Dominion: A Tale of Wealth & Power

[DawnODay]

"And what about you, Piper?" Dawn asked as they passed through the Racine Avenue interchange. "Do you have anyone special right now?"

"Yes." Piper replied a bit too eagerly, making Dawn suspect her love-life was actually as barren as the rocks in the massive stome quarry off to their left, south of the freeway. Piper seemed a bit uncertain when she added: "He goes to UWM."

While Dawn pondered whether to challenge her claim, Piper changed the subject. "So... you're taking online courses in the fall? What're you studying?"

"I'm considering Women's Studies. After all, over the past year I have come to take a lot of pleasure in studying women." Dawn snickered, deciding to get more aggressive with her flirting. "And what forms have you studied, Piper? Have you done many nudes?"



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[Nubian_Legend]

http://i.imgur.com/mPrqhWv.jpg?1​

Getting to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin proved less trouble than the twenty-something professional initially expected. It was a straight shoot up from Illinois. Not once did he think his work would bring him all the way out to cheddarhead country. Most of his work up until then was big cities. Chicago, L.A., Atlanta, New York, that sort of thing. Admittedly, his knowledge of Wisconsin and its geography was a bit lacking, a range rover would have served him better but there was something about his beloved blue roadster that he couldn't go without. By all standards it was remarkable work of German principle engineering, and it was quite alluring on the senses. Ferrari, what? Maybe it wasn't quite as fast as a top of the line Ferrari, but it was the luxury supercar he always dreamed he'd own. Not bad for an upstart from Charleston, him nothing over his thoughts.

According to his Estimated time of Arrival, he should have been at his destination minutes ago. It didn't surprise him in the least that the voice app would go tight-lipped when he needed it the most. These were very influential private people after all in a mostly covert corner of wilderness. Well-sculptured wilderness but wilderness all the same.

"In 400 meters turn left to Dominion Estates, your destination is up ahead. " His automated google assistant finally chiming in, though unnecessary it were, he spied what looked like a Savannah-style red brick arrangement in the backdrop and some numerals. His blue beauty crept up along a stretch of sequestered road which was cropped by gates of sorts, and what else you might expect. Maurice letting down the frames of his convertible windows to listen to whoever was available, his car in idle pose.

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[PrincepsCyberius]

"Well, take me to someone who is in charge!" the intruder had the audacity to demand.

Before he could respond, Ian's phone beeped. He stepped back a pace and pulled it from his pocket.

"I guess you should take her and show Josephine what we've caught," Ian told Malcolm as he studied the screen. "I need to see who just pulled up to the front gate."

Backing away even further, Ian thumbed the flashing icon on his phone, then held it up to his mouth. It would transmit to the intercom at the gate.

"Hello," Ian said. "How might I help you?"

 

[Lordmikel]

“Well take me to someone who is in charge!”

"I guess you should take her and show Josephine what we've caught," Ian told Malcolm as he studied the screen.

Malcolm was about to say something else altogether about how there was no way he was taking her to see Josephine, but when Ian said to take her. He looked over at Ian, shrugged his shoulders. He still didn't like it, thought something was up with the girl.

"Walk." Said Malcolm forcefully. He walked behind her leading her back to the main house and where the breakfast people were all eating.

 

[MisterDark]

As he looked at her he spied the owner of said suit making a hasty bee line for the door. Oh no this wouldn't do. The man couldn't leave on an empty stomach. "Why Chauncey dear boy, leaving so soon," he called out. "Surely you must be hungry. Come and have breakfast with us all before you go."

He gave Karen a small devilish smile and sat back down again, getting stuck back into his own breakfast.

The sound of the Prince's voice stopped Chauncey in his tracks and made his blood run cold knowing he had failed to make his exit. He turned and for the first time took notice of the assemblage of those gathered in the dining area. There were a great many more than he had expected.

He gulped hard before speaking, "Why thank you My Lord," choosing to use the generic lest he begin the day by insulting Carl with the wrong title denoting his royalty. He let out a long breath, "but you see, I thought I would...." his eyes caught the Empress in her slightly open robe and the seemingly always nude servant, but then the he saw the young heiress, again in his suit. He knew he had no choice but to join those already there.

