Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 16:05:15 GMT -5
"Maybe that'll work," I said, forcing a smile, though I doubted it. The more I thought about it, the more nervous I got, and with each step I took, my demeanor became darker and darker.
Oh, Keegan, why did you take my hand? Now I would have to fidget in some other way. I tried to busy myself by looking at the shops and things in the artisan's district. I knew I was being terrible, but I couldn't help but be distracted by some bauble on sale in a shop, almost pulling Keegan over to look in the window without saying anything. It was much too expensive for a piddling adept like me, but I could dream, couldn't I?
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 17:44:26 GMT -5
“That would look lovely on you,” I said, pointing to a necklace on display. I could feel her nervousness, it radiated from her like heat. “What do you say later we dress in black and come raid the store? If we get caught we can say we were practicing for a play.” I grinned and bumped her with my hip a little, trying to get her mind on other things.
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 18:34:57 GMT -5
I laughed, despite my black mood. "I can just see it now..." I assumed a very affected tone, nose in the air. "'No, this is a very avant guarde piece, Mr. Store Owner, we had to become the burglars to portray the burglars', and so forth."
With a grin on my face I turned to him. "I don't know how well that will go over, but I'm willing to try if you are." I was trying to wriggle my hand out of his as surreptitiously as possible, even though a small voice was telling me that this whole game was getting to be very silly, and soon I might end up upsetting Keegan, and then the next time I needed someone to come with me I'd have to take one of the squinchy little novices...
I shivered, even though it was a warm day. It might be inevitable, but I still didn't want to go. "Just put one foot in front of the other, Sandrine, and maybe it won't be so bad," I whispered, though I was having a hard time convincing myself.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 18:44:35 GMT -5
“Or, if you prefer,” I said, shifting my grip so that I held one hand, my other hand at her waist. “We can dance our way there….”
Grinning widely, I began to lead her in a waltz down the walkway, trusting her teaching to let her follow me and the other people to get out of our way.
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 19:28:02 GMT -5
I looked at him questioningly as he turned me and grabbed my waist, but years of muscle memory quickly kicked in as he led me dancing down the street. Good thing I had an innate sense of rhythm and excellent balance.
"I mean, really, Keegan, couldn't you find a mode of transportation less...embarrassing?" I was kidding, of course. Orchis adepts get embarrassed all the time. After a while we learn how silly it is to blush at every little thing and that it's generally better (or, at least, more amusing) to go with the flow.
What with trying not to fall over the cobblestones (Keegan was an excellent leader, but he wasn't perfect) and making sure I didn't step on his feet, I hardly noticed that we were almost to the marquist's shop.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 19:35:07 GMT -5
“I could,” I said, grinning. “But less embarrassing is also less fun.”
I stopped in front of the marquist’s door and with one hand I twirled her about, the other hand opening the door. I pulled her back to me and spun us both inside. “You can’t tell me that wasn’t fun,” I said, laughing.
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 19:44:44 GMT -5
I laughed with him, a little breathless and dizzy. "Oh, it was, it was...but I'd rather we had been dancing at a fete or somewhere else. At least it took my mind off of..." I gestured to the shop. "...this."
I smiled weakly at the marquist, pretended to care while he admonished me, not unkindly, for being late, handed over my pitiful amount of money, watched forlornly while he counted it, and then took the offered robe and went behind the screen to change. I was trying to fight back the rising wave of nausea and panic. For a fleeing instant I thought I could escape by running, but then I reasoned that Keegan was a better runner than I, and I didn't want to get tackled on the street. Dallying a bit, I started to tie my hair up and out of the way. That was one place where I didn't want any orange or blue ink.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 19:50:17 GMT -5
I chatted a little with the marquist while we waited on Sandrine. I was trying to get him in a better mood before he worked on her and after a moment I even had him laughing. I sighed inwardly, pleased he wasn’t going to be upset with her.
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 19:58:31 GMT -5
The marquist seemed in a much better mood as I came out from behind the screen. I eased myself down onto the table, exposing my back, and searched around for something to look at during this ordeal. My eyes fell on a sketching of an Orchis marque, and for the thousandth time I reflected on how beautiful it would be. With a sigh I rested my head on my hands, and tried to remain as still as possible while the marquist started to measure my back. The calipers were cold, as always.
Eventually he stopped and said that with the money I had brought, he would only be able to do a few inches. All this agony for a few inches? I fought down the lump in my throat as I told him that would be fine, then listened to him getting all his pots of ink together. I shivered a few times at the thought of what was soon to happen...
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 20:01:01 GMT -5
I drew a low stool over and sat where I was on eye level with Sandrine without her having to move her head.
“Did I ever tell you about the day I finished my marque?” I asked her, smiling.
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 20:29:39 GMT -5
I could feel the marquist getting ready to start. "No," I said, looking into his eyes, trying not to move. Tears were standing in my eyes, and as I felt the first couple pricks of the needle I took a sharp intake of breath. Elua, Naamah, and Cassiel, it hurt! To my utter shame, a tear slid down my cheek, loosened by the pain.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 20:36:01 GMT -5
I ignored her tear, not wanting to call attention to it. “It seemed like it took me forever to make the last two inches of my marque,” I told her. “Then finally it was done and it was the oddest feeling. I was both happy to have finished and a bit sad. My mother was still alive then and I went back to Orchis to show her after I’d shown the Dowayne. Oh, she was so proud of me. We went out to dinner that night and celebrated.” I smiled at the memories. “Then when we returned home I went to my room and climbed into bed, only to find it filled with jam – blueberry jam to be precise.”
