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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Dec 31, 2010 21:34:02 GMT -5
"Truly?" I paused, my fork poised as I looked at him over the array of foods, my head tilted just a little. He sounded quite serious, but I couldn't imagine anyone fighting a wolf of a bear. But, looking at him.. the breadth of his shoulders, the build of his chest, strength in his neck.. mayhap he could. A soft smile spread across my mouth, and I nodded at length. "I think your training would serve you quite well, Guy," I added, honestly meaning it.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Dec 31, 2010 21:41:57 GMT -5
She seemed a little surprised at first, which was understandable. Not many people knew what a well aimed shot with a crossbow can do. Then I could see her changing, believing it and I grinned. "Thank you, Miri." Normally I didn't call her be the shortened form of her name and i quickly covered. "I hope you don't mind me calling you that?"
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Dec 31, 2010 21:47:39 GMT -5
He grinned, and it seemed the most natural thing in the world, so much so that I felt my own smile lifting, reaching my eyes quite easily. "No, not at all. It's much less formal, if you ask me." Gathering some venison upon my fork, I ate that as well; for all I'd been starving of late, I was becoming rapidly full. "Would you like to stay for dessert after? I know I'm going out of turn by asking since we're not even done with dinner as of yet, but.. I don't think I have to be overly formal with you." And I didn't; it was incredibly nice.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Dec 31, 2010 21:54:21 GMT -5
I chuckled a little. "No, please, formality is the last thing that I want. I do wish that my name was longer so you would have something to shorten it to. Oh, and I would love to stay for dinner, especially if it was as good as this dinner is," I told her, finishing off the plate.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Dec 31, 2010 22:49:13 GMT -5
"I could call you G for short," I teased, not truly meaning it. My grin remained, and as he was obviously finished I placed my fork down as well; I was comfortable, no need in going past that point. Picking up my glass of well-watered wine, I took a few sips before wrinkling my nose and placing it down again. "I'll be thankful when I can drink wine like a normal person again," I laughed, keeping back a shudder. "Adding water to dilute it really does nothing for the flavor.. at all."
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Dec 31, 2010 22:55:43 GMT -5
I laughed at her new 'nickname.' Part of the reason I loved being around Miri so much was just how comfortable she was around me.
"I can imagine. I'm rarely drink, but, when I do, I prefer a sweet, strong flavor. Though I'm sure it's not horrible."
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Dec 31, 2010 22:59:42 GMT -5
"No? You should try it, then," I offered with a quick grin. There was a reason why well watered wine was given to budding adults, I thought, and it wasn't to help ease them into it as much as no one else would dare touch it. I tilted my glass towards him, not really sure if he would or not, but even if he didn't it wasn't hard to pass it off as a joke and set it down again.
"I think I'll stick to tea for the rest of the night. Do you drink much of that, G?" Playfully, I leaned back in my chair, watching him in amusement.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Dec 31, 2010 23:18:32 GMT -5
I smirked and reached out to sip the glass, my nose wrinkling interesting. "Well, it's different. Yes, I recommend tea, it's my main drink actually, though I'm guessing you assumed as much." I handed her glass back to her and leaned back as well.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 1, 2011 22:04:07 GMT -5
"Different? A pleasant way of putting it.. You'd do better at court than I think you give yourself credit for," I teased as I placed the glass down again, my eyes twinkling with amusement.
"I don't know of anything that can pass up a properly brewed glass of tea. I have some with dried rose petals added to it that I particularly love." Clasping my hands in my lap, I watched him with a seemingly never ending smile, glad to be able to have some time to talk to him.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jan 1, 2011 22:20:04 GMT -5
"That sounds like it would be very good. Perhaps we could try a little bit after dessert?" I offered. Suddenly though I felt a bit guilty as if that one statement had crossed the bounds into imposition. It caused me to glance down for a moment, but her perpetual smile brought my gaze right back to her.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 1, 2011 22:49:54 GMT -5
I watched as he glanced down, then brought his eyes back up again, and I replied without hesitating. "Of course, I wouldn't mind getting your opinion on that as well. I'll have you trying every drink in my house before long, if you're not careful," I teased with a grin.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jan 1, 2011 22:57:22 GMT -5
I laughed and shook my head. "Oh that'd never do, eventually they'd all start to taste the same." Of course I could have went on and turned that into another moralistic speech, but I let it be, retaining, I hoped, some humor.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 1, 2011 23:16:43 GMT -5
I laughed, feeling more free and relaxed the longer we spent time together... it was nice. "I'll have to try to restrain myself then," I teased, sitting up a little more in my seat.
