RP Log: Iason & Alethia

["Anne Crabtree" <amc@empire.net>]

Log file from Dune.

The Jadduanon -- Atreides Embassy (Kaitain)
The oldest of the conference rooms in the Atreides Embassy, it was
apparently
  built with an effort towards the grandiose. The long, rectangular room is
  centered around a water sculpture, a delicate structure of fine-tuned
  Holtzmann fields. Around the sculpture are two hemicyclical tables, made
of
  precious citruswood, trimmed with cleverly-crafted electrum. The
high-backed
  armchairs ride on suspensors, as do the crystal chandeliers. Along the
walls,
  ancient weapons and armor sit in sconces, each screened in plasteel, with
  tiny glowglobes to illuminate it properly. The Jadduanon feels open and
cool,
  ancient and elegant.
Exits:
 Classical Arch <S> leads to Embassy Office -- Atreides Embassy (Kaitain)

Iason walks in from Embassy Office through the Classical Arch.
Iason has arrived.
Iason steps in, after being announced. He bows deeply to you. "My Lady."

Alethia stands behind the circular table her back to you, her notes, message
  pads, lists, and sigawire all laid out in neat piles, Martha the
HouseKeeper
  takes her leave. "Iason, thank you for finding the time to meet with me."
Its
  hard to tell her mood with her back to you, she is still in her mourning
  colors.

Iason straightens. "What is it you wished to discuss, my lady?" he inquires
  politely.

"The Baron the other night mentioned that you have been spending a good deal
of
  time at their Embassy and Estates." Alethia comments, "Martha has
informed me
  of much of the same." She continues, "Have you enjoyed yourself
Ambassador?"

Iason raises a brow. "I have been merely been trying to guage the situation,
as
  the Duke has asked, my Lady. Mostly, to keep the peace, and follow his
last
  orders - to assess the state of their House, and their feelings towards
the
  Sardaukar affair. To do so I have had to spend much time among them, and
the
  other Houses. I fear that Rastanyev may, however, be leaning towards the
  Imperium.

Alethia nods slowly her hands behind her back, her stylos gripped between
them,
  "I see." Alethia says, "But you didn't answer my questions." She turns
around
  and looks at you. Her emerald eyes regards you carefully measuring your
  response.

Iason says, "I thought I had done so, my lady. I do my duties, though I need
  not enjoy them."

"I see." Alethia says slowly, her head noding, her hand comes around she
moves
  a peice of paper so that she can read it better, delicate movements for
  delicate fingers, "Tell me of these women, Ambassador." She looks up at
you,
  dark lashes framing her emerald eyes, "If you can?"

Iason shakes his head. "The Baron decided I ws worthy of a gift, and I have
  attempted to see if Martha or the other household staff can assign them
  duties. I have found in my dealings with the Harkonnens that they do not
ever
  like to have their gifts refused, especially when it comes to what they
  consider most valuable - slaves. Lady Rastanyev is currently riding such a
  problem, if what I have observed is correct. We can ill afford the bad
will,
  especially with the Duke preparing for a duel... we cannot afford to make
the
  Baron angry. Thus, I have accepted the slaves, and attempted to cajole
them
  to take up other duties, other than those assigned to them by the
Harkonnens."

"House Atreides does not have _slaves_ Ambassador." Alethia's tone turns
cold,
  "You will modify your reference to these woman" Alethia slams her hand
down
  on the table to emphasize her point.

