|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Aug 7, 2009 12:21:15 GMT -5
I swallowed another mouthful of drink, I had forgotten what I had ordered, but it all tasted the same after a while. They were probably going to expel me soon, and then I would have to find another place to sate my rage with strong drink.
My brother, damn them all, they would not let me in to see him, his own brother! My grip tightened on the glass, I felt like throwing it, watching it smash into a million pieces on the floor of the tavern. I had spent the morning arguing with the guards at the Palace, returned to Mandrake House in the afternoon, and was subsequently expelled for the evening. Ignace had made it clear that I was not to throw the fine cushions around in the common room or he would confine me.
Oh, it was childish, but we both knew that an angry Mandrake adept was a danger to a patron. So I had opted to leave for the evening, and now here I was, still in a rage and almost out of coin...
"Well, merde!" I swore, slamming the glass down on the counter. Damn them, damn them all to Hell!
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Aug 14, 2009 23:14:50 GMT -5
I sat in the back, as usual, bored. Normally I could find someone to entertain myself with, but alas tonight I had not. I sighed and stood up, walking up to the bar. Maybe something a little different than my usual would help.
I stood next to a redhead who was a bit taller than me. I took a moment to openly look him over. I thought he might look familar, but I could not place him. Purhapse the rum was getting to me.
None the less, I ordered some vodka with a splash of juice. I sipped it as I studied the man next to me. He seemed to be in a foul mood. That could make things difficult if I decided he was interesting enough to bed.
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Aug 15, 2009 22:10:28 GMT -5
I felt someone staring at me and turned to glare at whoever it was who could not seem to mind their own business. Pale skin, fine hair, pale eyes. I would have found him very appealing, were I not in such a foul mood that I could not tell friend from foe.
"Is there a problem?" I queried, my tone suggesting that it would be best if there was not. I had enough problems already for one night. "It is generally considered impolite to stare," I continued. "Have you never seen a man enjoy his drink before? I am sure there are plenty of other patrons you could gawk at." I scowled, hunching over my drink. Maybe he would follow my suggestion and leave me alone...
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Aug 19, 2009 18:14:48 GMT -5
I looked coldy at him for a moment after his short rant. I had not been completely disrespectful in my act of checking him out. I was not impressed by his attitude. If he had simply asked to be left alone I would have been happy enough to oblige. Instead, however, he spoke down to me, as if I was some low life who had nothing better to do than to gawk at strangers.
I finished my drink and sat the glass down. I made a motion for a refill without look toward my cup or the bar tender. Instead I kept my gaze on the redhead without saying anything. When my drink had been filled I took a sip and said, "you must think that you have royal blood in you to talk to me in that manner." I made a point of looking at him as if I was studying him before adding, "I suspect that you infact do not."
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Aug 20, 2009 12:01:29 GMT -5
Oh, do not speak to me of blood right now!" I snapped, taking another drink. "Royal blood indeed! My damnable brother would probably make a mess of that, too!" I set the glass down and glared at him. "You cannot know what it's like having a damned Cassiline for a brother, probably doesn't even know where to put his phallus half the time..." I think that, were I not so inebriated, I would have been shocked by my words. But at that time, anger and cheap drink had replaced fraternal affection.
I met his gaze. "So you see, if you are seeking an assignation, I am afraid that I am a little occupied. Besides..." I looked him up and down, but at that point my vision was beginning to haze. "I doubt you would have the coin for it..."
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Sept 2, 2009 11:51:26 GMT -5
So he was all pissy about his silly brother. I almost laughed. If he wanted to know what real family problems were I could tell him a tale or two. My tales where much more serious than a cassaline who didnt know what to do with his own phallus. Apparently a lack of self control ran in the family.
If he would have left it at his personal family rant I would have just shrugged him off. However, his prejudgment sparked a new anger in me. He didn't know that I came from a rather rich bloodline.. at least on one side of the family tree. The other side just knew how to get things done. Something I had been lacking lately and that was quickly making my frustration reach its maximum.
My already cold glare turned into ice and I spoke in a low voice, one that warned him he should hold his ground and maybe even appologize. "You know nothing of me and I don't take kindly to ammature assumptions by adepts." I said adepts as if they were snakes in the grass. Granted I was one too, but I had learned long ago that there were two classes of adepts and he belonged in the lower class.
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Sept 4, 2009 21:52:33 GMT -5
I scowled, excessive consumption of alcohol was not kind to my family's line, it only made our hot blood run hotter. "Mayhap I would not make such assumptions would you have been decent enough to quit gawking like enough of my patrons do!"
