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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Jul 9, 2009 23:53:08 GMT -5
Singing at The Laughing Parrot was nothing new for me. It brought me a buzz, an exhilaration to be up in front of a crowd of people who did not have to be polite. The place was not packed with nobles or peers, but mere ordinary people who were looking to be entertained and that was all I wanted and that was what they loved. I already had my jigs for the night that had set the place dancing, but now I got into my ballads and skimmed the crowd, searching for that oh-so familiar face of my employer. He was always here, and drinking, but he was not, much to my dismay. I always felt the need to sing a ballad to someone and not to everyone and in this way, they always seemed more truthful and all the more impactful.
My eyes strayed and landed on a young and very beautiful young woman. I would not have been surprised if she was at the Night Court herself, but she was not someone I recognized in particular and I tended to remember everyone that I had been introduced to. I sang to her, serenaded her until the song's end and always, I felt inclined to steal away into the crowd to go and talk to her. She was seated alone and so, I did not see the harm. Once my song was done, I bowed, in the sweeping and flourishing way of a proud Eglantine before I headed out into the crowd. I made sure not to go empty handed and came with one fine glass of fine for each of us.
"To you, my fine lady," I said, wondering if she would offer to let me sit. I certainly hoped so. She seemed like a charming young woman and I, the ever lady's man could not help but be drawn to her. I was d'Angeline, after all. "I hope you do not mind me being drawn to you during my ballad. It's hard not to be." I kiss her hand with all the skill of an adept of the Night Court and give her my winning smile.
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Jul 10, 2009 0:07:59 GMT -5
Not many people knew this about me, but I was a lover beautiful things. Not just a lovely woman, though I had known my share, nor the look of bruised skin and lash marks. No, I loved other beautiful things, like a painting done in soft oils, or a sculpture that captured movement, or tonight, the sound of a voice raised in song.
That was what brought me to the Laughing Parrot this night. I was in an odd mood, feeling a bit discontent with my lot after my lunch with Maric the other day. Our talk of travel had set me to thinking on what I wanted from my life, but it was more than that. I disliked feeling melancholy, and hadn't an assignation to take my frustration out on, so instead I was drowning myself in beauty, and already feeling a little better.
When the handsome singer turned his soulful eyes on me and began to sing a ballad, it was as if he were singing to me personally, and I felt a small flush creep up my neck. It was unlike me to do so, yet it felt so personal, the way he sang. I was so caught up, I felt the prickle of tears against my eyelids as the song ended. I couldn't remember the last time I'd actually cried about anything, but it was nice to be moved to feel something so deeply.
I applauded with the rest of the crowd as he stepped down, and then let my gaze linger over my empty glass, debating the merits of another drink. And suddenly he was there, with a glass for each of us, and honeyed words. I smiled and gestured at the chair opposite me.
"I don't mind at all, please have a seat."
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Jul 10, 2009 0:19:08 GMT -5
I gladly took the seat that she offered me and leaned my mandolin safely on my lap. I could see the tears staining the corner of her eyes and practically feel the melancholy that swept over her. I was empathetic in that way and could only feel a little bit heartbroken from her mood. I could only hope that my song was all that had caused it and nothing more. It was unfitting for a woman so beautiful to sit by herself.
"My name is Bellamy," I said in an informal introduction. "I am the Second of Eglantine House." It almost always followed my name for I could not help but have so much pride in my title and my house. I put my glass down and extended a hand over with the one that I had purchased her. "I have not seen you around here, or I surely would have remembered. Will you grace me with your name, young miss?" I asked, using very suave and tender words as I placed a stray hair behind her ear and gave her a faint smile.
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Jul 10, 2009 0:25:33 GMT -5
My but he was a charming one! I couldn't help but imagine him on his knees before me, bereft of anything but that mandolin he handled so tenderly. Alas, when he gave his name, I knew nothing would come of such fantasies. I hardly believed the second of Eglantine would be seen behind Mandrake's doors. Still, when he reached across the table, I could almost believe I was simply any other woman, and I found I liked the feeling.
