Cognito Manor: Homecoming

[Madame Cognito]

A cigarette smoldered in the crystal ashtray, a minute trail of smoke effortlessly billowed up from the smoldering cherry on the end. A small, sterile white desklamp lit a portion of the silvery metal desk like a spotlight. In the light of the lamp, various datapads were stacked precariously upon one another. Near the datapads sat a crystal champagne goblet with a faint burgundy tinted lipstick stain on the rim partially visible in the light of the lamp. A glimpse of a portion of an empty red velvet, ornately crafted desk chair was visible.

In another portion of the room, A curve-hugging blood red dress was visible in the light of the moonlight of Naboo that trickled in through the four paned window. The bottom of the dress spilled down and out across the dark, marble floor. A beautiful raven haired human woman gazed out upon Theed, the city that she loved coming home to.

A distant clacking of heightened heels upon marble floors echoed through the late night hour, through dimly lit halls of Cognito Manor, which stood proudly in the heart of Theed. The clacking grew louder until they stopped for a mere second at the foot of the door before proceeding inward. Arya turned from the window and greeted a smartly dressed human woman that looked to be in her mid 60s. The clacking of the heels resumed again for a moment and stopped at the desk. The older woman picked through the pile of datapads and grabbed up a datapad and slid it into the crook of her elbow. "My dear, you've kept yourself up here for the whole evening, I know you're up here waiting up for your father to get home, but I would love to spend some time with you some time during your stay here." Malida Cognito stated sweetly

Arya chuckled and gave her mother a loving embrace followed by a gentle kiss on the cheek before returning her attention to the clear, starry night. "I love you, mother. This is only the first day of my trip, mother. Don't you worry, I will make my way downstairs in a moment. I am just taking in the sights of my hometown and doing some thinking."
Malida smiled widely and said, "All right, dear. I shall see you in a moment." Malida took her leave, headed back down the grand staircase into the main hall and entered into the exquisitely decorated room off of the left of the stairs, the den. She took a seat on a cushy couch near a fireplace that was being stoked by a smartly dressed butler. Malida started reading over the datapad, Recent Political Rulings of the Naboo Judiciary, while enjoying the warmth of the fire as it grew larger. Malida and Torin were a political sciences professors at Theed's Alta Vista Academy. It was their job to help groom younger generations in the ways of politics. Torin was working late at the academy. He had been in a lengthy meeting with the academy's leadership, then grading final exams in his office.

Arya removed herself from the window as a handsome male Cathar in a black tuxedo shot a grapple hook that hooked itself in a roofing tile. He ascended the exterior wall towards the second floor and the balcony of the manor. With a smirk on his face, the Cathar lightly tapped on the window. Arya turned with a bit of a start. "Wha-who...?" Arya said heading back toward the window. When she saw that it was her family friend and former lover, Teimar, was waving sheepishly at the window, Arya let out a laugh and shook her head as she walked to the double doors next to the window and allowed Teimar to enter.

"ARYA! A little sabercat...I mean your mother told me you were in town for a bit. It's good to see ya, darlin!" Teimar said pouncing on Arya, knocking her on the floor and hugging her tightly. Arya and Teimar descended into a fit of laughter and embracing. "It's good to see you too, old friend! It is always great to be back."

 

[Madame Cognito]

Out on the balcony, Teimar and Arya saw the luxury personal vehicle that had been purchased years ago by her father gliding into the drive of the manor. Her father exited the cockpit of the vehicle and entered the manor after waving up at Arya. Arya smiled widely and waved at her father below her. Teimar and Arya knelt against the stone railing of the balcony and silently looked out upon the busy, yet still peaceful and beautiful city of Theed. Both of them sighed deeply in unison and chuckled at that fact.

Teimar broke the silence and his tone softened to one of contemplation and musing, "You know Arya, I have missed you...we all have. I have come by quite a bit to hang around the manor and talk to your mother. She mostly talks about you and the latest political goings on of the area. She talks quite a bit about how proud she is of you developing a business of your own. Doesn't quite agree with your methods, namely the bordello thing, but she still raves about how she's glad you've become independent. I agree with her...except for the bordello part. I happen to like the whole bordello thing...for obvious reasons."

Arya revealed a content smile to Teimar, "So what possessed you to grapple our roof to see me rather than using the front door?"

Teimar smirked, "My new gig gave me a cool toy and I wanted to try it out."

Arya laughed and stated, "Haha, I missed you, Tei. What's your new gig, what's with the outfit?"

Teimar smoothed out his suit jacket. "You're looking at a professional bartender at the Onyx Club with a stolen grappling gun I confiscated off of a guy that was attempting to be all secret agenty on the Onyx Club. Trying to sneak in afterhours and steal the safe. Didn't account for us bouncers working late to make sure the entertainers got home safely. Caught him mid scale of the wall, electr-O-fied his stupid ass, hogtied him and tossed him at the foot at the local city security office's doorstep with a note."

Arya ruffled his Cathar mane and asked, "So any word from your sister, Mira?"

"Mira's fine, I think. Last I heard from her, her trooper regiment was being mobilized. The regiment was heading to Coruscant because of a Sith attack on the Jedi Temple. I haven't heard from her since. Mom's worried with what she's seeing on the holovids, but I keep assuring her that everything will be all right." Teimar's wavering tone betrayed his confident words.

"Teimar, your sister is resilient. She's going to be fine. I'm sure of it." Arya said confidently as she placed her right arm around her best friend.

"That's what your mom said too." Teimar said with a weak grin.

"Me, personally, I have been too busy expanding my operations with Zann Consortium to focus on the Core World drama playing out. Just finished up business with a territory dispute centering around my factory on Abregado-rae. I also started the groundwork for the bordello girls...oooh you'll love this!" Arya said getting excited.

"What? What am I going to love?" Teimar said with a playful smirk.

"My call girls in the club...not the men. Hot men in that sector are a rarity I'm keeping them in the club....a select group of my girls are going to be trained in the art of the assassin."

"Ooooh, you're right Arya! Call girl assassins...excuse me while I visualize that in private for a moment." Teimar said laughing hysterically.

Arya turned her attention back to what was going on at home. "Shall we rejoin the family downstairs?"

Teimar smirked and looked up at the grapple hook lodged in the roof and down to the dangling end resting just above the rounded off entryway below. "As long as we can take the fun way down." Arya nodded quickly and enthusiastically. Teimar grasped Arya tightly with his yellowish feline claws around her waist and pulled her toward him before leaping off of the balcony and sliding down the grapple wire.