He made his way, "on second thought...." he started slowly, "maybe a spot of coffee and then I will be off....." he eyed Karen carefully as he made his way to an empty chair and did his best not to belie his nervousness. "Good morning all."

 

[Nubian_Legend]

After some time suspended idly at the gate, the intercom buzzed though and Maurice was addressed by what he thought was with the head of the property's security. He allowed his cars volume to come down to a more reasonable level, this way they could correspond without unnecessary blips throwing the conversation off.

"Yes...my name is Maurice Turner. I'm here about the guestroom arrangement. Can I meet with the lady or is she away at the moment? If so, can you let her know that I'm here. I'd appreciate that very much sir."

Maurice then turned, checking his wrist display. A compulsion of his, timing was a lawyers greatest asset, he'd become accustomed to managing his time on a dime, so waiting was something he didn't do a lot of, if any, not that he'd been waiting all that long, it was just his neurotic tendencies coming through. He started playing drummer on his steering wheel, while expecting a response from the other end.

 

[Rpkitten]

"I'm considering Women's Studies. After all, over the past year I have come to take a lot of pleasure in studying women."

Piper's cheeks turned another half-shade red. She no longer wondered if Dawn was flirting with her, that much was obvious, the question now was what to do about it. She would have to give serious thought to letting her employer know how inappropriate her chauffeur was. Dawn seemed nice enough, and she wouldn't want to cost her her job, but this was getting a little silly.

"And what forms have you studied, Piper? Have you done many nudes?"

"A few," Piper admitted but didn't elaborate on the details. "It's not like what you probably think," she prompted with a little laugh. "Nothing scandalous... the models wear bathing suits and you just fill in the blanks. Most of the time you just work off photographs as reference too, and not like tv and the movies where they lounge for hours in front of the class."

 

[DawnODay]

"Have you done many nudes?" Dawn asked Piper as they passed the Big Bend exit.

"A few," Piper replied vaguely, then laughed. "It's not like what you probably think... Nothing scandalous. The models wear bathing suits and you just fill in the blanks. Most of the time you just work off photographs as reference too, and not like TV and the movies where they lounge for hours in front of the class."

"No?" Dawn sighed. "That's disappointing."

After a moment, Dawn added. "I think I'd like to be done in the nude. Would you do it? I wouldn't have to bother with a bathing suit."



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[Rpkitten]

"I think I'd like to be done in the nude. Would you do it? I wouldn't have to bother with a bathing suit."

"Possibly," Piper answered after a beat of thought. Just flat-out telling the chauffeur 'no' was probably the smart answer, but she felt the need to remain professional. Art was her job, and she had the suspicion if she refused then Dawn would press her for reasons, which would just make the odd situation even more awkward.

"We'd have to have a good chat first to make sure I can deliver what you want. I'd need to know what medium you prefer, if it's for private use or to be a gift, how large, how and where you plan to display it... stuff like that. And a fee, obviously."

 

[PrincepsCyberius]

"Hello," Ian said into his phone. It would transmit to the intercom at the gate. "How might I help you?"

"Yes, my name is Maurice Turner" the voice came confidently, its richness diminished little through the tiny speaker. "I'm here about the guestroom arrangement. Can I meet with the lady or is she away at the moment? If so, can you let her know that I'm here. I'd appreciate that very much, sir."

"'Guestroom arrangement'?" Ian replied. The visitor's name seemed familiar, but he could not remember where he had heard it before. "I think you may be confused. This is a private residence. There are several bed and breakfasts along this road, perhaps you thought this was one of them."

 

[DawnODay]

"I think I'd like to be done in the nude," Dawn suggested after they made it through the construction at the Mukwonago exit. "Would you do it? I wouldn't have to bother with a bathing suit."

