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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 11, 2011 9:46:41 GMT -5
Every now and then on a Friday night I would go to the Laughing Parrot to see what talent was about in the City, and to show mine off as well, testing out new songs and variations of old ones, taking requests and generally enjoying myself. Of course, this was when I was without an assignation, and usually when I was looking for inspiration. Like tonight.
I had the Dowayne's permission to use a carriage from Eglantine with a small buggy attached to carry my harp. I also got help from one of my house mates to carry it in. It would be left on the stage in the corner until it was my turn to play. Until then, I sat at a table by myself, a part of the crowd enjoying the variety of entertainment that Friday nights brought to this establishment.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 20, 2011 12:37:45 GMT -5
It was my first Friday night in the city when I finally decided to begin exploring it in earnest. I was going to have to learn my way about, eventually, and no amount of staring at maps was going to truly help. So after donning a russet coat over the white silk shirt I'd chosen for the evening, I had the driver I'd hired since arriving take me first to the district around the palace.
Finding little to capture my attention there, the driver took me on to the artisan's district. It was here, after I got out of the carriage to walk for a bit, that I heard the music coming out of an establishment whose sign proclaimed it the 'Laughing Parrot'. Intrigued, I could not help but step inside the crowded tavern.
The musician on the stage at the moment was quite the talented flutist, providing just enough motivation to keep me there. I'd never been one to frequent taverns, but then I'd never been to one that had a full-fledged stage built into it. The place was crowded, though, and so I found myself wandering a bit aimlessly, seeking a seat.
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 20, 2011 12:47:44 GMT -5
The place was bustling, but luckily not so loud that the music couldn't be heard. people came and left, tables filled and emptied, but I remained seated at my table, an empty seat before me. I looked to teh door, just on chance, and watched as a man with flaming hair like my own entered the establishment. He looked a little.. perhaps overwhelmed as he looked about, trying to find himself a seat. I did not know the man, for all I knew he could have been terribly mad, though he did not have that wild look about him. I waved him over, standing from my seat so he would see me amongst the crowd. I had a spare seat, and enjoyed having conversation with strangers, and perhaps he did too.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 20, 2011 13:09:41 GMT -5
Overwhelmed was a good way to describe how I felt. I couldn't exactly be called shy, but I was far from an extrovert, as well. I was a bit surprised when I noticed another red-haired person, a woman of surpassing beauty, even for a d'Angeline, standing and waving me over to her table. Not wishing to appear rude, I walked over toward her.
"Good evening," I greeted her when I was close enough to speak and be heard without talking over the lovely music coming from the stage, "I don't believe we have met, but thank you for the invitation. I am Leon d'Essoms, the Comte d'Essoms." The introduction was formal, and had a rote sound that made it seem as if I'd been repeating the line often recently, even to my own ears.
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 20, 2011 15:29:30 GMT -5
He came over and I donned my most winning smile. I could not help that it happened to be a little coy, curling at the corners of my lips. When he gave his introduction, I could not help but giggle, just a little before I curtsied.
"Well met Leon d'Essoms, Comte d'Essoms," I said with a smile before flopping down merrily in my seat and gesturing for him to do the same - whether he chose to do it in the same lackadaisical fashion, of course, was purely up to him. His family name was a name of historic importance, if I remembered my lessons well enough. The bright red locks made me wonder if perhaps he was part Alban, as I was.
"And I thought red-haired people were something of a rarity here," I mused as I leaned forward, not wishing to speak too loudly over teh music, but loud enough to be heard, of course. I flashed him an easy grin. "So what has brought you to this fine establishment, messire?"
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 20, 2011 16:35:27 GMT -5
"Well met," I responded in kind, moving to sit down a bit more carefully than she had, returning the smile even as I admired the coy curve of her lips. I also leaned forward to better hear her as she asked about the color of my hair. "It comes from my mother, and I was the only one of my siblings who got it," I explained to her, grinning back at her a bit before answering her other question, "I'm new to the city, and was just exploring when I heard the music while I was passing. Being something of a musician myself, I decided it would be worth a closer look."
