Lord Gilhime

"Lucky bastard, he has women of every age throwing themselves at him." Cameron said.

"Excuse me, since when did you want other women?" Sally demanded, "Especially younger ones and floozies throwing themselves at you." She crossed her arms and eyed him.

"You know you're the only one for me." He corrected wrapping an arm around her and smiling.

"Excuse me Miss Standish." Came a deep authoritative voice. Everyone suddenly became silent and looked extremely proper standing there. Ariel turned around and found Bernard Gilhime standing there. He held out his hand to her and still had the severe look about him.

"If you would join me for a moment." She felt rather shy all of a sudden which she had been able to ignore all night. She just gave a nod and took his offered hand and moved out onto the dance floor with him. She could see that his hard look wasn't exactly what was in his eyes.

They were still hard, and took in everything around him, yet there was a tiredness. When he looked at her, she felt like he saw a lot more than she wanted him to. He was proper and just moved with her and seemed to be thinking something.

"My daughter has decided that she likes you." He got right to the point. Clearly wasn't very happy with that.

"She is a very nice young woman, though perhaps rather sharp with her words at times." Ariel said.

"Victoria is a smart girl, and lately she has been feeling alienated and lonely. Someone who is smart and can read a person would see that easily. Easy enough to get her favor and think that they might get something by toying with her." That was presumptuous of him.

"That wasn't my intention I…" He cut her off continuing to talk. Clearly he was an over protective father.

"I know about you and your sister. I knew about your parents as well. They were very proud of Natasha and talked about her constantly, yet they never mentioned you. Most didn't even know you existence until right now."

"Natasha is my older sister, she and I are two very different people." Ariel defended softly moving with him. She only met his gaze a couple of times. "I wasn't looking to gain Victoria's favor for anything my Lord." She said with a more proper title and he was tight lipped.

"You and your sister want to buy the land to the south. Or rather the Ventos would prefer you buy it to keep Alectro from getting a direct path to their holdings. Which the Ventos run smoothly and effectively. Alectro runs his just as smoothly, yet his people are suffering. I don't have a stock in this planet, except for a few shipments of fruit that seems to grow well here."

"This is true. But I'm not sure the point you are making."

"My point is that I don't really care who owns what on this planet and what happens to it, so long as I get what I need for those that I manage. My holdings are doing very well and everyone is happy. I don't want my daughter being caught up with someone that would be nice and use her as long as it would suit them. I'd rather just save her the problem, and have her hate me than be hurt by callous people."

"Forgive me for being so frank," She started, "You do not know me, and I have no reason to befriend your daughter other than the reason that I would like to. Besides the fact that she seems very lonely and it is something that I know. I may not be the perfect person, but…"

"I'm sure you would have me believe that you are kind and so is your sister. That the two of you would simply love to have Victoria over and what not. It isn't something that is new to me."

"If you knew about me and my sister," Ariel commented. "you would know that I am not even part holder of the land and stocks. Anything would really be going to my sister."

"For you to run. The Ventos have spoken highly of you." His tone never changed, yet she felt like she was being scolded or something. "So what is it that you want so we might get the pleasantries over and deal with it."

"I believe that we would be finished talking then." Ariel stated sternly. "I wish you and your daughter the best. I'm sorry that I have given you the image I have. It wasn't my intention." Ariel loosened her grip to move away, but he didn't. She tugged a bit expecting him to let go.

"Why isn't your sister here? Any responsible owner would come even if extremely ill." He asked changing the topic slightly.

"She was unable to attend." Ariel answered. She didn't have to explain anything.

"I'm just seeing how your family works. Clearly your sister thought herself better than this gathering and sent her younger instead. After all you work for her, and why should she care? She has a perfect marriage coming her way, and you to do her work. Seeing how devious you are along with her, once you are a parent you will understand, and when you have things others want."

"Thank you for insulting me many times over." She snapped finally done with him and what he was saying. She wasn't trying anything with Victoria. She had many that had already offered to help with obtaining the land she needed.

"However I have what I need, thank you." He was a very perceptive person to have surmised what he did and not really have spoken to anyone. She could see.

"Enjoy the rest of your evening."

She went to move again. This time he let go of her waist, but not her hand and twisted it lightly. Not to cause pain but to look at the underside of her arm. Ariel gasped and pulled back quickly. Taking her arm back, knowing what he was looking at. She blushed red and glanced around, but they were near a side without many people. Ariel was really, really uncomfortable with what he just did.

