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Tweak says, "RYU GA WAGA TEKI O KURAU!!!"

Léon Belmont (ex_the_ambas216) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-03-28 07:54:00

Entry tags:

ambassadors_ball, leon_belmont

An Invitation to the French Ambassador's Ball
Subject: The Ambassadors Ball
Where: The French Embassy
Who: Léon Belmont, the French Ambassador to the English court
Warnings: none as yet
Open to: All (all players may attend either as invited guests of the ambassador, as servants or guests of those invited, as staff, or as gate-crashers.)

The ballroom of the Embassy was already growing busy, and when Citizen Belmont paused for a moment besides one of the large windows, he could see yet more carriages pulling up outside, wreathed in the mist blowing in from the river.

The quartet had been playing now for a good half an hour, new French tunes as well as those the English favoured. His staff was busy handing out good French wine, and then refilling those glasses when they were drained.

It was going to be a good evening, and not only in the eyes of the party-goers. With some of England’s most prominent aristos on the guest list, and some than some newly arrived French nationals, tonight would be a night of information gathering, of sizing up the opposition, and perhaps even ensuring some of those French escapees were returned to face justice.

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loveanddespair
2008-04-24 08:43 pm UTC (link)

Sabana surveyed the room from behind the folds of her fan. It was probably too much to hope for that the Ambassador was simply an opera aficionado who had invited her here out of his love of music. No, from what she had been told he was a jumped up little man in a badly tailored suit stolen from his dead predecessor.
Still it never hurt to make contacts, especially those in high places.

She smiled widely, ready to face the enemy.

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the_legman
2008-04-24 11:24 pm UTC (link)

Ferrand thought the dark-haired woman who had just entered the room looked rather familiar, her colouring and dress were certainly distinctive enough to be memorable, but it wasn't until he caught a proper glimpse of her face as the fan dipped down for a second that he recognised her.

With a wide smile on his face he approached her, "Duchesse du Foix! How wonderful to see gossip and rumour proved wrong for once. It is a delight to see that you've escaped the horrors of the court and made your way here." He bowed rather awkwardly to her but the pleasure at seeing her was honest at least; he rather liked the opera when he could afford to go and she truly was an excellent singer.

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loveanddespair
2008-04-24 11:29 pm UTC (link)

"Señor! How kind of you to say!" Sabana replied, fluttering her fan coquettishly. "I hardly know of anyone else here who would call England a delight but I am most grateful to be on its shores."

She looked him over, still smiling widely as she tried to place him and could not.
"I'm afraid, Señor, you have put me in quite a delicate position for you seem to know me and I do not know you."

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the_legman
2008-04-24 11:49 pm UTC (link)

"Well, when one considers the alternative I can imagine even the most loyal of French nationals would call this country a sweet relief."

Ferrand shook his head, still smiling, and put up a hand lightly to his chest, "Duchesse, I would be honoured but greatly surprised if you did know my name, indeed I can hardly expect a great woman such as yourself to remember the name of every admirer of your work that you meet." He recalled being at a few of the same court functions as she but she, unlike he, would have no compunction to recall the name of every person she met at them. Especially one of a foreigner from the colonies without even a title to his name. "My name is Ferrand Duval. I am a writer for the newspapers and so have the pleasure of spreading the word of your singing to the masses far and wide." Far being the operative word here as he'd even sent a copy of his review to the Gazette, along with the political consequences as well, but that was beside the point.

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	loveanddespair 2008-04-25 08:17 am UTC (link)
	Sabana clapped her hands together delightedly. "I believe I have read some of your work, Señor, and greatly enjoyed it. But then I always enjoy the works of those who praise me. Don't you?" (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

the_legman
2008-04-25 09:21 pm UTC (link)

Ferrand beamed, pleased as anything to hear that she'd read something of what he'd written (and remembered it), and laughed. "I'm afraid I can't comment. We who give the praise rarely, if ever, receive it ourselves. That is an honour kept solely for the editors, alas."

He waved his hand then, as if clearing the air, "But, Duchesse, pray tell. How did you manage this miraculous escape of yours?"

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loveanddespair
2008-04-25 09:26 pm UTC (link)

"How unkind! I shall make sure then to keep up with your reports from now on and praise you whenever we meet."

Sabana's smile fell and she glanced around the room, unsure of who she could trust. She felt Ferrand would not be a danger but here at the ball she could hardly reveal her contact without endangering them all.
"Is this for your newspaper? I'm afraid I cannot name names." She said, fanning herself briskly. "I have friends who would have hated to see my lose my head. It is so hard to sing without a body."

