Mira Hasta-Rur wrote:
> > He leans over and says confidentually, "I'm afraid my public image
> > is...um, somewhat frivolous, and my past...um, associates haven't
> > contradicted that image. So, I need to warn you that associating
> > with me might well color the public's perception of you, Mira."
>
> Mira chuckles, "If you think that I am concerned with the 'public's'
> perception of me, JaCarter Woodbridge, you are grievously mistaken.
> I'm a big girl and there is only so long you can dress a wolf like a
> sheep before someone figures things out."
"I won't mind if the right *someone* does." Jac says.
> > He says solemnly, "I'm afraid, that gossip piece on the vid's
> > yesterday is the sort of thing you can expect."
>
> Mira shrugs, "I've seen what gossip newsies are like up close before
> Jac. Not directed at me, thank the power, but I have seen it. They
> will find a 'tough cookie' if they bother me too much."
>
> >>> Jac stops and opens the hatch for Mira and escorts her down the
> >>> gangway toward the waiting limo. The sun has just gone down
> >>> and the Starport's lights are coming up. The night air is warm
> >>> and sultry, and smells of chemicals and ozone wafting across
> >>> the tarmac from the port's huge fuel and chemical holding
> >>> tanks. An increasingly loud humming sound from the south
> >>> signals the arrival of another ship descending over the bay
> >>> toward the port. Looking out you can see lights coming on along
> >>> the streets bordering the Starport, the bright flashing neon
> >>> lights of the cafes and bars luring spacemen and locals as well
> >>> as the white street lights lining the streets.
> >>
> >> "Lights at night are so pretty," She comments, "Even the ugliest
> >> cities become magical at night."
> >
> > "Yes." Jac says looking at Mira's face and how her eyes reflect the
> > lights of the port so brightly, "Magical describes things nicely."
> >
>
> She smiles without turning to face him.
>
> >>> Parked below the gangway is a long black limousine with a
> >>> uniformed driver standing beside it. The driver and limo
> >>> shimmer in the starport lights from the heated air still rising
> >>> up from the black tarmac.
> >>>
> >>> As the pair approach the limo the drive says as he opens the
> >>> door to the back seat, "Good evening Sir Jac, Sianna. My name
> >>> is Nicholas and it is my pleasure to be your driver this
> >>> evening."
> >
> > "Nicholas." Jac nods to the driver.
> >
> >> "Good evening, Nicholas," Mira says politely as she allows Jac to
> >> hand her into the limousine.
> >
> > After Jac is inside and the driver takes his seat up front Jac
> > leans forward and hands the driver something then says, "Maison
> > D'argent, if you please, Nicholas."
> >
> > "Yes, Sir." Nicholas says and pulls the limo away from the ship, as
> > it comes to the Starport Gate, the driver shows something to the
> > gate guard and he waves the limo through leaning down and giving a
> > salute to the darkened interior.
> >
> > "Mira." Jac turns toward her smiling, "Did you know that argent is
> > how you say silver in one of the old languages here on Mark?"
>
> She shakes her head, no.
>
> > "Maison D'argent means house of silver." he says, "The language,
> > franzt it is called, isn't quite a dead language yet. It is still
> > spoken in some of the small farming villages on Saint Louie island.
> > I think it is still taught, along with anglic, in the schools
> > there. It is quite an interesting language.
> >
> > Jac chuckles, "Not that I know more than a few words. The only
> > reason I know what Maison D'argent means is I asked the owner one
> > night when I was in there with some friends. I had noticed another
> > restaurant called Maison D'or when I was in Furcal, and wanted to
> > know what Maison D'whatever meant."
>
> She chuckles, "Informative and modest, very nice. Its nice that you
> know even that much. Some people would never bother to ask."
OOC: Surprisingly, or not, Mira and several of her cousins are from a
world called Argent.
