| Logs |
2010 December 07
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
Yesterday's Hero
The Hetaera glances around with a smile in place, her voice low, "You're supposed to be keeping an eye out for me, right, Chanti? So... dance with me, please? I need to talk to you a bit about this man, I think... before I speak with him again."
Chanticleer bites his lip a little, glancing around. "I'm not sure I can while in uniform, Lady. I'm supposed to be watching over you, and I'd not be able to do that if I were giving you my complete attention, as a proper dance partner should."
Sulochana giggles, tapping him lightly with her fan for the benefit of any watchers, as she says, "I need to talk to you some, though. How about if we look like we're flirting a bit, to keep appearances light? Here, after all, appearances are all that count." Curiously, she sounds a bit disappointed by that last comment, although the lovely smile never leaves her face.
Chanticleer offers Sulochana his arm. "We can walk the periphery of the dance at least," he says quietly, looking around and wondering if he can spot D'Amato to see if the man is still watching. The two of them stroll for a bit, watching the dancers and chatting quietly together.
'Chana's public mask never falters as she murmurs thoughtfully, "All right... he's trying to push a drink on me, I think. I'll accept it and see what he does. If we separate, though, can you try to keep an eye on him?" She muses for a bit, then adds, "Also... does he have any reason to hate Roy so? Like... oh, I don't know, Roy jilted his sister or something?"
Chanticleer thinks, then shakes his head, "None that I can think of, I'm afraid. He's always been loyal and that's never been in question." He racks his brain to try and think of any possible reasons John might have something against Roy.
The Hetaera nods, still smiling, "Well... business associates, old friends, anything? Hm... tell you what. You think about it while watching over me. I should head back towards him, or he'll get suspicious. Can you act like I've just reassured you, and you're willing to let me wander off on my own now?" She dimples charmingly at him, doing her best to look like the conversation has been nothing more strenuous than light flirtation.
Chanticleer nods, then smiles to Sulochana and bows politely to her over her hand, letting her free to wander as she may. He drifts back to the edge of the floor, still keeping alert. The Hetaera flutters her fan in front of her face as she grins and curtseys to the tall, slender guard. After that she glances around thoughtfully; she's in the mood for a dance, even if D'Amato is a potential assassin. It's a good bet he's setting her up to be his 'fall guy' in this attempt, so she might as well enjoy herself at the party until she has to decide what to do about him.
Almost the moment Chanticleer slips off, John is there again, smiling, "Another dance, ma'am?"
Sulochana resists an amused snort, instead simply accepting graciously. As they move out onto the dance floor she murmurs amusedly, "Lost your champagne? Or is this the part where you try the stick instead of the carrot?"
John chuckles and says, "I thought I would give you a chance to relax again before we had that drink. You were seeming somewhat spooked before."
Sulochana raises an eyebrow, "Can you blame me? It was quite an accusation you made." She whirls gracefully through the steps with the strange man, then looks deliberately cheerful as she adds, "I confess I'm quite fascinated by now, though -- pray tell, what am I hiding from his majesty?"
John laughs again, moving gracefully through the dance with the woman. "You are more eager now. Is Chanticleer reassured? He is a good man... if you want to consider a fairy a man."
The Hetaera's half-hooded eyes flash for an instant, but she doesn't let her increasing anger show past that. Her voice is smoothly amused, "No, I am not eager. I am wondering when you get to the part where I do your dirty work for you, and then you, in a futile attempt to 'bravely' rescue your king... kill me." She smiles sweetly at him, "Isn't that how the story goes?" She studies him silently, holding the smile as she reads his chakras. His answer to this is going to be critical.
John chuckles and leads her toward the edge of the dance floor, "Of course." He moves toward an alcove and picks up the champagne flutes cached there, offering her one with a smile.
The Hetaera raises an eyebrow again, "Mm, your pardon but I don't think I like that story." She smiles and shakes her head at him, turning to leave, "Don't ask me to dance again." She's got an unpleasant, crawling sensation between her shoulderblades, and she's scanning the crowd worriedly. Where's Chanti? She really wants him at her back!
John blinks at her and says, "I meant only that of course you are not eager. I am afraid I am not as eloquent as I should be."
