Private 12 Deeds

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Feng Huang

All of the works on Denon had been proving beneficial. They continued to rebuild, revitalize and with all of the new foodstuffs, their importing costs had dropped down to near zero. Aside from the ultimate luxuries and a few choice they didn't need to import water, food or even scrubbers for the air. Ayumi stretching out like a lazy cat in her chair, all six foot two inches of her there as her long legs and toned arm were at the ready before the simple cocktail dress that she wore. Sleeveless, with her repulsor anklets for covering her feet in a thin layer of energy so she could walk around Denon nearly barefoot. It was minimalistic to many but the silk of the dress was still beautiful. The white stone and golden trim of the buildings as they continued to spread across the surface, the districts were having their largest overhaul as well. "Hmmm Megera." She said it and her assistant was there while she moved up and over. A small bowl of the sophos fruit there before she took a bite. The large fruits were cracked open, the innards harvested for their membrane protected sacs and inside of it was the most succulent and creamy fruit you could have and when you froze it like a sweet treat for the senses.

She stood there in the moment though while she was walking and had her silver datapad. She was walking through the halls with the others outside into the senate district on Denon. Teachers for the mock senate debates to practice were in full swing, there were others coming around to work with all of them. Her mechanic was at the ready tuning up her speeder that would let them go towards District Nineteen so she could see the races. "Morning senator." The mechanic smiled as she stood there in the divided jumpsuit leaving her midriff exposed but to show off the new tattoos that she had gotten. Under Denon's new business model she was able to get a lot more funding for her shop but she came out here to do personal tune ups and works to check them. "Wonderful." She said it going into the speeder when it finished as her driver was there.

"Come on, I'll drop you odd." There was a look but she jumped in with her tools as Ayumi leaned back in her seat. "Oh it is so smooth, you really are a wonder." She said it as the senate district passed and she swiped on the datapad. Megera had really spent her time making sure that they had plenty of details for her. "Hmmm this one is a dancer, and this one was a jedi at one point.. she really wants you to know it. Have to see about that, can't be having people trying to lothcat out here." The grin was wider but she had also invited Feng to come and enjoy, she had seemed nervous and now there was a chance for her to be able to experience Upcity and the entertainment district or the boardwalk.. or at least have a little fun and do her duty as jedi to protect the senator... practice for when things get dangerous."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng had grown a little since her initial anxiety at being assigned to protect one of the key members of the senate. Yes it was still a crucial assignment, not to mention an opportunity for Feng to prove herself. Feng knew that she had been given the assignment partially to teach her patience in light of the fact that most of her assignments were of the high intensity variety. It also might just be a way to keep an eager young padawan out from underfoot. Finally it could just be the fact that the Jedi High Council didn't want to waste one of it's more powerful or senior members on simple babysitting duties, but still needed to make a show of Jedi presence.

Whatever the reason I'm still grateful!

Or so she told herself sternly.

Denon was a wonderful planet, and on her nights or days when the senator was secure behind her own security she got to enjoy all of it in it's splendour and wonder.

It was a far cry from the slums Feng grew up on, or the poor rural village she had been sent to or the battlefields, hospices, temples and refugee camps Master Wu had shifted her around during her training.

Point was Feng was enjoying her assignment. It was a time to relax. Be aware certainly, both of threats to the senator and of her own complacency or at least the risk of complacency.

Feng put her doubts from her mind as she walked up to the Senator.

She bowed.

"Senator Ayumi. What's on the itinerary for today?" Feng asked putting her duty above all else.

Feng liked the senator, she believed she was a good person serving both her people and the republic as best she could, which in Feng's opinion was pretty damn good. At least from what she'd seen so far.

Some night Feng wouldn't mind kicking back with a couple of drinks just the two of them, maybe watch something fun while they talked into the night. It was a foolish fantasy but then Feng didn't have many close friends let a lone any close girl friends. It would be nice to have someone who she could just relax and bond with without all the pressures of her being a Jedi or Ayumi being a senator.

For now though Feng was prepared to do her job. Feng didn't mind work. This was no different then serving soup at a refugee camp, or washing hospital bed pans, or gritting your teeth while that one nut or bolt in the ships engines just wouldn't loosen. Work was a part of life, not to be avoided but simply acknowledged. Sometimes you just needed to get on with it.

