THE PARTY

By Maril
[email protected]

RATING: G
FEEDBACK: ? wait until you read it <g>
DISCLAIMERS: Fireworks has the copyrights, I'm just giving them some exercise.

"Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven" -- Unknown or maybe Milton

Musket ball, Slippers, Rake

~~~~~

The sounds of animated conversation and guitar music drifted over the walls of the Rose Courtyard as the two women approached. The younger woman squared her shoulders and drew in a deep breath. "I guess I can't put it off any longer, Marta. We're already late as it is. But at least, the torment of Montoya's party won't last so long tonight." She smiled wryly at her friend and walked through the gate into the brilliantly lit courtyard.

A very large crowd milled in small groups throughout the garden. A larger crowd than usual, Tessa noted. Who were these other people? She had never seen them before.

Colonel Montoya spotted his late-arriving guests and strode over to greet them. "Señorita Alvarado. I was beginning to fear you would not attend this evening's gala." He bent gracefully in a courtly bow, then took up her hand and kissed it, smiling intently into her eyes. His grey eyes coolly glanced over Marta, and he nodded curtly.

"You know I would never miss one of your social events, Colonel. I was delayed by business at my hacienda." Gesturing to the strangers among the usual assemblage of local gentry, she asked, "You seem to have some new guests here tonight. I don't believe I've met them."

"Their ship put into our little harbour today for repairs. Naturally, I had to extend my Spanish hospitality to them."

"You mean you put them in your jail, Colonel?" Marta remarked dryly. His cold glance made the corners of her mouth quirk as she tried to smother a smile.

Ignoring Marta's wry comment, Montoya took Tessa's arm and began to lead her toward a group of strangers. Three men in sombreros leaned against the courtyard wall, strumming their guitars.

"Señorita Alvarado, may I present, Jim, Rodlox and Neil, who called themselves 'The Three Amigos'. They have graciously offered to entertain us this evening." The three men bowed, giving Tessa such warm looks that she felt her cheeks colouring.

"Señores," she said coolly, fluttering her fan. The Colonel led her across the courtyard to another group. In their midst, she could see Dr. Helm, almost completely surrounded by women. Her face grew warmer still as she noted his seeming pleasure at being the centre of attention in this group of adoring women. She could hear his laugh rising above their animated chatter. Her blood began to boil.

"Ah, Dr. Helm," the colonel laughed, "I almost didn't see you in that crowd." He turned to Tessa and said, "These ladies found themselves beached upon our shores, and the good doctor has been kind enough to show them the town and its many attractions."

"Of which, he is obviously the main one," Tessa remarked under her breath. She heard Marta chuckle maddeningly beside her.

"Let me introduce you to Jo, Dea, Eliza, Maril, MnD, Margie, Li, Julie, ...."

Montoya continued to roll off the names but Tessa's attention had wandered. "Excuse me, Colonel. I think I will circulate a bit and greet some of my friends. It was a pleasure meeting you all," she added tersely, lifting her chin and then turning abruptly.

Montoya smirked at her hasty departure. The woman wears her heart on her sleeve, he thought in amusement. A hand on his arm captured his attention. He raised his eyebrows in sudden recognition, then his face fell. "I'm sorry. For a moment, you looked like someone I knew."

"I'm brig," she said brightly. "People are always saying I resemble someone else -- someone named Lucy."

The colonel swallowed, his face paled, but he quickly recovered. "A passing resemblance only." He kissed her hand courteously. "The woman in question thinks I am the devil incarnate."

"Better to reign in Hell than to serve in heaven?" brig asked with a wry smile.

He frowned, his flinty eyes intense as they regarded her. "How well do you know Lucy?" he demanded.

"A passing acquaintance only," she replied.

Another voice spoke beside him, the woman he introduced as Eliza. "Who is that handsome soldier lounging against the wall, Colonel?"

"That's Captain Grisham, our local rake." Montoya said flatly.

The captain seemed unaware of their scrutiny as he eyed the women in the courtyard while abstractedly tossing a musket ball up and catching it in his hand. Montoya followed the captain's gaze and found it focussed on Tessa Alvarado. He nearly laughed aloud at her indignant return glare at the captain's lustful stare. He clenched his jaw to withhold the smile that threatened as he watched Grisham casually making his way toward the señorita, and her suddenly joining a couple of dons and their wives to avoid him.

"If you don't want to find your slippers under his bed, you would do well to steer clear of Grisham. He seems to have started on a campaign to seduce every woman in the pueblo since he..." The colonel paused, realizing he was retailing local gossip to these strangers. Their fascination with the topic almost made him continue. "If you wish, I could introduce you."

"No thanks, Colonel," Eliza replied. "I was just curious." With the other woman, she wandered back to the group with the doctor.

About an hour later, Tessa had had enough. She had not been able to get near Doctor Helm all evening, surrounded as he was by that bevy of women. And now Grisham seemed to be stalking her everywhere she went. She began to search for Marta and spied her with a small group of women, some of whom she had already met. She made her way to the little gathering and said, "Marta, I'd like to leave now. Let's go."

"I'm in the midst of a conversation, Tessa. A few more minutes, then we'll go." Returning her attention to the women, she said, "Now, where were we? Oh yes, Jo and Maril, I was telling you about my early life in Spain, and about Tessa as a little girl. She was quite a handful. I remember one time..."

Marta's voice broke off as Tessa grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet. "Oh no,'" she snapped, her face paling, "you're not telling stories about my childhood, Marta! We're leaving now."

With Marta in tow, Tessa strode toward the exit. Montoya intercepted her. "Not leaving already, Señorita Alvarado? The party has only just begun."

"Yes, Colonel, I must. But thank you. Your party was even more stimulating than usual." She turned quickly and went out the gate. And I think I will return later as the Queen to visit a certain doctor who shall be nameless and maybe other part-less, after I give a piece of my mind to a certain Gypsy woman, she fumed as she strode toward her wagon. I was wrong about this party. It wasn't just dull. It was a total disaster!

--Maril

By brig
[email protected]

SYNOPSIS: Maril's great story created this little vignette. Eliza, this one's for you and me. ;)
DISCLAIMER: Fireworks, Paramount, whoever, uh huh, yadda yadda.

