I Am The Very Model Of A Hypocrite Corrino (And Some Atreides Bashing,

Players:
Ulricke Wensic
Exits:
Walkway <D> leads to Hall of Butterflies -- Imperial Conservatory
Ulricke comes up the walkway, and is thoughtfully provided with a horse on entering. Rather then mount up, for the moment she leads it, expression curious and the invitation from the Duke in her hand.
An attractive, young man sits near the artifical river. He seems to be sketching something on a pad with charcoal pencil. You see the small artistic scene from a distance, it appears to be a sick, macabre, disgusting battle scene. Even though there is no color to the drawing, it almost reeks of blood and gore.
Ulricke peers. "Excuse me." she calls out. "I'm looking for Duke Wensic. He invited me out to the Hunting Grounds." she pats the stallion she's leading absently.
You see a man, but not just any man, the man with the tall, regal features of a Lion. He wears a fine black suit, with a navy blue dress shirt underneath, showing the curves of his muscular body.. On his cufflinks are golden Corrino lions, roaring. On his lapel he wears a pin with the crest of the Chusuk School of the Liberal and Humanitarian Arts. On the small pin, written in gold is the school's motto, "Through the arts, mankind gains understanding." His face shows the noble apperence of a Corrino, the granite jaw with brown sideburns, the tanned skin, and the brown redish hair, gelled bangs standing up in the front like tiny wisps of electricity. His eyes though, are not Corrino, but they match the azure green of hagal quartz, giving him a gentle look. He appears to be very scholarly, with the rims of his spectacles pointing out of his coat pocket, and his scent is that of jasmine combined with ancient texts. However, beyond this scholarly appearence, you sense there are plans within plans.
Wensic nods to the young girl, knowing who she is. He chuckles, wiping the charcoal from his hands. "Hello, I am the Duke Wensic." He smiles warmly. Approching her, he pats the horse on the head, rubbing the stallion's mane. "I was speaking with His Lordship, the Baron, he told me you were a fan of hunting."
Ulricke is easily in her early to mid twenties. Not so young, but not old. "I do." she says easily, "But I didn't know that Corrino hunting sport was evolved to the level of Harkonnen hunting sport."
Wensic is in his late twenties. However he looks very young, very contemporary. "I would not know, unfortunately I do not hunt except during the royal fox hunts. But I am aware of the Conservatory, because I helped design it. I do know that the Hunting grounds can adapt to any style you choose."
"A fox hunt." Ulricke looks amused. "How quaint! I haven't hunted animals since I was fourteen."
Wensic crosses his arms, leaning against a citruswood tree, smiling. "Really, so you kill bigger game, I am sure."
Ulricke shrugs a touch. "Men, mainly. Some of the soldiers prefer hunting children - or young women."
Wensic smiles, raising his eyebrows. "Very very interesting. Very interesting. I fancy myself a composer, I am currently writing an opera based on the life of Johanne Butler, perhaps you would like to attend when it is in theatre. I assure you it is quite...gruelling."
You say, "Father enjoys music, I no doubt will attend the premiere with him. So you draw, and compose - quite a talented man."
Wensic nods, holding up his drawing. "Yes, it is a mural for the Caid. I quite enjoy it, However my drawing is usually limited to erotica."
You say, "Why is that?"
Wensic asks a question, "Have you ever heard the theory that all words in every language are merely metaphors for mating"
Ulricke chuckles. "No, but it's an interesting theory. Does that mean rutting is all people ever think about?"
Wensic smiles, tilting his head. "My dear, what else is there? We are here only to promote our species. Not love making of course not, love making is for those silly fools who want and 'need' love. But sex, sex has always been the factor that continues the human race. Sex is like a phoenix that destroys and resurrects empires."
Ulricke looks amused. "Do you trot this line of tripe out to every woman you meet, or did you hope to appeal to my barbarian Harkonnen instincts?"
Wensic shakes his head, "Of course not, this is merely one of my philosophies. Barbarian?" He chuckles, "Of course not! I merely felt that you were someone that understood nature, and the world around you. Why in vermillion hells would you assume that I thought the Harkonnens were barbarian. M'lady I am a friend to your father. A friend does not consider his close friends barbarians."
Ulricke looks at him. "Your Grace, you may be a compatriot of my father, but you are not his close friend."
Wensic nods, "You are right, but I would never consider the Harkonnens barbarians. If I offended you, I sincerely apologize." He looks around, "Now shall I give you a tour?"
