(1310-07-10) A book to re-write
Summary: Lady Irene finds an interesting man in Wine Cellar ready a book. She decides to ask if he can lend it to her but the man raises one condition.
RL Date: 10th of July, 1310
Related: None
marco irene 

Wine Cellar

Stairs lead down to the heavy oak door, above which the sign of the place, the likeness of a Hellene amphora spilling over with wine painted upon wood, swings lazily in the occasional breeze. Beyond that door the entrance hall comes into view, where various kegs and casks of differing sizes are arranged in oenological allure before the roughly hewn walls of ancient stone. There is a chill down here on hot summer days, that will be efficiently battled in the colder months through the heating of a giant hearth to the back. The place has a decidedly cavernous character, alcoves to the left and right offering seating at small tables for two or three. Lamps are dangling by chains from the ceiling, shades of milky glass work from La Serenissima offering sufficient lighting. There are no visible windows, which means lamps will be in use even during the day.

Further to the back there is a small hallway branching off from the main area, leading to a medium sized chamber where the bigger barrels are stored. Here, a larger group of up to eight people can sit about a round table of heavy oak, while they are being served the rarer vintages or even the heavier spirits that are stored in a wooden cabinet to the back. Staff is mostly male, clad in black breeches and white shirts with dark red vests, knowledgeable sommeliers of superior training that will be glad to wait on guests in person and offer insight into the variety of wines, red and white, from Terre d'Ange and a variety of specialties from abroad, that are available here.


Marco is settled into a quiet corner of the Wine cellar. He has a small book open in his lap that he reads turning a page absently before reaching for a rather low glass of wine. He takes a small sip and continues reading. The young Mereliot man seems utterly content tucked into a corner of the quiet restaurant and seems as if he's used to doing such things reading by the flickering lights.

A young woman walks into the Wine Cellar together with her guard. Irene?s hair has been gathered back from her face. Braids are weave into a neat bun but some of the curls are left to stick out a bit playfully. She is wearing a flowing dress of deep brown color accented at the waist by a brighter brown silk. The young woman also wears many jewelry pieces on her arms and a pendant is hanging on her neck. The neckline is a touch daring, but high in the back. The sleeves of her gown are cut long to cover the back of her hands and come to a V-point at her middle fingers adorned with some rings.

The lady looks around the quiet restaurant trying to pick a seat but her attention is caught by a man with a book on his lap and she forgets all manners for a second simply staring his direction.

Marco eventually glances up as he looks for a server to refill his wine. He holds his glass up wiggling it and smiling in appreciation as a server sees him and nods. Marco's eyes then catch someone staring at him for a time. He smiles warmly at Irene looking at her curiously for long moments, "Might I assist you?" He asks her with a curious but amused look eyes considering her thoughtfully.

"Oh! I am so sorry…" Irene shakes her head. "I did not mean to stare. I was just simply curious what you might be reading here." She explains starting to walk closer to the man's table. Without a proper invitation, she takes a seat in front of the man. "I love reading myself."

Marco shakes his head slowly and waves a hand, "Nothing wrong with staring." He winks playfully, "I'm very easy upon the eyes." He says in a mild tone but he sits up slightly shifting and then he slides the book over which is clearly a history of Menekhet as he shrugs, "Just something to pass the time."

#"Ooooh… History and about Menekhet? I have not read it before. Is this book yours?" Irene raises her eyes up from the book to the man. "I am lady Irene d'Eresse. I am not planning on stealing this but I would really love to read it during one of those evenings." The lady bites her bottom lip but keeps her eyes apologetically locked on the man. "If you would be able to lend it to me once you finish reading?.."

Marco smiles softly and shrugs, "One I obtained yes… I have a few people who know how I cherish things I do not know today." He chuckles, "Well you needn't steal it but… yes. I expect I could lend it to you for reading or transcribing." He considers her and asks, "Do you have a fair hand?"

Irene blinks a few times. Her cheeks blush just a little bit. "Am… Forgive me, but what do you have in mind when you say a fair hand? If you ask if I am an honest person and will give you a book back then yes. As I said, I would not steal it. I am just also very interested to the things I do not know."

Marco blinks at that for a moment and then laughs softly, "When I said fair hand I meant are you able to copy legibly. It's always easier to lend a book if you expect there is going to be a copy made at the end of it. I rather encourage sharing of knowledge."

"Oooh…" Irene laughs as well. Then she just simply shrugs, "I have never tried copying the book. Can it be hard though? I sketch. I love making portraits of people. Copying a book shouldn't be harder, I guess. I could make a copy if this is a requirement to get the book."

Marco smiles, "It's not hard to do. It's very hard to do well and in quick order." He says agreeably and then considers, "Oh? Portraits what sorts of portraits?" He asks and he grins, "Not a requirement just an incentive."

"Black and grey. I usually use only a pencil. I would show you my current works but I did not bring my sketch book. Usually, I have it with me all the time. You can not know when I might get inspired," Irene explains with high excitement in her voice. "When I see someone who interests me, I need to make a very quick sketch of the person while I see him or her. It usually takes just a couple minutes. Then I go home and add more details to the drawing. Everything from my memory but I also do not mind adding a little bit of imagination and…" She pauses. "I have not yet heard your name, m'lord. Are you a scholar? Do you copy books? Is that like your… work?"

Marco nods as he listens to that thoughtfully and considers, "Well you will have to show me your work sometime." HE suggests and he grins, "Marco de Mereliot." He offers to her and he chuckles, "Me? Oh no I just read them but appreciate having more I appreciate knowledge and it's good to know that it is expanding."

