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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2016 15:10:42 GMT -5
Astris hesitated a beat. "My name? Astris." It seems a simple thing to say. Does that mean he knows nothing of me either? If that is the case, perhaps there is hope for my situation.
She spreads her hands in a gesture of helplessness, before clasping them in her lap again and smiling slightly. "I believe, that we may have gone about things somewhat unusually. I...would like to get to know you in the meantime before..." She hesitates again. "..Before the week is out." She finishes in an attempt to be diplomatic.
"What interests do you have?" She asks, curiously.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 14:00:18 GMT -5
She certainly doesn't seem to be looking forward to this, I think. This is an awkward situation. Upon being asked my interests, however, I suddenly develop a faulty memory. I shrug in response.
"I... like horses." I say lamely. If I were watching this, I might groan at myself. More likely than not, in fact. The stone walls are stifling. A change of scenery is much desired. "I... uh, I like to..." I hesitate, searching the room for an answer. An idea strikes me. "I feel that family is important. That it is a duty to work for the sake of improving one's family and standing. That, uh. That means that most of my time I will spend on things for the sake of our... family, rather than pursuits and flights of fanciful nature." That's a strong answer. Surely one that can be respected.
Yes. Being successful is what I like to do. In truth, this isn't far from the truth. I would murder more than one man to be free of my father's shackles. Money is, perhaps, the only foreseeable way to escape from under his thumb.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 15:41:03 GMT -5
"An admirable trait, and a safe answer." Astris smiles slightly. "Personally, I find that I am...in my own way, also dedicated to the same goal. However, if I am to be honest, I am a poor choice for wife and mother. Study and histories are my life, it was what I had dedicated myself towards." A half-truth, but a truth nonetheless.
Her expression is one of concern and hesitancy. She says with some delicacy "I...believe..that this was an arrangement of neither of our choosing. However, I have had a year to come to terms with the idea of it occurring. Truth to tell, meeting you is helpful. I..did not expect to marry someone that I might feel comfortable speaking my mind with. Am I incorrect in this assumption?"
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 15:55:05 GMT -5
"I prefer honesty to intrigues." I raise my hand facing her. "If you speak your mind, it would be preferable. Even if your mind at the time is nothing I want to hear, it is better than letting some thought fester." These words come easier. I do not know why. I also do not know how much of that is truth. Often times, I prefer to be left alone. This woman seems mild enough, and to tell, I do want to know her much, much better. Perhaps I can show her how I would handle being told her thoughts?
"As for your studies? I take no offense or issue with it, provided the material you study does not see us in any kind of trouble. I think, that even with distraction, you could make a fine wife and mother." This will be reassuring, of this I am certain. This also speaks of my ability to be authoritative.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 16:27:28 GMT -5
She nods and smiles slightly. Neither reassured or curiosity satisfied. He'd dodged the unspoken question either way. She still doesn't know if he was as pressured into this marriage as she is.
"I am pleased to hear that." She says. She looks around the room somewhat, searching for inspiration for what to say next. The sunlight filtering through the eastward facing window indicating the day has waxed closer to full noon, creating a brightly lit environment.
She looks back at him. "I know nothing of horses." She says abruptly, and chuckles slightly.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 16:33:54 GMT -5
I came out of my chair somewhat. "Ah! We should..." I trailed off. My heart jumped before my mind. I sat. I had no horses here. Of course not. My father wouldn't want me riding them anywhere near a large population center. I clear my throat audibly.
"Had I a horse here, I'd offer you a ride or some such." I frown at myself. "I'd forgotten. But it is a nice day, if cold." I hesitate. I shouldn't ask her for anything, not yet. That only compounds with the fact that my father would be furious if we left the 'villa'. "We could... perhaps go on a short walk?" I ask, trying to maintain confidence in my voice. With that effort, I finally named the feeling I'd been experiencing all morn. I was nervous. I haven't been nervous like this since for a long time.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 16:42:32 GMT -5
She blinks at his sudden activity, then her expression lightens at the prospect of leaving this room. She realized that she'd very much like to leave the reality of her crowded cage and all it represented, for a little while at least.
She stands and grabs one of her warmer wraps, putting it around herself. "I'd love to." She smiles a bit at him. His expression, unreadable as it is, is somewhat charming. "We should go now, quickly before we are missed." Her tone somewhat playful, but in reality she simply did not want her mother to return and forbid her go.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 17:51:38 GMT -5
I nod in solemn agreement. Being caught would be no small disaster. I would wish to avoid a run-in with my father. It would decidedly be best if we returned before he awoke. I strain my mind briefly to imagine what he may be able to actually do to me here, at this point in my life. Something humiliating, to be certain. For each hour I put into thinking of ways to avoid conflict with my father, or to mitigate whatever new or strange punishment he has determined I deserve—he has two times that to think of ways to torment me.