Ulricke nods. "Are we walking, or going by horse-back?"
Wensic claps his hands, and a servant brings a white arabian stallion to him. He mounts the horse. "Horse-back shall be fine."
Ulricke mounts her own, and waits patiently.
Wensic trots his horse slowly, leading Ulricke to down the artificial trail.
Ulricke trots out next to Wensic, looking around with interest. "So, why did you invite me?"
Wensic asks, "Who else would I ask to join me?"
You say, "I'm sure there are many ladies of the Imperium...Tati'ana Rastanyev, Lena Alvstad, Nadira Finn, Helena Atreides..."
Wensic says, "Oh no, heavens no. I heard you enjoy hunting, and you should have a chance to enjoy the fruits of your passions."
Ulricke says serenely, "I'm not altogether sure what you mean. We have hunts on Giedi Prime and at our Embassy."
Wensic sighs, "Well, why not have another place to experience hunting. Let me ask you, are you fond of wine?"
Ulricke nods. "Some vintages. I'm fond of Grumman red."
Wensic nods, "Do you stay on one vintage your whole life, or experiment?"
You say, "Experiment, of course. But hunting isn't like wine.""
Wensic explains, "No, but the scenery is like wine. Personally I get bored when staying in one place, I am constantly on the move, experimenting with new things." Points to the artificial river, "There is the river. From there you can catch fish by line, or harpoon. Geese and silvershark usually are quite fertile in those areas."
Ulricke admits, "I've never fished. I've surfed, though - on some of the ocean worlds in our system. I may go the Alvstad homeworld and try there."
Wensic nods, "I have surfed as well. I have also fished, but you have never been fishing? I find it quite relaxing."
Ulricke shrugs. "It seems rather menial." she admits. "I've been sailing of course."
Wensic says, "Menial yes, but satisfying, absolutely." His eyes flare with interest, "Tell me, did you enjoy sailing?"
Ulricke nods. "I did." she smiles. "But it's really not my first love of all pasttimes.
Wensic tilts his head, smiling. "Tell me, what is M'lady's first love of all pasttimes?"
You say, "I am a trained Swordmaster of the Ginaz school. There is no better joy then feeling the blade as an extension of my own hand."
Wensic says, "Ahhh, are you famillar with Iaido?"
Ulricke shakes her head. "I'm afraid not." she says. "What is it?"
Wensic says, "Iaido is the ancient Japanese art that was used by the Shoguns and Samurais of ancient terra. The object of iaido is to cut through your apponent, killing him without leaving the blood on the blade. I attended the swordschool for a year, then learned Iaido on Chusuk."
Ulricke blinks. "What an exotic concept."
Wensic nods, "I should teach it to you sometime, perhaps you can incorperate it into your sparring."
You say, "You must be quite talented, if you feel you can improve upon the Ginaz master training."
Wensic says, "Well when sparring I found that blood would often stain my blade. I was not satisfied. In Japanese culture, the blade is the soul of the person, his attitude, his mind, his body all reflects upon his blade. Grieving?"
You say, "For the death of Lisa Kupperschmid?" she shrugs. "Not that any Bajazet death isn't a good thing...""
You paged Antiochus with 'Yeah, that.'.
Wensic says, "It is not the first time I have had a beloved woman commit suicide. My mother swallowed a ball of opium the day I left the Ginaz Swordschool. I did not know Lisa very well either."
Ulricke grins a bit. "That's not what I heard."
You paged Erich with 'Wensic says, "It is not the first time I have had a beloved woman commit suicide. My mother swallowed a ball of opium the day I left the Ginaz Swordschool. I did not know Lisa very well either." Ulricke grins a bit. "That's not what I heard."'.
Wensic smiles, "Really what did you hear? Considering I could not touch her due to Shari'ah Islamic Law."
<Harkonnen> Ulricke says, "Wensic says, "It is not the first time I have had a beloved woman commit suicide. My mother swallowed a ball of opium the day I left the Ginaz Swordschool. I did not know Lisa very well either." Ulricke grins a bit. "That's not what I heard.""
From afar, Erich coughs.
You say, "If you don't know what's going around the whole city, then it's not my place to comment, is it?"
Wensic says, "I may be a fool, M'lady but not a complete fool. Tell me what is going around the city like wild fire?"
Ulricke comments again, "I have no place to say, especially if you are so ignorant as not to know a common rumour."
