Chapter 6 – The Martial Clash of Silverware
Lord Fop seethed. His children were failing miserably. Lady Minavolova's second youngest daughter had had last year's Marine sacrifice eating her out of hand by the time dinner started; yet the Captain and his baggage didn't appear to be even slightly frazzled.
Lucky for his offspring, they would have another chance. He'd made sure of it. Lord Fop put on the appropriate contrite expression and began his lament.
"We've had a confusion with the seating arrangements," Lord Fop said apologetically. "Now we weren't expecting you to bring a guest, Captain – "
"It said 'And Guest' on the invitation," Smoker reminded the lord pointedly.
"Yes, of course, Captain Smoker, but that's courtesy. There usually isn't anyone for a Marine to bring." Lord Fop smiled brightly at the baggage. "How lucky for us that you were able to have your charming, young Sergeant Major accompany you. In any case, we didn't consider her when deciding the place settings – "
Of course. Why would they consider me? Tashigi thought.
"- so unfortunately you won't be able to sit together. I have taken the liberty of placing you next to my daughter and the Sergeant Major next to my son since you have already met them."
"Where's that Georgetta sitting?" Smoker asked suddenly.
Lord Fop cursed inside. When had that minx gotten near the captain? "You wish to sit by Miss Georgettalee?"
"No. Definitely not. I'm fine sitting next to your daughter."
"Sir?" Tashigi goggled.
Chrissiania looked at Tashigi, as smug as a cat, as she led her captain away. He wanted to be with the viper?
Merrick offered his arm to Tashigi and smiled. "Let me escort you to your seat."
Tashigi was thankful for the arm to lean on. Her world was upside and she needed all the support she could get. Captain Smoker had fallen for the trap set by the aristocrats. Perhaps even now his mind was fogged by the wretched perfume the harpies bathed in. Oh, sir, what ever happened to justice? she thought miserably.
Smoker, completely unaware of the internal suffering of his sergeant major, congratulated himself on his fool-proof plan. They'd only be able to put one debutante near him if the kid was sitting on his other side.
Dinner…
"Don't you adore Vingaardian wines? The bouquet, the slightly fruitiness, emphasized by the dry aftertaste – exquisite." Merrick swirled his wineglass to better admire the color.
Tashigi nodded politely. If there is a god in heaven, please strike me down, she thought. Who cared about wine? Her captain was being brainwashed!
"The whites garner all the attention, but I don't believe anything should be held against the reds. They are superb."
Tashigi forced a smile. I don't hold anything against the wine, except that it has spawned a conversation so boring that I want to stab myself to death with my shrimp fork.
"They are quite unappreciated these days, but due to the weak berii, I do believe they will overtake the market."
I think silence is unappreciated these days.
"Would you like some more?" Merrick asked, already gesturing for the wine steward.
It's the only way to blunt the dull throb of monotony. "Yes, please."
At the other end of the dining table…
The enemy had made its move, using the divide and conquer tactic, but it would take more than separating him from Tashigi to throw him into confusion.
Smoker glared at the array of silverware in front of him. The utensils on the other hand…
The girl was prattling on and on. Smoker tried to pay attention but there was something wrong with her eyes and it distracted him from whatever she was babbling about. He tried to ignore it. The other kids probably made fun of her for having a tic. There was no point in making her self-conscious about it.
The man across the table from him laughed loudly and asked, "Captain Smoker, someone told me that you're looking for pirates? Are we in any kind of danger?"
"No," Smoker replied curtly and refrained from adding, "We're ten miles inland, nitwit."
"Is your Marine base on an island nearby? You should visit Runess more often if it is," Chrissiania said.
Not for the position of Head Admiral would I come here willingly. "I don't think we'll be in this area again. We're on a mission right now."
Chrissiania got a wolfish look on her face. "Really? On average, how long would you say you're at sea for your missions?"
"Depends. Sometimes a good nine months." He stared at the food in front of him. A fine steak covered in god knows what; it was a crime.
"Excellent – I mean, you must really enjoy the ocean to spend all that time on it."
Smoker was about to reply when a hand reached from behind. He reacted like he was trained to do.
The wine steward's head crashed onto the table. Chrissiania gasped and all conversation in the room halted. Tashigi fought the urge to crawl under the table. It wouldn't be good if Headquarters heard about this…
"Jeffrey!" Lord Fop exclaimed. "Don't sneak up behind the Captain like that!"
Jeffrey suffered in silence while everyone glared at him, indicating that he was the one at fault and not the crazed Marine. His family had waited on the Fop family for generations; he could suffer another indignity in the name of good service.
"More wine, sir?" Jeffrey asked.
Smoker was impressed. The man hadn't dropped the bottle even though he'd been introduced to the table face first.
"Certainly," Smoker said, holding out his glass.
Tashigi cringed when she heard her boss add loudly, "Only this time – fill it to the top. Not halfway like you did the last time."
It was going to be a long evening. And they hadn't even gotten to the dancing yet.
