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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jan 2, 2011 11:55:51 GMT -5
It was beautiful outside, absolutely stunning, and I couldn't spend my day sitting inside, though I wasn't sure if I wanted to venture into the City... so, rather than braving the muddy streets, I went instead to the gardens of Jasmine House, marveling in the beauty and budding scents of newly opening plants. Here and there an early-blooming flower was opening, but I paid them about as much attention as I did the gravel at my feet. Finding a bench in the sun, I sat and closed my eyes, arms looped out on the back of the bench to either side of me. It was quiet; there were gardeners about, encouraging the plants with knowing touches, but there was little noise associated with their movements.
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Noemi de Trevalion
Royal (Staff)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Trevalion *Voted Character You'd Most Like to Meet 2010*
Sister to Victoire and Cygnus
Posts: 1,119
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Post by Noemi de Trevalion on Jan 2, 2011 12:25:25 GMT -5
There were only a few places by this point that I hadn't managed to look around yet, and one of them was a decent garden. There were a good deal of them in the City, I knew that, but they all had the same sort of feel to them. They reveled in what was d'Angeline, and that was perfect and beautiful, but there was another world out there as well and it was good to get a glimpse of it in small ways from time to time.
Someone had told me once that the best gardens in all of Terre d'Ange were in the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers, which seemed apt enough; if you're known for being flowers than growing them would add to that and give a little more interest than a plain building. Generally I didn't use my title to get special priviledges but this time it seemed like the most direct route, and I didn't feel too guilty since all I really wanted to do was look at the pretty blooms, not wreck them. A quick talk with the Dowayne of Jasmine, the most exotic of the Houses and with a canon I understood at first glance, and I was soon walking amidst the rows of growing things.
I didn't make any kind of effort to be silent but the grass beneath my feet muffled my steps anyway and the scent of the blossoms reminded me of the more decadent corners of the Palazzo, bringing a smile to my face. I wasn't exactly homesick for Serenissima but I did miss some of my closer friends there and the hanging scent of flowers brought back many pleasant memories. Kneeling down I looked over a brilliantly colored narcissus and then inhaled its scent deeply before I took another glance and noticed a man sitting nearby, looking as relaxed as he probably felt and I smiled. It would be wrong to interrupt him, so I moved another step down the path.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jan 2, 2011 13:47:44 GMT -5
With the skies open above us, the sounds of birds weren't uncommon, and I found myself having to fight against the desire to nod off right where I sat. Mayhap I was, at that, because the sudden shifting of a foot on gravel not too far from me brought my sharply back to my senses, my eyes snapping open.
Oh Elua, I definitely had been nodding off, because rather than a gardener as I'd expected, a fair haired beauty that was most definitely not of Jasmine was making her way down the path. For a moment I watched her, my senses settling again, before I tilted my chin up a little, an easy smile crossing my mouth. "Lost in the jungles of Jasmine, my lady?"
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Noemi de Trevalion
Royal (Staff)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Trevalion *Voted Character You'd Most Like to Meet 2010*
Sister to Victoire and Cygnus
Posts: 1,119
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Post by Noemi de Trevalion on Jan 2, 2011 14:10:04 GMT -5
There was a very pleasant voice off to my side just as I started to move away and I stopped and looked back at him, my hat pulled just slightly sideways but not enough to block my vision. So the man who'd been sitting had noticed me- and here I was, thinking I was being quiet! Of course I should have known better, I may have been graceful but for some reason I just couldn't get the knack of going unnoticed. Still, there was a smile on his face and he was very handsome, and unless I missed my guess he fit the canon for this houses. An adept then?
"Well, sir, I would say that I won't know if I'm lost until I try to find my way out and I'm not very inclined to do that yet," I said with a light laugh. "This place is really very nice. I'm sorry if I disturbed you just now, I was trying to avoid it but I'm never as good at being sneaky as I think." Stepping a little closer I let the smile shine in my eyes and I held out my hand. "Are you one of the adepts here? I'm Noemi de Trevalion."
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jan 2, 2011 15:30:12 GMT -5
"Oh, you didn't disturb me," I assured her as I sat forward some, my arms surprisingly a touch sore when I pulled them down. How long had I been sitting here, anyway?
She held her hand out to me, peeking from under the brim of a hat that I couldn't quite decide if I liked, but she herself seemed very pretty, very open and lovely. "Princess Noemi?" I queried as I stood; the surname could call for no less, I didn't think. Taking her outstretched hand, I bowed before straightening and lifting her hand up, pressing my lips to her knuckles. "A pleasure to meet you. I'm of Jasmine, yes; my name is Troy."
