Sugar of Life

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

It was nice to be back in the city once again, I found myself amazed at the quiet complacency I'd taken living here for a short time. As a full lord now, I was starting to have to hold myself to a little higher standards, and trying not to disgrace my family name. I suppose at a later date, I should take care to get some new attire to look the proper noble.

I was dressed in simple black vest and leggings, airy white undershirt. Actually, I thought I looked a bit of a swashbuckler, especially with the sword at my side. Always did like the strange looks I got from it. I'd also had a couple books I'd bought, on Sidonie's suggestion as per my project: The Nation of Ruskovia, a new world and A Beginners guide to Historical figures. I was told that I probably already knew the contents, but pay attention to form and context used.

In any case, it seemed I was drawn into a side shop on my way back to my town home, the delicious scent of baked goods fluttered out the store. I was reminded that I really hadn't had anything even remotely appetizing for a long while. With a few ducats laying in my pouch, I decided to treat myself, entering, only to find the place moderately busy. Mostly town locals, children, perhaps even an adept (or a good candidate) wandered around the small store, so I let my mind wander on options for sweet desert while I waited.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

The shoppe was fairly quiet when I had entered earlier, ordering myself two decadent slices of meuille feuille du vanille, but within the few minutes I had sat myself down in a corner at a table for two, and since the shoppe had opened their doors wide to the public, it had gotten busier and busier, people filling the places to sit, but none taking the empty seat across from me, even opting just to stand and devour their little treats. I didn't mind. Company would be nice, but most shied away when they saw the tell-tale blue black hair of my Shahrizai heritage. I had just finished my first slice when I saw a man walk in the door.

He was rather fetching, his hair was long and dark, but I couldn't see his eyes from where I sat. He dressed rather simply for this area of the City, and he had a sword at his waist. If he were guard, he would be in uniform, no doubt. And if he were a well known courtier, he would definitely be better dressed. I did not recognize him at all, then again, I wouldn't expect to. I watched as he stood, seemingly making up his mind. Tilting my head, I continued to watch, wondering what choice he would make.

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

The shoppe perhaps wasn't that large, but it had a couple large supports, and so gave the semblance of being larger than it was. I'd started flipping through a couple intro pages in one of the books, killing a few moments, having decided on a jelly filled pastry, assuming the sweet berries were in prime condition about this time of year.

Keeping pace with customers, I looked up here and there. However, as I turned a corner, spotting the seating area, eyes were drawn to oh to familiar a sight. It was never just the physical features, but the simple air privileged and control every Shahrizai noble seemed to possess. Sure enough, a women of I would assume middling 20's, dressed in afternoon regalia. Observant she was; at me perhaps. I believe I spied her eyeing the sheath at my hip, only to have eyes meet for a moment. Long enough to not be coincidence. I saw her see me, and vice versa. I showed no facial recognition, but kept from snapping my head back either, instead trying to pass it off is inconsequential.

Its seemed like their mere presence is a challenge and a game.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

As he rounded a corner, he looked up, holding a couple of volumes, coming to notice that I had been watching him. He didn't turn instantly away like some would, but rather stared right back! I wasn't expecting that, my face betraying interest as I raised both my eyebrows in mild shock. Intriguing indeed I thought to myself as he held my gaze. No matter, I was not some sort of barbarian to challenge anything and everything that walked without just cause, so I flashed him an inviting smile, my lips curling at the corners in mild amusement as my eyes flashed from his face, to the chair in front of me, and then back to his face, leaving the silent invitation hanging in the air between us, should he choose to accept it. Should he not, I would still remain. It was his choice.

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

Going up to the counter, I smiled charmingly at the baker, indicating my purchase. I picked up two well formed pastries. On simple cloth, I meandered lazily around the shoppe, falling back to an open seat next to the black haired watcher. I sat with my profile showing to her, facing the inside of the store. I sparred her no look right away.

"Stand out a bit in the crowd, m'lady?"

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

When he spoke I took a moment before turning my head, noticing the blue eyes that could very possibly make him kin, but the blue black hair was amiss. I quirked an eyebrow interestingly at him.

"One might say that," I said , looking him over once. His body was well formed, his features were soft, not terribly angular, and there was kindness in his face, although much else that I tried not to read. I would give him a clean slate, for the moment.

"Then again, stranger, one might say the same about you," I said, offering him a sly smile.

"Mayhap we should introduce ourselves?" I asked, waiting for him to go first.

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

"Seems a bit one sided, I would think Shahrizai need not an introduction," I said a little callously. Im not sure why I sudden had hairs prickled, and felt on edge, but it seemed to be seeping into my demeanor, giving voice to my latent feelings. I looked at her sidelong.

