Dinner with the enemy...

["Jonathan Smith" <jonathan_808@hotmail.com>]

A Harkonnen Limosine pulls in and comes to a smooth stop.

Nestor exits the Harkonnen Limosine.

Nestor has arrived.

look Nestor
A thin man, not especially muscular as can be told through lack of any 
bulges of flesh under his clothing, and of average height. He walks with a 
noble gait, his head held high usually, a walk that betrays the 
self-confidence and subtle arrogance in himself. His eyes are green and 
always seem to be probing something or someone with a look of curiosity or 
determination about them. His black hair is short, around a centimeter long 
at all points, and is always kept meticulously clean and neat. His lips are 
thin and expressive and shoclean and neat. His lips are thin and expressive 
and show the staining on and around them that are indicative of a user of 
the Juice of Sapho. Notable, is the fact that his left hand is quite 
obviously Ixian in origin (+inspect Nestor=hand).

He wears a jet-black longcoat with silver trim, which hides most of his 
waistline, over a stright-collared gray shirt and black pants tucked neatly 
into high, black leather boots.lack leather boots.

+inspect Nestor=hand
Nestor -- HAND:

His left hand is obviously an Ixian device. It is the perfect imitation of a 
hand, without skin and with each individual muscle being replaced by grey 
metal of some sort. In the center of the palm, if this is even noticeable to 
you, is a round lense of some sort exactly a centimeter in diameter. The 
hand itself makes no obvious sounds normally, but every now and again some 
sound, probably associated with calibration can be heard distinctly from 
it.ed with calibration can be heard distinctly from it.

look Haroon
Haroon(#1352PenACF)

A tall and swarthy man who carries himself with a pride and careful manner 
which instantly suggest a soldier. His face is deeply tanned and showing the 
first signs of wear from age and weather but the twinkling green eyes that 
shine from beneath thick eyebrows convey an air of youthfulness. His thick 
grey hair is cut to medium length, and on his face he sports a magnificent 
beard groomed into two forks and a bristling moustache.

He wears a military jacket of black silk that is cut to flatter a body, 
which despite advancing years,spite advancing years, has been maintained in 
excellent physical form. Red epaulettes with white piping adorn each 
shoulder and embroidered onto his left chest in gold is a word in archaic 
arabic. Loose black silk trousers, each with a red stripe running down the 
outside seam, are tucked into polished black boots which reach to his 
mid-calf. Slung from his hip is a delicately curved scimitar in an ornate 
black leather scabbard, embossed with gold calligraphy. ornate black leather 
scabbard, embossed with gold calligraphy.


Haroon is standing talking in hushed tones to a Bajazet attache, the last of 
the evening sun falling over the plaza and casting him in shadow.

The Harkonnen Limosine departs the area.

Nestor slides out of the limousine followed closely by two guards wearing 
his colors - black with silver trim.

Haroon's attache looks over seeing the Mentat and mutters something in Amat. 
Haroon turns and nods the curtest of greetings.

Nestor notes the Bajazet Warmaster, feigning complete surprise as he bows. 
"Greetings, glorious Warmaster."

Haroon smiles thinly and plays along, "Why Nestor isn't it.. how good to see 
you" he says and turns back to his aide for a moment, signing a document. 
"Run these inside to the offices" he says, and the aide departs with the 
files under his arm.

Nestor gives a quick hand signal just below waist level and his guards 
remain in place as he walks closer to the Bajazet, hands clasped lightly in 
front of himself. "Yes, My Lord. Alexi Nestor...though I am certain that My 
Lord already realizes that. My Lord is a most competent man, as I have 
seen."

Haroon folds his hands behind his back and steps forwards into sunlight. 
"Spare me the flattery sir" he says with a dismissive gesture. "And yes, I 
seem to remember you attending upon me at the embassy with twelve beautiful 
girls of yours." He pauses a moment and eyes you up and down. "My Lord Baron 
was very pleased.. sadly he didn't have the chance to express his thanks". 
The latter is delivered in an almost light-hearted way but Haroon waits 
intently for your response.

Nestor nods slightly, apparently taking the comment more seriously than 
intended. "Yes, they were the most well-trained that we had to offer at the 
time...a true pity indeed...for the Royal family at least. Events could not 
have turned any better for you, My Lord. I must say, though I do not share a 
similar quality, I admire your drive to acquire the power you desire. It is 
certainly something that I lack...then again, I am only a Mentat."

