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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Jan 13, 2010 22:54:32 GMT -5
I had found out through one of my many sources for gossip and City news that Azriel had gotten his own townhouse, and since I was at loose ends for the day I decided that this might be a good time to make him a meal. A combination of housewarming and company, something fitting for us both.
To that end, I went first to the market, picking up various and sundry items: a fresh loaf of bread and some butter, beef ribs, parsley, onions, sandalwood, saffron, new peas, eggs, whey, elderflowers and rosewater ... ingredients for stewed beef ribs, new peas in broth, and an elderflower cheesecake, my particular specialty, to which I also picked up some cocoa powder for my own variation. I also stopped at El Parra to get a complimentary wine and at a flower shoppe for a nice vase of roses for a table centerpiece.
My arms laden with my purchases, I headed back to the East Borough, and Azriel's new home. I was a little bit nervous, wondering if that night at dinner had just been a fluke, and he actually would not be happy to see me at all. In fact, I couldn't remember a time when anyone had ever been happy to see me, and while I knew that it was mostly my own doing, it still rankled. Azriel's kindness made me think that perhaps I was not a lost cause. What would he think of my current doings? I felt a flush of shame as I walked up to his front door and I forced myself to stop thinking about that. Tonight was for fine dining and finer company, not for dwelling on past mistakes.
With that thought firmly in mind, I juggled my packages so that I could rap smartly on Azriel's front door, hoping that he was home - and hungry!
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jan 13, 2010 23:29:55 GMT -5
The inner workings of my home were still slow, I had not yet hired full time staff and for the most part there were still pieces of furniture covered in white linen sheets. When I heard a knock at the door I wondered who it could be but hurried to answer it incase it was an emergancy. There I opened wide the door and saw the face and full arms of one Naia Shahrizai. At first I looked at her, surprised and confused, before smiling a little. "Evening." I said as I glanced over the items she held. "Are you going door to door and selling stolen items for money?" I asked in a teasing fashion.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Jan 14, 2010 2:00:54 GMT -5
I hadn't realized how nervous I was about my reception until Azriel opened the door and smiled. I laughed at his jest, shaking my head.
"Not a bad idea, but no, all of these items are duly paid for." With Sarielle's money, of course. "I thought I would come by and make you dinner as a housewarming gift. Besides I do owe you a dinner." I peered around him into the interior of the house, then smiled hopefully. "I do hope this is a good time? The problem with surprises is that you can't ask ahead of time."
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jan 14, 2010 16:25:14 GMT -5
I chuckled softly. "Well, as it so happens I do not have a full time cook yet, so I haven't had a good meal in at least a few days." I reached out and took some of the items she had to lighten her load. "Come in." I added as I tilted my head, gesturing her to follow me into the house.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Jan 14, 2010 19:27:27 GMT -5
"Well, that is a shame," I remarked, as Azriel relieved me of some of the groceries that I had brought. "We shall have to fix that," I said, following him into the interior of the house. I looked around, impressed with his new home.
As we moved toward the kitchen - at least, that's where I assumed we were headed - I let myself relax a little, something that I did not normally do in the presence of others. Something about Azriel made me feel safe, and it was a feeling that I was finding I enjoyed.
"So, how has it been moving into your own place?" I asked, genuinely curious, as it was something I hoped to do myself someday.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jan 14, 2010 19:35:47 GMT -5
"Strangely liberating." I remarked as I glanced back to her with a smile. I moved us through the halls heading toward the kitchen; the house wasn't that big so it wasn't hard to navigate. When I reached the door I pushed it open and set down the things as I tended to the oil lamps to set the room a glow. "For the longest time I always thought that having a place in the city would make me feel trapped." I continued as I moved slowly about the room.
"Yet theres a strange sense of peace in it; of freedom." I looked to Naia and flashed her a wry but knowingly brilliant smile. I was sure she was eager to be on her own, to have her own place. One could only look at her to tell that she felt trapped; it broke my heart to think, though, that marriage would likely be the only way she'd be able to make it on her own. And then you weren't really on your own.
