A Wander Through the Bookstore: A Cautionary Tale

[Azriel Shahrizai]

The bell above the door rang as I entered into the bookstore, nodding to the shop keep I made my way to my favorite section and began to read the spines, looking for books I had not read.

There was one that caught my eye as soon as I saw it, one that was about two young lovers, in the middle of a raging war around them. It was there struggle to remain whole despite the situation and gave me a strange sort of satisfaction in its story.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I had just exited another store down the road before coming to my favourite of them all -- the bookstore. I had just barely opened the books of my recent purchase, but that never stopped me from searching for more literary gems. I stood in front of the door, the glass reflecting back to me my image. Blue black hair set against lily white skin clad in a royal blue silk dress, blowing in the mild wind, cut to halfway down my calves. I smiled back as I pushed the door, making the bell toll at my entrance.

By habit I started towards my favourite section, generally holding stories and discourses on love, when I saw someone that I recognized. I could only see his profile, and it was a little while back that I had seen him, but he never really left my mind. Tall and striking, at least from what I could see, he looked like the man I had seen at the Somerville Fete, but I couldn't be sure quite yet. He had a tome in his hands, so I made a line for one isle over.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I continued to sift through the book I was holding, making sure I would enjoy it before I tucked it under my arm and began to search for another. I noticed a figure walking from the side and glanced for a moment before glancing back to the shelf.

I walked a little further, engrossed in the books before me.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I noticed him moving along through the rows of books on the shelf between us. I moved as silently as I could across from him, shrouded by the cover of the books, tilting them ever so slightly as I passed and he continued on so that I could get a better glance at his face, but still failing.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I looked up from the titles I was looking at to stare infront of me, I noticed the figure of a woman but didn't think of much else, my eyes going back to the books.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

He stopped, looking up and straight at me. My heart nearly stopped, worrying that I had been caught at my foolish game. Why was I sneaking around like this, what was it about this man that made me so... edgy, so ... I didn't know, which again, was not like me. I started to get frustrated with myself. Then, after the half breath space of time that passed, he easilly moved his gaze back to the pages of his book.

I silently took a book down from the shelf, one that was obscuring my view, but one I had to stand on the tips of my toes to see through the space of. His eyes were downcast, reading his book, his face was pensive but at the same time held a sort of ease. I smiled despite myself, and despite how silly I must have looked to anyone else who viewed me stalking this stranger in the shop. I leaned against the shelf gingerly, not wanting to tip it, but needing a moment's respite from straining so hard to see him. Even for me it was difficult to remain this still, to nearly stop my breathing to remain unnoticed in such a stance. Plus, he was just so impossibly tall.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I put back the book I had been thumbing through and moved down the line a little, taking two steps before I looked back at the shelves. My eyes continued to scan the books, searching for something interesting.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

Glancing through as he replaced the book and walked away, I moved down the line a few steps again, just in time to see the sapphire blue of the family eyes, although everything else about him, his hair, his mannerisms, the fact he had not picked up entirely on me, screamed something else. There were plenty of blue-eyed people in the city, then again there were plenty of part Shahrizai as well. I tilted my head inquisitively out of habit as he searched for something, my eyes unable to look away from his face as I breathed in rather sharply.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I heard a sound and glanced sidelong to see that the woman that I had seen earlier was again across from me. Pulling down a book I opened it and flipped through it, looking at it as I furrowed my brows and wondered if I was imagining things.
After a moment I decided to see and put the book back, moving down the stacks once more, seeing if she would follow.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

He glanced up at me again, then back to his books, his brow furrowing in thought as he moved down the shelf again. I couldn't resist and continued to follow as stealthilly as I could, noiselessly tiptoing down the isle, almost nearing the end of the shelf.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I felt the shift, the movement, and knew she was across from me once more. I put the book back and walked to the end of the shelve, turning the corner to find her standing there.
"Are you following me?" I asked, furrowing my brow once more. It wasn't till I had spoke that I realized who she was. The hair, blue-black, and her eyes, sapphires...Shahrizai....Like me.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

He was fast as he rounded the corner, bringing himself face to face with me, his silent assailant. He queried me, not harshly, not bitterly, mayhap a little annoyed as he looked me over, a look of realization coming to his features.

I smiled, trying to make the whole situation seem less pathetic and less awkward as I attempted to save face.

"Yes... and no...," was the best that I could come up with, spreading my hands as I looked up his muscular and well dressed body to his tell-tale eyes. "What I mean is," I stammered momentarilly, feeling my cheeks heat a little bit, "I came in here to look for books, then I recognized you, from the Somerville Fete."

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I furrowed my brows for a moment and then relaxed my features.
"Oh." I said a bit perplexed. "I see." I hadn't noticed her, and why she had noticed me was a strange thing.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I could see the confusion on his face. I guess I owed him something of an explanation. I kept eye contact, though.