Iason's expression remains still, though his eyes do narrow a bit. "I know
  that, my lady. I am using the Harkonnen term, to describe the situation.
  Unfortunately, I am now also attempting to handle four other situations
which
  are growing into problems of major proportion; the Moritani/Harkonnen
union
  promises to be a nightmare with Count Cesare's current position and his
  political acumen, which may very likely be turned against us. We also have
  the Sardaukar situation, the upcoming Economic Summit, and Rastanyev's
  uncertain position - if they are unwilling to work with the Landsraad,
they
  must not retain their seat on the high Council. On top of those are
various
  minor matters, and the plight of these two women who I have been
attempting
  to, in what free time I have, convince to take up other duties and watch
them
  to ensure that they are not a trap of some sort, despite the Baron's
  assurances." He then takes a deep breath. "I beg forgiveness if I have
  offended you, but you should also realize the nightmarish situations that
  have cropped up in your absence. The ennoblement that the Padishah
Emperor
  has placed upon my shoulders serves as yet another burden, and one which
is a
  cause for ridicule in the Harkonnen quarters - which affects my ability to
  monitor the behavior of the na-Baron and his siblings. The Harkonnens are
  uncomfortable with the possibilities of the union; the na-Baron fears
losing
  his title and his future holdings to the Count's mechanations, the younger
  Mikael who has been cut out of any part of such holdings envies and hates
his
  brother, and the Lady Ulricke is an enigma."

Iason goes on, his voice low and tightly controlled. "I also suspect that
the
  Lady Ylena Harkonnen, the Baron's sister, has been brought to Kaitain for
  reasons of marriage. She is very out of touch with the current situation
on
  Kaitain, and is everything that the Baron is not - courteous, subtle, and
  mannerly."

Alethia listens to your barage with only a blink of a reaction, "Yes, we all
  carry a terrible burden of responsibility, Ambassador." Alethia says
evenly,
  "You are required to undertake such a delicate balancing act." Alethia
  comments, "I can care less about the Emperor's offering of ennoblement at
  this momment." Her tone cold, "You have added to your burden Ambassador,
in
  accepting this gift." Her tone drips sarcasm, "What is it your intension
  Ambassador?"

Iason merely replies simply, "We could not offend the Harkonnens by
refusing,
  and they were immediately freed upon setting foot on Atreides soil -
namely,
  the Embassy. Asking them where they wish to go may be the most humane
means
  of determining what to do with them - if they are spies, they cannot be
sent
  back to Caledan and they should be watched here. Should the Baron learn
that
  I have sent them away, it will be taken as an insult and endanger our
  non-aggression pact - the na-Baron is already chafing at the bit for any
  excuse at all to resume Kanly. I have been attempting, as stated before,
to
  cajole them into accepting other household duties here among the staff."

Turning a cool green-eyed gaze up at Alethia, Iason doesn't respond to the
  undertones Alethia's statement carries. "I share your ideals, but I cannot
  always act as summarily as I wish to. There are fine lines when it comes
to
  the politics of gift-giving as you well know. My burden provides the Baron
  with some amusement, and that amusement can be used to gain forbearance
in
  more serious matters."

Iason says, "That forbearance I have used to gain access to other members of
  the Harkonnen household, and in particular to those who can influence him
and
  restrain his heir - his sister and his daughter."

Iason says, "My embarassment serves his sense of humor, and allows the na-
Baron
  to believe me weak. It also amuses his daughter, and I use that amusement
to
  appear less effective than I can be."

"Our Honor Ambassador is at stake here!" Alethia retorts back, "House
Atredies
  does _NOT_ have slaves!" Alethia leans forward, "Amsument at you, who do
you
  repesent?! His amusement is with this House too! I do not intent to allow
  House Atreides to become a laughing stock!" Alethia retorts, "So the
Atreides
  Ambassador plays the Court Jester to House Harkonnen!"

Iason plods on, following his mentat-cold, ruthlessly logic-path. "They are
not
  slaves, my Lady." he says flatly. "However, they serve a purpose. Our
honor
  is perserved as we have already freed them. You seem to have ignored my
  suggestion and ask them what THEY feel about the issue, as if they were
  property. The politics of the situation are very delicate... and I fear
that
  my honor is maintained in his eyes only by my graciousness at accepting
the
  'gifts' he has sent."

Iason says, "Accepting them here freed them from slavery, my lady."

