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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2010 1:10:12 GMT -5
The carriage arrived at the town house and I exited, letting my foot man help out the young girl behind me. Walking to the house I noticed a few lights flicked on and opened the door to see my head maid greet me. "Welcome back my lord," She said bobbing a cursty as she took my cloak. She looked behind me at the girl following but said nothing about it. "Would you care for some food or wine?" She asked.
"Yes, both please, and would you have a warm bath prepared for my guest. She'll be staying the evening here and will require a new gown as well." My maid nodded and took the girl's cloak as well before hurrying off.
I turned back to the dark haired girl, whom I hadn't exhanged names with yet, and gave her a soft smile. "I hope you don't mind that I ordered you a bath. I assumed you'd want one as well."
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2010 1:16:47 GMT -5
My eyes were as wide as saucers when the carriage pulled up to the man's house, a beautiful place by any standards. I followed him in silence as a maid answered the door and took our cloaks, even my threadbare piece of cloth that could hardly even be called a cloak, without comment, as if he brought home soggy orphans everyday. Maybe he did, what did I know?
"I don't mind," I said, hardly believing that this was true - I hadn't had a proper bath in two years! Not only didn't I mind, but I could have kissed him for thinking of it, though of course that was not my preferred method of offering gratitude. Instead I said, "Thank you for letting me stay the night." I could be gracious, when I wanted to.
"I'm Alex, by the way," I offered him my nickname, not quite ready to give him the whole thing, for some reason that I didn't really know.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2010 1:42:58 GMT -5
I smiled at the girl... Alex as it were. My eyes darted over her figure, taking in her face and features as she stood, soaked, in my doorway. "Azriel," I offered in reply. She hadn't given her last name but I thought that I might give mine, in case she sought me out in the future if she were in trouble and needed help. "Azriel Shahrizai, Marquise Le Mons." I added my title just incase as well, though I wasn't sure why. In the light I could tell she was much more beautiful and she probably had about ten layers of dirt on her. But her feature shone through and I had to smile because of it. "Its a pleasure to meet you Alex, and you're welcome."
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2010 1:49:58 GMT -5
Azriel Shahrizai? The name was infamous at Valerian, but this man did not possess those features that everyone was always speaking of: hair like a raven's wing, blue and black, eyes like chips of blue stone, pale as a winter snow, cruel as anything. Had I made a misstep?
Still, I knew that I shouldn't like to be judged for my name only, one reason I had been so keen to drop the appellation "no Valerian" and take back my old, unknown last name that held no connotations of pain nor pleasure.
"Well met, Azriel Shahrizai," I said, forcing a smile and trying to hide my trepidation. I shivered slightly, without my cloak I wore only a light cotton dress that had once been yellow. "About that bath...?" I asked, glancing hopefully up the stairs where I assumed the bathing room would be in a house like this.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2010 16:58:53 GMT -5
There was a flicker of something within her, something that made her start at my name, but I passed the thought by and smiled. When she spoke about the bath I shook my head absently as I ran my hand through my hair.
"Oh yes, forgive me." I said as I gestured for her to follow me. "I've had a meal sorted out for you as well." I continued as we walked toward the stairs. "They'll be a gown waiting as well, its yours to keep." I began to mount the stairs glancing back at Alex as we walked. "When you're dried and dressed you can join me in the dinning room for dinner."
I continued up the stairs and down the hall before reaching the guest room with adjoining bathing room. "Here we are." I said smiling as I turned the handle and pushed the door open, the candles lit to brighten the room already.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2010 23:30:59 GMT -5
I followed him, my mouth salivating when he mentioned a meal. I was tempted to skip the bath and go straight for the food, it had been days since I'd eaten anything substantial. But I forced myself to wait, it wasn't like I hadn't gone longer than this before.
"Thank you," I said, walking through the door that he opened for me. The room was bigger even than my room at Valerian, which I'd had to share with two other girls anyway, and it was bathed in candlelight. There was a gown laid out on the bed, and underclothes, all clean. I wanted to touch them, but I was still so dirty that I didn't dare. In fact, I was afraid to touch anything, so I turned back to smile slightly at my benefactor. "I guess I'll wash up and meet you in the dining room..." I said, trailing off and glancing around until I spotted the door to the bathing room. I couldn't wait to sink into hot, soapy water...
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2010 23:49:57 GMT -5
I nodded with a smile then turned on my heel heading in the direction away from the room. I glanced back once but then turned around and headed down stairs. I wasn't sure what in the Gods name I was doing, but for some reason it felt right, the way it had felt when I came to the city to live with Lilli. I knew it was important and for some reason I felt I needed to take care of this girl, she needed to be protected.