Ayumi Pallopides

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Feng Huang

"Hmm lets see." She said it and looked at the jedi who was guarding her with a nod of her head. "Well there is not as many pressing things. The races are beginning their newest season, the boardwalk is getting a chance to expand and several of the business owners have expanded throughout. Upcity has been a strong model for the other districts and levels as we are building it up. There is the gardens, the mall that has been getting restored and thankfully Megera scheduled my lunch time flirting with some of the vendors. Then we get to go across the waters to Mystique island for a dress fitting." She said it all while looking it. "And space for if you want to do anything. I want you to be enjoying yourself as well."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng grinned a big goofy grin at the mention of races.

"Oh could we stop by the garage check out the new line of racers?!" Feng asked excitedly forgetting her recent promise to herself to act with professionalism and decorum.

Feng paused embarrassed. She also paused at the dress fitting. Feng liked dresses, they made her feel pretty, but she was often self conscious in them, like people could see through the pretty dress to the engine grease that never quite seemed to be removed from under her finger nails.

Or the blood from the hospital tents where she acted as a nurse… or the blood from the battlefield.

Feng was so used to travelling from one mission to the next she couldn't remember the last time she had a day out on the town visiting interesting locations. It was a pity. Master Wu would often try to get her interested in various archeological sites mostly Jedi temples. They were serene, but hardly stimulating. The day Ayumi had planned seemed interesting! Particularly given if she weren't on assignment here she'd either be in peril, working on her engines, training or meditating.

What was the point of being a Jedi and seeing the galaxy if you didn't get a chance to enjoy yourself.

Coming to that conclusion Feng made a decision.

"Dresses… sounds fun… I don't have much a fashion sense." Feng admitted with a slight blush and a shy smile.

Ayumi Pallopides

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Feng Huang

She gave a nod of her head to that and a smile formed on her face. "Oh we can check them out, being the former director." She said it and for a moment did wish it wasn't true but the one she assigned was a friend and former vice chancellor so she was a benefit to it. "Of upcity has some amazing perks." SHe said it more casually as they were going over the districts and the financial district was gleaming where the newest banking centers were being built up. Their medical district and the training for the Lightwire were working on many more. "And worry not, we'll get you an outfit that screams to the world you are here and they had better recognize you. The ultimate stand out."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng flickered a smile, stopping herself from bouncing on her feet a little in excitement. Feng loved racers, and she secretly loved dressing up pretty. Not for anyone else but for herself, it felt good to be able to walk with confidence, pleased with yourself and how you looked. Master Wu meant well but he always insisted on minimal attachments. As if by enjoying the things on offer you were going to be tempted by the dark side. Feng felt a flash of guilt at the thought. That was an unfair description of Master Wu, he was forever kind and patient. She shouldn't judge him so harshly.

Feng brought herself back to the present before she could spiral into thoughts of criticism and self recriminations just for having a less than complimentary thought. They were just thoughts they didn't hurt anyone. Feng practiced her breathing to calm herself down.

"Sounds great!" Feng exclaimed with perhaps a bit of false cheer.

She was determined not to spiral, particularly over nothing. Maybe she'd get lucky and there'd be an assassination attempt.

"So… tell me about yourself?" Feng asked boldly with curiosity.

There was a bunch of information online, but there was so much misinformation and vitriol these days that it was hard to sift through, it was also in Feng's opinion a terrible way to gain an impression of someone. So far the Senator had been a hard working compassionate representative of her people and of the republic. That was admirable but it didn't tell anything about Feng as a person beyond her convictions.

Ayumi Pallopides

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Feng Huang

Hmm she looked at her and spread her arms out on the seat in for a moment as she crossed her legs for a moment. She had a smile on her face for the moment. "Well I am an open book, the daughter of a wealthy Coruscant elite from the tarnished house of Pallopides and Palpatine, raised and studied on Coruscant, Aalderaan, CHandrillia in academies, universities and finishing schools, majors in history, archaeology, anthropology. Plenty of images of me with a new girl on my arm at events and parties with my family. Younger sister now married to a High republic commander, parents passed in the battle of coruscant when the empire attacked the Alliance."

