Courtyard -- Ginaz Embassy (Kaitain)

 

������� Iron gates open onto a broad, flat courtyard. White Marcinko Pines dot the grassy landscape, and men and women in purple and black Ginaz livery can be seen strolling along several long paths through it. A straight path leads up to the entrance of the Embassy proper, ending at two broad wooden doors. The Embassy itself practically gleams in any sunlight, the outer walls crafted of a simple dark blue granite flecked with silver, native to Marcinko. At night, dramatic uplighting along the walls of the Embassy accentuates its beauty, and the paths are all well-lit with functional but attractive lampposts. The Embassy appears to be square in design, with little embellishment save the natural beauty of the materials from which it was constructed. The effect is austere and elegant without being flashy. Ornithopters can be seen flitting around one corner of the roof. The only truly ornate thing about the courtyard is the intricately crafted fence that surrounds the whole of it.

 

Exits:

�Heavy Wooden Doors <N> leads to Foyer -- Ginaz Embassy (Kaitain)

�Silvered Gate <E> leads to Negara II Plaza -- Embassy District (Kaitain)

 

Sisay ������� Sisay is a tall woman, with gentle features which delicately mark her fresh out of her teen years. Long curls of black hair flows down around her shoulders and her black with a couple of rebel hairlocks lingering seductively around her cheeks, masking two small dimples which would be plainly visible would she laugh. White, silky skin contrasts heavily with the deep, obsidian black gaze of her eyes and the delicate pink of her lips outlines this striking difference. ������� Leaving her arms and upper chest bare, a flowing dress of deep-blue silken material covers her body, tightened by her waist with a broad belt, outlining the generous forms of this young woman. Motives of clear Ginaz origin depict dozens of small dragonflies trying to catch each other's tails, embroided in silvery threads across her chest and downwards, on the sides of her long skirt which stops a few centimeters above her ankles. ������� The silvery medalion at her chest is delicately devised in form of a cross inside a thicker circle and in the middle shines a small emerald which reflects the surrounding light in greenish sparkles of light, catching the eye of those who might gaze in the Lady's direction. At her belt, a sheathed dagger can be noticed with it's hilt made of a doe's foot. Wether it is just for appearance or it actually has a sharp blade attached remains an open question...

�

An Atreides Limousine pulls in and comes to a smooth stop.

Mintor exits the Atreides Limousine.

 

������� As the Atreides Limousine pulls up to entrance, one can see a young lady dressed in a silky blue dress awaiting up the stairs, between two ceremonial Ginaz guards which flank the doorway. A mild smile cautiously outlines her small dimples and the wind sends several of her curls in the air. Patiently, hands held at her back, she's waiting...

 

����������� Mintor steps out of the limo and sighs as he walks up the steps.. He bows deeply..."I came as soon as I got your message, M'Lady.. I am at your service."

Mintor ������� The handsome, rakish man that stands in front of you is tall, over 6 feet, and wiry. He appears athletic, a testament to his rigorous workout regimen. His dark hair is well kept and short, cut in a military style. His blue eyes,which are usually bright, have taken a much dour tone and look. His smile is gone, lost in an abyss somewhere. He walks around like a phantom.   ������� He no longer wears the dapper Caladanian fashions. He now wears a very dark, black military uniform, with the Atreides hawk on his shoulders. The long cape that flows from the back of this man is long, and made of Caladanian silk. His pants are form fitting, and crisply ironed. His boots are shined and polished. Everything about this man is rigid and cold.

������� The lady doesn't answer at first, her gaze lingering to carefully observe the man before her. Of course, his features are very familiar to her, it's other signs she seeks on him... signs of which many are plainly obvious. Taking a deep breath, she curtseys and says: "My Lord... please, let's go in." she says, offering her arm to be taken. At this gesture, the guards straighten their backs and tap their feet. A salute reserved for high guests and allies.

 

����������� Mintor nods to the guards and gingerly takes Sisay's arm, as if awaiting a sting or a bite.. he follows her inside..

 

������� Sisay must have noticed his gestures, for sure. But if she did so, she doesn't show it; actually she expected something like this. As they turn, however, her smile widens, in a pleasant way even if some would say seductive either. As if a sign would have been given, the door open, allowing the two to enter in the Embassy propper.

 

 

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 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.

 

Players:

�Mintor�������������������������������������������

Exits:

�Stone Stairway <U> leads to Ornithopter Pads -- Ginaz Embassy (Kaitain)

�Elevator <D> leads to Foyer -- Ginaz Embassy (Kaitain)

 

Gardens -- Ginaz Embassy (Kaitain) -- FOUNTAIN:

A five-tiered white marble fountain in the center of the large pond. Water sprays up from a center spout, and rushes over the progressively larger edges of the tiers. Several feet separates each set of tiers, and the water spilling over the edge of the last tier falls approximately seven feet before splashing into the mostly calm water of the pond.

 

����������� Mintor walks in, looking much like a man about to face execution. He walsk you over to a series of benches, and disengages..."What is it that you wished to speak to me about?"

