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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 17, 2011 1:09:07 GMT -5
I’d arrived in the City last night, more than a little dazzled by all the lights even in what should have been the deepest part of the night. It was only the exhaustion of travel that had let me sleep, and I’d been up with the rising sun.
I had a little time before I had to begin my training, so I decided to see some of the places I’d always been interested in when I heard the City discussed. The one place I had longed to see since first mention were the gardens at the Palace. I knew that some were open to the public and so it was I found myself visiting a place my heart had longed for.
And oh sweet gods, they were magnificent. I was nearly overwhelmed with the variety of plants here that’s I’d never seen in person. I hardly knew where to look. I’d been here an hour already and had just barely made it around the first corner.
I came upon a rose bush, its blood red blooms nearly the size of my hand, and stopped to study it more closely. The petals had a texturing to them I was unaccustomed to and I knelt down to get a closer look.
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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 18, 2011 23:03:35 GMT -5
There was something about gardens that was calming, and not just for the plants themselves; they attracted birds, insects and all sorts of other living things that other people didn't tend to notice while they were looking at the blossoms. I'd gone to see others, but I also knew it was about time I make an appearance at the Palace for the sake of propriety- and because I'd told Vic I would. I wasn't quite comfortable with going inside yet, there was likely as much intrigue there as at the Palazzo, but gardens were innocent enough and appealed to me.
The ones here were as magnificent as I would have expected, the blooms large and already opened to the spring sun. I had my hair back in a simple low ponytail which fell down my back and my dress was a well-cut but simply cut one with Serenissiman style embroidery at the hems and neckline, well suited to such activity, and I simply let my feet take me where they would between the rows and my eyes moved across the various plants. A butterfly perched on a particular bloom and I watched it interestedly before it fluttered off, then turned down another row of red roses. There was a figure kneeling near one of the blooms and I smiled, then cocked my head slightly as I watched. He seemed so entranced by whatever it was that I felt a little relucant to disturb him.
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 18, 2011 23:16:19 GMT -5
Reverently, I touched the rose petal, memorizing the unusual feel. Then I carefully moved the blossom so that I could see the stem and leaves more clearly. Finally, I let the bloom settle back into place and rose to stand once more.
I looked down the path and noticed a girl standing there; I think she had been watching me. Something occurred to me.
“Forgive me,” I said. “Am I not allowed to touch the blooms? I did it no harm, but I am sorry if I transgressed.”
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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 19, 2011 9:33:36 GMT -5
His response surprised me a little since I was used to everyone knowing a little more about what was going on than I was, but I smiled and stepped a little closer. "I don't see why anyone would mind at all, and if they were too delicate to be touched I imagine someone wouldn't have planted them in such a public garden," I replied in a cheerful but calm tone. There was something peaceful about this man, who seemed to be about my age, and I didn't want him to think that there was anything wrong with what he was doing.
My smile became a little more apologetic. "I'm sorry if I surprised you. I was walking around and noticed that you seemed to be intent on something and that made me curious. If anyone was doing something wrong it was probably me by being rude." Nevertheless I was still curious and I took another step closer to where he was, my eyes going to the flower that he'd been looking at. "But before I go can I ask what you were looking at?"
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 19, 2011 15:35:38 GMT -5
“Once can hardly be thought rude for being so courteous as to not to interrupt another,” I told her with a smile.
Then I stepped back slightly and knelt down again. “This rose, the petals are textured in a way that makes them feel like velvet. I have never seen that before in a rose of this color,” I said, gently turning the bloom so that she could see.
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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 19, 2011 16:18:03 GMT -5
At least he didn't seem to be too annoyed at my approach and I smiled a little wider, relaxing a bit more as I finished walking over to where he was and looking down at the bloom, then reached out a finger to brush against it gently. "It does feel like velvet," I said with a light laugh. "I wonder how they do that. Maybe it's a cross with another kind of rose, or something in the soil or water, but I'm just guessing." Plants weren't something I knew a lot about, but I knew the basics of how they grew and often enjoyed walking around and looking at different things. "Do roses that are other colors have that texture to the petals?"
