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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 22, 2006 11:23:59 GMT -5
"It's good to meet you Maeve," I replied.
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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 22, 2006 16:16:53 GMT -5
Apparently Allisande had been the recipient of some sort of honor at the recent fete. Interesting, but fairly lost on me.
"I was about to find a place to relax for a little while and have a cup of tea, would you both care to join me?" I asked them.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 22, 2006 19:59:41 GMT -5
"That would be wonderful," I said.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 22, 2006 21:41:57 GMT -5
"I would be honored," I replied with a respectful nod. "Thank you for the kind offer."
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 22, 2006 21:50:12 GMT -5
I smiled, happy to have company for awhile.
"I saw a tea shoppe just around that corner," I said, motioning the way from which I had arrived. "Come, let us see what they have to offer."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 23, 2006 10:49:31 GMT -5
Following the prince's lead, we walked to the tea shoppe. It was a charming little place, and I wondered why I had never seen it before. But of course, I rarely left Heliotrope House for any reason, and when I did I was usually off in my own little world, so that offered an explanation.
"What kind of tea does one drink in Ruskovia?" I asked the prince quietly.
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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 23, 2006 11:44:16 GMT -5
"It depends, on the person and the situation. I have always been fonder of the strong, spicy teas," I answered Maeve.
Looking around the shoppe, I noticed it was divided into indoor and outdoor seating.
"Would you ladies prefer to sit inside or on the patio?" I asked them, smiling.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 26, 2006 11:15:53 GMT -5
"I find the outside air refreshing and causes one to appreciate the warmth of the tea," I replied with a smile, hoping I wouldn't be found terribly rude for expressing my opinion, being such a newcomer to the group. "Then again, I find I am not terribly bothered by the cold, so if either of you are inside would be very nice as well."
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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 26, 2006 11:39:14 GMT -5
"Cold?" I asked with a grin. "The weather is so mild here I thought that Spring had come already. This is beautiful day, I too vote for outside."
There was a nice table in the middle of the patio area, and I motioned towards it.
"How about there? It looks nice and there is some sun to keep you beautiful ladies from catching a chill."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 26, 2006 16:51:14 GMT -5
"It's perfect," I said quietly. I knew I was quiet, but it was not in my nature to be a social butterfly. I preferred to watch and listen.
"I wonder if they have foreign teas here," I mused. "I would like to try a Ruskovian tea if they have 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 26, 2006 17:04:30 GMT -5
I waited for them to take their seats before I sat as well.
"I can almost guarantee that they do not have Ruskovian teas, for there is no export contract to ship teas from Ruskovia to Terra d'Ange," I said. "If you would like, I can have some of my personal stock sent to you at Heliotrope. I brought quite a collection with me and have more than enough to share."
I looked over at Allisande.
"I can send some to you as well, should you be interested."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 26, 2006 21:45:34 GMT -5
"That would be very kind, thank you," I replied with a nod and a gracious smile. "It's always interesting to try new things. I appreciate the thought."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 26, 2006 21:51:38 GMT -5
"I would love that," I said. "Thank you very much."
Settling into my seat, I addressed him: "Are you here to improve commerce? As you say, there is no tea trade between our countries, and yet here you are in Terre D'Ange." I was not rude, or at least, I hoped I wasn't, I was genuinely curious, and in the mood for something new.
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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 26, 2006 21:59:24 GMT -5
"You are both quite welcome. I will send over a selection to each of you as soon as I return to the palace."
I tilted my head a little as I considered how to answer Maeve's question.
"I am here on matters of diplomacy and commerce. Ruskovia is seeking to establish relationships with Terra d'Ange that will be beneficial to both nations."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 27, 2006 17:40:51 GMT -5
"That's wonderful," I said, smiling. "More tea for everyone, then." I was joking, however feebly. Humor was never one of my strong points.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 27, 2006 18:01:39 GMT -5
"And probably a dozen other things that we haven't had the chance to hear of since there hasn't been any trade before," I added as I noticed the waiter begin to approach. "Styles of clothing and jewelry, weapons and ships- and of course a new language to learn." In Dahlia we were taught to be able to speak with people on a variety of subjects which our patrons may be interested in.
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Sept 27, 2006 18:25:15 GMT -5
"Indeed," I said chuckling and looking at Allisande. "I didn't realize there was a House for budding ambassadors."
