Private Nerd Prom

[Verity Stuyveris]

THE SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
THEED - NABOO​

The weeks was winding down. It had been another bear.

The Organas had done a bunk, necessitating a frank discussion with her policy team and Alderaan experts on how to proceed. A tentative search for alternative candidates was underway, but Verity had concerns that switching horses this late would make the Republic look like flighty dilletantes, or worse, craven opportunists. The alternative, though -- to cede the Alderaanian crown to a candidate that was, in the very best case scenario, open to Covenant influence -- was unacceptable. And with the way things were going now, it was hardly likely to be the best case scenario that they encountered.

The Senate was proving to be about as efficient as a turbine that had been flooded with molasses rather than lubricant, and there were moments when Verity was inclined to pitch the entire thing away. Was it still possible for her to accomplish her ambitions? What good would it be to eventually work her way up to the Chancellor's office if there was nothing to get done? She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose before touching her intercom. "Kira, could you bring me a few painkillers? And caff."

"Right away, Senator. I'll send it in with Mr. Varencourt." Verity winced when she realized she had her Chief of Staff scheduled at the hour, which was about a caff brew away.

"All right. Thank you, Kira. You can send him in when he arrives, no need to buzz."

Lucien's final brief was light, thank goodness. Not easy; the Alderaan situation was still as burdensome as ever, and the prospects for her legislative agenda were limited. But those were the only two items, but for a small bag bearing the stately initials of G. T. She killed the last of her coffee and opened the bag, pulling out each bundle of stationery from her preferred stationer in Theed. In her view, Giuseppe Trossi was the only stationer worth a damn, and she was happy to let other Senators know. She had a ritual now of providing a small welcome package of stationery to new Senators -- notepads, note cards, whatnots -- personalized with the names and initials where appropriate of each new Senator. It was how she familiarized herself with new colleagues. Varencourt provided the bundles, clipped to a printed photograph of the new member.

"Wait a minute," she said, her eyes lingering on the photo of the new Senator for Tatooine. "I know him. He's in the Senate?"

Varencourt leaned over. "Mr. Moreau? Yes, the member for Tatooine. How do you know him?"

Verity smiled enigmatically. "It's a long story." A slender finger tapped one of the medals that he wore on his chest in his formal Senate photo portrait. "We're not best friends, but I did write the commendation that put that there. I had no idea he was interested in politics." She looked up at Varencourt. "You got me appointment with him and the others?"

"Yes, Senator."

"Good. When do I meet with Moreau?"

"Tomorrow," Varencourt announced. "Before your luncheon with the Ecological Resources Compact."

Leon Moreau
​

 

[Leon Moreau]

Verity Stuyveris

He remembered Senator Stuyveris.

Back then it had been miss Stuyveris.

Even at a younger age, Verity had been bold, brash and having a certain level of bravery that verged on the suicidal. Hearing tales of her facing down one of the SIth Lords of the Covenant without hesitation did not surprise him. Maybe it intimidated him a little. Leon knew he would have thought twice if he had been in her shoes.

What a formidable woman she must have become.

Leon waited patiently in the waiting room while Verity handled her latest appointment. Only when the PA came in and signaled that the Senator was ready for him, did he stand up, taking his hat off and with it in hand entered the office of the fierce senator.

"Senator Stuyveris." Inclining his head there. "An honor to meet you. Are you well today?"

The former soldier did not try to remind her of the time they had shared together all those years ago. Leon hardly thought she'd remember it now and it would look silly from him.

Maybe even an attempt to ingratiate himself to the powerful figure.

"I am not sure how to start this, I am afraid. I am rather new to this all." An apologetic smile there.

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

​

"Senator, come in," Verity said gregariously as she rose. She rounded the desk and offered a handshake. "Thanks for making the time."

She gestured for him to take a seat and set about offering coffee and refreshments.

"Normally I'd come to you, but I understand there was some kind of -- electrical issue, was it? -- in the north wing. Well, never mind. It's good to see you again. It's been a long time."

