A Royal on the QueenIndex | Time Under Chaos | Game Logs | PreGameLogs | A Royal on the Queen It was one of those warmer summer nights and the Queen was a little late sailing. Just before she was about to cast off, a carriage caming bowling down to the quayside and drew to an impressive halt. The postillion sparng to open the door, and the tall, dashing figure of Prince Bleys emerged, dressed in a style that was harlequinade, and gave an unparalleled opportunity for one and all to admire what were often cited as the finest lgs in Amber. He strode to the gang plank and up it, shrugging out of his cloak as he did so. "Vincenzo," he said. "I'm glad to see I'm not too late. Who's aboard tonight?" "Your Highness, always a distinct pleasure to have you aboard," Vincenzo greeted ever so politely. He gestured discreetly for the nearby Allegra to take Bleys' cloak. "You're in luck," Vincenzo continued as the ship prepared to sail. "You have the full compliment to chose from this evening, Sergio's menu includes many delicacies from Persa tonight, and I believe Ramon and Edward will be providing a set on Spanish guitar in the main lounge for bit." He paused and listened. "And there they are now." The oil lamps around the perimeter of the lounge had been dimmed and footlights lit on the stage for the performance. Ramon and Edward were quite popular among the patrons, so the room, though not quite full, was rather busy. Two of the security men stood in the shadows on either side of the stage, keeping a discreet, but not a prying eye on the crowd as waitresses bustled about taking orders for drinks. One of the men was familiar to the regulars, but the second, a tall, sturdy-looking man with neatly-combed auburn hair, was a newcomer. He seemed to fit in well, though, chatting easily with the patrons and the staff, while managing to maintain a posture that marked him as security as clearly as his uniform. Petra was in her usual welcoming position at the base of the grand staircase was at that moment engaged in a quiet conversation with darkly handsome Caliph Nasir ibn Rashid, ruler of the Golden Circle Shadow of Persa. Though not a frequent visitor, he was no stranger to the staff of the Ramblin' Queen or to Amber. Bleys strolled up to her. In some people's eyes, he might be an ex-Prince of Amber. In Bleys' own eyes that was a mere happenstance. He nodded to the Caliph. "Hello, Fruity. How're the horses doing this season?" "As well as always, Highness," the Caliph answered with a slightly puzzled expression. He then turned to Petra. "Perhaps we can finish this later, m'lady." And with a bow that included them both, he made his way to a reserved seat. But even as Bleys was listening to the answer, he was smiling at Petra, and then glancing around the lounge. "Who's the new hired hand?" he asked Petra. "He seems a rather unusual type for you." Petra hummed and glanced in the direction of the young hire in question. "Oh, Goran," she smiled. "He's a lovely young man. Vincenzo is quite taken with him.." Bleys' looked amused. "Really? Perhaps you should introduce me to this paragon - once the concert is over." He reached for her hand, raised it to his lips .... And then he strolled away to his favourite table, one where he could watch the prettiest of the girls - and get the best acoustic effect for the music. Her uncles were all strange, Petra mused. She wandered over to Goran's post in the shadows as the music began to fill the room. "Don't wander off later. His Highness is so amazed that someone impressed Vincenzo that he wishes to meet you after the show." "Which Highness?" Goran asked. His eyebrows arched in surprise when he followed Petra's discreet gaze in Bleys's direction. "Huh. All right. I had no' planned to go anywhere," Goran consented mildly. Petra smiled warmly. "And I am very glad to know that." After giving his arm a pat, she slipped into the dimly lit crowd to her own seat near the eagle eyed Vincenzo. To say that Ramon played the guitar would be to grossly understate the relationship between man and instrument. Eyes closed but face still achingly expressive, Ramon coaxed from the simple instrument sounds both heartbreaking and joyous. His own passions and emotions were transmitted through lush riffs from himself to the strings, from there to sing to the audience, to elevate them to the heights he sought to have them soar. While Edward's execution was no less intense, there was a sharp clarity to his playing that perfectly melded with, and enhanced the lush overtones of Ramon's emotional presentation. Counterpoint