|
Post by Olivia nó Valerian on Oct 29, 2009 23:28:41 GMT -5
Trinette had granted me the honor of an auction for my debut. The moment she’d told me her decision, my blood had begun to sing and it hadn’t quieted yet. The days had moved slow as honey in winter and I thought at times I could actually hear the sun and moon moving through the sky. The day of my debut bloomed clear and crisp, matching all my sharpened senses. After having spent days moving at a slowed pace, time now seemed to fly on rushed wings. I made myself eat a morning meal and then again at lunch, knowing it might be awhile before I ate again. After lunch, I went to the baths, indulging in a long soak in perfumed water. Then I scrubbed myself until my skin glowed and washed my hair thoroughly. I spent a good deal of time afterward, combing and drying my hair in front of the fire, wanting it to shine. Then I applied a hint of kohl to my eyes and carmine to my lips. Smiling, I took my dress from where it lay on my bed and slipped it on, the cloth of silver sliding sensually over my skin. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and smiled. My hair hung loose and glowing past my shoulders and I felt scandalous in my dress. There was a knock on the door and a fosterling told me Trinette was waiting for me. A deep breath and then I exited and headed to the hall that had been set aside for my auction. I slipped in the back door, seeing Trinette waiting there. I sank abeyant in front of her. “Olivia,” she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “You look lovely. Wait here and you’ll hear your cue.” “Yes, Dowayne,” I murmured, a shiver of excitement moving through me. I lifted my head and through a slit in the curtains I could see the small stage and past it rows of chairs in the candlelit room. I caught a glimpse of fosterlings with trays of joie and tidbits of food. Soon, I told myself, soon.
|
|
|
Post by Eros Shahrizai de Amodour on Oct 29, 2009 23:44:30 GMT -5
I had heard though a few of my new contacts that there was to be a virgin auction at Valerian House. I had nearly boiled over with excitement at the news and I had gone to Eros right away, convincing him to pool our money and go, to experience it, experience Valerian House for the first time, and see if we could get ourselves an adept. I had told Naia about it, and she agreed to meet us there late, I was so excited about the whole evening.
I dressed in black, it just seemed fitting for some reason, and it was the colour that I often turned to when I had an affair to attend to. Erie and I rented a carriage and took it into the city proper and straight to Valerian were we exited and informed a fosterling that we were here for the auction. The pair of us were then guided to the small hall in which was set up for such an event. "Oh Erie, isn't it exciting?" I breathed, leaning toward him and whispering in his ear.
|
|
|
Post by Erie Shahrizai de Amodour on Oct 29, 2009 23:52:43 GMT -5
I had tried to act as non interested in the Valerian debut that I could, to keep my appearance of nonchalance, but inside I was interested, eager, I had never been with a Valerian, and though Eros and I had done plenty of experimenting between ourselves, there were still an endless supply of interests that I had not yet explored. "Oh yes, exciting." I replied some what sarcastically, acting calm as I could, though I was nervous at heart. I knew Eros' knew this, but I also knew she'd never call me out on it.
|
|
Prince Gratien de Somerville
Royal
His Highness the Comte d'Azur and Prince of the Blood; House Somerville
Married to Lola de las Aragonia. Brother of Azabel, Reese & Pierre de Somerville
Posts: 1,486
|
Post by Prince Gratien de Somerville on Oct 30, 2009 15:36:25 GMT -5
I wasn't sure what I was doing, it wasn't as if I had planned my introduction into Valerian with any sort of need or desire, I had mostly just fell upon it because of Julie... because of my falling out with Julie. That is when I had met Calista; who in turn became some one I quite enjoyed spending time with. Then I had ventured a try at Sinclair, he hadn't been my cup of tea per say, though I certainly enjoyed making him do things he didn't want to, but either way, it was fast becoming apparent to me that I had a pleasure for it,. I was no Shahrizai for sure, I had no interest in mind games really, or the advanced art of ropes and binds, no, my only interest was the feeling of domination and that was all I craved. So, when I heard of the auction at Valerian I decided to venture a try and go, bringing plenty of coin in case the girl struck my fancy. I hadn't yet had the pleasure of a virgin, and I couldn't help but admit that I had a keen interest in trying that pleasure.
