Imperial Aggression

[HYWASaint@aol.com]

A great short scene between Erich, Ceile, and Wensic.  A nice indication that 
the new Emperor views things quite differently than his predecessor ...
___________________________________________________________________

You pass through the Marble Archway.

Reception Foyer -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain)(#2481RtJ)

    There can be no doubt that the architects of the Imperial Palace 
recognized that the first interior impression a visitor would have would be 
the Reception Foyer. The foyer is adorned with the most opulent and shameless 
decor of any space in the Imperium. Decorated in a soft-Baroque style, the 
massive, domed chamber, which reaches no less than 20 meters high, is 
masterfully designed -- and with inestimable precision -- to attenuate any 
echos or harsh sounds, despite the fact that the stark white marble floor is 
dressed with neither rug or carpet and the walls with not a single tapestry. 
The DOME itself bears a remarkable MURAL, the largest such self-supporting 
structure on Kaitain. Without exception, every noteworthy piece of furniture 
appears to be an original, priceless antique. The CHAIRS which line the walls 
at strategic points appear to be originals from the 7th millennium, 
flawlessly preserved. Two large gold framed MIRRORS adorn the north wall. 
Several PORTRAITS line the east and west walls. Honor GUARDS in dress uniform 
watch visitors motionlessly with penetrating gazes while Imperial servants 
mill about quietly on various errands.

            (OOC NOTE: Type '+places/help')
Players:
 Ceile                                 Wensic                                
 Erich                                
Exits:
 Corridor <E> leads to Eastern Wing -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain) 
 Dark Granite Stairs  leads to Halls of the Royal Residence -- Imperial 
Palace (Kaitain) 
 French Doors <NW> leads to Platinum Ballroom -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain) 
 Marble Archway <N> leads to Hall of Emperors -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain) 
 Gilded Doors <W> leads to Salon of Wallach I -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain) 
 Grand Entrance  leads to Cannon Green -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain)

Erich enters the reception hall, the Emperor followed by his requisite 
personal guard of Sardaukar, though things are a bit irregular in the fact 
that several carry a gold sarcophagus, its heavy weight made almost nothing 
when augmented by the servomotors which reside under it.

Wensic enters from the Ballroom.

Making her usually (of late) quiet way down the stairs, followed by her own 
entourage of Sardaukar guards, Ceile trails her hand lightly down the 
banister. She seems not to notice anyone else who may be in the area, or if 
she does, she chooses to ignore them.

Erich looks at Ceile as she descends, perhaps having known where she was 
headed. Indeed, the Emperor wastes no time in walking towards her at a 
clipped pace. "Lady Ceile," he states in a steely, compassionless tone, "I 
believe I have something of yours."

Wensic looks at the Sarcophagus, his head bowed in abit of reverence.

Ceile pauses at the bottom of the step as she's addressed by the 
oh-so-friendly Emperor. She lifts her eyes slowly to meet his, as if she has 
all the time in the world, before finally dipping into a small curtsey. 
"Perhaps I should feel honoured." she replies quietly, not looking past him 
towards the sarcohpagus.

Erich steps to the side and allows the Sardaukar to approach, drifting the 
sarcophagus in the clear sight of Ceile. A grim-faced commander pulls open 
the lid, the Padishah noting as he does so, "M'lady, our former emperor has 
ended his role in the transition ceremonial. I thought it best perhaps if his 
sarcophagus were transported to your chambers until such time as we arrange 
the funeral."

Wensic bows to the Emperor, "Your Majesty." He then nods to Ceile, "M'lady". 
His eyes turn back to the Sarcophagus, looking as the Commander opens it.

Ceile stiffens almost invisiably, her eyes resting on the contents of the 
Sarcophagus for only a moment as it's opened. She quickly closes them for a 
rather long moment as she draws a slow, deep breath. When she opens them, she 
turns to concentrate on Erich. "How very...generous of you." she murmurs 
softly, her voice steady. Then again, at the soft level she's using, it would 
be almost impossible to detect any wavering.

Wensic looks to Ceile, feeling nothing but sympathy for her. He then wonders 
where he gets his altruistic virtues, perhaps it is the Hagal in him, not the 
Corrino.