"I was looking to see if you would play the abused card as you did with my daughter." Ariel felt extremely embarrassed and ashamed. Plus she was upset that Victoria had said something. She fought really hard to not let tears of anger and embarrassment show.

"I never told her that I was abused. I said I was reprimanded." Ariel corrected rubbing her arm. "It isn't really your business. I was talking to someone in confidence." She said and looked right at him.

"I would like to see your arm." He stated and Ariel hesitated for a second. Then feeling a bit defeated and figuring it would get her away from him that much faster she let him look at it. He stared at it and touched it frowning.

"These are burn marks." He said seeing them and the few that were faint but longer. "Victoria told me what you said. I wanted to see if it was true, of course she told me not to. Still, I have heard many stories many different ways that people have tried to gain sympathy to get what they want. They never have the evidence to back it up. I'm very used to liars and cheats Ms. Standish." Ariel had dropped her arm back to her side.

Ariel just made an agreeing sound and was entertaining the idea of just fleeing the room. How embarrassing. He must think she was a very disturbed and useless person. This was probably the worst thing she could do, seeing who he was. Oh if Natasha knew. Well Ariel would probably have more bruises soon.

"Not everyone starts out born to what they have." He commented. "I can tell that this is something that you have indeed gone through. I find that those who work for it and earn it tend to be better, but lose sight very fast." He gestured over toward Malachi who was talking with Victoria. She was clearly showing him and Cameron a few things in sign language.

"There can be exceptions, those that are used to what they have but know how to draw a line."

"I agree." She replied. He could tell that she was very uncomfortable. He seemed to take something from her humility and she wasn't sure what it was.

"I would give you a bit of advice. Alectro has been talking with Heath Partish. He is high in the commission that decides to grant the purchase of land not owned in different planets." Ariel glanced over to the man that he gestured at. The commission that he was talking about was the Interplanetary Commission of Statues. They decided if a purchase was warranted, or if the damage done would be worth it. After all the reason they were searching other planets was because of the damage they were repairing on their home planet of Earth.

"He is?" She didn't realize that he was being that aggressive but it wasn't easy. There were twelve on the council and you had to have the right paperwork filed. At least three quarters of the money to pay for the land and get eight of the twelve's vote. Which would be about sixty five percent.

"Yes, I don't like him. He is easily bought, and much like Alectro with his rulings. If I were you I would get a move on for the land." Ariel looked at him, confused by his sudden change from harsh interrogation to advice.

"Thank you." If Alectro was talking with him then he was close to the money that was needed. "But I thought you saw me as a devious creature." She countered, twisting a couple of her fingers.

"It's very hard to fake the emotions you are showing. Doesn't mean I trust you, but my daughter has decided to take a liking to you. Truth be told, I would stand to gain should the Ventos get the mining that they want because your planet is extremely close to one of mine that needs metal. Alectro isn't the one I want to deal with."

"Politics are too complicated." She said seriously, this was making her head spin. So many things that others would want.

"It always is, and if you want to play you should start to learn. I think you have a bit figured out. I will be watching you however. Be warned should you be playing with my daughter for any reason to get what you want. I make a very painful enemy."

With that he took her over to her group. He collected Victoria without really saying anything to the group but a head nod. Ariel came up to them rubbing her arm.

"She's a firecracker. I like her." Cameron said and Sally was laughing.

"A great sense of humor that kid." Sally looked at Ariel. "What did he want to talk to you about, you two were over there for a while. What was he holding your arm for? A few people were giving you curious looks."

"He just wanted to make sure that I wasn't trying to befriend his daughter for gain. Just a warning really."

"So why stare at your arm?" Alec asked, and Ariel just gave a shrug. She hadn't really shown any of them, though Malachi had seen them. It wasn't like they were extremely visible. She healed fast and they were many years ago.

"Are we able to leave now?" Ariel asked avoiding the question. Then looking at Malachi and Sally before her.

"Yeah, it's starting to thin out." He said and Ariel gave a nod. Their little group moved to leave and they were rather happy about it having been a long night. It took a little bit to get out and over to the elevators and go up. Malachi was accosted by his father and so was Cameron. The two of them came up after them.