O'er All the Traffic's Roar | Invite

[Natasi Fortan]

The tree that was erected in the main entry of 10 Park Boulevard, the official residence of the Grand Moff in Avalonia, was a pale imitation of the trees that had been placed in the main hall at Herevan, or so Natasi thought now as she stood on the first-floor landing. She reached across the space between the railing and the tree and adjusted a light, frowning slightly, then called down to Hendersmith, who stood at the base of the tree on the ground floor: "It's no use. It just doesn't look right."

"No, milady?" Hendersmith asked, eyebrow arched.

"It's wrong," Natasi said irritably. "It's... it's all wrong."

Hendersmith studied the tree from his angle, then mounted the steps to stand beside his mistress. "It's beautiful, milady," he said after a few moments. "What is wrong with it?"

"It's ... " The Grand Moff stopped and straightened her back. "The colors on the ornaments are too bright. It's... garish."

Hendersmith furrowed his brow in confusion for a few moments until the realization hit him. It's her first Life Day away from Herevan. The decorations for the tree there were so old that the colors had all but faded... of course the colors on new ornaments will look too bright; but there's nothing to be done for it now. The decorations had been destroyed in the fire. He cleared his throat. "I see, milady. I'll... see what I can do."

The Grand Moff sighed and closed her eyes. "No. It's -- this will do. Besides, we have company coming soon. There's not enough time..." Her voice trailed off and she clutched the railing. For a moment, a flash of phantom pain seared across her back, but when she opened her eyes again, it had passed. "Will you go and check that everything is running on schedule, and send Banks up to my room? Thank you, Hendersmith." The butler bowed reverentially and descended the steps, heading for the door (cleverly disguised as paneling in the staircase) to the basement level, which housed the kitchens, pantries, and staff offices in addition to quarters for live-in staff. Natasi, for her part, went to the residence and sat at her dressing table, using a damp cloth to remove her makeup and then taking her earrings out and setting them in her dressing box. The necklace came next, and by that time, Banks had knocked on the door and let herself in. "You asked for me, milady?"

"I'd like a hot bath before the stampede arrives. And will you lay out something for me to wear while I'm in the bath?" Natasi stood and turned towards the mirror. Banks automatically stepped behind her and began to undress her.

"Of course, milady," said Banks demurely. She went into the bathroom and Natasi soon heard the sound of rushing water, and steam began to billow out of the open door. Banks returned and stepped behind Natasi, beginning her routine as she pulled Natasi's blouse over her head, setting it aside to be laundered, and followed up by unzipping Natasi's pencil skirt. As she eased it down, Natasi winced, nearly doubling over in pain. The fabric of the skirt had brushed across a livid red scar that slashed across her lower back. "I'm so sorry, milady, are you all right?"

"Perfectly," Natasi insisted through her clenched teeth. She steadied herself on the back of the chair before her dressing table and looked over her shoulder. "I wish it would finish healing already. One feels obliged to make jokes about zip-fasteners and things." She gave her ladies maid an apologetic smile and finally unclenched. One of the downsides of changing clothes multiple times a day was that every time, because of the location of her healing wound, she ended up brushing it with the fabric of whatever she was taking off or putting on, each time nearly bringing her to tears at the pain of it. Natasi stepped out of her skirt and Banks knelt to collect it, setting it aside with her blouse before swaddling Natasi in a silken dressing gown. "Thank you, Banks, I can take it from here."

"Yes, milady. I'll pull some selections for dinner tonight. You'll want something formal?"

"Of course. If Aunt Fiolette doesn't demand it, Aunt Hyacinth certainly will." Natasi gathered her dressing gown around herself and strolled into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. She turned off the hot water when it had filled the tub to the right level, then disrobed, finished undressing, and slowly lowered herself into the hot water, stifling a whimpering protest when the water encountered her scar. The pain wracked her for several moments until she was finally able to settle against the warm porcelain of the bath, and she lowered herself into the hot water until only her head remained above water. She sat, motionless, for at least ten minutes before Banks knocked and entered the bathroom, carrying several evening dresses on hangers.

"I thought something red would be appropriate for tonight, milady, but I've brought a few other options." She held up the red dress, before showing her options in gold and green as well.

"Where's the black one?" Natasi asked tonelessly.

"For Life Day Eve?" Banks asked.

