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 Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 1:41 pm
Should he sit back down? He was on the verge of speaking something he had considered...but had not commited to yet. If he brought it up then..well..he'd have to be committed. But could he follow through without completely embaressing himself? Mas shifted his hand through his hair, his blue eyes peeking through the silver fall at Tri-no as she sat so comfortably nearby. If he asked then he might have to accept that his particular relationship with Tri-no was selfserving. A common thing for a drow, so that was not so odd. However, he had not begun this relationship with this idea in mind. Besides...they two of them had only met once before. All their other forms of communication since then had been by letter. Perhaps he ought to wait until she had been here a time. Yes...it would seem far more proper if they had at least some time to socialize. besides, she had so much studying to do...
"I believe I understand your thoughts." Mas addressed Tri-No's comments concerning her cousin as he ceased his hair fidgeting and moved to reclaim the vacated seat from before. "I feel that my inability to normally communicate with females is a great obstacle to me. I have tried to overcome it and I have succeeded in at least appearing in control of myself but..." Mas lifted a hand and fluttered it in a frustrated gesture towards the doorway. "My control collapses easily under duress. Last week while in the library I had a female come upon me and began making observations about my lack of female company. I was fine until she took hold of my hand and stepped in uncomfortably close." Mas placed the hand that he had gestured with over his eyes and released a small sigh. "If I were capable I would do as you are attempting to overcome it. In this I think I envy you."
Magic. Mas rather liked this turn of topic. His lips curled upwards faintly as he could not surpress the minor flare of pride as Tri-no would praise him as being more advanced then she was. "Well, do not discount yourself too much Tri-no. I am certain that you would be far more advanced then I if you were not distracted." And by distracted he was certain she knew what he had meant. "I would not mind sharing my knowledge with you Tri-no. In fact I believe spending such time lending you what aid I can would be rather enjoyable."
With a flick of his foot, Mas crossed his ankle over his knee, and leaned forwards in his seat with a small amount of excitement reflecting within his blue eyes. "In fact I would be very honored to help you study enchanting. I believe you should select whatever magical path you feel most comfortable with in truth. If you are unhappy with your choice you more then likely will not strive as hard to master it. We could begin tomorrow after you have settled in?"
Micarreth...that was a bit of a sour topic to slip to and Mas's distasteful expression was not easy to hide. "I would greatly appreciate any sort of advice you may have Tri-No. As there has never been a strong female presence within House Barrith for our generation, Micarreth, nor I for that matter, has never had a female will to guide him. He is disrespectful and a disgrace to the House. He's out stirring up random fights and skulking about in the treasury rooms when he does not think anyone is around." Mas angerly flipped a finger upwards. "He slipped some random drunkard into my bed under the false assumption I was some slave girl he could play with. That was a exceptionally rude awakening. I need to find some way to instill proper respect in the boy before he angers the wrong female and brings down the wrath of a higher House on me...us. On us." Mas shook his head quickly then, as if to clear the anger from him, then took a deeper breath. "I do have a favor to ask of you. But it shall wait until another time. It would be poor manners toask you something after opening my doors to you."
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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:42 pm
"I'm sorry to hear that you continue to have difficulties in dealing with females. We're quite fearsome, I understand, but, really, I think the example you're citing would make anyone uncomfortable, even the most poised of people."
Privately, Tri-no couldn't imagine why Mas would want to communicate with females. Females were stubborn, imperious, demanding, competitive, and impossible to please. One of the few advantages that she could see to being male was being below most people's notice. It gave a person a certain degree of freedom that few noble females experienced. Of course, Houseless drow were in different situations. They were the truly free, but she would rather die than give up the privileges which came with being nobility. Even if Baen'duis was not very high in Llurth Dreir's hierarchy. It would rise, she was certain. It was obvious to all that Matron Umraevyll was in Lloth's good graces.
"It's generous of you to make excuses, but I am not much of a student. I am incredibly easily distracted. I suppose I could apply myself more diligently, and likely I will while I'm here, but it doesn't take very long for me to reach a point where I throw my hands up in disgust and go shopping to relax." It wasn't a very productive way to study, and it didn't exactly work for her, but it was what she was in the habit of doing, and she could only learn so many new habits at a time. "Maybe having someone I enjoy working with will make a difference."
