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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Mar 31, 2010 19:03:33 GMT -5
It has been a few months since Uncle Jareth had named me heir, and longer since Grandfather had died. Nothing really had changed since I was named heir, it seemed anyway. I knew things will once the household and all of the records and people knew I was Uncle's heir. Or until he and Ana had their own children. I wouldn't mind having young cousins, though who knew if they would be of age when Uncle and Ana finally go to the Lands Beyond. I didn't.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 5, 2010 9:59:46 GMT -5
I had received word that my niece Alora had arrived in the city and thus as soon as I was able to get away I returned home in order to greet her. Despite having been her nominal guardian and the fact that she was now my heir until Anacrasia and I might produce heirs of our own I could not say I really knew the young lady. I was after all a distant and often distracted man and so I knocked lightly on the door of her room hoping to at least begin remedying that situation.
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 6, 2010 11:28:32 GMT -5
I had just begun unpacking when I heard a knock on the door. Wondering who it was, I went to answer to see Uncle on the other side. "Uncle Jareth. What brings you here," I asked, mildly surprised. I hadn't really expected to see him here, much less at all.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 6, 2010 11:37:02 GMT -5
I quirked my right eyebrow “it’s my house?” Still standing at the door to her room I shrugged “I know I have not been around much but when I heard you were in town I wanted to greet you. It is not like I am off leading soldiers much since father’s death anyway.” Dad’s passing was still a very tender spot and I reckoned it always would be but I was moving on and doing what I had to as he would have wanted it.
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 6, 2010 11:46:15 GMT -5
"It is, I just hadn't expected to see you much." I nodded at the comment about leading soldiers. I had known Grandfather enough to mourn his passing, but not really enough to shed a tear over it. "Thank you; for greeting me."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 6, 2010 11:54:01 GMT -5
I considered her words to be a testament to my utter failure as a guardian and it made me wonder what my sister had been thinking. But well things like this were as much politics as family undertaking and Alora had flourished into a wonderful young lady. “You’re welcome, if you might need any help learning the land I am available. As you probably already noticed Greta is my only servant but she is tremendously competent.”
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 6, 2010 13:12:39 GMT -5
"I could look for more if it's needed. It'll take the load off of Greta." I really didn't expect Uncle to acquiesce to my offer, but it was there for him to accept. I had seen what Greta could do already on her own, though it seemed like she could use some help. "I came once a year with Mother. Though I wouldn't mind if you showed me around."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 6, 2010 13:27:43 GMT -5
I considered a bit such a task might help her develop some managerial skills. It also might help the image among the other nobles that I am an utter curmudgeon. I am of course but I really should not give them anymore missiles to hurl. I scratched my chin considering as I watched the young woman before me and made a mental note to be sitting in my chair polishing my sword when any suitors showed up at the door. “I think that would be a splendid idea if you do not mind undertaking it” I said at last.
I then gave a lopsided grin “As for the last it all depends on what might amuse you.”
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 6, 2010 14:46:51 GMT -5
"I wouldn't mind undertaking it." I was worried when he didn't answer right away. Though I was glad that he liked the idea of me finding more staff to help Greta. I'm not sure how Uncle would react when any possible suitors come to ask for my hand, though I wouldn't be surprised to see a sword within reach.
"We could go look for things to decorate my room," I said. "After all, this will be my room for the foreseeable future."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 6, 2010 15:11:36 GMT -5
Oho! She just suggested covering me in honey and burying me in an ant hill. But I keep my features calm and placid “if that is what you might like. If you would prefer something less prosaic like a nice dinner that would be nice as well I like to think I am not such a stick in the mud that things always have to be practical.”
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 6, 2010 16:56:43 GMT -5
"The room can wait, Uncle." I felt a little hurt, but was careful not to show it. "I would like to share a nice dinner with you." The room can wait; I can live with what was there for a while. After all, I have some earnings from what I from my holdings I had inherited.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 7, 2010 9:38:00 GMT -5
I considered a bit “how about a combination of the two?” I would learn to be diplomatic one day if it killed me. Besides just how painful could shopping be? Probably pretty painful but I did my best not to think about it. “After all the place should feel like home to you.”
