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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 28, 2011 11:30:41 GMT -5
With Lessa gone and no other responsibilities I found that I had an immeasurable amount of free time on my hands and I really had no idea what to do with it all. Typically I walked around the city, finding interesting places to just relax in. This is what I was doing this day. I had a sandwich in my hand and a small book of verses in another and I was completely content to sit and people watch from the shade of the tree.
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 28, 2011 11:41:27 GMT -5
Walking along a pathway and still trying to orient myself to the City, I came across a lad with a sandwich and a book.
"Hello sirrah," I said politely, "That looks like a rather good idea, relaxing under that shady tree. Are you busy waiting on a ravishing young lass, or may I join you?" I teased lightly, my customary grin on my face. He looked like a rather nice individual, and I was all for making new friends. I felt bad taking advantage of Joie and sir Quinn's hospitality.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 28, 2011 11:47:57 GMT -5
I smiled though her comment brought about a soft blush. The girl looked to be my age, or a tad older, but who could be certain. She had an exquisite face. "I don't mind at all please..." I patted the ground beside me. "It's always nice to meet a new friendly face, especially on such a nice day as this one."
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 28, 2011 11:54:25 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said as I said down cross-legged, not caring much about getting my dress dirty. It could be laundered, more could be made. "I agree with you there. Since coming to the City, I have only met a few people here and there. So, what do you do here, if you don't mind my asking?" I could be rather direct sometimes, and so I didn't want to make the young man think I was prying. He looked rather sweet, if a bit... Nervous for some reason. Hopefully I didn't scare the poor man with my straightforwardness.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 28, 2011 12:05:32 GMT -5
I turned my body a little to better talk with her. "I work as a messenger to Lessandrie Mereliot." To be honest I had forgotten her title, given how little I needed to use it. "My name's Eric, by the way."
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 28, 2011 12:44:25 GMT -5
I nodded and grinned, sticking out my hand toward him and intending for him to shake it. "I'm Fionnula," I responded. "I don't have a job... Not at the moment, anyway. Maybe I'll find one; I wonder what I'd do?" I thought about that for a moment. Did I even have any skills, other than surviving?
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 28, 2011 13:11:06 GMT -5
I shook her hand. "Pleased to meet you. Well, I'm certain you won't have too much trouble finding a job. You could possibly talk to my employer, once she returns from Ruskovia." I shrugged and leaned back. "I was only employed recently, myself."
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 28, 2011 13:28:28 GMT -5
I nodded. "That's not a bad idea; I'm currently staying with my cousin and her betrothed and, although I've only been here a scant week, I feel bad taking advantage of their hospitality. It'd be nice to have my own place, and a way of getting income to keep said place."
Shaking my head and grinning, I said lightly, "Well, enough of my woes. You must have a day off then, if you're here relaxing! What book have you got there?" I asked him as I spied one sitting by his hip.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 28, 2011 15:34:09 GMT -5
I answered her with a smile. "Well a little more than a day. I really have nothing to do until she returns, which will be a month or more." I sat up a bit more. "It's just a little book of poetry, to bring even further smiles to the day."
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 28, 2011 15:46:29 GMT -5
"Ah, a whole month! You lucky guy," I grinned good-naturedly. There was something rather reserved about him, but he was very kind and polite.
"Do you like poetry much? I've never read any, but I've heard some spoken aloud and I thought it was very beautiful to listen to. I never really had much time to read," I said to Eric, wondering why I was explaining this. Like as not, it was a pointless piece of information. But, I supposed, what was the harm in sharing?
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 28, 2011 16:21:57 GMT -5
I nodded. "It's enjoyable. I'm not like some people who truly have a love for it, but it's nice to read sometimes. " I grinned and handed the book to her. "Feel free to borrow it if you like."
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 28, 2011 17:04:08 GMT -5
"Oh-- Thank you!" I exclaimed, touched at the offer. I took the book and, after looking at the cover, laid it carefully on my lap. "Now you're stuck having to meet me again so that I can return the book," I joked with a grin.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 28, 2011 17:22:39 GMT -5
I chuckled. "Hmm well perhaps that was my very intention?" It wasn't but now that she mentioned it, it was true and it would be nice to maintain a friendship with her, at least it should.
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 28, 2011 17:30:43 GMT -5
I couldn't help but laugh. The lad was very sweet, to be sure. "Ah, so you had ulterior motives!" I teased lightly, enjoying that he was open to my jokes.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 28, 2011 17:36:27 GMT -5
I laughed. "Oh yes indeed." I rolled my eyes playfully. "So tell a bit about yourself, background and the like."
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 28, 2011 18:11:26 GMT -5
I grinned. At his question, though, the grin faded a bit.
"I'm from Eire. I lived there all my life until a Skaldi raiding party came through my village when I was 20 and I was taken as a slave. I filched money from the warlord's coffers and hid it away for two years and finally escaped him, travelling by myself with my pony until I reached Alba, when I sold my pony to a family with an adorable little girl in exchange for the rest of the passage money I needed to get on the boat. When I got to Terre d'Ange, I rode straight for the City of Elua and only arrived last night to my cousin Joie de Mornay's old townhouse, where I was directed to sir Quinn du Paras's townhouse, since Joie lives there now. And the rest, as they say, is history."
