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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 6, 2007 5:23:21 GMT -5
I had arrived in town with no fan fair just like I had planned. My horse was stabled and I had bathed and refreshed whilst even having time to take a nap after my travels. I was staying in The Lord and Lady in and I had dressed in loose fitting brown breeches with a yellow doublet.
Not long after sunset I made my way down to the common room to enjoy dinner. I did not speak with anyone but only offered a small smile and gesture to those who greeted me. When the serving lass asked how many I held up a single finger.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 6, 2007 10:39:58 GMT -5
I was sitting at a small table, looking over the menu when he walked in. I had told my staff not to bother making dinner, but I finished my business early that day, and so here I was. Watching the handsome Camlach come in alone. Interesting. He was familiar, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it...
I kept my gaze subtle, deciding if I wanted to play. I knew I was looking fairly fine, my forest green dress hugged my curves in all the right ways, but was still modest, and my hair tumbled down my back in its glory. Perhaps I would play...
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 6, 2007 12:17:15 GMT -5
I took my seat and unfolded my napkin across my lap while ordering wine. I then noticed a very attractive Shahrizai woman. I studied her a second as I had been working on learning the current nobles with my new position. I reflected that she fit the description of Duchesse Anacrasia, older like me, lithe, dignified, I had heard good things about her if that was in fact her. Though the history between our Houses was something of infamy. That was cousin Isidore's doing though when one looks for trouble, trouble tends to find them.
When the lass returned I ordered steak rare and potatoes. I then inclined my head in the lady in forest green's direction and instructed the server to refill her drink on my tab. If I was going to learn the current lay of the political land then I had to start someplace. Being pleasant seemed the most likely choice.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 7, 2007 0:36:49 GMT -5
The serving lass murmured who the drink was from, and I was surprised. A d'Aiglemort, passing courteous to a Shahrizai? It wasn't something I had thought to see in my lifetime. Melisande had done a fine job making enemies that then assumed the whole family was to blame.
Pleased, I ordered their chicken pie. Once the girl had left, I raised the glass to him in toast.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 7, 2007 5:49:14 GMT -5
I raised my own glass in return of her salute and gave a very small smile. She was quite an attractive woman and that did cause my mind to wander a bit. But over time I had kept more to myself than anyone else and that is why I was not fearful of approaching a Shahrizai. I did not court games or trouble.
Then my meal arrived and I offered a polite inclination of my head in thanks and then set to eating. I took my time and enjoyed the fine steak and to be honest lost track of the room turning introspective. It is my nature I suppose since arriving in town my requests at the inn had been the first words I had spoken in 5 days on the trail.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 7, 2007 10:27:47 GMT -5
His face was friendly and open. to the point where it puzzled me. Who buys a woman a drink, then proceeds to ignore her? My own meal arrived, and I studied him as I ate. He was all male, not some pretty boy, and quite pleasing to the eye. He also moved like he was completely at home with his body, especially with that sword strapped to his side. I started to imagine the muscle under that doublet.
I stopped myself. If he was playing games, it was working. He had me interested. But I had my pride. I finished off my chicken pie before I looked over at him again.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 7, 2007 13:15:59 GMT -5
I finished my meal and then looked up to see the lovely Shahrizai woman looking back at me and I offered a small smile once more. Some younger man might have been on her like a vulture already but I was not wet behind the ears. Yet there is a point when one lets the lady know she has your complete attention and this one did now that I was done eating so I took my drink and headed to her table.
My voice sounded a but rough to my ears probably from lack of use "Does My Lady mind if I join her?" I inquired graciously. I let my eyes meet hers at close range and I instantly knew I had just made a tactical error. I had met those of her family before and the eyes are striking but at this close range and on this regal a woman I felt my gaze instantly trapped. I suddenly felt like a bird peering at a snake and being unable to break eye contact. In fact this little bird was starting to really want to be eaten.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 7, 2007 18:28:22 GMT -5
"Not at all my lord." I replied politely. We were close enough in rank that I used my lord as opposed to your grace, polite but not fawning. And it certainly wouldn't do to appear rude. I had enough family members to take that job.
My gaze didn't leave his as he sat. He was obviously as interested in me as I was in him. Now this could be fun. "I was about to come over myself, to thank you."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 7, 2007 19:23:28 GMT -5
"Ah great minds think alike it seems" I settled in and placed my glass on the table. "I am Jareth d’Aiglemort by the by" I did not use my title as I was not egotistical and most in the realm know my father had passed relatively recently. "And unless I am horribly mistaken I am guessing I have the honor of being seated with Duchesse Anacrasia Shahrizai." I was so trying to not stare into her eyes but Elua I felt trapped by that gaze it was an unnerving thing at the same time it was exciting.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 7, 2007 22:03:21 GMT -5
"Correct my lord. Though if you aren't going to use your title, you don't have to bother with mine." I told him with a smile that was just hinting at sensuous, swirling my wine idly. "Anacrasia will do."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 7, 2007 22:17:33 GMT -5
"Jareth will do as well Anacrasia" I saluted her with my glass "and it seems we at least know of one another." I then grinned a small little bit and added in semi serious tones "Wonder how many are turning in their graves over a d’Aiglemort and a Shahrizai having a a drink together?" Then without missing a beat I asked "Interested in desert?"
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 7, 2007 22:34:19 GMT -5
"Yes," I replied simply. He was a refreshing change from the normal vapid young noblemen. "Do you know what's on the menu?"