Erich nods his head in rapt approval, clasping his hands in finality. 
"Wonderful. Naturally your guard will be increased so that we might better 
watch over Emperor Jeon's remains until they may be placed in the Corrino 
tomb. He's naturally embalmed, so won't be causing you any trouble."

Wensic simply stands. What can he do? Nothing, absolutely nothing. He almost 
shudders at the thought of having your dead lover sleep in your bed chambers 
until his burial.

How wonderful that she finally gets to hear these details. After all, she 
hadn't investigated them herself for no reason...Ceile nods curtly, blinking 
several times in rapid succession. "I believe Jeon's remains will be 
perfectly safe in my suite without additional guards....sire."

Erich shakes his head, forcing a thin smile. "No, no, m'lady. I insist," he 
offers altruistically.

Wensic suggests, meekly, but still with a noble tone. "My Sublime Emperor, 
might I suggest a more formal setting for The late Emperor Jeon's placement, 
such as the Hall of Emperors?"

"I'm certain you do." Ceile mutters softly. Sometime during the so far very 
short conversation, the poor woman's hand has tightened around the stairs 
banister until her knuckles are white. As 
Wensic speaks, she casts a glance in his direction, but remains silent now.

Erich shakes his head at his cousin and aide de camp. "My dear Duke Wensic, 
your suggestion is appreciated, but I would rather this resided in the more 
secure and less-travelled area of the palace. Jeon has been embalmed, and 
will go to his due in the mausoleum with his ancestors of ten thousand years."

Ceile draws a deep breath once again, somehow prying her hand off the railing 
and stepping down the last step. Almost as if to prove a point to Erich, she 
moves very slowly until she stands directly beside the Sarcophagus and 
directs her gaze downwards. "Thank you, Duke Wensic, but I fear our new 
Emperor has a...personal taste in these matters which I fear we must all bow 
to. So, as it is his wish, our late Emperor's remains will reside in my 
rooms..."

Erich sighs slightly and shrugs his shoulders. "Never let it be said that 
Emperor Erich I was not magnanimous. It will be moved to the crypts instead," 
he states decidedly, the very edges of a smile coming to his lips.

<<A beautiful sarcophagus wrought of gold and inlaid with various precious 
jewels from diamonds to rubies to a prodigious amount of Hagal crystal. It is 
in a slightly rounded shape, its entirety detailed in miniscule, detailed 
script in the Sardau language. Within this kingly tomb lies the dead emperor, 
Jeon XIV.>>

Ceile can't help but smile, barely more than an upturning of the corners of 
her mouth for a moment. "And of an easily changeable mind as well, your 
Majesty." she murmurs. "But, of course, your wish will be followed..."

Erich tsks slightly and takes a step forward to rest a hand on the edge of 
Jeon's sarcophagus and final resting place. "Not easily changeable, m'lady, 
but moved by my subjects ... unlike some of my predecessors. Hard-handed 
obstinacy only breeds contempt. As some found out quite fatally. I remember 
in particular Emperor Mikael the Depraved. Very interesting figure. Had 
himself cryogenically frozen and then revived later to take up reign again. 
However, he was a tyrant. In the end, he was murdered by having a piece of 
sodium thrown into his bath by the hand of his own daughter. It was not a 
pleasant end, I assure you."

"Then we must be thankful Jeon was not an Emperor such as Mikael the Depraved 
was, mustn't we?" Ceile responds, slowly extending her hand to brush her 
fingers against the long-cold cheek in the sarcophagus. "It is a sad thing 
when so many Emperors come to such sudden ends, quite often by those who wish 
to further themselves, or those they support."

Erich nods somberly, looking at the grey, preserved form of his predecessor. 
"Let us merely say he died as he lived then, and be done with it," the 
present Emperor opines, signalling to the Sardaukar guarding the sarcophagus 
who take control of it again and leave the hall, the much-vaunted corpse on 
its way to the dank, dark end which all of the Corrino finally find their way 
to."

Wensic nods, thanking the Gods that may be for having some affect in this 
matter, if any.

