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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Jun 26, 2009 16:33:18 GMT -5
I always had time to kill. Every Valerian did, really, because we had to spend quite a deal of time making sure we were healed and fresh for our newest patron. What patron wanted to see another man or woman’s work on someone they had paid dear for? So, I found ways to busy myself. Unlike the others, I did not like to spend my time idly making rumors or bustling about, serving and fawning over every patron that came in. I thought and I people watched. I was able to content myself normally, with just that, but when I was not, there were the Dowayne’s errands. However, it was a particularly slow day. I had eaten already too many of my favorite sweet, Kushiel’s Apple, that my pocket could spare and I knew that if I stayed in my room any longer that I would only ingest more. Anixiel was nowhere to be seen and the House was nice and quiet in the brisk morning and so I headed out to the city, wearing a black button up shirt and black slacks.
At first, all I did was look around and survey my surroundings, however it was too early for many people to be out and it would be awhile before I could start my day of people watching and really get some excitement. So, I headed to the bookstore that had just opened. I never wasted my money on buying books. In fact, Kushiel’s Apple was really the only thing I indulged my money on, for I was determined to finish my marque, to be free in that sense, but what I would do with my life without assignations filling it I did not know. I had no inspiration, no drive, but I lived for the now and that was enough for me. I had a tendency to come here often and was able to finish many a novel, hidden in the crook of one of the aisles and that was what I was doing now.
I was a Servant of Naamah, so there was no “dirty” book that contained things that I did not know, but to those who did not know me as such, what I was doing would have made me seem like a horny young man who had no woman to warm his bed at night. I was leaning against the bookshelf, immersed in my book. It was too early for most customers and anyways, I felt relatively safe in here. I was smiling, in a good mood and already halfway through this particular novel and was already settling in for a good day of standing and reading where the cashier could not see me tearing through her merchandise.
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Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
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Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Jun 26, 2009 16:41:24 GMT -5
I’d found myself awake before the sun this morning. Something highly unusual, but there it was. The palace felt confining today and I found myself out in the streets after breakfast. Most of the shops were just opening up and the streets had a distinctively different feel to them. It was as if the world was waiting for something to happen.
I knew how it felt. I bought a sweet roll from a cart, the sweet cinnamonny smell too much to resist. The warm pastry in one hand, I nibbled as I strolled the street. I noticed the bookstore was open and decided to see if there was anything there that might hold my attention.
The clerk smiled at me as I entered and I returned the gesture. Still nibbling the pastry I began to look over the books, letting my feet carry me where they might – which happened to be towards the back and the more ‘interesting’ books.
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Jun 26, 2009 16:46:42 GMT -5
I heard the tingle of the door when someone entered but ignored it, too ingrained in the plot line to do much else. After all, it wasn't like I needed to be concerned with another person coming in to search for a book. However, when I caught sight of who it was in the corner of my eye I felt something drop in the pit of my stomach. It was already several weeks since I had seen him last and well, if it had been anyone else I was sure thy would have forgotten me already, but the man was a Shahrizai and I knew he did not drop a chase too quickly.
I kept my head down, nose buried in my book. I just wanted to read and that wasn't such a bad thing. I tried to make it seem casual as I turned to walk down the aisle, putting my book down as if I had decided I was going to purchase it. Hopefully he saw nothing amiss.
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Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
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Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Jun 26, 2009 16:50:26 GMT -5
Movement caught my eye and I looked up to see who else was here. When I saw just who it was, I couldn’t help it, I laughed.
I pitched my voice so that he could hear me but I wasn’t being loud to anyone else in the store. “You know, if you’d give me your name perhaps we’d stop meeting like this,” I said, smiling.
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Jun 26, 2009 16:55:05 GMT -5
I groaned when I heard that tinkling laugh behind me and I turned around to face him, my arms crossed and the book tucked against my chest, the cover against it so that he could not see what exactly I was reading. that was the last thing I need, for him to catch me with something like that on my hands. "You know if you wanted my name you could have asked a patron there or Trinette, however, you choose not to and that's entirely your fault," I said, absolutely disgusted. He was playing a game with me and it was entirely frustrating.
"This is not 'fate' or whatever you would like to label it as, Shahrizai. I served you your drink at Valerian House because I had no other choice. It was my duty, so cut the smile and let me read my book." I opened it up stubbornly to where my finger had been. Now that he saw me, I refused to run away and I began to read it, though in the corner of my eye I was watching to make sure he did not get too close.
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Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
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Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Jun 26, 2009 19:03:58 GMT -5
I moved a little closer, more so I wouldn’t have to speak so loudly than for any other reason, I was still more than arm’s length from him.
