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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Aug 22, 2007 18:46:05 GMT -5
I arrived at Dahlia House just on time, my smile wide and full of expectation, to pick up my chosen adept for the evening.
I'd eventually decided against the rather unconventional outfit I had chosen with Genevie, opting instead for something more simple. Black boots up to mid-thigh over white breeches were complemented by a matching shirt and a blue jacket. It was comfortable, elegant, and stayed true to my nature. My sword hung comfortably at my side, as always.
The young adept opened the door, bidding me to come in, and quietly, I waited for Ellette to arrive.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Aug 22, 2007 23:14:43 GMT -5
I put on the dress, the red one that Julie helped me pick out. I had a short white over coat on it, hoping that I was not too outlandish. The white coat had some red stiching so that it matched. The red did look good against my skin, that I would have to admit.
I walked down the hall, keeping myself regal and calm. I walked into the room that Sebastian was waiting and gave him a curtsy of greeting and a smile. "Good morning Sebastian de Lorean, I hope you are doing well."
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Aug 23, 2007 9:37:18 GMT -5
"Good morning, Ellette no Dahlia," I replied on the same tone, "I am doing very well, more so now that I see your pretty face. You look beautiful, simply beautiful, this day. Red becomes you," I told her as I offered my arm.
And indeed, Ellette looked lovely. She had done differently than most, with her red dress and embroidered overcoat, and it looked pretty and elegant, fit for a noblewoman, as would be expected of Dahlia.
The door was opened, and so we took our leave from the young adept who opened the door to us. I held out my hand to help her up the carriage, and smiling, I settled in front of her, asking, "Well, my dear chosen adept, how have life treated you, since the contract was signed?"
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Aug 23, 2007 22:39:24 GMT -5
I thanked Sebastien for the comment and commented on his attire as well, he truly did look hansom. I was glad as well that he didn't turn out to be one of the more eccentric patrons, sadly I have had a few.
"I thanked him again as he lead me into the carriage and I took my seat. "Life has been good," I told him, and for once I could honestly say so. There was no new drama. "How are you doing?"
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Aug 24, 2007 1:55:32 GMT -5
"I've been well," I replied soberly. "Mostly busy with catching up since my absence. It's a curse, really - leave home a few months, and when you come back, everything is up side down. It takes for ever to get back in the swing of things, but I believe I may be on my way to full recovery," I concluded, grinning at Ellette. She would likely have something to do with that.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Aug 24, 2007 19:14:17 GMT -5
"While I can't say that I have left the House for longer than a day, I started my commission here a little later than most so I had to catch up with the rest of the students my age when I did arrive."
I then smiled and added, "I hope that you are feeling recovered soon."
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Aug 25, 2007 10:05:05 GMT -5
I laughed lightly, "Yes, I believe I am rather back, thank you. It's great to know you have an understanding of what that's like." It occured to me that I had never dealt with the courtosy clause, and so I added, "I forgot to mention it, but I would rather we call each other by name, if you do not mind."
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Aug 25, 2007 21:37:38 GMT -5
"Name is fine," I told Sebastien. "I am not overly formal. I just keep things proper to keep both parties from having to worry about embarassment. I don't think either of us really have to worry about that though." I smiled and said, "you seem like someone who would be a pleasent patron for a night."
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Aug 26, 2007 4:16:50 GMT -5
"Why, thank you, Ellette," I replied, tasting her name. "And what makes you say that?"
I grinned rakishly as I spoke, keeping for later the pleasantry budding in my head.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Aug 26, 2007 13:24:10 GMT -5
I smiled at Sebastien and said, "you have been very curtous so far. You haven't given me any reason to worry."
I took a moment to look through the curtian that covered the small window. I was glad to see that we were leaving the city out of a different road than I had traveled in on. "I have never seen this part of the city before."
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Aug 26, 2007 15:14:26 GMT -5
"Have you been out of town at all, or is this the first trip?" I asked, merely curious.
I noted her gesture, it was practiced, elegant, ladylike, by many ways.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Aug 28, 2007 20:06:42 GMT -5
"I am not a birth resident of Terre d'Ange," I told him. While I was not fond of lying I didn't tell patrons my true history. I had become good at making my way around the subject. "How about you?" I asked, "have been outside of the city?"