Ceile pulls her hand back out of the way, settling both of her hands against 
the front of her skirt. "I'm certain you have been finished with it for some 
time now." she answers, looking out of the corner of her eye up at Erich.

Erich quirks an eyebrow at the bitter concubine. "Lady Ceile, it is truly sad 
that you cannot find it in yourself to get past the death of your lover. The 
rest of the Imperium, however, must move on. The Known Universe does not stop 
just because Jeon is gone."

Wensic looks at Erich, with no emotion at all. <<How can he say that? She 
just lost the man she loved. My God, does he show any empathy at all.>>

"I do appologise for having more than some to come to terms with, your 
Majesty," comes Ceile's soft answer. "I will never 'get past' the murder of 
the man I love and my only child, though I will move on. I do not expect the 
Imperium to stop because of this, but I had hoped you'd show half the true 
heart he had."

Wensic steps back almost. <<She does have gall.>>

Erich exhales a heavy sigh, shaking his head dismayedly. "M'lady, it is out 
of the heart I have that I do not have you reprimanded for making such 
statements. It is you who are frozen to the very core, by the looks of it. A 
bitter, barren woman, and I've no use for you so long as you remain so 
shackled to the past. The future is too bright and vital for that."

Ceile nods slowly, smoothing her hands over her skirt before twisting to look 
up at the Emperor. "What will you do with me, then, until my moods are such 
that they please you? Shall I be kept under guard as someone who is not 
trusted? Will I be returned to my family? Thrown out?" She tips her head 
silghtlyt o one side, whatever she's truely feeling well hidden. There are 
some benefits to having once been an actress.

Wensic eyes cast to the Golden Case that the man who once held the Entire 
Universe in his hand, lies in, helplessly. He raises an eyebrow to the 
ground, waiting for the Emperor to respond.

Erich replies in a tone of utter blitheness and detachment, "M'lady, I will 
merely ignore you and let you go your own way as I go mine. Keep holding on 
to your ghosts for all I care. I have had the Lady Justine appointed to look 
after you, but you make it quite apparent that you have no interest in ever 
moving on."

Ceile bows her head faintly, what could probably be taken as an insult 
considering Erich's station. "I wouldn't wish to cause you to have to make 
the effort to see why I feel as I do, so if I may, I ask you allow me to 
return with Justine. She has told me you refused her offer..."

Erich looks at Ceile with those glinting green eyes of his, like a snake more 
than anything else. "Her own plans have changed, m'lady. Again, you remain 
behind the times. I suggest you speak with your friend and learn of the 
opportunity which she has been offered."

"I'm afraid she's been somewhat busy speaking with her husband and making the 
decision she's required to." Ceile shakes her head. "She has less time for me 
than she had...but I understand."

Erich clasps his hands behind his back in the rather brooding manner he has. 
"Very well, then. I will leave you to whatever course you decide to take, 
m'lady, be it to stay here or to go back to your family. You'll not be thrown 
out. I've already informed you that House Corrino will provide for you as 
long as you see fit to tarry here."

Wensic raises an eyebrow with a smile, "My Lord Emperor, due to the Lady 
Justine's busy schedule with her own family, I request that /I/ look after 
the Lady Ceile, as a gesture of friendship. Afterall she does need more 
friends after the most unfortunate situation."

Erich looks to the ever-so-accomodating form of his cousin, the Count Wensic. 
"M'lord, I will consider your request and decide upon it in good time."

Wensic says, "Be it if she decides to return to her family, I will personally 
assure that she does so safely."

Ceile blinks, looking between the two men now silently. What game is it the 
new Emperor is playing now?

Erich has little patience for cowtowing, and states tersely, "Again, all will 
be decided in good time, in part contingent upon what the good Lady decides 
to do." He looks again to Ceile and nods, "Good evening, m'lady." back to 
Wensic, "M'lord."

Wensic nods to the Emperor, bidding him farewell.

Ceile nods as well, watching the Emperor leave silently.

Erich departs through the northern archway, his Sardaukar escort taking up 
position behind him as the Emperor leaves the hall.

You are passed by the Honor Guard before the Marble Archway.
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