Around Here

[Natasi Fortan]

You gotta know what to do, you gotta do it in a hurry​

Gotta hustle, gotta bustle, gotta scoot, you gotta scurry​

'Cause we got no time to fool around around here (around here)​

​

Being a Cabinet Minister had its privileges, it was true. A better parking space, a nicer office, the occasional spot on the evening news. But it also had its duties, whether explicitly required or customarily expected: being policy experts in their field, setting a good example, and welcoming new members to the Senate. It was this task that Aurelia set herself today, approaching the office of the newly sworn-in Member for Chandrila. She wore her usual vestments for a day in the Senate, a simple pair of black pants and blouse with a set of crimson and gold robes of state over them, and she carried with her a carton of office supplies, upon which sat, rather precariously, a basket of freshly-baked pastries.

You gotta get it right on the first try, honey​

'Cause each mistake means we're losing lots of money​

And we got no time to waste a dime around here​

​

She didn't know Senator [member="Daren Silvari"], hadn't heard his name until the night before when she was looking over the diary for the day. Still, best foot forward and all that. She entered into the outer office of the Senator for Chandrila and nodded over the top of the carton and pastries. "Excuse me," she told the service droid standing next to the reception desk. "Is the Senator in?" She pressed her lips together as the droid asked her who was calling. Droids were remarkably unobservant these days. "Aurelia Volcata, Member for New Holstice and Minister of Finance. I doubt whether I'm on the diary, I'm just here to help Mr. Silvari settle in if I can."

​

You gotta know who to trust, better know it in a hurry​

No time for such a thing as your personal worries​

Gotta grow, you gotta show, better keep it in tow around here​

 

[Daren Silvari]

Daren had been busy situating his office to his liking, which was uniform and tidy - no doubt a product of his training during his time in the Republic Military. It was the time it took to get used to the office that bothered him only slightly, that an the receptionist droid that would constantly bother him with messages from various important figures in the Republic. And, almost as if the droid had heard his thoughts, it's rather monotonous voice rang across the intercom on his desk,

"Senator Silvari, sir. The Minister of Finance, [member="Aurelia Volcata"] is here to see you." Why in the kark was the Minister of Finance wanting to see him? He thought to himself as he straightened his casual clothing to be more presentable to the Minister. He had happened to be wearing a grey long sleeved shirt with his dog tags visible and a pair of rather bland pair of darkened khaki pants. His feet were bare at the moment as he was just tidying up his office and did not wish to dirty it up, perhaps that was his own OCD playing into effect.

"Allow her in." came his reply through the outer intercom as the door to his office opened from a press of one of the many useful buttons on his desk. As she entered the room, she would see the uniform interior with very little out of place, save for a box with various memorabilia from his childhood on Coruscant. She would find him stand behind his desk, his spine erect and his eyes forward waiting for her to enter.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Aurelia stepped through the threshold and immediately cast her eyes around the room. It was almost spartan. Aurelia allowed herself an internal smile. She doubted whether she would need to go ten rounds with the Member for Chandrila on increasing the budget for office decor. She liked him immediately. "Good morning, Senator," Aurelia declared pleasantly once her eyes settled on [member="Daren Silvari"]. "I don't mean to push in, so please let me know if it's at all inconvenient and I will get out of your hair. But I wanted to pop in to see how you were settling in."

She strode over to his desk and set the unwieldy carton down on the corner of the desk. "I brought you some supplies. It's difficult to say what you can find in the supply closets around here. Stapler, printer paper, toner... pens," she concluded awkwardly, rolling her eyes skyward. Small talk was not one of her strengths, as it turned out. She picked up the pastry basket and held it across the desk to him. "These are just from the mess downstairs, but... y'know. In case you get hungry while you're settling in." Each of the baked goodies was individually wrapped in cellophane.

"Have they given you the tour of the building yet?"

[member="Daren Silvari"]

 

[Daren Silvari]

Daren did not reply immediately, his eyes taking on an analytical gaze as the flicked up and down the length of the Minister before him, if he remembered correctly - Aurelia Volcata was her name. It was then that he had noticed that she still wore her shoes and a brief tension rose in his shoulder and then fell just as quickly, likely to be mistaken for a deep breath if noticed by the untrained eye. He looked directly into the eyes of the Minister before he offered a slight smirk, and then began to speak.

