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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Aug 19, 2009 23:23:14 GMT -5
Eros's face was a blank mask at Katia's question. In an instant, his mind flickered through possibilities, from the information that she was indeed her parents' only child to the knowledge that announcing he was his family's sole heir could work powerfully against him. And so he bypassed the question. "What brings you to Hogwarts, if I might ask? You are from Spain, are you not?" And why was she a school nurse? He might have thought her impoverished but for her fine clothes.
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Post by Katia Medina on Aug 19, 2009 23:31:21 GMT -5
A slight nod was the only recognition she granted to Spain being her birthplace, that much was obvious from her accent. "I have decided that for the time being, I would, how do I put this delicately, prefer to spend my own time adventuring. I am not ready for marriage, even though my father has tried for years now to influence my decisions. Being the sole heir to my families fortunes left my father in a rare bind. He cannot disown me, nor can he force me. For far to many years he indulged my sense of independence, always hoping one day, at the advent of his creating an heir, I would step into line. In short, he spoiled me to the point of indecency."
It was much more complicated than this, but the only indication was the slightly abstract tone to her voice as she explained. She had no connection to her father other than as a nice thorn in his side, he had no desire to attend to her wishes, but if he did not, the family riches went to the next in line, and Papa dearly hated his brother. He preferred to spite his brother, and ignore her in any way other than monthly stipends, per her mother's demands.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Aug 20, 2009 9:59:42 GMT -5
Spoiled. There was little that Eros could say against that. Pureblood children were either spoiled, abused, or some combination of the two, and few of the Old Families had any patience with an errant heir. It was difficult to imagine a woman of her age that considered herself not ready for marriage, but Eros supposed that if she truly had that much power over her father, at the least, her company might make for an interesting weekend.
"I might comment upon your choice of tending to injured children as adventuring," Eros said, "but I suppose that would be rather hypocritical of me." Considering he was behind the counter of a candy shop in Hogsmeade, Scotland.
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Post by Katia Medina on Aug 20, 2009 10:06:09 GMT -5
Katia's shook her head, "perhaps I did it to tweak my father, after all for the majority of my life I was told my worthiness as an heir was not as great as a male child would be. What better way to go against everything my father stand for than working with people, in a capacity that requires touching the common folk." She didn't mind the touching part, it was the screaming, bouncing, and overall cavorting she disliked. "There is also, something of an innocent optimism that I see in the face of patients, that I am not familiar with." Katia grinned brightly, "on the other hand, I can take care of myself as an independent should my father choose to disown me in the interest of his brother." It wouldn't happen, ever, but she could enjoy the prospect, at least then she would be her own woman, free to marry whom, when, and where she chose.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Aug 20, 2009 10:17:31 GMT -5
She was purposefully baiting her father, and gladly touching the common folk as well? Katia spoke of it all so freely that Eros was quickly losing interest. At a ball he likely would have slept with her despite it all, but as it was, if she was going to be so near, he didn't at all want to be used as a weapon. He'd spent his entire life in perfect propriety and careful discretion. No one in the world had information that could incriminate him, or at least, no proof of it.
"And so you are here," Eros said, his urbane smile returning. "What may I get for you?"
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Post by Katia Medina on Aug 20, 2009 10:33:47 GMT -5
Katia sighed at the return of formality, she knew she'd trod on something the wrong way, a lifetime of training gae her the ability to notice subtle shifts that changed the balance of a conversation. He had been nice to talk to, and she did not want to lose that. "Aside from my last comment back?" Katia grinned in self-chagrin, all she'd talked about was her father, so something she had said there would be the root of the problem "I am rather forward, but then, my father is in another country, and in Spain, well the situation is common knowledge." By common knowledge she meant exactly that, everyone knew that her father was between a rock and a hard place, and that Katia had brokered a deal. For the time being she could do what she wanted, but should her father become ill, or her uncle die, then she was on the first train back to Spain. Her father at least knew a willing bride was better than an unwilling one. And there were things she wouldn't say to his face, she wouldn't bait him, but a heady dose of independence was hard to come down from. "I apologize for any offense I may have tendered."
Beyond that, if Eros wanted to be just the civilized shop keeper, then she would let him. "I think, for my order, I will need an assortment of chocolates, and other candies that aren't sticky. It wouldn't do to have them smearing my walls." Just because she'd chosen a profession she knew would irk her father, didn't mean that she enjoyed touching the gremlins. The majority of them weren't anywhere near acceptable until they were of age, and then some weren't even beyond that. "And I think I will take a pound of the Richart chocolate," for herself, and she would be putting it someplace the children could not find.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Aug 20, 2009 14:42:37 GMT -5
Eros was not offended, nor did her last comment disturb him. It was a combination of things, and far too complex to mentally break down, let alone to settle her mind. And, since Katia had gone on, Eros took advantage of the situation and made no effort to respond to what she had said previously. He inclined his head slightly and moved to gather the chocolates requested, a process which often left children begging at his counter. He would not simply throw things into a paper bag and drop it on a counter. That showed a complete lack of pride, and he would keep his pride intact.
