Private Highrise

[Adriana Fortemps]

// Lord Inquisitor Fordyce //
// Yavin IV //
// Madelyn Lowe //

Tea had been prepared and snacks provided as Jorryn finished the final touches on her penthouse apartment, the whole of the building looking as prestigious as the guest that Jorryn had invited over. It wasn't very often that the Lord Inquisitor had invited people over to her personal residence. Most of her meetings and introductions took place in the Saaraisash headquarters only a couple of blocks down, but such a place wouldn't suit someone of Moff Lowe's rank. Especially not in a more informal setting.

Plus Madelyn had done the Jorr the honour of inviting her into the Lowe residence, it would be impolite not to return the favour.

The journey to Prefsbelt had been an... interesting one. It had been a bit hard to find much time to talk to Madelyn considering that Jorryn had been stuck in the house with both her current and ex partners, especially when one of them had the emotions stripped from them. It had all been a bit much to deal with. Of course, Moff Lowe was probably experiencing something similar since the Imperial conquest of Prefsbelt.

With all the disasters that had been going on with the war, it was nice to have a place to relax at home. The lowering sun lighting the sky oranges and deep blues as it returned to slumber until tomorrow, the balcony allowing access to the view unobstructed. It wouldn't be much longer before Grand Moff Lowe would arrive at the residence, and such a view was always more enjoyable with company. Especially when it wasn't immediately work-related.

So Jorryn would wait out on the balcony for now. Three servants stood by the door ready to welcome the Grand Moff hand and foot whenever she crossed the threshold. The Echani would never be caught lacking in manners when it came to someone of Lowe's importance. And hopefully, this little chat could bloom into a significant partnership.

 

[Madelyn Lowe]

// Grand Vizier Madelyn Lowe //

// Yavin IV //

// Adriana Fortemps //​

It was a cool and pleasant evening on Yavin IV. The sun had just dipped past the horizon and the pink light filtered pleasantly past the distant forest as the speeder approached the Lord Inquisitor’s residence. It was one of her mandated free days, time in which she had full control over the day's responsibilities with only the most urgent matters to disturb her. It was a chance to take a day off, though she rarely used it. Madelyn Lowe stared out of the window of the speeder, cruising in silence. Her heart was heavy, mind buzzing with thoughts of the war, her place in it, and of her past.

Her youth seemed to linger in her mind lately. On off days like this she found herself reminiscing about her life in the Order, from her time in the Imperial Youth to her early political career. Of course, such thoughts inevitably returned to the dark period, when the whole thing had come crashing down. The scenes of Varonat’s fall were still the worst, most haunting things she had ever witnessed, but lately they had also begun to blur into the other lost planets, from Mygeeto to Prefsbelt, to Bastion, Felucia.

It was draining, disheartening. Worse still, it was all the same things she had seen before.

Madelyn rubbed her eyes and blinked blearily. She was moody, and had been for a few days now. An unshakeable fatigue had gripped her, and she’d shuffled through her daily tasks and duties as Grand Vizier glassy-eyed and emotionless. Perhaps some time off would be good for her.

The speeder slowed to a stop and Madelyn shook her head slowly, clenching and unclenching her fist once, allowing herself to focus on the task at hand. She was to meet with Jorryn Fordyce, she had to be put-together. The door opened smoothly, and she rose out into the cool evening air, heels clacking on the pavement as she straightened up and looked around, brushing a speck of lint from the shoulder of her form-fitting uniform. She gave the driver a nod and a parting wave.

Madelyn regarded the lobby coolly, beautifully furnished with lush carpeting and tasteful furniture keeping her expression detached and distant. She opened her mouth to speak to the attendant, but before she could speak, they had already called the lift. She gave them a tight smile as she passed, her skin prickling, and sidled into the lift.

Finally she was inside, smiling politely to the staff, shrugging her back off her shoulder, her gaze flitting about the room, until she spotted Fordyce. A wave of weariness washed over her again, but she forced her smile back and went to greet her host.

“Lord Inquisitor, I was so pleased to hear that my office had received tonight’s invitation. It’s a welcome change from all of this grim business,”