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 Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 6:12 pm
Ygrette often frequented brothels. There were the center of all scandal and gossip, thus why the redhead loved them so much. By profession she was a bird keeper, a woman who was sold into slavery. Yet her passion had always been the information trade, and even though she was no longer a street rat, she still kept up to date with everything that was happening. She was a nosy creature by nature, always had been, always would be. Her pale eyes looked at the girl's who were parading around the place, the smell or perfume thick in the air. She could almost coke on it.
She wished she was prettier.
Being a whore seemed simply wonderful. Alas, she never had the required looks or charm. Her body was scrawny, and her skin was covered head to toe in freckles and red patches of rosacea. People said is was a shame, she had a pretty face, yet it was overlooked due to her defaults. Oh well, she had a roof over her head and warm food in her belly, what else could she want? Freedom, that's what: and she would happily lay with one-hundred men in exchange for it. On the streets she had nothing, but at least she woke up everyday her own woman.
She wandered the halls, hearing playful giggling behind the closed doors. Yet a melody was playing over the top of it, drowning out the gasps and moans. She blinked, taking in the appearance of the bard that was playing at the end of the hall. Well, i'll be the speaker's daughter! She smiled and walked over to the young man, letting out a loud whistle as she did so. He had changed a lot since they had last met, he left her life a boy and returned a man grown. Seemed to have done well for himself too, better than she had.
"Now, there is a surprise!"
She interrupted his song and purred, resting a hand on her hip when she got within hearing distance.
"I never thought I would be seeing you again - Trenton, 'specially not in'a place like this."
She lifted up her hands, to emphasize the fact they were indeed, in a brothel. She spun around and then folded her arms, a large smirk painted across her face.
"So, does another lady hold your company? Or do ya have time for a old friend?"
She asked with a playful -somewhat sarcastic- wink, harmlessly implying he was here for the girls. She might have grown a few inches, but she still resembled the young grey eyed girl who had run the streets with the rest of their pack. For all she knew, they were the only two left of their small family. Until a few moments ago, she thought she was the lone survivor.
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:16 pm
Trenton generally didn't like playing brothels, but generally it did make his nights easier. The patrons of such establishments generally weren't overly interested in hearing him sing or tell stories, so he mostly just played without doing either. The nice thing is it did give him liberty to experiment with the music, play new variations of themes. Occasionally the girls would ask him to play so they could sing, a chance to show off their talents to prospective customers for the evening.
He was working on a variation of the chorus of a favorite drinking song for one of the other establishments he played, when he heard the whistle. He glanced up, slight frown creasing his face, this fiery haired woman was familiar...he wracked his brain for a clue.
"Ygrette?" he finished playing and sat up straighter, putting his lute across his lap and shaking out his fingers. Even with years and years of playing they still ached after awhile. He looked her over. "It's been a while." he said. "And I'm here to work, not for the ladies." he said in all seriousness.
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:50 pm
"That is all I get? I thought you would be happier to see me."
She laughed, sitting down at the opposite end of the small table. She folded her arms and leaned against them, slouching a little. She tilted her head to the side, taking in his new appearance. There was a real sense of surrealism in this moment, she could see him infront of her, however her eyes did not really believe it. Was she dreaming? Her pale orbs skimmed the hallway as a half dressed woman ran down it, she raised an eyebrow and smiled, someone was having a good time.
"I know that."
She rolled her eyes when he said he was working. That much was obvious, unless he was playing for services with his musical talent. Talking about musical talent, she did not know he could play.
"I never knew you could play. Is that a new trick of yours?"
She asked, pointing to the stringed introment that he had put on the table, she had never held one, and had to suppress the urge to touch.
"Why dont'ya fill me in on what you have been up to lately? I am sure there is a lot to tell, years worth of stuff infact."
She rested her chin on her palm and got comfortable, something told her she was going to be here for a while.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 8:28 am
"I am happy to see you. Just...caught me by surprise. I haven't seen anyone from back then, ever." he admitted. He fidgeted just slightly and ran long fingers through his bangs brushing them back. He wasn't about to say that it had been at the urging of his mentor that he'd kept his distance from his former compatriots, and instead introduced to other children, like him, who were learning a trade. He'd had some regrets about it, but the old man had had his best interests at heart and hadn't wanted to see his pupil get scooped up and forced into servitude.
