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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 7, 2007 19:04:08 GMT -5
Smiling slightly and with my new title bearing weight on me I walked up to Anacrasia's front door with every bit of respectability I had; since that one summer day we'd been friends, though secretly. Now, we were back to fulfilling family duties again, my meeting her as the new Sovereign Duc to her Shahrizai Matriarch. An old tradition, mostly useless, but necessary for appearances' sake.
Taking a deep breath and keeping my expression solemn I knocked on her door.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 7, 2007 19:56:11 GMT -5
I was in my study, writing yet another letter when Henri entered, composed as always. Nothing ever ruffles him.
"The Duc de Morhban has arrived. I have taken the liberty of putting him in the sitting room."
I blinked once, putting a stopper on my memories and ink jar. "Thank you Henri. I will be down in a moment."
His arrival wasn't completely unexpected. I had received word that Theodore had died, and knew Gervaise had taken his oath. But it had been years since I had spoken to him in person, and it took a brief moment to become mentally prepared for the meeting.
I found him in the sitting room, one of the maids just leaving after setting out the accouterments for tea. I shut the stained glass door behind her. "Gervaise."
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 7, 2007 20:10:41 GMT -5
I knew we'd both changed a great deal, but she wore her years well, as I hoped I did. "Anacrasia," I replied, smiling slightly and nodding. "It's been a long time." For a moment my shoulder stung, a memory of torn flesh. "You look well."
In honesty she looked fantastic and she likely knew it too; still, now wasn't the time to say such things. It was her home and she'd decide how we acted while in it- the same respect I'd expect in my home.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 7, 2007 20:23:38 GMT -5
I smiled. I could still hear the growl in his voice.
"Thank you." I replied, sitting down in the chaise near his. "My condolences." I had never gotten along with his cousin, but it was the proper thing to say.
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 7, 2007 20:29:51 GMT -5
"Thank you," I replied honestly- I hadn't always seen eye to eye with Theodor but he was still my kin.
She'd sat near me and I turned to face her, recalling the smile she'd had at hearing me speak. "So, do you know exactly what I'm going to say?" I asked her with a wry smile.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 7, 2007 21:32:50 GMT -5
"I have a fair idea, since this will be number three." I told him, matching his wry grin. "Though I shall leave the exact wording up to you."
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 7, 2007 21:50:06 GMT -5
Chuckling, I nodded in understanding. "Then bear with me- speeches were never my forte," I said in amusement. "Something about you and yours not being too terrible to me and mine and we'll all get along alright? I won't step on your toes if you keep off of mine? Perhaps even so cooperation from time to time?"
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 7, 2007 21:57:36 GMT -5
"I hardly think the occasional bout of cooperation will be hard. We have, after all, some experience in the matter." I thought about telling him about the boon I had owed Theodore. But I decided against it. I didn't think getting along with this Duc would be a problem.
"Would you like me to swear my allegiance to you now, or would you like to wait for a more public time?" I asked him with another smile. This was the real test. Neither Theodore nor his father had trusted me to keep my word without plenty of witnesses.
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 7, 2007 22:01:35 GMT -5
"Depends how you plan to do so," I teased with a low chuckle, then shook my head and added seriously, "Here would be fine. You've already done the spectacle a couple times and I don't see why your loyalty would change for the worse with me. Especially with the 'experience' you speak of." Those moments were entirely too easy to remember, though I think I managed to keep all indication of my thoughts from my expression if not my gaze.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 7, 2007 22:19:07 GMT -5
Some lust dies after a short time, and the lovers go their separate ways. It seemed we had merely gone our separate ways, if the heat in his gaze was any indication.
"I, Anacrasia Shahrizai, Duchesse and representative of the Shahrizai family, do hereby swear fealty and loyalty to our Sovereign Duc, Gervaise de Morhban." I spoke seriously, my hand over my heart.
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 7, 2007 22:21:41 GMT -5
"And I, Sovereign Duc Gervaise de Morhban, do accept your oath of fealty and loyalty and do swear to do well by it," I replied as honestly, matching her pose with the same solemnity.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 7, 2007 23:02:27 GMT -5
I slowly relaxed from the position as it became clear he was done. "Now that's out of the way, would you care for a cup of tea?"
