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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3086659" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 173, “High Emotions“, Sunday, March 26th, 1882, 1:00 PM Minerva waits patiently while Clarisse describes at length her vision of how the festival should go.   She then begins her reply, “Eight O’clock sounds like a good time to begin but I do not think that it is appropriate to ask Senora Kale to offer her building. It is still under renovation and I am fairly certain that she will not want others using it. Senorita, I can see that you have given this a lot of consideration but you must keep leave the religious aspects of the festival to me. You must keep in mind that this is not just an ordinary Party. It is the most important Religious festival of the year. To truly honor Dionysus, It must last at least until after midnight and I must insist that we not risk insulting him by regulating the consumption of wine, Dionysus is known to have a temper and may make our crops and our livestock unfertile if we were to anger him. It would definitely not be in the best interest of the town to provoke him. As I explained at services this morning, Wine is no ordinary liquor it is a product of a god. I have attempted to educate the masses as to it's possible effects, but part of the reason for it's consumption is to open oneself up to the voice of the god. The responsibility for it's consumption must be left up to the individual. After all, they are not children, unable to use their own judgment.  As for marking off the streets and limiting access to only certain establishments? I am sorry but that would be unfair to a large portion of the businesses in town. No, The Costume Ball must be free and include all who wish to attend. I will not deny business to those who do not fall in the parameters that you have suggested.  Now please, tell me, what sort of decorations have you come up with? and Have you had the opportunity to make up flyers yet?  Clarisse replies, "No Priestess, I have been planning out the ball. I understand what you are saying about wine, but it would be awful if people were to overindulge in drinking other spirits. That could lead to improper behavior and that would be disrespectful to the other gods."  Minerva replies, "It would not be any different than it is on any other night. We cannot deny the merchants in town their business. Besides, I am sure that Deputy Marshall Martin, will keep the rowdy’s in line. He is such a commanding figure, do you not agree?"Clarisse answers, "Oh, Chet...Deputy Marshall Martin is a wonderful man! But there are only five lawmen in this town and hundreds of people will be attending. If you can at least focus the events in a concentrated area then they would be able to supervise, but if you have things taking place simultaneously all over town without any limits on alcoholic consumption then chaos will reign. Mrs. Shultz had very stern warnings about tempting the Fates with too much disorder."   Minerva replies, "Senorita, Do you respect my judgment as a Priestess of Olympus?"Clarisse is taken back by the rebuke. She lowers her head and says softly "Please forgive me."   Minerva says to Clarisse: "Senorita Townsend, I ask that you trust my judgment as a Priestess of Olympus. I know that I have placed you in an awkward position by asking you to run this committee, since others, who have hardened their hearts to him, may be whispering in your ear that Dionysus does not deserve to be recognized. That is quite untrue .Dionysus is far older than most other gods and is the only one to have been reborn. It is for this reason that it would be unwise not to pay him his due. He is a very powerful god." "B...b...but Priestess," the young woman stammers. "That is not what they teach back in the East. The Priests at the Church, and Mrs. Schultz, they explained how Dionysus and Pan, they are the left-over gods. The only reason that the great gods of Olympus allow such degradation and vice to even exist is to be able to attract the heathens to the church, so that they can then learn about the more proper deities.""It is not polite to refer to those who are innocent of our ways as heathens, Clarisse. Is a child to be considered a heathen because he cannot recite the names of the Twelve Powers?" she says in a mildly chastising tone. "I can see why you are confused if that is what you were taught, but to say that Dionysus, one of the oldest and most revered gods on the mount is a 'left-over god' ?,well your teachers have gone too far in their prejudices. It is lucky for you that I am here to set you straight before he turns his wrath on you