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 Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:30 pm
"I would appreciate it, I do still have a reputation to think of." A bit of truth with a bit of teasing. He knew Rio spoke the truth when he said he would not do anything to cause lasting damage if it could be helped. "Anytime you like, who am I to refuse a patron if he would like me to accompany him somewhere?" He smiled, chuckling again.
It would take a bit longer to weave their way through near maze that was Night's Doorstep and they started up Mont Nuit. "And this is the home of the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers. Eglantine House has pink flowers on the gate's emblem, it is a little over halfway up on the left." He pointed out the houses as they passed. Some of the more modest houses like Alyssum there would be little to see beyond the gates and high outer walls, the more relaxed houses like Orchis they would be able to see a garden beyond the gates.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:35 pm
"I'll do my best not to spoil it," Rio replied with a wink. Teasing, but true - he really didn't want to get Leo into any kind of trouble or cause any future problems for him. Even if he hoped that it wouldn't really matter, and he'd come back with him...but that was a question he was saving for a better time.
"It's a good thing we don't have Adi. She'd try to get into all the gardens!" And startle everyone half to death. That, too.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:53 pm
"Here we are." Leo switched back to D'Angeline when they reached the gate. Hopefully Rio would catch on and stick to his native tongue for now, it would be less likely garner suspicion.
"Leo, is that you?" The unfamiliar voice was one of the liveried servants whose task was to look after the gate to Eglantine House. "Alexandrie was starting to wonder if you were ever coming back."
"Gabriel?" The lion made a displeased grumbling noise. "I'm assuming she is angry?"
"Considering there is a standing order to drag you to her the moment you return...I would say yes."
That was about what Leo expected, but still it would be interesting to deal with. "She and I will have to have a talk then, it is not like I just ran off on my own for amusement." Gabriel would know all about that, the servant had gone with him a few times to Night's Doorstep. He indicated Love and the other man nodded in understanding. "This is Rio."
"All I can say is good luck." Gabriel gave Leo a sympathetic smile and went to open the gate.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:00 pm
That sounded...bad. Rio had to hide a flinch as he felt a rather large pang of guilt for keeping Leo away for so long. It sounded like he was really in trouble! Oh, dear. Hopefully it wouldn't be as bad as it sounded.
"Hello," he offered amiably when he was introduced, inclining his head politely.
Caoin passed through the gate once it was open, looking around with some curiosity himself. He was probably going to have to stay in a stable. Ugh.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:19 pm
Leo climbed down off of Caoin's back and offered a hand to help Rio down. Love probably did not strictly need the help but regardless he would do the polite thing and offer anyway. With his free hand he gave the erras a gentle pat on the neck. "Can't say you will make many friends, but you will be well looked after at least." It was odd that there had not been a second servant at the gate, usually that job was done by a pair- but soon enough he would have his answer.
The answer would come once Rio was down from Caoin's back- in the form of five or six small children bursting out of the House's front doors and running to tackle Leo. Thankfully the lion had the good sense to fall over into the grass beside the walkway rather than straight onto the flagstones. Another blow to the head was the last thing he needed. All the children were dressed in leotards or something similar, apparently having run out of dance class. "You lot are going to get me in more trouble than I'm already in!" Even so he was laughing, giving them hugs and ruffling their hair.
"But we missed you!"
"Daniel doesn't like teaching us!"
"Alexandrie is so mad....!"
Once he was able to quiet them down he introduced them. "Rio, these are some of Eglantine's fosterlings." Well, he had warned the god that this house was known for being a bit disorderly and wild. This was a perfect example. Under normal circumstances this would not have been allowed at all and all of them would have gotten in a good deal of trouble.
One little boy, who looked a bit younger than the rest, stayed quiet and clung to Leo's arm. Even without Leo saying anything Rio would know that this was Émile. He practically looked like a copy of the D'Angeline in miniature, albeit with shorter curly hair.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:43 pm
"I will survive, I suppose." Caoin heaved a great sigh - partly because it was a relief to have the two men's weight off of his back, but mostly because he was not looking forward to his visit to the city. Pretending to be just another animal, while it could occasionally be amusing, was usually just annoying. And boring.
Rio, having accepted the hand down, landed lightly on his feet. And then all of a sudden, Leo was on the grass under a mob of children. Okay, that was adorable. He also couldn't help but notice that one had all but attached himself to the man. Ah-ha.
Love smiled down at the little pack of fosterlings, regretting his current lack of wings. "Hello, everyone!" The god crouched to a better level. "It's a pleasure to meet you all."
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 3:12 pm
A little grown haired, brown eyed girl turned and looked at Rio when the god knelt down to their level. "Wow, where did you find him Leo?"
"Gaëlle! That wasn't very polite." Leo frowned, sounding more flustered than actually angry. Love was likely to have a field day with this and he knew it. He did his best to stay composed and introduced them, indicating each in turn. "Rio- this is Gaëlle, Matthieu, Rémi, Audrey and Émile." He slowly worked himself free from the small pile of children. "You all should probably be getting inside and back to class. I don't imagine Daniel appreciated you all running out on him."
