Cesare Goes to Market

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For your reading pleasure, herein is a log of a meeting between Count Cesare 
Moritani and Reverend Mother Lavinia, taken from Cesare's point of view.
______________________________________________________________________


******Dramatis Personae******

Cesare 

Count Cesare is a tall man, with extremely striking reddish-brown hair, 
described by one man as being "like orange juice mixed with blood." His eyes 
are of a very disturbing blue, an almost impossibly dark hue, almost black, 
the colour of the sky at midnight. His facial features are well-chiseled with 
a very sharp jawline and aquiline nose, sure signs of noble birth. You judge 
his age to be in the late twenties or early thirties. The Count seems to be 
in excellent physical shape, quite trim and muscular. The Count is wearing 
full military dress: a crimson tunic trimmed in gold, jet black pants with a 
gold stripe down the leg, perfectly-shined black dress shoes, a ceremonial 
sword at his side in a bejeweled scabbard, and a magnificent full length 
cloak of cloth-of-gold. On his tunic are numerous medals and military 
honours, including the Order of Grumman, a medal shaped like a planetoid, 
shaped out of the top facet of an immense pale blue diamond, and encircled by 
a planetary ring of red gold. Cesare radiates a look of severity coupled with 
lavishness, elegance and power simply screaming from every stitch.

The Count Moritani is for the time being seated in a suspensor-borne 
invalid's chair, its unadorned metal surface slopes up the front of his legs 
and abruptly turns at a right angle towards his torso, allowing for a 
suitable writing surface.  The back of the chair is cushioned with plush 
velvet to give him some small amount of comfort.

Lavinia
 
The deep wrinkles in Lavinia's long, dour face leaves little doubt as to her 
age, though the strong form of her chin and her high cheekbones give her a 
regal countenance. Deep blue within blue eyes peer from under heavy eyelids, 
and look about in a manner unlike any other; with an unnerving and utterly 
complete smoothness of motion.

Streaked gray hair is pulled back carefully behind her head, where it is held 
by a small, circular black clasp. The clasp is rounded and almost entirely 
featureless, but appears impossibly dark, as though it swallows any light 
which encounters it.

She wears a long, unadorned black hooded robe, the dark folds of which 
undulate silently as she walks. Her motions are slow, but deliberate and 
precise. Though the strength and agility of youth may have left her, she 
continues to exude a sense of supreme self-control.
************************************

Proctor's Office -- Chapter House (Kaitain)

An oaken paneled office, quaint in its size, comfortable with its 
furnishings: desc, leather-backed chairs, suspensed glow-globes which emit a 
soft light.

A wide window on the eastern wall over looks the Emerald Lawn and rose 
gardens, low bookshelves line that wall. A fanciful painting hangs on the 
southern wall, soft colors, an impressionistic view of the world has been 
captured in this scene, singularly that painting defines the room and its 
occupant.

Players:
 Lavinia                               Cesare                               
Exits:
 Oaken Door <W> leads to Proctor Hall -- Chapter House (Kaitain)


Lavinia studies several papers laid out before her on the spartan oak desk 
for several moments, then gathers them neatly into a pile, turning her eyes 
up to the Count as he enters. She rises smoothly from her seat, her face 
placid, "Good evening, my Lord Count. I trust your brief journey to our 
humble quarter has been pleasant?"

Cesare cants a warm smile as he manoeuvers his chair opposite the Reverend 
Mother's desk and disengages the servomotors which, through magnetic force, 
keep the contraption aloft and it sets down upon the floor. Thusly sturdily 
ensconced, the Count cracks a wry, humourous grin and replies, "I am a man 
who infinitely prefers to rest on terra firma when possible, Reverend Mother. 
Ornithopters tend to make me rather queasy, and I'll not even go into the 
displeasure I feel when having to travel by frigate or heighliner. Man has 
accomplished flight by artificial means, and our physiognomy has never been 
one to bear it lightly."

Lavinia allows a smile to appear on her face at his remarks, "Indeed. Many of 
the tools with which we surround ourselves perform their function with little 
regard for the hands that wield them." She takes the seat behind her desk and 
regards the young man with a steady, though not altogether unpleasant gaze. 
"So tell me, my dear Count. What is it that compels you so that you are 
willing to bear the whips and scorns of a ghastly ornithopter, only to arrive 
before me. Surely this must be a matter of some import. I'm afraid that my 
sisters have provided me with little information regarding your intent today."