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Aug 29, 2007 1:47:29 GMT -5
"Ah," I replied, thinking a little. "I figured as such, you are... exotic looking. Which is beautiful, espescially when you wear red," I added, smiling. She didn't seem to want to say more, and so I refrained from asking again. Adepts don't owe their patrons full confessions, I didn't think they did, anyway.
"I have. Aragonia, very recently... and the war," I said, thinking a split instant of my friend Juliette, and her father, a good man fallen for the cause.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Aug 29, 2007 20:37:53 GMT -5
I smiled in thanks to Sebastien's comment. I did perk with interest when he mentioned the war. Part of me was torn for something more hard paced than the life at Dahlia, though my pride pushed it aside. Since it did seem proper for a upright Dahlia to act blood hungry I said, "I hope that you did not suffer to many loses there. I am sure it was not a pleasant task."
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Aug 30, 2007 1:23:07 GMT -5
"It is dirty business," I said quietly. "One which I would not indulge in unnecessarily - though when I do... I spare no effort to reach my goal." Memories flashed in my mind, of blood battles and war cries, Elmer's body taken to the grave, an Akkadian's skull split in a single hit... A small shudder went through me. "Yes, really, it is an unsightly affair, Ellette."
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Aug 30, 2007 19:01:50 GMT -5
I noticed the shutter go through Sebastien and frowned a little to myself. It would not due for me to cause a lot of unpleasent memories in my patron. We were attending a wedding not a funeral, I made a mental note to keep the conversation on lighter topics.
"I can imagine," I said, though in reality I didn't have to imagine to much. While I had never been in a true war, I had seen a few camp raids, once which resulted in no living victiums. I switched topics a little, hoping to lighten the mood.
"I would like to know a few things about you Sebastien, if you do not mind me prying. Though I promise they will not be unpleasent topics." I added a smile at the end, showing I would keep things light and a little more on the cheerful side.
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Aug 31, 2007 1:08:53 GMT -5
"It's fine, Ellette," I replied gently, "You did no wrong. What happened in Kebbel is part of who I am, one way or the other, and not ever the prettiest adept of Dahlia can change that. Now... let me think..." I smiled warmly - she had a little mystery of her own, this one, yes she did. I liked her for it - a hint of mystery can be rather spicy.
"Well... let me think... I like to read, quite a bit, mostly about the rules and customs of our land, though I've been expanding my interest to foreign issues as well, recently," I said, then heard myself, and added, grinning, "Oh gods, it sounds awfully boring, does it not?"
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Sept 2, 2007 21:29:47 GMT -5
I smiled, "no don't sound boring. If anything knowing the customs and taking the time to learn them is very chivalrous. Many people take such things for granted." I thought for a brief moment and said, "I can't claim to have an overly exciting life during my fee time either. I read some as well, but I tend to read the move fictional stories about Terre d'Ange. I also keep myself in shape by practicing some basic combat skills."
In truth I spent a lot of time practicing and not all of them were basic, but I was a soldier not an adept so I didn't want to play it up to much.
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Sept 3, 2007 4:08:35 GMT -5
"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "That is rather uncommon, isn't it."
I looked at her anew, assessing her arms - she did look fit, indeed. "That explains your fitness," I said sweetly. "If you are curious to, I will gladly share tricks. I've never sparred with a woman, before. No doubt our styles vary," I said, smiling gently. I had no intention of being condescending - I'd given Soleil Belfours a piece of my mind about gender issues, and had no desire to be as bigot as she.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Sept 3, 2007 14:08:47 GMT -5
I was surprised to hear Sebastien offer to spar with me. It was the first time a patron had made such an offer. Of course most of my patrons didn't know much about my free time either.
I kept any reactions to a minimum and turn them into a wry smile, "I am sure our styles will vary greatly. I did not learn my techniques from a soldier." I paused wondering how much I should say. I hadn't realized until then how much my fighting style would give me away. Perhaps I should have adopted Dahlia's style a little more. The basic self defense they taught their adepts. It was a measure of pride for many, but I had held on to what I had already known. Which did seem a strange thing in retrospect, since I was not exactly proud of my past.