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the_legman
2008-04-25 09:42 pm UTC (link)

"My lady, you honour me far too much." He responded, with a smile, but still a touch embarrassed.

Ferrand shook his head vigorously and lowered his voice, "No, no, of course not. I understand far too well the perils of revealing the locations of certain people and those involved with their escape. No paper or even other persons in my line of work will ever hear anything about this." He had his own people to protect after all and if word ever got out that he knew the locations of anybody who fled they would be put at risk also. "It's simply for my curiosity alone and possibly the chance to thank who ever helped you. Although, if I might ask, does this mean you plan to continue singing? Is that not a bit risky?"

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loveanddespair
2008-04-25 09:49 pm UTC (link)

"I think it may be too hot for me here. Would you accompany me out to the gardens, Señor?" She asked, taking hold of his arm.

Once they where outside and away from watchful eyes and gossipy tongues Sabana relaxed.
"Mercedes Dupont, Señor. I had a contact in France who sent me to him and he brought me across to England." She rested her hand on her hip, gazing up in to the night sky. "No, only private performances. I am hoping to attach myself permanently to England, at least until the danger has passed."

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the_legman
2008-04-27 10:15 am UTC (link)

He was a bit surprised at her request, or rather not at the request itself but the action that came with it, but nodded and walked out with her anyway. "Of course, Duchesse."

"Dupont." He repeated, trying to place the name, before shaking his head. "I don't believe I know anybody by that name. Was he at the court?" He followed her eyes up to look at the sky, it was a clear night and the stars were just visible through the murk and the haze of the city smog, and smiled. "A good plan, if I'm allowed to say, although did you never think of returning home to Spain?"

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loveanddespair, 2008-04-30 09:13 am UTC

	mercedes_dupont 2008-04-25 07:35 pm UTC (link)
	"Señorita Sabana?" Mercedes smiled, having spotted the dark-haired singer from across the room. "Señorita!" He said, clearly delighted to see her. "How are you, dear mademoiselle? Have you settled in?" He asks, bowing low and taking her hand. "I have missed you greatly since our adventure." (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	loveanddespair 2008-04-25 07:42 pm UTC (link)
	"Mercedes!" She exclaimed, waiting for him to kiss her hand. When he had done so she tutted. "Is that any way to greet an old friend?" She throw her arms around him and kissed him wildly on each cheek. "I have missed you too. I have an apartment and I have been dancing with..." She looked about and then pointed to the man in the crowds. "That young man there." (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

mercedes_dupont
2008-04-25 07:52 pm UTC (link)

He laughed loudly, not particularly caring that those near-by turned to watch the unorthodox greeting. "Señorita, you never change." Mercedes grinned, still the hint of a laugh on his lips. "An apartment, you say? Where? May I see it?"

As she pointed over his shoulder at the rest of the room he turned his head to see, although the movement of the dancers made it difficult to identify exactly which young man she inferred. "The tall, dark haired man, Señorita? Is he not very different from your usual suitor?" He asked, studying the man a little more, "He seems... a little brutish to me."

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	loveanddespair 2008-04-25 09:06 pm UTC (link)
	"In Bishopsgate, near the Opera house. Of course you may." She gasped, struck by a thought. "You must stay with me, Mercedes, whenever you are in London. My home shall be your home. You may even use it for your clandestine affair." "He is a little crude but he is also a Lord." She said, smirking behind her fan. "And what do you know of my usual suitors?" (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

mercedes_dupont
2008-04-25 09:12 pm UTC (link)

"Stay with you, Señorita?" Mercedes smiles, "There is a suitor you want to give a certain impression to?" He asks, glancing back over his shoulder again, trying to place the man.

"Lord?" He replies, something falling into place in his mind. "Miles-Milford or Mallard?" He mutters, and shakes his head, unable to remember the man's name exactly. "A womaniser, they say. I have never spoken to him myself."

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	loveanddespair 2008-04-25 09:15 pm UTC (link)
	"Nothing excites a man more than the promise of forbidden fruit." Sabana laughed. "Something like that." She agreed. "Eward, but if he is a womaniser as you say is there any point in my pursuing him?" She looked up at Mercedes. "Is he free with his money and jewellery?" (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

mercedes_dupont
2008-04-25 09:22 pm UTC (link)

"I suppose that is so. You would like me to stay with you when you wish to tempt a man more so than usual?" He asks, taking the two glasses offered to them by a servant, and handing one to her, "But what will you do when I... wish to use your apartment? I would feel ungrateful, asking you to leave for us."