"Ah, well I suppose, you will recall when I disappeared?" he waited for a response before continuing. "Well, I had attempted to lift the purse off an older gentleman in the market, and that didn't go exactly as planned. He didn't turn me in, instead he took me to his home, and after he discovered I had some musical talent, trained me to sing, play, tell stories, and maintain my instruments. He was a retired court singer you see." he cleared his throat and looked around motioned over one of the girls who functioned as a server. She seemed to know what he wanted and came over after a minute putting down two glasses and a bottle of wine.
"Thank you." he nodded politely to her and then poured a glass for himself and Ygrette. "After that there isn't much to tell. I work when I can, and sometimes I get higher engagements but not often. I don't sing particularly well, but my playing and storytelling abilities make up for that. No wife, lover, or otherwise. And I'm pretty sure I don't have any little me's running about either." he finished taking a sip.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 5:41 pm
Ygrette listened to his story, nodding her head and taking in his words with a rather serious expression on her freckled face. When he was done she leaned back in her chair and folded her arms again, feeling that her curiosity had been well and truly sated. A small smirk crept onto her pink lips, someone had been lucky, very lucky indeed. She was happy for him, but admittedly also a little envious. Though for the sake of their reunion she swallowed her green monster.
"I see. It worked out alright for you then. After a month we came to the conclusion you were either dead or arrested. I am glad no such thing happened."
She stated with a genuine smile, before a man brought them over some beverages. She picked up her glass and nodded her head in gratitude. Now this was a treat, she liked to drink, but rarely got given anything so fancy. She was more of a mead and ale woman, it kept her warm and got her nicely drunk on an evening, which is all she needed after a hard days work.
"Thank-ya kindly."
She raised her glass, bringing the liquid to her lips and savouring the taste, it was so sweet, but not too sweet. She then rested the glass on the table and looked back over at her old friend with a rather amused look.
"That so? Ya better hop to it, yer not as young as ya used to be, and people get very wary of those who are still unattached at your age. Leave it much longer and they will start whispering."
She smirked once more, mischief easily reflected in her pale eyes. What she said she said out of jest, however her words rung true.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 9:54 pm
"I figured as much," he said setting down the glass. "I'm sorry that I sent no word, but..." he trailed off. He really didn't have an excuse for not telling his friends that he was alive and well. Well maybe he did, but he didn't like to admit it. It made him feel low and dirty.
He toyed with the glass, trying to think of something to say. Her jest made him look up and he colored slightly. "I'm not--" he took a deep breath calming nerves. "I don't have any...tendencies that I should be ashamed of." he said neutrally. "I just...don't share some of the same attitudes of the men here." he said gesturing towards a man following a giggling woman up the stairs. He cleared his throat and took another drink. "I don't lack for company if I wanted it...I just...don't," he paused. "Want it." he finished and picked back up his lute. "I should probably play a bit before someone starts yelling at me. We can talk again in a few minutes once I finish this set."
He focused on the strings of his instrument and then looked around motioning over a girl, having a quick conversation with her. Once finished he started to play and the girl, a light soprano, started to sing.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 2:23 pm
"Don't worry about it."
She nodded her head again, it was not like his sudden disappearance had effected her life much, she did not lay awake at night wondering what happened to him. Maybe once upon a time she did, but she was not a little girl anymore and a lot had happened since then. She took another drink and smirked rather wickedly at his rambling, she felt like she had hit a nerve and the convulsions were amusing. Her attention turned to the man he had pointed out.
"The men here are a special breed. Most have wives back home, if I was one'a them I would knock'em around like...."
She paused, she could have finished that sentence one thousand different ways, but she knew there was no need. It was true most girl's were not as physically violent or passionate as she was, it was one of her little quirks, and had developed when she was on the streets. A girl needed to look out for themselves and she had learned to do just that. She ruffled her auburn bangs, as if to shake off her sudden statement.
"But that is not my job."
She finished and leaned back, relaxing once more.
"Don't let me stop you."
She jested, watching him get up and play with another girl. She could not say that listening to music was one of her favourite past times; but a glass of wine made it more enjoyable.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 3:34 pm
Trenton let himself become absorbed in his playing. He was feeling jangled but it wouldn't stop him from doing his job. It wasn't that he didn't talk to a lot of women. He did on a regular basis, but there was something about Ygrette that unsettled him just slightly. It was probably because she knew where he came from, who he truly was in essence, even though sometimes he still wondered who he was. He'd come up with a hundred different stories for his origin over years and none of them had ever felt right...but they were better than 'I used to steal on the streets.'
