Alterations of Tactics, P2

[m_k_tksa 0]

(This is not one of my best - but will give the crew at least some idea of what the floor plan is. Some of it is cut and pasted from the chatlog with a bit of embellishment. So in other words, it's a floor plan with a lotta other silly stuff thrown in for my amusement.)

 

 

Alterations of Tactics, Part 2

Daise'Erei'Riovs t'Ksa and tr'Aieme

 

“Elements. Could this place be any bigger?” Morgana stood apprehensively at the bottom of the grand stone stairs, staring upwards at the large marble building looming before them. The historic building, the Trapulerius, once housed the local assembly space until the local government outgrew the space and abandoned it for a more ‘modern’ architectural space over two hundred years earlier. With its stone pillar facade, domed glass rotunda, and marble steps, the building’s classical design lent itself well to some of the city’s most fashionable events.

 

Maec’s eyes also travel up the facade, “I'm sure it could be. Although I am na exactly sure how.”

 

“I think I'm going to vomit,” She inhaled slowly, pulling her outer cloak closer, as she started to climb the stairs.

 

“Just na on my shoes, Khera.” tr’Aieme followed behind her, carrying the ISD of their rinams’ evil plans. The Khiensa had fulfilled his role in securing a tour of the building from io of the event planner’s assistants prior to the next engagement. It had only cost him two tickets to the Vindolanda Orchestra fundraiser and the unfortunate distinction of having to wear his dress uniform on io of his precious evenings off. Io where he’d have much liked to have spent time with t’Ksa - alone.

 

“Oh Fire.”

 

“Oh Fire?” Maec stepped through the threshold and halted behind the Daise’Maenak who seemed frozen in place. He whistled softly, “Looks like au's rinam is going after event of the season with this place.”

 

As she skirted the edge of the large rotunda, Morgana cast a glance to Maec behind her, “Are au sure we can na just elope?”

 

“I think we've both agreed, it's too late now. What do au think about it, if it was na to be the site of our impending doom?” he flashed a lopsided smile at her from the other side of the marble column.

 

t’Ksa looked coyly at him, then at the building's ceiling, “It's beautiful. The architecture is fantastic. Do au na think?” She stopped short of batting her eyelashes at him as she realized she sounded more like she was flirting with him instead of fulfilling their mission.

 

“So....” the Khiensa held the artist rendition...aka his sister's...vision before them, “What would au change?”

 

“Is that really where they want to put the scroll signing ceremony?” Morgana looked over his shoulder to the animation on the ISD.

 

“Apparently so. And over there, the reception dinner.” He motioned to the doors where presumably the banquet was located.

 

“And the waiting areas?”

 

“Over this direction, I believe.” The Khiensa strolled casually over. “See, through here.” He opened the door to a long corridor with several doors opening into it. “That one.” Maec looked at the map. “Is another conference room.”

 

“Or look an escape clause.” t’Ksa pointed to the exit.

 

“Hmmm...an escape clause. You're right.” He peeked out the exit, then flashed Morgana a wicked grin.

 

“Can I help au?”

 

The woman’s voice brought both the Kheinsa and the Maenak crashing back to reality. While Morgana smoothed her finest cloak down as per her assignment, the reticent bride-to-be, tr’Aieme turned to the young woman in the doorway and spoke. “Ah ie. I am Daise’Erei’Riov tr’Aieme. This is...” he paused offering Morgana an arm, “My sahe’lagge, the lovely t’Ksa, ” He said it with such gooey sentiment that t’Ksa had difficulty keeping a straight face. “We spoke to tr’Rehu about touring the facility.”

 

“Oh, ie.” the woman relaxed a fraction, curtsying slightly. Clothed in all black with just a touch of green fabric on her high collar, the woman blended well into the background so na to be noticed by the invitees “Etre tr’Rehu assigned me to be au’s guide before the event. I am Eviess.”

 

“Au’s house name?” Morgana asked about the omitted name as if she was more self-conscious about House and standing that she really was. tr’Aieme’s story to tr’Rehu was that while t’Ksa’s proxies had chosen the venue, it was t’Ksa’s approval that was needed to finalize the plans. It required t’Ksa to act like she was still formulating an opinion of the facility. She needed to be haughty and aloof at least initially. It was na an easy task for a Mhiessan girl who was used to saying what she thought when she thought i.

 

“Na important.” She smiled, motioning to the re of them. “May I take au’s cloaks before we get started.”

