Private Denon Daze

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah chuckled slightly, shaking his head.

"I am a salvager who has a broader vision for his entirely family and works to use the universe as his dejarik board. As for patiently waiting for a suitor, no. I have made peace that my success in business has come at the cost of my own personal happiness on that level. Don't get me wrong, I am happy. I mean more....there cannot be business success without the personal sacrifice."

His shoulders shrugged, gently twirling the drink in his hand, thinking.

"You have a deep view of the situation. Sometimes a space station is just a space station. A mean to further my goals. Intertwining the personal and business is highly unadvisable. I wouldn't use my position here to maximize gains, so to speak. These two spheres of my life are kept separate for excellent reasons. Ones you can imagine, I'm sure."


Dominique Vexx

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Dominique smiled. "I don't keep them separate merely from the risk of meddling the two, Judah. And I don't believe it's impossible for people like us to have relationships. Don't get me wrong, there are certainly sacrifices. You won't always be there in those 'special' moments of one's offspring because it does require much effort to build and keep an empire. That doesn't preclude any relationship at all."

"No," she swirled her glass slowly in one hand, "I keep them separate simply because I can't trust someone with any perceived moments of weakness." Dominique laughed with a practiced, merry laugh. "You see? People like us can hardly suggest they have any weaknesses let alone have them witnessed. I think there are some Mandalorians that would empathize with that." Strange those warriors might think being seen as a flesh-and-blood creature would be a weakness in and of itself. "You might worry I'd try to get close to you, slip in under your guard somehow in order to stab you in the back."

"That's where the loneliness lies, Judah. Not because we can't, but because we won't."

Dominique paused to take the smallest of sips. "Then again, not everything has to be a life-long commitment. Just having someone that understands the bothersome creatures that writhe on the board room table believing themselves worthy of notice might be enough."

Judah Dashiell​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"So you have trust issues?"

Whisky swirled in his glass as he gave her a pointed look. It wasn't an accusation either. More rhetorical question mixed with mere observation. Judah wouldn't blame her if she did. Didn't they all? He had been burned enough in his personal life to have a heap of them. Mix in the concern about someone getting potentially too close to the business - not that he didn't have iron tight clauses and measures in place to prevent hostile takeovers or sabotage by beautiful woman.

The old salvager chuckled a little at bothersome creatures in the boardroom. Mainly those were encountered once one went off in search of contracts with other companies. Or governments. Nothing like a self-serving Senator trying to control a corporation during a boardroom visit. Those were the worst.

"You are correct though. Can't show any weakness. I've grown exceptionally well at hiding it. A few can see through it but no one beyond the family circle, thankfully. " He gave a small pause. "Is that why you're still single Miss Vexx? Afraid someone will see through the careful veneer you have constructed? Don't get me wrong, this version of Dominique is quite lovely, but I sit here curious who you are once the door to your home shuts."

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Dominique lifted a hand to hide her mouth as she laughed softly. "We all wear masks. Mine isn't that far from the truth, but Boardrooms don't like 'complicated' people. They like them simple. Straight forward. Bold, perhaps, but known quantities. Besides," she waved her fingers off to the side for a moment, "my home life isn't that peculiar."

"I have laid claim to a suitable estate in recent times, like any other. I'm no longer just a humble Senator doing as she's told, and I'm compensated as such. But I don't tend to spend a lot of time there. It's a busy galaxy and someone has to run it." Dominique smirked.

It was a little difficult to explain just what she did in her free time that wasn't work without inviting far too many questions. "Actually, I tend to explore Denon's many Districts." That might suffice for the truth as it wasn't far from the mark. "Visit people of similar mind of my own about the future of a world I hold so close to my heart. There's far more to manage than corporate interests, and a great deal to learn."

"And you, Judah? Do you seek to maintain a carefully sculpted separation from others?"

Judah Dashiell​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"No time at home? That's a shame. Once you're old like myself I'm sure that will change. Wearing a mask for thirty years tends to wear one down, I prefer to drop the act and be myself. All a personal preference of course. Some wear the act so long they forget who they are really are...a shame but something that can befall anyone."

Denon seemed to be the heart of Dominique Vexx 's thoughts and actions. Not unusual considering her status as Senator, but there was more. A woman with a deep love for her planet. He could respect it despite not seeing the appeal of Denon himself. Only having a surface view of it there may be more than meets the eye but it wasn't the type of place he could ever settle. Or willingly spend time.

"Of course. Corporate Judah and Regular Judah normally stay separate, except for long term friends I've made along the way in business. They can see the real man behind the actions. Its unfortunate but in order to get anything done a persona does need to be created. Some situations not so much but dealing with the big players? Yes. Don't get me started on nobility either. A headache of a group that has no concept of business."

 

[Dominique Vexx]

"That's not entirely true." Dominique smiled across at Judah. "The Nobility merely speak a different language. Its getting them to see just how similar we are that's the challenge." Those of wealth and taste had far more in common with Corpos than the Average Citizen; the latter thought the world's issues could be boiled down into simple solutions, whereas the former understood just how messy the larger world really was.

"As for masks," her fingers waved one after the other off to one side, "I prefer to think of them as... perception filters. People have a way of looking at others, and they only tolerate those they like -- no matter how good your proposal might be. So, I help them see we're all on the same side. Unless there are irreconcilable differences, of course, but those are quite rare." You could reach an equitable deal with even a Sith if you approached them correctly, after all.