I realized I had been babbling, and so I thought that then was a good time to shut my trap. I waited for Eric's reaction. I was glad I had left out certain parts.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 28, 2011 18:50:55 GMT -5
20? She didn't seem nearly that old to me. As I listened to her story I could only wonder at her. And I thought I had had challenges in my life! My mouth opened slightly and then I smiled. "That's quite the story, and you're quite the remarkable young lady, Fionnula."
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 28, 2011 19:38:50 GMT -5
I grinned and shook my head. "My thanks, kind sir," I said with a bit of a blush on my cheeks. "I am honored at your words. It's a high compliment you've given me."
Looking at him, I realized he must be around my age or so; perhaps a bit younger. "So, now it's your turn," I continued, absentmindedly playing with a blade of grass I'd plucked. "What of you and your background?"
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 29, 2011 3:35:58 GMT -5
I glanced down, wondering for a moment how much I really should tell her. But I decided that after all she had shared with me I had nothing to hide. "Well I was born in the province of Kusheth. I was sent to Alyssum house of the night court as a child. I grew up there and was nearing my debut when an accident happened which has left my body scarred. I was kicked out and I wandered the streets till I met Lessandrie."
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 29, 2011 3:39:09 GMT -5
Frowning, I gazed at the man. There was more to it; there had to be. Sometimes, accidents weren't really accidents at all.
"Well, I still think you're a right handsome lad," I said with an authoritative nod. "Is this Lessandrie nice? Does she treat you well?" I inquired, suddenly feeling somewhat protective of him, even though I didn't have any right or reason to. He seemed so sweet and kind, I couldn't bear the thought of him suffering.
Gods and goddesses, I was turning into an absolute fluffball. I'd be wearing makeup and tittering like a vapid nutjob, if I wasn't careful.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 29, 2011 11:38:56 GMT -5
I nodded with a soft smile. "extremely so. I didn't really know how kind people could be until I left the night court." I then wondered at the expression on her face. "Why the frown, dear?" choosing a term that only seemed appropriate, given the kindheartedness on the conversation.
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 29, 2011 11:43:28 GMT -5
I blinked, startled from my thoughts. Adepts, they had such training; I hadn't even realized he'd been watching me that closely!
"Ah," I mused with a grin, "I was just thinking of what a girl I'm becoming. You see, you seem very sweet and I've suddenly gotten such protective feelings over you. Which is strange, since we don't know each other and, like as not, you're probably quite capable of taking care of yourself!" I felt my cheeks warm a bit at admitting my feelings, but he had asked and so he deserved an answer.
"Do you carry a weapon with you at all?" I inquired. Many people I knew carried one in their boot; I had two, one in each. Call it self-preservation.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 29, 2011 11:52:05 GMT -5
I smirked. "I've been told that I have that effect. I'm thankful for it, truly. But no, I don't carry one, never thought about it really. I know I should have, now though there's nothing I do that really requires me to have protection."
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 29, 2011 12:01:28 GMT -5
I laughed. "What could require more protection than someone who travels all over the City?" Reaching into my right boot, I took out my dagger and handed it to him. "Keep it; I've got two, and I only usually use my left one since that's my dominant hand," I said.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 29, 2011 12:22:28 GMT -5
I held out my hand and took the small blade from her. It was simply but well crafted. "Thank you! I just hope I'll never really have to use it." I smiled and slipped it into my boot. Why people here were so kind, generous, and giving would always be a wonderful mystery to me.
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 29, 2011 12:24:50 GMT -5
I grinned. "You would be surprised the number of times I've taken mine out and never had to wipe human blood from the blade," I said. "Sometimes, it serves as a wonderful, ah..." I searched for the word to best describe it. Gods and goddesses, my d'Angeline was limited. "...A wonderful motivational tool." Yes, that would work.
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 29, 2011 12:37:19 GMT -5
I chuckled. "Even still, I'd rather avoid the situation altogether." I considered her face for a moment and then spoke. "You said something about become a girl. Were you raised to be a boy in some sense?"
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 29, 2011 12:45:16 GMT -5
Ah, he'd picked up on that. "Aye, sort of..." I said with a shrug. As a child in Eire, I was taught to fight and defend; me Da taught me to be a soldier and then, when he passed on along with my mother, I learned from the young men in town who had nothing better to do. They taught me. I was one of the boys, really; there were no girls around that liked me, so I went rock climbing and hunting and fishing and swimming with the boys. When I was captured and in Skaldia, I learned not only to fight with my weapons but with my heart and soul, and with my mind and words as well. I learned to be ruthless when I had to be."
My tone had turned bitter, so I took a deep breath and grinned. "So aye; I'm softening, I suppose. Don't tell anybody though, eh? I have a reputation to think of."
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Post by Eric Lamont on Jan 29, 2011 12:51:07 GMT -5
I nodded with a wink. "Secret's safe with me, Fion. That actually sounds like a fairly fun childhood." I was never a fighter, or a person of the woods, but it still seemed interesting to me. "And how has your time here been so far?"
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 29, 2011 13:03:27 GMT -5
"Rather enjoyable, actually," I said, thinking both on the last few days here and my childhood. I thought I'd bore him if I said any more, and I didn't want the bitterness to creep back, so I changed the direction of our conversation.
"So, as an adept of the Night Court, what was your childhood like? I'm betting it was quite different than mine." I had never really talked to an adept before; this was proving to be quite interesting.
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