Dune III - Sunday, June 23, 2002, 9:21 PM

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Grumman Suite -- Moritani Estate (Kaitain)

 

������� Part office, part sitting room, the chamber is large and certainly well-appointed. Rich, bright woven oriental rugs cushion the hard stone of the floor between the sofa and chaise, with overstuffed chairs angled off the arrangement. Small tables of mahogany topped with brightly-polished marble tabletops are scattered about at strategic, convenient locations. Glowglobes hover over the seating area, providing ample light for reading.

 

������� The dominant piece on the other side of the chamber, however, is the Countess' large writing-table, its surface covered in various piles of documents and reports. A leather rectangular pad of an appropriate size to cover the work area provides protection for the glowing wood of the center of the desk. The chair drawn up to the desk is well-cushioned, though just as ornately carved as the other pieces in the room.

 

������� Large windows open out facing the gardens, catching also a good view of the Kaitain sunset.

 

Players:

�Mathilde������������������������������������������ Ophelia

Exits:

�Double Doors <N> leads to Grumman Suite Bedchamber -- Moritani Estate (Kaitain)

�Ironwood Door <S> leads to Corte della Luna -- Moritani Estate (Kaitain)

 

Afternoon has reached its zenith, and mother and child both are awake and up and about. Ophelia sits on the chaise, having apparently just finished feeding young Nikkolai, crooning him back to sleep. Maids move about the room quietly, picking up stuff and bringing in clean things for the baby, as well as a tray of tea and sandwiches for the Countess and her expected guest.

 

Shown in by a servant maid, young Lady Sisay Ginaz walks in with a big smile on her face, carrying a basket with two bottles in it. Two guards escort the Lady, both of them carrying nice flower arrangements of white liliac flowers, red and white roses with other small bluish flowers in between. Arriving near the Countess and the child, Sisay curteys deeply while the guards bow and kneel. "Your Excellency... My heart joys to see you and your heir healthy and happy. May all your summers be bright and glorious." the young lady says.

 

Ophelia chuckles upon seeing the flowers, and the maids drop what they're doing to come relieve the guards of their burdens. "Lady Sisay, you keep me quite well-stocked in fresh flowers, indeed. My rooms always smell so nice when you've brought another bouquet. They are very lovely, thank you." She gestures to the nearby sofa, adding, "Come, sit. There is no need to stand on such formality between us."

 

Sisay giggles as she rises. "It is my pleasure." she says, approaching the couch and taking a seat on it. "Now, I brought here two bottles of a very popular syroup on Marcino. Pine-tree syroup. It is sweet and has a calming and refreshing effect if served cold. I think it will do you good in the next period." She smiles as she looks to the baby, eyes sparkling with joy.

 

Ophelia turns the bundle in her arms, tilting him slightly so that Sisay can see his thick, dark hair, like his mother's, and his deep, blue eyes... so like his father. "Nikkolai Alesandro Moritani, II," she says quietly. "He is named for my father. He'd always wanted a son, and never had one. Now his grandson carries his name."

 

Sisay hands the basket to one of the maids to be snooped for poison and eventually stored. Turning her head to the little baby, she leans forward and giggles: "Aww, he's so cute! I am sure your father would've been so proud of him." Her eyes look up to Ophelia before turning back to the baby.

 

"He will see him, in a matter of just a couple weeks," Ophelia says quietly. "Well, he will not see him, per se, given that the stubborn old man is blind and refuses to allow anyone to obtain replacements for his eyes for him. But he will meet his grandson. I'm going to Grumman for a brief tour, just as soon as our schedule and routine get a bit more settled."

 

Sisay nods and then runs her hand briefly through her hair to settle the long curls back into place about her shoulders. "I see. Will he be raised there or here, on Kaitain?" she asks, leaning to one side on the couch, knitting her hands on her lap.

 

"A child belongs with his mother, even if she is a Siridar who will require the assistance of an army of nannies to raise him," Ophelia replies firmly. Her mind if made, Nikkolai will stay on Kaitain with her. At least until he is of age to begin schooling.

 

Sisay nods again, saying: "Yes, in deed." with a sigh. Then her brows arch suddenly as she remembers something. "Oh, I almost forgot, your Excellency. I have good news." she says, fetching something from her pocket. Extending her arm, she offers a small medalion to Ophelia. "Her Majesty offered me this in appreciation of our project." she adds with a smile.

 

Ophelia looks over at the medallion, and smiles warmly. With a quick look back to Nikkolai, she turns and hands him off to a nearby maid, murmuring quite instructions that he's to be placed in his cradle in her bedroom so that he might sleep in peace and quiet. "It is your project, Sisay. I am merely providing money for it," she replies, getting up from her seat to stand, then move to join you on the sofa.

