Private Dis-Moi Oui

[George Vitalis]

Natasi Fortan

A soft laugh there and shaking his head lightly.

"Hope you two have a good time, it's been nice to see you enjoy life a little. It's not all being 'The Mother of the Nation' and 'The Protector of our Fortune'." He teased his mother softly, patting the hand that was on his arm. "Really, I am happy for you, mother. Enjoy, even if I don't really get what is so fun about the Opera, but try and put everything else out of your mind. These moments are what we do everything else for, yes?" George wondered when he would find a partner the way Natasi had.

His step-father seemed to make her very happy, he wondered if he would be able to make a match like that.

His eyes widened slightly when she offered him that courtesy, especially after he had screwed up so embarrassingly. "I... thank you, my Sovereign." George offered with a bow in tow. "I will be sure to be more polite than I was a while ago, I promise I won't bring you shame."

Then that charming little smile he had carried since his youth, mischievously stepping in for a quick hug.

"Have fun, mom, for all of us. It's been great to see you smile again."

 

[Renata Westaway]

THE NEXT MORNING​

Once more the Prime Minister made her way to Cerulean Gate Palace, where she joined the Supreme Leader for coffee in the breakfast room ahead of the meeting. She gratefully thanked Natasi as she poured a cup of coffee into a fine bone china cup. "You got good press for the experimental opera premiere," Renata said, pulling a copy of the New Sterandel Courier out of her briefcase. The arts section hosted a photo of Natasi, radiant in a deep violet evening gown, and Dyrn, smart in a tuxedo, emerging from the royal speeder.

"The things I do for the country," Natasi quipped, taking her seat across from Renata with her own coffee. "And poor Dyrn. The man does rather suffer for his craft."

"Not good?" Renata said, handing the paper over to Natasi.

Natasi studied the photo for a moment. "Awful," she answered. "But I look rather chic. I was beginning to worry I was starting to look frumpy." She self-consciously touched her hair, tied back in an intricately-braided bun. "Anyway. I'm no moralist -- well, not much of one -- but I'd rather stick to the real stuff from now on, if it can be helped."

"Don't suppose we can dragoon the, er, younger members of the family into this sort of thing," Renata mused.

Natasi chuckled and inclined her head. "That would be nice. We'll see. Speaking of -- here's George."

Renata stood and curtsied to the Prince as he entered. "Your Royal Highness, good morning."

George Vitalis | Natasi Fortan​

 

[George Vitalis]

"Oh, dear, why do I feel there is a game afoot and with me as the prime target?" George said by way of hello, bowing deeply to his mother and offering an appreciative nod towards Renata Westaway .

"Mother, Prime Minister, pleasure seeing you both today. I saw the pictures in the newspapers. Quite a splendid cut of you both." He grabbed himself a cup and poured some coffee, offering to refill them both if they wished it. Otherwise only for himself. "Are you joining us for the meeting?" Curious glance towards Natasi Fortan .

The idea had been for Renata and himself to meet alone, to get to know each other, but it wouldn't be the first time that his mother couldn't let go of the reins and felt it necessary to hold on a bit more tightly.

In the past the idea would have annoyed him. But now he was thankful for her continued presence, the support was appreciated now, in a way that he wouldn't have understood in his youth. That was why his tone had no resentment, just idle curiosity hovering in his voice. There would come a day when Natasi was gone, a day that he didn't wish to see any time soon.

It meant enjoying her in the present and leaning on her when he still could.

 

[Renata Westaway]

Natasi's eyebrows lifted in quiet surprise at George's question, but she quickly suppressed it into a polite smile. "No, no," she said, exchanging a brief glance with her Prime Minister. "I wouldn't dream of pushing in. Just finishing my coffee," she said lightly. She took one final sip and then rose elegantly, carrying her cup and saucer over to the sideboard where she left it to be collected. She touched George's arm lightly on the way out and nodded once to Renata before she took her leave.

Renata took a refilled coffee cup from the Prince with a grateful smile. "Thank you, sir." She waited for George to take his seat before she resumed her own, as was protocol.

"For the record," Renata began, humor clinging to her voice, "I was referring to your sister to fob off on the more... pop culture elements that Her Majesty doesn't enjoy. Perhaps Her Royal Highness' youth and, uh, more bohemian approach to life would better suit her to these things. But -- that's neither here nor there. You had a chance to review the file?"

