Masques and Mateys - Part 3
Posted on Thu Oct 22nd, 2020 @ 5:58pm by Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani
Mission:
Season 3: Episode 5: Shoreleave
Location: USS Elysium Holodeck
Timeline: Just before MD1 of "Know Thyself"
1674 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure
Previously in
The music ended with a little crescendo and the dancers bowed and curtsied. Hawke caught S'hib hand and kissed his knuckles. Don't be long, dear lady." He vanished into the throng, leaving S'hib alone. Ish. Several more potential suitors, none of them the governor, we're sliding through the crowd, intent on pinning him down for the next dance or three.
And now the continuation
Having a moment to breathe and think S'hib looked around, able to see over everyone else made this a somewhat trivial task, however, everyone could also see him. "I have the easy part..." He scoffed sarcastically as he scowled at those who were rapidly approaching, eager to outpace one another without actually running.
However, the governor was walking in the opposite direction, heading for the stairs to an open balcony that overlooked the garden, the man in black Miraj had pointed out was walking next to him, the pair in close conversation.
"Why do I get the impression those two are going to be the only ones Not interested in me..." S'hib snorted as he began to march forward, waving his hand dismissively to those approaching. "Not right now, I need a drink." He said, hoping to escape.
The dandies looked surprised at the brusque tone, and then practically fell over each other to find a waiter, leaving him with a clear path to the governor.
"Why didn't I lead with that earlier..." He frowned, finding the crowd parting as he strolled along, trying to not look like he was moving anywhere with any real purpose.
The governor and his companion had stopped on a stair landing halfway to the balcony, but they weren't looking at the party. Istead their heads were close together, talking in very hushed tones. Over the noise of the party, a human wouldn't have heard, but for a Sequus it was possible.
dont worry," the governor whispered, "I can take care of that. Hawke answers to me. But can you bring the likes of Thatch and Vane to heel?"
"All those wretched bastards care for is gold." The viscount replied, "And that I posess in abundance. My agents are already - "
"Lady Margo!" The Governor said, slightly too loudly as e spotted her approach. "Is the dance not to your liking? I can have a page escort you to the dining room if you would enjoy a change of pace?"
"Nonsense, I just needed some fresh air, gets awful hot wearing all of this..." S'hib remarked as he walked between the two men and straight to the balcony, breathing in a lungful of cold air and trying not to fall over the terrace.
Both men seemed vexed. The Governor looked over the crowd, looking for someone to distract her with. "May I make an introduction for you Lady Margot? Neville Harrington is said to like a dance?"
“Really? then why don't you go dance with him...” S’hib replied, turning his head slightly towards them both. “I can watch from up here and judge for myself.”
The two exchanged glances behind him, and he could feel the awkwardness, caught between wanting to continue their discussion, and insulting a lady. The governor rested his hands on the balcony, the signet ring plainly on his right ring finger. "If young Harrington is not to your liking, perhaps another? It feels like all the young bucks of Kingston are here tonight."
"I know, they're all rather boring... every one of them is feigning interest just to get a look at my undergarments," S'hib started as he turned and leant his rear on the balcony. "Except you two..." He said, tilting his head forward to look at them both.
The governor looked like he'd sucked a lemon. "What are you implying, madam?"
But De'Ath just smiled with delight. "My lady, you'll have to forgive me. If you felt such a desire to have me inspect your undergarments, you had but to ask."
Wrong one, S’hib thought as he screamed silently behind his mask. “Perhaps you can later on,” He hummed pleasantly as he clicked towards them both. “But first... I feel like putting on a show.” He said marching right up to the Governor and extending an up turned hand for him. “It is your party after all... You should come dance.”
The governor obviously wanted to glower at S'hib, but manners forbade it. "Madam, my dancing days are behind me."
"Governor, I won't take no for an answer... But if you won't dance I would appreciate your company for a short while." He said firmly, before tilting his head towards De'Ath. "That means you need to go." S'hib snorted, waving a hand in front of the Viscount's face as if he was no more important than the waiters.
