Tension (Part I)

["Lindsay Bowen" <lbowen@hotmail.com>]

Stay with it... after all the formalities and Multi-player confusion, it 
gets pretty good.

Lounge -- Imperial Hotel (Kaitain)
The lounge of the Imperial Hotel serves as a more casual alternative to the 
prestigious dining room. Even though simply decorated everything is of the 
highest quality. The tables are made of the finest dark hardwoods of the 
Imperium. Exquisite paintings are spaced evenly along the walls. Portions of 
a cloth tapestry lies behind glass frames behind the bar. The meta-glass 
window on the south wall provides a view of the Circle of Stars. Servants 
stand ready to answer the needs of patrons.
Players:
Hasan (bar)                           Sartori (red-table)
Martin (bar)

Hasan re-enters from the hallway.

You look at Martin.
Tall, well-built man. Martin is usually wearing a fashionable jacket in a 
rich blue. A brillant white shirt could be seen under the jacket. A small 
gold chain can be seen from the collar. His trousers are of a matching rich 
blue with a thin black strip along the side. He has a pair of black 
confortable boots with silver spurs. On his lapel is a gold pin of House 
Moritani. His brown hair is short and usually neat. His eyes are blue.

Hasan nods at Martin and takes his place at the bar.

Martin just looked at you.

Martin nods at Hasan and takes a drink from his glass.

Hasan taps the bar lightly and the barkeep pours him a small glass of a 
thick, clear liquid.

Hasan looks across the room to Sartori. "Colonel. Still here, I see."

Sartori nods, "Only place where i dont get into trouble."

Hasan smiles broadly.

Martin smirks at the comment, finishes his glass, and orders another.

Sartori looks across at the smirker "Eh, you have a remark?

Hasan steps in graciously. "Of course he doesn't. Anyway, Colonel... you 
said before that they could "send me after you" if I needed excitement in my 
life." He says parenthetically, "Which I do, by the way." He sips from his 
glass, "Are you being sent offworld for some duty?"

Martin turns to Sartori. "About you? No. About myself. yes."

Hasan winces at the young man's words.

Sartori tilts his head " How so? Martin, isnt it?"

Hasan sips from his glass and listens for Sartori's answer. To which 
question, he is unsure.

Sartori speaks to hasan without turning away from Martin "Oh, i've stepped 
on a few toes, like the LHC, and a few houses."

Hasan chuckles, "I would say it's an occupational hazard. They are really 
sending you away for it?"

Martin says, "The name is Martin. Your comment just reminded me of my youth, 
that's all."

Sartori sighs, "Unfortunatly not, I will get reprimanded and that will be 
the end of it."

Hasan watches amusedly at the interchange between the Sardaukar and the 
Moritani. He drains his glass.

Sartori looks to Hasan, "So why are they sending you diplomatic corp?"
Sartori leans back in his chair "Ever noticed how warriors get along when 
the Nobles aren't around?"

Hasan puts his hands on the bar and sighs, "Apparently some of the Siridari 
like the direct way with which I put things." He snorts, "I'd rather get 
back to my people. Ruling a city-state isn't like a planet or whatever, 
but..."

Martin takes a drink from his glass, listening to the conversation. He 
winces from a pain in his left shoulder.

Hasan responds to Sartori, "Yes, but they repremand you for speaking like a 
soldier, me, they give a /job/. Both punishments. A job! I've never had a 
job in my life, except the Calvary."
Hasan orders a round for all three men.

Sartori nods his approval, "Martin, shoulder problem?

Martin says, "It's nothing, really. Just an old Kanly-wound."

Hasan's expression grows dark at the word.

Sartori smirks, "Kanly....bad idea someone had.

Martin nods solumnly. "I agree. I have tired of them myself."

Hasan says loudly, "Not as long as the Forms are obeyed."
Hasan looks into his glass as if an enemy might be lurking there.

Sartori smiles at Hasan, "No, warrior, the enemy is around us."

Martin turns to Hasan. "Or until a rounds falls onto your position."