Haroon pulls out a pocket watch from his tunic "Dinner?" He asks after 
checking it. "At the Hotel perhaps.. don't worry, I'll pay for it." He 
smiles thinly "I'd hate to make you run up the Baron's mentat account" hate 
to make you run up the Baron's mentat account"

Nestor bows. "It would be an honor, My Lord."

Haroon nods, his hand already on his communicator. He mutters something in 
Amat into it.

Nestor backs away defernentially in a bow back toward his guards. "I will 
meet My Lord there..."

You request a limo over your communicator.

Haroon turns back to you as he waits for the car to arrive. "So is that the 
line that the Harkonnen are putting out?" he says absent mindedly. "My drive 
for power eh?"

A Bajazet Limosine pulls up near Haroon.


Bajazet Limosine
The vehicle has been appointed with every luxury that can be installed and 
still provide seating for six with room to spare. Two sets of three seats 
face each other across a small, solid mohagony table. The sides of the table 
have recessed handles for access to the compartments within. A circular 
light over the table baths the inside of the limousine in a soft light.

There is a sense of acceleration as the limousine picks up speed.There is a 
sense of acceleration as the limousine picks up speed.

.........

You pass through the arch and enter the hotel dining room.You pass through 
the arch and enter the hotel dining room.

Dining Room -- Imperial Hotel (Kaitain)

Lining opposite walls of the dining room are several booths, each containing 
its own table. Above each table is a dim glowglobe with a conical ray of 
light downwards. Set apart from these, at the back of the room, is the long 
table designated as Imperial. Open entrances let in the brighter light of 
the lounge and lobby. The room is carpeted in a dark emerald color that 
matches the verticle stripes that run down the white walls.

Players:

Haroon                                Haroon

Exits:

Corridor <SW> leads to Lounge -- Imperial Hotel (Kaitain)

Arch <S> leads to Lobby -- Imperial Hotel (Kaitain)

Nestor enters from the hotel lobby.Nestor enters from the hotel lobby.

Nestor has arrived.

Haroon waves a hand vaguely. He is sat at a table in the center of the 
otherwise empty restaurant.

Haroon leans forwards over the table while he waits for you to take a seat. 
There is already a bottle of wine set in the centre of the table and two 
filled glasses. A cigarette smoulders in an ashtray to one side.

Nestor makes his way over to the table, his guards left behind at the 
entrance to the dining room, eyes constantly scanning the room in tangent 
with practiced ease. Bowing as he reaches the table, he asks, "May I sit, My 
Lord?"

Haroon smiles with the practiced grace of making slaves feel at ease. "Of 
course, take a seat.." he says and passes you one of the two menus.

Nestor sits opposite Haroon, politely waving away the menu. "My Lord may 
order for me," he says, looking over the bottle of wine on the table. "It is 
obvious that he has excellent taste."

Haroon beckons over a waiter with a wave of one hand. "Two Jazalle steaks" 
he requests, and then takes a sip of his wine finishing the cigarette and 
stubbing it out. "So how goes work with House Harkonnen?" he asks.

Nestor brings up his Ixian hand slowly, as if to show that it is not an 
attack, and waves it over his glass of wine. "Clear," comes the distinctly 
mechanized voice from the hand as he picks up the glass and takes a sip. 
"Rewarding," Nestor answers succinctly.

Haroon eyes the hand for a moment, "Subtle" he says with a wry half-smile. 
"And I'm sure your line of work is. The mentat position for House Harkonnen 
must take a certain kind of man" he muses and takes another drink. "How does 
the Lady Lydiah fare by the way? She looked a little put out at the last 
Landsraad Congress..".."

Nestor sets down his glass. "The requirement for a Mentat of any House is 
simple - respect your master's desires and use calculations to bring them to 
fruition. As for the Lady Lydiah, she is often 'put out', as you say. Then 
again, perhaps, it is a facade to lure others into a mental trap. I have yet 
to fully calculate it..."

Haroon is about to respond but is interrupted by two waiters appearing by 
the table with the meal - two large steaks of a gazelle like creature 
indigenous to New Adrianopolis served in the traditional heavily-spiced 
Bajazet style.