De'Ath chuckled, "Shes obviously heard of your taste for widows, Sir Nicholas. How can I compete with such a legend? We will speak anon. Lady Margot." He nodded his farewel, and went on up the stairs.
Sir Nicholas, the governor, gestured with some exasperation to the dance floor, "After you, milady."
I should have her to scrub the bussard collectors clean for this, S’hib thought as he pranced down the stairs with the Governors hand and ring in tow. “Though shed probably enjoy it...” He muttered to himself as they neared the ground floor.
"Pardon, Lady Margot?" The governor asked, he caught the eye of the lead musician, and then the group played a chord to indicated dancers should take their place.
"Just thinking out loud, don't mind me... Come they're about to start the next dance." S'hib said as he marched through the crowd damn near dragging the Governor behind him.
Another group of ladies and gentleman gathered with them, and the band struck up another dance. The line was a good eight feet apart. The governor bowed to her, as the other men did down the line. The women curtsied. The men began, stepping in and out of the line and then crossed to their partners. Sir Nicholas offered his hand with all the cheer and grace of diarrhoea.
Id have more fun rolling around on the wet dunes of Treago than this, He thought as he took Sir Nicholas's hand in his own, mindful to wiggle the ring gently towards the end of his finger, a slow process to be sure. "I thought you said your dancing days were behind you, you've been telling fibs." S'hib lied, trying to feign a tone that did not convey how he actually felt.
Sir Nicholas lead her in a turn on the spot. "Compared to you I am a poor partner." He released her hand, and stepped back to his original position.
Got it, He snorted valiantly behind his mask in his native tongue, quickly stuffing the oversized ring inside one of the many frilly pockets that lined the fabric around his long legs.
The dancers to S'hib left approached each other, joined hands, and gently swung each other, and then the lady was passed to the mens line, and the man came to the ladies line. The new partner took S'hibs hand swung her to the head of the line. He carried on down the line of dancers until he and his partner were now at the bottom. Then the steps repeated and the governor approached again.
"I hope you weren't eyeing up that beautiful dear in red," S'hib teased, trying to throw off the Governor and keep his mind occupied. "Because she had her eye on you..." He hummed, taking his hand once more.
"Madam Rutherford has her eye on every man." The Governor pointed out. "I am no different."
He turned her and passed her off to the next man in line, and S'hib was turned and turned as he was passed down the line.
As he was moving, Miraj appeared on the edge of the dance floor, giving him two thumbs up against her stomach.
Miraj... He scowled, wanting to leap off the dance floor and throttle her as he continued prancing down the line of dancers, almost bumping into another as his eyes bore into her stupid grin.
She made subtle pointing gestures to the door, but S'hib was back opposite The Governor, and he was coming forward, reaching for her hand. "Your page boy seems agitated."
"You know I've been thinking of replacing him," S'hib said somewhat loudly, glancing over at Miraj. "Drives me up the wall sometimes, but my husband was fond him so I can't seem to find it in myself to get rid of him." He continued, rambling the first nonsense that came to mind.
Miraj started moving towards the exit, with more little pointing and jerking gestures. The governor stepped back, and for a few moments both he and Miraj were lost to view as a new partner took the sequus in a swing.
"Sentiment is understandable," the governor replied as they came together again, stepping around him, his own hand looking comically small in the sequus thick fingers. "But when mourning ends, its best to set that aside as well. I'm sure Madam Rutherford could find a place for him."
"Perhaps after dinner, you can introduce me to her." S'hib said as the dance came to a close, bowing low in front of the Governor.
"I don't think a lady of quality needs to meet Madam Rutherford." The governor bowed in turn. "It was a pleasure, my lady." His tone indicated otherwise.
"No, the pleasure was mine..." S'hib replied with a hint of honesty thrown into his otherwise dreary tone, as he stood up tall and rearranged his uncomfortable attire before marching off to find Miraj.
He got about six paces before his sharp ears caught the phrase "Brazen little thief!" come from the Governor, and then a cry of "Lady Margot!" Several of the Governors foot men started to come towards him.
To be Continued…
