BreakfastInBed

From IMiA

Carnival, Day Two, Morning ~ Breakfast in Bed

While having breakfast in bed on the second day of Carnival, Juliana decides it's a fine time to talk.

"Darling, we need to talk about the guest list for this damn party," she informs him. (It has always been referred to as the 'damn party' by her, even though she's somewhat excited about doing it, but very nervous, since it is the first one since they've been back.)

"Party?" He asks and nibbles on her neck.

She squirms a little, but otherwise ignores his attempt to distract her. "The end of Carnival party for all my favorite people, and to bilk all my non-favorite people out of their money to give it to my favorite people? I'm just sure I've been planning this for weeks - you've been very busy. There is a chance I might have missed telling you about this."

"I see," he sighs. "I'm certain I must have simply forgotten about it then." He pauses, looks serious and says, "What help do you need on the guest list?"

"Well, if I have to be tortured with deciding who to invite and not invite, so do you," she smiles playfully at him. "I mean, should I just invite known philanthropists, or should I invite everyone we know with money? And wording this is going to be tricky. It's very easy for my folks from Southside, and all our friends. And they'll mix fine together. It's the people I don't know so well but would like to bleed some money out of who worry me. And... then there is the whole seating thing. I don't want all these obvious class distinctions, but it'd be somewhat touchy to seat the heir to Feldane next to Janet's granddaughter."

That thought puts a twinkle in her eye and broadens her smile.

"We could have two parties - a dinner party for contributors and then a real bash that starts later for everyone, and anyone who wanted to stay, rub elbows, and find out how the other half lives could. Of course, I'm going to have to rent some place for this. Can't have it here. That would be insane," she says.

Phillip listens quietly, but does not interrupt.

She stares off and looks thoughtful. "Can you take care of the security things?" she asks.

"Certainly."

"Well, what do you think of the Dinner Party, then big party idea? Too divisionary?"

"Not if it is held on different dates."

She winces and pulls a pillow over her head. "That's twice as much work though," she complains from beneath it, "and even less chance…" she comes out from under the pillow.

"It's a dream to think I could change things so much so quickly. I'd just like, as much as is possible, to help our peers see that these people are people, just like they are. I know my involvement in this doesn't help our popularity any. It'd be much better for us if I just tossed money down there but kept my hands out of the dirt. I know the entire thing makes most nobles terribly uncomfortable, but it should. Most nobles ignore the city and justify it by calling it the King's." She stops suddenly, noticing she was building up to a big rant, and looks at Phillip apologetically.

"You don't need to hear this, for the thousandth time. Different dates? Hmm. I could still encourage the higher classes to stop in at the real party."

"I suspect that would be best. Those you solely want money from should be invited to dinner only. The other event should be a gala for the downtrodden. Those who actually give a damn may be invited to attend that function as well."

Phillip looks to Juliana for some time then continues. "During Carnival, too many nobles throw parties for the poor because it is expected of them. They host great events and appear generous. But the fact remains that the people the event is allegedly meant to help would be better served if the money was instead put into food and clothing and they often say as much. I think that were I to host such an event, I would have a party as expected. To be certain, there would be the food and drink and entertainment one expects at such a party. However, above and beyond this, I believe I would endeavor to do something that has more lasting effect than simply being one of many parties designed to make the poor forget their woes and the rich believe themselves to be generous. I would consider providing each guest with a large basket of food as he left the party. That way, he might eat for another week. Further, I might provide new clothing or blankets or such and perhaps a small coin or two as well. However, such a thing would be unheard of and would cost a bloody fortune. One would have to be both mad and rich to attempt such a thing."

She slowly grows a big smile as he talks. "One would have to be mad and rich, and if they're lucky, good at exhorting other rich people to give up large chunks of money," she agrees. Then she looks serious. "You know, if you got rich enough, we could buy Southside."

Phillip simply laughs and shakes his head. "What would I do with it?"

She smiles dreamily. "Ah, jeez, love. Save it. Set up little schools and pay some watchmen enough that they can't be bribed out of doing their jobs, and get some good healers down there. Subsidize food and medicine. And paint all the houses in nice pastel shades." She sighs, but keeps smiling. "But then the bad things would just shift elsewhere. It's the nature of the beast. You can't have higher classes without having lower classes, and I'm not about to put my neck in a noose and suggest out loud, anywhere but in our bedchamber, that our royalty become equal to our beggars, culturally or socially, much less financially. And this kingdom has special circumstances anyway, so it can't happen that way here."

She shrugs. "Well, now you've got my gears turning. But the guest list – what I need to know is your on and off list. Who should I absolutely invite or it will cause you trouble, who should I absolutely not invite or it will cause you trouble, and who do you want invited I may not know about?"

Phillip names his list off. There aren't any surprises on it.

"You need to give me a budget," Juliana says seriously. "And you need to prepare your mother so she does not have me assassinated when she hears about this."

"Very well."

Phillip goes out for the day, and Juliana lounges about, creates a rough draft of the party invitation, writes letters to friends, and does needlepoint. About once every hour she gets up to stretch, looks out toward the castle impatiently, sighs, and sits back down.

-- Main.LizTrumitch - 20 Aug 2004