"Possibly," Piper answered after a bit. "We'd have to have a good chat first to make sure I can deliver what you want. I'd need to know what medium you prefer, if it's for private use or to be a gift, how large, how and where you plan to display it... stuff like that. And a fee, obviously."

"Your fee, of course!" Dawn laughed. "Mt. Mary provides a fine education, I see. They've already taught you the most important skill for an artist!"

She chuckled again, then fell suddenly silent. Her voice changed, went a bit hoarse, as she continued. "As for the medium I'd prefer, have you ever worked in body paints? I mean, Piper, what artistic inspiration would you find if I was not your subject, but rather your canvas?"



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[KaseE]

"Good morning, Karen," Prince Carl Gustav greeted her with a slight bow. "I see that you are still going with your new style today. I must say it suits you very well."

Before she could reply, Carl looked past her shoulder and raised his voice slightly. "Why Chauncey, dear boy, leaving so soon? Surely you must be hungry. Come and have breakfast with us all before you go."

He gave Karen a small devilish smile and sat back down again. She retrieved her plate from the end of the table opposite Josephine and went to the buffet to fill it. She heard Chauncey behind her. "Why thank you, My Lord but, you see, I thought I would...."

His shoes clacked along the foyer tile, slowed, then stopped. "On second thought, maybe a spot of coffee and then I will be off."

Karen turned toward the room as Chauncey entered. He greeted them with: "Good morning, all."

"Good morning, Lover!" Karen replied immediately, her wicked smile revealing that she knew just how that acknowledgement would affect him. "But surely you should eat something. After the workout I gave you last night, you need to restore your strength."

 

[AmberStar]

"I guess you should take her and show Josephine what we've caught," Ian told Malcolm as he studied the screen.

Malcolm was about to say something else altogether about how there was no way he was taking her to see Josephine, but when Ian said to take her. He looked over at Ian, shrugged his shoulders. He still didn't like it, thought something was up with the girl.

"Walk." Said Malcolm forcefully. He walked behind her leading her back to the main house and where the breakfast people were all eating.


Well I guess it worked? I told myself as the older gent told Mr. Caffeine man to take me to this Josephine. Ahh! now we are getting somewhere I smile inward for the hyper man seemed to disagree by the look of his face. Something tells me that this man is going to be my shadow the whole time I am here. I shiver at the thought of him boring his eyes into me with every move I make.

"OKAY ! I'm walking, Don't have a cow!" I could never get the Yank's meaning on this saying but hey it sounded good, so I used it. "If I may! you might want to go to Decaf... Just saying." I smile at the hyper man. Nodding to the quite one as we pass him.

"So any pit stops on this adventure. For I really do have to go to the Ladies room." I ask trying to make it sound urgent... Yes, I know I will never learn my lesson, but hey its fun!

 

[CeriseBuss]

Chrissy drove her Chili Red Mini Cooper S Convertible down the secluded road to the manor. Her trip home -- no, not home, Dominion was now home -- her trip to Wind Point to visit her parents had lasted just a week, as usual, but had seemed an eternity, as usual. She loved them, of course, and even enjoyed their company, but how many hands of Rummy, rubbers of Bridge, games of Cribbage, or rounds of Sheepshead can a person play before it causes permanent brain damage?

Then, of course, came the endless questions: How's the job going? Do you still like your boss? When will we get to see this fancy big estate you live on? Are you seeing anyone?

That last question always brought a slight smile to Chrissy's lips, given the way things happened at the manor. As for liking her boss, she honestly answered that she "loved" Josephine. Again, Chrissy would smile mysteriously and not add for her parents that she loved Josephine "every chance she got."

She licked her lips, anticipating the next time she would get to love Josephine, as she rounded the forested curve that brought the estate's entrance into sight. A blue Audi roadster with its top down waited at the gate. A nicely dressed man in the driver's seat faced to his left, speaking into the little box set into a red brick pillar that contained the intercom and a key pad. Chrissy did not recognize the man, so she pulled her car onto the gravel shoulder a few yards north of the driveway, in case he needed to back out and leave.

