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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 17, 2008 16:11:42 GMT -5
My eyes sparkled at the prospect. I knew what sort of patrons I would need to court in foreign lands to live how I wanted, and meeting the Cruarch seemed an excellent place to start. "I would greatly appreciate that. Thank you Decimus." My voice showed the emotion was sincere.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 17, 2008 16:16:08 GMT -5
"You're quite welcome," I said, smiling warmly at her for the sincerity of her tone. "I suppose I could find lodgings for you as well. I'm sure there must be room in the stables."
My smile bloomed to a teasing grin as I took another drink of ale, my eyes sparkling at her from above the rim of my glass.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 17, 2008 21:33:51 GMT -5
I laughed, and then shook my finger at him. "I hope you know better," I said admonishingly, humour in my gaze. "Both adepts and ollamhs might have something to say about that."
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 17, 2008 21:42:59 GMT -5
"Alright, alright," I said, laughing at her response. "You can have my bed, then."
I smiled teasingly at her, enjoying our playful banter. It seemed as if there were so many serious people about, and it was good to meet someone who wasn't so caught up in it.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 17, 2008 22:03:38 GMT -5
I laughed. "Will I have to share?" I asked with a raised brow, still teasing.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 17, 2008 22:57:59 GMT -5
"No," I said, smiling at her tease. "I won't force you to such atrocities as that." Mirth was in my voice, though inward I was rather pleased with not only remembering the word 'atrocity', but saying it correctly the first time. I knew my d'Angeline was accented with the tongue of my homeland, but she didn't seem to mind, and had, apparently, little trouble understanding me.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 17, 2008 23:23:11 GMT -5
"Well that's a relief," I replied, grinning. "I don't know what the world would be coming to, if adepts had to share their beds."
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 18, 2008 12:51:21 GMT -5
I chuckled, tipping my glass towards her in recognition of her well placed joke. "I said I wouldn't force you. Now, if I could persuade you..." My eyes twinkled as I grinned, teasing her back.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 18, 2008 12:59:57 GMT -5
I laughed again. "And the world falls back to normality," I replied with a grin. "I was beginning to think I had completely lost my touch."
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 18, 2008 16:32:27 GMT -5
"Not at all, actually," I said, smiling. "Polite and charming - you have it all nailed down fairly well."
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 18, 2008 19:54:54 GMT -5
I smiled at the compliments. "And you haven't even heard me sing yet. Seems to me I'm not the only charming one here."
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 19, 2008 12:38:00 GMT -5
I chuckled, an amused look crossing my face. "Anything to up my stocks, my lady," I teased, sitting up some. "Your family is originally from Alba, yes? Do you know where abouts?"
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 19, 2008 15:23:18 GMT -5
"Just my father. My mother is at Jasmine House. I'm afraid I don't know a lot about him." I replied, busying myself with my ale for a moment.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 20, 2008 1:17:39 GMT -5
The way she suddenly became interested in her glass didn't escape me; I'd observed far more muted things than that on the battlefront. "You know," I said, tipping my glass towards me and peering into the caramel colored liquid as I spoke. "I grew up in Alba, roots in Terre d'Ange as well. I don't know much about your country except what I've learned in texts and by a few trips here growing up. Mostly, though, I lived in Alba, raised a soldier, trained a soldier. My grandfather, Hyacinthe, and my grandmother, Sibeal, told me more about Terre d'Ange than I ever learned on my own." I ran my finger around the rim of my glass, looking back at her. "Until now, anyway. Sometimes it matters to know your roots, sometimes it doesn't. What matters most of all, though, is your happiness with how you live your life, and thinking back on it, I was happy then, listening to my grandfathers stories of home."
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 20, 2008 1:32:26 GMT -5
His words pulled me away, and my eyes went a little round at who he named as his grandparents. Noble lineage indeed.
"What stories did he weave?" I asked softly.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 20, 2008 1:41:12 GMT -5
I hadn't quite been sure how she'd take my off hand comment on roots; truth be, I was merely trying to reassure her in a round-about sort of way. Hells, at this point I wasn't even sure if she knew it, but the focus was off the uncomfortable subject, at least, and for that I suppose it worked. Just... differently than I'd intended.
