Shoes and Garou

[Chole Du Noir]

I sat there in the classically decorated parlor. Rich maroons and tans with little ascents of whites and blacks. Surrounded by the splendor did nothing to lighten my black doom cloud of a mood. My elaborate black and crimson dress gathered up in frills, twirls and swiffs. The Pretty of it to me was an irony, a beast disguised as a beauty. Yes it is I, the liveing contradiction, in the flesh, or fur. It depends on my mood. I gave a little laugh a that. So many loup garou had it so easy, shifting when they felt like it, and most without any pain. Each and every shift for me was a bone crunching, panic inducing ordeal.

I feel that, I can only shift during the full moon, or at least thats the only time I was ever forced to. I never really had the will to shift into my changed form. My moods either being to mopey of myself just being to docile to try it had always gotten in my way. Never meeting my father had definitely had some drawbacks. I had no clue of my Loup Garou family, history, and powers.

I leaned back in my seat an crossed my ankles. Oh how my shoes are pinching my feet right now.

[Edmond François]

Thoughts of his divine Adrienne gave Edmond’s face a touch of happiness that few were familiar with. Usually being quite a reserved man, the lieutenant of the Kadencian guard was a soldier first and foremost. He talked only when he needed to and performed his duties with a routine, careful style that had quickened his promotion through the ranks. He wasn’t arrogant or conceited, merely quiet and rather… well… introverted.

…but as he began to imagine seeing his beloved fiancé again, he let a fragile smile creep across his handsome features. Running a slender hand through golden locks, the lieutenant pulled open the door to the lavish La Demin-Lune Auberge. The note he carried was for the innkeeper’s eyes only, and it was for such eyes that Edmond quickly searched. Captain Faustine had given him explicit orders to forewarn François about the wanted man who had stumbled into their village. The man that was accused of mugging and killing four people in a neighboring village.

Finally spotting the aging innkeeper, Edmond crossed the room and handed the pompous fool his superior’s note. ”From Captain Faustine.” He announced, waiting patiently as the other man unfolded the paper and began to read. Rigidly attentive, Edmond slowly began to let his eyes wander across the room. He noticed the girl sitting alone, her ankles crossed and a look of pain written across her youthful features, but before the guard could really distinguish anything else, the innkeeper was handing him back the letter.

”Tell your captain that I am grateful for the warning, Monsieur.” The stubby man said. With a curt nod, Edmond turned to leave. His hand resting on the hilt of his sword, he again let his eyes wander to the solitary girl, seemingly oblivious to the world around her. He briefly wondered if he should concern himself and with some degree of hesitance, finally altered his exit.

Approaching the female, Edmond stopped short of her table. Observing her beneath a mass of windblown bangs, the soldier waited for her to notice him before he spoke. ”You look troubled, Madame. Is everything alright?” He asked swiftly, his voice stern yet smooth.

[Chole Du Noir]

I jumped at the sound of masculine voice, at first i thought i was being scolded. For the man gave off such an air of superiority, I thought that perhaps my grandfather had come for a visit. I almost shuddered at the thought. But I kept all that under the surface of a cool, plain, mask. "Oh nothing sir, just thinking"

[/i] I ignored the pain in my feet and stood up and gave a light curtsy."I am Madam Chole Du Noir, And who are you sir?"[/i] now that my feet where covered by my long dress, i made shure to wiggle out of those beautiful, yet deadly shoes. I carefully scooted them under my chair. Standing there in my sock feet felt so much better. Speaking of socks, the ones I had on where my most loved!

They where long red and black ones with pretty black lace at the tops. But oh dear, here i am thinking of socks wile there is someone of important stature in this new society was right in front of me. Oh, how scatter brained i can be. I gave a sheepish smile and gave another curtsy and then sat back down, being sure to keep my feet hidden.[/size][/justify]

[Edmond François]

Edmond stood as rigid as if this girl were his captain herself, plainly attentive but seemingly dismissive. He silently observed the purple-hued oculars and the pale skin, realizing for the first time that this girl wasn’t as young as he’d first thought. Like his darling Adrienne, she appeared more youthful than her age bellied… though, this girl seemed to have some kind of deep-seated worry. There seemed to be some awful shadow lurking there beneath those satin orbs…

Shifting his position, the lieutenant tried to relax into a stance more appropriate for idle conversation – but failed. He dared not let his hand leave his sword in this day and age and the rigorous training he endured under Captain Faustine had him coveting this pose.

”I see.” He said, stealing a swift glance at the innkeeper. There were duties to be attended and people to see, Edmond knew he should be getting back to work but something kept him rooted in this place. Perhaps just the desire to take a break? ”You may address me as Lieutenant. My name is Edmond François, of the Ville de Kadence Guard.” His words were bitter, a forced greeting. But then… everything about Edmond seemed bitter. It was who he was. ”A pleasure to meet you, Mademoiselle.”