"There are a couple of guest rooms here, if you ever feel the need to escape your sisters house and get some space, just le me know. You're always welcome to come here," I moved toward the table in the center in of the room and leaned onto next to the items I had placed there. "I'll promise to stay out of you way." I added with a teasing grin and then set about looking through the things.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Jan 14, 2010 23:42:41 GMT -5
I followed suit and set down my burden where Azriel had put the other things, watching him as he lit the lamps, giving the room a soft glow.
I thought about what he said, and I agreed - the City did have something of a "trapping" feeling sometimes. Not that I had been free per se in Kusheth, but I did feel as if I had had more of a sense of freedom there. Here I only found that when I took Chretienne out for a long run in the countryside.
"You might be sorry you said that," I said, beginning to unpack the groceries. "Sarielle and I are barely speaking these days." I wondered if I should tell him that she had thrown me out of the house. I knew that unlike Gadleon, he would let me stay with him willingly, but that would certainly put a crimp in my future plans. Still, standing here with him, doing something as mundane as lighting lamps and unloading groceries, I had the sense that this was a place I could be happy, at ease. Maybe I was making a mistake with Gadleon ...
I snapped out of my reverie as Azriel began poking through my purchases. Laughing, I found the vase and the flowers that I had bought for the table. "How about some water for these?" I asked, handing him the items while I began to pull out the ingredients for the main course.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jan 16, 2010 16:47:06 GMT -5
I smiled as I looked up at Naia and took the items she proffered. "So what do you have there for dinner?" I asked as I poured some water into the vase and then arranged them before turning to look at her. I crossed my arms across my chest and leaned back against the counter.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Jan 17, 2010 1:41:22 GMT -5
I thought about telling him that it was a surprise, but then I thought that I might want to know if I was thinking about making something that he didn't like.
"A stew of beef ribs, peas in broth, and elderflower cheesecake for dessert. I also brought some bread and some of the finest red wine El Parra has to offer." I smiled and reached back, quickly binding my hair into a knot at the nape of my neck. "Now that you know, you'll have to help me in the kitchen." I said, grinning at him and tossing the loaf of bread his way.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jan 17, 2010 1:53:26 GMT -5
I chuckled and caught the bread she tossed me. "Ah well, that was the deal wasn't it?" I asked. "Didn't you say you were going to teach me a few tricks?" I walked toward her and placed the loaf down as I stood next to her.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Jan 17, 2010 23:31:58 GMT -5
I smiled up at him, "Yes, in fact, I believe I did say that. I suppose how much I can teach you depends on how much time you spend in the kitchen." I laughed softly and gathered up the ingredients. "Let's get started, or we shall be up half the night with empty bellies!"
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jan 19, 2010 1:35:19 GMT -5
I chuckled softly and followed suit. "I have spent some time in the kitchen. When I was a little boy my mother would some times bake goodies with me." I said as I smiled to her and took a moment to think about those times I had been spending years trying to forget. "I think you'll find I'm not completely incompetent, nor will I be an old hand at it either."
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Jan 20, 2010 0:13:33 GMT -5
I smiled at his memory, remembering similar times with Sarielle, before she had gained her majority and left me behind. The memory was bittersweet, and I pushed it aside before it could contaminate what was shaping up to be a fun evening.
"Sounds like just the amount of know-how I'm looking for in an assistant," I teased as we got to the kitchen. "Also, someone who knows where everything is." I added, laughing as began opening cabinets and trying to familiarize myself with where things were.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jan 20, 2010 16:44:43 GMT -5
I chuckled along with her and then spread my arms out wide and made a courtier's bow. "I am yours to command my lady, use me." I said with a grin as I watched her begin to search through the cabinets. "Though I'm afraid you won't find much, I'm still aquiring items." I thought for a moment as I returned to looking through the items she brought. "Which reminds me, perhaps you'd be willing to join me on a shopping trip into the city center. I need some one that is far more wise about furniture and decor then myself." I said as I picked up the bottle of wine and studied it before moving to a drawer where I pulled out a corkscrew.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Jan 23, 2010 13:47:14 GMT -5
I had to admit that I liked the sound of his first words maybe a little too much, and I had to remind myself that that sort of thing wasn't what I was here for. Which was actually too bad, I thought as I watched him looking over the wine I had brought.