'Chana nods absently, still sidling carefully away, "Yes, of course you did..." Her disbelief could be practically cut with a knife.
The guard shrugs and says, "If you wish to avoid me, that is your business. I will stay away." He takes a small sip from one of the flutes of champagne. The read on his chakras is unremarkable. They are well-balanced and seem to indicate no trace of a lie.
'Chana sighs softly with relief, hastening swiftly away from this incredibly creepy man. Roy or Chanti... where the hell are they? Chanticleer is visible nearby but not too close. At Sulochana's looking around and edging away, he is already moving towards her. Just for an instant the sidhe can see the flash of relief on the Hetaera's face... then she's composed again, smiling pleasantly at him and speaking in a very low voice as he comes up, "Hello, Chanti. Can you keep your emotions from showing on your face?" She pats his arm in a reassuring fashion as she speaks to him.
Chanticleer inclines his head. "Of course," he says quietly. Inwardly he braces himself for... whatever shoe it is she's about to drop.
Sulochana thinks for a moment, then says with that same smile, "John just slipped up and agreed he planned to kill me after I killed Roy for him. I don't intend to wait around for him to decide I'm a problem -- I'm going to tell Roy now. If I get snippy with you and leave, can you look disgusted, then wander over to John and commiserate a little with him about Hetaera putting on airs or something? If you can, the flute of champagne he's not drinking is, I think, what he wanted me to feed Roy... see if you can keep him from tipping it over or anything? Can you do that?"
Chanticleer starts to frown, then remembers Sulochana's warning. "Then we should tell Roy at once, yes. All right, I'll try to do that." Inwardly he's already thinking of how to go about doing this.
Sulochana looks relieved again, then straightens to her full height. Her demeanor gets haughty as she says quietly, "Thank you so much, Chanti. It may take me a bit to get to Roy; if I rush straight over, John is likely to destroy the evidence. I'll hurry as much as I can, though, without arousing suspicion. All right, here goes..." She takes a short, shocked breath, then snaps in a more normal speaking voice, "I think not! You are a mere guard. I am a guest!" She snaps her fan open and whirls, stalking away from the sidhe.
John is still sipping champagne and watching the people in the room. Roy is dancing with a middle-aged matron in a dress that is more ornate than flattering. It's the sort of design meant to draw the eyes away from flaw; she apparently feels she has a lot of them. The king seems to be just as flirtatious with her as the blonde beauty. 'Chana eyes the room carefully... she needs to get closer to Roy. Maybe ask him to dance or something? She strolls around the edge of the dance floor, heading towards one of the tables with drinks on it; that might work.
Chanticleer makes only a mild show of shoulders slumping and raising his eyes heavenward. He not-quite stalks over in the general direction of John. "Bloody hetaerae," he mutters almost in passing, stopping and turning to look at the dance floor, folding his arms. "Bloody airs up the nose, I tell you. At least she danced with you once without wanting to slap you across the skull."
John murmurs lazily, "Perhaps it has to do with some other sort of prejudice, Chanti. She made me for a guard immediately, so it's not guards she's got a problem with." He offers the sidhe the second glass of champagne "Have a drink."
Chanticleer snorts a little. "It wouldn't surprise me." [That you're a sneaky conniving prick. You don't seem to be too good at this, John. The sidhe have been doing courtly intrigue for longer than you've been wearing pants. I'm no expert... but the poison in the offered glass is older than dirt. Older than poisoned dirt, too.] "Thanks," he murmurs, accepting the glass and starting to move to drink it -- but the glass never even touches his lips. "She claimed I was being too forward. That doesn't make sense! I just offered to dance with her!" He starts to move to drink again, then says, "Seen anything unusual tonight? Besides the Hetaera who thinks she's special just because she's sleeping with the king?" Inwardly he winces; by sidhe standards that's outright slander -- and unpoetic, to boot. Such a thing would deserve to have a dozen lines of scathing soliloquy at least, if true, and twice that if false.
John shakes his head, smiling a little bit as Chanti rants, putting his free hand into his pocket, "I'm shocked if that's what she did. You're about the least-forward sidhe I've ever seen. And you're already moving on with her." He smiles a bit crookedly, his more natural smile, "She's off to report me to Roy, isn't she?"
