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Agemegos · 12-09-2008, 05:04 PM

After his zeibekiko Bear is approached by a tall, pretty woman of about fifty, applauding quietly. She is sparely fleshed on a frame that it would be a calumny to call "lanky", though it would be easy to imagine that she was once described as "coltish". Her shoulders, cheeks, and brow are wide, her eyes brown and well-spaced, and foxy-red hair is piled on the top of her head in artful confusion. She is wearing a black lace robe belted with gold rope over a tight cloth-of gold romper, gold ball drops, and gold dancing shoes.

Lisa Hermeline

Nice zeibo! I'm Lisa.

Bear Karapyetchenko (with a slight bow)

I'm Dmitri Feodorovich, but call me "Bear".

Lisa Hermeline

Hullo Bear. You're new to the Service, I take it.

Bear Karapyetchenko

Yes, for the second time. Ahh! The uniform! I was at a formal dinner 'til an hour ago.

Lisa Hermeline

On Saturday night! What a disaster!

Bear Karapyetchenko

Yes, but it's not yet midnight, the night's still young.

Lisa Hermeline

But not so young that you wasted time getting changed.

Bear Karapyetchenko

I don't like to waste time.

Lisa nods in agreement, and puts her half-finished drink on a vacant table.

Lisa

"Life is fleeting." Do you foxtrot?

Bear

Yes.

Lisa

Quickstep?

Bear nods.

Lisa

Then come with me! My date has two left feet.

She takes him by the hand and leads him hurriedly towards the exit. A handsome young man with shaving-ad features and tousled black wavy hair glances at her startled, and she waves a frivolous goodbye.

Lisa (to Bear, sotto voce)

Classmate. He's been handy for a few months, but he can't quickstep.

They hurry to a large open mall with two mezzanines and a large skylight, pressed into service as a ballroom. The lights are twinkly, the music gay, and the champagne sweet and fizzy. About two hundred couples are dancing a polka, half as many people are chatting at tables, and despite the labours of the air-conditioning the space is redolent with the spicy, floral, and musky scents of sweating Imperials. Bear proves surprisingly light on his feet for a big man, and passes a couple of hours with polonaises, waltzes, and foxtrots: Lisa insists on claiming him from all three quicksteps.

About half past two the throng is starting to thin, and during a slow waltz Lisa explains that it is time for bed.

Lisa

I have a very strict rule. I never sleep with anyone except after three dates or within three hours of meeting. And we probably won't have time for three dates before I have to ship out. So: I'm going home now. Coming?

kern*kern*kern*kern*kern*

At breakfast the next day (about thirteen in the afternoon), Lisa explains that she has just finished a six month intensive legal workshop preparing to practice at the bar in the new Imperial district Criminal Courts.

Lisa

... rumour has it that the top third of the class will be assigned as clerks for the judges, so I've been trying to keep my exam marks within the bounds of reason. But the moots have been brutal.

Anyway, results come out tomorrow, and postings. Some time in the next three weeks I'll be packed off to a colony (to be announced) for five years as either Public Defender or Imperial Attorney.

Bear

Me too!

Lisa looks minutely startled.

Bear

Well, not as a barrister. I'm going to be Imperial Marshal or (more likely) deputy. I've been in the ICfJ detective's quickie course.

Lisa

Oh, nice! There's about four percent chance we'll end up on in the same place, and have a sure partner for a decent quickstep.

Bear

And there's our graduation ball tomorrow night. Like to come with me?

Lisa

Sorry, I'm going with my ex. But if you don't mind squiring a schoolgirl my daughter would love to come on your invitation.

Bear

Delighted.

Lisa

If the ball is unbearably stuffy we can leave Liselle with her father and get ourselves thrown out for tangoing in Imperial dress uniform.

12-09-2008, 05:04 PM	#9
Agemegos Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oz	Piraeus on a Saturday night After his zeibekiko Bear is approached by a tall, pretty woman of about fifty, applauding quietly. She is sparely fleshed on a frame that it would be a calumny to call "lanky", though it would be easy to imagine that she was once described as "coltish". Her shoulders, cheeks, and brow are wide, her eyes brown and well-spaced, and foxy-red hair is piled on the top of her head in artful confusion. She is wearing a black lace robe belted with gold rope over a tight cloth-of gold romper, gold ball drops, and gold dancing shoes. Lisa Hermeline Nice zeibo! I'm Lisa. Bear Karapyetchenko (with a slight bow) I'm Dmitri Feodorovich, but call me "Bear". Lisa Hermeline Hullo Bear. You're new to the Service, I take it. Bear Karapyetchenko Yes, for the second time. Ahh! The uniform! I was at a formal dinner 'til an hour ago. Lisa Hermeline On Saturday night! What a disaster! Bear Karapyetchenko Yes, but it's not yet midnight, the night's still young. Lisa Hermeline But not so young that you wasted time getting changed. Bear Karapyetchenko I don't like to waste time. Lisa nods in agreement, and puts her half-finished drink on a vacant table. Lisa "Life is fleeting." Do you foxtrot? Bear Yes. Lisa Quickstep? Bear nods. Lisa Then come with me! My date has two left feet. She takes him by the hand and leads him hurriedly towards the exit. A handsome young man with shaving-ad features and tousled black wavy hair glances at her startled, and she waves a frivolous goodbye. Lisa (to Bear, sotto voce) Classmate. He's been handy for a few months, but he can't quickstep. They hurry to a large open mall with two mezzanines and a large skylight, pressed into service as a ballroom. The lights are twinkly, the music gay, and the champagne sweet and fizzy. About two hundred couples are dancing a polka, half as many people are chatting at tables, and despite the labours of the air-conditioning the space is redolent with the spicy, floral, and musky scents of sweating Imperials. Bear proves surprisingly light on his feet for a big man, and passes a couple of hours with polonaises, waltzes, and foxtrots: Lisa insists on claiming him from all three quicksteps. About half past two the throng is starting to thin, and during a slow waltz Lisa explains that it is time for bed. Lisa I have a very strict rule. I never sleep with anyone except after three dates or within three hours of meeting. And we probably won't have time for three dates before I have to ship out. So: I'm going home now. Coming? kernkernkernkernkern* At breakfast the next day (about thirteen in the afternoon), Lisa explains that she has just finished a six month intensive legal workshop preparing to practice at the bar in the new Imperial district Criminal Courts. Lisa ... rumour has it that the top third of the class will be assigned as clerks for the judges, so I've been trying to keep my exam marks within the bounds of reason. But the moots have been brutal. Anyway, results come out tomorrow, and postings. Some time in the next three weeks I'll be packed off to a colony (to be announced) for five years as either Public Defender or Imperial Attorney. Bear Me too! Lisa looks minutely startled. Bear Well, not as a barrister. I'm going to be Imperial Marshal or (more likely) deputy. I've been in the ICfJ detective's quickie course. Lisa Oh, nice! There's about four percent chance we'll end up on in the same place, and have a sure partner for a decent quickstep. Bear And there's our graduation ball tomorrow night. Like to come with me? Lisa Sorry, I'm going with my ex. But if you don't mind squiring a schoolgirl my daughter would love to come on your invitation. Bear Delighted. Lisa If the ball is unbearably stuffy we can leave Liselle with her father and get ourselves thrown out for tangoing in Imperial dress uniform. __________________ Decay is inherent in all composite things. Nod head. Get treat. Last edited by Agemegos; 02-03-2009 at 09:25 PM.