"Many different ones. Most centered on the Cockeral, but there were a lot of others about his friends and their stories, about the war, about meeting my grandmother and loving her." Hyacinthe, I knew, was renouned for having been the Master of the Straights, though that bit he really hadn't talked about much. It'd scarred him too much, I think... I never really pressured for information there. Outside of that though, I wasn't sure how much people knew of him. I'd known him well, obviously, but he was my blood; it was different. "My other grandfather, the former Duc de Macaula, met my other grandmother, Eurian, during the war as well. He fell in love, and stayed in Alba for her, never setting foot on Terre d'Ange again." I paused, thinking back. "I think he missed his home soil at times, and I can see why."
I looked at her as I said it, wondering what she was thinking. Women always seemed to have a different mindset, and d'Angeline were more confusing, and more readable, than many Alban women I'd known.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 20, 2008 1:49:55 GMT -5
Oh, to have heard stories from Hyacinthe's own lips... It was a bard's dream. My generation was not one for the histories, no Akkadian the war was before our time and the legendary events of fifty, sixty years ago were even more so.
"You miss Alba?" I asked. I wondered... Could I weave his life into song? Would he let me close enough?
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 20, 2008 13:42:37 GMT -5
"Every time I leave," I replied, my face reflecting a long sort of seriousness. She looked as if she were lost in her own thoughts; curious still, but never-the-less lost. I wondered idly at what she was thinking.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 20, 2008 19:28:03 GMT -5
I stored the idea away for now. If I had been afraid of appearing too forward before, a question like that was even worse. It could wait.
"Do you miss Terre d'Ange as well, when you leave this soil?" I asked, curious. I had only ever had one home.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 21, 2008 0:57:27 GMT -5
"I do," I replied. "Not as much, and not in the same way, but I suppose the piece of me that is d'Angeline misses it when I leave. Do you suppose you'll miss it overmuch when you visit Alba?"
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 21, 2008 1:08:13 GMT -5
"When I pause from the whirlwind of being in a new country, I would think so. I barely make it out of the City very often, much less the D'Angeline borders. I'm sure I'll be homesick." I replied, rolling the edge of my now empty glass along the table.
Over on the stage, a band was setting up. I was amused inwardly, for I knew all of them. If the chemistry was right, they were all individually talented enough that they would produce a good set.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 21, 2008 20:22:25 GMT -5
I nodded, following her eyes out of habit more than anything. I watched the people on the stage a moment, then spoke, my voice quiet. "My grandfather used to miss Terre d'Ange. Both, actually. They adjusted to life in Alba, but their home hearts remained here, on these soils."
I glanced at her, trying to figure her heart out as well, though my face remained laid back, friendly. "Mayhap it'll be easier for you, knowing you'll be back."
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 22, 2008 1:37:36 GMT -5
"Knowing I can come back at any time... Aye, I imagine that would help," I said contemplatively. The band struck up and I smiled. They had the groove.
"Do you dance your grace?" I asked, teasing with the title I hadn't recognized before.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 22, 2008 12:03:51 GMT -5
"Sometimes," I said, a smile creeping onto my face at her tease. "And other times I step on toes."
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 22, 2008 22:35:35 GMT -5
“Well I only ask because the band is quite good, and seem to have an open area before them,” I said, a grin escaping though I tried to keep a straight face.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 23, 2008 10:31:01 GMT -5
My smile turned to a blatant grin as I plopped my glass on the table, then stood with an over-exaggerated offering of my arm. "My lady, would you be so kind as to a..." Damn it. "Accon.." Bloody hells. "Come with me to the dance floor?"
So much for gallantry.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 23, 2008 16:06:34 GMT -5
I rose smoothly and took the waiting arm. "I would gladly accompany you, my lord," I told him with a smile, offering the forgotten word with minimum fuss. "However did you know?" I teased.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 24, 2008 0:18:17 GMT -5
Ah, so smooth, that one. Tossing in words that I fumbled with grace and charm. I grinned down and led her towards the open area, enjoying the feel of her lightly on my arm. "I have a sixth sense, you see," I responded as we broached the floor. "It tells me when beautiful young women want to dance." My grin grew a little as I twirled her out, then brought her back, stepping into the dance.
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Post by Keaira nó Eglantine on Jan 24, 2008 0:50:51 GMT -5
"You must be very popular then, I'm lucky to have snagged you," I replied, returning the grin. My feet felt light as my body moved through the steps.
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Post by Decimus mab Halcyone on Jan 24, 2008 1:01:15 GMT -5
"Oh, I am lucky," I said, my tone indicating that it was only because of her. "Besides, you might not be singing that tune when I have to carry you off the stage from trodding across your feet." I grinned enjoying the dance.
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