Chanticleer pauses. "Well, that's besides the point. Though I should practice being more forward. I'll start now. What's going on, John?"
John chuckles and says, "There's nothing in the champagne. Cross my heart. It's a test."
Chanticleer deadpans, "A test of who? Lady Sulochana? Me?" He adds wryly, "The vintner?" Roy is dancing with yet another partner, this one an openly effeminate male merchant. The flirting is a little less genuine, but Roy doesn't seem uncomfortable. Sulochana gets swept up into a dance as well with a charming rake whose hands tend to wander a bit... at least they do until she 'slips' and her fan pokes him someplace painful. After that he behaves himself remarkably. 'Chana remains serene and cheerful on the outside -- although on the inside she's starting to really dislike this party! She's not quite sure yet if it's because Roy's been such a disappointment... or if it's just the party.
John nods toward the dance floor and leans toward Chanticleer. From a distance his expression looks conspiratorial. Up close, there's some humor in his voice, "Her. The king's got no doubts about you. Even if we're going to have to work double-hard to cover your shifts and Alg's."
Chanticleer is partly mollified. "Alg is just a workaholic that way," he says slightly idly. "I hope for Roy's sake he's not the one who wanted her tested." He's still not trusting John, however; he hasn't drunk from the glass. "And I hope for your sake that Roy believes you. There's more to it than just 'testing' someone, isn't there?"
John drains his own glass of champagne and smiles a bit, "I hope so, too. Since I'm telling the truth." His eyes are still on the woman as she dances with the dandy. Roy has taken a break from dancing, "What about you? Do you trust her?" Sulochana politely thanks the rake for the dance, and just as politely -- but far more firmly -- turns down the invitation to another dance. She keeps strolling around the dance floor towards Roy, and rapidly realizes she should do something -- carry a sign that says, 'Taking a dance break' maybe? -as a somewhat portly gentleman descends, aghast to see such a beauty unattended! Before she knows it, she's on the dance floor again. She sighs internally, amused; outwardly, of course, she's charming and flattered at the kind-hearted gentleman's attentions.
Chanticleer says flatly, "If you had seen what we'd seen in the warehouse..." He shakes his head; John should understand, but he wouldn't. "Yes. I do."
John nods, "The king's having a fit of paranoia over something the lady Hetaera said. Wouldn't be shocked if he didn't get his face slapped before the night is over." As the guard speaks, Roy is meandering over to Sulochana, grinning crookedly, "Sorry t'leave you alone s'long."
Chanticleer blinks to John. "Slapped? He'll be lucky her caravan comes by Baton Rouge again."
Sulochana sighs internally in relief as the dance ends and the thoughtful gentleman escorts her over to Roy. She thanks him prettily, then smiles at Roy, tucking her hand into his arm as she says lightly, while others are still in hearing, "Ah, I shall pine until your return!" She smiles up at him, adding hopefully, "Perhaps a dance?"
Roy grins at her and says, "Be my pleasure, ma'am." His eyes are twinkling, and this time it's the sincerely flirtatious look she's used to as he takes her out onto the dance floor, "Looked like you shot John down pretty hard. He's a good boy."
'Chana stares at Roy silently, not moving towards the dance floor as she masks her confusion by fussing a bit with her fan. He's being sincere now?! Or... is this a variant on his usual rogue's mask? Abruptly she is suddenly, utterly sick of it all: the stupid murderous politics, the fatuous gossip and sniping, the idiotic and painful fashions that seem designed to reduce women to propped-up dolls -- and perhaps most of all, the disturbing emptiness in the eyes of a man she'd thought more of. She smiles sweetly at Roy, her eyes cold as ice as she murmurs, "So how good are you at not showing your emotions on your face, Roy?"
The king says, "Oh, pretty good. That woman with all the gewgaws on her dress? Can't stand 'er. Thinks she's smarter'n ever'body. Bet it looked like I's ready to bed her."
Sulochana takes a deep breath, her lovely smile hiding her sudden anger and inner revulsion. She doesn't bother trying to ease or pad her unpleasant announcement; at this point she's half hoping Roy will be indignant and angry enough that she has an excuse to leave the party early and return to the caravan. She seems to be laughing as she murmurs to the king, "Your 'good boy' just tried to talk me into offing you... and slipped up enough at one point to agree the plan was for me to do his dirty work, and then for him to kill me." She tilts her head slightly at the king, looking very much like she's flirting with him.
