Queen Anne's Revenge...ooc

[GageWilliams]

Stands up and walks back out, his visit over... just remembering.

 

[Niamh]

Sometimes time stands still

I feel as is we have been standing here on the stairs for ages, whispers Niamh to Thomasina the tuxedo cat, still mewling piteously from her basket. But this old house is so beautiful that I cannot bring myself to hurry through it. Look at the sea-views, Thomasina! Well...I guess you can't yet, but wait until we get upstairs to our room. Aaron says ours has a picture perfect vista of the sea. We'll be able to see any ships that come near the harbour. Maybe even whales.

She climbs a few steps further upwards, clutching her battered suitcase, the long tendrils of her hair unusually fluffy from the dampness in the cove. In her hand is the key with the head of a harbour seal upon it. The day is wearing on. She feels a bit peckish suddenly, and vows to come back downstairs as soon as she has straightened herself up a bit and changed into a less sandy-hemmed dress.

Wonder what they plan to serve for lunch, she whispers to Thomasina. I just know somehow that Caspai will have made us all something nice.

 

[caspai]

*Wandering back up from my bungalow, I wander around the outside of the Queen Anne, looking at the grounds and the building, and wondering if there isn't just the slightest chance that what I have in mind might work. Walking inside the door, I walk through the bar and over to a set of french windows similar to the ones in the library. Looking out the window, I see a large, flat area of grass, surrounded by tall willow trees, bright green with new spring leaves. You know, I think to myself, it just might work. I will have to give this some thought.*

 

[caspai]

*Opening the french doors, I walk out onto the lawn, measuring in my mind how big the area is. I walk over to the trees and look at them. They are big, old, strong. They look like they have been standing here for years and years. The long whispy willows brush the ground almost like the skirts of ballgowns worn by ladies of years gone by.*

*Turning, I look back at the Queen Anne, the big old building just waiting for love and laughter. She almost seems to smile at me. I return the smile.*

 

[Niamh]

Niamh comes downstairs again, having changed into a gypsy skirt of sandwashed silk with a loose blouse and a buckskin vest. She has settled Thomasina with a saucer of cream upstairs, and is free to explore the house at leisure. Walking through the great room, her boots make a hollow, echoing sound on the polished floor. She tries to imagine what the house will be like when it is full of people, all sharing laughter and love. With a wistful look on her face, she approaches the window and looks outside.

There are willow trees everywhere, surrounding a large green expanse. Each one is a delicate island of secrecy, the long trailing tendrils of lacy leaves enclosing a shady heart. With surprise, she notices that there is someone outside. Shading her eyes with her hand, she peers closer. Can it be? Yes! Caspai is here! And from the look of things, she has something on her mind. She is clearly planning something nice, for she is wearing a mysterious smile.

Grinning, Niamh knocks on the window, trying to get her friend's attention. When Caspai finally looks her way, she waves her hand gaily, as though to say "I made it! I'm finally here!"

 

[Swashbuckler]

Walking quietly back into the Queen's comon room, I get a rob roy and find a deep chair to lean back in. Propping my feet on the windowsil I loo out across the waves as the sun dips to the horizon in a flaming descent. Listening to the quiet still of the air, and the distant roar of the tide on the rocks.

 

[Ldy Tehari]

*Walking into the familiar place. Smiling warmly at Phillip and motioning him to bring in the boxes from the step. Going to the common room and looking around. Opening the curtains to the sea and watching the waves for a moment. Hearing phillip behind me putting down the boxes on a table. Smiling, moving over and opening one to pull out a huge bolt of bright red material and then yellow, burnt orange, cyan, all the colors of a desert sunset. Starting at one side of the room and with Phillips help putting up veils of the material. Opening another box to reveal fine egyptian perfume bottles, and trinkets from the Bazaar. Smiling and putting various toys on boxes. Decorating it til it shines with desert colors.*

 

[caspai]

Walking into the bar from the back of the Queen Anne, having just been in the kitchens watching the preparations for the food part of the party tonight, I smile a welcome to Ldy Tehari, and walk over to give her a hug.

