Date: Sun Nov 12, 2000 9:46pm
Subject: The Harkonnens Get Social


(This is only a partial log... I entered after the RP had already 
started :/ <~Anya> )

Hall of Boyars -- Rastanyev Embassy (Kaitain)(#2886Rntu) 
Dim light illuminates from torches and candelabra's set in ornates 
brass sconces along the wall. The flickering flames cast shadows upon 
the room. On the southern and western walls hang two enourmous 
tapestries, on which images of Tsarkoe, the city of the Tsars have 
been carefully and painstakingly woven. Two alabaster statues stand 
on high marble pedastals to either side of the entrance. The statues 
honour the handmaidens of the Jarla Alexandra III during the battle 
of Neyvak. 
A large table cut from a white stone native to Garrashu VI sits in 
the centre of the room. Chairs crafted from a dark hued hardwood have 
been placed along either side of the stone table. Resting against the 
backwall, not far from the table, a throne-like chair has been 
placed, cushions of dark red velvet contrast the dark wood of the 
chair's body. 
Players:
Fahahd Nerissa 
Sylvie Jihat 
Mikhail 
Exits:
Elacca Wood Door <N> leads to Dining Hall -- Rastanyev Embassy 
(Kaitain) 
Heavy Bronze Doors <S> leads to Reception Hall -- Rastanyev Embassy 
(Kaitain) 

Jihat sees a movement in the corner of his eye, stepping to a side as 
the Lady Rastanyev enters. He bows to her, saying softly, "M'Lady."

Sylvie waits for her host to invite her to sit down, and to be seated 
himself. 

A rustle of silk can be heard at the doorway, and Lady Tat'iana 
Rastanyev enters, peering about with curiosity at the apparent 
guests. She arches an eyebrow, casting a glance further about the 
room to see who else might be present.

Sylvie notes Tat'iana's entrance with a smile and a bow, "My Lady."

Fahahd also gives a fluid bow as well, though he's hardly so 
presumptuous as to greet her verbally.

Satyavrat walks in from Reception Hall through the Heavy Bronze Doors.
Satyavrat has arrived.

As Mikhail seats himself at the head of the table, Nerissa graciously 
gestures to the rest of the seats, standing behind her own. "Please, 
if you will, sit and relax." She isn't about to leave the Harkonnens 
in the doorway, after all.

Jihat bows again at his master's entrance, moving to the diplomat's 
ear. He whispers something to him.

Fahahd looks Sylvie quickly, though it's hardly fitting for him to 
sit in the presence of his betters.

Jihat keeps his position by the door.

Sylvie turns to see who has just entered and offers a slight bow to 
Satyavrat, turning away again quickly and taking a seat, "How nice, 
it's turning into a little party."

Using Russkiy, Nerissa says, "No manners at all.... Tsk."

Tat'iana steps away from the door finally, and moves to stand just 
behind Mikhail's chair. "What a pleasant surprise," she remarks, 
giving the two Harkonnen guests a soft smile.

Sylvie smiles, "There I was in Revelers and so terribly bored with 
dancing and whatnot...even that little room in the back gets tiresome 
after a while and I thought to myself, where haven't I been in this 
town. And here I am. I'm so glad to find you at home."

Nerissa coughs delicately, looking at Tat'iana. She has no idea how 
to act as hostess, so surely Lady Rastanyev would be so kind as to 
save her...

Satyavrat returns the Lady de Biencourt's bow after he pays his 
respects to the Earl and his family. He wordlessly walks over to 
Jihat's left and takes a seat himself, leaning over to whisper 
something back to him. A polite smile lights up his face, and his 
eyes carefully look over everyone in the room before resting on 
Mikhail.

Jihat nods silently to the diplomat but does not answer.

Sylvie glances from Nerissa to Tat'iana and then to Satyavrat, 
silently wondering if she's said something terribly wrong.

Tat'iana catches Nerissa's glance, and turns back to the guests with 
a warm smile still firmly in place, "Then you must be thirsty, my 
Lady. Can I have refreshments brought?" she asks quickly, already 
moving to summon a servant.

The Guard also gives sylvie a questioning look. Have they made some 
faux pas?