Yes, she remembered. The senate delegation when she had been working with the previous Senator. They had come under fire and it was Leon Moreau as much as anyone that saw them to safety. "What are you doing here? I never thought I'd see you in politics."

Leon Moreau
​

 

[Leon Moreau]

Verity Stuyveris

He blinked, making it clear to Verity that the man in front of her had not assumed she'd remember him.

"A long time indeed, Senator." Once she indicated it was allowed, he'd sit down opposite of hers. "I am surprised you remember me, ma'am. I was just one of many soldiers back then." Humble, but was it false humility or true? Back then he had seemed like a firm and responsible young man.

Someone who cared about protecting people and who had had the time to put Verity at ease, when it would have been easy to brush aside the concerns of a civilian.

But that had been the soldier and this was the politician.

"Neither did I, if I am honest." He said with an expression that verged on painful, before Leon managed to wipe it away entirely. "But I have always wanted to serve. First in the military... and now I suppose I am serving my planet in a different way." He still wasn't entirely sure how that would work.

Tatooine had a reputation for a good reason.

"I am quite happy to make the track, ma'am. This body isn't made for sitting behind the desk all day, having a walk is quite pleasant."

A smile there.

"I on the other hand, am not surprised to see you a Senator. Even back then I saw the steel in your eyes. You do not back down from anyone." It could have been just an attempt at stroking her ego. But his expression seemed sincere enough.

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

​

"I make it a point to remember people who put themselves between me and danger," Verity said genuinely, fixing the Senator in a gaze whose warmth seemed uncharacteristic for the woman whose entire persona was based on staying cool. "That includes you."

She went to the side table and picked up the small dark box that was sitting there, waiting. "Tatooine, though, really? I didn't know anyone was from there. I thought it was just a place that people... y'know. Ended up." She paused, made a face. "No offense intended, of course. I'm sure you know that the place has a reputation. I've heard it described as a hive of scum and villainy." Verity paused again, head canting as if she was searching her memory.

"Maybe that was just one city," she amended. "Anyway. Here, this is for you."

She held the box out to him. As he opened it an examined its contents, she explained: "When I first came here it was a nightmare finding a proper stationer. Until I found Mr. Trossi I was having stationery delivered from Druckenwell -- at my own expense, of course, which was manageable but there are better things to do with that money, of course." She smiled faintly. "And I was looking for ways to welcome new Senators to the club, so I put together a little care package for each new member. It's a nice little tradition. Some of the other Senators do something similar. If Eharl Sarn hasn't come by with a plant, he will soon, I'm sure. He's a darling."

Verity settled back in her seat.

Leon Moreau​

 

[Leon Moreau]

Verity Stuyveris

He chuckled there and shook his head.

"No, the reputation is well-earned, I am afraid." Leon said without hesitation. There were certain things he could not say. Not to Verity, not to anyone who deserved the truth. His family had been deliberate in the way they shrouded their criminal activity behind legitimate business. But they, much like the Arceneaus like Danger Arceneau , were rooted in the smuggling underworld of Tatooine.

Their families, the Moreaus and the Arceneaus, had worked together in those days. But while the Arceneau family had expanded their reach into Galactic proportions, the Moreaus kept to their smaller scale.

There was no dive bar, shadowport or smuggling enclave on and around Tatooine that didn't know of the Moreaus. A family that was as home on Tatooine as the desert.

"But there are people on Tatooine who want to make an honest living. Who do their best. I am just hopeful that as Senator I will be able to empower the honest workers while weakening the hold of the corrupt." If only Verity knew what his family was really like. She would be skeptical of the claim, but Leon was being forthright.

He truly believed he could make a difference.

"Oh, thank you." Accepting the box with a blink. "I... am so sorry, I did not bring you any gifts, should I have?"

The former soldier looked rather sheepish with box in hand.

