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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 10, 2007 5:10:23 GMT -5
I had been at odd sorts recently and of late and had taken to wandering the gardens late at night in hopes of finding the answer to what was bothering me amidst the shady twists and turns of the flower beds.
I had sort of made a habit of it and by now I had come to find myself sitting on an old and very worn stone bench under a huge climbing red rose trellis each time and never really wondered why. I sighed, crossing one leg over the other and planting my chin in my hand while resting my elbow on my knee.
The moon wasn't very big tonight and I kinda missed it's bright light but at the same time it's silvery sliver looked perfectly like a curved dagger against the night sky and it seemed fitting to my mood.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 10, 2007 5:20:53 GMT -5
I was begining to think that it was going to be impossible to sleep in this heat as I disgustedly tossed my blankets off the bed and went searching for my breeches I had cast off only hours before. I dressed quickly and found a pair of sandals on my way out of my room and headed outside; at least there was a little breeze outside that stirred the hot air around.
For no uncertain reason I wandered the perimeter of Mandrake House comming to the gardens in a round about way and realizing the air amidst the hedges and flowering plants was considerably cooler than near the sunbaked walls of the building behind me and I settled in to enjoy the night. Strolling aimlessly and staring at the stars as I made my way through the garden paths.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 10, 2007 5:26:43 GMT -5
Still not having any luck with fishing answers from the stars I was about to give up and wander back to my room to brood some more when I saw a very familiar person wandering the gardens.
I smiled a bit when I recognized Navarre and decided to let him get closer to me before saying anything; mayhaps I'd be able to startle him if I was sneaky enough, I thought.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 10, 2007 5:38:46 GMT -5
Keeping to the paths I made my way around the gardens with no real destination in mind, wandering this way and that and changing direction ever so often without a care as to where I would end up. All I cared about was that the heat of the night was less around here.
I was thinking of the last assignation I'd had and recalling the darkly delightful time I'd spent with my most recent patron, the whips and the screams and the overall satisfaction of it all. I was sort of watching where I was going just not really paying attention to what was around me. I did however recall the rose trellis that was up ahead and remembered the old bench there and decided that it might be a good place to sit for a while and turned towards it, giving my wanderings a purpose and a place I could sit and think for a while.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 10, 2007 5:44:05 GMT -5
I grinned as Navarre turned towards me and I scooted closer to the shadows of the trellis as quietly as I could as he made his way over, making my pose seem as casual as possible, hoping he wouldn't notice me.
I was almost bursting with glee at the thought of surprising him and as he rounded the corner nearest me I held my breath; anticipation was half the fun.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 10, 2007 5:47:20 GMT -5
I found myself lost in thought again as I neared the landing upon which the trellis stood and rounded the corner none the wiser for what may be in store for me other than a nice quiet spot to rest in for a while.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 10, 2007 5:54:54 GMT -5
I almost jumped out at him as he stepped on the landing but I held my place until the last possible moment. Then, speaking just loud enough for my voice to ring in the air around me, I sprung my little trap.
"Good evening, Navarre," I said, my words a soft purr and my eyes gleaming in the moonlight. Goodness I even felt like a dark panther springing on my prey as I stood in one eloquently fluid motion to stand almost face to face with Navarre as he took his last step onto the landing.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 10, 2007 6:06:01 GMT -5
I jerked back a step as a clear voice split the silence of the night, and I suddenly finding myself face to face with its owner; apparently hiding all along in the shadows of the rose trellis.
"Gods, Dashiel!" I cursed, recognizing her. My heart all but skipping a beat and my pulse racing madly with the sudden adrenaline rush surging through my veins. "What in Kushiel's name are you doing out here so late at night?" I demanded, trying to recover quickly and bury my astonishment at the same time.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 10, 2007 6:13:14 GMT -5
Lauging delightedly I reached over to give him the kiss of greeting, "Nice to see you too," I said, chiding him on his lack of manners. "I am simply enjoying the night as I see fit," I continued, answering his hastily spoken question and enjoying my prank to the utmost.
"As for you I could ask you the same thing; what are you doing out, anyway?" I asked, turning the tables.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 10, 2007 6:19:30 GMT -5
I frowned at her but returned the greeting, "To the ash heap with your pleasantries, Dashiel, you know as well as I how hot it is in there," I said, sweeping an expressive gesture towards the dark form of the building across from us, "Besides, I couldn't sleep." I added, still frowning but glad to see her nonetheless.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 10, 2007 6:28:06 GMT -5
I couldn't resist the urge to poke fun at him at his complaints and found myself mocking him, a frown crossing my face with a little pout added in for good measure. "Aw, it sounds like someone isn't enjoying the nice summer weather this evening." I said, lauging some more.
"Come now, Navarre, where's that sly grin I remember so well, and that mischievous sparkle in your eye, did it disappear when I startled you?" I teased.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 10, 2007 6:36:15 GMT -5
"Ha, what would you know? As I recall you haven't been around much to know anyway, so who are you to make fun?" I challenged, the gleam returning to my eyes anyway and knowing full well why we hadn't seen much of each other recently; we were just too busy anymore.
“We used to be friends once, remember?” I asked, recalling a time not long ago when the two of us used to harass each other mercilessly, calling one another names and most times fighting like cats and dogs; but they had been good times, and I grinned just thinking about it.
“Rogue…” I said softly, reminiscing, and bringing back to light all the fun we’d had making up names to call each other.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 10, 2007 6:47:11 GMT -5
I backed off at his mention of me not being around much and I sighed, remembering the past we had shared.
