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Post by Mael Leblanc on Feb 7, 2010 23:13:54 GMT -5
"Adrien, slow down!" I cried, tugging on the lead that bound the two of us together. He was usually very patient with me, but today he was moving as quickly as a horse did if he knew that he was close to home.
"Well, you want to buy a new scarf, right?" He asked, tugging on the rope for emphasis. "If we don't get there in time, either the shop will close or everyone will have taken all the best ones!"
"Adrien, I am blind," I reminded him. "I care not what color the scarf is so long as it is comfortable."
"Yes, well, the rest of us have to see you in it," he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "Now come on!"
"I feel like a dog on a leash..." I remarked as he pulled me along.
It seemed that luck was with us, for there was still plenty of material available that could be used to make scarves. Adrien patiently waited until I had touched all of the material that was placed in my hands before making a decision. Finally, I announced that the first one I had touched seemed to be softest.
"Oh, that is a good choice, Mael. It is blue, with a design like a peacock's feather at one end." It had taken Adrien a while to become used to the idea of describing things for me, but he was much better at it now.
"Stay here while I purchase it," he ordered, and I felt the lead rope slacken as he released it. I was about to protest that I was perfectly capable of purchasing fabric myself, but Adrien was already haggling with the shopkeeper over a reasonable price.
Now that my leash was no longer being held in Adrien's sweaty palm, I decided to explore a little, letting my hands roam over the fabrics that they came across: cambric, satin, plain linens, expensive silks, all of it waiting to be grasped and stroked. I couldn't have cared less if they were all a shade of dull black, the textures made them all unique, all precious.
"Adrien, I am going outside," I announced suddenly, lulled by the cacophony of noises that assaulted my ears from the district proper, I pushed open the door of the shop and stepped outside, feeling a sudden breeze whip the ends of my blindfold into my cheeks. Adrien had chosen the white blindfold for this outing, saying something about how there was no way that white would conflict with any colour of scarf.
"Oh!" I exclaimed, so like a child who instead of a man of eighteen. The cobblestones were strangely smooth under my bare feet. I could hear the clip-clop of horses' hooves as they pulled carriages belonging to nobles who were too lazy to walk anywhere. I could hear merchants hawking their goods and, further down, the pounding of metal that meant a smithy was nearby. I could hear other pedestrians too, so many voices, so many conversations.
I swore loudly as my foot brushed against a sharp stone, and before I knew it I had fallen on my ass. Damn it all, Adrien was always telling me that it was better to wear shoes in the Artisan's District...
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Feb 16, 2010 8:26:09 GMT -5
A quiet day... more like a rather boring day, sometimes I longed for them, but today was not one of those days. All around me, people were bundled up in their heavier clothes, keeping warm, while I loved th crisp fresh air that whirled about me. Of course, I did not dress in my natural Alban garb, not today, but I still had not completely adopted the usual flowing, floor length, trippable gowns that the d'Angelines seemed so fond of, regardless of whether I had finally come to realise the beauty in them.
Today, I had a book in my hand as I walked, relying on my senses to tell me when I should move to the left or the right to avoid other people who were not half as self aware as I was while reading a book at that. However, I was not expecting to stumble over a man who was crumpled on the ground. I righted myself and turned around, apologizing profusely for even if he should not have been lying on the ground, I should have been far more aware.
"My word, I am terribly sorry my lord," I murmured in my heavily accented d'Angeline, "I ... I was not watching where I was going," I explained. My eyes finally rose from the ground before me as I looked down with redenning cheeks to go over the man. Lithe and blond and... wearing a blindfold. I looked at him a little queerly, wondering if it was some game of hide and seek he might have been playing with a lady friend. The thought made me blush even more. "Here can I lend you a hand?" I asked softly as I extended mine, my fingers brushing his shoulder just gently.
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Feb 16, 2010 11:20:43 GMT -5
Were it not for the fact that her fingers had brushed my shoulder I would have either had to sit there with my hand in the air like an idiot or admit I could not see her at all. I was more than a little relieved when my guess proved to be correct and my hand came into contact with hers.
"Thank you, my lady," I said as I stood and brushed myself off. "I will take care not to fall across your path again." She had an accent that I could not quite place, but it sounded familiar. "And my name is not 'my lord', it's Mael, it means 'Prince'." What was my mother thinking when she gave me that name? Prince of what? The pits where I'd fought to feed myself every day for six years? Prince of the Pits, indeed.
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Feb 24, 2010 18:20:49 GMT -5
I blushed. Thankfully he could not see the reddening of my cheeks, but then, neither could he see the smile on my lips. I looked at him curiously, though, and wondered at the kerchief over his eyes.
