A Remembered Encounter: Balta and Douleur

[Baltasar de Cordova]

It was close to lunch time, but today had been rather... well.. dry. Worse than the driest wine I carried, really. Very few customers had come in, and when they had, most patrons chose to look around adn dilly dally, or partake in a single glass, as opposed to stick around and drink a bottle, or buy one. The day had been rpeceded by rather good days, which of course made this one seem even worse. I stood behind the counter, elbows on the bar, and my face nestled in the palms of my hands as I let out a heavy, melodramatic sigh and looked around at the shoppe. I was not disappointed generally, indeed I was proud of the success I was having, but days like this always made me feel a little... sad. And bored.

I pulled out the rag with one hand from under the bar, still resting my head on the other, and wiped the countertop, though there was no reason to as I had done it already a hundred times since morning.

[Douleur nó Shahrizai]

Having finished the errands that the Duchess had tasked me with, I had a little free time and so I indulged myself with a walk down a street I hadn’t been down in awhile. Looking up, I saw a sign that tickled something familiar within me and it took me a moment to realize what it was.

This was Balta’s shop.

Smiling and hoping he was in; I opened the door and went inside. He was standing at the counter, looking bored and I couldn’t help but smile wider.

“Good day,” I said to him.

[Baltasar de Cordova]

A voice brough tm eout of my revery, a familiar voice, and when I looke dup it was paired with a familiar face. I knew her from that night, after the fete I had attended. A Valerian named Douleur. She had been sweet, very nice and kind, and genteel, amongst other things that I remembered fondly from that evening.

"Douleur," I said with a bit of surprise, "well look what the cat has brought in to me," I teased playfully. Truly I was happy, for this day had been terribly boring and having a familiar face come to see me was always a welcome event. "How fare you these days?"

[Douleur nó Shahrizai]

“I’m well, thank you,” I said, smiling and moving through the shop until I stood across the counter from him. “You look well, how have you been?”

[Baltasar de Cordova]

I smiled at her as she made her way over, remembering for a moment what her body looked like completely bare, and how her lengths reached her pretty little rear. Hopefully none of that showed as I smiled at her.

"I have been as you see me, well," I teased with a wink, "though terribly bored today, to be honest. It has not been a busy one and I hate feeling idle with nothing to do. You knwo what they say about idle hands, afterall."

[Douleur nó Shahrizai]

Unable to stop myself after his wink, I replied, “I have rather fond memories of your hands.” I grinned and leaned against the counter. “You have a very lovely shop.”

[Baltasar de Cordova]

I raised a brow at her comment, chuckling, surprised, even. She was playful and it suited me very nicely.

"Thank you," I said with a grin, "I am glad you like it, I quite like it, most days. Most of the wines you will find come from my family's estate back in Aragonia," I explained.

[Douleur nó Shahrizai]

“Oh, how wonderful,” I said, smiling brightly. I thought about how much coin I had in my purse and figured I could afford a glass. “I’d love to try a glass. What do you suggest?”

[Baltasar de Cordova]

I laughed softly, sizing her up while a finger tapped my chin ni thought.

"Hmm... for you? I would suggest something smooth but with a bite, a bit of tang, and some spice," I mused, smiling, "but still sweet enough," I crouched down, looking behind the bar for a shiraz I had, aged 3 years. Finding it, I stood again and uncorked the bottle. I sniffed the bottle mouth and nodded my head.

"This Shiraz. We called it what would be the d'Angeline equivalent to the word Temptation," I added, laughing at how appropriate it was. I procured a wine glass, the stemless type, etched nicely and delicately, and poured the burgundy liquid slowly into the glass, filling half of it before I gave it to Douleur.

"You must tell me what you think of it."

[Douleur nó Shahrizai]

Taking the glass, I inhaled the aroma deeply. I smiled at him and then took a sip. I let it linger on my tongue before swallowing. Then, I parted my lips slightly and inhaled, letting the air rush across my tongue. The whole was delightful and I made a sound of pleasure.

“Oh, it’s lovely,” I told him, smiling once more. “Such a lovely combination of flavors.”

[Baltasar de Cordova]

My brows shot up as she tasted the wine the way i tought to be tasted, surprised that she would give it that much thought, and that she knew to do it at all. These d'Angelines, they never failed to intrigue me.

My smile widened and I clapped my hands together once in celebration.

"Excellent! I insist, then, that you bring a bottle home with you," I mused, "so long as they allow it in Valerian," I said with a chuckle. "I'd hate for you to get into trouble."

[Douleur nó Shahrizai]

“I’m no longer an adept at Valerian,” I told him. “The Duchess Shahrizai purchased my marque and I am now in her employ.” I took another sip of the wine, it really was amazing.

[Baltasar de Cordova]

I smiled widely at her, clapping again, though inside, I felt a little sad. I had been meaning to contract her after that night we spent together following the fete. "Congratulations! A toast then, to out with the old and in with the new," i raised my glass, chuckling.

[Douleur nó Shahrizai]

“Cheers,” I said, raising my glass and touching his. “And to hoping not everything in the past is gone.”

[Baltasar de Cordova]

I smiled at her response.

"To hoping not everything in teh past is gone," I echoed, taking a sip from my glass. i wondered what was i nher past that she hoped remained. I knew what I was thinking of, my thought going straight to Bella, and the hope that she would one day come call on me again. Ah but it felt like a futile hope.

"So what is it in your past that you hope to have in your future?" I asked, smiling still.

[Douleur nó Shahrizai]

“There are people that I hope don’t disappear,” I said, my smile fading a little. “I’ve lost many people that I cared about and I hope that changes in the future.”

[Baltasar de Cordova]

I frowned just a little bit but nodded in understanding.

"I am sorry that your honesty has brought back some sad memories, but I hope you do not lose anyone," and my words were true. Losing people always hurt, whether you lost them in death or through a falling out. My own heart twinged with a slight pain as I thought on Bella again. I let out a soft sigh and gave her a knowing smile.

[Douleur nó Shahrizai]

I shook my head and chuckled. “Forgive me for bringing down the mood so suddenly,” I said, giving him a smile. “There are much more pleasant things to speak of.”

[Baltasar de Cordova]

I smiled and waved my hand in the air.

"Ah tis no worry, Douleur. There is certainly no need to apologize," I said with a wider grin. I cocked my head to the side. "So are you enjoying your new life?"

[Douleur nó Shahrizai]

“I am, very much in fact,” I answered. “The Duchess is just wonderful and I am truly enjoying serving her in any way she might need and learning about the aspects of life outside Valerian.”

[Baltasar de Cordova]

"I imagine it must be terribly different than living in the Night Court," I said with a warm smile, "I am glad to hear that you are enjoying it though. I would be sad to hear otherwise."

[Douleur nó Shahrizai]

“It is very different, but I do like it and I am happy. What about you, are you happy as well?” I asked before taking another sip of wine.