BeforeDinnerInTheStarChamberClytemnestraHelenaAmbaIndex | Time Under Chaos | Game Logs | Before Dinner In The Star Chamber | BeforeDinnerInTheStarChamberClytemnestraHelenaAmba (continued from Afternoon Tea with Mandor) Even though they were running late, there was no choice- the women had to take the time to dress appropriately for the dinner. Though rushed, with Clytemnestra's extensive experience in these affairs and her help at the finishing touches, they not only appeared as though they had spent hours in the salon, but were fully briefed on the guests that Mandor had invited also. Amba chose a copper coloured long pleated dress, with a golden bodice. The dress showed off her bronzed skin perfectly, and for the occasion, she had shifted her tattoo so it didn't mar the effect of the dress. Also shifted was her hair- one of the advantages of advanced shapeshifting was that one no longer needed to visit the salon to try a new length of hair style. Her hair was twisted up and flipped, artfully obscuring one side of her face as her profile was fully shown. Long danglying diamond earrings finished the effect. For the second day, she found herself dressed formally, and to her surprise, unlike the events that she had been forced to attend in Chaos, she found herself liking it. More than willing to follow Ness's lead, Amba scanned the assemblage as she waited to see what Helena's sister would do. Clytemnestra and Helena walked into the room side by side, Helena matching her sister's stride. Ness wore a simple dress of rich red, strapped over her right shoulder and leaving her left shoulder bare. The dress pulled tightly across her body and gathered at her left hip, leading the eye from her strapped shoulder, over her curves, and down to the generous slit on her left leg. Helena's dress was identical in style to her sister's, only strapped on the opposite shoulder and colored in dark silver. They paused and scanned the room, Clytemnestra looking from center to the right and Helena looking from center to the left. "Should we find Mandor so I can apologize for us being late?" Helena murmured. Ness sniffed. "I never apologize to Father for anything." She glanced around the room. "And we're not really late, people are still mingling. Let's see if I can introduce you to someone you haven't met yet... ah, yes, there's Chadwick, lurking in a corner." As she led Amba and Helena over, Ness mentioned to her twin, "Chadwick's mother has been like a mother to me, so I suppose you can think of him as a brother you've never met. Ask him about his adventure this morning: he'll like that." Helena nodded. Clytemnestra swept up to Chadwick with a dazzling smile. "Good evening, Chad. I don't believe you've had the pleasure of meeting my sister Helena Ishtar Barimen. And this is her companion, Amba of House Heldt. Ladies, may I present Chadwick Thargood, the son of dear Aunt Florimel." "Pleased to meet you, " Helena told him, bowing slightly. Amba inclined her head in his direction. "Nice to meet you, Chadwick," she said cheerily. "A pleasure, ladies," he said, adding a shallow bow of his own to match Helena's. "Are you enjoying yourselves? Mother works so hard on these events, and she does love knowing that they're appreciated." "It's hard to tell since we've only just arrived," Helena replied with the hint of a smile. "I'm certain it will be lovely and we'll be sure to show our appreciation to your mother. "I heard that you had some sort of adventure this morning. Would you care to tell us the story?" Chadwick blushed, "it was not really all that much of an adventure, more of an encounter. Someone tried to assassinate the King. Unfortunately, I was taken completely by surprise and didn't know what to do until an explosion caused nearby buildings to catch fire. We can't have the citizens of Amber dying! I organized a bucket brigade, searched the buildings ahead of the flames, and... well, everyone seemed to think it was grand. Anyone, really, could've done it." "If anyone could have done it," Amba replied, "then why didn't they?" She smiled, and shook her head, a slight motion designed not to move her dangling earrings. "I'd agree with the assertion that you are, indeed, a hero. And I'm sure the citizens whom you helped would agree." "We were all taken by surprise, Chad," Ness said.. "Amba's right, you're being far too modest." She leaned over so only Chad could hear and added, "Besides, it was my understanding that your 'encounter' happened before you left the Queen." For a small fraction of time, he looked confusedly at Amba until slow understanding was accompanied by the rising fire of embarrassment. His blush deepened so that anyone looking at him could almost feel the heat. "I... well," he gave an awkward smile, trying to regain composure. He swallowed. "Uh, they, um, were all attempting to aid the king. Secure the, um, area," he winced as he spoke the word, feeling naughty and trying to hide from his mother without looking like he was hiding. "A very challenging task." At this point a deep, low gong sounded - drawing their attention to the door. (continued in Processing to Dinner Introduction) |