"How they feel?!" Alethia continues on, "No," She pauses as she admits this,
"I
  haven't." Alethia conceeds, "You've neatly walked around the issue of
being
  the Court Jester to the Harkonnens." She holds up a hand to forstall you
and
  continues on, "Let me continue on to the security risk that these woman
offer
  us. I want them on Caladan and away from Kaitain at the earliest possible
  time."

Iason raises a brow. "How is being inoffensive being the same as a court
  jester? They have different sensibilities, and trying to mediate between
them
  and ours is a trial. Would they not be an equal danger on Caledan if they
are
  spies?"

"Hardly." Alethia says, "I'd make sure their comfort was arranged for in the
  way of marriages, yet its better than having them here with the
possibility
  of poisioning my family in my sleep." Alethia says vehemently, "You said
  yourself that you are the source for their amusuement, what better way to
  equate you? I am _so_ glad that House Atreides can provide such lavish
  entertainment to _THAT_ House!"

Iason shakes his head once. "You misunderstand my lady." he says, with his
best
  diplomatic face. "My image is enhanced by my willingness to work around
the
  barriers they place before me, and to use what I have in terms of the
  forbearance and little respect I earn to adjust their course. Again, I
urge
  you to talk to them yourself, before deciding on their fates. If they wish
  passage to other worlds, it is their choice. But there is to be no mention
of
  this to the Baron, lest he decide to take his anger out on the Duke,
friend
  or not."
Iason says, "Half of diplomacy consists of deciding what half of the truth
to
  leave out."

Alethia tilts her head to oneside and she stands up to her full, yet short
  stature, "Do you think that I am an idiot?" She says, her eyes snaping in
the
  way of anger, "You must to talk to me in such a manner!" Alethia's voice
  raises an octive, "Who do you think your speaking to?!?"

Using Aglicon, Iason says, "Kuria Zenovia, my Lady. I mean no offense, but I
do
  take some affront in the manner with which you approach me. There are no
easy
  solutions for the idealist in these situations, and I have attempted to
make
  the best out of the minefield which I have been handed. But there is
little
  excuse to act this way towards the perceived failings in my behavior, when
  the concerns you have raised have yet to be addressed, in one manner or
  another."
Iason doesn't even flinch.

Using Aglicon, Alethia says, "Your taking me to task? You represent the
honor
  of this House on a daily basis. From your own lips you have told me that
the
  House Harkonnen look upon you with amusement. I ask you, is this how this
  House should be preceived?"

Using Aglicon, Iason says, "They will always look upon me in amusement,
Kuria
  Zenovia. They look at me so because fo my lower birth, and the
circumstances
  around my rank. If you do not wish this, hire another Ambassador of blood
  equal to theirs, or install Mintor."

Using Aglicon, Iason says, "There is no cure for that, save to do so. I will
  step down if that is what is desired."

Alethia sighs and sits down in her seat, in Aglicon, "Please," She gestures
to
  the seat infront of her, "sit?" She asks.

Iason silently takes the seat. His face shows no change at all, though his
eyes
  are shuttered, hard green chips like stone as they watch you silently.
Behind
  them, his mind can almost be heard to 'click' as it processes the
information
  his memory and his senses offers it.

Using Aglicon, Iason says, "There is no cure for what I suffer from. I can
only
  alleviate the symptoms, and influence others to act in the House's
interest
  when I cannot do so directly."

Alethia takes a deep breath, "From the momment you came to us Iason,"
Alethia
  says using Aglicon, "I have felt this tension between you and I." She
says,
  "I am not sure where it comes from, however we both work for the political
  goals of this House. We, you and I of all people should stand on a common
  ground working togehter." She shakes her head, "I care little of what rank
  you were or weren't born into, that is not what House Atreides is about."

