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Feran Corus
Junior Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 53
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Feran Corus on Nov 3, 2022 4:06:41 GMT -5
Feran nodded in confirmation. "I grew up in Kherton but my family moved here when I was fourteen. I'm surprised I have much of an accent left but I guess it's one of those things that tends to stick around." He took another sip of his water and turned to Melanie with a smile. "Perhaps you could show me around sometime. I've been here for a few years but I'm sure there are some things I've overlooked." Such things tended to happen when much of your time was spent working.
A moment later a clawed hand came down on his shoulder and Feran looked up to see a sandy-haired figure he recognised as Aedan, a mutual acquaintance he shared with Aedan that ran in the same circles as his more privileged friend. "Hey, Aedan,"
"Hello Feran, good to see you and Seb here. Now, who are these ravishing young ladies in your company?" The words were accompanied by a smile that Feran figured most would call charming but the vampire couldn't repress a smile of amusement.
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Sebastian Eslen
New Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 26
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Sebastian Eslen on Nov 3, 2022 4:16:18 GMT -5
"Aedan! Gods, man,what are you doing awake at this hour?! Sit down, have something to eat. Meet the Riverwood sisters... I'm sure you know their father, Alversen Riverwood, the spice merchant? And this is their... friend, Leila."
Leila seemed amused but nonplussed, nodding almost regally to Aedan. "Your reputation precedes you, milord," she told him, though she didn't rise and curtsy as one might expect. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
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Feran Corus
Junior Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 53
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Feran Corus on Nov 3, 2022 4:21:27 GMT -5
"Don't mind if I do," Aedan replied and took the liberty to fetch a chair from an empty table before he took a seat next to Leila, "and yes, I've met the man. Always has interesting stories from abroad."
As for Leila, Aedan didn't seem to mind that she didn't rise and curtsy. If anything that seemed to make her more interesting to him as he beamed at her. "And it's a pleasure to meet you, dear Leila. I do hope my friends haven't been boring you."
Feran let out a huff of laughter, well aware of his friend's tendency to flirt with just about any woman that piqued his interest.
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Sebastian Eslen
New Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 26
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Sebastian Eslen on Nov 3, 2022 4:32:43 GMT -5
Leila smiled, a calculated sort of smile as she delicately picked up her bowl and sipped at the broth before setting it down. "Oh, no," she told him, cocking her head to one side, her eyes staring at him intensely. "Believe me, it takes much more than some light flirting," she nodded towards Sebastian, "to bore me. Lucky for you, hm?"
Melanie stifled a giggle.
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Feran Corus
Junior Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 53
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Feran Corus on Nov 3, 2022 4:46:11 GMT -5
"Lucky for me indeed," Aedan agreed, seemingly undeterred by the quip. However, he did turn away a moment later to focus on Feran and Sebastian. "Oh, before I forget, my father is going to Cadena in a couple of months for a diplomatic assignment. Since I have to go along I thought I would invite you," he nodded to Sebastian, " and arrange for Feran to be assigned to the security detail. What do you say?"
"In winter?" Feran asked, the amusement on his face now there for a different reason entirely, "are you sure you'll be okay with that?"
"Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"
"It's cold," Feran answered, the twitch of the corner of his lips betraying how much he wanted to smile, "much colder than here."
Aedan shrugged, seemingly unbothered. Whether that was because he truly didn't mind or because he underestimated just how cold it would get remained to be seen.
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Sebastian Eslen
New Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 26
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Sebastian Eslen on Nov 3, 2022 4:57:24 GMT -5
"Well, I'm always ready for a little adventure. Though I'm sure we'd have to leave these lovely ladies behind... perhaps tehy could lend us tokens for good luck, like in tales of valiant knights, charging off to war..."
"Oh, I could lend you a lock of my hair," said Laurette, running a hand through her raven tresses. "You could carry it in a silk pouch on your belt and think of me."
"Would you like a token, too, Feran? If you were to go, of course," Melanie said, batting her eyes at him. Leila silently sipped at her soup, an amused expression on her face.
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Feran Corus
Junior Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 53
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Feran Corus on Nov 3, 2022 5:14:07 GMT -5
"I certainly would," Feran replied with a warm smile of his own, certainly not about to turn down such an offer. "It would be nice to have the reminder while we're there." That would be especially if Cadena was anything like Kherton.
"And may I be so bold as to request a token from you, dear Leila?" Aedan cared little that the request was shameless, even seemed to revel in it a little and hardly put off by the amusement that Leila seemed to feel towards the flirting of their friends.
