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 Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2023 6:17 pm
She glanced at him when he brought up her step-mother and her inevitable reaction. Niiemh hadn't thought about that. However, the idea made her press her lips together tightly to avoid the giggle that was threatening to come out. The idea of Merle sputtering at such a discovery and throwing a fit would be amusing. Nii nodded her head at him in agreement. When Velora said that Dev's order was ready she turned her head, curious to see what it was he'd wanted. Niiemh smiled at the woman. "Thank you." It might not have been for her but she was still thankful that Devereux had gotten what he'd asked for. She waited for him to collect his goods and pay what was needed before she turned toward the door to leave. This time she was the one who opened the door and waited for him to exit first. "After you, Sweetfern." Niiemh teased him lightly before nodding her head. "Swords." They would need to find some that would fit both of them.
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 3:23 pm
Velora dipped her head in thanks to Niiemh and her warmth soothed a part of Devereux's soul. It helped that his betrothed acted genuinely appreciate; to him it was a good sign, even if he hadn't expected it. She was definitely a different breed than most Devereux had come into contact with in Tale and Devereux found himself thankful for it. As he walked past Niiemh, Dev's face turned with a bit of a smirk and his cheeks warmed. "Cheeky little thing." Oh, he'd remember this. "So, we need dual purpose swords to not only look the part but play it as well. Something striking enough to draw the eye, but still functional. Are there any smiths around here that would make such a thing?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 5:50 pm
She offered up a hum in innocence as Dev commented on his way out. Nii turned to give Velora a last smile and wave before she followed her groom to be out the door. Once outside she listed to him ask if there was a Smith nearby that could make what they were after. Niiemh gave it some thought before she she slowly nodded her head. "Yes..? I've heard of them but I can't say much about their skill. This might come as a shock but.. I don't generally buy things from a smithy." Nii usually got things such as thread and fabric. A sword was a bit outside of what she was used to getting. "One of my brothers might know more than me but.. I don't really want them to know where I am." She also didn't think Devereus wanted her brothers to know he was hiding his identity. "Besides, they might get upset at me for spending my time with Sweetfern. Imagine the scandal."
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Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 1:44 pm
"How many siblings do you have? I've heard of a few by now, but I've yet to get an exact number." There was of course the heir he was 'destined' to become business partners with, the brother he could have been pawned off onto, and a sister? Devereux felt as if there may have been more within the Merle's line, but really, he was trying to keep it straight. "Imagine the gossip. Their sister, traipsing about with a street urchin, right under their noses." He did have to wonder if they were the sort of brothers who would corner him or let it slide. Were they as ready to hand her over for an alliance as Merle or would they stand to Niiemh's defense? You'll find out soon enough.
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Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:09 pm
"I have nine siblings all together." Niiemh didn't seem to be bothered by that fact. Of course when one grew up with a large group of siblings it was normal. "Acyn, Viltre, Noamh, Sorin, Dusan, Terrwyn, Aelyn, Antin, and Fajra." She listed her brothers and sisters easily as she counted on her fingers. "Mostly brothers." Nii giggled a little. "Oh my. I think I wouldn't be allowed to leave the house if that got around." Nii gave him a look of mock shock, one hand going to her chest for theatrics. "We better not get caught, Sweetfern." Though saying that made her feel like she was doing she really shouldn't be. Niiemh gave a small hum as she walked beside him. "Would you get in trouble for walking around with me?" The real question was would his parents be upset that he was with her. It wasn't like their first meeting left a good impression, not with how Merle basically schemed to trap him and his family.