"Tomorrow would be fine with me. My schedule is very free for the foreseeable future. I have no plans to do anything about my cousin until I am more confident in my abilities. Confronting even a half-trained high priestess is not something I would like to do without a lot of evidence and more magic on my side."
At Mas' mention that she might have suggestions for dealing with Micarreth, Tri-no almost burst out laughing. She couldn't hide the amused smile which crossed her face.
"Mas, you realize that my family has entirely too many females, and that there are very few males to balance it out. I do not know why, but we seem blessed with fertility, and females." There was a slight twist to her words. "However, it seems to me that he would benefit from a whipping. That sort of trick serves no purpose at all, except to earn others' enmity. Perhaps he's not a clever as he thinks he is."
She wasn't going to press him about the favor, though his reluctance to speak of it made her think that it was something large. She wondered if there was honestly anything she could do for him. It wasn't as if he needed monetary recompense...not with Barrith's coffers being notoriously full. And he was more advanced than she was magically, so she couldn't really do anything for him there. Perhaps there was something he wished to access that he couldn't get to because he was male. It would explain why he had mentioned his difficulties in dealing with people of her sex. She had no qualms about doing that sort of thing.
"So, onto more important matters: what articles of clothing are essential before I allow myself to be seen in public in the styles of another city?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:23 pm
"Ah! If only you knew it from my perspective!" Mas exclaimed. His hands rising in the air over the whole female problem. "But let's not dwell on such unpleasent things now. Now that you are my guest I feel a bubbling of excitement. Perhaps with you here Micarreth will control himself a bit more. A whipping...perhaps..." Though Mas looked rather uncomfortable with the prospect of whipping his brother. "Neither of us have been disciplined before. Perhaps I will find some female from the city that could do it. I...feel a little nausated at the thought of doing it myself." Mas flickered his fingers daintily as if to shake off imaginary filth or blood from them.
Instead he seized upon the more pleasent topic. "Perhaps all you need is that indeed Tri-No. Pleasent company! Comfortable study conditions! Whatever you want I'll see to it that it is provided! Ah! Shopping!" And here those blue eyes pratically sparkled! "Barrith would be honored to cover all costs! Just let me know when you wish to go into the market and if I can not come I will arrange for one of the representatives of Barrith to accompany you. You'll probably need some slaves to carry your purchases as well. You can have mine, they are rather pretty and very well trained I assure you! Mindyou they are all male, you won't have a problem with that will you?" Of course she wouldn't. Mas's heartbeat had begun to race a bit as he finally realized exactly how he could go about this!
He'd shower her in all the wealth and attention he could possibly manage. Perhaps if he managed to appeal to her enough she would become comfortable here in Barrith and would remain for a extended period of time. No more worries about some strange occurance taking her away from him, she could study at her ease and mas would definatly devote as much attention on her that he could spare. He could practice being encouraging with her, and as a female he was positive she would be the key to his resistance against his fear.
And then he could ask her about the child!
Mas swept himself to his feet, his arms spread a little wide in a excited gesture. "Well, Gullidurth tends to be a bit chill at times. You'll surely want something warm to wear. Perhaps a fur lined mages robes? Ah! And a gossamar cloak! Something to match the radiant color of your eyes!"
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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 6:01 am
Tri-no wasn't sure whether she was supposed to be surprised that Mas and his brother had never really been disciplined. From what she had heard from him of his family, and his Matron in particular, she doubted that anyone had taken enough interest in their doings to bother disciplining them. Not to mention the fact that Mas had grown up under the impression that he was female, and no one disciplined females except females of higher rank, and there seemed to be a shortage of those in House Barrith, which was probably why Mas felt free to do as he wished without asking, or even informing his mother. She didn't look forward to that inevitable meeting.