"At the fete, there was something about you that had intrigued me. I really am not sure what it was, though now I think I can guess at it," I said, noting how purely Shahrizai his eyes were, if nothing else was. "And then, seeing you here, well I still had that unmistakeable feeling that... I knew you? Or maybe should? I know it sounds silly, mayhap a little insane, although I assure you I am neither. I was just hoping I could figure out the mystery by watching you and not having to accost you with charming small talk. I guess that plan backfired." I smiled a crooked smile.

"And now, here I am face to face with you." I kept my distance, not wanting to make him feel any more uncomfortable than I already had. "I am Sarielle Shahrizai," I said, nodding in greeting, not wanting to cross the line by giving him the kiss of greeting instead. "Now that I've been found out, might you tell me who you are and put an end to my inquiring mind?"

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I listened to her and turned to the books, fingering the spines before turning back to her and sighed. I wasn't sure what to say to her, she had caught sight of me and it was most likely that it was my Shahrizai blood that caught said attention.
"Its a pleasure to meet you Sarielle." I said noting the name was familiar to me, but couldn't catch why.
"I'm Azriel Shahrizai." I bowed, not wanting to see her face when she heard my last name was the same as her own.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I smiled mildly, though it faded as he avoided eye contact, his body language changing completely. I frowned mildly.

"Azriel... Azriel..." I said, almost chanting, my hand drifting to my chin as I saw through him, past him really, thinking why he sounded like someone I knew, the name was extremely familiar. "Azri...,"I stopped in the middle of his name, awareness coming to me, thankfully, before I made myself into a fool again.

"Ah, Francois's son?" I asked, the smile returning to my lips.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I looked up in a jolt, looking at her as she said my father's name. Did she know him? Know me? I furrowed my brows.
"Yes....thats right." I said softly and at length. Now her own name rang in my ears and I fought to make the connections. Sarielle, Sarielle....

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"I believe I may have heard about you in my early childhood. Your father may not have mentioned me, as my father may not have mentioned it to him." I wasn't about to feed him any more clues. I had my answer, if he wanted his, he would either come to it or ask me. Besides, it looked as though he was trying to figure it out on his own. I stood there, waiting for the revelation.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

My mouth slowly began to open as I connected the dots and then rose my hand pointing at her for a moment.
"You're Dallaire's daughter." I said furrowing my brows slightly. It would seem that not only was she kin, but kin of the closest kind. Her father and mine had been brothers.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I smiled at his revelation as he pointed at me, his jaw dropping. I could hear the astonishment in his words. I almost laughed, stiffling it to a soft noise, clearing my throat.

"Tis I," I said with a comical flourish. "That makes our fathers brothers.... and... well I guess all Shahrizai are cousins but..."

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I pursed my lips a little and nodded, looking down at the floor for a moment before looking up at her.
"Yes, I suppose that makes us first cousins then." I said, raising a brow.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Huh," I breathed. "I suppose so." He didn't seem as excited as I was. Then again, how was he to know that he was the closest to true family I had left aside from my sister. Still, it was disheartening and it made me wary about how to proceed. Mayhap it was a bad idea. "Well, now that the mystery is over... if you want I will leave you be." I took a step backward, still facing him as I did. I was a little hurt.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

Damn it...As much as I wasn't happy with an incounter from my Shahrizai kin, I was also no happy when I made people upset, and she seemed upset. I sighed and reached my hand to my head, running it over my neck.
"Thats not necessary." I said softly, unsure of what to say. "I didn't mean to sound so...rude."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Believe me, I'm used to it," I muttered, thinking back on some occassions that I had in meeting less related cousins. It seems that my Shahrizai socialization was not something I was getting used to with time. I sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I am sure all of this could have been avoided if I didn't try to sneak around and had of been foreward and merely introduced myself." I looked down. "I understand how .... much of a nuisance it can be... there's so many of us, and many of us are... less savoury." I didn't want to meet his gaze right now. I was still feeling hurt, but I should have schooled my emotions much better than that.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I turned, keeping the one book under my arm, but focused my attention on the book, rather not interested in seeing the distressed look that she carried.
"I've never been stalked." I said rather shyly, my fingers running over the books once more, only glancing at her sidelong.
"Nor have I been followed by kin." I added. "I'm not in the favour of most of my kin and I choose to keep it that way."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I blushed mildly at his comment.

"Well, I have never stalked before. Mayhap with practice I'll get better," I said with a soft laugh, trying to clear the air of the viscous intensity. "And I do understand... mayhap on a different level. Did you ever know or meet my father?" I asked, hoping to try a different avenue.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I glanced to her, my fingers still against the books as I smilled a little at her comment on stalking.
"I did..." I said at length. "A few times when I was growing up. Our fathers were mildly close." I shrugged.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Was he nice to you?" I was curious.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I shrugged, turning to her a little.
"A little." I said softly. "I was no more then five or six the first time I met him. I don't think he liked my mother."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I frowned. "He generally doesn't like females, so don't take it personally. I think the only one he ever liked was my mother." I looked back up at him, a faint smile on my face.