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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jul 28, 2007 18:29:50 GMT -5
Early that morning, I had found Kendrick was either sleeping or still out, and a little antsy, I bathed, and changed to breeches and a jacket, some neutral colors as usual, gray for the pants and forest green for the jacket. Underneath, a cream shirt, and a hat that I loved, yet wore less often, grey with a green feather.
My sword hung lightly at my side, and I had a mind to show up at Rannan's later to train for my meet with Elton, but the day was young and I feared I would wake him, and so I was left wandering Night's Doorstep.
I entered the Cockeral, less dusty than last time but still very cocky, and found the place empty, save for one foreign man who was downing shots after shots. I ordered Kafae, and waited by the bar, needing something to kill time.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 28, 2007 18:37:26 GMT -5
Most of my wounds from the incredible night with Nicola had healed more or less. I had also gotten started working at the palace but was still busy at getting my legs under me. Thus dressed in my uniform I stopped at the Cockeral to feed myself before reporting for this day's duty. As per usual I had my sword at my hip as well as one obvious dagger. The other secreted at the small of my back. I was at present feuding a bit with the captain. Pompous ass had never seen a real fight and felt I was less than clean for being willing to kill my opponent however possible before he kill me.
I made my way in and slid into a table when a large shock of red hair captured my attention and I tried so hard not to stare while I pondered if the rug matched the drapes.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jul 28, 2007 18:50:50 GMT -5
Coffee came, and I took it, smelling with delight its strong smell. A shadow crept in the back of me, and I gave a small turn. Dark hair, almost blue, and eyes to match. The tell-tale signs of the Shahrizai, Ambre would say. Very well, we had one in the house.
I wasn't going to be overly curious, but I had captured a hint of his uniform and battlegear, and I smiled to myself as I took a sip of the hot drink. Military, apparently. That made him very, very interesting.
I would have perhaps greeted him, but a disturbance came, and the foreigner visibly swooned. Within seconds, the barman was there, and moved him to the latrines. Soon, I heard wretching sounds, and they made me gag a little. I had to move, lest I do something about the Kafae.
I left the bar, and moved to the far side of the place, my mug in hand. Elua's balls, I was now sitting next to the Shahrizai warrior. I was in a fix. Either I admitted the sounds churned my loins, or I let him beleive I was coming on to him.
Cripes ! There was little I could do, or say, to adress the issue, and so I took a sip of coffee, wincing a little as the man was carried off and out of the establishment, hollering some unintelligible complaints. I sighed in relief, my mind still on my hot drink.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 28, 2007 18:58:43 GMT -5
I watched a bit of the commotion with the drink but such matters long ago lost my interest. As the redhead made her way to my side of the room I gave her a small smile. As is always the case with me it held the hint of the predator that I am at the depths of my soul though the scar on my cheek marks me as one that does not always win.
All the same I inclined my head to her a bit as I enjoyed my morning Kafae and subconsciously shifted the length of my blade at my hip out of her way as she sat. Though the predator in me made me lean to grab a napkin and thus brush her obviously youthful body with my own hard muscled one.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jul 28, 2007 19:03:19 GMT -5
His arm touched me, and so I could no longer put myself out of my own misery in sweet ignorance. Cammael knew, I always did this to myself. I sighed inwardly, and said, "I'm sorry, but this man was disgusting, and I chose to go to the civilized side of the inn. I hope you do not mind?"
My eyes glazed over his body, finding it toned and muscular, and I noted several things, the most notable the fact that he had a scar, and had thus been in battle. All the more to his benefit - he had done more than I. I noted his gentlemanly gesture, and smiled back.
"My name is Julie, but my friends call me Jules," I told him, leaving out my House name, as I had, the first time I entered the Cockeral.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 28, 2007 19:11:55 GMT -5
"Gadleon" I simply replied as my last name was written on my every feature. The Shahrizai as well as the danger in me always very evident. "And I have seen more disgusting things in my time, but you are welcome here." I gave her a roguish wink "After all you smell much better than his retching."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jul 29, 2007 11:49:13 GMT -5
I blushed a little, "Thank you, Gadleon," I told him, my eyes darting from his handsome face to the now empty place. "Although I will admit, that was not very hard to beat," I added in jest.
In truth, I knew I smelled of soap and nothing else, for I rarely ever wore perfume. Like gowns, I thought they were superfluous, an artifice to use only when I had to, if I had to.
"Pray tell, what horrors have you seen, that make you boast so early in the morning?" I asked, my head cocked a little sideways. As I moved, a loos strand left my braid, and I grunted. Would this hair ever sit still?