Her smile remained. "Went out on an excursion with a professor, I was the lone survivor and rescued by the jedi who gave me tertiary training. Returned home and entered the junior senator's program being assigned to Denon where I have remained through several governments. Noted for being involved with a vice chancellor and her wife, godmother to their daughter whom I sponsor in our new educational district pilot program. While her mothers help with Upcity and the Senate districts oversight after I helped a team extract them and several dozen from Coruscant in the attack including the jedi master who taught me battle meditation."

"THough I am not an active jedi for several orders. Most have forgotten but I have never hid that and the senate is fully aware. I have been friends with Chancellor Dominique Vexx for awhile now and she was influential in spreading the technologies we have leased here in district nineteen to the others. Sasori has been welcoming as a business sharing their advanced technologies and the designs allowing us to improve many more aspects and push Denon towards a self sustaining model." Her eyebrow raised up with a look on her face though while she leaned forward a little. "And I am always looking for a future ex girlfriend."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng listened as Ayumi gave her a brief concise biography of her life story. She had led an interesting life to be sure. So vastly different from her own. Feng wondered if they'd have anything in common with each other. Feng wasn't born to an affluential family, she didn't attend the finest universities or have fancy degrees. Master Wu had taught her just about everything she knows, and what he didn't she taught herself. So far the only thing they'd had in common was they'd both lost their parents, though even that was different. Feng had lost hers to petty criminals in comparison to a great battle.

Feng also wondered if Ayumi had been trained by Jedi whether her presence was strictly speaking necessary. It sounded like she could take care of herself. Feng with an effort tried to dismiss these anxious thoughts. She was assigned to a duty, she would do it as best she could until she was reassigned or could no longer perform those duties.

Feng blinked at the comment of a future ex girlfriend.

Was she.. was she flirting with me?

Feng blushed.

No I must be mistaken.

A senator would have no interest in someone like me. I'm just another member of her large staff. Feng floundered for a few moments. What should I do? Should I ask for confirmation? What if she was flirting with me? Would that change anything?

Feng paused at the thought. She didn't know how to feel about it. She'd thought women were beautiful before, but she'd never had the courage to pursue a woman anymore than she'd have the courage to pursue a man she thought was cute.

Should I flirt back? How?

"Uhm… I… are you saying? With me?" Feng blushed crimson red.

"No never mind you wouldn't be, my mistake"

Feng looked down embarrassed.

A big part of her felt like Ayumi couldn't possibly have any interest in Feng's life in comparison to her own storied history of wealth power and influence.

Ayumi Pallopides

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Feng Huang

Ayumi gave her a little grace to look confused. "Is there a reason I wouldn't be talking about you?" She said it more casually. "I work to mean everything I say jedi Feng and when I say I am looking forward to getting to take you around today I do mean it. A bodyguard you may be, a talented jedi is a given and you do your master proud but enjoy yourself. The code is important but sometimes just a little taking a moment to acknowledge you are human is important. If all you do it drown in your own anxiety and worry about messing up then well.. you'll never get out alive and just be one of those frayed padawans who either burn out or jump the first time a sith winks at them." She said it as the speeder continued and the gap between the districts and district nineteen was under them. The space coming way to an artificial ocean and gleaming white and gold buildings. A large track going across and it and around the district like a spiral, islands dotting the ocean and a beach that was beautiful.

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng smiled softly to herself, she was flattered, truly flattered. Ayumi was a strong, powerful, beautiful woman she could have anyone she wanted and she was interested in Feng of all people. Feng had had a few clumsy attempts made towards her over the years but nothing oozing with this much surety, at least not without an equal degree of borish behaviour. Right now Feng just felt like she was being given an option, maybe even an opportunity. The only problem was…

"Uhm thank you, but you should know I don't…." Feng took a deep breath and powered through. "I don't have a lot of experience, I've never even kissed anyone."

Feng flickered an embarrassed smile.

It wasn't that she wasn't disinterested, she just wasn't sure if Ayumi was interested in being a teacher in the ways of the heart.

Feng frowned as she considered what Ayumi was saying.

"I'm not like this in battle. I'll defend your life should it come to it." Feng said defensively.

"It's just Master Wu meant well but he raised me fairly sheltered from others… he didn't mean to isolate me! It was just how he was trained to be a Jedi and he joined the Order and the High Republic for me even though it wasn't his path in life." Feng explained in a rush.

Feng shrugged.

"I do fine in battle, it's social situations that fray me." Feng looked out the window at the passing sites.