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Noemi de Trevalion
Royal (Staff)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Trevalion *Voted Character You'd Most Like to Meet 2010*
Sister to Victoire and Cygnus
Posts: 1,119
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Post by Noemi de Trevalion on Jan 2, 2011 15:38:46 GMT -5
I was used to throwing people for a little bit of a loop when they first met me; it just seemed to be part of my nature, as though I had to make them question they preconceptions they had in place. It made a lot of people a little uncomfortable, but most of them were able to work through it, and I hoped that this man was going to be able to as well. I'd never met an adept before and hopefully they weren't going to be as bad as some nobles were with their strict outlook and rituals
"Yes, Princess, but you don't have to call me that if you don't want to. Just Noemi is fine," I told him with a bright smile as he kissed the back of my hand. "It's wonderful to meet you, Troy- or do I need to add the title on at the end of that? I don't know very much about the Night Court yet and I wasn't raised here so I'm still trying to figure everything out. I'm probably lucky that I ran into such a handsome man to answer that for me." My tone was open and lightly teasing but that was simply my nature- I was honest and a little playful. "Did you enjoy your nap?"
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jan 2, 2011 21:06:41 GMT -5
She seemed as sunny as her hair, with a ready smile and jest nevermind her age. My experience was limited, but I'd met a number of well off girls who looked to be roughly her age in assignation, and it seemed most of them were.. well. Less than nice. Considerably less than nice.
"Well met, Just Noemi," I repeated, giving her a teasing grin as I let her hand go, my own tucking behind me as I stood before her. "As for my name, no title is needed, but if you truly want to give me one, I'd go for Lord Wonderful, or Monsieur Incredible. Your choice, really."
I flashed her another grin, but she turned the tables on me and inquired about my nap. "Oh, I wasn't napping, I was biding my time and plotting til you walked past me, to see if I could make you jump. You foiled my efforts," I added, tsking lightly with my tongue.
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Noemi de Trevalion
Royal (Staff)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Trevalion *Voted Character You'd Most Like to Meet 2010*
Sister to Victoire and Cygnus
Posts: 1,119
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Post by Noemi de Trevalion on Jan 2, 2011 21:18:53 GMT -5
I already liked this person, he had a nice disposition and a ready joke for almost everything, though whether that was simply because he was and adept and adapting to me or was his true nature I couldn't tell. Maybe it meant that people could never fully pretend to be what they weren't. It was an interesting notion, but not one I was going to think over in-depth right here and now. There was a conversation with a handsome man to continue.
My hand dropped back to my side and I laughed in amusement at his selection of titles. "How about Sir Fantastic, will that work as well?" I teased back, pushing a loose lock of hair behind my ear and grinning. "I think it would suit you far better. 'Wonderful' and 'incredible' are good words, but 'fantastic' has a certain ring to it."
His explanation made me grin a bit wider and I cocked my head, making my expression a little apologetic though the flash in my eyes showed my good-natured jest. "Oh, I am so sorry to foil the plans of such a clever man! Perhaps we should try it over again and see how it happened instead? Then perhaps I won't make such a poor first impression the second time around."
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jan 2, 2011 22:10:49 GMT -5
"Sir Fantastic? Hmm..." Picking a hand up, I stroked my chin as if contemplating it, staring at the space above her head.
"No, I don't think so, too formal for me. I think Lord Wonderful is pretty fitting." Grinning widely, I dropped the facade again, and as she commented on starting over, I laughed. "Your impression was perfect, your Highness. Would you like company as you walk around the gardens, mayhap? I can keep the spooks from jumping out at you around ever corner," I added, grinning as I offered her my arm.
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Noemi de Trevalion
Royal (Staff)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Trevalion *Voted Character You'd Most Like to Meet 2010*
Sister to Victoire and Cygnus
Posts: 1,119
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Post by Noemi de Trevalion on Jan 2, 2011 22:22:06 GMT -5
Oh yes, he was charming, I had to give him that, as well as handsome and friendly. For me that was a very important combination, a prerequisite to any other leap of friendship that I may make. Some of the girls in Terre d'Ange may have be able to spend time with people they disliked or were unsure of but that wasn't me at all. The few people I didn't like never heard from me unless it was required, though I was always polite to them as necessary. Unless they hurt my other friends, of course.
"Alright then, Lord Wonderful, if you insist," I replied with a smile as I took his arm, noting that he did keep up with the titles and not really objecting to it. It wasn't the first thing I liked people to notice about me but I was used to the fact that it generally was. After all I wouldn't even be in here if I didn't have my name and my blood going for me. "Lead on when you wish. I am a bit curious why such a beautiful place would have any spooks in it at all though. Some secret ritual of the Jasmine House performed under the full moon?" I was joking and hopefully he wouldn't take offense to it.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jan 3, 2011 15:28:41 GMT -5
"Oh, well, there's an old myth here at Jasmine," I said conversationally as we began to stroll, my grin dimming to a more serious smile as I peered at her. "If a lady about so tall," I said, gesturing with my free hand to the air next to the height of her head, "and has fair hair and wears a hat strolls about the gardens, spooks will jump out to steal her away. They envy the beauty, you see," I added as if it were the most natural thing in the world, my free hand moving to tuck behind my back as we walked. "Not to mention your, er, I mean ones vitality and youth. They're very ugly things, the spooks."
