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Post by Estella de Cartier on Jul 28, 2010 15:15:45 GMT -5
He was not soft, which was a change. A welcome one.
"Yes well, you are not the first to have bested me," I said, a little bit more sombre as I rubbed at the scar across my shoulder and chest. "And I doubt you will be the last. But, I would like to think there is the need to lash out as you put it, and perhaps at least a little bit of intelligence. Though I cannot be blamed for the things I do not know of," I responded, "I have not had any formal schooling, nor do I have books at my disposal save the ones I have stolen. I have been here... like this... from a very young age."
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Jul 29, 2010 18:35:33 GMT -5
"The smartest man I know can't read," I replied, then shook my head. I wanted to help her outright, but I had promised not to create any international incidents. And implying Sabrina wasn't looking after her people by getting this girl a job was not fulfilling that promise. Then again, I could be sneaky when I wanted to be. "Who am I to give you advice? But you seem bright enough, you should try to find yourself a job and stop trying to pick pockets. There should be plenty of work around, you just had a plague come through. Get yourself cleaned up, get some new clothes, and find employment. Keep going like you are, and you'll just get more scars." I had casually taken out my purse, and now it lay between my hand and the bench we sat on. I stood, leaving it behind, beside the handkerchief that still held two pastries. "That's just my opinion. Thanks for the chat." I nodded to her and headed back up to the palace. I could find Marie a present on another day. This girl had been right, she had need for the purse far more than I did.
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Aug 5, 2010 17:53:35 GMT -5
I watched as he started to walk away, leaving his coin and the pastries behind. I had a right mind to snatch up both and leave him walking in the cold, but something inside me, deep inside, something that I had locked away decided to surface, and I cursed softly at myself, under my breath as I picked up his sack of coin, and the pastries, and stepped quickly after him until I stood at his side.
"I am sorry if I seemed.... ungrateful... for your words of wisdom," I said with a slow coming smile. "But... not many people tend to care. And so I have to think hard as to whether the caring is sincere or... is powered by ulterior motives," I looked down to the ground to hide the shame in my face. "And you seem sincere." I handed his coin back to him, holding it out and waiting for him to take it.
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Aug 10, 2010 14:05:34 GMT -5
I heard footsteps hurrying toward me and had two inches of steel drawn before I realized that it was my friendly neighborhood thief. I nearly cursed - hadn't she learned that surprising me was a bad idea? - and fully sheathed my blade again. "Now you grow a conscious?" I asked, astonished at her words. Then I shook my head. "Keep it girl. Use it to get yourself on your feet. And if anyone asks, I was just a generous, nameless Alban warrior. I don't want to earn the ire of my cousin if this gets back to her."
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Aug 10, 2010 14:51:17 GMT -5
I looked at him, slightly frustrated, and slightly abashed.
"I won't be telling your cousin, I haven't any clue who the person even is!" I muttered, raising my hands in the air, the coin purse jangling. "Besides, I would not know the first thing about... finding things. I mean... how would someone do it where you are from? Should I purchase a dress and go door to door to every establishment I can find and try to find something that I can do?" I asked, confused, and upset. "Keeping your coin and failing would rest too heavily on my conscience. So would keeping it and spending it on ought else." I shuffled uneasily from foot to foot as I looked at him. I was trying to be nice, but I could not blame him for his sharp tongue. I had done the same with less to go on.
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Aug 10, 2010 15:50:08 GMT -5
I sighed. I could have stood clingy, or angry. But not lost.
"Get yourself new clothes, a bath, and a comb for your hair. You need to lose about three layers of dirt and to burn the rags you're wearing now. And then yes, go door to door and ask if they're looking for help. Start with places that you know the owner is kind. You've a pretty enough face, I'm sure you could serve drinks if naught else." I still didn't reach for the purse, having made my decision that she needed it.
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Aug 10, 2010 16:04:28 GMT -5
He did not reach for the coins, and so I withdrew my hand, feeling the weight of it as I held it by its cord. I nodded, albeit a little stiffly.
"And what if it doesn't work, then what do I do? After a dress, a stop at an inn to bathe and sleep... what if no one wants to hire me? What if they know I am a theif and do not want ot give me a chance? Then I have naught to show for your kindness but a pretty dress, a clean face and an empty purse." My words were not said in anger... perhaps more along the lines of desperation, which sensation cut through me like a knife. I had not been able to feel this way in a very long time, covering it with a cold hard veneer instead.
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Aug 11, 2010 21:42:42 GMT -5
"I find it hard to believe that you will not be able to find a single job in this entire city. Especially since you're not exactly in a position to be picky," I replied, steady in the face of her anxiety. "I can't wave a magic wand and make your life better. But that," I continued, glancing to the purse in her hand, "gives you an opportunity to change your luck. Don't waste it on what-ifs."
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Aug 12, 2010 17:32:54 GMT -5
His words were strong, almost hard, though not heartless. If he was heartless, he would not have looked at me twice once he had gotten his coin purse back. I nodded slowly, though I felt my stomach knot. The one good thing abotu being homeless was a sense of freedom, of being able to be onesself without having to put on the pretences required from those who are functioning members of society. That would be the hardest part - giving that up, giving up me, the sense of freedom I had gotten, the ability I had not to care one wit about other people. I sighed heavily and nodded my head, showing that I understood his words, whether I liked them or not.