Irene nods, "I can show you my work indeed. I can also promise to re-write the book even if that will take quite a lot of time!" When the man introduces himself, Irene's eyes grow wider, "Vicomte Marco de Mereliot? I must say I imagined you… older…." She laughs.

Marco smiles, "Oh you don't have to promise that. I was only curious if it was a talent you had." He pauses and raises his brow, "Oh? My reputation precedes me and why would you think that?" He asks of her curiously his eyes twinkling in amusement considering her at that.

Irene shrugs, "I can not exactly say… I heard people talking here and there. You know,especially when I work as a lady in waiting to our Dutchess. I hear a lot about various lords and ladies. One can not stop themselves from creating an image of those they heard about. Somehow I thought that you will be way older! But I mean no offense in that… I was merely surprised!"

Marco ahs and chuckles, "I didn't realize quite how liberally she had been taking on Lady's in waiting." He looks amused, "I'm not sure if I should be offended or flattered. But well I suppose I can only be glad that I am spoken about in such esteemed company. And you are?"

"What do you mean she is very liberal in taking ladies in waiting? Are you suggesting that I am not quite suitable for such a position?" Irene raises a brow and her smile fades. Her expression dims even more when the last question is given. "As I said before, I am lady Irene d'Eresse. I am sister to Gauge and Belmont if you heard about any of them."

Marco shakes his head, "No, not that you're not suitable. Rather that I've met a few others and no doubt so very many more that aspire to the role. I wonder how many her Grace will accept." HE admits agreeably and ahs, "My apologies I must have missed it, see I must be doddering in my old age." He suggests playfully, "as for the rest I'm aware of them a bit but I'll admit I'm not overly familiar."

The man's humor amuses Irene and draws a laugh from her lips. Her features one more become way more friendly, "Well… if many aspires to become a lady in waiting and our duchess will accept them all, I feel that this position looses it's value. Lets just say I am ambitious and now I feel that I actually did not achieve anything!" She shakes her head pretending to be quite disappointed but her cheerful expression gives away that she is not. "How long have you been staying at Marsilikos, m'lord?

Marco chuckles, "Well I did not mean to imply it was not valuable. Only that many seem to aspire to it you should I hope think of that as a compliment. I'm sure you'll know before if she accepts more. Though I think being in her confidence is the most important of things." He smiles, "As for staying here well I grew up in the region but a few months I've been here this season." He admits.

"Where did you grow up? Tell me more about yourself! For example, how did you grew passion to books instead of blades, women and drinks, and parties. Majority is more into those things and you are here. Alone. In Wine Cellar. With a book." Irene looks at the man curiously.

Marco laughs softly, "Who said I do not have a passion for blades, women and drinks? The books often have all of those." HE admits, "I was raised in the region but I spent much time studying in Caedicca." He admits mildly, "As for the rest… Well I felt like not simply being in the palace. And the Wince cellar has excellent wine, and I am always curious about foreign lands so it seemed to make sense."

"Right," Irene chuckles covering her lips with fingers to muffle the sound of her laugh politely, "I understand. Could you tell me more about Caedicca? I have never been there. I have not visited foreign lands at all, to be honest… What did you like there the most?"

Marco ahs, "You haven't? It's a lovely place though it puts the politics here…. well it's a whole different scale the families vying over the strangest things. But mainly it is a place that many people pass through the tales were intriguing and the people exotic. There was always someone with a more ridiculous tale. Still the learning there was top notch masters in every sort of field you could imagine." He says sighing dreamily.

"You seemed to miss those lands. Maybe you are planning to leave again and stay there in the future? Or…oh… Forgive me. You are Vicomte and you have many responsibilities here. No luxury to travel and just be where you want to be, right?" Irene sighs. "My brothers have desires to seek adventures what puts them in constant danger. I call it reckless, they call it 'proving themselves and being a man'. I wish they could just safely sit at home…"

Marco smiles, "Oh, I wouldn't mind visiting them again. But yes my lands have their own care taking required." He chuckles, "There are plenty of adventures to be had here. But I can understand the desire for such things." He shrugs, "Still responsibilities are just those besides there is plenty of fun here in Marsilikos, don't you think?"

"I completely agree with you. My brother Gauge has similar responsibilities as you. Yet he left to seek his adventures and prove his courage to the woman he loves. Same is done by my brother… I really dislike their decisions and just a dark humor keeps me from slapping them. I kinda joke that if they will keep being so stubborn and reckless I might end up as a landed lady. So, I do not stop them!" Irene laughs but is quick to add, "But honestly, I pray each day for their health."

Marco chuckles softly, "Well…" He shrugs and shakes his head, "Don't get me wrong I've done plenty of stupid things for the attention of a lover. But… for the moment at least duties have kept me where I am." He shakes his head and smiles, "I suppose that's the trouble with siblings they remain so even if they drive you nuts if not particularly then." He does raise an eyebrow at her depiction and shrugs, "Well if they are smart I'm sure they will trust more of the handling of important matters to you."

Irene nods, "They already said that I have more sense in me than they both together. That was quite pleasing compliment. At least they admit it. I just wish they would listen for my reasoning! Anyway, I shall not bother you too much with my family issues…" The young woman waves to the server and orders a cup of warm tea. Her eyes find newly met companion buy she remains quiet.

Marco chuckles softly, "Compliment or acknowledgement of reality?" He asks and he smiles, "Oh not a bother it's always intriguing to hear." He smiles warmly, "Though I suppose I should be returning to those duties though this was delightful." He drops the book on the table for her, "Drop it by at the palace when you are done mmm?"

"Of course, m'lord. It was a pleasure meeting you!" Irene tells and opens the book she just received to read.

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