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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jan 26, 2011 1:22:26 GMT -5
The Duchess had given me a few errands to run and allowed me some free time to myself once they were seen to. She had some things to see to and I wouldn’t be needed for the rest of the afternoon.
Once I had seen to her tasks, I decided to just browse for a bit and see where the day took me. It was a lovely day and I was feeling rather happy today. As I browsed the stalls, one offering necklaces of glass beads caught my eye and I stopped to look over the items. The colors sparkled in the sun and it was a bit like being in a rainbow. Smiling, I looked through the beads, searching for one I might purchase.
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Jan 28, 2011 16:52:27 GMT -5
It had been some time since I'd been able to get away from the house. Something or another always seemed to prevent it; I wouldn't use the word 'interfere', since most of the time it was either an assignation, or a turn at manning the various games in the gambling den of house Bryony, which were both tasks I relished. Still, it was good to have time to make my way to the market for a change.
Most of the street gamblers knew me, and would not let me play their little games. The honest ones were aware of the skills I brought to such contests; the dishonest ones knew of my equal ability to catch their cheating. So I passed them by entirely, instead looking around at the jewelry and clothing. I may not have had much money of my own, but given my house's views on wealth and its display, I had a generous allowance for such things.
It was as I was passing a jewelry booth that I noticed a rather beautiful woman with dark hair looking at some beaded necklaces. Walking toward her until I was flanking her on the left, I reached around her and picked up a string of silvery-black hematite beads, holding them up for her to see, and commenting, "These would suit your hair rather nicely, madamoiselle."
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jan 28, 2011 17:09:34 GMT -5
Lost in the array of colors, I was surprised when I saw an arm reach past me and pluck up a string of beads.
“Oh, thank you,” I said, smiling as I turned to look up at the rest of the man who had spoken to me. “They are quite lovely, do you really think they’d suit?”
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Jan 28, 2011 17:18:26 GMT -5
"Absolutely, my dear. They provide a beautiful contrast for your hair, and your eyes now that I can see them as well," I responded to her, smiling charmingly as my sparkling gray gaze met hers. She truly was a vision, and I began to wonder if, perhaps, I'd unwittingly come across a fellow adept. Not that it truly mattered to me, though. "If you'd like to try them on and see, I'd be happy to assist," I added, not caring, in this instance, that I was helping out the merchant by doing part of his job for him.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jan 29, 2011 14:24:12 GMT -5
“That is very kind, thank you,” I said, smiling up at him again before turning my back to him so that he could fasten the necklace in place. I’d done my hair in a loose braid today and I lifted it out of his way.
Though I couldn’t see him now, I recalled just how handsome he was, his smile one that I felt rather certain would be hard to resist.
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Jan 29, 2011 21:26:07 GMT -5
When she turned around and lifted her braid out of my way, I drew the beaded necklace up in front of her throat, my fingers brushing featherlight over the sides of her neck as I did do. Pulling the ends around to the back of her neck, I continued this barely-perceptible caress as I did so, until I clasped them together.
Once this was done, I waves a hand in front of her, indicating a polished mirror that was sitting out for possible customers to see how things looked on them. "There, now you can tell me whether I was right," I told her in a low, but confident voice, watching her with amusement and appreciation for her beauty.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jan 31, 2011 1:30:57 GMT -5
It had started at my neck, but now every one of the fine hairs on my body was standing on end. the instant his fingers had touched me, so light that one might have mistaken it for something else had it not continued, my breath had caught. By the time he’d finished, I was biting my bottom lip to keep the small sound of need that was desperate to escape inside me.
I was unable to keep quiet the sound of my breathing when it started again, the soft but sharp gasp of it. Blinking to focus my eyes, I looked in the mirror. The beads were beautiful and looked incredible against the light green of my dress.
“You were right,” I said softly, my eyes meeting his in the mirror. “They are perfect.”
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Jan 31, 2011 1:53:49 GMT -5
The sound of her breathing was not lost on me, of course, and I could not help the grin that spread across my lips as not only did my touch have the desired effect on the lovely young woman before me, but I had been correct that she would appreciate my taste. When her eyes met mine in the mirror, she would no doubt see the satisfied sparkle in my gray orbs.