~~~~~

Luis sat down on the edge of his bed wth a sigh of relief. From force of habit he hooked his fingers under his suspenders and eased them off his shoulders, then began unbuttoning his shirt.

The evening had been a success; fortunately for him. Keeping so many people entertained was a juggling act few appreciated or understood. And the expense! A good third of his wine cellar had been depleted in one fell swoop. He would have to raise taxes yet again, just to accept the barter of wines and spirits from the local vineyards.

He stood to undo his trousers, stepping out of them. The pants and shirt were draped over the back of his desk chair; he sat back down to remove his linen and stockings, then padded over to the wardrobe for his nightshirt. There was a comforting sameness to this ritual, a sense of things in their proper order . . . He went to the cabinet behind his desk and poured himself a bit of cognac, savoring the taste.

"Better than warm milk," he said to himself softly, and chuckled.

The bedclothes were fresh and smelled of lavender and soap. He loosed his hair ribbon, running impatient fingers through the strands, and slid under the sheets. A quick check made sure the pistol was beneath his pillow in its accustomed place; one could never be too careful . . . He closed his eyes and settled in for well-earned rest.

"Colonel."

Soft lips pressed a kiss to his cheek. He stirred, smiling. What a delightful dream he was having!

"Colonel Montoya, wake up."

A hand slipped into the opening of his nightshirt, small fingers caressing his left pectoral. Luis eyes snapped open.

This was no dream . . .

There were two of them, sitting on either side of him. One he recognised as someone named Eliza; the other was the one who looked a bit like Lucy. What was she called? It was unusual . . . Bridge?

"I'm brig," the plain-looking one pointed to herself. "That's Eliza," she gestured to the other young woman.

"Ladies," he lay back, trying to swallow with a dry throat. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage--and I am somewhat confused by this, ah, visit . . . "

'Cut the bs," brig leaned forward and, to his astonishment, kissed the end of his nose. Blue eyes twinkled down at him. "We want to pick up where we left off."

"Left off?" He looked at them, bewildered.

"Well," Eliza said, and reached out to play with a lock of his hair, "We were talking with you, and then Maril had us walk away. I wasn't done, and neither was brig, So," she smiled at him, "here we are."

"I see," he lied, and dared to pull himself up to a sitting position, one hand reaching under the pillow for the pistol. Something cold touched the hollow of his throat--the letter opener from his desk, held in brig's work-reddened hand.

"Don't even think about it," she advised. Luis held up his hands.

"Please, senoritas. Let's not be hasty--"

"Oh, we won't." Eliza said. She leaned forward. "We have all night to have our way with you, Luis."

"Your--" he hesitated--"'way' with me?"

"We have a lot of questions to ask," brig explained, and he relaxed, only to almost jump out of his skin when the woman picked up his hand and gently bit the tip of his index finger.

"If Lucy were to do that to you, how would you react?" she asked. Out of the corner of his eye Luis saw Eliza produce what looked like a small book and a pencil.