Dinner was truly done, and there was little else to do here but sit and talk, which I was not beyond doing myself though I was afraid of Guy getting bored. "Would you like a tour of the house?" I asked, my gaze angling up; even sitting, he was still a few inches higher than me.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jan 1, 2011 23:32:12 GMT -5
Truthfully there was a good chance I could talk all night, provided the conversation was interesting. However a tour also seemed like a nice idea. "Certainly, just as long as it doesn't take the place of dessert." I grinned and then rose from my seat, waiting for Miri to lead the way.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 2, 2011 1:27:33 GMT -5
I laughed again as I stood, smoothing my skirts from where I'd sat, running my fingers over the delicate fibers. "Of course not.. Mayhap just work up a little hunger for it," I grinned to him as I stepped away from the table, leading him from the formal dining room and into a small sitting room, dressed in white cloth and dark, almost ebony, wood. It was my least favorite of rooms, but did well enough when I wanted to receive visitors in a place more welcoming than the reception room, but not bring them too far into my home, and not show them too much informality. I explained it to Guy, pausing for a moment in the room before I continued on, walking side-by-side with him, glancing up occasionally as we passed the receiving room and entered the foyer with smiles.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jan 2, 2011 13:05:29 GMT -5
With a smile I followed her out and around to the reception room. I agreed to myself it was not the best of rooms, but it had something to it. I continued to follow her, glancing about at the general look of the rooms. However, most of my attention was focused tenderly on Mirielle.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 2, 2011 13:57:09 GMT -5
Guy followed, and I led him up the stairs, my fingers picking delicately at my skirts to hold them out of my way, though I didn't concentrate much on it as I did smiling to him, trying to keep conversation going. "My great grandfather had this townhome built for my great grandmother," I said conversationally as we moved. "There was one that had stood here before it, but for reasons I don't know he had it torn down to erect this one. Either way, I have to admit I love his taste in things... Small things, like this," I said as we rounded the top of the stairs. Touching his arm, I drew him to the side of the staircase, where the railing of it met that of the upper floor, a post jointed them together. The post itself was carved with flowers, and the top of it was made as if it were a blooming lotus flower, the petals smoothed with age, but carved from a warm, rich wood. I ran my finger over the tip of it fondly. "There's little things all over the home, little characteristics that make me fall in love with it all over again. It's much the same in my estate in Azzalle," I added, not quite wistful.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jan 2, 2011 14:49:02 GMT -5
I could see what she meant about the house. The small details brought a smile to my place, it made it a bit like a hidden treasure. There were so many of them and it lent to the charm of the house. It was a place very much like what I would want to have someday, if I ever got around to building one. "So very much like you then?" I said before I really knew what I had said. I nearly blushed but stopped and added. "You have so many things about you that are really charming, that lend to the 'you.'" No that really wasn't helping matters.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 2, 2011 15:21:44 GMT -5
When he spoke, I wasn't sure at first how to take it, but he didn't color or stammer, just spoke on, though it didn't clarify very much for me. At length I decided on the safest course; he was comparing discovering things in the house to discovering things in a person, and nothing more.
"I'm charming?" I asked, surprised, though pleased. "So are you Guy.. after all, how else could a man have made his way into my home, met my daughter and stayed for dinner and dessert when I hardly knew him?"
I was teasing, though reflecting on it it was true; I wasn't a private person persay, but I was hardly the type to attend every fete and every function, even before I had Elle. Laying my hand upon his forearm again, I sought to draw him away from the banister once more, angling down one of the hallways.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jan 2, 2011 16:09:01 GMT -5
I smirked and shrugged. "Good luck perhaps?" I started to come to the realization at that point that it hadn't been a slip of the tongue, but that I was starting to develop feelings for her. Now I wasn't certain what to do about it.
