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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 13:37:57 GMT -5
"No peaches, they aren't lovers. They've never really been that way. There are, however, adepts in Orchis-- and in other Houses, I imagine-- who have lovers secreted away from the Dowayne." Poor pixie, she seemed so discomfited.
"Shall we move on to the dining hall next?" I said softly. "I would much rather you spoke up, Adelaide; I like hearing what you have to say." Truthfully, I did; it was so refreshing to see someone else experience my House who had never been in it before.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 13:44:30 GMT -5
I looked up at him. "Really? You like...listening to me?" That was not something I heard often, except from Papa, but hardly ever from someone I didn't consider kin.
"Well, I suppose most dining halls look alike anyways--unless Orchis adepts dine on the ceiling?" I grinned.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 13:59:37 GMT -5
"I happen to love listening to you, peaches," I smiled. "You always have very intelligent and interesting things to say, and I adore your honesty. As for dining on the ceiling, I believe you may be thinking of Eglantine," I said with a laugh as I led her toward the dining hall.
The dining hall in Orchis was nothing overly special, but it was no less bright and vibrant than the other rooms, and there were small tables scattered around that could be pushed together to form more space for larger groups.
"Are you hungry?" I asked her with a smile.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 14:09:45 GMT -5
"H-Hungry?" In truth, I hadn't thought about it. They fed us well enough at the temple, even when the harvest was poor.
"I think I can manage," I said. "Papa won't like it if i head back to the temple for dinner and am too full to eat any of it, and then he'll probably lecture me on the virtues of sacrifice and suffering and the perils of gluttony, as if he doesn't eat enough for two men!" I stopped suddenly, giving him an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry, Papa means well, but sometimes he...it's like he forgets that I'm his daughter and an acolyte."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 14:21:31 GMT -5
My eyebrows raised at her small tirade. But the outburst had reminded me that I'd gotten her something. "Adelaide, would you mind if we stopped the tour for a moment?" I asked her apologetically, though a grin was upon my lips. "You've caused me with your talk of... gluttony... to recall that that I got you something at the market a few days ago."
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 14:46:37 GMT -5
I stopped. "You...bought me something? Why?" The only people who ever bought me anything were mum and Papa, and they were kin. I couldn't think of anything I had done to merit receiving a gift.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 14:50:53 GMT -5
I blinked, and then laughed as I led her back toward the front doors, where the staircase up to the adept quarters was located. "Because I like you, peaches. Wait here, please, I'll only be a moment." So saying, I squeezed her hand lightly and moved quickly up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I burst into my room and grabbed the little box that sat on my bedside table and grinned for a moment before blowing back out of my quarters like a whirlwind and trotting back down the steps, coming to a stop in front of Adelaide and utterly ignoring Messire Grunt. "Here you are love," I said a bit breathlessly as I handed her the small box. "Go ahead and open it." I prayed to the gods she liked what was within. But, if not, I would simply find something else.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 15:12:28 GMT -5
I took the box from him and opened it, squealing with delight at the sight of its contents.
"Oh, bonbons!" I exclaimed, examining the offerings. A few were decorated with tiny candied flowers, some seemed plain, but possibly concealed a tasty core, all looked delicious, delicious and expensive...
I turned to regard him, suddenly suspicious. "I hope you didn't spend any of the money that was supposed to go towards your marque on this, Remy. It...isn't necessary..."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 15:28:03 GMT -5
"Whatever price I paid, love, it was worth it to see that happiness upon your features," I said quietly, a grin on my own face. She was radiant in her excitement and I was so glad I'd chosen aright with the bonbons.
"You must try one now, to make sure they're good," I said as I tapped her wrist lightly with my finger.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 15:44:15 GMT -5
I gingerly plucked one with the candied petals and took a bite out of it. "Oh, these are delicious!" I commented, taking another and thrusting it at him. "You must try one, Remy! I insist!"
