Mintor's in the hot seat..

["Jason Howson" <howsonjay@mediaone.net>]

Dune III (Mintor) - Wednesday, January 16, 2002, 8:20 PM

 

Dining Room -- Ginaz Embassy (Kaitain)

 

        A deceptively large room, the main feature is the large table that takes up the majority of the room. Many wooden chairs surround the table -- too many to count, in fact. The wooden ceiling is low as compared to the ceilings of the other large rooms in the embassy, perhaps twenty feet high. The floor is of a darker wood than the table, and the walls are hung with brightly-colored tapestries. During mealtimes, numerous servants rush back and forth between this room and the attached kitchen, carrying steaming trays of food and various cold beverages. During other times, there are still a good amount of servants bustling around, and a variety of beverages and light snacks are available. This room is usually crowded with various Ginaz staff and guards taking a break from their work to eat, and the liveries of several other Houses Major can usually be spied on some of the visitors taking a meal here.

 

Players:
 Ratner                                           
Exits:
 Sliding Oak Doors <E> leads to The Commons Wing -- Ginaz Embassy (Kaitain)

 

Mintor is escorted in by guards.. he smiles and bows deeply.."An honor to finally join you, M'Lord.."

 

Sisay walks in from The Commons Wing through the Sliding Oak Doors.
Sisay has arrived.

 

Mintor looks as Sisay walks in.."Why, M'Lady, you spoil me.. Your presence twice in the same day?"

 

Ratner sitting at the head of the dining table, leaning back in his chair and with closed eyes, the Na-Marquis seems to be either sleeping, or deep in thought. As Mintor is announced, Ratner peeps and eye open, "Eh...? Oh!" he exclaims suddenly, rising from his seat, "Lord Atreides, indeed, indeed, do come in..." he says, a little hastily, before offering a small, thoughtful nod, "By all means, have a seat Mintor...ah, I may call you Mintor?" he inquires, retaking his seat and then gesturing over a servant with a broad smile. Before the young man can answer he continues to speak, "Just having a moment of rest, a few thoughts to oneself, you know. They're important in these days, with these..." he chuckles, "Ah, but I talk too much, indeed," he licks his lips, smiling again and looking to Mintor's guard, "Have you seen my daughter, yet? Do bring her down here, please, if she hasn't been called in already."

 

Sisay

 

        Sisay has a tall and imposing figure, her black curly hair bundled together in a pony tail with a silver hair-pin. Her black eyes glimmer in the light, expressing a calm state of mind. Pink, sensual lips seem to smile mysteriously, outlining her two dimples on her cheeks. The pony tail outlines the delicate and elegant neck line.
        She wears a black suit made of a light material. A black jacket with red lines on the arms protects her torso and chest where she wears the small dragonfly insignia of her House. A leather belt is tightly buckled at her waist, holding a shield generator, a metal rapier scabbard and a dagger sheath. Several small pockets can also be seen at the rear end. The suit continues with a pair of black pants which fit the lady's athletic legs tightly but still feeling comfortable. She wears a couple of black war boots which make loud noises should she step on bare floor.
        Between the opened sides of the vest, crossing her neck almost invisibly, a leather band can be seen. At a closer look, one could see a big claw which hangs from the band at the Lady's chest. A deadly bear claw.
Sisay walks in accompanied by a guard. She is wearing her training outfit which with its black colour and the Lady's black hair make her appear a mere shadow floating around. Her curly hair flows down her shoulders, a few rebel locks caressing her cheek. She seems unusual somber, hiding her right hand behind her rapier's scabbard.

 

Ratner's smile suddenly dissipates slightly, upon seeing Sisay. He coughs, clears his throat, "Please, have a seat...dear..." he says, throat hoarse. Seeing the training outfit is a reminder to him, "Perhaps, you might want to change before we eat, dear?" he asks, adjusting his spectacles and running his hands along the wooden chair.

 

Mintor smiles and sits.."I'm sure that what she's wearing is suitable enough.." he looks towards Ratner.."So how fares House Ginaz as of late?"

 

Ratner blinks momentarily, staring to the end of the table, then looking at Mintor, "As I am sure you know, we all grieve for the loss of Her Highness. As House Atreides does, also. However, this matter has hit House Ginaz quite hard...I'm sure you understand," he blinks again, chewing on his bottom lip in thought, before leaning back in his seat and smiling, the thoughts suddenly disappearing, "Woeful times must end, though, and we must look to happier days. Your grandfather always said that life was an oyster, and that one must look to being the pearl," he looks to a servant, gesturing him over and whispering something to him. The servant looks at the door for a moment, then departs, "Let me say that I am glad we could have this small interlude, Lord Atreides. I have looked forward to becoming better acquainted with you."

