A Common Promotion

[Kay-Larr]

Kay didn't want to lose [member="Silfe Sosuri"] . The young lady showed promise, despite her adopted son [member="Bradshaw Ku"] taking a liking to her. That could be a bit of an issue, but also a blessing as it could keep Brad from wandering off again to cause trouble for himself.

With the dissolving of the Senate, some had just headed back to their own home worlds. Yet Silfe seemed to hold back. Kay had positions available in her staff and it was one of these that she had in mind for the young Senator.

A message for Silfe to come to the Royal Palace was sent. Now Kay waited in her office with tea prepared and a datapad on her desk. Hopefully the meeting would go well.

 

[Silfe Sosuri]

Silfe paced in her personal chambers with her delicate nail between her teeth. The sun shone upon her green velvet embroidered gown but she played no mind to the array of colors reflecting on the giant windows. She was preoccupied, her thoughts heavy and depressing. Earlier in the day, she had received notice that her father was on his way from Cyrillia. He had head of the dissolution of the Senate and was now quite aware she had stayed despite this fact. According to the house servant who sent the message, his mood was as black as ever, feeling that his daughter had betrayed him by not returning immediately to him to beg his forgiveness for having failed so utterly and so quickly. It did not matter that the change was not her decision and had nothing to do with her personally.

In a fit of frustration, she threw her hand away and in the back of her mind, deep set fear sat like a two ton stone. As she turned to continue her pacing, a servant entered with the message. Silfe took it and blinked in confusion and then warmth spread as a soft smile came to her soft pink lips. She liked Lady Kay.

She quickly made sure she was presentable and made her way to the designated place: [member="Lady Kay"]'s office. When she entered, she was relaxed and seemingly happy. The last few weeks on Commenor had done her good. "Greetings Lady Kay. I received your message." Upon seeing the tea before her , her smile widened. "You know I hear Tea is very much your thing."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay looked up, having already been savouring her tea with a cup in both of her hands. She smiled as [member="Silfe Sosuri"] stepped in, glad that her information was correct that the young lady hadn't left yet. She laughed at her remark. "Yes, it's a little addiction of mine. I always have a supply of it around. I find it rather soothing and comforting. Well, that and it really tastes good. Care for a cup?"

She gestured to the tea set, allowing Silfe to help herself if she wanted to. The Sapir tea was good enough to have black as it's flavour was delicate, but there was cream and sugars there too.

"Thank you for coming, by the way, and for not heading home so quickly. I have an opening for a position in my government that I'd like to offer you. You may be young and inexperienced, but then so was I when I first started working for the Republic. Everyone has to start somewhere. Are you interested?"

 

[Silfe Sosuri]

Silfe's smile widened as [member="Lady Kay"] laughed. She liked the sound of it and could see the multitude of ways she endeared loyalty and friendship across multiple people's, cultures and sides of the Force.

She walked to the tea set and prepared herself a cup of tea, smelling and tasting it black before adding a tiny bit of cream and sugar. Having never had it before, she wasn't going to just blithely do what she does with her regular tea and she was glad she didn't. The tea Lady Kay had chosen was light and mild.

Silfe took a seat gracefully and was about to take a sip when Lady Kay sked her to take a position within Commenor's government. She nearly dropped the tea in surprise and quickly set the shaking cup down. Her dark eyes were as wide as saucers and she felt the hear of a blush come to her pale cheeks. "Oh, my Lady, yes of course I am interested. I should be honored and delighted to take up any post you feel I would be a good fit for."

She paused and then asked with a curious expression, "what position is it exactly? What would my duties be?" Inside she was a mix of utter joy and extreme suspicion. There were no guarantees. Lady Kay may seem nice, but what if there were other motivations as yet unknown to the inexperienced girl, that had her offering this position. Was it because she didn't want to lose the extremely helpful contracts between Cyrillia and Commenor for droids? She shoved her insecurities aside, trying to judge the woman based on face value despite her natural proclivity to question everyone's ulterior motives.



Meanwhile...

"Commenor Space Port this is Cyrillia Governmental Transport ship Alpha requesting to land at the royal palace landing pad. We are transporting Alecars Sosuri. He wishes to meet with his daughter immediately."