Natasi closed her eyes and inhaled slowly; the scent of jasmine filled her senses. "Gold, then," she said. "And set out my gold beaded headband and necklace. And the gloves. What time is it?" Banks told her, and she nodded. "Good. Then we have time to wash my hair and style it for tonight." So it was that an hour later, Natasi descended the stairs to the foyer, ready and waiting to greet her family for Life Day Eve. She waited in the study although the Government staff had gone home for the holidays, leaving Natasi and her household staff. The red boxes were light today, only a few minor items from various Ministries. Everyone was behaving themselves for the moment, which was remarkable in and of itself. A cabinet with no infighting; what else could a Grand Moff wish for for Life Day?

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"] | [member="Pierce Fortan III"] | [member="Hyacinth Fortan"]​

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Josef drove, of course Josef drove them to Natasi's. The Belsavis man just wouldn't have it any other way, no matter who his in-law was, rather his former in-law. Although that was neither here nor there as he looked out at the bumper to bumper conditions. "Girls, someone give yer cousin a ring, let'er know we're gonna be late." Leave it to Dosuun, after a year that they've had - leave it to them to be like this. Bumper to bumper all the way down from Prosperia, "anyone 'ere from yer sister?" He asks looking at the back of the speeder where his two younger girls Ryssa and Ariel sat. The old man sighed, Ryssa would be turning twelve, and Ariel would be five, three months, three birthdays, his oldest, Lucy would be nineteen. Balance bless it he thought and moved the speeder up according to traffic conditions.

Fiolette was asleep, which was good enough for him. She'd gone through a lot, doctors said she'd have this forgetting spell anyway - the Battle of Castameer just sped it up. He let out another sigh and watched as his ex, stirred from her sleep. "By the Balance," she began, "are we still in traffic?"

"Yes."

She sighed, "we wouldn't be here if you had taken my advice, Josef. A car, early - we would be at Natasi's already."

"Woman," Josef replied, "when have I ever done with a driver, footman, butler or whatever dangum blessed thing you people have, servants."

"Josef Yvarro, may I remind you that you are part of a Galidraani family and thus these traditions must be observed, Ryssa straighten your shirt and Ariel posture," she told them both as she looked out the window. "Honestly, how long are we going to be here? Will I age another twenty years?"

"Balance can only hope..." Josef grumbled, "woman I can't control the dangum traffic, we're jus' gonna have'ta wait, now girls, someone call yer sister."

Another sigh from Fiolette, "yes because if we continuously call Lucy this will ensure that she will be at the party on time, of course."

By the Balance he wondered why he was still here, he just wanted to bash his head into the speeder control panel at this point, Today was a good day, Fio had been her usual self, and of course that meant her full personality was in swing. While he loved it because then she hold her own conversations without forgetting just who in the world she was talking to, he hated it because made her a royal pain to deal with. "Fiolette, may I remind you that it is I who is driving you to this shindig with your family."

"Oh hush you adore Natasi."

"That's not my dangum point, woman, Balance bless it."

Fiolette leaned over and gave Josef a kiss on the cheek, "girls do what your father asked, Ryssa call your sister."

"Right, make me call her, okay," Ryssa complained as she reached over to take her mother's holotablet from her.

Josef looked out at the traffic again, "and if your niece is as powerful as you say can she handwave this traffic?"

"My dear, Natasi is a great many things, but a magician is not one of them."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

The snow was doing nothing to help with the traffic situation. Avalonia, having been laid out with care for the residents and traffic concerns, was usually less congested, but during the holiday -- with some streets shut down for holiday affairs -- things were poking along. Hyacinth sat in the passenger seat of her son's speeder, the visor flipped down so she could touch up her makeup in the mirror. "It's rather strange to think about it, isn't it?"

"What is?" asked Pierce, shifting in his seat as they idled in traffic.

"You know. Our Natasi as a head of government. At Number 10!" Hyacinth carefully retouched her eyeliner, sparing a glance at her son. "It's strange, thinking of her as the Grand Moff. Living at Number 10. You hear about allsorts on the news but you never stop to think it's actually someone you know."

Pierce's eyebrows furrowed; his grey eyes peered into the snow as the traffic moved along. "I don't know what you mean. She's been Grand Moff since you came to Dosuun."