Sartori nods "Yes, there, too"

Hasan smiles at Martin, "Or until your friends start attacking innocent 
bystanders. There are many pitfalls, no?"

Martin says, "Innocent bystander? I've actually just arrived today. Whose 
friends?"
Martin looks at Hasan with concern.

Hasan shakes his head wearily, "It's nothing to do with you, I'm sure. You 
don't control your allies."

Martin says, "No, please tell me. If it is an ally of ours, My count needs 
to be fully briefed."

Sartori shakes his head.

Hasan sighs, as if this is all too much much effort, "I'm sure your Count is 
fully apprised of the House Harkonnen's recent illegal actions in the 
Malarca system. They have fired on our mining operations there."
Hasan sips his raki slowly.

Martin says, "I can not speak for my Count on this matter. What was the 
Harkonnen reasoning for such an attack?"

Sartori looks to Hasan.  "Really?"

Martin takes a drink from his glass.

Sartori tilts his head, "the Ajax?"

Martin looks to Hasan to answer Sartori's question.

Hasan looks annoyed, "Reasons! Are you serious? Naked aggression is his 
reason."
Hasan looks to Sartori, "Was that the name of the pirate ship? Ajax?"

Sartori says, "Its the name of the Harkonnen flag ship if I remember 
correctly."

Hasan shakes his head, "Wasn't that one, then. A pirate ship that we traced 
was the culprit."

Martin shakes his head. "But you said so yourself, the forms must be 
followed. If they have so violated them as you say, you can bring a case 
against them."

Sartori pulls out a small film book "OH... a moment... it's the Aries....HSS 
Aries."

Hasan smiles, "As you say. And "the Forms /will/ be obeyed, or a reckoning 
will be made". Isn't that how the old saying goes, Colonel?"

Sartori says, "yes, but these are uncertain times, if the Emperor sat upon 
the throne, well, Sardaukar aren't known for wasting time."

Hasan lifts his glass, "Here's to that." You aren't sure which part of 
Sartori's statement he means.

Martin says, "The Emperor will sit on the throne. Hopefully, his first 
mandate is trying to reestablish order."

Martin raises his glass when he says the "Emperor".

Guenter enters from the hotel lobby.
Guenter has arrived.

Sartori growls at the entrance of the Alvstad quietly.

Hasan brightens as he sees the Mentat enter. "Master Guenter!"

Martin nods to Guenter.
Martin turns an eye to Sartori.

Guenter beams a smile of goodwilll to the assembled patronage of his 
favorite watering hole. As a server passes he motions for his usualy drink, 
heading through the crowds of those assembled. Upon seeing the Sardaukar 
Colonel, his smile brightens as one might upon seeing an old friend. His 
eyes do not linger on the Sardaukar for long however, as he looks to those 
that greet him with a fond smile.

Sartori looks into his goblet

Hasan motions to the bartender that Guenter's drink should be on his sizable 
tab.

Martin leaves his seat at the bar.

You look at Guenter
	Smoothing his platinum blonde hair with a quick slide of a hand, the mentat 
Guenter Kolk flashed a bright, polished smile. His deeply tanned skin 
setting his bright, sky blue eyes off quite sharply.

	Guenter Kolk is not a man to be easily put aside. Nearly always smiling, 
polished, and clean in his physical appearance, the man carries an air of 
perpetual youthfulness about him. Bright in appearance and demeanor, he 
seems to go about his life without a care. His arrogance is thick about him, 
heavy, like an overpowering fragrance.

Martin walks over to the red-table. "May I join you?" Martin asks Sartori.

Sartori nods an affirmative

Hasan watches Martin leave with disinterest.

Martin takes a seat at the red table.

Hasan smiles at Guenter and motions to an empty barstool.

Never one to dissapoint the aged code of the baroom, Guenter accepts Hasan's 
generosity with a casual tip of the imaginary hat. He approaches the man, 
taking a seat next to him, "You're entirely too kind." He winks, "A feature 
I appreciate."
Guenter takes a seat at the bar.