After seemingly being lost in though for a good many minutes, the 
Earl stirs, remembering that he ought to be attending to his own 
guests instead of allowing his fiancee to handle the matter for him. 
He claps his hands together twice, bellowing, "Boris! In here, bring 
drinks and light consumables, now!" It seems that this man can do 
aught but bellow at these slow servants.

Sylvie nods in response to Tat'iana's suggestion of a drink, "Please. 
Whatever you have is fine." She smiles again.

Tat'iana nods then, and her eyes fall on the diplomatic aide, Jihat. 
Waving a hand in his general direction, she says brightly, "Mr. 
Salladin, do be kind to our guests, and go to the kitchens. Have them 
send out beverages and something light to eat, hmm? They will know 
what we keep on hand for events such as this."

Jihat watches silently, feeling his anger become replaced with 
fascination. /This/ was diplomacy, and he was watching it happen 
before him like a flower opening to greet the sun. He looks up at 
Tat'iana, smiling as he nods. He turns away, frowning only so that 
the door can see.

Jihat has left.

Sylvie suddenly remember the guard with her and says, "Oh...I haven't 
introduced Sergeant Alaurans." She gestures toward Fahahd, who is in 
plainclothes.

Fahahd offers the nobles present a deep, fluid bow, before 
straightening up. "My lord, my lady," he murmurs in his harshly 
accented voice.

Sylvie turns her attention back to Mikhail, "Have you been to the 
back room at Revelers, My Lord?"

Tat'iana returns the guard's bow with a slight nod, and moves to take 
a seat at the table while she awaits the cart from the kitchen. She 
falls silent, as the questioning turns to Mikhail.

Mikhail smiles softly, though somewhat tartly, "Revelers? Mmm, I 
cannot say that I've been there in quite some time and never have I 
ventured farther than the main dance hall."

Sylvie nods, "I haven't had time to go there at all, myself. Not 
since things started picking up at the school. This is my first day 
of freedom in some time."

"The school of Assassins?" Satyavrat pipes up sharply. His smile 
doesn't waver an inch. "Run by the Baron's own Mentat, is it not? The 
requirements for entrance were quite interesting...no swordschool 
training, for instance. Are you taught swordplay of any sort?"

Sylvie answers Satyavrat with a smile, 'Yes, of course. What kind of 
assassin would I be if I couldn't penetrate a shield with a blade?"

Satyavrat's lips twitch in amusement. "A subtle one," he replies.

Sylvie laughs, "Yes...well, there are more ways than one to 
accomplish the goal."

Fahahd turns his agate green gaze on Satyavrat, almost curiously. 
There's nothing of rudeness of impudence to the gaze...it's oddly 
innocent, and only makes him look all the younger.

There is a slight noise at the door, and a servant enters with a cart 
laden with a tray of pastries and a steaming carafe of coffee. The 
tray piled with pastries is set upon the table, as well as the carafe 
and enough of the small delicate cups for everyone. 

Tat'iana dismisses the servant with a wave, and cheerfully sets to 
serving the coffee herself. "This coffee is very strong, thus, one 
drinks it in such small cups, like so," she explains as she pours a 
cup, "Would anyone care for a taste?"

Sylvie says, "Please, yes."

Satyavrat raises a hand politely at the Lady's request, having 
previously tasted this brew and finding it too strong for his own 
tastes.

Fahahd looks intrigued, but glances to Sylvie for permission.

Sylvie asks Tat'iana, "Would it be all right if the Sergeant had 
some, too?"

Tat'iana hands the hot cups around to those that want them, and sets 
one aside even for herself. To the Sergeant, she nods, passing a cup 
to him as well. "But of course, my lady... Of course..." The laden 
tray of desserts she gestures to, then points to one particular type 
of pastry. "This little one is a special dessert we like here... do 
be sure you try it... Help yourself. We are not so formal here 
usually." And taking one of the indicated honeyed pastries for 
herself, she settles back into her chair, cradling her coffee cup in 
her hands.

Sylvie doesn't take the cup directly from Tat'iana, but indicates the 
table and asks softly for her to set it there. Her hands remain in 
her lap the whole time.

