675-05-05 - It's Raining Dukes
It's Raining Dukes | |||||||
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Summary: Lady Avaline has a surprising encounter in town | |||||||
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It's apparently a day off for trade meetings and such like or perhaps the sessions have just come to their natural conclusion as the first groups are starting preparations to depart. Any which way Duke Alajos Fennim has found another opportunity to escape the castle and the people. He's dressed down to a point of looking like a commoner - which was perhaps his intention. He wears simple woven pants and coarse nailed leather shoes, an off-white shirt and a plain leather vest above it. His face is half hidden underneath a wide-rimmed hat. He is alone, mingling with the people, presently about to buy some fried delicacy of dubious origin from a street hawker near the fountain.
Alas, as a Lady of Two River, and of the Royal House no less, Avaline is rarely truly alone, especially when out and about in a foreign land. Thusly as she strolls in from the direction of the markets it is in the company of her maid as well as a pair of guards that keep pass behind them. A small parcel is tucked under her arm along with a sketchpad, the later a thing she has been seen with frequently enough upon the island. The dress worn this day is of a light blue, a thing more complimenting to her pale blue eyes and lighter complexion. It has the finely tailored quality one expects within the clothes of noblity, but very little of the flare and flash. "Surely you do not think I need be returned and partake of yet another crowded meal, I am certain my cousin can handle all the conversation just fine without me." Lightly chiding her maid who would seem to maybe prefer to keep Avaline locked up in the guest house for some reason. "Besides, I have not had the chance to properly sit and sketch the fountain here. " Avaline not giving the maid much chance but to follow as she seeks out, not one of the benches, but actually an empty bit of shade under one of the trees. Some brief murmur,"Of excuse me," when threading her way amongst those mingling about the street hawkers.
When the lady nearly knocks into Alajos he recognizes her and can't suppress a little smile. He holds his breath for a moment to see if she has recognized him, but obviously not, as she makes her way to that shady spot for drawing. He waits a moment longer, then he saunters over to the same tree. He considers a second. Mischief in his eyes. Holding the rest of his questionable-meat-on-a-stick between his teeth, he uses his arms to hop up to grasp the lowest hanging big branch and pull himself up into the tree. Inching forward until he can watch Avaline drawing from above while enjoying the rest of his snack.
Not likely to expect to find any she really knows in the area, Avaline likely did not spend a great deal of time looking to him, especially with his face partially obstructed as it were. Perhaps odd enough she was actually polite enough in her passing, to...common-ish folk. Her maid still tries a few weak protests at getting her charge back to the guest House to take part in some semi-official meal, or at least to sit on one of the benches. Neither of whigh have effect as a cloak is furled out on the grass and Avaline settles beneathe that tree. Looking just a touch...happy...to actually be more near that bit of nature rather then on some stuffy bench. The small parcel is set to the side before she opens the sketchpad and flips through some pages til a blank one is found to make use of. Most of the pages seeming to contain sketches of various plants, trees and flowers of the Isles. The occasional person or general scene. But there does seem to be some measure of skill possessed, an eye for detail, even if she is not entirely masterful (yet) at capturing it all. That bit of charcoal is taken up in her left hand and slowly takes to creating a version of the fountain upon the page. And while her attention maybe upon this, one of her guards is keeping an eye upon the lad in the tree.
For a while all is well, Alajos quietly watching, thinking his own thoughts. But a sudden hasty movement almost makes him lose balance and as he quickly grasps for the branches to hold on, he drops the stick with one bite of meat still left on it... which falls down and onto Avaline's pretty drawning. Splotch.
The maid does brattle on a little longer about the meal, what Avaline is surely missing, a continued attempt to interest the young Lady in the matter. Avaline sighs a touch, noting, not unkindly either,"You should know better than to make arrangements to meet with him during time you know you have assigned duties." That quite draws the woman to silence with some sputtering, her charge was /not/ supposed to be aware of /that/. But it does give Avaline some peace to simply sketch, that is until there is meat quite literally dropping from the sky. There is a jump of surprise when the bit of meat and stick splatter on the sketchpad, a small cry of surprise comes with it all to. The one guard is spinning to check upon her, the other is however aware of the...problem, having watched it in motion. But hey, it wasn't his job to save the Duke's neck.