I smiled as I pulled out a pan for the meat, then said, "Of course, I would love to help. And shopping is one of my favorite pastimes, so consequently I'm also fairly good at it." When he mentioned decor, I started thinking about art, which was usual for me. Already I was imagining something that I could paint, though I'd have to see more of what he had in mind for his home before I put a brush to canvas. Still, it would be a nice surprise, and a more lasting housewarming gift than a meal.
"Are you enjoying having your own place?" I asked him as I set the meat in the pot. "Or do you still expect to turn a corner and see your niece standing in the hall?" It had been like that for me after father died; I constantly expected to see him in his usual haunts. It was one of the reasons that I had been so quick to leave when Sarielle had invited me to the City.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jan 24, 2010 17:19:30 GMT -5
I set about to open the wine, spinning the metal screw into the soft cork before I pulled both out with a firm yank. "Well, its nice." I began as I then smelled the mouth of the bottle for that first bouquet before squeezing the cork for freshness. "You have to remember I had my own place when I was in Marsillikos so its not much different from that. Except last time I was renting, now I own it." I glanced to Naia and gave her a soft smile. "I've been alone most of my life, its not really a big change." I found an older decanter I had, making a note that I should perhaps buy a new one, and poured the wine into the glass container. "I guess the only difference about this place is that in the City I have you and your sister... and Lilli." I thought about Lilli for the moment and how strange things must feel for her. It was till a moment later that I realized I had been so busy in my own head and thinking that the wine had filled the decanter and I was know trying to pour an empty bottle. Starting a bit I place the bottle down and swirled the liquid as I turned to Naia with an apologetic smile.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Jan 29, 2010 22:15:14 GMT -5
I had forgotten about Marsilikos, and I nodded as he reminded me, though I did find it a bit sad when he said he had been alone so much. It was interesting, that I had never been physically alone, not really, but inside I had felt alone since the day that Sarielle had left home. I shook off those thoughts as I set about preparing the meat.
"So, does it feel different renting versus owning?" I asked, smiling at him as he finished pouring the wine. "I imagine the responsibility of owning a home to be quite daunting, actually." As much as I wanted to live on my own sometimes, at other times I was rather glad that the running of the house was someone else's problem.
Once the meat was situated, I set about shelling the peas, bringing the bowl to sit between Azriel and myself. "Here, you can help me with these," I said, smiling and then looking at the decanter of wine. "After you pour us a drink, though." I added with a light laugh.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jan 30, 2010 18:30:05 GMT -5
I smiled at her request for a drink and fished out two glasses as I began to respond to her first question. "In a logistical sense, yes it is quite different. I have some understanding of these things because of my family's estate in Kusheth so I'm not entirely unqualified." I gave her a teasing smile as I poured a glass for her and set it in front of her before pouring my own. "It certainly feels more... permenant, this way." I added. "When I was renting I could take up at a moments notice, travel to where ever I wanted. Here; well I'm some what tied to the fact that I would have to make preparations first." I shrugged as I swirled my wine, my gaze focusing on the liquid. "But in a way it doesn't matter, I'd still be able to travel; I think its the idea of being tied down that makes it feel different." I then took a sip of the wine, sampling it gently.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Feb 2, 2010 17:42:21 GMT -5
"More like home?" I asked, taking my glass and sipping it slowly. Balta had taught me a lot about wine, and I found it was much more enjoyable when I wasn't just trying to get drunk as quickly as possible.
I set the glass down and continued shelling peas, before looking back to Azriel with a smile. "So, do you have plans to travel? And if you could only go to one place, where would it be?" It was a silly question, perhaps; the type that Sin and I might amuse ourselves with on a boring afternoon. In fact, being here with Azriel was as comfortable as being with Sin, only without all of the sourness and sarcasm. I held my own with Sin in those areas, but it was nice to let that go sometimes, and it felt safe to do that here.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Feb 2, 2010 19:33:43 GMT -5
I chuckled and nodded at her first question then thought about her next; it brought up painful memories of Isra and I tried not to let it show in my face and voice. "I've always had a desire to travel to Bhodistan." I said smiling gently before taking another sip of wine.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Feb 8, 2010 18:21:26 GMT -5
"Ooh, exotic!" I commented, setting the peas aside and taking another sip of wine. "It does sound lovely, though my sights are set closer to home." Setting the glass down, I busied myself with the food before continuing. "I've always wanted to see Alba and Eire. I know it's not that adventurous, us being practically neighbors, but there it is."