"I enjoy what I do even if I don't always enjoy when things are out of my control. It would be a hard and long life if I only tolerated hearing what people wanted as they try to get it for nothing in return." A soft laugh followed suit. "You enjoy running your salvage empire, don't you, Judah? But even something seemingly uncomplicated runs afoul of the wrong element sooner or later. People can't let one another be. Fortunately, I protect my friends... or my business partners. It would be a lonely world without good company to draw you away from the busywork."

Judah Dashiell​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"If I didn't enjoy running my salvage empire then I wouldn't do it. I could easily pass it to my son. Retire and spend the rest of my days fishing. I'm not quite old enough for such a thing yet and besides, I don't think it would be wise to have that much free time on my hands."

Eyebrow perked a little at the mention of protection. He imagined Senators and politicians, those in Dominique Vexx 's circle were more prone to pissing those around them off than he was. As long as the credits flowed there was little to be concerned about. He rarely gave his opinion on intergalactic affairs just to be safe.

"Yes, I imagine the life of a politician is a little different. Can't please everyone know matter how hard you try."

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Dominique's head rolled a hair to the side as she regarded Judah. "Not as different as you might think." She leaned forward to pick up a glass with a smile on her lips. "A Salvage Empire might not be in the center of everyone's attention, Judah, but all it takes is laying hands or eyes on the wrong salvage. There are secrets in this galaxy certain people want kept secret."

A chuckle followed suit. "Well, enough of that then. Is there something on your mind?"

Judah Dashiell​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Something on his mind? Brows furrowed as he replayed some of his answers in his mind. Then he drew a large blank at her question once again. Was this some type of test? Did he miss something? Given she was in politics, there was always double speak to be had and perhaps he had just glazed over a phrase.

Even he tended to be on the not-so-intelligent side, it was highly possible.

"No. Should something be on my mind?"

Dominique Vexx ​

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Dominique chuckled. "Not at all. This is a social occasion, after all." She smiled across at him for a second before her golden gaze was averted to the scenery beyond the transparisteel. "I only ask because there's so much happening out there in the galaxy. Interesting things. Terrible things. Things worth talking about." She turned her attention back to the man across from her. "I only wondered what an intelligent, capable man like yourself might find on their mind to discuss with a woman in similar social circles."

"I, myself, always have much to discuss about the future of Denon. But that might not be intriguing to listen to me go on about endlessly. There are other worlds, of course. Other opportunities. Countless sights of an entire galaxy." Dominique paused to smile for Judah. "And that station you wanted to construct."

Judah Dashiell​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"The galaxy is always busy, yes. I am not sure you want to hear my thoughts on galactic warfare or corporate concerns regarding such events in the universe. Not that they aren't..." Judah paused there, thinking of the right words. "important or interesting. I just highly doubt my take on current affairs is ground breaking for someone like yourself. I suspect you get a state of the 'verse report every morning. Even I do and I'm just a lowly scrapper."

Just small blurbs from the happenings in the locations his company owned across the 'verse, along with any important updates news wise. Nothing like waking up and seeing a planet had been invaded and taken over. Not that these things didn't occur without warning. Most could tell when something was leaning one way or another.

"The space station will most likely be refurbished but yes, with your permission it is all but a done deal. I can have my teams start towing the station here as soon as you give the word. Beyond that it would just be sorting out a traffic lane but that is down the road, we will have to do work on the station in place."

Leaning forward, Judah offered a smile of his own back at her.

"We speak enough about business, I'd rather see you with your hair down."

Dominique Vexx​

 

[Dominique Vexx]

"Would you?" Dominique smiled across at Judah. "It takes some time for this level of perfection." The precise lay of every strand, its ability to hold, the sculpted curl that defied gravity and momentum alike. No small amount of attention was paid to her appearance. To 'let it down' would more less mean the end of the public day. Just the sort of thing his comment implied.

"Is that of interest to a 'lowly scrapper?'" A jest to something the man himself had said to play off a purported lack of interest in current affairs. Not content to leave it be as though an insult were intended, Dominique added, "I have always seen more to you than just that, Judah." Which should have been apparent given she'd taken the man out somewhere public to eat. If he were just any scrapper Dominique could have had him send all the necessary paperwork to her office for an assistant to review and submit.

Now it was time to watch to see how the man reacted. Discern just how insistent he might be on the matter.

Judah Dashiell​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Swing and a miss.

It tended to happen and lucky for him, Dominique Vexx had let him down more gracefully than he deserved. There was a small smile and he took a sip of his whisky, letting the amber liquid swirl around the glass. Perhaps it was best to stick to business and not venture into the personal - normally he had just stuck to the scrap talk.

"No, wouldn't want you to fret over having to reach perfection once again." A small pause, debating. "Of course there is more to myself than just scrapping. However, it is what most are concerned about. Or focused on. Thus it becomes and stays the topic of conversation often. At the very least it is a less controversial topic than others. "

 

[Dominique Vexx]

"Oh, but I do love controversy." Dominique laughed softly. "How else would I have managed cleaning up after the Corporate Authorities of Denon for all those years? Or people wondering just what I'm aiming for as part of the Executive Director Board."

Her eyes slid aside for a second before they returned to Judah. "If you'd like a change in venue so we could discuss things more freely that can be arranged." Dominique extended a hand across the table toward the man. "You needn't worry about anything being recorded. Much like avoiding the use of armed forces to take what I want, extortion isn't the sort of skill I desire to utilize. Cunning, perhaps, but not terribly intellectual." Not that she was above either. Several members on the Board only listened to her because of what she held over them. Special circumstances that; a necessary evil to pry open the doors of power.

Judah Dashiell​