"Zhouth, it was mostly meant in jest, but one's honeymoon is also where one tends to consummate their wedding vows as well, an event usually kept private in most cultures." Rayjay chuckled once more before asking the all-important question. "Speaking of marriage, would the ceremony be Drinaxian, Sword Worlder, or perhaps a mix of the two?" He said positing the question to the person whose opinion mattered most in such affairs, Ingrid's in this case.

"I assume Sword World, but that is the purview of the bride! Ingrid?"

"I told you, I wasn't asking about that!" Zhouth managed to mutter forcefully in response to Rayjaynul, doing a rapid thrice-chop with one hand. That was followed by a moment's pause, followed by his expression shifting to a slightly-traumatized one as the next words came out at an equally strained mumble. "And I really don't want to know about that."

Ingrid giggles gently. "They're just easing, Zhouth. I knew what you meant. And, while I am partial to the ceremonies of my own people, I confess I don't know much about Drinaxi wedding customs"

In reply to Ingrid Gustavdottir Sigar (msg # 72):

"Settled then, Sword Worlder style, after she tells me what that is. I was never married as a Drinaxi, so don't know them either, I left Drinax when I was 18 and never looked back."

He leaned in and kissed Ingrid softly on the lips.

"From secondhand experience Drinax wedding ceremonies aren't all that different from others, typically just grander in attendance, scale, and cost. The celebration after however is held in typical Drinax fashion, starting with a large feast accompanied by performances from every kind of entertainer that can be found, followed by a formal waltz and freeform ball, then gift giving, before the new couple head off to consummate their vows while the attendants and performers pair off to bless the wedding through time honored Drinaxian fertility rituals, usually under the same roof. Honestly, it's just an excuse for singles to pair up without the social stigma of bypassing courtship rituals, but every society needs a release." He said with a soft chuckle.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:28, Tue 14 Feb 2023.

Ingrid kissed back happily. "A feast and a ball, that sounds nice. Umm... how do you mean pair off?"

One of the servobots moves over to your table. She's holding a small statue in one hand and a pair of desert dishes in the other.

She sets the statuette between Ingrid and Tedddy and then a dish in front of each of them.

"Cheltra Dazere," she announces. "Compliments of Admiral Darokyn."

Teddy recognizes the desert as a traditional and expensive flambe wedding desert of Nobles in the Imperium. He has a vague notion that the statue is part of the fertility ritual that's supposed to go with the desert.

Normally, no one actually asks how expensive the desert is, but 10,000Cr is usually bandied about.

Teddy sets his drink on the table and turns and salutes the Admiral and then bows in thanks to him! He is very pleased and honored!

"We have been honored highly my dear, he just gave us a 10,000cr. wedding gift!"

Rajay can't help but chuckle at the presence of the statue. "I do believe the Admiral is wishing your house many healthy heirs Captain." He added before answering some of Ingrid's question. "You know, as young men and women often do." He said slying while chuckling some more.

"Many children Rayjay!" he says with a big smile on his face!

"Well, that or he's hoping to prank you by having the fire sprinklers go off over the table." Zhouth's smile even as he momentarily glanced toward the ceiling implied that this was probably a joke.

Of course, the Admiral was just showing off... a box of chocolates would have sufficed to get his point across... except, Zhouth can't quite figure out what that POINT is.

As far as they all knew, they are still flying under the Admiral's radar. This little social encounter hardly changes that--it'd be pointless for the Admiral to have pretended not to know McFarlane regardless how distant or tenuous that prior connection was. This is THEEV--that sort of stuff gets around somehow. There could very well be telepaths on Theev that are good at furrowing out secrets.

"Oh well. If it happens, it happens. Will you do the honors?" Zhouth concluded as he motioned (in a thankfully-controlled fashion) toward the two platters of combustible comestibles whilst looking at the robot server. "I don't have ignition tools handy."

The robo-server had just waited for a nod from Teddy to ignite the desert, paused a second, and then departed.

Nothing had exploded. The Silurian brandy on the desert quickly burnt off and left it ready to eat.

OOC: Note that this is strictly a role-playing situation. It's up to Teddy and Ingrid to decide if they think the desert tastes like it's 10,000Cr.

Teddy takes a spoon full of the desert when it is  ready, and feeds it to Ingrid, like feeding her wedding cake.

Ingrid gasped in delight at the expensive gift, although she blushed a little when she realized the fertility aspect. She learned in to kiss Theodore but also whispered to him "Something's not right. This is too much for the Admiral to do for someone he knows in a relatively minor way; he wants something"

"Or he's saying thank you for something," Zhouth added quietly with a casual smile as he swept up his glass to take another sip.

Ghent looked up, not having realized the implication of the gift. "A thank you..? For what?" Suddenly interested, Ghent's eyebrow raised a fraction as he instinctively reached for his pocket, then thought better of it. "You think...?" he said as he motioned to the pocket in which he was carrying Silverhand's arm fragments. "Damn. News travels damn fast in these here parts if so..."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:04, Sun 26 Feb 2023.

"It honestly could be any number of things, but given recent events it would be very unlikely that the two are not connected. Either case since we're all still alive and the dessert is delicious, then clearly the mission was a success. We are in the Admiral's good graces and can meet through more official channels with less anxiety." Rayjay said with a broad smile.

Ingrid shook her head. "I really think it means that he wants something." Although she certainly didn't argue against the idea that the dessert was delicious; she was really enjoying herself.

Ghent was wondering what the Admiral could possibly be signalling with the Sularian brandy flambé dessert. Did he mean he wanted a certain Sularian destroyed? His share of the credits for something? 10,000 wasn’t a subtle hint, perhaps he wanted allegiance or a tithe…


07:14, Today: Ghent Bel-Andis rolled 10 using 2d6+3 ((6,1)).

Zhouth shrugged and swirled his free hand once. "This probably isn't the best time to go into those details, you know? Just enjoy the dessert for now and maybe we can meet him later under business protocols."

And then Ghent put it into context!

It had been almost TOO subtle. The Admiral wasn't just devious, but damned clever. If Ingrid hadn't picked up on it, it'd be taken at face value. Only now he was starting to realize that nothing here on Theev was ever JUST at face value. Nuances, innuendos, smiles, penetrating gazes... there was always something going on behind, below, or beside what was really being said. Unless you knew your group pretty well.

The operative word here was Subtle. The Admiral might want something from one or more of the group, but there was never going to be a meeting about it--that wouldn't be subtle. To be sure, the Admiral would manage to convey the information... subtly.

Of course, that didn't mean the desired end would be subtle, just the means of getting there.

Just like right now. Somehow, the Admiral was watching them... to make sure they got the message... and were at least willing to consider saying 'yes'.

"Yes, I'm sure he definitely wants something, the question is what? I was never very good reading subtle."