FO and Allies | To Rise Above, Soar

[Darth Carnifex]

"Agreed, this is hardly the time or place for a conversation of such magnitude."

Indeed, the topic of the Lady of Secrets was not something to discuss among mixed company, for it was a secret so tightly held by the Emperor and his closest chosen that not even half of his Inner Council knew the Lady's true identity. It was information that Carnifex only trusted a handful of possessing.

Which meant that [member="Taeli Raaf"] saw something trustworthy in [member="Ara Zambrano"] to divulge her identity.

"You know how to contact me, my lady. I will leave you to your company." He gave a bow of his head, an easier movement than bowing at the waist in his current attire. He wouldn't immediately leave, he would stay around and keep an eye on the other party guests, watching silently and gathering information.

Grandfather and granddaughter would talk later.

[member="Dante Calgar"] | [member="Kailari Selanno"] | [member="Lucius Cedeno"]​

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Ara Zambrano"] | [member="Kailari Selanno"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"]

Lucius smirked as Kailari began to find her balance and hit back at him over his comment.

He obscured the smirk with a sip of his glass, but the rim couldn't hide the corners of his mouth and in truth Lucy wasn't even trying. "Oh, I am certain that the Emperor of Zakuul has the allure as the Emperor of the Sith Empire." It was an insult, but one wrapped into a compliment. Surely even a blind man could see that an Empire of one held little in the dominion of hundreds of planets?

That shadow was all-encompassing as far as Lucius was concerned.

That concern spoke boldly and he didn't pretend to try and hide it. "Inward perfection- many nations have found themselves too allured by the glory of what is and became blind to the dangers that could be."

This counted for Zakuul, yes, but in a way it had also counted for the Reach.

Who had ever expected Zambrano to come and break their traditions apart in few fell swoops. Lucius' gaze was drawn back towards that pair- the grandfather and the granddaughter. One small, one tall, both ruling sectors that span many upon many star systems.

It truly didn't look like the Dark Lord had been cast out of the First Order space now.

"What do you think of them, then, the Dark Lord of the Sith and his granddaughter?" Another sip, tilting his head so she could answer him quietly, if she wished. "Everything you imagined them to be?" Because imagine the young princess had, surely. The wonder of other figures of power. How they acted, how the strong grew stronger by the day while her Empire was slowly eaten by the Order.

 

[Tha'ga Temi]

Tha’ga’s light brown eyes only watched Kyrel’s hand clutch her wrist and let go. A tendril of her red hair fell from the tight bun as she exhaled. She gracefully tucked it back into place, smoothing the top of her head with both of her bejeweled hands, then she clasped them at her stomach.

“No, Kyrel.” I mean Mr. Ren sounded weird, right? “I did come for Tmoxin, but I would like very much to stay and catch up.”

There it was. Her true intent.

Her sister had warned her about the Master of Ren, though she’d not explained exactly why he was to be avoided. And here you are hanging around still like a piney school girl, though he had asked her to remain. She’d chalked their previous encounter up as a rite of passage, but was that what it truly was?

“The Hapan Heritage Council is forming as we’d wished it to,” she said, trying to keep her emotions in check. “Like her fortune, that should also be good for Varas since she’s half-Hapan.” Like those who swayed to the orchestral music behind them, Tha’ga danced around the true issue, but was interested in what Kyrel had to say on the subject of Hapes since he was no so closely aligned with the Temi family, by the closest bond. One of blood.

[member="Kyrel Ren"]

 

[The Major]

Time continued to pass and the dread of the evening and its insidious portents served little as a salve to a mind racked by plots, paranoia, the burden of the dead, and the inherent loneliness that came with partaking in activities that often scrutinized those around at the highest intensity. There was just no solution for it; little joy was to be found mixing with these vipers, and above all the true, milky kindness that was camaraderie was bereft from these frightful creatures. Anyone worth sharing the happiness of success or promotion was far, far away from borders of this adopted nation, far away from the realms of the living and their contrite squabbles -and it made her feel a despair most distinct.

As luck would have it, the woman watching over the skyline noticed a discreet guard escorting a woman who resembled the figure and outfit of the Grand Moff. She was placed in her transport with all manners of respect and grace and eventually the vehicle moved off into the distance. It was would preternatural to assume that the Major, though skilled at detection as she was, could confirm that it was her esteemed head of state who had graced the periphery of her vision.

Regardless, it would be enough of an excuse.

She made her way back to the halls of the floor -again taking the least populated way despite if it meant taking extra time or doubling back. Eventually, she reached her goal of freedom and departed out and unto the street, quickening her pace before vanishing between the lines of traffic.

[EXIT]​

​

[member="Natasi Fortan Vitalis"]​

 

[Kyrel Ren]

​

From the look that Tha'ga was giving him, he could tell she was conflicted. He knew that perhaps even though what she had said was true of course, she did come here to deliver a message. But she couldn't hide the fact that she was interested in being with him for the moment. He had very much desired the same thing. Even though he had thought the last time that they met, the night they shared was meaningless and nothing more, and often told himself he was interested due to her Force Sensitivity and the potential she carried. But often wondered if there was something more than just that.