seemed to delight, not tax, him. He had a fine ear for nuance and tone color, and possessed a strict rhythmic sense that accommodated flexible phrasing when needed. Between the two of them, the concert was graceful, lyrical and technically brilliant. They played with a delicacy of nuance and tonal resource that conveyed the spare textures and pointillistic statements beautifully. And when they finally wound down, the final note hung on the air for the moment needed for the listeners to catch up, to catch their breath. It is that moment of wonder that all performers strive for. Just before the audience bursts into applause. "Magnificent," said Bleys softly. He had come to stand behind Petra, and his voice now spoke soft and mellifluous in her ear. "Truly magnificent. You offer sublime pleasure to all the senses, my sweet." Petra turned her head to smile. "Grazi. I am pleased to hear you enjoyed it. I will pass your compliments to the performers. They are quite gifted." As the lights came up, she turned to face him more fully. "I believe you wished to meet Vincenzo's wonder boy. Shall we take this off the main floor? I believe your favorite salon is vacant." "That would be delightful," said Bleys. "And wine as well, perhaps. I always feel these ... encounters ... go so much better with wine." "My dear Bleys," said Petra with a playfully coy smile. "You may have anything your little heart desires from the pleasures offered on the Queen. I have recently been introduced to a delightful wine from one of Atlantis' trading partners. We haven't started offering it to the general populace yet, but I think you'll enjoy it." Petra turned to Gino, who had been sitting with her. "Please ask Goran to bring a bottle of Sfodro Aisthima to the Gold Salon." Knowing it would be done, she turned her attention back to Bleys. "Shall we?" she smiled. Gravely, he offered his arm for her to rest her hand on, and then escorted her to the Gold Salon. Located off a side hallway on the second tier deck, the Gold Salon had been specifically decorated with Bleys' public image in mind. Despite the elegant golds from pale to amber used in the decor, it had decidely masculine lines. Accent colors of rust red and ivory were used sparingly, because when Bleys was in the room, he provide all the color the room needed. A gold framed mirror hung over the small fireplace decorated with Art Nouveau tiles. In front of the fireplace, a pair of wingbacked chairs covered in striped gold silk brocade flanked a small table that held a humidor, and crystal ashtray. A matching sofa seperated the sitting area from the area currently set up with a small dining table and chairs that were positioned in front of the fore deck facing window edged in stained glass Tiffany-style dragonflies and lillies currently exposed by the drawnback velvet curtains. Paintings in the style, but not the hand, of Alphonse Mucha decorated the walls. Paintings always hung in this room, but they were rotated often. Always in the same hand and style, the females depicted varied. A small, but suitably stocked bar sat against one wall. Petra herself didn't count it among her favorite rooms, but it was the perfect showcase for the vibrant Bleys, and it did have one of the best views on the ship. As Petra and Bleys settled into the room, there came a knock at the still-open door. Vincenzo's 'wonder boy', Goran, was there with the requested bottle of Sfodro Aisthima and a set of glasses. He met the Prince's eyes and nodded respectfully, as befit a Prince of Amber. Then he turned to Petra. "Lady Petra, you requested my presence?" he said in heavily-accented Thari. Petra turned a lazy smile to Goran. "Not I." "Your Highness, this is Goran. Our newest staff member and an asset to the Ramblin' Queen." "Goran, this is Prince Bleys, one of our favorite visitors." Goran bowed properly, as he had been recently taught by Vincenzo. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Highness." She turned Bleys. "I'll leave you gentlemen to it. Shall I have dinner sent up, or will you be taking it downstairs?" "Oh, have it sent up," said Bleys, "in thirty minutes or so." He glanced at Goran. "Do you just do security, or can you serve dinner as well?" Petra inclined her head to the both of them and took her leave. She had a Caliph with ruffled feathers to soothe. Goran nodded to her politely, then turned his attention to the prince. "I can serve as well, Your Highness. My family ran a cafe in Shadow when I was young," he explained. "Did they?" Bleys asked with interest. "And do they run it still?" |
