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Post by Health on Nov 27, 2005 16:47:36 GMT -5
"Thank you," Iris said blushing a little and walking inside with Raphael, she was instantly greeted by a large, friendly Russian man, who thanked her for coming on such short notice and showed her to where they had set her harp, "Well look around, "Iri said to Raphael sitting down, "I should be here more then a half an hour," she mentioned tuning the harp and began playing.
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Post by raphael on Nov 27, 2005 17:30:41 GMT -5
Raphael took Iris' suggestion and began to wander about the art gallery as she played. He never stopped to look at anything terribly long, but there were a few things that caught his eye.
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Post by Health on Nov 27, 2005 17:34:55 GMT -5
Playing the harp was one of Iris's favorite past times. Of course she still did needlework, but that was more to keep her powers under control and she consitered it work. It was the same with writing, but playing the harp had always been her joy.
Her nimble fingers flew over the strings plucking her caressing there. Her fingers knew the notes so she closed her eyes and played, completely at peace.
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Post by raphael on Nov 27, 2005 18:11:13 GMT -5
Raphael stopped pacing the gallery and found a bench on the far wall of the room Iris was playing in. He took a seat and just listened. The music was soothing, soft and harmonious. It had been some time since Raphael had heard such music. He enjoyed listening to the music, and people watching. Raphael was slightly amused at the people who were walking about the gallery with a rich air about them. It amused him to see people take so much stock in material things like money. To Raphael money had never been something to horde or spend on ones self, it was something to be used on company. To Raphael what was money if it could not be spent on a good time with people he enjoyed being with.
He simply sat, watching and listening.
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Post by Health on Nov 27, 2005 18:13:52 GMT -5
Iris smiled, still with her eyes closed began playing a more difficult tune. Her hands flew up and down the strings. It was one of her favorite songs, and a time consuming one to learn by heart. Iris blacked out the people's conversation around her and just let the music flow, she was in her element now.
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Post by raphael on Nov 27, 2005 19:16:11 GMT -5
Raphael heard the change of song, it was a lovely melody that he had never heard before, but that just made it special. Raphael continued to people watch until the man who had greeted Iris at the door saw him and wandered over.
Raphael looked up at him just briefly enough to reguard his presence, which it seemed the man took as an invitation to sit down.
Raphael was not going to embarass Iris so he nodded and greeted the man kindly.
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Post by Health on Nov 27, 2005 19:20:56 GMT -5
Iris opened her eyes and looked at the clock, five minute to go, he fingers were begining to cramp. Figures they'd forget to turn up the heat to keep her finger warm, but it was for a favor for an old friend so she shouldn't complain. She glanced over to Raphael and saw that her friend sat down beside him and winced, conversation wasn't really Raphael's strong point.
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Post by raphael on Nov 27, 2005 20:25:51 GMT -5
Raphael glanced over at Iris and saw her look at him. He simply nodded almost un-noticably and turned back to the man who had sat down next to him.
"well, I take it that you run this establishment?" Raphael was thinking about how he could not upset anyone.
The man responded in kind, and began to talk about the gallery and all the works of art contained within, and Raphael listened patiently, not wanting to crush the mans spirit, he had obviously put a lot of work into it and was proud of it, much the same way Raphael was proud of the students he had taught over the years. Suddenly the conversation shifted, "so how do you know Iris" the man asked rather bluntly.
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Post by Health on Nov 28, 2005 12:22:28 GMT -5
Iris went into another song, a short song, to past the last five minutes quickly. She stiffened a little as she heard the question on how Raphael knew her, Iris knew that Rahpael would come up witha good answer. But then her old friend, the gallery owner, would go into how her and him meet. How they were lovers when they were younder, he wanted to marry him, but she refused and moved away. It was a confusing story to hear.
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Post by raphael on Nov 28, 2005 14:34:38 GMT -5
Raphael weighed his words carefully before he spoke them, he did not want to spend any more time with this man than he had to.
"I was a teacher of hers long ago." however this was not enough to qwell the man's interest and he pressed the issue. "Really, you were her teacher, in what pray tell?" Raphael had to come up with a quick lie, or maybe not so much a lie as it was a clever adjustment of the truth. "It is a lost art, I am quite sure you would not understand its beauty." In truth, the close combat skills he had taught were a lost skill since the invention of the pistol, but he was not finished, he had wanted to avoid any further questions on the matter.