Dressed in simple clothing, black boots, russet breeches, and a simple linen shirt, I told one of the girls that greeted me that I was here for the auction and she took me inside a hall like area in which the auction would be held. There were a few other people there already, Shahrizai I counted at least a few times, but feeling no pressure I found as seat on a couch and relaxed crossing my ankle over my knee and glanced around. A server came by with a tray of food and I took some sort of puff off it and placed it in my mouth, chewing as I looked around.
|
|
|
Post by Naia Shahrizai on Oct 30, 2009 21:09:57 GMT -5
It wasn't something I normally did, but Eros and Erie were going and Eros had invited me to come along. I wasn't particularly interested in getting myself a Valerian, but I thought it would be fun to come along for the ride. I had to work that day, so I had decided to meet them at Valerian House, giving me to get home and get ready.
I decided that instead of going in my customary black, I would make more of a statement and go in a bright red with silver across the waist. I kept my long hair down, curling down my back like a dark waterfall. I wanted to ride, but there was no way I would be caught dead sidesaddle and I couldn't possibly ride in this skirt, so I ended up taking a carriage.
There was an air of excitement when I got there, and several people were entering ahead of me, including a rather handsome man that I didn't know. Stop it, Naia, I told myself, that's not why you're here. Besides, any man coming here was likely interested in a very different type of woman.
I had never been to Valerian before, so I had to try not to stare as I was led to the hall where I assumed the auction would take place. Thankfully I spotted Eros and Erie almost as soon as I entered the room, and it was with some relief that I walked over to them.
"Good evening, cousins." I said, giving first Eros, then a reluctant Erie the kiss of greeting.
|
|
|
Post by Eros Shahrizai de Amodour on Oct 30, 2009 21:39:10 GMT -5
I turned away from my unresponsive brother as I saw Naia coming, dressed in red, and happily kissed her back, grinning as I did. "Oh Naia, I'm so happy you came!" I said excitedly. "You look stunning cousin."
|
|
|
Post by Erie Shahrizai de Amodour on Oct 30, 2009 21:42:25 GMT -5
Despite my nature I let Naia give me a kiss of greeting, though I did my best to hurry it along and recoil as fast as I could once she was finished. Despite my better judgment, I found myself actually enjoying the kiss, my cheeks tingling where her lips had been. Naia wasn't exactly want I would call a kindred spirit, but I found her some how less annoying then some of my other cousins I had met, all prim and proper with games on there mind.
|
|
|
Post by Naia Shahrizai on Oct 30, 2009 21:57:53 GMT -5
"Thank you, Eros," I said, smiling and appraising her as well. "As do you, that dress is gorgeous." I looked at Erie with a mischievous grin and added, "And you too, Erie." I had begun to find his often sullen silences something of a challenge, and I was determined to win him over, one way or the other.
To that end, I was prepared to share something I hadn't thought I would share with anyone else, not even Sin, who had in a sense introduced me to it. I had brought along a few of my precious Kusheth's Gems, the sweet, rich caramel candy with just a hint of something else ... something dark, something sharp, something that made the candy utterly irresistible to me. I wondered if it would have the same effect on them, as we were all of a similar bent in other matters.
"I brought you two a gift," I said, sifting through my little bag and pulling out three candies. I handed them each one, and then popped the other one into my mouth, savoring it slowly.
|
|
Gabriel Shahrizai
Aristocrat
*Voted Most Charming 2010*
The devil in angel's clothing
Posts: 3,884
|
Post by Gabriel Shahrizai on Oct 30, 2009 22:54:51 GMT -5
Valerian
Virgin
Two of my very favorite words of all time. Clad in black breeches and boots topped with a silk shirt that matched my eyes, I strolled into the room where the auction was being held.
