Meanderings

[Mirielle Bellamont]

I'd spent the last few days indoors, cooped up and working on ledgers and other documents that had taken a back seat over the past few weeks, and the itch to get out and see more than just those who worked for me was beginning to gnaw at me.

Without knowing exactly where I was going, I stepped into my carriage and asked the driver to take me somewhere entertaining and where I could get a drink and sat back, rocking with the carriage as it set off. A short while later it rolled to a stop and my door opened; I stepped out as I was told where I was, and my eyes drifted to the age-old sign that hung above the door. The Cockeral.

With a smile for my driver, I thanked him and made my way inside, one hand reaching to gather my hair and push it back over my shoulders. There was a fair number of people in here with a promise of more to come, and, sidestepping a seated man who spoke with large gestures, I made my way to the bar, claiming a seat.

[Jules nó Orchis]

Things in my general vicinity were going wonderfully- if nothing else, the antics of the early drunks nearby gave me something to laugh at- and I moved among the midst of people, closer to the bar to get another ale where I nearly tripped over a lady who had just come it. "Oh, I'm sorry," I told her with a wide smile. "Seems just a sideways view of your attractiveness made me dizzy. How are you other than nearly tripped over?"

[Mirielle Bellamont]

I hadn't seen anything coming as my gaze was focused more on the barkeep making his way down towards me when suddenly there was a man very nearly ontop of me. His apology was quick, his smile quicker, and I gave him a smile in return without hesitating.

"No apology needed, honestly. I'm well, though I suppose I'll have to start staying home if a sideways view is going to make people trip." His humor was near infectious, and I was inwardly glad I'd been of good humor today, as I had been in the days since my realization of Gillermo. "How are you doing?"

[Jules nó Orchis]

"But if you stay home no one will get to see you and that would be an even greater tragedy," I told her, grinning wider to see her in good spirits. I did so hate to judge someone wrongly and end up angry or snippy with me. "I'm as well as ever," I told her, hold up my arms and spinning in a circle. "No one's decided to kill me yet or take away my chance to drink so everything's fantastic, except I haven't given you my name yet. Jules no' Orchis."

[Mirielle Bellamont]

Oh Elua he was chatty, and I found it refreshing. There was no strain with him, just relaxation and an apparent joy, and I settled my seat a little to better look at him.

"But if I trip someone and they do something like fall down a well, I could never live with myself," I said, jesting back with him. My smile grew into an amused grin as he spun himself in a circle, and I noted his name with a tip of my head. "Orchis! I should have guessed. I'm Mirielle Bellamont - its a pleasure to meet you, Jules."

[Jules nó Orchis]

"Oh, someone with title- now I'm REALLY glad I didn't spill anything on you," I teased gently. Affecting a jesting frown I looked at her through narrow eyes. "And what do you mean you should have guessed? Do I look like a clown to you?" Then I crossed my eyes and stuck out my tongue at her.

[Mirielle Bellamont]

"I never claimed to have a title," I said, my smile becoming more amused. I laughed as he made a face at me, though within a moment I had it under control and peered at him as if quizzically, my eyes traveling over his face and pale eyes. "I don't know," I said slowly, as if thinking. "You do have a rather large, red nose..."

[Jules nó Orchis]

"Oh, but I've heard people like that," I replied with an arrogantly raised brow. "Sign of virility and all. As to knowing you have title- that's the sort of thing we end up spending days in class memorizing as trainees. Yours stuck in my mind because you have such a pretty name."

[Mirielle Bellamont]

"Ah, a flatterer," I said, my voice teasing. "I didn't realize you studied names and duchies though. Tell me," I said, a coy, teasing smile still on my lips as I leaned towards him a little, "Where do I hail from?'

Jules no Orchis was fun off the bat, someone that it felt good to talk to, and I appreciated it.

[Jules nó Orchis]

"Azzalle, I believe," I replied. "Though were, exactly, I couldn't tell you. I let my friend Keegan learn the history and maps- I just learned the basics and then the fun stuff."

She took all of my jesting and teases in stride and I appreciated that, as well as the fact she was very lovely. "So, what are you drinking, or have you decided?"

[Mirielle Bellamont]

I grinned. "Azzalle it is. You've a good head, Jules. Is your friend of Orchis as well?"

At his question I glanced over at the barkeep, noting he'd turned and kept going on down the line of patrons. "I haven't decided yet," I said as I glanced back to Jules. "What would you recommend from the selections?"

[Jules nó Orchis]

"Yes- unfortunately, I've had to deal with Keegan for my entire life," I joked without any real malice; he was like a brother to me. "And the wine here is alright, though I'm more of an ale man myself."

[Mirielle Bellamont]

"Ale," I said, thinking. "Mayhap I'll try that, then, and see if whatever makes you so lovely and happy comes partially from it."

My smile was light and slightly teasing as I turned, speaking my order to a passing waitress. I glanced back at Jules, my hands moving to clasp in my lap. "I'm not keeping you from anyone, am I?"

