Part Forty-Six: Ilia's Request

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Miss Meglomania: Heya! Lol...I can't help thinking about poor Gaston's face-- that's gonna take some time to heal...
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "Helas, oui, ...pauvre enfant..."
Miss Meglomania: Aww, pauvre petit...
Lol-- (I know enough French from listening to Tim my coworker to get that, at least!)
Matrixrefugee197: Gaston tried covering up the bruise with some foundation make-up, but it still shows.... You can't fault him for being chivalrous...
Matrixrefugee197: G: "At least, in some way, I hope I've atoned for any offenses my father may have committed against her Ladyship."
Miss Meglomania: Yulia: "Oh, believe me, darling, his offense was attoned by her many years ago-- but you would not remember that."
Matrixrefugee197: ((Hm. how long ago was the Tickle-and-Slap incident?))
Miss Meglomania: When was the coronation?
Matrixrefugee197: About five years ago.
Miss Meglomania: That was then-- the Premier and First Lady of the EA were present at the coronation, as official business
Matrixrefugee197: G: "I think I recall that... I wasn't there when it happened, but I saw... the aftereffects... He was so embarrassed, but my mother told me he'd deserved it."
Miss Meglomania: Yulia: "Hmm...I wouldn't doubt it. Not to speak offensively of your father, of course, but I have never seen Nadira act in any manner like that, so I could only guess..." (internal: And I heard enough about it
afterwards from various parties to guess damn well!>
Matrixrefugee197: G: "I only found out about what happened from what my mother knew: he refused to discuss it... He wouldn't even let himself be seen for several days, until the swelling had gone down."
Matrixrefugee197: G: "I even think he avoided the fair sex for a week..."
Miss Meglomania: Yulia: "Interesting..."
((and let it be known that the 'incident' is the main reason Europa was not recognised as a legit governemnt by the Volkov administration-- MAAAN, was the Premier mad!!!))
Matrixrefugee197: ((Hm, I wonder if Gaston's attempt to help the Contessa just might seal the rift...))
Miss Meglomania: ((ear-witnesses later told of a RATHER loud argument in French, English, Russian and something else coming from behind the door of the regent's office...and how the Russian entourage had left two days early...))
Matrixrefugee197: ((That something else being the kind of non-syntactic language of snarls, snorts and roars which Hal in his various manifestions is known to emit, which Frank calls "Hallorish" ??))
Miss Meglomania: ((Most likely! And afterwards the Premier demanding that their belongings be packed-- thank you very much for inviting us, goodbye-- and leaving in a VERY sour mood while his wife just looked offended...))
Matrixrefugee197: ((LM: (internal: Don't any of you understand the meaning of the term polyamorist, haaaaannnnhhhh?????))
Miss Meglomania: ((Josef Volkov: "If this is your interpretation of 'politcal relations', Meroveque, I can personally assure that your government will be signing a dissolvant pact before you take down your inaguration banners. Do you
understand me?"))
Matrixrefugee197: ((LM: "Have you never lost control of your desires for a moment? Mon Dieu, I am only human..."))
Miss Meglomania: Josef: "Desires? Certainly I have, but never to another man's wife, and certainly not when she is the first lady of the Eastern Alliance! How dare you think I would stand for this for a single moment! You have offended not only my wife, but myself and by virtue my entire government. What the Hell were you thinking?!?"
Miss Meglomania: ((BTW, http://www.atpictures.com/giovanni/ is what Count Volkov looks like...))
Matrixrefugee197: ((LM: "Someone once said that God gave man a brain and a set of genitals, but not enough blood for them to work at once...Unfortunately, I am one of that sort...))
Matrixrefugee197: ((Ooh, he's cuuuuutte!!!!)))
Matrixrefugee197: ((A lot better looking than Le Mero's stand-in...)))
Miss Meglomania: ((The Contessa: "Yes...yes, he was."
Nitika: (trying not to giggle...hey, you just called her dad 'cute', it's kinda funny>))
Matrixrefugee197: ((Just MR's crazy observation... Ooh, great, Le Mero is glaring at me for saying the Count was better-looking....))