I plucked a glass of joie from a tray held by a pale, doe-eyed thing, giving him a smile that caused a visible tremor to move through him. I gave him a wink and moved to the chairs. I took a seat next to a man in russet breeches. I gave him a smile and then sipped from my glass.
|
|
|
Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Oct 30, 2009 23:24:31 GMT -5
I hadn't planned on going, I didn't even know how I heard about it. I had spent the days wandering from tavern to tavern, drinking till I had my fill then wandered out into the streets to retch or simply to stumble home...
Home, ha! I didn't have a home, my home was far from here. I wondered if my room had been rented out.... probably.
Either way, I stumbled up to Valerian House for some gods forsaken reason and was now being ushered into the hall that they were holding the auction. How did I get here? Oh yes, I remember, the night before I over heard to men speaking about it. Still, I didn't know why I was here, may be just to say I had, to know that I had done it, or may be because I hoped I'd find some courage to stay or some reason to go. Either way, I was half drunk as it were and barely holding my own as I watched the girl who led me here go back out the door we had just came. I sighed, falling back onto the wall as I tried not to let the affects of the last few days take its toil on me. A young man carrying a tray of foods walked past me, offering me some, but I felt sick to my stomach at the sight and waved him away as I closed my eyes and tried to think sobering thoughts.
|
|
|
Post by Erie Shahrizai de Amodour on Oct 30, 2009 23:28:04 GMT -5
I rolled my eyes at Naia's comment, much like my sister would have done and I was pretty sure I looked like her too. When Naia handed me the candy she brought I held it up and knit my brows as I studied it. "What is it?" I asked then cocked a brow as I looked at my cousin.
|
|
|
Post by Naia Shahrizai on Oct 30, 2009 23:42:07 GMT -5
"It's called 'Kusheth's Gem'," I answered, after a moment of almost heavenly delight. "Taste it, it's amazing." I briefly wondered if I shouldn't have slipped Erie a Kushiel's Apple instead, I still had some leftover from the disastrous dinner party Sarielle had thrown. I'd have felt bad giving one to Eros, but Erie, well, something about him brought out that nasty little part of me that liked to play those kinds of games.
I was going to say more, but at that moment a servant passed with a tray of joie. I turned to take a glass, and saw someone stumbling in. My eyes narrowed as I recognized him - Azriel. And he looked like hell. My curiosity rose by leaps and bounds and I was torn between staying here with my cousins and paying a visit to another cousin... I realized with a start that this was the most Shahrizai I'd ever been in the presence of, and the night was still young.
|
|
|
Post by Olivia nó Valerian on Oct 30, 2009 23:59:08 GMT -5
The sounds from the outer room were growing louder and I felt a thrill at the idea of all those people out there having come for me. My eyes swept closed and I tried to slow my breathing, not wanting to waste any energy in nervous excitement. I had just managed a slow and even pace when I heard Trinette speak.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Valerian House and thank you so much for coming tonight,” she said, her voice like amber honey. “We will be getting the auction underway soon, but let us give a little more time for those still arriving. Please enjoy the food and drink, and again, thank you all for coming.”
There was a rustle of the curtain and then I felt her near me, a gentle hand laid on my head. “Not much longer,” she said before moving away again. I trembled and focused on my breathing once more.
|
|
|
Post by Erie Shahrizai de Amodour on Oct 31, 2009 0:00:26 GMT -5
She seemed to take so much pleasure in the little candy she had handed me, that I felt the overwhelming urge to crush it right out of her... so I did... or at least I would try. "Aren't you a little old to be handing out candy." I said as I handed it back to her and then hooked my thumbs in belt and began to turn to view the room, eventually turning my back to the pair as I listed to the Dowayne speak.
|
|
|
Post by Eros Shahrizai de Amodour on Oct 31, 2009 0:04:43 GMT -5
I rolled my eyes at Erie's words and popped the candy into my mouth, savouring the taste as I smiled to Naia, I heard the voice of the Dowayne and turned my head to look, smiling as I looked back to my cousin with a large grin.
|
|
|
Post by Naia Shahrizai on Oct 31, 2009 0:06:35 GMT -5
I know it was selfish of me, but I was perversely glad when he handed the candy back to me and it was all I could do not to greedily shove it into my mouth with the other one. Getting ahold of myself, I shrugged and sipped my drink, saying only, "As far as I'm concerned, one is never too old to experience everything life has to offer - including candy."