George Vitalis​

 

[George Vitalis]

Renata Westaway

George chuckled at the explanation as he sat down.

"No matter, Prime Minister, I-" Then a pause as he crossed one leg over the other. "Would you mind if I called you Renata? I do not wish to step over lines, but... if we are to work together for the years to come, I'd feel better knowing I can address you as a person." And not just as the title that she had rightfully earned.

"In any case- yes, I have had some time to read through the dossier. The mission... is rather delicate, isn't it?" Eyebrows up a little as George studied the woman across from him.

"Do you have any thoughts on this? Do you agree with the idea of engaging with the Hidden Path and offering them not merely diplomatic support, but the means to buy material of war?"

 

[Renata Westaway]

Renata's eyebrow quirked a little. She wondered if he had waited until Natasi left the room to make that request because he knew that she would disapprove. Her Majesty sometimes referred to Renata by her given name, but in official settings she suspected that there was a kind of crutch in thinking of her first minister not as a woman she had once mentored, or a politician with ambitions of her own, but as the office she represented. "I wouldn't mind at all, Your Royal Highness," Renata said politely, a consummate courtier.

She settled back into her seat and took a sip of her coffee as he spoke, canting her head to one side as he made his observations, her extremely stylish bob angling with the motion.

Renata felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, and she wondered for a moment whether granting the Prince that measure of collegiality was a mistake. The question was, to Renata, and odd one. Did he have some private doubts, and was looking for her to make the argument with Her Majesty? Was he gauging whether the argument had already taken place, to see whether it was worth the effort to make it again?

Slowly lowering the coffee cup back to the table, she absentmindedly smoothed the napkin beside it. "I do," she answered finally. "As a result of Her Majesty's upbringing, as well as the investment of the proceeds of the quite extensive Esperell holdings on Bakura and other very wise investment choices, what Her Majesty lacks in warm bodies -- uniformed men and women to serve as soldiers and pilots and support -- she makes up for in having -- if you'll pardon the expression -- more credits than she could hope to spend in two lifetimes."

Renata paused a moment. "Even after funding Project Renascence -- quite generously -- and providing for Your Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness and any other little Royal Highnesses that might follow -- her fortune far exceeds that which is necessary. And so she has seen fit to provide these funds in a good cause. And, frankly, I think there is more that could be done, but Her Majesty wisely counseled that we must be wary of catching the Empire's attention, especially given that the Alliance looks like it will collapse under its weight at any moment. So this -- complete deniability, save for your involvement -- seemed like the best way forward. And I would consider any credit spent on the Hidden Path that results in a thorn in the side of the Empire, causing them to cast their gaze anywhere but here a credit well spent."

Another sip of coffee, a delicate dab of her napkin to her lip. "Now, why do you ask? Did you have concerns?"

George Vitalis​

 

[George Vitalis]

Renata Westaway

George smiled at her reaction and the response right afterwards.

It was not difficult to notice the... bristle as she moved from allowing her real name to be used back towards having to explain her view point on the Hidden Path investment.

"No concerns at all." George said smoothly. In truth he agreed with Renata, the more money they invested in Valery Noble 's group the better. Since the more trouble the Empire was getting, the less it could expand its hold over its periphery. People, innocents all, would be free for a while longer and could prepare more.

And maybe, just maybe, sustained rebellion such as that would cause the Empire to fold in its entirety.

Funding the construction of a Death Star in such a short span of time and then seeing it be destroyed so soon... that had to weigh on their budget. It had to. There was no magic way to create money, raw materials and personnel out of nowhere. The people on that battle-station were gone, hundreds of thousands and along with them all the materials and wealth that had gone into making it.

"I merely wished to see where your head was at, Renata. I wasn't there for the discussion you had with the Sovereign. I want to know how your mind works, how you come to your thoughts, so I can better anticipate how to best use that big brain of yours for the betterment of Heirate."

And to dodge any maneuvering that allowed Renata to corner his mother into stepping down as Senator.

Even if in the end it had all worked for the best.

"Does that make sense?"

 

[Renata Westaway]

Renata smiled primly, her glassy blue-green eyes crinkling at the edges. "Completely understandable, Your Royal Highness," she said. "I must make you aware -- if Her Majesty has not already -- that it is a point of Constitutional convention that what is said between the Sovereign and her first minister is for them alone. I cannot disclose the subject matter of the discussion we may have had. Naturally, this is a slightly different case -- off the books, as it were -- but I will err on the side of respecting that privacy."