Heading down stairs to the dinning room I set myself into one of the chair and began to contemplate my next move. I just couldn't rightfully send her back out into the unknown after tonight, I needed a long term solution.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 0:29:09 GMT -5
When he left, I locked the door behind him out of habit, then slowly stripped off my "dress", which was really the remnants of an already threadbare dress I'd bought from a Tsingano girl several months ago. I didn't know where to put it, it was filthy so I settled for wrapping it in one of the towels that hung in the bathing room and leaving it in a corner. The towel was so soft I near wept at it, but that was forgotten as soon as I set one foot in the steaming hot water.
Oh Gods... this had to be what it was like in Terre d'Ange Beyond. The water soaked the cold right out of my bones, and as I sank below it, closing my eyes and then emerging, I reflected that I should take my time and enjoy every moment. It would help if the water wasn't getting grimy already, but I truly didn't care. There were oils and a something that was like a hard scrubby sponge, had we had those at Valerian? I didn't think so and I happily scrubbed my body all over, until my skin was pink with the heat and the scrubbing. I even cleaned my fingernails and behind my ears.
Last, and most troublesome, my hair. It was long, and thick and so matted that it was difficult to wash. Peering over the edge of the tub, I spied what I was looking for: scissors and a mirror. I rose and stepped out of the tub, grabbing the scissors and regarding myself as I began to cut a good four inches off of my hair, the most matted broken ends. It was long enough that it was still shoulder-length when I was done, though not exactly even. Still, now I could wash it.
I slid back into the tub, scrubbed my freshly shorn locks, and then got out again, wrapping myself in another one of the soft, warm towels. The dirtiness of the water was embarrassing and I vowed to try harder to find ways to bathe more often in the future. I'd left a bit of a mess behind me, dark tresses and dirty clothes, but my stomach was growling and I was in a hurry to get downstairs.
I dried off and combed out my hair, wincing at the jagged edges, but pulling it back and pinning it so that it wasn't as noticeable. I wondered whose things these were, or if he just kept a room like this especially ready for female company. Whose dress was this, all pale green like spring, making me think of warmth and trees and the smell of grass in the sunshine? The underthings matched, pale green with silver ivy leaves embroidered around the hem, finer than anything I'd ever owned, even at Valerian.
The dress fit passably, being a bit too large, but I imagined that it might have fit back when I'd been more filled out. I stared at myself in the mirror, shocked at the transformation. The last time I had been this clean and well dressed was more than two years ago, and I was struck by how much I'd changed. Even half-starved, I could still see the new curves, the swell of breasts that had only been hinted at, the way my hips had widened some as womanhood came upon me. My face was too thin, all angles like my knees and elbows, but I could see that if I somehow managed to eat better and put on some weight I would be striking.
My stomach growled loudly, taking me out of my reverie, and I listened to it, heading down the stairs and looking for the dining room. At every turn were knick-knacks and vases that could have fed me for weeks but I found that I wasn't truly thinking of taking anything. What sort of repayment was that?
I found the dining room, finally, and my benefactor. "I'm sorry if I took too long, my lord Shahrizai," I said, not sure how to address him, a Marquis and I nothing but a pauper. "There was a lot of scrubbing to do." I smiled slightly, unused to polite company after so long, but feeling so wonderfully clean that it was hard to be my usual guarded self.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 0:56:17 GMT -5
I had my plan for the morning, for the entire time she was in the bath I was thinking over what I would do. In the morning I would drop her off with a small amount of coin and tell her good bye, then head straight over to the palace. I would speak with the City's magistrate tomorrow and discuss legally taking her on as my ward.
I was deep in thought about my plans that I didn't hear Alex come into the dinning room. When I looked up, I was utterly shocked to see what was before me. For a moment I just stared, my mouth slowly opening as I tried to figure out why there was a strange woman in my house. She was... gorgeous; the colour of her skin the shine of her hair, even the line of her jaw and cheek bones... and Gods! Her lips.
It was at this point I realized I was staring at Alex, the dirty little street rat that I had picked up. I clicked my mouth closed and swallowed as my eyes looked over her before remembering I hadn't said anything. I jumped up from my seat, my groin hitting the table as I rose. My eyes closed and my jaw tightened as a flare of pain began to radiate from my member, which I was unhappy to find semi hard.
After taking a deep breath and sure that I had recovered I finally straightened out and looked at Alex. "Not a problem." I said a little strangled before the last of the pain resided I moved from the table and toward her with a litte smile. "You look lovely, I almost didn't recognize you." I chuckled a little embarassedly and ran my hand through my hair. "Please, come sit down. I would imagine you're starving." I gestured to the chair across mine. The long dinning room table was made for ten but only the end was set up with plates and glasses as well as cutlery and three low candles.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 1:18:21 GMT -5
He was staring at me like he hadn't just invited me in, and I felt so awkward that I almost fled. Did I really look so different? I knew I did, hadn't I just realized it? It was still embarrassing, that I had suddenly transformed and I remembered all the negative things Estella had said about beauty. I wondered suddenly what she would make of all this.
