Justine is escorted inside by a Rasty guard. She nods to the guard, "Thank you." before she looks to Mikhail with a smile and a respectful curtsey, "Good afternoon, my friend. I hope I am not disturbing you."
Mikhail turns around quickly, he dismisses the servant he was speaking to. A smile appears on his lips, "My Lady could not disturb me if she tried her best."
Justine's cheeks flush a bit at the compliment and her lips pull back into a wide grin as she bows her head to Mikhail, "Thank you for such kind words, they are most appreciative. I have brought some news for you. Would it be possible to speak with you....privately? Well, except for other Siridars. If you would allow me to call them over to assemble, it would make this a lot easier. Then I would not have to visit each one seperately." She offers a hopeful smile.
Mikhail arches an eyebrow. He nods slightly, "Aye, that could be done." Slipping the communicator from his waist-sash he speaks rapidly in Russkiy. "I have dispatched messengers to fetch them." Looking about the room for a moment, "The hall of Boyars will be sufficient for such a meeting, if My Lady will follow me?"
Justine nods, looking relieved at the acceptance and then follows Mikhail to said destination.
Hall of Boyars -- Rastanyev Embassy (Kaitain)(#2886Rntu)
Dim light illuminates from torches and candelabra's set in ornates brass sconces along the wall. The flickering flames cast shadows upon the room. On the southern and western walls are covered with two enourmous tapestries, on which images of Tsarkoe, the city of the Tsars have been carefully and painstakingly woven. Two alabaster statues stand on high marble pedastals to either side of the entrance. The statues honour the HANDMAIDENS of the Jarla Alexandra III during the battle of Neyvak.
A large TABLE cut from a white stone native to Garrashu VI sits in the centre of the room. Chairs crafted from a dark hued hardwood have been placed along either side of the stone table. Resting against the back wall, not far from the table, a throne-like chair has been placed, cushions of dark red velvet contrast the dark wood of the chair's body.
Players:
Exits:
Heavy Bronze Doors <E> leads to Reception Hall -- Rastanyev Embassy (Kaitain)
Mikhail walks in from Reception Hall through the Heavy Bronze Doors.
Mikhail has arrived.
Justine enters the room and glances around a bit before taking a sit. Her hands clasp together, rubbing and fidgeting nervously as she looks to Mikhail with a half smile as the feeling is suddenly awkward for her. So, she decides to try to make small talk, "I hope you rested well last night, Mikhail."
Mikhail strides into the room, he silently seats himself in the chair at the tables' head. "Mmm. Well enough my lady." The smile fades from his lips however, he makes a small hand gesture and watches for a moment as one of the statues swings aside to reveal a darkened hallway. Few moments later, crimson clad Cossack legionares stream from it, they move to out of the way posts against the walls. "And what is this about, My Lady?"
Justine's eyes shift to the hidden hallway and to the guards that enter the room, a look of slight paranoia crosses her face but she closes her eyes, mentally telling herself that it's okay. After inhaling deeply, she opens them again and looks to Mikhail with a small smile, "If you don't mind, I'd like to wait and see if anyone else shows up first. I don't wish to have to repeat myself."
Mikhail nods slightly, "As My Lady wishes. The Marquis Lear has been summoned, I hope that this will not cause My Lady any trouble."
Justine blinks in surprise at the announcement and stutters, "Ste...Steffan...he....he's coming? Here?"
Mikhail nods, he frowns slightly. "My Lady did make the request of me to summon all of the Siridarat to mine embassy, yes?" He ponders for a moment, "I can send him away if My Lady wishes."
Justine sighs and shakes her head, "Nnn...no. That...that's okay." She smiles sadly, "Probably best that when I speak to him, it isn't privately. Maybe this way, he'll listen. Allow him in, he must hear this too."
Justine's head lowers and her eyes fixate on her fidgeting hands.
Steffan walks in from Reception Hall through the Heavy Bronze Doors.
Steffan has arrived.
Steffan enters, led in by two crimson-clad Cossacks. After he is brought into the room, the Cossacks turn about and seal the doors to the chamber behind him with a resounding thump.
Justine is currently sitting in a chair with her head lowered and her hands fidgeting together. Obviously, she's nervous. She hears someone enter and briefly glances over to see who it is, before looking back to Mikhail and asks, "Are the others able to attend?"
Mikhail offers a slight nod to the Marquis, "Please sit. The Lady Garamond-Lear wishes to address us." A soft smile in Justines direction, "I do not believe so, I think it is safe for you to begin."
