felt very old. "Most would rather not be on the receiving end of that coldness however." I added in an almost off-hand manner, even though the comment wasn't.
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