Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 3, 2007 20:04:24 GMT -5
I nodded. "I think this is the place." It was a small bakery with an outside table. "Would you like to sit outside?"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 3, 2007 20:07:03 GMT -5
I smiled. "Outside the bedchamber, always be the queen, Avrielle. Where would you like to sit?"
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 3, 2007 20:09:28 GMT -5
"Outside," I admitted. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a strange man watching us from afar. He was strong-looking, and so black! "My lord, that man is staring at us."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 3, 2007 20:11:28 GMT -5
"Then we are safe," I replied calmly.
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 3, 2007 20:12:57 GMT -5
I tilted my head at him. "Your bodyguard?"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 3, 2007 20:19:42 GMT -5
"My retainer," I corrected. "And a representative of his people to Terre d'Ange and Caerdiccas Unitas."
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 3, 2007 20:21:33 GMT -5
"I see," I said. In truth, the man was the strangest person I had ever seen. "Where does he come from?" I asked, as we took a seat at the table.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 3, 2007 20:30:59 GMT -5
I smiled. "Why don't you ask him?" I looked at Avrielle expectantly, ready to make a beckonning gesture.
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 3, 2007 20:35:58 GMT -5
"All right," I said, trying not to be hesitant. In truth, I was afraid that I would offend whatever foreign sensibilities he might have.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 3, 2007 20:43:05 GMT -5
"Don't worry, he is a lovely man," I replied, as I made a sign to To-Biko to come by.
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 3, 2007 20:48:36 GMT -5
Rising, I bobbed politely. "Good day, my lord," I said to the man, "I'm Avrielle no Valerian."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 3, 2007 23:46:32 GMT -5
To-Biko approached silently, his hips swaying to a Jebean drum beat only he could hear. He looked rather impressive in breaches and jacket of brown suede and a white linen shirt. The ornament on his left ear, pierced with a tiger tooth, shone in the early afternoon sunlight.
At my silent invitation he sat, bowing a short bow to Avrielle, and I proceeded to introductions. "Lord To-Biko of Banda Ndele, I would like to present to you Avrielle nó Valerian."
Smiling a polite smile, To-Biko inclined his head a bit, and spoke in heavily accented D'Angeline: "It is a pleasure to meet you, Avrielle nó Valerian." He looked at her with kind eyes, and something in them quickened for an instant.
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 5, 2007 10:12:04 GMT -5
Taking my seat, I said, "Likewise," even though he was so foreboding. The name Banda Ndele was unfamiliar to me, so I said, "I was just wondering from where you have come so far."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 5, 2007 10:20:26 GMT -5
"I hail from Jebe-Barkal, curious one," he replied. "But me and that one," he pointed to me, "have been to many other lands before we came here. Lastly, we came from La Serenissima."
I sat back and waited to see how Avrielle would react to him. To-Biko was a man whom I loved very much, and if he was so enclined to have her, things would become very interesting.
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 5, 2007 10:25:31 GMT -5
"Really?" I asked. "Where else have you been?"
At that moment, a maid came in from the shop and politely stood to the side, waiting to be acknowledged.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 5, 2007 17:33:00 GMT -5
As the maid came by, I interrupted to ask Avrielle and To-Biko what they would have. Smiling kindly to the maid, I placed their respective order, allowing for the conversation to follow its course.
To-Biko answered her, smiling still and a little uneased. Then again, I usually do the talking. "Plenty of different places, Nubia, Menekhet, Hellas, Illyria... the list is very long. But of all places, I found Terre d'Ange to be the most enticing." As I did, To-Biko had indeed found some pleasure with adepts, although his tastes differed much from mine, I noted. It probably had a lot to do with his liking for Terre d'Ange, I reckoned.
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 5, 2007 17:37:15 GMT -5
"It all sounds very exciting," I said, "what do you like most about Terre D'Ange?" I directed the question at both men.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 5, 2007 17:40:17 GMT -5
I looked at To-Biko, he looked at me. We both smiled, his a knowing smile, mine a smirk of mischief. "Haven't you guessed already, pretty Avrielle?" I asked her with a pinch of tease.
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 5, 2007 17:48:44 GMT -5
"I have," I said, grinning back, "but there are things to love about Terre D'Ange besides the Night Court." I laughed. "I can't think of any right now, but I'm sure there are."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 5, 2007 17:51:55 GMT -5
"Oh, there are, I know it very well and so does he," I replied. "I am half-D'Angeline, and take great pride in that portion of my mixed heritage. Life in the city of Elua is one of many pleasure, and a show of great beauty." To-Biko nodded in approval. He had fallen in love recently with Kusheline sweets, and from the look of his face, I knew he thought of it.
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 5, 2007 17:56:56 GMT -5
The maid arrived with our desserts, setting a slice of chocolate and a steaming cup or raspberry tea in front of me. "Speaking of pleasure..." I took a bite of my cake. "This is delicious!"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 5, 2007 18:00:39 GMT -5
To-Biko's eyes widened at the arrival of his dessert, a Kusheline sin answering to the name of Kuign'Amann, a flake of sugar and butter, fit for a king. Immediately, he dug into it. I knew he would be lost to us for a moment.
I had settled for a warm mug of coffee, and smelled its aroma with much pleasure.
"This place is a name to be remembered, I noted. How did you hear of it?"
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 5, 2007 18:04:48 GMT -5
"I didn't," I said. "This is my first time here as well as your's. I only followed my nose."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 5, 2007 18:08:19 GMT -5
"Then Elua bless your nose, Avrielle nó Valerian," I said as I lifted my mug in a playful jest. To-Biko looked up, and nodded approvingly, looking at Avrielle in a more then approving fashion.
"Pray tell, Avrielle, were you planning on doing anything in particular before you settled for having sweets with two strange foreigners?"
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 5, 2007 18:09:41 GMT -5
"Besides finding a dress? No," I replied.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 5, 2007 18:17:13 GMT -5
"Finding a dress seems a job in itself, though," I replied practically. To-Biko looked at me, his gaze a silent request. "Would you like some company? We will gladly escort you in your quest, if you will have it," I offered. Besides, I thought to myself, the young adept was one of the amusing sort. It would be distracting, so say the least.
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 5, 2007 18:19:15 GMT -5
"By all means," I said, sipping my tea. "I'd be glad you have your company, though I fear it won't be much fun. I can't get something too bold, nor too revealing."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 5, 2007 18:24:02 GMT -5
I put my hand to my heart in mock disdain, "then, it is unacceptable, and we shall not go, isn't that right, To-Biko?" He very seriously nodded his ascent.
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Avrielle nó Valerian
Adept
Valerian House
Daughter of Annette n? Fronsac and Niall Southerly
Posts: 988
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Post by Avrielle nó Valerian on May 5, 2007 18:25:47 GMT -5
I chuckled. "But if you don't go, I will have nobody to flirt with as I dress and undress, isn't that right, my lord?" I batted my eyelashes at him playfully.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on May 5, 2007 18:35:39 GMT -5
"Then, it is settled," I said very ceremonially. "To the clothmonger's stall, we shall proceed," I added, knowing I was being ridiculous, and that she would be amused by it.
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