Time off (meret)

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien watched "Very good" He said trying his best to sound confident. As the players began to play he tried his best to follow what she had taught him. He was able to complete the movements with only a few errors. However the dance had left him a little tireder than before. A they finished the final turn the next course arrived. "I belive they are ready for us Lady Blackmoon" He said offering his arm to escort her back to the table.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Pink ponies, endless rainbows, bubbles, it has been a long time since I danced with a man, red wine has high levels of resveratrol, oysters are an excellent source of minerals. Meret tried to block her thoughts from Lucien. She took his arm and they walked to the table. The entrees were spread out so they were surrounded with the delights. "Lucien, may I call you Lucien, there no men on Endor who dance. That was wonderful. BUT it's your turn, ask me a question."

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien selected a selection from the food placed. He waited for a moment "Yes I suppose you can ... now about my question" He cut off a piece of the bass and placed it into his mouth he chewed as he thought over his question. He swallowed and then began "Home comforts or adventure" He asked taking another mouthful the food was rather good. He smiled "Good you are learning M'lady" He said in response to her blocking him.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Meret nibbled at her food but her hunger was being satisfied by Lucien's presence. She was assured that her staff would be gossiping in the morning. "My head will be filled with snowflakes and mush, so I will just not play that game I will be an open book. I hope you can handle it. I am always up for an adventure, but at this time in my life home comforts is my answer. To sleep in your own bed, and be with your friends not strangers, is just so satisfying. My turn, Passion or Loyalty?" She cut a piece of bison off of the filet and brought it to her mouth. The savory flavor made her mouth water.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"Loyalty is fickle Passion is not so passion will be my answer" He finished the Bass and moved on to the Bison taking a piece and topping it with chutney he brought it to his mouth. He chewed for a moment then asked his own question, Having looked at Meret's past laid out like a book he knew just the question to ask "Duty or freedom" He smiled just a bit this was a good one. He cut off a second piece of meat and brought that up to his mouth as well.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

“You always ask such proper questions. My whole life has been bound by duty but in that framework I have found freedom. You have given me space and allow me to govern in my own way. It is similar to the Aing-Tii’s concept of perfect imperfection. You are in a state of perfection at any point of time but your you have a very sensual mouth your lower lip is full and slightly darker than your upper lip your state is always that of imperfection because you are always learning and improving. The chutney is an amazing compliment to the bison” Meret smiled. “So far I know that you prefer blonds, moonlight, and have no use for loyalty or passion. Bedroom or kitchen?” The red wine wet her lips and accented her full mouth.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"I am a proper person" He replied between mouthfuls. He listened with a smirk as meret spoke, Her thoughts were quite humorous As she finished stating what she had learnt of him he smiled "I don't remember what I know of you" He confessed "Lady Blackmoon are you trying to seduce me?" he asked with a grin. He then pondered his position for a moment "I would have to say bedroom it is far more comfortable and servants belong in the kitchen ... I'm not a servant in case you hadn't noticed" He smiled a little at his own small joke

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

A satisfying smile took over Meret’s face. “Yes” she thought about her answer “NO!” She jumped up and wedged herself between Lucien and the table. She placed her hands on the arms of his chair. Her face was inches away from his. Their bodies were even closer. “I think, you came here to seduce me, to have an intimate dinner with me, you dance a sultry Hapan tango with me…and we do know how shamelessly those Hapans carry on.” Lucien’s eyes were caramel and bronze and burnt umber. “How much wine have we had? Six, eight glasses ohhh not good.” Meret returned to her seat and grabbed a piece of buttered bread. “In vino veritas, I have had too much to drink. I will answer your question. YES, I thought thought it would be fun; I can guarantee you that my staff members are fully prepared to restrain me from any unwanted advances towards you, unwanted advances. My question to you, are you trying to seduce me, please let me know so I an either sober up or have another…”