After entering, Steffan smiles thinly, then bows to Mikhail and says with a rather firm voice, "My Lord, I received your Guild Mail. ...It seemed.." He pauses, noticing Justine sitting there. "Its seemed important..." He says quickly, and somewhat subdued.
Steffan raises a brow a bit puzzled, and then slowly proceeds to sit down.
Mikhail nods again, "Aye, perhaps it is, perhaps it is not. The Lady will speak now."
Justine nods some to Mikhail, a small, yet quick smile appears and then fades before she stands and says, "I'm sorry to have disturbed you both, I know you are busy men, however, I felt this was too important to wait. I only wish that the other Siridar's were present to hear what I have to say." She inhales and then continues, "After speaking with the Earl..." She motions to Mikhail when she speaks of him and then lowers her hand, "Count Moritani and Lord Admiral Eskilsen, I felt behooved to try to do something as what I heard from the three greatly concerned me."
Steffan leans back into his chair as if not anticipating such a reponse. He smiles again breifly but now seems to paying more attention, "Go on..." He says.
Mikhail inhales slightly, he remains silent,
Justine frowns a bit to Mikhail, "I'm sorry, Mikhail, but the thought of an evacuation of Kaitain seemed detrimental, to all of us. I did what I did because I care about a great many people here and I don't wish to see them go. But I also care a great deal for our Emperor and I don't wish to see people so angry and upset with him either." She looks back and forth between you two as she continues, "We all need each other." Her head shakes, "We cannot survive simply on our own. We cannot survive without the Imperium and the Imperium cannot survive without us." A long pause as she bites her lower lip nervously, "So, I spoke with the Chancellor late last evening and struck a deal, you could say."
Mikhail raises an eyebrow, "Go on, My Lady."
Steffan hrms. He folds his hands, "What kind of deal?"
Justine inhales deeply before resuming, "I made a plea to the Chancellor and the Emperor, begging them both to please keep an open mind to the situation at hand and not to be so quick to dismiss what is happening here. I reminded him that emotions are running very high right now, so people aren't able to think clearly and tend to see and/or hear things that might not have been taken poorly under normal circumstances. I also informed the Chancellor that the statement that was released recently was extremely harsh to the Siridars of Landsraad, making them feel as if a Caid was more important then they were. He assured me that that was not how it was to be taken. In no way does the Emperor favor the Caid over his own Siridars, however, he cannot simply cave in to the whims of everyone either. If he did, then it would make him look weak. And if you would think about that rationally, you would have to agree. However, the deal is this.....I will help provide and gather evidence against the Caid, including encouraging all of you to present evidence, reports or grievances against him to the Chancellor. In return, the Chancellor will provide me with information to 'leak' to all of you, concerning the punishment of the Caid. I have already been told that he is to be severely punished as it is. He has already been taken off his duty and is guarded at all times until the investigation is completed. Punishment will be harsh, but can't be determined just /how/ harsh until all of the evidence is in." She waits a bit and then softly says, "I also promised to help convince all of you not to evacuate Kaitain. At least, not until everything is settled. Please be patient and do not act in haste. Something /is/ being done, I swear my life on it. I'm begging the two of you....and the other Siridars, to please....please try to be more patient and do not act on anger. I will do everything I can to help you and bring you whatever information you wish, but I won't do it if you aren't willing to cooperate either. We all need each other, now more then ever. I beg of you, as a fellow Noble and as a friend, trust me and do as I advise."
Steffan squirms in his a bit before answering. He looks about the room for a moment pondering the situation. He then raises a brow, "It is not necessarily the punishment I am concerned with..."
Mikhail sighs softly, his knuckles whiten as he grips the arm-rests of his chair. He pauses a moment in disbelief, "My Lady's actions are indeed of noble intent, though, I do not know what the reaction of the Siridarat as a whole will be to this." He smiles sadly, "It seems that the whole of Corrino has gone blind," his voice is strangely quiet, "the Landsraad will not evacuate from Kaitain if the Caid is brought to trial, and properly punished. Does my Lady know what the fear of even one rouge Sardaukar has done? I think not." His voice rises in volume, "His Majesty has taken from us the right to have our own trusted body guards and in their places his gives us his terror troops, we stood for this because a Princess of the blood royal had been injured by a Landsraad house. One of our own now has also been severely injured, his Majesty does not return to us our guardsmen, he denies to us our rights... The other day he told me that to him the safety of the 'lesser' beings mattered none to him, that we had no right to our own safety..." He exhales again, rage barely under control.
