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Post by Steinerman on Jan 6, 2012 1:11:44 GMT -5
Laramie twirled once, looking at he reflection in a nearby mirror. "It's gorgeous." she murmured, smiling brightly. Inwardly, she was mildly shocked at the expression reflected in the mirror. When was the last time she had been this happy or relaxed?
Her mind helpfully reminded her that she had actually quite enjoyed the last few weeks spent with Bob and Francis, trying as her physical and magical training might have been, there was a sense of empowerment when working with such seasoned professionals. She'd been happy with them, and relaxed as well.
But here, here was something different, there was no worry about Stamarians catching her and torturing her for information. For a little while, she could pretend to be a normal girl with normal friends doing a completely normal thing like shopping for clothing.
Her smile faltered for a moment as her magic let her know Francis was in the area, his mind was easy to recognize now, even without trying. A quick check showed he was curious, but not overly worried. Still, his coming was a reminder that she had a job to do.
"I'm definitely buying this," she declared brightly to the other girls, trying not to let her worry show as her mind started reminding her of everything else she needed to do in her upcoming mission.
"I'll have to give some thought as to a matching shirt, I didn't bring many with me." She added on, wincing at even such a small misdirection. Technically, she hadn't brought many with her, mainly due to her not having many shirts at all.
"Do you girls want anything?" She questioned, "there must be some way I can repay you for your kindness."
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Jan 8, 2012 2:41:21 GMT -5
Both teenagers froze in their tracks, blinking. They glanced at one another, looking, for once, unsure of their position and options, something that would look no doubt unusual for the normally confident girls, but all the more familiar for Laramie.
"That's won't really be necessary," Rayne remarked, sounding a bit nervous. "Really, we're pushing our luck as it is, a lot of nobles would've called for a soldier by now if they saw a couple of commoners bugging 'em."
"It's been really fun, Lady Laramie, but I don't want to get us all in trouble with your brother," Mesia apologized, looking bashful as she clasped her hands below her waist in front of her. "I don't want to imagine how pi--angry my big sister will get if I get in trouble in Kallagulia."
"Again," Rayne added in an aside.
"... yeah. Again."
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Post by Steinerman on Jan 8, 2012 3:17:35 GMT -5
Laramie eyed both girls closely, her face scrunched up as she decided what to do.
Finally, she shook her head and glared. "Oh come now, my brother is a gentleman, he would never think to call the guards on you. You're perfectly delightful company." She complimented cheerfully. Finding it amusing that they appeared slightly nervous while she suddenly seemed confident.
Not exactly a confidence she felt, admittedly. But the outward show seemed the thing to do.
"If you won't let me buy you something here, will you at least do me the kindness of coming to lunch with me? I'm starving, and my brother can wait a little longer. At least let me buy you lunch, you've been so kind to me." She stated, her soft blue eyes pleading.
In truth, she really was hungry. But the lunch was also an attempt to stay in the girl's company at least a little longer, their presence was soothing, and she had a feeling it would be some of the last normalcy she would enjoy for a long time. Better to try and keep it going, at least through lunch.
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Jan 14, 2012 22:43:00 GMT -5
Both girls relaxed at the idea, though both of them noted the little bit of naivety the richer girl displayed--it wasn't unheard of for other nobles of different Houses to step in, in their unending political games against one another.
"Yeah, okay then," Mesia said, chuckling as she ran a hand back through her hair. "We haven't eaten much today anyway."
"Any place in particular you've got in mind?" Rayne asked, cocking her head to the side a bit.
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Post by Steinerman on Jan 15, 2012 1:19:11 GMT -5
In her mind, Laramie could sense Francis getting closer, he'd gotten the list of shops Bob had already searched, and was quickly narrowing down her location. And that creature that walked beside him . . . She frowned, Francis' companion had an interesting mind, to say the least.
She realized she had to get out of the shop quickly, if she was to have any chance at staying with Mesia and Rayne much longer. So she extended her senses outward. Noting, with a certain amount of pride, that as her empathic abilities grew, so did her telepathy. She quickly narrowed down the choices, ignoring restaurants that she felt the girls wouldn't be comfortable in.
"Well," She said with a smile, "Dancy's burgers is two blocks to the east, if you want that. Or if burgers aren't your thing, we could try that little salad shop that just opened up. I think it's a block to the north." Her smile turned self-conscious, a visitor to the city probably shouldn't know it that well.
"I read the guide-book on the trip over here," She explained quickly. Already moving towards the doorway. Francis was getting closer every minute.
"We could try something fancier, if you'd like. My treat either way," She said, waving the charge-card alluringly in the air.
"But whatever you decide, let's get going. I really am starving." She ended, trying to emphasize that they should leave the store soon.
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Jan 15, 2012 2:46:31 GMT -5
"You don't want Dancy's," Rayne said automatically, shaking her head and briefly obscuring her face with her blond hair in the process. "They don't make food all that great. Never mind what that much grease will do to your figure."
"They've got a whole street full of restaurants nearby," Mesia said. "I'm sure we'll find something that we'll enjoy. Go get changed and we'll pay for your clothing and go."
