Court-side at the Palace! (Part 3 of 3: After it was all over)

["Kathie Care" <kathie@availablelight.net>]

7/8/01
Logfile from DuneIII-Ophelia
Where the Great Houses vie for power in the Padishah Imperium....

A moment's pause, and people begin heading for the door as quickly as they
may while still appearing civilized. For some, Revelers, and for others, a
warm bed, hold much more appeal than any additional moments spent standing
in the Selamlik.

From the east alcove, Ophelia heaves an audible sigh of relief, and turns to
those of her house nearby. "Ah... well now. Wasn't that interesting?"

Eduard passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Eduard has left.

From the east alcove, Shane looks up quietly. He still sports a very
pleasant form of dumbass red.

From the east alcove, Wilhelm glances only briefly at Shane, then to the
Lady Ophelia with a light smile on his face, "Yes, m'lady. Quite."

From the east alcove, Ophelia shaking her head, Ophelia reaches out to
motherly pat Shane on the arm. "He was irritable when he walked in, m'lord.
No worries. I will speak to him on your behalf..."

From the east alcove, Marco remains as he has since arriving. Even as court
comes to a close he watches on, studying the room its self.

From the east alcove, Anatole nods once, still standing at Ophelia's side
"I'm certain we can work something out to make His Majesty favorable to your
request."

Deirdre leaves from her place in the back of the room.

Pers leaves from his place in the back of the room.

Deirdre passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Deirdre has left.

From the east alcove, Darwin crosses a few feet closer to Ophelia and bows
his head repectfully "As always, a pleasure to see you Countess. You are
truly a flower of His Majesty's Court this evening." He turns "And a plasure
to see you, as well, Master Chancellor."

Fahahd leaves from his place in the back of the room.

Ragnar leaves from his place in the back of the room.

Pers passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Pers has left.

Ragnar passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Ragnar has left.

From the east alcove, Shane smiles, slightly, as he looks up at the group.
Smirking, just a bit, he says, "The Emperor's blessing doesn't change the
things that have been done. It is more the icing on the cake, but one I
cannot wait to receive." So, pleasantly, he relaxes, listening to those here
and then and studies Darwin's approach curiously.

Anakiel leaves from his place in the back of the room.

From the east alcove, Wilhelm nods respectfully to the na-Earl, "A pleasure
to see you as well, m'lord."

From the east alcove, Ophelia nods slowly, giving everyone in her vicinity a
light smile. "Well.. after that, I could use a drink. Who would care to
accompany me to Reveler's?" Darwin is given a deep nod and warm smile, then
shakes her head at him. "Shame on you, m'lord.. Your own Siridar did not
receive such compliments this evening..."

The sufficiently low-key Rastanyev party rises, and in a group they depart,
whispering in harsh Russkiy amongst themselves.

Ekaterina passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Ekaterina has left.

        And so exit the servants of house Harkonnen. Poof.

Rhedek passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Rhedek has left.

From the east alcove, Darwin smiles warmly up at Ophelia a glint of mischief
in his eye "Very true, but I'm sure my sister will forgive me if my eyes are
dazzled by the jewels of Court."

Fahahd passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Fahahd has left.

Anakiel passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Anakiel has left.

From the east alcove, Wilhelm glances between Darwin, Anatole, and Ophelia,
a slight grin kept almost to himself. "Ahh... m'lady, you are most certainly
in better company than I offer, especially for a sojourn to Revellers. I
believe I will return to the Embassy, there always seem to be matters to
attend to there."

Rhedek enters from the hall of emperors.

Rhedek has arrived.

Anatole smiles a little, chuckling at something, as he holds Ophelia's hand,
turning to her for a moment "Perhaps the 'jewel' would like to enjoy a bit
of the celevbration at the revelers?" he smirks a little "We would not want
to keep such a prize from such entranced onlookers as the Lord here."

Fahahd enters from the hall of emperors.

Fahahd has arrived.

Ophelia chuckles quietly at both the Moritani Chancellor and her cousin,
shaking her head again. "You all are incorrigible, and yes, I do want to go.
But not to display myself, this time. I merely wish a drink..."