 

Sisay drifts siletly across the room and seats herself down on a chair. As she does this, you can see her right hand freshly bandaged. "Father, My Lord..." she says simply, leaning backwards on the chair, rsting her ill hand on her lap. "Aye, grandfather always said things straight... You would love him, Lord Mintor."

 

Mintor nods to ratner.."Yes, quite so.. I even have the duty of offering the condolences from House Atreides to his Majesty personally.. Whenever i could get an audience that is.." he looks to Sisay beaming.."I'm sure we would get along swimmingly.."

 

The servant returns with a charmingly green, butterfly robe for Sisay, and Ratner gestures to it, "Your mothers, dear, she claims it won't fit her anymore, wanted you to have it..." he says, smiling at his daughter as the servant holds the robe open, "Indeed, indeed, the matter is quite tragic. I am sure His Majesty is quite wrapped in the investigation and other matters pertaining to the Imperial House, but enough of politics. Let us talk of you two, hmm?" he raises his brows, smiling broadly again and gestures the remainder of servants to bring the food and drink over, "It is a terribly worrying thing, loosing a daughter. You'll know, when your time comes. That you sit and start looking at old portraits of when they were young," he looks over to Sisay, reminiscing, "It is a very odd feeling, to see them move on. Not the least of offences to you, of course, Mintor. You must understand that I am slightly...hesitant, however. A little..apprenhensive? Barely minutes after arriving on Kaitain I find out that my daughters are stepped up in line to be wed! It did come as quite a shock!" he laughs, as the servants place the food and drink down.

 

Mintor nods and watches the servant with Sisay, and sighs.. he looks to Ratner.."I understand, but it is not like they are little girls any more.."

 

Ratner reaches for a flagon, pouring some into his own goblet, "Very true, very true, not little girls at all," he chuckles, passing the flagon to Mintor, "10,097. Not the best of years, but we shall save the best for the wedding, hm?" he sips from his glass, "I want to know, Mintor, and tell me honestly. What do you feel for my daughter?" he keeps the glass in his hand and turns his head intently to look at Mintor.

 

Sisay's jaw drops to the ground as she sees her mother's robe. Throughout her father's speech, she just stands there watching, remembering while a lonely tear falls ever so slowly down her cheek, lingering at her chin. But the magic moment dissipates. With a swift movement of Gesserit origin, the tear dissapears and the Lady raises to scatch the robe from the servant and gently wraps it about her shoulders. She seats herself back, instructing the servant to pour her some tomato juice.

 

Mintor pours from the flagon, and passes it on around the table.. he takes a drink from the cup.."Ah, quite good, M'Lord." he looks him straight in the eyes,fires of a thousand forges could not be as bright, straight from the hip he shoots.."I learn more and more about your lovely daughter every day.. I've grown to care a great deal for her. She has a spirit of which is hardly ever seen around such a place as Kaitain.. Why, she's studying to be a planetologist, a quite noble pursuit indeed. And She wants to do her thesis on Caladan.. I may possibly guide her around while we're there on our honeymoon.."

 

Ratner blinks momentarily, turning to Sisay, "A planetologist, you didn't tell me you were interested in the sciences..." he looks down for a moment, into his glass, then frowns, putting it back down, "For the moment, Mintor, let us assume that the marriage is not solid, shall we? Let me have my notion that I have some say in the matter..." he peers back into the glass and sips again, dabbing his lips with a serviette, "I remember sounding like you when I married my wife. Very passionate, very rebellious against even the Swordschool," he nudges Sisay lightly with his boot, "You couldn't imagine me rebellious, could you dear?" he asks, grinning.

 

Mintor clears his throat.."You may have all the notions you want.. As long as you understand that that is all that they are.. and my rebelious years are behind me. Forgiven and forgotten, as other's should be.."

 

Sisay looks at her father with distrust. "Really..." she mumbles, nudging him back. She shakes her head and sips from her fresh juice. With a slightly louder tone she adds: "This marriage, father, will forge an alliance, stronger than any before. One way or another it will be solid." Her tone is confident and reassuring.

 

Ratner leans to the side of his chair, stroking his chin lightly, "You're being defensive, Mintor. And you've not been accosted. Nor attacked." He clasps his hands together, "Have I done something to offend and cause you to speak to me in an authoritarian tone of voice?"

 

Mintor raises an eyebrow.."Defensive? Not at all.. but before an attack is ever made, I like to be sure of the ground that I'm standing on.. That is all."

 

Ratner reaches out for a serviette, placing it on his lap, "I hadn't intended to attack you at all, Mintor. We all have our young days, I as well as any others," he reaches over to one of the platters of a particularly delicate Alvsgaard fish, "Please, do help yourselves, both of you..." after filling his plate, "My brother told me that you were a good chap, Mintor. I'm inclined to trust his opinion, you've not come across as the rumor column often makes you out to be. You're a man of integrity, nobility," he chuckles, smirking, "A man of ambition, determination," he says, looking to Sisay, eyes sparkling with his own joke.

