Of Monteliyets and Farraways

[Dreyfus]

♅ 6th of Ash, Year121, A.o.S ♅
Company: Himself at the moment| Thoughts: This | Mood: Curious

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♅ After the revelation he gave lady Farraway at the Gala, Dreyfus felt there was a need to address any concerns she may have had with him. He was found himself strolling the Kinetic Gardens in the West End, the fateful meeting spot the two had agreed to meet at. As he waited he stood in front of a bounty of black roses, though they didn't seem quite like roses but something similar. He wasn't able to tell from the distance he was at but it was a beautiful sight nonetheless in his eyes.

It reminded him of a song his father used to sing while tending to his mother's greenhouse before Dreyfus himself took over its care, humming the sweet soft tune aloud to himself. Before he knew it he was singing the song. "How many days have passed like this? The city, the crowd is fading, moving on. Sometimes I have wondered where you've gone. The story carries on... Lonely, lost inside. I had this dream so many times. The moments we spent have passed and gone away. Could there be an end to this? What I'm feeling deep inside? You know there's no looking back.

The glassy sky above. As long as I'm alive, you will be part of me. Glassy Sky - the cold, the broken pieces of me. The mystery of it I recall. Suddenly the truth will change the way we fall. I didn't wanna hurt you, hope you know. Empty promises, shattered dreams of love. Sometimes I wonder what's beyond. I tried many times to make it up to you. Can somebody tell me what to do?" he continued to sing, just loud enough for anyone within earshot to hear. He was no songbird but it was comforting to do so in the presence of flowers that held such dark but ambient beauty. ♅

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"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Jane Farraway]

Ash 6th, 121. The Kinetic Gardens, West End. Zaichaer

Spheres with concentric blades twisted in the wind, turning in on themselves and flaring out to a mesmerizing effect. Several more lined the path that Jane walked along towards her meeting spot with Dreyfus Monteliyet. The argument she had with her mother over the Farraway's history with the Monteliyets was still fresh in her mind, leaving a lingering fear that she could not shake. Lady Farraway, for all her venom and bias, was not unreasonable when it came to her concerns over the mysterious family. Their intentions were vague, their methods questionable, and the same appeared to apply to magically liberal Reconciliator. Jane began to doubt her own decision to agree to the meeting. That fable her mother had used as a condescending warning, despite it's simplicity, had stayed with her longer than she would have liked. The last line echoed in her thoughts: “Did you forget that I was a snake?”

He still deserved a chance, Jane decided. If she had learned anything over the past two seasons it was that people are not what they always appeared to be. Her mother was sure he had set out to insult her by addressing their history at the Gala, and she would agree if not for the fact that had she already known about their families' histories it would not be an insult. But her mother had told her nothing. Nothing aside from vague details that amounted to little less than breadcrumbs. Dreyfus had been open though, and Jane hoped that perhaps he'd be more willing to divulge more within the privacy of the secluded gardens.

The sound of a male voice singing drifted over the hedges as she approached and was surprised to see that it was Dreyfus. She would not call him skilled, but whatever song it was seemed familiar enough to him that he knew how to carry it's tune well enough. Jane recalled the times when she had had people walk in on her singing to herself, the embarrassment from the memory making her hestitant to approach him. She waited for him to conclude as she stood concealed behind a tall hedge, admiring the wind sculptures as they spun. Following a few moments of silence, Jane turned back onto the path and addressed Dreyfus.

“Hello, Sir Monteliyet, I hope you haven't been waiting long.”, She walked up to him, slightly nervous, and curtsied,“Thank you for inviting me here. How have you been?”

The circle of black rose bushes that surrounded them was fitting. Jane faintly smiled, lifting up one of the blossoms to inspect it. They were beginning to wither in the coming Ash, the petals wrinkling and sagging on their stems.

“It's so interesting how from afar they appear black, but if you look closely they're actually a very dark shade of violet. Did you know that the color first appeared as a mutation and each successive generation was bred to be darker. Black flowers don't occur naturally, but this is the closest we've come it. Equal parts luck and commitment went into cultivating this breed and I can't help but admire that."

[Dreyfus]

Company: Jane| Thoughts: Ask me what you will| Mood: Curious, Nervous

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♅ When hearing the feminine voice greet him at the end of his song, Dreyfus smiled as jane approached him, giving the woman a nod as a sign of acknowledgment. "I don't mind the wait, it gave me time to basque in the sombering beauty of the roses Lady Farraway" he noted, stepping to the side to allow the woman room.

She thanked him for the invitation to the gardens, and asked about his well being. "It's the least I can do to make up for my abrupt revelation during the Gala. I apologize for upsetting you. As for me I am well enough, being thrown from an exploding airship does put a strain on the body, but I'm recovering well enough." he added in answer to her inquiry, not truly certain if news of what happened on that airfield has reached certain circles yet.

Dreyfus smiled, watching the woman as she moved, noting the body language of Ms. Farraway with every detail. He noticed how confident she became when explaining things that appeared to fascinate her, seeing the way her facial features lit up as she spoke of the Black Roses and how they gained that color over the careful cultivation of Zaichaers botanists. He couldn't help but allow a snicker to escape his lips as she spoke, finding her passion just as admiring as she found the breeding of this flower.

Leaning down he held one of the black petals in his hand. "I can admit to not being well versed in the art of breeding plants or anything for that matter, I have just recently taken over the care of the greenhouse that belonged to my late mother, so I'm learning. I have to ask you to teach me a few things so I don't end up killing the poor plants there." he jested, giving a playful laugh as some wind blew through his golden tresses.

Standing he motioned for Ms. Farraway to follow him, after all, they weren't there to talk flowers and how not to kill them. "I'm sure you have questions Ms. Farraway, so please let's not beat around the proverbial rose bush here. Ask what you wish to know and I will answer it as honestly as I can." he looked to the woman with a concerning expression, hoping that this wouldn't offend her.

He needed friends of his own generation, he was hoping to make one with Jane through open and honest transparency. ♅

---

"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Rune]

R E V I E W

Lore: 2 each

Points: 4 each, not for magic

Injuries/Ailments: None

Loot: None

Notes: Sad to see this end unfinished, hopefully Jane can come back soon!