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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 17, 2011 0:16:18 GMT -5
It had been far too long since Jules and I’d had time to just go out, so when our schedules allowed it we jumped at the chance.
Playfully I shouldered past him as we entered the tavern, grinning as I looked around.
“Where shall we sit? In the dark corner so you don’t ruin the other’s appetites?”
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 17, 2011 10:54:24 GMT -5
As Keegan shouldered past me to go in I considered tripping him just enough to make him stumble, a common enough trick- but instead I let him go ahead. He could consider that the one favor he got for making Second and holding some kind of rank over me. After that he was right back to being my bratty House-brother and friend since the cradle.
With the decency out of the way I went in after him, giving the place a look and shoving his shoulder at his comment. "Can't go into a dark corner, you'll look like some goblin haunting the place," I said in an innocent tone though my eyes flashed in humor. "I'll take the chance of staying in the light."
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 17, 2011 16:10:56 GMT -5
“You don’t care because it’s not your appetite that is going to be ruined,” I replied, grinning at him and then pointing to a table almost right in the center of the room. “How about there?”
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 17, 2011 17:39:44 GMT -5
"I don't mind being the center of attention if you think you can handle it," I joked as I headed toward the table, turned a chair around and sat down backwards. Keegan and I had been best friends for as long as I could remember- literally- so when we went out on the town it tended to be a good deal of fun. "What are we drinking tonight, mi amigo?"
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 17, 2011 22:34:50 GMT -5
I flopped into my chair and looked at him. "Oh gods, are you going to do that thing where you want to copy everything I do in hopes it will make you more attractive and smarter?" I asked, a dismayed look upon my face.
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 18, 2011 10:07:06 GMT -5
"Only if you ask very nicely," I quipped back with a jokingly aloof sneer. "Though I don't know how you could seem attractive or intelligent if I wasn't mimicking you. Maybe I should do it so you feel a little better. Everyone knows how fragile your self-esteem is." A bare hint of a smile crept across my face and I gestured for a bar-maid to come over. "And since you didn't answer I guess you get water for the first round."
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 18, 2011 22:34:46 GMT -5
“As if you get to make decisions for me,” I scoffed with a grin. I ordered a mug of mead from the bar maid as soon as she arrived, not giving Jules a chance to try something he thought was clever.
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 19, 2011 10:34:52 GMT -5
"Well, look who's gotten all picky and officious since his rise in the ranks," I joked, then ordered a mug of mead for myself, which the waitress nodded at and then walked away to procure the drinks. "How is the job treating you, by the way? Too much paperwork or do they actually unhook your chain and let you see the sunlight sometimes?"
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 19, 2011 15:24:09 GMT -5
“I get unhooked on appointed days and appointed times,” I replied with a wry chuckle. “No, it’s wonderful, really. There is a lot more paperwork than I could even imagine. How have you been?”
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 19, 2011 15:30:08 GMT -5
"So glad that I just happened to catch you on one of those days then," I joked back. "Or you chewed through some strong shackles, I know that's what it would take to hold me near that much paperwork. As for me- well, I get to do all of the fun stuff that you're too busy doing paperwork to take advantage of. You know, patrons, parties, pulling pranks. But don't worry, I do some of them in your name so it seems like you're still as active as you ever were."
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 20, 2011 2:34:58 GMT -5
“Having seen what it is you call pranks, I’m not really sure I should thank you,” I told him.
The bar maid returned with our drinks, and I noticed her blouse had been undone another button. She set them down, cleavage first, and then walked away.
“I think she likes you,” I said to Jules, winking.
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 20, 2011 10:38:43 GMT -5
"I know, people may think you have taste if I keep playing your jokes for you," I said mildly, watching as the waitress set down the mugs and giving her a smile as she walked away with a slight sway before I glanced back at Keegan and laughed lightly at his words. If the two of us weren't bickering or fighting in a friendly fashion that was a sign of something being very wrong and I was glad he was still in his usual spirits. "And of course she likes me! Who doesn't? Especially considering the other options at this table..." With that I picked up one of the mugs and took a drink as I gave him a significant look.
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 21, 2011 0:59:23 GMT -5
Rolling my eyes, I lifted my mug and took a sip. The liquid was the perfect temperature and I sighed happily as I set the mug back down.
“Truthfully now, how have you been?” I asked him with a friendly smile. One of the things I disliked about being Second was how little time I had to hang out with Jules, I missed him.
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 21, 2011 9:22:57 GMT -5
So he wanted to be serious for at least a few minutes- well, that was easily enough managed provided that nothing particularly odd happened. Then again considering us it was pretty hard to judge the likelihood of that. "Truthfully, I've been alright," I told him with a return smile as I leaned back slightly in my hair and relaxed with my mead. "A little quiet since you've had to go all responsible though. I've considered busting into your office a few times but you're settling in and I'd hate to give you a heart attack. Now your turn- how are you doing, honestly?"
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 21, 2011 17:24:32 GMT -5
“Still a little overwhelmed by the responsibility,” I answered, my thumb absently rubbing at the handle of my mug. “I am still worried I am going to mess something up. It’s far more pressure than I realized.”
