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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 13, 2008 22:29:20 GMT -5
I was free for the evening, but couldn't find anyone else who was as well, so I headed down to Mont Nuit on my own. Well, I was only alone until I arrived at the Laughing Parrot. I knew several of the workers there, both performers and servers, but I also wanted to meet someone new. I was lacking friends, now that Carmen had a new lover who was falling over himself for her favour.
I found a table to watch the bustle and see if anyone interesting appeared.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 14, 2008 12:00:38 GMT -5
The thing about Terre d'Ange was that it didn't seem to matter where you went alone - someone friendly always seemed to be about and willing for a chat. It was a wonder anything ever got done here. My woad gave me a fierce appearance, I knew, though it was designed that way since I started getting them tattooed in childhood. It didn't seem to deter more than half the people here, though, which I supposed lent to the fact that Albans weren't too horribly unusual.
It was for all of that that I made my way out of the relative quietness of my townhome and towards Mont Nuit, riding atop a simple riding horse rather than my favored warhorse. Rakul was too angry, too high strung for the streets. I probably should have left him in Kushieth at my estate in good truth, but it had been hard for me to part with him for that long. He'd saved my life more than once.
One place in particular caught my attention, surrounded by the bustle of laughter and energy, smiling faces. Dismounting half a block away, I walked the remainder and watched those without comment, noting how the girls either shied away or thrust their breasts at me, while the men were either leery or didn't pay me much notice. Tossing my reins at a waiting stablehand, I tipped him a few coppers before making my way into the establishment, stopping a few feet inside to let my eyes adjust, and to gain my bearings.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 14, 2008 12:29:02 GMT -5
It was if someone up above was granting my wishes. The Alban I had spotted... oh where was it? It was either the coronation or the wedding. It didn't really matter, his face was still as handsome with his woad as he walked in. Interesting indeed.
I caught Marcia's sleeve as she went by. She saw who it was and smiled, though a moment before she might have throttled me. "The man in the doorway, do you know him?" She glanced over and shook her head. "When he's settled, could you do me a favour?"
She grinned. "Find out?"
I smiled as well. "You got it."
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 14, 2008 12:50:08 GMT -5
After a quick moment my bearings were thus gained, and I made my way halfway across the room and to an empty table. The girls sitting adjacent to me giggled and scattered, making me wonder idly if they were drunk or just insane. It took no more than a moment before a rather pretty server appeared at my side, her smiling face telling a tale of long hours, though apparently all spent in joy. After experiencing some of the energy this place held, I wasn't very surprised.
"Hello," she quipped, her full mouth smiling in full. "Thirsty? Are you waiting for someone this evening?"
I smiled in return, leaning back some in my chair. "No, not meeting anyone, just thought I'd stop in for a glass of ale."
"Of course. Could I inquire your name, just in case something comes up and I have to ask someone else to deliver it to you? I wouldn't want someone else gaining your drink."
"Decimus," I replied, not really thinking twice on her question. She smiled again and moved off, leaving me relaxed and comfortable, watching the people around me with an idle curiousity.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 14, 2008 13:04:30 GMT -5
It didn't take much to convince Marcia to let me take his ale to him. In fact, she grinned her encouragement between letting me know what she had found out and bustling away to wait on another table.
I rose and went over to his table, noting the long legs stretched before him. "Decimus? I hope you don't mind, but I know the server, and asked if I could bring this over." I said, serving him his ale with practiced ease. I kept my glass in my hand for now, not wanting to seem more forward than I already appeared.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 14, 2008 13:08:38 GMT -5
I looked up curiously when I heard my name, and instead of the same middle-age server who'd delivered my drink, I saw a pretty, fresh face before me. "You did?" It was dumb, and I knew it as soon as it fell from my mouth, but I was rather dumb-founded as to why she'd request it.
"Well, thank you," I replied in effort to make up for it, giving her an easy smile as I rose, holding a chair out for her in offering. "Please, sit if you'd like. I'd love the company."
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 14, 2008 13:15:58 GMT -5
"Thank you," I replied in Cruithne, sitting in the offered chair with a smile. "I'm Keaira nó Eglantine," I continued in D'Angeline, not sure which he would be more comfortable using.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 14, 2008 13:27:06 GMT -5
My interest was instantly perked when she used the tongue of my homeland, causing me to regard her with new eyes as I took my own seat. "Duc Decimus mab Halcyone de Macaula," I responded, my tongue switching to Cruithne. "You know Cruithne? Very interesting, that. For all I've heard it's taught here, it doesn't seem as if very many use it enough to really know much."
I looked at her, curious as a soaring hawk that is trying to figure out a scampering object below. She was very pretty, and obviously outgoing to approach me as such. Ah, well. At least she wasn't one of those giggling girls who thrust all their assets at me.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 14, 2008 13:37:51 GMT -5
"My father was Cruithne, my mother made sure I learned those particular lessons well," I replied in the same. My smile was friendly under his scrutiny, and I took a sip of my ale. He had nothing on the various Dowaynes I had encountered when it came to piercing stares.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 14, 2008 13:46:28 GMT -5
"I'm glad to hear it,"I responded, before switching back to d'Angeline. I reached out and took the handle of my mug, though I didn't bother lifting it. "Is there some reason in particular that you wrested my glass from my server to bring it to me?" There had to be; I don't know why else she'd do that. I leaned back in my chair again, at ease, before finally taking a drink of the ale she'd delivered.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 14, 2008 14:08:04 GMT -5
"There are several reasons. One of which was that we were both sitting alone," I replied with a smile that dared him to ask me what the other reasons were, wondering why he was suspicious.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 14, 2008 14:13:01 GMT -5
It occurred to me that mayhap she didn't want to tell; her stare was fierce, and I smiled to myself. And there was the Alban in her.
