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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 6, 2008 10:54:36 GMT -5
I was so entirely nervous; I could feel the flush of my cheeks, knew my eyes were a little wider than normal, though I was quite proud that I didn't tremble this time like I had before. I watched from the side as the play turned and developed, intently noting how the players moved and shifted, the lilt and deepness of their voices. Gingerly I wiped my hands on the backside of my dress before my cue came up, and I swept onto the stage with a practiced laugh.
"Sister, you cannot possibly hope to go dressed in that!" I exclaimed, my teeth flashing as I smiled at the lead actress in our play. She returned her line, and I mine for a few moments before my part was over, and I took my leave. Twice more I had the same small role until the play was done. A genuine grin was on my face, still blushing, as I took my curtsy before the crowds, and I hurried off the stage as quickly as I could. It was strange, almost - in life, I was shy, but I loved acting. I loved it as much as I loved fine fabrics, silks, beautiful patterns, the way they felt on my skin when I modeled for the Ladies of the City. But in the end the dresses came off and my own modest one back on again, and here, the play was over. I made my way into the crowd again, mingling, accepting a glass of water with a slightly shy smile from a passing waiter.
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Joras Timbule (I)
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 6, 2008 13:33:25 GMT -5
The play was an entertaining one, a comedy of sorts, though as with all d'Angeline plays, it had quite a touching bit of romance in it. I cheered with the rest of the crowd when it finished, and decided to mingle for a while. Today was, after all, one of my self-appointed days off, and I should get some social contact while I could.
I admit, I meandered, hoping to run into someone I knew even though I did not have many friends in the city. Then, my eye caught sight of one of the actresses. She was a petite lass, coming up to maybe my shoulders, and certainly not rich judging by the way she dressed. She was alone, and looked... desolate, though that word is a bit extreme. I decided that I would approach her and ask her name. I walked slowly up to her, not wanting to frighten the timid looking girl. I came up near her and took a breath. "Hi there. You acted in the play, If I remember correctly. Might I ask your name?" I inquired of her.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 6, 2008 15:58:23 GMT -5
Usually the crowd swarmed over the lead actors, so when I saw someone approaching me out of the corner of my eye, I turned and looked at him, not knowing what to expect. My face was pleasant though; the thrill of being on stage still affected me, leaving my eyes shining and my lips in a permanent small smile.
"Hello," I greeted back somewhat tentitively, my fingers curling around my glass of water. "Myth... I'm Myth." My smile turned shy, though I looked at him as boldly as I dared, meeting his gaze. "Might I inquire of yours in return? I hope you enjoyed the play."
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Joras Timbule (I)
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 8, 2008 15:52:20 GMT -5
Ah, I had almost forgotten to introduce myself! I quickly covered for my blunder, "My name is Joras Timbule, m'lady Myth." I smiled towards her.
My intuition was correct, she was a very shy person. I noted her tension as she gripped her glass tightly, and the slight appearance of a doe caught by the hunter in her eyes. Am I going too quickly for her comfort? I thought to myself. Surely, my last intention was to make others uncomfortable.
I tried to recall her role... yet it eluded me. Probably she was one of the less important roles of the play. Of course, I would not offend her by saying as much. It takes courage to perform on stage at all. "The performance was excellent, I plan on coming again soon, if I can." I responded.
"But enough of that, let's get comfortable and get to know each other. It's not often I get to meet a new person." I tried putting on my most welcoming air, as if I was selling something nobody wanted to buy. I indicated a bench nearby, "Come, that bench looks empty, let's sit and rest our legs while we speak," I suggested. I realized that I was being far too assertive, and corrected hastily "That is, if you want to... I don't want to worry you or anything of the sort."
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 8, 2008 16:02:29 GMT -5
My cheeks held a note of color in them as I smiled at him, feeling more comfortable with him the more I heard him speak. He didn't seem like an overbearing individual; instead, he was pleasant and kind, thoughtful to my wishes as well as his own.
I shook my head as he ceased talking, hoping my smile seemed even half as warm as his was to me. "Not at all, my lord Timbule," I responded, trying to reassure him. "You seem very kind, actually. I'd very much like to sit with you."