"Oh is that the track! Shiny!" Feng exclaimed forgetting her mortification for excitement.

"What sort of craft are they racing this season?" Feng asked eagerly.

Ayumi Pallopides

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Feng Huang

She looked at her with a small suppressed smile. "Never been kissed? That is so saddening to hear but not something to feel shame over. Perhaps the force has willed it that you just need to find the right one." She offered a moment though. "And for the racers, this season it is doubles. One to race while one plays sabaac, highly skilled and heavy stakes as it can see credits change hands or greater betting pools. Since we are not the hutts there is more profit going around and the racers pay fees to maintain the track themselves and the concession stands. It allows them to cultivate more of a fanbase in the entertainment district."

She said it as the speeder was coming into position and it was in the central area of the district. The tower gleaming as it was her penthouse tower built to overlook everything. "This is where I used to be office, three meter walls with projectors on either side allowing the interior and exterior to be seen but between it dense armor plating. Makes assassinations harder and the security is the remnants of the Republic Ironmonger division. I rescued them and their titan combat tanks. You could say I like to collect beautiful and unique things jedi Feng." She said it as the door opened and Cato stood there. her twi'lek assistant bowing.

"Senator." She said it as Ayumi let Feng have a moment to get out first and then she was following while she walked but took a moment to look when she spoke. "That tower right there at the top there is a box, with a long coat in it. I used to go up there to stand wile looking over District 19, I call it the farm. Purely for cosmetic appeal, no practical purpose aside from being able to stand overlooking the district while the wind makes the coat blow behind me. I would invite dates up here so they could see it and most were speechless." She said it with a smile while she moved in the dress for a moment. "And don't fret the more social situations if you want, I can handle for you. Just take my hand with the one you don't hold your saber with and I'll adjust the situation."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng flickered a smile at Ayumi's casual acceptance of Feng's secret. She supposed when you must be dealing with as much classified intelligence that information that one low ranked padawan had never been kissed was pretty low on the scale of interesting tidbits. Petty gossip must not have a lot of attention grabbing for someone like her. It was probably pretty low on the gossip scale come to think of it.

Feng swallowed and nodded as the conversation moved to the races. She was intrigued and slightly disappointed. Feng had also never really played sabaac, Master Wu certainly would have disapproved. Feng was already enough of a thrill seeker without adding the lure of gambling to the equation. She'd barely managed to scrape together sponsors for the one race she had entered professionally.

"I've never played sabaac. What model of speeders are the racers do you know?" Feng pressed.

Unfortunately, the one race she'd been she'd barely placed, she had however gotten a small consolation cash prize as it were that had been more than Feng had ever received let alone in a single instalment. She'd been worried that she might feel too much pleasure at the cash, having grown up with nothing. Some people who grow up with nothing covet wealth that they think they'll never receive so when they do they are crass, course, garish and otherwise unpleasant. Come to think of it that seemed to be a problem with wealth in general. Not that Ayumi was like that, she seemed to be the exception.

Feng followed along and almost lost what Ayumi was saying as she took in the view. It was stunning.

Wait she brought dates up here?! Was this a date?!

Just like that Feng was back to being awkward and overwhelmed.

"Uhm thanks… do you race or fly yourself much?" Feng asked clumsily, she figured it was a harmless enough question, she wasn't ready to ask whether or not this was a date.

Ayumi Pallopides

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Feng Huang

"THey are using the newest model tyrell speeders from our Sunwire shipyards. Two seater, with a quintessence dark energy power core, matter converter so it will clean the air as it races, advanced safety features and a coaxium injection system designed into the engine allowing them to have continual overdrive as opposed to simple bursts that can burn out the engines from skipping." She looked at Feng though and walked while she was moving with the jedi for the moment. "As for me yes I can fly but I am not a racer. No I am a dancer, it was how I did most of my things and from time to time I like to indulge in the moonlight. Sadly I never tried for the Coruscant ballet before the One sith attack destroyed the buildings and they never rebuilt."

She said it and was a little sad but she offered a smile. "Though if I had done that, I never would have become a senator and met some of the most beautiful women in the galaxy." Hmm she thought about it while she was looking at Feng and she walked. "Come on, we'll go down and to the races, you can have special privileges for it." She was moving inside as Caro spoke and looked at her. "The races are proving good, we have a purse of thirty eight million for the opening race of the season and a full line up of twelve racers with their drivers. THe betting pools are going even larger between the districts and offworld streams on the holonet."