I took a long drink, my hand unsteady as I set the glass down. "I could care less what you take kindly to, sirrah. Now, if you are finished, in Naamah's name, I should like to finish my drink..." I did not think that the goddess would be pleased to be invoked over a glass of whatever swill I'd ordered, but I was close to entering a pleasant stupor, and probably would not have noticed if the gods themselves had entered the inn at that moment.
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Sept 8, 2009 23:32:28 GMT -5
I wondered what he had been drinking. He made it sound as if I had stood there and stared at him for half an hour. He simply had been standing there as I went to get my drink.
I was offered another drink and I took it. I drank it down without saying anything, the adept ranting.
I shrugged, then, taking another sip of mine and taking my time. I decided to turn the tables on him a little. I had no doubts that he was more drunk than I was. I could still show him that I was the better man without a stupid argument. One he would not listen too anyways.
"Fine," I said, "finish your drink. I bet that it will be your last." I sat in one of the stools by the bar, having stood the whole time. I stretched comfortably and took another sip of mine . I then added, "I will continue to enjoy my drinks while you are on your face, passed out."
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Sept 12, 2009 22:18:08 GMT -5
"Better on my face than on my back!" I retorted, turning the full force of my gaze on him. Gods, what an insufferable man! Insufferable and somehow familiar...I felt as if I should know him. He certainly seemed to carry himself with the grace of an adept, but from which House? He was certainly too pale for Jasmine, that much was certain. I started going through all of the Houses in my head. Orchis? Ha, the man probably wouldn't know what wit was if it bit him in the ass! He didn't seem like the submissive type, so Valerian was out, nor terribly modest, which ruled out Alyssum...
I paused in the middle of my tally, something having occurred to me at that moment. Such pale beauty, the grace of an adept, and that air of dominance that only one House could truly instill in its adepts...
Either he was a peer, an unusual member of another House...
...or he was a fellow Mandrake adept.
Well, merde...
I wondered if it showed on my face. I took a sip of my drink, swallowing before addressing him. "I am glad, at least, that Ignace did not send you to fetch me," I put a hand to my forehead to shield my eyes from the light that seemed to be intent on invading them. "I daresay I would have died under your guidance, and I do not plan on passing on for a while yet."
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Sept 18, 2009 19:00:50 GMT -5
I waited and drank as something seemed to run through the boy's mind. He apparently failed to notice I had challenged him to a game of drinking. No matter, he was probably not worth the effort or the headache on the morrow. Besides, who cares if you pass out on your face or your back? He must have the intelligence of a louse.
He spoke then, I re-looked at him again when he mentioned Ignance, what was he talking about? I then remembered he that he said he was an adept, Mandrake? I blinked once, maybe I had drank more than I previously thought. No matter, I was always in control.
"Fetch you?" I asked, "If Ignance told me to fetch you I would purposely get lost before I even had the chance to guide you!" I thought back to the adepts, which I largely choose to ignore. I had stopped seeing them as competition long ago, having had enough time at Mandrake to be known to those who mattered. He was vaguely familiar, maybe I had seen him around.
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Sept 28, 2009 16:33:21 GMT -5
I laughed bitterly. "I do not know whether I would call you wise or foolish to make yourself scarce if the Dowayne mistook you for an errand boy..." I didn't know whether that comment was meant as an insult, and frankly, I was too drunk to care at that point.
Strange, how quickly one can go from anger to serenity when they have had too much to drink. A few moments ago, I would have enjoyed pulling out locks of that beautiful pale hair, now all I wanted to do was return to Mandrake House and sleep.
I stood up and made to make my way to the entrance, but my feet would not obey me, and I ended up swaying to and fro like a newborn colt before falling into the man that I had just finished speaking to. Damn it all to Hell, why couldn't we dilute our wine like they did in Hellas?
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Oct 13, 2009 23:53:04 GMT -5
I was trying to figure out exactly what the boy had said, though I was pretty sure it was meant to be an insult, when he stood up and then fell on top of me. I put out my hands in a automatic reaction and in the process dropped my drink. I didn't pay it much mind though as I back peddled a little to keep my own balance so that I would not crash to the ground myself.
I don't know how I managed it, my feet not being as steady as the should be, but somehow I didn't fall on my arse. I realized vaguely that we were no longer right by the bar, my maneuvering taking up more floor space than I intended. However, it was not a concern of mine at the moment.
When my feet were steady enough I pushed him away from me with enough force to throw my balance off. 'To much force,' I thought numbly as I started to stumble again slightly. However I kept my balance and shot him another cold look, ignoring the warmth on my hands from touching another man's body. "I am not scarce and watch where you are tumbling."
