ProcessingToDinnerBleysAndPetraIndex | Time Under Chaos | Game Logs | Processing to Dinner Introduction | ProcessingToDinnerBleysAndPetra Processing to Dinner Bleys and PetraThe gong sounded again ... Merlin stepped forward, bowed low, and offered his arm to his aunt. She took it with a smile that could have cut steel, and they turned to process together out of the Star Chamber, along the Rose Corridor and into the State Dining Room (not as large as the Sate Banqueting Hall, but capable of holding up to fifty if needed). The Rose Corridor was a long corridor, empty of any people, and lined with windows on one side. The darkness made it impossible to see what it overlooked, but the entire passage, ceiling, wall and floor, were painted with elaborate representation of roses - golden, red, pink, white - which climbed and twisted their way over all the surfaces, vivid in the light of the candelabra that had been placed on the small tables stretching the length of the corridor. Bleys moved towards Petra, a half-smile on his sensuous lips. "Well, well, well," he drawled. "A very rare pleasure to see you in the company, my sweet niece." Bleys moved towards Petra, a half-smile on his sensuous lips. "Well, well, well," he drawled. "A very rare pleasure to see you in the company, my sweet niece." "If it isn't my favorite uncle," Petra all but purred. "And don't you look positively scrumptious this evening?" Bleys smiled. "Whereas you have contented yourself with a dress that two thirds of the men here would like nothing more than to strip slowly from your peerless form. I shall have to join the panting queue ... but I suspect I'll be some way down the line. Rumour has it you're aiming high." There was a look in his eye that might have been a warning. "You are such a tease, caro," Petra chided lightly as she took his arm. "If I thought you were in the least bit serious, I would move you to the top of the queue - post haste. Surely I could aim no higher then that. Alas, as you are not, I shall have to settle for something lesser then your scrumptious highness." She smiled. "But a girl can dream." "Your dreams, my sweet, have taken on most delicious reality in that boat of yours," Bleys returned. Then, more softly, he added, "I wonder if your nightmares have a comparable home." The line of Petra's jaw tightened ever so briefly, and golden eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise at the redhead. "I certainly hope not," she murmured. "That reality would be anything but." Then she gestured vaguely with her other hand and smiled as if it had not happened. "Ah, but, caro mio.... you should be there tomorrow night, si? Zarina will be performing, and //that// is a very delicious reality to behold." "I will be as delighted as ever to attend," he said smoothly. "You know how much Zarina's performances delight me. Reserve me a seat a little withdrawn where I may watch her without distracting the audience myself." Petra laughed merrily. "Is that even possible? But I shall give up my usual table for the attempt, and have Goran give anyone who tries to sit there the evil eye." |
