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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 4, 2006 17:10:55 GMT -5
I moved through the streets, the atmosphere in the city was thick with sorrow and shock. It was like moving through a fine wine gone sour.
I had thought about not spreading my fliers about the Adept's Lunches, but I had decided that it might be good for the adepts to have a place away from their Houses to talk and meet in these times as much as in any other - if not more so.
So, it was with stack of parchments in hand that I approached Dahlia. I was met by a dignified but sober looking young man at the door. I told him I was calling on Allisande, and he showed me to a sitting room, then went to find her.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 4, 2006 17:24:02 GMT -5
After the news the entire Dahlia House was sorrowing- which means everyone was becoming more severe and stiff, myself included though to a lesser extent. Clothing had become more somber but not the true bacl of mourning, as I believed that only the family of the deceased had the right to that; today was the steely purple and hair in a tight bun, not a tendril out of place.
Word was brought to me from one of the other adepts that I had a visitor; wondering who it could be I straightened and made ready to compose my face into whatever mask was required. My heels made soft pats on the floor as I made my way to the sitting room and stepped inside, composed and calm. "Hello my lord," I said, dropping into a slight curtsey at seeing Plaisir.
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 4, 2006 17:28:57 GMT -5
I had been pacing around the room, well actually just along one wall. I was lost in thought and started a little at the sounds of Alli's voice.
"Hello again," I said, smiling. "Please, no 'my lords' or social manners. You are my friend and official food tester, I think first names suffice."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 4, 2006 17:34:27 GMT -5
Standing, I smiled and nodded in acknowledgement. "It's nice to see you, Plaisir," I said congenially as I sat down and waited for him to do so as well. "Especially with all of the chaos that has been going around of late."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 4, 2006 17:37:41 GMT -5
I started to pace again, and then with a slightly abashed look took a seat in a chair across from her.
"It is nice to see you too," I said, smiling. "I wasn't sure if I would be interrupting anything, I just took a chance that you would be kind and see me when I dropped in unannounced. I hope things haven't been too bad here and for you. the whole City is in such shock, it's awful."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 4, 2006 17:42:56 GMT -5
"With the way things have been there is almost nothing to do for an adept but sit by and wait for things to resume their normal schedule while trying not to worry oneself into madness. You should feel free to stop by at any time. Things are a little chaotic, but still much better than they are for many who are involved in this whole messy business, thank you for asking."
Smiling amicably, I asked, "And how about yourself? Are you alright?"
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 4, 2006 17:50:57 GMT -5
"I'm still… stunned," I told her. I pulled took the top piece of parchment off the stack and handed it to her. "I came to show you these," I said. The parchment read: Adept's Lunches
Every Wednesday, Désir will be now be hosting Adept's Lunches. From 11 in the morning til 2 in the afternoon, the restaurant will be open to adepts and their guests only. All food and drink will still be top quality, but at prices even the newest in the Service of Namaah could afford. Come to eat, to drink, or just to talk. "Not my most eloquent of prose," I said with a chuckle, "but it gets the point across."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 4, 2006 18:09:46 GMT -5
Taking the paper, I looked over it, trying to piece together words. I could assume that it had to do with what I'd discussed with him before, and given that he had mentioned flyers for the adept's lunch. "It looks fine to me," I said honestly, because I could safely assume he'd done a fine job.
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 4, 2006 18:14:00 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said. "I went back and forth as to whether or not I should go ahead with this right now, but it seemed like it might help some people, so that side won out."
I added that sheet back on he stack and leaned back in my chair.
"What do you think? Do you think I should pass them around to all the Houses right now?"
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 4, 2006 18:26:33 GMT -5
"Maybe not all of the Houses, but some certainly, particularly the better natured ones," I replied. "The more reserved Houses will probably be very lackluster about everything at the moment."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 4, 2006 18:32:51 GMT -5
"Oh," I said, thinking. I guess I had gotten so accustomed to Vivien and his boisterousness, that I forgot not all the Houses shared his wonderful enthusiasm.
"Do you think I should wait? I want to pass them out to all the Houses at once so none think I am playing favorites, but I can wait if that's what you think is best."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 4, 2006 18:58:18 GMT -5
"Wtih as much as is going on I don't think any of the Houses would even notice if they got the papers on different days," I said gently. "Also, the other Houses may help the more reticient ones open to the idea. Still, I know nothing of business, so I can only give you opinions based on my knowledge of the Night Court."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 4, 2006 19:04:29 GMT -5
I nodded, thinking over what she had said. I decided I would go ahead and hand them out now, the Dowaynes could decide when it was right to post them.
"Oh," I said, smiling again as I remembered something I wanted to tell her. "The new dish , Potatoes -ala-you is quiet the hit. I run out every night."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 4, 2006 19:11:13 GMT -5
My eyes widened a little and I grinned. "That's wonderful- I'm glad I didn't steer you wrong in my taste-testing duties. I'm planning on coming to the first lunch, so I'll have to go and have some."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 4, 2006 19:14:42 GMT -5
"I've been working on this chicken dish, it's stewed with these amazingly powerful spices and peppers I got from Aragonia. Once it's closer you will have to come in for another private taste-testing," I told her, grinning.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 4, 2006 19:22:05 GMT -5
"That would be marvelous," I said, returning his grin and nodding in understanding. "I'll be ready whenever the food is, that I can assure you."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 4, 2006 19:25:30 GMT -5
I stood up, unable to be still anymore, and walked aimlessly around the room.