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien was a little taken aback "No I am not trying to seduce you, I don't do seducing I came here to get away from work and to talk with you. I will point out that you set up the dinner and you wanted to do the tango." He spoke quickly and decisively, He may have come here to improve relations but it was certainly not his aim to seduce anyone, that was a dirty business. he could not deny Lady Blackmoon was certainly a fine suitor, However she was drunk and this was their first private meeting it would take a number of meetings or exceptional circumstances to get Lucien to be intimate before at least three dates, If someone wanted intimacy with him they had to put in the work.. He lent back in his chair and closed his eyes, He looked over to Meret "Would you like me to leave?" He asked softly, He didn't want to go but sometimes one had to do things they didn't like and Lady Blackmoon appeared to be in a less than ideal state.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Meret chewed on her buttered bread and washed it down with a gulp of water. She waved to the server. “We are ready for dessert. Do you have a dessert tray? And some coffee and chicory and sweetened cream.” What do you have others seduce your romantic interests for you because it is dirty? Meret pondered what it would be like to kiss Lucien passionately. Since she told him that she was not going to play games and her mind was an open book. She relished a kiss from him. The scent of her perfume, a full embrace, lips touching, their breaths simpatico lasting for an eternal moment, you really don’t know what you are missing. She had a fleeting thought maybe Lucien is not interested in her but that’s impossible and that would be a first. Her ego was crushed. Finally she turned to Lord Cordel and answered him “ Pity, you have not seduced anyone. I have seduced men, and delighted in it.“ One server brought two trays of desserts another brought coffee and chicory. “The trifle is excellent; I grow the berries myself. The custard has spices from my mother’s home planet. The hummingbird cake has no birds in it; the yellow color is from citrus fruits. If you want we could take a walk and I could show you my greenhouses.”

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien smiled looking through her mind again he was flattered "Not today my dear " He said in response to her thoughts, He then addressed her query on seduction "No I do not seduce women nor do I have others do it for me, you grow plants does the plant that is quickly but artificially sprouted grow to be as strong as the plant that is allowed to grow in it's own time." He lent offer and took a large scoop of the trifle he took a spoonful "Lady Blackmoon I do fear I will be ... confiscating your chief for my own kitchen" He too a second spoonful then spoke "I would rather like to see your greenhouses" He smiled taking the coffee and taking a slight slow sip it was very good much like the rest of the food Meret had served. He put his cup down "Did I ever tell you I had a son?" He asked rather cautiously, He was treading on risky ground now.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Lucien was right but Meret thought she knew him or the profile that he presented to others. She had read his dossier several times because she prided herself in doing her research. They had some deep conversations about governing, pretended to be paupers on his home planet and participated in the Valen project. In her mind that was three dates. She was enjoying the sweetness of the desserts complimented by the earthiness of the coffee when he mentioned taking her kitchen staff. “My staff is at your disposal. Give them a list of dishes that you enjoy and they will prepare them for you. And if you want one or two members of my staff I can spare them but I pay them well.” He put down his cup and announced that he had a son. Meret choked on her coffee and started to cough. well you must have seduced someone…a baby how wonderful… Meret had a devoted maternal side and was enamored even more with Lucien. But this made things even more complicated. Where was his son’s mother? After recovering from her coughing spell Meret responded to Lucien “How wonderful…”

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien smiled, "I suppose I aught to explain ... " He said slowly then stopped he was going to lie but then considered telling the truth. He chose no to tell her allowed and instead spoke into her mind " He is adopted ... I adopted him when my original position on Elom became shaky ... However no one must know he is adopted, he must appear to all to be my biological heir" He lent back he may have just made the biggest mistake in his live, He had just surrendered the biggest secret he had willingly. He took another gulp of coffee and took a deep breath out. He turned to Meret "I have just confessed my biggest secret but I have other that you might as well Know, perhaps I could be persuaded to tell them to you"

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Lucien was in her head. These unspoken conversations were so much more important than their superficial spoken conversations. Your secret is safe with me, now how can I persuade you to share your other secrets? Maybe a trade? Meret felt very close to Lucien at that moment knowing he had reveal such an important secret to her. She laughed softly “Now you have two things I want. I have always wanted a child but I have never met the right person to be the father of my child. So now you know something about me.” Her housekeeper came running into the dinning hall interrupted the quiet moment. “Miss Blackmoon, Miss Blackmoon the Wisties are out tonight, something must have happen, do you want to have a look?” Meret excitedly said yes. “Put a comforter on the floor under the skylight." The lodge had a large skylight so the hunters could see the weather and the celestial events. Two attendants brought out a plush animal skin comforter and positioned it under the skylight.

