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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 14, 2008 7:59:20 GMT -5
I'd woken up with a headache, and momentary doubts about the events of the night. In the midst of my early waking, I had thought this had been a nightmare, but the memory was crystal clear, and I was left to the anguish of the realization that it was all true.
I had extracted myself from the bed and been slow to dress, eventually forcing willpower on myself and getting downstairs for breakfast.
The remainder of the morning was spent coordinating the works for the sparring salle with To-Biko, and answering to correspondance. I also wrote to Emilio with the news of the Royal wedding to come, and had lunch in my office. I found burying myself in work did me good.
The tray had been emptied and picked up, and I had prepared a table for Riva with various items which would be useful for the afternoon's work.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 14, 2008 12:29:21 GMT -5
The emotions of the night had carried over and I’d slept horribly, waking several times startled and crying out. The only good thing was that I hadn’t disturbed anyone else in the house.
Tia had looked aghast when she’d seen me in the morning, immediately ushering me into the kitchen and sitting me at a table there. She’d plied me tea thick with honey, a wonderful raisin roll covered with thick icing, and even some fruit. She had quickly latched onto my sweet tooth as a way to get me to eat, and this morning I willingly ate everything she set in front of me.
Full, and feeling better, I took Daisy out to the gardens where we spent the morning soaking in the sun and playing in the grass. By the time I was ready to go see Gil, I was feeling a wholly different person than when I had awoken.
Going to Gil’s office, I knocked softly and waited for him to answer.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 15, 2008 7:15:47 GMT -5
I had been busy with making notes in my study, but my mind had set to wander, and I idly considered the décor.
There were many books laid about, but more importantly, there were maps spread on the free wall. Otherwise, my office hadn’t changed much from its usual appearance. The Nubian statuettes and the Jebean masks were there, and the Kritian bust, the Illyrian painting, the Aragonian etchings. I liked that my office was a testament to my travels – they held a tribute to the countries I’d visited, and kept me aware of the different things that happen in the world. They also were a memento of the people I’d met, the lessons I’d learned.
Startling me from my musings, a soft knock beckoned my attention. “Come in,” I called, assuming it was one of the house – strangers didn’t come in so easily. Riva, perhaps. It was early afternoon, I guessed she was ready.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 15, 2008 13:36:54 GMT -5
Opening the door, I slipped inside and closed it behind me.
“Good day,” I said with a soft smile. “Is this a good time?”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 15, 2008 16:42:00 GMT -5
I smiled, waving her over. “Your timing could not be better,” I told her. “Did you have a good night? How did your morning go?”
I was feeling a little better. Being focused on work, and not on myself, did me good. This was my new goal, I’d decided in the course of the morning.
To not be so self-absorbed.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 15, 2008 17:34:27 GMT -5
“My night was not good, but the morning has been wonderful,” I answered, moving over closer to him. “Tia fed me until I near burst and then Daisy and I played in the garden.”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 15, 2008 17:43:21 GMT -5
I felt my brow furrow. “Your morning sounds lovely,” I said, “But is there something I can do about your night?” I asked, worried. “Are you rested enough, do you need more time?”
I was amused, though. Giovanna did have the trade to get her way. It was well, I decided – I wouldn’t have it said that an adept in my care was poorly treated.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 15, 2008 17:56:32 GMT -5
“No,” I said, shaking my head and taking a seat. “I always have nightmares unless Aleron is with me. Some things make them worse, but they are always there. I’m alright, really.”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 15, 2008 18:11:15 GMT -5
I made a sort of humming sound that meant I understood. I expected she would need to see her Aleron soon, then – everyone needs a good night of sleep every so often.
“Alright, then.” I leaned against my chair, and said, “Well I guess we have a few matters to discuss, and my first order of business is your marque. We need to get that up some, don’t we?” I gave her a reassuring smile. It was her body, and she had a lot of say in what happened in this respect.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 16, 2008 1:36:27 GMT -5
“Yes, I suppose we do,” I agreed, not thrilled at the idea of any more time at the marquist’s. “Have you decided on what design you are going to have done?”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 16, 2008 5:23:18 GMT -5
“It’s your body,” I replied with a liberal gesture. “Seeing as you’ll have to live with it more than I, likely, I’d like for you to have your say. We’ll visit the marquist together, if you want.” Curious, for I knew a lot of adepts were in a hurry to get their marque done with, I asked, “Are you excited?”
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 16, 2008 12:17:43 GMT -5
“it hurts, a lot,” I admitted. “I waited as long as I could after my debut to get anything done because it scared me.”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 16, 2008 14:46:03 GMT -5
“Then you don’t have to do it all in one session,” I said with a smile. “You have two years to get this done, so you can do it at whatever rhythm you like.”