"But Leo!" Rémi whined, pouting.
"But nothing. If you all go back inside and be good," And Alexandrie doesn't have my hide. "I promise I will teach your class tomorrow."
There was more grumbling after that but eventually they did go inside and head back to class. Émile was the last one to go inside, he looked back at Leo and Rio one more time before finally heading in.
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 5:56 pm
Rio couldn't help but laugh when the girl asked where Leo had found him, and certainly didn't mind that it wasn't the politest of questions. Given that Adi tended to ask most of the things that even crossed her mind, he was well used to it. "That is a very long story, I'm afraid. One for another day, maybe."
When the children were introduced, he paid close attention so that he would recognize them all properly later, and once they had gone, he stood. "He really does look uncannily like you."
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:42 pm
"So you noticed? Quiet as a dormouse most of the time too." Personally Leo did not think Émile was suited to a life like his, at least not in Eglantine house. The thought of Alexandrie selling the boy's marque was distressing though. He brushed the grass from his clothing and hair. "Lets head inside." He offered Rio an arm before they headed indoors.
Once they passed through the front doors they would be in the main hall, which at the moment was sectioned off into several smaller private rooms. "Most of the walls in this area are movable, so we can arrange spaces as we need to." It allowed them to host larger gatherings than they otherwise would be unable to. "Usually it is for performances or parties." Beyond the main hall was a garden in the center of the building with two hallways wrapping around it. "That garden may not look like much now, but in the springtime it is beautiful."
"Patron quarters are down the hallway to the right, adept quarters are the other way." He looked thoughtful. "Though, I do have a room to myself, you are welcome to stay with me if you wish." Leo hoped Rio would want to stay with him, but so long as they were here Love was a patron so it was his decision.
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 7:06 pm
"There's something I'm not used to." Rio chuckled, and happily hooked arms with Leo. "A quiet child. He's obviously very attached to you, too."
"Are they? That's quite useful, and not something I'd have thought of. Very clever." He'd gotten a little too used to tree-walls, evidently.
"I'd like to stay with you. If you don't mind, that is? If it's not improper to do so."
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:19 pm
"He is...even without knowing." Leo loved Émile dearly, that much was clear. Maybe one day he would be able to tell the boy the truth.
"No, it is not improper at all. You are a patron, so it is your choice." There was very little that would be considered improper in Eglantine house. He smiled and led Rio down the left hallway. "I am rather lucky, actually, other than myself only Alexandrie and Alain have private quarters." He had only gotten them after his marque had been acknowledged and he had decided to stay. The D'Angeline opened the door and motioned for Rio to go in first.
The curtains on the sole window were drawn back to let light in, allowing for a decent view of the room. The furniture was sparse but rather nice- a large bed with small side tables, a writing desk, bookshelf and a wardrobe. The most striking feature in the room was probably the fireplace with a large plush rug in front of it. "It is not much, but at least it is mine." The lion had done rather well in the last few years actually. "I have my own private bath behind the door in the back too."
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:36 pm
"Good, I'd much rather stay with you. I confess, I've gotten rather used to it." The god's smile was sincere and affectionate. "Besides, leaving me alone may not be the best idea yet." He didn't have nearly enough of a grasp on the world and culture to be trusted to navigate it, and he wasn't keen on seeming daft or especially strange.
"I think it's wonderful. Especially considering you can't cheat with magic the way we do at the Pantheon. Goodness knows what everyone's rooms would look like otherwise." Rio grinned at the thought. He probably would have spent quite a lot of time sleeping on the floor - on some pillows, if he was lucky.
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:58 pm
"So have I, Naamah." He leaned over and kissed Rio softly. It was only safe for him to call Rio by that name when they were alone, it would raise too many questions otherwise. He chuckled. "I could only imagine." They were gods though, surely they could have managed somehow? Worst case scenario was they would look a lot more ordinary.
"You can make yourself comfortable, hopefully I will be back before long." Leo would face Alexandrie alone first and with any luck, diffuse her temper. "In the meantime, you might find some of my books interesting." He winked and headed for the door, turning back when he reached it. "Would you rather have dinner in here, just us, by the fireplace or with Alexandrie, Alain and some of the older adepts?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:09 pm
If he had had them, Rio's wings would have fluttered, but his heart certainly did. He returned the kiss, then smiled softly. As strange as pretending to be mortal felt, and despite faint concerns about how well he would do at it, he was happy to be here with Leo. "I'm sure I will."
"I wouldn't mind meeting the others, if I'm not in too much trouble for stealing you away," he teased. "I do hope she's not too cross with you on my account."
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:20 pm
"I will smooth it over, one way or another. So there is nothing to worry about." Alexandrie was a reasonable woman. Once he explained the situation, somewhat anyway, things would no doubt calm down. Between that and when laid eyes on Rio she would certainly understand.
"As you wish." He head out into the hall, leaving Rio alone in his room to explore as he wished.
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