"She's taking notes?" he asked, incredulous.

"Only for the first three questions. Then it's my turn," brig said matter of factly.

"We decided that was only fair," Eliza added.

"For who?" he demanded, and frowned when the two women looked at each other and began to laugh.

"That's something you don't need to worry about," brig warned. "Answer our questions, and you'll get a big reward later."

They were both reasonably good-looking women; Luis considered the alternative, the reminder of which was still pressed to his throat, and shrugged mentally. Things could be worse . . .

"Ladies, I am at your mercy," he lay back with a wide smile. "Have your wicked way with me. Please."

THE END! (hehheh . . . )

By Maril

RATING: Silly
DISCLAIMERS: Fireworks must share them with us, we're employing them lately.

~~~~~

'So far, so good,' she thought as she slipped in through the back window of the his bedroom. 'Maybe I won't punish him for his behaviour tonight with those women. Maybe I'll just...' She stumbled over something in the dark, searching for the cot. When she reached the bed, it was empty. A crack of light coming from under the door suggested he was still up. The Queen pushed the door open warily and came to a dead stop. There he was, still with all those women, sharing several bottles of wine and all talking in their barbaric English. And laughing.

For a second, no one noticed her, then MnD jumped up. "The Queen of Swords!" she announced.

"Maybe you could say it louder. I don't think Montoya heard you," the Queen snapped. All heads turned to Tessa. She strode angrily into the room and glared around. "What the hell is this... a convention?"

"Well, ...yes," said MnD hesitantly. "Can I have your autograph?"

Tessa stepped back a few paces. "What?"

"Your signature." MnD smiled hopefully at the black-clad woman. The smile was not returned.

"Why would you want my signature? And what would I write it on anyway?" Tessa turned and glanced reproachfully at Helm who was chuckling softly and evidently enjoying himself.

"We're your biggest fans, Reina," said Li. "Look, we even have T-Shirts." She opened her jacket to show the Tarot card emblem on a white shirt. "You can autograph our T-Shirts."

Tessa felt bemused as if she had walked into a lunatic asylum. She shook her head, wondering if she was asleep and having a nightmare. "You want me to sign my name on your shirts?" She turned abruptly to the door and began to leave. "This is too much for me. I'm going home where there's some sanity." She gave that another thought. "Well, maybe not so much sanity, but at least I'm used to it."

"Wait," Helm called out. "Before you go, how about a glass of cerveza? Or some wine?" His hazel eyes pleaded with her, but that wry smile undid her.

"Well, maybe just one," she said grudgingly.

"And you'll sign our shirts?" Mala prompted.

"Sure, why not? Give me a pen."

--Maril

By Jim

RATING: PG-13
SYNOPSIS: Payback for Maril <g>
DISCLAIMER: Fireworks has the copyrights but doesn't use them

~~~~~

The Party was over, and Brig and Eliza were busy entertaining Colonel Luis Montoya in his bedroom. Wearing only their white T-shirts with a picture of The Queen of Swords and signed by that lovely lady herself, the ladies were obviously enjoying their interrogation of the Military Commander of Santa Helena.

"Ladies, do you have to torture me by wearing those shirts?"

"How thoughtless of us, Colonel." Two T-shirts landed on the floor next to his slippers.

"Much better ladies." Montoya licked his lips and lay back on his bed as four foreign hands explored him.

Meanwhile, MnD and Jo were helping Doctor Robert Helm into his bathtub. It had been a long day and Doctor Helm needed some manipulations. The ladies also were wearing only the signed Queen of Swords T-shirts but these had the words "Manzana Core" emblazoned across the back.

Jo straddled Doctor Helm in the tub while MnD massaged his neck.

"Do you have to wear those shirts while giving me a bath?"

"Of course not Robert." Two T-shirts, both water logged, landed with a plop, plop on the floor. Jo rocked her hips a bit as MnD slipped into the tub also. Robert groaned a little as water sloshed onto the floor.

Maril had drifted away and was being cozy with Rodlox, who had been unable to find any other female companionship. Maril was being charitable.

Neil was busy hiding from a furious gypsy lady who was scouring the town looking for the gringo who had insulted her.

Dea, Margie, Li and Julie were searching the town for any likely man to entertain. They sighted Don Gaspar, but the evil look from his lovely pregnant wife Vera, told them to back off. They then spied a group of handsome young soldiers near the military barracks. The soldiers were quickly taken and escorted to into the barracks.

A dark figure slipped through the shadows heading for Doctor Helm's office. The Queen of swords was furious with Doctor Helm for taking up with these foreign women who all spoke Helm's native language. She was determined to make him pay.