She was a little disappointed in him, though, when he admitted to feeling nauseated at the thought of turning a whip against someone. She realized that not everyone had grown up as she had, familiar with the sensation of both being lashed and administering lashings. She did not enjoy the former, and the latter held no particular lustre for her, either. It was something she did because it was expected of her and it needed done. She just happened to be more experienced at it than most, due to her upbringing. It was actually one of the things which had amused her so much when she was training at the academy of magecraft in Llurth Dreir: other mages and students would come to her and ask her to discipline their slaves and servants. She tended to hold such people in disdain for being unable to do it themselves. She felt a little the same toward Mas upon his admission.
"You don't have to pay for my expenditures, especially not on clothing. I do receive an allowance from my aunt, and I think she would take it as a slight against Baen'duis if I allowed someone else to totally fund my existence here. It would be like saying that I can'd afford to my preferred lifestyle. Besides, it's not the normal way of things for a female to be kept." She smiled, though, hoping to soften her refusal. "I'd be happy to have help carrying things, though it wouldn't be terribly difficult for me to simply levitate them or transport them back to my room here magically. It's always nice to travel with a good-looking entourage."
She listened to his suggestions and evaluated them, deciding that he was absolutely right about dressing for the cooler climate. It wasn't as if it was cold in Gallidurth. Hardly. But it was cooler than Llurth Dreir. She might consider purchasing a light cloak, possibly of gossamer, but she probably would not be going to the effort or expense of a fur-lined anything. She planned to adjust to the climate here, and not attempt to combat it. The smile that came to her lips as she imagined how her cousin must be faring was not kind, and she explained it quickly, lest Mas think she was having unkind thoughts in his direction.
"My cousin, the one studying to be a priestess here, hates the cold. Even in Llurth Dreir, she sleeps with many layers of thick blankets and comforters and spends more time near the volcanic orifaces and in the hot baths than is generally considered safe or healthy. She's probably been forced to abandon her favorite wardrobe in favor of one more in keeping with your suggestions."
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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:19 pm
Mas, unaware of the dissapproval that Tri-no was feeling, continued to smile at her. He was quite...grateful. It had been so hard to find a female to at least lend her presence to Barrith. Quavvira had been a unholy terror in his life. She had served a purpose, but at the same time she had given Mas a taste of what his future life was going to be like once a female assumed control of him. He had not like it. He had absolutly loathed it. But he had lacked the will to contend with the female at the time. Looking back Mas was ashamed of himself, but not by too much. It was a males place to submitt after all.
Now though, with Tri-no here he was certain there would be a positive impact in his House. Micarreth would have to curb his tongue and be more respectful now. Though he knew that his younger brother was responsible for the females dissappearance, she had only been a commoner after all. Tri-No was of noble blood. His brother would not be able to...erm...hmm... Perhaps he'd assign her some guards...
Mas's inner concerns were promptly returned to their present conversation when Tri-no mentioned the possibility of a slight. He placed one of his hands to his lips in a thoughtful gesture. "Well... I do agree that would be one way to look at it Tri-no. Though if you were to write home explaining how the First Son was pratically tripping over himself to impress you I think she might look at it in another way don't you? Rather then looking at it as if you were being 'kept' as you say. We could merely say that I am attempting to woo your favor using House Barriths greatest strength...it's wealth." He paused for a moment, the smile on his face faltering. "..it...would not be a lie after all..."
Rather quickly though, he fluttered his hand towards the door. "Ah, but it is your choice. My...House Barriths offer would stand reguardless of your wish to accept. I will send for some slaves to go and fetch what things you wish carried as soon as your room is prepared. I would like to provide you with every comfort you could possibly wish for."
He hesitated in his words then, his blue eyes flickering towards the door as he considered the slaves he had called earlier. Were they done yet? He supposed they could go on up now, but he wanted things to be as prepared as possible before they arrived. Ah! If only she had given him more time to prepare!! The smile upon her lips gave him worried concerns. Had he offended her??
When she explained herself though, Mas indulged himself in a wry smile. "Well then. Perhaps we shall catch a glimpse of her when we go out shopping. I should like to see her face when she see's you faring better in my city then she is. Plus...it would be nice to know whom to avoid in the streets. Since your letter I have been far more nervouse around any priestess in the market I've seen. You painted quite the worrisome image of her in my mind you know!"