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 21, 2011 17:28:50 GMT -5
I could understand why Keegan was having a rough time with it- we Orchis didn't tend to be the most organized or sane people and that probably meant looking after us was equally disorganized and insane. "You've got this, man," I told him in a reassuring tone. "Everyone knows you can and if you need help you've always got me, right? I'll keep everyone in line with the threat of my singing or some other equally hideous punishment and then you'll have less to worry about." My smile became a bit warmer, not quite the usual merry grin but a more sincere one. "I mean it. If you need something I'm here for you."
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 22, 2011 14:06:09 GMT -5
“Thank you,” I said, giving him a smile filed with just how grateful I was to have him around and how much I cherished our friendship.
A smile which then melted into a grin, “And please, using your singing as punishment, we’re Orchis man, not Mandrake!”
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 22, 2011 17:29:53 GMT -5
It seemed that all he'd needed was a reassurance, and then my best friend and compadre was right back to his merry, annoying, grating self again. "Mandrakes, that's a good idea!" I said as though a light bulb had just come into my head. "That's what we'll do with the really bad ones, send them over there to play some pranks and see how quickly they run back. I'm sure after that they'll be worn out from running for their lives. Or we can just see how far they scatter when I start singing and place a few bets at Bryony, then cash in. There's so many good ideas today."
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 24, 2011 0:52:55 GMT -5
“Awww, I didn’t know this was going to be your one day a year with good ideas!” I told him, grinning widely. “I would have suggested we go somewhere fancier and celebrate!”
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 24, 2011 10:59:34 GMT -5
"Oh, you know me, I don't need all of the pomp and circumstance," I told him in an tone of expansive modesty. "It might make my head as big as yours and then who would help you to get through doorways, my friend?" Smiling and laughing I took another drink of my mead. "But what of other matters? There's more on your mind then you're letting on."
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 24, 2011 15:09:34 GMT -5
“Not possible, according to you my mind is so small I can barely manage to think of one thing at a time,” I countered before taking a long drink of mead.
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 25, 2011 21:31:18 GMT -5
"You could have a small mind in a big head. I've seen it before," I replied in a sagely tone as I hid a grin behind my mug, then took another drink. "How would you ever get any patrons then? And I bet your neck would hurt, it's already a mystery how it keeps that melon of yours up anyway."
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 26, 2011 1:30:20 GMT -5
“Not everyone is as weak and poorly muscled as you are, my friend. Truly, do you ever lift anything heavier than a mug of mead?” I asked, bewildered.
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 26, 2011 9:52:52 GMT -5
"Says the guy who hasn't been lifting anything heavier than paperwork," I retorted, my eyes flashing with mirth. "I bet you wouldn't even be much of a challenge anymore since you've gone all flabby. Keep up with the mead and you may even end up with a jolly little beer gut."
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 26, 2011 23:23:54 GMT -5
I set down my mug and began to undo the buttons of my shirt. “Shall we both take off our tops and see just who gets the more attention?” I asked, eyeing him and grinning.
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 27, 2011 12:00:16 GMT -5
"Well, aren't you confident for the flabby, pale man who hasn't been able to leave his office in gods know how many weeks?" I joked back, setting down my own mug and starting on my own buttons. "Aren't you supposed to be setting a good impression or something? What's next, a wrestling match on the House yard?" Most likely it was, but that was what we'd been doing since we were toddlers with our games and jokes, and it would probably actually be the final sign that nothing had really changed since he'd been promoted. It would do everyone some good.
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 27, 2011 22:39:54 GMT -5
“Only if you promise not to cry this time when I win,” I countered, grinning as my shirt came off and I laid it across the empty chair next to me. I had noticed eyes being drawn to our table even before our shirts were off. Grinning, I raised my mug and took a drink.
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Hélène de Troyes
Aristocrat
Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen; House de Troyes
Daughter of Jacques and Genevi?ve de Troyes, Lord and Lady of Troyes-le-Mont
Posts: 634
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Post by Hélène de Troyes on Jan 27, 2011 23:01:39 GMT -5
I had needed to get away from the palace. Away from the grief and suspicion that filled the halls. So I dressed in a plain blue gown with a cloak to cover my hair, and headed down to the seedy part of the City. I had naught but a few coins on me, and it was early enough that I didn't expect trouble, even at the Cockerel. I made my way up to the bar, ordering a cheap mug of mead, and glanced around the room as the barkeep poured my drink. Instantly I spotted two very good looking men at a table, one topless to show off his perfect physique. I hid my blush behind my newly acquired mead, and looked away.
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Post by Jules nó Orchis on Jan 27, 2011 23:13:11 GMT -5
"I seem to remember you losing the last time," I said in an amused tone as I worked my own shirt off over my shoulders and set it down across another empty chair before picking up my own mug and taking a drink.
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Post by Keegan nó Orchis on Jan 28, 2011 16:29:07 GMT -5
“No, that was the second to last time when I let you win, the last time you bumped your soft skull and were in hospital ward for a day pretending to be sick so you didn’t have to do any work,” I replied.
The wait staff was huddled at one end of the bar talking rapidly, eyes darting over to us and back. I noticed a few other patrons turning their chairs to get a better view of our table as well.
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