He turned to exit the inn, but stopped. There was something about this maiden that seemed so familiar to him. He cast a backward glance, running a free hand through his hair and debating whether or not he should offer to escort her. ”My lady, is there someplace that you should be? It would be my duty to escort you there.” His words were meant to be kind but sounded a bit unpleasant. He let a gentle smile barely touch the corners of his mouth, evidence of his good will.

[Chole Du Noir]

"Oh, I dont believe I am supposed to be anywhere but here" I thought about what I had just said. No, I dont think I was meant to be any where. Nobody had called on me, perhaps a message was sent that I had not gotten? I lingered on that idea. Grand father had said that I was going to be appointed an Overseer. But then again I had yet to meet the person, or be given a note as to who it, he, she, would be.

Oh dear old grand daddy did so live and love to keep secrets from me. I looked to Sir François. "Was I meant to be anywhere?". The man was handsome, if not a bit high strung and perhaps a tad bit paranoid. But I did not know this man, who he is, who he was, what he will be, who he will become. So I can not judge him to be anything other than a guard of the Ville de Kadence. But his smell, It did seem familiar. Perhaps he was one of the guards who had escorted her coach to the 'City Of Wolves'. Oh I du wish I could place where I had scented him before.

[Edmond François]

Edmond searched the faye’s features for any hint of emotion but all he noticed was confusion. She seemed to be at a loss for any rational mind… I don’t have time for this. He thought to himself, disgruntled by his own impatience but too polite to simply walk away. Had it been his captain, this girl would have been left talking to herself. If not worse...

Oh Evelyn, how you encourage the best in people. Thinking of how the guard leader would have responded brought a sincere smile to the lieutenant’s face. His eyes searched Chole’s for any hint of dilemma and finally realized that she had already spoken. ’Was I meant to be anywhere?’ His good mood evaporated suddenly. How in Christ’s name am I supposed to know that, woman? His temper flared and his lips creased into a scowl. His training as a guard has prepared him for any amount of combat, but sociality was beyond this noble-born Garou.

”If I had known that, I would not have been asking.” He barked, barely managing to control his voice. Hand resting forever on his sword, the brute almost had a mind to vent his frustration on poor François’s tables… but that kind of behavior was heavily frowned upon in the civilized world. Instead, Edmond inhaled a few quick breaths and softened his expression to more sedated fashion.

”I am sorry, Madam Du Noir… I’ve been under a bit of stress lately. I would be happy to accompany you anywhere you wish to go, but if my presence is not desired then I’m afraid I must be back to work.” He smiled again, genuine this time and directed at Chole – not some memory that passed through his mind. Tipping his head gently to emphasize his point, the guard waited as pleasantly as he was capable for her response.

ooc; Ack! Sorry for the wait.

[Chole Du Noir]

I was startled at the sudden outburst of anger from this fellow. I could almost feel the mask slipping over my emotions and sticking them into a dark box of brick and mortar. Now I was yet again the daughter of a countess. The mixed blood in me started to rise. But I suppressed it. That's all I needed. My wolf self trying to prove its self yet again, that's what got me this collar in the first place. I fiddled with the shiny D-ring on my thick black leather neck tie.

"Lieutenant Guard of Ville De Kadence, you are dismissed. Return to your post" Oh how i hated to act like that. But i could get short with people too. I may not be the countess yet, but i was the only heir to the Du Noir Estate. I ignored his smile and turned my head to the heavily drapened window. It was a tad cloudy out. Perhaps it would rain. Oh how i did love to talk a walk out in the rain. Oh what a mess i am, at the first sign of questioning or conflict I immediately turn to my thoughts and start thinking of something else.

But some rain would be lovely.

[Edmond François]

Edmond’s smile evaporated as quickly as his temper flared. This arrogant little… He stopped himself mid-thought, trying to control the raging, smoldering emotions and remain expressionless. Giving the girl a curt nod, the lieutenant’s eyes rolled angrily toward the innkeeper for a split second – his best attempt to distract himself – and then Edmond turned on his heel and began to exit. Hand on his sword, white-knuckled with his grip, the brute stopped only once. He cast her a blazing look of insult before opening his mouth to speak. ”Have a pleasant day, Ma’am.” He didn’t mean it, but that didn’t stop his gentlemanly tendency. Raised in nobility himself, he knew well the politics of society and the necessity for courtesy.

Thinking of Adrienne and how she often managed to calm him down, Edmond relaxed slightly and sauntered out of the extravagant inn. He wanted to scream, to growl, to transform into a wolf and shred every living thing within a mile’s radius into little bloody pieces… But he kept himself composed. Self-control was often something that the lieutenant lacked. His ability to rage helped him immensely in battle but in a more civilized setting he often found himself in trouble for it. Especially with Evelyn. And this… Chole Du Noir. His own insult to her had been completely forgotten in his mind, all Edmond registered was the stinging lash of a girl – a stranger – that he’d just met.