"Avianna." I answered, leaving out my House for now. Not in any way wishing to trick him, but only to enjoy the attention he gave me. I generally garnered one of two possible reactions when my name was said, awe and curiousity, or fear. Neither of those was something I cared for at the moment; the undivided attention of a man was enough.
"You have a beautiful voice." I said, accepting the glass of wine he'd brought me and taking a sip. "I must confess, your ballad quite moved me."
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Jul 10, 2009 1:02:47 GMT -5
"Avianna."
I mulled the name over my lips and decided that I quite like the name it sounded, not to mention, how it sounded with mine. Bellamy and Avianna was quite suiting and complimenting of one another, wasn't it?
"Thank you. There is nothing that a singer likes to hear more than the fact that they were able to reach through the crowd and touch someone that they have never met." I leaned on my hand and stared at her face unblinkingly with my bright blue eyes meeting her contrastingly pale ones. "I composed the ballad myself, so I suppose it is even more flattering," I said, much more than flattered by her compliments.
"So, my dear, what is one such as yourself possibly doing sitting in a table on her lonesome? It is unfitting and I can only say that I am lucky that your table has stayed empty long enough for me to finish my ballad, no?" I said, leaning towards her from where I sat, directly across from her. "Do you frequent the Laughing Parrot often, my dear?"
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Jul 10, 2009 1:10:48 GMT -5
I liked the way my name sounded from Bellamy's lips, and again I had to push aside inappropriate visions. I wondered if this was an occupational hazard that all adepts suffered from, or just Mandrakes? Or just me? It was inconvenient sometimes, but my vivid imagination was always leaping ahead.
I listened to his words with a smile, and then shook my head, my soft blond hair shifting around my face. "No, actually, though I can see now that I should. I was of a mind to hear something lovely, and lo and behold there you were." I was being more flattering than usual, but I really was enjoying his attention. I didn't know if it was typical of an Eglantine, but he made me feel as if I were the only woman in the room, a feeling I found I quite enjoyed.
"What about you, do you play here a lot?"
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Jul 10, 2009 3:45:12 GMT -5
I brushed her compliments away as nothing. They did not embarrass me because I knew that they were said in nothing more than a flirtatious moment. It made me think of Aristide, whose compliments were different. They came from an employer, a man I had tried my best to impress and had almost floundered in my attempts. I was a harmless flirt, which included my acts with Avianna. With Aristide, I could not help but be a little weak in the knees, just knowing he felt the same. And here I was, talking to someone completely wonderful and my thoughts were drifting still to that drunk employer of mine.
"I am glad you found what you were looking for... I know I did." I winked at her to punctuate my point. "I play here every Friday and more times a week if I can manage to sneak away from Eglantine. The little adepts like to be tucked in, so I try not to stay away too late." I always spoke of them like they were children. Some of them were, most of them weren't but I couldn't care less.
The way I treated Avianna was what made some believe I belonged to Heliotrope House, however, my mandolin was always louder than any other personality quirks that I had. It was obvious what I loved more. While making people feel loved was on the top of my list and making them smile, I was not Orchis nor Heliotrope for my loyalties lay elsewhere. I used my free hand to cup her chin a little.
"Tell me young miss, where are you heading after this? Perhaps you will give this gentleman the honor of escorting you home?"
If only I knew what 'home' was to her.
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Jul 10, 2009 23:57:58 GMT -5
His smile was infectious and I foundd myself smiling more widely than was usual for me. Most of the time my smiles were predatory, but this was one was more genuine, less contrived.
"Every week, hmm? I see I shall have to come here more often." I couldn't help but laugh a bit as he spoke of tucking in the 'little adepts'. It was sweet, and while that trait would normally be something I would exploit, I still found that it resonated with me. Perhaps because we were both adepts? I had been known to tuck in an adept a time or two in my life, though one might not imagine me capable of it. Though I was quickly discovering that none of us were solely the sum of our experiences.