The Dowayne appeared and I felt a surge of interest, which diverted my attention for the moment from thinking about Azriel. However, she only told us to wait longer and I sighed impatiently, finishing my joie with somewhat unseemly haste and turning to Eros. "Won't you excuse me for just a moment? I see someone I know and I'd like to go say hello, if you don't mind."
|
|
|
Post by Eros Shahrizai de Amodour on Oct 31, 2009 0:14:48 GMT -5
I nodded to Naia. "Of course." I replied in kind before I turned to Erie and slapped his shoulder for being rude to Naia.
|
|
|
Post by Naia Shahrizai on Oct 31, 2009 0:19:46 GMT -5
I watched her give Erie a little smack with a smile, the two of them were so close ... it was difficult to watch sometimes, considering how very opposite my relationship with Sarielle was.
I grabbed another glass of joie and made my way over to Azriel, plunking myself down in the seat next to him. "Fancy meeting you here," I said, by way of greeting.
|
|
|
Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Oct 31, 2009 0:23:27 GMT -5
I had been looking about at the others when I looked forward and saw Naia coming this way. "Elua." I murmured the curse under my breath as I turned my head to the side and looked away, trying to hide the look of unimpressed annoyance before I looked back at her, watching her as she sat next to me. "Cousin Naia." I said with a gentle, but mostly forced smile. "I didn't expect to see you here."
|
|
|
Post by Naia Shahrizai on Oct 31, 2009 0:29:09 GMT -5
"I didn't expect to be here," I replied, laughing softly, "but our new houseguests were extremely interested." I took a sip of my drink, watching the other people milling about and then looked back to Azriel. "I don't make a habit of apologizing, for myself or others, but it seems I owe you one for the dinner party. What a horrid way to meet the family." I was actually a bit embarassed over my own behavior, though I should have expired on the spot before truly admitting it.
|
|
|
Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Oct 31, 2009 0:39:28 GMT -5
I looked over to where she had come from, two raven haired youngsters stood, showing their Shahrizai caste as plain as day. I almost envied that, I almost envied that idea, to be to marked that you could simply look at one of them and know who they belonged to. Not I. No, my eyes were my only Shahrizai trait. My father's blood must have been far too diluted, or perhaps Kushiel himself knew I wouldn't be able to stomach it, to live with looking like them. So I bore the name, and the eyes, and that was about it. I looked back to Naia and pursed my lips. "You're forgiven." I said, though I really had no idea why she was apologizing. It was mostly Sarielle's wretched man servant that I had been angered at, that had caused me to feel the way I had. Though it had also been my fault more then anything, Lilli had been right about what I had done, how I was behaving. I walked in there expecting a fight and that was what I had gotten. I looked at Naia more intently then. "Why do you think you need to apologize?" I asked, now born of a sudden curiosity. "What did you do?"
|
|
|
Post by Naia Shahrizai on Oct 31, 2009 0:48:01 GMT -5
I was surprised, that he forgave so easily, and even more so that he hadn't noticed my own behavior. Well, I suppose Gadleon had eclipsed me before I could do anything truly noticeable, but the intent to ruin it for Sarielle had been there all along. So, did I tell the truth or simply apologize for Gadleon?