To the side of the pilot, an imposingly tall man stood with a black mood clearly showing in his features. If anyone said no, he would burst and the poor pilot knew it.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay watched as [member="Silfe Sosuri"] nearly spilled her tea from the sudden surprise. Of course that wasn't quite the reaction that she was expecting, otherwise she'd of asked before she had Silfe fetch some tea. But at least the young lady recovered well.

"The position of Minister of Foreign Affairs has been vacant for a while. And given that I won't be able to do much travelling soon to visit our allies or worlds under our care, I'll need someone todo so in my stead." She sipped her tea and she tilted her head to the side a bit as she studied Silfe's reactions curiously, seeing a lot of her younger self in her. "I need someone kind, fair unimposing. Tensions are high in various parts of the Galaxy, so we needn't be deemed a threat. We have been invited to the First Order Fundraiser. Both Veiere and myself will be going. I think that it'd be a good idea for you to travel with us." Not everyone agreed with the First Order and Kay was one of them. But there were times that she had to set aside personal feelings for the good and safety of her people.


Meanwhile:

~Transport Ship Alpha, request is granted. Sending co-ordinates now.~

Security for the Palace was already being notified as soon as the co-ordinates were received. A team of them were assembling to meet on the landing pad to escort him through the Palace.

 

[Silfe Sosuri]

Minister of Foreign Affairs? Silfe couldn't possibly contain her joy. She smiled wide and even sat up a little straighter, feeling as though she could dance on air. She was going to be able to remain. She had a job where she was actually needed. She didn't have to go home to Cyrillia. Relief flooded her, mixing with the joy and she felt her cheeks warm further. She lifted a cold hand to her face. "I accept the position, My Lady. I shall endeavor to do my best and learn quickly."

Then the pretty woman paused and her brow furrowed in confusion. "But why... pardon my asking, but... why are you not going to be traveling soon?" She thought she knew the answer, like most women somehow do but she wasn't going to assume.




The ship confirmed the coordinates and made it's way to the palace. Upon landing, the governor of Cryillia stepped out with quick and masterful steps. He was shrewd, dark haired and even amongst the guard now present to escort him, considered large. He didn't even wait for them to lead the way, just cut his way through them and then shouted back, "Well get a move on! You don't expect me to find my daughter myself do you?"

 

[Kay-Larr]

Just as [member="Silfe Sosuri"] was relieved, so too was Kay. She's had people turn down positions before and so she never held her breath when it came to asking others. Of course whether or not Silfe would remain in the position for long remained to be seen. "Thank you. I know that you'll do well. If there's any concerns or questions, feel free to ask me at any time."

She sipped her tea, glancing down slightly as Silfe inquired about her upcoming circumstances that would keep her at home. Some people had already guessed why, as she would randomly be congratulated. It was tough to figure out just how to make the big announcement, as she was wanting to be sure that all was well first. It'll all come out at some point. "I'm with child, part way through the pregnancy. I've been advised to lower my stress levels. And of course I'd want to be home when the time comes, and not stuck on board a ship. So delegating my duties is a part of that. I need good people that I can trust to keep things going for me."

Meanwhile:

Alecars Sosuri's barked orders were met with a series of narrowed eyes as the men followed suit. Just who did he think he was? Some arrogant fool with a head too big for his shoulders was all that he came across as. "This way,...sir."

Alecars was led into the Palace and down the hallways, taking various turns at junction points. "The Lady Silfe is in a meeting with our Queen. I suggest that you wait until her Majesty is informed of your arrival before you barge in."

 

[Silfe Sosuri]

Silfe's kind joy was genuine as she clapped her hands together excitedly. "Well that is wonderful news! I'm sure everything will work out and of course you want to be home for the baby baby's birth. Space is do cold and ships so impersonal. What a lovely thing for you and the King. You must be quite pleased to add to your happy family." She thought about [member="Bradshaw Ku"], the adopted son of [member="Lady Kay"]. He seemed like the kind of man that loved his mother and would be happy to have a sibling.