"He is free with everything, they say, including his insults. But you could enjoy your time with him, no doubt. But he is out to bed you." He pauses, "But you know that already."

He smiles slightly uncomfortably, taking a long swallow from his glass and near draining it. "Aimé is here tonight."

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loveanddespair
2008-04-25 09:30 pm UTC (link)

"Think nothing of it, darling." She said, waving away his concerns with a wave of her hand. "I will simply stay with my young man that night or we can arrange for your young friend to attend the opera and I will go in his place."

Sabana smiled demurely. "Why Mercedes, what sort of woman do you think I am?"

"He is?" She looked around quickly, hoping to catch sight of the young man. "Point him out to me."

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mercedes_dupont, 2008-04-25 09:37 pm UTC

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loveanddespair, 2008-04-25 09:43 pm UTC

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loveanddespair, 2008-04-25 10:02 pm UTC

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loveanddespair, 2008-04-25 10:40 pm UTC

madame_margot
2008-04-29 10:54 pm UTC (link)

Marguerite was getting tired of the endless rounds and refusing champagne glasses. She was already nicely buzzed. Any more and she'd end up in someone's bed and forget how she got there - and that was not the way to spend an evening. If she was going to do something scandalous, she wanted to be wide awake enough to remember it.

Passing the ballroom once more, her gaze alighted on a figure that seemed familiar. Dark hair and what would've passed for a gaudy dress before the revolution. It was like a replay of the old days.

Barely containing her glee, she marched forth, grinning wide. "Sabana! Ma chère! It's been too long!" I can't believe you're not dead yet.

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loveanddespair
2008-04-29 11:08 pm UTC (link)

Sabana had been greeting adoring public all evening so she was hardly surprised to hear her name called out, although when she turned to see who it was her smile, though it remagined fixed, did not quite meet her eyes.

"Marguerite! How surprising to see you here! I wasn't aware you were a close personal friend of the ambassador" She said, snapping her fan out fully. Let Marguerite take from that what she would.

Is bitchy ok?

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madame_margot
2008-04-29 11:20 pm UTC (link)

[[so they're not the best of friends? darn ;P]]

Advancing to see her was a little like parting the red sea. Sabana stood in the middle, as always enthroned above the less fortunate, though she liked to pretend otherwise.

"Indeed," she smiled, pleasant but biting her tongue all the same. "Much like yourself. How ever did you escape unharmed? Oh, but I'm so pleased you did. You look well." And that, if nothing else, was the truth.

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loveanddespair
2008-04-30 09:02 am UTC (link)

"I was going to ask you the same thing, my dear." Sabana said, fanning herself - elegant but a dismissive gesture all the same. "Naturally there where those who could not stand the thought of my falling foul of those horrid little revolutionaries and so sponsored my rescue."

She looked at Marguerite critically. "I did not know you had such fans, Madam. Where is your poor husband tonight? Or did he not make the voyage. I know so many freshly widowed women now a bed in England." And certainly if anyone would make herself a new bed in England it would be Marguerite, and probably in someone elses marriage.

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madame_margot
2008-05-01 09:53 pm UTC (link)

"My husband died on the crossing," Marguerite replied, tone turning frosty. It wasn't something she liked to think about. The cold of his fingers, his vacant eyes... "His dear cousin provides for me," she added, flashing a diamond ring and having the courtesy to appear at least a little shamed.

"It was fortunate neither one of us were at court when the revolution ignited or we would not be standing here. Free to enjoy the Ambassador's hospitality..." Though by the time Sabana's success at the court was on the rise Marguerite's was yet to be felt, she knew enough of the woman to hold no illusions of her true worth. Not so dissimilar, you and I. In the end.

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loveanddespair
2008-05-01 10:05 pm UTC (link)

"Oh my dear, how horrible to hear." Sabana said, biting her tongue to keep from asking if Marguerite had helped him on his way. "But what a lovely ring. That must ease the pain a little, I find trinkets usually do."

"Quite fortunate." Sabana agreed, signalling a servant over to them and taking a glass of champagne. "And for you Marguerite?" Perhaps the ambassador had had the forethought to poison the glasses.

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madame_margot
2008-05-02 12:04 pm UTC (link)

"Indeed, if I recall correctly our affection could always be bought with the right sort of gift." A smile that was too parts fond memories and one not so much crossed her lips. "At least in the old days."

Taking a glass against her better judgment - she had already had one too many, Marguerite nodded. "What shall we toast to? Reunions? Better fortunes than our dear friends across the channel? A quick death to those who wronged us? The latter seems to be the fashion, nowadays."

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