I reached and patted her hand. “I am not an ogre, after all,” I added with a teasing grin.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 16, 2008 20:59:51 GMT -5
“I know,” I replied, chewing my bottom lip for a moment as I thought. “If I were to have any requests, it would be for something less elaborate then the traditional Gentian marque. And for something more personal.”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 17, 2008 13:37:28 GMT -5
“That’s fine,” I said with a nod. “Perhaps later this week we can take a trip to the marquist, and see what he has to offer. Is there one you prefer to do business with?” I asked curiously, for I had no knowledge of such things.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 17, 2008 14:54:28 GMT -5
“No, I’ve only been to one and I don’t know that a different one would be any more pleasant,” I said with a bit of a shrug.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 17, 2008 16:36:52 GMT -5
“We’ll have to see what to do about that,” I said as I made a note to look up the various marquists, and to seek out one known for his gentle ways.
I gestured to the table, and said, “Tell me, what was your favorite subject, at Gentian?”
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 17, 2008 19:24:12 GMT -5
“Dance,” I replied immediately, smiling wide. “I love to dance.”
“I was just about to begin learning languages too, and that seemed very interesting.”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 19, 2008 15:43:19 GMT -5
I grinned, heartened by her earnestness. Of course she liked dancing, it had been written all over her during the Fete. For that, I nodded. It wouldn’t be the subject of our study today, though perhaps there was something to do with that. I’d need to think on it.
“Languages are good,” I said with a nod. “What had they started with?”
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 20, 2008 10:37:18 GMT -5
“Nothing yet, but I was scheduled to begin learning Alban,” I told him. “It wasn’t until recently that my teachers really thought about me needing such things, most of them didn’t like teaching me because I argued with them when they were wrong”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 21, 2008 3:57:03 GMT -5
I chuckled. “Surprising that trained Gentian adepts wouldn’t be more accustomed to such things,” I said with a raised eyebrow – not doubting her, but finding the universe she came out of more odd by the minute.
“Knowing languages would be a great asset. Seeing as there isn’t anything to build on, we have a choice,” I indicated methodically. “I have a mind to start with Aragonian or Caerdicci, seeing as they have common roots with D’Angeline. Do you have a preference?”
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 21, 2008 16:27:57 GMT -5
“Whichever you think will be more beneficial for whatever plans you have for me,” I replied.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 22, 2008 6:24:27 GMT -5
“Aragonian, then, for starters,” I said with a smile. There was Illyrian and Cruithne as well which I intended to teach her, and I would. From there, there were would ramifications.
I gave her two scrolls. One held the Ysandine Cycle in D’Angeline, the other, in Aragonian. “Keep these, they will be useful later,” I said with a smile. “What of history and geography?” I asked curiously.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 22, 2008 13:51:11 GMT -5
“I’ve had classes in both for many years,” I said as I took the scrolls and cradled them in my lap.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 23, 2008 7:05:46 GMT -5
“Good,” I replied with a nod. “Those will be handy,” I said with a grin. “Did you enjoy them?” I asked curiously.
I couldn’t help but notice how applied she was already in the way she cradled the scrolls. Riva would do well – she had a lot of willingness, and that counted for more than half of the resources needed, which she otherwise had.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 23, 2008 12:57:30 GMT -5
“Geography more than history. The history they taught us wasn’t always the truth of what happened and those were the classes I had the most arguments in,” I told him, smiling a little ruefully.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 23, 2008 17:42:51 GMT -5
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Loving truth. That was something I liked in her, but for our work required discretion at times. Something she said, though, called my attention forth.
“So your professors of history covered some facts,” I noted quietly. “I’m interested in hearing about that. Would you tell me a tale of one of those arguments, please?”
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 23, 2008 21:21:01 GMT -5
“It wasn’t my professors that got it wrong, it’s the books and scrolls themselves that are wrong,” I said, trying to explain. “They are always written by the people who win, the people who survive and they might not always want the truth of things to be known, so they write it down in a way that sounds good.”
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Mar 24, 2008 13:52:04 GMT -5
I nodded, agreeing. “You have natural skepticism,” I observed quietly. “It will come in handy in our work, as long as you can conceal your wit from those who lie.”
Pausing a moment, I stood, and pointed at the map, randomly picking a spot between Terre d’Ange and Skaldia. “What will you tell me of this area, then?” I asked.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Mar 24, 2008 16:08:17 GMT -5
Furrowing my brow slightly, I thought about what I’d been taught.
“That area, between Camlach and Skaldia, has been the sight of many skirmishes between Terre d’Ange and Skaldia. Not as much now as before the invasion by Selig during Ysandre’s time, but there still exists a military presence by the d’Angelines there
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