It was nice, having someone single me out in the crowd. I stepped closer in indication that I was ready to follow him to the bench, though I didn't take the lead in walking. "I'm very happy to hear you enjoyed the show, and more so to think that you would like to come back." My smile widened a little more at that, and I glanced up at him as I waited.
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Joras Timbule (I)
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 9, 2008 6:28:43 GMT -5
I never excelled at reading minds, but Myth appeared to be warming up to me, which was good. I led her to the bench and took a seat, allowing time for her to do the same. Once she had sat down, I paused as I formulated an appropriate question. The ambiance soaked into me; a warm, relaxing crowd was where I spent most of my time and it helped me be more of myself with Myth.
I took a deep breath unconsciously, and asked her "So, Myth, when did you first begin acting?"
I waited patiently, smiling kindly for her to speak. Her voice was soft and gentle, and I loved the soft smile that she wore now. Though not garbed in the finest silk from Ch'n, she was beautiful in a way that could not be replicated with any artificial materials.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 9, 2008 10:35:10 GMT -5
I sat next to him, my hands brushing my skirts below my rear to keep them from wrinkling. I glanced around us out of habit before looking to him, giving him a quiet smile as I answered him.
"I began going around the age of fifteen," I said, thinking somewhat on it. "Learning and practicing, before they agreed to try me out on stage."
My voice was soft, but loud enough to be heard over the low din, and my words clearly spoken. He was really very pleasant, and I was becoming more at ease the longer we spent time together. I could tell he wasn't d'Angeline; that was obvious, but I wasn't well versed enough to know where it was he hailed from.
"Your accent is familiar, my lord," I said, a little tentatively. "Somewhat like being unable to thing of a particular word. If it's not too bold, might I ask what country it pertains to?"
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 9, 2008 15:46:58 GMT -5
Fifteen years of age she started learning how to act. That must be difficult for such a young girl to get up and present. She had to be audacious, then, but her demeanor revealed nothing of the sort. Maybe I could help bring that part out of her, maybe not, but we would see, her and I.
I chuckled at her question. Many folks cannot place my accent as Caerdiccan, mostly because I hail from a relatively uninhabited area, and the accent from there was generally unheard of. I told her as much, and grinned.
My turn to tell a story, I thought to myself. I thought about which one I would share, and came up with a very suitable one that I didn't mind sharing with her.
I put on a smile and allowed a small laugh to escape from my lips. "That reminds me of a time, ages ago it seems. Would you like to hear the story?" I inquired of her. "Or is there something else you would like to know of me? I have all the time in the world for speaking and listening, whichever you would have me do."
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 9, 2008 15:57:51 GMT -5
"Ah," I said, nodding as he explained his accent. "Caerdiccan; that does explain even on its own. I haven't been lucky enough to meet many people from outside Terre d'Ange."
Just people on the streets, truthfully, and a few spotty ones here and there, but I'd never really spoken to anyone much. In life, I was generally shy until I got to know someone better, but on stage! How I loved it there. My natural demeanor was well suited to my steady work of seamstressing and modeling, but acting gave me an outlet that I loved.
When he spoke of a story, I nodded again and gave him another smile, turning some so I sat somewhat closer, but designed so I could hear him better. "I'd love to hear, actually, if you wouldn't mind sharing," I responded, looking up at him.
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Joras Timbule (I)
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 10, 2008 6:29:26 GMT -5
She had turned towards me to hear me speak, and admitted to want to hear my tale, so I cleared my throat to speak my story. It had been a long time since I had recounted this one, but I remembered it clearly.
"So, this story starts with me, alone in the countryside of Terre d'Ange. I was traveling on foot to here, this city, all the way from my hometown in Caerdiccas. I had little money left, so I had to work for room and board, but I didn't mind.
I was on my way, dust-caked and weary, that I chanced upon a farmhouse. Mind, this was not the first, nor the last farmhouse I stayed in, but this one was owned by an elderly couple, who had given up the fields in order to stay comfortably in their house. None of their children were of an age to work the fields, so they spent all their time inside, raising the young ones and reminiscing.