Meret leaned close to Lucien and explained “Whisties are Endor’s fire fairies. They feed off of happy emotions and expressions of mirth. Our vibrations are a high frequency than those of the local populations. They could be responding to our thoughts. They create beautiful light phenomena, blue, white, gold some pink or deep green dancing sparkles. Come and see.” Meret left her seat and went to the center of the dining hall and laid on the comforter. She grazed up and saw the Whisties dance in a ring. Meret thought of her family and the fire fairies executed a complicated dance, a shimmering kaleidoscope

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"Very well a trade it is" He replied, he listened her secret was much nicer than his. He was about to speak when Lady Blackmoon's house keeper rushed in.She announced that the whisties would be out, He had always wanted to see them and now seemed like the perfect opportunity. Meret got up and then Lucien drank down the last of his coffee and followed. He made his way over to the comforter and lay down next to Meret. He looked up and watched the fairies for a few moments running his fingers through the fur. Taking a deep breath in he began this time out loud "I am a bad person, as I am sure you well know you have seen how I deal with opponents but did you know that I once ordered an eight year old apprentice be tortured into betraying her master so that I could have him arrested for treason, she confessed but he escaped ... I can't remember his name ..." Lucien had been mind wiped by the master he sought to arrest "I suppose you should also know that I don't really regret doing it"

(P.s. His confession is true but the thread was lost in the crash I believe)

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Meret did not know what to think of Lucien next secret. Lord Cordel did have a reputation for ruling with an iron glove. She had seen this trait in many leaders and thought that in some cases it was the only way. The Whisties changed to a blue color and slowed down their pace. She did not want them to go away. Meret’s thoughts shifted to gratitude, compassion and love. The fire fairies color changed again to silver and gold. They created several spirals. “ I am honored that you shared that secret with me. Do you know what a soubrette is? In ancient theater when the main character needed to reveal information about the story, the playwright would introduce a soubrette, a confident so the main character could tell his secret. Let me be your soubrette. Again, I am flattered that you trust me. Your trust is a treasure that I do cherish. I know you have great responsibilities." Lucien knew she had worked with Lord Vynea as a sniper so that did not count as a secret. "My first was when I was sixteen. I was on a humanitarian expedition with my mother. He was a forty-year-old doctor with the medical team. The poor man had to be sent home because a sniper shot him in the groin and I don’t really regret it either”

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"And I am flattered that you haven't thrown me out" Lucien smiled and then thought for a moment was running out of secrets "I don't have many more secrets in fact this is my last ... When I turned sixteen I killed my parents took their money sold their assets and moved away forever, They died penniless and alone" He lay back flat on the floor "Why did you shoot the doctor?" He asked watching the streams of light dance across the sky, It was dark now and Lucien began to wonder whether Zaadja was on fire yet. He called one of the servers over "Fetch me a tea please two sugars and a little milk" He smiled and handed the server a small amount of money.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Meret sat up when the server brought Lucien his tea. "The man was a theft; he took something that was not his. The lodge has a master bedroom upstairs if you want to spend the night, and then we could tour the green houses in the morning." She knew he was different. At this moment she was not going to judge him because of his statements. "You prefer tea? I should have known." The fire in the hearth was going out. Only glowing embers remained.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"I have a soft spot for coffee but yes tea is my main choice" He also sat up "That would be perfect thank you I trust you can also secure accommodation for my staff?" He said. He had not truly released how late it was, He stood up "If you would excuse me a moment I need to check on Zaadja I just hope the lazy excuse for an assistant governor hasn't already gone home for bedtime stories with his mother" He smiled then stepped out, He instructed his assistant to go and obtain a status report from Zaadja then return it to him. Then he went back inside.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

When Lucien stepped out Meret spoke to the house keeper. "Lord Cordel and his staff will be spending the night. Depending on the number in his party make sure the bedrooms are made up." The house keeper was very good at her job and had prepared the master bedroom and six smaller rooms for his staff. "Very good Emma! and the oysters did NOT work so NO gossip, understood? Make sure you find out what Lord Cordel and his staff want to have for breakfast, I will be retiring to my cabin ALONE." She smiled at Emma who was like a mother to her. There was a ever present joke between the two of them...when are you going to settle down with a nice man.
Emma patiently waited for Lord Cordel to return to the dinning hall. She had prepared meals for his staff in the kitchen and had a hand printed menu for the morning meal. Meret put on her cape in preparation for her walk to her cabin.