"Good enough," I said, dismissing the matter in a tone that registered she won, I'd leave it be. "I won't argue. I am, though, surprised you're alone." I gave her a half grin and took another drink, stretching my legs out under the table.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 14, 2008 14:19:45 GMT -5
"That's why I came to the Laughing Parrot," I replied with a smile. "No Eglantine is truly alone here, and there is always something happening. Interesting people walking in, for one thing." I said, indicating Decimus with a little nod of my head and a teasing smile.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 14, 2008 14:34:19 GMT -5
My half grin became a full grin, and I shook my head a little. "You never know, those who you think are interesting have a tendancy for turning out different than you originally planned." She was easy to talk to; teasing and light, though not one that could just be bowled over. I watched her with intrigued eyes for a moment before scanning the crowd, the coming back to her. "You come here often, then? Pick up many singles and charm them with your wit and pretty face?" I teased her back, my grin jesting.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 14, 2008 14:41:09 GMT -5
"Well you have already surprised me once by not thinking I was too forward." I replied smiling at the tease. "But no, I don't usually come alone. It's usually my best friend doing the charming, and I watch for the entertainment value," I jested back.
I was starting to think Jules was a bad influence on me. I didn't used to joke this easily. Make that a good influence...
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 14, 2008 14:45:37 GMT -5
I chuckled, dropping my hands to lace over my stomach as I reclined. "Sounds as if you have your evenings mapped out nicely. I've never been here before, but so far the place has been nothing but positive for me." I smiled, leaning forward towards her a little. "And it'd take far more than that for me to think you forward, Keaira."
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 14, 2008 15:02:20 GMT -5
"Oh good." I replied with a smile. "So where is Macaula, if I may ask?"
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 14, 2008 15:04:29 GMT -5
"Kushieth," I responded. "Near the coastline, thankfully. Makes the trips to and from Alba much shorter."
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 15, 2008 0:04:41 GMT -5
"You grew up in Alba?" I asked, fairly certain from his accent. "What is it like there?"
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 15, 2008 12:39:17 GMT -5
I grinned. "I didn't get my face tattooed because I was drunk." I tossed the jest to her, then continued on. "Yes, I grew up in Alba. It'd beautiful there, if harsher than the land is here. Wild, hilly, forests of aged trees that stretch for miles, and the people." I smiled, scratching an itch on my stomach with my thumb as my hands remained hooked over it. "The people are without par."
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 15, 2008 12:46:18 GMT -5
"Well, you might have been drunk, but that was a secondary event," I replied with a grin then continued wistfully, "Oh how I wish I could be there tomorrow."
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 15, 2008 12:51:05 GMT -5
I laughed. "As I got older, yes, but when I was younger the only thing I was allowed to drink after getting parts of the woad etched in was goats milk."
A grin popped out on my face again, and I took my ale for a drink as I jested once again. "I'll sling you over my saddle and take you, if you like."
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 15, 2008 13:00:15 GMT -5
I laughed. "If only. Two years and I'll be free to leave, and Alba will be my first stop." It was years away and I was already excited.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 16, 2008 1:06:05 GMT -5
"A good plan if I ever heard one," I commented, giving her an easy, laid back smile. "Anything in particular that you have plans on seeing?"
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 16, 2008 1:13:24 GMT -5
"There is an ollamh who offered to teach me, whenever I found my way to his land. So I shall go search for him," I said simply. I knew others thought it daunting, but I knew enough of the laws of Alba to trust in my abilities. "Perhaps along the way, I can find family."
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 16, 2008 12:58:37 GMT -5
"Really," I commented. "Do you know which tribe he belongs to? I'm of the Black Boar myself - mayhap I know him."
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 16, 2008 14:21:36 GMT -5
"All I knows is his name, Rowan mab Caolinn." I replied, knowing from asking others that they were both common enough names. "And that he came over with the Cruarch every spring for six years."
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 16, 2008 15:09:01 GMT -5
"Sounds familiar." I was vaguely related to the Cruarchs family; my grandmother on my mothers side was the sister to the late Cruarch, Drustan mab Necthana. "I'm afraid I haven't kept up with what the Cruarchs been doing personally; I haven't seen him in a few years."
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 16, 2008 20:18:12 GMT -5
I wasn’t really surprised to find him so well situated in the world. He was both a D’Angeline duc and a great Alban warrior of the Cruarch’s own clan. “I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting him,” I teased him with a wry smile, beating back the hope that rose when he said the name was familiar. It didn’t mean anything at this point.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 17, 2008 11:42:58 GMT -5
"I should be in Alba at that time, or close to it," I said, watching her face as it lit up some. "If you make it over and have the time, ask for directions; most soldier posts can give them to you. I'll see what I can arrange as far as meetings go."
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