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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 27, 2008 21:47:37 GMT -5
"Insofar as her wardrobe is always lovely and up to date," I said. "But I have not been at court enough to notice trends that began with her."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 27, 2008 21:51:34 GMT -5
I nodded, wondering if Avive felt the burn of jealousy. I had an agreement with Coretta, and it was entirely political. As far as courting was concerned, there were appearances, and then there was truth. Coretta was the former, Avive was the latter.
"If you hear rumors, Avive," I told her, "I would beg that you keep in mind that a lot of my life is in the political arena."
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 28, 2008 19:41:35 GMT -5
I cocked my head at him. I wasn't a big gossip really, and wondered what he was talking about. "I know that," I said, "but I also know you. I can't believe anything I hear unless it's told to me by the subject."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 28, 2008 19:47:39 GMT -5
“Good,” I replied with a satisfied smile. “So it should be, so it is not always.” I wasn’t going to tell her of my agreement with Coretta unless it was necessary – out of friendship for the Dauphine, and because the fewer people knew, the lesser the chance that the secret be out.
I smiled, and added, “Never hold back on asking any question, though, please.” I liked her. I didn’t want to cause her pain.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 28, 2008 19:56:00 GMT -5
"I won't," I said, "I can be trusted to be discreet, if need be." I had kept the secret Gratien had told me completely to myself; I hadn't even told Alain. Whatever Walid had to say, he could trust me not to tell.
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 28, 2008 20:09:20 GMT -5
“A lofty quality,” I replied with an agreeable smile. Later, perhaps. I wasn’t ready for that, just yet. I would tell her, though, in time, I wagered. I simply couldn’t so rapidly. “So tell me, where is your cousin this night?” I asked, realizing that indeed, the master of the house was absent. “I should like the occasion to meet him, if it please you.”
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 28, 2008 20:39:01 GMT -5
"I think he is spending the night out on the town," I replied, thinking of his adept friend, Keaira. "I cannot promise you will meet him tonight, but I will make sure you meet him some other time."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 28, 2008 20:59:08 GMT -5
“That would be nice,” I replied after I’d swallowed my bite. “I would offer that you meet my family, but they are a bit far,” I added with a little chuckle. “Though I would like to reciprocate the invitation. You’ll find that my house is somewhat different,” I told her with a little grin.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 28, 2008 21:48:22 GMT -5
I took another sip of wine. "How different?" I asked. I had an idea of the differences between our cultures, but I wanted to get a more detailed description. "Let's pretend by some work of magic we were able to get to your house in Umayyat by dinner tomorrow. What would it be like?"
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 28, 2008 21:56:32 GMT -5
I laughed. “I meant my house here, Avive,” I told her amusedly. “And I should like to think you would find in my D’Angeline a taste of my country.” I made a thoughtful face, and indulged, “But the palace in Ummaiyyat…” I sighed nostalgically. “It is a place of wonder. The ceilings are high enough for six tumblers to stand on each other, and the halls are decorated exquisitely in mirrors and mosaics. Colors and shapes galore, and the most comfortable cushions one can lay against.” I grinned. I did like to talk of my home.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 28, 2008 21:59:35 GMT -5
I chuckled at the little misunderstanding. "Please, tell me more of your palace," I said. "Then you can tell me about your home here. Suppose I were a dinner guest in Umaiyyat; what would happen then?"
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 28, 2008 22:33:00 GMT -5
I smiled, liking that she had interest in my culture. “Everyone eats together, in a very comfortable room. Traditionally, we do not use tables such as this. They are lower, and one sits on plump cushions, while the meal is served on a low table. The dishes are brought out, first the Mezzeh, an assortment of small dishes to open your appetite, and then the main dishes. The sultan likes to have choice, and so I suppose there would be a great deal of offerings, from veal with spicy sauce to tajine and others saucy dishes. Likely, his favorite courtesans would dance for us during the meal.” I paused, taking a sip of wine.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 29, 2008 16:59:33 GMT -5
I swallowed a bite of my meal. "It all sounds delicious," I said. "But of course your courtesans are very different from our adepts."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 29, 2008 17:15:53 GMT -5
“Yes, they are,” I replied to her as I put down my fork. “Though I may not be the best person to compare, for I have yet to visit the Night Court.”
