The Search

[Maurice de Bouchard]

It was a long day, and I had only visited one of the jewlery stores that this district had to offer, one of the very few in the City of Elua. I shook my head as I walked down the street. One would have expected much more in a place housing so many nobles and peers, and visited by such a grand number of high-ranking foreigners.

I had looked through every single engagement ring that they had there, and none of them spoke to me, none of them said Marie's name. I was looking for that one, not too highly priced, but something unique that she could call her own, that would attest to our love. As I walked I looked up, coming upon the Lord and Lady Inn, it was decidedly going to be one of those days that may require a drink or two.

I walked in through the front door, giving my name to the man at the concierge desk. Luckilly, I had worn some of my better clothing for the search, knowing I would be coming to this district, with my short sword in my scabbard at my side. There was a small gathering of people waiting in front of me, but it seemed to be moving along quickly enough, probably no more than a few minutes. I stood and waited patiently, mulling over my predicament silently. I looked around me at the lush decadence of the place, having heard of it but having never entered it before. I was new here, but I wasn't so new as to not know.

I was ushered in through the doorway, entering into an elaborate dining room with a large bar to the side. The man, dressed in uniform, took me to the bar where I proceeded to take a seat on a lushly padded stool. I let my chin rest between my thumb and forefinger as I waited for the tender to take my order.

[Pièter Kolcei]

I had decided to dine out in the Palace District this afternoon and had thus summoned my carriage and went directly to the Lard and Lady. I had dinned here in the past and found the cuisine to be quite wonderful. After a good year I had finally managed to convince most of the staff who worked for me that I really was a down to earth sort of fellow and not prone to putting on airs. For this I was thankful as it made my life decidedly less stressful.

I still kept a place at the Palace in the foreign wing for my business but I much preferred to spend time at the residence I had procured and at long last I was feeling more than a little at home in this strange place. I was ushered into the dinning room and shown a nice table with a prominent view. I thanked the wait staff and began to peruse a menu. I was in light spirits as the exchange of well bred horses in trade between my home land and Terre d’ Ange had started and was going quite well. The same could be said for the trade in furs that I had managed to arrange not to mention the fact that our merchant ships were being asked to carry goods more and more frequently. In short I was pretty pleased with the state of the world and it probably showed in the small smile that creased my lips.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I turned myself around in the stool while I waited, watching as patrons entered the restaurant and left, some with significant others, or at least companions, and some without. A tall blond man had entered and sat himself down, a smile on his face, a light air about him, as if he had no worries in teh world. At that moment I felt envious.

I heard the tender approach as he asked me what I would drink.

"Whiskey, please," I uttered as I leaned my elbow back behind me on the bar's counter, taking a relaxed pose as I sighed. I let my eyes wander the room again.

[Pièter Kolcei]

I settled on steak for dinner medium rare with baked potato. I was from a nation of the sea but one could appreciate a meal that was not the norm at such times. I also had a brandy delivered to me while I waited. That settled I took in my surroundings considering there is little else one can do whilst waiting their order. I let my crystal blue eyes drift about the room and enjoy the soft lighting. There was another man seated at the bar and he had the look of one who’s sister had been carried of by marauding pirates. The thought made me smile because though I had been party to a bit of piracy there was no carrying off of fair maidens involved at least not the I was aware of. I tipped my head a bit to the lad and then took up my snifter of brandy when it arrived.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

My whiskey came quickly, thankfully. My gaze went back to the room after turning to take my drink. The man I noticed earlier sent me a nod of acknowledgement as he was delivered his drink, a smile on his face. I looked at him, acknowledging, as I raised my glass in a sort of wordless toast, though I am sure he must have wondered what I would have to toast, my face looking no doubt tired and warn.

[Pièter Kolcei]

The fellow raised his glass to me and I did the same in return before sipping some more. I was relatively certain my cross the room companion would down his whole drink in one gulp from the look on his features. So in the spirit of the moment I captured the attention of the wait staff and sent the fellow a refill. I then turned my attention back to other matters about the room as I did not wish a misunderstanding. This was an open nation and I decidedly liked women and not men so I wanted to be very sure I did not send the wrong impression.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

He raised his glass back to me. I tipped my glass, emptying the full contents, feeling the pleasant burn of the whiskey down my throat. I turned as he waived over a waitress. I let my hand slip over my face, passing through my hair to come to a rest on the back of my neck. The waitress he had been talking to went to the tender, whispering something as she moved from behind th bar to continue on with her business. I looked up at him, watching as he poured a drink and waiting so I might order myself another. Leaning forward, i brought my face to rest in my palm, letting out another deep sigh. I suppose most men wouldn't worry about this sort of thing, just decided some pretty little bauble might do, but I needed to prove to myself that i could do this, that I could be a husband. Sure, a ring is nothing compared to the other marital duties, but it symbolized something to her, as it did to me.

