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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 19, 2007 19:15:39 GMT -5
"Then the semi-long version." I replied with a smile. "Mala and I met at the Midwinter Masque. We had a very satisfactory night together, and she came to see me several days later to invite me to her fete on Longest Night."
We were at the cafe, and I paused in my story until we were seated, and with menus.
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 20, 2007 2:17:33 GMT -5
"Ah, yes, the Midwinder Masque," I replied, nodding as I sat. For some odd reason, I couldn't remember where I was. That set me to wonder as we looked at the menus, and I waited for Christophe to place his order. It seemed I had no imagination, this day, and would order what ever he had.
I closed the menu, and looked at him with a quiet smile, all ears as he had my full attention.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 20, 2007 13:03:35 GMT -5
The bustling owner came over to take our order. I asked for orange juice and one of the smaller platters, pancakes, eggs, bacon and hash browns. After Geraldine had ordered, I continued with the story.
“So Longest Night comes, and it’s a disaster. Mala fights with her brother, and then starts to take her temper out on a young lady of high station. I ask the young lady to dance, both to stop the fight and because Mala was being rather awful to her. She doesn’t forgive me for it. I spent Longest Night alone, beating a practice bag within an inch of its life.” A wry smile, trying to forget the feeling of my heart sinking in my breast upon her rejection that night.
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 20, 2007 16:56:49 GMT -5
I was listening to him with complete attention, not bothering much for the food - I trusted his judgment.
"That sounds rather awful," I replied sympathetically as he paused. I was curious as to who was this young lady - and didn't dare ask. It reminded me that Longest Night had been a bit particular for me too - wonderful up to the morning, until I had been just this side of sweet, and rejected by Aramis... Mala's cousin. "Then what happened?"
I was rather liking Christophe for it - he was trying to do the right thing - for now, his beloved Mala seemed to have quite the temper... then again, what else to expect from the Shahrizai? If he loved her, and he were happy, it was what mattered...
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 20, 2007 18:31:42 GMT -5
I smiled a bit grimly. "Then came a period where I thought her pride would keep her away. So I took on a rather major assignation. Soleil Belfours has need of an heir, so I was contracted to try to father one. I was overjoyed with the thought, I've always wanted to be a father." I told her with a smile.
Our food came and there was another pause as I thanked the owner and dug in. After a moment of good flavours, I continued. "So while we were waiting to see if Soleil and I had been successful, Mala and I made up. We spent coronation night together, and she asked me to come live with her. I agreed, and we were both so happy. And then told her about the contract with Soleil. It didn't go over so well."
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 20, 2007 18:39:45 GMT -5
As Christophe spoke, I listened patiently, smiling a little more broadly when he said he wanted fatherhood - that was a very desirable trait in a man, as far as I was concerned - even if obviously, he and I were not that kind of friends. It made me like him a great deal, though.
I made a listening sound as he paused, and took a bit, smiling in appreciation at the quality of the food - it was very, very good. I swallowed a chunk of pancake, and looked up, "So, let me make sure I understand you... Mala got angry at you, for being kind to someone she was mean to, you were estranged, so you accepted the Marquise Belfours' offer, and now, she is angry at you for something you did while you were free?"
I shook my head in disapproval, feeling suddenly very concerned for him. It sounded terrible, really terrible. "But you made up, didn't you?" I asked, seeking reassurance. Then, it dawned on me, and wide-eyed, I asked, "Are you going to be a father, after all?"
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 20, 2007 18:53:35 GMT -5
The questions came pouring out, and I held up a hand. "Let me get there. She was mad at me when I didn't fully support her when she was upset. And then she was mad at me because she thought I would leave her for Soleil."
"Where was I... Right. So one of the things that came out of our fight was that Mala doesn't want children. So I went home so we could both think things over. I went back to her after a few days, after the realization that I didn't want to be without her. I asked her to marry me, and she accepted." I told her with a grin, taking a bite of hash browns.
After I swallowed, I continued. "And yes, I'm going to be a father. Soleil told me the other day." I grinned again.
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 20, 2007 19:03:59 GMT -5
His hand held out summoned an apologetic smile, and I kept silent, computing what he told me and drawing my own conclusions.
"I'm sorry I bombarded you..." I said softly when he was done. "So, err.... " I paused, and then took a leap, "Congratulations, both on the baby and the betrothal," I told him, smiling wide. "You look happy, it's what matters," I said with a great grin.
It was true - the going ons between him and his beloved were his to handle - it was to be expected, lovers do quarrel, and making up can be sweet. "Will you allow me one more question, then?"
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 20, 2007 19:06:28 GMT -5
I laughed. "I didn't mean no questions. I just thought it'd be easier to tell the whole story, and then explain." I smiled good naturedly. "And thank you. I am happy."
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 20, 2007 19:14:45 GMT -5
"Happy is good," I said with a secretive smile of my own. I picked at the bacon, relishing the salty taste, and after I'd swallowed my mouthful, I asked, "So, now that you are betrothed to Mala, who does not wish for children, and that you are father to Soleil's expected baby, is it all? How are you planning to..." I paused, looking for the right work, "... orchestrate it all?"
I was asking quietly, softly, gently. I liked Christophe - and a friend's duty is also to act as a bouncing wall, is it not? I smiled dreamily... he was getting a lot of things I had once wished for myself... well, not to wed a Shahrizai, but still... I smiled softly - I had comforting thoughts of my own.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 20, 2007 19:20:17 GMT -5
"Carefully." I told her frankly. "Mala is coming with me, on my next visit. We'll see how it goes."
