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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jun 19, 2011 18:53:10 GMT -5
My course of action on arriving home was to have the maid set a pot of tea on the stove and prepare a light lunch. I changed into something less militaristic and more comfortable and went up to my room, pulling one of my favorite tales off the shelf. I laid on the bed and opened up the first page and I slowly began to find myself drifting off...
...I woke up with a start, not knowing how long I had been sleeping. Had Dine come already and I had missed her? Thankfully my servants assured me no one had called and I had only been up there for no more than half an hour. I thanked them with a smile and proceeded to wait downstairs with my book.
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 19, 2011 19:22:19 GMT -5
Guy had dropped me off at the fountain where he'd found me, and I'd watched him ride away before I headed back home, to the Artisan's district. On the way, my slipper had finally given in, and I'd finished the walk home barefoot, looking every inch the common girl, and much less the part of the courtesan I'd been taught to play. I didn't care – I was elated, and I wasn't sure why, and I told myself it was simply because someone seemed to want me, even if it was only as a friend. I'd missed Edwyn so much, after the plague... he'd been the last to care, really, with Aaliyah. So many losses, in so short a time, and here I was getting fond of a man whose intent was to face off with death. I must be mad, I told myself.
Nonetheless, I made it home, and having closed up shop, I'd settled into a warm bath, put my gown to seep into a bucket of soap and water, and I scrubbed myself of the sweat of the ride and the river's mud. I must have drifted off a little, and was woken up by the coldness of the water, which quicked me into a clean gown.
It was a sheath of grey, with black embroidery at the hem and on the sleeves, something elegant and barely revealing. I brought along a shawl in matching colors and coiled my hair at the nape of my neck. At the base of my throat, a necklace with carved ivory in the likeness of the Queen, with matching earings. It was simple and proper, elegant, a touch pleasant, perhaps, but not intended to suggest lewd thought. It was a courtesy call, not an assignation, and I knew the difference.
I walked to Guy's house at a quiet pace, and on the way I'd purchased some peaches, which I intended to share with him. That was how I could be found, at his door, with again my basket on my arm, and this time, a quiet little smile for my friend.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jun 20, 2011 0:02:18 GMT -5
I heard someone at the door and I knew at once that it was Dine. I got up and rushed to it before my servants could. I opened the door and smiled. She had cleaned up and looked exceptionally nice. "Geraldine! Come inside!" I said, no tears in my eyes or tremor to my voice. The short sleep had worked wonders. "We're having lunch soon so I hope that you're hungry."
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 20, 2011 0:12:28 GMT -5
I couldn't repress the wide smile I could feel spreading on my face. He came to the door himself, no servants to make me wait in the antechamber and announce me, no suspicious looks. It felt... as if we'd known each other forever.
“I am,” I admitted in all earnest. “That is so delicate of you, thank you, my lord.” He'd never told me to call him by his familiar, and so I stuck to the title until told otherwise, but my manner was not more distant for it. I laughed a little, and added, “I brought dessert, but it's nothing tremendous, really.”
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jun 20, 2011 20:11:06 GMT -5
A soft smile came from me and I replied. “I’m sure that it’s delicious whatever it is. In the meanwhile would you care for something to drink?” I led her through to the sitting room and decided I would let her chose to sit. I was so glad that she was simply here. Her friendship was a comfort to me now, and an added reason to come back from the war, an added reason to make sure I lived.
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 20, 2011 22:46:57 GMT -5
“Just water, if you please,” I replied as I looked around the room appreciatively. It seemed like the kind of place where good conversations could be had, and I felt welcome and wanted – expected, even. “It's still quite hot outside,” I added by way of explanation.
I hesitated, then chose to sit on a couch, half hoping Guy would opt to sit by me, and unsure that he would. “Your house is lovely, and hospitable, besides,” I told him with a sweet smile. “Though I think the host is to blame for that.”
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jun 20, 2011 23:25:18 GMT -5
I nodded. “That it is. The fountain was nice for dealing with that,” I said in good humor as I walked out to tell my servant to bring us two waters. I returned and sat down beside her on the couch, my body angled for conversation. “I just want to thank you again for your kindness and friendship … and, since we are friends, please feel free to call me Guy.”
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 21, 2011 0:24:25 GMT -5
I flushed a little, and dipped my head, looking at him from under my eyelashes. I wasn't being demure on purpose, but I was well aware of the grace he was bestowing on me, and I meant to let him know that.
“... I am – glad,” I said finally. And because I needed to taste his name, feel it rolling on my tongue, I said, “I am glad and honoured to be your friend, Guy.” It was true. I'd found myself liking him, wishing him happiness and joy, and wanting above all that he live, so that we could pursue this newborn friendship.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jun 21, 2011 0:50:31 GMT -5
I smiled tenderly and let my hand touch her arm reassuringly, a physical way of letting her know what I already told her. “So now that you’re here you’re free to ask me anything you like--” Before I could finish the maid came in and said that lunch was served. She was a little surprised really that I had let a woman into the house the same day that Mirielle had left me but she didn’t let it show. My staff had been with me through the entire ordeal, more like family than faculty.
“Well let’s eat then, we can talk in there.”
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 21, 2011 1:52:19 GMT -5
I liked his touch – it was soothing, and it was... oh, it was good, to be out of the context of an assignation, talking to a man whom I'd decided not to proposition. It wasn't that he was unpleasant to look at, or undesirable, on the contrary. I felt that if I'd attempted an assignation with Guy, after all he'd told me in so little time, it would have been a betrayal of sorts, and I had no desire to impose any further disappointments on his person.
I was about to ask a question about his military carreer when we were interrupted by his staff, and so I nodded instead, ready to stand on his signal. “Of course. We have all afternoon, don't we?” I said warmly, my voice filled with the anticipation of our time together.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jun 21, 2011 13:54:45 GMT -5
“Yes, any the evening, should you like,” I told her as we walked into the dining room. There was a large table in the main room reserved for formal occasions and a little room off to the side with a small table and only two chairs, a thin curtain partitioning the two. Waiting at the table was salad for both of us and a small chicken to share. I pulled out her chair and waited for her to be seated before I did so myself. Once we were both comfortable I toyed at the salad with my fork and said, “Alright, now we can pick up where we left off,” smiling at her and happy that the pain had been suppressed for the time being.
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 21, 2011 23:25:27 GMT -5
I nodded in agreement when Guy suggested we extend our time together to the evening. I could suppose that if he found solace in my company, and he was on the eve of his departure, spending more time together was a legitimate wish, and truth be, I wanted it as well. When prompted to sit, I did so, smoothing my dress elegantly under me, and I waited for Guy to be seated, service to be performed, and silence to be broken before I resumed the conversation and my earlier line of thought.
“We certainly can,” I replied after I'd finished my bite. “And in fact, I had a mind to ask you to tell me about your life, about how you came to be a general.” I smiled a little, and there was no hint of flattery when I added, “You are a brave soul, and strong – and I want to hear your feats, if it pleases you to tell me of them.”
I was ready to listen, and I did, happy to spend this time with him. The lunch wore on, as did the afternoon, then the evening, and I found myself growing attached to him in loyalty.
When the time for me to return home came, and Guy slipped me a note for his cousin the Sovereign Duchesse, I was overwhelmed with the honor, and vowed to keep it safe, and to find a way to see that she would have it in her safe keeping.
[OOC: And as agreed, end scene, leaving the rest to happen offscreen. ^^
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