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Jardins d'Eisheth
Tranquility and beauty of nature is what those coming to the gardens of Eisheth usually seek. There is a playfulness in the arrangement of paths through the greenery, and the way four of them wind to the center, where there is a pond surrounded by a few elm trees, beside an area with wooden benches and tables beneath an arbor, where ivy winds about wooden posts, and a roof of colorfully glazed tiles offers shelter from the sun but also moderate rain.
Bushes are trimmed, and the green is kept short, so that people coming here can enjoy the dramatic view over the coast all the way to the sea, with the harbor and the citadel slightly to the north. Slightly towards the south and close by is the infirmary with the herb garden beside, where a variety of plants used for healing and treating certain illness are grown under the immaculate care of the healers. Towards the east, a path leads towards the temple district, where the dominant structure of the Temple of Eisheth looms, the white marble shimmering almost otherworldly on late afternoons, when it catches the warm, orange light of the setting sun.
It is a fall day. The weather is cool and clear.
With a basket on her arm, Soleil comes wandering into the gardens, clad in a shimmy gold dress under a sensible cloak, the hood of which has been lined with fur. She is radiant, like she walks in the sunshine wherever she goes, and there is a peaceful smile on her lovely face.
Stepping through the garden, Antoine looks a little lost in thought. Every now and then, he seems to be looking through some papers he's been carrying with him, although he's absently whistling a bit to himself. He hasn't noticed Soleil yet, although his steps take him in her general direction.
Seemingly quite at home in the tranquil gardens, pausing near one of the beds to inspect the quality of growth at this period late in the season, Soleil is not unaware of Antoine, though he hardly concerns her. As he approaches, she adjusts the basket on her arm gently, then turns slightly towards him, to bob a polite curtsey. "My lord," she offers pleasantly, the greeting a charming warning not to run her over.
Huh? Was that someone greeting him? Antoine's whistling comes to a stop, and he looks up from what he's reading, suddenly stopping his walk as he sees he's dangerously close to walking into Soleil. "Oh…" A brief moment to compose himself, he offers her a smile. "Hello. Lovely day today, isn't it?" he offers after a few longer moments.
"Yes, it's such a relief to have fair weather after so many days of overcast and rain," Soleil replies warmly to the man, turning her sweet blue gaze to regard him with an encompassing smile. "It's been fairly dreary since I arrived here in Marsilikos, and it's pure pleasure to have sunshine." Her accent is pure Mont Nuit, very refined and educated.
Antoine nods a bit as he hears that. "While I usually don't mind the rain, it's quite nice with the fair weather too. The rain helps for when people grow things, though." A brief pause as he studies her rather carefully. "I don't believe we've met before?" He nods a bit again, with another smile. "A recent arrival to the city?"
"No, my lord. I am recently arrived with my grandmother, Baronne de Vezelay. I am Soleil L'Envers no Coquelicot, formerly of Gentian House," the petite blonde offers with a sedate smile, looking rather pleased. "Rain may make the flowers grow, but they love the energy the sun provides them as well."
"Welcome to this lovely city," Antoine replies, before he adds, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Antoine Valais, Vicomte de Marcoux." He nods a bit at her words, unable to hold back a chuckle. "That is quite true, they need both the rain and the sun to grow. Both the flowers and the other plants we need."
"Thank you so much, Vicomte," Soleil replies, smiling warmly at the man. "I have gardened a bit as a hobby, and I do so love to spend time in a garden, so I have come here to investigate the Temple's gardens. It is a pleasant thing, I think, to see the fruits of one's labors grow."
Antoine smiles, "I can't say I have done much of gardening myself, but in a city such as this, these gardens are one of the better place for relaxing, since there are no wild woods to head out into."
"Relaxation is one of the things I specialize in, as a Gentian," Soleil offers with a pleasant smile, nodding a bit as she does. "Are you one for the wild woods? I've always been quite the city girl myself."
"I have always enjoyed the wilderness in general," Antoine replies, with another smile, putting away whatever it is that he was reading earlier. "But cities have their charms as well. Harder to find time alone where there's far more people, though." Another brief pause, before he adds, "And sometimes, being alone for a little while, to find quiet, is a very good thing too."