I looked up just as the tender placed another tumbler in front of me with my elixer of choice.

"Do I really look that badly that you are giving me a drink on the house?" I asked with a shakey laugh, my voice surprisingly hoarse.

"I think not sir," he replied aristocratically. "However, that gentleman over there might. He's the one who ordered it for you."

"Thanks, my good man," I replied. I looked over to where the tender was pointing and my gaze rested again on the lad. I looked more closely at him then, wondering if he might be someone from Camlach I may have known. He was rugged, blond and blue eyed, but not Camaeline... actually he wasn't D'Angeline at all. Turning fully on my stool with my well-timed gift in my hand, I departed from my stool, walking over to the man with the intention of thanking him personally for his kind deed.

I came to stand beside him, a smile on my face.

"Thank you for buying this haggard old man a drink," I said with a sad smile.

[Pièter Kolcei]

I was looking across the room and idly scratching at where my scraggly beard was re-growing from this morning’s shave when I heard his voice. That was one thing about D’Angelines that I really envied not having to shave. I shrugged and motioned to an open chair before I responded. My Illyrian accent was all but non existent when I am relaxed as I am now and thankfully most in this nation do not realize my eye color marks me as being of the royal line. “Your welcome, you look as if you could use some numbing. I do hope you are not still in mourning from the recent plague. That was a rough time all the way around.”

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I let out a large sigh as I took the seat across from him that he offered, placing my drink on the table after taking a short sip, choosing to taste this one instead of letting it go straight down.

"No, not the plague. Yes, it was very debilitating, I agree. But my thoughts are off on somewhat else. I mean, if men aren't thinking about their health, or fighting, what is the one other thing that could occupy a man's mind thusly?" I asked, gesturing to my face. I felt I looked a wreck, and I hadn't even gotten started yet.

[Pièter Kolcei]

"Probably women they tend to mystify me. By the way I am Pièter Kolcei." I offered him my hand "And I am afraid that if that is the case I cannot offer any council." He seemed like a decent sort and his statement alleviated some of my concern of a misunderstanding assuming I had guessed correctly of course.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I shook his hand. "Maurice de Bouchard," I said laughing mildly. Good, he had a sense of humour. "That's alright. It seems advice is never around when it is needed." I sighed, letting go of his hand as I let it make a course through my dissheveled hair. "Let me tell you one thing. Never promise engagement to any woman, no matter how skilled she is," I said with another laugh, meeting his gaze.

[Pièter Kolcei]

I quirked a brow and smirked "Second thoughts? If that is the case I can probably be of some help I have a hand in more than a little shipping and could certainly managed to smuggle you onto an outbound ship."

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I laughed then. "Thanks, Pieter, but I think she would have me hunted and skinned alive. Besides, I'm quite besotted with her." I sighed. "Ours is a rather interesting story, and it's not so much that I fear wedding her. I just can't find anything good enough to engage to her with." I leaned on my hand letting my fingers massage my temple.

[Pièter Kolcei]

One never knows where opportunity will knock and I was never one to let it pass by "Ah" I smiled "well then -that- is something I can help you with. Like I said I have a hand in trading." I rolled my shoulders and turned my palms up "Are you interested in classic diamond or some other sort of jewel such as pearl?" Being see fairing I had more of a line on pearl but being from a trading nation arranging about anything he desired should not be hard if he had the coin.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

"Well see that's the thing. I don't really know what I want," I said pensively. "I mean... we are still getting to know each other, and I figured I would just go out, take a look around adn something would jump out at me with her written all over it. But," I shrugged, "nothing has happened yet. I've seen diamonds, I have seen pearls, I have seen so many rings that I fear I will have nightmares about them for days," i said with a chuckle. "I suppose I am trying to incorporate something with diamonds, and one of her favourite colours. I want it to be classic, but showy. If jewnery could be 'daring' that would be perfect for her, for us, really." I explained. "I really don't have much experience with these sorts of things. I am a man of the sword," I offered, shrugging again.