Turning back to him, I smiled and gestured toward the food that I had begun to cook. "It will be awhile before these things are ready, would you like to give me the tour?"
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Feb 8, 2010 18:27:07 GMT -5
I smiled and nodded, turning slightly and offering her arm. "I'd love to give you a tour Naia," I said smiling as I waited for her to take my arm. "Theres nothing wrong with wanting to see some where closer to home; I'd enjoy seeing those places too. Tell you what, you let me know when you want to go and I'll come with you." I said with a wink.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Feb 8, 2010 18:39:53 GMT -5
I smiled and took his arm, pleasantly surprised at his offer to see some of the world with me. It seemed I was rather unused to polite company, and that I did, in fact, enjoy it.
"Deal," I said, tossing my hair back and looking up at him. "And I shall go to Bhodistan with you and we will have a fine time and come back with lots of stories and souvenirs." I laughed softly, imagining what sort of thing I might bring back for Sinclair. Or Sari, if she was speaking to me again by then. I shouldn't have cared, but it rankled, that she could toss me out without a second thought ... like so much rubbish.
I pushed the thought away, not wanting to ruin my night with Azriel, the only person that actually seemed to give a damn. "If we start out in Alba, we will see many other places on the way to Bhodistan, so that will make us quite the well-traveled pair," I added, enjoying the thought of seeing the world with him.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Feb 9, 2010 17:33:54 GMT -5
I chuckled softly even though I was trying to stuff down the thought that I had planned to take Isra with me; not any more. "That does sound like a good idea." I replied as I walked us from the kitchen and into the sitting dinning room first. "And when will this magical trip begin?" I asked with a smile.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Feb 16, 2010 17:47:20 GMT -5
I considered as we walked into the formal dining area of the house. "After Midwinter, at least," I began, grinning widely. "I can't miss the Masque! It's my first year in the City and I expect the party to be fabulous." I had to admit that I was ridiculously excited about celebrating Midwinter in the City. "Have you been before?" I asked him, wondering if he had decided who he was going as.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Feb 16, 2010 18:25:36 GMT -5
"I haven't." I replied smiling as we walked. "We should go together, since we both haven't been." I suggested. "I know it would be much nicer to go with some one then go alone and risk going home alone as well."
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Feb 17, 2010 10:42:25 GMT -5
I laughed, shaking my head. "I can't imagine you going home alone, but yes, I would love to go to the Masque with you." I hadn't thought to go with anyone, and the fact that Azriel had asked me was an unexpected - and pleasant - bonus.
"Do you know who you're going as?" I asked, thinking over my own dress, being worked on this very moment by a seamstress in the Artisan District.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Feb 17, 2010 21:28:37 GMT -5
I shook my head a little, smiling as I did. One thing I had to say about Naia was that she was enjoyable to be around, infectious really, and she made me want to smile. "No, I haven't really. I'm sure I'll just pick something last minute and pull something out of my armoire." I said with a chuckle. "What about you?"
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Feb 17, 2010 23:40:23 GMT -5
I made a face at his response. "Oh, that's no fun!" Grinning at him, I answered his question with a bow and a flourish.
"You are speaking to one Calypso, nymph of the sea." I laughed and tossed my hair back before continuing. "A friend once told me that "Naia" means "sea nymph" so I thought it would be appropriate. And of course I have a seamstress working on my dress this very minute and I shall be the belle of the ball." I was teasing, of course, who would notice me amid the throng of gorgeous D'Angeline women who would be in attendance?
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Feb 19, 2010 14:36:29 GMT -5
I laughed softly. "Hmm, sea nymph sounds oddly fitting." I replied with a quirked and playful brow as I chuckled at my own jest. "I'm sure you'll look beautiful and I look forward to it, Lilli should be there as well so it will be enjoyable all round."
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