"We should not tarry here, then. I'll draw on a coat." I stand and tilt my head towards the door. "Do you know the way out? I can show you if you do not. I'll need to stop at my room."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 18:36:20 GMT -5
Astris shakes her head. "I fear I was not observant on my way in. I do not mind accompanying you." She smiles slightly. Perhaps she would learn more of this man along the way. And who cares if I go with him without escort? We are already to be wed. There's not much changing that, is there?
She walks with him to the door, and waits for him to open it, willing to accompany him where he would go.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 18:43:29 GMT -5
I lead the woman through the misbegotten corridors with some haste. I possess a long stride, and do not tire easily. Before leaving, I dart across an entire wing to fetch some cold weather wear. After a brief struggle, I decide to keep my spear with me. I'm in a new location, and with a woman of a gentle disposition. This is no time to find trouble and be caught unaware. Observing the spear, I realize that it was a fine weapon... for a boy. As it stands, I've grown out of its length and weight somewhat. I determine then to look into purchasing a new weapon, once settled.
I return from my room shortly. "Sorry." I say in a muted, passing tone. "It's this way." I continue onwards, hoping that she doesn't think me foolish for being so unprepared.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 19:10:29 GMT -5
She realized that she was grateful her height near matched his own. Although his stride was longer, she would have had more difficulty matching his pace were she a shorter woman. Still, she still needed to take two strides to his one, her skirts hampering her progress somewhat.
She watched him leave in his haste, down the Wylmont-occupied wing. Funny. She'd never thought she'd see a grown man move that fast for no good reason before. It was a somewhat amusing thought.
He is apparently as eager to leave as I am. She shook her head upon his return. "It is of no consequence." She smiled slightly. "Shall we then?" She gestures for the main door.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 19:32:54 GMT -5
"Mm." I hesitate and offer assent at once. "Yes." I worry about the guards, briefly. My father's guards. Perhaps they'd been told to not allow me to leave. I would simply need to risk it on the hopes that we could reach the streets. No doubt my father would think that I would be so dishonorable as to try to escape a needed duty to my family name. I knew; however, that my mother would suffer for it more than I would. That was something I could not permit; moreover, Astris was certainly nothing I had been expecting.
We approached the guards, who did not raise their eyes to ask our intentions. I imagined that they would be surprised to see us both leaving together. I opened the door and stepped out into the crisp air, feeling strangely. Was it optimism? Was it hope? Was it fear that I would have my back flayed open when I returned? All of these things were likely equally true. I almost smiled.
"Where would you like to go?" I ask, just as ignorant as a babe to the venues available in the city.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 20:31:46 GMT -5
Astris took a deep breath in the crisp air and let it out in a huff, smiling slightly as she looked around the entrance, exit? of her current cage.
She looked over at her unexpected companion. "Well, every city is bound to have a market somewhere. Let's find it and see what we may." She says brightly. "I have never been here before, so I am afraid I am no help to you in this regard."
Still, regardless of the ignorance of her current surroundings, she couldn't help experiencing a sudden lift in spirits. Simply getting out of the house and leaving her current troubles behind, even if he is wandering around beside her, it seems different somehow.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 20:41:40 GMT -5
Travel through the sprawling city feels dizzying. Rarely did I ever get to roam this far, and I had hoped it would not be difficult to find our way back. I knew the general vicinity, and if I got some vantage, I would be most likely able to spot the villa from afar. No, that in itself shouldn't be a problem. What would be more of a problem would be entertaining this noble woman. So the market. I wonder how I should tell her that I carried little coin with me at the current time.
Finding would hopefully be simple. I caught the attention of a guard, by gesturing with a hand.
"Hail." I say. His glance does not make me hopeful.
"Lady." he dips his head in a nod to Lady Tadwicke. I look back at her, then to him.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2016 18:01:11 GMT -5
I nodded and smiled slightly at the guardsman, then looked at my escort. The breeze is cold, but blessedly gentle. It is a relief really, after the stuffy warm room of mine.
She puts her hand in the crook of Ikram's arm. Perhaps this will slow down his stride slightly. The added benefit is that he is warm. And you'd better get used to it, since you're marrying him. She shakes off the thought and tries to focus on the outing. Getting to know someone has no harm in it.
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