Ayumi got a small look while she was walking. "Good, make sure when we get there everything is set up Cato." She said it and looked at the twi'lek as she gave a nod. "And are your clan sister racing today?" She asked it and Cato looked at her. "Number seven, she has some professional player but they wanted the best." Ayumi looked at her. "Good good." A smile was on her face though as she went towards the lift to guide Feng through the offices and the rest of the building. She was looking at Feng though as she walked. "Come now, once we get outside you can protect me and show me your skills. I'll get you something delicious maybe."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng nodded along as Ayumi gave a rundown of description for the craft.

"Dark energy power core and coaxium injection system sounds volatile" Feng commented thoughtfully. "Hmm might not do for ship to ship combat with that amount of explosive potential, if their shields were breached and they erupted they could take out nearby ships in the explosions making tight formation flying difficult in battle. Bombing runs would be a nightmare trying to protect your bombers in formation from sweeping, probing and diving attacks while stay in formation is difficult enough without worry about your own ships blowing up taking you with them."

"Unless of course you had a self contained system perhaps a shield around the core and engine itself." Feng was focusing on ships.

If she focused on ships she wasn't focusing on Ayumi. Definitely wasn't imagining her dancing in the moonlight.

Ah krak it.

"I'd like to see you dance in the moonlight" Feng said softly shyly, then she cleared her throat and looked away blushing. She hated how much she was blushing red face pink only looked good on a Zeltron. No matter what people thought of her no one was going to mistake her for a Zeltron.

Feng beamed when she learned they were going to see the racers. In another life Feng liked to believe she could have been a racer, although chances are she would have been stuck street racing on swoop bikes. Racing was racing though. Feng had a passion for it.

When she heard the size of the purse her eyes bulged.

"What does the revenue from the races go towards?" Feng asked with a frown.

In general she disapproved of gambling, it seemed like yet another addiction for the masses to waste their livelihoods on. If however the revenue could be used towards something positive she supposed that was a useful avenue to direct it towards. Feng may be saddened by someone losing their mortgage on a race, but it was better for them to have legal alternatives to loansharks and shylocks from one of the crime syndicates.

Feng raised an eyebrow at the word choice of getting Feng something delicious. She wondered if she should make her stance clear that she wasn't something to be coddled. She was still a Jedi… well almost… she was in the Order anyway. Point was she deserved respect! She also knew however that puffing up her chest and declaring such would just make her seem desperate or immature. She wondered what Master Wu or Aiden or Connel would say. Well they would never be caught flirting with a senator.

Since when the hell did I start flirting with senators?!

Feng was perplexed to realise she just had.

Ayumi Pallopides

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Feng Huang

"Oh. Well then Jedi Feng perhaps I'll have to show you." She said it while she was moving and thought about it. "Well for the food vendors they have their portion, the fees for selling gives the district its portion. Nothing massive but enough. Then suppliers have their share and you have the racers and players dividing it up themselves. The course only takes a small fee for entry to join in so it comes down to what they want to use it for. The districts collected fees are used for its funding and projects to reinvest." She said it while walking and looked at the woman for a moment as she seemed to have a thought. Her hands coming out when the lifts doors opened and she was able to walk.

"You're overthinking." She said it and walked turrning backwards and guiding herrself with the force in the lobby around the people so she could maintain eye contact. The force flowing from her when she looked at her. "You have a look on your face and while cute I wouldn't want to insult." She smiled though as the doors opened and the sound was the first thing to come. Fanfare, music from a dozen different booths but they were not clashing. The sounds of people talking as large holocreens were showing the racers with the speeders. The open design getting a small look. "Though to answer your earlier run through of it. I don't recommend them in space the no canopy might be a little risky."

She said the last while she was still moving and looked down at the woman taking a moment only to stop at a booth and she spoke with confidence. "One Sophros Fruit and two slices of Denonite Pie." She said it as the man gave her a nod and was moving. His hands working deftly with a blade along the seam of a large fruit. The spines along the outside gleaming and he had special gloves on. The ovens behind showing food in them while Ayumi spoke. "Some of our own foods. The pie is simple, indulgent and delicious." She held two fingers up for a chefs kiss. "Perfect vendor food for a day like this and the fruit well."