Miss Meglomania: ((Josef: "Be fortunate I am not a violent man, Meroveque, or that thing on your face would look like a papercut. If you are to remain in politics, I recommend having your doctor rerout your bloodflow so something like this does not happen again." (lol-- strong words for someone 20 years younger than Mero and only himself been in office 1 year...>))
Matrixrefugee197: LM: (would try baring his fangs, but his face is far too swollen to allow it... besides, he's known when to pick his fights...>
Miss Meglomania: Josef stands up abruptly. "I think our conversation is finished-- we will stay for the next day out of proprieties sake, but we leave in the morning. Good day, Meroveque." Strides off to the door, limping slightly
from the war wound in his leg, but showing great resolve on getting OUT of there...
Matrixrefugee197: Dagobert de Plantard (one of Le Mero's manservants>: "He does have a point, Mon Seigneur..."
LM: "YAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Miss Meglomania: Returns to the guest rooms, where Nadira is waiting...
Josef: "That liitle wormy, son of a-- (breaking into heavy Russian cursing>..."
Nadira: "Shh, shh, darling, please don't get so worked up-- it was nothing, a small incident, I took care of it..."
Josef: "Just the nerve of the man! God, I cannot stand politicians..."
Matrixrefugee197: At the time, Le Mero and the Queen Mother were sharing a room... guess who had to sleep on the couch in that room?
Miss Meglomania: Nadira smiles...reaches up and kisses him, lacing her arms behind his waist and looking up at him. "Hmm, them be fightin' words, Seffi..."Josef smiles back at her and pulls her closer: "I can understand why he did it,
though..."
Nadira: "Oh, shush (teasing> Don't make me clock YOU, too...are you okay? You don't look well."
Josef: "I'm okay, just...tired. Really tired-- sorry, I think I should lie down, that really took it out of me..."
Miss Meglomania: ((LOL at the couch!))
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "Mari, please, it's cold over here..."
M: "Not a word!!!"
Miss Meglomania: LOL!!
Matrixrefugee197: He'd even try sneaking into bed with her in the middle of the night and hiding down the bottom... but she found him and literally kicked him out!
Miss Meglomania: LOL!!!
((I'm just reminded of an editorial that came out after the Volkov-Rafi wedding, four years prior: "The bride and groom are the type who are so obviously in love that it either makes you want to cry or puke."-- they loved that so much they clipped the article out and put it on the fridge!))
Matrixrefugee197: What a study in contrasts...
Matrixrefugee197: ((Hm, a contrasting editiorial from an American newspaper referring to the de Meroveque couple, "The fact that a man as genuinely unsightly as the repulsive, skinny dwarf known as Herni Armand de Meroveque
could win the heart of a petite goddess like Marilyn Bowman should inspire scrawny computer geeks everywhere..."))
Miss Meglomania: Later that evening, Nadira teases him: "Anyway, who are you to complain about extramarital relations? As I recall, you WERE engaged to Lady Putin when we began to see each other..."
Josef: "Only on paper, Dira...anyway, it was not as if I were in a large public office at the time. There IS a difference."
Nadira: "I'll keep that in mind when I grow old and hideous and start hitting on younger men."
Josef: "Oh, PLEASE...anyway, you already have, I'm a month younger than you. You stinking cradle-robber."
Miss Meglomania: ((Lol at "giving hope"-- ah, and how compy geeks need it!))
Matrixrefugee197: Finally, Marilyn got tired of hearing her spouse's teeth chattering from the other side of the room and she let him come back to bed...
Miss Meglomania: Aww!
Matrixrefugee197: M: "Hal?"
LM: "Hm?"
M: "If you're freezing, you can come here to get warm... but keep your distance..."
LM: (gets up, tiptoes back to bed and slips under the covers... then spends the rest of the night digging his claws into the edge of the mattress!>
Miss Meglomania: Nadira and Josef keep warm in...ah, OTHER ways that night...afterwards just lying in each other's arms, talking...
Josef: "Dira-- what would you do if I died?"
Nadira: "I wouldn't let you die, Seffi."
Josef: "What if I were in a coma, and the doctor said, 'One more day'?"
Nadira: "I'd throw you in the ocean...shock therapy."
Josef: "Yesh, sure...you'd be strong and quiet so people would say how brave you were, and then someone else would come along, and let you cry on his shoulder and within a few months, you'd be over me. But it's okay, I'd be dead so I guess I wouldn't care."
Nadira: "Seffi?"
Josef: "Yeah?"
Nadira: "You aren't dead yet."
Matrixrefugee197: ((::Sniff!::>>
Miss Meglomania: ((About 3 or 4 months later the symptoms would start to appear, but for now it's just talk for them...