Tilting his chin up, almost defiantly, Iason replies, "I am an unknown." he
  replies in the same tongue. "Of all the staff, I am not of you. I come
from
  the outside, and indeed, from Imperial holdings. Once I desired to serve
in
  His Majesty's civil service, though I managed to destroy the opportunity
  through youthful indiscretions. Now I am merely a creature of service, who
  assesses all that he handles with great care and awareness for ALL the
  implications involved. My early training has assisted my natural interests
in
  that area, and have allowed me to progress to this rank. I believe that in
  this situation, you are not taking offense at my actions, but rather the
  perceived reasoning and thoughts that you associate with them. Is this
  correct?"

Alethia picks up her stylos and taps it against the table, "An excellent
  analysis Ambassador." She regards you with her deeper toned emerald eyes,
  "You understand my...." She considers her words, "position well." Her lips
  purse together, "So...as the diplomat what do you suggest?"

Iason replies, "Talk to the woman. Handle them as they wish. If they have
homes
  they want to return to, offer to ship the families to Caledan, or some
other
  out-of-the-way world and put them there. If they wish to stay, allow them
to,
  but with someone to monitor their actions. Do not discuss this with the
  Baron; I can handle his queries, and deflect them to safer areas. The
  Na-Baron is the greatest danger, among that House - his position is
unstable
  should Count Cesare Moritani wed the na-Baron's sister. And let me
exercise
  my judgement freely - I know where I stand, and that is firmly upon the
ideas
  which this House represents. Even if it means having to listen to me
lecture
  you because of a lack of communications compounding a set of
  misunderstandings.

Iason says, "My actions, by monitoring them from inside, allow this House
  warning should the Baron's hand of friendship be withdrawn.. or cut off by
  his heir."

Alethia shakes her head and says in Aglicon, "This isn't what I mean Iason."
  Her eyes snap again with ire, "I can handle the women quiet well, without
  your suggestions, since you have turned them over to me and my staff, we
  shall see that they are well provided for." She stands again, stylos in
hand,
  she taps it against the palm of her hand, "I am refering to the working
  relationship between you and I." She turns to you, "Unless this is
something
  you wish not to discuss."

Iason carefully phrases his reply in Aglicon, to get the specific nuances
that
  he seeks. "I suspect, Kuria Zenovia, that there is no way to smooth this
  working relationship. We are both too headstrong for that. I have little
  doubt that my ideas will conflict with yours at some level, if only
because I
  have a different view on the political situation, and a different
analysis.
  And it is these differences which make us both important to the Duke. He
is
  thus assured of getting a more complete picture."

Alethia nods as if willing to accept that, "I see." She says in Aglicon,
"Yet
  shall we extend each other a level of respect. Your methods, while...draw
me
  to question how others are preceiving us...I shall ask you to respect my
  intelligence. I need not be lead around like a donkey, I am well aware of
the
  nuiances and faux pas of a political situation." She says smoothly, "And I
  know how to handle the Baron Harkonnnen, I have been doing so for much
longer
  than you have serviced this House." She turns back to the table, "You will
  remember this, yes?"

Iason nods once. "I do insist on making plain every detail, however, to
avoid
  mistakes. It may seem patronizing, but I prefer that to incomplete data
and
  disastrous plans.

Iason says, "And may I suggest that you watch the na-Baron more carefully
now.
  With his future possibly at stake, he may prefer to try and use the
resources
  he can gain from Helen."

Alethia considers a momment, "Then unfortunately you may have to deal with
  my..." She settles back in her seat, "ire on more than on occasion Iason."
  She says in Aglicon, "You can be assured that my pet peeve is being spoke
  down to." Alethia nods, "Yes, but Praxton's fife to you, did you not know
  that it was part of Helen's dowlry?" She comments with a smile, "That is
  enough to put doubts in the young Viper's hopes. I have spoken to the
Baron
  and he does not think kindly upon the Viper's political asperations. I can
  assure you that the Baron is doing this as a ploy to keep his Heir in
line.
  The Na-Baron should learn his lesson and seek greener pastures or face
  disavowment." She shrugs her shoulders, "Nevertheless, it should be
  interesting what the Viper does first."