Wensic halts his horse. "May I remind you that I am a composer, I don't pick up on the news very well. I did know that the Burseg attempted to rape her, I already knew. Infact we had a discussion about it, and the Burseg shall be punished. But pray tell, what other rumors should I know about?"
You say, "So you didn't tuck with her in the middle the Canon Green?"
Wensic says, "Of course not."
Ulricke mms. "I wonder how it got started."
Wensic says, "I do not know, frankly I consider suicide a selfish act. I wash my hands of it."
Ulricke considers. "Perhaps it was someone else..." she shrugs, riding on.
Wensic walks his horse slowly again, "Besides, I have never truely had a lover affair with a woman. Except once, a student of mine when I taught at the Chusuk School of Arts. We were almost the same age, I in my mid twenties, she in her earlies."
Ulricke ah's. "Then you haven't had much practice, I suppose."
Wensic shakes his head, "With her, I have. I have had my flings but nothing very major, nothing dark, nothing what I want it to be,"
You say, "What do you want it to be?"
Wensic says, "My lady, have you read anything by Gustave Flaubert? Specifically Madame Bovary?"
You say, "I've heard of it, but haven't read it, I'm afraid. Is that the woman who threw herself in front of a locomotive?"
Wensic nods, "Yes, but she was infactuated. I have been infactuated, but never have had an outlet of infactuation."
Ulricke nods. "So is that what you're doing? Looking for a new object of infatuation?"
Wensic blushes abit looking down, "I do not-no-I don't really know."
Ulricke smirks. "You paint erotica, but you blush at the concept of infatuation?"
Wensic nods, "There are other concepts, other matters. We are all complex people, M'lady."
Ulricke shrugs. "It seems somewhat ludicrous to me, that a man who paints erotica and speaks openly about sexual gratification blushes like a maid at the mention of infatuation."
Wensic chuckles, "That is not it, it is just that word of your beauty has spread far and wide, even to Chusuk. Now I know, they hardly do you justice."
Ulricke chuckles. "That's flattering. And subject changing, but flattering nontheless. But I'm sure that the planets of the Known Universe has better things to talk about then what Ulricke Harkonnen looks like."
Wensic laughs, "You would be suprised. Afterall, Chusuk is a planet of the arts, we have nothing better to do than discuss what is beauty."
You say, "Martial and athletic, as well as aesthetic and aural?"
Wensic says, "Yes."
Wensic says, "As with all things there must be a balance to create interest."
You say, "There are several ancient combat arts, both with weapon and open handed, that are beautious to the eye as well as functional."
Wensic nods, "Iaido is one of them. Infact one of the ceremonies in iaido is the tea ceremony."
You say, "I've heard of a tea ceremony, though not in detail."
Wensic explains, his horse trotting along. "The tea ceremony is practiced before a major battle with a friend. On the eve of battle, a cup of green tea is brewed, along with a small meal. It is to show that death and battles are best shared with a friend, like the tea."
Ulricke ah's. "We have something similar amongst my family. Of course, it's a large feast with an orgy afterward, but much the same sentiment."
Wensic nods, "Perhaps I would have to look into that. Japanese culture tends to scorn premarital sex, although concubines are common. It is like the old saying with the orientals, 'passion is made up of pain and gain.'.
Ulricke shrugs. "Sex is as enjoyable as any other past-time. Father was quite insistent that I be suitably knowledgable."
Wensic says, "And as always he is very wise. Personally, it seems that most women I find today are Landsraad poppies, they cannot function without their Houses supporting them like a crutch."
You say, "I am very proud of my House. Why wouldn't I be?"
Wensic raises an eyebrow, "I am not saying that. Pride is good, but many women cannot be their own person."
Wensic says, "They hide behind a mask, and it is unhealthy."
You say, "Most of them don't know any better. They don't understand that to be as free with themselves as a man is would be to invite accusations of harlotry, not realizing that it's part of a double standard."
Wensic says, "Harlotry is one thing, but seduction, true seduction is an art."
Ulricke shrugs. "Men are as sluttish as the women they accuse, moreso."
Wensic says, "True. But men cannot practice the art of seduction like women can. I suppose it is that flare, that glorious aura they have."
You say, "I disagree. Men can be extremely seductive creatures. It's just that men with such gifts are called virile, and women, whores."
Wensic says, "I have never met a whore, M'lady."
You say, "Talk to an Atreides, and they'll tell you you're looking at one right now."