"Yes," conceded Hyacinth. "But still. You said she lived in that dingy little flat in the Spaceport District. And then she was shacking up with that man -- [member="Darell Irani"] -- and not at Number 10. But now here we are, on our way to see her at one of the most famous addresses in the city. You hardly think of your own niece being Grand Moff. Imagine, she speaks to the Supreme Leader on a daily basis!"

"I'm sure she doesn't," said Pierce, suppressing an eyeroll.

Hyacinth looked peeved. "You know what I mean. Weekly, then! Imagine that. I knew her when she was in nappies and now this."

"You know, you do know other accomplished people. For instance, your only son survived a battlefield injury and was promoted to Captain this year." Pierce finally pulled off into the driveway for Number 10, Park Boulevard.

"Of course, dear, of course." Hyacinth finished touching up her lipstick and then tucked everything inside her bag, before withdrawing her ID card on instructions from the guard in the driveway. When he had verified them both, he waved them inside and opened the gate. "Oh, we're the first ones here, fancy that. I wonder if she'd give us a tour."

[member="Pierce Fortan III"] | [member="Natasi Fortan"] | [member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Behave yourself, mother," said Pierce coolly as he pulled the car up to the gate. Immediately a chauffeur and a footman stepped forward, opening the door for both of them. Pierce stepped out and waited for his mother to do the same. "This may be the seat of power in the government -- well, outside the Palace of course -- but it's her home as well. Try not to make a nuisance of yourself."

"Me?" Hyacinth echoed indignantly as she gathered her cloak around herself. "Nonsense! That's not something I would do."

"Right," said Pierce, offering his arm and a wry smile to his mother, who took it. They mounted the short flight of steps out of the driveway as the chauffeur drove the car away. The footman marched ahead of them to open the door, and they were met by Hendersmith. "Mr. Hendersmith, splendid to see you again. Are you well?"

"Well enough, Your Lordship. Your Ladyship." The butler bowed to them both before beginning to help with their coats. He pulled off Pierce's cloak to reveal his dress reds, and underneath Hyacinth's was a beautiful white and ivory evening gown. "Lady Natasi is in the library, if you'll come this way."

"Jolly good," said Pierce jovially, following with his mother. They paused in the foyer to admire the Life Day tree. "My word, that's something else, Hendersmith. Did you do it yourself, or did you hire it in?"

"It was a team effort between Lady Natasi and myself," said Hendersmith gravely.

"It's beautiful," muttered Hyacinth under her breath. "Just like the old days at Herevan."

"It would lift her spirits if you were to mention that," Hendersmith murmured discretely. "I think she feels homesick."

But there was no further opportunity for conversation before they arrived at the door. Hendersmith knocked, opened the door, and announced: "The Baron Chiltenham and the Dowager Baroness Chiltenham, milady."

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Avalonia wasn't so bad usually, holidays and weather were playing up traffic a lot more, though. Josef never did like sitting around and just waiting, but he didn't exactly have much of a choice either. Looking over at Fio he had to remind himself that this was one of her good days. Ryssa had just gotten off holo with Lucy, and Lucy was running late too. Shuttles from Victoria were backed up, apparently an accident on the runway was the delay. No one was hurt but there was still a mess to clean up. Balance save them all he supposed, one would think that getting to Number 10 would be easy - unfortunately, it was still off one of the main arteries of Avalonia. "Next year, she can come to our place," he finally managed to say and Fiolette huffed. "What?"

"And where would we put everyone?" Fio asked calmly, "truly I wonder where we would put them Josef, mhmm? Do you suppose our neighbours would mind it so terribly if we rented out their flat as well?" Honestly. Admiralty Hill wasn't nearly as luxurious as everyone perceived it to be. "Or have you accomplished something with your time and fixed our country home?"

"Woman."

"Man."

"I'll get it done when I get it done, you can't rush perfection."

"Or traffic, clearly."

Josef had to mind himself, he really did. Thankfully, there seemed to be a break and traffic was moving once more. Snow trickled down from the Dosuun skies, and Ariel was in awe of it all. A smile on the old man's lips as he heard his youngest shriek with joy about the snow. Ryssa had half a mind to tell Ariel to shut it, but thought otherwise when Fio gave her a knowing look. Number 10 was now fast on approach, as much as Josef could make it so. His speeding was noted by Fio although she didn't quip about it right then and there, they were late enough as it was.

Finally, they had made it.

Hendersmith was going to have a ball of a time introducing them.

[member="Natasi Fortan"]