First Day in the City: Finding Trouble

[Denis de Trevalion]

Finding a horse at the royal stable's I mounted it and rode slowly into Night's Doorstep. I had never been before so my ride was one of the longest route so that I could gaze at everything I passed.

Finding boarding stable I handed over my stead and a handfull of coin to the young Tsingani boy and began to walk the street.

Making long slow strides, my clothing of my obvious stature and I smiled looking at all the people I passed.

Hoping to meet some one interesting I kept my eye open and continued to meander.

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

Camellias walls, beautiful and serene, proved to be too much as the sun shone in and the sky held naught but small clouds; without second thought I had gathered a small, discrete purse of coins and readied myself to leave, stepping out into the warm sun.

Not having much of a destination in mind I made my way to Mont Nuit, thinking at the least I could get a drink at a tavern somewhere. My eyes met those around me pleasantly as I walked, keeping myself curious and interested, my expression friendly. Smiles were given and reflected here and there, though though the shifting crowd I could see someone making his way, his face smiling, though I did my best not to look overlong.

[Denis de Trevalion]

My gaze caught with a young woman that was walking my way and I smiled at her, her stature denoted some one of lower then I and I gauged her as an adept....at least hopefully.

"Excuse me miss," I said stopping her. "You wouldn't be chance free to show me around the City?" I asked curiously with a wry grin.

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

The small pocket of air that surrounded him as he moved widened about me as well as he stopped me; people knew he was of a higher station just as I did, though I let the thought roll off of me to focus on his words... And his smile.

"Perhaps," I said slowly, my lips holding a smile as I looked up at him. "But ah - how do I know I can trust you enough to walk with you?"

My tone was lightly playful and teasing, though a small undercurrent of interest lay below it, reflected in my eyes as I took in his handsome face.

[Denis de Trevalion]

I chuckled softly bowing deeply toward her.

"Forgive me madame, were are my manners." I said shaking my head slightly then reached forward and took her hand.
"What a knave as I to assume you would simply wish to walk with a stranger." I kissed the back of her hand and then righted myself still holding onto her hand.

"My name is Denis," I said softly. "Lord Denis de Trevalion."

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

My smile lifted as he chuckled and bowed, taking my hand in his and speaking with a light-heartedness that was refreshing to witness. Charmed, I had already let the fingers of my opposite hand touch my skirts in preperation to curtsy in return, though when he spoke his name, it were no longer just in returning play and courtesy, but also in necessity.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my Lord Trevalion," I said with the same light smile as I curtsied to him in return, the hand that rested in his held up and light in his grasp as I straightened. "I am Aurianne no Camellia. Are you new to the City?"

[Denis de Trevalion]

Camellia House...Perfection? I think so, she was quite the apitome of such.

"Aurianne," I said tasting her name, her hand still held in mine. "I am indeed new to the City, I've been cooped up in Azzalle and I'm dieing to spread my wings." I stepped closer to her and wrapped her arm around mine.

"You are accompanying me?" There was almost no question that she would join me but I smiled sweetly either way.

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

Elua he was bold, his confidence seeping out from near every pore of his skin. I closed the remaining distance as he wrapped my hand onto his arm, knowing well how to appreciate the positive points of a man who acted as such. There was merit to it, and I let my fingers press into the sleeve of his shirt in obvious acceptance.

"Welcome to the City," I said with a warm smile. "I'd be more than happy to accompany you. Was there anything in particular that you would like to see?"

[Denis de Trevalion]

I smiled winningly.

"Thank you sweet Aurianne," I said guiding her in the direction I had just been coming from. "I'd like to see everything." I said leaning back slightly as I openly eyed her rear end then looked back at her with a raised brow in approval.

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

My cheeks blushed at the open way he took my form in - or rather, a piece of my form - and for the look of approval afterwards. My head ducked down slightly as a smile lifted my lips a little more, amusement shining through the blush on my face.

"There are some nice parks not too far from here," I said distractedly as I looked back up at him, my gaze held beneath a low veil of dark lashes. "Guild houses, taverns, shoppes. Eluas temple is half a dozen blocks from here as well."