> "On Argent, we have a yearly festival in which everyone dresses up in
> costumes and parties. Everyone knows its Kadtries' Day. Some even
> know that its a celebration of freedom. Fewer still know that its
> origins date back far enough for religious persecution to have been
> evident in the world. The area that Treyvon Kadtries and his family
> lived in you had precisely one option for your path to God. Their
> faith was 'other' and like so many families they hid it. Until
> Treyvon came of age. One of the symbols of the faith was the hats the
> men wore. They were tri-cornered, each corner or side, the historians
> differ on opinion, but to my mind it could be either, represented a
> significant religious figure with the rather pointed center to the
> hat representing their God."
Jac nods.
> "Treyvon refused to wear a symbol of a faith to which he did not
> ascribe. And when he was called a devil or demon, he began to wear a
> cap, red and close fitting with short cow horns attached. He said if
> he was a devil, he would wear a hat befitting one."
>
> She sighs, "As with all such stories, he and his family suffered
> terribly. Rather than driving them apart it bonded them tighter to
> each other and soon they all wore the hats. The hats began showing up
> in any number of areas and by the time Treyvon was tied to a stake
> and executed, even a few of the faithful were beginning to wear the
> hats in protest."
>
> "When the bans were finally lifted and everyone was free to worship
> via the faith of their choosing, the day was declared Kadtries day
> and everyone celebrated dressed wearing a red, horned hat."
>
> "Over time, the representations of the devil and demons became more
> and more widely interpreted and more diluted by other cultures. In
> time, one simply dressed in costume, and everything from devils to
> saints could be seen."
>
> "Most people just know its fun."
Jac says, "I've heard of Kadtries Day, but I never knew the story behind
it. I always thought it was just Argent's local version of the Spring
festival."
The limo pulls to a stop outside a restaurant. There aren't bright neon
lights along this street. It looks more upscale than that.
A doorman opens the door, Jac exits and holds out his hand to help Mira
out.
He turns to the driver and says, "It should be about and hour Nicholas."
As the limo pulls away, the doorman holds the door open for Mira and
Jac. He allows her to enter first, and then he steps forward to walk
beside her up to the front desk. Behind the desk a man dressed in
evening clothes is talking with a couple."
"It will be at least an hour, if you would care to wait in the lounge."
he looks up as that couple moves away and says with a broad smile, "Good
evening, Lord Woodbridge."
"Evening, Paul." Jac says, "I should have a reservation."
"Of course! the Maite'd replies, "We will always have your table
available for you."
He motions for an assistant to take his place and moves to escort you to
the table himself, "It has been much too long since we had the pleasure
of serving any of your family."
"I've been away." Jac says, "Oh, and may I introduce Doctor Mira Hasta-Rur?"
"Good evening, "'Sianna Doctor." Paul gives Mira a slight bow, "May I
say how honored we are to have you at our little restaurant tonight."
Turning to Mira Jac says, "Mira, Paul's sister is the head chef here.
She was trained by Chef David."
"Yes, *that* Chef David, Lysia and Morgana's mother." Jac chuckles,
"Morgana and Erma were star pupils in their day, but Erma is the Master
of Chef's today."
"You are too kind." Paul says, "But I will be sure to let Erma know you
are here, Sir Jac.
Jac smiles and says, "Yes, tell Erma hello from me."
Jac holds Mira's chair back for her, then allows Paul to hold his chair
for him. Mira sees an older man dressed as a waiter step up to the table.
"Good evening Kendall." Jac says to the waiter, "We are going to the
charity ball later, so we'll only have something light before hand."
Jac looks over at Mira for confirmation, "Yes?"
Turning back to Kendall Jac says, "I think I'll leave it all in yours
and Chef Erma's hands."
"As you wish, Sir Jac." Kendall gives a short bow and says, "May I
suggest the Goujonnette of John Dory. The fish is pan fried, crispy, and
served with a fig and pistacchio galette, finocchio and thinly sliced
proscuitto. The sauce is a light fish stock infused with kelp. With a
nice white? The Bianica de Zert 903, perhaps?"
Jac looks to Mira and asks, "How does that sound to you?"
Eris
AKU GM
