Chase Fashion Presents: A Charity Gala

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

That was what Tash had already thought.

There were certain categories within the circles they ran when it came to mothers and more often than not they were quite... a handful at the least. If Tash was right then hers would probably have been very similar to his- domineering, the true voice in the household, always controlling and checking. She would demand the very best out of you and accept no excuses whatsoever.

Mhm.

The light bump broke his thoughts away from it just in time for him to... see what she was... saying so to speak. Once more their eyes met a fraction too late for any worthwhile excuse to be considered genuine. Tash didn't mind. He wasn't the type to hide interest and effort of exploration.

To him it was a compliment... to her? It seemed to be a tool, maybe even a weapon.

He liked it. "I am glad you recognize the value of my presence then." A chuckle followed soon after, but Cass would have no illusions. He truly did consider him that valuable and it would only hit home the point made back when they met on Etti IV. There was no other opinion that he valued as much as his own. "Mm, well-" Now Tash broke the thin veneer.

His eyes ghosted down.

Brushing length of jaw, clavicle and further, exploring, accentuating, before returning once more to meet her eye. Point made. A sip followed. "-several things, in fact, I wonder if we share it."

A step closer was made.

 

[Seydon of Arda]

He nodded at Mara’s polite ejection and faced Hylo to ask the pertinent query: what carnivorous plant? What death world? Aggressive flora were a still hotly debated subject in some Dunaan circles, regarded especially by Gryphon practitioners of the Path, the school most notably invested in traditional alchemy. Seydon rolled is fingers over a spare vial kept roped inside his suit pocket, for a fast emergency. ‘Black Xander’s Decoction’: potent tissue and healing factor accelerant. Made to Dunaan metabolisms and lethal to ordinary near-humans and none-mutants.

“So, then- ow!” Seydon winced; Rosa’s distemper, a thin whisper echoing in the back of his skull, transmitted through. Then a psionic pin-prick needled into the back of his hand. His head craned round. “Ow, feck off, woman!”

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"] [member="Rosa Gunn"] [member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Noah Corek]

[member="Isabella Fonti"] [member="Joza Perl"]

Noah chuckled at that before he took a swig from his drink. He looked at Maxine aka Isabella with a smirk. "Come on Miss Layton. I know there has to be some gossip going on around about me, especially in a place with all these Upper Levelers. It's no secret that I was born on the mid-levels." Noah informed her. Then his eyes shifted to Joza. "Joza, it's good to see you again. Looking lovely as always." Noah tipped his drink towards her in acknowledgment.

Then Noah's eyes shifted towards the rest of the party. Noah was always observing the people around him, seeing the way they've moved and the way they talked. In this group it was easy. Besides the people he already knew the others were easy to read. Rich Coruscanti nobles who knew nothing about the galaxy and its problems. They'd rather sit in the ivory towers while the rest of the galaxy suffered. Noah didn't hate them because of their wealth, he was actually richer than probably half of the nobles in the room, running a weapons manufacturer kinda did that. No, he hated them because they stuck their heads in the sand and often stuck their heads in the sand and waited for people like him to do their dirty work. Fucking cowards.

 

[Hylocereus]

Hylo was about to go on a rather lengthy diatribe about carnivorous plants and the various genetic abnormalities and evolutionary gains they had made on a certain deathworld he'd once visited. He of course was a carnivorous plant, well omnivorous, but that often freaked people out so he decided he would leave that out. That's when [member="Seydon Gunn"] called him a damn woman. Mara, he called telepathically to his fiance, This man just called me a woman....]/i]

"You know I'm a man right?" he asked with a bit of sad inflection in his voice. Wrinkling his nose he examined him for a moment and tried to see if this was another dad joke like the one [member="Jorus Merrill"] had told him. "It's not because of the flower in my hair right?"

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

 

[Ereza]

"Maybe," he replied stoically, passing over the coy jibe, "but this room isn't."

Implying he knew, or knew of, everyone in attendance, which was almost true. Most of them were business executives with ties of one sort or another to Lin Tech. Some were just influencers. Others were enigmas.

"I'm Kai."

[member="Ereza"]

"Ah, Kai, but large enough my soul hath elbow-room," ember and ice swept across the space of the gardens, taking in the shadows of people emerging from the throngs. Faces obscured by greenery and a mild fog of moisture clinging to the air. It felt like the Nahzrinok jungles.

Almost like home.

"It would not out at windows nor at doors," then coming to glance the corporate jungles beyond the glass, the metal forest of buildings poking pinholes into the horizon, bleeding in the colors of a waning sun.