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 21:40:06 GMT -5
I laughed, in spite of the pain, and felt another tear on my cheek. The mention of my mother brought another sort of pain, and I found it difficult to speak for several reasons. "I don't think...Mother will be proud...when I'm done. She only wanted...Jasmine for me."
I waited, gritting my teeth against the needle, and then gasped, "I think I...remember the jam...what a mess! Why were you...sad?"
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 21:44:31 GMT -5
“Because I love being an adept and I was das that part of my life was over. I know that it’s not really all that different as a fully marqued Servant still living at Orchis, but it is a bit,” I explained. “As for the jam…it took me a month to finally get rid of all the ants it ended up attracting before I could get it all out of my bed. Plus my toenails were blue for three weeks!”
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 21:49:14 GMT -5
The marquist turned his stern gaze on Keegan and told my fellow Orchis that if he made me laugh again, he'd tattoo an indecent word on Keegan's face.
Finishing my marque was something that I had vague interest in, not that I was in a hurry...the idea of being free, even though I had never felt "caged". "What is...the difference...now that you're marqued? How has...your life changed?"
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 21:53:19 GMT -5
“For me, all that has really changed is that I have more free time to fill with whatever I like. I also like the freedom of being able to be with someone without having to have a contract, but that’s more in the past.” Technically I still needed a contract for the person I really wanted to be with, but from Cereus, not Orchis.
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 22:30:38 GMT -5
Hm.
"Is that really...how it works? I can only...be with someone if...they have a contract with me?"
I hadn't had that many assignations, so I was a little curious. I also wondered what sort of someones Keegan wanted to be with.
"And what do...you fill your time...with, besides dancing? Do you...teach classes?"
The marquist hit a tender spot, and I winced. At least it wasn't as bad as it could have been. At least someone was there to ease my pain.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 22:35:40 GMT -5
My brow furrowed at her question. “Except on Longest Night or if there’s a decree of freedom for us yes that’s how it works,” I said, wondering how it was she didn’t know this.
“I help out with some of the teaching now and then. I do a lot of reading, I love history. I spend time with friends, I go out wandering around,” I told her.
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 22:51:29 GMT -5
I felt kind of silly after asking my first question, but I wasn't the most attentive of students. I guess it was rather like the old saying, 'why pay for the cow when you can have the milk for free?' The only times I had loved outside the constraints of a contract were during the Longest Night. As far as I could remember.
It seemed like the marquist was almost done, thank Elua. I could feel the calipers again as he checked his work. "Wouldn't you ever want to travel?" I asked. "See something outside the City? I think as soon as I can get some ducats saved, that's what I want to do."
The marquist grunted, telling me I was allowed to get up and admire his skill. I hissed as I tried to move. "Keegan, could you give me a hand?"
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 22:57:45 GMT -5
Standing I offered her my help. “I’ve thought of going to Alba, to look for my father’s family there, but I am happy here.”
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 23:12:53 GMT -5
"I'm happy here too," I said, standing gingerly. "But there's a large world outside of Terre d'Ange, and I'd love to see my father at home."
I nodded my thanks, then moved to the mirror and looked at my marque. Despite the fact that my skin was a little red, the marque was looking good. My estimate was correct...it was close to being half done.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 23:18:15 GMT -5
"It's lovely," I said, smiling at her.
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2009 23:47:06 GMT -5
"It is, isn't it?" I said, still looking over my shoulder. "Thank you, Keegan."
Quickly I slipped behind the screen, changing back into my dress, gritting my teeth as the cloth of the dress brushed my skin. I thanked the marquist, who wasn't really a bad man. I could see how two Orchis adepts could be a bit trying. He gave me a bit of extra balm for the tender skin, then showed us out so he could prepare for his next appointment.
"Well," I said, smiling brightly, "that wasn't so bad, was it?"
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 26, 2009 14:24:45 GMT -5
“Not at all, I didn’t feel a thing,” I said, grinning. I offered her my arm. “Shall we go celebrate?”
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 26, 2009 14:56:26 GMT -5
I took his arm, walking a bit gingerly. No dancing for me on the way home. "Well, I did skip breakfast, because I was hiding. Yes, some food sounds good...or a nice stiff drink. As long as you're buying, of course."
A few children ran past as we stepped outside, and I gave them the same silly face. I felt a lot better now that the marquing was over.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 26, 2009 14:59:16 GMT -5
“Of course,” I said, chuckling. “How about food and a drink? We could go to the Patron.”
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 26, 2009 15:45:24 GMT -5
"Lead on, wise and learned elder," I intoned. I would probably have to spend a lot of time resting in the coming days, so I might as well enjoy the time outside.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 26, 2009 15:50:58 GMT -5
“If I can make it that far, being so old and all,” I said, chuckling.
|
|
Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
|
Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Jan 26, 2009 16:17:16 GMT -5
I rolled my eyes, then smiled winnningly at him. "Honestly, Keegan, can't you take a joke? Right now the only one limping is me."
"Really," I said, "some days I wish I were older and other days I wish I would never grow old. I suppose everything happens in time."
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 26, 2009 16:26:37 GMT -5
“Yes, I’ve heard that’s how it happens,” I said, grinning. I turned us down the street that led to the Patron.
|
|