[Pièter Kolcei]

I propped my chin in my hand "Tis none of my business Maurice but if you are still getting to know one another I would tend to think looking at rings is a bit of horse in front of the carriage. That is unless it is a political matter as well." Being a scion I knew sadly well I could be told who I would marry.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I chuckled at his words. "Heh, me? royalty," I scoffed , waiving my hand dismissively but still in a light joking manner, "If only. No, well... it has nothing to do with that really, and I suppose you could be right except... well, we have known each other for a great deal of time it's just that, up unti recently, we hated each others' very existence. And then one night, everything changed. It was so fast, so drastic, but we both know that it is right. I know I sound like a muddleheaded hopeless romantic," I stopped to sip my whiskey, placing the glass down, "but it is just something that I am utterly sure about now. I want her to be my wife, she wants me to be her husband. I have told her that I want to do it the right way though, court her for just a little bit, as the transition could be a bit difficult for my sister," I explained, realizing how that could sound a little awkward. "And for her family to get used to the idea of her marrying me of all people, but I want to plan out the perfect engagement for her, which, incidentally, includes the perfect ring."

[Pièter Kolcei]

I let him talk without interrupting as it was not any of my business really and I had just met him. He also had the feel of someone who just seemed to need to get things off of his chest. I was not one for rushing into matters but then again much of my personal life was hardly my own. So I elected to humor “Actually you sound D’Angeline” I smiled “As for the matter of rings I have many shipping contacts indeed that is one of my primary functions here but I do not have access to rings that you might peruse. Though I would suggest you might try Anezka Collections as Mirsada handles a variety of quality and unique goods.” Not to mention she is a country woman who I have fond memories of and I was having some difficulty not blushing at the recollection of my time with her.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

"That I am, Pieter, to a T," I said with a chuckle. I could feel my demeanor becoming lighter the more I lessened the weight on my shoulders. "Mayhap I will have to try your suggestion," I said thoughtfully as I watched his gaze lose focus as his mind focussed on a far off thought perhaps, and his facial expression change. "Ah, would this lady happen to be a friend?"

[Pièter Kolcei]

“Yes and a country woman” I grinned a bit “while offering some help the least I can do is point business in the right direction.” I lifted my glass “All in the name of being helpful of course” I then drained the last of the contents and set my glass aside only to have it soon refilled by the wait staff. And no matter what the fellow said he had some link to a title in one way or another or he would not be in this particular establishment.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I chuckled, following suit with my own drink. "You seem honest, I will take your word for the quality. And that must be nice, to have someone from your home country here for comraderrie," I said wistfully, thinking on my own predicament. I had no friends here in the City, and the friends I did have were at their respective posts, still serving in the militia. "Maybe if you have time you might wantto accompany me? Maybe give a few words of wisdomand also visit your friend," I said with a knowing smile.

[Pièter Kolcei]

“Actually her and I do not speak terribly often but if you would like company I am willing. Though I confess I know nothing about jewelry I simply try and place interested parties in the same vicinity.” I did not add much else like the fact I was not so sure Mirsada would be very happy to see me again.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

"Well then it seems we both have something in common in our lack of knoweldge when it comes to things of that nature," I said with a beaming smile. "I wouldn't mind the company, however. It would be nice. I am practically new to the City, having spent all my life in Camlach."

[Pièter Kolcei]

I smirked a bit at that “I think a native telling a foreigner that they do not know the City and could use some company is mayhap what one might call the height of irony.”

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I laughed then. "Ironic, definitely, but true it is. I mean, I made a visit here once in a while but... due to my situation at the time with my future wife, I stayed in the estate in Camlach while she watched over the estate here. We butt heads far too much, so I was not really one for visits. It's rather funny that I am only here because I intended to set up some sort of spying, only to realize I was in love with her."

[Pièter Kolcei]

I rolled my shoulders “I am rather familiar with the City as much of my duties involve exploring and becoming knowledgeable. Though you mayhap not wish to openly discuss spying while in the presence of a foreign national you could find yourself recruited” the last was said totally in jest of course and I hoped my body language showed it.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I laughed at his joke. "Ah, then you have one up on me indeed. I don't even know how I found my way here, to tell you the truth," I said with a shrug. "And as I find myself in between jobs at the moment, I might very well take up whatever offer I can get. I have to say though, if I fall in love with everyone I spy on, I would probably be unemployed before I could raise a finger in protest," I replied with a chuckle.

[Pièter Kolcei]

“Ah but the bed chamber can be a place tongue tend to waggle” I raised a brow and smirked. I then elected to carry on in a less lewd manner as lewdness really was not my forte “Does the gentleman who is between jobs have any skills in particular?”

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I glanced down at my short sword. "I am a passable swordsman," I shrugged. "But I am not sure I would do it for a living now that I will have a family to worry about. But sitting still has never been an avenue I liked to take. Otherwise, I enjoy woodworking."

[Pièter Kolcei]

His words made sense considering where he was from but they rang hollow a bit as well “I see, well how did you pay the bills when you were back home?” I figured I would try another tact as everyone not born to privilege had to earn a living one way or another. Mayhap I could figure out a way to help him as well as myself as I had lost some of my naivety recently with the discovery of how useful enlightened self interest can be.