"I take your trust in me very seriously, my Lady. I know you don't know me well yet, but I am trustworthy, you will see." Silfe's suspicions about Lady Kay's possible ulterior motives had fled her mind with such happiness as she felt. The girl positively glowed. She had sat up straighter, moving away from the girl who always felt nervous, to a woman who might in time find her own strength. Little did she know how close her father was. She had forgotten he was arriving today in the wake of the meeting with Kay.



"The... what?" He blustered and stopped dead in his tracks. He had never heard of his daughter being named this way and it caused such shock that the man just stood with his mouth open for a long moment before he came back to himself. What a travesty. His daughter was no lady. She wasn't even a senator. She deserved no honorific ave it was laughable that this ignorant fool would use one for his useless slip of a girl.

Irritated even more, he waved then all to continue on though the hallways, not wanting to hear peasants and their stupid explanations. "Fine then. Inform the Queen that I am here." His tone started to soften as he mentioned the Queen. He was not wanting to alienate one of his planets closest allies. He could still be arrogant, but he wasn't stupid. A queen deserved deference. Lady Kay was a powerful woman. He would just grab his daughter and leave as soon as possible, or send her home ahead of him if the lady Kay extended hospitality.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smiled and bowed her head at the overjoyed reaction that [member="Silfe Sosuri"] gave her for the news. "It is surely an unexpected but welcomed surprise. For most of my life I thought that I was barren and unable to conceive with my first husband. But it turns out that it wasn't my fault at all." Thank the Force she was never the type to sleep around. She had only bedded the two men that she had married and that was all. The playboys and those that only wanted her for a chance at power were quickly rejected. She had no interest in them or those kinds of games.

She sipped her tea as Silfe mentioned her trustworthiness, and it was amazing to see the sudden shift in the young lady. "I have no doubt in that. Just pay close attention to whatever staff you hire for yourself. Keep them at a minimum." Of course it included a pay raise and a larger room and office. "You'll also be moved to the Minister's wing of the Senate Hall. But if you want to stay in the room that you already have, that's alright."



Meanwhile Alecars thankfully complied with the wishes of the security team. Inwardly they each breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps he wasn't going to just barge headlong into the office and make a fool of himself. All the better for him and them all. They had no idea how Kay would respond.

The head of the team knocked on the office door before opening it and poking his head inside. "Forgive me for the intrusion, Your Majesty, Lady Silfe...but Alecars Sasori has arrived. Should I send him in or have him wait?"

A pause as Kay looked to Silfe for the answer. No doubt it was her Father that had come calling. "I will let the Lady decide."

 

[Amber]

Deleted

 

[Silfe Sosuri]

"Staff?" She had never had staff except the bodyguards her father employed for her safety and protection. "I think I should like to take up the Ministers wing. It is important to reinforce ones position with the pomp and circumstance that comes with an office of that magnitude. Better to do it that way than verbally." There was a great deal she needed to do and she was eager to do it.

Before she could say anything further, staff entered Lady Kay's room and informed her of the Governors presence. Immediately a change unfolded before Kay's very eyes. The joyful, eager woman seemed to shrivel and shrink before her. The emaciation seemed more pronounced. Her fingers very purposefully stilled and she looked like she was prey simply waiting for the predator to snatch her up.

At Lady Kay's voice, Silfe looked up, a ghost of her former self. "Of course. My father will be expecting to see me. He did message me that he would arrive today. I forgot in the excitement of your request."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay watched as [member="Silfe Sosuri"] changed both in appearance and her behaviour. She knew that look, having had it herself during her captivity in the hands of a Sith Lord. Was her Father a brutal man?

Kay's own Father [member="Tobias Larr"] was an Imperial Moff. He had sent her a way the moment that he had learned of her Force Sensitivity, abandoning her and removing any record of her that linked them together. By chance they were reunited when she was arrested falsely for trespassing. His only gift was releasing her, just so long as she revealed to no one that he was her Father. He hated her so much that he didn't even come to her wedding.

So what was Silfe's relationship with her Father like? It didn't seem to be a good one. Kay walked over to the young lady's side, placing a hand on her shoulder for support, while she looked to the security officer. "You can let him in."