"My father used to give me the most quizzical looks as I refined recipes. He would taste something and it was either 'good' or 'bad', he never quite got the hang of the subtleties that a pinch more of this or less of that can create," I told her, smiling. "He was always encouraging though, even if he didn't understand it all."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 4, 2006 19:42:19 GMT -5
Watching him pace with a calm expression, I said, "It sounds like you have a wonderful father- I've been in Dahlia since I was six years old, so I don't remember much about how my parents acted when I was a child."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 4, 2006 22:31:20 GMT -5
"I do," I said, grinning at the memories. "I was very blessed to have parents who encouraged me to find my own way. It's good to have a purpose in life, a goal. I love making them proud."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 4, 2006 22:38:50 GMT -5
"My mother's fondest wish was to have a child worthy of Dahlia, and the day I was accepted was the proudest in her life," I said with a faint smile, thinking of my mother's shame and the mark it left on my reputation within the House. "It's a noble thing to make one's parents proud."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 4, 2006 23:07:11 GMT -5
"Yes, it is," I answered, nodding slightly. "My family has been cabinetmakers for generations, I always knew there was something else in life for me though."
I picked up a small trinket off a table and absently started tossing it from hand to hand.
"I enjoy my success, as much for my parents though as for myself - maybe more for them. I am giving back to them for all they did for me growing up. I just bought the showroom next to my father's for him, now he has a place to put all the things he makes, and display them the way they should be. My mother spends all day in there dust and fiddling around so things look just right."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 5, 2006 7:33:22 GMT -5
Smiling slightly I watched his fidgeting and cocked my head sideways as I listened to his story. "My father is a carpenter in Mont Nuit," I said with a certain proud intensity, "And my mother teaches dance to those who can afford such things. Once she was a Dahlia adept, as was a member of my family since there has BEEN a House Dahlia. I go and visit them from time to time and do what I can, but there is little they will let me do to help them, so I lavish gifts on my nieces and nephews instead." My smile widened to a grin of mirth. "I guess Dahlia pride is one of the constants of life."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 5, 2006 10:18:50 GMT -5
I chuckled, realizing I was on the verge of breaking whatever it was I was tossing around, I set it back on the table.
"Constants are good," I said. "Especially since our nation seems to be lacking most of them lately."
I looked over at her.
"Are you planning on adding to the Dahlia line? You said there has always been one of your family here, are you adding the next or will it be one of your nieces or nephews?"
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 5, 2006 10:28:05 GMT -5
"Preferrably, it would be myself who would add to the line, so it may remain unbroken, but if any of my brothers' children were suitable they would also be considered as adding to the family line," I stated. "Though in either case I would have to stay within Dahlia until they were dedicated. This house raised me as most parents do their children and I wouldn't leave it without someone I trusted and who carried my blood within its walls."
Most people were suprised at how simply I stated the facts of the matter in this case- after all, some even believed I was wrong to keep such a mindset out of tradition alone. Still, this was the way I lived and believed, and I could find no fault in it.
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 5, 2006 10:33:39 GMT -5
"Trusting someone to take over your purpose in life is hard, I don't know what I will do when I am too old to cook anymore, probably go mad," I told her, chuckling. "I hope Elua blesses you with a child for your House while you are still young enough to enjoy watching him or her grow."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 5, 2006 10:44:06 GMT -5
Smiling, I said, "Thank you- I hope so as well. Even if you didn't want children of your own, there are always apprentices or fosterlings you could pass your skills to. I'm sure someday that someone will come along who has so much talent you can't help but teach and watch them become as great or greater than youself. That is the way of life."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 5, 2006 13:14:30 GMT -5
I stopped pacing for a moment, caught in thought, and then began again.
"I never really thought about children of my own, I was always too busy with my food. I guess it might be nice to have child, but I don't think I would be the best father," I told her. I thought of Vivien and smiled. "Besides, my heart has been given to a young man and last I checked it was rather impossible for too men to bear a child."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 5, 2006 13:34:36 GMT -5
Nodding in understanding, I said, "Congratulation, and that is true, but I am sure you could find an apprentice somewhere if you ever changed your mind. Not everyone is meant to have children."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jun 5, 2006 17:36:40 GMT -5
"True," I said. "I myself am proof that the cooking gift doesn't have to run in the family."
I took my seat again.
"Do you plan on leaving Dahlia after you see your successor dedicated?"
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 5, 2006 17:46:21 GMT -5
Wrinking my brow slightly in thought I said, "I've never thought about it, I guess- it all seems to be so far in the future. Eventually I will have to stop taking assignations, but whether I go out into the world after I do so or stay on as a teacher will depend on how I think at that time." Looking back up at him, I rolled my eyes and smiled wryly. "I've never been good at planning myself, only following the plans that were set for me."
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