At the bar, Hasan chuckles, "What are you drinking there?"

At the bar, Guenter motions to his full glass, "It /was/ Alvst vodka." He 
brings the clear liquor to his lips, hurridley shooting the sizeable amount 
with not even the slightest recoil at it's considerable a strength, "The 
first is always a sad thing.. Once never knows it long enough to form a 
relationship." He then orders a second quickly, "However the second, that 
quickly fills the void."

Hasan smiles, "You might try a raki. It's a local spirit for the Bajazet."

Guenter just looked at you.

You are now watching the red-table.

At the red table, Sartori says, "... ... ..."

At the red table, Sartori says, "... ... ... ... ... ..."

Etta enters from the hotel lobby.
Etta has arrived.

At the bar, Guenter arches his brow, "A raki? I've never known it." He 
smiles happily as his second drink is delivered, immediately taking a long 
drink from it. "What would you compare it too?" He sets his glass upon the 
bar's surface gently, so as to not disturb it or risk spilling a drop, "Is 
it.. clean?"

Martin turns to Hasan as soon as she enters.

At the bar, Hasan laughs, "No cleaner than it needs to be."
At the bar, Hasan says, "Like the Atreides Ouzo, Id say. But not from Pundi 
rice, and stronger."

You look at Etta.
	A mane of unruly black curls is held back from her face with a pair of 
matching cloisonne combs, although a few stray tendrils of hair soften her 
sardonic expression. Her eyes are dark and fringed with ebony lashes, high 
cheekbones give her an exotic appearance, but it is her mouth that is her 
best feature, with cupid's bow lips that can be made to curve invitingly 
into a warm smile.
	She is tall, her body lean, and she moves with the grace of a dancer, or a 
fighter. She wears a long-sleeved blue gown with silver trim that hugs her 
narrow waist and gentle curves. The neckline slopes across the top of her 
breasts, fashionably evocative but displaying no more than is respectable of 
her smooth skin. There are few ornaments to decorate her regal bearing, 
perhaps because none are needed.

At the red table, Sartori says, "..."

Etta smiles as she enters the room, dropping a general curtsey to those 
present as she heads for a table. She moves lightly, as if happy about 
something and orders a glass of white wine.
Etta takes a seat at the green table.

If Hasan notices the Lady enter, he does not betray it. His four guards near 
the door, however, stiffen.

At the bar, Guenter smiles, bringing the vodka to his mouth, "Vodka.. Good 
Vodka, is like drinking air." he says right before taking a long sip, "It's 
clean, and crisp, like a cold morning over the sea.. Quite a thrill if in 
the right spirit."

Etta lifts her glass in a salute to the guards and sips the wine 
appreciatively.

At the bar, Guenter looks to Hasan over a now empty glass, "And it seems I'm 
always in the right spirit. Curious, no?" He calls back to the barstaff, 
"Another.. And one for my friend." He looks back to Hasan, to be certain 
he'll take another.

At the bar, Hasan smacks his lips as he finishes the last viscous drop of 
his raki. "Thank you, of course." His voice drops a register. "May I ask a 
question? It's only based on rumor, but..."

At the red table, Sartori says, "... ..."

Martin nods at Guenter.

Hasan nods to his guards, who stand at ease.

Etta just looked at you.

At the bar, Guenter nods his head as he's delivered his drink, which he 
accepts with a nod and smile to the barstaff. "Of course, ask away." He 
picks up his glass, taking a deep inhale of the vodak before allowing 
himself a drink, "What can I answer for you?"

At the bar, Hasan says, "The Lady Garamond-Alvstad. I hope her health is 
good. The natterers have been a-nattering, you see."

Guenter returns Martin's nod, rasing his glass to the denizens of the red 
table.

At the red table, Sartori says, "... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 
..."

At the bar, Guenter smiles happily as he takes another drink, "Oh she's 
fine.. Just a little tired from all the running about. I'd give her a few 
days to rest and she's right as rain."

At the bar, Hasan splashes his vodka down his throat, in imatation of 
Guenter.