"I think it is better to fall in my path than that of a carriage. I tend to deal less damage if it is just a collision we are worrying about," I said with a soft laugh. "It is nice to meet you Mael, I am Faolan. My name means little wolf," I said with a soft laugh. "Were you headed somewhere?" I asked, being rather nosey.
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Feb 24, 2010 19:35:49 GMT -5
"It would be difficult to find a place when one cannot see where one is going," I replied, grinning. "My friend is currently occupied with making a few purchases at a clothier. I decided to step outside for some fresh air, that's all." I shrugged. "There is little to do in this City when you cannot see an actor on stage or a tumbler in the air or the words in a book."
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Mar 6, 2010 14:45:55 GMT -5
I understood, then, why he was wearing the blindfold, and felt an idiot, sadly glad that he could not see the bright blush that had risen to my cheeks.
"I would like to disagree with you," I said with a soft smile, though he could not see it. HIs own smile was lovely, and I wondered if he had ever seen it before. "There are plenty of things to do. They just require a lot of... patience, I suppose."
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Mar 6, 2010 16:22:51 GMT -5
"Ah well, I am not a patient man by nature," I replied. "It was one of the many things I had to learn. I suppose I could take in a concert if I could convince my companion to sit still for one. He has even less patience for such things." I wondered if he would tolerate it, for my sake. There were a lot of things Adrien tolerated for my sake. I made a note to ask him about it later. Surely there were better things to do in this city than cavort around Night's Doorstep while Adrien chased yet another serving wench.
"Pardon, my lady, but I don't believe I've heard an accent quite like yours before. I find your voice to be quite...lyrical..." I felt my cheeks redden. "Excuse me, a few years on the streets have dulled my manners..."
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Mar 21, 2010 20:59:36 GMT -5
I coered my mouth as I giggled softly, his admitting that he was not terribly patient showed me he was at least truthful. But then he grew a mite quiet as he asked me where I was from, his cheeks taking on a rosy hue. I blushed at his blushing. I was nowhere close to the fluency it would take to be rid of my Alban accent all together. Though a part of me hoped that I never would.
"Thank you," I whispered softly, "that is kind of you. I am from Alba," I said with a smile, full of pride which he could not see, but I wondered if he could hear. "Where are you from... well I mean... I know you are d'Angeline," I stuttered, laughing a tad nervously, "I mean what province?"
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Mar 21, 2010 21:55:44 GMT -5
"L'Agnace," I answered. "I was born at an estate a stone's throw away from the City of Elua." I knew this because it hadn't taken me long to travel there after the estate had burned to the ground.
"You have come a long way from home," I remarked. I had an idea where Alba was, but I had not had an interest in maps before I had been blinded, and no use for them after the fact. "Do you ever find yourself wishing that you could return there, where you do not have to deal with irritating D'Angelines?" I grinned, hoping she would interpret it as the jest it was.
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Mar 22, 2010 18:51:32 GMT -5
I laughed softly at his little joke. "Sometimes, yes," I answered honestly, though I continued to smile. "But most times, no," I murmured, feeling a slight bit of shame in what I said. I loved my home but I did not like what it brought out of me. True, the City had left me having waking dreams, but they were growing fewer and farther between because it seemed they held some sense of controlability. "I know that l'Agnace is not far but, would you rather be back home than here? Or anywhere else for that matter?"
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Mar 22, 2010 20:43:24 GMT -5
I shrugged. "The City is my home, now." The manse where I had lived through my childhood was gone, burnt to the ground, and my life as I had known it had burned with it. "I can't imagine life in another place, even another D'Angeline province." I had experienced both sides of the City of Elua: the side where people made music and danced in the streets, where laughter echoed in every corner, and the other, darker side of poverty, disease, crime, despair, and I loved the City of Elua, despite its faults.
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Mar 24, 2010 19:38:02 GMT -5
I smiled and nodded, then realised he couldn't very well see me nodding. "I understand what you mean," I said out loud as I looked around. "Well, if you are overmuch worried about boring your companion," I said, the smile reaching my voice, "I would not mind being your escort about town. I mean, if I am not imposing or anything of the sort."
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Mar 28, 2010 18:31:57 GMT -5
I shook my head. "Oh no, you would not be imposing at all, and I'm sure my companion would relish having a day to himself for once. Oh, but...I'm sure a fine lady such as yourself would not want to go traipsing about Night's Doorstep..."
"Mael?" I recognized the sound of Adrien's footsteps as he approached us. "What are you doing? Er, good afternoon, my lady." Adrien had lived on the streets for longer than I had, but at times he could summon the politeness of a peer of the realm. "Adrien, this is Faolan," I explained. "She has offered to escort me around town sometime."