Renata lifted her coffee cup to her lips and took a little sip. "I say all this by way of pointing out, also, that the same privilege does not constitutionally apply to conversations I have with other members of the royal family. Though I have the utmost of respect for you, personally and as the heir to the throne, if Her Majesty inquires about the nature of our discussion I would feel honor-bound to supply her with the particulars."

The Prime Minister crossed her legs at the knee and folded her hands around her knee and favored the heir to the throne with a smile. "Level with me, Sir. Gut instinct, do you suppose this little scheme was my idea, hers, or otherwise?"

George Vitalis​

 

[George Vitalis]

Renata Westaway

He raised his hand, firm, but graceful.

"It goes without saying that I would never expect you to disclose the matter of any discussion you had with my mother. She is first and foremost the Sovereign and I respect the sanctity of her office with no hesitation." From anyone else it might have sounded fake or at the very least ironic. Not so with George. His eyes were serious, the set of his jaw double so. He took this with the utmost care and some might say that George took things too seriously.

One of them was Reima Vitalis who had suggested a number of times that he'd die by way of a stress-induced heart attack, if he didn't slow things down.

Sadly George only had one mode. Total and utter devotion to the cause.

"Similarly, if you believe the Sovereign's ability to do her job will increase by disclosing our discussions to her, I only welcome this. I have nothing to hide from my mother, not now, not in the future."

Only once those points were cleared up did George relax... a fraction.

"Well, Renata, I do not believe my mother would call it a scheme." He said, with a dose more charm, and a healthy lack of that seriousness that had just been all over his language before. "I would suspect however, that she came to you with the desire to support the Hidden Path and requested your thoughts on how to best approach this."

After all, a Monarch pointed the way, but it were the people on the ground that executed their vision.

That was one option... the other was, of course, that Natasi had planned it all out herself. George wouldn't put it past her. She had always been extremely hands-on, especially about things she was passionate about.

But with his answer he gave credit to both parties- both to his mother as well as the woman he'd have to work with in the far future. It was the diplomatic and graceful response.

One that George valued deeply.

 

[Renata Westaway]

You might be surprised, Renata thought with a wry smirk into her coffee cup. Natasi was a diplomat, to be sure, but there were moments when she let her guard down and spoke frankly. "I share Her Majesty's concern that too overt an action could place a target on the Renascent Heirate. It would not surprise you to hear, I think, that Her Majesty is not so much concerned for the safety of her person." She paused a moment. "Most people who say that, I wouldn't believe. They say it because they think it makes them sound principled and noble. But not Natasi Fortan. She died to save me once. And you. Almost everyone in the Heirate was, or knew someone, for whom the same is true. Her Majesty does not merely talk"

Another sip of coffee. "But I digress. Did you have questions about the briefing material? Or about the, uh, passenger you'll be traveling with? Her Royal Highness the Princess Reima has spent a great deal of time with her. If you're concerned about her -- what's the word? -- suitability to travel, the Princess might be able to give you a more in-depth answer. I can obviously speak to a high-level -- that she is cleared for travel, medically and psychologically -- but that's really all I can say while respecting her medical privacy rights."

She set her cup down and framed the Prince with a curious look, prompting him to share any other questions or doubts.

George Vitalis​

 

[George Vitalis]

Renata Westaway

George didn't respond to Natasi's sacrifice other than inclining his head.

What was there to say? His mother gladly gave her life, she put it on the line time and time again. It was one of her qualities that intimidated George and most likely gave him an inferiority complex, because how do you ever follow that up? You can't put your life on the line twice as hard. It was rather an all or nothing gesture.

"No, the report was clear, but my mind went into a different direction." Brows furrowed there as George studied Renata carefully. "What is the likelihood that there are more assets such as her out there? Who need extracting or who are disillusioned with the Alliance?"

It was a whole mess right now, George would be shocked if there weren't.

"Is there a way we can use her to establish connections with others like her? Perhaps not to send them to the Path, but to make use of them ourselves."

Intelligence assets, military ones... with the Alliance slowly crumbling, there would be a whole swath of personnel or other capabilities out on the wind. Whoever got to them first would have the advantage.

Why not them?

