Empress Receives Visitors

Kaori Jo steps out of the acolytes' quarters which borders on the throne room. John, Ikki and the Empress are already there, awaiting petitioners.

"Myeong Mai be with you" _/||\_ Kaori says, with the usual bow.

John Sholakh bows back. "Myeong Mai be with you."

Baroness Touson grins.

Empress Yun-Hee: smiles slightly, then turns to John and quietly says. "Let her know to kneel on the cushions if she has a petition."

Kaori shakes her head. "Just hovering. Wondering who'll turn up to apply for positions, among other things."

A big, bearded young man comes down the stairs into the audience area. He looks around, clearly unsure of how he's supposed to proceed. "Uhm, hi, I'm here regarding the jailer position."

Empress Yun-Hee says,"Only one petitioner at a time."

Kaori steps back, clearing the way for the tall young man.

Rogal Vargos looks around a bit uncertainly. "Am I good to approach? I'm kinda new to this?"

Kaori smiles encouragingly, though her smile doesn't really count in context. "The jailor's position," she prompts. "It interests you?"

Rogal Vargos: "Yeah, so my brother, Ennios, mentioned y'all were looking for a jailer?"

"Ennios from the sushiya at the port?" Kaori asks to fill a pause that threatens to derail the application. "Majesty, you may remember him - the sushi chef." She looks from John to Ikki, hoping one of them will give the applicant his proper cues.

Baroness Touson grins at Rogal. "Would you please advance, then kneel on the cushion kneeling to the Empress. Then submit the petition to the Empress."

Kaori smiles at Ikki, who is learning imperial protocol at the same pace as all thenew imperial subjects.

He kneels as instructed.

Empress Yun-Hee: "State your name."

"I'm Rogal Vargos, ma'am."

Empress Yun-Hee frowns for a moment, looks away, looks back at the petitioner and finally looks at John.. "Father, give our visitor some help. Explain what he is to do."

John Sholakh clears his throat. "Please address her by her title..'Empress.'"

Rogal Vargos: "Oh shoot, sorry, I'm Rogal Vargos, Empress."

Empress Yun-Hee nds. "Tell me about yourself and why you are here today."

"Well I'm an Engineer, just graduated, from Roadie 5. I made a living back there bounty hunting. I'm here today about the open jailer position."

"Why should we consider you for the Jailer job?" Yun-Hee glances at John, who glances back.

Rogal Vargos says, "Well I've got years of experience dealing with criminals, assassins and full on marauders. Moreover I've hunted all of them successfully, I've only ever had one bounty slip though my fingers."

Empress Yun-Hee: turns to her Father John and says "Show Rogal the jail later, then I leave it to you whether we offer him the Job" and turns back to Rogal. "Ok, if my Father thinks you are the one for the job then we will hire you."

Rogal dips his head. "Very well, Empress."

Kaori blinks, having expected the young man to be subjected to more of an interview - but maybe that will come during the visit to the jail.

The expression on John's face suggests that he's impressed at the young man's qualifications, no doubt including his size. "I do think he will do for the position now."

The empress says, "If you are sure. It is your decision, Father."

" I do think he should be given a chance to prove himself."

Kaori blinks again. She hasn't picked up anything that argues against the decision, but she can't help but think of the wringer of interviews in her own past. Then she picks up on a thought from Yun Hee about the need for information on Roadie's black market, and realizes the young man may help with more imperial agendas than just the jail.

Baroness Touson looks at Rogal. "Do you know of any reason you should not be hired as Jailer?"

Rogal answers, " Only that i have a love for starship engines and would jump at the chance to transfer to the navy."

John says, "Then there might be some advancement for you."

Rogal nods. "Indeed, And thanks, I really appreciate the chance."

John Sholakh grins. "Then we will see how you do."

The former Empress's guard, Alice Illios, has appeared on the staircase. She comes down the steps and waits to be officially noticed.

Rogal asks, "Then am I dismissed for now?"

"Father, you may dismiss .Rogal."

John nods sharply at the young man. "You are dismissed, Thank you for your application."

As Rogal retreats up the stairs, Yun-Hee quietly says, "Maybe I should not call you Father in this setting?"

Kaori smothers a laugh. Alice smiles softly, protocol being a long-standing way of life for her.

John grins. "Well maybe you should call me Regent."

Yun-Hee smiles. "That it will be,,, I like that. Next petitioner, Regent."

John clears his throat and looks to Alice. "Are you here to petition for a position?"

Alice Illios bows respectfully. "Do i need to re-petition for the job I had under Hae Ri?"

Yun-Hee says, "Hi, Alice, you have the position. If you have any questions this is a good time."

John says, "I am glad you want to continue in your position with the Empress."

Baroness Touson is smiling. "I am pleased, too, Regent. Guardian Illios, I am happy to see you continue and maintain continuity in the palace."

Empress Yun-Hee says, "You will stand next to the pillars at the foot of the stairs to inspect those entering when we are accepting petitioners. Other times you will stand back and to the left of my throne, ready to strike anyone that reaches out to me when not invited to."

