The Leonine Games [Afternoon 1]

[Cuyler Gray]

"It's very beautiful. And ,very busy." She said. "I am still trying yo decide how I will begin ny research."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Our shadow, I believe, knows that if we miss our assignation he can bring the hammer down."

"This place is... huge."

"Surprised anyone can find anything here."

"Hah! If his thinking is truly so economical then perhaps he has hope with me after all."

Personally Hadrian preferred Caladan's rural climes to the noise here. But navigate he did. And as he did he showed Laila how to do it too.

"It's not so bad once you know what to look for."

_____________________

Arriving at the balcony he gave a spirited greeting to everyone he knew.

"There you are Emcas! We were worried. Lady Grey! Doctor Vim! My, my, what a view, what a view!"

Hadrian took note of the testing happening to the force-fields with interest. The company gave him pause of course. Especially knowing exactly how Laila and Xard must feel about being pressed into the box with the Gesserits. But he continued wearing the mask fate had assigned - one of someone who should be exactly where he is. Even though he'd have so much preferred disappearing into the underworld instead.

[Laila Bridger]

All this nonsense just to watch a race?

Harmonthepi are weird.

[Kannon]

As on cue, the moment Laila and Hadrian reached the balcony, things already in motion started manifesting.

On the opposite side of the Oon, the Archon's ornithopter landed, having come through the Eye of Zephyros.

The Bene Gesserit ended their conversation. The younger rose and took a step toward the newcomers.

"I am Salomea, Strategos' bound concubine. I understand you are here at my daughter's behest?" She projected some bemusement, but then turned toward one of them right after. She seemed to have taken stock of them earlier. "Laila Bridger, is it not? Reverend Mother Cordana invites you to take a seat with her for the race."

Cordana was indeed looking at her. Her fingers moved ever so slightly, but just enough to flash a gesture Laila had been taught once, though she had not been using it in years.

Safe.

[Laila Bridger]

"I am Salomea, Strategos' bound concubine. I understand you are here at my daughter's behest?" She projected some bemusement, but then turned toward one of them right after. She seemed to have taken stock of them earlier. "Laila Bridger, is it not? Reverend Mother Cordana invites you to take a seat with her for the race."

Cordana was indeed looking at her. Her fingers moved ever so slightly, but just enough to flash a gesture Laila had been taught once, though she had not been using it in years.

Safe.

Pure, unadulterated terror warred with recognition.

Auntie- that failed Bene Gesserit who'd taught the girls of Prad Vidal's vanity project to be more than ornamental- had given that signal a time or two.
And while Auntie had lied about plenty, that signal had never been a lie. Too important.

With an apologetic glance to Hadrian,then Xard, then Cuyler, she moved to sit beside the Reverend Mother.

No way out but to face it. Like many things in her life to date.

[Nirilli]

Nirilli continued to quietly observe.

The Archon had arrived! Her eyes lingered on the opposite grandstand where she normally served.

And Lady Salomea was finished her private conversation, precisely as the Archon arrived, perhaps realizing it was a signal that the race could begin soon. The opportunity to approach her would be after she addressed these new guests, who were confirmed to be guests of her daughter. Known to the daughter but not the mother? Recent arrivals?

Lady Gray. Dr. Vim.

A Laila Bridger, who was of interest to the senior Bene Gesserit who was a superior even to Lady Salomea. And who was named Reverend Mother Cordana.

And a handsome man whose name no one had said.

[Kannon]

Cordana smiled without any visible subtext.

"Hello, Laila. We are in a cone of silence. Whatever we come to talk about in here will remain between us. Well, to be fair, unless Mother Superior directly inquires, but that is rather unlikely."

A short pause.

"You've read my little sign. I assumed Sister Lucia had taught you as much. And yes, it's not a lie on my part. You will hear no patronising here, no ultimatum. The only consequences you can carry out from here are the ones you choose to."

The woman adjusted her position in the seat.

"Usually, I'd inquire now. But I pass the first question to you."

[Laila Bridger]

"You've read my little sign. I assumed Sister Lucia had taught you as much. And yes, it's not a lie on my part. You will hear no patronising here, no ultimatum. The only consequences you can carry out from here are the ones you choose to."

The woman adjusted her position in the seat.

"Usually, I'd inquire now. But I pass the first question to you."

"I'm... I've read a little something. Wanna passed it to myself and one other. It's all well over my head, but..."