He reached across to cup my chin, and I admit the movement took me aback slightly. Not many would dare such a thing, but I reminded myself that he did not know who I was, and in a way it was quite refreshing. His next words caused my smile to falter, however. I knew once I told him where home was, his attitude toward me would likely change, but I was not given to lies.
However, that did not mean I had to be entirely forthcoming either. "Mont Nuit, actually." I said, letting a small smile play about my lips. "If you can guess my House, then you may escort me home." If you still want to...
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Jul 11, 2009 1:12:34 GMT -5
She was a sweet girl, and beautiful too and I could not help but be attracted to her for more than one reason, not to mention the fact that she seemed to return such flirtations quite readily. Though I was rather... naive to such matters, I may have not been a fool to think that perhaps, she thought the same of me. However, I knew to proceed with slight caution. I did not know anything of her and she did seem relatively young. She could have been married, for all I knew or a noblewoman who was entirely out of my league, however, my ears completely pricked up when she said that I would be escorting her to Mont Nuit. Instantly, my brain was thinking of all reasons she would be going there... to see someone else, no doubt, but when she said that I may guess her House, I knew that I had a shot with her.
A slim one, of course, that was always how it went with me and love, but a shot nonetheless. Quickly, my brain moved to formulate what House she could be of. She liked games and that was another reason why I adored her at the moment. Had she merely told me, it would have lost the fun, the suspense.
"Well, you're not Eglantine." It was strange for me to not recognize her and I wracked my brain. "And I'm ruling out Alyssum." She did not seem shy at the least. "Hm...Gentian and Dahlia." She did not seem to have the "superior" or "dreamy" air and I loved that too, my head was already giddy with ideas, with what would happen if I got it right and did walk her home. However, after that it got difficult. I did not think she fit Cereus' canon, though I could not be sure. She did not seem the gambling, rich type of Byrony though she could have been Balm, then again, she seemed to be in need of soothing herself. I liked to not think of her as Jasmine, that this was not only for pleasure's sake. I was down to Camellia and Heliotrope, for surely she had made me feel loved, but I sought to compliment her,even if I got it wrong and she did have truly faultless beauty.
"Am I escorting you to Camellia House?" I asked hopefully.
I didn't even think about Valerian or Mandrake. I never thought of anyone belonging to those houses for I never wanted to imagine someone whipping or getting whipped.
It would turn out to be a fault, not that I would ever guess her to be a Mandrake.
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Jul 11, 2009 11:09:42 GMT -5
I leaned forward and rested my chin on my hand, wondering if he would be able to guess. I wanted him to walk me home, but then again, I wasn't sure he'd want to once he guessed. Not that there was a prejudice, exactly, toward Mandrakes but people who weren't interested in our particular brand of service often had misconceptions and fears that weren't always correct. Or sometimes they were, and that was overwhelming enough for some people.
But Bellamy didn't seem the type to be scared off, or perhaps that was wishful thinking? There was something about a man that could make such beautiful music that was intensely attractive.
I laughed softly when he ruled out Alyssum; I was obviously no shrinking violet! I realized suddenly that I was holding my breath, and I forced myself to let it out and relax, he was just a man I'd met in a restaurant, nothing to be so tense about.
"Am I escorting you to Camellia House?"
I knew he wouldn't guess Mandrake, people were always surprised by it, and if I were being honest, I had long ago carefully cultivated the 'lovely and innocent' act - it was part of my charm, I had been told. Still, Camellia had been the House I was born into, and if I didn't have the proclivities that I did, I would still be there.
"Close," I said, with a small smile. How much to give him? "I was born into Camellia, but changed Houses early in my career." I gave him a wider grin, and added, "But no one said you had to guess on the first try."
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Jul 11, 2009 16:01:35 GMT -5
She told me that I had almost hit the mark, but still missed it, but I felt my blood bubble a little with heat and fire when she said that I did not have to guess it on the first try. I was not sure what attracted me to her, but I felt a surge of confidence now that I had gotten Camellia almost correct. If she was not Camellia, maybe she was the other half of my guess.