"Around town?" Adrien asked, and I could almost see the lines in his forehead wrinkle in consternation. "Well, it might be good for you, if the lady does not mind dragging you around everywhere."
"Adrien, I am a man, not a sack of carrots," I said, sighing and turning my attention to Faolan again. "If it's alright with you, I don't want to be a burden."
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Mar 29, 2010 5:35:29 GMT -5
I looked to Adrien, curtsying as he said his salutations. "Nice to meet you Adrien," I grinned, then looked back to Mael. "Tis not a burden at all. I just hope I am not a burden on you. I can tend to be terribly dull, or perhaps just very quiet," I said with a soft laugh. "And Night's Doorstep," I said, shrugging, "does not scare me at all. I highly doubt anyone would try anything on me." I was fairly certain of this, my woads usually doing the trick of scaring off anyone who wished to pickpocket, accost, or harass me in some way or another. "So, do you mind if I take Mael for the day, Adrien?" I asked with a smile, hoping he would not think me a threat to his ward.
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Mar 31, 2010 0:04:37 GMT -5
I almost heard Adrien shrug. "I'm not his nursemaid, as long as you bring him back in one piece, my lady," I heard the warning in his voice, and rested a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Adrien, you don't have to intimidate all my new friends, you know, especially not ladies with such noble bearings." She could have been an Alban peasant woman, for all I knew, and yet I heard the sincerity in her voice.
Adrien took my hand and walked forward, placing my hand against warm flesh that I assumed was Faolan's hand. "If you need me, I'll just take your new scarf home, and then I'll be at the Bath House," he said, more for her benefit than mine. "Take care of yourself, Prince."
"Always," I replied. "Go enjoy your day, Tiger."
I listened until his footsteps faded before addressing Faolan. "I'm sorry, he's just...really protective of me," I said. "I think you may have intimidated him a bit, he gets this quavering tic in his voice whenever he's nervous..."
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Apr 4, 2010 19:55:58 GMT -5
I listened and watched the exchange as his friend and attendant glared at me threateningly and I raised my brows incredulously. I was sure he could see the woad on my neck and shoulders that attested to my courage. He took Mael's hand and placed it in my own. His hand was soft, yet when he held it his grasp was firm, but not overly so. The man made his way away, and I could not help but to roll my eyes then laugh softly as he did.
"It seems most d'Angeline men are intimidated of me," I said to Mael with a soft sigh. "Apparently it is not d'Angeline custom for women to fight wars and kill their oppressors like it is in Alba. Nonetheless, tis okay that he is protective. That shows that he does care dearly about you," I said as I smiled, my voice holding the smile my lips held as well.
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Apr 4, 2010 22:01:11 GMT -5
"Ah, but Adrien is only partly d'Angeline," I said. "His mother was Bodhistani, or so I gather, he doesn't talk about his heritage much." I shrugged. "So I would assume he is only partially intimidated by you, three-quarters at the most." I grinned. "He fights and wins against men twice his size, at least. I'll make him promise not to glare daggers at you anymore, which is what I assume he was doing."
I was suddenly cognizant of the fact that I was probably babbling on about nothing in particular, which probably wasn't the slightest bit interesting for a woman like her. "Is there...any particular place you would like to go?" I asked.
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Apr 5, 2010 14:20:22 GMT -5
I chuckled at his logic. "I fight and win against men twice my age," I said to counter him, "but I am sure he could hold his own. And I don't think he'd strike me. He seems more the bark and not the bite type when it comes to ladies," I teased.
Prompted by his question, I looked around. "Hmm... I am not sure. Are you hungry?" I asked, looking to him.
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Apr 5, 2010 14:52:54 GMT -5
I shrugged. "I'll survive for a few more hours..." This, of course, was the precise moment my stomach voiced its objection by growling loudly.
"Oh, well, it seems my stomach has spoken," I remarked, grinning. "I suppose something light will suffice, but I will not begrudge you if you want something a little heartier."
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Apr 7, 2010 8:53:24 GMT -5
I laughed softly as he changed his mind. "Good," I said with a smile that he could not see but I hoped he could hear, "I generally have a healthy appetite," I grinned, wondering now if he thought I might be some awkward portly woman. The thought made me giggle. "What do you feel like eating?"
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Apr 7, 2010 9:15:38 GMT -5
I shrugged. "In truth? Anything, so long as it smells and tastes like something edible, the aesthetics of food are wasted on the blind. I am sure our D'Angeline cuisine is hardly filling for an Alban stomach, and I do not wish to give insult by suggesting something that leaves you unsatisfied. Is there a place you frequent?"