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 15:51:04 GMT -5
I laughed and took the bonbon she proferred to me, popping the entire thing into my mouth. Immediately the flavor exploded on my tongue, smooth and rich. "Mmm," I said as I chewed and then swallowed, nodding at her. "They're very, very delicious."
I couldn't help but watch her mouth for a bit as she took another bite and, when she licked her lips, I felt a tightening in my breeches and I knew it was time to gaze elsewhere before I made an utter fool of myself. Shifting my line of sight, I looked now into her eyes. "I'm happy you like them, peaches," I said sincerely.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 16:03:20 GMT -5
"Oh yes, they are delicious!" I confirmed, smiling. "I don't know what I did to deserve them, but...thank you." I would have to remember to buy him a present now. I wondered if he would like a rosette, many men and women bought rosettes for each other, and they would be a la mode now that it was spring.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 16:08:44 GMT -5
"You don't have to do anything in order to 'deserve' a gift. You'd said you enjoy sweet confections, and it's in my best interest to give you thinks that will make you smile, because I adore seeing you smile."
I reached my fingers up to brush some of the hair off of her face, enjoying the silky feel of her skin.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 16:20:07 GMT -5
I looked up at him. "How do you know that?" I asked. "Do you really like it when I smile that much?" I blushed suddenly. "It seems like such a strange thing to say..."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 16:26:30 GMT -5
"Because I've seen your grin before and I thought it was adorable. It stood to reason that your smile would be even moreso, and I was right. Your smile is beautiful," I said as my thumb caressed her blush before I made myself pull my hand away. She probably was getting sick of me touching her; I really needed to settle down.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 16:48:13 GMT -5
I turned away from him. "I've...never thought about it that way." I felt like I was going to burst into tears, and I certainly didn't want to do that in front of him, in Orchis House.
"Are there...any other rooms you could show me?" I asked, reckoning that this was a safe change of subject.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 16:54:08 GMT -5
Being an Orchis, I had to be quite in tune with people's emotional states so that I knew the sort of jokes that were appropriate for an individual's mood and the ones that were in bad taste. And so, when her face changed a bit and she turned from me, I knew that something was different.
"Well yes, love, I can show you other rooms. I was thinking we'd go out to the garden," I said cautiously as I offered my arm once more, smiling a bit at the feel of her fingers once more resting upon it. "Are you all right?" I asked offhandedly as we walked to the rear doors of the House that led to the gardens. I was not wanting to make a big deal of it, but still wanting to help if I was able. I hated seeing anyone unhappy or in distress, Adelaide even moreso.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 17:02:36 GMT -5
I took his arm when he offered it. "I'm fine," I said, giving him a small smile. "I could use some fresh air. Sooner or later, these robes make a warm room feel like being in the middle of a towering inferno. I'd wager if I asked Master Auberon about it he'd say something about how it was all a part of suffering for Kushiel, or...something like that..." I shrugged.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 17:14:53 GMT -5
I chuckled softly. "This Master Auberon sounds like a very wise soul indeed," I said with a sincere smile at her.
Pushing the door open, I smiled at the spring sunlight wafting through the trees and inhaled happily. I loved being outside. "There is the garden," I said with a gesture in that direction. I recalled suddenly when I was very young and I'd been kneeling in just that spot over there and burying a little baby bird I'd found on the ground and nursed back to health. It hadn't been well enough to live for long, and my little heart had been broken.
"Hm," I said quietly, not realizing I'd made any noise, as I thought about that. Mayhap I would find another bird. I did love the little feathered creatures, gods knew why.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 18:55:36 GMT -5
I surveyed the garden. It looked much like the gardens that were kept by the temple, but well-tended.
I noticed Remy pause for a moment, could see something pass behind his eyes: a memory? It seemed likely.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, it was strange, seeing him so...solemn...
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 20:36:59 GMT -5
I glanced down at her, surprised. "Oh, ah... Well, when I was eight, I found a baby bird by that tree over there, and I nursed it back to health for about two weeks. Unfortunately, it was too little to survive without its mother, or it had taken internal injuries I didn't know about, and it died. I remember burying it there and being heartbroken," I said with a smile. "My Dowayne offered to allow me to have a bird, and I've never taken her up on it because I've always been so busy with my studies, and then becoming an adept... But now," I mused, "I could probably have a bird, since I have the time to properly care for one."
