Business and Pleasure

["Matthew Myers" <hiddgold@hotkey.net.au>]

In which the Imperial Treasurer, Scaurus, meets with our noble Padishah
Emperor about various issues, business and personal.

Ezhar VII's Patio -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain)

        Quite a relaxed break from the formality of the Grand Dining Room
and the Platinum Grand Ballroom, this Patio is a relaxed and more intimately
social environment. The Patio is lined with vegetation, some exotic some
quite plain, but all well integrated in a carefully designed cloistering
effect. The glow from the Platinum Ballroom and the Grand Dining Room
penetrate the dimmer lighting here, but reflect only off the faces of those
present. The darker scenes and softer sounds of distant wildlife echo here,
playing in harmony with the brilliance and goings on in the adjacent spaces.

                        (OOC NOTE: Type '+places/help')
Exits:
 Paneled Doors <NE> leads to Grand Banquet Room -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain)
 Patio Doors <SE> leads to Platinum Ballroom -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain)

Erich leans back against the rail and beckons you to approach as he sees you
enter the patio.

Scaurus clasps his hands behind his back, and approaches lightly, "Your
Majesty," he rasps, standing an appropriate distance from you, "We may
speak?"

Erich inclines his head slowly, "Indeed. Speak freely."

Scaurus coughs lightly, hands gesturing toward the Alvstad Embassy as he
begins, "As I was explaining yesterday, Your Majesty, the Alvstad have made
an offer to mine the remnants of materials, metals and such, from Liathon.
In return, we would receive a 42 percent cut of the profits made from the
exercise. There are...various other conditions involved also, however that
is the basics of it. I've forwarded a complete copy of the contract to Your
Majesty's office." He pauses a moment, letting this sink in, before
continuing, "I am somewhat wary of the contract, given our own vested
interests in Liathon. There was mention made also that...the Chancellor had
already made some kind of consent with the Alvstad. I was not consulted on
the matter."

Erich nods, and draws a breath, "If the Chancellor's consent was not in
writing, then it is not to be honored." He looks out over the greens as he
continues, "You should obviously have been consulted in this." Pausing a
moment, he asks thoughtfully, "Would we make more profit, long-term, with a
different arrangement on Liathon?"

Scaurus takes a few steps, to the left, sighing with thought, "Possibly.
Liathon is still rich with gems and minerals, despite the destruction on the
planet. It may be wise to allow the Alvstad to mine the scrap that is left,
however, the idea I presented to Your Majesty about maintaining a military
base upon the planet may not be viable..." he turns, looking into your back,
"The state of our funds is more dire than I had imagined, Majesty. We are
not in a profitable position...and I believe the Guild knows this."

Erich nods slowly, "You are... unfortunately... correct. Our financial
situation is ... rather dire." He looks away as he says this, clearing his
throat (uncomforably?), as he adds, "And the Guild is making it worse. We
cannot expand our forces onto Liathon. If we can get Alvstad to give us 42
percent, or more of their profits, and let them outlay the resources to
rebuild Liathon, I think this would be a prudent plan."

Scaurus clears his throat, walking to the right again, "Certainly, Majesty,
however I would like to send some of my own men to inspect the mission. To
ensure that we get our 42 percent, and not a solari less..." he looks out
towards Kaitain again, "There is also the matter of Arrakis. I am intent
upon gaining more spice from the planet...and intend to use all diplomacy
possible to gain such. However, I am doubtful as to whether we will be able
to bleed more from the Moritani. They are friends, certainly, however they
look after themselves foremost. I am quickly coming to the conclusion that
Arrakis has been in their hands too many years..." he floats off on this
sentence.

Erich nods, seemingly in brisk agreement. A slight smile touches his face as
he replies, "I agree on both counts."

Scaurus turns again, taking several more steps, and rasping, as if this
response was expected, "Arrakis requires fresh blood. An ally who will be
certain to gain the profits from Arrakis that we require." He stops again,
hands clasping in front of himself now, "I shall visit, give the Moritani
their chance, and if they do not take it...we shall make it openly known
that the Arrakis contract will be in -much- contention this coming financial
year. He who offers the most spice to the Corrino, shall be awarded the
contract. Does this suit Your Majesty?"
Erich purses his lips slightly and seems to consider this carefully for a
few moments. Finally, he nods.
Scaurus nods in return, the Treasurer becoming like a business machine,
"There is a personal matter which I believe requires Your Majesty's
discretion..." he clears his throat, somewhat uncomfortably, "The Harkonnen
slave, Malia revealed to me that she has offered the Ginaz something. What,
precisely, I do not know. But given her dangerous precendent for causing
difficulties..." he trails off for a moment, "If the Ginaz are truly working
in some collaboration with her, this may prove dangerous. It may be wise to
watch her carefully...?" he suggests, somewhat tentatively, hoping, perhaps,
that the Emperor doesn't suddenly decide that killing her would be the best
approach.

Erich asks bluntly, "Perhaps we should simply kill her. She has been far
more trouble to us than she is worth. The mere fact that I am wasting breath
discussing a slave... and the potential difficulty should cause us is
offensive to me." His eyes turn directly to Scaurus, "What do you think?"

Scaurus blinks for a moment, the alarm suddenly appearing in his eyes, "It
may be wise to watch her, Majesty. Thus, we can have information on what the
Ginaz may be planning...if anything. It cannot be denied that their honour
is hardly in tact within recent days. It would not surprise me to learn of
deeper, more devious plans from the Marquis..." he shrugs slightly under
your gaze, "Best not to have any further death within the Palace at
present..." he's bluntly honest, to say the least, and there's no doubt he
looks on this with nothing more than a business mind. Toward the Emperor's
face, at least.

Erich shrugs and turns away, "Very well. We shall not execute her, then...
at least not yet." He allows a slight pause to ensue, then adds, "I do very
much hope that I don't find myself talking about her again, though..." and
at this last, he turns his eyes over to you. The warning is obvious.

Scaurus nods, bowing his head in respect, and understanding, "Yes, Your
Majesty." His lips purse and he looks up again, "There is one last issue,
Majesty. One of personal concern...I wish to ask whether Your Majesty's
permission would be granted to my courting the Lady Justine Garamond." The
statement lies as it is. Hard to coat the truth with anything else, really.

Erich purses his lips and shakes his head, "I am afraid not, Lord
Treasurer." He turns and faces you, "I've received word that the Viscount
Alvstad intends to ask the same in the upcoming Court. Given the potential
profit of the Liathon arrangement, I think it would be imprudent to refuse
him in his request. I am certain you agree." The last words are uttered as
half-statement, half-question.

Scaurus blinks for a moment, leaning back. There's no hiding some of the
shock on his face, "I...see. Yes. Certainly, Your Majesty..." he emits,
though it doesn't sound terribly convincing. There's a furrow on his brow,
and he bows politely, "If there's anything else, Majesty...?"

Erich turns away, "Nothing else, Lord Treasurer. I regret that there is
little I can do to grant you your simple request, but I am certain that a
man of your bearing understands the political and economic realities of this
situation."

Scaurus turns to depart, and looks down momentarily, "Certainly, Your
Majesty. A man such as myself, in any case, marries for status, not for
personal desire or liking. The Lady Garamond, as good a choice as she may
have been, could easily be replaced with someone of equal or better
stature...I'm certain." And with that, he clears his throat, and nods to
himself, attempting to give some assurance to his statement, but failing
miserably. His voice is crackly as he says, in departure, "Good day, Your
Majesty."

Erich nods and returns his gaze out over the Imperial lawns.


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