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:50 pm
Tri-no smiled gratefully. Her jaw was beginning to ache from all this smiling. She wasn't at all used to having to express happiness (or anything really resembling it). Mostly the closest she got was smirking, and she hated how she looked when she smirked because it made her cheeks go out and look fat, like she was storing things in them. She hardly ever smiled because she supposed that smiling would only make worse what she already disliked about her smirk, as it would involve both sides of her mouth.
"I am sorry that I came as a surprise like this. However, had I given you warning, it could have been weeks and weeks until you got my letter, read it, replied to it, and we made and agreed upon plans. I thought I would simplify things and just be here."
Her worrisome smile vanished quickly when it occurred to her that she while she might see her cousin in the city, her cousin might also see her. There were some things she did not think she was ready for at the moment, and a confrontation with her cousin was one of them. She was certain that Shri would have wasted no time in making friends among her fellow priestesses and would travel nowhere without an entourage of adoring followers. She was reluctant to admit it, but she was also afraid that if her cousin realized she had relocated to Gallidurth, she would renew her interest in Tri-no.
"Personally, I hope we do not see her when we go out. I would like not to see her ever again, unless she is prostrating herself before me, unarmed, and I am holding my staff." Tri-no would rather have died than confront her cousin with a whip. Shri was uncannily talented with that particular weapon, and could probably hold her own in a fight against a trained warrior for long enough to deal her opponent serious damage.
"If you want to see her, I suggest you look for a petite priestess, as short as most males or shorter, with long legs, enthralled hangers-on, large eyes, and lots of layers of clothing. Or send a slave to the temple, saying he is in need of a spiritual purging. They will have her do it because she is better qualified than any priestess of the temple, I'm positive. When he comes back, borrow his memories and experiences."
She wasn't sure she wanted Mas to meet Shri. She didn't think Mas would be susceptible to Shri's charm, as he seemed to be same-sex oriented, but there was more about her which appealed beyond just her seemingly-innate sensuality. Shri was confident enough to bestow praise on anyone around her, unafraid to admit to being ignorant in some area and willing to learn anything, regardless of how pertinent it was to her future. She was even charitable on occasion. If it was not for the fact that Tri-no knew Shri and Val shared the same father, and Val was as perfectly ordinary as someone as attractive as he could be, she would have thought Shri had faerie blood. She was simply too pretty, and positively un-drowlike.
At least if Mas shared in the slave's experiences, he would not get the best view of Shri. When she administered penance, Shri was as cruel as any other priestess, more so, because it was evident that she took pleasure in doing so.
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:41 pm
"Too true." Mas would agree with a tilt of his head. "It's more sensible for you to have handlded your visit the way you had. After all, I had already agreed to offer you a place to rest once before hadn't I?" Indeed he had! And for this Mas was grateful. His earlier offer had opened the doorway for him to now ease into a new plan that hopefully would not be disasterouse for him.
"I will abide by your preference then." Mas agreeably responded. Though his own reason for it was perhaps far different then Tri-no's own. He simply did not want to come under possible 'attack' by the other female until he was settled in his own position of power. Then he'd make certain nothing befell his Tri-no! At least, not if she fit into his plans the way he wished. Perhaps he would ask her sooner...he was feeling a bit emboldened by this meeting. She did seem to do that for him didn't she? For a moment Mas tilted his gaze to look over Tri-no. A strange fond smile tracing his lips. Meeting her had put him on track before. Cleared his mind and fuled his determination. Now here she was again with much the same result. It had to be because she was not like other females...she made him feel a bit...more in control of himself.
"Well..prostration could be something you aim for. If it is you have any ideas or plans I will surely lend you my aid in carrying them out. I'd like nothing more then to make your visit here a very enjoyable one." Perhaps even one that had no ending in sight... "I am not so keen about the idea of sending a slave for punishment. Barrith in the past has always tended to it's own problems. Even small ones such as disobediant slaves. It would seem odd to send someone to the temple. Besides, I'd rather not share memories of that sort with anyone."