The chocolates were arranged into a pretty box, with the Richart separate, in its own box with delicate tissue paper to protect it. While he worked, methodically and meticulously, he listed things to Katia, what was most popular, and what was the least likely to melt or crumble before the children reached the door with it. When everything was lined up and the total tallied, Eros felt almost satisfied with the work.
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Post by Katia Medina on Aug 20, 2009 14:50:08 GMT -5
Katia watched Eros as he packaged and boxed everything up, "I think that I will make this a monthly order then. I have a feeling that it will be all I can do to keep things stocked for a month." The man at least had going for him, in her opinion, the adequate care and time taken that she would expect from a good shopkeeper. She felt safe that he chose things that would work well with what she had to do on a daily basis. Katia tilted her head for a second mulling over an idea she'd been formulating. "I am thinking about throwing a dinner party, would you do me the honor of attending?" Dinner parties were a staple in her life, and she was not going to forgo that just because she'd moved to a strange new land.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Aug 20, 2009 15:42:42 GMT -5
Eros had been far too excited over the promise of monthly orders, but there was no helping it. He hadn't sold a total of items in a month that was worth this amount. It wouldn't be enough to pay off everything he'd spent, which he was nearly regretful for purchasing at this point, but it was far better than what he'd had. He'd been about to ask if Katia wanted the items delivered when the words dinner party filtered through the numbers he'd been calculating.
His eyes lifted from the packages he was arranging into a bag, interest clear in his eyes. There was no use pretending to indifference when he hadn't had such entertainment all summer. It was ironic, in its way. He had come to escape the routine balls and routs and dinner parties, and though he had his entertainments in London, and occasionally with Mano and Carolynn, he was atrophying. The last event of any real note had been a month and a half ago!
Would you do me the honor of attending? Eros's face remained, as always, composed and fashionably bored, but he let his eyes give him away. "I believe that I could find time for a dinner party," he replied.
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Post by Katia Medina on Aug 20, 2009 16:30:53 GMT -5
Katia let out a genuine smile, "great, I am glad. Now, I am planning to have it later this weekend, perhaps Sunday will work?" She would be glad to have it earlier, but it was a spur of the moment party, and she wanted the chance to send out invitations. "However, I do need some help. Seeing as you are the first person I have met in Hogsmeade, I was wondering if you had any idea whom else I could invite?" She would admit to needing help, you generally planned a party with an idea of who was coming and how they worked together, but she needed to make sure of more, she needed people to actually come in the first place, and that mandated asking the one invite she was sure of, to help fill out the guest list.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Aug 20, 2009 17:49:40 GMT -5
Eros thought for a moment before replying. "It depends upon your requirements for guests," he said at last. If she was inviting everyone of age, regardless of blood, or, God forbid, shopkeepers to annoy her father, then he would be little help. If she was inviting only the local quality, he might be of more assistance.
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Post by Katia Medina on Aug 20, 2009 19:06:20 GMT -5
It didn't take long for Katis to answer, she knew what she was looking for, "I assume, that someone with a long naming tradition comes from a family of good breeding. I trust your judgement, you have not steered me wrong in my chocolate endeavors." She smiled just a bit, "I do not want it to be too large, ten people at the most, I would prefer closer to six guests."
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Aug 20, 2009 19:20:17 GMT -5
Eros inclined his head slightly in understanding, and after a moment, drew a piece of fine parchment and an elegantly-tapered quill out from behind the counter.
"In London, you will find Mano Berwyn and Carolynn Singh, and," he added, glancing up at Katia, "Michael and Dare Blackwood-Hardt." If she didn't know the names, she would be in for a surprise. He returned to writing the names. "In Hogsmeade, besides myself, you may find..." Eros withheld a mischievous smile. "Emilian Sota." He stopped and straightened now.
"You may find Adara Snow and Chase Firebrand at the school, as well as some others of questionable import. You may wish to round out your numbers with one Dahlia Alexander. I would advise you to keep distance from the Seyrrous, unless you have a particular liking for lack of discretion and the Dark Lord." That would give her an even ten, including herself.
"If you truly wish to cull your list, I would be glad to provide more information."
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Post by Katia Medina on Aug 20, 2009 21:59:09 GMT -5
Listening to the list Katia could find nothing out of the names that would suggest the exclusion of the people they were attached to. "It sounds like a wonderfully full list to me, and as I know none of the people on the list, I will cede to your judgment." Katia looked at the paper, "is there any special concessions I should be making in the seating of the guests?" She knew only to well how aristocracy created tension from within on a frequent basis, and she did not want to ruin her party with that.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Aug 20, 2009 23:27:36 GMT -5
Eros's lips quirked slightly. "There are a few rivalries," he admitted. He knew enough history to be a fair judge of who would be unhappy near whom, and was unsurprised to find that Emilian would be the most difficult to seat. He looked down at his written list, mentally calculating for some moments before finally picking up his quill again. He pulled out a fresh piece of parchment and rewrote his list carefully, finally turning it and pushing it lightly toward Katia across the counter. "That would be my recommendation," he said. Any other arrangement and there might be bloodshed.
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