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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 17:49:02 GMT -5
I walked toward the White Hart Manor, someone had let the wine run dry in my house and I was not in the mood for shopping. I probably wouldn't get much inspiration sitting around my house anyhow. I am going to need to search out a person I don't even know, except by name, so I might as well sit around a group of people I don't know by name.
I strode with a purpose but not overly hasty, I needed to breath and not let myself get worked up first. The spell that I had been under at Riva's was quickly dissipating as reality had returned.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 18:00:33 GMT -5
I was sinking into the deep pseudo-meditative state that one brings about my repetitive action, walking alond the streets I knew so well and trying to memorize the ways things looked and where things were to the best of my ability. Knowing this part of the City was vital to keeping up appearances. Leading de Warrene around a few days earlier and barely knowing the street names had almost given me away, as had Plaisir's flyers- I was getting lazy and needed to work on my memory as well as my facade. All around me Night's Doorstep was going about its business and I let myself be led by whim.
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 18:05:11 GMT -5
I was only a few feet from the doorway of the White Hart when I thought I saw someone I knew. I took a closer look and remembered. The girl I had helped carry packages for a while back. I remembered that she was an adept but it took a few minuets for the name to come to me.
In a slightly questioning voice I called to her, just loud enough to reach her, "Allisade?"
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 18:10:37 GMT -5
The sound of my name being spoken by a familiar voice caused my concentration to snap and I looked around for said person, trying to place the voice. Names and faces were one thing I was good at and I nodded respectfully in acknowledgement as I walked closer, native grace in every line of me. "Lord Fournier," I said with a slight curtsey. "It's nice to be able to see you again."
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 18:13:54 GMT -5
I gave Allisande a smile that was half natural half forced, I probably should have saved my greeting for a day where I felt a little more myself. I had found her to be a pleasant person when I had meet her the first time, even if it was brief, so the greeting was partially out of habit.
"Good to see you to Allisande, though you don't have to stick with formal titles, we are not at a fete, just call me Rannan."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 18:35:36 GMT -5
Nodding in acknowledgement I noticed his anxiety and the half-hearted, compulsory nature of his smile. "It is nice to see you as well, Rannon- and, if you don't mind my saying so, you look like you're not having the most pleasant day. Is everything alright?"
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 18:38:30 GMT -5
I gave a slight nod and looked up to the sky as if it was suppose to give me a answer, than back at Allisande, "you could say I have had a interesting day. It hasn't been all bad, I'm just frustrated, I have a pretty impossible task ahead of me."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 18:41:36 GMT -5
Nodding in understanding I smiled sympathetically. "Life is full of interesting happenings of late, though the bad outnumber the good it seems." Looking around at where we were I realized by appearance that we were before the White Hart. "You must have been on your way to have a drink, I apologize for interrupting your progress."
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 18:45:37 GMT -5
"Yes, life does usually seem to be full of ups and downs, it would be nice if it level out once in a while. I guess it keeps things from growing dull."
I nodded at Allisande's mention of a drink and agreed, "I was about to have a few glasses of wine, or whatever the Manor happened to have in stock," I ushered toward the door and asked, "care to join me? I could entertain you with the story of my day if you like."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 18:51:05 GMT -5
He had been kind to me before, and I had offered him my help on that occasion, so listening to his dilemma and offering my advice was the least I could do. With a charming smile I said, "That would be nice, both the drink and hearing the story- I've always had a weakness for listening to tales."
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 18:54:17 GMT -5
My smile came a little easier, both at her smile and her positive response to my request.
"After you my lady," I said, keeping my tone light and holding my hand once again towards the manor's door.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 19:12:55 GMT -5
Smiling wider at his statement I nodded and walked in the door, waiting off to the side for him. "Where should we sit?" I asked, my head cocked sideways. He seemed a person who would prefer to be off to the side, out of the flow of traffic.
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 19:18:14 GMT -5
I looked around, it was crowded but not overly so. There was one table that was a little secluded since no one was sitting at the neighboring tables, and it was away from the door. Pointing toward it I asked, "how about that one?"
