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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 18, 2008 0:42:04 GMT -5
My mood was continuing to spiral down. My only non narcotic relief had been the classes at Eglantine, but now every one of those was filled with the tension that Brigitte might walk in again. I would spend my days in a belladonna haze if I could, but that wasn’t possible with having to teach.
The nights were torture with nothing to distract me and tonight it had become too much, the walls of my suite too close. I slipped past my guards and out to Night’s Doorstep, my better angels drowned out by the voices of my inner demons.
My steps took me to familiar territory and I found a seat at the bar, ordering a mug of ale.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 18, 2008 13:13:57 GMT -5
Every once in a while, I needed out. Normally I would go up Mount Nuit and capitalize an adept's time for a night. But I had made a promise, and I fully intended to keep it. So I found myself in one of the seediest taverns in the capital. Much easier to stay faithful in a crowd like this, and the bar fights were always entertaining.
Knowing where I was going to end up, I dressed in my oldest work gown, and tied my hair back in a bun before covering it with a scarf. I wanted at least a few minutes of peace before they figured out I was Shahrizai.
I was sitting at the corner of the bar, having whispered exactly what I would do to the bartender if he didn't provide me with something that didn't taste like piss and then had more than fairly compensated him, when a man sat down beside me. One that didn't smell like the normal denizens of a place like this. I studied him out of the corner of my eye as a mug of ale slid in front of him just before a bottle and an almost clean glass slid in front of me.
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 18, 2008 13:57:00 GMT -5
I noticed service being given to the person beside me and glanced over as I placed coins on the bar for my ale. She was beautiful in a sharp sort of way and I inclined my head slightly before turning back to my ale and draining half the mug in one swallow.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 18, 2008 14:14:36 GMT -5
I nodded in return, and then watched him down half of his ale. I was impressed when he didn't make a face. "I don't know how you can drink that stuff," I commented, pouring myself a measure from the bottle and taking a sip. Brandy. Poor quality but it was at least drinkable.
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 18, 2008 14:19:25 GMT -5
“Speed helps,” I replied before finishing off the ale in one more drink. “That and lack of caring.”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 18, 2008 17:46:12 GMT -5
I shrugged. "As you like," I replied before taking another sip.
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 18, 2008 17:51:12 GMT -5
I fiddled with my empty mug. “And you have suggestions for something more palatable, I take it?”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 19, 2008 1:00:47 GMT -5
"Well, you have two options. Leave this dung heap, or bribe the barman to find something that doesn't taste like piss," I replied, toasting him slightly before downing the rest of my glass. It burned nicely on the way down.
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 19, 2008 16:31:32 GMT -5
“Or I could just have what you’re having,” I replied.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 19, 2008 22:35:01 GMT -5
"There is also that," I replied with a wry smile. "Would you like some?"
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 19, 2008 22:38:11 GMT -5
“Why not?” I asked, sliding my empty mug nearer so she could pour me some. “Thank you.”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 19, 2008 23:29:17 GMT -5
I poured him a generous measure, then refilled my own glass. "Cheers," I said, toasting him.
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 19, 2008 23:32:42 GMT -5
“Salude,” I replied, raising my glass to her before taking a sip. “This is better.”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 20, 2008 0:37:25 GMT -5
"Glad I could help," I replied, and took another sip. Getting drunk was looking good.
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 20, 2008 0:40:08 GMT -5
I took another drink as I studied the woman for a moment. “You do not belong here, I could tell that even without your drinking tastes.”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 20, 2008 1:13:33 GMT -5
"Says the one with the clean, well-cut jacket and a well-educated accent. Aragonian?" I glanced over at him as I asked, swirling the brandy in my glass idly.
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 20, 2008 12:12:01 GMT -5
“Indeed,” I answered after taking another drink. “And yet I’ve been here several times and never seen you.”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 20, 2008 22:21:07 GMT -5
"They don't let me out much," I replied with a little grin before taking another sip.
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 20, 2008 23:05:51 GMT -5
A sound of disbelief escaped me at her words.
“I think you play coy, madam. You have the look of one who does the keeping, not the kept.”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 20, 2008 23:40:05 GMT -5
I chuckled at his reaction. "That's very true. But what good is a keeper if she is not there to keep?"
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 20, 2008 23:48:37 GMT -5
“That depends on how strong her locks are,” I countered, smiling slightly.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 21, 2008 0:23:18 GMT -5
"Locks are so impersonal. I much prefer rope," I replied with a straight face. "And then you can tie it as tight or as loose as you wish."
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 21, 2008 10:20:03 GMT -5
Her words caught me off guard, but then realization set in. “Ah,” I said. “Shahrizai.”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 21, 2008 14:13:54 GMT -5
"Indeed," I replied wryly, mimicking his earlier response. "But aren't you going to ask why, if I can tie them as tight as I wish, that I would be worried about their escape?"
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 21, 2008 14:15:46 GMT -5
“Not at all, but then again my mind doesn’t tend to think about things such as the strength of knots and escaping them,” I answered.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 21, 2008 15:34:55 GMT -5
"You're missing out then," I replied impishly, taking another long sip of brandy.
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 21, 2008 15:37:21 GMT -5
“I don’t think so. I have enough trouble being still on a good day, being forced into captivity would only fray my nerves,” I replied before downing the rest of my brandy in one drink.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 21, 2008 19:46:46 GMT -5
I wondered if we continued our guessing game if I would be right in my suspicions of his identity. I hadn't heard of any new Aragonian merchants come to town recently, but I had heard of a prince.
"If I was to be observant, I would comment that it doesn't seem to be the only thing fraying your nerves," I replied with another calm sip.
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Post by Eduardo de la Rosa on Nov 21, 2008 23:03:25 GMT -5
“It would have to be something else since I’ve no ropes on me at the moment,” I replied, shaking my naked wrists.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Nov 22, 2008 0:33:04 GMT -5
"I didn't say I had to be very observant," I replied with a chuckle, draining my glass once more.
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