Meeting Someone New: Laurie and Des

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

"I know D'Angeline," I said plainly. I hadn't really worked that hard to learn another language. "Perhaps you could teach me. What would be the most useful language to know in Elua? Besides D'Angeline?" I thought that if I was able to practice using the language with someone, I would likely learn it a lot better.

[Laurent de Rocaille]

Inwardly I smirked at the fact she still seemed bent on treating me as an equal in this regard. I was impressed though that she was willing to learn a new tongue. "I would say Aragonian, Skaldi, or Caerdicci."

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I shook my head at his suggestions, "Definitely not Skaldi. Possibly Aragonian or Caerdicci, I admire the Caerdicci.. Which one is more difficult to learn?" It looks like I was keeping him guessing, which was good. I didn't want him to get to know me too well. It was better that I know him.

[Laurent de Rocaille]

"They're about the same," I explained. "In fact if you know one, you can basically understand the other. So really the choice is up to you. I can't promise how much you'll be able to learn from me. I'm in the process of teaching a couple travelers our tongue so my time is kept quite busy ... and what free time I have I hold very precious."

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I nodded at his information and considered my options, "If you have a good book on Caerdicci language, I could figure it out myself and perhaps practice pronunciation with you once a week or something." I wanted to see how willing he was to help me out. Once a week, wasn't a huge commitment

[Laurent de Rocaille]

I nodded. "I can certainly do that. I have a more basic book you can start out with and than an intermediate one you can jump to if the other is too slow a pace."

We rounded a corner and were now walking along my street. "Almost there."

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I nodded agreeably, "That sounds like a good plan to me. What other books do you like to read?" I wondered if he spent his whole day reading, or if he had any hobbies or other avenues of interests. I was also beginning to wonder how useful he could be, besides teaching me a new language.

[Laurent de Rocaille]

"Other than academic texts? There's not much. I read the occasional Hellenic text or poems. I prefer meeting people, performing experiments, just enjoying life." I told her as we approached the house. "Here we are."

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

He mentioned experiments again, but he didn't elaborate on what experiments. "What experiments have you dabbled in? Anything resembling the dark arts? Such potions interest me greatly."

I looked up when I saw his home. I made my way up to his door, and then waited for him to open the door before stepping inside.

[Laurent de Rocaille]

I opened the door for her, quirking a brow and giving an amused smirk at her question. "Do you think that I'm some kind of warlock or something? Simple chemical experiments, studying various reactions. I've done some work with weather patterns. I've seen which chemicals have possible healing, harming, or pleasure giving effects, things of that nature."

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I couldn't help, but laugh a little at his question. I shrugged my shoulders slightly, "Perhaps not. I have heard that there are certain substances that can make one fall in love with another... I don't know how true those things are..." I left the topic open for his discretion, as I took in the decor of his home.

[Laurent de Rocaille]

"I think you would have to ask a witch about those things. I think there's one in the city, and a very good one. Trying to get yourself a man?" I asked. It was clear she was pining over someone. It didn't take a genius to figure that out.

"Library's in here," I said, gesturing to a set of double doors. "Can I get you a drink?"

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I shook my head, "No....I was asking as a for instance. Why would you think that..?" I spoke somewhat defensively. I looked in the direction of the library and nodded, "A glass of white wine, please."

I made my way into his library and took in the smell of the books. I moved my fingers across the binds of the books as I began reading the titles.

[Laurent de Rocaille]

I couldn't help but smirk as she gave a defensive reply. "Coming right up... You know, if I knew of such a thing I would certainly be using it on people. The best I have are some mild aphrodisiacs that I concocted on my own." I was tempted to try them on her even... I uncorked the wine and poured us each a glass. My servants were a little shocked when I began drinking alcohol infront of them about a week ago. They've grown used to it though.

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

My lips curved up when he spoke about a aphrodisiac, "I would like to see your aophrodisiac. Just for....entertainment purposes.." I wasn't sure that I was as convincing as I wanted to be, but when it came to Castile it was hard to lie. "I would be willing to purchase some from you," I offered casually.

[Laurent de Rocaille]

"I'm sorry," I told her. "It's very hard to make and what I have I prefer to keep for my own personal use..." Oh it was so tempting to drop some into the wine! "I can get you that book though!" I walked over to the wall and pulled out the texts. "Here you go!"

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I frowned at his refusal and took the book in hand, "Is there a book on creating a aphrodiasac? Maybe I could make one on my own." I gave him a hard look of challenge before turning back toward his collection of books. I opened the book in my hand and began looking over the table of contents. It looked like it had some basic vocabularly.

[Laurent de Rocaille]

I shook my head. "I developed it myself. If I make some more I might contact you." I set my glass down and observed her. "You can keep those really. I have no further use for them ... maybe when I have children, but that's not for a long while."

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

The frown stayed rooted on my face when he mentioned that he created it himself. My eyes looked at him harshly, "You had better. I will contact you when I need to practice."

I held the book to my chest, "Thank you." She said the two words as if she was hardly thankful. So far it seemed that she had gotten some usefulness out of him, but it hadn't been nearly what she hoped.

She began heading for the door, "I have some things to do..so...maybe I'll see you around." She gave a nod, and then made her way out of his home. Des began walking the way that she had come, holding the book to her chest. She was looking forward to learning a new language, and hopefully when she saw Laurent next- he would be more useful.