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 20, 2011 2:41:36 GMT -5
“My family grows one that is black and has this texturing. I had always assumed it was a by-product of all the varieties that were required to achieve the color, but now I am not so certain,” I explained, still smiling. “See the leaves here around the base of the bloom? They curl to the left slightly, something else I’ve not seen. I think I shall have to see if I can find someone who works here and ask.”
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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 20, 2011 9:17:25 GMT -5
His family was one that raised flowers- that was easily enough understood then. "You have a good eye for detail, I would never have noticed something like that," I said with a smile, looking at the leaves he indicated. "Is that kind of detail important to the flower?" I was naturally a somewhat curious person and I enjoyed talking to people that I met by chance, it was the way the most interesting conversations seemed to develop. "Or maybe this flower is an ancestor of one of the ones you used to make the black roses. The gardeners would probably know better though."
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 21, 2011 0:33:58 GMT -5
“That sort of detail is only important if you are trying to discover the influencing varieties in a line or if you are seeking to create another variety,” I answered, chuckling. “So no, to most people it’s not important.” I glanced at the rose again. “It could be that this one and our black roses share a common ancestor somewhere, I had just not heard of this variety.”
I looked at her again, finally realizing that I’d not even introduced myself. “Forgive my manners,” I said, bowing with another smile. “I’m Sébastien Fleury; it is a pleasure to meet you.”
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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 21, 2011 8:41:12 GMT -5
"It sounds like knowing that sort of information is important to you though," I replied with a smile, then gave a slight curtsy back when he bowed. Generally I was a very casual person but I knew my manners and I didn't enjoy being rude when someone else was being polite. "It's nice to meet you, Sebastien," I said cheerfully as I rose. "I'm Noemi de Trevalion. And if you were being rude so was I so I think we should both overlook it, what do you say?" Hopefully he'd understand that I meant the last bit as a light joke and not get completely flustered or offended. I was still learning a bit about subtlety.
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 22, 2011 14:22:44 GMT -5
“I think that sounds like a most reasonable course of action,” I replied, my smile growing wider. I was pleased she felt that way, for of course I recognized her surname and would have hated to have offended the first royal person I met here in the City.
“Are you done with your visit to the gardens or are you still looking around?”
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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 23, 2011 21:27:08 GMT -5
"Well, I haven't ever been to these gardens before so I don't know if there's more to see or not," I replied with an easy smile and a cheerful tone. When I was walking around earlier I was looking at the flowers and trying to see what lived among them at the same time, so I may not have noticed everything anyway. "But I suppose that means I should look around a bit more so I know for the future. What about yourself?"
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 24, 2011 1:17:18 GMT -5
“I’ve only gotten that far,” I said, pointing back to the gate through which I’d entered. “And I’ve been here an hour.” I laughed and shook my head slightly. “It’s easy to get lost in all this beauty.”
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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 24, 2011 9:46:24 GMT -5
"I could see why that would be, it's very lovely," I agreed with a smile as I looked at the path he indicated. "I've only been here a few minutes myself and I'm pretty easily distracted by other things at times- like butterflies or birds." Or handsome boys. "It's nice that you can get lost in all of the peace of the flowers though, I haven't seen many other people here who can."
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 24, 2011 15:40:32 GMT -5
“Having grown up around them, they are much my family s my brothers and sisters,” I said with a grin. “Would you like to explore some more together? You can keep me from touching things I shouldn’t and getting thrown out before I see everything.”
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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 24, 2011 17:03:02 GMT -5
"I think it would be nice to walk with you, though I may not be much help on what you can and can't touch since I'm of a mind that the flowers generally manage it well enough," I replied with a smile. "In fact you might be more able in that capacity since you'll know which ones are too delicate to handle while I won't. But I'll do my best." There was a light tease in my tone, but a playful one.