She said it and waited for a moment as the man finished. Getting the shell off of the fruit and exposing small sacs of the inner fruit. The membrane holding them together but he deftly used a spoon to take it out and hold it over a bowl. The small blade being used to pierce the sac as a creamy paste came out with the pungent scent of flowers and fruit. He swirled it and spoke as the bowl was filled with each of the four sacs giving a decent amount with two spoons as Ayumi held her fingers for a moment when he gave it to her. "Well the fruit is simply divine and tasty, the third sweetest thing I can say I put my mouth on and a small surprise."

She said it while turning finally and speaking to the man. "Can I get the shell please?" She asked it as the man gave it to her and Ayumi held it by the inside. "Now be careful the outer spines are sharp and have a chemical that irritates the skin. But it also helps with energy dissipation and out experiments with it have shown it is quite strong against a lightsaber or blaster." She offered it to her as the bell rang for the pie and the man took it out while it was hot. The circular piece of dough, cheeses, meats and paste sizzling from the over. A large blade coming down to cut it into wedges while the man was putting it onto smaller plates and Ayumi held the in her free hand.

"See something delicious jedi Feng, just like I promised."

 

[Feng Huang]

Just like that Feng was blushing once again. Feng wasn't sure she knew how to dance. An absurd thought came to mind that perhaps she should ask the senator to dance some time. Should she? I mean she had gotten over her uncertainty and confusion that Ayumi was flirting with her, she was fairly sure it would be welcome. Unfortunately that did nothing for the fact that Feng's heart was suddenly pounding, her palms were sweaty and then when she tried to speak her heart was suddenly in her throat of all places.

"Would you like to go dancing some time?" Feng asked in a squeak.

Oh Force what had she done? She'd never asked anyone on a date before. She was sure she'd completely made a right shash of things. Ayumi- when had she become Ayumi and not the Senator- would realise Feng was just some dumb kid, and not worth her time.

Feng's face flickered into a small smile while her heart soared.

She thinks I'm cute

Wait did that mean cute was in someone you were interested in or cute like a dismissal of someone beneath you? Like a puppy or a child.

Feng sighed to herself and recognised her thought patterns were becoming obsessive. She closed her eyes briefly and tried to practice her exercises she did while meditation.

There just thoughts, they can't harm you and don't mean anything about you. She likes you, she's said so a couple of times now. Accept it. Move on.

Feng for the first time relaxed and huffed a laugh.

"I was thinking more adapting the engine designs of the dark energy power core and coaxium injection system to a starfighter than the model of ship itself." Feng explained wryly. "Though I suppose coaxium injection has been used before."

Looking at the food with curiosity, Feng took a taste of the fruit with care. Her eyes widened in surprise, then she closed her mouth in appreciation. A very undignified moan of pleasure escaped her lips. She blinked eyes opened and swallowed quickly.

"Uhm sorry I don't usually make sounds like that in public" Feng apologised, realised what she said and blushed. She rolled her eyes, clearing her throat. She was getting tired of blushing, so was determined to power through any more awkward moments. She wanted to show Ayumi she had more to offer than being a bumbing nervous wreck.

"You know what I mean."

Feng tucked in to the pie to prevent herself from embarrassing herself further. Feng munched appreciably on the food for a few moments before she commented on it.

"It's very good. I don't think I've ever had Denon cuisine before."

There a nice safe normal topic of conversation. Just keep doing that.

Ayumi Pallopides

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Feng Huang

She watched her with a look of interest, amusement sure but that was only because she was almost curious scientifically how red and how much blood could rush to the young woman's face. "I didn't quite hear all of that." She said it but the girl was having some food. It sounded like she was asking her out and Ayumi wanted to double check, make sure she had said it before she accepted. Feng tried the fruit with a small look. "It is alright." She was moving a little for them to be able to move but also talk. Positioning herself so her bodyguard was protecting her and able to have a full view and area of protection for her.