I followed her down the hallway, "How many rooms are there in the house?" I hardly looked at the rooms themselves now, deciding instead to study her face.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 2, 2011 17:17:25 GMT -5
I laughed at his question; it caught me off guard, not something I'd have expected him to ask me. "I'm not sure, truth be. Theres guest rooms, two offices, a library, a sun room, receiving room, two sitting rooms, dining room, nursery and kitchens, rooms downstairs for the servants to sleep in when called for, and my bedroom, of course..." I paused, then looked at him, my head tilted just slight. "Mayhap it'd be better to retire to somewhere else instead.. the sunroom, perhaps? I could ring for dessert to be served there instead."
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jan 2, 2011 20:56:14 GMT -5
I nodded. "Sounds like a plan," I said and smiled warmly. Really I was rather complacent to go along with anything she suggested and I doubted that there was something objectionable about the sun room. "I'm sure you are glad that it's warm enough outside to make use of it again."
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 2, 2011 23:19:43 GMT -5
"Oh," I breathed as I turned us to go down the opposite hall, heading towards the south end of the home, where the sun touched nearly all day long. "The weather doesn't keep me away from it, unless it's especially bitter outside. I admit though, it is far more enjoyable in the springtime." My smile took up him again, and I clasped my hands before me as we walked, the skirts of my light lavender dress kicking gently with my matching slippered feet. Catching a passing maid, I gave requested dessert be brought up along with some of the rose tea; a couple more steps brought us to the sun room. Opening the door, I led Guy into it, with the plants growing on stands all around, some blooming already, vines hanging down or draping across other stands. No two planters matched, but somewhere in the mismatched array stood a sort of arrangement; somehow it just worked.
I took a seat on one of the couches, taking a deep breath without really thinking about it. "I always come in here when I need to think," I confessed. "Theres something.. wholesome about it, something almost comforting and healing."
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jan 3, 2011 0:48:59 GMT -5
The room was open, filled with various plants, a hint of nature that made me fall in love with the room at once. "I can completely understand that. With the warm sun on your face, and the plants and everything. I can picture myself out here all morning with a nice book and some juice, or even just to think." I sat down on the opposite end of the couch, turning my body slightly. "I think this is my favorite room of all."
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 3, 2011 11:36:48 GMT -5
I watched him as he took the room in, deriving pleasure out of the way he approved of it. I'd chosen right, then; I might have picked the library otherwise, but it wouldn't have done to eat dessert there. We would have to hold our dishes where we sat in here, but the air was so much more inviting and relaxed.
When he claimed it to be his favorite room, I made a soft noise in the back of my throat, and in a rare moment I lost all decorum and propriety as I leaned far back upon the lush pillows of the couch behind me, closing my eyes. Sunlight poured across both of us, and I luxuriated in it as I spoke to him. "Sometimes, when everything seems too much, this is where I go. Mayhap it's silly of me, but I feel closer to Elua here too, like the warmth kissing my skin is his touch."
Opening my eyes, I turned my head where it rested upon a cream pillow, hazel eyes regarding him in quiet curiosity. "Do you ever feel like that, even sometimes?"
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jan 3, 2011 12:03:49 GMT -5
I relaxed some and nodded as the golden rays of the sun washed over us. To me she was all the more beautiful in that light. I nodded to her question. "I do. I think that is part o the reason why I like the countryside so much as well, especially a wheat field at sunrise or sunset, or the top of a hill at midday. You just want to bask in it, forever."
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 3, 2011 16:23:15 GMT -5
Another nearly identical noise came from me as he spoke of wheat fields and sunshines during the suns rise and fall.. "I'm getting old," I laughed as I folded my hands over my stomach. "In my earlier days I would have just said the sun felt nice and that was it."
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jan 3, 2011 19:25:48 GMT -5
I chuckled and shook my head. "Not old. That would be me...Or at least I feel it. You've become an adult and can express yourself that way. Doesn't mean we cannot think like children at times though," I said with a bright smile." I was more lounging and sitting now, truly enjoying the moment.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 4, 2011 0:25:13 GMT -5
I laughed again, shaking my head slightly from where it rested against the pillow, staring up at him as he began to relax into the couch."You're not old, my Lord, just.. wise?"
I was teasing him, playfully, and with a grin that grew with the jest, I watched him, waiting for his reaction.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jan 4, 2011 0:31:03 GMT -5
I smirked, eventually allowing that to break into a snicker. "Well, I try. I'm glad to see that it's actually working. Though I must ask and make sure you're not just being nice." I gave her a playful wink and let my eyes start to rest a little bit. By the looks of us one would think we had been slaving away all day. Nope, just waiting for dessert.
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