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Noemi de Trevalion
Royal (Staff)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Trevalion *Voted Character You'd Most Like to Meet 2010*
Sister to Victoire and Cygnus
Posts: 1,119
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Post by Noemi de Trevalion on Jan 3, 2011 16:29:28 GMT -5
"Really, they need exactly that?" I asked with a laugh, my eyes flashing in mirth at his description. "They must either be very hungry spooks or there are a lot of people with that description who come wandering the Jasmine gardens. And how can they tell vitality by looking at me? For all they could know I could be sickly and frail." I knew that I wasn't, I did a lot to stay active, but most people didn't look long enough to see that, especially since I didn't take any great effort to show off my grace unless I was dancing.
Cocking my head slightly I grinned and lightly poked Troy in the side while letting out a melodramatic sigh. "But that's what I get for fitting the prerequisites. When do we get to the spot where the spooks are after handsome, fit men who are so tall and have dark hair?" I asked, gesturing to where his head was a good bit above mine, almost having to stand on my tiptoes to do so.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jan 4, 2011 17:37:12 GMT -5
I laughed; she was able to turn my jests back onto me, a trait I rather liked in a conversationalist. "Why, never," I said as if horrified at the thought before a lopsided grin stole over my mouth. "Spooks who would be after me? That's just insanity, my dear Princess."
My grin broadened as I looked at her before turning my attention back upon the path again. "So, gathering from your earlier comments, I take it you've never been to Jasmine before. Is there anything in particular that you'd like to see while you're here?"
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Noemi de Trevalion
Royal (Staff)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Trevalion *Voted Character You'd Most Like to Meet 2010*
Sister to Victoire and Cygnus
Posts: 1,119
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Post by Noemi de Trevalion on Jan 4, 2011 18:01:42 GMT -5
I like that he had a good sense of humor that managed to hold up for more than five minutes; it actually made this walk more fun than I would have expected. "Well, I don't think it's fair to have spooks that only eat the sweet, innocent people," I replied with a jesting pout and hiding a laugh that probably showed through my eyes as I thought about his question. "Well, I was feeling a little homesick and I went looking for a garden like there may have been tucked away in my old home, and I heard this one had the most exotic flowers, so I decided to have a look." I could probably have put it more poetically but I was more inclined to be honest. "Luckily I found a very nice tour guide to show me around so I didn't get eaten by any tigers or anything."
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jan 9, 2011 23:25:13 GMT -5
I laughed, shaking my head. She was young, and I patted my hand overtop of hers on my arm. "No tigers here, alas! The spooks have chased them all out." Winking as if I'd let her into a secret, I took her down the left path of a fork, deeper into the gardens.
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Noemi de Trevalion
Royal (Staff)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Trevalion *Voted Character You'd Most Like to Meet 2010*
Sister to Victoire and Cygnus
Posts: 1,119
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Post by Noemi de Trevalion on Jan 10, 2011 12:27:42 GMT -5
"Poor tigers, to be chased out in such a frightening fashion," I replied with a friendly smile and a jesting tone as I let him lead me deeper into the garden. I knew that most people wouldn't think of such fearsome creatures as ever being frightened or hurt but I'd always loved animals. "But I suppose that does save some wear on the flowers, cats do love to roll in them for some reason. What's your favorite flower here?"
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jan 24, 2011 17:39:27 GMT -5
Her light personality and easy going manner made it easy for me to jest with her, and I chuckled at the mental images she drew of tigers rolling atop a flowerbed. When she asked me for my favorite flower, I flashed her a grin as I leaned just past her to pluck a five petaled white flower, offering it to her without flourish, letting the gesture remain pure, simple.
"Why, the Jasmine flower of course," I said, winking to her as if in a conspiracy.
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Noemi de Trevalion
Royal (Staff)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Trevalion *Voted Character You'd Most Like to Meet 2010*
Sister to Victoire and Cygnus
Posts: 1,119
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Post by Noemi de Trevalion on Jan 25, 2011 10:44:08 GMT -5
I watched as he plucked the flower and took it gently when he offered it to me, looking down at the delicate bloom with a smile, then laughed at his answer. "Well, I should probably have predicted that one," I said in an amused whisper as I ran a fingertip lightly over the edge of one petal. "But now I know that this is a jasmine, and that's more than I realized before." Smiling a bit more widely I tucked the flower behind my ear.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Jan 27, 2011 15:31:27 GMT -5
She touched the flower lightly, trailing a finger over a petal before reaching up to tuck it behind an ear. She seemed so.. innocent that I felt almost brotherly towards her, like I wanted to sling an arm around her shoulders and face down any guy who dared hurt her, or corner any that had interest in her and have a talk with them. She didn't need that I was sure, or me for that matter, but it didn't change the fact of how I felt.
"Learn something new everyday," I teased as I offered her my arm to continue strolling about the gardens. "Have you considered visiting the other houses to learn about them as well?"
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