Justine sighs to Mikhail and then quietly replies, "I /do/ know what the fear of the Caid has done, my friend. And it is being addressed....." Her voice trails off as she contemplates what else to say to Mikhail, her mind churning with ideas but replies to Steffan, looking to him and asks, "What concerns you? The same as the Earl?"
Steffan nods still contemplating a response, "indeed, these things concern me as well. Two guards per noble, is not enough with all of these houses present on one world. Such a decree is asking for trouble. My feeling though is that the Siridari as a whole, will now find Kaitain unsafe. Even /if/ the Caid is punished unless we are alllowed to better protect ourselves.."
Justine nods a little, taking a few moments to ponder this and asks, "Soooooo, if the Emperor were to allow the Houses their protection back, as it used to be, then the Siridari will be happy?"
Mikhail offers a small nod. "It would be a start, yes."
Steffan smiles, "Indeed, perhaps limits are necessary. But now the limitations are too great.."
Justine nods again and then asks, "Then please allow me this.....let me be the liason for the Siridari to the Emperor. Allow me to help all of you try to get what you feel you deserve." Her head shakes, "I won't make any promises, because I can't. However, I will take your concerns to heart and plead with the Chancellor and Emperor to help obtain them. I'm a neutral party in this and I am not as emotional over it as the rest of you. I can voice the concerns without being overbearing and irrational. But, the choice is yours. I will do as you ask of me."
Mikhail nods slowly. "My Lady may do as she pleases. I have always know you to be fair, plead with the Emperor if you think it will do any of us good. My Lady however, cannot exactly be considered neutral in this matter either. She is yet his Majesty's ward and the wife to a a Siridar." He places an odd emphasis on the last part of the sentence.
Nerissa walks in from Reception Hall through the Heavy Bronze Doors.
Nerissa has arrived.
Ever so quietly, the Lady Nerissa Langkamp makes her way into the Hall of Boyars, flanked by two handmaidens and one trailing behind, the three clad in blue.
Steffan hrms, "Yes, but everyone belongs somewhere. Besides even as my wife she is not representing the Ginaz, but the Corrino. Also, in fact it would be....interesting to know as well, how other Siridari feel. We are only but two out of...so many. If the bulk of the Landsraad cannot be persuaded, it may not make any difference how the two of us feel.."
Mikhail smiles softly as Nerissa makes her way into the hall, yet he addresses Justine. "Would My Lady feel comfortable speaking of this to a larger audience?"
As the quickly attentive guards seal the chamber behind the Lady Nerissa, her handmaidens quietly array themselves in the room, odd reflections of the alabaster statues along the walls.
Justine sighs and shakes her head to Mikhail, "I am neutral because I do not have a House of my own, at least, not one to defend." She stops as Steffan speaks and then shakes her head, "I represent noone. Except for maybe, the people of Kaitain as a whole. INCLUDING the Siridari and the Emperor." She stops as Nerissa enters and then turns her attention to Mikhail with a raised brow, "You're wishing me to address the Congress?"
Mikhail nods again, "I am wishing you to do so, it is a request only. I will not force the issue with you." Slowly he rises from his chair and makes his way around the table. "Does my Lady feel capable of doing such?"
Steffan peers at Justine as if wondering the same thing.
Justine seems apprehensive about this as she ponders the possible reactions from it all. Her eyes move back and forth between Mikhail and Steffan before quietly asking, "Will I have support and backing from the both of you if I do? Will you stand and agree?"
Nerissa pauses, remaining silent. She doesn't interrupt. Dark eyes flick from Mikhail, to Justine, to Steffan, and finally, back to Mikhail.
Steffan looks at Mikhail momentarily before answering, "Yes..."
One of the alabaster handmaidens swings open abruptly, a Cossack guard stepping out from the depths therein. His blood-red uniform bears a dark blue sash that seems to vibrate in place: a Captain of the Guard. He bows to those assembled in the room before proceding to speak in clipped Russkiy, addressed to Mikhail and occasionally to Nerissa.
Nerissa replies softly in her native tongue, brows furrowing. Mikhail himself frowns. "Excuse me a moment, my Lord, my Ladies." He replies to the guard, using Russkiy himself, and sounding annoyed. The guard and Mikhail then depart to tend to whatever matter happened to have come up.