When I arrived, I inquired if I could stay with them in return for performing some chores for them, which they gladly accepted. I asked them what I could do, and they told me that the animals needed taking care of. The cows needed to be milked, the horses needed feed, and the sheep needed to be herded in again. So, I walked out to their stables and began by tossing hay to the horses in the pastures. They pranced and reared in joy at their new meal, like this." I mimicked them from my seat, rearing my hands up and making a neighing sound.
"Next came the cows," I continued, "They needed to be milked, so I got the buckets and a stool and began milking them. That was when their dog came in. He obviously did not want a stranger milking the cows, and began barking and nipping my bottom. 'Why do you bite me and bark at me, young pup?' I asked it. It ignored me and continued through the whole process. I did manage to finish milking the cows, however.
That was when it occurred to me, I needed to persuade this obviously unbroken pup to herd up sheep. I took him by the scruff, and asked him nicely, 'Now pup, will you please help me bring the sheep back in?' I was surprised, because he actually shook his head no!" I mimicked it, putting on my best puppy face and shaking my head. I laughed at myself then.
"Then, after that I told him 'Well, my little friend, you have to help me whether you like it or not.' so I took him outside and walked over to the herd. I did not expect them to have any rams, but again, I was wrong. I heard their horns butting before I saw the herd. The dog, of course went alert and pointed like an arrow to the sound. He darted off and I was chasing him, when I saw the herd. It was a good-sized herd, about 50 or so animals in total. The dog was confronting a ram a short distance from me. I decided to watch. He growled like this," I made a dog face and growled playfully, "and the ram was digging in to the dirt to charge. When the ram did charge, our young canine friend was taken completely off guard! He yelped and yelped and ran off, dizzy as could be, in an uneven line back towards me. I caught him up, and he was crying, so I said to him 'Now young pup, now that my friend Mr. Ram has taught you some manners, will you help me out?' and no sooner had I said that than the dog nodded! After that, he was helpful and brought the sheep back in all by himself!"
I laughed at my memories. It was not the funniest story I had, by any means, but it was, I decided, telling of my character. I hoped it had entertained Myth as much as it did me.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 11, 2008 10:00:00 GMT -5
I laughed as he reinacted the parts of the dog and himself. He was a very good speaker, his voice clear and his words easy to understand despite his accent. By the end I was smiling largely at him, my eyes twinkling in humor. "Beautiful," I complimented. "You do a very grand job at storytelling, my lord Timbule. Have you ever considered acting yourself?"
I grinned at him, though I wasn't teasing nor mocking, merely being truthful.
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Joras Timbule (I)
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 11, 2008 20:14:30 GMT -5
Thankfully, she had enjoyed my story for what it was worth. I saw the spark in her eyes of joy, and her gleeful smile, and I was glad I could bring it to her. The part where I got praised only made me happier.
Storytelling was a forte of mine, as where I grew up, my village still relied much on verbal communication to keep the mind sharp. Acting, however... "Thank you for your praise, my lady Myth." I responded. "Acting, you say? I may be charismatic, but I never called myself brave!" I chuckled at my joke. "In all seriousness, though, I am too afraid of going on stage. I never liked crowds," I said.
Crowds... I frowned in remembrance of an all-too-awful night back at home when I was a child. "Ever since then..." I muttered to myself under my breath, barely audible. I quickly wiped the tears that emerged from my eyes, and looked up to Myth. She was too innocent, too kind, too much a stranger for me to share such a heavy burden with. Instead, I pretended like dust got in my eye to mask the fact that I was crying.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 12, 2008 15:45:48 GMT -5
He was very jubulent and kind, the perfect mixture to have me relaxed and enjoying myself instead of being pent up. I found myself laughing lightly when he chuckled at his brave jest, though I could understand exactly what he meant by it.
When he suddenly turned from laughter to a frown, I wondered what had happened. Had I not been carrying a conversation with him I might have missed the line of tears in his eyes, though he brushed it away as if it were nothing.
"Are you alright?" I asked softly as I looked down, reaching into the hidden folds of my skirts for a small handkerchief. Looking back at him again, I offered it as well as a small smile.
