Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Jul 25, 2008 13:33:40 GMT -5
It had been years since I had seen Quinn, and it filled me with eager anticipation. We had written each other back and forth on a fairly regular basis, our childhood friendship kept strong through ink. But it was another thing entirely to see each other face to face. We had both grown up.
"Not too much I hope," I murmured to myself before knocking on his door.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Jul 25, 2008 13:37:40 GMT -5
I was passing the door on my way up to the library when there was a knock. I set down the book I’d been carrying and opened the door.
There was a second of surprise and then I grinned wildly. “Lucien!” I exclaimed and threw my arms around him in a hug of welcome and joy.
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Jul 25, 2008 13:56:52 GMT -5
I laughed and hugged him in return, pounding on his back. "The look on your face was priceless," I said, still laughing.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Jul 25, 2008 16:42:58 GMT -5
“Which I’m sure was the point of the surprise,” I said, laughing as I let him go and stood back to look at him. “You look well, how have you been?”
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Jul 26, 2008 13:35:24 GMT -5
"I'm hanging in there," I replied with a grin. "Just arrived in the City a couple days back. How are you? How's life?" Looking at him was a bit of a wonderment. Last I had seen him we had both been boys. Now he was taller than me.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Jul 26, 2008 14:09:07 GMT -5
“Life is good,” I said with a grin. I realized we were still standing on the front steps.
“Though my manners still haven’t improved,” I added, laughing. “Come in, come in.”
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Jul 27, 2008 18:20:39 GMT -5
I chuckled and stepped through the open door. I glanced about the entrance hallway. "Looks like you're doing well for yourself," I said with a grin.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Jul 27, 2008 18:25:31 GMT -5
“I’m trying,” I said, shutting the door. “Mother is just happy I’m back in Terre d’Ange, she urged father into enough generosity to help me afford this place. I was just about to take these books up to the library, would you like to come?”
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Jul 29, 2008 11:53:36 GMT -5
"Like I could ever turn down an invitation to a library," I said, grinning still. I admitted to myself before I left for the City, the excuse to visit Quinn was one of reasons for stopping here before I continued on to my new estate in Siovale.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Jul 30, 2008 13:24:33 GMT -5
“Gods, it is so good to see you,” I said, grinning at him as I began to lead him to the stairs and up. “What brings you to the City?”
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Jul 31, 2008 1:12:11 GMT -5
"To pray for guidance mostly." I said it with a grin, no matter how truly I meant it. And then I grew more sober as I followed him up the stairs. "You heard the news?"
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Jul 31, 2008 1:15:18 GMT -5
“What news?” I asked, stopping halfway up the stairs to look at him. “I’ve not really been in contact with anyone these last few days and before that I was down with a bad bout of the plague. What’s happened?”
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Jul 31, 2008 1:36:38 GMT -5
My brows knit together in concern. I didn't know how close he was to Sylvestre. "Quinn... Sly passed away. The plague took him." I gazed up at him even further, standing lower on the steps than he.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Jul 31, 2008 10:47:54 GMT -5
My mind set to working, following all the implications of the news. “You’ve taken over the title then,” I said.
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Jul 31, 2008 16:03:08 GMT -5
Seems he didn't know my cousin well, and that was a relief. I would have hated to ruin our first meeting in years with grief.
"Aye," I said simply.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Jul 31, 2008 16:27:42 GMT -5
“I’m sorry for the circumstances, but you’ll be a wonderful sovereign,” I said, giving him a reassuring smile and patting him on the shoulder.
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Jul 31, 2008 16:36:01 GMT -5
I gave a short laugh. "I hope so. I haven't spent much time around scholars since Tiberium." I shook my head. "I never thought I'd end up Duc of Siovale."
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Jul 31, 2008 20:06:34 GMT -5
“You’ll be fine, you survived being around me for all those years,” I said, grinning and patting his arm again. “Come, let me show you what I’ve spent most of my time in the City accomplishing.”
I headed up the last of the stairs, stepping aside so he could have a full view of how I’d turned the entire second story into a library.
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Aug 1, 2008 23:19:15 GMT -5
I looked about and gave a low whistle. "Ambitious. Very ambitious. Where in heaven did you find all these books?" I was impressed, and didn't bother to hide it.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Aug 2, 2008 0:07:23 GMT -5
“About half of them are ones I’d collected already, the rest are new purchases and some more that father sent me from the estate.” I walked over to a table where a worn and battered book lay open. “I just bought this one yesterday. It’s a collection of Skaldic war stories all in their original language.”
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Aug 2, 2008 14:00:20 GMT -5
"Since when did you speak Skaldic?" I asked as I flipped through the book, having followed him across the room. I knew enough of the language to follow most of the story I had flipped to, but I had had much more practice speaking than reading the language.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Aug 2, 2008 14:09:27 GMT -5
“I don’t,” I said, grinning. “Can’t read or speak a word of it yet. I only know it’s authentic because I had it checked by someone I trust.”
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Aug 3, 2008 15:56:32 GMT -5
"Your next project?" I asked with a grin. "Thinking of learning languages, know anyone who can teach me Aragonian?" I had learned Skalic because we were close to the border. Now Aragon was my neighbour, and I was the leader of a province of learned men. Didn't want to seem unworthy to them, well, any more unworthy than I already was.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Aug 3, 2008 16:29:25 GMT -5
“Well, I’m sure there are tutors at the Academy, and there seem to be quite a few Aragonians in the City, I’m sure we could find you someone,” I said, smiling.
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Aug 3, 2008 16:41:44 GMT -5
"Know any good looking Aragonian women?" I jested with a grin.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Aug 3, 2008 16:44:17 GMT -5
“I’ve heard there’s a Princessa at court, supposedly very beautiful,” I replied, grinning. “Looking for a wife already?”
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Aug 4, 2008 1:21:17 GMT -5
"Unfortunately," I said, grinning still. "Or maybe I'll just sire a couple of bastards. It would certainly make my mother throw a fit." Revenge for pressuring me to marry, yes, that had possibilities. But I wasn't that petty, even if I jested about it.
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Aug 4, 2008 13:05:32 GMT -5
“If that’s your inclination you’re certainly in the right place. Plenty of beautiful women here,” I told him, grinning as I went to the shelf to return the books I was holding. “I’m sure some of them would even have enough pity in them to bed you.”
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Lucien de Clairmont
Noble
Sovereign Duc of Siovale; Baron de Clairmont
Son of Charles and Rosetta de Clairmont
Posts: 1,079
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Post by Lucien de Clairmont on Aug 4, 2008 13:58:12 GMT -5
I laughed. "I haven't had any problems so far," I shot right back with a grin. "What of you, still chasing skirts, or has your family convinced you to settled down yet?"
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Quinn du Paras
Aristocrat
His Lord the Future Duc du Paras, House Paras; engaged to Joie de Mornay
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Quinn du Paras on Aug 4, 2008 14:05:33 GMT -5
My grin softened as images of Joie rose in my mind.
“Something even more unexpected, my friend, I’ve fallen in love,” I told him.
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