[night court au] company come to call

[stillnotrachel]

It's early afternoon in the Night Court.

Rachelle no Mandrake has been awake for several hours: taking breakfast in the Adept's dining room and catching up on gossip, answering correspondence and scheduling assignations.

The Dowayne has asked her to provide a demonstration for some of the younger initiates before dinner tonight; she's mulling over potential forms while a Novice arranges her hair.

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[gothamsheiress]

In this continuity Brix has slipped back to Terre D'Ange after her time spent at Milliways; it's been long enough that the bruises on her neck have faded to a less-obtrusive yellow that she doesn't bother to cover. Too much time spent away from her household and its affairs tends to make her feel restless. Or, more accurately, time spent away from her household and the people she cares for makes her anxious.

Given that Matthieu nó Gentian alone has been kidnapped twice, she thinks she has reason enough to keep an eye on her friends. So she's been quietly making the round of the Night Court, listening for gossip, saying hello to those she calls colleagues and those she calls favorites.

And, though she has no appointment, she pauses at Rachelle nó Mandrake's chambers and knocks, politely. (Brix has not always been polite in Mandrake's walls; she is aware she'll be living that down with some of the adepts for a good long while.)

[stillnotrachel]

(Rachelle knows nothing of the specifics, only that Brix raised her voice to Marthe, made demands and was--however grudgingly--obeyed. She was decidedly amused, but she is also not the most traditional of Mandrake's adepts.)

Her chambers are not so large that a knock cannot be heard from the dressing room. The novice's hands still in Rachelle's hair, but the girl does not move at first. Rachelle makes eye contact in table mirror and smiles very slightly.

"Go and see, Jehanne."

The girl slides one more pin into place, then pads out into the sitting room and opens the door--wide enough to be inviting, not quite so wide that the guest can stride right in.

"Good afternoon, my lady. How may I be of assistance?"

Jehanne is young, years away from her debut, but she speaks with a practiced sort of confidence.

[gothamsheiress]

"Jehanne, isn't it?" she says with a smile. "Is Rachelle about?"

[stillnotrachel]

Jehanne, preening a little at such a lady remembering her name, does a quick mental inventory. Rachelle did not say to turn all-comers away, or to admit only a certain one. Hospitality is called for.

"She is, my lady. If you would make yourself comfortable--" She holds the door open wider, gesturing for Brix to enter. "--I will announce you."

The sitting room has two chairs with ornately carved arms and legs, a couch that could seat two comfortably (or three cozily) and a low table between them.

Jehanne slips back into the dressing room. "Brix nó Balm de Marsilikos here to see you, mistress."

Rachelle smiles. "A very pleasant surprise. Tell her I will be out in a moment, and ask her if she would like any refreshments."

The girl is quick to follow her mistress's instructions, arriving back in the sitting room promptly but without any indication of having hurried.

[gothamsheiress]

Brix has settled herself onto the couch, reclining at her ease; when asked for refreshments, she asks for tea, if Jehanne pleases.

[stillnotrachel]

Jehanne has only been gone for a minute or two when Rachelle emerges from the dressing room. Her hair is swept away from her face, half pinned up and the rest flowing free down her back. She has not bothered with cosmetics or with clothes more ostentatious than a grey gown with black embroidery at the cuffs of belled sleeves.

She has a ready smile for Brix, arms open in greeting.

"An unexpected pleasure, but a pleasure to be sure. How are you, my dear?"

[gothamsheiress]

Smiling, Brix rises to give her a kiss of greeting.

"Rachelle! I won't bother you long, I only came by to say hello."

[stillnotrachel]

"Nonsense, you're welcome to bother me as long as you like."

Kisses exchanged, Rachelle sinks gracefully onto the couch.

"Now tell me, how have you been keeping?"

[gothamsheiress]

"Well enough." Her smile is a little rueful as she settles back into her seat. "Wrapped up with a new patron, that's all. I feel as though I've barely been anywhere else for a fortnight."

This is certainly an exaggeration; if she has dropped from public view, it was for no more than a few days, hardly enough to garner comment.

[stillnotrachel]

Rachelle lets the exaggeration slide; she trusts that Brix has her reasons, merely files the thought away with the paled remnants of her bruises.

"New patrons are often like that. I can only hope it was a delightful captivity."

[gothamsheiress]

Still rueful: "Tiring. But I think we're making progress. I hope so, at least."

She shakes her head. "But what about you? Are you keeping busy?"

[stillnotrachel]

"Busy enough. More old patrons than new, although I have a few in the courtship stages; trying to decide if we'll be a good fit for each other.

Also--"

Rachelle pauses as Jehanne returns with the tea tray. The girl lays everything out on the low table--teapot, cups, cream and sugar, and a plate of small pastries.

"Thank you. That will be all."

Jehanne curtsies and departs; Rachelle takes up the teapot and begins to pour. "Also, the Dowayne has asked me to demonstrate rope work for some of the younger novices tonight."

[gothamsheiress]

(It's a contrast, Brix thinks, to be the one poured for rather than the one pouring.)

"You're teaching tonight?" She smiles. "Do you have room for another pupil? Unless it's all knots I already know."

She's joking -- at least, mostly. Most demonstrations of that type are for the novices of the house, not for curious outsiders.

[stillnotrachel]

Rachelle laughs.

