Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jul 3, 2011 16:59:55 GMT -5
I'd been thinking and thinking and waiting and waiting, and perhaps it was time I did something about my pen pal's silence. Or perhaps not.
I still feared to go to the battlefield, in case he might be dead. In case, too, that my affection was unrequited.
Instead, I went to Night's Doorstep, seeking out the Tsingani. I wanted someone to use the dromonde to reassure me, if I could find a woman who wanted my coin.
Clad in simple but elegant clothes, I entered the tavern, and looked around, distinctly looking for someone to help me.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 3, 2011 19:15:11 GMT -5
I had decided to take my meal somewhere entertaining, hoping to get my mind off of certain nagging topics. The Medecant’s Cloak seemed just the place.
I took a table near a window, looking out at the street as well. I ordered a glass of wine and a bowl of stew. As I waited, I noticed a woman enter, looking around as if searching for someone.
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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 Jul 3, 2011 21:00:56 GMT -5
I wandered the place and asked about, trying to pay heed to those who were around. Not too far, from a group of women, a beautiful redhead was having a meal by her lonesome, and I nodded politely as I made my way to them.
I cleared my throat, a touch shy.
“-- Goodday,” I said, politely, to one who seemed in a leadership position.
“And to you, gadjo,” one of them replied, grinning wide. I focused on her eyes – she was missing a few teeth.
“I seek a seer,” I said softly, “one who would wield the dromonde for me.
“Ah, a seer,” she replied. “Well, I can see alright. How much do you have?”
I wasn't sure what were the rates, and glanced about, at a loss. “-- I don't know, what would your fare be, Madame?”
She laughed, then, and said, “As much as you like, gadjo. What are you looking for?”
“A man,” I replied. “Who rode into battle.”
“Ah, that is a serious question,” she said. “Come back tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” I frowned, and sighed. “Today would be better, please.”
The woman laughed, and stood. “Tomorrow is better yet. A brighter day.” She grinned, and added, “And that was for free, gadjo.”
I glanced about, looking and feeling lost, and sighed, murmuring something under my breath about needing a drink.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2011 13:22:47 GMT -5
I watched, though I didn’t stare, as the woman approached a group of older women. I couldn’t hear the conversation, but it was obvious that the newcomer was unhappy with the result.
She looked around again and I let my eyes meet hers and I gave her a smile. I was curious about the situation of course, but mostly I thought it might help for her to see a more friendly face.
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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 Jul 4, 2011 20:26:29 GMT -5
The redhead behind us caught my eye as I turned away from the group of Tsingani women, and I smiled back, if a bit sadly.
“I hope the discussion did not disturb you,” I said politely. “My apologies if it did.”
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 6, 2011 13:29:29 GMT -5
“It didn’t disturb me in the least,” I assured her with another smile. I motioned to the empty seat across from me. “Would you like to join me? Or even just sit for a moment?”
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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 Jul 6, 2011 23:02:28 GMT -5
Oh, that was so sweet and friendly of her! I almost wondered how defeated I looked, but smiled a little bit more, half-surprised and half-grateful.
“That is gracious,” I replied. “Though I would not wish to impose on your time...”
I hesitated, then slipped into the chair. “My name is Geraldine,” I said. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 7, 2011 19:44:54 GMT -5
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Geraldine, I’m Douleur,” I replied, pleased she had decided to sit.
My wine and stew arrived just then and I asked Geraldine. “Would you care to join me? I don’t know if you’ve ever eaten here, but the food is rather good.”
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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 Jul 7, 2011 22:34:32 GMT -5
Her name had harsh pleasures all over it, and I wondered if she was.... but it wasn't mine to ask, of course.
“Thank you,” I replied gratefully, “but I'm afraid I'm not very hungry. Do not let it stop you, though.”
Before he left, I stopped the attendant and ordered a glass of mead. It wasn't something I drunk often – but an Eiran girl I'd known before had it, and I felt the need for something stronger.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 8, 2011 15:59:59 GMT -5
“As long as you don’t mind,” I said with a smile before taking a bite of stew. I was curious as to what she’d sought from the women, but I wasn’t going to pry.
“I was going to ask if you come here often, but then I realized how coy that sounded,” I told her with a chuckle.
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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 Jul 9, 2011 0:32:21 GMT -5
I chuckled a little, finding her witty and friendly. I liked her ways, certainly.