Nestor gives a look to his guards out of the corner of his eye, one going 
back to his position near the door. As the waiters leave, they give the 
guards leary looks even as the one guard puts his portable poison-snooper 
back in it's belt-case.

Nestor looks down at his steak. "Delicious before I even taste it..."

Haroon appears totally un-fazed and seems to show a slightly strange 
disregard to the possibility of poision. At least he makes no visible 
signs.. He takes up his steak-knife and slices off a sliver of meat which he 
leaves dangling on his fork for a moment. "They serve it well here, but you 
really should visit the home-world some time." He puts it in his mouth, 
chews and swallows, "Sample our hospitality as it were.." he says with a 
note of mocking humour.

Nestor smiles wryly as he too slices off a small piece of the meet. "Not an 
offer that I get normally as a Master of Assassins," he notes nonchalantly 
as he eats his first bite.

Haroon swirls his wine around his glass and glances over out of the windows 
on the far wall. "Hmm" he responds and looks back to you "Travel is a 
valuable use of time. Sadly I had to decline an offer to visit Marcinko, but 
I think a brief holiday on Malarca may do me good"

Nestor nods as he cuts off another piece of steak. "I did most of my 
traveling as a youth. You may find this hard to believe, but Harkonnens 
value the knowledge that can be gained from travel as well. The data came in 
endless streams...so much to take in like opened sluice gates."

Haroon smiles slightly as he swallows another mouthful "Travel for mere gain 
of knowledge? I would never have assumed you travelled without the intent to 
conquer" he says not sounding entirely serious.

Nestor raises an eyebrow. "Harkonnens live for indulgance. Whereas conquest 
may bring about new places to indulge, conquest for conquest's sake is 
useless to a Harkonnen.

Haroon arches one bushy eyebrow and drinks from his glass, masking his 
expression. "So tell me.. with the Bajazet do you indulge in our anger or is 
there another motive?"

Nestor takes another bite of steak, quickly swallowing it. "I can only speak 
for myself, My Lord. And I have had enough contact with your House only to 
indulge my curiosity." curiosity."

Haroon smiles a little and cuts at his steak with slightly more ferocity 
than before. "And your findings so far?"

Nestor smiles slightly, though without emotion. "Only My Lord Baron may ask 
me such a question, I am afraid. Perhaps your own Mentat could answer that 
for you."

Nestor says, "My Lord does have a Mentat at his disposal, does he 
not?"Nestor says, "My Lord does have a Mentat at his disposal, does he not?"

Haroon nods "Of course. Master Ecthgow as you well know.." he replies 
bluntly and takes another bite. "Your Baron has had you busy lately hasn't 
he?" he muses though the tone sounds more icy than his previous gambits.

Nestor sets down his silverware, the steak half eaten. "That goes without 
saying, My Lord," he says, making a gesture to keep his hands on the 
tabletop.

Haroon nods and finishes the last of his meal. "I hope that your work proves 
fruitful for him.." He pauses "In the long-term of course" he continues with 
a hand gesture, "I am sure that looking at the short-term benefits of your 
actions the Baron is delighted"

Nestor nods slightly. "The fact that I still draw breath proves the value My 
Lord Baron sees in me..."

Haroon raises his glass in a mocking toast "To the Baron's attention span.. 
long may it last. Dessert?"

Nestor joins the Warmaster in his toast, taking only a sip of his remaining 
wine. Interesting that he himself does not indulge as other 
Harkonnens...half a steak left and nearly a full glass of wine. "No, thank 
you, My Lord. My Lord is too generous."

Haroon settles back in his chair while a waiter bustles over the table. He 
pats down his tunic pocket and pulls out a long-stemmed amber pipe.

One of the Harkonnen guards moves a hand securely over his stunner as Haroon 
reaches in his pocket and relaxes only slightly at seeing that the object is 
a pipe.

Haroon notices the action and gives the guard a wily smile and touches his 
hand to his temple in a brief salute. "Very commendable" he says to you "I 
always find it ironic to see so many displaying so much caution about the 
smallest things.. while they disregard the larger issues" He sets light to 
his pipe with a sulforous match and leans back, puffing contentedly.