"Heliotrope, then, surely?" I asked, my smile wide and proud and sure on my face. However, I only received another no and frowned. Hm. There were others that were not so obvious.
"Orchis?"
After my third try however, I was starting to get a tad bit frustrated, I had to admit. Did I have to go through all thirteen houses before I found it?
"Jasmine?" Another no. "Balm? Cereus?"
And the problem was, the others really didn't seem to fit at all.
"You're not Alyssum." That was for certain. "Bryony? Dahlia?"
"Gentian." That was a shot in the dark though and I only got a coy little no from her at that one. I listed off the last few, that were horridly off and shook my head.
"You can't possibly be Eglantine, can you?" I wouldn't miss someone of my own kin like that, would I? I wasn't that bad of a Second? I let out a sigh of relief when she said no and I ended up counting on my fingers, mumbling off the names of the Houses out loud. Had I missed some of the Houses? Did I forget one off? I said each one, asking her again, just in case but only to get no's until I remembered what I had forgotten.
"...V-Valerian?"
I was hopeful she wasn't, to imagine her face writhing in pain and pleasure would be horrid but then another no and my heart sank, chilled.
"...Man....drake?"
Oh dear Naamah, she couldn't be!
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Jul 11, 2009 16:23:51 GMT -5
Even though I was a bit nervous about what his response to my House would be, I had to admit that watching his frustration as he tried to guess was extremely amusing.
When he finally guessed, I almost felt bad for him, his face had turned so pale of color. Ah, whatever came of this, I think that in itself made it worthwhile. I nodded at the last, letting my smile widen slightly.
"I thought you'd never guess." I said, taking a sip of my wine before continuing. "However, I won't hold you to the walk home, even though you did guess correctly in the end." I peered at him over the rim of my glass, wondering if he would take the easy way out I'd given him, or if he would still be interested in walking me home.
And what would it mean if he was? I was, in truth, intrigued by the idea of having an Adept who was not Valerian. What might that be like? I watched him with expectant eyes, waiting for his response, whatever it might be.
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Jul 11, 2009 16:39:35 GMT -5
"Oh. Hah," I laughed nervously and it was more than obvious that I was anxious about this entire situation. When I wasn't, I had a very suave ease about me and now, I looked like I was ready to bolt at any minute. She was Mandrake House, but also a nice young woman and I did not see why the House's canon should blow me off... erm... right?
"I guess I hit the bull's eye, didn't I?" I said it as if I had gotten it on the first try and not the thirteenth by matter of elimination and stood. "Nonsense. A young woman as beautiful as yourself should not walk to her House by herself. Let me escort you." I did this using the best of my manners. Oh, I liked her, I really did, however, where our relationship would be able to go from here I could not say. Probably nowhere. I had the pain limit of a newborn babe.
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Jul 11, 2009 16:53:58 GMT -5
I felt a little thrill when he said he still wished to walk me home. Perhaps this Eglantine was the adventurous sort? Well, he'd promised nothing but a walk, but I could hope to use the time to interest him in something more. Now that this had become something of a game, I felt a bit more in my element.
"That is very sweet of you, Bellamy." I said, turning my baby-blue eyes on him and smiling as sweetly as possible. If he saw me as no threat, well, perhaps he might want to see more of me? "It is getting a bit late for a woman to be walking through the City alone."
In fact, I had never worried overmuch about doing anything alone, I could take care of myself better than most, but I sensed that Bellamy might not respond as well if I told him that it was more likely that I would hurt someone on the way home than vice versa.
I drained the rest of my wine and gave him a winning smile. "Are you ready, or would you like to finish your wine first?"
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Jul 11, 2009 22:15:32 GMT -5
She thought I was sweet.
It was a simple thing, really, and she could have been saying it just to boost my ego, but it certainly did. I downed the rest of my wine, loving the warm feeling that gushed over me that could not have been only due to the drink and stood. I put my mandolin in my left hand and offered her my right with a sweeping bow, first, just to amuse her and then I flashed her a grin. She had that beautiful smile. It was hard to believe that she could smile as she whipped someone and I really shuddered at that moment, trying not to think about it.