"It is not an intrusion at all, Minister Volcata. However, if I may be so bold as to ask you to remove your shoes and placed them by the door, as a personal favor to me?" He phrased the last bit as a question to the Minister before he then turned his attention the box of office materials that he had set on his desk. He nodded his head in thanks and then set about emptying the box and placing the items that she had brought in their proper locations. It was mere minutes before he had returned to his desk and took a seat before turning his eyes. once again, back to the Minister.

"You may have a seat if you so wish. I appreciate your hospitality. It does one's heart good to know the intentions behind an act of kindness bears no ulterior motives," he made sure that the Minister understood that if this was an act to gain his favor for a future bill; it would not succeed. He was not being cruel, though it may seem as though he was, it was just in his nature. It was then that he realized that he he failed to answer [member="Aurelia Volcata"] 's last question, to which he spoke again in a kinder tone.

"No, I fear that I have not been given a tour of the facility. Much has changed since the Fall of Coruscant, Minister." Already the woman began to gain his trust. She did not seem like the type to hold hidden political agendas, but of course his family had misjudged others before, so for the moment he would remain passive in her presence.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

A brief look crossed Aurelia's face, which was as if he had grown a second head to tell her to take her shoes off. She looked down at her shoes, black patent leather buffed to an immaculate shine, then lofted her eyebrows and said, "All right. I'll play." Aurelia slipped out of her cloak and brought her left leg up, like the yoga pose, and pulled her shoe off, then repeated the process with her right shoe, then padded across the floor to set them next to the door.

"Thank you," Aurelia said before sitting primly on the edge of one of the chairs and crossing her ankles primly. Truth was, she rather enjoyed the sensation of the carpet fibers between her toes, and she seldom had the opportunity to show off her immaculate pedicure. "I hope you don't mind my offering some unsolicited advice, Senator," she said, her lips turning up at the edges in a little smirk. "But despite what you may have seen on the holonews or read in the news flimsies, I have never seen anyone offer a bribe, nor have I ever seen anyone solicit one. And believe me, if I were trying to bribe you, I would not attempt to do it with pastries from the mess. I draft the budge, I know what they're worth. I may seek to elicit your support for a measure I propose, or you, I. But that's all above board. You may eat those pastries with no fear that I will come calling."

The earnestness of the Senator was refreshing. She remembered it in herself fairly well. She liked to think of herself as incorruptible still, but dealing with a Ministry, particularly the Finance Ministry, meant many more days where the right course of action was not as clear as she would like, where difficult decisions had to be made and where no option was fair or right, only less unfair or less wrong.

Aurelia dwelt on her thoughts for a few long moments, staring at the front of [member="Daren Silvari"] 's desk, before she blinked herself back into the room. "Beg pardon, Senator. It's been a long few weeks. I would be pleased to show you around. Have you received your committee assignments yet?"

 

[Daren Silvari]

"You are welcome, Minister, and of course." He tilted his head in acknowledgement for her to continue to her advice, at which point a genuine smile graced his features in an exhibit of genuine pleasure. So, the Minister had been astute enough to see through his veiled words and had even confirmed that she was not meeting him to solicit favors from him. She was honest. He liked her.

"Forgive me, Minister. I am new to the Senate and assumed only the worst of you, be assured that I will not make that mistake again." his words rang true, even as he felt in his own heart that he would not assume the worst of her again. She had proven herself, so far, to be forward about her intent and to see such honesty gave him a slight feeling of hope for his future in the Senate. It seemed, though he would not outright admit it, that the Minister had found herself a tentative ally for her future endeavors. Honesty was paramount in his relations with others, and if they proved to be manipulative or dishonest, he would likely oppose them at every turn. Fortunately, she had played well the game, and had made herself a new friend of him.

He was not so naive to think that he would not become a changed man in the Senate, but he hoped to stick to his own ideals, even if his morals were not upheld; not that he had very many to uphold at this point. When he turned his attention back to the woman, he realized that she was not present in her surroundings, only to see her return her focus back to him with a swift and formal apology and an invitation to show him around the facility.

"I shall accept your most gracious offer, Minister." he stood from his position behind his desk and walked over to where his own shoes lay next to hers and carefully slipped them back onto his feet, then proceeding to re-lace them so they were snug and comfortable. Once finished, he stood and remained in the doorway, not willing to step back onto his carpet with his shoes on. "To answer your last question, Minister... No, I have not received my assignments as of yet. I expect that these things will come with time, however."