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 29, 2008 22:47:54 GMT -5
"Really?" I asked incredulously. "It's a..." I swallowed. "It's a very D'Angeline place."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 30, 2008 12:23:10 GMT -5
I smiled, amused at her trouble. “I know,” I replied, a little non-plussed. “I’ve been warned, a very long time ago, by a man I met in my travels.” I smiled, remembering him with vague fondness. We could have been friends, he and I.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 30, 2008 14:29:16 GMT -5
I laughed a little. "I only meant, it is a place that takes some getting used to. D'Angeline as I am, I was still nervous the first time I went."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Jan 30, 2008 15:22:32 GMT -5
“Is that so?” I asked curiously. “Why is that?”
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Jan 31, 2008 23:02:25 GMT -5
"Wouldn't you be?" I asked. "You're in the place where Elua's precept lives." I chuckled. "It may have also been that whole virginity thing."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Feb 1, 2008 0:41:44 GMT -5
“It may have,” I replied gently, feeling respect for her confidence. If I were to ever sleep with her, I promised myself to be very gentle – she was still brand new, perhaps. “If it’s not too indiscreet, which House has your interest?”
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Feb 2, 2008 20:26:43 GMT -5
"It may be better to ask which houses don't have my interest," I said. "I have been to three of them, but I am pretty sure I couldn't bring myself to visit Mandrake or Valerian."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Feb 3, 2008 14:15:22 GMT -5
I nodded, understanding. I didn’t think she had such a taste either – she seemed a soft, gentle heart. “I can understand that,” I told her, not adding that I was curious to try Valerian eventually… just because I wanted to know what it was. “Would it be too indiscreet to ask which Houses you’ve tasted, then?”
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Feb 4, 2008 21:35:24 GMT -5
"No, I don't think so," I said, "but it would be much the same as you telling me the kinds of women you've been with. So, if you would share with me, I will share with you."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Feb 5, 2008 1:23:05 GMT -5
I pondered it a moment. It wasn’t in my culture to discuss such things, yet we’d gone down that road. It wouldn’t be said that I would lack respect for the women I’d courted, or bedded, so I came to a compromise with myself.
“No names, no details,” I replied with a smile. “But I don’t mind telling you anything else you ask.”
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Feb 5, 2008 12:00:39 GMT -5
"Deal," I agreed, taking another bite of my meal. "In that case, I have been to Alyssum, Cereus, and Bryony houses, in that order."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Feb 5, 2008 15:03:05 GMT -5
I thought a moment, trying to remember the houses. Modesty, beauty and wealth. I could see how that worked well with Avive. In a way, those three concepts almost defined her, if I understood who she was well enough.
I thought a moment. Most of my dalliances were with exotic courtesans who were skilled at massage and enjoyed pleasing a man. “Alright,” I replied. “I think you would say the women I usually spend time would have made good adepts of Jasmine house, or of Balm.” I smiled, and added, “Does that satisfy your curiosity?”
It occurred to me that I should really start exploring the Night Court. I wanted a better understanding of this place.
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Feb 5, 2008 17:37:25 GMT -5
"Mostly," I replied, just a little saucily. "Though I do appreciate your openness, I am sure this topic of conversation is not nearly as common where you come from."
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Feb 5, 2008 20:11:04 GMT -5
I chuckled. “To say the least, Avive,” I replied with a quirky smile. “I don’t think my brothers would believe such a conversation even happened.” Then again, they wouldn’t believe that I was courting a woman who was no longer a virgin, and that I’d resolved to lie to the Imam on that matter. “But I want you to feel at ease – what intrigues you, dear?”
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Post by Avive de Rocaille on Feb 7, 2008 17:14:05 GMT -5
"Intrigues me?" I leaned back a little in my chair. "Lots of things intrigue me. Politics, history, other people...though..." and here I blushed "...I've been known to bite off more than I can chew on some occasions." I didn't mention Dominic's name, the very thought of him still made my blood run cold.
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Post by Walid bin Kasseem(D) on Feb 7, 2008 19:43:36 GMT -5
I thought there was a story to be told there, the way she blushed and paused before she continued, and I paused in my eating, swallowed, trying to decide whether I would ask, or not. But curiosity is my name, and true, to it, it became difficult not to indulge.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked quietly. Not particularly asking, but offering an opening if she wanted it. When it came to past histories, I understood the interest of respecting the other’s privacy.
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