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 19:23:16 GMT -5
Smiling in agreement- I was never one for being in the middle of a drunken group of people anyway, let Jasmine do that- I walked over, matching pace with him instinctively. Once we were seated, I cocked my head sideways. "Have you been here before?" I asked curiously.
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 19:36:03 GMT -5
I took a look around the patrons as I walked with Allisande toward the table. Anyone in here could know my sister. The population seemed more male than female, but none of the females present seemed to look Yeshuite in any way. Regardless of who raised my sister her blood was Yeshuite and she would carry the physical features.
I returned my attention back to Allisande when she started to ask me if I had been here before. "I have been here a few times, but its on pretty rare occasion. Mainly when I forget to restock my personal wine supply. I am pretty specific in what I stock my house with, so I am not able to buy it all the time. The drinks here are not the best you can buy, but they are not bad either. How about you, have you been here before?"
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 19:40:43 GMT -5
"One or twice," i said with a slight smile. "I have never been much of one for going out except to wander and see what I can find. After spending so many years behind Dahlia's walls I like being able to go out when I please."
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 19:48:08 GMT -5
I nodded my head in understanding, "I know how that can be. Granted I have free roam now, but when I was a kid I was pretty rebellious against my parents. We fought a lot and I was always trying to get away."
At that point a server came and asked what we wanted to drink. "Bring me the best wine you have, after quoting me a price." I looked toward Allisande and asked if she wanted anything.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 19:53:11 GMT -5
"Just some water, thank you," I said self-assuredly, knowing that walking as long as I had the habit of doing sapped water from one's body. I'd never even considered rebelling against my house- that was not the act of a Dahlia, to sneak around behind someone's back. Besides. the house was my destiny. Patiently I waited for Rannon to finish with the waiter before saying, "I was never the rebellious one, I guess- too practical for it. After all, the House was better than living on the streets."
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 20:11:59 GMT -5
The server left to inquire to the manager as to my request. I then turned back to Allisande.
"I might have been less rebelious if I had grown up in one of the night court, after all everyone there is one of your equals. They have the same religion, the same general way of living, etc. Granted I know your not a bunch of sheep, but your not a stranger in your own home either. That is how I felt as a kid. My friends where of Kushel and my parents where of the "one true god." I didn't feel like I belong with either group. So I rebelled against my parents isntead of my friends."
The server returned and let me know the price and the type of wine. It seemed fair enough so I ordered a glass. She then walked off to fill the order.
Turning back to Allisande I asked, "at what age did you move into Dahlia?"
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 20:21:37 GMT -5
Looking at him I pitied him slightly, with his never having fit in. "I was six years old, but set apart from my classmates because of my mother's disgrace of the House and her banishment. Besides, I was never of the disposition to have many friends when I was a child; I was consumed with my quest to become the best Dahlia adept I could."
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 20:29:00 GMT -5
"I haven't kept any long term friends, they come and go. I was a little to moody for most of them after my parents died. My poor aunt and uncle put a lot of effort in turning me back to a happy kid, or at least a mostly happy kid. They even paid for my first partner when I came of age, hoping that a little female attention would do me some good. My hormones at least distracted me for a while." I chuckled a little at my last comment and the strange look the server tried to hide when she walked up on my last comment. I suspected that she was a little new to the job. She set our drinks on the table and then left again.
I took a sip of my wine and smiled, it was actually a little better than I expected. I nodded toward Allisande's drink and said, "I hope that your water is drinkable and doesn't taste of sewage or something just as unpleasant."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 20:33:44 GMT -5
Smiling at his story, I laughed at the description of him being run by his hormones- he seemed so subdued in that sense. "The sounds like very nice people to be raised by," I agreed, "Though in the Night Court it's a bit different, as if your parents are in the House they are very proud of you. Sometimes they even buy a gift of a gown or jewelry for the occasion, so it is a special moment. I guess some adepts need those comforts though, as you don't always get to choose who your first will be."
Sipping the water, I added, "My drink is clear, cool and crisp, very unlike sewage. Thank you for asking."
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 20:41:24 GMT -5
"I smiled at Allisande's comment about the water, "I am glad that is to your liking. I'd hate to make that poor servant girl go and fetch you some better water."