 

“Ah, ie,” tr’Aieme nodded. He turned to Morgana to assist her out of her outerwear. It was the first time he spied her manner of dress. The gown was a deep burgundy red with intricate gold embroidery along the sleeves, hem and drop shoulder collar. The fabric seemed to reflect and absorb the light at the same time. Around her neck was the hand blown glass and gold pendant that he gave her last year, resting just above the deep ‘v’ of her cleavage. He stared intently at her. It was na that he didn’t normally find the Maenak’s appearance as attractive. In fact, he liked her best when she presented herself as - herself. It was just that he’d never seen her in such an outfit and it left him momentarily speechless.

 

t’Ksa took note at the Kheinsa’s apparent entrancement of her outfit. Morgana looked at him oddly, then elbowed him. “Au need to give her the cloak, Maec.” She whispered, her eyebrows raised.

 

“Ie, of course,” the Khiensa recovered, hanging the garments over to the young woman before tucking Morgana’s arm in his. “So where shall we start?”

 

“This way, rekkhai,” Eviess motioned, leading them through a forty-five siuren tour of the facility, completely with historical commentary. To the south of the main rotunda was a two story wing containing the main ballroom, kitchen, refreshers and four smaller meeting spaces on the first floor, and a smaller ballroom and six other meeting rooms on the second floor. To the north, was another two story wing containing more conference rooms, and refreshers. The facility operations office was on the second floor of this wing. It was also in this wing that two rooms had been set aside for the Ksa and Aieme Houses use the day of the ceremony to prepare. The door that Morgana had been admiring had na been an escape path, but access to a large formal courtyard gardens.

 

“Why are we na using this as part of the event?” Morgana asked as they exited out onto the cobble stoned courtyard. The Daise’Maenak could tell that the Kheinsa was just as intrigued with the gardens as she was just by the way the muscles in his arm jumped and the way he craned his neck to see around the walled gardens.

 

Eviess answered, “Au’s representative felt it was na appropriate for the seriousness of the ceremony.”

 

“Can we have a moment, fhaen,” Morgana smiled slightly. Eviess bowed her head and left them to see to her other tasks. t’Ksa waited until she was sure they were alone before turning to Maec. “Well?”

 

“Well, what?” Maec raised a brow.

 

t’Ksa bit her lip before she answered. “If I could change io thing, I would move the scroll signing ceremony out here.” She swept an arm across the view of the garden.

 

“Au too?”

 

“Ie,” She grinned, following as Maec led the way to a pergola covered by a flowering vine near the center of the north wing wall. When they drew closer, she took note of the small water fountain anchored in the wall next to the bench seating. “I do na care of the banquet is indoors in the ballroom,” she waved a vague hand towards the south wing. “But I really like this. It suits us, do au na think?”

 

“There is access to north wing at either end of this wall,” he motioned, then turned to face the other wing. “Looks like the same access is available over there. So the guests can be invited to come out here, and then enter the ballroom afterwards. Those who do na wish to attend the ceremony, can go directly to the ballroom.” He looked around. “It looks large enough to hold the crowd our rinams have managed to invite, although I suspect that most will come to attend the party afterwards instead of the ceremony itself. And most of all it has--”

 

“Space,” Morgana completed his thought. “It is na closed in. I know how spacious that rotunda looks, but I feel constricted in there. This. This feels more natural. Ha, natural, outdoors. Of course it’s natural. But I think the point is I can tolerate a crowd here.” She looked around. “Or at least it will be less painful.” She smiled.

 

Maec’s eyebrows arched playfully, “Au think bonding with me will be--”

 

“Pardon me, rekkhai,” Eviess rematerialized nearby, interrupting their conversation. “But Etre tr’Rehu would like meeting au, Etre tr’Aieme, to thank au for au’s generous donation tonight.. Fhaen, if au do na mind,” She motioned back to the building entrance.

 

The two of them shared a look for a moment. A shared thought without words. Then Morgana grinned. “Go,” she patted his arm. “Come find me when au are done. I’ll talk to Eviess about our plans, ie?” She slipped the ISD out of his pocket, and kissed him on the cheek before turning her attention to the event planner. “Eviess, au seemed to be a very competent, trustworthy and intelligent woman, would au mind if au and I speak frankly--”

 

Then slowly, a new plan begin to emerge....

[KhreRiovtRex 0]

Oooo...sneaky, aren't au? Great log! Like the dress too!