He finished the song with the girl, who gave him a fond pat on the arm then sauntered her way across the room to a gentleman who had motioned for her. He shook his head, amused and played a few more before going back to his personal table with the fiery headed woman. "Never afraid to help a girl land a customer." he said taking a sip of his wine. He twisted the glass slightly then looked at her. "So, enough about me...what about you? What happened to you?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 3:53 pm
She had drifted off into dreamland, before she knew it her friend was sat back down at the table, asking about her. She took a deep breath in and leaned on her elbows, resting her chin on her hands.
"Well, that is a long story."
She closed her eyes, thinking of where to start. Then she realized that any place would do, it all came to the same conclusion in the end.
"We slowly got picked off, one by one, by disease, death, capture. Till it was just me left. I managed to stay on the streets until a couple of years ago. As I got older it got... more difficult. Nobody bat's an eyelid at a child hiding in the dark, but a woman, that draws a little more attention from the drunks. The only blessing was by then I had learned to deal with scum, and knew how to fight back, got some bruises to show for it."
She smirked, her marks were her battle scars, she took pride in them. Her face softened as she decided not to dwell on such things, though in truth she would have rather liked to brag about her victories. She was a hard woman, and she took pride in the fact.
"I got in good with the inn keeps, the brothel owners, the traders. At one time nothing happened anywhere without me knowing. I do not know how I did it, but I survived without having to... ya know, what women do when they only have themselves to sell. Then one day I stole from the wrong person, put up fight, but in the end I got caught, they beat ten bells of... Anyway, I ended up getting sold as a slave to a Noble house, spend these days taking care of birds. I feed them, groom them and when I have free time run around for the Lady."
She shrugged, not knowing what else to say, she forced herself to smile and pick up her wine glass, which had a mouthful of liquid left in it. She held it over to him, giving him a playful wink.
"Oh well, at least we still have our health, friends, and wine."
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 5:40 pm
Trenton listened quietly and nodded when it seemed appropriate. "I'm sorry." he said finally letting out a sigh. "I imagine it wasn't easy at all, and here I've been roof over my head, food to eat, all that, for years and never gave a thought to anyone else. I don't by any means live fabulously, but I can at least say I am my own master." he looked over the room and chewed on the inside of his mouth for a minute before looking back at her.
He saw through the smile, but forced himself to return it. "There is that." he finished his own glass in time with her and poured them each another. He'd have to quit after this glass, he could feel his cheeks heating from the liquid, and no one wanted to listen to a drunk bard. He usually had a better tolerance than this, but slim pickings for jobs the last few days had eaten into his food money, wood for the stove, always beat out bread for the man.
He felt himself blushing at her wink. He knew realistically she didn't mean anything by it, but couldn't help himself. While she wasn't the most beautiful woman he'd ever had the pleasure of having sit with him, there was something striking about her. He looked her over and settled on her fiery spirit. He chuckled quietly and hid it in his glass. Her hair color was a dead give away to the character of the woman underneath it. It was a color you could write songs about...if someone else hadn't already.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:08 pm
"Hey, look at me."
She pouted, folding her arms once more.
"Do not be sorry, hell I sure wouldn't if I was in your position. There are a lot of people out there in a lot worse situations than me, we can't change that, all we can do is be glad we're not the and make something of the chances we are given."
Her face and voice softened as her body relaxed, in truth that had sounded a bit sterner tan she had wanted it to.
She smiled and nodded her head in thanks as he poured her another drink, his mentor had clearly shown him how to treat a lady. Then again he was a bard, they were meant to be charming.
"Going from a hungry orphan on the streets to what you are now, it's admirable, so I am not allowing you to feel bad about it, okay?"
She smiled at him, before seeing a woman exit one of the rooms only partially dressed. Her eyes caught her figure and she looked on rather amused by it. Oh yes, this was one-million miles away from the Noble houses, it was why she loved these places so much. When she looked back at him he was blushing... but would not have guessed it was over her, she put it down to all the flesh that was on show in the immediate area.
"Oh Trenton, Trenton, my dear Trenton. Working in brothel's and still flushing at a ladies figure?"
