Smokin' In The Girls' Room

Amara nods off-handedly in response as she takes a seat in one of the plushly padded couches, "I've heard much about you, Lady Harkonnen. It seems few are willing to regard you without forming strong opinions..." her voice is soft and cultured. She lifts a small cordial from the tray of an attending waitress as she crosses her legs and relaxes.
Tat'iana reclines back further, also taking a cordial. She smiles thinly as she sips from it, her eyes moving from one lady to the other, watching for signs of slight or insult or impending trouble.
Ulricke looks amused. "Let me see. There's the one about being the biggest whore in the Known Universe, the one about how I eat little children, and most recently, the one where I apparently played dominatrix to Wensic's submissive. Which ones did you hear?"
Amara smiles casually as she sets her drink down and runs her slender fingers through her chestnut hair as she tilts her head back, relaxing further. "Well I've heard them all, of course, My Lady. These things can be difficult to avoid." Her dark eyes regard Ulricke with something resembling a sparkle, "However, you're far too slender to have been subsisting upon such fattening things as little children."
Tat'iana chuckles quietly, both at Ulricke and Amara. Briefly, she nods. "Indeed... all three are the most popular of rumors still. Do they give a prize for such things, I wonder? Would you want a prize, Ulricke?"
Ulricke grins at Tat'iana. "I don't know..but I keep hoping that one day someone will bring them to my face. It's my chance to tell them that most men of the Imperium are far more indiscreet, little children are indeed too fattening," a grin to Amara at this, "and that I wouldn't touch Duke Wensic to scratch him."
Amara's smile relaxes into a gentle expression of serenity as a young woman begins to give her a massage. "How is your father, Lady Harkonnen. I've not seen him in ... a long time," she asks, her eyes closed.
Ulricke lifts her foot at the servant's request. "He's well, Lady Bajazet...Ulricke, if you please. I wasn't aware that you were a contemporary?" her tone is steeped with curiousity.
"His injury is healed? Last I saw, he still had the cast on..." Tat'iana interjects quietly, sincerely. She toys with the rim of her cordial glass, her nails tapping quietly against the crystal.
Amara sighs slightly -- though it is not entirely clear if it is response to Ulricke's comments or the massage she is receiving, "I am glad to hear he is well..." she says simply. Then, after a pause, "He and I have known one another."
Ulricke looks to the Rastenyev. "He's fine. The cast barely stopped him as it was...in fact, we've just returned from a pleasure trip to the homeworld." she looks to Amara, eyes sparkling with interest. "You are certainly lovely enough to attract my father's interest. Such a shame that our Houses cannot be more cordial."
Amara nods, "It is indeed a shame that political events have driven us to our present position." Her lips then curl into a dangerous smile with a hint of conspiracy touching it, "You have a lovely silver tongue, Lady Harkonnen. Surely you haven't inherited that from your father..."
Tat'iana's eyebrows rise slightly as she chuckles, far more amused by the conversation she witnesses than she lets on. She raises the glass to her lips once more, delicately sipping, as she watches over the rim for Ulricke's reaction.
Ulricke smiles. "Father made sure I learned the best ways in which to use it." she grins a bit. "Does my lady have some certain knowledge with which she could make the basis for comparison?" her brows alight, her expression good humored. She grins at Tati'ana sidelong.
Amara rolls her head forward as the masseuse works on her neck, though this does not completely conceal a slight smile, "Some knowledge. Though it is quite old now. It has been quite some time since I've had the pleasure of experiencing his.... charm.... first hand."
Ulricke chuckles. "Learn something new every day." she says plainly. Looking over at Tat'iana, she inquires blithely, "How's your brother? Still bent on marrying that young prole girl? No offense Tati darling, but he should have learned the lesson seeing the results it had for Jeon."
Tat'iana rolls her eyes dramatically, and does not bother to hide the look of disgust at the mention of her brother's betrothed. "Unfortunately... yes. It seems I will be stuck with the common twit as a sister-in-law after all. His reasons, I can understand... but the target of his affections is entirely inappropriate. I cannot teach her any refinement whatsoever.. I have tried. She will be the laughing stock of us all."
Amara says softly, "That is most unfortunate. To what end does he say he marries this girl?"
Ulricke tsks in sympathy. "It reminds me of my brother Andrei's unhealthy obsession with my father's concubine Lady Sylvie. But at least she's of a House Minor. Doesn't he realize how badly this could damage him? Well, they say love is blind..."
Amara raises and eyebrow, "Love?" she asks, incredulously. "Oh, -do- say this is not about love, of all things!"
"He is in love, he says," Tat'iana answers, her voice flat with the admission of the fact. She suddenly seems distracted as she glances at her now empty glass, then shakes her head to escape her reverie. Her expression softens, as does her voice. "I cannot entirely blame him, though. To love someone... is a powerful motivator."