“It would,” I replied, “but then again, anything sounds coy if said a certain way. And aye, I do – though less of late, I admit.”
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 9, 2011 20:26:31 GMT -5
“That’s very true, I guess it is more the tone than the words that add coyness,” I agreed with a smile. “I’ve only been here a few times, it is always interesting though.”
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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 Jul 10, 2011 2:12:40 GMT -5
“It is,” I agreed. “And sometimes more helpful than others.” I was interupted by the attendant, who brought me my drink – I paid him, along with a generous tip and a little smile, and gave my tablemate my full attention once more. “Have you had... adventures here, before?”
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2011 21:17:33 GMT -5
“I’ve not been so lucky,” I said with a chuckle, shaking my head a little. “I’ve seen others wrapped up in adventures, but for me it’s been all observation. What about you?”
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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 Jul 10, 2011 22:52:37 GMT -5
“I suppose one would have to define adventure for me to decide if I've had any here, or not,” I replied thoughtfully. “Today's not an adventurous day, it seems. Or if it is, the tsingani women of the Cloak have well hidden it.”
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 12, 2011 16:51:45 GMT -5
I glanced at the women she’d spoken to, and then back at her. “Or perhaps your adventure will start in a different place,” I suggested. “Or with different people. Aren’t some of the best adventures the unexpected ones?”
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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 Jul 12, 2011 19:56:52 GMT -5
“I reckon, aye,” I replied thoughtfully. “Aren't all adventures unexpected?” I mused, and as wine was delivered, I raised my glass and toasted Douleur with a little smile.
“Perhaps it starts in Camlach,” I said, more to myself than to her, but audibly.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 13, 2011 14:47:00 GMT -5
Lost at her statement, I furrowed my brows slightly and tilted my head. “What starts in Camlach?”
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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 Jul 13, 2011 15:00:12 GMT -5
I blinked, and looked up at Douleur. “-- I'm sorry. The adventure,” I said finally. “I'd come here to find news of a friend, gone to war. Perhaps the tsingani's laughter... perhaps this all means I should go to Camlach, and see for myself.”
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 16, 2011 2:24:50 GMT -5
“Oh,” I said, blinking in confusion and more than a little lost at the turn in the conversation. “Perhaps, if that is what you think best.”
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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 Jul 16, 2011 10:31:58 GMT -5
I blinked, then found an apologetic smile for Douleur. “I'm so sorry – I just spoke in charades, didn't I?”
She seemed so nice, I decided to take a leap of faith, and thought perhaps – perhaps I might tell her the secret of my heart.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 16, 2011 15:33:44 GMT -5
“A little, perhaps,” I said with a soft chuckle. “Or perhaps I just don’t know enough to follow the leaps.” I smiled and then took another bite of stew.
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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 Jul 16, 2011 21:02:52 GMT -5
“There is a man,” I said soflty, and I decided that if I did not name him, then I could speak freely. “He went to Camlach, to fight, like many others. I've not received word of him in quite some time.”
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 18, 2011 0:00:44 GMT -5
“I’m sure that there are a lot of correspondences that may not be getting through with all the confusion that exists in a war effort,” I said, trying to sound reassuring. “It could be that you will get a stack of them all at once.”
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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 Jul 18, 2011 11:48:31 GMT -5
“It could be,” I replied doubtfully. “He was so – he wrote to me just before riding into battle,” I said after a moment.
“I guess I'm afraid something happened.”
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 18, 2011 14:29:38 GMT -5
“That’s understandable,” I said, nodding. “I am certain that fear runs through almost all the people left behind.”
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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 Jul 18, 2011 22:34:56 GMT -5
“Aye,” I replied, and for a moment, I was quiet. “Have you any loved ones, who went, yourself?” I asked softly, after a time, almost timidly.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 19, 2011 2:00:33 GMT -5
“Yes,” I said, nodding and setting down my spoon. “My two oldest brothers went to fight, and one of my sisters went with the healers. I would have gone with her had I been able.”
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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 Jul 19, 2011 11:56:41 GMT -5
“I'm thinking of going now,” I said softly. “To soothe my mind.”
I took a breath, looked at Douleur, then back at the Tsingani women, who didn't seem overly bothered by my curious gaze.
“I should have perhaps thought of going earlier,” I admitted.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 20, 2011 0:31:23 GMT -5
“It is very dangerous to be traveling now, is it not?” I asked.
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