Gardens -- Ginaz Embassy (Kaitain)

����������� These gardens look as if a chunk of Marcinko has been transported to Kaitain and placed atop the Ginaz Embassy. The 'room' itself is roughly circular, filling the upper floor of the embassy, save for the northeastern wing, which contains the ornithopter pads on its upper level and various service areas below, and a small portion of the western wing which contains the residential areas of the embassy. The translucent walls are for the most part covered with the distinctive white Marcinko ivy, and at intermittent levels one can s� ivy, and at intermittent levels one can see several balconies and many windows that overlook these gardens. The gardens are lush and green but the temperature is below normal. A grand FOUNTAIN spews water thirty feet into the air, and stands in the center of a pond that occupies a full quarter of the entire room. Among the foliage, there are many paths and different clearings in which a visitor or group of visitors might dally. The path from the ornithopter pads to the elevator that leads to the foyer is direct but not short, forcing anyone passing through to experience at least a small part of the gardens.

Sisay sits down on the ground at the base of a white Marcinko pine. All dressed in her black practice uniform, she seems distracted and dreamy. You can see her holding a dagger in her hand, apparently sharpening it with a grinding stone.

A sudden ping announces the arrival of the elevator, and the door open to reveal the Bene Gesserit Sister, who carefully looks about before exiting. Looking around her at the beauty of the garden, she /seems/ not to notice you at first.

Sisay continues to sharpen her dagger, with great care and love, humming a song. One could say that the girl and the dagger had a special bond. The dagger has a slender blade and a hilt made of a doe's foot.�

Elsa links her hands behind her back and strolls around a bit, before heading towards you, making no sound at all. From a close distance, she says with a smile on her face. "My Lady, it gladdens me to see you can find the time to pay attention to the little things." She halts a mere few feet away from you.

Startled, the Lady drops the grinding stone down and quickly, with a long exercised move, she sheaths her dagger in a hilt at her boots. She then turns around and says: "Greetings, Sister. You... startled me. How long are you here?" One could notice concern in her voice, as if something had upset her.

Elsa smiles faintly. "I have only just arrived, my Lady. I did not intend to startle you, however you did seem to be a little .. absent." Making a small gesture by nodding her head towards your dagger, she asks "A beautiful dagger. If I may ask, there must be a story attached to it ?"

Sisay smiles and leans back on he pine, motioning you to sit next to her. She draws her dagger again, holding it in her palm. "Yes, there is a story." Her eyes glimmer as she looks up to the Sister in a quick glance. "Pretty strange story, but I never part from the dagger since then."

Elsa smiles and sets down, crossing her legs, in front of you. "Please do tell", she asks, observing the dagger intensely. "It must have been quite a situation, if it is so important to you."

Sisay gently caresses her hand over the dagger. The slender, sharp blade made of shiny metal, ending with a young doe's toe. A piece of art and a perfect woman's weapon. "I received it from my uncle at my seventeenth birthday. I was camped at the Academy at that time and I started immediately to practice with it. Several months later, arriving back home, I made a trip into the MacKenzie's with a group of McNamara's ecologists, trying to get some samples of soil and vegetation..."

Elsa sits quiet as a statue, her piercing eyes observing every minute movement you make, listening intently to the story to unfold.

Sisay continues her story, caressing her dagger ever so gently. "We stayed for 3 days on the mountain, collecting samples, making measurements. They left with an orni for the Polar Station in the fourth day. I insisted on going back home on foot. The very same night, I awoke in the middle of the sleep with blood all over me. Something just cut horse into pieces and headed towards me. It was a black bear, almost three times as big as me. They are known for their fierceness and raw power. I ran and I dodged it's piercing claws in the manner I just learned from my uncle. Eventually I killed it, stabbing this little beauty in it's forehead and then in the monster's heart." She takes her 'amulet' out from underneath her uniform and shows it to you. A claw, bigger than a man's finger and sharp as a dagger. "This I took as a trophy. In my room I have the whole paw."

Elsa nods slowly. "So the dagger for you represents your safety? What would you do if you lost it, you think ?" ,the Sister asks curiously.

Sisay looks at the dagger then back at the Sister's eyes. "Loose it? Why would I lose it? I would never lose _my_ dagger! This blade will tear the heart of the murderer of my brother. I will not allow it to get lost, nor stolen!" she exclaims with an outraged tone.