Wensic scoffs, "You are not a whore. The Atreides think that goat's meat cures acne, they don't know anything. I believe they just need a scapegoat."
Ulricke chuckles. "I'm certainly no virgin." she says mildly. "Does His Majesty know of your invitation?"
Wensic shakes his head, "No, but he believes that I am allowed to have guests. He gives me my privacy, as long as I obey him."
You say, "That's generally the nature of fealty. Have you ever hunted a man?"
Wensic says, "Yes, during my times at the Swordschool. It just was not my personality, my way of doing things."
You say, "That's a shame. It's far more challenging then hunting animals."
Wensic nods, "I have killed more men than animals. I would do it, again, for the experience. Personally I, as a vegeterian believe that animals are run by nature, they do no wrong. If it is anyone that deserves to be hunted, its men."
You say, "You're a what?"
Wensic says, "Vegetarian. I do not consume meat. My mother was one, and I suppose I grew to it."
Ulricke looks momentarily repulsed, then schools it into polite indifference. "How interesting."
Wensic nods in politeness. "Now tell me, what have the Atreides said about you?"
You say, "No doubt that I'm a craven whore. I don't sit around listening to Hawk slander."
Wensic shakes his head, with a smile, his head back. He rolls his eyes, "I have heard they are a religious bunch to an extent. Fanatics will say anything, do anything, condemn those that they do not understand. They constantly repress their urges, their desires, their needs."
Ulricke chuckles. "Mintor didn't, but then, Mintor was an idiot."
Wensic nods, "So I have heard, so I have heard."
Wensic looks to a servant as they ride by. He asks Ulricke, "Are you hungry, m'lady?"
Ulricke considers. "I wouldn't mind a bite."
Wensic takes his horse to a raised dais on the river. It is a bridge, surrounded by trees, flowers, and rushing water underneath. He dismounts his horse and looks to the servant. While removing his leather gloves he asks, "Bring us Champagne and strawberries."
Ulricke arches a brow. "That's what you consider a meal?"
Wensic looks to her, "I thought you wanted a 'bite'. Would you care for something more?"
Ulricke says with a sweet tone, "You don't eat meat, remember?"
Wensic says, "I know but being a vegetarian does not mean you cannot gorge."
Wensic adds, "Strawberries and Champagne are more of a snack. No I do not consider this a full meal."
Ulricke chuckles. "As you prefer."
The servant arrives with stawberries in an ornate silver bowl, and a bottle of champagne with two wine flutes.
Ulricke looks around. "There's little place to sit, unless the servant's brought chairs."
Wensic takes off his cape, laying it on the bridge. "Not to worry."
Ulricke laughs. "How gallant."
Wensic pours the champagne, handing a flute to Ulricke. "I have hundreds of capes, why I have them, I do not know."
Ulricke chuckles. "Because you're a clothes horse?" she teases.
Wensic laughs, "Perhaps." He offers to help Ulricke onto the cape.
Ulricke shrugs off his hands, and promptly folds her legs under her to sit with legs crossed.
Wensic nods, sitting down as well. He places a strawberry in his mouth, and sips his champagne. "How are things on Giedi Prime?"
You say, "Well enough. I didn't venture out much while I was there, too busy studying."
Wensic says, "Studying? Ahhh I see. and what do you think about Kaitain?"
You say, "I'm hoping that the new Emperor will prevent it from being as dull as it used to be."
Wensic says, "I am sure it will not be dull. I have just ask the Imperial Theatre to reshow 'Agamemnon'. The Atreides should be pleased about it, after all it is their sadistic family history."
Ulricke grins. "I love that play. Nothing quite like a reminder of the fact that their proud and noble ancestor raped a holy woman, committed adultery, and then was murdered by his wife to make the Hawks squirm."
Wensic chuckles, "Have you read the rest of the Orestes Trilogy?"
You say, "Which one was that? I may have, but do refresh my memory of the plot."
Wensic says, "The other plays after Agamemnon."
You say, "I recall 'Trojan Women', 'Medea', 'Lysistrata', and the Oedipus tilogy."
Wensic explains, "Orestes was the son of Agamemnon. He sought blood vengence on his mother and killed her while she was making love to her lover. The third and final play is where Orestes is tried by Athena for killing his mother, even though it is Greek tradition to avenge the death of your father."
Ulricke accepts a strawberry, biting into it and sipping her champagne. "So. Did you plan this?"

I Am The Very Model Of A Hypocrite Corrino (And Some Atreides Bashing, Too!)