 

[Renata Westaway]

The Prime Minister regarded the Prince with a cool, curious gaze. His mind was sharp, she thought, there was no question about that. There was a certain quality to his thoughts, though, that had a distinctly un-Natasi character. That wasn't a bad thing, necessarily. A little variety was a boon; it prevented stagnation or a turn into dogma. But it made Renata cautious.

"As ironic as it may sound in the context of this conversation," Renata began slowly, "We are a member state of the Galactic Alliance. It is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to perform espionage against them."

She stood and paced away, giving herself a bit of space and time in which to think. A hand brushed through her blonde locks, sending them cascading back into place around her jaw. "But -- " Renata said carefully. "I think anyone paying attention now sees the writing on the wall and understand that the question of the Alliance's faltering -- either collapsing under its own power or being conquered by the Empire or some other catastrophic failure the likes of which we cannot yet imagine -- is a matter of when, not if." A beat. "So -- "

Here there was a longer pause.

"Ms. Kintar, as she will now be known, experienced something heinous on Coruscant. Though she has recovered to the extent that that is possible. I am loathe to press her or pump her for more information. She has already done much by defecting." The Prime Minister cupped her chin thoughtfully, turning back to the Prince. "But perhaps if you, Sir, can establish a rapport with her on the journey, you could broach the subject more naturally?"

George Vitalis

 

[George Vitalis]

Renata Westaway

George disagreed with Renata slightly, but was diplomatic enough not to make a large point of it. They were a member state, yes, but nations had interests.

Not friends.

So the idea that they could not conduct espionage against the Alliance simply because they were a member-state was something George would want to change the moment he had more influence.

And that is why he didn't say anything.

Lest it came back to his mother.

"I know better than to squeeze a traumatized woman, Renata." George said dryly but nodding at the idea that came right afterwards.

"I'll be gentle. Better to not get anything extra rather than accidentally do more harm to her psyche by pressing too hard."

George agreed with that at least.

"A few months ago the family got together and discussed ways to improve our military posture. To increase the capacity of our shipyards and strengthen our fleets."

His fingers softly tapped the board of the desk and watched Renata thoughtfully again.

"How goes those efforts?"

 

[Renata Westaway]

The Prince might have been surprised to learn that Renata agreed with him. It had been Natasi -- the one who always wanted to have clean hands, the one who always wanted to see the best in people -- who had insisted. She could almost hear the Sovereign's instructions, the insistence that to be discovered would be a diplomatic firestorm, and besides, "What is the point of being at the table if we cannot discuss matters in good faith?"

It was not like Renata to view Natasi Fortan, a woman she had respected since she was nine, of naivety. But there were moments.

At any rate, part of being in government, more than the give and take of compromise, the work to make things work, was collective responsibility. Renata could not -- and would not, even if she could -- put daylight between herself and her Sovereign. Not ever. And she knew Natasi would have a similar policy. It was the only way a system like this worked. Even when they disagreed (the Affair of the Sapphire Hundreds came to mind) there had been no public distance. It had all been very neatly stage-managed.

Or so Renata thought.

Renata conceded the point about Kintar with the wave of her hand. "I trust your judgment, Your Royal Highness. I'm sure you will know precisely the amount of pressure to put on the lady." If there was innuendo there, it was certainly very dry. But Renata Westaway occasionally read the society gossip pages, just in case she had to warn Natasi about something coming. Luckily, most of the time the gossip rags were devoid of mentions of Fortan offspring, and when they did, it was usually Reima, smoking and looking glamorous at a nightclub or glaring at the paparazzi. It was only through the close protection detail that George was stuck with that Renata was aware of his penchant for buxom redheaded actresses.

"With the greatest respect, sir," Renata began, but not in the way of a woman about to show the greatest disrespect. In her tone was regret, with the subtle shake of her head causing the blonde locks at her jaw to tremble. "Your membership in the royal family does entitle you to some -- privileges, shall we say? -- when it comes to Her Majesty's government. Unfortunately, it has not been Her Majesty's pleasure to grant you the necessary clearances for a detailed report on the state of military readiness."

She paused a moment, considering how much she could share. This didn't read like him trying to throw his weight around. Well, she silently amended herself, not entirely. "Things have not been entirely smooth sailing, and the collapse of the Core has put rather a damper on our supply chain. I expect progress to be slow but steady for some time. But our efforts are coming along and we have prioritized work for which we have material, so if we are behind schedule, it is not by far."

George Vitalis​