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 29, 2007 17:08:30 GMT -5
I raised an eyebrow if she called that boasting she clearly did not get out too much though taking a guess at her age I would say she was a bit younger than me and I am pretty wet behind the ears. "Well was not really boasting as that was not that bad. But I can tell you that if the look on the face is any indication a man does in fact distinctly feel his entrails when they hit the ground after taking a cut to the gut."
I rolled my shoulders and turned my hands up "But I prefer to not talk much about such things. Empty wagons make the most noise and a lot more can be gauged from carriage and manner."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jul 29, 2007 20:46:04 GMT -5
I gave Gadleon another look, gauging him from head to toe. "No, wasn't really boasting, that was more me, trying to make a pleasantry," I replied a little testily.
Yes, visibly, the man had fought. Also visibly, I had not - and who was to blame? My father, for keeping his baby girl home? Myself, for not finding it in me to break his heart, and maybe kill him? Certainly not. It was a matter of circumstance, I decided, as I took a sip of Kafae.
The warm drink settled me, and I spoke more softly, "The gut wound you describe does sound awful, and I agree with what you said about empty wagons," and with that, I stayed quiet, waiting to see if he picked it up.
Sheesh, I was testy. It likely had to do with my recent time at House Liatris, or maybe it was that I hadn't picked on Kendrick enough these days.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 29, 2007 21:26:54 GMT -5
I noticed she was a bit irritable and shrugged my shoulders "Well onto more pleasant subjects. What brings you to the City?"
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jul 30, 2007 5:45:09 GMT -5
I laughed outright at his question. For that was the one thing I was unwilling to discuss, Kendrick's misery, my inability to connect with him, my own strange sense of loss, both in direction and family.
I opted for an answer that was honest, but protected the privacy of my family, "I was bored, and decided to join my brother in the city. I'll admit, I was hoping to find my destiny at the same time." I cocked my head to the side, and smiled, "What about you?"
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 30, 2007 8:21:36 GMT -5
I listened and nodded a bit before giving her a rueful smile. “Well a friend of mine described my reason for being here best, but sadly there is no way to say it without sounding melodramatic. So please do not take this as such when I say I am here with the hopes of having my death ultimately carry meaning.”
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jul 30, 2007 9:12:54 GMT -5
My eyes widened. "You came here to find a purpose, and possibly die while achieving it," I paraphrased my understanding of it. "That is grand. Have you found something worth dying for?"
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 30, 2007 9:22:57 GMT -5
I shrugged “Not quite that grand. I am a soldier and the odds are my trade will one day be the death of me. It is a simple matter of fact. So I decided I did not really want to bleed to death alone in the snow on the Skladian boarder. Thus I came to the City to with some luck at least find a place where my probable and inevitable death would be at least noticed. So far got on with the Palace Guard and am going to be looking to moonlight some as well. Thus I recon it is not as glamorous as it sounds but I am trying to be a realist.”
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jul 31, 2007 14:03:20 GMT -5
"Palace Guard ?" I looked at him, "Oh, yes, of course, the uniform." I took another sip of coffee, and grinned. "Well, to die protecting royal blood would be a great death indeed," and I sighed, hoping one day I would do the same. "You sound like you have travelled some, to Camlach?" and my eyebrow quirked a little. I was of Namarre, and should be worshipping Naamah, but something in me had always beckoned to Cammael.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 31, 2007 14:13:52 GMT -5
I smiled a bit "The object is to make the other bastard die a great death." She had a head full of romantic ideas and those would get you killed while still being quite poor. I strove to do my duty while staying as closely attached to all body parts as possible and with luck turning more than a little profit.
"And I have been through Camlach just not recently. Was considering approaching the Lady if I had not got on with the Palace."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jul 31, 2007 15:46:41 GMT -5
"The Duchesse D'Neige?" I asked, my gaze turning careful. I was still proving myself as I spoke, and did not wish to jinx my luck by speaking too soon. "She's quite a fighter, a snow leopard, really," I told him, my grin wide. "Have you ever seen her?"
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 31, 2007 16:00:57 GMT -5
"I have heard she is a very formidable woman, but no I have not had the chance to see her in action. We will see how this palace assignment works out for me though." He gave a small smile "After all I am probably too hot blooded to walk in circles around the palace for the rest of my days. Though I do work at staying in good shape despite the relatively easy duty."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jul 31, 2007 16:35:12 GMT -5
"I would drink to that, if I didn't hold to the belief that ale taken in the morning is an ill omen," I replied in mirth. "Walking around in circles would drive me insane," I admitted.
