Learning More [Matt]

[Noemi de Trevalion]

There was only so many things that a person could bring with them on a trip like the one from Serenissima to Terre d'Ange. True, there was only an ocean between them, but there were always people who couldn't travel, or who wouldn't travel, and while I could never replace them I had to find another way to learn. I'd always been told that there was no reason to stop trying to educate myself, even if I was past the age for nannies and usual tutors, and there was always something new happening in the world that I should probably know about- and then there was more dancing too. With that in mind I'd gone to the City Academy to see what was offered, and signed up for two ballet classes almost immediately. Now I'd actually have something regular to do a few days a week and Vic wouldn't bug me about doing something productive.

Once that was taken care of I went right back out onto the streets and started investigating the area around the school itself. A few small shops with books, a few others with clothing, but nothing that made me immediately want to run inside. It was probably still good to know the area though, and some of the food stalls smelled good so I bought some kind of pastry with meat in it and sat down on a bench to have a quick lunch. Later I intended to go and visit Sophie again, or perhaps the Palace finally, but for now I was relaxed and in no kind of rush. My black fedora was still perched on my head though my gown was a typically d'Angeline one in light green and between bites I tried to lure a shy kitten to the bench with bits of the meat filling.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I had no clue if I would ever see Auri again really. It was a disturbing thought but at least she had been honest that she had other interests. It stung a bit, but that was the way of things apparently. I suspected I was one of those sorts destined to go through life alone and that was alright. I had at least resolved to live once more and my sister and I seemed to be mending fences a bit. We would never be friends I was sure but a lack of open hostility could be a good thing.

So on this warm spring day I made my way through the Temple District. I was not in search of anything in particular but was more enjoying the fresh air and clearing my head after a winter hibernation of sorts. Indeed I was clean and had put back on a bit of weight and was enjoying the simple sights and sounds as I once more enjoyed being alive.

[Noemi de Trevalion]

The kitten was looking more and more like she- or he- may actually be starting to trust me, and my attention was absorbed in that completely. It was a beautiful creature in its own right, a little too thin but silvery-colored with faint stripes and a face still kitten-shaped rather than bearing the long lines cats got as they aged. If it was big enough to be more than three months old I'd be greatly surprised, and it obviously wanted a home if its curiosity was indication. And the garden was starting to get lonely...

I wasn't aware of quite how much time passed before the kitten was sitting next to me, taking bits of food from my hand and letting me pet her- for now I knew it was a female- and that put a smile on my face. Once she was purring I picked her up and set her on my lap to let her adjust to me a little more, the pie still in my hand to keep her occupied. The figure of a blonde boy about my age caught my eye and I gave him a smile from underneath my hat as he walked past. There really were a lot of handsome faces here and so far no one had really been mean so I didn't see the harm in being at least cordial to passing strangers.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

There was a young lady sitting on a bench petting a kitten. She gave me a smile and I did the same in return as I paused a moment and took in her appearance with my violet eyes. There was something about her that seemed familiar though I could not quite put my finger on it. It was more than a little distracting to say the least sort of like an itch on the bottom of your foot. You try and scratch it and all you manage is to tickle it and it does not help the itch at all.

Rather than stand here gawking like some awkward idiot I decided I had better say something. I nodded toward the kitten and observed “it looks like you found a friend.”

[Noemi de Trevalion]

There were a few moments when the boy and I looked at each other while he expression showed that he was trying to place me. It was an interesting reaction since I'd only been in the City for about ten days now, but I did have other family here and we tended to share some similarities. The brilliant violet of his eyes should have had some significance, but I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was. A sign of some family maybe? I didn't tend to pay much attention to things like that, it seemed too much like a reason to judge someone.

It wasn't too long before he spoke though, and I smiled a little wider as I gently scratched behind the kitten's ears, feeling how her entire body loosened up as her eyes slid half-closed in pleasure. "I'm glad she's deciding to oblige me, I miss my pets from home," I said happily, setting the bit of leftover crust I'd been holding down by my new pet and wiping my hand on a handkerchief before I offered it to him in a friendly fashion. "I'm Noemi de Trevalion." Generally I didn''t give my last name but some nudge about those eyes told me that I should and I trusted my instincts.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

"Ah new to the City then" I dipped my head as that explained some and her surname explained the rest. I had seen enough Trevalions in my time that the family resemblance was clear now that I knew what I was looking at. Indeed if one swung a dead cat at times they would surely hit one. I thought with wry amusement as I glanced at the obviously contented feline before taking her hand and shaking it.

"Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue a pleasure to meet you. Your family name also now explains why you seemed familiar to me." I offered with a smile and I felt lighter for it. Especially now that I was not always worried about one scheme or another and how I might turn such meetings to my advantage.

[Noemi de Trevalion]

He seemed a little reserved, but light-hearted enough and willing to talk, and the fact that he shook my hand rather than bowing over it was a bit of a comfort as well. Not that I minded that reaction, but it did draw a lot of attention at times and would have been a little uncomfortable since I was already sitting down. "It's nice to meet you too," I told him, interested at his family name but not so much so that I was willing to be overtly curious. It did explain why I was supposed to remember something about violet eyes though.

"I have to admit that your name is somewhat familiar to me as well, though I haven't met many people since I arrived," I said with a returning smile as I shook his hand in return, then scooted over a little on the bench so he could sit if he'd like. "I take it you're from Namarre then, or have you always been in the City?"

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

“Well the L’Envers is better known than the Montegue” I answered as I took the space on the bench she silently offered. “And yes I am of a rather pedigreed line much like yourself. Braquel was my grandfather after all.” I said the last with my usual bit of pride as I greatly respected my hallowed grandfather.

“And I split my time between here and Namarre. My sister is older than me and holds the family title after the passing of our parents.” Oddly for once saying as much did not leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I tilted my head “so what branch of the Trevalion family tree do you sprout from?”

[Noemi de Trevalion]

It was hard to tell whether this boy was one who cared a lot about titles or names, but even if he did I didn't mind really. Just because I wasn't that concerned with them didn't mean that everyone had to share my point of view about it, and generally it was supposed to matter. "Yes, that was the one I recognized, since my mother is related to the l'Envers," I said in a light tone, running a finger along the kitten's soft ear before I looked back at Mathieu with a smile. "But she doesn't have the eyes, so it was a bit of the surprise to me. The violet really is pretty."

And he had an older sister as well- a point of similarity, and one I understood. "Well, my grandfather Marcoux was the younger brother of Bernadette de Trevalion. She inherited the Duchy and he went to study in Tiberium. He married and had children, and my father was the eldest, so he married a cousin of your family. I guess that's the short version of the story." Another light laugh left my lips as I realized I'd probably completely confused him, but if he had questions I'd be glad to answer them. "And my older sister Victoire is the one who looks after things for us in Terre d'Ange since my parents are still in La Serenissima."

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I folded my hands in my lap and listened “thank you” I answered softly to the compliment. There was a time I would have preened and then got bitter, but I felt I was not that person anymore. “My sister has dark eyes as well from the other portion of the family.” I chuckled a bit “seems you and I are cousins of sorts of course that is pretty common in the nobility.” I did not comment further on her situation with her older sibling looking after matters or about her parents being in La Serenissima.

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"I think it's something like second cousins once removed or something along those lines, but Victoire is the one who knows more about things like that," I said after a moment of thought, shifting the kitten off of my lap and onto the bench beside me before I looked back at him with another smile. "And it does seem like if I go back far enough I'm going to be related to nearly anyone. Being cousins I hope I get to call you Mathieu rather than Lord Montegue or something though, the titles are what really trip me up." I light joke, a teasing question to see if he had a sense of humor- and hopefully it wouldn't blow up in my face. It was hard to tell sometimes.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I was finding the chat rather light and uplifting something I could not rightly recall having well ever felt. May hap I had just been a plain bitter bastard for far too long and I should thank Corri. Of course if I was going to do so I would need to wave a suitably shiny object to keep her attention. “I suppose we are kissing cousins of course it seems everyone is if you look at it the way you suggest.” I inclined my head a bit to her “and simple Matt will do just fine. How would you like me to address you?”

[Noemi de Trevalion]

Well, he didn't exactly respond to the joke, but he didn't get really angry or annoyed either- so maybe he just wasn't as light-hearted as I was. Sometimes that was probably a good thing, since he'd no doubt be taken more seriously than I was. Maybe he just needed some cheering up.

The statement made me laugh lightly, not at him so much as the conversation, and I smiled a little wider for it, already feeling at ease in Matt's company. "I can't say my mind went first to the 'kissing cousins' connection, but it's good to know," I joked gently. "So I'll call you Matt then, and I really don't mind what you call me so long as it's not Mimi. Most people choose Noemi though."