 

[MisterDark]

"Good morning, Lover!" Karen replied immediately, her wicked smile revealing that she knew just how that acknowledgement would affect him. "But surely you should eat something. After the workout I gave you last night, you need to restore your strength."

Chauncey's face turned nearly crimson at the revelation of the young heiress. He had been a bit uncertain upon entering the room, but now he was positively unsettled. "W-W-why.....I-I-I.....w-w-well you see....." he gulped hard in an effort to slow himself while hoping to come up with a plausible lie. "Ah y-y-yes....." he thought fast, gesticulating with his hand in the air, "the....the p-p-pool.....yes.....very invigorating...." his smile was nervous and ill at ease. "M-maybe a d-danish then......it's nice to see you again this morning.....er...." and then in a very hushed whisper that one need nearly have been on top of him to hear, "goddess....."

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Carl who had seen what Karen and Chauncey had been up to last night smiled. So she had actually taken the chap to bed. He didn't think the fellow had it in him but by the smile on her face he must be good for something.

"Why my dear Boy. Getting to enjoy the company of the newly appointed Heiress so soon. I am jealous. Then again I did have my fair share of company last night and it was superb so I guess I am not," he smiled at Mary.

He looked at Chauncey and then sighed. "But trying to hide it, Very poor form. You could be hurting the poor woman's feelings and that you should never do. Be proud that she enjoyed herself and acknowledge what you have done. We are all friends here."

 

[Nubian_Legend]

'Guestroom arrangement'?" Ian replied. The visitor's name seemed familiar, but he could not remember where he had heard it before. "I think you may be confused. This is a private residence. There are several bed and breakfasts along this road, perhaps you thought this was one of them."

Maurice's bottom lip tightened up some and his brow furrowed with an uncertain but collected expression as he hung onto the man's words with a professional discernment, his hand extending up stroking the silk black hairs on his full cropped beard, he began thinking carefully in his exchange with the man on the other end.

""Hmm...well, that does present a bit of an issue now. Doesn't it?

"I was told that lady Josephine was quite a generous hostess with a fondness for meeting new and interesting guests, it was my fault for assuming too much. You see, I've only talked to her once before, but a mutual friend of mine referred me to this address as a reliable rest source... if I were ever in town. It just so happens my work brings me here. I understand that you have certain duties to uphold. I won't get in the way of that.

You'll see more of me tonight, just turn to CNN, Fox, MSNBC, BBC or any of the local news stations." He gave a wave before resting his hands firm on the wheel, he glanced back into his rearview before backing out gradually.

 

[Lordmikel]

Malcolm heard the girl babble on and finally he looked at her, "Are you a fucking idiot or what?" He finally had to ask. He shook his head in absolute disbelief. The girl was high, demented or was putting on one of the greatest dumb acts he has ever seen.

The finally enter the main house, and Malcolm finds himself in the Grand Room. He points to one of the chairs, "Sit." He looks at her, "Personally I would simply call the police on you and have you spend the night in jail, luckily for you I need to know was the owner of the estate would like instead.

Course from here he couldn't see the dining room, and he hated the idea of wandering around with fruit loops here.

 

[MisterDark]

He looked at Chauncey and then sighed. "But trying to hide it, Very poor form. You could be hurting the poor woman's feelings and that you should never do. Be proud that she enjoyed herself and acknowledge what you have done. We are all friends here."

Chauncey surveyed the faces of those assembled nervously, specifically those of Josephine, Karen and the Prince. His cup clattered noisily on its saucer as he attempted to remain calm although his hands shook like a leaf hanging resolutely to a tree in the fall. "I-I-I n-n-never w-w-would......I-I-I m-m-mean wh-wh-what I meant to s-s-say....." slow down Chauncey old boy he reminded himself, "M-Miss C-C-Callingw-w-wood is a lovely young lady and m-most befitting her place as the Empress' heir."

He began to regain a bit of confidence, certain he was able to turn the conversation less his debaucherous acts of the previous evening with the heiress became more public knowledge, or worse, that the young woman would make further sport of him. "She is both delightful and lovely." Chauncey could feel himself sweat a bit under the gaze of Carl, but folded his shaking hands and sat politely as he waited to be served.

