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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 15, 2009 16:52:57 GMT -5
He reached out and touched my cheek. I allowed it, feeling a shiver of sensation through my blood. But once his fingers had left, I shifted back a little. I had been hurt too much lately not to be cautious.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it. I am too. But if you wish to flirt, I'm going to have to beg your patience," I said softly.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 15, 2009 17:36:37 GMT -5
She enjoyed the touch, but she wouldn't let herself enjoy it too far; it was a sad situation in all. "well, one thing I do have is patience," I replied with an easy smile, bringing my hand back to hers but no further.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 15, 2009 18:46:57 GMT -5
"Thank you. I would hate to drive you away Landis. You seem like a genuinely good person," I said with a soft smile. He was still touching me through the fabric of my glove, but he didn't push me any further. And for that I was very grateful. I liked him.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 15, 2009 19:19:20 GMT -5
"Perhaps it's only that I don't know how to be bad," I replied in a friendly fashion. "I don't recall ever being so. I'm a perfect angel."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 15, 2009 19:27:58 GMT -5
"Oh, I'm exactly the same. A perfect angel," I said with a laugh.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 15, 2009 19:49:16 GMT -5
I thought of several things I could say in response to that but I closed my lips on nearly all of them; they were too flirtatious and I didn't want to chance offending her again. "I could believe that," I replied simply instead, letting my wide and cheerful smile convey my sincerity.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 16, 2009 15:38:48 GMT -5
I had been jesting, as I thought he had, but the honesty in his reply made my cheeks take on a shade of soft pink. He was too sweet for my own good. "Really?" I asked with a smile. "I don't."
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 16, 2009 16:55:10 GMT -5
"I believe it more than I do for everyone else," I replied cheerfully. "And I had a very relaxed childhood so I have no doubt I was as close to angelic as a boy can be."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 16, 2009 18:44:58 GMT -5
I chuckled. "Never got into trouble?" I asked.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 16, 2009 18:57:26 GMT -5
"Very rarely and never for anything serious- usually only for being a bit reckless with my explorations," I replied honestly. "My parents were worried when I started going on my hikes and climbing mountains."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 16, 2009 23:53:13 GMT -5
"They wouldn't be parents if they didn't worry," I said with a crooked smile. "That's what my mother always says."
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 17, 2009 8:35:35 GMT -5
"I quite agree- but that doesn't mean I was exactly a troublemaker, does it?" I replied, smiling widely.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 17, 2009 12:40:30 GMT -5
"I wasn't trying to say it did," I said with a smile. "Didn't even think to imply it."
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 17, 2009 13:00:24 GMT -5
"No, and I was only jesting," I teased lightly and with a chuckle before taking another sip of wine. "I'm just glad to see you more light-hearted again."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 17, 2009 15:09:33 GMT -5
"So do I," I replied, a little shyness creeping back into my voice. "One can only be serious for so long."
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 17, 2009 17:36:48 GMT -5
"I was hoping so but I tend to misjudge at times and I didn't want to make any more of an ass of myself," I told her with a laugh, softened as I saw the shy look on her face. "My mother tended to worry about us all, but I usually got myself in more trouble than my brothers in that regard. I was good, but I was wholly wild and I wanted nothing more than to range as far and wide as I could."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 17, 2009 22:34:39 GMT -5
"What brought you to the City then, if you love exploring the countryside so much?" I asked.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 17, 2009 22:39:25 GMT -5
"Because people can be as interesting as the outdoors," I replied amicably. "And I spent a long time in the military so I suppose I'm more used to it now. It can get lonely out there in the mountains."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 18, 2009 0:06:48 GMT -5
"Where did you serve?" I asked. My father's history made me very interested to hear serving men's stories.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 18, 2009 7:38:10 GMT -5
"In Khebbel-im-Akkad during the war," I replied serenely; the situation hadn't been pleasant but it could have gone far worse than it did.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 18, 2009 21:00:11 GMT -5
I nodded. "My father was stationed along the border during the war," I replied. "He said that he was always grateful for those who had gone to Khebbel-im-Akkad and allowed him to stay closer to his family."
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 18, 2009 21:40:52 GMT -5
"It was the place that I was most needed," I replied simply and pleasantly. "And I didn't really have a need to be closer. I enjoyed the travel of it as well though I wish it hadn't been under such circumstances."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 18, 2009 22:45:26 GMT -5
"Are you not close to your family?" I inquired. It was a delicate question, but something about him made me want to ask.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 19, 2009 14:14:17 GMT -5
"I don't really have any family," I said quietly. "My brothers died when I was a child and my parents did the same when I was a young man. There isn't really anyone else I would need to stay nearby for."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 20, 2009 20:56:28 GMT -5
"I'm sorry Landis," I said, feeling both foolish for asking and terrible for his loss. My hand squeezed his comfortingly, the first time I had really acknowledged his touch.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 20, 2009 21:26:52 GMT -5
"It's alright," I reassured her with a warm smile, squeezing her hand gently in return. "It was long ago, all told; but that is why I understand your missing your father so well."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 23, 2009 0:55:35 GMT -5
"He passed near a year ago," I told him softly. "And I'm trying to get on and live my life, because I know that's what he wants. But some days are more difficult than others."
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 23, 2009 8:56:00 GMT -5
"I recall you said before that it had been recently," I said in sympathy. "With more time it may become easier."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on May 23, 2009 16:45:38 GMT -5
"It became easier for you?" Again, it was a deeply personal question. But I wasn't just asking about this for my father. He was not the only one I had lost this last year.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on May 23, 2009 16:51:01 GMT -5
"After a time, yes- but I also had a war that I went into and friends to help me through," I replied gently. "I think that if people exist than can help you keep your mind off of sorrow that it's no crime to do so. Those who go don't want us to be unhappy."
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