I nearly said somewhat of the Night Court being none too far away as well, though it would have been outright brash of me, not matter how I'd meant it. Instead I looked at him as we walked, the pink fading from my cheeks, my stride finding his instinctively and matching it.

[Denis de Trevalion]

I enjoyed completely the way she responded to my glances and her coloured cheeks were even more a sight to see.

"Sounds beautiful." I said thinking. "What about the less reputiable places?" I asked raising a brow. "Surely some of your patrons have taken you to somewhere more exciting then just shoppes and taverns." There was a slight teasing tone in the sentence.

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

I glanced up at him, an open look of teasing consideration laid upon my features as we walked. "My patrons generally don't take me to such places, but..." As quiet and subtle as I could be at times, I overheard things I likely wasn't supposed to, and I had a habit of filing said information away for later use. My opposite hand laid gently on his wrist as I turned him down a small alley way, my body tucking closer for the lack of room to do much else.

"There are some advantages of living in the City your whole life," I said, glancing up at him with a smile. "You learn the shortcuts."

[Denis de Trevalion]

I grinned widely as we turned into an alley way.
"You're patrons take you down alley ways?" I asked reaching my hand to hers and stroked my thumb against her hand.

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

I looked up at him as we walked, feeling oddly protected; normally I wouldn't have come this way alone, though I trusted that others wouldn't approach me here, and if they did, Denis wouldn't let harm befall.

Not that there was much to worry about in the City, but it had been known to happen.

"One took me down an alleyway," I said, my hand tightening on his arm in a positive response to the feel of his hand upon mine, thumb stroking my flesh. "She was simply taking me from one place to another though."

[Denis de Trevalion]

"She?" I asked curiously as my thumb ran over her hand more. "Sounds like a story I'd love to hear." Again, teasing in my voice but there was a certain amount of eagerness in such a vicivious story.

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

My lips tremored a little as I tried to keep the full amount of my humor from my face, my body nearly pressing against his side as we walked through the tightest area of the alley. "I was her charm for the night," I said as we moved, my arm and hand both remaining with him. "In more ways than one, though in one way it was to raise her own standings in her social crowds; she contracted me to be her outright lover for the night, and to make the hearts and loins of those she wanted ache for her by watching us play a little."

Nothing more than kissing and a small amount of groping; had it been anywhere else where the opening was not located in an alley I never would have agreed. Before we could go much farther the small, discrete door stood next to us, and I gestured with a small nod of my head. "We're here, if you'd like to go in."

[Denis de Trevalion]

She was quite an exciting adept, I thought adepts not of valerian were shy and timid creatures. Before the door I turned her pressing her to the wall beside the door and pressed up against her. Not hard, not forcing, but eager and hoping she would respond in kind.

"Would you care to tell me where we are?" I asked letting my hands rest against the wall behind her but pressed against her waist. There was still space between us, a few inches at least, but I couldn't help but wonder at where her boundaries lay.

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

The color returned to my cheeks as he pressed me up against the wall, though I couldn't help the tremor of sudden desire that traced down my spine for the eager, curious look on his face. "A more disreputable place, as you asked," I said, giving him a soft smile before ducking my head, twisting out of his grasp in a teasing, supple movement; something all adepts knew, though one I took pleasure in making as smooth and graceful as I could.

Had we been somewhere else I may have been somewhat worried at being alone with a relative stranger down a thin little alleyway, though I'd been inside this place a few different times. If something happened to me out here, they'd help me. Besides, Denis de Trevalion sparked my interest more and more; with an enticing look given over my shoulder to him, I opened the door and stepped in, letting the dim light swallow me.

[Denis de Trevalion]

I chuckled with a wide grin and followed eagerly into the establishment she had just disapeared into and closed the door behind me.