“Asking Trinette or another patron would have been a rather cheap way to find out your name, don’t you think?” I asked conversationally. “I’d much rather have it given freely.”
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Jun 26, 2009 19:12:02 GMT -5
An arm's length was good enough, though I would have rather not seen the Shahrizai at all. I cleared my throat a little as I felt him edge a little closer. "Well, it's not like you Shahrizai don't go about cheap ways to get the things that you want," I said simply. "You better content yourself in not knowing my name then and calling me Valerian. Freely, you shant have it."
I looked up at him with my dark eyes, filled with distaste and shot him a glare. "Now, I would like to continue reading so I would prefer it if you stalked off and found something else to enjoy."
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Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
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Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Jun 26, 2009 20:46:46 GMT -5
“My, you have no problem doing exactly what you seemingly dislike my family for, do you?” I asked, tilting my head to the side a little. “You cast my family all in a singular mold while at the same time I bet you hate us because we think all Valerians are same. Hypocrisy is not an attractive quality on anyone.”
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Jun 26, 2009 21:00:29 GMT -5
I scowled, "Say it as you will, but I prefer to keep my own hide in tact and while my prejudice says that you are all a ruthless bunch, it at least keeps me painfully aware to stray away from you all. If you make the judgment that a Valerian is a weak and helpless, how could that possibly hurt you in the long run, hm?" I asked staring him down and this time, I was the one to walk up to him, looking up and stare him straight in the eye. "I'm not a typical Valerian, I will give you that from the very start and what you are looking for here, you won't fight."
I could only frown, the absolute distaste rolling off my tongue. "Turn your lustful eyes towards the other Valerians. They'll be sure to squeal with pleasure and boost that ego of yours."
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Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
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Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Jun 26, 2009 21:07:16 GMT -5
“My ego is just fine as it is, thank you,” I said, chuckling. “And the fact that you aren’t the typical Valerian is what makes you so intriguing. But then I’m sure you know that. That’s your little hook isn’t it? Your way of making yourself believe you are better than all the rest of them. You don’t want it, you fight it, it disgusts you, all the trappings make your skin crawl.” My eyes never left his even as I shifted my weight so that once again I was as close to him as possible without actually touching him. “And yet, there you are making your marque and serving a Dowayne who is as true a judge of character as I have ever met.”
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Jun 26, 2009 21:18:50 GMT -5
"Oh, perfect." I was intriguing him with my untypical sense of character but it was not like I would change myself for him. "You don't know a thing about me," I snarled. I swore I just had this conversation with a certain little Orchis in an alleyway. "I am a Valerian and I will not deny it that Trinette has placed me in the right house and I refuse to shy away from what she has done. I am proud of it in the way that I can be." I sucked in a breath before I continued, preparing myself. "I yield to those who are worthy of yielding, not every strutting, cock eyed Shahrizai that comes strolling into play. It's not my hook, it's who I am."
I started to growl now, defensively. "I yield to Trinette, wholly, but not to a patron who spends their money for time with me that they have bought with family money and has no true job or place for themselves, had they been born elsewhere."
Oh yes, I was talking about him.
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Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
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Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Jun 26, 2009 21:29:06 GMT -5
“And you don’t know a thing about me,” I said. “You assume that because of my family name I am a certain way and that I believe certain things. That makes you even more ignorant than the whores in the Doorstep who sell themselves for a copper and have never had the privilege of a life secluded from the real world whose existence isn’t defined by which fete they will get invited to while servants clean their clothes and cook their meals.” Oh yes, I was talking about him. “You live a life more indulged and pampered than most anyone save the royal family and by gods even they have to do things they don’t want to. You on the other hand can put on airs and pretend it’s a burden to be desired and craved and in the end be with only those you want to be with.” I cut the space between us in half, any closer and we would actually kiss. “Poor baby.”
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Jun 27, 2009 11:08:05 GMT -5
I wanted nothing more than to punch him, wipe that smile off his face, but I was digging my nails into my palm, trembling with rage to have at least some control. If I punched one Shahrizai, I knew it would come back to haunt me somewhere down the line. "You act like I am not thankful for my position in life," I laughed in his face,"because then you got me wrong. I am more than thankful." My pride was ashamed of my place in Valerian, but deep down I knew I fit the House like a glove and the fact that I was in a place I had a taste of hatred for made it that much sweeter. Pleasure in displeasure. Valerian House was all mine.
