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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Feb 20, 2008 15:39:51 GMT -5
“It is not cocky as long as one can back it up” I leered. “And I would not be an intelligent man if I were to say you could not grasp my intelligence.” I flicked my tongue out at her “Then I would be a fool because insulting a lady such as you would surely lead to a thrashing.”
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Feb 20, 2008 15:47:46 GMT -5
“Oh, you evil man,” I said as I gave him a good natured punch. “Let’s see how badly I can beat you, then,” I muttered with a great deal of amusement in my voice, laughter contained at first until I failed, and stuck my tongue out at him. “Besides, I wonder how the Serpent could catch the Phoenix!” and with that, I nudged him, let go his hand, and sprinted, jumping nimbly atop a chariot of hay, while its owner gave me a dumbfounded look which disappeared when I throw him a coin for his trouble – he disappeared, finding the situation profitable enough. From my perch, I looked at Gad, and taunted him. “Think you could catch me?”
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Feb 21, 2008 9:12:33 GMT -5
I could hardly react before Julie took off and hoped atop a wagon load of hay. In response to her question I simply faded back into the throng of people then cut cross a side street that paralleled the one her ride was on. Thus I could mirror the progress as well as watch her without being seen.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Feb 21, 2008 10:45:30 GMT -5
So he just never decided to come and get me atop my improvised perch. The owner of the chariot gone, it of course was stationary, and Gad disappeared as well. I frowned, not sure what to do with that – my playfulness seemed lost on my lover, apparently.
I jumped off the cart nimbly, landing like a crouched cat, and decided to go up a darker alley, a shortcut to the residential area. I’d go home, I decided, and that was that. Geez, but things were complicated these days.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Feb 21, 2008 14:51:58 GMT -5
Julie was clearly irritable once more. She seemed to be often that way as of late and I resolved to pry a bit more on the matter. She picked a side alley that was dark and well probably dangerous even though the City had relatively low crime. Of course she was safe as I stalked her and I suspected any other two legged hunters might have a bit more than they bargained for. I smiled tight lipped so as not to betray myself with a flash of teeth.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Feb 21, 2008 14:59:13 GMT -5
The alley was dark, but no-one even came near me. Was it the blade at my side? I knew not. The passage was looming, ahead, and I was finding it complicated beyond words. I’d been playful, and Gad had simply vanished out. Gods, but what was wrong with me? I sighed inwardly, feeling my shoulders sag a little. It felt like once more, things were changing, and that they were no-where close to happiness. Gods. Might as well go back to Namarre, at this rate.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Feb 22, 2008 9:31:04 GMT -5
As she neared the entrance to the alley I quietly crept up behind her. Then I suddenly poked her on the side of the ribs and added in a loud voice "BOO!"
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Feb 23, 2008 12:23:19 GMT -5
I think I shrieked. Lost as I was in my thoughts, I’d not heard him, or felt him, but in that instant I vaulted and drew my sword, ready to defend myself…. Only to find Gad’s intelligent face.
I lowered it, and gave him a playful growl, for he was already forgiven. “Lucky for you that I wasn’t any faster, I could have hurt you!” I said in a strange mix of outrage and mirth, for I already felt like laughing over it.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Feb 25, 2008 9:33:46 GMT -5
My hand was almost touching her wrist in restraint when she relaxed and I did as well. Smiling I shrugged “It was a calculated risk. You should learn to not take me so seriously Julie gods know I do not take myself overtly serious. It tends to only add to the stress factor.”