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Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 3:27 pm
"Nine?" Devereux couldn't hide his shock and his eyes widened over the rim of his lenses. "It's...impressive that you know all of them and that they're all cared for. I can't imagine a family that large.." Devereux adjusted his hood around his ears with a slow exhale. If there hadn't been mistresses involved he may have actually felt bad for Merle for birthing so many. Still, he couldn't keep the smirk off his face for long and he nodded her way. "So dramatic; I like it. You're spicier than I thought." Her playful side wasn't one he'd expected to see, but Devereux welcomed it. It would make for a better marriage than bland looks in passing. "My father wouldn't be happy; he's been...in a mood since the dinner." His own mood soured a bit. "Technically speaking I'm on lockdown at the estate per my Grandfather's ruling. Father is the public head of our family, but until Grandfather passes his word is law and he very much dislikes me."
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Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2023 7:32 am
Niiemh's cheeks grew bright red as Devereux said she was dramatic and spicy. Her free hand came up to tug at the wrap that barely covered her hair as she looked away. In truth she'd only started to be such a way around him. Nii could also be that way with her older brother Viltre but not so much with the other siblings. She didn't feel she needed to mother Viltre or Dev for that matter. As the subject changed to how his father would react she glanced back at him. "I really am sorry for what happened. I was hoping to avoid it if possible." Merle was always plotting something and usually it was in the best interest of the family as a whole but sometimes it could be hurtful to individual family members. Mostly the children she didn't give birth to. "She already managed to marry off my younger sister to someone who hit her." Niiemh frowned a bit at that. "Thankfully my sister found her own way out.. but she's not been home since." The urge to hug Devereux snuck up on her when he mentioned that his own grandfather didn't like him. "I'm sorry, Sweetfern. It's his loss though. You seem like a wonderful person to get to know." So far he'd not shown anything that Nii would run away from.
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Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2023 5:26 pm
Devereux gave a one sided shrug. "It was unavoidable. If it hadn't happened that night then she would have found another way to get what she wanted." Hearing about Niiemh's sister and her abusive marriage didn't surprise Devereux nearly as much as it should have. He was disappointed, of course, and wished her all the best with her freedom. Yet he had to wonder if it wasn't him who she would have married Niiemh off to. A man three times her age? One with a heavy hand? Who could say so long as it benefited her ideal family. She really doesn't know you at all, does she? "You won't be saying that when you have mushrooms in your dinner five nights out of the week. I have a weakness for them." There were a great many things about his family, and a great many subjects Devereux didn't wish to touch in the middle of the street. So, sidestepping the topic of his own family, he returned to her own as they walked. "Have you had any communication with your sister since she left?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2023 5:43 pm
"Perhaps, but I could have at least given you better warning if things had gone better at the dinner." Niiemh figured if Devereux knew that Merle was planning he might be able to avoid certain situations. "Oh? I didn't know you would be doing the cooking." Nii smiled at him. "How nice of you." She knew how to cook small things but if it was a feast that was needed she was out of her element. She'd learned a few things when she'd visited the kitchen but not much. "And good to know you have a weakness I can use to get my way." Maybe she could hold the mushrooms hostage if she ever wanted to get something. "I have not, sadly. However, my brother has assured me she's alright. He has a way to contact her. He hides it so that Merle doesn't find her." Which was very much needed. Niiemh hated that she couldn't send things to her sister but she understood the why.
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2023 5:27 am
"Oh, me? No no no." Devereux laughed. "My talents are outside of the kitchen. If you were unfortunate enough to eat anything I made it would be a short engagement for the both of us." He'd tried it once, in his youth, to make something grand for his parents. His father had been ill for a week and he could have sworn the glow in his mother's eyes turned a sickly yellow. "At least you know she's well and taken care of." Honestly when he'd heard she 'disappeared' he immediately assumed the woman had been murdered, but if they had contact then maybe she was still alive. Or at the very least someone was doing a good job of faking it for Niiemh's sake. If she was as close to her brother as she claimed then maybe he wasn't, but still... "Ah, I see the smithy. It looks...like the sort of place you'd expect to be made." Devereux couldn't hide the reticent curl of his lip. He may have been used to traipsing about the lower aspects of cities and villages in his disguise, but there was a smell coming from the forget that didn't settle with him. "Come on then, let's see about those swords~"
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