Amara shakes her head as though to clear it from such a distasteful thought. "It shows a great deal of weakness, I'm afraid. The Emperor and others in the Landsraad will take note of this."
Ulricke pahs. "The Emperor has his own dose of marital concerns." she says. "Of course, he's got his on our little Tati, here."
Tat'iana looks worriedly at Ulricke. "I am still not convinced, Ulricke. I will not hold my breath, nor will I count on that proposal from Eri-, er, the Emperor."
Ulricke points out. "Who's he going to marry? Helen Hides-In-Her-Rooms Atreides?"
Amara rises from her seat, her massage finished. She smiles wryly, "I was discussing public displays of weakness. Not marital concerns. Regardless, it has indeed been a pleasure to converse with the two of you. "Good evening. I hope we have the chance to meet under such pleasant circumstances again sometime soon."
Tat'iana looks up to Amara and smiles warmly. "Yes, let's... good evening to you, m'lady.." She sits up in her chair, though her brow remains creased with her own concerns.
Amara smiles politely, and nods. She turns to Ulricke, "Give your father my regards, if you would."
Ulricke nods. "Good evening, Lady Amara. I will certainly convey your salutations."
Amara nods, turns and reluctantly re-enters the 'real' world...
Amara passes through the polished metal door into the main lobby and the door slides shut behind her.
Amara has left.
Tat'iana waits for Amara to leave, then asks bluntly, "And why not you as a candidate, Ulricke?"
Ulricke looks at her. "Because even though the Emperor confessed at least some interest in me, taking me as his wife would infuriate the Bajazets. You're the most politically neutral potential wife amongst the Landsraad aside from Helen, and she's practically a nun."
Tat'iana sighs quietly, shaking her head. "There is also Lady Nadira... the Bene Gesserit sisters will surely want to force one of their number into the mix."
Ulricke chuckles. "The She-Wolf of Kaitain? They may push too hard..."
You say, "But then, we're forgetting that he will no doubt take concubines. And possibly the occaisional lover."
Tat'iana chuckles as well, then shrugs. "He is clearly not in any hurry, in any case. I feel as though I am courting him, not the other way around. I am never 'invited' to see him, it is always by chance that we meet... This is not how I want things to go. I do not want to be the one to be chasing. It should be the other way around. And yes, I am very sure there will be several concubines. He surely will want to ensure there are sufficient heirs to the throne." Frowning at herself for letting her frustration show, she shrugs again, dismissively.
Ulricke actually looks sympathetic. "He's probably simply too busy." Her understanding is clear, though there's no doubt in either woman's mind that were Erich's interests elsewhere, or still in the general field, Ulricke would no doubt pursue her own campaign with him. It's a silent understanding between all the women of the Landsraad, accepted as a necessity.
"I also cannot overlook the rumors of what happened to that woman... what was her name... Lisa?" Tat'iana says quietly, still frowning. "Is it possible that he was involved in that? Did he have anything to do with it at all? And if I asked him... I do not know if he could be truthful with me about it. There is too much at risk for him to be."
Ulricke taps her chin. "Well, if it was true, I doubt he'd be pleased...there was that parallel rumour about him snipping all the Sardaukar." she shrugs. "I'm willing to bet it's not so much what the woman was doing as it was the fact that she was incredibly indiscreet about it."
Tat'iana hmms quietly, and finally surrenders her empty glass. She brightens a little, then grins wryly. "So... can you recommend a good dressmaker for me then? It seems I need to keep someone's attention during a wedding.."
Ulricke grins. "I'll send the dressmaker's contact information sent to your embassy."
Tat'iana nods quickly, and gets to her feet, smoothing her skirts quickly. "I will be eternally grateful... I should be getting back before Mikhail worries, though. Come round some time?"
Ulricke smiles. "Certainly." she grins with mirth. "I'm considering stopping at the Bajazet Embassy...to see Amara, and cause the rest of her family heart attacks."
You say, "And you're likewise invited over...I'm considering having an overnight festival for we ladies. That is, if the collective Daddies of the Landsraad don't have embullisms at the thought.""
Long distance to Erich: Ulricke grins. Wait for the log.
Tat'iana tips her head back and laughs out loud, then grows solemn. "Mikhail would never allow me to attend such an event, Ulricke. But do be careful around the Bajazets... feelings do still run strong with them, even more so now..."
You say, "They run strong with us, too." she grins. "Let me see if I can sweet talk Mikhail before you say no. He's not entirely immune to my charms..." she winks."
Tat'iana chuckles once more, quietly, then nods. "Have a good evening, Ulricke. I'll see you again soon..." She turns, making her way to the doors, still quietly laughing to herself.