When she took my arm I led her out of the Laughing Parrot and under the stars, into the ever bustle of the City of Elua. Feeling a tad bit adventurous, I removed my arm from hers and wrapped it around her waist as I wound the familiar road to Mont Nuit. "Beautiful night tonight, isn't it Avianna?" I said, my voice curling around her name. I wonder what she thought of me, an Eglantine. I wasn't a Valerian or a House that generally got along with the Mandrake. Did she think lesser of me?
"Tell me about yourself... what do you do when you are not in the service of Naamah?" I was genuinely interested, for I was not one to ask things just for flattery and I offered her a gentle smile. "I'm sure you can already guess what I do in my spare time." I was Eglantine, after all.
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Jul 11, 2009 22:40:32 GMT -5
I rose and took Bellamy's arm, smiling as he bowed with aplomb. He seemed to shudder slightly when we touched, and I wondered what thoughts were tumbling behind those gorgeous eyes of his. Was it anticipation, desire, or was I getting ahead of myself? I tried not to get my hopes up, but Naamah did I want to see him on his knees!
We left the restaurant and I was surprised anew when Bellamy slid his arm around my waist. Pleasantly surprised, at that. I smiled and leaned into him as we walked, enjoying the closeness of him. "It is a beautiful night, yes." I said, looking up at the cloudless sky. "My favorite kind of night is the kind where you can count all the stars in the sky."
His next words were harder to answer than they should have been, and it was that that had brought me out of Mandrake in the first place. "Well," I said, stalling a bit ... how honest should I be? What would he think if I told him that I took more assignations than most, because I hadn't much to do in my spare time? In fact, until recently, I hadn't even one person I considered a friend. Maric had changed that, and brought about this unnerving bout of introspection.
"Not anything different than most women, I daresay. Shopping, catching a play or two, having dinner out..." I decided then to tease him a bit, and added with a grin, "Clean my flechettes, that sort of thing."
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Jul 12, 2009 16:39:21 GMT -5
Shopping was normal. Catching a play or two was normal. Having dinner was normal.
Erm.
And the last one wasn't.
'Oh. Hah." Another nervous laugh that did not make sense because what was funny about Avianna doing her job? It was like somebody laughing at me when I told them I was cleaning my mandolin. It didn't make sense at all but I was nervous out of my mind and couldn't do anything about it, honestly, who wouldn't be? Well, I guess a Valerian or another Mandrake would be comfortable about it but this was different! "I uhm... I clean my mandolin too, that's uhm... that's really great."
I tried to make some other comment about her flechettes, like asking her if she had more than one or what kind she had but I realized that I really didn't CARE and I didn't want to KNOW and it would be rude to ask if I wasn't listening so I wrung my hands, trying to fill in the awkward silence.
"Hey Avianna, you want to hear a song?"
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Jul 12, 2009 17:35:26 GMT -5
I actually felt a little bad for him. Just a little. His nervousness at my last line was palpable, and I couldn't help but chuckle as he mentioned cleaning his mandolin. Nothing frightening about that!
"Do you?" I said, feigning interest. "What do you use to clean it? For myself, I have to be careful to keep the flechettes clean and dry, because it's hard to get the blood off, and then of course, there's rust, you don't want that."
It was a conversation I might have had with one of my House, or even maybe a Valerian, had I ever actually conversed with one, but having it with Bellamy was so much more entertaining.
I laughed lightly when he asked if I'd like to hear a song, and decided to let him off the hook. "I would love to hear a song, Bellamy." It was true, his voice was beautiful, and I thought I should very much like to be serenaded again this night.