From the east alcove, Darwin sports a genial, well-mannered smile as he
takes a moment to glance at Anatole, his eyes lingering briefly on their
clasped hands. He demurs "Surely I could not presume to invite myself to
a... family celebration."

From the east alcove, Marco raises an eyebrow as he looks back to his other
Household members almost stoically. A comtemplative expression plastered on
his dark face. He drops his arms causing his cloak to flutter some.

        After a few minutes, the General returns - marching into the
selamlik with the aura of easy hurry that suggests he's looking for
something in particular. Ah, there it is. Toward the Countess Moritani and
her pack of hounds the siege tower goes, arms swinging at both sides of his
considerable bulk before he brings himself to a stop some ten feet away from
the lot of them. Bloody remorae, every one of them - it truly sets his blood
on edge.

        But the Forms - and basic etiquette - must be served, and the
General bends himself into a deep bow at the lady's fet, awaitig for her to
address him directly. He's not yet been ennobled, after all.

Wilhelm bows slightly to the Lady Ophelia, "By your leave, m'lady. I will
leave you in the capable hands of these... gentlemen."

Anatole smiles and nods to Ophelia, or Darwin, or both "Incorrigible? Far
from it...but I think a drink would be wonderful, I could use another glass
of wine I think." With that he glances down at Rhedek, another smirk, and
bemused chuckle.

And of course, right behind him is his faithful shadow, though surely a
guard is redundant for the General in anything other than the most
ceremonial terms. Especially this guard, who must mass half of what his
superior does. It leaves the impression of a small terrier peeking around a
tolerant mastiff.

Shane tilts his head, curiously. He'll notice the General, that's for sure,
the Swordmaster taking note of those newly arrived (and well armed) and
seeking the Lady Ophelia's attention. His hands clasp behind his back, but
attention definitely in the direction of the military.

"Family?" Ophelia inquires towards the Atreides noble, laughing quietly.
"Did you not hear the Imperial Chancellor's invite to us all? I should think
most of Kaitain would be there..." The towering mass of the General is
somehow missed, as the Countess turns to grant her leave to her own
Chancellor. "Indeed, m'lord. I will look for your reports upon my desk in
the morning, should you decide to do yet more work. Really, Wilhelm, I wish
you'd take a night off one of these evenings..."

Darwin turns a placid gaze to the General, his eyes ticking back and forth
between him and the Countess Moritani. He is polite enough, however, to
remark in response to Ophelia's last comment to him "Ah, indeed, a very
public invitation..." his voice trails off.

Wilhelm nods in accedence, "Of course, my Lady. Perhaps one of these
evenings I may. But, for now, there is much to do. Please, do have one for
me. I will most certainly be with all of you in spirit." He then turns to
leave, nodding to the General, then turning back to Lord Marco, as if he had
forgotten something. "M'lord Marco, may I have a moment?"

Marco turns his head towards the Chancellor, giving him a slight nod, "Of
course, Baron." He steps over to him raising an eyebrow questionly.

Anatole looks to Ophelia, as he takes her hand and gives it a polite, if
gentle tug to lead her "Shall we head to the celebration then? If we are to
have an extra for the Chancellor, we should get started earlier I think," he
jokes.

As she turns back to the small group, Ophelia finally notices the bowed
Warmaster. "Ah, General, good evening," she says cheerfully. But she glances
back to Darwin, and tsks at him. "Come now, m'lord. I will save you a dance,
if you choose to attend the celebration. You would deny me more of your
artful compliments?"

Wilhelm motions for the Arrakeen Governor to join him in the west alcove. As
he leaves the group, he offers a very transparent grin in response to
Anatole's comments.

Wilhelm leaves his place in the east alcove.

        "Good evening, Your Excellency," replies the General in a rumble,
then moves past her and her throng - he left his hat, after all.

Wilhelm stands in the west alcove.

Marco leaves his place in the east alcove.

Darwin can't seem to resist a direct invitation from the Moritani Siridar
and, with the broad grin of a triumphant twelve-year-old steps and a slight
color to his cheeks nods a measured acceptance "as the Lady wishes" he
murmurs.

Marco bows to Opehlia as he follows the Chancellor, "Excuse me, your
Excellency." He steps over to the west alcove.

Marco stands in the west alcove.