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 7, 2007 23:04:35 GMT -5
"That would be nice- something stronger would be better," I replied with a crooked grin, mostly teasing. "Something so we can really celebrate the nonsense being done and over with."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 7, 2007 23:19:42 GMT -5
"What would wet your whistle then my dear Duc?" I teased back with the formality.
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 7, 2007 23:21:26 GMT -5
"Whatever you have available, for I trust your taste, dear Duchesse," I teased back, eyes narrowed playfully. "You've aged well, Ana."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 7, 2007 23:44:48 GMT -5
"Thank you." I replied with a smile, standing and moving to the side board. I uncorked the port wine, and began to pour two glasses. "You have also weathered well. How long has it been?"
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 7, 2007 23:51:52 GMT -5
"Since when?" I asked wryly. "That summer? About fourteen years."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 8, 2007 0:00:16 GMT -5
I returned to him, glasses in hand. I took a long moment to gaze at him before I finally handed him the port. "Yes, time has treated you well."
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 8, 2007 0:03:24 GMT -5
As forthrightly as she examined me I did so to her, then took the glass, brushing her fingers slightly before the port ended up in my hands. "And you, Ana," I told her honestly. "You're as lovely as always, a wonderful thing to hunt."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 8, 2007 0:07:06 GMT -5
I grinned. "And you still have the growl of a predator in your voice. How many other's hear it I wonder?" I asked him, eyes sparkling.
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 8, 2007 0:09:32 GMT -5
"Too few these days," I told her with a grin as her eyes flashed; then, impulsively and trusting her to hold her glass clear of her gown I gripped her wrist firmly but not tightly and pulled her down to sit beside me. "And on occasion I sometimes still have the quick reflexes too."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 8, 2007 0:21:02 GMT -5
Thankfully I hadn't topped the glass, and was as quick as he was to keep from spilling. "Show off." I teased him as I settled myself more comfortably, our thighs touching casually. Though I knew nothing had ever been casual between us. It was merely an act, if one of the maids entered.
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 8, 2007 0:25:07 GMT -5
In the guise of straightening a piece of her hair I ran it between my fingers. "I try," I replied jestingly, brushing my leg along hers for a bare second, then taking a long drink of wine. "But I did see you keep the glass steady, which was nice."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 8, 2007 0:33:13 GMT -5
"You always did like trying to surprise me." I replied with a grin. "And I don't think I could have ever forgiven you for ruining my gown. It's an old favourite."
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 8, 2007 0:35:19 GMT -5
"How old?" I asked her in teasing.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 8, 2007 0:40:02 GMT -5
I grinned. "Older than Princess Renee, younger than this port." Our thighs brushed together again, though I wasn't sure if it was him or me. I guess it didn't really matter.
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 8, 2007 15:28:09 GMT -5
"That's rather a wide range from the taste of the port," I replied, fingering the material on her sleeve to all appearances though it was really a caress through the gown, teasing and testing.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 9, 2007 0:35:42 GMT -5
"Well yes, I suppose that isn't helpful at all, is it?" I mused teasingly. He was pushing me, like he had always. If it hadn't been the best idea all those years ago, it sure wasn't now. But memories die hard, and I felt nineteen again. I didn't encourage him, but I as sure as hell didn't stop him either. Patience. Like always.
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Post by Gervaise de Morhban (D) on Aug 9, 2007 15:32:23 GMT -5
"Not really, but I could try to guess," I teased again. "A thousand years? A million? You know I'm not very good at guessing things." I was actually very good- therein the humor.
She didn't pull back but she didn't lean into my touch either- a stalemate, or simply that lovely patience? Only time would tell. "What have you been up to, Ana?" I said her name in a slight growl, so quiet it was almost imagined, and another tease. It felt as though time had stopped.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 9, 2007 23:23:13 GMT -5
"Why, looking after the clan like a good matriarch." I replied with an innocent bat of my eyelashes. My thigh pressed against his for longer than just a brush.
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