for such blasphemy. But you did not know the error of your ways, so I would not fret if I were you. Perhaps that is why it was the gods will that you run the ball? It will give you the opportunity to set things right with him."Minerva places her hand on Clarisse's shoulder and with a beaming smile says "I chose for you, Clarisse, for this most important task because I have great faith that you will head the will of he god and honor him well by throwing him a party such as has never been seen before. Now I must be going and I may be away for a day or so, but please come and visit me as I am quite anxious to hear all about your plans!" Minerva gives Clarisse a big hug and leaves. Nanuet is waiting outside to walk her back to the Lucky Lady. "I think that went rather well," she musses,"…but we will shall see. Let us hurry before someone else finds a need for me."   Nanuet follows Minerva back to the Lucky Lady. As Ruby makes her way further out the Cantina and towards the Lucky Lady she feels something change. Her light and happy mood remains but the air almost feels heavy. Heavy with what, she wasn't sure but as she glances around the city everyone she looks at or hears seems to be experiencing some sort of exaggerated emotion. Ruby shakes it off as her new view of the world, now that she had someone who truly loved her everything looked different.  Back at the Lucky Lady Ruby takes a seat and waits for Jake. Minerva happens to wander into the Lucky Lady. "Afternoon Minerva, why haven't you left yet?"Minerva still frazzled from her visit with Clarisse and out of patience snaps at Ruby, "So why haven't you approached the saloon owners yet? The festival is less than a week away!” "Why should I have to approach the saloon owners?” Ruby replies, “They have absolutely nothing to do with arranging entertainment."  Minerva exclaims, "Well were exactly do you think that the entertainment is going to be held and who is going to do the entertaining?" Ruby replies, “This is supposed to be a town festival and the entertaining is supposed to be occurring outside on the stage that Chester is supposed to be building. We can’t choose one saloon over another! And I’m going to be doing the entertaining, with Madge and her girls.” Minerva answers, "Don't you think that it would be fairer to offer all the saloons the same opportunity to be involved? As you said it is a town festival. Some of the other saloons may grumble if only saloon involved in the entertainment was the Lucky Lady, especially since the entertainment coordinator is one of the owners. Adair just accused me of pulling a sham in conjunction with the Vigilance Committee and he doesn't have any reason to dislike me. I can't imagine what he would accuse the Lucky Lady of.” Ruby says, “Um, Madge is from the Gay Lady Saloon. Priestess, I don’t think you have learned much of this town in your couple of weeks here. The only other saloons in town with entertainment, that isn’t prostitution, and I’m assuming that isn’t what you mean by entertainment, is the Comique, which we share Clarisse, and the Palace and as I’m not allowed in there and Mr. Adair wants to kill me so I’m not likely to deal with him. I suppose I could go there anyway and try to get some of their second rate singers to help out. If that will make you feel better I will.” Ruby thinks about her next words carefully, “Look, you came here to Promise City, got an idea for a festival, then dumped all the responsibility on everyone else. YOU are the priestess and this is YOUR festival. You are responsible for taking charge of it, not us. And you should especially not be complaining about how people are going about the tasks YOU assigned everyone, even without some of them agreeing to do so. So you can’t complain if people don’t do things the way you want them done.” Minerva's voice rises a bit higher "I did not come up with an idea for a festival anymore than I came up with the idea for a desert ceremony. It is the will of the gods and as the preacher of this community; I am insuring that the people honor the gods properly. And, it is not MY festival to run. The responsibility belongs to the townspeople. It is their town that will benefit! I do not stand to gain anything but a headache from any of this. My JOB is to guide them, not to be part of every damned committee for every damned activity that someone comes up with! Now I hear a rumor that they want to include fencing matches and I'm sure that somehow someone will try to make THAT my responsibility also!” "Their town? I thought this was your town too. You can always cancel this festival if it’s getting to be too much responsibility for you.” Ruby huffs. “Maybe you should have made that clearer at the beginning then. I agreed to help you out and do you a favor, not honor your gods!" Ruby snaps back, "You put people who you barely know in charge of events that can ruin the whole thing! Like Clarisse taking care of the costume ball. She will ruin it and take all the fun out!" Minerva eyes widen in frustrated surprise. "You wanted to run the Ball?! How was I to know that you wanted to run the Ball? I had to put a gun to your head to convince you to head the entertainment!”  