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Sebastian Eslen
New Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 26
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Sebastian Eslen on Nov 3, 2022 5:33:59 GMT -5
She smiled and chuckled. "Well, someone thinks he's an outrageous charmer," she said, but obviously wasn't upset by the request. She shook her head. "Maybe once we get to know each other a little better. I try not to give favors to men who don't earn them first."
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Feran Corus
Junior Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 53
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Feran Corus on Nov 3, 2022 5:49:25 GMT -5
Aedan chuckled, not terribly put off by her refusal. Such interactions would hardly be enjoyable if absolutely everyone folded easily. "Far be it for me to deny such conditions. If that is the case then what would you say to a request that I treat you to dinner sometime?"
Feran took another sip of his water to hide his amusement.
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Sebastian Eslen
New Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 26
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Sebastian Eslen on Nov 3, 2022 5:51:59 GMT -5
"Better," Leila said approvingly. "Very well, then. I accept. Though I hope being seen with me won't do too much harm to your reputation; those of your status aren't usually seen, shall we say, slumming it with those of my social class."
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Feran Corus
Junior Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 53
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Feran Corus on Nov 3, 2022 6:21:24 GMT -5
"And those that are truly that concerned about it aren't worth my time," he retorted with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
"He does have a point," Feran interrupted as he broke away briefly from the conversation he'd been having with Melanie. "It's not like I fit in with that crowd either." Sure, his father may be considered a craftsman but that still wasn't enough to run in the sort of circles that Aedan and Sebastian often found themselves. Even if it were, it wasn't as if he'd taken up the trade.
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Sebastian Eslen
New Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 26
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Sebastian Eslen on Nov 11, 2022 23:04:40 GMT -5
"Sometimes I wonder i any of us truly 'fit in' to the nobility," Melanie sighed. "I think we're all just pretending and hoping nobody sees through the charade."
"Anyone who pronounces 'charade' with a short 'a'," Leila mused, "probably fits in just fine, Melanie."
"Hm?"
"Nevermind."
"Well, fitting in or not," Sebastian said airily, "it's always a pleasure to have you around, Feran. I've always found it... well, sort of silly how soldiers are looked down upon. Why, without soldiers, all those big keeps and castles that higher-ranking noblemen love to build would be toppled over by bandits every other weekend."
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Feran Corus
Junior Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 53
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Feran Corus on Nov 11, 2022 23:48:15 GMT -5
"Now if only the pay reflected that," Feran joked before he drained the remainder of his water and set the glass down with no intention of ordering another.
"By the way," Aedan cut in with a smile, looking like a thin veneer of restraint was the only thing that kept him from casually throwing his arm around Leila's shoulders, "is there anything you can tell us about Cadena before we leave in a few months?"
"Not really," Feran responded with a shrug as he lightly traced the tip of his index finger around the rim of the glass. "I never went to Cadena and there are always going to be some differences between city states. The only thing I can really tell you for sure is that it will be fucking cold."
Well, perhaps not terribly cold yet but certainly by Vinhaven's standards. There was also the fact that its Vampire Quarter would probably be very similar to Kherton's but they would likely be sticking to the more middle and upper class areas of the city during the trip so he saw no need to mention it.
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Sebastian Eslen
New Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 26
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Sebastian Eslen on Nov 12, 2022 20:37:06 GMT -5
"Wouldn't it be amazing if you got to see the snowy fields?" sighed Laurette. "I've heard they're quite beautiful. Sparkling romantically under the crisp light of a full winter moon..." She leaned her head on Sebastian's shoulder, who smiled and patted her on the hair.
"Perhaps, my dear," he said. "Though snow is a bit colder than my fair complexion prefers. Though I suppose it wouuld be better than the unbearable swelter of the Vinhaven summer. Even at night."
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Feran Corus
Junior Member
Aftergate
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Posts: 53
Race: Vampire
Character Type: Adventurer
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Post by Feran Corus on Nov 12, 2022 20:53:51 GMT -5
"I prefer the heat but I guess it depends on what you're used to," Feran chimed in as he relaxed back in his chair and lightly rest his arm along the back of Melanie's chair. After all, he couldn't say he had many fond memories of Estrin's winters compared to Vinhaven's summers outside of perhaps the holiday celebrations so perhaps that was a bit of a given.
"Either way, I am just looking forward to leaving Vinhaven for a while and actually going somewhere else for a change. Somewhere that isn't one of the nearby towns," Aedan cut in before he turned what he believed was a charming smile on Leila. "I don't suppose I could ask you to accompany us on our sojourn, could I?"
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