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 25, 2011 2:21:58 GMT -5
"Well ,you are welcome to try and distract me with questions about the flowers and then I won't have time to touch," I said, chuckling.
I looked around at the various directions we could go. "Where shall we head? Whichever direction you'd like is the one I choose as well."
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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 8:24:58 GMT -5
Standing on tiptoes I looked over the various bushes curiously, then relaxed back onto my feet and smiled. "I don't really know much about flowers but it looks pretty interesting over that way," I said and gestured down one of the other paths. "I hope I didn't pick something completely ordinary and bore you."
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 25, 2011 17:16:44 GMT -5
“You’ll find I am very difficult to bore,” I said as we began to walk. “Besides, I have a feeling that very few people are bored in your company,” I added with a smile.
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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 17:57:59 GMT -5
"I try to keep people happy, that I can admit," I said in a bright tone as I kept pace with him easily enough. I was used to being a bit shorter than most other people, including my older sister, so I didn't even really notice people's height much any longer. "What do you like to do when you're not looking around gardens?"
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 26, 2011 1:50:57 GMT -5
“I like to read, though most of what I read is about flowers,” I answered, chuckling. “Though I do love poetry as well. What about you?”
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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 29, 2011 10:41:19 GMT -5
"I like to dance, and when I read it's mostly about animals or people," I replied with a grin. "Otherwise I'm exploring somewhere or making new friends." A lightly colored bunch of flowers caught my attention and I stopped for a moment to look at it, then stepped closer.
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 29, 2011 15:21:12 GMT -5
“Cosmos,” I said as she stepped closer to some flowers. “They come in many colors and have a very nice, sweet scent if you get a little closer.”
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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 30, 2011 9:10:19 GMT -5
"Cosmos," I repeated with a smile as I walked over and cupped one of the blossoms in my hand before inhaling deeply. They did smell sweet, and it was refreshing in some fashion as well. "Thank you for telling me." As I delicately pulled my hands away I felt a brush of something else on my finger and raised it to look at the ladybug that was now perched there. Bugs didn't really scare me, though I couldn't say I enjoyed the more disgusting looking ones or the ones that could hurt you.
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 31, 2011 2:09:25 GMT -5
“Ah, no wonder their gardens are so beautiful,” I said, smiling wide when I saw the little bug on her finger. “Those beauties are excellent for gardens. We have thousands of them at home. In fact, at times they are so thick in the air it’s like walking in the snow.”
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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 31, 2011 11:03:18 GMT -5
"I've seen them before, in the gardens here and there. They eat other insects that could do harm, don't they?" I asked interestedly as I looked at Sebastien with a smile, then brought my finger back over near the plant so it could step off if it wanted. "It must be really lovely to see so many of them around as that."
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Jan 31, 2011 16:26:27 GMT -5
“Yes, you’re right, they are very good at protecting the gardens from harmful insects,” I said, nodding.
I watched as she offered the ladybug a way back to the flower. “I’ve always thought it was magical when they all swarmed, my sisters however grew tired of picking them out of their hair,” I said, chuckling.
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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 Feb 1, 2011 19:23:34 GMT -5
The ladybug seemed to understand what I was trying to do and walked down my finger at a steady pace until it was back on the stem of the cosmos once more. "I don't really mind those sort of bugs I guess, though it would be troublesome to pick them out. It would probably just make me stay outside longer to make sure they all had a chance before I tried though," I admitted with a laugh. "Maybe not the most ladylike reaction, but I don't like to hurt living things if I can avoid it."
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Post by Sébastien Fleury on Feb 2, 2011 3:06:47 GMT -5
“That was how I approached it, but I think after having to deal with it several times a day, my sister just got tired,” I replied, chuckling.
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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 Feb 2, 2011 10:41:37 GMT -5
"With longer hair it probably would be harder, especially if it happened several times a day," I said with a light laugh. "Once a day would be enough for me on some occasions." It was a comfortable conversation we were having and I was glad to have someone so interesting to talk to.
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