Ruby says, “I didn’t say I wanted to organize the costume ball. But it was my idea and I wanted it to be fun for everyone.”   Minerva replies, "Then why don't you do the neighborly thing and offer to lend a hand?"   Ruby says, “It will not work out for Clarisse and I to work together. This I know for sure. I’m trying to help YOU here Minerva and as far as I’m concerned I’m already leading a hand, more than I would do for most others.” Minerva is frustrated and angry from dealing with the saloon owners and Clarisse. It seems that everyone wants a piece of her, but she appalled when she realizes that she is now yelling at her friend and the fight goes out of her like a deflated balloon.  She takes a deep breath, suddenly bone weary, and speaks more gently, "Ruby, forgive me, por favor, I do not mean to take my frustrations out on you. You just happen to be in the line of fire,” She says with a sheepish grin. "I know that you mean well, but the Ball is a full time commitment and Clarisse has more time to focus on it and, well, I was trying to involve her for Senor Chester's sake. He seems quite smitten with her and I thought that perhaps I had found a way to make her fit in.” “I must also admit that I am using her as a way to extend an olive branch to the Vigilance Committee. It would be unfair of me to exclude anyone from the festival planning, including the Vigilance Committee and Clarisse is the easiest one of that bunch to deal with. For all of her bluster she is still quite willing to follow orders. She is young and her schooling has trained her to respect the wishes of a 'Priestess of Olympus.' She is so thrilled to be able to plan the theme, send out flyers, and decorate. And she can work with Senor Chester overseeing the building of the dance floors." Ruby relaxes at Minerva’s apology. “Clarisse is not on the Vigilance Committee, she just attends the meetings. I don’t know how that is going to help do anything but ruin the party. I’ve never seen her thrilled about anything, she is quiet and reserved.” Ruby continues, "In my mind the ball is dancing in the street with costumes and music. There is no etiquette required. That would certainly keep people away, this is a town full of miners, what do they know about etiquette? And I have had much more training in that area than Clarisse anyway!" Minerva answers, “Si, I agree with you, you do have more training, but you are already organizing the entertainment and with the imminent war with the Cowboy Gang, to distract you more would be dangerous for us all. Ruby we need you to stay focused on figuring out a way to keep the town safe from Johnny Ringo.”   “How did I get in charge of protecting the town from Johnny Ringo?” Ruby sighs, “Well, I know what you mean anyway. I have just been looking forward to the dance and I don’t have much faith in Clarisse to make everyone feel welcome, myself included.” "We never seem to have any difficulty making our own fun, I am sure that next weekend will be no exception!" Minerva chuckles.  She adds, “By the way I must apologize to you and Senor Jake for my blowing up after the sermon this morning. But that horrible dream was still so fresh in my mind, and when Senor Jake tried to cheer my by making light of it... well,” she shrugs her shoulders sheepishly, “I guess I just snapped. I seem to be quite emotional lately! Is this a normal part of love?” “Luckily Jake isn’t the kind of man to get easily insulted about things like that. It’s fine, we know you are under a lot of stress. I can imagine the dream must have been horrible. We’ll all be glad when this is over, one way or the other.”  Finally Ruby smiles and embraces her friend, “Yes, love makes you crazy and makes you do crazy, crazy things. You can’t think straight when real love is involved and it gets you in plenty of trouble.”  When Ruby embraces Minerva, Minerva can feel that something is wrong.  She pulls back and searches Ruby's face. “The pendant, you gave it to Senor Jake didn't you? I can feel its absence, Ruby. I think that you must get it back."  “Why? It’s mine to do with what I will. What difference does it make?”  