[Jules nó Orchis]

Her bravery and enthusiasm warmed me and I shook my head, sitting down on a stool next to hers. "Not in the slightest," I assured her as I nodded to the tender and he began pouring me an ale as well. "And even if you were I wouldn't protest."

[Mirielle Bellamont]

I watched as my drink was filled, then, as Jules was being refilled, I looked back at him. He was thinner, though not gangly, and his hair and eyes were light. All in all a unique appearance, and I smiled warmly as he spoke. "I would, though. I'm glad I don't have to feel guilty for forcing someone else to go without their very own clown."

[Jules nó Orchis]

"Well, everyone should have a private jester from time to time," I agreed with a grin, holding up my mug. "So, does the illustrious Duchesse de Bellamont make toasts?"

[Mirielle Bellamont]

"Only when the mood strikes," I said, reaching out to take my mug. Holding it aloft, I glanced at him, a smile spread across my lips. "To friends and happiness, and new beginnings," I said, my voice clear and at ease.

[Jules nó Orchis]

"Cheers," I replied with a smile, brushing her mug with my own and then taking a deep drink, watching for her reaction at the ale. A person's first drink was usually priceless.

[Mirielle Bellamont]

I wondered a little why he was watching me as he took his drink, though regardless I lifted my mug and drank to the toast. It wasn't the first time I'd had ale, though it'd been a long time; either way it still tasted better to me than the whiskey and brandy both. I took a decent sized drink before setting it down, giving Jules a quizzical look, wondering if I mayhap had foam on my lips. "What?"

[Jules nó Orchis]

"I was hoping you hadn't had ale before so I could see what you thought of it," I told her honestly, not really ashamed of my actions. "Have you ever seen anyone drink ale who doesn't know what to expect? It's highly amusing."

[Mirielle Bellamont]

"Ah," I said, smiling. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, then. I can't say if I've ever really seen anyone drink ale who hasn't had it before... though I think I'll have to start keeping an eye out if an Orchis considers it highly amusing."

[Jules nó Orchis]

"If you pick the right tavern it can keep you laughing all day," I replied, grinning wider. "And it teaches you a bit about people as well."

I took another long draw of my ale, then set down my mug. "What of you, lovely Duchesse? What makes you laugh?"

[Mirielle Bellamont]

"Watching them react to ale teaches you? Or the after effects of the inevitable drunkeness?" I smiled and took another drink of the ale before setting it back down. It was an interesting flavor, though then again I usually just stuck to wines.

What made me laugh? It wasn't anything I'd ever really thought on before; I'd always just done it. "A variety of things, I suppose," I said, my smile still on my lips. "Silly mistakes, children, handsome, red-nosed adepts..." My eyes twinkled softly as I brought my gaze back to the mug of ale, and I let one finger run through the condensation beading on its side as I momentarily held back my humor.

[Jules nó Orchis]

"well, we are taught the quickest way to become comfortable with someone is to laugh with them," I replied with a large wink. "But I wonder how you found the handsome one with the red nose. Those are rare."

[Mirielle Bellamont]

"Ah," I said, my grin coming out fully onto my face. "He found me, you see. Claimed a sideways view of me made his feet fumble, though," I paused, leaning closer to him and lowering my voice to a whisper, "truthfully I think it was all the ale he's drank."

[Jules nó Orchis]

"That can happen on occasion, though I have to admit I've never had that problem myself," I whispered back with a somewhat sly grin, nose nearly touching hers where we both leaned in. "Aren't those clowns just such pests, wanting to cheer pretty girls up all of the time?"

[Mirielle Bellamont]

Elua, I hadn't expected him to lean in quite so far, though why I couldn't say; he was an adept, after all, and a seemingly flirtatious one. A faint pink colored my cheeks and I grinned at him through it, refusing to acknowledge it. "I don't think I'd call them pests," I countered with mirth, my voice still whisper-soft, "Besides, you have to be quiet. He's still very close."

[Jules nó Orchis]

"Oh, I didn't know," I replied in mock-amazement and trepidation. "Elua forbid he hears us and takes offense."

[Mirielle Bellamont]

I laughed and sat back, my smile wide and warm, full of mirth as I took another drink of ale. "You never know. A fearsome creature might be hiding behind the mask of a handsome adept."

I settled back on my barstool, my hands clasping around my ale mug as if it were naught but a cup of tea and I were trying to warm my fingers on it. "Do you do this often, then? Come to the Cockeral and people-watch, chuckling when they pull faces at their drinks?"

[Jules nó Orchis]

As she sat back I also did so, chuckling lightly. "Most people would say there's always a fearsome creature behind the mask of an adept," I replied. "It's what comes out when the patron is rude."

For a moment I thought about her question, then shook my head. "Believe it or not I do actually have patrons sometimes," I replied, rolling my eyes. "How I manage that I'll never know. But yes, when I get time I either get into trouble or sit here and try not to."