[member="Aurelia Volcata"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Aurelia collected her cloak and folded it over one arm, following him to the door. "You'll be hearing from the Prime Minister before long. I think they do it on a questionnaire now. You can request membership on a certain committee and then the chairman selects from those interested. It's... " She paused as she leaned over to pick up her shoes and then stepped into the hall; the stone floors were cold beneath her feet. She slipped her shoes on one at a time and then straightened and draped her cloak around her slender form. "Well, it's idiotic, sometimes, to be perfectly frank. Try to imagine this scenario -- and it hasn't happened since I've been in the Senate, for obvious reasons, but I read about it."

She glanced up and down the hallway and then pointed one way. "You'll loop around whatever way you go because of the way the building is constructed. Each hallways is a circle leading from one end to the other. The Senate offices are all along this level; you can see the signs." She indicated the sign hanging from the ceiling which read, in basic, "Chandrila". "I'm the next floor up, on the Ministry level, where things are marked by Ministry, not planet. But I also have an office down here, under New Holstice."

She turned left down the hallway. "Anyway, as I was saying. Imagine a Senator from Coruscant sitting on the Agriculture Committee. Coruscant, which hasn't grown a single food crop in the last six millenia. But that was where the agricultural subsidies were decided, so that's where they needed to be." She rolled her eyes. "Anyway. This way you'll get to the turbolift banks and lobby."

As if on cue, they entered the lobby. Several Senators were standing around in clusters in the large room. "Obviously you'll enter your pod from your office, but you can enter the gallery from here. The turbolifts can take you anywhere else in the complex, including the Ministry level, the speeder pads, the Prime Minister's office, lounges, whatnot. I'll see if I can dig you up a map; I'd recommend you to travel with your commlink for the first week or so. It's easy to get turned around in this place."

[member="Daren Silvari"]

 

[Daren Silvari]

Daren walked with the Minister of Finance, patiently and attentively listening to everything that the senior member of the Senate was saying to him. She spoke well for a Senator, another trait that he admired. He even managed a laugh at the scenario she spoke of involving a Senator of Coruscant holding a chair on the Agricultural Committee, and it was then that he deigned to speak making a motion that he was to begin speaking.

" I'd think a Senator of Alpheridies would be better served in that committee, they are an isolated world, no trade routes pass through their sector so they have had to be self sufficient. They would be excellent under the Agricultural Committee, likely to be one of the few who could serve cost effectively under that particular field." he knew that he was taking a shot in the dark, his expertise didn't lay in politics or committee's. He was a warrior, serving in the Republic Military had taught him to be honest and forward with his intentions; you had to be to survive. There were no room for politics. But, after he was discharged he needed a new way to serve the Republic, so he took up office in the Senate and hoped that they would accept him and his unique way of thinking about things - at least until he learned the ropes anyway.

Nevertheless, he continued his walk with the Minister and continued to listen in silent attentiveness at every word she spoke. He flinched internally at the mention of scrounging up a map for him as though he were some puppy who would get lost easily and need to find his way home again. He had to remember that this woman had no ulterior motives behind her actions, she seemed to have a genuine kindness about her.

"I will do as you suggest, Minister. A comm-link would be a sound strategy until I know my way about the facility." he paused took take a breath and then formed a question that had been running through his head, "Allow me to ask you a personal question, if I may, Minister. But, hypothetically if someone were to have a significant quantity of credits stored in various accounts scattered across the galaxy, all under various aliases to prevent some unsavory character from hearing of his continued existence; How would you suggest that he move his financials to a centralized safe location where he could access them whenever he needed, and still retain his anonymity from those who may be watching for him?" his question was layered with hidden meaning, which Force willing, would be hidden from the Minister's astute mind.

He had long since been attempting to find a way to put all his financials in a centralized location that was easily accessible to him, and still manage to keep his identity hidden from those that still hunted him.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

If Aurelia caught on to any hidden meaning in the Senator's question, she didn't let on, instead maintaining a pleasant if neutral expression. She led the way to the turbolift bank and entered after a delegation of staffers from the Senator from Denon's office exited. "What an intriguing scenario," she murmured, studying the control panel as she determined where to take [member="Daren Silvari"] next. She finally decided on the Sky Lounge, one of the nicer lounges in the building thanks to its commanding views over the nearby area. "I would suggest that the individual speak with an accountant and a tax attorney before doing anything. Depending on the source of the credits, there may be a significant tax or even criminal liability."

