Interlude In The Garden

This large, roughly circular garden is a wild tangle of flowers and plants, a dense, oppressive profusion of flora from many worlds. Dominating the garden are the small white bitterblooms native to Giedi Prime. They exude a musky, almost bitter aroma that hovers thickly over the garden, visible as a sort of white haze. Translucent roses compete for light with flowering inkvine plants. Elacca trees shade a chain of lilyponds where miniature alligators swim. Nearby, a stand of Caladanian dogwoods shelters a bloom of fragrant black lotus. Topiary hedges stand throughout the garden, here trimmed in the shape of a man coupling with a monstrous animal; there in the shape of a naked woman impaled by spikes; a third resembling a pack of wolves tearing apart a helpless child.

A stone path snakes from the walls of the embassy ground up to the doors of the embassy itself.
Players:
Nestor Ulricke
Exits:
Fanmetal Gate <NE> leads to Traffic Loop -- Harkonnen Embassy (Kaitain)
Burnished Doors <S> leads to Giedi Hall -- Harkonnen Embassy (Kaitain)

Nestor spots the Baron's daughter on one of the benches, or perhaps knew that she was there before walking out of the door, and changes his direction to walk toward her. "Greetings, My Lady," he says as he reaches her with a slight bow.

Ulricke looks up. "Good evening, Nestor." she says politely. She closes the film book and looks inquiringly to the Mentat - perhaps he wants something of her?

It doesn't take a Bene Gesserit to pick up on the woman's body language as the Mentat comes to a halt in front of the young woman. "It has the potential, yes. Forgive my intrusion - I am taking my demi-hour of relaxation today at the moment and thought that the gardens would be a serene place to take it," he says, perhaps by way of explanation.

Ulricke says with a suprisingly pleasant tone, "Please don't let me disturb your meditations." she allows curiousity to color her tone and her expression, but believe it or not, she genuinely doesn't want to harrass the stoic man.

Nestor shakes his head slightly as he glances in the direction of the woman's film-book. "Not at all. Might I ask, though, what My Lady is reading...for curiosity's sake?"

Ulricke grins her well-known rakish smile. "I do know how, and occaisionally enjoy it." she mms. "When Father would go on vacation and take us with him, some of the planets we went to had a quaint activity of equine riding. I rather liked it, but it was long ago. One of the House Minor nobles has asked His Excellency Cesare to build a stable at the Moritani property here on Kaitan...and I thought it prudent to brush up. I don't doubt my capability to ride, but...there's apparently an entire and rather silly etiquette to the whole matter." she snorts, momentarily like a female replica of Boris.

Nestor leans over just far enough to get a quick glance at the screen. "Interesting. If My Lady likes, my people were able to recover several Bajazet filmbooks on the subject when filtering through devices and equipment for hidden attachments and ingrained code. I have been told that they are superior to whatever My Lady might be reading presently. The Bajazets, though House enemies, have a natural knack for such equine sports. Would My Lady care for one of the better film-books then?"

Ulricke looks momentarily suprised. "Yes." she says. "I would appreciate it." she tilts her head, pursing her lips, though still in a smile. "And just what have I done to deserve this moment of generosity, Nestor?" A quick lick of her lips betrays her curiousity, and the Mentat finds himself scrutinized with suprising tenacity. Wise girl, to try to puzzle motive and meaning. It will likely be one of many skills that keep her alive.

Nestor raises an eyebrow betraying, perhaps, that he never suspected such guile in any child of the Baron. "I make it my general policy to work with both positive and negative conditioning, as is the nature of House Harkonnen itself," he says, speaking as if he was her instructor at University. "Success and cooperation gain rewards while failure and rebellion meet with exacting punishment. My Lady cooperated during her interview and I wish to bestow upon her a reward for such. It is a gift, after all, easily within my power to give."

Ulricke snaps the filmbook shut and tucks it under her arm. "Thank you very much. If you would be so kind, would you have the film-books delivered to my quarters once you've had the time to locate them?" And with that, she starts to head into the embassy, but pauses just a moment, and with her back still turned, offers a whimsical and rather realistic, "Mrrrrrow!" before stepping on in.