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Jul 15, 2009 1:43:34 GMT -5
"I uhm... I use a clean rag, I guess? I have to change the strings from time to time and tune it. It's more... maintaining than cleaning, really." I explained, though I found myself unable to elaborate for two reasons. One, I was pretty sure that she did not really care at all for the maintaining of a nearly thirty year old mandolin and second, I was horrendously distracted by how she described cleaning her flechettes. "Oh, no, we can't have rust," I said, though the excitement in my voice was easy to spot out as false.
Then, she said she would love to hear a song and my mind totally went blank. I was worrying so much over trying to keep a conversation, walk and not run away. All of this piled together was a little bit overwhelming, I had to admit that when she actually AGREED to what I had said, it took me a couple of moments of fidgeting with my mandolin, blundering over it like a man who had never touched a musical instrument in his life, before I was able to get my hand in the right position, it was trembling so after holding her hip. Then, I had to think of a song and unfortunately, as it always did in nervous situations, I could only think of songs that made me laugh.
And I sang it. Horrid as it was, it was the one that Aristide had inspired me to write and it was the story of a love triangle with a noble woman, her lover, her husband and the stable donkey. Well, more like a love square then. It wrapped up with the everyone being in love with the donkey and well, even for me, it was an awkward song.
"I uhm... erm.... I was commissioned to make it. Sort of." I rubbed the back of my neck. "I can't think of a proper ballad I uhm... Look, Mandrake House!" I don't think I was ever so relieved to see Mont Nuit and let out a sigh of relief. I had to admit though, when she was not talking about cleaning her flechettes and other instruments of torture, she was easy to get along with.
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Jul 15, 2009 23:26:52 GMT -5
I tried not to laugh aloud as poor Bellamy stammered through an explanation of cleaning his mandolin. The poor thing, it was obvious he was not the type to seek a Mandrake's attention, which I did find disappointing. Still, one could not fault someone for their nature, and did it mean that we could not still spend time together? It wasn't something that I generally did, not having friends to speak of, but there was something about Bellamy that I liked, and I did not wish to lose his company.
I laughed with delight as he sang a very amusing song involving a donkey, the ribald nature of the song suiting me perfectly. "I love it!" I exclaimed when he had finished, clapping my hands together lightly. "It's genius, really."
And just like that, Mont Nuit was before us, and I was genuinely disappointed. However, I had a bit of an idea, though I wasn't sure if Bellamy would take the bait.
"I've never been to Eglantine House before." I said, looking at him and smiling my sweetest, most innocent smile. "I've always wondered what it was like."
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Jul 15, 2009 23:36:39 GMT -5
"I'm glad you like it," I said, genuinely surprised. Most people thought my songs nonsense and I thought that if anyone, a Mandrake would think so, but she liked it and I could tell that she wasn't faking it. Right? She wasn't faking it...? I could only grin, to realize that we were one accord, at least in this matter.
When she said she had never visited Eglantine House, my smile was ear to ear. "You never have been? It's absolutely amazing... I... well, you have to see it for yourself. Music is playing everywhere you go, tumblers and acrobats, clothiers working on their latest costumes... ah..." My heart sighed, content and I grabbed her hand and practically started dragging her the way to my house with excitement. Being the Second, I had much more to be ecstatic about and when we reached there, I opened the door for her.
"Prepare to be amazed, Avianna."
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Sept 18, 2009 20:28:10 GMT -5
I smiled in delight, and decided that if this night was any indication, I really did need to get out more often. It was with a flutter of nervous excitement - a novel sensation in itself - that I stepped through the door into Eglantine House.
The first thing I noticed was that there was a lot more activity here than at Mandrake House. For the most part, we were a sedate lot, keeping our emotions in check and always maintaining something of a regal air (at least I thought so, anyway), but the Eglantine Adepts seemed much more expressive. There was music playing, just as Bellamy had said there would be, and the hum of laughter filled the air.
I took a few steps into the door, then stopped and turned to Bellamy, well aware that I was as wide-eyed as a child in a sweet shoppe. "Is it always so..." I groped for the right word, finally settling on, "lively?"