The turbolift rocketed upwards. "Provided that those hurdles are overcome, I would advise this person to consult with their accountant or financial planner to discuss meeting his financial goals. But a more important piece of advice I would give to this hypothetical person is to avoid being in the public eye or holding public office. This sort of thing doesn't play well with our friends in the media, and they love to give the people reason to think the worst of us. Politicians and corruption go together like blue milk and -- well, you must know the expression."

The doors opened into a large room, very near the top of the building. A bar was built into the center of the room, around the central wall, and floor-length windows and doors made up the outer wall. Each door had a balcony, dotted every several meters around the perimeter for private conversations or solitude. "As a Senator, you have access to every Senate lounge and lobby in the building. There's a club on the Ministry level that, by custom, is limited to Ministers and guests, but it's rather dull and not as nice to look at." She approached the bar, where a Mon Calamari was polishing glasses and mugs. "Good morning, Akiuar. May I present Daren Silvari, the new Member for Chandrila? Senator, this is Elmar Akiuar, who runs this establishment in the morning hours. Could I have my usual, please? Senator, do you care for anything to drink?"

 

[Daren Silvari]

Daren nodded at her words and mulled over the consequences of attempting to move his financials somewhere closer to the Republic capital, however he could see no way to do so and still manage to evade the scrutiny and ravenous natures of the media. Letting out an audible frustrated sigh, he thanked her for an answer to his proposed scenario, "Thank you for indulging me, Minister. You are quite wise." , so it wasn't a grand thank you, but he was sure that it would suffice for the time being. He was vaguely aware of her continued speech as his mind was still perplexed by his financial situation. It seemed that he would have to go an collect his financials himself, visiting every bank on each world that held a fraction of his credits, never more than one-hundred thousand in a single place.

As they rocketed upwards, he found himself spreading his legs a little wider and locking them into position with his muscles, so as not to be knocked off balance by the initial thrust of the turbolift, nor the final lurch as they reached their destination. When they stepped off the turbolift and into the next room, his eyes caught a rather beautiful sky lounge centered in the political hub of the Republic. He had certainly not expected to see such a thing in the Senate building, though he ought to have known otherwise, the Senators - not all - did like their fancy decorations.

His eyes turned away from the towering glass windows towards the Minister as she introduced him to the Mon Calamari barkeep to whom he turned his eyes to and held out his hand in greeting shaking Akiuar's hand before speaking, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Akiuar. ", though by the tone of his voice, it was clear that Daren was wary of the Mon Calamari, his untrusting nature coming into play.

"No thank you, Minister. I would not indulge myself so soon into the new post, but feel free to continue your drink.", his voice taking on a slightly less wary tone as his attentions were turned back to the Minister. As she awaited her drink, she would find that Daren was making his way towards a door that exited on the balcony directly across from the bar itself. As soon as he exited the building, he was greeted by an afternoon breeze that caressed his skin as softly as silk across bare skin.

Despite his nature, he had been enjoying the company of [member="Aurelia Volcata"] and her good hearted nature. He was not easy to trust another person, but she seemed the good sort, so maybe he would take a chance on her and allow himself to trust again.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Non-fat, sugar-free hazelnut latte, extra shot, sugar, dusting of cinnamon, to go." Akiur slid the coffee cup across the bar to Aurelia, who took it with a smile and dropped a credit chit in the tip jar, then left with murmured thanks to re-collect her charge. She paused at the bar, clutching the warm cup between her fingers, and examined the Senator as he stood on the balcony. He was a puzzle, this one. As much as she felt reasonably good at reading people, this one remained a puzzle. She studied him for a few moments before tracing his steps to the doorway, pushing the glass door open and stepping into the sunshine.

"It's beautiful here," Aurelia said quietly as she approached him from the back. "It's a shame that we might have to leave it, at least temporarily. You came at any interesting time. I don't know whether you would have heard about the assassination attempt on the Minister of State. It happened... right over there, actually," she said, pointing into the distance towards the square where it happened. "The capital isn't safe anymore. I proposed legislation to temporarily move the government to a more secure planet, and my headcounts show it has a pretty good chance of passing. It will be a shame, but better for the Republic, I think."

Aurelia sighed and leaned over the railing. The Senate dome extended below them until it disappeared into the city below.