"It is a very private matter I am afraid, and you will have to ask her yourself if you wish to know more. However I am interested in this fine collection you have here, how did you come about such a treasure of art?" Raphael had hoped it might be enough to purse his curiosity, atleast long enough for Iris to finish and tell the man what ever it was that he wanted to hear.
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Post by Health on Nov 28, 2005 15:42:00 GMT -5
Iris stopped playing and quickly got up, smilimg politely to the applause as she walked over to Raphael, "Are you ready to go?" she asked kissing the gallery owner on the cheek, "I'd love to stay but I have many engagements I have to keep. We should lunch sometimes," she finished waiting for Raphael.
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Post by raphael on Nov 28, 2005 17:23:09 GMT -5
Raphael turned to Iris, putting a hand up to cut off the man mid sentence as Iris approached. He simply nodded and stood as Iris took care of the pleasantries. Raphael bowed deeply and said, "well, your company was a pleasure." Raphael then again offered his arm to Iris.
"I think I will drive this time."
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Post by Health on Nov 28, 2005 17:27:18 GMT -5
"And your driving is safer then my flying?" Iris asked arching an eyebrow and taking Raphael's arm.
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Post by raphael on Nov 28, 2005 17:31:40 GMT -5
"now I never said that, but My car is just around the corner." Raphael lead Iris out the door, slowly, making with the standard pleasantries of an upper class engaguement. And litterally on the next block up was a 1929 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, completely restored with all of the beutiful chrome coming off the front end.
"might as well go out in style now shouldn't we?" Raphael said as he opened the passanger door for Iris to get in.
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Post by Health on Nov 28, 2005 17:34:02 GMT -5
Iris didn't know anything about cars, but she knew she liked this one. As she looked around the car she commented, "So where did you hide the weapons and turbospeed buttons?"
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Post by raphael on Nov 28, 2005 17:43:36 GMT -5
"I thought you knew me better than that, this is a classic, everything is adaquate (rolls royce joke...) I haven't modified a car since that roller coaster of a tank back in south america." Raphael closed the door gently as Iris had gotten in and walked arounf the car to the driver side and got in himself. He started the engine and it idled beautifully, almost inaudible inside the cab.\
"This car is built like a tank, solid steel body, solid steel frame." Raphael pulled the car into gear and began to drive in the direction of the more downtown area.
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Post by Health on Nov 28, 2005 17:48:14 GMT -5
"It's the best kind of car, now a days they're made from the lowest bidder, and people wonder why I prefer to fly," Iris said glancing out the window, enjoying the view of the city through a car window.
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Post by raphael on Nov 28, 2005 18:00:26 GMT -5
Raphael simply nodded, the streets passing by, the car could get up pretty fast, but it was heavy and hard to slow down so Raphael kept the speed at the speed limit. He pulled up to one of the most exclusive restuarants in town and got out of his car. He walked around to the other side to let Iris out. Again he offered her his arm and when the Valet came for the keys Raphael just handed them to him and said, "take care of her." He slipped a fifty dollar bill into the coat pocket of the boy as he said so.
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Post by Health on Nov 28, 2005 18:03:18 GMT -5
"Raphael, this is one of the most expensive resturant's in the city," Iris said stopping in her tracks and looking, "You can't be serious about going here," even if she did disagree with Raphael spending so much money to take her to to dinner, she was impressed.
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Post by raphael on Nov 28, 2005 20:50:09 GMT -5
"come my dear, what is money if it cannot be spent on compnay you enjoy being out with." Raphael walked up to a man at a wooden podium. Raphael didn't even have to say a word and the man recognized him. "Mr. Lukavelli, how nice of you to join us this evening." He snapped his fingers and a man in a tuxedo came right up. The man who had been at the podium just told the seater to put us at a table near the window.
Raphael bowed his head politely and slipped a fifty into the hand of the man as he shook it. "Thank you sir." As they were being lead to the table Raphael turned to Iris, "its all about who you know."
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