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Nov 2, 2009 0:27:52 GMT -5
He pushed me back and for a moment it seemed as if I would fall on my arse in the middle of a crowded tavern when my hands found the back of another patron's chair. "Excuse me," I muttered as I leaned against it, seeking to right myself. The man's expression was puzzling: cold, certainly. I wondered if he was the type of man who was incapable of making any other expression. I pushed away from the chair and came towards him, attempting to reclaim my seat. "Must you keep scowling so?" I queried. "It does little to endear you to anyone, I expect."
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Nov 4, 2009 13:59:32 GMT -5
I watched as he stumbled about like a fool. There was a drink near by and I was pretty sure that it was mine so I sipped on it while he tried to regain himself. It was quite amusing and I would have found him attractive if he wasn't such an idiot.
"Scouling?" I asked. I then smiled, but one that showed my amusement with his actions. I let the smile die down and held a placid face, as if I had grown bored with him. "I don't really care if you find me endearing or not."
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Nov 17, 2009 10:45:52 GMT -5
"Hmph," was all I said as I reclaimed my seat, giving the man who was about to sit there a glare that could have melted ice in Skaldia. "Spoken like a true child of Mandrake House," I nodded to myself. "Cold as ice with nary an emotion to spare. I was like that too, once, until they told me that they had scowling to spare and that I was permitted to smile every once in a while." What they say is true, drink loosens the tongue, otherwise I did not think I would have bothered talking to this man for so long, even if he was a fellow adept.
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Nov 19, 2009 0:56:55 GMT -5
I simply finished the drink as I watched him. He was obviously a few years younger than me. I was trying to decide if he was trying to act like he knew more than me or not as an adept. I ordered another drink, and though the bar tender paused I gave him a look that helped him break his hesitation. It was, however, one of impatience, I was not drunk enough yet for him to be refusing me drinks. It's not like we had taken each other out in the bar.
Looking at the boy who some how ended up next to me again, I said. "you better not get me kicked out of here. I'll take you with me and drag you all the way back to Mandrake myself. Maybe the Dowayne will have something to say." In truth he probably wouldn't take sides, but I was feeling a bit confident. I had not started this, I don't think.
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Nov 25, 2009 19:00:17 GMT -5
It was my turn to scowl. "Perish the thought," I said crisply as the last drop of drink in my glass alighted on my tongue. "If you were kicked out, my lord, it would be due to your own buffoonery and no fault of mine." I looked him up and down as if I was appraising an antique chair of considerable value. "You do not look like a buffoon to me, an arrogant ass, perhaps, but no buffoon."
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Nov 29, 2009 18:32:53 GMT -5
I simply looked at him for a moment after his statement. I was not sure if that was a compliment or some kind of strange insult. I took another drink, but that did not really clear up any of the confusion.
I decided that being arrogant was a little better than an idiot, which is what I assumed he meant by buffoon. "One can be arrogant when they know that they are not an idiot. It's an earned trait." I stated it simply as if it was a known fact, though I suppose that some would disagree, though probably less so with those who reside at Mandrake.
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Nov 30, 2009 17:14:21 GMT -5
I was willing to concede his point, after all, I was the very picture of arrogance during assignations.
On the other hand, I was also quite drunk.
"Indeed," I replied. "But arrogance in excess only makes a fool out of a sensible person. Thank the gods for Mandrake House, a place where the arrogant are humbled." I raised my empty glass as if making a toast, and grinned. "Without us, the whole damn city would fall apart!"
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Nov 30, 2009 18:55:45 GMT -5
The tide seemed to turn a little and now he was toasting Mandrake. I had grown a little weary of being trapped at the House, but I could still show the home my respect. They did, after all, probably save my life. If I had been left to live with my mother I would probably have been dead by now.
Since I had not yet emptied my glass, I poured a very small amount into his. It almost seemed disrespectful to toast a empty glass, though I was not sure if there was any rule to state as much.
"To Mandrake," I said, tapping his glass with mine. then with a smile I said "Making sure that only those who deserve to be arrogant are the arrogant ones."
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Nov 30, 2009 19:44:42 GMT -5
I was a bit surprised when he filled my glass with a bit of drink as it seemed like such an intimate action, but I managed to chuckle at his toast. "Indeed, may it always be so," I replied, draining the contents of my glass.
Well, now, this was more than a little awkward. I couldn't exactly go back to slinging insults at the man I'd just shared a toast with. It probably broke some unwritten rule of toasting, or at least, that was what I managed to convince myself.
So, instead, I offered him my hand.
"Landis d'Ames no Mandrake," I said, marveling at how well I was able to pronounce my own name while drunk. "You make interesting company, Messire."
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Nov 30, 2009 20:59:15 GMT -5
I was surprised when he offered to shake my hand. Though I guess it wasn't that strange since we had just made a toast. I did not often converse with Mandrakes. I had a mutual respect with a select few but as a rule I generally avoided and disliked the other adepts.