I moved myself further. I would not be the one to pull away, not from him and I swore I could almost feel his lips now. "I understand pleasure in pain. If I felt entirely happy in Valerian House, I wouldn't' be entirely happy there. I love my assignations, I hate that I love them... I merely wouldn't want one with the snobbish likes of you. You look to break, to make your own, to have your piece of me and be finished. I refuse to give you even a taste!"
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Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
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Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Jun 27, 2009 11:33:10 GMT -5
“You have an odd way of showing your gratitude. I saw you that day, it wasn’t just me you were snarky with, but all the patrons there and the other adepts as well. Your own Housemates and you couldn’t even be civil to them. Snide little remarks and vicious turns of tongue, all delivered with just enough deference so those less aware aren’t exactly sure if you are insulting them or not.”
I wonder how he’d react if I went ahead and kissed him. To anyone glancing at us that must look like what we were doing, so close were we to each other. It made me laugh inside to think that for all he despised me anyone seeing us together right now would report that he had been shamelessly kissing me in the middle of the bookstore.
“As for me, I neither seek to break nor possess. You judge me by your own prejudices. Ask any of those Housemates you snipe at about me. Never once have I taken blindly or in any other way disgraced the gift granted us by the gods. I am no ham fisted lordling nor do I indulge just to cause pain. There is holiness in pleasure and anyone who treats it as otherwise deserves eternal punishment.”
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Jun 27, 2009 11:42:37 GMT -5
I did not have the explain myself to him! I thought furiously and let out a low growl, "That's the way I am. The patrons that I did choose to do it to, if you noticed, took it with humor for they know my antics already. I will not ruin an assignation of another by fanning fires that do not need to be." I shook my head. I wanted to say one more thing, but I held my tongue, but I wanted to snap in his face 'and in case you did not realize, I AM insulting you.' Since he seemed to have a tough time pinning me out.
"Then what is this game you're playing with me? You seek my name and yet, any normal person would have asked another patron, my Dowayne or even called for a line up. What is it that you want of me, then, Shahrizai, since I seem to judge you so incorrectly." I made sure to coat my last few words with as much sarcasm as possible.
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Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
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Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Jun 27, 2009 12:35:05 GMT -5
“Gabriel,” I said. “My name is Gabriel. And as for what I want from you, all I have ever asked of you is your name. You are the one who has turned this into some epic quest. Not once before today had I said anything unpleasant to you. I find you interesting. You keep running away every time I am around for no reason other than what you assume I am or what I want. And yes, I could have forced you to give your name and snuck and around and learned it another way, but that is not really who I am.”
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Jun 27, 2009 12:40:17 GMT -5
I scowled a little, unable to believe that I was about to give him what he wanted. How would it hurt me, then, if that was all he wanted? Gabriel Shahrizai. I would make sure not to forget that name. My jaw tightened, but I forced myself to calm though the fire in my eyes was unquestionable.
"Sinclair no Valerian."
There. Yet there was that churning in my gut. Was his hunger satisfied now?
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Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
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Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Jun 27, 2009 12:47:03 GMT -5
It was only because I was very good at such things that I knew for certain I kept the rush that swept through me at his giving me his name to myself. Only I knew of the satisfying heat that flowed through my veins.
I stepped back from him. “Thank you,” I said, inclining my head. “Enjoy your book.” I turned from him and began to stroll the aisle again, nibbling at my now cool but still good pastry.
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Post by Sinclair nó Valerian on Jun 27, 2009 12:55:03 GMT -5
Stupidity. My mind told me, hailed me for my stupidity and even my pride felt guilty now that it had done such a thing. I should have walked away, I should have left... but I dared not run from a challenge that a Shahrizai had to offer, but if this was his game of chase and it was now over, surely he had nothing to plague me for. However, one taste of the fruit of victory, surely, he would want more. My stomach bubbled. I tried to read his eyes for anything but the calmness he displayed and found nothing.
Despite his words, I could no longer enjoy myself in reading. I left the bookshop. I could not be in the same vicinity of this man any longer.
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Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
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Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Jun 27, 2009 15:31:35 GMT -5
Even though my back was turned, I knew he’d left by the sound of footsteps and the chiming of the bell over the door that quickly followed. I finished my pastry in one bite and licked the sugar from my fingers before returning to the spot where we’d been so very close.
As I suspected, the book he’d been reading was laying on a shelf. He left so quickly I didn’t figure he’d had time to pay for it. I picked up the book and scanned through it, my lips curving into a wry smile as I saw the basic theme of the book. Well, well he grew more interesting by the moment.
Taking the book I went to the counter. I paid for the book and to have it wrapped and delivered to him the next day.
Feeling rather pleased with how the morning had turned out, I left the bookstore and headed back to the palace.
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