 

������� Her brows quirk slightly as the Lady pouts her lips at Mintor's question. Slowly, a servant creeps closer from behind a tree and approaches the pair. Sisay, lifting a finger to her lips, looking Mintor again from head to toe, says simply: "Wine." and then turns and walks towards the fountain and the small pond before it. Chairs and tables seem a bit too official, so she chooses instead the two larger boulders at the very edge of the pond, beckoning the man with her hand to join her.

 

����������� Mintor walks over slowly, and takes a seat on the boulder.."I see that you've taken to drink, as of late.."

 

������� Sisay beams a soft smile as the servant trails over. He bows and puts a small blankie on the ground between them. From inside a basket she gets out a bottle of a vintage Caladanian wine and a single glass. With another bow, the man leaves as quitely and discreet as he appeared. "Only at times, My Lord" the Lady's voice echoes as she kneels down and pours from the wine. "To you, my lord" she then adds offering him the glass as she leans back on the rock.

 

������� There is a poison snooper visibly placed inside the basket on the blanket.

 

����������� Mintor nods, relaxing a bit, his guard still up..He raises the glass.."You've been most gracious m'Lady and I thank you.. but as of yet I do not know why.. Is this a way of... letting me down easy?"

 

������� "Letting you down?" Sisay echoes. "In what sense do you mean that, my Lord?" she adds to the question. Her obsidian black gaze looks Mintor straigh in his blue eyes. From the gentle tone of her voice and the peculiar way of her looks, it seems that a certain depth has been put into her question.

 

����������� Mintor sighs looking down..."About the fact the you don't love me, never did, and never will.. and that our arrangement... and the engagement... is off.."

 

������� Sisay follows his eyes, still looking at him intently. "You were well aware of this possibility, my Lord. About the possibility that I wouldn't love you. You cannot blame me for not having tried as I don't blame you for not having been as gentle and kind as you were. And the arrangement was, from the beginning, never in our hands to control." Her voice is soft and it seems she would emanate a state of calm and detachment.

 

����������� Mintor nods.."At the beginning yes.. but I thought..." He shakes his head.."If you didn't love me, then why did you say that you did?"

 

���� ���"Because I wanted to believe I did." she replies, the tone of her voicechanging subtly. "Because I didn't want to hurt you and I was commited to make this work." A shake of her head makes some of her hairlocks fall around her cheeks. "Unfortunately I failed in both... and for this I want to appologize." she says and it is her turn now to lower her gaze towards the blanket.

 

����������� Mintor shakes his head.."No need to apologize.. It would've been easier to go through with if I knew that you didn't love me.. through the whole ordeal... I wouldn't have had any expectations... and just for the record, it is my uncle that requested that the arrangement be retracted, not I.."

 

������� The Lady doesn't raise her gaze from the blanket, but nods. "I immagined as much." is her only comment on that matter. When her gaze finally raises, her tone seems to have dropped even more, almost melting with the noise of the fountain. "Don't think it is easy for me to be in love with a man I know I won't marry anyway. It is tormenting me too, yet my heart doesn't give me a choice." A breathe and she adds cryptically: "Pleasure does come at a cost."

 

����������� Mintor nods.."As I've come to learn many times as of late.. Which is why I'm glad that I've been appointed to this new role.. It gives me no time for pleasure."

 

������� Sisay tilts her head to a side and giggles softly: "I meant to congratulate you for that... I'm sure it will bring you much honour and, who knows, maybe afterwards the pleasure will be even greater." She extends her right hand towards him, her cute smile outlining the dimple on her cheek in quite a funny way.

 

����������� Mintor takes the hand and kisses it, seeing that there's no dagger, emotional or otherwise, in it.. "Thank you.. but I fear that pleasure will be out of my mind for quite a while.. for I'm sure that my uncle will be getting me ready for a new match with another House.."

 

������� Sisay lowers her eyelids for just a moment as she smiles and squeezes his hand after his kiss, taking his palm into hers, covering it with her other palm aswell. "Indeed he will. Beacuse you deserve the best, my Lord. And one day, you'll see, you will know more happyness that you ever dreamed it was possible." she says, her voice raising its tone a little.

 

����������� Mintor shrugs.."Possibly.. But what of you.. How've your studies been lately? Any closer to finishing them?"

 

������� The Lady smiles happily and says, her hands still clutched on his palms. "Nice of you to enquire... I have exams now untill the end of the year. And after a few months comes the big exam and if I'm found worthy, I will become a Planethologist." she explains, the mask of hapyness and detachment of her face breaking momentarily to reveal a tired, very tired girl. But that was just for a moment, just a vision.

 

����������� Mintor nods..standing.."I see.. Well.. I wish you happiness in things to come, and hopefully things will be less hectic once you're done with your studies.." He kisses the hand once more.."I will take my leave now.. I've some reports from House Kendrick to look over.. Thank you for your hospitality.."

 

������� Sisay stands aswell and dares one more thing: "I hope that... one day... you will think of me as a friend." she says. The Lady curtseys before folding her hands before her, murmuring: "I thank you for the honour of being my guest."

 

����������� Mintor nods.."Hopefully.. one day I may allow myself the convenience of having friends..Thank you.." He bows again and heads out..

 

����������� Mintor enters the elevator and descends to a lower level.