Nadira: "Go to sleep, Volchis, my big wolf...I'll wait for you and we'll go home."
Josef: "Goodnight, Dira..."
After he falls asleep, she just lies there, listening to him breathe...spending as long as she can in this simple silence...smiles to herself, this is all she wants in life, right now))
Matrixrefugee197: M: (internal: I shouldn't have tried getting the phone number of the goon who saved me from that auto wreck...>
Miss Meglomania: LOL-- one planet, different worlds...
Matrixrefugee197: LM: (Internal: I should have just walked past that car wreck....>
Miss Meglomania: Nadira: (internal: I should have left India sooner...but it doesn't matter now>
Josef: (internal: I shouldn't have let my grandmother engage me to that society ninny...not that it matters now>
Matrixrefugee197: Gaston: (internal: How does someone as gentle as me come to be the son of someone so lecherous??>
Miss Meglomania: Nooooo idea, Gaston...
Miss Meglomania: The next morning's departure is rather...stilted on the part of the Russians. A LOT more formal than when they came (the Count usually being a very jovial, warm guy...not this time!)
Matrixrefugee197: Le Mero is glaringly absent, claiming indisposition...
Miss Meglomania: Josef formally addresses Gaston: "Than you very much for inviting us, Your Majesty, and we hope that this year brings you the best of health and sucess. Your Majesty (addressing Marilyn>, thank you for gracing us with your presence. Do tell your husband goodbye for us, and that we are sorry for any...misunderstanding between our parties." (this last part said with a bit of an angry glare in his eyes)
Matrixrefugee197: Gaston manages some reply, trying to deflect attention away from the noticeable absence... He's only sixteen, so it ends up sounding awkward...
M: (attempting to smooth things over) "Thank you for joining us at this propitious moment... and may there be many more times more joyous than this."
Miss Meglomania: Josef smiles at her and nods. Nadira dips her head a little. "I am sure there will be. Good day, your Majesties." Then the couple turn and go into their waiting car, heading away
Matrixrefugee197: M: (later that afternooon> "Lambert, your conduct was utterly shameless..."
LM: "It's not my fault Volkov has such an attractive wife."
M: "You could at least have controlled yourself!"
Miss Meglomania: In the car, the couple bring up a video monitor, connecting them to Sobor Volkov so many miles away...
Josef: "Hello, Kitty! Is Niti there? We want to talk to her...there you are! Hello, sweetheart!-- yes, we're coming home early, we...ah, long story, doesn't matter..."
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "You might as well tell the wind not to blow."
Miss Meglomania: ((true dat!))
Matrixrefugee197: M: (contemplates having an affair just to see how he enjoys being cheated on... no, she can't scandalise their children...>
Miss Meglomania: Of course, the 'incident' was NOT talked about among the EA...but, gee, Europa's been around a few months/years now and still no official recognition...further meetings between the Premier and the Regent don't mention it, but on the Russian side, at least, the Incident is clearly NOT forgotten...
Matrixrefugee197: ((Hoping Gaston can fill in this rift...))
Miss Meglomania: ((Perhaps he can...admittedly the EA seemed to be warming up during the last year of the Volkov administration, but the last few meetings between Mero and the Premier had to be cancelled because "the Count has been temporarily indisposed"...))
Matrixrefugee197: The very fact that he's trying to protect the Contessa at all cost is proof enough that he's aware that something is wrong and he's trying to fix it..
Miss Meglomania: For which the Contessa is very greatful...perhaps when things have settled down a bit, the borders can be opened a little...
Matrixrefugee197: He actually comes to visit her that evening... although he's careful to sit so that she can't see the right side of his face...
Miss Meglomania: The Contessa is still in bed, sitting up though. She smiles, "Please come in, and forgive e for not rising, I am terribly tired at the moment."
Matrixrefugee197: G: "I think the feeling is mutual, though I have myself to blame for that." (almost joking>
Miss Meglomania: She smiles at him warmly. "I hope I did not hurt you too badly...I have read the official reports. I am sorry for referring to you as a spineless child, that was terribly out of turn."
Matrixrefugee197: G: "We were both excited and angry at the time; even the best people forget themselves at times like that... Please, be assured that the bruise looks worse than it feels."
Miss Meglomania: Her smile turns somewhat conspiritorial at that last bit from him. "I am glad to hear that...so, what is to come next?"