"I am called Ereza," back, finally, to the man called Kai, expression of subtle mirth, "and it is true, I have never been to Coruscant before. Or any planet of this nature, for that matter."

 

[Seydon of Arda]

Seydon paused; his outburst had landed him in an indelicate moment.

“No,” He said. “The flower’s very handsome.”

His thumb jerked over his shoulder. “That woman, I meant. Tall, raven locks, eyes like spring lavender.”

Seydon’s voice steadily climbed in volume. Exceeding polite noise, until he was exactly sure his wife could hear him well across the gala hall. Curious, well-groomed faces slowly turned from their conversations. “Did you know, she runs her own charity? The Boolon Foundation, that’s right. Magnificent woman. Absolutely. But with a vicious streak meaner than a vixen with a burr in her paw. I cook, I clean, I slave for her on hand and foot. I’m lucky if I get a thank you! Arguments are the worst lost cause and odds are, if she’s wrong, I still have to sleep out in the foyer. But that’s not so bad. She snores worse than I do. Oh, yes! Did you know that, Mr. Valkner? Snores like a reek with a cold. And bed hair like a nest of vipers. Completely inconsolable until the first morning caff. And guess who brews that too!”

[member="Hylocereus"] [member="Rosa Gunn"]

 

[Hylocereus]

Hylo wrinkled his nose at the little speech about Seydons wife. He looked around the man, who was much larger than he, and saw the Raven haired [member="Rosa Gunn"] exactly as Seydon had described. Well almost exactly as he described. Hylo didn't see the vindictive creature that the white haired man seemed to be talking about. "Well," he said searching for something positive to say, "I like lavenders." Wow really?

Looking up at the man he then added, "But maybe you should rotate who makes the caff. That's what me and Mara do." Squinting he then added, "although she spiked mine with sugar one morning."

Looking back at his fiance and then to Rosa and then back to [member="Seydon Gunn"] he considered for a moment. "But you love your wife right? It makes the little things worth it and the big things really worth it right?" Green flushing cheeks turned in the direction of Mara. "I mean that's why I'm marrying Mara."

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

 

[Seydon of Arda]

“Every so often,” Seydon said, drawing Hylo closer by the shoulder. “A husband and wife are allowed to take the piss out of each other. I’ve a feeling Mara will show you what I mean in time. However…”

He paused, thoughtful for a moment, cats-eyes darting as they followed unseen memories. He came back to Hylo after a beat, a small but vivid smile on his face. “You’re right. Very correct. Marriage is very much a compromise. You cannot have your way always, just as she can’t. That meeting in the middle is where you come together, though. …I know Mara is the sort of woman you’re very much willing to leap into harm’s way for. Rosa is just the same for me.

“You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve gone through to help her. Keep her safe. And she’s appealed to my better angels when I’ve very nearly lost my head. So, yes, I’ve lost my privileges to our bedroom for the evening. Just because she has to prove her point, I have to pay for giving her hell in public, because I know one day she’ll look back and crack a smile at tonight.”

The hue to his eyes briefly subsumed from sickly-gold to grey and a measure of an old, old youth showed for the moment. “Don’t take me for being too awful, Mr. Valkner. …I love my wife very, very much.”

But that won’t save me, he thought, because my ass is grass and Rosa’s mentalism has a reach longer than any battleship salvo. And chuckled a beat later.

[member="Rosa Gunn"] [member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Lina Zambrano]

"Mara," she greeted the woman with a smile, using her appearance to excuse herself from a pair of incredibly boring men who were asking questions about the whereabouts of the Lady Apoleia. "I almost didn't make it. Do you have any idea how much red tape there is around merging companies? I think I might hang myself with it."

She caught two glasses of champagne drom a passing tray and handed one to Mara. "You're looking well. Staying out of trouble I presume?" The wall's ears had ears, she had to tread carefully, the fact that Itash was here did not bode well for the teenager.

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

 

[Eun]

The wall did indeed have ears and from its shrubberied alcove emerged a stranger.

He'd long locks of two-toned hair and delicate, comely features. Though his clothes might once have been considered of fine make they looked slightly faded, with fraying 'round the collar and sleeves.

A lilac stare found the familiar features of young [member="Calina Ovmar"] and the unknown woman, [member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"], who stood beside her. That one looked of grit, yet smelled of pheromones. The look in her eyes said starfighter fuel pumped through her veins. He cast the pair of them a summer sweet smile that screamed noblesse oblige.