A few blinks at the object on the sketchpad occur before Avaline is tilting her head to look up. Blinking again as there seems to be a man in the tree. There is another blink before they widen a touch as some recognition comes. "Duke Alajos," is barely said above a whisper.
Ugh, she recognized him. Alajos clutches the branch tighter as if holding on for dear life, while his face assumes the colour of a very ripe tomatoe. "My Lady Avaline.", he finally manages, barely more than a croak. He inclines his head politely, forgetting about the powers of gravity that made his wide-brimmed hat fall off and down onto Avaline's sketch pad as well. For a moment he stares in full horror, frozen to his branch, then gulps. "I'm... I beg your pardon, Mylady."
There is another bit of a blink of those pale blue eyes as Avaline stares up at the Duke looking like a ripe red apple with how he clings to the tree. There is something to a head incline, hard really with how her head has to tilt to look at him. And really what is the etiquette for greeting a Duke in a tree? Though as the hat comes tumbling down, her head ducks a bit, instinct in trying to avoid falling objects. Looking at the thing for a moment before managing to speak,"Of course, Your Grace. You seem to have misplaced your hat." There is a faint pause before she speaks again,"Perhaps, you may wish to climb down now, before you fall into my lap as well." It is a thing spoken rather softly as the young Lady tries to yet figure out why he was up there at all.
If Alajos could go any redder he would - instead he just looks as if he might explode any moment. "Yes, Mylady. I shall.", he mumbles and begins a slow retreat towards the trunk of the tree until he can safely hop down. He brushes himself off quickly, then steps forward to offer a proper bow to Avaline with the few shreds of dignity that are still left to him. "A good day to you, Mylady. Are you enjoying the colours of the market and the liveliness here?".
Nevermind how Avaline is trying to reconcile this image of the Duke in a tree with the surly version on the ship...the standoffish version at the feast. Things to consider as he makes his way back out of the tree, her maid still agahst about the whole matter. But oh the gossip she'll have for the girls now! It gives Avaline time to raise to her feet as well, allowing her to give a curtsy in return. The woman still looking a little....surprised. "Good day to you as well, Your Grace. The market has been lovely to explore with the many different thing, they have some fine shades amongst their paints that I have never seen back home." Not that he likely cares about that. "Have you had much chance to get about yourself, or have the meetings been taking all your time?" The hat is offered over without so much as a word. Though well, she holds the sketchpad out so he can fish off the bit of meat on that stick himself.
"I have found some opportunties to get away from the castle.", Alajos admits, pointing towards his plain clothes. He does accept the hat back without a single word, but when she holds out the sketchpad, he wrinkles his nose. "I have no need for that, Mylady. Though... could I perhaps invite you to a cold beverage? As a way of apology?", he asks, still a little sheepish when he returns the hat to its proper position on his head. "I am terribly sorry I ruined your lovely drawing."
"Have you found anything you particularly enjoy about the Isles, Your Grace?" There is a faint look at the meat then him when he speaks of not having need for it, it wasn't like she had need for it either! Avaline simply passes it off to her maid to deal with since the Duke does not wish for it back. Her eyes slowly draw back to him, would the surprises never cease? Surely something had possessed the Duke. Some urge to ask him if he was feeling alright is surpressed. She does manage a nod, a soft,"Aye, that would be lovely, Your Grace. It have grown a little thirsty." There is a small smile that comes, look she can smile! "It is alright, I can still make use of it, I use them mostly so I can paint from them later."
It's not that bad here.", Alajos admits, "I've found some rather interesting foods and beverages. Mind you, I cannot wait to be back home. But it's not much longer now, I dare say." Maybe THAT's what's making him so chirpy. Or the fact that he's far away from his usual restraints in his peasant garb disguise. "Wait here!", he orders and wanders off, disappearing between the rabble for a few minutes until he returns with two plain earthenware mugs, filled to the brim with cool locally made cider. "Mylady." He does not bow now, to avoid spillage, and simply holds out the mug to Avaline with a smile. An actual smile!