Matrixrefugee197: G: "We're still deliberating as to how we are to handle this case... I wanted to drop the charges immediately and simply ask for a statement from you apologizing for the incident... but then I wondered if we should rather try to stall for time, keep the World Court at bay, as it were, while we finalize your defense before that tribunal..."
Miss Meglomania: The Contessa: "I would...prefer the latter option. Tarnish my reputation though it may, it pales in comparison to the accusations lodged against me by my own government. And I want those accusations disposed of
quickly as possible, and so it is best to be well defended against them."
Matrixrefugee197: G: "We have every bit of evidence we need to defend you. The defense itself merely has to be prepared. As my father might say, the jewels have been collected and cut, they just need the proper setting."
Miss Meglomania: The Contessa: "How eloquent. Please confer with my solicitor, Mr. Valentin, on this matter-- I am afraid my training in law does not cover criminal cases. I do thank you for all your help on this matter-- I know our
governments have been at odds many years, and a lesser man would not care to do this."
Matrixrefugee197: G: "I'm not sure of my father's motives in pursuing this matter... but speaking for myself, I can't bear to see someone as noble as you being so blatantly and falsely accused of something so heinous... I'm sorry,
there I go sounding like the schoolboy that I still am..." (blushing a little>
Miss Meglomania: The Contessa smiles at him with an almost maternal air. "Your honesty is flattering, and refreshing in these times. Perhaps if circumstances were different, the wedge between our nation would never have been lodged in the first place." She pauses. "He always liked you, you know."
Matrixrefugee197: G: "Who, your husband?"
Miss Meglomania: She nods and closes her eyes. "Yes...he told me once that he saw great potential in you, that you had the markings of a great ruler and even better human being. I never quite saw it myself until now, but I am less a born politician than he." She smiles up at Gaston. "Forgive me for sounding like the vapid widow that I still am."
Matrixrefugee197: G: "No, you clearly loved him, and a love like that is something that becomes a part of your very being."
Miss Meglomania: She smiles. "I suppose so. Someday you'll understand, but please do not trouble yourself with it now when you're so young. Now, unless you've something further to say to me, I need a rest...thank you for coming to
see me."
Matrixrefugee197: G: (rising> "I should be allowing myself some rest as well: There's a lot of work to be done tomorrow."
Miss Meglomania: The Contessa: "Goodnight, Gaston. Thank you." Then closes her eyes and rests her head on the pillow
Matrixrefugee197: He steps out into the hallway, closing the door behind him. He leans his head against the door... Such a brave, devoted soul... His face throbs a little, reminding him of his injury... he heads back to his own rooms...
Miss Meglomania: Nitika crawls back into her mother's bed after awhile, nestling into her arms..."Mom, are you okay?"
The Contessa: "Of course, darling...just tired."
Nitika: "We can't GET tired, Mom..."
The Contessa: "I know, darling, I know-- please just let me rest..."
Matrixrefugee197: Gaston passes by his father's room... the door is ajar and he can hear voices, his father's lower, slightly gruff one and his mothers higher voice, sounding a bit concerned, even suspicious.
Matrixrefugee197: M: "Where are you going?"
LM: "Out... These walls are hemming me in... still..."
M:" *Where* are you going?"
LM: "Just to Club Strega... I'm meeting someone there..."
M: "Who is she?"
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "Correction, ma cher... who is *he*?"
M: (a sigh, somewhat relieved> "So the pendulum is swinging the other way?"
LM: "I'll be back in your arms by dawn, I promise."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika is comforted a little, but still concerned-- the only other time Mom's been like this is after Daddy died, when she locked herself in his bedroom for 4 days, then left on the train and didn't come back for nearly a
year...but she said she wasn't going to leave this time, right? She has to trust her...she is Mom, after all...
Matrixrefugee197: G: (Internal: Parental sexual dynamics, ayyyyyyyy.....>
Miss Meglomania: LOL!
Matrixrefugee197: ((Be it known that Marilyn has accepted the fact that her husband swings both ways... she just wishes she were the sole recipient of his attention when he's 'swung to the right', in their terminology.))
Matrixrefugee197: ((Just as Julien wishes his master would only have eyes for him when he's 'swung to the left'.))
Miss Meglomania: ((Lol-- ah, Mero, you heartbreaker you...))