Finally he spoke, just as he rose from the table and bumped against it. I winced in sympathetic pain, though a flare of amusement caused my lips to quirk into a wider smile.
"Thank you," I said, not commenting on his mishap as I sat down across from him at one end of the long table. I wondered how often he needed a table this big; what would it be like to have friends and dinner parties or just to eat in here every night? "I am starving, actually," I said, laughing slightly as if it were something of a joke to not eat for days. Well, if I couldn't laugh about it, I'd probably be a bitter young woman.
"Do you live here alone?" I asked, glancing around and wondering if there was a lady of the house who was going to come along later. And find a stranger wearing her dress? Maybe he had daughters... this place was awfully big for one man. "Sorry, I don't mean to pry," I said, flushing. "I'm just curious, I suppose."
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 1:43:51 GMT -5
I smiled gently as she moved to the seat across from me and I waited till she sat down before I followed suit. When I was sitting I waved my hand to the staff standing at the wall and they disapeared through the door leading to the kitchen. "No its alright." I said as I reached over lifted the wine bottle before pouring her a glass of red. "Yes, I live alone... Well sort of." I began as I began to pour myself a glass next and gave her a gentle smile. "My niece... Lilli, she lived in the West Borough and is the future Duchesse ; I see her once and a while. I have two first cousins as well, one of which lives here with me as well. She's just turned eighteen so she's not really here often, and I don't know how long she plans to stay." I chuckled a little as I picked up my wine glass, just as the staff came back through the door.
Each one carried a silver platter; the first one to be put down was the roast beef, already sliced. The second a platter of winter vegetables from the stores, mostly potato, carrots, and turnips. The pair of servers lifted the lids off the trays then turned, exiting out the door they came from. Once they were gone I picked up a serving fork and looked to Alex. "May I have your plate?" I asked as I held out my hand.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 1:57:54 GMT -5
I smiled at his explanation; it seemed he collected young girls, and it made me feel safer somehow. If he had lived with his niece and now this young cousin, well it made me feel like he must be trustworthy. I took a long drink of wine, closing my eyes at the taste of it, like remembered finery from a life I had forgotten that I once lived. It was so good, so much better than the watered down ale I was accustomed to, that for a moment I was lost in it.
I opened my eyes when the food was set in front of us, and the smell of it was almost too much to bear. I handed him my plate in order to hide the tears that had sprung to my eyes at the sight of the meat, Gods, when had I last had meat? I suppose I should have been embarrassed to be brought to tears at the sight of something as mundane as food, but it had been so long, too long, since I'd had anything even close to this. A feast was a bowl of broth, a loaf of bread ... this, this was something I hadn't thought I'd ever have again.
I couldn't even speak, my stomach was contracting at the very idea of so much food, and it was all I could do not to simply reach for it with my fingers and shove as much as I could into my mouth, the way I'd seen the younger children do when I brought them food.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 12:16:12 GMT -5
I took her plate and began to spear the pieces of roast to serve her when I looked up to see that she was crying. I furrowed my brows, unsure as to what I could have said or done to make her upset. I moved from the meat to the vegetables and served a spoon full or two onto her dish as well before I handed the plate back. It occured to me then that the tears probably came from the fact that she hadn't had a proper meal in a long time. I had almost forgotten that she wasn't just a normal girl, with the way she looked right now it was easy to forget. "How did you come to end up living on the streets Alex?" I asked softly, hoping she would tell me her story.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 12:40:23 GMT -5
I wiped my eyes, trying not to be obvious about it. It was so stupid to cry over food, of all things. "Thank you," I said, when he handed the plate back, and then for a minute, all I could do was stare at it.
I didn't answer him at first, because I was concentrating so hard on taking one bite at a time and not just shoveling everything into my mouth with my fingers. Oh Naamah, it was so good. So amazingly delicious, and not just because I was so hungry, either.
After a few bites, I forced myself to answer him, and I probably answered more honestly because I was distracted by the food. It wasn't that I didn't trust him, he really did seem to be trying to help, and I liked him, but I knew that my House would want my return, if they could manage it, and I had no wish to return.
"I ran away," I said, "because I didn't want to be owned or lie on my back for strangers. People think the Night Court is such a wonderful place, but how many girls are there because they were sold into it by parents who didn't want them? They have no say in how they are to live their life? I didn't want to be part of that system." I viciously speared a carrot to illustrate my displeasure. I realized that I had probably said too much, but if he tried to have me sent back, well, I'd escaped them once, hadn't I?