She shifted slightly.

"I was never thoughtful, Reverend Mother. Whatever training Auntie- we called her Auntie, she had us call her that- whatever training I got from her wasn't based on any real... merit. I was an aesthetic choice. My whole unit was. Girls young enough and fit enough and pretty enough to look good in House Vidal livery. And I know from what little I've had time to read, she left out so... so much. But that's not a question. I guess... I suppose my first question is, what choices have I got about... this... stuff. In my head. Which wasn't there before that Tleilaxu bastard shot me full of ailar."

[Cuyler Gray]

Cuyler watched Laila join the order Bene Gesserit . She was concerned, but Laila had been more accepting of the invitation than she would have expected.

Sge quickly redirected her attention to Salomea, dipping her head respectfully. "We are honored by your hospitality. I am Cuyler Gray, of chef and sommelier of House Mutelli. This is Planetologist Dr. Xard Vim."

[Hadrian Martikova]

Hadrian for his part bowed his head respectfully to Lady Salomea. If he was worried after Laila his face didn't betray it. After Cuyler spoke he added, "And my name is Hadrian Martikova, Caladanian vintner. Truly a pleasure my lady."

[Kannon]

Cuyler watched Laila join the order Bene Gesserit. She was concerned, but Laila had been more accepting of the invitation than she would have expected.

She quickly redirected her attention to Salomea, dipping her head respectfully. "We are honored by your hospitality. I am Cuyler Gray, of chef and sommelier of House Mutelli. This is Planetologist Dr. Xard Vim."

"We're glad to be hosting the retainers of House Corrino and House Mutelli." Salomea bowed her head slightly. "I suppose it is quite cogent of my daughter to entrust you both to my care. I oversee the gardens of Hypatea. They extend within another pyramid, the Areteion. You may have heard, they are quite a marvel. I suppose I can interest you both in what can be found within them. How about a visit once the sporting day is over?"

Noticing Xard's discomfort, she offered a charmingly reassuring smile. It didn't exactly work as intended. Or maybe it did work exactly as intended. She then turned toward Nirilli, as if on a sudden thought.

"I remember of your interest, Nirilli, but will you be at liberty to join us?"

And then Hadrian attracted her attention. Without much change to her disposition, she smiled.

"Likewise, Mr Martikova. There are vine varieties in the Heliophagos that may pique your interest if you are keen to join the garden exploration, but if you'd rather prefer to pursue your business concerns in Xenion during the time, it won't be held against you."

[Nirilli]

Nirilli listened carefully. She had all the names now, and some description of their roles.

A chef and sommelier. A vintner. That was interesting! Her role required a knowledge of food and drink, and what was both available, fashionable, and prized.

And a planetologist. He surely had all kinds of fascinating information.

She smiled to be acknowledged and invited. Even before providing the letter!

"Thank you, Lady Salomea. I am available to join, yes. Here, I have a letter for you from the Archon."

She presented the letter formally, extending it on the palm of her hand, with a bow of her frame.

[Kannon]

"I'm... I've read a little something. Wanna passed it to myself and one other. It's all well over my head, but..."

She shifted slightly.

"I was never thoughtful, Reverend Mother. Whatever training Auntie- we called her Auntie, she had us call her that- whatever training I got from her wasn't based on any real... merit. I was an aesthetic choice. My whole unit was. Girls young enough and fit enough and pretty enough to look good in House Vidal livery. And I know from what little I've had time to read, she left out so... so much. But that's not a question. I guess... I suppose my first question is, what choices have I got about... this... stuff. In my head. Which wasn't there before that Tleilaxu bastard shot me full of ailar."

There were elements of what Laila had said that made Cordana frown slightly in concern. She could almost pinpoint it on the word: Tleilaxu.

"Spectrum enhancers can change us, it is true. To tell you more I would need to know more. Before you decide how much you would like to share, however, let me clear one thing. You were never merely an aesthetic choice, Laila. We teach and learn to bring about growth from even the most inhospitable soil, like the hubris and vanity of a ruthless nobleman. Even if it takes much time for such growth to break out, we never consider it not worthwhile. Patience is one of our strengths."

She rolled her eyes at her own words a little, as if seeing some irony in repeating something that could be coming straight from the Azhar Book. It did serve the purpose of lining the conversation with a bit of levity.