The snap of a whip and the Queen of Swords was completely encircled by the whip. Her arms were pressed against her sides and she could not reach her sword or dagger. Unable to move, she waited for this latest attacker.

"Buenos Dias, Senorita Reina, I did not wish to startle you, but I also did not wish to lose my head by approaching you in the dark." The man said as he relieved her of her sword and dagger.

"Where did you come from? I checked this whole area and never saw you nor heard you. You must be an expert at survival."

"Hmm, an expert? Ex- meaning has been, Spert meaning a drip under pressure. I assure you that I am not an expert, just a survivor."

"So what do we do now? You turn me over to Montoya and collect a reward?"

"Turn you over to that pompous wanna be Napoleon? He is busy with a couple of friends."

"So instead, you are going to give me to Grisham."

"Ha, that cowardly backshooting deserter? I don't think so. I will give this to Grisham." The blade of a katana suddenly appeared from the man's walking stick.

"You are full of surprises."

"More than you know, Senorita. I had in mind something a little more enjoyable and intimate. If you would allow me?" He unwound the whip and presented it to her.

"Madam, a gift from your most fervent admirer."

He offered his elbow, which she took and allowed her self to be escorted to the stables, smiling all the way. A room in the back of the stables had been cleared and cleaned. A couch, a bed and a small table were the only furnishings. On the table were a lit candle, a bottle of wine and 2 glasses.

The Queen's sword and dagger were placed on the table as the man poured the wine and offered her a glass. He leaned his walking stick against a wall.

"We will have this night to ourselves, Reina. Tomorrow, you can compare our night with the nights you don't spend alone with that English Doctor. By the Way, me thinks he will be exhausted tomorrow. Maybe you ought to see him in a week. It will take him that long to recover. He isn't an immortal, you know. You may need that long yourself."

"I can't wait. I am beginning to forget what's his name."

The Queen ran her fingertips over his chest then started unbuttoning his shirt as his lips met hers and his hands searched for the corset fastenings. Tongues met and the candle flickered and went out.

The next morning, the ship slipped out of the harbor of Santa Helena. On the deck stood the travelers each lost in remembering the previous night.

MnD and Jo each had smiles on their faces and a lock of hair in their hands.

Brig was holding a ponytail and Eliza held a man's hair ribbon

Maril was standing on the poopdeck with a Crow on her shoulder while Rodlox was kneeling and kissing her feet.

Dea, Margie, Li and Julie stood together; all wearing uniform jackets and satisfied looks on their faces. They fingered the pieces of Reales that served as buttons on the jackets.

Jim was in the Captain's quarters looking out of the cabin window, watching the California coast disappear. His fingers gently caressed a black lace mask and a pair of black silk stockings.

Neil was below deck trying to explain to the ships doctor why he hurt when there was not a mark on him.

On the shore, Montoya watched the ship depart. His hand rose to finger his much shorter hair. Doctor Helm hobbled up with the help of a rake that he was using as a cane.

"Did you get a haircut, Colonel?" Montoya just smiled and licked his lips as he remembered the previous night. "Such a small price to pay."

Montoya noticed the rake.

"What happened to you Doctor?"

"I was being treated by a couple of Naughty Nurses."

"I hope all is well."

"They were unbelievably adept, Colonel."

Several soldiers lay exhausted on the shoreline, out of sight of Montoya. Each had a pair of women's undergarments tied to the hilts of their swords.

Grisham stood on the balcony of Montoya's office. He had stayed out of sight all night after a musket ball had been left on the side of his plate at the party. He wasn't sure just who was giving him a warning, but there were too many strangers in town last night.

Marta and Tessa stood on a hill overlooking the bay.

"Marta why are you sticking pins in that doll. It looks so amazingly like that gringo Neil."

Marta plunged another needle into the doll from crotch to head. "That will teach him to call this gypsy names." She grinned as she twisted the needle.

Tessa held herself as she looked longingly at the departing ship. "I will need a new mask, Marta. I seemed to have misplaced my other one. I also need to replace a pair of stockings also."

She raised her fingertip to her lips, kissed them and blew the kiss out to the sea. "Vaya con Dios , Jaime, mi amore, mi amigo."

"Did you say something, Tessa?"

"Only that they all seemed like very caring people, even THAT Canadian woman."

"I can think of one exception Tessa." Marta plunged another needle into the doll's head.

"I hope they come back soon, Marta."

"I have a feeling we have not seen the last of them. We will be in their thoughts and their hearts for a long time. They may even write about us."

"If they write about us, I hope they are kind."

"If any of them aren't, I know a few Rom curses that will follow them."

Jim