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Sept 19, 2009 0:05:31 GMT -5
"Of course," I said with a grin and led her in, holding her hand. One of the younger children was soon clinging to my leg and I could do nothing more than grin broadly at her in delight. Mandrake or not, I was sure that she would enjoy her stay here, even if she had never stepped within Eglantine's walls. I began to walk, dragging the little girl on my leg along as I began to tour and introduce her. Many were eager to show off what they had been practicing to me, as well as her.
"This is Avianna. She's a friend," I explained and since many of the adepts were still up and about, she got practically a mini show. There were tumbles, one right between my legs and one even gave her a short, ten second serenade. I picked up two more of the children along the way, who dangled on my arms like small monkeys.
"You have to love it, right?" I said with a grin, giving the children a shake before nudging them gently. "Off to bed with you, rascals."
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Sept 20, 2009 18:17:51 GMT -5
I watched with some amusement as small children seemed to attach themselves to Bellamy as he walked, and again I was struck by the abandon of the Eglantines. Children at Mandrake were quiet affairs, even at play. I had barely a chance to notice them, however, before a group of tumblers put on an impromptu show that had me laughing more heartily than I had in ages. I was even sung to, for the second time that night, it seemed.
As Bellamy addressed me again, shooing away the children, who scampered off, though I would be willing to bet that bed was not their destination. I grinned back at him, reflecting that I hadn't smiled this much since my own childhood, and even then, I wasn't given to easy laughter.
"I can definitely see why you love it." I admitted, imagining that it would be hard to be melancholy in this place. "You must have the happiest patrons on Mont Nuit." I said, shaking my head in amazement. "At Mandrake, they usually leave in tears." I said it with a straight face, though I admit a devilish desire to make him squirm again.
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Sept 21, 2009 12:23:04 GMT -5
"Happiest and don't forget most entertained," I said with a wink, quite proud of what we had here but I stiffened a little when she mentioned Mandrake House. They were just a house in the Night Court, like any other so I was not sure why her mention of it bothered me so much but it certainly brought a shudder up my spine and I was not entirely sure how to respond. "Oh... yes... but they do enjoy that, otherwise they uhm... wouldn't go there... you must be... good... at what you do," I said, swallowing hard a little. It was impossible for me to understand how anyone could enjoy pain and actually pay for it, then again, I had the pain tolerance of a new born babe.
"So," I said quickly, attempting to change the subject. "Why don't we head into my room?" I offered and led the way to my room. It was larger than most, but then again, I was the second. Sheets of music and the script from Aristide's play was scattered everywhere, not to mention my guitar was half sticking out from under the bed. "Oi..." I always forgot what a mess I could be and began to straighten up the papers so she at least had somewhere to sit. "So... well... how are things at... Mandrake house?"
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Sept 21, 2009 23:53:51 GMT -5
I stifled a laugh as Bellamy stammered over his words, and then changed the subject. "That sounds lovely." I said, keeping a straight face as he led the way. We reached his room in only a few minutes, and upon entering I thought for a moment that he had been robbed, but as he began to shuffle papers around, I realized that this was the natural state of his room. For someone such as I, who could not stomach even a hair out of place in my own room, this was unfathomable, and I had to fight back the urge to straighten up.
I took a seat gingerly on the edge of his bed, trying not to sit on anything important. His question caused another smile, as I was certain he did not really want to know. "Oh, the usual." I said, shrugging. "Another day, another gold coin, you know how it is."
I planted my arms in two bare patches behind me and then leaned back, crossing my feet at the ankles. "I think I might get a taste of the lash if my Dowayne saw my room in such a state." I said, shaking my head and smiling. "But I suppose as the second, you are allowed some latitude?"
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Sept 22, 2009 1:51:51 GMT -5
Maybe this wasn't the smartest idea. Now I remembered why I never let anyone into my house and always walked them home, not the other way around. Blessed Elua, I hoped this didn't give her a horrible opinion of me. I rubbed my neck in frustration as I began to stack my papers in a way that I hoped I would remember where they were (if only Avianna could see me when I was looking for that ONE paper that I needed in all the mounds of sheet music and scripts).