Justine is currently looking to Mikhail, expecting him to answer first when she notices the guards enter and approach him. A curious brow rises with the foreign language being spoken back and forth. She frowns when Mikhail leaves, her mouth opening to speak but it's too late, he was in too big of a rush. She sighs and shakes her head slightly at the departure when she hears
Steffan's reply. Her brows furrow together questioningly as her head slowly turns towards him and tilting a bit to the side, peering at him, "You....you will?" She genuinely sounds amazed and stunned at his reply, thinking for sure he would say no.
"I am terribly sorry for that interruption, m'lord, m'lady." Nerissa offers a graceful yet almost ackward curtsy. "I am Nerissa Langkamp, the Earl Mikhail Rastanyev's wife-to-be. I am afraid he has to attend to some things involving House security."
And with that introduction, Nerissa gracefully makes her way to the seat Mikhail had been occupying when she first entered the Hall.
The Lady Nerissa's handmaidens follow her as she moves into the Earl's vacated seat, two of them flanking her chair while the third stays close to her right side. Their faces calm and focused, they are content to wait.
Steffan nods to Justine, thinking still about the situation, "it is a good plan. If an evacuation can be avoided, it would benefit all of us. I must say , Im ....impressed. I did not know such things concerned you. To be honest, I think many would listen to you."
Nerissa smiles ever so faintly to Justine. "My lady, I'm afraid I walked in during the middle of the discussion. If I may ask, what kind of support are you seeking?" The Slavic accent gently laces the Garrashu native's words, Galach apparently not her first language.
Justine stands there, just staring at Steffan in utter disbelief, blinking a bit from shock. For the first time, she's actually speechless, not knowing what to say and even if she did, not being able to get it out. At first, the left corner of her mouth twitches a bit, slowly rising into a half smile. Then, the other side of her mouth follows suit until a warm, gentle, touched smile is on her face. She is jerked out of the shock by Nerissa's voice and quickly turns her head to the Lady, her cheeks flushing some, "Oh, please...forgive me. I didn't mean to be so rude. Tis an honor to finally meet you, Lady Langkamp. I have heard a great deal about you from the Earl." Her smile saddens somewhat but she continues on, "We were speaking of the rather dangerous situation that is at hand. The increased emotions of the Siridari and Emperor. I have offered to act as a liason between the two, to try to help resolve matters in a more rational and hopefully, better manner for all of Kaitain."
Nerissa nods, still smiling. She folds her hands in her lap. "Those are very noble sentiments, m'lady. Choosing you as a liason was certainly a wise choice. I for one, do not wish to leave Kaitain." If she's at all nervous under her cool and calm demeanor, it might be a challenge for even a Bene Gesserit to be able to tell.
Justine smiles softly to Nerissa and gently says, "I do not wish to leave either, my dear Lady. However, it is not official yet. I have to present myself to the Council and also to the Chancellor. If everyone is in agreement, then I will do my best to please everyone. Although, I know that will be a difficult task. Pleasing just one person is hard enough, but a whole city will be even harder."
Steffan leans back in his chair again and nods, "Indeed, Well....if there is nothing more. I suppose I should take me leave. If you or the Earl wish to speak of these things again call upon me. There is an Landraad Congress meeting tommorrow. Im sure this topic is the reason for this emergency session. " He stands and bows slightly, "m'Ladies...good day.."
Justine quickly looks to Steffan, her smile lowering into a disappointed frown and starts to say something but refrains. She simply nods to him and says, "Good day, my Lord. Thank you for coming and for your support."
Nerissa nods politely to Steffan herself, "Take care, m'Lord." She glances over to one of the higher ranking Cossacks in the room, speaking softly in Russkiy.
The crimson-clad officer bows to the Lady, then turns to escort the Ginaz Lord out of the Embassy. The bronze doors are opened, letting the Reception Hall's light filter in as he leads the Marquis.
Steffan nods, and then looks towards the door. He smiles and then walks out.
Steffan walks to the east and passes through the Heavy Bronze Doors.
Steffan has left.
Justine turns her head from the door, her eyes closing as she tries to hide the pain. She finally looks to Nerissa and smiles sadly, "Perhaps I should take my leave as well. I don't wish to disturb you."
Nerissa furrows her brows, her head cocking ever so slightly as she observes the look on your face. "Are you all right, m'lady?"
Justine nods a little with a faint smile, "Yes, I will be. Thank you for your concern, though. I guess I just have a lot on my mind and a lot of things to sort out, is all."
There's more to this, but it's basically girl talk. I thought I would spare everyone the sordid details ;)