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Joras Timbule (I)
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 12, 2008 20:47:54 GMT -5
Deep down, I wanted very much to say no, that I wasn't alright, that I needed to reach out, but I did not want to ruin whatever friendship we had made, and I also did not want to frighten her. She has her own burdens, and this one is too heavy for others to hold. I looked up at her, and saw her cool, kind smile, her hand offering a kerchief. I couldn't lie to that face.
"I, I'm alright, I suppose. It's just... some horrible memories recurred to me, ones that I regret more than anything else in my life." I said to her as I sat up in my seat, waving her kerchief away. "I am questioning with myself whether or not I should even tell it or not. It is not something I have shared with anyone, and it is not a pleasant thing. I... I will tell it for you if you ask, but consider yourself warned."
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 13, 2008 10:40:59 GMT -5
My eyes widened a little bit at what he had to say, and for a moment I didn't know what to think, only just having met him. But he was kind, and funny, and approached me when not many did. I lowered my kerchief as he waved it away, giving him another smile, this one designed to be supportive. "I wouldn't ever want to impede," I said, "Or be where I have no business. If you want to share with me, I'll listen, but I won't force you."
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 13, 2008 17:46:43 GMT -5
She was supportive, at least for now. Maybe speaking of it would be a good thing for me, allowing myself to let some of my bottled up anxiety and self-resentment out. My mind was all a-flutter, so I defied it, speaking without thinking. "Yes, I will tell you of it." I blurted out, not loudly, but in clear mental distress. Saying it calmed me, and brought me to my senses.
I took a deep breath, looking her in the eye. There really was no kinder way of saying this... "I... I have killed." A tear dropped from my eyes, and I made no effort of hiding it.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 14, 2008 11:14:37 GMT -5
Oh.. Sweet Elua. I stared at him in shock for a long moment after he quieted, trying to decide if he was serious of if he was telling another story. He opened very quickly, revealing something which I never could see him, from the little I knew of him, doing.
The din of the room around us roared to life as a table not too far away burst with laughter, men yelling in good fun and slapping one another on their shoulders. The noise helped break me from my confused stare and I blushed, dropping my eyes to his lap before looking back up again. "A stag, my lord?" I asked quietly, trying to guage his reaction.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 14, 2008 14:45:06 GMT -5
"No."
I dropped my eyes to the ground in front of me, crossing my hands in my lap. I then took a deep breath to calm my nerves, and to keep myself from thinking any more than I needed to. I bit my lower lip in a futile effort to divert my thoughts to something else.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 15, 2008 6:16:49 GMT -5
Oh gods. I didn't know what to do; I wasn't afraid he would hurt me, but I didn't know him either, only the little we'd shared in conversation. My breath caught without realization as I looked at him, trying to gauge... But he looked crushed, crestfallen, and I couldn't help the rising tide of sadness. I didn't know what happened, and I would try my best not to judge him. Mayhap he was attacked, or someone he loves. I just didn't know.
Tentatively I reached out, brushing my hand over the back of his shoulder and down the outside of his back, trying to comfort him. I averted my eyes to the floor infront of us to give him some privacy for a moment before looking back at him to speak.
"Joras," I said softly, leaving behind the formalities of last names and polite titles, "we have a beautiful temple to Elua in the City. Would you like to go with me and visit it?"
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Joras Timbule (I)
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 15, 2008 14:24:40 GMT -5
I looked up at her when I felt her hand on my back. Her face was not a judging one, and she displayed a very strong sympathy for me. At least she was not cowering from me, rejecting me as I had imagined the scenario playing itself out. "Joras," she said. I awoke from my reverie, and blinked my eyes, looking at her once again.
To the temple? Maybe it was time to, once again. Maybe this time it would be different. Maybe I would feel forgiven... but I would not count on that. "I..." I found myself stuttering, "Think I should go, once more. I have turned to many gods in my lifetime, and none, I have found, are as forgiving as Elua and Kushiel."
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 15, 2008 23:59:55 GMT -5
I nodded and stretched to set my glass on a nearby table. "Lets go, then," I said softly to him, my hand slipping into his and taking it as I stood.
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Joras Timbule (I)
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 16, 2008 6:18:17 GMT -5
I wiped the tears from my eyes off with my left hand, and took hers gently with my right. I nodded as I stood, and followed her silently.
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