"realKnuckles" wrote:

"SIR." Damen stormed up to the stage, "I'd like to challenge you and see which of us could perform a faster and closer shave....the winner takes home twenty pounds....."

"Hm..." he Frenchman paused, "Fine."

"Beadle, will you be the judge?"

"I must oblige, my friends..." the Beadle sneered

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Zabrina amiled honestly, watching Damen with bright and gentle eyes. One day, she wanted to be his. Forever.

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"Now, who's for a free shave?" Damen asked, smiling politely

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Several people cleared from the Duke's path as he entered the room, his footsteps barely audible to most. The silence made them louder though, but finally, the footsteps stopped as he halted in a calm and slow motion. "I will accept this offering", he agreed in a posh tone.

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"Of course Sir!" Thenard sat the Duke down in his chair, not shutting up for long enough for the man to protest.
Damen sighed, "You sir..." he picked a random crowd member, the Beadle blew his whistle and the contest began.

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Zabrina bit down on her upper lip in slence, wondering if she should do anything. Perhaps she could summon some luck ability? Perhaps she could cause the other barber to mess up? Part of her told her to leave it, and see how Damen did on his own, so she followed those thougts.

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Damen sharpened his razor as the other man began to practically slap the shaving cream onto the Duke's face.

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Zabrina's smile widened as blobs of shaving cream were painted over the Duke's face, convinced that Damen needed no help in this area. Her smile softened slightly as she noticed his daughter, the little girl from the coner of her eye. "I love your dress", Zabrina complimented the small girl as she moved to greet her, her eyes brightening slightly as the girl smiled back, murmuring a pleased "thanks". 

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Damen made nine swift movements of his razor, and within seconds, the man was wonderfully shaven.
Thenard, on the other hand, was still fumbling to get in three clean strokes.
"The winner...." announced the Beadle, "is Solis!"

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Still standing near the young girl, Zabrina clapped along several others at Damen's successful win. "Wow!" the small girl beside her smiled quiely, since she had been watching the entire competition with Zabrina.

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