Across the room, John whistles low and soft, "That's going to be sort of a shame. I think he really likes her." He holds out his hand, "If you aren't going to drink that, give it to me. Don't you know it's a sin to waste good wine?"
Chanticleer sighs, "I will, in time. I have a feeling I'm going to need it in a moment. John, you do realize that nobody likes being tested, right? Someone like a Hetaera and a caravan owner doesn't like their loyalty tested. Maybe even especially Hetaerae. What was it she said that made Roy basically bowl over any chances of remaining her client?"
At the other side of the room, Roy's brows go up slightly and he laughs warmly, leaning in to murmur close to 'Chana's ear, as if answering something slightly naughty she said, "That so?" He has been trying to maneuver her toward a less crowded edge of the dance floor.
Sulochana is willing to walk with Roy, but she's about out of patience with him -- and she certainly doesn't feel like dancing with him just now. She replies sweetly, "Sho' nuff!" in an affected Southern accent -- definitely not her native tongue -- and adds in quiet, calm tones, "I really don't care at this point if you believe me or not... but I will be leaving the party early. Your 'boy' John is damn creepy and I don't want him at my back." She adds equally calmly, "Chanti is with John now, and if he's as good as I think he is, he's also got the champagne John was trying to push on me... which I suspect I was supposed to give to you to kill you."
Roy has moved with 'Chana toward a familiar figure: Pierce is looking like his formal wear is a uniform rather than a tuxedo. He's smiling tightly as the king and the Hetaera approach. The king drawls, "John was jest doin' as he was told. Like I said, he's a good boy."
Sulochana's smile hasn't wavered, but her voice is getting a bit impatient, "Look, Roy, unless you told him to kill you, which I don't believe for a moment, I really think you might want to have Chanti bring over the champagne so you can have it tested." She turns to glance towards where the sidhe stands, giving a small sigh of relief at seeing he does indeed have the wine. She waves a hand, beckoning for him to join them. The Hetaera is watching with silent alertness, worried about the possibility of a strike at Chanti's back.
At the signal, John murmurs, "Think I'll stay over here... since she thinks I'm a particularly clumsy assassin."
Chanticleer murmurs to John, "If you're telling the truth, John, Roy is going to be wearing this in a few moments." He starts towards Sulochana and Roy.
John's voice is dry, "I'll have someone make sure to have a towel ready."
Roy glances over to Sulochana when she says that and nods, "Yeah. Let's do that." He grins at his friend the chirugeon, "Whatcha think, Pierce?" 'Chana gives Roy a slightly irritated glance while he's not looking at her. She really doesn't like being treated like an amusing little girl. She sighs and turns her gaze back to the sidhe; she's going to be so glad to be back safe and sound at the caravan tonight.
Pierce says, "Let us wait until Chanticleer arrives."
Chanticleer arrives at the group, holding the glass of champagne. Wordlessly he glances between Pierce and Roy, then offers the glass to Pierce. Once that's done he makes sure to get out of the line of fire between Sulochana and Roy, and looks like he dearly wishes he were somewhere else. His memory of incidents like this in the fey court made for fascinating and passionate, intense reading... 'reading' because nobody wanted to be at ground zero of one.
The Hetaera folds her arms, still smiling pleasantly, "How long will it take you to test it, Pierce?" She's carefully making sure Chanti's at her back; John sincerely spooked her.
Pierce peers into the glass and swirls it around slightly, "Not too long." He takes a swig of it and says, "I win, Roy." The king snorts, sincerely relieved and a little chagrined at the same time, "Yeah. You win. Thought Johnny-boy was a better actor'n that, though."
Sulochana starts forward in wide-eyed shock, one hand coming out to stop Pierce as he drinks -- then she blinks and goes still, staring silently between Roy and Pierce. When she finally speaks, her voice is very soft, "What do you mean, 'win'?" A heartbeat later she whirls on Roy in shock, "You made a bet on me?! Why?" She blinks again, her eyes narrowing, "You... you thought I wanted to kill you?!" Her cold, golden eyed gaze shifts to amazement, "Are you insane?!"