 

Mintor raises an eyebrow as he fills his own plate.."Thank you.. and the rumour column seems to be bloated with servantsa who are allowed to speak to often, and haven't the sense to understand an overheard conversation in the first place.."

 

Sisay looks awkward, trying to help herself with her left hand. She stays quiet, as she knows she wouldn't be taken seriously whatever she'd say. Typically father. She settles for a potato mesh with with meat chops and tries to learn using her left hand propperly.

 

Ratner murmurs, "Indeed, indeed, servants go off at the mouth at times..." between mouthfuls, "They tell me you're a sixth level swordsman, I must say I was..." he pauses, glancing to Sisay for a moment and noticing the hand. His brows furrow, "What happened, dear? You didn't tell me you were hurt," he reaches out with his right hand to touch the bandage.

 

Sisay quickly gets her hand away. "Nothing... just a minor accident... nothing bad really." She looks at her father, begging him with her gaze not to dwell further. Discussions like these back home made her leave for weeks.

 

Ratner blinks momentarily, his hand lingering. <<I can't even touch her anymore...>> A look of sadness suddenly comes over his face, and he retracts his hand, slowly. He goes silent for now, concentrating hard on his meal.

 

Mintor raises an eyebrow, wishing to inquire further, but keeps quiet.. "And where's the Lady Elsa? I've not seen of her since the funeral on Alvsgaard.. You quite missed that one, M'Lady.. too much of that mead.. and I was on the dancefloor with the Lady.."

 

Ratner raises a brow, looking up momentarily, "Mead??" he asks, tilting his head to the side, a somewhat confused, but curious look on his face.

 

Sisay looks at Mintor quickly, a worried expression on her face, then she looks downwards at her plate also. One could only be astounded how alike father and daughter look like, the same position, the same expression. Yet they seem to be miles away.

 

Mintor nods.."it's an Alvstaad tradition.. You drink this special mead.. It helps to keep warm.. No harm really.."

 

Ratner oh's, looking up to the ceiling, as if suddenly enlightened at Mintor's statement, "I see...interesting," he doesn't seem to notice Sisay, or if he does, he doesn't press the issue, "How did you two find each other?" he asks all of a sudden, looking between the pair with interest.

 

Sisay casually lets down the fork after deciding that eating with the left hand is too bad a punishment to endure. She leans back in he seat and sips from her juice, careful enough not to spill around. She listens to the men attentively, although her neutral expression on her face would make one think otherwise.

 

Mintor raises an eyebrow.."Find... each other? Forgive me, I don't quite understand.."

 

<<Sisay thinks: We've been fixed up, father, like my sister.>>

 

Ratner waves his hands, thinking of the words as they flow, "Find each other, indeed...ah...meet? Fall in love? Begin to Court? Start a relationship? All those little facts that a father should know about his daughter," he frowns suddenly, lips pouty, "And yet doesn't."

 

Mintor raises an eyebrow.."Ah.. M'Lord.. this is an arranged marriage.. As a matter of fact, I was off on Caladan when this was all put into effect.. But as I met the Lady Sisay and we began to know one another.. I've learned that I could be in a far worse arrangement.."

 

Ratner oh's lightly, "I didn't know. I refrained from asking my brother too many questions...preferred to hear from the horses mouth, so to speak," he smiles, "Being on Marcinko, I never had much time, and was not in the same place to receive messages from the Embassy. Handling affairs that was a difficult task...I trusted my brother's intuition," he finishes his meal then and leans back in his chair, "I will be honest, Mintor, bluntly honest. I like you. You remind me of traits that my daughter has, and as much as I have tried in the past to perhaps quell those traits, they are obviously not disappearing. As much as I am her father, I've not had much say for quite a while." He becomes suddenly stiff, rising, "You seem to share some of the same hobbies, interests, and I expect that you'll treat her well enough." He offers his hand to the young man, large, bulky fingers attached to that towering form of his.

 

Mintor stands and takes the proffered hand, gripping firmly.."Thank you, M'Lord.. I'm glad that you approve.."

 

Ratner shakes his hand, just barely feeling the grip and attempting not to return it too harshly. They're built, these Ginaz boys, "Indeed, I do. I hope you're not so defensive, or frightened of me now, Mintor..." he says, grinning and then turning, "I'll let you two be, feel free to order anything you like. Goodnight, dear..." he allows his hand to pat his daughters shoulder, then leans in to kiss her on the cheek, not allowing her to pull away, even if she might wish it. One of those knowing glances is given to Sisay, and the Na-Marquis departs.