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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

Ian sips his wine as well, hoping he hasn't just poisoned himself, then addresses Asharn. "Thank you once again for your hospitality, and for allowing us this opportunity to dine together and to get to know one another. Friendly people seem to be in short supply these days."

Turning to face Ulnanuit. "My lady speaks truly. Having never been here before, I can only guess what it once looked like. At this moment, however, it is one of the richest halls I have ever seen."

Finally, to Inag. "So tell me young sir, do you prefer this home to your old one?"

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:52 pm Post subject:

Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

"If you don't mind my asking, what happened to your previous home? Seeing what you've done here in such a short time makes my heart want to break if you had to leave a place more beautiful than this."

He looks at Ulnanuit. "There are many beautiful people." He looks at Flora. "Some exceptionally so." He kisses her hand slowly. Then turns back. "Places are different. They seem to beg to be cared for, but once done so, can last forever. I..I am a...I desire beautiful things. Who doesn't? And I am fascinated by beautiful places. What was your previous home like?"

After she answers, he turns back to Inag. "What are you studying?"

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 9:34 pm Post subject:

Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

"Courts of Chaos. That seems to strike a chord with me. This food looks wonderful by the way. I thought the old lord here was a Lord of Amber."

He looks at Inag. "It seems you wouldn't have time for copying books with all of your lessons. I like to cook, personally. That, and listen to music. My favorite was a lady named Billie Holliday. She was the best."

"Milord, you say your House has enemies. Would that include the bird men. And I guess if you don't mind my asking, are your enemies close to here?"

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject:

Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

Ian nods to the family. "I have spent much of my life in a city called New Orleans. I consider that home, most of the time. It is a strange city, born of two cultures, and home to the largest party in the land. They call it Mardi Gras, and everyone dresses up in strange finery, costumes, if you will, and there is much drinking and partying and what not. The city itself is actually below sea level, and a series of not-so sturdy levees keeps the waters from flooding the city."

He turns to Flora and kisses her on the lips, and while doing so raises the eyebrow their hosts could not see. He wonders if Flora is thinking that they might have hit the wrong Shadow.

He breaks the kiss and turns back to their hosts. "Sorry, but I've never heard of your Lord Hendrake." He looks at Inag. "I'd love to see your music collection, after dinner perhaps."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:41 pm Post subject:

Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

"Ah. Exploring is always fun. New Orleans has many old and storied houses. Some of them were even considered to be haunted." He laughs.

"The house I last lived in was once owned by a French Lord, named Jean Villeneuve. He was a pirate and the English hanged him a few hundred years before I bought his house."

Ian looks at the box with amused puzzlement on his face.

"That box looks a bit big for ice cream."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:32 pm Post subject:

Ulnanuit gives Arsharn a look and he quickly answers, almost apologetic, "Oh, I hope you don't mind if I take notes at the table," he pulls out a few quills and an glass ink pot, "I just want to make sure, I get every detail out of you before you get bored telling me about Daniel Windborne." He finally takes out parchment paper and sets it aside. The servant takes the box away.

Ulnanuit raises an eyebrow at her husband, then quickly turns to Ian, and putting her cold hand on his forearm, she adds, "Please forgive my husband, Count. He gets like that when a subject interests him. But please, tell me more about your house in... New Orleans. The city sounds positively fascinating!" She leaves her hand on his arm and looks into his eyes, not seductively, but it does test his comfort level a bit: she is as cold as a cadaver.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

Discomfort and Ian are no strangers. Having spent a day lying in an ant hill once, this is easy to handle. "The people are fascinating. They like spicy foods, strong drink and sultry nights. Vampires are very popular there. Not so many real ones, but people there nearly worship them. I spent many a night in my single days with what we called 'Goths'. They dress in black, never see the sun, wear dark makeup, quote Anne Rice - a popular author - and think graveyards are meant to hang out in."

He returns her gaze and smiles. "Given an opportunity, I will cook my specialty for you one day. A dish called Jambalaya. It mostly consists of meat and fish selections, with some vegetables. The spicier the better."

He keeps an ear and eye on Flora, to listen to what she is talking about.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 12:27 am Post subject:

Arsharn and Ulnanuit both seem surprised at the mention of Vampires, but quickly let it slide as Ian continues his explanation.
Inag continues eating, stealing glances at Florimel and Ian, but positively avoids eye contact, like a teenager with a love interest.

Ulnanuit tells Ian, "It sounds wonderful! Oh please tell me you and Marilyn will stay with us for several days! Arsharn and I seldom have visitors because we are so far from the rest of courtly things..."

Meanwhile, Flora and Arsharn are exchanging information: Flora describing Daniel and his father, while Arsharn describes Lord Hendrake and the acquisition of the property. When his wife insists on them staying for a few days rather than just dinner, Arsharn stops describing Lord Hendrake, a mighty and powerful knight, to look at Ian and Flora and adds to his wife's excitement, "Oh yes! Please, you are welcome to stay as long as you would like! Unless you turn out to be bird men in disguise," he jokes. Looking from Flora to Ian he asks, "Won't you stay with us? There is much to visit here and I would love to find out more about the estate itself."

Flora looks at Ian and leans in, caressing his cheek, "What do you think, darling?" In his thoughts, she adds, 'I guess we should at least find out if Elishu'hur has found the Pattern cave'.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

'Whatever you say, my love.' He says in his thoughts. "Um...whatever you say, my love." He hopes he covered his slip-up. "I don't see why not. Your hospitality has been wonderful."

He smiles and looks at Asharn. "No beak, no wings. I promise, neither of us are bird-people."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:51 pm Post subject:

Everyone laughs and arrangements are quickly made for Count Vlad, Countess Marilyn and their servant Rocky to be moved to the residence tower as opposed to the guest tower.

The rest of dinner goes fairly uneventfully. Flora and Arsharn continue exchanging information in a casual version of what Ian is used to in Amber, bit for bit, question for question. Ulnanuit listens to Ian attentively, flirting with him politely. Inag listens to both conversations, taking in the subtleties and enjoying the company presently available.

From what can be deduced, Lord Thograk Hendrake claimed Windborne through the Right of Conquest, one of the lawful institutions of the Courts of Chaos, then sold to House Ashelt.
Lord Thograk is a great knight, sort of a celebrity in the Courts. He is a powerful man, politically as well as on the battlefield, always wears a mask or helmet, depending on the occasion, accommodating his great antlers. Arsharn seems to regard him highly.

It is already night and quite late but Countess Marilyn finally gets Arsharn to agree to have Master Elishu'hur be their guide the next day. Lord and Lady Ashelt will not be accompanying them.
Inag is reluctantly sent to bed, after making Ian promise to spare some time when they return from their exploration of the lands of Windborne.

Servant-guards escort Rocky, Flora and Ian to their new chambers, their things have already been moved there. They are at a level above the master suite. This level also holds the private gallery Florimel mentioned before as well as the library. Above there is a training hall and weapons room. Above still is the main guard room.

Rocky, Ian and Flora are finally left alone in their new room.

Flora sighs and looks at Ian, smiling, "Well, that went fairly well..."

Rocky takes off his hat and a flurry of messy hair pours out. He sighs, seemingly tired.
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