"I thought they would be," my voice was deep and confident, of course; some might have even said a bit cocky, but I had been right, hadn't I? Taking her hand gently, I spun her around slowly, with the same grace as if we were dancing, and then when she was facing me, I lifted her hand to deliberately kiss the back of it, allowing my lips to linger just a bit longer than would strictly be proper. "I am Mahieu no Bryony, madamoiselle, and it is a pleasure to meet you," I finally introduced myself, my eyes meeting hers as I rose.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jan 31, 2011 2:24:08 GMT -5
The fact that he was an adept was not lost on me, but for a few seconds all I could think about were his lips on my hand. My hand grew warm and the feeling traveled up my arm.
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” I said, my voice a little breathier than normal. I sank into a curtsey as I introduced myself. “Douleur no Valer…” I caught myself. I had gotten better at remembering my new surname, but he had shaken me. “no Shahrizai.” I rose from my curtsey, looking up at him through my lashes as I did.
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Jan 31, 2011 14:35:22 GMT -5
As she sank into a curtsy before me, I watched her with open appreciation for her grace and loveliness, and when she slipped, apparently about to give me a former surname, I could not help the grin that spread across my lips. Seeing the way she looked up at me through her lashes, I could see how she ended up in her former house; her beauty was the sort to be enhanced by being tied up, and made to writhe.
"Douleur...that is a lovely name. What brings you out to the market on such a fine day, Madamoiselle no Shahrizai?" I asked her, reaching toward her to briefly toy with the necklace, as if getting a better look at it, allowing my fingers to once again brush against her skin lightly.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jan 31, 2011 16:01:36 GMT -5
Hi fingers brushed against my skin again and it was as if everything inside me clenched and the sensation shot straight to my nether region. Knowing as an adept he was more likely to read my reactions than a layperson on the street, I blushed softly.
“I was running some errands for my mistress, but those are finished and she’d given me the afternoon to myself,” I answered, a tad amazed I could put words together sensibly. “And you monsieur, what has brought you to the market today?”
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Jan 31, 2011 16:51:16 GMT -5
"Primarily boredom," I admitted, though I was certainly not so at the moment, allowing my touch to linger a moment longer before I let my hand slowly fall away from her, my gray eyes glinting with enjoyment as I took in the sight of her blushing so prettily. "I figured I would come see about buying some new clothes, or perhaps a ring or some such," I went on, my gaze intent on her face, in particular her eyes, "I could not help but offer assistance to such a lovely young woman when I saw you here looking, however."
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jan 31, 2011 21:40:40 GMT -5
“Thank you very much for your help, I would not have thought to try these on if you hadn’t suggested them,” I replied. My instinct was to drop my gaze, but I was finding myself unable to look away. “After I pay for these, perhaps I can repay the favor by helping you choose something?”
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Jan 31, 2011 22:19:35 GMT -5
Her offer was more forward than I would have expected for a former Valerian, but not being a Mandrake, or of a similar mindset to most of them, I was rather pleased to hear her make it. And not entirely for the pleasure of having a beautiful woman accompany me around the market, though that was certainly part of it. A female eye, particularly that of a woman trained in the Night Court, was always helpful when looking at clothing or other adornments.
"I would certainly enjoy that, Madamoiselle no Shahrizai," I responded with a slight inclination of my head, "It will be nice to have your opinion as I look around." I then stood just slightly to the side so that she could finish her business with the merchant before they moved on to look at other booths.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Feb 2, 2011 2:20:17 GMT -5
“Please, call me Douleur,” I said with a smile before turning to the merchant. My spirits sank a little when I saw the gleam in his eye. He knew that I would be buying the beads no matter what price he quoted, he’d watched everything play out. He named a price higher than I expected, I named a lower one, but I had never really had any skill at bargaining. The final price was a little lower than the first, and I handed over the coins.
Finished, I turned back to Mahieu. “Where to?” I asked.
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Feb 2, 2011 14:04:34 GMT -5
At her asking me to use her given name, I smiled back with pleasure sparkling in my eyes. That expression changed, however, when I realized the merchant was taking advantage of my assistance to gouge her on the price for the beads, to one of cool disgust, looking the man right in the eye.