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Apr 8, 2010 19:12:15 GMT -5
I laughed at his words. "Well I don't think we eat massively different proportions," I giggled, showing I did not take offence, "but there is an Alban themed restaurant I once went to. Perhaps you would like to taste what my homeland's fare is like?" I asked as I steered us in the direction, walking down the walkway. "And besides, the look of food is hardly important, and could be a deterrent, anyways. I think you have the upper hand in that you do not have to see what it might look like. I think it would make one more open to trying more adventurous cuisine, don't you?"
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Apr 8, 2010 21:36:58 GMT -5
I considered her suggestion. "It might be nice to try something a little different," I said. After all, she was from Alba, and it wouldn't hurt to be a little adventurous. "It's not too spicy, is it? My friend loves his Bodhistani spices."
I grinned when she expressed a similar distaste for the arrangement of food on a plate. "You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard people say: 'Such-and-such a dish bears an uncanny resemblance to something distasteful.' and I've tried it only to find that it is delicious."
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Apr 10, 2010 15:17:23 GMT -5
I had to smile as he agreed, and laugh as he proved me right. "See! Just think, everyone else will miss out on something that could be compared to the food of the Gods, while you take the leap and try it anyways. Sometimes, sight is not all it is cracked up to be," I said, mayhap a little too sombre as I thought of just the kind of sight I meant. Where he could see nothing, I saw too much. We were almost comically a perfect compliment to one another.
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Apr 10, 2010 15:38:16 GMT -5
"At times it's not," I agreed. "But there are some days I wish that I could glance up at the clear blue sky in a green meadow." I frowned. "Those are just memories, now, but at least I can still feel the wind on my face and hear the birds in the trees..." I took a deep breath, feeling my chest expand as my lungs filled with air.
"All this talking makes me even hungrier," I said, grinning. "I haven't survived this long just to start complaining about my lot in life."
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Apr 10, 2010 16:13:09 GMT -5
I walked us down the lane, my arm in his, stopping to let a carriage cross before us. "Well, I do not see it as complaining. I for one cannot imagine what it would be like to have lost my sight, or not to have it at all. You must think yourself more lucky than those unfortunate to be born without sight and never have seen the sky or the grass, to never know what blue looks like, or any colour. It must be had to lose something you had, but imagine how it would be to never have had those experiences at all," I said wtih a smile as I started us walking again. "Will you tell me?" I asked softly, hoping he did not think me insincere. "How it had happened?"
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Apr 10, 2010 16:51:05 GMT -5
I took a deep breath, wondering how much I should tell her, but I could hear nothing but genuine interest in her voice. "I was ten," I said softly. "Some men came to our house one night, soldiers. They...raped and murdered my mother, tore out my eyes, and left me to die in the inferno they made of our home. The last thing I ever saw was my mother's corpse, and what kind of a sight is that, for a child?" I bit my lip, even though I could not shed tears. "And no one cared, no inquiry was made, nothing. It was as if we never existed..."
I took another breath to steady myself. "I-I'm sorry, it's just...politics..."
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Apr 18, 2010 17:48:11 GMT -5
I stood dead in my tracks, a gasp escaping my lips before my hand flew to cover my mouth. "By the Gods, Mael... I... I am so sorr," I whispered, then feeling the anger rising in me, the type of anger that would seek to meet out justice, I growled low. "Who would do such an abhorrent thing?... do NOT apologize... that is just... it's ... I... I don't even know what to say. Why was it not looked into? Why... why you?" I whispered, bowing my head, my gaze falling to the cobbled ground beneath our feet.
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Apr 18, 2010 21:12:33 GMT -5
I sighed. "If I knew the answers to those questions, I'd have found those men and killed them by now. All I know is that I managed to crawl to safety, and before I know it, I hear people saying that I'm dead. It was like going through Hell trying to fix my accounts so that I could access my mother's funds." I bowed my head. "And I'm no closer to finding the men or their masters, even with all the coin I now possess..."
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Post by Faolan mab Ceallach on Apr 23, 2010 11:46:54 GMT -5
I shook my head, frowning sadly at his loss. I placed my free hand on his shoulder. "I understand... I understand more than you may think," I whispered. "Did... did your family have any enemies that you knew of? Any reason why they would come after you and your mother like that?" I asked. "I am sorry if I am asking you too many question, you do not have to answer them," I murmured. I silently swore at myself, for sounding so inconsiderate towards his feelings, but I did care about them. And I swore at my gift. Why did it always choose moments when I didn't want it to show up to make itself present, but in this case, when it could help someone, it remained silent.
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