A small sigh came over me, the remembrance of other days, where all the energy I needed to spend was gone, running on the estate, training, climbing my favorite oak... Jonas. I shook it off, the memory of his touch still strong on me.
"Do you have a place, to train?" I asked. "I would have forever indebted to you, if you told me of a good place, for I have not yet found one that I can use," I added, my eyes full of suggestion. He was rather dashing, after all.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 31, 2007 16:53:35 GMT -5
"Actually I train in the small garden at my home" I told her while meeting her gaze with my striking Shahriza eyes. "And be careful what kind of debts you suggest"
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Jul 31, 2007 17:04:51 GMT -5
"Ah." I replied, thinking. "I had been hoping for a place that wasn't anyone's," I explained. "I could train in the family home, if I wanted to, but it wasn't fit to do it there, just because of my brother's smirking looks."
His gaze was looking straight into me, and I remembered what Ambre had told me about the Shahrizai, that they were Kushiel's scions, that they punished the wrong-doer, or something like that. I had nothing to fear, for I had never done anything bad - really, I hadn't done anything, at all. There would be no fault lines to see in me, save perhaps a little arrogance, and the stubbornness that came with my own line, if that was a fault at all.
"Should I be afraid?" I asked him, non-plussed by his domineering demanor.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Jul 31, 2007 21:14:47 GMT -5
"I don't know should you?" I gave her another one of my predatory smiles. "Seriously though I live alone and I appreciate the silence and solitude of practicing alone. It helps to focus and clear the mind especially when you make it a ritual of sorts."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Aug 1, 2007 5:48:40 GMT -5
I answered Gadleon with an enigmatic grin. I did not fear him, despite his predatory smile, his obvious Kusheline heritage. I wasn't quite sure why, but part of me was certain that he would not harm me, should I allow him access to my intimacy.
"I understand that, I feel the same way, though dueling with a live opponent has values as well. As long as I don't have to deal with smirks, and teasing, I'm rather happy," I told him. Inwardly, I shrugged. Teasing didn't hurt me, really - but it was distracting, at times.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Aug 1, 2007 8:15:03 GMT -5
“You mean while you are doing your blade work?” I asked as the fault line came into a bit of focus unbidden. A sure way to get yourself killed when it came to a real fight was to let anything distract you including some warped sense of fair play. And suddenly I was finding myself beset with an odd urge to help the cute little red head deal with this issue.
“Playing with a live practice partner is very valuable especially in that one learns to handle themselves when confronted with things that make them uncomfortable like smirks and teasing. T’would be a bit ironic to get gutted by a barbarian that gave you a saucy smile eh?”
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Aug 1, 2007 16:05:49 GMT -5
I laughed at the misunderstanding, my hair bouncing backwards a little as my throat let out the joyous sound.
"Let me explain," I told him when the laughing had subsided. "I am the youngest of four, and have three older brothers. It's their teasing that is distracting, not an opponent's," and I giggled a little a the thought, for it was indeed amusing.
"But I like to train with a sparring partner, because it adds randomness to the play, and since I've never been in battle...." I let the admission hang in the air, biting my lip a little.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Aug 1, 2007 16:23:12 GMT -5
I nodded “I see. If you ever want to try me out I will go a few rounds, but remember I am Shahrizai we do not play with toy swords. Can I trust you not to hurt me?” Yes I was teasing but I rather liked the bounces that resulted when Julie was amused.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Aug 1, 2007 17:10:48 GMT -5
"My Lord Shahrizai," I rolled his name on my tongue like thick liquor, "I haven't sparred with a toy sword since I tried to help a friend learn," I replied coolly. "It way be untried in battle, but it is a fine blade," I added, moving to the side to show him the hilt. "I have trained with others before, and have not hurt them - that is, not unless I was provoked," and my eyes let out a little bit of a mysterious flame, for indeed, I had held Jonas' life under my blade before - though I would never had hurt him.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Aug 1, 2007 18:15:29 GMT -5
I grinned a bit "Then it sounds like we might test one another a bit. If you are willing that is."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Aug 2, 2007 1:22:03 GMT -5
“I am,” I replied. “But are you sure you will not hurt me?” I asked, my eyes teasing and amused. “I guarantee you, that though I have pride, I know I am untried in battle, and am fully aware that you are. I need to know that you will not cause me pain,” I added, my eyes suggestive as ever.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Aug 2, 2007 5:58:17 GMT -5
I held her gaze and added "Well I will not hurt you in any manner that you will not like. Some small bumps and bruises during the course of seeking relief only make it feel all the more better when it comes yes?" I teased her back with my own suggestion. It was more or less the truth as when playing such games one invariably got banged around.
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