Elsa doesn't even twitch a muscle at your outburst, but keeps looking you in the eyes silently. Finally, she sighs and says slowly but sternly "And I will not allow outbursts like that. You didn't even answer the question, but I'll accept it as an .. explanation." Flashing a quick, soothing smile, she adds. "Now, that /is/ an impressive story indeed. " .. Like your outraged words are simply dismissed.

Sisay lowers her gaze to the ground. She secures the dagger back into its boot sheath and mutters: "I'm sorry. I know I am not like ... you know... most of the noble ladies around here. I was meant to be one, like my sister, but it just didn't turn out like that. My brother's death, my strolls in the forest, the MacKenzie slaughter... they all marked me in some... strange and mysterious way." Her words are only a whisper and her eyes get slowly and unnoticed wet with tears.

Elsa leans closer and almost whispers "Not all are what they seem, I assure you. Some simply play a role all their lives." She continues softy with a warm, friendly voice "The only way to be comfortable with being a true Lady is to control your emotions and thoughts." She smiles. "And believe me, if I didn't think you had it in you to become an elegant and highly respected Lady like your uncle would be proud of, I wouldn't have come to aid you."

Sisay sighs deeply and mumbles, more to herself: "How can I become a 'lady'? I kill beasts, hang out with smugglers, fight my father's own rangers and my goal in life is to avenge my brother's death." Tears slowly fall the young girls cheek. "I... am... no... lady." she mumbles ever so slowly and sadly.

Elsa offers her shoulder to you, but keeps a trace of where your hands are at all times. "Then allow me to help you find yourself .." she whispers, a comforting look on her face. "You are not like the others, you know. You are special. Not like some Lear. Not like that. But you have potential you only need to allow me to unlock." .. Promising much, the Sister is. "Will you work with me?" she asks genuinely.

Sisay shakes quietly from her crying as she listens to the Sister. Then she turns around, looking into her eyes, caressing her cheeks with her wet fingers as tears pour down her cheek. "I will" she whispers finally, embracing her tutor in a tight hug. After a moment she whispers, barely audible, "Do not betray me." She's definitely scared.

Sisay is standing underneath a Marcinko pine, in a tight embrace with Elsa. She seems to be shivering and... crying...

Elsa accepts your hug and holds you close, rubbing your back with her left hand. She smells a bit like .. roses? Yet it is almost too subtle to notice. "Let's make those Black Bears posing as Ladies flee with their tail between their legs from this wilderness called Kaitain. Let's show them that you are their master at court, the envy of many. Let's work to turn you into the finest Lady they have ever seen, and you'll find yourself." She presses a soft kiss on your cheek and lets go again, gently. A single tear runs down her cheek. Hers or yours ? You'll not know.

Srulin enters into the magnificant setting of the Ginaz Embassy Gardens. Like everyone else within the Gardens, he is added into its surroundings: Peaceful, calm, and enlightening. The Prinz places one hand in a pocket as the other lays onto the hilt of his Ginaz legendary sword, which was given generation after generation of Marquis', given to him after the death of his brother. He seems to be in a serious manner, walking at a steady rate in deeep thought. 'The gardens...how I missed them,' he thought to himself. He remembers a swingset which has now been long departed in which his sister used to swing in constantly.

Sisay's face is lit by a shy attempt of a smile. She raises her hand and slowly touches the falling tear on the Sister's face. She opens her mouth to speak, but hearing footsteps in the vicinity she widens her eyes and whispers: "Someone is here..." Wiping the tears off her face with a quick move, she raises to see who it is. Her hair is a mess, the hairlocks flowing chaotically down her shoulders, the reddish tinge in her eyes telling of the recent flood of tears which they sustained.

With a single swift movement the Sister wipes the tear from her cheek with the back of her hand, and steps back one pace, turning her head to observe the newly arrived Prinz with interest. Her face takes on a friendly, slightly amused pose and she looks to see if the man will approach the two young women.

Srulin has disconnected.

�

(OOC) Sisay says, "Umm... how 'bout we fade out here... I have to disconnect, unfortunately.

(OOC) Elsa nods. OK then.