(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/7/75/Matigroves125square.jpg)<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Mati Groves</span></span><br/><strong>Location</strong>: The Galaxy<br/><strong>With</strong>: Paulette Lisette saint-Simon; and an audience including (now NPC) Okello Okanjo, Kaelyn Richelieu; Kaelyn's slave, Tillie; Kaelyn's friend, Marie-Clare Lisson; Marie-Clare's slave and mother, Annalie Rachel Lisson.<br/><br/>Paulette stood, hugging herself, after her song.  Yes, her song: Mati felt as if he'd been merely an instrument for her performance.  The audience held its breath for a moment, then applauded.<br/><br/>Except for her Master Okanjo, of course.  He was turning away, intent on some phone call that he just had to attend to in the middle of the night, in the middle of her brilliant performance.<br/><br/>As the applause died away, Mati put his arm round Paulette.  'You were terrific,' he whispered, yet even as he complimented her, his gentle pressure on her shoulders forced her to kneel.  'Ladies and gentlemen,' he said, 'I've been Mati Groves, with special guest Paulette!'<br/><br/>He left her kneeling there.  Okanjo had gone out on deck.  By the time Mati reached him, he was clicking off his phone, and about to return to the party.  'You make quite a pair,' said Okanjo.  'We have business to discuss....'<br/><br/><div align="center">*</div><br/>Twenty minutes later Mati returned, a little woozy on the champagne he'd drunk with Okanjo.  The pretty, no, beautiful slave was still kneeling there, waiting.<br/><br/>He crouched in front of her, his fingers under her chin.  'It seems your Master has been called away on business.  Or perhaps he just smelt good business on me.  Anyway, for a not inconsiderable sum, for a struggling artist like myself,' he paused for the wry smile but she was too deeply enslaved perhaps, her expression didn't change, 'I've acquired you on rental with an option to purchase.  You'll be delivered to me at breakfast time, it seems.'<br/><br/>There was a kiss on the forehead.  That was all.  He left her there, to Okanjo's tender mercies, saying thank you to one or two people, accepting a card for a slave trader, promising yes that he'd be around for more engagements in Monaco.  No but he really had to be going.  Another glass of champagne?  Oh, very well then...<br/>