Alayne Lombard
Citizen
Employee at the Bath House
Lost child of the Deveroix household.
Posts: 329
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Post by Alayne Lombard on Jun 14, 2011 10:47:55 GMT -5
Continued from here.If m'lord Hal wanted to walk in quiet, I didn't mind – there was noise enough at the bathhouse, and some johns liked to speak too much, as if I were their mother. I listened and pretended to care, but oftimes I didn't, unless they paid me for my time listening as well as my time whoring. For a moment I let the silence stretche, trying to decide if he'd be insulted if I broke it – I wasn't sure about what protocol applied. Well. I knew shit about protocol. Didn't care that much either usually – but guess I did now because he was nice and not trying to fuck me. Yet, I tacked on in my mind as an afterthought. I slipped inside when invited to do so. “My thanks, m'lord Hal,” I told him with an grin that was enticing enough – a kind patron's always one you want to keep close. I was curious about him, where he came from with his funny accent, and why he was so nice. I'd have to ask. But having stepped inside, I found myself unsure and loosefooted, and had no clue where to go or what to do, and I wrapped my arms around myself as the clerk gave me a strange look and opened his mouth to tell me I couldn't afford his wares.
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Post by Hjalmar Fellstone (I) on Jun 14, 2011 10:54:06 GMT -5
I walked in behind her and my smile dropped as I saw the clerk. The simplest of glares cleared that up, and I found Alayne clutching her arms to herself and looking a bit out of sorts. With a soft motion my hand found the small of her back and I gently steered her towards some nice dresses that I thought might be her size.
"Just pick out what you like. Try them on if you need to. I think, with your hair, that a dark green, her perhaps a navy blue... would look lovely." I smiled encouragingly and let her take her time. I did not stray far, nor did I try to interfere. I figured the clerk might still try to say something, and I hoped that Alayne might relax.
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Alayne Lombard
Citizen
Employee at the Bath House
Lost child of the Deveroix household.
Posts: 329
|
Post by Alayne Lombard on Jun 14, 2011 11:03:35 GMT -5
I tentatively reached to touch the green dress, if truth be told it was beautiful, and the fabric was so nice. It looked like something a countess would wear, and I looked up at Hal, almost asking if he was jesting, or if he really thought I should try it on, or --- but as I opened my mouth, another spoke.
The clerk moved forward, though I think he was afraid of Hal. “I don't think it's appropriate for a common whore to ---”
“ -- to what?” I snapped before I realized. “What of it?” I didn't like being looked down on, and I raised my head, my chin jutting out defiantly. “What will you do, hmmm? Call me whore again? What of it?”
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Post by Hjalmar Fellstone (I) on Jun 14, 2011 11:22:13 GMT -5
She seemed to like the dress before her, a green one, and my smile widened. Until the clerk approached. He made it to the words 'common whore' before Alayne interrupted. I stood for a moment, shocked, but then... I could feel my pulse in my ears, my whole body flushed with heat as my temper snapped.
In two strides I was on the man, my hands snapping out to catch him by the front of his shirt. I was in his face then, my voice barely more than a growl. "Apologize." My fists tightened around the cloth until my knuckles were white. I gave him one good shake, muscles bunched beneath my clothes, body tense and giving him one chance, only one, to make his apology.
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Alayne Lombard
Citizen
Employee at the Bath House
Lost child of the Deveroix household.
Posts: 329
|
Post by Alayne Lombard on Jun 14, 2011 13:37:19 GMT -5
I couldn't help grinning when Hal nigh leaped to my defense. It was like a dream, and he was the chevalier on his white horse coming to my rescue, and I was a lady up in her tower with fancy schmancy things and an honor to protect.
I blinked, and smiled, and chuckled even more because the clerk was a small man and he was losing all his authority. Good on him, I thought.
“--- for – forgive me, m'lady---” the clerk stammered, more at Hal's face than at mine, which made sense considering how little space Hal needed to cross to bite the man's nose off.
“It's nothing, it's nothing at all,” I replied imperiously, in a pale satyre of ladylike behavior. “Let this ruffian go, my lord Hal, he does not deserve your attention in the least.”
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Post by Hjalmar Fellstone (I) on Jun 14, 2011 14:34:39 GMT -5
At her words I nodded. At the man's word I also nodded, a scowl across my face. I released the man with a shove and turned to Alayne. "Let's go. This place just lost a customer. I can find better places to spend my coin."
I grabbed Alayne by the arm, my fingers and grip gentle, though surely she could feel the trembling in them as I tried to calm from my outburst. I'd show that dumb shit. Alayne was going to be taken somewhere much nicer.
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Alayne Lombard
Citizen
Employee at the Bath House
Lost child of the Deveroix household.
Posts: 329
|
Post by Alayne Lombard on Jun 14, 2011 15:41:57 GMT -5
I blinked, and gave the dress a lingering look of envy before I let Hal whisk me away once more. One thing I'd say about this unexpected day out: I was not going to be bored. “An it please you,” I replied, and grinning still at the clerk provocatively, I let myself be escorted out by my guardian angel.
I wondered where we were going, and part of me feared that he would disparage me because I'd admitted to being a whore myself, but Elua, if he did, I'd make a run for it to the bathhouse.
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Post by Hjalmar Fellstone (I) on Jun 14, 2011 15:58:13 GMT -5
I led Alayne along and soon abandoned her arm, stopping and leaning against a building, propping myself up with one arm. I needed a moment to collect myself, my blood near the boiling point. Simply from a rude comment. I had no idea if Alayne was a whore, and if she was, what did I care? You didn't talk to women like that, the pompous and arrogant fuck. I breathed deep and soon my heartbeat returned to normal.
I smiled up at Alayne, a look of defiance also on my face. "I have just the place, dove. A place I was not so long ago. They know me there and hopefully they'll be more considerate of their customers. The Grand Magasin de Soie." I gestured for her to join me and walked with her down the street. Except now my look was proud, defiant. Daring anyone to make a comment or speak ill of the woman at my side. I didn't care if she was a whore, as she had said. I didn't care that the dress she wore was frayed. I didn't care if anyone thought ill of me for having her on my arm. For the moment she was with ME, and she WOULD be treated with respect.
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Alayne Lombard
Citizen
Employee at the Bath House
Lost child of the Deveroix household.
Posts: 329
|
Post by Alayne Lombard on Jun 14, 2011 16:26:40 GMT -5
I watched at a careful distance as Hal tried to calm himself down. In truth, I was scared – was he a madman? Would he be so angry with me, if I denied him some odd request? Part of me wanted to run while I could, the other was too curious to leave, and it won out. Besides, he had been nothing but kind to me – why would that change? I'd simply have to be accomodating.
Walking with him, I felt a little bit stouter, I forgot the black eye on my face and how tattered my clothes and slippers were, or how little I looked, smelled or acted like a true lady. I nodded, simply, letting myself be led, a bit apprehensive but also excited of what would follow. (In truth, if Hal were to break someone's nose on my behalf, I'd nigh be pleased and smug – though it would be tempting not to say a thing of it.)
“As it please you, m'lord,” I finally piped, smiling a little still because he seemed so hell bent on getting me a dress that it was, truth be told, adequately charming.
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