The Count, Walter, Kheaiftouaw and Samantha head for the private room that the Count arranged.

Although it's primarily intended as a party room, with a lot of bench seating along the walls, there is also a conference table set up in the middle with a dozen chairs around it. The chairs are a blend between lounge chair and office chair--sturdy swivel with high back and padded arms.

There is a self-serve bar just inside the door on the right, and the room has its own private freshers at the back.

Sound and lights are controlled from a panel behind the bar, and various effects can be selected. The dark-red pleather covered benches reflect the decor of the room: subdued.

It's clean, and at the moment, the lighting is set on ambient... not too dim, but no focus.

Count Cromwell walks in, makes sure that the glasses and scotch are properly placed on the table, turns to the staff member that guided us here, "There will be others coming, make sure they get here, also, please contact the head of security and ask him to come here, I need to talk to him or her. By the way, your name is?, I'd like to reward you for your time, attention, and performance..."

He does a quick (but casual) circle around the room, looking at the ambiance...moves over to the controls and sets them for a more work-like environment...

Turns back towards the others in the room, "I was never good at love-making lighting, except a few classics...(chuckles), those were good times..."

As those present sit, he walks around the table filling the glasses, being polite.

Then, he sits comfortably at the head of the table, not just by inclination but by an obviously natural thing, he's a man that's used to being in charge of things.

"And so, here we are, if there's anyone out in the bar that you might know, I'll have them sent for, as an example, there's a man I recognize from years ago...

"My name is Dreva, sir," the staff member replies to Darrel. "Well, in that case, can I get your autograph, Count Dooku?" she asks, referring to one of his roles.


A few minutes later, the security person shows up, escorting a man wrapped up in a robe.

"This gentleman says he knows you. Is he one of the ones you were talking about?"

<quote StarMaster>
"My name is Dreva, sir," the staff member replies to Darrel. "Well, in that case, can I get your autograph, Count Dooku?" she asks, referring to one of his roles.

"Dreva, that's a beautiful name, just as you are, thank you. Pulling out his stock of cards, depending on the movie roles..Ahh Count Dooku...
Pressing his thumb against the card to ensure it's value for her if she wants to sell it later..., makes sure she takes a picture of us together with the card for verification (of course this is flawlessly timed, having done this many, many times)

Gives her a heartfelt hug, "Thank you, without fans, I'm just a guy on the street."

Once he releases her, he leans in close, "Dreva, I can't contractually talk about it, but, I'm working on a role right now, top secret, and there's a bit of danger involved...(looks around) deep character insight, you know what I mean (takes her hand in his), "Everyone here knows this Ms. Blue, she's going to be in the back room at 8pm, I want you to tell her to meet us here.

Gives her a reassuring hands on shoulders and look, "You'll be fine, just make sure she understands, she comes to us, not us to her."

A few minutes later, the security person shows up, escorting a man wrapped up in a robe.

"This gentleman says he knows you. Is he one of the ones you were talking about?"

Count Cromwell stands and comes forward...Having seen so many faces, in so many places...and yet, this person stood out, the many years had past...

He turns to the security guard, although still unsure, "Yes, thank you, he's a friend of mine."

Waits until the guard is out of earshot...

"Sir, I know you but, I am at a loss..."

He says this at the same time he's offering this man a seat, and of course, a shot of scotch...
This message was last edited by the player at 04:24, Sun 31 Aug 2014.

Sam wandered into the room, and gave it a brief sweep - looking for exits, windows, and signs of security survellience - anything that she might need to know if an incident occurred.

And as the conversation with the staff member went on she realised why she recognised the guy - an actor

Khea eyed the group of strangers barging in suspiciously, but said nothing. They were Darrels problem, not hers.

In reply to Darrel Cromwell (msg # 5):

When the guard led Ikram through the open door, Sharik gave him a small shove forward. Now he stood inside the private meeting room, Sharik and a closed door behind him ... and a room full of strangers in front of him.

His career as a fighter pilot may have been mostly spent behind a desk, but he had learned enough of their tactics to know that this situation called for a direct assault.

Vonon checked his rig, as Ikram was seated and offered refreshment -- bright electric-blue shirt, with the ruffles at the neck and down the front, over his maroon trousers and comfortable gray sneakers with silver buckles at the top, the auburn hair of his pelt atop his head combed just so.

Vonon called up images of the last Grand Officers Ball he'd attended, cleared his throat, then spoke up with the Command Voice he was taught in the Patrol.

"Ladies and Gentlemen ... Kind Sophonts ... Grrzgarrezz*" Vonon said in a very official manner, "Dame Kaagira-Mepede."

Vonon swung aside, making a half-bow towards Sharik, and holding it -- and making no effort to hide the amused look on his face.