When she completed the transaction, I offered her my arm politely, and and answered her though my gaze lingered on the merchant a bit longer, "Somewhere that people might be more appreciative of a favor done, I think." I was already planning on having a talk with the people I knew who frequented that marketplace to ensure the man's booth was avoided for a time.
Once we were away from that particular booth, I leaned in a bit closer to her, and said in a low tone, "I apologize if I made little sense back there. I cannot abide people taking such advantage of efforts not their own. I was there to help out a lovely woman, not to make him extra money." If the merchant had done the flirting and gotten her to part with the extra coin all on his own, it would have been a different story, entirely.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Feb 3, 2011 2:25:41 GMT -5
“It’s alright. I have no skill at bargaining, or I might have tried for a better price,” I answered. My cheeks were warm; I was blushing with embarrassment at not only having been taken for extra coin but for having seemed so inept in front of him. He was Bryony; he likely could have gotten the beads for a song. “I like the beads very much, truly. I would rather not think about the merchant and just focus on how lovely they are and how I will think of you whenever I wear them.”
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Feb 3, 2011 13:03:42 GMT -5
"As you wish, Douleur. Enjoy them, and think of me," I responded to her sweet words, smiling into her eyes in a way that showed I was pleased at the idea of her remembering me even though I'd not given up on my plans for retribution against the merchant. If she was that happy with them, I was more than willing to let go of the incident, for the moment at least.
As we continued walking, a booth where silver rings with various stones set in them where being displayed caught my eye. Despite gold being a more valuable metal, I'd always thought that silver looked better on me, so I nodded toward the display and said, "Come look at those with me?"
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Feb 3, 2011 20:15:52 GMT -5
I was relieved when he didn’t dwell on what had happened and I felt myself relaxing enough to truly enjoy myself once more.
“Of course,” I said, giving him a happy smile. “I find it hard to pass up anything silver.”
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Feb 3, 2011 22:37:13 GMT -5
"Interesting. It is my favorite metallic color as well, and all of the jewelry I own is made of it," I told her, finding it curious that we would have such similar taste. As we approached closer to the booth, I looked at the various rings, though from time to time my gaze did drift back to her, enjoying the sight of her lovely face, as well as the way that the hematite beads contrasted with her skin and hair, glinting in the light. "Do you see anything of interest yet?" I asked her as my eyes returned to her face once again following a brief trip down her beautiful form.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Feb 4, 2011 16:17:37 GMT -5
I looked over the rings, trying to focus on them even as I felt his eyes on me. The rings were lovely, and I saw several that I really liked, but none that seemed to suit him from what I knew of him.
I was about to say ‘no’, when a ring at the back caught my eye. I stretched out and plucked it from the velvet display. The ring was simple, yet undoubtedly masculine. The lines were all strong and angled, no feminine curves, the silver holding a deep glow. The stone looked to be onyx, but was shot through with silver veins.
“This is very nice,” I answered, holding it in my palm as I showed it to him.
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Feb 4, 2011 21:31:54 GMT -5
I noticed that she was having a little bit of trouble paying full attention to the rings before her, and could not help the amused sparkle that entered my gray eyes as I made note of it. When her eyes lit up, and she reached for one of the rings, my own gaze drifted to her hand.
Seeing the ring in the palm of her hand, I lifted my own, and slid it slowly palm-down over hers, digits gliding over hers until the ring was looped over my index finger so that he could try it on and get a closer look. Once I did, I glanced back into her eyes with an extremely pleased expression, and told her, "It is perfect, Douleur. You have a wonderful eye. Well, a pair of them, really."
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Feb 7, 2011 1:37:30 GMT -5
His skin slid across mine and I nearly moaned with the force of the wanting that slammed into me. My mind was flooded with the desire for a far more complete experience of his skin on mine. My skin grew hot and it was all I could do not to tremble.
“Thank you,” I breathed, smiling softly. “I am glad you like it.”
