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Post by Kmiri Kalasin on Mar 18, 2007 16:31:13 GMT -5
"What job doesn't welcome raucous parties?" Adina asked. "Everyone I know from all walks of life seems to enjoy them quite well."
She left out that most of the people she knew, no matter what their station, had a love of shady characters and places. The more she thought about it, the more she began to realize that this trait was probably uncommon among the mages that a woman of Annikka's well to do world would know.
"And they're not particularly unusual, just other mages who are still practically students. Mentally, at least."
Adina laughed lightly at this comment. "Oh, I'm sure that adults with the minds of students are far from uncommon no matter where you look."
She sipped her tea for a moment, not speaking.
"It sounds as if they're good folk all the same," she ventured after some time.
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Mar 19, 2007 15:17:22 GMT -5
"It sounds as if they're good folk all the same," Adina said.
"Oh, they are," Annikka assured her. "They just lack common sense, or don't apply it to themselves. It's never any different wherever you go among people. Really, Tortallans and foreigners -slaves and, what do you call people who aren't slaves? Them, anyway- nobles and commoners are pretty much the same." Annikka finished her cake.
She looked at Adina shrewdly. "So what do you do? I'm not going to be shocked," she added hastily. "After all, I went to university."
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Post by Kmiri Kalasin on Mar 19, 2007 15:34:48 GMT -5
Really, Tortallans and foreigners -slaves and, what do you call people who aren't slaves? Them, anyway- nobles and commoners are pretty much the same."
Adina listened with interest. "I take it that you know a wide range of people," she commented with interest. In spite of herself, Adina felt herself increasingly interested by this woman.
She looked at Adina shrewdly. "So what do you do? I'm not going to be shocked," she added hastily. "After all, I went to university."
Adina bit her lip with a slight wince. She knew that she should have been expecting this and searched for a reasonable reply. It wasn't that she was embarrassed about her her career, she told herself. She just didn't want to see this well off woman's response.
"How much of University night life did you experience?" She asked carefully.
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Mar 19, 2007 15:39:01 GMT -5
"I take it that you know a wide range of people."
Annikka rolled her eyes. "Ohh yes. I've never known someone who doesn't get sick or injured, and that doesn't change if they're from a different class."
"How much of University night life did you experience?"
Annikka noted the caution in the words. "A fair bit. I wasn't involved in it much myself, except for a certain incident some years ago, but I have a friend who's very good at getting into trouble. So he does." She smiled slightly. "It's not that Markus is a fool, any more than any of my other friends, but he's too curious for his own good."
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Post by Kmiri Kalasin on Mar 19, 2007 15:43:47 GMT -5
"A fair bit. I wasn't involved in it much myself, except for a certain incident some years ago, but I have a friend who's very good at getting into trouble. So he does." She smiled slightly. "It's not that Markus is a fool, any more than any of my other friends, but he's too curious for his own good."
"Don't I know the type." Adina said with a slight groan. People who were "too curious for their own good" were in abundance at the Court of the Rogue.
She took a moment to phrase her question.
"And how many of Markus' misadventures were you privy to or part of?" Somehow she couldn't see Annikka as part of many Univirsity trysts or troubles.
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Mar 19, 2007 15:47:11 GMT -5
"And how many of Markus' misadventures were you privy to or part of?"
Annikka repressed a groan. "Most, if not all, of them. And I sort of got... dragged along. I didn't want to go on them, but at the same time...." She looked at Adina ruefully. "I don't like the idea of my best friend coming back in pieces."
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Post by Kmiri Kalasin on Mar 19, 2007 15:56:35 GMT -5
"I don't like the idea of my best friend coming back in pieces."
Adina grinned, feeling a little better now that they were on the topic of Annikka's friend. "I take it Markus needs quite a bit of looking after."
She thought for a moment. "Is he married? Because from what you say I worry for his wife's peace of mind."
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Mar 20, 2007 15:28:33 GMT -5
"I take it Markus needs quite a bit of looking after."
