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Post by Eric Lamont on Nov 13, 2010 16:58:45 GMT -5
Life was ... life was life. Existence of late seemed all the same and one day differed little from another. Again, here I was on yet another errand. This time a message to Cereus. I hated these trips, walking past the life I could have had. Knowing the one girl I ever loved was there in Alyssum as I walked past it, turning up my already high collar.
I walked all the way up to Cereus and knocked on the door, eyes on the ground.
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Nov 13, 2010 19:02:18 GMT -5
I was in the kitchen helping. Well, I was pretending to help, really I had come because the kitchen was always warm no matter how cold it was outside. It didn't matter that it was officially spring, the cold was still in my bones.
A knock sounded against the servant's entrance, and since everyone else seemed actually busy, I went over to answer it. "Yes?" I asked the boy with a soft smile. He was quite handsome, though he had a look on his face that spoke of wisdom beyond his years.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Nov 14, 2010 0:33:41 GMT -5
I lifted my head and my eyes rested on a beautiful girl my age or a little older. I smiled shyly and handed her the letter. "This is for the Dowayne," I said softly. I waited for her to take it so I could be off this mountain of sadness and go down into its valley.
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Nov 14, 2010 16:24:53 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said, reaching out and taking the letter. As I did so, I noticed his collar was turned up against the cold. "Would you like to come in for a few minutes and warm up?"
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Post by Eric Lamont on Nov 14, 2010 16:41:38 GMT -5
I must admit, my first, instinctive inclination was to say no. However, she was pretty, and kind, and I needed to get somewhere warm, anywhere different, in fact from the Night's Doorstep. I nodded. "I suppose if only for a few minutes." I smiled and stepped inside. As I did the familiar sense of the Night Court came back to me, stinging me as much as the cold had stung on the first winter on my own. "My name's Eric," I said quickly, a way to break the ice.
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Nov 15, 2010 23:18:27 GMT -5
"Nyx," I replied with a smile, leading him inside. "What House are you from?"
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Post by Eric Lamont on Nov 15, 2010 23:45:02 GMT -5
I raised a brow, a little surprised by her question. "What makes you believe I'm from any house?" I asked in return, a little curious and, I'll admit, a little defensive.
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Nov 17, 2010 0:48:24 GMT -5
He took my words like I had just insulted him. "Because you are handsome, and because of the way you carry yourself," I replied bluntly. This might not have been Dahlia, but I was still proud to be an adept and didn't react well when someone was insulted to be mentioned in the same sentence as the Night Court. I motioned to a stool in the corner. "If you sit there, no one will trip over you. And if you look pitiful instead of sulky, the cook might be nice. I need to take this to my Dowayne."
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Post by Eric Lamont on Nov 17, 2010 8:54:20 GMT -5
I lowered my head and nodded. "I'm not of the Night Court, at least not anymore. But to directly answer the question I was of Alyssum," I told her softly, almost an apology for my defensiveness. "The reason I am no longer there is long and painful..." My brown eyes glanced up at her a moment and nodded again, "Sorry, I'll let you get the message delivered." My tone was sincere and had no smack of bitterness.
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Nov 17, 2010 19:55:12 GMT -5
Oh Naamah, I inwardly cringed, knowing that I had just stuck a foot in my mouth. "I'm sorry," I murmured. Turning, I went over to the kettle over the fire and returned with a cup of tea for him. "Here, warm up while I deliver this. Donatien might have a return message. Alright?" I asked in a much kinder tone.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Nov 17, 2010 20:28:47 GMT -5
I smiled when she handed me the tea. "Thank you very much." I sipped the tea and watched her as she walked away. It felt so odd being back in a place like this. I was a little squeamish to be honest.
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Nov 21, 2010 22:09:40 GMT -5
He took the tea with a tentative smile, so I left it at that and went to deliver the note to Donatien. Thankfully he was free and penned a quick reply as I waited. While I stood there, I wondered about Eric and his story. I couldn't imagine what he might have done to be forced into leaving Alyssum.
