Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 8, 2006 23:01:22 GMT -5
Another blessing of civilization on the d'Angeline level was the ease in finding things. My driver had no trouble finding the herbalists and within a few moments of securing all my new toys - which made my footman pale wonderfully as he stored them away - I was exiting the carriage again.
This store smelled wonderful too, though in a different way. The shopkeeper was deep in conversation with an old woman so I decided to look around while I waited. I was in no rush.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 8, 2006 23:09:45 GMT -5
Oh, I so love doing these errands for Jaiden, I thought sarcastically as I entered the herbalists shop. At least I could find something pretty-smelling for Riva. I wasn't terribly worried about knowing consciously what her favorite smell was; things like that had a way of coming to me when I'd found what she would like.
Upon entering I saw the shop, jars of things arranged on the walls as I glanced around, the shopkeeper busy with an elderly woman and an obvious Shahrizai waiting. Interesting. Everyone knew this shop also supplied L'Roches- most likely that was why she was here. Quietly I walked over to a wall and began to look at the labels on the containers to see if anything would strike me as a gift for Riva.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 8, 2006 23:14:50 GMT -5
I looked up as another person entered. Interesting, I thought. My wasn't he a pretty little thing. He reeked of adept, and I was curious as to which House.
I selected a jar of amber and walked over to him, opening it and holding it up.
"What does this make you think of?" I asked, smiling sweetly.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 8, 2006 23:18:30 GMT -5
Smiling charmingly but a little guardedly I inhaled deeply. "Gold and power," I said with a raised brow. "What does it make you think of, Lady Shahrizai?"
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 8, 2006 23:21:58 GMT -5
Bringing it to my nose, I inhaled deeply, feeling my breasts strain against my bodice.
"Sunsets in the Great Forum in Tiberium," I told him as I restoppered the bottle.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 8, 2006 23:30:54 GMT -5
I had been an adept- and a damn good one- for too many years to fall for a ploy like her heaving chest. Eyes still fixed on hers I smiled slightly as I let a look of appreciation for her answer appear on my face. She may have been lovely, but she was still Shahrizai and that was a very dangerous game to be playing. "That sounds like it would have been a wonderful thing to see," I replied.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 8, 2006 23:36:49 GMT -5
I chuckled deeply, a sound that I had perfected through practice, along with many many others. "It was," I told him. "Tiberium is a place everyone should experience."
"One of many things everyone should experience," I commented before turning to replace the jar.
"So, sweet boy with the beautiful face and nose for power, what brings you here today?" I asked him.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 8, 2006 23:53:11 GMT -5
Smiling charmingly I said, "Running errands for the mistress of my House. I think she sends me on these little trips to keep me out of trouble and out of her hair. Or it could be that I'm the only person she trusts to actually remember everything without a list."
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 8, 2006 23:57:51 GMT -5
Mistress, not Dowayne, so he wasn't part of the Night Court. Interesting. I wondered if he was someone's personal pet, or if his Mistress rented out his body while she collected his fees.
I ran my gloved finger along a row of jars. I could still here the old lady yammering o so I decided to play some more with this tasty boy.
Picking up a container of vanilla, I opened it and held it up to him. "And what thoughts does this inspire?"
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 9, 2006 0:03:45 GMT -5
Smiling even more charmingly- really, it was the safest response when playing with a Shahrizai who so obviously wanted to sharpen her claws in something young and moderately attractive- I inhaled the smell, closing my eyes for a moment to think. "Firelight and sensuality," I said matter-of-factly. Riva, a small part of me said and I acknowledged. "What about to you?"
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2006 0:11:55 GMT -5
I inhaled, mostly for show though, as I knew exactly what vanilla made me think of.
"Flesh," I told him. "Naked flesh"
Replacing the stopper, I smiled ferally and returned the jar to its place.
"What errands are you fulfilling for your Mistress in this particular shop, sweet boy?"
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 9, 2006 0:21:11 GMT -5
"Assorted herbs and oils, things that are needed around the manor," I said with a vague wave of my hand and a slight sigh as though I was put out over the whole matter. "A very long and very boring list, to be sure." This Shahrizai had definitely not had anyone to toy with in a long time. "Still, it's better that sitting inside and brooding when there's nothing for me to do."
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2006 0:26:01 GMT -5
"Oh, poor boy, you should have someone to play with. You're much too beautiful to let muster on a shelf somewhere."
I found the jar I was looking for and brought it down.
"And what does this make you think of?" I asked, holding up the open jar of lily.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 9, 2006 0:32:09 GMT -5
Nodding in agreement, eyes sparking lightly with mirth as I smelled the new oil. "Innocence and eternity," I said promtly. "Something evanescent and out of reach." Cocking my head sideways and raising a brow I waited for her interpretation. A Shahrizai who liked death flowers- somehow, that didn't suprise me. "Or a Dahlia adept on occasion."
