|
Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Dec 11, 2007 23:09:08 GMT -5
I shrugged, smiling. "You know, that's exactly what he said, in a way. But I treat everyone the same, Ellette. I can't help it, it's just in my nature. Adepts, peers, nobles, royals... all the same. Even the defunct..." I paused. Why was I bringing that up? It was stupid - really, I shouldn't. "Even the commoners," I completed, smiling again.
|
|
|
Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Dec 13, 2007 0:20:16 GMT -5
It was not something you usually heard, but I could not fault her for it. I treated others as Dahlia taught, but before everyone was pretty much an equal. An equal set of pockets looking to share their loot.
I leaned against the trunk of the tree, though not to heavily since it wasn't the strong base. "I must treat others how I was trained, I can not disappoint my house. It would be a freedom though if I was not bound by that." I looked out, fingering one of my daggers. I then looked at Julie and smiled, "life is a strange thing. When one is free they have less, but when they have more they are bound by rules of society."
|
|
|
Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Dec 13, 2007 0:36:57 GMT -5
"I think freedom is a state of mind," I said after some thought. "I value mine very, very much," I said quietly. "I can't be fettered, it makes me want to scream and run, and just bang everything over. It drives my lovers to madness," I added, laughing lightly. "Well, most of them, anyway."
I smiled softly. There was Rannan. Rannan who didn't try to own me, and treated me kindly, like his little Princess. Rannan who never demanded. He was something else - a rare quality of a man.
|
|
|
Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Dec 18, 2007 14:43:19 GMT -5
I nodded, some did want to own. "I would react the same," I told her, "if a man tried to own me." I thought of Bayard, the only man I had felt any emotion toward. I doubted he would ever try to pin me down or do anything of that sort. Of course, we were not husband or wife or even in a relationship asking for that sort of commitment. We simply enjoyed each other's company.
With a positive nod and a smile I said, "there are some who do respect a woman's freedom and some even seem to enjoy giving it to them."
|
|
|
Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Dec 19, 2007 1:30:09 GMT -5
“They are wonderful beings,” I commented quietly.
I took a breath, looked away. I had to preserve my freedom, I decided. At all costs. No matter what came. Gad? Rannan? I cared about both, but who ever said I had to choose? Then, there was the defunct Mandrake. I lusted for him, there was no doubt. Bah, he didn’t want me that much, he’d pushed me away, after all. I shrugged.
“Shall we get down?” I said after a while, once my brooding had somewhat subsided.
|
|
|
Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Dec 19, 2007 2:29:43 GMT -5
I looked out, enjoying the scenery as Julie thought. She then asked if I wanted down and I nodded a yes. I wondered if I had been overstaying my welcome, but I figured if she really wanted me gone she would have said something.
I deftly climbed down the tree, taking a little more time since climbing down always seemed a little more difficult than climbing up. When I was near the bottom I let go of a branch and dropped to the ground.
|
|
|
Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Dec 19, 2007 14:08:01 GMT -5
Silently, we both made our way down, and I smiled gently once I'd made the final jump down, landing in catlike fashion at Ellette's side. "You're good," I told her with appreciation. "I'm glad I met you, you..." I bit my lip, and said, "I could use a friend, if you'll have me."
Indeed, I could. Ambre had been gone as of late, and both my brothers were incredibly busy. That left me with no friends who didn't have an interest in getting in my pants.
|
|
|
Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Dec 20, 2007 18:09:26 GMT -5
Julie's question was abrupt but I could appreciate it's honesty. She had done nothing to show she would be an unwanted friend and so I nodded my adu. "I do not have many friends so I would appreciate your friendship."
|
|
|
Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Dec 21, 2007 16:50:37 GMT -5
"Then you have it," I replied, smiling wide. "House Deveroix is very loyal, you'll see that I don't let my friends down," I added, quite seriously. Impetuously, I kissed her cheek, and said, just a little comically, "The deal is sealed!"
|
|
|
Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Dec 23, 2007 20:24:14 GMT -5
I smiled as she kissed my cheek, she was very different from most of the girls at Dahlia, but it was not exactly a bad thing. Perhaps a little exposure to someone as flamboyant would do me some good. I know I tended to come across as a little off to some people.
In a act not exactly my usual I returned her kiss on her own cheek and then held out my hand in a gesture I knew a little better and one Julie might understand with her warrior background. "A deal then."
|
|
|
Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Dec 24, 2007 15:45:32 GMT -5
I grinned wide and took Ellette’s extended hand, giving it a squeeze and a shake that was warm and companionable. It was a good gesture, one I’d seen done often, though the men at the salle didn’t see me yet as one of theirs, not enough to treat me with that sort of consideration. At least, with her, it was companionship and honor.
