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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 7, 2006 23:50:47 GMT -5
Blessed Namaah had smiled on me and sent me a solution to my financial quandary in the form of a new and, in truth, unusual patron. His name was Arthur, and I had no idea of his surname or title. In truth, I didn't even know what he looked like. It was only because Trinette had assured me that she trusted this patron that I had taken the assignation.
The assignation had taken place in the room designed to model a nursery. I had been prohibited to speak unless it was to utter my signale, which had not been necessary. Arthur, had remained clothed the entire time, a leather mask concealing his features. He had treated like a small child the entire time, tending to me and doting on me, except in the ways in which one should never treat a child. I was not one to judge, and he had seemed pleased, leaving me an extremely generous patron's gift.
With thoughts of a new gown filling my thoughts, I went to the clothier's district, pursuing the windows before deciding where to go.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 0:11:56 GMT -5
Tal was back at the house and in a better mood since the Masque so I had ventured out, refreshed and renewed, tofind some things for Mala's sweet little fete. I was somewhat particular about my clothing, so it would take some time to run across something that suited me well.
Clothing and fabrics arrayed themselves around me in a river of colors- what woud Mala's lighting be? Sighing, then humming under my breath, I stopped by a red-haired girl who called to my Shahrizai blood- but really, who didn't on some level. Still, I turned and looked at her, cocking a brow even as I smiled. "Are you looking for Longest Night as well?"
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 0:18:25 GMT -5
Before she spoke, or I even looked at her, I knew she was Shahrizai. They were like a caress across my skin, even from a distance.
Glancing up at her, I saw all that beauty that made my heart skip. Then, lowering my eyes, I curtseyed. "Yes, my lady," I answered, not knowing her by sight and unsure of her title.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 0:22:04 GMT -5
So passive in this moment, but fire bloomed within and it showed in her hair, shining out through the roots. Still, she was an adept, but not Mandrake and so not the red-haired woman my Tal had met at Midwinter. "You must know of my family to treat me with such deference offhand," I replied. "I'm Sirena."
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 0:28:10 GMT -5
"Douleur no Valerian," I answered, knowing that my name alone would tell her everything about how much I knew of her family. "It is an honor to meet you."
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 0:31:07 GMT -5
That explained rather a lot- she probably knew our family intimately. Almost as intimately as a member. "It's good to meet you Douleur," I told her, letting some of the musical notes enter my voice. "Being in the position you are you're almost like a cousin yourself. Are you going to be attending my cousin Mala's party or has a patron requested you elsewhere?"
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 0:38:36 GMT -5
Her voice was unusual in a very pleasing way, and I smiled softly.
"I am planning on attending the Shahrizai fete," I told her. "If I can find a dress suitable enough."
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 0:40:45 GMT -5
"I know what you mean," I said with a smile. "But I'm sure no one would mind if you attended naked. Unless, of course, you started a family feud." I was gently teasing- really, I didn't have to be cruel all of the time.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 0:45:58 GMT -5
I blushed, images of Delaunay and Dominic rising in my mind, my heart aching again at thoughts of Delaunay.
"Thank you," I said, a little softly. "I think a dress might be the best idea. Are you not having any luck finding something?"
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 0:49:12 GMT -5
"I'm very particular, particularly because Mala has allowed me the honor of performing at the event," I replied, noting the sorrowful look that crossed her face- perhaps she'd lost her heart to some relative of mine as so many other Valerians since the House's creation. As Tal's noble mother had. "I'm thinking of something in a deep blue, like the waves of the sea just before a storm. You would, I think, look wonderful in green."
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 0:53:43 GMT -5
"I like green," I replied, smiling. "And you would look wonderful in blue."
I was sure she had seen my reaction to her previous words, it was impossible to hide things from Shahrizai, and I was grateful she hadn't pursued it like so many others in her family would have.
"You are performing at the fete, how wonderful," I said, smiling more.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 0:58:01 GMT -5
"I enjoy singing, it's something I can do that isn't directly related to my blood. People expect us to be the same thing in different shapes and I also enjoy breaking that misconception," I told her. "Though I'm sure you're more than aware of that. Come along, sweeting- there's nothing here, on to the next place." gently I took her arm to lead her along, though I wasn't demanding.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 1:03:26 GMT -5
Willingly, and happily, I went with her.
"I look forward to hearing you," I told her honestly. "Have you preformed at such events before? I have never been to a Shahrizai party."
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 17:48:23 GMT -5
"Then I'm sure you'll find it either an enjoyable or harrowing experience," I told her. "And yes, I sing whenever I am able- I like my own voice and the power it can possess over people. I'm sure my parents had no idea my name would fit so well."
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 18:07:14 GMT -5
"They might have," I said with a bit of a wry smile, thinking of my parents and my own name. "I think parents know more about their children when they name them than they might admit to."
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 18:28:12 GMT -5
"So you think my infant cries were the dulcet notes I manage now?" I asked with a raised brow. "Personally, I think they wished I would seduce many into foolishness."
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 18:33:05 GMT -5
"Perhaps," I said, a little quietly. I did not know her well enough to know how she would react to a voicing of my own stronger opinions or to hearing bits of my own story. I did know though, that if there were anyone to extra delicate about boundaries with, it was a Shahrizai.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 8, 2006 18:52:09 GMT -5
She seemed hesitant- but most were around my family. "You can talk to me, I won't be offended- after all, you are very pretty but I find my taste running to men at the moment," I told her with a smile.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 1:30:30 GMT -5
"Thank you, my lady," I said, both for the freedom to speak and for the compliment. "I was just thinking that in some cases names may fit by accident, but in others I think some credit must go to a parent's intuition."
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 1:39:36 GMT -5
"I suppose- but I was never interested enough to ask, I suppose," I replied, looking around for a shop that may have what we were looking for. "Most likely they took that secret to the grave."
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 1:45:01 GMT -5
"I'm sorry," I said, for her parents being gone. "I have never really thought to ask my mother why she named me as she did, I shall have to remember next time I go home."
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 22:28:26 GMT -5
"She may not know herself," I speculated. "Kushiel works in mysterious ways."
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 22:32:35 GMT -5
"True," I agreed. "Until me, Kushiel had not touched my family."
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 22:45:27 GMT -5
"His hand cradles us," I replied softly. "Do you think any of the other angels are as close to their descendents?"
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 22:48:05 GMT -5
I thought for a moment before I replied. "I can not honestly answer that. I have not enough experience with scions of any other Companions to give a truthful assessment."
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 22:57:32 GMT -5
"Neither have I- they tend to flinch when they notice my coloring," I confided with something of a grin. "As though I will grab and molest them or they'll suddenly want to be bridled and saddled. Really, I have enough opportunity for willing partners that I have no need to take those truly unwilling."
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 23:04:29 GMT -5
"Not all of your kin follow the same line of thought or behavior as you though," I said, chuckling softly.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 23:09:24 GMT -5
"No, some are crude," I agreed blithely. "But not everyone in a family can have good manners. When an infant cries, does everyone punish the well-behaved older sibling?"
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 23:17:27 GMT -5
"No, but sometimes there are members of a family who make themselves so well known for their behavior that they can set a stereotype for other members," I said, trying to be diplomatic.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Dec 9, 2006 23:20:55 GMT -5
"Just because it's well known doesn't mean it's the way they were raised," I countered in a conversational tone, really just enjoying the debate with someone outside my own blood. "We're mostly a very close-knit group and are almost never raised apart. The cousins close to my age were raised as my siblings."
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