"Tabien. Valclesa." I added, as monotone as I could muster. I held her eyes in mine as long as I dared, though they seemed to pierce me anyways. It felt like I was giving into the fantasy for their stalking nature. I lulled my gaze back to my pastry.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

He was a rather prickly character, considering I hadn't even done anything to offend... yet. Apparently he had something against us. His name I didn't really know, which didn't surprise me, considering how few people I knew nowadays. I suppose that would have to change. But his eyes held some intrigue. Could he be one of us, obviously not full blooded, and that would definitely explain his rather rude behaviour. Then again, many people in Terre D'Ange had blue eyes, and the way he didn't hold my gaze and let them wander back to his pastry was surely not Shahrizai nature. Cocking my head, I replied.

"Well, considering you seem to think you know a great deal about the Shahrizai," I said, fire in my words as I mentioned my family's name, "I suppose that means you won't need my first name, seeing as you've loaded us all into the same boat. Seen one Shahrizai, seen them all sort of deal, for you I presume?" I had a smile on my lips, but my tone was not a friendly one in response to his misstep.

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

I choked back on my first bite, at her words. I was of two minds, I really should try not to hold each one responsible for their families actions. Hell, this woman would have been just a child as well, no fault of her own.

Yet, it irked me to see one acting so calmly in that same manner. I wiped a few crumbs from my mouth. "No, I would I suppose, you obviously couldn't be up to any mischievous acts in such a quiet place like this, I said with a relaxed smile, and tried to let my feelings go.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"No, no mischief here, sorry to disappoint. Unless purchasing and enjoying pastries is a crime," I replied mildly. "I am Sarielle," I answered, letting his behaviour slip. I was in a mild disposition today. "And yes, you guessed correctly, I am Shahrizai. May I ask where you are from Tabién?" His name was quite nice, it rolled off of the tongue easilly. As I waited for his response I daintilly took a morsel of my pastry, chewing softly.

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

I'm sure there was some tension in my body still, I could feel my muscles relax. Sarielle, didn't ring any immediate bells, though it was very befitting her house. "Siovale, north of the western mountain ranges near Aragonia." I wanted to say a bit more actually, but I held my tongue, and filled my mouth with my purchase, eyes casting back and forth between her and the room, listening to her filling in what she knew.

I found pride is a good measure to draw out how some one knows, feigning ignorance seems one of the few practices befitting my status.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Hmm Siovale," I murmured. "Very beautiful landscape." I studied his features again. Yes, Siovalese features for sure, but something else. "Were you born and raised there?" I asked, searching for an answer that would satisfy my confused mind. There must be more to him than that. "And if you don't mind me asking, what brings you to the City?"

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

I suppose my patience and some unexplainable humor were sprouting from the fact that I was in no hurry to be anywhere. And I was curious of her curiousness, a predicament to be sure.

"Yes, for my childhood, though I've moved around a lot." A sideways glance, and a demurred neutral tone belying some fun, "But, if you ask why I'm here, I'd do the same, so perhaps ladies first."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Well first," I said, my smile a tad flirtatious, "perhaps you should sit here," I said, pointing to the seat across from me. "It is far easier for conversation's sake. Plus I wouldn't mind getting a better look at you. Then maybe I will tell you how I came to be in the City." He was becoming a tad bit more playful. This was much better than the sour attitude of moments before.

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

I hesitated a moment. "I suppose that would make things easier, but what if I'm in a hurry..." I trailed off, looking around the room for a moment. I sighed, smirked, and moved to her appointed see. "However fate deems it though, I"m not."

As it was, I did sit down across from her. Striking, as anyone would be of her house, but Elua, they were gorgeous features, I couldn't deny. I did my best to keep eyes moving, not letting my gaze linger to long anywhere.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I watched as he schooled his emotions, thoughts stirring behind his eyes, but I promised to be good. I closed mine for a moment, clearing the thoughts from my head. "Yes, I think this is much easier," I answered, my eyes moving over his features unabashedly, without asking forgiveness. I moved over his muscular but lithe shoulders, his soft but very manly facial features, and those stunning blue eyes again. Yes, there was something he was leaving out about his lineage, I was sure of it. But I would let it go, for now.

"As for my story," I started, my lips curling in the corners, "I am sure you will feel you have been handed the short side of this deal. Having to endure sitting across from me when all I have to really say is that I have been in the City for some ten years now, in the same house, in the same part of the City. Before that I was in Kusheth. I only went back for the first time in this time span less than a year ago as my father passed away, and I had some things to tend to. Now, it is your turn to answer, to fulfill your side of the bargain, no?" I asked, raising an eyebrow playfully.