There's a long pause during which no petitioners appear. Kaori slips away into the meditation room, not entirely pleased with herself. Jenai Sung is there, cross-legged on the cushion at the front.

Kaori takes seiza stance on one of the cushions facing Jenai Sung. As the High Priestess is meditating, or seems to be, Kaori doesn't give the standard greeting, just bows, and then shifts into a meditation of her own.

She finds herself fretting a little over her failure to stay out of Yun Hee's head...as her telepathy becomes more reliable as an information-gathering tool, she's starting to hear more surface thought than she wants to, or should. And sometimes she DOES want to - it's even tougher to impose discipline then.

High Priestess Sung nods slowly, making no sound,

Kaori breathes carefully out, carefully in, and pulls her own thought back to meditation.

Some time later, Kaori emerges from the meditation room, carefully skirting the back of the throne area as another petitioner finally descends into the audience area. The newcomer sees her and smiles.

"Greetings!" says Rosedrop Rust, Regent of Gearhaven, who served as one of the ceremonial attendants at Yun-Hee's coronation. "We have met, have we not?" He bows in recognition.

Kaori bows politely. "Yes, we have. Myeong Mai be with you, Regent."

"Is there a line?" he asks,

Kaori glances at the seated group in the centre. "Not at the moment. I believe Alice Illios - the guard here - will let you know when you can go forward."

Alice says, "Hello, and no, you're the next in line. Please raise your arms so I can check for weapons."

RoseDrop Rust nods and complies.

Alice pats Lord Rust down, checking for contraband. Finding none, she says, "You may step forward and wait to be addressed."

Kaori steps into the doorway of her quarters, though she doesn't open it. Curiosity! But she manages to put a leash on her overactive telepathic reach this time.

John grins at RoseDrop. "Would you please advance, then kneel on the cushion, kneeling toward the Empress.Then submit your petition to the Empress."

RoseDrop Rust kneels and waits to be addressed.

Empress Yun-Hee says, "Nice to see you again. Please state your name then the reason you are here."

There's more movement on the stairs. A dark-clad woman comes down, politely stepping aside to wait as she sees Lord Rust kneeling before the Empress. She observes, accompanied by very quiet tapping and beeping sounds, right at the bottom edge of audibility. The source would be hard to determine but a keen sensitive hearing may notice them. More noticeable is the very large assortment of weaponry visible on her back, hips, thighs, forearms...

Alice Illios moves to fulfill her duty. "I am gonna need to see a Permit aaand you're gonna need to hand the weapons over."

The woman hands Alice 2 swords, 4 daggers, 3 stun grenades and a black box of mysterious design. She laughs, then looks away.

"Really..." Alice says.

Kaori sees the string of weapons being surrendered, and can't help but drop her mental shield to see if there's any hint of more. Before she connects, though, Alice asks, "Kaori, can you put these somewhere safe... for our guest to pick up when they leave?"

Kaori nods. "Yes, we can place them in the Acolyte's chamber until they are called for." She opens the door and stacks them inside.

"Arms out please." Alice starts a thorough pat-down, fully expecting to add to the stack.

"No tickling," the woman says.

Returning to her position in the middle of Alice's hunt, Kaori lets herself poke at the newcomer's mind again, and finds herself working to keep her face smooth. She's picking up nothing from the woman - nothing - not even the trace of emotion she would have picked up automatically when she was merely an untrained empath.

Alice carefully pats down the woman's sides, arms, waist, legs, ankles, etc. thoroughly, pulling out 2 more knives and 2 throwing spikes along the way.

The woman grins. "Just checking if how good you are...I will wait here quietly for now."

Alice says, "Please wait Just forward of the stairs and wait to be called." She places the 4 items on a pillar holding a potted plant.

Kaori dispassionately picks them up and sets them inside her room with the others. She re-takes her position just as Lord Rust, having formally introduced himself as Regent of Gearhaven, begins to state his purpose.

"Most High Empress. By your leave...I have come at the invitation of the High Priestess, with the hope of discussing commercial arrangements between our two domains."

Empress Yun-Hee smiles. "That is very good. I do want to expand our alliances and trade."

RoseDrop Rust: "I will take any instructions on how to arrange a delegation led by the Commander of Tannhauser Gate, Countess Justine. The High Priestess said she could discuss the arrangements with me."

"Yes, you may go to the High Priestess, She is meditating. Kaori show our guest how to find High Priestess Sung"

Kaori bows humbly and crosses to the other side of the floor. "This way, please, Lord Rust."

RoseDrop Rust stands and bows. "It is my pleasure to gaze upon the Empress once more."

Evidently Rust understands the traditional art of the courtier better than most members of the brand-new court in Shylzan! Empress Yun-Hee nods in acknowledgement, then smiles.

Kaori keeps her face impassive as she leads Rust the short distance to the meditation chamber door. She opens it. "HIgh Priestess, a guest for you - Lord Rosebud Rust." She steps aside and lets Lord Rust enter.

Rust kneels before the High Priestess and smiles his most open smile. "Hello, High Priestess."

Once more, High Priestess Sung nods quietly, making no sound.