Satyavrat follows suit and takes one of the flaky pastries 
himself. "You finally succeeded in speaking with the House chefs, 
m'Lady," he notes as he takes a small bite. "They're usually so 
intent on sticking to the standard Garrashu faire of shortbreads and 
frosted confections."

Fahahd mimics her motion..waiting for Sylvie before picking up the 
cup.

With coffee cups set out as requested, Tat'iana sips of her own cup 
carefully. "So... if I have understood... you are on something of a 
break from your schooling? Will it give you much of a break to enjoy 
things again, lady?"

Sylvie shakes her head, smiling as she picks up the coffee cup, "It's 
just for the day. I go back to the same old routine tomorrow. I think 
we're up to eighteen miles a day plus weights and training." She 
reaches for a pastry.

Fahahd reachfes for the cup, and cradles it carefully in his callused 
fingers. He takes a delicate sip from it, still watching Sylvie over 
the rim.

Tat'iana nods to Satyavrat, and grins triumphantly. "Especially after 
my dinner the other day with Her Highness at the Palace, I was able 
to better explain to the cook how others here eat.... they've been 
adding things as I'm able to describe them. I think we are making 
progress, at last." Her attention returns to the pastry she plucked 
from the tray, and she nibbles at it delicately. "Oh... heavenly. I 
could hate the Lord Sultan for showing me these. My dressmaker surely 
will! Baklava, the Bajazets call it. What do you think of it, m'lady?"

Sylvie takes a bite of the pastry and licks her lips, "Delicious." 
She turns to Fahahd and mentions with a grin, "That's somewhere else 
I haven't been. We'll have to try there next time."

Fahahd does not foam at the mouth on the mention of the Bajazet, much 
as one might expect it. He merely looks intently to Sylvie, as if her 
opinion of the delicacy were of the utmost importance to 
him. "Indeed," he affirms. As if they would be politely received 
there.

"The Lord Sultan is a most gracious host, m'lady. I'm sure you would 
find a visit there quite enjoyable..." Tat'iana says smoothly, and 
sips at her coffee once more.

The diplomat has, in the meantime, completely polished off his own 
pastry and is absently rubbing honey off of his fingers while it is 
being discussed. "He might even send gifts for the Baron Harkonnen 
with you," he suggests with a broad smile. "Without a Warmaster 
controlling the House, good relations might even coalesce at last."

Sylvie finishes off the baklava and sips carefully at the strong 
coffee. Looking up, she nods to Satyavrat, "The war is over, after 
all. Time to mend fences."

Fahahd finishes off the last of his coffee, still holding the mug as 
if he feared he might somehow break it just standing there. His 
expression hasn't shifted a whit..perhaps he's a bit simple.

Tat'iana nods her own ascent, emphatically. "Life does continue... 
despite horrible memories. It would be good to see fences whole and 
unmarred once more."

Sylvie turns her attention to Mikhail, "What do you think, My Lord? 
Is it possible?" 

Sylvie sets her cup down on the table and gets to her 
feet, "Well...thank you so much for the coffee and the pastry. We've 
taken up enough of your time." She smiles warmly and looks to Fahahd.

Fahahd sets his cup down next to hers as well, before looking to 
sylvie. The effect is uncannily like a dog looking to its master in 
hopes of a walk.

Tat'iana rises from her chair as Sylvie does, inclining her head 
deeply to the other woman. "This was indeed a pleasant surprise, 
m'lady... Please, do not be strangers. Come again, when you have 
another break?"

Satyavrat rises from the table as the Harkonnens do, absently wiping 
his fingers on a small napkin left there. He smiles politely at them 
both, and gives Fahahd a long glance while Tat'iana bids her 
farewells.

Fahahd catches Satyavrat's gaze and holds it for just a moment, 
expression still bland as milk.

Sylvie bows to everyone in the room, "Thank you, I will." She turns 
and heads for the door, allowing the guards to show her out.

Sylvie walks to the south and passes through the Heavy Bronze Doors.
Sylvie has left.

Fahahd turns crisply on a booted heel, and follows after Sylvie.
Fahahd walks to the south and passes through the Heavy Bronze Doors.
Fahahd has left.