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2006 0:38:53 GMT -5
I smiled genuinely at his response. Oh yes, he was a delightful little thing.
Setting the jar down, I peeled off my left glove, something I hardly ever did in public. I held my wrist up for him, knowing the scent, my personal blend of lily, at my pulse point was still there.
"And this?" I asked, my eyes on his.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 9, 2006 0:53:41 GMT -5
Keeping my eyes on hers with a slight smirk I slightly exhaled, letting air brush across her wrist before I inhaled again. "A black lily- dark as midnight and soft as velvet," I said as I cocked my head sideways, letting my hair move slightly and waiting for her response. This was becoming quite the little verbal sparring match and I'd always loved testing my wits against worthy opponents.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2006 1:05:20 GMT -5
With a purring laugh I replaced my glove. I ran one gloved finger along his cheek. "Clever boy," I said.
I set the jar back in its place.
"Bryony, yes?" I asked, arching an eyebrow
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 9, 2006 1:14:00 GMT -5
Nodding and giving her another charming smile, I said, "For eight years, though not anymore. What gave me away?"
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2006 1:19:41 GMT -5
"The first things that came to your mind were money and power," I told him, smiling.
I walked over to a display of blown glass bottles meant to hold oils.
"The vanilla, who did it remind you of?" I asked him.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 9, 2006 1:23:39 GMT -5
Smiling, I said, "Yes, I guess that was a very telling statement." Raising an eyebrow, I added curiously, "What made you think the vanilla reminded me of anyone in particular?" I knew I was evading the question, but I didn't think she was really interested in the answer anyway- it was just a game of cat and mouse, her trying to back me into a corner so she could make the kill. Luckily, I was cautious and clever enough to avoid the obvious traps.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2006 1:32:03 GMT -5
"Because my powers of reading people come not only from years of training, but from the god's blood that courses in my veins, sweet boy," I told him. I picked up a bottle shaped like a teardrop and made of glass so dark blue it looked black. Lovely. "That and your eyes flickered just a little, only with the vanilla. You were thinking of someone."
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 9, 2006 1:35:21 GMT -5
Thinking on her words I nodded. "Yes, but I also could have been thinking of many different people, or of a memory involving vanilla that had nothing to do with a particular person. Vanilla is a very popular scent."
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2006 1:38:00 GMT -5
"And now you're being evasive, which means it's someone special. If it was no one that mattered, or just a popular scent, you would have told me or come up with a clever lie. She must be very special," I observed.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 9, 2006 1:39:38 GMT -5
Somewhat impressed I conceded that point to her- I must be getting rusty, letting my sword arm get more exercise than my brain. "Who says it's a 'she'?" I asked lightly with a raised brow.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2006 1:50:59 GMT -5
"Men don't tend to wear vanilla," I stated.
I left the display of bottles and stalked back to where he was. I moved very close, close enough to whisper in his ear.
"Or perhaps I am just hoping that it's female flesh that stirs your desires," I whispered before moving past him.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 9, 2006 1:59:15 GMT -5
Well, she definitely did have the predatory gait down well. When she leaned closer I stayed very still; showing anything that could be construed as fear to a Shahrizai was a very bad idea, like tormenting a rabid animal. I had no wish to get an arm ripped off or my throat bitten, at least not without a contract and a good deal of money. Unless, of course, it were Riva's teeth. Quietly, knowing she would hear me, I raised an eyebrow and said, "I am an adept, Lady Shahrizai, and trained at Bryony- anything suits my desires, so long as there is power, money and intelligence behind it."
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2006 12:22:05 GMT -5
"Anything?" I asked, arching my eyebrow. "Is it true then that a Bryony will endure anything as long at there is enough coin at the end of it?"
I stalked around him coming up behind him and whispering in the other ear.
"And you sweet boy, what have you endured while you worshipped at the altar of money?"
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 9, 2006 13:42:51 GMT -5
"Yes they would, but I'm not a Bryony anymore, so maybe that has changed," I said, raising my eyebrow in a mirror of hers. Staying very still as her breath brushed my ear I said quietly back, "I have endured my patron's wishes. What else is an adept to do?"
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2006 14:52:03 GMT -5
"As much as it may frustrate a patron, adepts do have the ability to say no. Have you ever said no? Is there a patron out there who carries around the satisfying memory of finding a pleasure no amount of money could coax you into doing?" I purred into his ear.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jul 9, 2006 14:57:11 GMT -5
"Never," I said quietly and with a raised brow. "As long as they're willing to pay the rate for my skills I'm willing to do my job. I happen to have a very good work ethic; it's beneficial in my current profession."
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