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 12:58:06 GMT -5
I suddenly felt a kindred spirit in Alex, everything she said was echoed in my beliefs and I could whole heartedly understand not wanting to be part of that world. "I understand." I said softly then, watching her eat but not taking any for my self, not at that moment as I let my eyes wander over her. If I hadn't been sure before, I was sure now, I had to take her in and take care of her. I wanted to give her a proper life.
"Which house did you run from?" I asked softly, finally managing to put some food on my own plate and picked up my knife and fork to cut my meat.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 19:46:27 GMT -5
I felt the heat rush to my cheeks at the question, and I looked at him across the table, trying to discern why he wanted to know. I really didn't believe that he meant to send me back there, hadn't he just said he understood?
"Valerian," I answered at last, suddenly very conscious of the fact that he was Shahrizai. There were so many rumors about them at Valerian House, it was hard to know how much to credit, but it was said that they could be the cruelest of patrons, though I simply did not see this man in that light. "First Jasmine, then Valerian when I was ten."
I took another drink of my wine, savoring the taste, and then ate some more of the food, my belly feeling full already, from being so empty before. I wanted to eat as much as I could though, who knew when I would have a chance like this again?
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 19:58:58 GMT -5
"Oh." Was all I could say in response. I could have said more, or thought more, I could have found the irony in it, but I didn't want to think too deeply into what was going on.
"Are you enjoying the beef?" I asked then, knowing I didn't want to go into detail surrounding her escape from Valerian House.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 20:14:38 GMT -5
He didn't really react, and I felt myself relax. "It's amazing," I said, eating the last piece and wondering if it would be all right to help myself to more. "And the vegetables too. When I was growing up at Jasmine, some children never wanted to eat their vegetables, but I always ate mine and some besides, I love them. Especially carrots." I blushed a little at that uncharacteristic trip down memory lane. As much as I had wanted to escape the Night Court, I had had some good times there as well.
I smiled at him, laughing a little self-consciously. "Sorry, sometimes words just come out of my mouth without me really thinking about them." I studied him as I drank more wine, enjoying the warm, tingly feeling that was coming over me. He was handsome, well-muscled, and I found that I was more aware of him than I had been of any other men that I'd known. What that meant, I wasn't sure, but it was a pleasant feeling so I didn't try to fight it.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 20:29:58 GMT -5
I chuckled as I chewed a bite of roast and shook my head. "Not to worry," I said once I had swallowed, smiling at her. "I'm much the same so feel free to say what ever is on your mind." I looked at her plate and realized that it was cleared of the beef. "Would you care for more?" I asked then, picking up the serving fork to spear more meat.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 20:42:51 GMT -5
"Yes, please," I said, smiling and blinking - my eyelids suddenly felt a little heavy. I was clean, and full, and blessedly warm... suddenly I was tired as well. I picked at the meat he gave me, managing to finish it, though I had to pause for a few yawns. "I'm sorry, that's terribly rude of me," I said, remembering my manners. Manners was the first lesson any adept learned, no matter what House. "I guess I'm a little tired."
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 21:00:02 GMT -5
I shook my head. "Its not rude at all, I understand completely." I said as I placed my knife and fork down. "Are you ready to retire?" I asked. "Because you're free to do so when ever you wish."
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 21:20:52 GMT -5
"Yes, I think I'd like to make it up to the room rather than fall asleep with my face in the roast beef," I said with a little smile. I had always had a sense of humor, even though it was sometimes hard to maintain on the street, but I could never keep it at bay for long. "Whatever would the servants think?"
I finished my wine and rose, swaying slightly, the combination of stronger wine than I was used to and tiredness making me a little unsteady on my feet.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 22:09:00 GMT -5
I chuckled softly, pleased to see her opening up to me, it was nice and I could tell she already had the potential for to be a good conversationalist. "Scandalous." I teased with a little grin as she rose. "Good night Alex, sleep well."
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 22:28:40 GMT -5
"You too, Azriel," I said, giving him one last smile as I headed back upstairs. I found the guest room easily, surprised at how it seemed as if it had already been cleaned up from my earlier bath.
The covers were turned down and as I slipped into the bed, I marveled at it's softness, and Elua, clean sheets! I felt tears well up again, this time at the idea that this might be the last time I would ever enjoy a bed like this.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 5, 2010 22:36:52 GMT -5
I watched her go, the comfort and ease in the moment too much to ignore. I liked her, I already knew I did. In the morning I would do something about that.
I finished my plate and spoke with the staff, then headed off to bed myself, ready for a good night's sleep.
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