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Feb 25, 2008 10:37:53 GMT -5
I chuckled, nodding. “I’m still learning you, love,” I said gently. “I think it’s partially why I like you so much… you are full of surprises,” I added with a little grin. I still inwardly chided myself. It seemed all I ever did was get into some sort of trouble, some kind of terrible awkward conundrum. I rolled my shoulders nonchalantly, trying to let go of my own self-doubt – but it wouldn’t be so easy. Too much had passed since I’d come to the city.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Feb 25, 2008 12:03:38 GMT -5
I offered my arm and changed the topic “Have you done much work with a dagger? Specifically the hiltless throwing variety?” Yes, I knew many “chivalrous” fighters considered such a dirty trick. Fortunately I was not troubled by such morals and had outlived many because of that.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Feb 28, 2008 15:58:36 GMT -5
I took his arm, letting him lead me where he would. “No, not much,” I replied to his inquiry. “I met another fighter who uses them as her weapon of choice, but she hasn’t taught me yet. Sparring with her was an interesting exercise, though,” I noted idly.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Feb 28, 2008 17:37:29 GMT -5
I made a snorting noise “I was referring to dirty tricks and shenanigans. You know when swords are locked up pulling the dagger and gutting the bastard?” So many were so idealistic and Often feared Julie was one of them. It is perfectly acceptable to cheat after all if you are the only one alive to tell the tale.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Feb 29, 2008 15:51:45 GMT -5
My eyes widened in horror. That was so… raw, so dishonest, I gave a little gasp. “I’ve only learned to play nice,” I replied after I’d swallowed. “I’d sooner avoid it, though… I guess I wouldn’t let myself get killed without pulling up a fight…” I frowned. I wasn’t sure on the matter… yet the idea of having better control, and a dirty trick up my sleeve didn’t displease me. I supposed Elton had them too – he was seasoned enough to have acquired such talents.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Mar 2, 2008 22:57:22 GMT -5
I shrugged as I kept walking toward my place "Well all nice and civilized is fine for the practice room, but when the chips are down and someone is going to die it tends to be more raw." I stole a glance at her.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 5, 2008 3:03:00 GMT -5
I nodded, thinking that indeed, I’d received sand in my eyes in the middle of practice – Aleron could well have killed me then if it hadn’t been in the salle, and Leclerc’s presence hadn’t been a warranty that murder would not be allowed. I didn’t think the Duchesse d’Neige would have hated me enough to let that go unpunished – even if it was just for the sake of Elua’s precept, and not mine.
“You’re right,” I replied quietly. “Believe me when I say I see the value of it. I’d learn, if someone taught me,” I added with a glance his way.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Mar 5, 2008 9:27:48 GMT -5
“I can teach you dirty tricks easy enough” I looked at her and added in serious tones “real fights are not epics and they are not pretty they are just plain ugly more often than not.” I sighed “Mayhap if the poets considered those aspects of things we would have far less war but unfortunately the smell of people emptying their bowls that seems to permeate every battle field I have ever been on never seems to make it into any of the great epics.”
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 7, 2008 14:14:40 GMT -5
… And he was lecturing me again. Or maybe just rambling a little on a known theme. I shrugged, and smiled, retaining only what was good, trying, very hard, not to be irritable, or irritated. I was testy, I knew it, it was enough to force me to have some control. Besides, I loved him.
“Thank you, I’ll do my best to be a proficient student, Gad,” I said with a submitted nod. I ignored the rest – but if he kept this up, I’d say something. Kendrick and Elton, I let treat me so… sometimes. That was enough for me. I pinched him, and added, with a teasing smirk, “And no need to be so pompous about it. You made your point already, don’t repeat yourself. You’re too young and handsome to claim senility so soon.”
Elua, if my lover started on me, I’d sooner stay atop the willow and make my dwelling there. Why wouldn’t anyone just take me as I was?
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Mar 10, 2008 13:40:12 GMT -5
I flinched a bit at the pinch and scowled “Sorry it is one of my pet peeves though. I mean it really gets me going” I drew a breath and tried to keep from going into full lecture mode. “At any rate you are right I am lecturing a bit and that is not called for.”
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 11, 2008 2:59:31 GMT -5
"Thank you," I replied, stroking the place where I'd pinched. "You see, I'm getting a little tired of being lectured days on end. Leclerc isn't going to lay off now that I've made a boo boo, and Kendrick is probably going to get on my back too... and let's not talk about Elton Tulare, or worse, the Duchesse herself. Elua, that's four people who are going to get on my case already..."
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Mar 11, 2008 13:02:32 GMT -5
I still tended to think Julie was a bit idealistic but I doubted giving voice to those thoughts would be terribly wise of me at the moment. After all she was armed, a smile creased my face at that thought and I am sure it came off as one of those irritating knowing smiles but I hopped she would chalk it up to my pure pleasure at being in her presence. Though the perverse side of me was still amused that she might skewer me in annoyance “Alright, alright no lectures.”
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 11, 2008 13:56:00 GMT -5
"Good, because you might turn into a bore otherwise," I told him with a smile that concealed a bit of hurt for his visible self-satisfaction. "And bores tend to be left to fend for themselves."
It wasn't really a threat, but it was one, in a fashion. Cripes, I was young, I didn't want to be withered and soured by life just yet. I almost allowed myself to get into a fit of mad idealism, the one that had made Louvel cringe, but the mere memory of the strange man stifled it. There were mean people in this world, and he was one of them, or his own issues made him do things that were mean. Either way, that warranted caution.
Lessons learned.
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