“Partners,” I whispered, both to her and to myself, sealing the nature of our friendship. I looked up, gauging the skies. It was getting late, and I said, “I guess I should make sure you’re on time at Dahlia, yes?”
|
|
|
Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Dec 27, 2007 17:17:04 GMT -5
I shook hands with Julie sealing the deal and hoping that it would prove to be a good and long friendship.
"I need to pick up my dress before the store closes," I said noting the time when Julie did. I returned my attention to her, "many thanks for an interesting day. I will look forward to another spar."
I started to walk around and collect my things.
|
|
|
Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Dec 29, 2007 14:54:38 GMT -5
“Oh, yes, the dress for that wedding,” I replied, chuckling. “I’ll make sure the carriage is ready for you when you come out,” I told her as we headed, her first towards the house.
I didn’t doubt that she remembered where the changing room was, and so I didn’t bother with directions anew, and with a smile, I took the side way to the stable.
As I left, I added, “I’ll meet you in the hall way.”
|
|
|
Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Dec 30, 2007 14:46:30 GMT -5
"Thank you," I told her for all of her kind patronage. As she left to make preparations I went back to the room and changed back to my previous clothes. I slipped the dress over my head and made sure the clothes she had let me borrow were folded neatly.
When I was done I walked out looking more like the adept I was and less like someone who enjoyed sparring.
|
|
|
Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Dec 31, 2007 17:17:05 GMT -5
While Ellette went back, I made for the stable, and found there the gelding and the stable-boy. I gave him orders to prepare the carriage, and though he gave me a look – Kendrick was the master of the house, and not I – a charming smile convinced him to do my bidding. In the meantime, I would ready the gelding myself, and so I went by the horse’s stable, and caressed its nose gently, cooing tender words to the beast. The bridle was bit upon in no time, and when the carriage was ready, I brought the horse to the boy.
“My friend is going back to House Dahlia,” I told him with a wink, “But do make a stop by the clothier’s district, if you don’t mind.” He grinned sheepishly, and I kissed his cheek gingerly. “I will go tell her you are ready.
I smelled a bit of horse when I returned, no doubt, but this was who I was, and found Ellette in the hallway. “Your carriage is ready, Your Grace,” I told her with a foolish, sweeping bow. I made a small, grinning jump, and offered her my arm, “Shall I see you to the door?”
|
|
|
Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Jan 1, 2008 21:09:13 GMT -5
Julie showed up not long after I was done and I laughed a little at her antics. Though the stable had clung to her a little I still gave her my arm and walked with her out of the house. I did not think it would rub off onto me to much.
|
|
|
Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jan 1, 2008 23:07:44 GMT -5
I walked Ellette to the door and smiled as Nicole saw us out with a perplexed expression on her face. “The boy knows to make a stop at the clothier’s,” I said matter-of-factly. “Shall I see you soon, then? Don’t be shy, alright? I’ll hunt you down, if I don’t hear from you!”
|
|
|
Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Jan 3, 2008 14:09:26 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said the added thought would make my day a little simpler. "Do not worry, i will not be a stranger. After all, I owe you a drink."
|
|
|
Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jan 3, 2008 15:14:25 GMT -5
"That you do," I replied, smiling wide. "Mayhap sometime after that dreaded wedding, we shall pursue it?"
In truth, I'd forgotten about the bet already, windmill-headed that I was. It didn't matter - I liked her, and so wager or not, I would see her again.
The carriage was before us, and the lad pulled the door open, smiling wide and blushing a little at Ellette as he handed her his hand to assist her ascension in the vehicle.
|
|
|
Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Jan 6, 2008 2:05:35 GMT -5
I let the stable boy help me into the carriage and shot Julie one last smile before closing the door and settling myself inside. As the carriage head back toward Mont Nuit and Dahlia I thought of the spar and the tree climb. I also thought of Julie's choice of occupation and rather or not I would consider as such. If I did it would only be after I left Dahlia for I owed the House the fact I was not living on the streets. But, it made my head turn and I had much to think of.
|
|
|
Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jan 6, 2008 15:53:41 GMT -5
I returned Ellette's smile, and watched the carriage until it turned the corner. Something... something ate at me. But mayhap I was simply restless. I had sparred, climbed a tree, and yet... Shaking my head at myself, I got back inside the house, and went to bath the sweat off my body. I was feeling great, in my body, energized and relaxed. I was happy for this new friendship. Why couldn't I just bask in the good things, like normal people ?
|
|