Roy is calm and even relieved as he says, "'Cause it's been one fuckin' weird day. An' you seem t' have a lotta talents a reg'lar Hetaera oughtn't have... an' there's that whole bokor thing..." Pierce shakes his head, "Told you she wouldn't like it." Chanticleer purses his lips and shakes his head a little.
Sulochana's eyes widen at Roy; the only reason she's not sputtering is because it would be undignified sounding, and her training won't let her. She's taking quick, deep breaths, though... and then she whirls to Pierce, snatching the flute out of his hand. In the same smooth, graceful gesture she flings it directly at Roy's face, snarling, "Damn you, Roy! That stupid boy scared me!" She throws the delicate flute to shatter at his feet as she snaps, "In the first place, how the hell would you know what a regular Hetaera is, anyway -- you said yourself you've never been with one before!" She whirls and grimly adds, "And in the second... I am not your play toy. Good night." She adds over her shoulder, "Chanti, when you're free you can find us at the caravan." Then Sulochana heads for the door, her expression outwardly calm -- but there's a glint in her eyes that says now would be a bad time to cross her.
Roy looks genuinely shocked; it's hard to fake that particular emotion. He blinks as he reaches up to wipe the wine off his face. Pierce covers his mouth with one hand and coughs, then says, "Go on, Chanticleer, I'll take care of his soggy majesty here." There's a startled gasp that makes its way through the room.
Chanticleer makes a quiet sound, nodding to Pierce. "I'll try to find out what he can do to get back into her graces," he murmurs to the chirugeon, then heads off after Sulochana.
'Chana whirls once again, adding sharply -- and unfortunately carryingly, in the suddenly hushed room -- "Don't expect to find out what other Hetaera are like, either. I won't let you do this to them too, for your weird jollies." She turns and continues swiftly heading for the door.
Roy winces and says, "Well, shit..."
Pierce murmurs, "I told you this was a really, really bad idea."
It's not quite so obvious as an aisle to the door opening, but absolutely no one gets in the Hetaera's way as she heads to the door. Roy says again, "Well, shit." He sighs, "I really put my foot in it." He moves after her at something not quite fast enough to look like a trot exactly. John isn't dumb enough to try to help in stopping her.
Chanticleer eventually makes his way to near Sulochana's shoulder. He doesn't say a word. The Hetaera murmurs grimly, "Chanti, could you arrange for a litter to carry Alg? I'm going to get Gramma Marcie and the llama and we're all going home."
Chanticleer nods, "I will," and simply goes to attend to the litter, an instant before Roy shows up.
Roy catches up with them near the door. His voice is low, "Sulochana, please... wait..."
She growls without looking at him, "Wait for what? Until one of your damn tests turns ugly and someone really gets hurt?"
The king's voice is low, "It was a dumbass thing to do, but it really has been one weird damn day. An' I got paranoid. You been... well, too good t'be true, actually."
Sulochana whirls on the king just outside the ballroom doors, her eyes ablaze with fury, "Too good to be true? According to whom? I risked my fool life for you -- this is how you repay me and Chanti and Alg?! -and Froid Jacques, and the others -- you think I want to kill you?!" Her chest is heaving with anger as she snarls right up at him, "Why didn't you just stand in the middle of the room and yell about how little you trusted me?! At least that way I wouldn't have been in fear of my life -- and yours too! -from one of your guards!"
Roy doesn't reach for her -- he knows better than to grab for an angry woman, "'Ccording to me. But I ain't the brightest star inna sky sometimes." He's holding his hands up at chest level, "Ain't you been sayin' I oughta look harder at who's been after my ass?"
Sulochana stares in cold fury up at Roy, pulling herself back under control. Finally she simply snaps, "Maybe you should actually listen to those you trust, then, instead of trying to think for yourself... and quit publicly humiliating potential trade partners!" She frowns at him, then adds, "And clean yourself up! You're a mess." She folds her arms and narrows her eyes warningly at him as he starts to reach for her.
Roy rubs the back of his neck with one hand -- the one that was reaching to rest on Sulochana's shoulder. He smiles a little crookedly, "Yeah, reckon I am. Damn wine's sticky as hell. Listen, please don't go. I promise to quit actin' like an ass."
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