Introduction or Interrogation? Is there a difference?

["Ben Stansberry" <britishben@hotmail.com>]

Greetings,
    Here's a short little session between Cromwell and Saud.

Office of the Imperial Chancellor -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain)
      The Lord Chancellor's office serves as the nerve center of the 
Imperium. All communications and orders to the various departments of the 
Imperial government pass through here on their way toward their destination. 
As befits the magnitude of the work carried on here, no expense has been 
spared in its appointments. A plush Gamont rug covers the teak flooring. The 
walls are of finely embossed marble. Recessed wall sconces display priceless 
portraits of great CHANCELLORS of the past and other works of art.
      A massive mahogany DESK dominates the interior of the room with a 
high-backed leather chair behind. Two smaller leather chairs stand before 
the desk and in one corner is a sitting area made up of a settee and two 
chairs. A priceless antique coffee service decorates the sitting area. 
BOOKSHELVES on the north wall store display a series of hundreds of 
identical red-bound leather volumes--the Great Convention and its countless 
commentaries from the millennia.
      All in all the room conveys a sense of quiet dignity, and efficiency 
reflecting its current occupant and the tradition he serves.

Exits:
Wooden Door <W> leads to The Imperial Embassies and High Imperial Offices -- 
Imperial Palace (Kaitain)


You hear a knocking coming from the The Imperial Embassies and High Imperial 
Offices -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain).

Cromwell shouts, "Enter."

Saud walks in from The Imperial Embassies and High Imperial Offices through 
the Wooden Door.
Saud has arrived.

Saud inclines his head, "Lord Chancellor."

Cromwell sits at his desk going over a stack of reports. A neglected cup of 
sapho-melange tea sits just out of harms way on his right. Upon hearing the 
knock and entrance he looks up, and his mild surprise shows as he sees his 
guest. Almost instantaneously remembering protocol he stands and bows 
properly, "Your Lordship, you honor me with your visit. Please come in."

Saud's smile is warm. "Thank you, Lord Chancellor. And it is you who honor 
me by making time for me in what I know is a busy day for you." He barely 
grimaces as he takes a seat.

Cromwell returns the smile, "Well, as busy days are the rule here this is 
much like any other. However, you are correct when you observe that the 
nature of my business has been altered as of late. Please come, have a 
seat." He motions to the chairs in front of his desk.

Saud settles in. "No doubt. All of the empire is abuzz with the events that 
have and will transpire here. You hardly hear of anything else."

Cromwell nods appreciatively, "Of that I have no doubt. The gadflies seem to 
infest Kaitain like a plague. I have often thought to require a bag of salt 
at every street corner so that enough grains will be available to take with 
the rumors one hears. I trust your lordship has not been accosted to 
severely since your unexpected arrival?"

Saud shakes his head, lips pursed. "Oh no. I came directly to the Palace to 
pay my respects." Hazel eyes measure the man across the desk from him, "It 
does seem all is well."

Saud just looked at you.
Cromwell
     A man just entering the prime of his life, Vincent Cromwell stands 
slightly less than 6 feet tall. He close cut red hair atop a pleasant, 
unwrinkled face. Though possessing an athletic build one can see that the 
demands of his position have begun to take their toll around his waist, as 
if he can no longer find the time to exercise as he once did. His lips are 
stained slightly from his use of sapho juice though not nearly to the 
extreme of most Mentats. The Chancellor's piercing blue eyes are his most 
noticeable feature. While not the total blue within blue of a Reverend 
mother or Fremen, the whites have a light blue tint and the pupils are a 
deep sapphire color, probably due to a mild addiction to the spice melange.

Look Saud
     A thin man, to the point of gaunt. Pale skin hangs loosely, the muscle 
it once clothed gone. The man's feature's are blurred by a full auburn 
beard, kept long. His hair is pulled back into a single braid which stops at 
about his shoulders. His most vibrant asset are the deep-set hazel eyes set 
above his aristocratic nose.
     He is dressed simply yet sharply in black. The trousers are cut to 
rigid lines while the shirt hangs loosely. At his starched collar is the 
Corrino ensignia.