"Well... it's not..." I was so ashamed and embarrassed. My room actually didn't look half bad compared to other days. "Well... see, I'm in a play right now, so this, is my script. I wanted to cross compare how my character changes over time so I had to lay the sheets out so I wouldn't forget what belonged where and I could read each of my signs back to back," I was shuffling nervously, I know, mindlessly pretending to tidy up when in fact I wasn't really doing anything more than moving papers back and forth. I didn't have room to put them anywhere without messing it up but at least I was trying. "And I'm writing a song for the play, a love ballad... so..." I was a bright red, I could feel the heat in my cheeks.
"I'm not a very tidy person, no, not when it comes to music... I just... I want to do so many things at once and every last piece of paper helps for the inspiration process and uhm... yes, nobody checks my room for tidiness. I used to always get slaps on the wrists when I was an adept." I shuffled, looking at my feet than back at her and I was finally able to clear the bed (though my floor was now occupied). "So, Avianna, my dear, do you have any... uhm... aspirations for after you make your marque?"
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Sept 22, 2009 21:29:42 GMT -5
I felt a bit bad for him, as I'd obviously touched a nerve. I shook my head with a smile. "It is of no matter." I said, letting him off the hook. I was tempted to make a joke about giving him the lash for not keeping it tidy, but I didn't want to be ushered out of Eglantine House just yet.
Bellamy did an excellent job of changing the subject, and the question he posed was an interesting one. "Hmm..." I said, chewing my lower lip. "Not particularly. I am in no hurry, and do not relish visiting the marquist in any case." I could handle pain, but it was certainly not among my favored pastimes. "I've considered opening a salon of my own, or recently I've thought about travelling." My conversation with Maric came to mind, and the odd wanderlust it seemed to have awakened in me.
"And you?" I asked, not wishing to descend into melancholy at the thought of my somewhat sheltered and dull existence.
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Post by Bellamy nó Eglantine on Sept 23, 2009 12:31:53 GMT -5
"I see," I could not help but smile at her comment for the idea of a Mandrake not being able to take was a bit amusing to me, though I supposed I shouldn't have been the one talking when I had teared and bit my fist to the point of bleeding at the completion of my marque. That had not been the best moment of my life. I shook my head a little, thinking on this. "Well, I suppose even Mandrakes must feel pain in order to meet completion," I said with a light smirk paying on my lips. "Traveling? Where to?" I had to admit that I wanted to travel as well, perchance, in finding the estate under my mother's name. I did not know it, though the retired Dowayne did, and I supposed it was best I put curiosity for my past ahead of me before the Dowayne passed.
"I aspire to be a great song writer," I said, patting on a pile that I had left on the bed. "Or an actor... or... I don't know, I just love the arts." I grinned a little at the mention of it, trying to cheer her up as I could hear the slight twinge of despair in her voice. "Maybe one day the Queen's poet, but eh, I tend to aspire a bit too much sometimes," I winked at her and gently caressed her cheek before standing so that I could put my mandolin away in its case. "Traveling, my dear, sounds like a very good idea. There are many places I want to go, to learn... though my duties lie here at the moment and secondly myself."
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Post by Avianna nó Mandrake on Sept 24, 2009 15:55:30 GMT -5
I shrugged my shoulders, well, as much as I could given the way I was sitting. "Lots of places. I mean, nowhere in particular, but I am interested in simply seeing something more of the world than Terre d'Ange. And actually, even more of Terre d'Ange - I've never been out of the City."
I smiled when Bellamy told me of his desires, and I thought that the arts suited him well. "I could imagine you being great at any of those things." I said, and I really did mean it. "And I don't think you can aspire too much," I added, laughing softly. "After all, the Queen's poet now must have at some point aspired to the post."
When he touched my cheek and moved away, I felt a bit of a twinge ... I liked having him near. The sensation was such a novel one that I savored it for several heartbeats before remarking upon what he had said about his duties. "If the children here are any indication, you are performing your duties to your House quite admirably."
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