Soon enough I was trotting back to the kitchens, Donatien's reply in hand. I found Eric where I had left him, the colour back in his cheeks. "Here we are," I said with a smile, passing him the note and the coin my Dowayne had asked to be passed along.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Nov 22, 2010 1:59:39 GMT -5
I grinned and took the note from her. "Thank you. I can assure you this will reach its destination before sundown." And with that I was free to go. I could be off of this mountain of miserable memories. I started to rise, but part of me wanted to linger here. So I lowerd myself back down, trying to think of what i might be.
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Nov 28, 2010 21:37:40 GMT -5
"Would you like another cup?" I asked, giving him an excuse to stay for another few minutes, as I thought he might want one.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Nov 29, 2010 19:19:36 GMT -5
It only took me a second to make my descision. "Yes please," I told her, sinking into my seat.
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Nov 30, 2010 14:49:14 GMT -5
I went and fetched the kettle again, and made him another cup along with one for myself. "Here we are. I keep thinking that since it's spring, it should warm up already," I said, offering him the refilled cup with a smile.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Dec 1, 2010 16:31:11 GMT -5
"Thanks," I said, or rather nearly whispered. I felt a lull in the conversation and quickly added. "Tell me something about yourself."
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Dec 5, 2010 0:00:36 GMT -5
I looked at him for a second, not sure what to say. "What would you like to know?" I asked.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Dec 5, 2010 11:50:33 GMT -5
I thought a moment and replied, "Just some background. I assume you're life was like most members of the Night Court?"
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Dec 8, 2010 23:01:42 GMT -5
"Well, I came to the City when I was ten to enter the Night Court. My mother was an adept, so I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I've been here at Cereus ever since," I said.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Dec 11, 2010 11:56:03 GMT -5
Her story was very much like my own and I frowned, but only for a moment. "You enjoy it here?"
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Dec 13, 2010 0:57:54 GMT -5
"Overall," I replied before calmly sipping my tea. His question seemed strange coming from him, though I might have expected it from a patron.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Dec 13, 2010 1:12:06 GMT -5
To me 'overall' meant that I was missing out. Yes I was free but I was miserable and I would never see Chloe again. "Might I ask how far along are you, on your marque?"
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Dec 14, 2010 1:34:47 GMT -5
"Just over a quarter. Right on schedule," I said with pride. The last year had been good to me, and it showed in the ink against my spine.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Dec 14, 2010 2:13:35 GMT -5
I grinned, though I was admittedly a little jealous. "Excellent." I took a large sip of my tea. "And is everyone here as kind as you?"
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Dec 22, 2010 16:17:56 GMT -5
I chuckled. "There are people here who would tell you that I'm not kind at all," I told him with a teasing smile.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Dec 22, 2010 22:09:31 GMT -5
I tilted my head, a little surprised. "Really? I cannot imagine why." I had no reason to appraise her as anything other than the sweet girl I saw.
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Dec 23, 2010 22:49:36 GMT -5
"Even the kindest people can be difficult to live with at times," I explained with a smile, thinking that his reaction was very endearing.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Dec 24, 2010 12:59:53 GMT -5
I nodded; and I supposed that was quite true. I knew there were many nice people in Alyssum who could be quite a pain at times.
I finished up my tea and glanced into the empty cup, knowing that I had no excuse to be here any longer, a fact I did not enjoy. I swallowed and looked back at Nyx. "I guess I should be going now..."
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Nyx nó Cereus
Adept
Cereus House
Daughter of Gareth and Christelle de Brise, unmarqued adept
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Nyx nó Cereus on Dec 24, 2010 19:25:30 GMT -5
"Oh, of course. I didn't mean to keep you from your work," I said hurriedly. I hadn't realized he needed to go, I still wasn't finished my tea.
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