Even though the Force, he could sense as she continued to speak. Speaking of the heritage council and how it would benefit his daughter as well. He knew it all of course and had no idea why Tha'ga wished to repeat the same thing he had heard before. Maybe it was out of sheer nervousness. He spoke stepping a little closer than she may have liked. Speaking in a gentle tone unlike how cold he usually sounded. This one carried a sense of charm to it. "Yes and by then she would be in a very special position of power... But I know this Tha'ga I know what will happen. Let's put business aside for a moment my dear. What would you really like to do?"

He said his face almost uncomfortably close to her's his dark eyes staring into her's in almost a hypnotic gaze as he looked upon her graceful features. Standing there for what seemed like an eternity, with nothing more than silence.

[member="Tha'ga Temi"]

 

[Tha'ga Temi]

When Kyrel closed the gap between them, Tha’ga’s first instinct was to step back, but she held her ground. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a serving droid and plucked a glass of champagne off its round, silver tray and then took a large gulp of the golden bubbly liquid. Not an over-indulger, she cursed herself, but had to admit, something to take the edge of was exactly what she needed.

“What do you mean, what would I like to do? My duty is to my family and Hapes and the Queen. Or well… specifically maybe in another order. The Queen first-” She paused. “You know what I mean.” A sheepish grin accompanied a blush on her cheeks.

Kyrel was so close but she did not want him to move away either. And despite her nerves, it was almost easier not to babble on as she'd had the urge to.

“What would you really like to do?” she finally asked, fingers worrying the flute of the champagne glass.

[member="Kyrel Ren"]

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Kyrel found it cute that Tha'ga could be made, from a proud noble into a blushing jabbering school girl within his presence. It had brought him a certain kind of thrill, even when she stuttered he found it adorable even. He could tell she was still extremely nervous, but he didn't move. He had wanted to see if the woman would react. Would she want to stay, would she even want to get away? Of course, she stood and didn't seem to move, quickly grabbing a glass from a passing server droid, and sipping the champagne quickly.

She kept stuttering, a deep blush had adorned her cheeks, to which he lightly touched her chin with his slender fingers. Looking into her eyes all the more. She had asked him what he wanted to do. He could think of many, drinking, dancing, perhaps even socializing with the other guests. But what he had wanted to was to stay and catch up. He had answered her still keeping the gentle tone as he had done earlier. "What do I want... Well, let's see how about a place nice and quiet where we can relax, and catch up. I am sure you don't want to talk business at a time like this. I am sure you don't want that do you?"

He said taking her hands in his once again, giving her a warm smile to mean his sincerity.

[member="Tha'ga Temi"]

 

[Tha'ga Temi]

Danger. It was something she’d skirted around her entire life. In fact the only time she’d been in true peril was once on a white-water rafting trip in the mountains when her raft had capsized, and then not too long ago when a bomb went off outside of Fountain Palace. But even that had caused only minor damage and the entire Mr. Z fiasco was some kind of staged prank to sow the seeds of fear. And to be honest it had worked to change the public perception. Hapes was now taking more steps to seal itself off from outsiders, but what that would look like infrastructure-wise had yet to be determined.

Yet here was this supposedly dangerous man promising her a refreshing break away from all of the political talks and the glorification of the military which was clearly on display.

She held her face very still as he lightly touched her chin and intimate gesture, yet no one was around to witness it.

“I need to learn more about The First Order,” she admitted. “But yes I agree with you. This is a party and not a business meeting.” She did not pull away, but stroked his knuckle with her thumb as he held her hands. “Where do you suggest we go?”

[member="Kyrel Ren"]

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Tha'ga didn't seem to protest as he held her chin lightly at first, then moved to hold her hands within his own, to which he could feel her fingers rubbing against his. It was as if she had welcomed it more than anything to which had brought him delight. So far the woman was starting to shift from a more business-like approach to a more casual one. He had wanted her to relax especially if she wanted to catch up, and all the talk of business and politics were starting to bore him.

He held her fingers gently, treating her as if she was a fragile sculpture as neither one broke the distance between the two. Neither one didn't seem to object either. Perhaps they would even think that one could hardly notice the two. Another bout of silence had followed them as she asked as to where they would go. Kyrel had thought for a moment.

After some contemplation for a few minutes, he slowly replied taking her hand, and walking forward down the hallway slowly. "I know of a study, comfortable chairs, a fireplace with a nice rug, and even a lovely view." He gave her a toothy smile, showing off his pearl white teeth in a gentle smile as he led her to the room admiring the architecture of the palace.

[member="Tha'ga Temi"]

 

[Tha'ga Temi]

She clasped Kyrel’s hand, but then stopped abruptly as soon as he crossed into the room’s threshold.

Tha’ga let go and did not take another step.

Despite her nerves, her indecision and her inexperience, there was a quiet resoluteness in the young Hapan. No, she wasn’t heeding the warning of Tmoxin now, she was listening to her own heart and her own instinct.

The fire invited both of them to relax, but the redhead politician felt nothing but. With a tense smile, she gave Kyrel a curt nod and a hollow voice said, “Apologies, I just received an important transmission,” though he could clearly see she had not checked her datapad.

“I bid you goodnight.”

She walked briskly back the way she came. No, the danger she’d felt deep inside had gone beyond minor caution. A blackness had pulled at her and it emanated from that room… and from that man.

And the lightside of the Force intervened on Tha’ga’s behalf to pull her back from the brink. Whether her journey to being a Jedi was in one day or in twenty-years, the Force had another path for her, and it did not begin with the meandering road of the First Order and its sinister, deceitful guide, [member="Kyrel Ren"].

{Exit thread}​