Iason nods once. "Indeed. And I need to thank Helen for her gift.. .unless
it
  was your prompting which induced Praxton to give up that land which the
  na-Baron desired..?"

Alethia settles back in her seat, "Oh I had no part of it, this was
  Praxton's..." A proud smile creeping over her face, "devisement." She
places
  the stylos down on the desk, "Perhaps to give the impression that we wish
  Helen to marry you?" She watches your reaction.

Iason arches a brow. "And directing the na-Baron's ire at me." he notes.
"And
  the Baron's own liking of me, for whatever reason, only serves to lower
the
  na-Baron's status in his father's view."

Alethia chuckles, "Aye so perhaps you should be a bit more careful hmm?"
  Alethia says, "The na-Baron may no consider you a rival. I'd also warn you
of
  becoming to involved with the political machinations of the Baron...I
would
  not wish to see you ill used by him."

Iason just nods once. "I am careful, and I use a poison-snooper whenever I
  partake there.. as well as checking the glasses before they are filled.
  However, the Baron perhaps has less use of me politically than to needle
the
  Duke."

Alethia nods, "I also have serious doubts of the Emperor's plans to ennoble
  you. It would be shinning far to much favor upon our House. Since we have
  risen in status from our empoverished state, I believe the Emperor is
  beginning to feel that his poor Cousine may have greater political
  asperations."

"That is projected in the next two hundred years." Iason concedes. "However,
I
  suspect his appearance, that of keeping his word, is what forced him to
  continue with this course."

Alethia nods, "Even so, I do suggest that you beware of any machenations of
the
  Emperor to prevent him from doing this." Alethia hmms to herself, "I don't
  put it beyond any of his lackeys to soil your name and thus lowering House
  Atreides status."

Iason nods once. "I have been watching for that for some time." he merely
  replies. "I am well aware of the possibilities."

Iason says, "You do realize that the fief that I have been granted merely
  reinforces the title... which can lead to problems, correct?"

Alethia consides for a momment, "True, but I think that Praxton desires to
see
  you attain what should be rightfully yours." Alethia says, "And he is
willing
  to place some level at risk to assure you are properly rewarded." She
smiles.

Iason smiles just a bit, and bows deeply. "I will be sure to thank him with
  continued service, Kuria Zenovia." he says formally. "And I will also take
  care to have some antitoxins before I attend the Harkonnen celebration
  tonight. Someone must attend, if only to show that we are not waiting to
draw
  swords behind his back."

Alethia nods, "I shall be in attendance myself." Alethia says, "It is time
for
  me to make a social apperance after my mourning period." She takes a
breath,
  "And the Baron shall think less of me if I should not appear. Besides I
hope
  to see Tatiana this evening."

Iason nods once. "May I suggest talking to the Lady Ylena, the Baron's
sister?
  She appears to be set up for marriage.. and your subtle charms may be of
use
  in influencing how she chooses.. or how she gets her brother to choose.

Alethia nods, "I shall see what I can do to..." She smiles, "Help poor Ylena
in
  her time of greif."

Alethia smirks, "The cow either poisoned or copulated her late husband to
  death." She shakes her head, "Perhaps Viscount Alvstad is seeking a
bride."
  She scoffs.
There is the twitter of Alethia's comlink.

Alethia taps it, "Yes?"

Edwards voice sounds, "M'Lady, I was to remind you of your meeting with Lady
  Ivanova."

Iason finishes, "...custom made for the Duke. Which is why I suggest talking
to
  her.. there are other open Siridari.

Alethia nods and sighs to herself, "Yes your right Edwards, thank you."

Alethia stands turning off the comlink, "Oh I am well aware of Ylena's
  ambitions." she collects her papers, "However I would agree to marry
Praxton
  before I'd let that cow a chance to have him."

Iason replies, "It would be ironic if Cesare looked towards one Harkonnen...
  and got another."

Alethia laughs, "Ironic, comical would be a better term, if you will excuse
me
  Ambassador."

Iason bows deeply.