Mas lifted a hand and flicked it dismissively, then curled his fingers in a gesture towards the door.
"Shall we go and see if your rooms are prepared Tri-No? I would like time to ensure they are to your liking before the market closes."
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:46 pm
"I believe you did at one point, though I had forgotten your offer until you mentioned it just now." That was a falsehood. She had remembered the offer quite clearly, and it had factored into her decision to come to Gallidurth. It had, of course, been quite the gamble, as he may not have meant it, but she had been forced to assume that he had, and if he hadn't, she would have evinced quite real indignance and lost her temper. Which mightn't have been to much avail, but would have made her feel a great deal better about the whole situation. When she lost her temper, bad things still tended to happen to whatever poor soul had angered her.
"It would be advisable for you to learn what she looks like at some point," Tri-no said, though it cost her to speak the words because of the very real possibility of such a meeting backfiring on her. "If for no other reason than that you know which priestesses you don't have to avoid. It must be fairly inconvenient to avoid all of them."
She considered the validity of his concern, though. Breaking character would be perfectly ridiculous, and possibly attract someone's attention and raise suspicions. Perhaps not Shri's, but someone's. She would not like a war to start between the House where she resided and another House. It seemed like a dangerous, unpleasant situation to be in, and she didn't want to find out if she was correct in assuming so. All in all, it would be better that they either devise some other way for Mas to learn more about Shri, or he could just exist in ignorance. Tri-no wasn't sure what kind of help she should even ask for, aside from the time and the peace she needed to pursue her studies in magecraft.
"As you wish. It's your House and your city. You know better than I what would and would not make sense or be desireable. I am curious about the rooms, though I'm sure they will be perfect, if any of your taste is reflected therein."
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:44 pm
Mas took a step towards Tri-no, and lowered his arm in offering to her. His blue eyes litteraly were sparkling as he absorbed her compliment. "Then please let me escort you Tri-No. Whatever is not to your liking just remember I will have it changed out imediatly."
Whether she choose to accept his offered arm, or walk for herself, Mas would continued to exhibit a pleased expression when he would lead Tri-No to the exit of the guest room.
Unfortunatly the climb up the stairs was a good five levels. As Mas ascended he had no problems, though he did fret about Tri-no. Perhaps it would have been better to have a slave ready with drinks when they arrived...no matter! He'd get her something from his own rooms if she wished it!
Mas indulged himself in a brief laugh as Tri-no would make mention of pirestess avoidance. " In truth I avoid them like the plauge my Dear Tri-No. They are frightening beasts...ah...if you will excuse my term. But really they are! The only time I have anything to do with a priestess is when one comes here for something or other that we may have in one of our Vaults."
Mas fell silent as they reached the second floor of the spire. A pair of jester clothed slaves stood outside a pair of doors that had calcified webbing criss crossing over the frames. As the doors opened they revealed a simple bedroom. A four post bed with hanging curtains was set against one wall. A pair of large windows that stretched from floor to ceiling looked out upon the Barrith Courtyard. A pull rope with heavy black curtains was drawn to the side of the windows for privacy. There was of course a dresser and wardrobe and vanity. They were a matching set, and were decorated with bits of opal and jet. A trio of doors branched out from the room. Two upon one side of the room and one upon the wall near the bed.
"The windows are in fact Glassteel. So you do not need to worry about them being broken through. There are runes etched into the length of the window frame that keeps... unwelcome guests from passing through them."
Mas lifted his hand and flickered at the two doors on the one wall.
"Those there will lead you to a private bathing chamber and a private study. Neither are fully stocked but you need only tell the slaves what you need or want and they will provide it immediatly. The other door..." Here Mas paused and he reached up to flick a hand through his own hair nervousely.
"The other door leads to my own suite of rooms. I will leave my side unwaded and unlocked so that if you are in need of anything you may enter as you wish. As I did ask before, just knock first please. You may make use of my own study and bathroom as well if you find yours lacking. In fact I would be willing to trade rooms with you if you like mine better..."