Since I had already started the line of conversation I figured it wouldn't be good to just let it hang. "I learned before becoming an adept, so I don't follow their style much as well, though I can match it to some extent."
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Sept 3, 2007 14:55:50 GMT -5
I crooked an eyebrow in curiosity, unable to hide it. "You learned before you were an adept?"
Gods, younglings were taken at the age of nine or about, and so it would suggest that she learned at an incredibly young age. That made me wonder a great deal, and I looked at her with increased interest. Besides, a girl who wields... that alone was an object of interest. One who combined the style of Dahlia, and another, yet not the martial one... it was even more intriguing.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Sept 3, 2007 17:09:47 GMT -5
I sighed inwardly, I had started the questions. But, so far Sebastien didn't seem bothered. I only hoped that if I did tell him everything that he wouldn't be one who cared about breeding. At least I could claim some real family history, if I talked about Rannan, who was pretty determined to show he was my blood brother. Though there could be some truth in it, Gentains are not known for being wrong after all.
Keeping my tone light as if I was not bothered I said, "yes, I did not join Dahlia as young as most. If I did not already have a natural grace about me I probably would not have joined at all. I was spotted by the Dowayne who decided to invest in me though at the time I was thirteen."
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Sept 3, 2007 17:22:31 GMT -5
"Thirteen?" I smiled more brightly, "Then I see why she chose you. She must think very highly of you.... I can see all the grace you displayed."
I took her hand, stroking the top of it, and smiled. "I have no doubt that you got cought up in no time," I said with a great deal of sincere admiration.
She was quizzical, though... I felt the workings of her mind behind her soulful eyes, and it made me wonder... who was this adept?
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Sept 4, 2007 1:51:17 GMT -5
I was glad to hear Sebastien's praise and glad to hear him not push for details. My life as an adept was an open book, I did not have anything to hide.
I smiled as he kissed my hand. "Thank you Sebastien, you are a kind patron. I worked hard as a young adept since I did not allow myself to get caught up in the drama or small things of the house. It paid off in the end. I was able to offer my virgin marque at 16 like the rest."
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Sept 4, 2007 6:54:33 GMT -5
"That is wonderful to hear, if not much of a surprise," I replied kindly. I kept her hand in mine, caressing her soft, golden skin absently. She was stirring me, this young adept, beautiful and graceful, intelligent and seasoned already, beyond her years.
"And so tell me, what are your dreams? You have accomplished much, what is yet to come?" I asked giving the inside of her palm a gentle caress that mirrored my tone.
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Sept 5, 2007 7:42:30 GMT -5
Sebastien was proving to be a caring Patron, I had not had one ask me that question before either. "Right now I just want to be a good adept and live a somewhat stable life. As far as the future, I am still unnsure. When I gain my marque I will venture out to a new road, maybe open up my own shop or cafe. I am not sure what as of yet."
Sebastien held my hand in his, but it seemed to be more for the comfort of touch than anything else. I did like his touch.
I then asked, "what about yours?"
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Sept 5, 2007 8:06:53 GMT -5
"I am slated for title, so my path is laid out before me. To wed, to take care of the estate... nothing more, nothing less..." That made me thoughtful, and I looked out the window a short instant, though my touch of Ellette's hand did not waver. Smooth fields were sprawled about, and I smiled at my adept.
"L'Agnace is beautiful, is it not?"
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Post by Ellette nó Dahlia (D) on Sept 5, 2007 23:18:13 GMT -5
I looked out the window as he mentioned it, "yes it is." I could not imagine myself as a homemaker and mother, though I guess in the long run it wouldn't be a bad life.
Before I could think it much more the carriage started to slow. "I think we are here."
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Post by Sébastien de Loréan on Sept 6, 2007 0:59:59 GMT -5
"Yes, it certainly seems like we are, Ellette. Time does fly by in good company, does it not?" I replied, winking.
The carriage stopped and the door was opened. I got out first, holding out my hand to Ellette in gallant assistance.
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