Well, it looks like we have things well under way for your party tonight, love. I know you have lots of little details to deal with before the big event, so if you just tell me some of your ideas, I can get started on them, as well as some other things that I have up my sleeve for tonight. *smile*

 

[Ldy Tehari]

*hugging you warmly* Oooo I am soo excited! I don't know how Im going to contain myself at work.
Hmmm ideas... *eyes shinning wickedly and getting big*

I want the Oasis Bazaar! I want the color, the heat, the exotic, erotic, the smell of the warmth, and the excitement of dancers twirling in passionate dance.
I want You to arrange dinner because I Love the way you ~Cook~. And I want to make sure the liquor is as free as the women!
*turning around holding a bolt of tie dyed sunset orange and smiling*

Hows that for a start?

Ohh.. and I have to be getting if I'm goign to get ready myself in time to greet guests! *noticing the time*

*hugging you and kissing you warmly* You are such the best for this Cas.. I really do appreciate all that you do!
*kiss* and I gotta git!

 

[caspai]

Picking up the fabric and letting it run through my fingers, I smile.

It looks wonderful, and I think I can play with your ideas a bit. I will make some calls later and see what I can come up with. *smile* I hope lots of people show up.

Looking down at my watch, I smile at her and give her a gentle shove toward the door. You have things that you need to get done. Leave all of this to me, and I promise that you will have an Arabian dream by the time you get back here.

After one last hug, Ldy Tehari floats out the door and up the stairs to one of the rooms to make her own preparations.

 

[caspai]

As Ldy Tehari leaves, I turn and walk out of the bar, across the hall, and into my little cubby hole of an office picking up the phone and dialing. As I close the door to the office, you can just hear me say, "Yes, hello, I would like to talk to a man about a camel..."

 

[caspai]

Lots of phone calls and arrangements have been made, and I walk out to the bar again to sit down for a minute or two, sorting out my thoughts. As I do so, Philip brings me a morning cup of coffee and a croissant.

Thank you so much, Philip. I really do appreciate you, you know that? Looks like we are going to have a busy day here today.

He just smiles at me and walks away.

 

[rashid]

Ummmm

was there somneone here looking for a camel????????

I come in FRIENDSHIP bearing desert flowers for a desert flower. Where then, shall I put them? Oh, and let me know what to do with the dromedary ;-)

WHERE THE H E DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS IS THE PARTY?

 

[caspai]

*Laugh*

Hello, Rashid, and welcome to the Queen Anne for the first time. OMG, it has been a hell of a long time since I greeted anyone ANYWHERE! *laugh* I hope the ghosts don't come up and attack me.

The party, dear one, is tonight, and if you dare bring that camel into my nice clean home, I am going to have a fit! Seriously, I was thinking maybe the camel could go down to the cove. I was also thinking of arranging for a bonfire down there, as well as a tent for...well, that will become apparent later. *laugh* Can't let all of my plans come out at once, can I?

 

[caspai]

As I am speaking to Rashid, the service I had called earlier in the day arrived to start putting down a temporary dance floor just outside the french doors of the bar. Standing up, I walk over to the doors to watch their progress, opening the doors and standing back to see the effect that is being created. It is almost as if the room is being expanded in front of my eyes.

 

[caspai]

As I watch the dance floor forming, I hear a loud crash from the kitchen, followed by a great deal of yelling. No party ever goes completely smoothly...

Rashid, make yourself comfortable, or stroll around and check things out, whatever you want to do. It sounds like I have a problem to sort out in the kitchen.

So saying, I turn and rush in the general direction of the kitchen.

 

[caspai]

Walking out of the back kitchen door, I wander around the grounds for a few minutes. As I find my way to the front of the mansion, I see that a truck has pulled up in front of the Queen Anne, and lumber is being offloaded. The driver and one of the men turn as I approach them.

"Hey, lady, can you tell us where we are supposed to be? Someone called our boss today with the crazy idea of building a sandbox around a fountain. Can you think of anything crazier than that?"

Heaving a great sigh and telling myself that true genius is never truly appreciated within ones own lifetime, I smile sweetly.

"As a matter of fact, the crazy idea was mine. We are having a party here tonight, and I am hoping that lots of people will show up. It is to have a sort of Nights of Arabia kind of theme, and the lady the party is for would like to have a desert atmosphere. I thought that we could have you build the sandbox around the fountain in the garden to create a sort of desert oasis."

The looks that they gave each other told me everything that I needed to know. They thought, without a doubt, that I had lost my mind. Oh well, it wasn't the first time that people had thought that of me, and I seriously doubted it would be the last. I give them directions to the garden, and then go in to close and lock the doors leading to the library. The oasis idea was all fine and dandy, but I didn't want any sand ending up being tracked into the library.

