Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 18, 2006 23:33:29 GMT -5
The day had bloomed cool and mild, it seemed there was never any harsh weather here, and I felt the need to get out. I was adjusting to life in the City, but sometimes I still felt trapped within the walls.
Dressed in black breeches and a loose red shirt, sword hanging at my side and a pouch of money tied to my belt, I headed out to the shopping district to enjoy the air and outdoors.
I had been wandering for awhile when I stopped at a stall displaying small glass animals. They were magnificent and I couldn't help but begin thinking of people to send some too.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 19, 2006 16:25:23 GMT -5
Having slipped away from Heliotrope for a bit, I wandered up and down the streets, stopping here and there to look at a trinket or a bolt of fabric. I pondered a new dress; it had been a long time. Unable to decide on a fabric, I kept walking, stopping at a glassblower's stall. His table was full of glass trinkets, animals and the like. I examined a lovely glass chameleon as the handsome Ruskovian next to me glanced over the table.
"They're lovely, aren't they?" I murmured.
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 19, 2006 19:21:03 GMT -5
"Very," I said, smiling at the pretty girl next to me. "I know that everything here is the finest of its kind, but these are just amazing."
I picked up a black horse and held it up to the sun. The light stayed black as it moved through the glass, showing a talent in pigmentation I had never imagined possible. Most black glass shown blue or purple when held to the light, but not this.
"Amazing," I repeated.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 19, 2006 20:14:33 GMT -5
Dreamily, I picked up a white horse. Mimicking whinnying noises, I trotted it over to the one he was holding. "Clip-clop, clip-clop," I said, clicking my tongue. "Neigh!"
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 19, 2006 21:12:00 GMT -5
Chuckling at her antics, I set the black horse down, but slightly to the side.
"My brother Fydor will like that one, he loves horses," I said, smiling still.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 19, 2006 21:15:45 GMT -5
"Fyodor is lucky," I said quietly, "To have such a loving brother as you."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 19, 2006 21:53:16 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said, bowing slightly.
"I am Alexei Romanov," I told her, introducing myself.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 19, 2006 21:55:40 GMT -5
My eyes widened, and I curtseyed slowly to him. "My lord," I acknowledged. "Maeve no' Heliotrope."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 19, 2006 22:34:42 GMT -5
From her reaction, I could tell that she knew who that meant I was. I wondered if it was from studies or from word spread through the City.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," I told her, smiling. "What brings you out on this beautiful day, Maeve?"
I set a white cat and a blue shipfish next to the horse, making a small collection of things to purchase.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 20, 2006 18:08:53 GMT -5
I examined a small glass butterfly as I answered him. "I just wanted some fresh air," I said. "The air in Heliotrope is stuffy." My eyes were glazed, unfocused. I knew I must look like a user of opium. "I needed some Maeve time."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 20, 2006 22:05:56 GMT -5
"It is important to take time for yourself," I commented. I moved around her to look at some other items.
"Heliotrope is the House of…..singular love, yes?" I asked, trying to recall the names and attributes of the Houses.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 20, 2006 22:13:24 GMT -5
"Yes," I answered, "Although patronage has been....minimal." I sighed. "I am twenty, sir. Adepts my age have made their marques already, but I..." here I paused to prevent myself from losing composure, "I have but two inches."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 20, 2006 22:26:37 GMT -5
"Is that uncommon?" I asked her. "I know very little of the Houses. In fact you are only the second adept I have talked to."
My eyes settled on a glass bear, and it was all I could do to keep from ginning foolishly. I picked it up and set it with the rest, knowing that this one would stay here in Terra d'Ange.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 20, 2006 22:33:57 GMT -5
"I suppose it is uncommon to have made so little progess in four years," I said, "Though not surprising. Heliotrope House is not the height of fashion at this time, my lord."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 20, 2006 22:40:39 GMT -5
"Please, just call me Alexei," I told her, smiling. I indicated to the stall owner that I was done and he started adding things up and packing them in straw filled crates.