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 20, 2011 16:41:03 GMT -5
I laughed as he explained where he had gotten his locks from. The story was terribly similar to my own. I had gotten my claret colouring from my mother as well. I could not help but to wonder if we were similar in other ways while Ibeamed, leaning on my hand.
"Where do you hail from?" I asked, since he was new, "and please, you must tell me what you play as an instrument... the flute? The lute?" I asked, laughing softly at the little rhyme.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 20, 2011 17:11:55 GMT -5
Laughing softly, myself, at her rhyme, I shook my head slightly, fiery locks moving in waves with the motion before I pushed them back over my shoulder casually. "I am from Namarre, though I only recently returned there as well, after spending two years at the University in Tiberium," I answered her, seeing no reason to hide such things, "And as to my preferred instrument, it is neither of those, or else I likely would have brought it with me when I left home tonight. No, I play the harp passably well, I am told."
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 20, 2011 21:02:02 GMT -5
His locks were nigh as long as my own, and I wondered if he took great pride in his as I did mine. I listened intently, my eyes not leaving his face, though when he stated he played the harp as well, my eyes widened.
"That is rather uncanny," I whispered, though loud enough that he could have heard me, "I play thye harp as well. Had you said you were from Eisheth, I'd have pegged you as a long lost brother," I teased. "My harp is actually up on stage, in the corner there," I said, pointing elegantly at the large instrument. "I brought it with me and intent to play at some point in the evening. Maybe if you're nice and you feel you would like to, you could use her and play something yourself."
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 20, 2011 21:17:53 GMT -5
My own eyes widened a bit when she relayed that she, as well, played the harp. "No, I am from Namarre, as are both of my parents, though my mother hails from closer to the Camlach border," I explained in a little further detail, chuckling softly at the teasing. When she pointed out her harp, I looked, of course, admiring the instrument. "I would love to, if you decide to let me," I responded when she brought up the possibility of me going up and playing something on her instrument, "Though I've never played before so many before."
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 21, 2011 10:45:24 GMT -5
I chuckled as he assured me that we were not relatd. Twas a good thing too. I am no Shahrizai, afterall. It would be awkward to find a relative so attractive.
"Well, if you are good, we shall see," I teased, "besides, what better way to have your own little debut, no? Show the City of Elua what you have to offer," I said with a wink. The waitress came about, and I ordered myself a glass of cider and looked to my new companion. "Will you be having anything, my lord?" I asked with a sparkling smile and a tilt of my head.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 21, 2011 11:06:24 GMT -5
Her teasing went over my head; this was, of course, simply the way of things with me. I'd always been horrible at reading people, and it simply didn't dawn on me that such a lovely woman could be attracted to me. "I'd be happy to, if you'll allow it," I told her, smiling softly back at her wink, "I don't know that I'm that good, to call it a debut, but I enjoy playing enough that I wouldn't turn down the opportunity."
When the waitress arrived, and the woman whose table I was sharing asked if I would be having anything, I nodded and asked for a glass of red wine. I then turned my attention back upon the red-haired woman sitting across from me and asked her, "Might I have your name, madamoiselle?" It had just dawned on me that she'd not introduced herself.
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 21, 2011 16:33:02 GMT -5
After he ordered himself a glass fo red I smiled, the waitress looking upon us intriguingly, I had to giggle, just a little, wondering what was going through her mind. I turned my attention back to Leon, resting my head in my hand, though I perked up when he mentioned that indeed I had not given my name! Sometimes, I could be a damned flighty fool!
"My apologies," I said, blushing just slightly, though me and blushing were quite a rare sight to be seen together. "I am Cerise no Eglantine," I said with a nod and a grin. "You may call me Cerise, or Cher," I let my fingers course through my waist-long waves, "Cerise, for teh colour of my hair, or so I figured from childhood," i said with a soft, musical laugh.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 21, 2011 16:53:13 GMT -5
My own cheeks grew a bit heated at hearing her name, the color there probably a bit more common of a sight than for her. "I see, Cerise," I said in a low voice as my sapphire gaze followed her fingers as they brushed through her own hair. I'd never had the opportunity to meet a servant of Namaah before, at least not when old enough to really appreciate it, and their art was a much different thing in Tiberium. Enough so that I'd never really thought to seek out a courtesan. "No apologies are necessary, though. It has been amended," I then added, my face still feeling faintly warm, realizing she must be able to see me blushing like a child.