Cesare chuckles with disarming candor and looks with canny gaze to his 
hostess. "The Bene Gesserit at a loss for information? I should not have 
imagined that possible, especially after having been raised by one. In any 
event, yes, the matter for which I have weathered the terrors of the 
ornithopter is one which warrants that temporary discomfort. I visited the 
Viscount Alvstad's embassy a few days back ... and met his delightful new 
concubine."

Lavinia smiles pleasantly, "Yes of course. The young lady is indeed 
promising." She leans back slightly in her chair, the old wood groaning 
slightly like a contented animal. Lavinia's voice takes on a warmth which 
seems to fill the room, "Perhaps you're wondering what we might be able to do 
for you in a similar regard? Or do I miss your purpose. . ."

Cesare nods in acknowledgement of the query and folds his hands in his lap as 
he prepares to better expound himself. "Indeed I do. Your ... predecessor had 
attempted to find a suitable concubine for me, but it went the way of several 
previous marriage arrangements and proved lackluster."

Lavinia nods slowly. "Yes. I seem to remember reviewing records to that 
effect." She pauses for a moment before stating bluntly, "I will succeed 
where she failed. I can see that you are somewhat taken with Aurelia, so this 
provides me with a certain. . .data point. What other characteristics would 
you seek in a concubine?"

Cesare takes a moment to ponder this, but nonetheless one of extreme brevity. 
Not one to come unprepared, the Count. "Intelligence and political acumen are 
paramount. First and foremost I desire a concubine who can provide me with 
trusted and accurate counsel as well as know her own way through societal 
circles. I do not require the most beautiful woman on Kaitain, Reverend 
Mother, but she cannot be displeasing to the eye, either. A politic companion 
will prove little use if others could not stand to look her in the face."

Lavinia replies in an utterly dry tone, allowing herself only the faintest of 
smiles, "Then I suppose my services will not be required."

Cesare quirks an eyebrow in curiosity and mayhap a bit of surprise. Those 
midnight eyes of his sparkle with amusement and the Siridar replies, "I do 
not think the Sisterhood would think well of me were I to sweep the Reverend 
Mother of the Kaitain Chapterhouse off of her feet, now would they?"

Lavinia smiles more fully and again appraises the young man carefully, her 
blue within blue eyes moving over him slowly, "I suppose not, though I am 
certain that I will locate a sister among our ranks who -will- satisfy your 
requirements. In fact I will discuss your request in my staff meeting 
tomorrow morning. Allowing a few weeks for screening of potential sisters 
should be sufficient. I should expect to have someone for you to meet in less 
than a month hence."

Cesare nods in full approval of this. "As your records may show from the 
previous ... attempt, I am a very selective man. It will take a candidate 
without peer to satisfy my desires and expectations, but I remain confident 
that if any can produce such a woman it is the Sisterhood. House Moritani has 
not had a very amiable history with the Bene Gesserit, but that is a trend 
which I intend to see ended, both for my own benefit and for that of my 
House."

Lavinia nods curtly, but approvingly, "Excellent. I should enjoy an improved 
air of relations between your noble House and the Sisterhood. You selectivity 
is admirable, and I am certain that we will find a girl who you will be 
pleased to take on."

Cesare bows his head briefly in appreciation. "I covet your help in this 
matter, Reverend Mother ... and look forward to the results you offer. If 
nothing else, sifting through the candidates should prove an enjoyable task, 
hrmm?"

Lavinia nods slightly, "We take our pleasures where we may. You shall be 
hearing from my staff in the coming weeks." Her words seem to close around 
her as she bends to return to her work, "Good day to you, my Lord Count."

Cesare crooks a wry grin, intoning with both warmth and reverence, "Reverend 
Mother. It has been a pleasure, and I look forward to your results." With 
that, business concluded for the nonce, the Siridar-Count Grumman turns and 
leads his chair doorwards. The same novitiate who led him in opens as he 
nears it, perhaps having listened at the keyhole or by other means? 
Nonetheless, Cesare pays her little mind and manoeuvers his invalid 
contraption out with a genial, "Good day."

You walk through the Oaken Door.

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