Shrugging, I looked down at her a bit more closely. "I was simply thinking I might go to the market to find a bird to keep in my quarters."
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 21:12:47 GMT -5
I stared at him, shaking my head in disbelief. "How can you say that with a SMILE on your face!? It's-it's..." I shook my head again. "Is everything a lark with you Orchis adepts?"
I sucked in a breath. "I...apologies...I think you should buy a bird at market if the dowayne has given her permission. I don't think many adepts have pets..."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 21:22:41 GMT -5
I blinked. "I never said it was a lark... I was heartbroken that day, and for many days after, even weeks. It was that day that I truly came into myself as an Orchis, and as horribly depressing as that time was for me, it helped me to be who I am today. I was smiling more at the fact that my Dowayne had said I could have a bird over ten years ago and I'm just now considering getting one," I explained, having become a bit more used to her impassioned outbursts since this was the third one in a week I'd gotten, the second one that day. She didn't really mean to automatically get me on the defensive, and so they were simply starting to roll off my back now.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 22:37:05 GMT -5
"Oh," his words made perfect sense, and I instantly felt ashamed that I had jumped to conclusions like that, especially considering he had just given me a gift.
"Think before speaking, Adelaide." Master Auberon was always saying something to that effect. I almost always dismissed his advice, but now I saw that there were times when heeding it would have saved a great deal of confusion.
"Well, I think a bird would be a nice addition to Orchis House," I said, resolute. "I've heard of birds that can be trained to speak. Maybe it would attract patrons for you?"
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 22:43:30 GMT -5
"Yes, and then the bird would make it's marque before me due to it's charm and I'd never be able to live with the creature," I rolled my eyes playfully and grinned. "I prefer birds that sing. If I want a conversation, I'd rather come seek you out. But I've always loved birds, and loved hearing them tweet and twitter away."
She seemed rather quiet once more. "Have I said something wrong, love?" I asked curiously, my fingers moving to her chin to raise her eyes to mine.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 22:57:39 GMT -5
"What? Oh, no, I'm just thinking, that's all," I replied, grinning. "I can be quiet when I want to be, you know? Have a little faith."
I went ahead of him, pausing to examine a few tender green shoots. "I've always liked plants," I remarked. "I think they like it when you talk to them. I've found it helps them grow. Do you...think that's silly?"
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 23:07:24 GMT -5
Oh, what a sharp little pixie, using my words. "Faith indeed," I quipped through my devilish grin. She just got better and better.
Moving along behind her, I resisted the urge to reach out and touch her hair as she bent down to look at one of the plants. "No, I don't think that's silly at all," I said honestly. "I can't say as I've ever talked to the plants, but I'll sing while I'm digging around in the soil to keep my mind occupied sometimes." Although, since Adelaide had come along, I hadn't had much trouble keeping my mind occupied.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 23:34:33 GMT -5
I nodded. "I think they like singing too. If I were stuck in one place all the time, I would be grateful if someone took the time to talk to me or sing me a song."
I stood up, automatically moving to brush the dirt off my robes. "Sometimes I...prefer the company of plants to people," I admitted, sighing. "People can be cruel, but plants seem to...enjoy just...being..." I blushed. "Oh, now I probably sound really obtuse..."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 23, 2011 23:41:12 GMT -5
"Not at all, I can see why you'd prefer such things. Sometimes, people can be cruel indeed, and needlessly so," I said with a shrug of one shoulder. "It's why I make it a point to be kind as much as I possibly can."
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 23, 2011 23:46:05 GMT -5
I giggled. "Well, I imagine an unkind Orchis adept would not entertain many patrons, unless they're too...unadventurous...for Mandrake House!" Even I knew a thing or two about Mandrake House, despite not knowing a thing or two about what actually occurred in any of the houses regarding physical contact between men and women.
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