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Post by Steinerman on Jan 15, 2012 5:59:19 GMT -5
Laramie wanted to slap her forehead dramatically, she'd gotten so caught up with the idea of getting away before Francis found her that she'd forgotten she still needed to change, and pay for the item.
Now moving out of necessity, she flagged down one of the store clerks and waved her charge card in front of the girl. "I'm in a bit of hurry and I still need to change," she explained. "I'll give you an extra five percent tip if you go and work out the purchase while I change, got it?"
The young woman stared incredulously at the card, "Ma'am?" She questioned nervously. "That's a very expensive card, are you sure you trust me with it?"
Laramie rolled her eyes, "My name is Laramie Enign, of the Enign family. I seriously doubt you want to steal from my family." She said in exasperation, foot absentmindedly tapping on the floor. "Now please, go. We've got a lunch date." Without another word, she spun and dashed off to the changing room, leaving the shocked clerk in her wake.
Less than two minutes later she sped out of the changing room and made a beeline for the cashier, where the clerk had just barely managed to ring up the purchase and swipe the card. Laramie smiled brightly at Mesia and Rayne, "Alright, let's go eat." She said as she accepted the card from the still-bewildered clerk and headed for the door.
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Feb 8, 2012 19:29:07 GMT -5
It didn't take very long for the two commoners to direct the richer girl to the restaurant district, finding a nice seafood restaurant to settle at. After a bit of reassurance, Mesia and Rayne ordered a fairly elaborate meal for the three of them to work together on while they got to know one another better.
Using a dainty-sized fork, Mesia bit into some particularly good lobster. "Oh, I could get used to this," she moaned delightfully at the taste.
"I should tell my boyfriend this is what he needs to do when he takes me out to dinner," Rayne remarked amicably. "I don't think half our school could afford this though."
"Not likely," a third female's voice, older sounding, spoke up behind Laramie. The redhead and blond commoners' heads shot up, with Mesia quickly going pale. A taller brunette woman clad in the distinctive uniform of the Knights of Stamaria, sans the coat-necked white cape, stepped around the table, leaning against an unoccupied chair nearest to Laramie. The woman was all smiles at first glance, but both commoner teens could see the vein beginning to throb in the knight's temple.
"Hi, sis," Mesia greeted in a small voice.
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Post by Steinerman on Feb 8, 2012 23:14:21 GMT -5
Laramie smiled at the girls' remarks, happy that she was able to give them something they weren't used to. The warmth and cheer from the meal was exactly what she'd been hoping for, and she enjoyed just basking in it for a few moments.
Then the third voice intruded, and as Laramie turned to glance at the newcomer, a wave of sheer terror smashed into her. The wary street-smarts that had kept her alive in the past several years told her to run for the nearest exit. She'd never been this close to a Stamarian Knight by choice, and their presence usually meant something bad had happened, or so her experience told her.
But no, running at this moment would just make her look guilty of something. So she took a deep breath, tried to calm her suddenly frayed nerves and smiled cautiously at the newcomer, her mind working fast to provide her with any details from the past few seconds that could be useful.
Apparently the Knight was Mesia's sister . . . it made sense that she'd be there to check up on her younger sibling.
"You have a sister, Mesia?" She squeaked out, still staring wide-eyed at the newcomer. "If I'd known, I would have invited her too, the more the merrier." She added on quickly, her voice returning to normal.
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Feb 9, 2012 2:45:19 GMT -5
Mesia was shaking her head wildly at Laramie, trying very hard to prevent Laramie digging the two of them into a deeper hole, but stopped and cringed at the withering look in Kalia's eyes as she turned her still-smiling face towards her younger sister.
The knight pulled back the chair she was leaning against and sat down in it, before looking at Laramie and smiling brightly. "I'm terribly sorry if these two have been bothering you, miss," she apologized. "They had given me their word that they'd stay in the shopping district near my station."
She glanced over at Mesia and Rayne, both of whom swallowed nervously at the same time in an almost comedic fashion. "I'd love to know why you two left... and why I heard a few shopkeepers call in to say they spotted you two harassing a noble. Again."
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Post by Steinerman on Feb 9, 2012 15:03:39 GMT -5
Standing a few dozen feet away in the shadow of a nearby building, Francis and his companion were staring at the odd foursome at the table.
"Well," The companion said. "Is your partner naturally this clueless, or does she just like to cavort with freaking Knights?"
Francis shook his head bemusedly. "She's pretty much just an awkward magnet." He replied with a smile.
"How do you want to deal with the Knight?" The other man asked, his red-tinted eyes alight with mischief.
"You could always try seducing her." Francis murmured with amusement, trying to decide how to best get Laramie out of the mess she seemed to have haplessly wandered into.
The man snorted, "Yes, because I enjoy seducing Stamarian Knights out in the middle of a public district. I'd get whacked for public indecency, at the least." He replied sarcastically.
Francis chuckled, "Lighten up, dear sir. I was joking. You should head back to the safehouse, if I'm going to intrude, I'd rather not do it with a Korin at my side. Meet you back there in a few hours."