She stood up, picking her glass up to take it with her. He had just played a few songs, they had five minuets for a private drink before he had to start again. She rested a hand on his shoulder for a moment, before opening a nearby door.
She looked inside the room to make sure it was empty, before looking back at him.
"This is getting a little too distracting. Come on, let's find somewhere a little more private to talk. That is unless you have become craven in your old age."
She stuck out her tongue playfully, before stepping inside.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:21 pm
"If you say so." he answered. Her comment about figures nearly made him choke, and the blush fade. "I...It's...I wasn't...It's nothing." he stammered out. "Just the wine and the warmth in the room...a little high color that's all." he coughed embarrassed and took another sip watching her put a hand on his shoulder and open a nearby door.
"I am hardly a coward." he said picking up his lute, not trusting the instrument out of his sight even for a few minutes. He brushed past her entering the room and set his lute on a table before looking back at her. "You are definitely still the handful I remember you being." being in the slightly cooler room he tugged at the laces of his shirt and loosened it slightly enjoying the cool air against his chest. "And I think it's safe to say, you can call me Trent." He smiled, a slightly roguish look coming to his face. "I think you know me well enough to do so, and if not I think I might be a little hurt." he chuckled.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:41 pm
Ygrette shut the door behind them, before she went exploring.
The bed was a lot bigger than her own, her hand followed the wooden frame before it ran over the soft sheets. She could safely say she had never slept in something that looked so comfortable, back at he estate she slept on straw and was told to be grateful for it. In truth, she knew she could sleep anywhere.
She then walked over to the fireplace that was burning away at the far end of the room. She took off her gloves and let her fingers go about unlacing her coat. She threw it on the floor, revealing the creamy dress she wore underneath. It was ripped at her knees, underneath she wore black wool leggings and a brown corset complimented the slight curves she did have.
"This is one of my good days, if you think I am a handful now, wait until I really feel the urge to cause some trouble."
Her arm's were covered, but you could plainly see her chest and neck were as freckled as her face, as were the back of her hands. She knelled down on her coat, sitting close to the fire. She then picked up her glass of wine and took a drink.
"Come join me, Trent."
She smiled.
"I would like this to be more than a one time thing. There is a tavern just down the road. We should meet there one night, have a proper chat, when you are not working - and I know a lot of eligible young ladies in the area, I am sure one will kindle your... wants. I will make a man out of you yet, mark my words."
She smirked, he was such an easy boy to make blush and stammer.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:03 pm
Trenton watched her and cleared his throat as she shed layers. Despite the fact that there were half a dozen half naked women in the other room, there was always something more...intimate about the casual almost accidental reveal of a woman's body. Perhaps that was why he was never overly interested in the barmaids and ladies of the evening he spent so much time around. They showed it off their assets willingly, but there was always something more enticing about the unknown.
He smiled at her comment. "I will consider myself forewarned." he said with a slight nod. He moved from where he was standing and sat down next to her. "I'd like that myself. I could send word when I'm available. Which...is a few nights a week. Not often, I like to stay busy." he said twirling the glass in his long fingers.
He shot her a look at the last part and sighed. "I assure you that that at least in that sense I AM a man. I don't need anyone playing matchmaker for me, thank you very much. I am capable of making my own...arrangements for a little 'fun'." he took a sip and glanced over at her waiting to see what she made of that.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:26 pm
"Alright. Just remember that I can't read. It might be best if you just come and grab me. I work at the Eyre, just ask around the Noble estates, everyone knows where it is."
She had never learned to read, write, or count. Every so often she would learn a new word from her ever eloquent masters, but that was the extent of her education. She shuffled up a little closer to him, it was chillier than she thought without her coat, but she was not uncomfortable. The cold air stroking her skin was actually quite pleasurable.
His comment made her smirk even wider, she even laughed a little. It seems like he had well and truly grown up.
"Oh Trent, such a romantic. I remain the paragon of virtue, unspoiled, innocent... for the most part. I think I might withdraw my invitation, you might be a bad influence on me."
She joked, taking another drink of her wine. She looked over at him with her one grey eye and rested a hand on his leg, even as a child she was very touchy. She was a creature who needed physical contact like an alcoholic needed a good ale, one of her more obvious quirks.
"So where are you living now? Incase I am ever in the area... unless you would rather us talk about your conquests."
She joked with another playful wink.
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