Turning his head slowly, he surveyed the other attendees, eventually alighting upon a second pair, with a sapling youth and another... a curious fellow, with hair pale as snow and eyes like twin flames. Oh, how intriguing. [member="Seydon Gunn"] | [member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Calina Ovmar"]

An awful lot around here needed to be recognized and then ignored. Idle comments, idle smiles, the usual.

"I've never been through a merger. Not that kind, anyway." She waggled her eyebrows somewhat. "You'll have to tell me all about it."

Mara snagged another champagne flute from a server droid.

"Less busy than I used to be. Fewer people requiring my attention. And then there's the engagement - that's kind of eaten my life, not that Hylo and my dad object. I've still got time for our work together, though. Anything interesting on that front?"

 

[Lina Zambrano]

Calina smirked. "Oh I will, one day over a bottle of something strong." She took a sip, eyes scanning the crowd momentarily, before snapping her attention back to Mara at the mention of an engagement.

Eyes wandered to her right hand and the ring. "Congratulations." A flash of something crossed her eyes, jealousy perhaps? Her work was lonely after all.

"A couple of things, some good hunting on Roviane. A seperate breed from your normal choice of game and its been causing some problems for my benefactor."

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

He was clearly uneasy here, but getting to talk shop? That was so much better for him. He could extend the tale of the Alliance, maybe rally assistance and help for it. That was a major goal of his. Granted, if Damian was a true Starchaser then there were plenty of Rebels here. And that was the types the Alliance needed. Rosa’s musing was right, the Silvers had moved in from the east, but it wasn’t an easy war to be fighting, any of these. And with the wildlands of the Coalition to the west, the Alliance was standing as the shiny lightning rod of the First Order and Sith Empire’s focus. That was fine for Coren, he would break away to the Outer Rim or set up more Resistance cells and fight from that way if he could.

But he was a patriot.

“Its been harsh, but the citizens are safe. The New Jedi Order and the Defense Fleet know what they signed up for. We’re going to keep repelling the Dark Side until we can find a way to strike.” He was always more than eager to talk about the war. He was looking around at that point, knowing that histopic was going to sound out of place.

He gave a nod over to [member="Noah Corek"] before turning his attention back to the conversation of Rosa and Damain. “Well, I am sure, depending on what you can offer, the New Jedi Order’s folks could use some gear.”

Then he felt the tingle. There was someone here that heard him. His blue bombardier eyes scanning the gala. Who… Didn’t feel Sith, but still that twisted dark side.

[member="Damian Starchaser"]
[member="Itash Mecetti"]
[member="Rosa Gunn"]

 

[Cassandra Paige]

"Well, I have always had a knack at sorting out the value in something," she said with a smile, a slight challenge in her eyes as his eyes ghosted.

She stood there, chin tipping up ever so slightly, their eyes meeting again and there was no doubt that she knew exactly what he was thinking.

As always, Cass calculated. Wealthy, powerful. An old name, old blood. There was nothing about his interest that wasn't potentially useful to her. Sure, he was handsome, but that was only a bonus- it would have been more difficult to fake interest to begin with if he had been a basement dwelling troglodyte, or worse, an alien.

They had kissed, briefly, at the end of their first meeting. He'd saved her life after all. But that had been no guarantee of actual interest. But who was going to say no to a 'thank you' from a beautiful woman? She hadn't met a man yet that would turn that down, regardless of further intent.

It all weighed all too clearly in one direction, and she stepped in that half step herself as she tipped her head up slightly further to look up at him.

"I suspect there are many things we share," she murmured, voice drawing lower deliberately. "Or could, if we simply...... explored-" a hint of a smirk ghosted across her lips- "I believe that we would have many things in common, Lord Mecetti, if we took a moment to discover them."

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[STaCLO]

SN-1411 stood outside the gala, his coat was buttoned up, and his medals and ribbons looked all nice since the droid normally like to look good. He was with friend of his who was going to the gala. SN figured that he wouldn't be very welcomed in what he imagined to be such a prestigious gathering. He always considered himself well mannered, maybe a little too full of himself, but it was healthy to be confident with one's self. But he was a droid, and that came with all sorts of prejudices given some history and social/political issues in the galaxy. He kinda just came down with his friend and was probably gonna head back to his stay. What good was it standing around a gala he was sure he wasn't wanted.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Calina Ovmar"]

Mara's first instinct was not to dwell on the engagement side of things. Discussing Hylo with Calina felt sacrilegious. On the other hand...

"That's my fiance over there, red hair, green suit, talking with the guy in the beard. Hylocereus Valkner - you might have heard of his mother Sirella. You should come to the bachelorette party, whenever we throw that." [member="Kaili Talith"] would flip...but would probably also have more fun. Calina tended to be a wild card in the best sense.

