Title: Trumpets and Fish
Author: Karina
Rating: PG
Pairing: Relena + Mrs. Darlian + Pagan
Notes: Challenge 187. Baby Series 4 #19. Takes place a short while after Oil, Cream and Lace.
Spoilers: None
Warnings:
Many thanks to ShenLong Deb for her work betaing this set of fics.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.
Title: Trumpets and Fish
From the balcony over looking the largest of the formal reception rooms Alice Darlian surveyed the gathering assemblage, flipping open her fan with a practised snap.
"The crème de la crème of Sancian society, I see."
Relena watched the assembled nobles, officials and guests take their places. It had been the initial intention that this first meeting between Milliardo and Chang's representatives be informal, but the Office of Protocol had protested. Relena had understood the reasoning, but watching the assembled gathering she could not dismiss the notion that someone had gone a touch overboard with the guest list.
They had arranged a festive reception take place later in the week, believing that the displaced colonists might require a day or three to better grasp their situation. Apparently their, as in Milliardo and herself, idea of informal and Parliament's were a little different. By the time they had realised just how elaborate this reception would be it was too late to tone it down. She understood Milliardo had strongly suggested the trumpeters get their highly polished trumpets out of his hearing. Any fanfares were to take place outside the palace or he would be in absentia.
She could not say that she was all that fond of her ear drums being blasted either.
"Lovely. A private meeting with refreshments afterwards would have been much more enjoyable."
"Such matters must be handled with a certain formality and flair." Pagan appeared at her side, inclining his head formally and it was all Relena could do not to vent a small shriek at his silent arrival. "It is rather more elaborate than I had wished, but one must not shame Mr. Chang before his people. Honour must be given where honour is due."
"Quite right, but did we have to have the peanut gallery in attendance? This is not a ball, Pagan. There will be no dancing, so why is every single… Oh no, silly me. My apologies. Of course the nobles and well heeled business concerns would take every opportunity to display the cream of female society to try to hook the biggest fish in the country."
Alice Darlian smirked behind her fan, eyes sparkling in amusement as she surveyed the gaggle of giggling geese being herded to their appropriate places below. Relena really was not amused by the hunt to wed her brother.
"Indeed, Miss Relena. Might I request Your Highness attend said 'fish' in the antechamber? The forest of hooks appears to have given him pause and I believe the Chang cavalcade has arrived at the estate gates. It would not do for the fish to run at this particular moment."
Relena dimpled, lips curved into a genuinely amused smile. "I will attend Milliardo immediately. Is Heero working all evening?"
"Until late, Miss Relena. My apologies, but he was the best suited to the task."
"And we all have our own work to do. I understand, Pagan. I hope to see him later."
End
Karina Robertson 2012