Collecting Art

[Damien Hughes (D)]

After Beltane

Having enjoyed my time at the fete, I decided that I would have to venture into the City proper more often. I was a recluse in the making and my Aunt would be apalled by it.

So having mounted my mare, and dressed in my more casual of clothing, I found myself wandering...

It was La Confrérie Artisique that caught my eye. I enjoyed artwork some what but had never partaked.

The gallery was large, with sculptures and paintings. Interesting. I wander smiling to the others in the room.

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

Having recently moved into my family's house in the City of Elua, I discovered that one of the walls in the master bedroom was frightfully bare. So, in the days after Beltane, I headed to the Art District, looking for a lovely painting to cover the wall.

I entered La Confrérie Artisique, a large gallery with many different paintings and sculptures. There were a few people there, but I didn't really notice any of them except a thin young man who was taking everything in with interest. I examined a large mural of a scene from Hellene mythology. It was beautiful, but gory, not something for a bedroom.

[Damien Hughes (D)]

I came to a large mural and stood next to a woman. Looking at her I smiled then looked to the mural trying to examine it in detail. I didn't want to talk to her, it was particularly my nature to strike up a conversation.
What would my Aunt say?
Come now Damien, every man needs a wife.

I sighed softly and looked to her again. Well, she was pretty.

"Hello." I said softly then looked back to the painting.

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

The young man who'd been wandering the salon approached me, a little hesitantly, and when he greeted me, I turned to give him a kind, cheerful smile. "Hello," I replied. "How are you?"

[Damien Hughes (D)]

"Very good, thank you." I said smiling. "I'm Damien." I said softly then shook my head.
"Forgive me, I'm Damien Hughes, heir apparent to the Marquis d'Maurier." I chuckled softly.
"My aunt always wishes for me to introduce my self so at court."

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"We're not at court," I said matter-of-factly. "But as long as we're being formal, I am Rosalie de Merteuil, Comtesse de Merteuil of Azzalle." I smiled warmly. "I shan't be like your aunt, and chide you for wishing to be just Damien."

[Damien Hughes (D)]

She was...rude? Course? Or she was just being her... I smiled never the less and bowed to her after hearing her title.

"Its a pleasure Comtesse, and I'm glad that you don't seek to punish me." I teased. "Azzalle, perhaps we've met before. I too am from Azzalle."

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"It may be," I said. "Are you often at parties or balls there?"

[Damien Hughes (D)]

"Sometimes." I said thinking. "I've been to sea quite a bit so I've missed out on many fetes. I've often been to the Trevalion Estate for events." I turned back to the painting and then back to her.
"You?"

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"I have been as well," I said. "It is likely we were there at different times, a shame our paths have not crossed until now." I smiled sweetly; it was kind of him to ask, but I was pretty sure we had never met before.

[Damien Hughes (D)]

I nodded.
"I agree." I said smiling. "What are you doing here in the City?" I asked curiously.

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"It was time to come," I replied. "I have recently assumed title, so I intend to spend time as a courtier so I may meet other peers before returning to my county." I looked at him. "And you, what brings you to the City?"

[Damien Hughes (D)]

"Same," I said nodding. "Except I don't have title yet. I'm inheriting for my Aunt and she's asked me to come because I've never been." I explained.

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"Interesting," I said. "Your aunt has no children of her own, then?"

[Damien Hughes (D)]

"Never married." I added with a nod. "I've been like a son to her though, my own parents died when I was young, I was raised by my Aunt and grandparents."

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that," I said. "It must have been difficult."

[Damien Hughes (D)]

I shrugged slightly.
"I was young." I said smiling more politely then anything. "It was a long time ago."

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"Yes, of course," I said. Smoothly I changed the subject. "Do you have siblings, or cousins, my lord?"

[Damien Hughes (D)]

"No siblings," I said softly. "I have a distant cousin the Duchesse Mirielle Belamont. You?"

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"I have a half-brother," I replied. "He's a darling. We're very close."

[Damien Hughes (D)]

I nodded.
"How wonderful." I said smiling. "Is he here in the City?"

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"No," I said, a bit sadly. I did miss Harlan terribly. "He's my exchequer. I've entrusted him with the estate while I'm gone."

[Damien Hughes (D)]

I nodded.
"I see." I said smiling. "So its just you." I reafirmed. "Do you have family here?"

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"No Merteuil family," I said. "My mother was of Bryony before she married my father, though; my uncle her brother is still there."

[Damien Hughes (D)]

"Do you see them?" I asked smiling to her.

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"I haven't yet," I said, "though I plan to." I certainly did plan to; it would be fun to meet my mother's stock. "Is your cousin Mirielle here?"

[Damien Hughes (D)]

"She is." I said softly. "She's courting Prince August de Trevalion actually. I'm sure you'll see her at court if you visit." I forced a kind smile even if my heart ached for Mirielle.

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

His cousin, and Prince August? Good allies to have, absolutely. "Perhaps I will call on her, and introduce myself," I said thoughtfully. "It will be good to know the other Azzallese nobles."

I turned back to the painting before us. "I'm looking for something to hang in my room," I told him. "This is...majestic, but not something I want to wake up to in the morning."

[Damien Hughes (D)]

I chuckled and shook my head.
"Likely not." I said smiling. "I've seen some nice paintings over there." I added.

[Rosalie de Merteuil]

"Really?" I asked, looking in the direction he indicated. "I think I shall go look. You're welcome to join me."