I chose the truth, I think because sometimes it was just tiring, keeping up my "image". "You really didn't notice?" I asked, laughing softly though I felt a flush creep into my cheeks. "I was acting a bit ..." here I groped for the right word, "...forward." I shook my head, black curls sliding across my shoulders. "I'm afraid I can be the very worst of what is expected from our kin sometimes." I looked down at my glass, then laughed again. "I had better be careful - too much drink and I become introspective."
|
|
|
Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Oct 31, 2009 1:04:23 GMT -5
I raised a brow and looked back to the two that she had come from, milling about as I contemplated them. "I notice your 'casual' brushes if that was what you mean." I responded but kept my eyes forward. "I assumed you were only interested in me because you were trying to get back at your sister." I added, my eyes still focusing on the pair and the way they behaved, mostly because of the alcohol consuming my body. "They seem happy don't they." I then murmured absently as I watched the pair. "As if there is nothing to this life of theirs. I've always wished I could be like that. I couldn't even pretend most of the time." My mouth seemed to be running on its own, but with all the liquor I had consumed I was caring very little. "I gave up on love, friendship, hope... that was until I met my wife." I took a breath, rememerbing her and then blinked, feeling my eyes dry out because of staring. "Everything changed, I was a new person, I didn't care and I was free and happy. And then she got ill, and she died, and I forgot what it felt like to feel anything but consuming darkness." I furrowed my brows gently at the thought. "Then I came here, forced, to come here, to look after my niece when my sister died. I thought that may be, may be I could pretend to be some one like that again, that I could find love, and I thought I had. Her name was Isra and she was an adept." I smiled gently then. "But then," I chuckled, still staring blankly forward at the pair as they spoke between themselves. "I met your sister, and I... I bed her, a day that would forever change my life." I had no regrets about that day to be sure, but it certainly hadn't helped me in the long run. "I lost Isra, because of my, then I lost myself, then I lost my niece, and then I lost all hope." I took a breath and looked at Naia finally. "You see, on the outside we are always what others want in themselves, on the inside we are always hurt and broken. But if there is no way to bridge the two, we remain always broken. We never get the chance to heal, or to find love, or friendship or hope." I felt tears well in my eyes and sniffed them away, looking back to the pair. "I hope you don't make that same mistake."
|
|
|
Post by Naia Shahrizai on Oct 31, 2009 1:18:53 GMT -5
Apparently I had been more transparent than I had thought, and while I struggled for a remark that would not leave me so embarrassed and vulnerable, Azriel continued to speak. My eyes followed his to Eros and Erie, and what I heard in his voice felt like it echoed somewhere inside of me. Somewhere that I kept closed off and protected.
I didn't speak, just listened, really listened, the way I never had before. Azriel's voice was almost mesmerizing, as he spoke of feeling the way I had felt - giving up. Until he met his wife, and I looked at him with new eyes, seeing him suddenly as a person, with a history and a heart and I was uncomfortably contrite at seeing him as only an object by which to hurt Sarielle. When he said his wife had passed, I felt a lump in my throat, and even the stinging behind my eyelids that meant tears. I hadn't even known her, but I could only imagine what it would be like to love someone, and then to lose them so cruelly.
His last words let a silence fall, and I wasn't sure what to say. That I was so sorry for his loss? That I was so sorry that my family - our family - had been a source of pain for him. I knew that feeling firsthand.
"Is it like this for everyone?" I found myself asking a question that had always weighed on my mind, "or is it something about Shahrizai that makes it so hard to be happy?" I stared down into my glass, afraid to meet his eyes with my reserves down. "So hard to be kind, to be forgiving...?" Or is it only I that seem to be incapable of such things?
|
|
|
Post by Castiel de Bonnel on Oct 31, 2009 10:48:57 GMT -5
It was not something I had ever attended, an adepts debut, let alone one of Valerian, and was persuaded by my sister that it might be a good idea. She, however, did not wish to come out, but encourage me to enjoy myself. And so I left the home we shared and went to the Night Court, Valerian House, walking through the front doors and finding my way with help to where the auction would be held. I brought coin with me, but I was not really sure I attended with the intention of winning, so to speak. I walked into the room, clad in black from head to toe and procured myself a glass of red wine from a passing girl, her eyes downcast as she offered refreshments in a shaking voice.
I stood in the room, a little off by myself, getting the feel of the atmosphere, looking around, and noticing the all too familiar blue-black locks of many Shahrizai heads.
|
|
|
Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Oct 31, 2009 22:33:02 GMT -5
"No," I said softly as I looked to her. "And yes." I then gave a gentle smile. "You know, for pretty much all of my life I've avoided my Shahrizai kin. I've seen what they can do, mostly just the worse things they can do. When my parents died, no one wanted to step in and take me because I wasn't like you, I didn't look like you, I didn't act like a Shahrizai because my father never raised me like that." I took a breath and leaned toward her a little.