Ilia gets ready in his own way-- dressing expensively yet casually, putting a little foundation on (hey, he's 20, he still occasionally gets zits ;-) )...brushes his hair, unbrushes it, takes a shot of vodka, cracks his knuckles and checks in the mirror-- looking good? Ooooooof course...
Matrixrefugee197: Le Mero has gotten a good running start of about an hour... No signs of either Castor or Pollux about, and Julien can be heard snuffling sadly behind his master's door...
Miss Meglomania: Ilia's fashionably late, of course...cruising Rome's backstreets in his Jag, just seeing and being seen, cranking up the CD player (Pink's "Get the Party Started" is stuck in my head right now ;-D ))
Matrixrefugee197: ((Little piece of info: 'strega' is the Italian word for 'vampire' or 'witch', derived from the Hungarian 'stregoi' meaning about the same...))
Miss Meglomania: I thought something like that-- I vaguely remember a story called Strega Nona about a witch in Italy
Matrixrefugee197: ((Though the word seems descended from the Latin 'strix', meaning a kind of demon in the form of an owl with a human head that attacks people in their sleep... usually sucking their blood or stealing children.))
Miss Meglomania: ((hmm-- sounds like a cozy joint!))
Miss Meglomania: Ilia finally finds a parking place (does NOT trust valets with his baby!), moseys up to the front of the line, saying a few words to the bouncer...bouncer let him in and he heads immediately to the bar, getting another shot of vodka...mutters an exchange to the bartender, passes some money and gets a vial of white power in return, which he pockets...
Matrixrefugee197: The place is as eerie as its name: it's a dark, cavernous basement-level joint with black metallic walls, lit with black lights and green laserlights, packed with people wearing an incredible amount of black/scarler/violet leather/latex/PVC...
Matrixrefugee197: Or precious little, as the case may be...
Miss Meglomania: Ilia glances at the bartender. "By any chance, has a very short man come in here recently? I am expecting someone."
Matrixrefugee197: Bartender: "You mean the Merovingian? You'll find him in the VIP lounge, on the balcony. I think he's waiting for you..."
Matrixrefugee197: A voice behind Ilia, which sounds like Castor's: "Yes, he is."
Miss Meglomania: Ilia smiles. "That would be the one. Thank you," he holds up the vial. "For everthing." Turns to Castor with a smile. "Hello, Castor. Did not expect to see you here."
Matrixrefugee197: Castor, who's standing behind him clad in a close-fitting black leather vest (with no shirt under it) over tight pants of the same, black wrist-protectors and a silver choker collar: (grinning> "He's been keepin' an
eye out for you while I case the joint lookin' for likely subjects... or in this case, you. Follow me."
Miss Meglomania: Ilia tilts his head a little: "Hm." But follows, scoping the place out at he does so...
Matrixrefugee197: Castor leads the way up a metal stair case to the balcony level which gives anyone up there a commanding view of the floor below....
Miss Meglomania: Ilia takes it all in coolly-- it's all about business right now, and from the looks of it business is about to boom
Matrixrefugee197: As small as he is, Le Meroveque, now seated on a divan clearly made for two, dominates the balcony, though he is already surrounded by a coterie of young folk of both sexes...
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "Ah, the guest of honor has arrived... Good evening, Ilia..." (pats the cushion beside him and moves over slightly, giving him more room>
Miss Meglomania: Ilia glances at the cushion and sits down elegantly. "Good evening..." ((lol-- imagines Bela Lugosi's 'good eveeeeening')) "I am glad to see you could make it. Charming place."
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "I hope it's not too... dark for your tastes... You've probably heard part of my interminable 'I'm more Gothic than you are...' argument with Mdme. Sweitz..."
Miss Meglomania: Ilia smiles thinly. "I was born in Transylvania-- feels like home."
Matrixrefugee197: LM: (chuckles> "Then I seem to have chosen the right spot. Must be the touch of the Oracle in me."
Miss Meglomania: Ilia (quieter> "Is there a place we can talk that is a little more...private? All these people around, not a good thing."
Matrixrefugee197: A trio of girls who look wierdly like Dracula's brides giggle at Ilia's comment (re: Transylvania)
Miss Meglomania: Ilia glances at them: "What?"
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "There's a restaraunt a few blocks from here where I know I can get us a private dining room... Castello's."
Miss Meglomania: Ilia: "Fine. Who'd driving?"
Matrixrefugee197: LM: (to the vampire girls> "Let him alone." (to Ilia> "Pay no attention to them: they're nothing more than posers."