Cromwell nods, "Yes, all is as well as can be expected under the 
circumstances. The na-Emperor has taken matters well in hand." He seems to 
let the last part linger, as if to gauge the subtleties the reaction it 
invokes.

Saud nods, his tone neutral as he moves the conversation's topic, "I quite 
agree. And the Emperor Jeon's death..." A slight pause, "How goes that 
investigation?"

Cromwell furrows his brow slightly, "The investigation moves along, though 
perhaps not as speedily as I would like. I have identified the poison and 
generated a list of suspects. However, the means of entrance employed by the 
assassins has so far escaped us, as has the true identity of the murderer. 
The poison was relatively easy to come by but rarely used, and was 
administered by means of injection into the neck. The rest is still 
inconclusive I am afraid."

Saud nods appropriately to the information. "I have no doubt that if the 
culprit is to be found, that you will find him, Lord Chancellor."

"I will endeavor too do my best,' the Chancellor folds his hands, resting 
them on the desk, 'which brings me to another matter, your lordship. If I 
may be so bold, what brings you to Kaitain. Of course the Emperor's death, 
the creator bless him, is proper reason enough. However, unless I am 
mistaken that is not your only reason."

Saud nods slowly. "You are correct as ever, m'lord. When I heard of the 
Emperor's death and the na-Emperor's ascension I thought that perhaps in 
these tumultuous times I might be better able to serve the empire here on 
Kaitain."

Saud pages: Taking off the kid gloves eh? :)
You paged Saud with 'Well I am a mentat.;)'.
Saud pages: Yeah, yeah. :)

Cromwell smiles almost innocently, "Of course, quite right. Your service to 
the Imperium has been exemplary and I see no reason for it to falter in 
these....'tumultuous times' as you aptly put it. I am sure that the 
na-Emperor can count on all of his devoted family members to support him, as 
they supported his uncle. He is lucky to have such a firm foundation upon 
which to rest his reign."

Saud's eyes gaze squarely across the table. "The Empire deserves no less."

Cromwell nods, maintaining the same semi-innocent smile,"Indeed it does. 
Towards that end, is there anything I can do to get your lordship settled 
here? I understand that you have not visited court for some time, I trust 
you have found appropriate quarters and activities to satisfy you.""

Saud clears his throat, "Well, I have only just arrived, so my quarters are 
as yet, unsettled. The na-emperor has been gracious enough to allow me to be 
of some diplomatic assistance after his coronation. To that end I was hoping 
that I might be able to get the files on the Palace's diplomatic staff."

Cromwell nods pleasantly, "Of course. As soon as you have gotten your self 
settled I will have the files delivered to you. If I may inquire, what 
duties has the na-Emperor assign to you. His highness and I have yet had our 
daily meeting and so I am as yet uninformed of your appointment."

Saud waves an idle hand, "Nothing too precise yet, I am sure as you have yet 
to hear of it. I have only /just/ met with na-emperor, no doubt he will 
inform the both of us when he is ready."

Cromwell grins knowingly, "Indeed, we will all learn of things in their 
proper time. Is there anything else I can assist your lordship with at 
present?"

Saud stands, hands whitening further as they grip the chair's arms. "No, you 
have been too kind already Lord Chancellor. I will be sure to garnish your 
ear at some other, more opportune moment."

Cromwell rises as well, "I look forward to it, your lordship. I will also 
inform the Imperial Suk of your presence. Should you require anything of a 
medical nature feel free to avail yourself of his services."

Saud lips tighten slightly. "Quite kind of you, m'lord." He inclines his 
head, "Good day to you."

Cromwell bows formally, "And to you, your lordship. Please call again."

Saud walks to the west and passes through the Wooden Door.
Saud has left.

Cromwell grins contentedly and returns to the stack of reports on his desk.

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