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

The lighting was low; it grew with the disappearance of the sun, though it seemed to hold an ever-present cast of nighttime in here that I'd noticed. The sound of footsteps and the shut of a door came from behind me and I turned slightly to give Denis a smile, pausing to wait til he was beside me once more. Billiard tables were set up to the right, darts to the left, a bar before us, though surrounding us was a myriad of colorful people; some surly, most merely in appearance. I'd been somewhat apprehensive the first time I'd come here, cringing more than not, though I'd realized that they were in general a kind people; the owners and staff members alike would allow for nothing less. Disreputable, but still with respect.

Leading him around a set of gambling tables, I slipped my arm back into his, my curious gaze wandering up to take in his face again. "What do you think?"

[Denis de Trevalion]

I smiled turning to her and leaned in pressing my lips to her neck just below her ear.
"I think I would like to see more of you." I said before pulling back and then looked seeing a table and led us toward it. It was slightly in the corner and I pulled out a chair for her to sit down into.

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

My eyelids fluttered closed at the feel of his lips upon my neck and I let out a soft breath as he spoke, inwardly agreeing with him. Before I could say it, though, we were moving again, walking to a table situated in the corner. A few of the patrons about glanced up and gave me a grin as we walked and I smiled back, knowing them by face if not by name, though by the time we reached the table my attention was focused wholly on Denis.

"Thank you," I said as he pulled the chair out for me, my fingers lightly sliding down the expanse of his forearm, feeling him through the fabric of his shirt as I sat. My interest and curiousity continued to rise as I looked up at him, giving him a small smile.

[Denis de Trevalion]

I gave her a wry smile and when she was seated I pulled out a seat and sat next to her.

"Well," I said once I was settled. "This is quite a place." I smiled to her and raised my hand gesturing to the barmaid. She came over and smiled.

"What may I bring you two?" She asked with a common smile.

"Aurrianne?" I asked looking at her. "My treat, what ever you'd like."

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

My lips lifted in amusement as he commented on the place, and after the barmaid had come and he'd offered to buy my drink, my smile altered, becoming a touch softer and appreciative for the gesture. "White wine, please," I said to the barmaid, then glanced to Denis to await his order.

After he'd placed it and the maid had walked off, I turned a little, angling my body inwards to his a touch more. "Thank you for the drink," I said, giving him a soft smile as I glanced up to his face.

[Denis de Trevalion]

"It's my pleasure." I replied smiling as I scooted my chair toward her and took her hand in mine though leaving both of my hand on the table where it could be seen.
A gentlman as always.

"Tell me about yourself sweet Aurrianne."

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

I appreciated fully how he acted with me, flirty and testing, though not pressuring me and still acting like a gentleman. As he scooted in and took my hand again I gladly let him, my fingers running along his as our palms settled together.

"Well," I said, thinking on his question. "I was born to an Alyssum mother, and when I turned ten I went to Camellia."

There honestly wasn't too much to say, though I made up for it with a smile and a question of my own. "What of you? You're from Azzalle - what's it like there?"

[Denis de Trevalion]

I nodded.
"Interesting." I commented then when the question was turned on me I thought for a moment.
"It is, I was raised in my family's seat there then spent some time on my aunt and uncle's estate to be fostered. I've spent some time in Namarre, a bit in Kusheth."

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

"That sounds... surprisingly exciting." I said, my cheeks a slight shade of pink through my smile. "I've never stepped foot outside the City before. My mother was content to stay in Alyssum with only minimal trips to Mont Nuit, and when I left her I was Camellias."

I looked at him, my hand shifting subtly in his, pressing our palms together. "If you had to be anywhere, where would it be?"

[Denis de Trevalion]

I nodded at her comments about it being exciting that I had traveled and even more so in understanding about never leaving herself. Her question made me think but only momentarily.

"I'd take you to Azzalle and show you the shores. We could stay at my family's seat and drink the best wines." I reached my hand forward and brushed a lash from her cheek.

[Aurianne nó Hughes]

Charming - utterly charming. I leaned my face into the gentle brush of his hand, my face turning just enough that my lips met his palm. I lingered there for a moment before speaking, my face turning back to keep my words from being muffled against the press of his skin. "That sounds so peaceful and lovely," I said softly, a smile coming to my mouth. "I'm flattered that you would include me in it, my lord."