From the west alcove, Wilhelm crosses his arms across his chest and speaks
to Marco in hushed tones, glancing often back to the East, as if making sure
that all is as it should be.

Shane makes his way politely forward, as the General begins to move. Perhaps
people may wish to push past the throng but regarding the Harkonnon General,
Shane makes it pretty obvious no one will be pushing their way towards the
Lady Ophelia. Of course, it's likely so do the Sardaukar around plan to make
sure nothing happens to anyone but Shane obviously takes a personal regard
for the Siridar's safety. Go figure.

From the west alcove, Wilhelm brings a hand out, palm out as if to steady
Marco.

Darwin glances toward the door and clears his throat diplomatically "Shall
we then?"

From the west alcove, Marco rubs his chin flicking his blue eyes over at the
crowd gathered over to the east. He mumbles something to Wilhelm about
someone.

Fahahd remains the proper few steps behind and to the left of the General,
waiting patiently.

        Having found his helm, Rhedek begins his way out - it's a bother,
really, having to lug that ridicuously ornate bucket around with him in the
name of formality. Damned bloody bother.

From the west alcove, Wilhelm shrugs slightly, glancing back at the Countess
and her party. He asks Marco a quiet question, changing his stance to
casually place his hand upon his sword hilt.

Ophelia blinks somewhat mystified by the General's brush-off of her after
his greeting, then shrugs it off and sighs. "Actually... now my Chancellor
has me feeling guilty. I should be reviewing reports and such as well..."

From the west alcove, Marco follows the Baron's glance as well, rubbing a
his left forearm and nodding.

There is a second's blink of disappointment in Darwin's face at Ophelia's
words, but he recovers quickly and his smile, while not as broad as a moment
before, is a convincing simalucrum. "Of course. I shall await our next
meeting most anxiously." He bows deeply, quite politely.

Ophelia extends a hand to the young Atreides noble, palm down. "You must
come have tea with me in the gardens, before the roses stop blooming for the
season," she murmurs softly to him.

Rhedek passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Rhedek has left.

Fahahd passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Fahahd has left.

From the west alcove, Wilhelm smiles and nods at Marco, glancing only
slightly to note the Harkonnen Warmaster's exit. He mumles something and
takes bows slightly.

From the east alcove, Shane inclines his head, but seeing that things are
mostly through, he looks to Ophelia and bows, before quietly taking his
leave. Likely to see the Harkonnen home for his own peace of mind.

Darwin can't seem to help himself. With a gentle flourish he kisses
Ophelia's offered hand with the tiniest lingering past politeness. "Surely
any flower, in height of bloom or beyond, would pale to dullest weed in your
company. I shall take my leave."

From the west alcove, Marco nods running two fingers down the side of his
face in some odd signal. He motions to the group with a slight nod of his
head.

Shane leaves his place in the east alcove.

Shane passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Shane has left.

Darwin leaves his place in the east alcove.

Darwin passes the Vaulted Arch and departs.

Darwin has left.

From the west alcove, Wilhelm notes that his Lady stands alone, and moves to
her side, nodding in agreement with Marco.

You leave from the east alcove.

Wilhelm leaves from his place in the west alcove.

Marco leaves from his place in the west alcove.

Ophelia watches as the group disperses, then picks up her skirts and begins
to make her way out of the vast hall as well.

Wilhelm approaches the Countess, "M'lady, it seems your well wishers have
dispersed. Still going off to Revelers?"

Marco falls in behind the mentat noble, making his way over as well.

Ophelia chuckles quietly as she pauses mid-stride and looks over towards
Wilhelm. "No, Chancellor... I mentioned my own amount of work and they all
ran off like frightened children... save the na-Earl."

Wilhelm chuckles slightly, "Only a few here on Kaitain are not frightened by
a good day's work." He extends his arm to his Countess, "May I escort you
back the the Embassy then, m'lady?"

As she slips her arm into his, Ophelia murmurs quietly, "It would please me
muchly, m'lord. I am grateful for the offer."

Marco looks around abit, "I hope that your ears are not to ached by this
evenings guests."

Wilhelm smiles lightly as he leads the lady from the chamber.

You pass the Vaulted Arch and leave the Imperial Selamlik.




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