She looked at her while walking and spoke. "The cuisine is new, one of the biggest reforms we worked on me and now chancellor Dominique Vexx was the creation of food production facilities, resource and livestock pens on levels and vertical farming. The reduced imports was largely what we spent on food that we are now producing. Which opens for us the options to have a cultural revolution and our own cuisine. One of the first things they made was these pies and I can admit that they are a little addicting." She said it with a smile while walking. "We have also been making flavored drinks such as waters, sweet drinks, energy enhancing and milks."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng huffed a little at being forced to repeat what might have been the hardest sentence for her to ever articulate, and that included the time she'd cracked her ribs. She cleared her throat took a deep breath and tried again.

"I asked. Would you like to go dancing with me some time?" Feng made sure she enunciated every word carefully this time, trying her best to ignore the fact that she had apparently shapeshifted into a Zeltron. Maybe she should die her hair purple to match.

She tried her best to listen to the explanation of the cuisine with as much interest as she could muster, but in reality she was too focused on Ayumi's answer to being asked out. Feng was already getting the sense she was being toyed with. Maybe that's all this was just an amusing diversion to toy with the new, inexperienced padawan on the scene. Her heart clenched at the thought vowing that she would immediately ask for a transfer off of the Senators detail if that was the case.

With an effort Feng returned to the topic of the food.

"Most politicians are so focused on economy and technology they forget people need to eat or the other basics; shelter, clean water, basic electricity." Feng fell quiet remembering the bare living of her early childhood whether it be in the slums or the farms. Master Wu had his flaws in raising a rebellious sociable child but he had always made sure she'd had enough to eat.

Ayumi Pallopides

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Feng Huang

SHe thought about leaving her to stew... let the moment ripen... but she knew she couldn't do that.. The courage to ask the first time was extreme and to repeat it while helpful had been likely even worse. Her red face was likely the results as Ayumi brought a hand up and held her hand there. Fanning herself for a moment. "Oh Jedi Feng, I... I had hoped you thought me worthy of your time. I would love to dance with you." She said it and hoped that would ease the jedi's mind or at least let the color in her face go back to the rest of her body. She smiled moving only a little closer as she looked down.

"Well I care about it all. The economy pays for the things that help the people and the people make the economy. So long as you have a balance you can do a great deal of good. It is like assembling an engine, a fuel injector or a lightsaber. Or planning a wonderful day of food and entertainment. Everything needs to be balanced and in its place... and the bonus is when your work pays off and you can see results that you wanted." SHe said it with a small look and took a bite of the fruit as her eyebrows raised up.

"I will confess that I have been waiting, anticipating, hoping you would ask me out. Ever since you said you would push me down and get on top to protect me. Couldn't get such a thought out of my head... I am just lucky I am not a practicing jedi. Imagine in all that excitement and daydreaming about convincing you to join me my battle meditation flared up and out to inspire well..." She looked around. "IMagine all of these lovely people being inspired to compliment your beaautiful features."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng smiled shyly, ducking her head she played with her food. Now that the horrible, gut wrenching, heart seizing, breath catching, sweatiness of actually asking her out was behind her, Feng felt extremely relieved… and excited. With an effort of will she focused on the feeling being one of excitement and not anxiousness, allowing for a slight nervousness, but not nerves.

"Well. If I'm going dancing I'll need a dress won't I?" Feng said coyly with a barely surprised smile of glee, wondering how she could hide what dress she buys from Ayumi until the date happened. Feng frowned as nice as it would be to surprise Ayumi with a dress, maybe get one of those pleased gobsmacked silences that she saw people get on holofilms… no she decided it'd be a more valuable experience to shop with Ayumi. That always seemed like fun to be able to shop with someone try on a variety of pretty dresses disclaiming that half a dozen perfectly fine and elegant dresses weren't good enough until the perfect dress came along.

Feng suppressed a small chuckle, it was definitely a chuckle and not a giggle, a giggle was childish and Feng was not going to appear childish in front of her… in front of Ayumi. Feng pushed the possessive claim of what precisely Ayumi was to the side for the moment.

"Am I your bonus then?" Feng asked with a wry smile and a glint in her eye.

Feng's mouth fell open in shock. Feng had completely forgotten she had said anything like that at all, she certainly hadn't meant anything by it, certainly not what Ayumi was implying. Force dammit the blush was back.

"That wasn't! I mean I wasn't! I was just! It was in the course of doing my duties!" Feng protested flustered

Feng deflated, scowled with half felt mock fury fueled by embarrassment.

"I think you just like seeing me blush." Feng muttered.

Ayumi Pallopides