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I smiled a bit and even though I had been doing more of that as of late the muscle used to smile felt stiff and un-used. “Well I am a young, male, D’Angeline so I suspect it is considered a requirement that my mind go in that direction even when discussing cousins.” I quipped lightly “and it is a pleasure to have your company” I paused for affect “Mimi.” Just because I was turning over a new leaf it did not mean I could not have a comfortably ornery streak.

[Noemi de Trevalion]

I was starting to see that he did have a sense of humor- a stubborn one in fact, and though quiet is showed itself when it was given a chance. "I don't know that it's a very good reason, cousin- I've noticed that young, male Serenissimans often have their minds going to the same place on occasion," I replied with another light laugh. At the use of exactly the nickname I'd mentioned not liking I gave him a jokingly affronted look and shoved his shoulder lightly. "And how did I know you'd call me that anyway? Maybe I should think up some equally amusing nickname for you."

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

Generally when anyone had a name for me it tended to have something to do with my great height. Of course I was not going to point that out to her anytime in the near future though I was sure she had probably already noticed how tall I am. The other nick name was one the shrew had for me when we were getting along and that was simply Mattie and I certainly was not sharing that one with her either. So I simply smiled “well now would you have used it if you did not want me calling you that?” I reached over and patted her thigh re-assuringly and hoped the cat was not trained to attack.

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"Well, until you used it how was I to know you'd actually go against someone elses naming preferences?" I asked with a raised brow and speculative expression as though I actually expected an answer for the rhetorical question. "It's not as though I have any previous knowledge of you to work from, so I'm still learning about you." I didn't really mind the nickname so much that I was willing to get angry about it, but it wasn't my favorite either and after a little while it would eat at my nerves if he continued with it.

His touch to my thigh surprised me a bit, because in Serenissima that would have been considered a very bold thing, but I knew that he probably meant it in the same way I had his shoulder-nudge. Of course there was no way to know for sure, and after the statement about kissing cousins earlier I wasn't going to think on it for too long. It would have probably been awkward, especially because he was cute. "So, what do you do when you're here in the City?" I asked with a smile as I picked up the kitten before she sprang at his hand and set her on the other side of my lap.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I looked at her out of the corner of my eye “if you did not know I would use it would suggest you have not studied human nature much.” I shrugged “on that subject I spend a bit of time at the gaming table. Though recently I have had some difficulties on the personal front so I have to confess I have been mostly moping as of late.” I felt no need to fill her in that my personal difficulty involved Princess Coretta de la Courcel.

[Noemi de Trevalion]

His judgment of me as being naive or gullible was one that I'd heard before, and it may have been the case, but I still wasn't willing to change my outlook on humanity as a whole. "I tend to try and view people in the best light on first impression rather than the worst," I replied, cocking my head slightly as I turned to look at him more fully.

There was some bitterness in his eyes, but from his smiles earlier I could have thought he was trying to work past it. Maybe that personal difficulty had hurt him a good deal. I'd imagine it would make me bitter too. "I'm sorry to hear that things aren't going well," I said a little more quietly and with a trace of sympathy, pushing some hair behind my ear. "I hope your luck turns around." Then, in an effort to steer the conversation to something he was more comfortable with I asked, "What kind of games do you play?"

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

"Well it seems to be and I plan on keeping it going in that direction if I can." I then accepted the change of topic as it was best not to get too deep with a virtual stranger. "I like the card games best. The ones where one can apply a bit of skill. At the end of the day it tends to be a calculation of odds. If you make the correct calculation on the odds and then get a good read on the other person it can go well." I shrugged "of course sometimes the fates just stack the deck against you and you need to know when that is happening and cut your losses." I shook my head as that pretty much described my situation as of late so I was in cutting my losses mode.