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 21, 2011 17:05:23 GMT -5
He was adorable, truly, his cheeks colouring, deeper and deeper as he spoke. I wondered if he was blushing for the sake of blushing, at the situation, or whether the fact that I was an adept unsettled him a little bit. If it was the latter, I hoped that the unsettling was of a good kind, and not the type that would make him want to rise from his seat adn run for teh hills.
"Good, now that neither of us has been offended," I said with a smile, "we can carry on," I mused. The waitress came back with our drinks, placing my cider before me and Leon's glass fo wine before him, smiling at us before she left the table. "So, now that you know what I do, what is it that you do?" I queried, picking up my mug and taking a dainty lady-like sip from its rim.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 21, 2011 17:44:13 GMT -5
With a grateful nod at the waitress, I then immediately took a sip of my wine, hoping to settle myself somewhat. After I'd set the glass back down, I considered her question a moment. "Well, until recently, I was a student at the university in Tiberium," I finally told her with a bit of a shrug before going on, "But a couple of months ago, I received word that my father and eldest brother were ill, a sickness that was running rampant through our lands. They perished...and, well, I inherited the lands" I knew the sadness likely showed in my eyes as I spoke of my father and brother, for all that I'd never been very close to them, but it didn't last long, either. This had been a few months ago, after all, and it was something I had mostly come to terms with.
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 22, 2011 11:02:59 GMT -5
My smile faltered as I looked at him more solemnly, hearing his sad news. The sadness flashed across his features, a genuine sadness, but dissipated soon after.
"I am sorry for your loss," I said in solemn tones, my eyes on his. "Now that you've lands to tend to, do you see yourself continuing your studies possibly in the City at the Academy?" I asked, not wishing to toil too much on the sad news and bring down his mood.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 22, 2011 19:50:00 GMT -5
"Thank you," I responded softly to her condolences before nodding at her question, "I am thinking I will, actually, once I have settled into the family townhome and gotten comfortable with the notion of attending court." When I mentioned the latter, I was aware that my voice likely did not carry much in the way of enthusiasm, but it was the main reason I had come to the city, after all. Suddenly, there was a sound of applause as the flutist ended his song, and I lifted my own hands to join in the clapping as the man exited the stage.
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 24, 2011 12:25:15 GMT -5
He replied, but his tones did not seem excited. I furrowed my brows for a moment in confusion before I joined the crowd and my companion in applauding the floutist. It was not my turn as yet, and as that person cleared teh stage, another was introduced, a woman in fact, on a lute. I smiled before turning my attention back to Leon.
"Tis not too terrible, I think, entering back into courtly life," I mused, "and teh academy is a very good one."
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 24, 2011 13:04:58 GMT -5
I watched as the woman with the lute walked up on the stage, eyes shining with curiosity as I wondered whether she would be as skilled as the man before her had been. Soon enough, however, I turned my attention back upon the adept who had been kind enough to ask me to her table.
Shaking my head softly, I responded to her, "Oh, I look forward to seeing what the academy here has to offer. It is courtly life that has me...daunted. I am not re-entering it, but diving in for the first time."
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 24, 2011 13:40:51 GMT -5
My eyes went wide as mhy mouth mouthed an "oh". I giggled then, though not in an insulting manner.
"I am sure you will do fine, truly, there is nothing to it," I saidw ith a girn. "It is a lot of fetes, a lot of dancing, a lot of drinking, and a lot of ladies, or gentlemen, whichever your preference," I said with a soft laugh. "And if there is ever anything you wish to learn - to dance, to sing, to...well anything, there are adepts an other professionals you can hire to teach you." Twas true. The City made the courtly arts an easy thing to do, even for someone unskilled in them. "Just beware of the ladies, my lord," I teased. "Especially if they all come at you at once!"
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 24, 2011 14:03:09 GMT -5
At her final statement, I looked at her incredulously. "I...hardly see a chance of that happening," I told her with a slight shake of my head, wondering if perhaps she were making some sort of joke at my expense. I was not always very good at picking up on such things, after all. "I hope it is as easy as you say. Others have made it sound much more important than that," I went on in a low voice as music began to fill the air in the Parrot, the lute player just as talented, it seems, as her predecessor on the flute.