Minerva replies, “I do not know but something is wrong. But, there is something about you that is not quite right! "I do not care for you to hug me. It is quite unpleasant!"Ruby is taken aback. "What? Are you feeling ok?" Ruby reaches out to touch Minerva's arm. "I am happy today because Aphrodite has given me what I wanted. That is what is different about me, how can you say that is not right. It's the most right and natural thing in the world." Ruby furrows her brows. "But why would you insult me so and say it is unpleasant to be near me?"Minerva jumps back, “Por Favor, Ruby Do not touch me!" I do not know what is happening and I am not trying to insult you, but euuuu! She says as if trying to get bugs off of her. "Something is very, very wrong!"   "And you think it's the pendant?" Ruby says insulted anyway. "What a poor excuse. I think you're just mad about me giving you my mind about your festival. But if that's the way it is..." She reaches towards Minerva and rips the pendant off her neck. "Any better?" she asks with a raised eyebrow.Nanuet had followed Minerva back to the Lucky Lady. When she began her conversation with Ruby he continued the work that he had started earlier and apparently remained unnoticed. He begins to worry about two women as they squabble with each other but becomes particularly concerned with Minerva when she remarks about the presence of Ruby being unsettling. "Now Minerva, what has come over you. That is just not right!" He walks over to her and spins her around. "What has come over you? This is unlike you. Snapping at everyone and then telling Ruby her mere presence disturbs you. Perhaps the festival has overwhelmed you."Nanuet spins Minerva around just as Ruby pulls the pendant from her neck. "Get your hands off of me! I am not trying to insult her! Something is Wrong, I tell you! When she touches me it is as though desert beetles are crawling all over me! Do you not feel it? Touch her yourself and you will see. You do not understand, Nanuet. she gave away the Pendant!"Jake rides hard into town and over to the El Parador looking for Senorita Florencia. Not finding her there he heads back to the Lucky Lady.   Jake walks into the Lucky Lady to see Ruby, Minerva and Nanuet speaking loudly and gesticulating wildly. It does not look pretty. "What in Hades is going on here!" he yells loudly and walks into the middle of them. "Nanuet, quick pour some drinks. Minerva, I need to talk to you NOW, out that door. Ruby," Jake grabs her and kisses her passionately, "I love you. Sit down."  Ruby's smile returns to her face as soon as she sees Jake. She had been seconds away from throwing Minerva out of her saloon. Instead she does as Jake says and sits at the table, waiting for her drink. Jake grabs Minerva's arm and drags her out the back door.   Nanuet spins between Jake and Minerva and confusion overwhelms him as Jake practically dragged Minerva away.  Nanuet does as Jake says as he seems to be the only one making any kind of sense and heads to the bar to start pouring drinks. "Miss Ruby I apologize for Minerva's behavior. She is not herself. I don't know what is wrong but there is something strange and unnatural going on."  She glances at Minerva's pendant, still in her hand. "What is going on Nanuet?" Ruby exclaims, "She needs to apologize for herself, but I appreciate the gesture." Ruby throws the pendant on the table. "What is going on around here? When I was walking earlier it seemed like everyone was under some sort of spell, so happy, so sad, so angry." Ruby shrugs. "Me, I'm happy," she smiles then drinks her whiskey. "Sit with me, Nanuet."Nanuet pours four drinks and carries them over to the table where Ruby is sitting. He does not sit however but begins pacing back and forth. "I don't know what is going on. Minerva comes to me this morning speaking of these horrible dreams. I calmed her down and we spent some time together just enjoying the morning. Then since her sermon she has been exploding at everybody and then telling you that you make her skin crawl. I have no clue what is going on but I know I don't like it." He steps up to the table, grabs a drink and slams it back quickly. "I'm going to need another one of these."  "Me too." She takes Jake's and drinks it down. "Maybe you should go after Minerva, you know her better than anyone. How could she say that about me? I don't understand."Jake drags Minerva, who is still yelling and trying to pull away from him, out the door. All he can make out is something about Ruby and the pendant.  "Yes, yes," and he gently pushes her up against the wall in back of the Lucky Lady. He unbuttons his duster and then starts unbuttoning his shirt.</blockquote>

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