After a slight pause I decided to return his hand shake and introduce myself. "Idaeus no' Mandrake." I said. I had not missed that he kept his original surname. I guess he still maintained his family connections. I put aside the hatred that threatened to boil once again for my own and instead just sat there a little lost, finishing my drink for lack of a better action.
"Interesting," I said, I then nodded in agreement. "Yes, we are a interesting set of bar patrons aren't we? '
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Nov 30, 2009 22:47:24 GMT -5
"Indeed," I agreed. "I expect no one wishes to throw us out lest we have whips and flechettes on our persons, but they should know that carrying such things are a burden to carry." I grinned impishly at him.
"I have always wondered something," I continued, following the whims of the thoughts in my head. "Suppose that two Mandrakes end up taking a liking to one another, do you suppose they spend the assignation sitting on opposite ends of the room arguing over which of them gets the top position first?" It was just the sort of question I would ask if I was drunk, and who better to answer it than another Mandrake adept who appeared to be older than I?
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Nov 30, 2009 23:37:31 GMT -5
When Landis grinned I laughed, for once not holding back my laughter. It almost sounded strange to me. I started to wonder how many drinks I had. Still, the thought of walking around outside of the house with a whip.
I stopped laughing, however, and thought when Landis asked his question. I had never been anywhere near another Mandrake when it came to that sort of activity. I had been with a Shahriazi, but there was always a submissive person, and unlike Mandrakes, Sahrizai's sometimes enjoy pain.
"I can say I have never wondered that," I said, though it didn't answer his question. It just seemed important to say. "Though," I added, "I suppose that if they wanted to have some fun they could stand in the middle of the room, near each other, and just wrestle it out."
I wasn't sure if that made sense. I saw another drink appear before me and I didn't care. It was a good thing that I didn't come with a small pocket of coin, but a large one. Otherwise I would be paying someone for these drinks in other ways.
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Nov 30, 2009 23:48:02 GMT -5
Now that was an intriguing premise--and it conjured up an amusing image in my mind.
"Well, if it came to that, I am certain I would lose unless we were both covered in massage oil," I said, tapping my arm with one finger. "I am afraid I am mostly skin and bones with only enough muscle to wield a whip..."
"I think I would much prefer a duel of tongues," I concluded, unable to suppress the chuckle that emerged from my lips.
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Dec 1, 2009 0:02:41 GMT -5
Being one who always imaged my actions in my mind before they happened, it was easy for me to imagine me and Landis, covered in oil, wrestling. While it was not exactly an activity I would normally partake in, or had ever partaken in, it seemed almost like a challenge. Getting Landis beneath me would be very arousing, the simple thought of it was. Though, thankfully, I had not drank so much that I would show that.
"A duel of tongues,"I said out loud. Part of my mind wondered why I kept on repeating him before commenting, but I couldn't let that distract me right now. Not if I was going to somehow trick this Mandrake into sliding underneath me.
"I don't know who would win in that. But," I said, "I do agree that I would win you in a wrestling event, oil or not."
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Dec 1, 2009 0:16:04 GMT -5
"Hmph, I would not lose to you easily," I replied. "I am Camael's scion as well as Kushiel's, and I would prefer not to disgrace that part of my heritage."
I leaned in closer. "A duel of tongues, yes. I am quite fond of kisses." I felt a slight rush of heat as I said those words, and I automatically glanced around to see if we were being observed. Fortunately, everyone else seemed to be drowning in their drinks.
|
|
Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
|
Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Dec 7, 2009 22:12:00 GMT -5
Dressed in my favorite black leather breeches and silk shirt of the blue to match my eyes, I wandered into the Patron. I was feeling edgy and too close to kept tonight and hoped to find something or more precisely someone to sate my desires. If I didn’t find anyone interesting here, I’d wander down to the seedier part of Night’s Doorstep, I knew I’d find adventure there.
Making my way through the crowd, I settled at the bar and ordered a brandy as I gazed around the room.
|
|
|
Post by Idaeus nó Mandrake on Dec 7, 2009 22:23:10 GMT -5
I smiled at Landis, daring him to move in for a kiss, holding that smile until he got done looking around. When his attention was on me again I said, "A kiss can reveal much."
|
|
|
Post by Landis d'Ames nó Mandrake on Dec 7, 2009 22:34:40 GMT -5
"Oh, indeed," I replied, returning his smile as I leaned closer. The barest flicker of movement caught my eye and I turned my head slightly to watch the man who had just taken a seat at the bar. I held up a finger, indicating that a kiss could wait, as my eyes trailed the man and the sound of my blood rushing through my veins roared in my ears.
|
|