Mas ducked his head slightly to one side as he rambled on quickly. "I usually have a slave come and start up a fire in my room in the early morning to heat the place up. Your room has a fireplace that is currently magically sealed, I can have it unblocked for you if you wish?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:08 am
Trielnolu was not at all used to people offering her arms to escort her places. In a House like hers, where the majority of the family was female, male escorts of noble birth were in short supply. Even if she had lived in a House with a more balanced ratio of males and females, she would not have had much experience being escorted. She had no doubt that Shrisin and her detestable sisters would have seen to that. Because if she was being fair, she had to note that Shrisin was not any worse to her than anyone else in the House, and was, in fact, far more pleasant than Faertana, and generally less vengeful. Shri just happened to be Tri-no's closest agemate, and so they always seemed to be in lopsided competition.
So she accepted his offered arm and tried not to wonder at his solicitous behavior. She had taken him by surprise, and he was being quite pleasant about it. Considering how badly most drow reacted to surprises, she was fortunate he had chosen to be friendly at all, despite the generally pleasant tone of his letters. It was not a good idea to surprise drow, on the whole. If his generosity was a little unusual seeming, she told herself that it was just because he was discommoded by her sudden arrival. There was no reason for her to be suspcious.
"I agree. Priestesses are not the most pleasant people to be around, particularly not when they're feeling like being unpleasant."
She saved her breath for stair-climbing after that, until they reached the quarters Mas had arranged for her. She didn't frequently have to climb stairs, her preferred method of transport being magical rather than physical, but she was pleased that she made it up the stairs without being too short of breath. Perhaps she would manage to lose some weight having to go up and down stairs on a regular basis. Or, more likely, she would simply use her innate levitation abilities more frequently.
The jester's costumes which had surprised her so thoroughly on her first visit to House Barrith struck her once again, serving as a reminder of the oddity that was concealed within the confines of Barrith Manor. Reminding her that she was no longer playing by the rules she was familiar with, and that she was still a stranger here. She felt momentarily intimidated, but she swallowed it and reminded herself that she was safe. Indeed, Mas had just finished detailing how safe she was.
"I find this perfectly suited to me, so you may be relieved that I will not be ousting you from your rooms. Really, that is perhaps a little excessive in terms of hospitality. If I didn't know any better I would think there was something extremely nasty and surprise-like awaiting me." She grinned to let him know that she expected nothing of the sort from him.
"It makes no difference to me whether the fireplace is sealed or no. I'm afraid that I don't really have many dealings with flames besides witchlight anymore. Bad associations." Her left hand curled reflexively into a fist at her side.
Once again, she tried not to think too much about why Mas seemed suddenly anxious. She was probably trying to impose her own feelings of anxiety onto him. Truly, she would make a better illusionist, if she was able to fool herself so. She would tell Mas in the morning, however, that she planned to pursue a course of study as an illusionist. It wouldn't prevent her from studying enchantment, too, after all, and she might not be able to stand it, though she had every intention of forcing herself as far as she could.
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:55 pm
Mas was grateful that the room was to Tri-no's liking. The more comfortable she was here the easier it would be to... Ah! He should just come out and ask it! He'd hate for her to feel like he had been trying to manipulate her. Working her up to the point she would feel she had to accept his offer or be turned out. Yet at the same time he fretted that she would feel that her answer would determin how pleasent or long of a stay she could have here. He did not want to make her feel as if she had to say yes...
Since they were now in the room, Mas gently released Tri-no's arm so she might inspect the room herself. He noted with a bit of approval that the heavyspider silk comforter from his room was laid across the bed currently. It's purple and blue dyed material seemed just a small touch out of place in the grey's, silver, and black of the Webbed Quarters. The blue rug and silver and amethyst candlesticks that the slaves had fetched to the room just nearly tied it all in though. Ah! What was he to expect from a impromptu planning on slaves parts?
Mas turned slightly to look at Tri-no out of the corners of his blue eyes. "Since the rooms suit you then I will ensure that wards are placed up immediatly for your protection...as well as to ensure only you can enter by way of the main door. I will insist the servants enter your room through my doorway to best ensure no one can slip in." He hesitated and in that brief moment began to twirl a strand of his hair through his silver decorated fingertips.