“I remember quite well, Bane.” I said, my grin echoing his, he used to be such a nuisance when we were younger; always following me and making fun of me – then again I used to do the same to him; in fact I believe I started the whole thing.
"But you know how it is; life just has its way with you and gets in the way of things sometimes." I said, realizing that I actually missed his boyish teasing and our rough-house way of being friends.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 12, 2007 2:46:19 GMT -5
"There is that," I said, knowing full well of what she meant, "I find that I miss your company actually, we had some good times; like when we got smashing drunk at the cockerel and you had to help me walk home since I wouldn't get in a carriage." I recalled, grinning.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 12, 2007 2:58:37 GMT -5
"Ah yes, that was fun. Well not the fact that we had to walk back that night but we sure had fun." I said, lauging low and deep, remembering how sick he was the next day and grinned; I'd never had a hangover.
I also remembered when I had a crush on him, a long time ago it seemed now. I was still fond of him but as he had never reciprocated with anything more than a kiss I had eventually let it go; besides we were too much the same person - just in different guises - and it would have been hard.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 12, 2007 3:39:34 GMT -5
I grinned remembering other occasions when we spent time together, but they had become fewer and fewer as the years passed and we became adepts, popular with our own patrons and busy making a name for ourselves. I hadn't actually seen Dashiel face to face in seven months, I realized.
"Yes, we always did know how to have fun." I added, my grin spreading across my face, "When was it that we stayed up all night at some party and got some noble into thinking we were brother and sister and that she had to have us both or none at all?" Wasn't that just last year?" I asked, noticing the somewhat soft look in her eyes that fleetingly reminded me of when I first met her.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 12, 2007 3:45:51 GMT -5
"It sure was, she was really into you, Navarre, but I don't know what she would have done if we had really insisted upon a duo. I don't think she liked the look I was giving her." I teased, my smile returning with a mischievousness glint, hoping he hadn't seen the look on my face.
I somehow felt vulnerable and safe around him at the same time and it intrigued me to no end at why. I guess I was still more attracted to him than I realized.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 14, 2007 3:38:10 GMT -5
I found that I was enjoying her company just as much now as I always had and I wondered at the reason I'd had for not keeping in touch with her lately. "True, she sure was shocked. I couldn't believe you were able to play act so well, you really are good." I said grinning; she had been quite convincing.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 15, 2007 0:47:28 GMT -5
"Ha, I try." I said shortly, leaning back onto the trellis, the dark red roses cascading down either side of the wooden archway their scent drifting into the air with my movements. "Ah, I love these roses..." I said, closing my eyes for a moment and breathing in the fragrance of them with an appreciative smile.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 15, 2007 23:21:32 GMT -5
I ignored her casual distraction, I was curious as to her goings on but I didn't want to be too nosy so I danced around the subject. "I know you're not up this late without a reason, Dashiel, what have you been up to, anyway? I haven't seen even a glimpse of you lately and it made me wonder if you've been avoiding me." I asked, going about the business of picking her brain in a roundabout way.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 17, 2007 0:15:08 GMT -5
I almost glared at him for his brash way of getting to the point, but I just gave him a look that said I knew what he was up to, "I have no idea why I'm up so late; and no, I'm not avoiding you, Navarre. I just can't seem to figure out what's been bugging me lately is all." I said, glancing away from him for a moment, touched that he would actually let me see that he cared about me even a little, it wasn't like him actually.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 22, 2007 22:41:28 GMT -5
"Good, I was begining to think that you'd forgotten me, Rogue," I teased, easily falling back into our old banter, a smirk crossing my face as I called her by her nickname the one I had decided to label her when we first met.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Feb 22, 2007 23:15:13 GMT -5
"Ah, it is good to hear your voice, Navarre." I said chuckling, the sound of his voice recalling the times we had shared together, his impish smirk just the same as it had always been.
"I have been rather busy, accutally," I said, ignoring the bait, "I've only had a few patrons over the last few months but they've apparently enjoyed my company so much that they each decided to return on several occasions. Between attending to them and my own needs I've just not spent as much time doing the things that I love." I told him, moving to sit down on the bench again.
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Feb 22, 2007 23:28:55 GMT -5
"Really, I sort of figured that. I've been a bit preoccupied as well" I said, "I guess your right about life taking control of you no matter your plans." I added.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Mar 3, 2007 23:57:16 GMT -5
I nodded in reply, thinking of the last time I'd had a free moment. Not content with sitting I stood up again and plucked a rose from the trellis. "So perfect; both beautiful and threatening at the same time, just like us." I said, looking back at him with a smile. "A beautiful image concealing sharp thorns just beneath the surface."
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Post by Navarre nó Mandrake on Mar 4, 2007 0:48:27 GMT -5
I watched as she picked the rose and smiled. "You have ever had a way with words," I said grinning, the sweet scent of the flower drifting to me on the light breeze. Brushing my hand through my hair I noticed that it was getting a tad lighter outside but didn't care about the time, I was just relieved that it wasn't so hot any longer, not that it would last.
"It's been an interesting few months around here hasn't it?" I broached, drawing my attention back to the moment and back to Dashiel.
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Post by Dashiel nó Mandrake (I) on Mar 5, 2007 1:11:30 GMT -5
I nodded, looking at him over the rose as I held it up to drink in the scent of it's fragrance. "It has been quite the summer," I said, "I've certainly enjoyed myself." I added, my smile turning mischievious as I toyed with the thorns on the stem of the rose.
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