"But I guess I could say that winging it is another. Sister Lucia you rather endearingly call Auntie was rogue... only to an extent. We have this concept, you see, of Sisters in extremis. Indulge me a little, please surmise what you think it could mean, and why we would allow it."

[Laila Bridger]

"Spectrum enhancers can change us, it is true. To tell you more I would need to know more. Before you decide how much you would like to share, however, let me clear one thing. You were never merely an aesthetic choice, Laila. We teach and learn to bring about growth from even the most inhospitable soil, like the hubris and vanity of a ruthless nobleman. Even if it takes much time for such growth to break out, we never consider it not worthwhile. Patience is one of our strengths."

She rolled her eyes at her own words a little, as if seeing some irony in repeating something that could be coming straight from the Azhar Book. It did serve the purpose of lining the conversation with a bit of levity.

"But I guess I could say that winging it is another. Sister Lucia you rather endearingly call Auntie was rogue... only to an extent. We have this concept, you see, of Sisters in extremis. Indulge me a little, please surmise what you think it could mean, and why we would allow it."

"Well. If you stay on the same road and follow it to its end, you'll never get anywhere new. So.... I'd say you tolerate a certain degree of.... divergence to see what comes of it. If they're formally on the outs, you can disavow the failures, and still claim credit for any successes as proof of methods bearing fruit."

Something in her memory, about how Laila and Kiran had both had training derived from sisters in extremis bubbled into her head.

"It also allows for Bene Gesserit teachings to take hold in places where an official presence might be tricky. Like in a jungle on a backwater world, or in the court of a nobleman who thinks he's being subtle."

[Cuyler Gray]

"The gardens sound wonderful. I would very much appreciate seeing them." Cuyler nodded.

[Kannon]

Xard nodded and mumbled something just as Salomea peaked up the letter. She needed only a glance inside, and he expression didn't change as she took it.

"It's settled then. Now, let's take our seats. The Archon has arrived, so we can expect the race to begin any moment now."

And indeed, Irene Ptolemaios was just taking her seat. The crowd started quieting down in tense anticipation, looking straight up to the top of the Oon.

[Sister Shinah]

Was it perhaps haughtiness that stayed Shinah's response? A malformed mental loop, a stray artifact of miseducation, that locked her thought process for a dangerous moment?

In any case, events moved on. Now that the private conversation had resolved, Shinah dutifully moved to shadow the Reverend Mother.

[Kannon]

"Well. If you stay on the same road and follow it to its end, you'll never get anywhere new. So.... I'd say you tolerate a certain degree of.... divergence to see what comes of it. If they're formally on the outs, you can disavow the failures, and still claim credit for any successes as proof of methods bearing fruit."

Something in her memory, about how Laila and Kiran had both had training derived from sisters in extremis bubbled into her head.

"It also allows for Bene Gesserit teachings to take hold in places where an official presence might be tricky. Like in a jungle on a backwater world, or in the court of a nobleman who thinks he's being subtle."

Cordana nodded, expressing shared understanding, a bit of a smirk at a near-quote from the Azhar Book.

"You are not wrong, and many a Proctor would accept just this. But I prefer to see it less cynically. On a more fundamental level, there's value in long-term planning and staying the course, and there is value in deviation, which can bring novelty and adaptability. I believe ours must be a winding road that in the end satisfies no overly principled soul. I often wonder, through Sisters in extremis, are we not hedging bets against the rowdiness of the universe?"

Laila could swear that Cordana... had genuine fun talking with her. There was some agenda, of course, but she didn't seem to be hell-bent on getting there, as if there was much to cherish on the way.

[Kannon]

Was it perhaps haughtiness that stayed Shinah's response? A malformed mental loop, a stray artifact of miseducation, that locked her thought process for a dangerous moment?

In any case, events moved on. Now that the private conversation had resolved, Shinah dutifully moved to shadow the Reverend Mother.

It was more than once a senior Sister appeared, the discursive landscape shifted. Salomea still communicated with Shinah, discretely conveying through fingers that Cordana wanted the time in the cone with a rogue adept called Laila and until that was concluded their attention should be at the other guests. The open offer to join them in the gardens afterwards stood as well, as did the readiness to bring Shinah to speed if she needed it.

[Sister Shinah]

Noting the gesture, though her hackles had been raised at the mention of a rogue, Shinah nevertheless changed course.

"Lady Salomea." Shinah said in greeting, her affect a bit flat. In some parts of her, she was distracted. "The gardens are quite impressive."