"Oh yes," Annikka said ruefully. "Definitely."
"Is he married? Because from what you say I worry for his wife's peace of mind."
Annikka finished off her tea. "No, he isn't, although I sympathise. He has been betrothed, some time ago, but she jilted him after a string of highly unpleasant incidents that I was mostly present at." She winced. "I have to say that didn't help."
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Post by Kmiri Kalasin on Mar 20, 2007 20:16:44 GMT -5
Adina listened with interest to Annikka talk about her friend. She seemed to genuinely care for this man. He has been betrothed, some time ago, but she jilted him after a string of highly unpleasant incidents that I was mostly present at." She winced. "I have to say that didn't help."
After this statement she choked on her tea, falling into a violent caughing fit. It was hard to imagine Annikka engaging in...she pushed that thought aside and looked closely at her. When she mentioned the broken engagement there was no hint of guilt...
"Have either of you..." she faltered, worrying that it wasn't her place to speak of such things, "I hope the broken engagement didn't...hurt things between you and your friend..."
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Mar 21, 2007 8:05:50 GMT -5
"Have either of you..." she faltered, worrying that it wasn't her place to speak of such things, "I hope the broken engagement didn't...hurt things between you and your friend..."
A smile twitched at the corner of Annikka's mouth at the coughing fit. "No to the question you asked, and no to the one you didn't ask as well. You aren't the first person to say that (or not say, as is sometimes the case.)"
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Post by Kmiri Kalasin on Mar 21, 2007 15:11:11 GMT -5
Adina blushed knowing full well that Annikka had recognized her unspoken thoughts. She sat for a moment feeling an awkward silence set over their table. She nibbled lightly on the last of the almond cake as she searched for a new thread of conversation.
"I take it I'm not the first person to have made that mistake, am I?" She asked, lightly, "I suppose I'm just too used to that sort of thing..."
Adina trailed off lightly, not sure what else to say.
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Mar 21, 2007 15:22:18 GMT -5
"I take it I'm not the first person to have made that mistake, am I?" She asked, lightly, "I suppose I'm just too used to that sort of thing..."
"No, you aren't, and no, it's not just you," Annikka said bluntly, feeling herself blush. "People... well... presume... a lot, based on rumour and sort-of facts, when nothing actually exists or existed... they gossip. If the Palace stopped gossipping, the walls would fall down."
She buried her face in her teacup, well aware that she'd finished her tea.
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Post by Kmiri Kalasin on Mar 21, 2007 15:31:48 GMT -5
"If the Palace stopped gossipping, the walls would fall down."
Adina looked up, forgetting for a moment the awkward silence that settled itself over her mood. She'd never been to the Palace, near but never actually in.
"Do you or Markus live at the Palace?"she asked with interest. "What is it that you do, exactly, if you don't mind me asking..."
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Mar 21, 2007 15:36:56 GMT -5
"Do you or Markus live at the Palace?"she asked with interest. "What is it that you do, exactly, if you don't mind me asking..."
Annikka waved a hand airily, happy with the turn of conversation. "Not at all. Markus is a healer. I'm also a healer, but I'm the Head Healer... which makes for healing ladies' sniffles and pages' bruises. I'm told it's a great compliment. That's why I've only now been able to get myself time off for my birthday, even though it was nearly a week ago. Paperwork."
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Post by Kmiri Kalasin on Mar 21, 2007 15:49:32 GMT -5
Adina sat, dumbfounded and unable to believe that the Head Healer was sitting ehre before her, drinking tea and talking like any normal person. For a moment she just looked at Annikka before realizing that she was staring like a country girl on her first trip to the city. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind.
"well...I'm honored to meet you, m'am...milady...I'm sorry, I don't really know how to address a Head Healer. Does Markus work for you? How long have you been a healer?" She stopped, realizing that she was rambling. "I'm sorry. I've just not met many people as high ranking, many who are close but..." she trailed off.
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