The waiter arrived and asked for our order. Not familiar with the selection they would have, I requested whatever their strongest, spiciest tea was and a plate of cakes. He took my order and looked to Maeve.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 27, 2006 18:35:03 GMT -5
"Orange tea with cinnamon, please," I requested. "Allisande?"
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 27, 2006 18:39:15 GMT -5
"Bhodistani chai and a lemon scone please," I said to the waiter with a smile and a nod. He smiled in return and I turned to Alexei. "Not so much to make us ambassadors but able to speak with those who would be interested in such things and to be able to understand what is being said around us," I explained. "Dahlia is the House of regal bearing, with the canon 'upright and unbending."
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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 27, 2006 18:44:19 GMT -5
I nodded, thinking over what Allisande had said.
"That makes sense." I looked at Maeve. "Do they also such things at Heliotrope or is that something special to Dahlia?" I smiled a little self deprecatingly to both of them. "You'll have to forgive my ignorance, I truly know very little about the Night Court."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 27, 2006 18:48:19 GMT -5
"I suppose Bryony adepts would be trained in such things," I mused, "They're very much about wealth and power. Heliotrope is not interested in such things. 'Thou and no other' leaves little room for politics or economics." I smiled. "It is much more like a Heliotrope adept to love his or her patron than to wish to extract something from him or her."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 27, 2006 18:55:50 GMT -5
"I would disagree on that point," I said calmly though I had been deeply stung by her words. "A Bryony's skill is in wealth and wager, making themselves as expensive as possible as that is what makes some patron's blood burn- knowing they have purchased a rare commodity. Dahlia is about being seen as our own person, equal, with our own intellect and opinions even as we respect their status. We no more wish to extract or cheat something from a patron than we hope they wish to from us."
I realized that Alexei really had not had a chance to voice his own opinion and I smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, my lord- sometimes the House rivalries run as deep as any family feud."
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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 27, 2006 19:02:27 GMT -5
My eyebrow went up slightly as I listened to the back and forth between Maeve and Allisande.
I smoothed my features as Allisande spoke to me. "Nothing to apologize for. Even the feuds here are polite and gentle as compared to what I am used to. This is polite dinner conversation for me," I said with a laugh.
The waiter arrived with our selections and arranged everything on the table. He bowed and slipped away. Lifting my cup in toast I said, "To new friends and diplomatic relations."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 27, 2006 19:03:35 GMT -5
I realized too late that I had said something terribly wrong. I needed to apologize; I had not meant to offend Allisande, only to illustrate that a Heliotrope would make a poor ambassador. "Forgive me," I murmured sincerely to her. "I had not meant to offend."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 27, 2006 19:07:29 GMT -5
"It seems like the entire thing was a misunderstanding," I replied with a nod and a smile. "Best to forget it and go on with good times." Raising my own cup I echoed his toast.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 27, 2006 19:24:02 GMT -5
"To new friends and diplomatic relations," I said, mimicking my companions. I took a deep draft of my tea; hot drinks have never daunted me. The liquid slithered down my throat and filled me with a deep warmth.
"Speaking of good times," I said, "is everyone looking forward to Longest Night?"
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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 27, 2006 21:04:47 GMT -5
I took a sip of my tea and then set down the cup, letting the rich spicy flavor develop fully in my mouth before swallowing.
"How do you d'Angelines celebrate the Longest Night?" I asked curiously.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Sept 28, 2006 11:21:27 GMT -5
"There are usually parties at different locations in the City- I've even heard that that Palace is hosting one this year," I replied as I sipped my drink. "It's also one of the only nights of a year when most adepts don't take assignations, preferring to hold their own obervances and vigils. Some do go to the celebrations as fetes and some do allow themselves to be taken by a patron in return for some favor, but where Midwinter is the adept's night, Longest Night is mostly about peers and nobles."
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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 28, 2006 11:32:06 GMT -5
"Interesting," I said, nodding slightly and then smiling. "Even in my time here, I have noticed that d'Angelines do seem to enjoy throwing fetes. It's almost like there's one for the sun going down everyday."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Sept 28, 2006 17:55:32 GMT -5
I smiled softly. "I have never been to a fete," I commented. "It depends on one's taste, I suppose. To me, a good time constitutes a bottle of wine and a good friend or two."
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