"Indeed, this is true. Do I intrude on your solitude, my lord? If so, I shall continue my walk with Le Chat," Soleil offers pleasantly, as if it does not matter much to her what might please him. She seems in a cheerful and content sort of mood, truth be told.
Antoine shakes his head, offering her another smile. "Not at all. I have gotten to enjoy some of the solitude, but meeting people is also quite interesting," he replies. Another brief pause, before he adds, "What made your grandmother and you come to Marsilikos, if I may ask?" he asks.
"My dear grandmother is in her seventies, and we thought that perhaps she might do better with a change of climate," Soleil explains with a small smile. "So far, she has rearranged the furniture in the house several times, and the rest of the family is not impressed at the number of chaise lounges she has decided to stuff into the parlour."
"I believe all that rearranging of the furniture is a sign that the change of climate is doing her good," Antoine replies, unable to hold back a brief chuckle at her words. "I hope she doesn't make you move all the furniture for her?"
Soleil shakes her head, laughing in amusement. "No, thank goodness. She's got good strong movers for that. I have taken over a suite at Le Coquelicot so that I can continue in my service to Naamah," she explains with an easy smile.
Antoine smiles, nodding a bit as he hears that. "I'm glad to hear your back is saved from having to move furniture," he offers, before he adds, "I mean, sometimes that's quite hard for your back." He nods as he hears her explanation, offering her another smile. "I don't believe I've ever visited Le Coquelicot."
"You should come visit me at some point, then," Soleil says easily, laughing at his comment about the furniture. "Enjoy the most restful night of sleep you've ever had, quite possibly, or have vivid dreams that help you understand yourself better."
"Both of those sounds like good things," Antoine replies, with another smile. "I'll have to keep that in mind, both for the restfulness, the dreams and the company," he says.
"Indeed, my lord," Soleil agrees in a pleasant manner, and her basket mews. She picks it up to peer at it, and there is a little marmalade kitten yawning in it. He mews again, and she fusses, "Le Chat! You have everything you could want."
Antoine pauses as he hears the mewing basket, looking to it rather carefully. Seeing the kitten, he smiles a little as he watches the cat and the woman, keeping quiet for now.
"Le Chat is my companion," Soleil says, moving to set the basket down on the ground so that the kitten can get out and explore. He is a stripy little fellow with a long tail who's fairly talkative, and he carefully takes interest in the flowers here.
Antoine smiles, loking to the kitten as he's allowed to explore. "He seems like a good companion," he offers, with a quiet smile, nodding as he watches the kitten and the flowers for a few moments longer.
"He is small and easily transportable, which makes him a convenient companion, and he is usually not one to interrupt conversations," Soleil observes mildly as she watches the kitten chase after some bug, real or imaginary, pouncing and missing.
"A whole lot better than some people," Antoine observes with a smile, as he nods a bit. "Has he been your companion for long?"
"No, not so long, as he is very young yet," Soleil observes, and indeed, the little ginger is a small kitten. "He came with me from Elua. He was a gift. From a friend."
Antoine nods as his gaze goes to the kitten again. "A nice way for your friend to make sure they were remembered. And a nice way to make sure you would not feel alone."
"Yes, he wanted to give me something that would love me as completely as his brother had," Soleil replies, and her smile has gone a bit distant as the kitten goes about kitten business and she observes him to make sure he does not get too far.
Antoine looks a bit curious as he hears that, unsure if he should ask about that or not. So for now, he just turns his attention back to the kitten, keeping silent for now.
The kitten kittens for awhile, and then comes bounding back over towards the humans, to play with the edge of Soleil's dress and to try to attack Antoine's shoe, just in case it turns out to be prey of some sort. Soleil reaches down and puts him back into the basket with a little click of her tongue.
Antoine is unable to hold back a chuckle as the kitten tries to attack his shoe. As the animal is put back in the basket, he smiles. "It was nice to meet you, Le Chat," That to the animal.
"He is a good kitty. He is just a baby, though, and needs much love and attention," Soleil replies fondly as she peers into the basket at the kitten, who is not entirely agreed that he was done kittening.
"Babies need that," Antoine agrees, nodding at her words. It's about at this time a man enters the garden, moving to speak with Antoine in hushed tones. Frowning, the vicomte turns back to Soleil. "I fear I have some business to take care of now. It was a pleasure to meet you, Soleil, and I hope we will meet again soon."