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Feb 7, 2011 2:32:54 GMT -5
"I do, very much, Douleur. Now I will have something to help me remember you, as well," I told her, noting the breathy sound of her voice and relishing the effect I was having on her. "Not that I think I will need a reminder of such a beauty, of course," I then added as I removed the ring, and turned to the merchant to begin haggling over the initial price he gave me, which was far too high.
It did not take me long to get the price I wanted, though, at which point I happily handed him the coins, and then turned back to Douleur, slipping the ring back onto my finger. "So, do you need to get back to your mistress, or do you have time to accompany me a bit longer?"
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Feb 8, 2011 1:17:08 GMT -5
I watched as he haggled the merchant down to a price far, far less than the original one given and all I could think was how masterful he was at it. Only a tenth of his skill and I would spend a lot less coin on items.
When he turned to me once more, the ring again on his finger, I smiled. “I do not have to be back until this evening,” I answered. “I would like very much to accompany you some more.”
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Feb 8, 2011 10:39:50 GMT -5
"So I have you to myself until evening? The Companions have blessed me today, it seems," I responded a bit playfully, smiling at her invitingly as I offered her my arm once more. I enjoyed shopping, of course, but I always enjoyed it more when I had a lovely woman on my arm. Most often when I had that pleasure, it was a fellow Bryony adept, so the novelty of this particular day I found quite enjoyable.
As we wandered together, I glanced at her from time to time, admiring her, though never did I try to hide it. Whenever she noticed me, I would simply smile right into her eyes, before glancing off at some booth or another, though really, I was waiting for something to catch her eye. "How do you find working for the Shahrizai, Douleur? Are they really so frightening as the stories suggest?" I asked her, my voice a bit teasing, as if I didn't necessarily believe the stories. Which I didn't; I'm sure they had some basis in fact, but all families had their bad seeds, as well.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Feb 9, 2011 22:42:42 GMT -5
It was both lovely and distracting to walk with him in this way, and I found myself more than a bit excited by the uncertainty of things.
“I love being part of the Duchess’s household,” I answered with an honest smile. “As for the stories… I am certain some of them are true and some not. As with any family, the Shahrizai vary. I have met both incredibly cruel members of the family and incredibly kind ones.”
We came upon a stall selling silk scarves and I stopped. “Would you mind if we looked at those?” I asked hopefully.
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Feb 10, 2011 10:33:09 GMT -5
Listening to her talk of the Shahrizai, I nodded with interest. I'd never had many patrons from their family; they had a preference, it seemed, for the Valerian and Mandrake houses. There were exceptions, and Bryony had seen its share of their clan, but somehow they usually avoided me. "Well, I am happy to hear that you have found a place that you enjoy being," I told her, a genuine smile on my lips, "It is important to feel as if one belongs."
The scarves had caught my eye, too. Not that they were the sort of thing I would normally buy for myself, but the merchant did have a very colorful assortment of them. "No, I'd not mind at all, Douleur," I answered her, my tongue giving her name a slight caress as I shifted paths slightly to take us in the direction of the stall. Once there, I reached with my free hand to run my fingers over one of them, checking the quality of the fabric. As I glanced again at the woman on my arm, I once again found it easy to picture her bound by such scarves, and grew curious as to what had brought her out of Valerian house; not that I was about to ask such a personal question.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Feb 10, 2011 15:43:24 GMT -5
The way he said my name… Kushiel have mercy… it sent a lovely shiver down my spine. Trying not to become lost in the sensation, I focused on the scarves. They were so very lovely and colorful.
“I think I shall buy one for my mistress,” I told Mahieu, smiling up at him even as I kept my voice low so as not to alert the merchant to my interest in her wares. “She has been through a lot recently and this might make her smile.”
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Post by Mahieu nó Bryony on Feb 10, 2011 21:59:40 GMT -5
"I am truly sorry to hear that. If she is as kind as you say, it is a shame for her to have to go through such a rough time," I responded to her, looking through the scarves idly. My eyes did glance over at her fairly often, though, watching as she searched for a gift for her mistress.
After a time, I finally asked her, "What is her Grace's favorite color?" She may not have known, depending on her exact duties for the Duchess, but there was also a good chance she did, and if I was going to help her, such information would help.
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