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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 8, 2008 5:56:44 GMT -5
The ride with Riva had been quiet. Both exhausted, both turned inwards, yet supplying one another with companionable silence and wordless support. She stayed pressed against me, and I let her warmth seep through me. That she like me was a small measure of salve on the gaping wound I was carrying, but I was nonetheless grateful for it.
The door of the carriage made me almost start, lost as I was in contemplation, and I exited the carriage silently, holding out, once more, a gloved hand to Riva.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 8, 2008 11:35:28 GMT -5
I was almost drowsing by the time the carriage stopped at the house. I blinked to clear my eyes as Gil exited.
Carefully, I took his hand and stepped out. “Do you want me to help you with those?” I asked, indicating his hands.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 8, 2008 12:05:19 GMT -5
I smiled wanly at Riva for her delicate attention. "That's alright," I replied. "I will tend myself." The door to the home was opened and I led her inside, smiling bleakly at To-Biko.
"Why don't we go and change into something more comfortable, then we can have a night cap in the study?" I offered, though it wasn't exactly a question.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 8, 2008 12:13:28 GMT -5
“Alright,” I said, smiling at To-Biko. I released Gil’s hand and affectingly brushed my hand against To-Biko’s arm as I passed him on my way up to my room to change.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 8, 2008 12:58:03 GMT -5
The wide smile that spread on my Jebean friend's face wasn't lost on me, and I chuckled. I gave him a pat on the back, and said, "After this, we'll go and have a run down at the Cockeral, you and I. I could use two night caps tonight."
He lifted an inquiring eyebrow, but knew best to save his questions for later. I left him to go to my room, and there, struggled with the gloves, eventually giving up and cutting them and hurling them on the wall. In the washbasin that I kept, I rinsed my hands, and once they dried, I took a moment to remove the jacket.
I smelt it - it still held the scent of Mirielle, and for a moment I let myself get lost in the olfactive memory. But she wasn't mine, she had never been mine, and so I closed my eyes and dropped it. I donned light breeches of brown wool and a shirt of white cotton, slippers rather than boots.
I rubbed salve on my hands and took a deep breath. Composure regained, I went to the study and served myself some brandy. There was some passionfruit juice for Riva, served already, for when she came.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 8, 2008 13:22:20 GMT -5
Daisy was curled up on my pillow when I entered my room. Purring, she lifted a sleepy head to look at me. I went to her, petted her and told her to go back to sleep, which she did.
Then, I changed into a loose, cream colored shift and undid my hair so that it hung loose again. Then I made my way downstairs, seeing To-Biko again.
“You’re going to get a chill,” he teased, looking at my dress and bare feet.
“No I won’t,” I replied with a grin. “But if I do I promise to be a good patient and let you fuss over me even while you scold me.”
He laughed deeply and shook his head. “Gil’s in the study already, and I made sure there was juice for you.”
“Thank you!” I said, stretching up to kiss his cheek, even then he had to lean down for me to reach it.
Smiling I made my way to the study. “Hello again,” I said to Gil.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 8, 2008 13:31:52 GMT -5
The brandy was loosening my aches, both physical and moral, though I knew it was temporary. Nonetheless, I welcomed the relief.
"Hello again," I replied, smiling as I motionned her over into the second armchair I kept there for informal business meetings, where I offered tea and other pleasantries to visitors that came to see me in relationship to the Embassy.
"Well you look much better than you did at the Fete, Riva," I said with an amused smile.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 8, 2008 13:35:29 GMT -5
I found the juice, smiling to myself as I took a sip while I sat where Gil indicated.
“Thank you, I feel much better.” It was true, the safety of being home had made me feel nearly myself again. “How are you feeling?”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 8, 2008 14:38:41 GMT -5
"Like I have been run over by a trampling carriage," I replied with a sigh. "But I'd rather not dwell on it." I stretched, and looked at her. "Well, Riva, tell me your impressions of the Fete."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 8, 2008 20:00:36 GMT -5
I’d hoped he’d want to talk about what had happened, for I knew it was bothering him. However, it was not my place to pry into his emotions, even though I knew what they were.
“It was very intense,” I told him after I took another sip. “There was a lot of things that happened and people had some very different reactions. “
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 9, 2008 11:39:59 GMT -5
Riva was silent, and I understood she was considering various issues. In truth, it was all too raw - too soon - for me to talk of such things, and I needed a distraction from my own plight to go through the rest of the evening.
I smiled, nodding. "Well, do tell, that is very interesting, truly."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 9, 2008 16:40:26 GMT -5
“When the Queen made her announcement, some people were just happy, but there was more surprise and even some real resentment. The Princess who was with the sil.. oddly, dressed man was very resentful.”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 9, 2008 16:44:05 GMT -5
I couldn't help but chuckle. Al-Wahed's heir had really struck a chord with Riva, apparently. Her comment though was truly interesting - it seemed against family expectations that Coretta would not share her sister's enthusiasm. Unless...