"Darling, you are more than welcome to attend, but this is certainly one for beginners. I think you could teach the class...with one hand tied behind you."

[gothamsheiress]

Brix lets out a burst of laughter.

"That would be a sight. It would be instructive for somebody, though I'm not sure of what."

Possibly knots, possibly predicament bondage. You know. Whatever.

[stillnotrachel]

Rachelle hides a smirk in her teacup.

"And I don't know if that counts as the 'less daunting' forms the Dowayne had in mind."

[gothamsheiress]

"I suppose it depends on who you're trying to daunt," she muses, picking up her own tea.

"What forms will you be teaching, then? Decorative or functional?"

[stillnotrachel]

"Some functional, certainly. Something for the wrists, I think."

She brings her hands together to demonstrate, still holding her cup and in no danger of spilling.

"My plans are leaning more toward the decorative, though. I think they should have the chance to appreciate the rope in itself before they start seeing it only as a tool. There are teachers enough here who can show them that."

[gothamsheiress]

"Honoring the aesthetics of an assignation is very important," Brix murmurs with a smile, thinking of red, blue, and silver cords.

[stillnotrachel]

"And they're as much as part of setting the scene as anything you say or do.

It should be a feast for all of the patron's senses."

Rachelle clicks her tongue. "Which you well know. I'm afraid my mind has been too much on instruction lately."

[gothamsheiress]

"If I had no interest in instruction, I wouldn't visit instructors," Brix says with a light laugh. "Between you and Havelock I feel like I'm still in training sometimes."

[stillnotrachel]

"I wish all our pupils were so attentive," she teases.

"But sometimes I think we never outgrow being students; there is always something new to learn."

[gothamsheiress]

"Elua, I should hope so. I can't imagine how dull it would be if I ran out of things to learn."

One of these days she really should get Parthene nó Eglantine to teach her more tumbling, though, now that she thinks of it. Eventually she's going to run out of ropework to learn.

"In any case, I only hope I do you proud." She smiles. "I've had good luck with that collar-and-lead you showed me."

[stillnotrachel]

"The only thing better than a student who listens is one who applies what they learned."

Rachelle takes a delicate sip of tea before asking, "With anyone I know?"

[gothamsheiress]

"No, he's not from the City, and I don't expect him to frequent the Night Court. It's a pity, really, you'd like each other."

She miiiight look a little like the cat who got the cream.

[stillnotrachel]

Rachelle sighs dramatically and consoles herself with one of the pastries from the tray.

"I don't suppose I can begrudge you keeping him all to yourself. Enjoy him, my dear."

[gothamsheiress]

"If he'll let me," Brix agrees, with a laugh.

"Ought I to ask after the patrons you're courting? Or being courted by," she amends.

[stillnotrachel]

"I think we are both well past 'ought' these days."

Rachelle tilts her head, mentally reviewing the letters on her desk.

"There is one that promises to be intriguing. The new Comtesse Toluard--she has a nephew by marriage and thinks we would get on well." She nibbles at the edge of her tart.

"Not my usual method of introduction, but the Comtesse had a fondness for showings of old and I trust her to smell Valerian when it blooms."

[gothamsheiress]

"Indeed? Have you met him yet, or is that still to come?"

[stillnotrachel]

Rachelle nods at 'still to come.'

"Soon, though. We've traded first letters. I think we'll need at least one meeting before the first assignation."

She smiles. "It has been a while since I dealt with a true novice--outside of the Court, I mean. I think it will be...refreshing."

[gothamsheiress]

"They need careful handling," Brix murmurs, thoughtful. "In Valerian, at least, they learn their limits."

[stillnotrachel]

"It will be slow going," she agrees, "but...it's like a gift, in a way. Peeling back the layers of someone who has never experienced these things before, finding out what's underneath. It's not something to rush.

I can't exactly speak for the young man yet, but I know I have patience enough for the both of us."

[gothamsheiress]

"That, I can certainly vouch for."

[stillnotrachel]

"As can the rest of my students, much to their frustration."

The Dowayne has perhaps assigned some of the more overeager novices to Rachelle for remedial instruction.

If they are very lucky, before the session is over, they are allowed to tie a few knots.

(But they all leave in much less of a hurry.)

[gothamsheiress]

Brix laughs.

"Poor things! They'll thank you for it one day. I do hope your young man can match you."

[stillnotrachel]

"I don't take it personally. Mandrake's children are too proud to show their appreciation until much later and more subtly.

And as for the young man, I have high hopes myself. We should know in the next few days how they will be met."

Rachelle lifts one bare foot from the floor and pokes Brix lightly in the calf.

"And how do they match you--your new friend, your new patron? I find myself craving gossip."

[gothamsheiress]

Brix chuckles again, but it has a rueful edge to it this time.

"The friend -- he's a good match. Very . . . kind, when he yields. He enjoys it for its own sake, but for his partner's as well, I think, and that is a lovely combination."

[stillnotrachel]

Rachelle wonders about that laugh, but elects not to pry (yet).

"It is," she agrees.

"A generous lover is a gift; the trick, sometimes, is getting them to be a little selfish."

[gothamsheiress]

"He is certainly vain," Brix says, amused, "but that is not quite the same thing."

[stillnotrachel]

"No, not quite," she laughs.

"Certainly easier to manage, though."

[gothamsheiress]

"Oh, and far be it from me to miss an opportunity to give praise where praise is due."