"When I met Sarielle, it was the first time I was ever called out on my opinions, it was the first time any one of my kin had ever demanded that I see things differently. And when that happened, I saw what good there could be, if not for your sister, I would be..." I shrugged. "I wouldn't be me, I wouldn't have found who I was. Despite all the pain, all the broken moments that happened because of it. I could never regret it because I will never live in the shadow of my name again." I pulled back, leaning back into my chair to look at the pair again, though it was mostly because they were the most directly in front of me.
"I married my wife knowing she would die," I said then. "I married her knowing that I would have to loose her, that I would never have what I wanted from our marriage; a family, a home, a future. It wasn't want I wanted, but it was after she died that I realized that you can't always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes, you find you get what you need."
|
|
|
Post by Eros Shahrizai de Amodour on Oct 31, 2009 22:42:28 GMT -5
I had been arguing with Erie, not over much, just telling him that he should be nicer to Naia since she seemed to tolerate him, if not more... she might even like him! But of course he was being obstinate, saying something or the other about his right to say what he wanted, but before we could finish speaking I felt a strange feeling at the back of my neck, as if a breeze was blowing in and it causes shivers. I began to look around then and spotted a man standing off on his own and looking around as I was. I kept my eyes on him and smiled hoping that he would look this way.
|
|
|
Post by Naia Shahrizai on Nov 1, 2009 0:52:25 GMT -5
I thought about his words, turned them over in my mind, but one thing seemed to stick. "Sarielle did that for you?" I asked softly, almost to myself, and I felt the familiar constriction in my chest when I thought about her. Why did I remember her as a loving person, the only person who had ever loved me, and here in front of me was evidence that she could be that person ... and yet, she had abandoned me. I couldn't reconcile the two different Sarielles that I saw, the one I hated and the one I wanted to love me.
"You knew?" I said then, pushing my sister out of my mind - the complications of our relationship were wearing sometimes. "That your wife would die, I mean? And you still married her, even though you knew it would hurt so much..." I admired his courage, though I did not understand it. For me, I thought I would run as far and fast as I could to avoid that kind of pain. "You really aren't like us..." I said, smiling softly and gesturing to the roomful of mostly Shahrizai. "What are you doing here, of all places?"
|
|
|
Post by Olivia nó Valerian on Nov 1, 2009 15:08:36 GMT -5
Trinette brushed by me and out through the curtains. I rose, giving my legs time to straighten out before I heard my cue.
“Ladies and gentleman, let us get now to the occasion for which you have all come tonight,” she said. I felt my pulse quicken, the moment was nearly here. “The adept you will be bidding on tonight has not lived a day of her life outside the walls of Valerian House. She has lived and breathed the cannon of this House from the day she was born to Mena no’ Valerian. Just turned sixteen last week, she is a virgin in every aspect and has no limits. I present to you, Olivia no’ Valerian.”
At the sound of my name I stepped through the curtain, spine straight and head high, though with my gaze cast down.
|
|
|
Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Nov 1, 2009 16:52:40 GMT -5
"I don't know." I replied to Naia, looking forward before looking to my cousin. "I'm leaving the City, returning to Marsilikos. I can't live in this place any more, I'm just not strong enough." I said gently. "Perhaps I just wanted to see Valerian house like this, one last time." As I looked forward once more the Dowayne entered and presented the young girl who everyone was here to see. I took a breath, she was beautiful indeed, but she wasn't what I wanted; what I wanted was love. "I should go, let you enjoy your evening." I said glancing back to Naia. "If you want to talk more, feel free to call on me within the week, I will be there." With that I gave her a gentle smile and rose, feeling sick to my stomach and on the verge of crying. I moved quickly to the door and exited before she could stop me, I needed to find some solace some where, anywhere.
|
|