Guenter glances toward Sartori in particular, looking at the man for a 
moment before turning back to the bar.

Martin scratches his chin from the comment to hide the small smile.

Sartori narrows his eyes as the Mentat gazes at him.

Etta relaxes at her table contentedly, enjoying the wine.

At the bar, Hasan nods sagely, "Good to hear. She and I have just overcome a 
misunderstanding. It would be a shame if she were unwell, regardless of 
that...." He sniffs the vodka glass. "But, whatever."

At the bar, Guenter turns from the bartender to Hasan, "Oh? The Lady 
Garamond-Alvstad has been under undue stress of late. If you have a message 
you would like delivered to her, I would be more then willing to make 
certain she recieves it."

Hasan looks from the Mentat to the Sardukar, confused.

A waiter approaches the red table, delivering a drink to Sartori. "From the 
gentleman at the bar, m'lord." The waiter intones, nervous to be near the 
Sardaukar.

Martin looks towards Etta and gives her a nod.

Hasan gives Sartori an uncomprehending shrug.

At the bar, Hasan says, "You have dangerous pastimes, it seems."

At the bar, Guenter smiles, looking again to the Sardakaur before turning 
back to Hasan. "Him?" Guenter shakes his head with a bit of a chuckle, 
"That's just a bit of a misunderstanding, really."

Sartori regards the glass for a moment, leaves it setting.

Etta smiles in return to Martin's nodded greeting.

At the bar, Hasan returns to the subject at hand, "Thank you, no. I have 
actually sent her a note myself. I hope it was not presumptous."

Martin smiles back to Etta.
Sartori sighs to relax.

At the bar, Guenter returns to the conversation at hand, "Oh? Well then I 
hope things are cleared up. If this was an offical matter, I haven't heard 
of it.. So I can't imagine it's taken too great a toll on her."

At the red table, Sartori says, "... ... ... ... ... ... ..."

At the bar, Guenter raises his glass to Sartori, mouthing the word 'Salud.' 
before drinking his own vodka.

At the bar, Hasan shakes his head with a smile at the thought of an offical 
dispute with the lady. "It /was/ almost political. But only in the most 
philosophical of terms. Nothing to do with policy. She is quite the 
idealist, it seems.

At the red table, Sartori says, "... ... ... ... ... ... ..."

Etta finishes the glass of wine and licks her lips, her gaze drifts briefly 
about the room then down as she removes something from a pocket hidden in 
the folds of her skirt.

At the bar, Guenter nods, "Oh, I know what you mean. She's really not the 
political type, never has been. Much more concerend with keeping things 
civil. An admirable trait really, though not one that's practical for one 
such as myself."

Martin rubs his chin to hide the smirk from his face.

Hasan's gaze wanders over to the Harkonnen.

Sartori eyes the woman.

Etta pulls out a few caramelas and drops them on the table in front of her, 
and begins to slowly chew on one.

Hasan pulls his poison snooper from underneath his sash and holds it up. He 
looks at the woman, the offer plain on his face.

Sartori chuckles.

Etta blinks and looks from the poison snooper to Hasan, "You want some?" She 
picks up a couple of the candies and moves as if to toss them over to the 
other table, grinning.

Sartori shakes his head, "Simple antics."

Hasan smiles, "Actually, I thought you might need this." He twiddles the 
snooper in his fingers.

A waiter speaks breifly to Guenter, then heads toward the red table, 
speaking again to Sartori. At several moment he motions toward Guenter at 
the bar before leaving.

Etta shakes her head, "I thank you for your concern, M'lord, but I have yet 
to make any enemies...at least, I hope not. In the future, however, I expect 
it will become necessary." She laughs at that and pops another piece of 
candy in her mouth.

At the bar, Guenter taps Hasan on the shoulder, "Be right back, gotta go 
talk to this guy for a bit."

Hasan folds his snooper, "For the best, I guess. I'm not so certain this 
thing works all that well."
Hasan replaces the snooper in his sash with a polite smile, then turns back 
to the bar.

--End of Part I--

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