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 20, 2007 19:38:48 GMT -5
"I guess you will," I replied understandingly. "Do they get along, her and Soleil?"
I took another sip of orange juice, and set to labor on the remainder of the breakfast gingerly.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 20, 2007 21:18:38 GMT -5
I chuckled. "I've never seen the two of them together. But they way they speak of each other to me does not give me great hope for an amazing friendship to spring up between them. But perhaps that's my fault. Jealousy does odd things to people."
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 21, 2007 3:50:13 GMT -5
“It does,” I replied. “But unless they don’t follow Blessed Elua’s precept, I can’t see how it wouldn’t work out. You love Mala, she loves you, and from what I hear, you love your unborn child. It doesn’t sound to me like you have romantic interest in Soleil… so it’s only about the child, who is an innocent bystander, really.”
I smiled softly. “I wish I could help, though.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 21, 2007 12:27:19 GMT -5
"You are." I told her honestly. "You're reaffirming my beliefs. They are both so worried that it won't work, and it's started making me edgy." I quirked a grin before taking a mouthful of eggs.
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 21, 2007 13:14:30 GMT -5
I nodded, "At the risk of repeating myself, you'll be fine," I said calmly. "The worst that could happen, would be for one of them not to want the baby in their house, in which case, seeing as you are of the Night Court, Valerian could be a middle ground. You'll be fine, I'm sure."
I took another gulp of Kafae, and added, "I'm glad I can help. If you ever need a sitter..." I grinned slyly. My love of children wasn't a secret.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 21, 2007 15:32:30 GMT -5
"I never thought of Valerian... thank you. And thank you for the offer. You'll be the first to come to mind if Synnove needs some extracurricular looking after." I smiled. "I'll know she'll be in good hands."
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 21, 2007 15:35:04 GMT -5
"Synnove...." I tasted the name, "It's pretty. Is that for a boy, or a girl?" I asked ingenuously.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 21, 2007 15:52:46 GMT -5
"Soleil is convinced that it's a girl. Something about only girls being born for the last four generations or something. I'm not sure what I'll come up with if it's a boy." I chuckled. "She gave me some rather specific parameters when I was choosing the name."
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 21, 2007 16:05:37 GMT -5
I chuckled back, "Well, what matters is that your baby is healthy," I replied soothingly. "Sounds like you came up with the name... does it have any special story to it?"
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 21, 2007 16:08:14 GMT -5
"It was my grandmother's name." I told her with a smile. "And it started with a S and was related to a heavenly body."
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 21, 2007 16:34:05 GMT -5
"Like Soleil..." I smiled, very amused. "A fateful coincidence, if any. I like it, at all rates. It has the merit of being original and poetic."
I finished my plate, and sat back, grinning. "It sounds to me like you have a lot of very good things happening. So when are the nuptials for?"
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 21, 2007 16:37:44 GMT -5
"Those were the rules for the name." I explained with a smile. "As for the wedding... I really don't know. It's up to Mala, I suppose."
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 21, 2007 16:41:46 GMT -5
I didn't comment on the rules - I had my own set of thoughts on the matter. I furrowed my brow a little, but in the end, I laughed lightly, "It's your wedding too, Christophe. Don't you get a say?"
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 22, 2007 17:26:38 GMT -5
"The thought of being bound to her for the rest of our lives doesn't scare me at all." I explained, taking a sip of the orange juice. "I can wait some until she's ready."
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 23, 2007 6:24:44 GMT -5
I smiled softly, “You are truly wonderful. Mala is a very lucky woman,” I said gently. I took a few quiet moments to gather my thoughts and shook my head silently, “I have to hand it to you, that’s a lot of news you had there…”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 23, 2007 10:06:34 GMT -5
I finished my meal as she thought, a small smile on my face from her words. I was leaning back against my chair when she spoke again, and I laughed. "Aye. My life was a whole play out of Eglantine for a while there. And probably for a little while yet. I'm just praying that Mala and Soleil can work out their differences without violence."
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 23, 2007 10:48:29 GMT -5
“Bah, we all have drama in our lives, Christophe, some more than others, though,” I said, gently teasing. “Not that you’re not special, but it helps, to know you’re not alone…” I grinned. “As long as they can co-exist without beheading anyone… You’ll be fine, just trust the woman you love, and the mother of your child, to behave,” I offered reassuringly. “And you have options, if you need outside, neutral ground.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Sept 23, 2007 23:58:18 GMT -5
"I shall take your advice to heart." I replied honestly, resolving to trust Mala at the very least. I was now able to admit to myself that it wasn't only the issue of violence that had caused me to ask to join in on the meeting. When they met, the rules were going to be set for years to come. Some of those rules would involve me. And I didn't want to be kept in the dark.
I took a deep breath in and out, then smiled. "Enough about me. I've talked your ear off. What about you?"
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Géraldine Grangier
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Sept 24, 2007 1:23:16 GMT -5
I simply smiled, and then gave him a little shrug. “Nothing as exciting as your news, Christophe. You know, the usual life of the Heliotrope,” I replied quietly, then jesting, I looked up at the ceiling, and said, “Woe, woe is me.”
The truth was, if I would admit it, I wasn’t feeling at my best, but I didn’t want to burden him with it : he had a great deal on his mind already. But I let out a little sigh. I was tired of it all in truth. Who ever said being of Heliotrope was easy?
I concluded with a simple admission, “I’ll admit, I’m getting eager to get my marque done.”
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