Rust continues. "It is my hope we can be in contact to arrange the visit of a delegation from Gearhaven. Can we converse in the mind only? if not, we can remain silent until the meditation time is complete."

Kaori closes the meditation room door and re-positions herself nearby, between the door and Baronness Touson. She returns her focus to the dark-clad woman, trying and failing once more to pick up more than a blank where thoughts and feelings would normally be bleeding through. She keeps her eyes, though not her focus, on the empress.

"Should I return later?" the woman is asking. "I see it is getting late."

Alice says, "Just wait, you'll be called when the Empress is Ready."

The woman grins, apparently not at all discomfitted by the unexplained delay. "Yes, she needs to prepare for my visit."

John Sholakh grins back at her. "Would you please advance, then kneel on the cushion, toward the Empress. When the Empress instructs you to, name yourself, then submit the petition to the Empress."

The woman smiles and moves confidently to the cushion to kneel. Very quietly, she turns her eyes to the floor.

Empress Yun-Hee says, "State your name and reason for coming here."

"I am Zani, a well known bounty hunter. My associate who could not be here and I have over 200 cycles of bounty hunting experience. I am offering our services to the Empire."

As she continues to push gently at the blank space where Zani's thoughts should be, Kaori hears an odd buzz and realizes her head is starting to ache. It's harder to keep that dispassionate countenance, though she manages - but she also stops trying to find the person beneath Zani's apparent blankness. The headache eases, just a little.

Empress Yun-Hee looks over at the John. "Regent, if she is as good as she seems to claim we could use more bounty hunters. Check her out. Then add her to the list of bounty hunters that we can call on."

John is considering Zani's claims. "Yes, I think I will need to do some background checks."

Zani says, "Wish you well and much success Empress Yun-Hee. If you have no more questions, may I be excused?"

Empress Yun-Hee smiles. "Thank you Zani. You will work with the Regent for now. I don't have any more questions. You are dismissed."

Zani bows her head, then stands to go retrieve her weapons.

Kaori gathers her presence of mind enough to go around behind the throne area to her room and Zani's arms cache.

Alice says, "Kaori will bring your weapons to you outside."

Zani smiles, then walks up the stairs and out the front door.

Kaori blinks - it's a substantial armload she'll need to carry! Carefully, she gathers up each item, tucking some of the small ones in her long kimono sleeves and the swords under her arms, and taking a sai in each hand. She follows Zani outside, feeling more than a bit absurd.

Zani smiles with an evil hint. "Now my weapons. Hope you cleaned and sharpened them."

Kaori goes down six steps to the terrace, where Zani is waiting, and starts handing over pieces of hardware. Somehow she manages not to drop any. "I believe that's all," she says, pulling the last couple of throwing spikes out of her sleeve. "And I think they are quite sharp enough."

"Yes, I would not keep them if they were not. It is cruel to kill with a dull knife, you know."

"Yes," Kaori says readily. "I'm a farmer - or was. Butchery day is bad enough, without making the animals suffer."

"Yes, considering them animals does help. Maybe you know how it is being a bounty hunter."

Kaori shakes her head. "I haven't had a great deal of experience with bounty hunters."

Zani: smiles. A soft, barely distinguishable audio track seems to be playing - just at the edge of what can be heard, making the words seem almost to be thoughts. (Unity we seek, unity we seek, unity we see, unity we seek...)

The thin, thin noise aggravates Kaori's headache. She starts to rub her aching temples, but manages to transform the motion into a wai which she attaches to a bow. "May you find Unity in the Chaos," she says, a beat late but still the most natural comment for a Myeong Gai adherent at the end of any conversation.

"May you find Unity in the Chaos," Zani responds.

Kaori is tempted, strongly, to watch the bounty hunter go, but again does the more natural thing - turns to climb the steps back into the palace. She comes back down to the audience area, now rubbing her left temple openly. "That was - odd," she says.

Empress Yun-Hee stands and stretches. "This has been a long day. I am going to my room. May you find Unity in the Chaos." She bows at the others.

"Are you supposed to bow, Empress?" Kaori asks.

Yun-Hee says, "We can work on the protocol later. Alice, check the palace for unwanted guests and kick them out. I am getting some rest. We can work on the protocol later."

John also stands, turning to face Kaori and Alice. "Thank you, both of you, for your great work today."

Ikki Touson smiles. "Yes, thank you."

Kaori looks at Alice and John and Ikki as Yun-Hee's steps fade. "You may want to check that last visitor particularly carefully. Something - odd. That woman. I couldn't get any sense of her at all. I'm wondering about her visor - some sort of telepathic shield, maybe? Is there such a thing?" She rubs her left temple again. Then she massages both temples.

"That will be checked out." John watches her rub. "I do hope you are alright."

Kaori sighs. "Nothing a bit of medication can't fix. I don't get headaches often."

Ikki Touson yawns. "It is getting late. I do need to be going. May you find Unity in the Chaos."

Kaori closes her eyes, then opens them. "Me, too - pop a tablet, and then try to sleep it off. May you find Unity in the Chaos." She vanishes into her room.