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 24, 2011 14:45:49 GMT -5
He seemed a little upset with my words and I reached a hand out to rest gently on his arm.
"I meant no harm by my words," I said with a soft smile. "I am an Eglantine adept. We try to alleviate with humour," I explained, hoping he understood then that I was not making fun of him, and oso he had no need to feel offended. "And yes, to some it is very important, I suppose," I explained, "but you seem young, and though i do not know you, and do not feign to know you, you do not look of the age that you should be worrying overmuch about marriage and heirs, so it should be fun, and a learning experience for now before you delve into the serious parts of it," I explained. I removed my hand fro mhis arm, not wishing to make him feel even more uncomfortable.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 24, 2011 15:00:59 GMT -5
Surprised at her touch in my arm, I shook my head after her explanation. "No harm was done. I just wasn't certain if you were joking or not. Tiberian humor is different from d'Angeline, and I have spent the better part of two years trying to puzzle out the former, only to now have to learn the latter all over again," I said with a soft chuckle, not that I'd ever had that strong a grasp on any humor to begin with, but I was already feeling enough the fool without trying to explain that.
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 24, 2011 15:39:26 GMT -5
HisHis explanation was more than enough for me.
"If you ever need help with humour, you've come to the right place," I said, looking about us. "Afterall, it is called teh Laughing Parrot," I said with a smile. "And I myself, I do a lot of people watching. It might helpyou. But I say just be yourself, there is nothing wrong with that, or with being different," I said, though my voice was soft and I leaned forward again as I did not want to disrupt those around us,... though the Laughing Parrot was rarely ever a quiet establishment.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 24, 2011 20:16:06 GMT -5
I also leaned forward, returning the smile gratefully at the advice she offered, though I was not sure that being myself might not really be the best course, having heard so many times in the past how dull I was from members of my family. "Well, the vote of confidence is appreciated, as is the advice," I told her, then paused to take another drink from my glass, unable to help myself from admiring her from over the rim with the smile on her lips, then asking, "Is everyone who plays in here so talented?"
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 25, 2011 9:40:22 GMT -5
He smiled, and it was genuine, I could sense that he was possibly feeling a little better about his situation, and that made me smile more brightly.
"Oh... not at all," I said, giggling as I looked at the stage, "every now and then, well, perhaps more often than that, there are a few who... believe that they are terribly talented but... how should I say..... come up terribly short. But teh thing is, in this atmosphere, with good drink, and great fun, no one really seems to care. I myself have never seen anyone booed off the stage," I said with a gigggle. "It is a pretty safe and fun environment for people to share their love of teh arts... besides, Friday's is something of an open day here, so it is expected that some talent may not be as good as others, or as what they have on stage during the rest of the week."
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 25, 2011 12:57:31 GMT -5
"That is good to know, in case you do allow me to play your harp tonight; I won't feel such pressure," I responded pleasantly, without mirth. I'd been told I played as well as some newly debuted adepts of her house, but I had no way of knowing whether or not such was just flattery. Still, her giggle was infectious, and brought a smile to my lips despite whatever doubts I might have had in my ability.
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Post by Cerise nó Eglantine on Jan 25, 2011 14:30:42 GMT -5
I smiled at his smile, it was rather lovely and lit up his face. It seemed that he did not smile often, and so I made it my own little goal to try to make him smile as much as possible tonight.
"Well, with a smile like that, how could I say no?" I said, grinning myself and laughing a little, though I was serious. "When you are ready to play jsut let the bar maid know. I myself am up rather soon," I said with a grin. "To tell you the truth, I am a little nervous. i am trying out a new song tonight."
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Jan 25, 2011 14:40:16 GMT -5
At her talk of my smile, it could not help but grow just a bit wider. My cheeks also warmed considerably, something I tried to hide by taking another drink from my glass of wine, unused to such compliments as I was. Still, I nodded at her words, looking forward to hearing her play, and mused aloud, "Perhaps I will play one of the songs I learned in Tiberium. I was able to get my hands on a number of ancient songbooks there, and managed to commit a few of the songs to memory."
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