Miss Meglomania: Ilia puzzles over the word 'posers', but lets it pass
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "It might be better if we went seperately... Too many eyes..."
Miss Meglomania: Ilia nods. "Naturally." Rises, gives a sultry Dracula glance towards the vampire girls, and heads away from the group...
Matrixrefugee197: One of the girls replies with a swoony sigh...
Matrixrefugee197: Castor rolls his eyes and growls with mock annoyance.
Miss Meglomania: Ilia smiles to himself and heads back down the stairs, glancing at Castor. "When you have got it..." smiles at him then heads towards the enterence
Matrixrefugee197: A moment or two later, Castor and Pollux (dressed exactly like his brother, though it doesn't look good on him for some odd reason) emerge, flanking a short figure in a ground-sweeping black cloak and a black fedora with a slouch brim... they head off into the shadows... a moment later, a black Mercedes pulls out of a side street...
Miss Meglomania: Gets his car drives down the street until he finds the restaurant and parks...lights a cigarette as he waits...okay, so he went a little (ie 50 miles) over the speed limit...one likes to get places in a timely manner...
Matrixrefugee197: The Mercedes pulls into a parking space about twenty meters away.... Castor and Pollux emerge from the front, Castor opening a rear door from which the figure in the black cloak emerges...
Miss Meglomania: Ilia glances at them, then takes one last drag and stomps his cigarette out on the sidewalk, waiting...
Matrixrefugee197: They pass by him, the figure in black glances at Ilia, tilting his head jsut enough so that Ilia gets a glimpse of that all-too-familiar rat-like profile...
Miss Meglomania: Ilia falls into step a few feet behind the party, turning the glass vial over and over in his pocket...DAMn he needs a hit, but it'll have to wait...
Matrixrefugee197: The restaurant is considerablly tamer compared to the club... panelled walls and a goffered ceiling, holo-candles in wall sconces... Le Mero speaks with the maitre'd for a moment...
Matrixrefugee197: LM: (glancing back at Ilia, tilts his head toward him>
Miss Meglomania: Ilia checks out the decor, then comes closer to Le Mero: "Yes?"
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "We're clear... come along."
A Mecha waiter approaches and escorts them down a staircase into what was clearly once a wine cellar, but which has been subdivided into several private dining rooms...
Matrixrefugee197: The room is elegantly furnished with a table set for two... and there's also a suspiciously wide couch with no back to it, covered with a red velvet spread...
Miss Meglomania: Ilia follows Mero into a room and sprawls himself elegantly on one of the chairs, glancing at Mero for a moment before speaking. "I am sure you are wondering why I asked to see you under these circumstances."
Matrixrefugee197: LM: (As Castor helps him out of that enveloping cloak> "I must admit... it has me curious... what could you possibly want from me after all that has happened in the past?"
Miss Meglomania: Ilia glances at Castor coolly. "A little privacy?"
Matrixrefugee197: C: "Suit yerself..." (steps out into the hallway, guarding the door>
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "He's good at keeping secrets. It's his brother you have to look out for."
Miss Meglomania: "I see." Ilia waits until he's out of the room and leans forward, lacing his finger together and arching them on the table. "The truth is, you have something I want, Meroveque."
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "Oh?"
Miss Meglomania: He pauses. "What I want is for my production of 'Caligari' to open at the Paris Opera House. The Kirov is fine and good, but nobody is going to drag their ass to Russia to see a ballet. Paris is...the epitome of culture,
it always will be. It is a dancer's dream to work there on that stage-- and it would be on that stage that I would become famous, not some bloody Russian theatre. But..." he smiles a bit. "I know cultural politics. There is no way in
Hell I, a relitive unknown, could get my production on that stage unless I had...help."
Miss Meglomania: Ilia's eyes become intense. "I am asking for your help."
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "To be honest, my wife is the cultured one in our family, the real patron of the arts; she has to drag me to the opera and the symphony..."
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "But... despite my fallen condition, I still have more influence with the Ministry of Culture than she does..."
Miss Meglomania: Ilia: "She may be cultured, but you control the purse strings. "(smile> "I have done my homework."
Matrixrefugee197: LM: "Indeed..." (returning the smile: this kid's done his homework....>
Miss Meglomania: Ilia looks at him unblinkingly. "So, of course with any business arrangement, we have to strike a deal. You get me on that stage and...?" he shrugs.