I continued to sip my wine as to my habit. I wasn't out to get drunk, I just wanted to relax and clear my head.
"My aunt and uncle where pretty good parents. They didn't have a kid of their own so they where able to spoil me pretty well. Though they did make sure I had the right kind of learning and behavior. I didn't really pick my first either. I wouldn't know who to have chosen anyhow. Since my adopted parents thought I was a bit moody they chose Orchis in hope to cheer me up. I got the expected cute little bubbly adept, but she wasn't quite as new to the game, so she wasn't a bad first. Though that was the only visit I ever made to that house. I don't attend the night court that regularly actually. I've probably been denying myself some of life's more simple pleasures."
With that last thought of simple pleasures I took a little longer sip of my wine as Riva's face quickly flashed into view. I let it float to the back of my mind, keeping my attention on Allisande.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 20:56:00 GMT -5
"Personally, I find that a person should pick closer to their own personality than the exact opposite," I said slowly, trying to let him know that it was only my opinion. "But it may be different from my point of view. Dahlia have respect for themselves, so they seem to prefer those who will respect them as well- no one in that house wants to be broken or degraded."
Taking a sip of my water, I set it back down and pushed loose tendrils of curly chestnut hair behind my ears. "Many people choose to visit the Night Court regularly, and that is their peroggative, but sometimes it seems as though they think the act of pleasure will steal some part of themselves away from the whole. The Houses are there to provide whatever the patron wishes, be it pleasure or confort or conversation. Of course, I have never been a patron, so I suppose things must be different from that side." I hoped he'd tell me if I offended him or was talking too much.
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 21:06:53 GMT -5
I listed as Allisande spoke of things from an adept's point of view. It was interesting to hear things from the other side of the wall, especially being one who has never been an adept.
"I do sometimes forget that the house offers more than bedside pleasures, though I was reminded of such today." I then remembered why I had wondered out of my house in the first place. I sure seemed to be distracted easily today. Hanging out with young attractive women probably didn't help matters.
Switching to the subject that was most on my mind, at least when I was alone, I asked, "how hard do you think it would be to track down a person in Terre d'Ange if all you knew was their name, possibly only their first name."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 21:18:29 GMT -5
Wrinkling my brow, I cocked my head to the side as I thought. "I guess it would depend on your methods and the means you used to go about them. Even so, it could take an enormous amount of time. My suggestion would be to investigate the three largest centers of information- servants, Mont Nuit and Bryony. They hear and see much, but they have their own inherent faults as well."
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 21:29:13 GMT -5
I thought about the sources, "Bryony huh? I did get my first bit of information from an adept, maybe I should stick with the night court for a while." I took a sip of my wine only to find that my cup was empty. I looked for the same server who had waited on us before and made eye contact with her. She quickly came over and took away my glass for a refill when I pointed at it.
Figuring that a little more info might help Allisande if she had any I decided to give her a brief on the day's events. I had offered her a story earlier in the evening anyhow.
"Well, much earlier today a Gentian adept came up to me and informed me that someone whom I had presumed dead was in deed alive, and in Terre d'Ange. It was a very surprising bit of news, but she seemed to honestly know what she was talking about. She was also able to relay information about me that no one else knew. Defiantly threw me off my balance. Now I intend on trying to find this person, who happens to be my only sibling and my sister."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 21:43:51 GMT -5
My brows raised slightly at that. "Then you have been blessed- not everyone recieves such attention from the House of Seers. Your sister, you say? It's very noble of you to want to find her. How old was she when she was taken? If she's closer to your age she'd be easier to locate than a young girl."
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Post by Rannan de Fournier (D) on Jun 16, 2006 22:03:06 GMT -5
"My sister wouldn't be my age, just a teen actually. I was thirteen when she was born. That would make her 16 right now. She would have to be living with someone, a 16 year old can't live on their own, or at least not very easily."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Jun 16, 2006 22:46:08 GMT -5
"Agreed," I said with a knowing nod. "If she's that young she's most likely been fostered somewhere, or taken in as someone's own. At that rate, her name may not even be the same- someone could have changed it when they took custody of her."
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