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 7, 2007 22:49:15 GMT -5
"I am rather partial to cheese cake myself and it looks like that have a nice selection on the menu both with and without cherry sauce." I leaned back a bit and shrugged "Care to split a piece?"
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 7, 2007 23:10:56 GMT -5
"Deal, as long as we have the cherry sauce." I replied with a little grin. "The sauce is a weakness of mine. I'll let you choose the base, I'm not too picky that way."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 7, 2007 23:20:21 GMT -5
"That works for me and I am a run of the mill cheese cake kind of guy myself." I motioned the lass over to order us one large piece of cake to split heavy on the cherry sauce. When she departed to fill our order I turned my attention back to Anacrasia and asked "So what is the current pulse in the City? I must confess I have not been here in" I thought a moment shocked at the realization "probably 5 years."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 7, 2007 23:33:11 GMT -5
"Not much has changed. People married, had children. Children have grown up, entered the game of courtship. The Night Court still has a roaring business." I grinned wryly. "What has kept you away for so long?"
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 7, 2007 23:40:40 GMT -5
I pondered and then answered honestly and simply "I am from a boarder land and that takes tending as we are a natural buffer. Until my father passed there was no need of me in games of intrigue and I honestly am not much on them." I rolled my shoulders a bit "I try to tend my own business and leave others to theirs. So I guess the short answer would be I simply felt I had no business here till now."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 8, 2007 1:25:11 GMT -5
"I'm surprised you're talking with then. The Shahrizai are too well known for their schemes." I replied, studying him as I propped my head on my hand. There was very little guile in the Duc d'Aiglemort, at least now. He didn't strike me as a foolish man. I had a feeling he could dissemble given the proper situation. I hid things just to keep my edge, else my time in the City and away from the vipers in Kusheth make me slow.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 8, 2007 4:38:15 GMT -5
I propped my hand on my chin as a small grin creased my lips and i let my gaze meet that of the intriguing predator once more "I am well versed in that, but I tend to think trouble finds those who court it. Cousin Isidore showed that nicely. I do not court trouble so I sit where and with who I please."
I leaned back a bit as the wait staff sat the piece of cheese cake between us dripping with cherry sauce and two forks thrust into it. The staff then departed as quickly as they came and I never let my gaze leave Anacrasia's "Or am I courting trouble now lady with the pretty eyes?"
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 8, 2007 10:52:32 GMT -5
"Must you ask the question Jareth?" I tasted his name before taking a bite of cheesecake. My gaze fell to gather cherry sauce, then met his again as the piece disappeared between my lips.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 8, 2007 12:33:01 GMT -5
I reached for my own fork and speared a small piece of cake a moment before I became rather enraptured with watching her devour her own piece. I felt my lips gap and a small little breath of air escape me before I was able to gain my composure. "Uh, what question?" I asked in what I hoped were light tones. Gods, what was wrong with me I normally did not react quite this much to a pretty face.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 8, 2007 12:46:21 GMT -5
"Whether or not you were courting danger." I replied with an amused smile, taking another bite. My eyes closed for a moment as I enjoyed the flavours.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 8, 2007 12:59:01 GMT -5
"Well probably but I have never found a danger I was not able to handle." I recovered and ate a small piece of cake myself though I was sure I did it with far less panache than she did. I watched her savor the cake and then reached over to take a sip of my wine before setting it aside.
"I am glad you are enjoying desert by the by" I speared another small piece laden with sauce and offered it to her lips on my own fork.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 8, 2007 14:09:19 GMT -5
I didn't usually have such an easy time seducing a man of his age and caliber. "You think you can handle me?" I asked, using the obvious opening he had given me. I took the bite delicately from his fork, the movement making me lean closer to him.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 8, 2007 14:32:53 GMT -5
Now that made me chuckle as I got myself another bite and savored it a long moment before answering. "Ah, but Anacrasia mayhap I was asking if you could handle me." I turned my attention back down to the cake the same smile playing across my lips. She had neatly walked right into that one and it boosted my ego a bit. Something I feared I was in need of with this particular lady.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 8, 2007 14:58:28 GMT -5
"Would you make it worth my while to find out?" I asked slyly. I watched him eat, then took a piece on my fork and offered it to him.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 8, 2007 15:23:56 GMT -5
I looked up and met her gaze as I delicately took the offered morsel and chewed and smiled before answering. The little game we were playing was more than passingly amusing. "Well I like to think I have never disappointed anyone but as I told you I do not get out much." I licked some of the sauce off my lips "I suppose it depends on if you think I am worth the risk."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 8, 2007 17:58:43 GMT -5
"You would imply that we are both courting with danger." I said with a raised brow, then smiled. "Interesting. Perhaps the mystery is worth the risk. Curiosity killed the cat after all, and I've been told I can be rather feline."
By now I was quite enjoying the banter. It had been an unlooked-for surprise, and a pleasant one at that.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Oct 8, 2007 20:49:01 GMT -5
I chuckled a bit at that "I was always a dog person though I suppose one can learn to adapt and enjoy new things." I finished off my portion of the cheese cake and sat back a bit pondering "That must be true the more I think on it because I have never been one to take overt risks but well here we are."
She was certainly an engaging woman and I was finding the time passed with her was rather enjoyable. If one were really reflecting I was not learning much but making friends and making contacts was relevant to.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Oct 9, 2007 0:15:32 GMT -5
He sat back having eaten his share. "Help me with the rest of this would you?" I asked with a pretty smile. "I can't possibly finish it, and I'd hate for it to go to waste. As long as it's not too great a risk."
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