The officer bowed his head and then turned to face Alecars Sosuri. "You can go in now." He stepped out of the way and hoped that his Queen would bring the arrogant nerf herder down a peg or two. That would be a great thing to witness.

 

[Silfe Sosuri]

Silfe took a comforting breath as Lady Kay's hand rested upon her shoulder. It's warmth and strong presence helped her find some of the self possessed woman of only minutes ago. She sat up straight and turned in her chair to face the door. As year, Silfe did not trust herself to stand. Her legs felt like jelly. Being here had been the longest time away from her father's influence. It had helped her to some degree to let fall the mantle of being this vivacious mans daughter. However it was only temporary as yet. It would take much longer for the change to be permanent.



Alecard Sosuri came into the Queen's office with a jovial face, a complete transformation from how he had been with her staff. His voice was pleasant and charming. Anyone who didn't know him would find it to be warm and usually respond in kind. "My Lady Kay. It is a great and unexpected honor to be able to see you today. Here I was, coming to fetch my daughter so that I might get her out of your hair and I find her speaking with you. Such my gentle pest." He seemed like he thought this was an amusing thing to call his daughter.

"I beg your forgiveness your highness, but I would like to greet my daughter. Surely she does not shy away from her dearest papa." The look on his face still seemed jovial, but Silfe knew if she did not greet him properly, he would be much angered. So as not to cause a scene for which she would be punished later, Silfe reluctantly stood. Her feet held her steady, a fact for which she was grateful, and she stepped forward to give her father a hug. Maybe she could be quick about it?

His arms came around her and held her close but before she could disengage, his arms became vices. His head dipped down so that his mouth was hidden from Lady Kay. Her breath caught as she simply knew he was seething with deep anger just below the surface. "You will be coming home with me. You have failed me. You. Are. Mine." The last word was a hiss in her ear long after he slid out of the big and held her face in his hands like a doting father. "My dear, you look so frail. Have you been eating? Sleeping?"

She knew if the answer to the first question was yes, she would be in dire straights when they were alone. As it was, she was terrified from his words. All she said was, "Lady Kay has been a most gracious host Father."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay watched as Alecars Sosuri walked into her office. It would do him no good to just storm in, so he took the expected approach of being jovial. His eyes however, told a much different story.

Alecars' voice was gentle and almost sweet, were it not for his choice in words. Calling [member="Silfe Sosuri"] a pest wasn't a word for endearment by any means of the imagination. Still, the young lady got up and walked over to him, giving him a hug that didn't quite seem very natural. Indeed it was longer than it should have been. Although she couldn't quite hear everything being said, the way in which Silfe's body reacted told Kay quite enough of what was going on between the pair.

She stepped forward then, the motion of which she hoped would catch the man's eye and tear him away from tormenting his own flesh and blood. "You should be proud of your daughter. Why she has impressed me so much with her work ethic and the way that she holds herself, that I have given her the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs. She'll be readying her things to move to the Minister's wing tomorrow and hiring her staff. So she won't be able to go home for a visit until after she's settled into her new position in my government."

Now to gage the man's reactions. Would he refuse? It was anyone's guess.

 

[Silfe Sosuri]

Stiffly, Silfe took her father's attentions with as Mich Grace as she could muster under the circumstances. There was so much she would pay for later but the best she could do was mitigate it so it didn't get worse. She flinched as her father took her arm, then steeped her facial expression as he turned her to face the [member="Lady Kay"] as his attention was drawn from his daughter.

Again he took the jovial approach, laughing a bit, he asked. "Surely you jest Lady Kay? My daughter is far too inexperienced to hold such a title and position." Under the cover of billowing sleeves, he clamped down on her arm hard enough to hurt. It was a signal she knew only too well that meant she was not to speak. Even through the pain, she kept completely still, her face blank. It was a situation she was far too used to. If she flinched or showed pain, he would punish her more later.