Mara's mood shifted as Calina mentioned Roviane. Neither the incident not the planet was familiar. Some kind of Sith Empire operation, presumably - something Calina thought she should know about. 'Benefactor' might be Zambrano, the Dark Lord of the Sith. What could cause the Zambranos problems?

She found herself squeezing Calina's hand in appreciation. "I'm sure you did what you had to do. If there's any way I can help you, let me know. It doesn't sound like an easy situation. Do you have anyone over there you can confide in, or rely on?"

 

[Lina Zambrano]

Calina followed the trail of Mara's gesture, managing a small smile. It took her a moment to establish how she felt, recognising that Mara was content, empathetic of what she'd suffered prior to happiness. Mara deserved this, and her contentment pleased Calina. Oh how disappointed her parents would have been. "I'm not very good at socialising..." she warned in response to the invite. Still, the sentiment was nice.

What truly caught her off guard was the affection, the idea that Mara cared seemed ludicrous. Her mother had had her kidnapped, hell those trihexalon burns on her cheek were courtesy of Calina..and yet...

She swallowed, eyes dropped for a moment and she regained the composure that had been lost in that moment. "Confiding would only end in death, Mara. The less people I trust, the safer I am." She returned the squeeze all the same.

"You should be aware that the benefactor believes he has a hold on our mutual enemies. I don't know details...not yet anyway."

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

 

[Damian Starchaser]

Damian smiled at Rosa and nodded as she explained her desire to work together. "Well it's a good cause," he said to her as he patted Coren on the back. Prying his eyes off of Joza he put his attention back on the pair he was talking to and to keep up apearances gave his well rehearsed spiel.

"Chase Fashion is a company that cares," he said with a nod. "We at Chase aren't just fashion for the wealthy or rich but we're a clothing company for every gentlebeing from all walks of life. The fashion industry is often fickle with styles going in and out of fashion. We normally end up with backstock of items that stores may not sell. I'd be more than willing along with food stuffs we had previously mentioned to give some of this stock to you as well. Together we could feed and cloth a great many of the Galaxy's most unfortunate."

Looking at Rosa he said, "There, I did my pitch. Truth is I just want to help, and your organization seems like a good start." he extended a hand to the woman, "I'd be proud to be even a small part of something doing such good."

And then he elbowed Coren a bit trying to prompt him to action.

[member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Rosa Gunn"] [member="Joza Perl"]

 

[Hylocereus]

Wrinkling his nose, as Hylo often did when in concentration, he looked up at the silver haired man. "All the dataslates said that Marriage was complicated." Looking at Seydon and then around the crowd he added in, "I really didn't know much before I asked Mara, I just knew that I loved her, so I've done a fair amount of research on the subject." Nodding firmly he added, "There are still some human rituals that confuse me. Like I'm supposed to call Jorus dad right?"

His head cocked to the side, "I've never had a father so I'm unsure how to talk to him now. But talking to you has helped. You seem to have knowledge and experience worth listening to." Firm nods followed. "Yes I will compromise, and not always have my way, and I shall endeavor to tease Mara like you do your wife so that I may be a good husband." Wrinkling his nose he contemplated what silly thing he could do to tease his fiance. Everything he thought of seemed cruel or dumb or embarrassing. "Okay..." he said after a moment in apparent deep thought, "Maybe I'll prune that last part out for now. Let Mara make the first move so I know what is appropriate."

[member="Seydon Gunn"]

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa’s eyes widened ever so slightly as Seydon’s raised voice reached her ears, colour rising slightly in her cheeks as she felt a few eyes turn her way. She closed her eyes, briefly praying to the force to give her the will to not murder him. She opted for a sharp icy glare.

Grovel, you son of a queen, because if you don’t i’m locking you out.

She withdrew sharply, drawing herself away from him in the force. And brought her focus firmly upon Coren as he spoke about the war. The citizens were only safe as long as the Alliance could repel the First order and The Sith Empire. “If there is anything I can do to help with the refugee crisis, I’d be more than happy to. A little relief can go a long way, allowing you to focus people better deployed in retaliation...I’m assuming you will retaliate.”

She couldn’t help but smile at Damian’s pitch, accepting his extended hand. “What’s the phrase…’My people will contact your people’. We’ll have something in writing drawn up before the day is out, no doubt.” She caught the elbow and smiled, unsure for a moment which of the two needed rescuing from the other. This was clearly not Coren’s scene and Damian probably still had a whole host of people to butter up.

[member="Damian Starchaser"] [member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Seydon Gunn"]