[Noemi de Trevalion]

My cousin seemed to be the kind of person who played games for the sake of winning rather than just playing. Maybe that was the driving difference between our natures; I was content to play and take the chance of losing, while he wanted an assurance of a win. It was too early to tell though, and I didn't want to form the wrong opinion on so little information. "I like card games too. I'm only good, not great, but I have fun with them. When I start to lose I remember that the key is, even if life gives you a bad deck or a bad hand, there's always another hand coming, or another deck to play with," I said with a smile, trying to lighten things a bit. "Maybe I could play with you some time?" There was no way to tell what he'd say, but I was sure I sounded a little hopeful.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

“That is a lesson I am trying to learn but as they say old habits die hard. I suppose we will see if I have any luck with it.” The lady was clearly a lot more upbeat than I had ever been but recent events had taught me that I should try for a better outlook. I was trying so one could only hope that at some point I might succeed. “And sure we could have a game at some point. Would you prefer one with stakes or just a game like rummy for fun?”

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"Well, at least playing against me would probably boost your confidence and let you relax, I'm not nearly as good as a professional," I teased, tapping a finger to get my kitten's attention again before she jumped off of the bench entirely. I'd need a name for her at some point but none were really coming to me at the moment. "And whatever game you like is fine with me, whether relaxed or staked- depending on what the stakes are. I'm not sure if I know any of the same games you do either."

There was something very sad and bitter about my cousin, but I couldn't place what it was and considering how he'd referred to it before- 'personal'- it probably was just that. Hopefully having the chance to be around someone who had no idea what was supposed to be affecting him would help him to forget it a little.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

“Well confidence has never really been a problem for me.” Though now it might indeed be. I watched as she toyed with the cat and then looked back to her “and you are lucky you are not dealing with the old me or I might suggest garments as stakes.” I smiled a bit as that would have certainly been the case, but I was working at being a new and better person. So despite the fact she was quite intoxicatingly attractive I was fighting the urge to go to the lowest point of the gutter.

“I tell you what you show me one of your games that I have not played and that should help even us out a bit on the playing front.” I was after all more or less a professional gambler; well I used to be anyway. “And when would you like to try this?”

[Noemi de Trevalion]

His suggestion of stakes surprised a bit of a flush from me and a laugh; but even still, his 'old self'? It was an interesting thing to say, and somehow with how handsome he was I had a feeling his old habits had included being a bit rakish on top of the gambling. "Well, if you were your old self I'd have to ask why he'd choose stakes like that," I joked as the kitten swiped gently at my finger, but luckily her claws were tucked away. "I think that your idea sounds like a fair one, and I appreciate it. I don't generally have a lot to do. There's some cards at my house if you want to play there since I have to take the kitten there soon anyway. If not there's always other days."

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I chortled a bit at that “well because you are very pretty.” I then cleared my throat and shifted to less flirtatious matters. “And your place is fine as is right now” I smiled a bit “if I am honest I do not do a lot aside from take of space and pursue my own ends. So getting out and doing something other than moping was indeed why I decided to take a walk today in the first place.”

[Noemi de Trevalion]

The subject change was a clear one and I smiled at his compliment but didn't return it for the moment. After all when people changed subjects they generally didn't want to talk about whatever the topic was and we were still just becoming friends. "It's about the same for me, though I did sign up for some classes at the Academy to use up some of my free time," I told him as I picked up the kitten and rose, then checked my hat to make sure it was still settled on my head. "If there's something you want to get off of your mind sometimes giving yourself something new to think about helps." My smile grew a bit wider and I looked back at him again. "I'm glad that your wandering led you here though. It's nice to meet a new friend."

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I stood and as was normally the case towered over her. “To be honest about anyone you hit with a stick at the palace could tell you a lot about my situation.” I shrugged “I had a relationship with the Dauphine that did not turn out so well.” I then motioned for her to lead the way “and yes meeting you has been more than a little bit refreshing.”

[Noemi de Trevalion]

Being as short as I was I'd gotten used to most people being taller than me and I wasn't really bothered by it at all. "I haven't been up to the Palace at all actually, my sister Victoire tends to be there and I don't want to step on her toes with whatever's going on," I confessed with a bit of a sympathetic smile. "So I haven't really heard anything, but you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Some things are just too hard to talk about."

The Dauphine, that was Christien's sister, who I hadn't met yet. "I'm sorry that things didn't work out though. Maybe I shouldn't be so blunt but I know it must hurt and I hope you mend quickly." With another slightly wider smile I patted his arm as I held the kitten cradled in the other and took a step toward the townhouse my siblings and I shared, then waited for him to catch up.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I did not comment further as we had discussed the matter as much as I cared to. I glanced down at the kitten and followed "so what burrow do you reside in?" Her family had enough resources that I was sure things had been well arranged prior to her arrival.