"I am still rather new at all of this." Leon opened up the box and smiled, nodding there. "Yes, I was wondering where I would get... all of the things I need to get, I suppose. I have an aide, but I brought her over from Tatooine. I suspect she is as lost as I am with all of this."

For now Leon put the box down and looked back to Verity.

"I remember a woman that was fierce, confident and keenly concerned for the fate of others, Senator. If you are still that woman, then I'd like to offer my support to you and maybe in return you can guide me in my first steps in this new career."

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

​

Verity's eyebrow arched delicately at his suggestion that he should have brought something for her.

"Oh no," she assured him quickly. "No, nothing like that. How were you to know? And anyway, it's not necessary. If you really want to return the favor, you will simply vote as I do on every motion until one of us leaves office." And Verity laughed at this, because it was a joke, and definitely not something she was hoping to achieve with these small acts of kindness.

But Leon was -- politely -- a backwater farmboy. He might need assistance, and Verity was pleased to offer it.

"I'm happy to help in whatever capacity, but I wouldn't expect you to compromise your values just because I showed you around the building." Verity settled, crossed her legs. "I imagine I will get your support the same way you or anyone else will get mine: if I agree with what you're proposing or if I don't care and supporting will strengthen the working relationship."

She paused a moment. "If you'd like to send your girl over, I can have my Chief of Staff, Varencourt, give her the rundown. The trouble with this place is that there are rather a lot of rules, only no one tells you them. But that doesn't stop them expecting you to follow. It can be quite maddening." Verity folded her hands across her knee. "Now, tell me what you're hoping to achieve here and I'll see what I can do to help. Have you any ideas for legislation?"

Leon Moreau​

 

[Leon Moreau]

Verity Stuyveris

He snorted there but looked at her with clear admiration.

She was a charmer and oh so good at this game. In a way that made him feel... like an elephant rumbling around a porcelain store, but somehow didn't make him feel inadequate in spite of it still.

That was a true talent. Political, yes, but also personal.

"Thank you, ma'am. I will make sure she comes over and speaks to your Chief. I think we will both be very grateful of that." Inclining his head as he considerate her next question.

It was a good one and luckily Leon had thought about it long and hard.

Even before accepting the job the question had been: could he really do something good with it? That had been more important to him than the insistence of his family to accept the job.

"I suspect that 'legislation ideas' is a large word for my thoughts. But... I would like to work on anti-corruption bills, ma'am. As I said, Tatooine has a reputation for good reason. So many of our citizens fall prey to corruption. Having to pay out of their nose for services that should be readily available to them. In turn they turn to crime themselves, because they do not see any other way out."

Brows furrowed.

"It's a vicious cycle and one I wish to break. It starts with corruption, but what I desire most is to make Tatooine into a planet people are proud to call their homeworld."

Gaze turned curious towards her.

"Are there bills that you are working on that you require support with, ma'am? Things were we could find alignment, perhaps?"

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

​

"Don't call me ma'am," Verity said. "You make me sound like a schoolmarm. I'm sure we're the same age."

Actually she was certain that she was younger than he, but at the beginning of a colleague-colleague relationship, it wouldn't do to point out that he was older. "Verity is fine. Or, if you insist on formality, Senator."

She considered what he said about anti-corruption. That sounded admirable. "I'm inclined to agree with that aim," Verity told Leon. "If you need assistance with drafting or any kind of advice, my number is in the directory. As for me, my legislative agenda is currently in flux. I had a bit of a setback recently and... well, we're reconsidering. Not so much the direction of travel as the speed."

Verity folded her arms around her middle and looked at Leon, gauging whether she should proceed with what she was going to say. But finally, she decided it was worth the trouble. "Being anti-corruption is all well and good, but if you'll take a word of advice -- be cautious about how showy you're being. There are certain Senators who will insist they mean well but if your fire burns too brightly they will try to put it out. For sport, perhaps, or because being put on the spot embarrasses them. Then we'll never get anything done."

She didn't name names -- not on the first meeting -- but a warning was fair.

Leon Moreau​