"Why, she is but a child. You really needn't feel that you have to give this too her just because she is no longer one of your senators. She can come home. I am sure I can find something for her to do." The idea that she had snuck her way into trying to escape him angered him, yet for now, he kept that emotion in check. He was confident he could talk Lady Kay out of it.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay tilted her head slightly while Alecars laughed and assumed that she was joking. The look on her face that [member="Silfe Sosuri"] held, although blank, told her enough. She was hiding in herself, just as Kay had done to the Sith that held her captive. It was a defensive strategy for self preservation that some do by instinct.

She folded her arms across the chest while she turned her attention to Alecars, holding his gaze with her own, almost as though she was glaring at him, almost baiting him to challenge her words further. "I can assure you, that she is less of a child that you believe her to be. I gained the position of Senator when I was her age. We all start somewhere and it is hardly an appropriate response for you to hold her back from advancing her career and her standing in politics. I don't choose my Minister's lightly and I find it insulting that you would think otherwise."

She stepped forward now, never wavering in her gaze while she stared him down, her voice low but dripping with the confidence that her position gives her over the man before her. "Minister Silfe has a lot of work to do, so I suggest that you keep this visit short. Her and I have important matters to discuss that quite frankly are above your paygrade. But when the time comes that she has an opening in her schedule, you'll be able to drop by for another visit. Until then you'll have to wait in line like everyone else."

For the moment, Kay was thankful that [member="Bradshaw Ku"] wasn't there right now.

 

[Silfe Sosuri]

Alecard Susori had never been addressed so. He had never quite pissed people of this high a standing off to this degree. For a moment he simply stood there and blinked, unable to comprehend how a woman could speak to him so forcefully. Even a queen should recognise her betters. It made him quietly furious.

Finally he gave her a smile. "Of course Lady Kay. I meant no disrespect. You are free to choose as you wish for any position within your government. The Susori family is honored you would choose one of our own to serve. If my visit must be brief, then I shall take my daughter for a stroll towards her quarters shall I? It's a lovely day and I have so much wisdom to impart."

 

[Kay-Larr]

So much wisdom indeed. Though Kay felt that the last thing that [member="Silfe Sosuri"] would want is to be alone with this man. His visit came as a surprise, though perhaps her timing was good. Everything happened for a reason.

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait. I was just in the middle of my meeting with her when you arrived. So if you'll please excuse us, I'd like to continue that meeting. You're welcome to wait in one of the sitting rooms down the hallway until we are finished. My guards can escort you and my staff can provide you with refreshments while you wait." It wasn't so much a request as an order. The growing fire in his eyes let her know that Alecars was inwardly fuming. She was quite happy to not be married to such a man herself.

 

[Silfe Sosuri]

This.... was not the answer he wanted. Alecard's mouth tightened as white hot fury seared inside him. This woman was keeping his daughter from attending him. He had much to say and much he wished to impart on her person. His jaw clenched as he turned his face to his daughter and he leaned down to kiss her head. "Of course." He said again, though this time the words were clipped.

"Hurry up my dear. We also have much to discuss." His words were accompanied by yet another squeeze of his vice like grip up in her arm. It hurt enough that she had to close her eyes from the pain in order not to display a reaction. He turned and left swiftly.

Only when he had been gone and the doors closed, did Silfe let out the breath she had been holding ever so softly. That last thing she needed was for [member="Lady Kay"] to second guess that she could handle the job if she couldn't handle her tough father.

Finally, she looked up and stepped forward to take the cup of tea that had been sitting during his visit. She thanked whatever gods may be that her hands were steady. "Goodness if he is not piqued today." She said with a half laugh before sipping her tea.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay continued to watch Alecard very closely. His slight movements let her know that he didn't like her having power over him. Now she knew that he didn't seem to like women in general, it wasn't just the issue of wanting to control his dsughter's life.

After he had finally left, she took the cue that [member="Silfe Sosuri"] had given and breathed a sigh of relief of her own as she dropped her hands and let herself relax. Kay walked over to her tea cup and had a large sip before taking a seat in one of the comfy chairs.

"I'm sorry if I got you into any trouble. Your Father is a very disagreeable man. If you'd like, I can have a security detail with you at all times while he is here...." She didn't want to overstep her boundaries though. Queen or not, there were some things that just weren't her business.