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

"Losing one's parents is a tough ordeal indeed." I responded in kind, not bothering to feign any sort of toughness to the issue. I for the most part ignored her searching gaze on my person, leaving her thoughts to just that; her.

"I suppose for immediate return to the city, my situation belies some similarly to yours," I said, thoughts of mother asking me to peer to the city streets through the window, a soulful bite soothing the fleeting images.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"I doubt it," I said with some bitterness, remembering how I came to the City. "Loss of a loved one didn't bring me here. Well, not necessarily. It's a mite more complicated than that." I calmed myself, remembering his words. "I take it that you have lost someone dear to you? You speak with some conviction on the topic of the feeling of loss. I am sorry if you have, and if it pains you. It can be a terrible thing indeed."

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

"My mother recently passed away after a long struggle with the plague born illness. While mostly in the city, it seemed a few people from the other Providences were not immune." I looked back at her; putting on a smile, "Don't worry, If I were infected, I would have already been dead. As for loss, I'm used to it....I think."

A long pause followed. "You probably want to know the details don't you?" I asked, realizing the bait of inquiry I'd left for her to follow.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Well I don't want to tread too heavilly on a place that is still healing," I replied, all truth in my words. "But I wouldn't mind hearing more of your story. Maybe I will let you know more of mine. We can think of it as an exchange."

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

I shook my head slowly. "Sorry my lady, but it was somewhat of a rhetorical question." I popped another morsel into my mouth. "The details of my life prior to coming to the city are for the most part mine, and I don't intend them to share them with a stranger I just met, Sarielle. You do understand of course?"

I wondered if she would become disinterested now, stalk away, not finding me amusing that I resisted her lure.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"But of course," I shrugged, seeming indifferent. Here he was being venomous about Shahrizai, yet he was playing games like one. Thank Kushiel for my patience!

"It is, after all, your story to tell, therefore it is your perogative. Mayhap we should discuss something else then? Something less personal perhaps?" I asked, cursorilly glancing at the tomes he had. "An avid reader?" I asked, nodding towards them.

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

I could say no, sensing her fishing for information, take my second pastry and leave. But, in the peerhood, knowing people is never a hindrance, and all I would be doing would be sinking my eyes to these anyways.

"You could say that. I didn't leave Siovale without their burning desire for learning and academics. As for these, I'm working on writing my own book, and I need to do research first though."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Admirable," I said, intrigued. "Yes, one would reason that you would have to know much about a topic in order to write a complete tome on it. What is the subject?" I asked, daintilly taking another bite of my pastry after speaking. I noticed he was doing his best to avoid all answers and questions that would tell me something about himself, but was probably too wary to walk away altogether. Could it really be that I seem that predatory that he would need to be so much on his guard?

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

"I'm still working on the specifics, if I"m too broad, I risk drowning myself in endless toil. Still, I'm looking to compare Terre de Ange to other possible civilizations and nations during their peeks in history." I told her the truth, no point to demure on such a benign topic at this point.

I paused for a moment, looking around the shop, noticing a few people steal glances at our table. "I don't suppose you were expecting a different answer, we're you?" I asked sidelong.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"How could I? Expectations come when you know someone. I do not know you. Therefore, I can't expect anything of you," I said, matter-of-factly, a grin on my face. "And that is a very interesting topic, and I can see how that could be very difficult, and quite dangerous in a literary sense." I looked around fleetingly, wondering if he was worried that we were gaining so much attention. "I am guessing those studies take up a great deal of your time then?"

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

"Don't know yet, haven't really attempted anything quite like this. But, it seems a worth endeavor, and keeps me from feeling guilty from living off estate earned funds while friends of the family work back in Siovale to help support my life here." I responded, perhaps making a small judgment on her status. I couldn't always help but be a little critical of the relative lavish lives many peers lead on the backs of lesser privileged citizens.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I nodded. "A worthy cause, indeed. I always wished there were something I could do with the talents that I have that would bring in some sort of earning, but alas," I shrugged. "Then again, no one really works to support my life." I shrugged again.

"Now, I may be a little presumptuous to say this but," I nodded towards his sword, "usually, at least in what I have observed, people who live by the sword do not normally live by the pen as well, although it would do them some good to."

[Tabién de Valclesa(I)]

I suppose it would have come up, how could it not. "A necessary skill during a troubling time. I suppose one might give it up at first opportunity, but there is a certain focus that one gains by diligent training. It hones the mind and body." I leaned in, "Honing a piece of steel is a test of mental endurance as much as it is physical."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Very true," I agreed. "Many think of the sword as just an extension of their own body." I smiled, perhaps too wickedly, "Are you one such individual?" I asked, toying with my dessert.