"Does that usually happen?" I asked Maeve. "One House being more in or out of fashion? I thought it all depended on one's desire."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 21, 2006 16:18:34 GMT -5
I nodded. "Love goes in and out of fashion, the same as styles of dress," I explained sadly. "Nobody wants one lover anymore, everybody wants everything, and usually, they can get it."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 21, 2006 17:23:19 GMT -5
Shaking my head slightly, I said, "How odd. I must admit that the whole idea of the Night Court is so foreign to me that I am constantly trying to understand it. It does seem odd though that the passions of people can change in love as they do in clothing."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 21, 2006 17:37:51 GMT -5
I smiled sadly. "There is love, and then there is devotion. Heliotrope combines the two into what they believe to be the greatest form of love. For others, they are very much two separate entities."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 21, 2006 17:42:54 GMT -5
Handing over the coins to the stall's proprietor, I gave him a slip with my name on it and asked him to have the items delivered to the palace.
Then I turned back to Maeve. "They are wrong, love and devotion are one in the same. Had I been born here, perhaps my view would be different, but I know in my heart that they are connected in a way that makes them inseparable."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 21, 2006 17:47:12 GMT -5
I smiled at him dreamily. "Your words are comforting, Alexei," I said, "but my coffer is empty and I am a slave to a system that will not release me to pursue true, real love." Lightly, I passed a coin over the counter and picked up the glass butterfly. "I want to fly away," I said slowly, "but like this lovely thing, I am weighted here."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 21, 2006 20:45:29 GMT -5
It was a moderately nice day and, as was my usual habit, I wandered Mont Nuit and the stalls there, learning what had changed and re-aquiainting myself with those I hadn't spoken to recently. There was a number of people around and I gave most of them a small smile and nod of acknowledgement before continuing- and then I spotted a stall with small glass animals. My nieces and nephews would like such things, I thought as I walked over and slipped gracefully by the pair who stood their speaking.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 21, 2006 20:51:17 GMT -5
I was distracted a moment by the lovely Dahlia adept who had come to look at the figurines. I knew who she was, she had been the Winter Queen, but we had never spoken. Still I acknowledged her with a nod of my head. "Well met, sister," I murmured to her.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 21, 2006 21:13:36 GMT -5
"Well met," I replied smoothly as I nodded slightly- it was an archaic way of greeting, but I still understood it. Unfortunately, not all adepts were on the same side anymore. "How are you this afternoon? And you, my lord?"
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 21, 2006 21:16:34 GMT -5
I started to answer Maeve, but her attention turned to another girl. My eyes wandered over the other adept, curious as to which House she was from.
"Well, thank you," I said, inclining my head slightly.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 21, 2006 21:18:23 GMT -5
"Well enough," I said. Somehow I always sounded sad when I spoke. "And you?"
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 21, 2006 21:22:20 GMT -5
"Very well, thank you," I replied, face composed. "I'm Allisande no' Dahlia." For a moment I tried to place the man's accent but it was certainly one I had never heard before.
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 21, 2006 21:30:23 GMT -5
"Alexei Romanov," I said, bowing slightly. I knew it was not the social custom to bow to one of lesser standing here, but it was polite.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 21, 2006 21:30:38 GMT -5
"I heard you were wonderful at the Midwinter Masque," I said to her. "It must have been a great honor."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 21, 2006 21:38:09 GMT -5
The lord was polite and I dropped into a respectful curtsey to match. His name sounded vaguely familiar but I couldn't place it- best to just react normally. Once I had risen I turned to the adept- she hadn't yet given me her name- and smiled. "It was a great honor and privledgeto serve the Night Court and my House so as well as a pleasure. Thank you for your kind words."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 21, 2006 21:40:46 GMT -5
"You're welcome," I said. "I'm sorry, I'm a little absentminded sometimes. I'm Maeve no' Heliotrope."
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