* = Grrzgarrezz: Vargr for "Members of The Pack I do not know personally", i.e., "Ladies and Gentlemen"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:20, Mon 01 Sept 2014.

As these new additions to the "private party" enters...

Count Cromwell stands and gives a polite bow, "Dame Kaagira-Mepede, a pleasure to meet you, please, grab a seat and enjoy the refreshments, sadly, not up to snuff, but, we must both tolerate..."

There is a pause after he stands, and then the Count moves forward the newcomers,

OOC:pauses for a moment, check "Dame Kaagira-Mepede", translator set for Vargr. Shiekerbox modulated

In Vargr to Vonon, "You are also welcome here, please take a seat. I'm glad to meet you."

Count Cromwell offers his hand as a salute.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Mon 01 Sept 2014.

In reply to Darrel Cromwell (msg # 9):

Vonon snapped to attention when the Count addressed him -- or, at least, when his squawkbox did -- in Vargr.

"Thank you, Excellence." Vonon snaps out in Imperial Anglic, "Commander Vonon..."

Vonon stops mid-sentence with a grimace that only shows a little teeth, then his entire body relaxes.

"Sorry, Excellence; just an old habit. I'm Vonon Ronkunu, late of Cassandra Belt's Space Patrol. I'm an old friend of both The Dame, here..." Vonon gestures at Sharik, "As well as the bearded wonder, over there..." he points at Ikram, the robed newcomer, "Who says he knows you, by the way."

Vonon tilts his head to the side and perks up his ears, looking at Darrel more closely.

"You do look familiar, actually. Ever spend any time in Cassanda Belt?"

Sharik smiled and curtsied to the Count, "Your Lordship, I am honored to make your acquaintance.  Thank you for receiving us."  She gestured to include herself as well as Vonon and Ikram.  The thin dilettante moved to grab a tumbler, not willing to refuse the hospitality of some brandy.

A slightly bemused smiled crossed her lips as Darrel and Vonon spoke to each other in what she presumed was Gvegh.  Her facility with the vargr language was just smattering; so, at best she understood every third or fourth word.  Well, or would have only understood a limited number of words.  If her translation software in her personal communicator hadn't kicked in.

She nodded, and though not seeking to interject into their conversation per se, merely reiterated Ikram's assertion with Vonon had given, while gesturing to encompass the newly mustered Imperial Marine, "Our associate felt compelled to seek you out.  Forgive us, if we are being impertinent."  There was no harm in giving the Count the ability to delay meeting with them until it was more convenient for him.

Shar elbowed her vargr companion gently, leaning in to inform him rather playfully, "Count Cromwell should look familiar, Vonon.  He's been in many vids, though that is all behind him now."  She took another sip, hoping that she hadn't spoken out of turn (again); Sharik dimly recalled the rumor that Cromwell had retired from acting - though the entertainment industry seemed like the Imperial Scout service of sorts, one never really retired from such work.

Then the brown-haired wisp of a girl, added cheerfully - almost nonchalantly, "Actually, My Lord, I believe that we have met previously."   She shrugged slightly, readily conceding, "Though it has likely been a decade or so.  And, I suspect that you made more of an impression on me than I would have upon you at that time..."  It was just the honest truth; as a count, Sharik would assume that Darrel would have met many more important people worth remembering than a lowly daughter of two landless knights as the hostess to a party.  "Perhaps you remember a soiree at a safari resort on my homeworld of Gaargir?" she prompted Darrel, in hopes of jogging his memory.

[OOC:  The 'Mepede' in Sharik's name is a variant of 'Mepade' ('Discoverer' in Vilani ( http://eaglestone.pocketempire...lani_Dictionary.html )) - which as the fifth or professional part of her Vilani name ( http://www.freelancetraveller....ustoms/vilnames.html ) mostly likely means she is a scout or field scientist of some sort.  And her entry in any of the public database would like show that she has dabbled in plenty of recreational activities (even grav cycle racing) for more than a decade during her current 'Grand Tour' of the subsector and that she has a service record in both the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service and the Imperial Navy prior to that.]

Khea stands a bit apart from the rest and watches, with some disdain, how the newcomers all prance around Darrel while waiting for her hand computer to translate the Vargr words.

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 12):

OOC: just a note, folks, with the exception of that one word at the beginning, there, Vonon has been speaking Imperial Anglic, with a slight, but distinct "growly" Vargr accent.  Only the Count has spoken a complete sentence in Gvegh, via his translator.

Walter waited as the others moved to be seated and for the Count to call the gathering to order as he appeared to be crunching some numbers. For those that have never meet him before, Walter appeared to be a stereotypical bureaucrat.