 

[AmberStar]

Malcolm heard the girl babble on and finally he looked at her, "Are you a fucking idiot or what?" He finally had to ask. He shook his head in absolute disbelief. The girl was high, demented or was putting on one of the greatest dumb acts he has ever seen.

The finally enter the main house, and Malcolm finds himself in the Grand Room. He points to one of the chairs, "Sit." He looks at her, "Personally I would simply call the police on you and have you spend the night in jail, luckily for you I need to know was the owner of the estate would like instead.

Course from here he couldn't see the dining room, and he hated the idea of wandering around with fruit loops here.

I have to bite my lip from laughing at this man. Such a ... Nah, he isn't worth my time. I walk to where he points and take a seat as instructed. I just hope the person they send to talk to me is a little less egoistical and can talk calmly.

I look around the room wondering what is really going to happen to me for trespassing as the quite one informed me. He, the quite one, was the one whom is in charge, that's why this umm man had to act all Billy bad ass and all just to put up a show for his boss, and well I guess try to put fear in me. If he had been like the Quiet one, then he would have succeeded. As they say the older you get the wiser you become… I have a long ways to go! I smile inward as I try to relieve my own fears…

 

[Rpkitten]

"As for the medium I'd prefer, have you ever worked in body paints? I mean, Piper, what artistic inspiration would you find if I was not your subject, but rather your canvas?"

"That would definitely cost you extra," Piper joked. "And I doubt you'd find it as rewarding as you might think. That style of painting isn't my area of expertise."

She paused once more to glance out the window and admire the passing landscape. "Did Josephine mention anything to you about what I'll be working on? My dean didn't know. She just said it'd be a fun weekend."

 

[PrincepsCyberius]

Ian rolled his eyes when the stranger at the gate claimed he'd appear on every news show tonight. He sounded like a delusional loon. He did, however, claim to have spoken with Josephine before and to share a mutual friend with her. Josephine had many extraordinary friends, ranging from the newsworthy to the loony. So, Ian realized, his employer might just welcome this man.

"Please wait for a moment," Ian requested. "I'll see if Ms. Czartoryski would like to see you."

He reentered the house through the kitchen and followed the sound of conversation into the dining room. Josephine, as always, sat at the head of the long table.

"Excuse me, Ma'am," Ian said as he stepped up to her. "There is a man named Maurice Turner at the gate. He seems to believe he is welcome to take up residence here while in town on business. Shall I send him away?"

 

[EmpressJosephine]

Lawyers and Other Annoyances



“Excuse me, Ma'am,” Ian said as he stepped up to the right side of Josephine’s chair. “There is a man named Maurice Turner at the gate. He seems to believe he is welcome to take up residence here while in town on business. Shall I send him away?”

“‘Maurice Turner’?” Josephine’s puzzled look cleared after a moment. “Oh! The lawyer. I’m sure he’s harmless. And he’s a friend of... um.... Well, I know he’s friends with somebody I know. It would not do to be inhospitable. Please let him in.”

She waited while Ian spoke into his phone and tapped its screen to open the front gate by remote control. Then she said, “And what about the intruder you reported, Ian. Did he get away?”

 

[Lordmikel]

Malcolm pulled out his phone and texted Ian. "In the large room with the divvy. Should I take to Josephine's office?"

He put his phone away, unsure how quickly Ian would text back as he patiently waited.

 

[DawnODay]

"Did Josephine mention anything to you about what I'll be working on?" Piper asked as they decelerated down the Exit 36 ramp. "My dean didn't know. She just said it'd be a fun weekend."

"I have no idea what Josephine has in mind for you," Dawn replied with an odd smirk. "But your dean is right. If Josephine's arranged it, it's going to be fun!"

Dawn paused as she turned the limousine left onto Highway 120 and started accelerating south, then spoke again. "What about you, Piper. What do you do for fun? Other than art, that is."



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