Nestor shrugs slightly. "Some are simply more adept at hiding their caution 
over these 'larger issues'. In my life I have been more repulsed by the 
opposite...it is usually a lack of concern over the seemingly little things 
that brings about a downfall. My guards are very aware of the potential 
danger I am in just sitting across a table from you, My Lord."

Haroon nods calmly "As would mine if they were here.. which is why I've left 
them. But I know that you wouldn't risk anything. At least not to my face, 
eh?"

Nestor nods. "True. There is nothing to be gained in My Lord's death 
here...and too much to lose. As a Master of Assassins," he says, looking 
over the objects on the table, "I can find...eleven ways to kill you using 
my place setting alone. Something that they do not teach the common soldier. 
And My Lord, most assuredly, carries at least one weapon on his person 
besides that attractive blade...or so I would hope. But my death would only 
harm My Lord at this point...too much to lose."

Haroon takes another puff on his pipe sending a smoke ring curling towards 
the ceiling. He watches as it disintegrates. "Of course you could" he says 
with a shrug. "I am merely a common soldier, after all" he says looking back 
at you, "Although the battlefield is an excellent teacher"

Nestor says, "I am certain that it must be. Finding out in the mortal arena 
if your training is enough for survival. Would My Lord call it 
exhilerating?"our training is enough for survival. Would My Lord call it 
exhilerating?"

Haroon shrugs slightly "In a way.. but the thrill is only from survival as 
you say.. I take no pleasure in killing" He eyes your face.

Nestor's visage shows no discernable change at the insinuated question. 
"Yes...for an assassin the kill is a means to achieve an end. Perhaps the 
soldier and assassin are not so dissimilar...just different degrees of 
subtlety to the battlefield in question."

Haroon nods "But your battlefield has infinite scope.. something that I find 
disturbing in a way." He shrugs and pours himself another glass of wine, 
topping yours up without asking. "But you are right.. our roles are not 
dissimilar"

Nestor says, "Might I ask if there was ever a time when you took pleasure 
from a kill...the kind of pleasure that rode in your veins like electricity? 
Surely there must have been some butcher in the Known Universe that had 
committed unspeakable evil that you took a certain pleasure in wiping from 
the face of existance..."

Haroon nods "There have been times.. I would hope that one day I feel that 
again" he says staring at you, his meaning quite clear.

Nestor smiles in return. "Proud quarry to be hunted by the likes of My Lord. 
One never knows what the myriad of possibilities life will bring...or when 
that light may be snuffed like a candle. Taken in that context, life is the 
most broad battlefield of them all..."

Haroon nods "And I am sure that at some stage you will make an attempt on my 
life.. or have it arranged" He delivers the line bluntly "I would expect no 
less of you.. though I do not plan to let two rulers of House Bajazet die at 
Harkonnen hands" he adds.

Nestor actually chuckles. "My Lord may believe what he likes...but unlike 
drunken soldiers I do not kill without reason. As I have stated, nothing is 
to be gained from My Lord's death. And, if he will reason with me...why 
would House Harkonnen have killed Sha'ara'diin when it left us with you in 
his place? How would that have benefitted us when a more competent military 
leader would have taken his place...an event I could have easily calculated? 
No, My Lord. I wish you a long, long life."

Haroon smiles wryly, though not with any real sense of humour. "Perhaps the 
Baron was less far-sighted than you then? Or did he ignore your advice.." he 
puffs out another cloud of smoke "I may be a common soldier, but please 
don't question my intelligence. We are not on the Landsraad floor here and 
there are no other ears" He shrugs "But anyway, I am being impolite to 
discomfit you after dinner"

Nestor stands from his seat, again slowly as if to assure his dinner partner 
of a lack of an attack. "My Lord is Regent of his House...to act as he wills 
is his right. A right from which I can take no offense. Unfortunately, other 
matters require my attention...and I have gone over my normal thirty minutes 
of relaxation this day."

Haroon nods and rises from the table. He nods to the waiter saying "Put it 
on the account" and leaves a handful of solaris on the table as a tip. He 
walks around the table to position himself between you and your guards. "As 
do I, though taking time to know your enemy makes an admirable days work 
don't you think?"

Nestor nods in agreement. "The data to be gained is invaluable, yes."

Haroon inclines his head in a brief bow "Good day" he says and turns on his 
heel to leave.

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