"You are right," I said simply, looking into his stern face.
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Aug 20, 2010 9:30:37 GMT -5
"It happens occasionally," I replied, unable to help the grin that stole across my mouth. "What's your name?"
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Aug 23, 2010 13:53:43 GMT -5
I laughed a little t his joke, and felt my shoulders lower from teh tension as he smiled.
"Estella de Cartier," I said, giving my full name, though I normally never did. He was a foreigner, and no doubt knew nothing about my family, the name, or what any of it meant, "but everyone calls me Essie... well those that know me. Most others have a few less savoury choice words," I said with a light laugh. "What is your name?" I asked.
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Aug 23, 2010 18:27:46 GMT -5
"Ferris mab Eideann," I replied. I would have preferred just giving my first name, but it would have been rude after she had given all of hers. "It's very nice to meet you Essie. Now I have a name to look you up, should I ever make it back to the City."
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Aug 24, 2010 11:16:36 GMT -5
That name I knew, from when they had the welcome for the Alban royalty, and my jaw dropped, and perhaps my face drained of colour, though it felt as though it was red, heated as it became.
"I... well I..," I stuttered, feeling out of my element. I swallowed, looking to him with wide eyes before I calmed myself and closed my mouth with a soft laugh. "I am sorry. I have never tried to pickpocket royalty before," I teased, hoping to make light of the situation.
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Aug 24, 2010 20:56:07 GMT -5
She recognized my name, curse it all. I scanned around, an automatic thing for me though I usually didn't normally use it to try not to be self-conscious, as she stuttered over herself. "Not royalty, just some generous Alban, remember?" I reminded her. "I think you might appreciate not wanting to undercut my cousin now, yes?"
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Aug 26, 2010 13:40:30 GMT -5
He lokoed a little uneasy, but his words made me laugh.
"Hmmm... perhaps, though if everytime I attempted to steal from someone and was caught it ended with good conversation with a nice person," I said with a smile, "then I might be harder to persuade out of my old ways." I sighed softly, and nodded my head. "Yes, a very generous Alban man. Do not worry, I won't bring you unwanted attention, aside from my own." I looked around. "Do you mind my asking, but what were you en route to anyways before I ... well... tackled you?" I felt a little bit more at ease now that I had seen him react. he was not like other highborn nobles, royalty or no, who would use their title to make me feel smaller than I was. It was obvious he wanted to be treated like a person, not bowed to and handled with children's gloves.
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Aug 27, 2010 11:51:03 GMT -5
"I was looking for a gift," I replied. I would not blush, I would not blush... "For a girl I know."
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Aug 30, 2010 10:59:53 GMT -5
I smiled, a little wryly, at his admission.
"She must be special," I said wtih a nod, "you really should take your coin back then. I do not want you to be unable to purchase her gift today," I said wtih a slightly sad smile. I really could use the coin, but it was obvious that there was someone he had planned to use it on. And judging by the weight of it, it would have been quite the handsome gift. "Is she someone you are courting?" I asked him, interested in who someone of his stature might be with. Probably some fair lady with enough jewels and coin to keep her fully happy for the rest of her life.
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Sept 1, 2010 1:49:52 GMT -5
"Err... sort of. It's not really... that is I mean to say..." My voice trailed off as I began to realize that I sounded like an idiot. "She is very special," I rallied, clear on that at least. "Do not worry about the gift though, I still don't know what I'm going to get her. But it was as good of a justification as any to get away from the palace."
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Sept 8, 2010 9:46:34 GMT -5
I smiled as he stuttered. It was obvious he had feelings for the girl, plain and obvious. I still felt bad, though, that he was giving me the coin he was planning on using for a gift.
"Well that is sweet of you," I said, still grinning, "I am sure if she is special she will appreciate whateever it is you do decide to get her." I could feel the heavy weight of the coin purse and thought he must be a very generous gift giver.
"Why on earth though would someone want to get away from the palace? I can only imagine that it would be the epitomy of wealth and comfort."
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Sept 9, 2010 23:10:56 GMT -5
I was glad to be away from the topic of Marie, not because I didn't like thinking of her, but because I didn't know how to explain what we had. "Exactly. It's stifling," I replied. "Give me a bedroll in the woods any day."
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Sept 17, 2010 10:29:19 GMT -5
I had to chuckle "How about a dirty blanket in a doorway" I asked him, jokingly. "We could switch places for a day... though I am fairly certain everyone would notice the difference at the Palace."
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Sept 20, 2010 10:02:28 GMT -5
"I think your blonde hair might give you away," I agreed with a little smile. "Besides, I expect that you'll be quite busy with your new employment."
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Sept 20, 2010 15:50:05 GMT -5
I laughed. "I never forget a person's kindness, employment or not, if you really needed to get away, and there was any way I could help, I would try. You have been more than kind to me and it would be the least that I could do."
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Post by Ferris mab Eideann on Sept 25, 2010 18:17:18 GMT -5
"Thank you. If there should be a need, I will call on you," I said, impressed by her words. I had met many thieves to be so grateful of kindness.
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Post by Estella de Cartier on Dec 21, 2010 13:30:41 GMT -5
I smiled and nodded in understanding.
"I supopse, I ought to let you on your way," I said with a grin, hoping not to have been taking up all his time.
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