"It has made for a fine enough place to visit," agrees Avaline,"But it is not quite home. We then be leaving shortly after the last of their tournaments?" Assuming things don't get rescheduled again. It could be many things, not that any of them seem to truly make sense to Avaline on just why he is such a different person. Perhaps there had really been triplets? There is a blink at the order given, but she does stay there beneathe the tree as requested. When he returns and offers the mug, her fingers curl about it to accept it, a faint turn of a smile offered again as well as a soft,"Thank you." A slight motion to the cloak in invitation to sit, if he wished.
Alajos dithers a bit, perhaps he's spent all his nicety points for the day. But then he nods and sits down, cross-legged, on the cloak and takes a sip of his own cider. "So what did you think of the trip, Mylady?", he asks carefully, a valiant attempt at small talk, while his eyes seem to study her a little bit too intensely, "Did you find enjoyment? Pleasant new acquaintances?"
That he has talked so much already seems an impossibility! And here he is the one trying to continue the small talk. Surely Avaline will awake and it will all have been an odd dream. "It has been interesting, especially to find so many others here as well. The differences in culture have proven....interesting." Statues of nudity! Scandalous! "I have found some enjoyment, aye. There is much to sketch and explore. The tournament was interesting, especially the outcome of one of our own winning and now to become of the Isles as he starts a House here. " It is also a matter that causes some frown of thought to briefly pass in her feature. "I have met a few, everyone has been kind enough. Though most have more interest in my cousin." The unmarried who is actual royalty. A few small sips of the cider are taken before the question that has been begged to be asked since the piece of meat splatted onto her sketchpad is finally asked,"Why were you up in the tree, Your Grace?"
"Yes, the tournament. Extraordinary.", Alajos comments. Which is all he has to say. Perhaps he's slipping back into his usual quiet broody state. Or he doesn't really care for the cock-measuring contests that tournaments usually are. He listens to her in contented silence, his eyes still fixed upon her thoughtfully. That is until she asks her last question and he quickly turns away, shrugging, his expression going sullen quickly. "I...", he begins after a while, then shrugs. "I do not know. I like... this...", he tries to explain, pointing at his garb, "Not.. being me."
"I admit, I am not particularly keen to witness the bestowing of the prize for this next tournament." Cock-measuring, indeed. There is some genuine curiosity to what answer will come to her question. Avaline studying him now as he turns away. There is a small frown of thought at what he tries to explain. "Is it so much not being...you....as not being what is expected of you and actually being more of you?" There is a quick shake of her head that comes even as the last of those words came over her lips. It soon being followed by,"I am sorry, I should not have said that."
"Perhaps. I never asked to become Duke.", Alajos admits, the tone almost bitter. Then, as if realizing that he has said far too much, he leaps to his feet, shutting himself off again. "Again, I beg your pardon for this ... incident, Mylady. If I could ask you to not mention this to my cousin Ralph..." HE does look like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar as he asks this.
There is a small arch of her brows in a hint of surprise to hear him voice that. Avaline's pale eyes follow him as he jumps to his feet. Faintly murmuring rather softly,"Who of us is ever asked? We become what we are forced to become." Something perhaps said more to herself then meant for him truly. She gives a nod of her head,"Of course, Your Grace, I shall not make mention of...any of this to Lord Ralph."
"Thank you." A look of genuine relief and an actual smile grace the young duke's face briefly, then he nods. "Enjoy the day and the drawings, Mylady." And then he hurries off, perhaps cursing himself under his breath for talking far too much.
"You are welcome." Avaline giving a bow of her head,"Thank you, Your Grace for the cider and may you enjoy the rest of your day." Watching for a few moments as he hurries off into the square before giving a small shake of her head about the whole odd encounter.