"I'll keep the rest of the bottle for the occasion."

"On that you're wrong. Space has gravity, it's just too subtle for most to detect. Most, but not the Guild. You'd be disappointed if our steersmen didn't calculate the fold-space jumps to the smallest data point, wouldn't you? The randomness of reappearing in the middle of a star, that would be unpl...

"Space has no terrain." Soo-Soo quipped with a wry smile. "And the spice must flow. For the Guild, it is the only true concern."

"Like this excellent brandy, I let my opportunities season. Somehow, they never pass me by. A privilege of a banker, one can say." He smiled.

"This is a very interesting suggestion. I am glad you understand there are limits to such a commitment, I represent the Guild first and foremost, and would never act against its interests." The man kept smiling, put down the glass to steeple his fingers and pendulate thoughtfully on his suspensor ch...

"Hmmm, the non-confidential part is that Madame Birawi is not using the financial services of the Guild Bank yet as it seems she's inherited quite the sum from her poor husband. But solaris do run out at some point, don't they?" He chuckled. "Presently, I counsel the Water Seller's Union, that's why...

Abad shrugged. "In the end, there's more nuisance than anything else when those nomads are discussed. They only make it difficult for this planet to get properly civilised. I know that on some worlds the backward populace is put in reservations, or just put to some menial work. This would be desirab...

The banker sipped his brandy in a very similar way. "Mr Drake, my profession dictates I don't divulge confidential information just like that. You are speaking about a potential client here, surely you understand the predicament it would put my credibility in if I approached such questions casually....

"No inconvenience! If anything, now's the time for me to make social calls. Don't let my offworld colleagues give you too harsh an impression. Good business needs some soft touch." He smiled, walking toward the cabinet from which he produced a started bottle of Kirana brandy and three glasses. He mo...

Their feet clacked pleasantly on the marble at they got to the elevator. The floor was chosen for them, and not even disclosed. They arrived at an opulent office, no corridors, straight away, with the man they might be recalling from the Count's banquet turning on his suspensor chair behind bloodwoo...

"Rats are equally well-adapted." Soo-soo scoffed, but then brightened. "Thinking about dissecting one?"

"The food is intimidating, I can give you that. Snails' and pigs' genes intertwined by the Tleilaxu... The creature must be supremely disgusting. And yet, this is the sweetest meat in the Imperium, worthy of the Padishah's table. But isn't this planet such a slig too?" 'Soo-soo' grinned in delight a...

"Worms are cannibals? That hasn't crossed my mind before but I wouldn't be surprised. We should ask Dr. Kynes - if he ever appears!" The man snickered. "Speaking of devouring, have you tried the slig? It's a true delicacy." He gestured at the plates with colourfully served roast meat.

"Both are prevalent, carrion eaters and hunters. But no blood predator seems to have dominated this world enough to ever get close to the concern of depleting what feeds it. There's always some desert vermin to feed on. Except perhaps the worm, but noone has the faintest idea how they get their nour...

"An astute observation. My services are required, though, and so here I am." Lorra's eyes scanned about the room even as she spoke to the Guildsman. "Has this been a profitable quarter for you?" She inquired, going with what she assumed passed for harmless small-talk among those in the Guild. There...

Lorra had done well to keep her tongue behind her teeth so far. People talked. People mingled. People doing people things. She had her opinion on such things. Still, the Guildsman had been making eyes. She approached him. "Good evening." "Good evening, doctor. A Suk professional is a rare view on A...

"Abad Nejhre of the Guild Bank. They call me 'Soo Soo' here for the water peddlers' cry because of grip I have over the water market in the cities." The man chuckled. "And I know how it is. The only reward for investment is a greater pool to invest again."

Mares carefully sips his drink, eyeing the banquet. It was been a rough delivery, but sharp eyes are now flitting around the room, trying to take in who is gathering with who. "An observant one, I see." A man with the Guild pin gestured toward the Ixian helix Mares had on display. "I suppose I coul...

The idea of cleaning your hands with water before doing anything like eating - or medical procedures - wasn't alien to the Ixian doctor. It could be especially annoying how objectionable patients could be when this step was overlooked. Or omitted. Regardless, she wondered how clean this cleaning ri...

It honestly took her a minute to grasp what it was she was seeing, and it not being a waste of resources, but she then followed suit, removing the dried blood on her hands and splashing it there as well. Well, at least she her hands were clean. ~~ Of course! Wasting water. Makes sense. (Understand+...

"I enjoy watching the birds of Arrakis. Carrion-eaters, blood-drinkers..." [/i] Physical information: Tall and slender, middle-aged, well-groomed, clever eyes Dresses like nobility, flaunting water regimes, carries the Spacing Guild symbol as a pin to his cape Insinuating voice, faux joviality Offi...