[member="Daren Silvari"]

 

[Daren Silvari]

"Aye, I had heard of the attempted assassination of the Minister of State. In fact, I'm sure the entire galaxy has heard of it by now, and those that haven't are obviously either on the furthest reaches of the galaxy or just plain ignorant to the going ons of their universe.", he spoke with his back still to [member="Aurelia Volcata"]. As he turned around however, he took another breath before speaking, "The relocation of the Capital would only make sense in these troubled times. It has been made clear by the deaths of Republic allies and officials that Onderon can no longer protect the officials of the Republic. In addition, they also need time to recover themselves from the tragedy they have suffered at the hands of the assassin."

That was probably the only time that he would appear to feel empathy for someone he did not know. He knew what loss felt like, perhaps not as much as the people of Onderon felt at the loss of their king; but he was no stranger to it. He did not see the relocation as a defeat, but more so as an opportunity to strengthen their position and perhaps grow further in all areas that made up the Galactic Republic.

He found his eyes trailing across the form of the Minister next to him. He was wary of her, but not so much as he was when she had first approached him earlier in the afternoon. The tour had been going for a while now, and he had enjoyed the company of the Minister immensely. Of course, he would likely never admit that to anyone he knew. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the breeze that accented the warmth of the sun's rays on his skin perfectly - like the perfect summer day, taking some measure of comfort in the peace of his afternoon with the Minister.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Aurelia's commlink chimed and she glanced down at her wrist, where a discreet silver chrono hung elegantly on a small chain. "Damn and blast," she murmured. "I didn't realize it was so late. Come along, we have a few more things to look at on the way back to my office. I have the Ministerial security briefing in ten minutes and I'm afraid the General doesn't like to be kept waiting. Would you come this way, please?"

Aurelia bundled them both back into the turbolift and began to point out the different levels on the selection panel. "This is as high as the turbolift goes, see?" She pointed at the button for the Sky Lounge, which was at the very top. "There are other levels above this one but the general-access turbolift doesn't take you there. Below us you have the press lobby and visitor center. If you are slated for an interview you'll usually do it there, the press likes the look of the marble hall for interviews. If you're expecting guests, they'll enter at the opposite side from this turbolift, so you'll just follow the hall around. There are special viewing rooms where visitors can view the proceedings but not participate -- school groups, whatnot."

"Next," Aurelia said without pausing. "Is the reading room and library. The staff there are civil servants, non-political, so they will be pleased to help you research whatever you may require. The Parliamentarian's office is on that level, as are the Senate Counsel and offices for whatever Ministry counsel are required. Below that, in the Seventh Circle of Hell, is the Senate Budget Office. They're the little numbers wizards who take my bills and tell me that I can't have what I want. A necessary evil, I'm afraid. If you need legislation scored to tell you how much it will cost, take it to the SBO. Also non-political."

"Below that is the Mess, or as it's labeled here the Senate Dining Room. Then the Promenade, which is basically just a large balcony with some private meeting rooms of varying side along the inside wall. Then the Ministry floor, then the Senate offices take up these levels here. As you know, you enter your office through an outer office, and then if you keep walking you'll get to your Senate pod. Thank Heaven the doors to the pod bay close or you might never get anything done. Then at the bottom is the Prime Minister's office. She enters the central podium in her office and it lifts her to the middle. Very dramatic."

Aurelia felt slightly out of breath as she turned back to [member="Daren Silvari"]. "You've memorized that, I trust?" She hit the Ministry Offices key and the turbolift began its descent.

 

[Daren Silvari]

Daren matched the quickened pace of the Minister with relative ease, silently admiring at how swiftly she called the remaining features of the Senate Building. He doubted few could match her in swiftness, both with action and words. This brought another smile to his face, he found himself smiling quite a lot in the presence of the Minister - it was an odd reaction to someone. Especially in regards to his reactions. Nevertheless, he managed to keep up with the Minister until they stepped into the lift, for what he assumed would be the final time this evening, and regarded her with quite the interest.

He paused in his thoughts when she directed the final question at him and he only offered a brief nod of his head before he answered, "Of course Minister. I shall not be led astray thanks to your kindness and willingness to give me this tour. I do apologize if I was a distraction from your duties and I wish you the very greatest of evenings." He bowed slightly in formal respect and smiled as the lift opened onto the Ministry offices, and remained in the lift assuming that this is where the two would depart for the evening.

He only offered a final sentence, "Thank you for the tour, and the wonderful evening Minister." He would step back and rest against the wall of the lift as he kept his eyes on [member="Aurelia Volcata"] awaiting her goodbye.