Family Matters: Sirena and Aramis

[Aramis Shahrizai]

After I closed up my shop for the day, I walked over to West Borough, bearing a sack of apricots from Ch'n for Sirena. Approaching her home, I knocked upon the door.

[Sirena Shahrizai]

I was dressed simply in a gown of sapphire silk, my hair loose and waving slightly as I opened the door. "Good evening," I said musically, leaning closer to brush the kiss of greeting against his lips and then pulling away to step out of the door. "Please, do come in."

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I returned her kiss of greeting before stepping into the foyer. "Thank you, cousin," I said, offering her the little sack. "I thought you might appreciate some of our latest produce; apricots from Ch'n. They are simply divine." Like you.

[Sirena Shahrizai]

"Thank you," I replied with a sweet smile, touched that my cousin thought so well of me and laying another kiss on his cheek, this time in appreciative gratitude. "You decided to come by at dinner, so I have something fixed up if you're hungry." Gently I took the bag from him and handed it to one of the servants, who invisibly took it into the kitchens.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Thank you," I said again. "I am hungry; I'd be glad to join you for dinner."

[Sirena Shahrizai]

"Then come with me," I told him in a croon, taking his hand and drawing him after me happily- it had been some time since I'd had any proper company and my senses were filled with the longing for interaction.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I let her lead me where she would; we could have been eating dinner in a pile of hay and I wouldn't have cared.

[Sirena Shahrizai]

He followed easily, and I smiled a bit more wickedly at it, then drew him into the dining room, where the table was set and glasses of wine at every plate. "Please, sit," I urged him sweetly.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I took a seat to the right of the head of the table. The table was decadently laid and I commented, "I hope you didn't go to too much trouble just for your cousin the layman."

[Sirena Shahrizai]

"Is there such a thing as too much work for family?" I asked, sitting at the head of the table with a wink and a grin, raising my glass to my lips and sipping delicately.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Hear, hear," I said, raising my glass to her and taking a swig."So, how have you been recently?"

[Sirena Shahrizai]

"Fairly well, my dear," I replied, then set my napkin in my lap. "And yourself? Is business going well?"

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Excellently, thank you," I said. "The change in the weather has brought in some new items which are highly in demand." I paused. "I never got a chance to thank you for your fete, I had a wonderful time."

[Sirena Shahrizai]

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," I replied sincerely. "It was for everyone, and I'm glad it came across well."

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I nodded. "I met the most wonderful little adept," I told her. "Douleur. Did you know her before the fete?"

[Sirena Shahrizai]

"Yes, I've met her before," I said after swallowing a bite of the rice I'd taken. "She's a very sweet girl."

[Aramis Shahrizai]

Digging into my own plate, I took a bite of meat before continuing. "I plan to see her again," I told Sirena, "when I can." I was itching to ask after her dratted fiance, but resisted the urge. "Did you take time from playing hostess to enjoy yourself?"

[Sirena Shahrizai]

"A bit, but I did more hostessing than anything," I said easily, knowing that Aramis could have a habit toward jealousy and not wanting to see it flare at the moment, for it would put me in a sour mood as well. "And I think Douleur needs all of to good patronage she can get."

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I nodded. "Well, as soon as I am able, I will be glad to help her."

I took another bite. "The food is excellent."

[Sirena Shahrizai]

"Thank you- my cook is quite good," I agreed readily, then topped up his glass of wine and wondered why he was so quiet. "If I may venture a statement without offending you too badly, you seem most uncomfortable around me of late."

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I put my fork down, trying to keep a straight face. "If I have been," I said slowly, "then it is only out of respect for you, and my regret to cause you distress." I had a feeling that we were going to end up having this conversation whether I wanted to or not.

[Sirena Shahrizai]

Confused, adn hearing the small giggle develop in the back of my mind I cocked my head sideways. "I don't understand what you mean," I said in a thoughtful fashion.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"There are some...events of late that have caused me much distress," I said carefully, "but I was loathe to speak of them because I felt...much conflicted about them."

[Sirena Shahrizai]

"Oh?" I asked curiously, twirling a strand of hair around my finger.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I coughed. "Your friend, the Baron d'Lantier...what kind of man is he?" I figured I would ask this first, maybe she saw something in him that I didn't.

[Sirena Shahrizai]

"My fiance is like myself- artistic and a bit mad, and yields only to those he finds similar traits in," I replied with a smile and nod. "We suit one another in that regard and he worships me."

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I nodded. It was as Anacrasia had said, but my experience had left me apprehensive, and not even Anacrasia's reassurances could assuage me. "I see," I said. "A bit mad...do you think he is dangerous at all?"

I leaned towards her to lay my hand atop hers. "Cousin, if you tell me that this man is the best in the world for you, I myself will toss petals at your wedding. But an encounter with him has left me uneasy, and I want to make sure that whatever else, you are happy and unharmed."

[Sirena Shahrizai]

Reaching out softly I stroked his hand in understanding and apology. "He may be a threat to others, but not to me. Like a dog raised from birth to guard one person, his rage turns outward and inward, but never over his shoulder, and that is where I rest in his esteem."

[Aramis Shahrizai]

Her hand atop mine was soothing, and I felt a wave of love followed by a wave of rage at the idea that I still would never have her. Still, I wanted her happiness above all else. "In that case, I hope you two will be truly happy together," I said.

"But I would still have you know that when I met him, he spoke exceedingly disrespectfully to me, and made lewd, uncouth comments about my lady Anacrasia. I feel this behavior was unacceptable, especially his comments about the Duchesse." I paused, wondering how she would take this information.

[Sirena Shahrizai]

"Such is his nature- not everyone is tactful and perfect and courtly as you are," I told him with a smile, for I'd seen the spark of rage in him like a torch thrown into an empty cell, flaring for a moment and then smoldering. "But he is also tolerant, and allows me my whims and to stay as close to my family as I like. As for Anacrasia- she knows him nearly as well as I do and in many of the same senses, so what he said could quite likely be true."