 

Sisay sighs and says: "It is as much mine as the College's. And yours. Without your support, it would only be another idea tossed in the wind and probably forgotten in a year or two. I only hope my uncle's business will allow a meeting with you soon to finalize all details." she says, fetching another thing from her pocket. "I was really lucky to have this projector with me at court. Me and my colleagues have finished the layout of the park and all technical details and I wish to give it to you so your... advisors may have a look at it and evaluate it." With a chuckle she adds: "We included refferences to the Guild and Ix in regard to some equpment."

 

Ophelia nods slowly. "Indeed, my Mentat will want to see it, no doubt. Thank you for thinking of it, it'll be very helpful." She leans forward, pouring out two cups of tea, then looks up the maids still hovering about in the room. At her glance, they bob curtseys, and depart. Perhaps the signal was pre-arranged. But at any rate, there is no longer anyone in the sitting room to overhear their conversation.

 

Sisay's gaze also trails over to the departing maids, casing a last smile to the young Nikkolai before they disapear from her view. She seems relaxed and quite at ease, privacy is something she constantly craves for. However she doesn't notice anything unusual in this and so she replies: "So I thought myself. Of course, there are plenty of detais for us to finish out, but they will be done in time."

 

Ophelia chuckles quietly. "Perhaps when I have returned from Grumman, we might finally set the wheels in motion, hmm? By then, your uncle's time will have been freed up, perhaps. And if not, I will simply insist that he make some time for me."

 

Sisay beams a smile. "Of course, that should be time enough." she says, putting the small projector on a nearby table. Then she leans back and glances around the room and its decorations, awaiting perhaps for the tea or perhaps for the Lady to speak first.

 

Ophelia hands one of the newly-poured cups of tea to Sisay, and settles herself back to a more comfortable position on the sofa. "I called you here, Sisay, because I had something important to discuss with you."

 

Sisay smiles and leans over to take one of the cups in her hands before nodding her head. "I immagined... How may I help you?" she enquires, sipping gently from her tea. Her voice is curious and her general mien is relaxed and quite happy, except the few wrinkles around her eyes which denote some degree of general tiredness.

 

"You may first tell me what it is that you intend towards my Swordmaster," Ophelia says quietly, eyeing the girl over her teacup.

 

Sisay nearly chokes over the last sip of tea. "Shane? Oh..." she says, lowering the cup on her lap, clutched with both of her hands. "Well... umm... he... agreed to provide some sword training for me." she says, furrowing her brows as she looks back at Ophelia. Her voice lowers a bit and something in her tone would hint that she feels somewhat... dissapointed.

 

Ophelia arches a brow. "That is not what I heard, m'lady," she says firmly. "I would like to remind you that Lord Padron is betrothed to your sister, Lady Delana. I have spoken to your father, and we intend to see that the wedding plans are expedited. You will stay away from Lord Padron."

 

Sisay sighs and looks downwards to her lap as the soft vapours from the tea raise slowly. "I know of that and I am very happy since I like Lord Padron very much. As a -friend-." she says raising her gaze as she underlines the last word. "My father certainly did nothing to quell some malicious rumours, Your Excellency. I will talk with my sister and we will do something to counter this gossip. Please believe me, I have many other things on my mind than to busy myself in Lord Padron's bed and upset my sister."

 

"Such as Lord Marco?" Ophelia counters. "Indeed, m'lady, I know of your visits to this house's embassy and estate. They are logged, each and every one. You seem to be one of our most frequent visitors, despite only coming to see me twice of late."

 

Sisay smiles softly and quickly raises her cup for another sip. "Oh... Lord Marco..." she says idly. "I feel strangely attracted to him although my heart lies with Fahahd. But whenever i'm with Marco I just..." Once more she sighs, looking downwards. "I try to resist his charms but my heart is racing whenever he's around." she adds in the same idlish-dreamy tone of her voice.

 

"Stay away from Lord Marco," Ophelia adds in a firm, but gentle tone. "The man's had his heart broken more times than I like. And if your heart belongs to Lord Alaurans, then he'll only get hurt again. Do not, Sisay, tempt fate. And do not lead him on, be it intentional or unintentional. I am very serious here."

 

Sisay cocks her head to one side and says, quite upset: "My heart will belong to one, Excellency. It has been a new experience for me, falling in love. But this is strange for me, as the feelings are precious yet dangerous. I am afraid that my uncle will not acknowledge Lord Alaurans if he'd ever propose. And it is my belief that Lord Marco only wants me in his bed for a night, although I might fall in love with him too." She sighs again, taking another sip from her tea and quickly adds: "No, I will focus on my exams and take the title of Planethologist and do my work as I always dreamed to. If my uncle ever wants to settle another marriage, it will be fine with me. As with my feelings..." she exhales, pouting her lips and adding with a whisper: "I will just wipe them out!"