"I will see to it that a magical means of heating your room is set in place immediatly then. The only real magical lights installed right now are in the study, and that is by way of Glo-orbs. You'll find them on the desk and can activate them with a touch..."
He should ask her...he really ought to... Mas gave his hair a worried twist and pull.
"Tri-no... I do have something I really wish to ask of you. But I do not wish you to feel you must give me a answer immediatly on it. I also wish to assure you that reguardless of your answer you will be welcomed in Barrith for as long as you wish to reside here..."
Ask...Oh ask already! He urged himself.
"I know I said I would wait until later...but I do not want you to feel obliged..." Oh why was it so hard to look at her right now!? He simply could not lift his blue eyes from the floor. His hand gripping his staff was so tight he feared something would break...the silver of the staff or the bones of his fingers!
"Triel Nol-l-lu...w-w-would you...consider... honoring m-m-me by...by...baring...a d-d-daughter....for...me and....House B-B-Barrith?" Goddess! He had...not stuttered so badly as this in nearly a year!
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Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 7:01 pm
It had not occurred previously to Tri-no, but the room was decorated in colors very similar to those of House Baen'duis. Baen'duis' colors were deep blue, deep purple, and silver. She happened to prefer to wear variations in violet, which was not, strictly speaking, a House color, but it was close enough that no one took her to task for it. Shri tended to dress only in House colors, as though to remind people who would one day rule the roost. Nevertheless, the odd accents of blue and purple combined with the profusion of silver in the room to make her feel very much at home. She wondered if Mas had known and had arranged for it to be set up that way on purpose.
"Did you know you managed to put this place together in the colors of my House?" she asked, grinning cheerfully. "I like it very much, and appreciate all the care you are taking that I remain in good health. I've a rather vested interest in that, myself."
Her good cheer drained away as Mas began hesitantly to speak to her, obviously having a great deal of difficulty forming and speaking the words he said. This would be the matter of returning the favor, of course, the cynical part of her mind said. That same part of her mind also wondered why he would not meet her gaze suddenly, and why he should be so uncomfortable doing something as natural as asking someone to return a favor.
"A daughter." She couldn't even make her inflection go up at the end to turn it into a question.
Her mouth opened and closed several embarrassing times before more words would come forth. In the span of those seconds her mind reviewed every single reason she should say no at once and leave. One, she was forbidden to bear children. Two, she could not become the matriarch of her House if she was not a virgin. Three, it would make her even fatter. Four, people occasionally died in childbirth. Five, pregnancy would be a huge distraction from her studies. The list went on. To counter it, there were very few items, and yet she found herself saying quite steadily:
"I believe I will need some time to consider the matter. Please understand that it is not a decision I can make arbitrarily."
So much for a good beginning.
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Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:00 pm
Mas continued to keep his eyes averted from Tri-no. He feared seeing a dissappointed, disgusted...or Goddess forbid a suspicious glare in her eyes. He continued to clutch his staff tightly, his entier being was on pins and needles waiting for her reply. It was not quick in coming though, and the longer Tri-No waited...the longer it felt that his heart had ceased to beat. Not even her previous pleasure at the inadvertant coloring of her room could relax the chill's grip that held him now.
He heard her then, repeating his request in a way. He could not help the slight cringe developing in his shoulders. A daughter...yes... His silver haired head bobbed mutely. He simply did not want to embaress himself by more stuttering and he feared how his tongue would betray him now.
Tri-No's answer was assuredly not a yes. Though it may not have been a no, it felt more like one to him. Mas bobbed his head again. His blue eyes remained diverted as he tilted himself forwards in a rather deep bow.
"Of course. I w-w-would not th-th-think you w-w-would have a answer im-m-mediatly f-f-for m-m-me." As he stumbled terribly over his reply, Mas backed himself towards the door of Tri-no's room. He simply..could not...could not look up at her. The moment his heel bumped against the wall, he turned an grasped the handle to flee the room before he made a even worse mockery of himself.
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