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 7, 2010 19:58:38 GMT -5
I should hope so, I thought. "You would 'suffer shopping with a woman'?" I asked. I couldn't really blame him if he thought it was painful, and I was thinking of how to make painless as possible. "We can do that."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 8, 2010 9:05:59 GMT -5
I gave her an amused look “Well we might consider it practice for if I am ever captured in battle. You know then stretched on the rack, branded with hot irons, and then having my finger and toe nails removed with pliers.” It was all said in jest which is how I hoped she would take it.
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 9, 2010 14:14:18 GMT -5
I couldn't help but laugh. "You best be careful. You don't know who might be listening. You might feel like that if any of our peers have their way. It might be worse."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 11, 2010 22:57:55 GMT -5
"I might" I winked "and it might be worse if any possible future enemies are listening as well. I can see it now if I am captured 'Take him to the dungeon? No send him to help the queen pick out draperies!"
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 12, 2010 10:47:37 GMT -5
I let loose laugher than immediately went silent. I wasn't used to just belting out like that with laughter.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 12, 2010 13:33:56 GMT -5
I noticed she held back a bit after laughing and then I responded in soft but serious tones “relax. I have always been a very serious type and age and wisdom has taught me that it is not always the best to be so serious. A little levity goes a long way in this life. It is probably a bit too late for me to put that lesson to heart but mayhap not for you.”
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 12, 2010 18:49:40 GMT -5
"I hope to put it to good use one day, Uncle."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 13, 2010 11:20:36 GMT -5
“Well, let us hope it does not end up being gallows humor. So shall we take a carriage or ride?” It would be an odd question for any lady except one of my relatives.
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 13, 2010 13:51:15 GMT -5
"Ride. I was stuck in a carriage for the whole trip in."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 13, 2010 14:14:14 GMT -5
“Alright I assume you need a mount and tack? Gods know we have enough horses milling around in the barn doing nothing but getting fat and eating expensive fodder.”
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 13, 2010 14:35:16 GMT -5
I nodded with a smile. "I do. Shall we go tack our own mounts, or should we make Greta do it? Gods know she may not know how." I didn't, but I should learn how if I were ever in the position to do it on my own.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 13, 2010 14:50:22 GMT -5
I blinked at her “you do not know how to saddle your own horse?” I was a bit appalled as it would never even occur to me to have Greta saddle my horse. “Come on lets go pick you out some stuff. I got a relatively young mare named Little Bee I think you will get along with.” I then glanced at her behind “and you are a bit on the small side so I suspect a 15 saddle will do you just fine. Do you prefer split reigns or single?”
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 13, 2010 15:19:31 GMT -5
I shook my head. "No, I don't. I guess Mother, or Father, saw the need to teach me. I guess they were more focused on having "the proper daughter" than teaching me "manly" things."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 13, 2010 16:17:01 GMT -5
I snorted “proper is being able to stand on your hind legs and help yourself.” We had reached the stables and many of the horses nickered thinking they were going to get fed. I walked to Little Bee’s stall and held out my hand for the black and white paint to sniff. “Do you think she will do?”
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 13, 2010 16:39:23 GMT -5
I looked at the black and white mare then nodded. "I think their thought was to be more ... "ladylike" than to become another living history lesson. If you know what I mean."
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 14, 2010 10:40:36 GMT -5
“One does not have to go one way or another there can be a middle ground.” I went to the tack room and picked out a saddle a suspected would do as well as a pad, headstall, and a bucket of brushes. Once those were in place I went back and got a halter and a lead. Getting the mare out of her stall and tying her I then dug a hoof pick out of the bucket.
I bent and picked up a front foot and began cleaning it out with the pick before looking up at Alora “One must learn history or they are doomed to repeat it.” I then looked back to my work as I cleaned each foot in turn the mare standing easy for me to do so. I assumed Alora was watching what I did “but I also think many put too much stock in history and thus they over compensate.”
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Apr 16, 2010 12:56:46 GMT -5
I watched as he talked and took care of Little Bee. "Or you have those learn history but still under compensate." I knew my history well enough and I didn't want to end up like that.
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Post by Jareth d’Aiglemort on Apr 27, 2010 15:54:26 GMT -5
I finished with the hooves assuming she was watching me and moved to brush the mare. I bent to get her belly "pay careful attention to where the cinch goes around. Miss any burrs or the like there and they will buck."
I smiled a bit then and returned tot he subject at hand "in my humble opinion it all comes down to the fact that at some point someone has to think, I find that too many rely too heavily on past presidence and others completely ignore it. It seems people want direction without ever having to think themselves. But indeed sometimes you have to think and just make your best guess."
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