"That's interesting," I observed. "Would I be wrong in my understanding that the Russian Prince does indeed truly love the Queen, and that he is loved in return?"
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 9, 2008 16:57:00 GMT -5
“Oh no, they both love each other. I could feel it above everything else in fact,” I assured him.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 9, 2008 18:23:47 GMT -5
I nodded. It was something I had no trouble believing, and knowing of Riva's gift, I was convinced.
"Then the Dauphine perhaps has a tooth against Romanov," I observed. "Trouble in the midst of House Courcel... what of Bin Kasseem, the silly man, is she in love with him, you think?"
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 9, 2008 18:26:57 GMT -5
“No, not at all. She was just looking to draw attention,” I said, sure of my observation. “I noticed later that they weren’t even together any longer.”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 9, 2008 18:51:13 GMT -5
I shook my head, smiling grimly. "Poor sand prince isn't any luckier with the ladies than he was in La Serenissima," I said absently. He and I had something in common, now. I'd look him up, perhaps.
"So they want the world to think they are courting, but they aren't," I said thoughtfully. "Do you think Alexei Romanov figured it out?"
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 9, 2008 21:13:19 GMT -5
“I don’t know,” I replied, shaking my head. “I didn’t get an impression one way or the other on that.”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 10, 2008 10:36:28 GMT -5
I shrugged. "I guess it's all a matter of how good they were at acting, and how attentive he was to the remainder of the evening," I said thoughtfully.
"Did you have a chance to speak to the Aragonian Princess?" I asked thoughtfully. I wondered about her - Luthar was sending a great deal of people to Terre d'Ange, that was certain.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 10, 2008 16:46:16 GMT -5
“No, she was still dancing when you and Nicola approached me,” I answered. I curled up in the chair a little more and rested my head against the back. “Why does she interest you so?”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 11, 2008 2:51:24 GMT -5
"I find curious that Luthar is sending his niece to investigate his son's wife, when he has an ambassador in Terre d'Ange. Tomas isn't bad at what he does," I explained. "So there has to be an added motive for her presence here."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 11, 2008 13:59:06 GMT -5
“Maybe she just wanted to travel,” I suggested with a slight shrug.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 11, 2008 14:57:05 GMT -5
“Maybe,” I said with a smile. “She and the Lady Nicola visibly don’t like each other much,” I added after a moment’s consideration. “I like her, though, Nicola.”
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 11, 2008 15:54:27 GMT -5
I smiled at the mention of Nicola. “I liked her too,” I agreed.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 11, 2008 16:07:20 GMT -5
"Good that we agree on that matter," I said. "I would have been disappointed if my judgement of Nicola had proven to be flawed." I smiled, and reached over to pat her knee, "so not everything in the Fete went awry, at least."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 11, 2008 16:11:53 GMT -5
“No, not everything,” I replied with a smile. I reached out and took his hand where it set on my knee, slipping my palm against his.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 11, 2008 16:49:12 GMT -5
I knew then that Riva wanted to comfort me for my own mishaps, but this night, I had the need for a slow and quiet decent into drunkenness. Still, I let the moment last, for the companionship it brought us both.
"Do you think you will be able to attend other fetes?" I asked at length. I liked her enough to worry about her well being - I didn't want her meeting madness on such an assignment. There were other ways, if necessary.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 11, 2008 16:54:03 GMT -5
His rebuke, though not blatant was clear and I withdrew my hand to wrap it around my glass as well.
“Yes,” I answered, looking at my juice as I swirled it in my glass. “Perhaps something smaller next time would be a good place to start, until I am more comfortable in what you want me to do.”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 12, 2008 12:33:54 GMT -5
Her hand was gone, and I mourned the warmth of it, even if this very moment, holding hands was all I could do. I felt myself lost on desire, as though this very part of me that was so sparked by Mirielle had been killed in the ensuing heartbreak. It should have worried me, but I was too taken with trying to contain myself to think on the matter.
I withdrew it then, as naturally as such a gesture can be done. “That is fine,” I replied. “I think the Fete Nicola intends to hold will be just the occasion to get you started off. I’m sorry the Great Hall was too much, though we learned a valuable lesson tonight.”
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 12, 2008 15:27:51 GMT -5
“And what was that?” I asked, leaning my head against the curved back of the chair. Likely it was something about much work it was going to take to get me even close to what he wanted of me. I’d obviously disappointed him, since he didn’t even want my support as a friend when he was obviously hurting. The happiness and relaxation I’d felt at being home again had lessened somewhat now.
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