 

Ophelia watches the girl's pout, then shakes her head. "I have told you before of the duties of a woman. We know well your future holds a political marriage. But if you intend to dally before that marriage takes place, then you must exercise caution, and discretion. Your name has appeared in the gossip columns of the society pages all too often of late. M'lady, I could not count for you on my two hands the number of lovers I have had. But have you seen mention of it in the gossip columns? No. I keep my affairs to myself, where they belong, in my bedroom."

 

Sisay raises her gaze to meet yours. "I do not see the reason in hiding one's feelings. But this may only be my lack of experience and... vision, as my father says. But how can I be discrete if I'm openly invited to a picnic, or something similar?" Her voice trembles slightly as it is clear she's afraid.

 

Ophelia purses her lips, and sighs quietly. "M'lady... Sisay. Have you not seen? Many on Kaitain are mocked for their feelings. They are ridiculed for their choices, and their reactions. People here are toyed with. This is no walk in the park. When you are open with your heart, and your feelings, then you are open to attack. It is for your own protection that you should guard yourself, and your feelings. When you are in a private setting, with someone who is trustworthy, then it is completely different. But we all wear masks here, of varying transparencies and designs."

 

Sisay sips again from her cup and thinks everything over. With a sour smile, she says: "I am used to masks myself, believe it or not... But it seems everytime I meet in private with someone, be it Fahahd or Marco or... whoever, the next day all Kaitain knows about it and starts saying things... I do not like that myself, although I do not care about gossip."

 

Ophelia nods slowly. "You are being watched by the gossip-mongers then, I am afraid. You'll need to be more discrete about things, most definitely."

 

As Sisay finishes her tea, she puts the empty cup on the table and then leans over to you a bit. "I will be most discrete, I promise. Mostly because I will lock myself up in the next period since I need to focus on the exams. But I wwant to ask you if there is any problem in continuing my training with Lord Padron? I told him to ask your permission, but he said you wouldn't mind anyway." She purses her lips a moment and then adds: "If you think it is not safe, for any reason... I will deffer to your good judgement."

 

"If you keep your training to training, and are properly escorted and chaperoned as you should be, then I see no harm in it," Ophelia says quietly. "Were you my daughter, I would have conniptions about you going anywhere without a guard and chaperone."

 

Sisay smiles and comments: "My father tried such things when I was young... but you might very well know my background so far. Do not mistake me, I care very much about my privacy. But I will allow one of my guards to be present at my training with Shane and I will insist that a guard or someone from the Moritani household to be present aswell. I have nothing to hide in this matter."

 

 

Ophelia nods slowly. "Very well then, it seems we are in agreement. Consider my words carefully, Sisay. On Kaitain, everything is politics, even personal issues. There is no escaping it."

 

Sisay nods her hairlocks carefully. "I try to understand this, although I definitely don't like it. As for my marriage, it is clear that my uncle has the last word in this and I will obey whatever his decision might be. I will do my duty." she says in a sad and grim voice.

 

Ophelia sets her empty teacup down, glancing to the girl with an eyebrow arched. "Duty is duty, Sisay. It makes little sense to fight against it, or to be upset about it. You will be happier in the long run if you just accept things."

 

Sisay rolls her eyes to the ceiling. "I -will- accept it. Marriage. Only this one thing I will accept. But happy? I doubt it. I doubt I will ever find happyness again after my sister starts a war against my friends, after my father suspects any men I meet with to be my secret lovers. I only find joy in my studies, in having the priviledge of talking to you or to Her Reverence the Mother Superior at the Chapetrhouse. The rest, Excellency, is just a sea of sadness and deceit..." her voice echoes as her eyes fix the empty cups in the table.

 

Ophelia sighs, but does not comment further on the issue. Instead, she adds, "I hope I will see you at the fete we will be throwing to celebrate my son's birth."

 

Sisay's face brightens again and says: "Oh, yes... I hope I will not oversleep this party too. Which reminds me to return to my comfortable armchair in the library and finish my studies..." Taking a deep breath she raises from her seat and curtseys to Ophelia, taking her arm into hers, squeezing gently. "What would you wish as a present for the baby? For I will not accept bringing swords again..."

 

Ophelia chuckles quietly. "Toys, certainly, will always be welcome." She shrugs, then adds, "Blankets and other baby things, too. You can never have too many blankets of varying heaviness or lightness for a baby."

 

Sisay grins and says with a content glimmer in her eyes: "Then I have the perfect gifts for young Nikkolai! I will see you at the party then, Your Excellency. And... thank you for the kind advice." She then awaits to be dismissed.

 

Ophelia nods to the young woman, offering her a kindly smile. "Good day, Sisay. Since he's sleeping, it's a perfect chance for me to catch a small nap of my own."

 

With a smile, she raises and walks towards the doors to find a servant to guide her back to her orni. A pleasant afternoon... as always with the Countess.