Martin nodded once before strolling off. Meanwhile, Francis began to casually make his way towards the table, though at such a pace that he most likely wouldn't reach the group of ladies for another two or three minutes at least.
______
Laramie's innate sense of friendship beckoned her to defend Mesia and Rayne, though she hardly knew them. She hadn't had many people in her life that were kind, but these two had been nice to her and she wasn't about to let them take blame for something that wasn't their fault.
"You have it all wrong, miss." She corrected lightly, trying to inject another smile into the conversation. "I fear this is my fault, I'm a tourist here and was hoping someone could show me around the district. They weren't harassing me, they were helping me shop for clothing."
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Feb 11, 2012 21:46:35 GMT -5
"Were they? Well, I'd certainly hope so," Kalia said, sounding a bit more amicable. Mesia and Rayne were both nodding rapidly. "Regardless, I apologize in advance if they've been troublesome. They can be a handful sometimes."
"You know we wouldn't try and get in trouble with the nobility!" Mesia barked, looking scandalized at her elder sister. "Rua's more trouble than me, what with what he does for a living!"
"Mesia, your brother is an adult and is responsible for his own actions, no matter how many archaelogists he aggravates," the knight said sweetly. "You, on the other hand, aren't nineteen yet, and whatever trouble you get into falls back on me."
"Oh, good, so I'm okay then," Rayne remarked as Mesia fumed over her meal. Kalia turned her gaze to her and her smile widened.
"Oh, don't think I won't be talking to your parents about this too, Ms. Tamriel."
"... shit," the blond girl muttered in an unladylike fashion. Kalia beamed in a frightening manner as she turned back to her youngest sibling. "So, are you willing to introduce me to your friend, Mesia?"
Mesia shared an amused and irritated look with her best friend before recomposing herself. "Lady Laramie, this is my oldest sister, Knight Kalia Dragonheart," she said, gesturing to Kalia and then to Laramie. "Sis, this is Lady Laramie of House Enign."
The Knight bowed her head a polite manner, customarily placing her hand on the hilt of her sword. "A pleasure to meet you, my Lady," she greeted.
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Post by Steinerman on Feb 12, 2012 1:31:12 GMT -5
Laramie reddened with embarrassment. Though she was posing as a lady of house Enign, she actually hadn't noticed people treating her much differently until today. and now, to have a Stamarian Knight so close, and being so polite . . . it was quite the culture shock.
"Usually I skip the formalities," she mumbled awkwardly. "It is a pleasure to meet you, though." Here she looked questioningly into Kalia's eyes, "May I call you Kalia? I confess, I'm not sure how to address a Knight."
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Feb 12, 2012 1:54:52 GMT -5
"We're usually addressed by our rank in the service," she explained warmly, smiling at the younger woman. "But I'm fine with just Kalia, my lady."
"So did you get done early or something, sis?" Mesia asked. "Usually Greenville drags you off to make an example of her sacrifices."
Kalia rolled her eyes. "How many times have I told you they're not sacrifices? Ms. Greenville's a much respected combat instructor here, not your common drill sergeant," she remarked exasperatedly.
"Rua says otherwise, with the stories he got from you while you were in training," Mesia remarked with a bit of a bite, grinning saucily at her older sister.
Kalia's smile thinned. "You're getting awfully cheeky, Mesia," she warned.
"Perish the thought," the redhead shot back, causing Rayne to snicker.
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Post by Steinerman on Feb 12, 2012 2:17:38 GMT -5
The exchange between the siblings garnered a wide-eyed stare of shock from Laramie, she and Joe had never undergone such exchanges, and she'd considered him almost a brother at one point.
Then her mind brought to light her recent training with her new partners, and she realized there had been a great deal of sarcasm and stinging retorts in their conversations, though admittedly it was Bob and Francis who had exchanged the most with each other. So, she decided, maybe it wasn't unusual for siblings to behave as Mesia and Kalia did.
She was about to try and break into the conversation when the elegant, refined voice of her partner spoke out clearly from several feet away. "There you are, little sister." Francis called out pleasantly, making his way towards their table at a brisk pace.
She turned half-way in her seat and smiled awkwardly at the tall Elf, suddenly relieved that he was here.
Like a storm of polite aristocracy, Francis smiled warmly at each of the women in turn. "Well well, little Lara, you seem to have made some friends in the intervening hours. I am at something of a loss, without knowing their names."
Laramie nodded speedily. "Of course, I'm sorry, brother, I just didn't expect you, I'm a little frazzled by all the sudden company." She said, trying to calm her frayed nerves.
The young girl turned to face the others again, "Um . . ." She began slowly, "Mesia, Rayne, Kalia. This is my brother, Francis Enign." She introduced with a wavering tone. "Francis, this is Rayne Tamriel," she indicated Rayne. "And these ladies are Mesia and Kalia Dragonheart." She pointed to the others at the table in turn.
"Rayne and Mesia helped me shop for a skirt." She added on by way of explanation. "So I thought I should take them out to lunch."
Francis bowed low in response, "An honor to meet such ladies, and a thousand thanks for taking care of my hapless sister. She has a tendency to wander." He ended with an exaggerated wink.
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