 

[caspai]

Taking a route out of the library that led to the bar, I see that Philip has set up a long table along the side wall of the bar. It was laid with fine damask cloth and he was beginning to assemble the crystal, china, and silver necessary for the food that would be served. I smile at him as he begins to put tapered candles on flat surfaces. He knows how fond I am of candle light at parties.

Philip, has the nursery delivered those potted palms that I ordered earlier?

When he shakes his head, I sigh and walk toward my office once more, ready to start tracking down those potted palms. As I do so, the truck pulls up outside the front door, and I smile, walking out to direct the men to set the palms in various places. Some will go to the oasis in the garden, and some would be arranged in clumps next to the dance floor that is now waiting, fully assembled, just outside the bar.

 

[caspai]

After I have seen to the placement of the potted palms, I notice that the party rental place has arrived with the tent for the cove, and with the portable bar that I am going to have placed outside next to the dance floor. I direct the people to put the things where they need to be placed, and then go into the attic to rummage around, looking for some things that I had seen up there before, or at least thought I did. I call to Philip to ask the men building the sandbox in the garden if they would be willing to hang around a bit after they are done with that, as I have a few things that need lifting and carrying. He says that he will see to it, and I start to rummage through dark and dusty corners of the attic.

 

[caspai]

I sneeze as I come out of the attic, covered in dust and dirt smudges, but I am smiling, and dragging a canvas bag stuffed with great big silk pillows. They look as if they had once been cushions for a chouch or series of chairs, but now they are going to be used for another purpose.

Philip, if those men have finished with the frame for the sand box, would you have them go up and carry down the old carpets I found? They are just at the door of the attic, they won't miss them. I am going to go and see how the tent is going down in the cove. Also, a landscaper is going to be showing up with some clean, dry sand. Have him put it in the garden inside the frame around the fountain. Thank you.

Dragging the canvas bag of cushions behind me, I happily wander down to the cove, ready for a few minutes of relaxation.

 

[caspai]

Walking through the kitchen door, I see the bustle of activity still going on. The smells of the spices and cooking meat were mouth-watering. There would be more than enough food for the party. Hell, there would probably be enough left to be eating left-overs for a week! Oh well, it was far better to have too much than not enough.

Looking around the room, my eyes fall on the seemingly most exotic of all of the delicacies. There were large crystal bowls fililed about half way with dark red candied rose petals. Walking forward, I pick one up and place it on my tongue. As the sugar melts onto my tongue, the delicate flavor of the rose petal fills my mouth.

Sighing, I continue on into the bar. The bolts of cloth had been stratigically draped throughout the room, making it look mysterious, exotic. Some of the cloth has been used to drape over the tables scattered throughout the room, and each table has a small collection, sometimes three, sometimes four, candlesticks, each with a tall taper, and a small box of matches. The help that we had hired to circulate would make sure that when the candles burned down, new ones would be there to replace them.

Walking over to the box that Ldy Tehari had left, I find several incense censors, and some exotic smelling incense. I take these and scatter them throughout the room, here and there. I don't want the scent to be overpowering. After I dress, but before the guests arrive, I will come in and light the incense.

 

[caspai]

Walking out of the bar, I cross the hall and go into the office to quickly call the man with the camel. I thank him for agreeing to come, but tell him that it won't be necessary. Telling me that he would be happy for the night with his family, he then hangs up the phone, and I leave the office and walk out of the mansion, headed down toward my bungalow for some private time before the party starts tonight. With luck, and with enough people coming in to enjoy things, the party would be a success. For Ldy Tehari, I hoped that it would be.

 

[truthpurveyor]

knock knock

I hear there is to be a "guru" party in honor of Lady "T", Do I have the date and place correct in assumption that it is here?

I see a much different "face" here than before and also wonder what might be an appropriate gift, having known the "guest" for but a short time (but impressed with already).

Anyone?

 

[caspai]

Walking back into the Queen Anne, having taken a short nap and a quick bath, I smile a welcome to the person who has apparently come for the party.

Sorry that I wasn't here to welcome you. Lady T isn't going to be here for a while, but you are more than welcome to have a drink.

 

[caspai]

Realizing that some sort of time and space thing must have swollowed TruthPurveyor up, I shrug my shoulders and hope that he is able to eventually make his way back to the party. Walking behind the bar, I begin to count bottles and take some outside to the portable bar.