Private Of Common Cause

[Loria Sorelle]

OF COMMON CAUSE
A Story of a New Friendship
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LORIA SORELLE
The River Club, Theed, Naboo
Early Evening

Gentle music echoed throughout the lounge as hushed voices filled the air. Rich tapestries hung upon warm stone, complimenting the polished wooden furnishings of the club's interior. Glassed clinked, cutlery clashed and the atmosphere was nice; As was expected of an exclusive club.

Its name was simple, elegant and clean: The River Club. Unassuming to those not in-the-know, but known amongst the high society of Theed. Of course, not all patrons were nobles. Wealthy businessfolk, respected academics and various high profile individuals were often invited and granted membership- a chance to mingle with Naboo's elite.

The River Club was a favorite of Loria's; It wasn't far from home, it wasn't too busy or too loud, and one could meet all sorts of characters there. Staff were pleasant, the building was historic and the drinks were often well-made. After spending time in the lounge, one could easily pinpoint reasons as to why the club was popular.

Sip.

'Ria took a sip from her glass, a turquoise liquid appearing from within. In her hand, a holobook entitled 'The Swan of Solleu,' a richly illustrated romance, part poetry, part prose, filled with dreamy descriptions of Naboo's rivers and countryside. Mixing fable with noble intrigue, making it a favorite among the Nabooian nobility, and Loria, for light reading.

After a few moments passed, she closed the holobook with a soft sigh, tucking it gently under her arm. The river-light caught the polished wood of the club's tables, glinting off crystal glasses and casting faint reflections onto the stone floor. Voices murmured quietly around her, occasional laughter punctuating the gentle hum of conversation.

Loria rose, adjusting her dress with a careful hand, and moved toward a seat by the far window. From here, the water outside shimmered like liquid silver, a calm contrast to the small flutter of anticipation in her chest. The meeting had been arranged, the timing set- now all that remained was for her guest to arrive.

She settled into her seat, eyes scanning the lounge, aware that any moment could bring the entrance of the person she was meant to meet.

Blaire Sal-Soren

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[Blaire Sal-Soren]

The River Club

She thought the name wistfully as she strode through the dining area, the gentle click clack of her heels combining with the clatter of cutlery and cacophony of quiet conversation.

Even over the scintillating scent of scrumptious small plates of food and the unassuming but unmistakably beautiful fresh curated centerpieces, Blaire could not miss the gentle smell of the river outside. As she walked the room she could not help herself but to remember her first time here. Well, the first time she could remember at any rate.

They were six or near enough, her sister and fellow triplet, Briana, and Blaire both. It was just the two of them and Mama. Daddy had some special Sal-Soren boy lesson for Brandyn so they made a girl's day out of it. Briana wore her hair up, done in fashion like one of the old Queen's.

She realized that the way she pictured Briana was indelibly influenced by this memory she hadn't thought of in years. Six years old only and Briana was who she was. The pretty, perfectly polished, and poised in her soft purple dress, periwinkle perhaps?, future paragon of the Ee'everwest name.

That was what she remembered of her first time here at The River Club, well, that and her burning desire to leave the table and go for a splash in the cool water.

Blaire was drawn back from pleasant memories by a sort of squawking sound. She thought it must've come from some bird happily hunting in the water until it happened again and right close to her.

"B!" The sound squawked, raspily like attempting to shout a whisper.

"B!" The sound came again from behind her. Blaire turned to face the sound and found herself wrapped in a tight embrace, her face buried in thick blonde curly hair. "B, I thought that was you!" Said Charlotte Chamberlain beaming at her now that she finally released Blaire from her grasp.

"Char!" Blaire practically squealed once she finally gained some measure of composure. "Shiraya's heart, how have you been?" She rapt a kiss quickly on each of Charlotte's cheeks, which hadn't gotten any smaller since school it seemed.

Jaa had given Char the awful nickname 'skrat' because according to him they stuffed their mouths so full of crap to be saved for later they puffed out even wider than the stupid little things were long. Charlotte's cheeks weren't that big, really, though the name had made Blaire laugh.

"You remember Sebastian? From the academy?" Charlotte asked.

"Of course," Blaire lied at once. Charlotte didn't notice, so eager was she to thrust her hand in Blaire's face that it likely wouldn't have mattered what Blaire's answer would've been. There on her freshly manicured hand was an enormous and frankly hideously gaudy engagement ring. "Congrats Char!" Blaire said, again her voice going up an octave without her meaning for it.

"That Jedi of yours taking his time?" Char asked, glancing at Blaire's own hand, unadorned with rings, engagement or any other.

Blaire snorted an incredulous laugh "My what?"

Charlotte waved a knowingly dismissive hand at her protestations "Oh, we all know about it. No need to play secret keeper, Blaire."

Before Blaire could ask what the hell she was talking about, Charlotte grabbed something from her table and shoved it hastily in Blaire's hands. It appeared to be some sort of newsletter. She began reading immediately.

"…The Swan of Solleu…three children in tow…recent sightings with Jedi Knight…calculated…"

Calculated?!

Blaire turned down Charlotte's invitation to join her table which it turned out had a few of Blaire's other academy friends. She apologized profusely and promised to find a time to catch up.

Click clack

She moved through the hall again, no thoughts of fond memories filling her mind now. She read the gossip again, and again. As far as her personal reputation went, worse things had been published about her in the past but there was a tiny knot of worry building in her belly when she thought about Aiden and what he might think.

In a seat near the window, overlooking the water sat the very person Blaire had come to see.

"Miss Sorelle?" She asked approaching.

| Outfit: xxx | Tag: Loria Sorelle | Equipment: xxx |​

 

[Loria Sorelle]

LORIA SORELLE
The River Club, Theed, Naboo

Since Loria had sat down, the amount of patrons within had increased. The ambient volume began to creep up ever so slowly as warm music filled the air. The warm smell of alcohol and finely prepared food began to consume the room, only to be whisked away by the evening breeze.

In the time she had taken in waiting for Blaire's arrival, her eyes had once again drifted to her book- which she found herself immersed in once again. It wasn't until a voice called her name from her side that her attention was pried from her beloved holobook.

It was Blaire. She arose from her seat gently with a wide smile on her face. This would mark Loria's first public engagement since she had graduated, and she felt the nerves creep up as she opened her mouth to speak.

'Lady Sal-Soren!' she offered a small curtsy, maintaining her polite smile as she did so. 'How nice it is to finally meet you, I've heard so much about you-' she continued as she gestured towards the seat opposite her. '-Please.'

She gestured for a hostess who appeared almost instantly, 'care for a drink before we begin?'

Her voice betrayed her confidence. One could easily pick up on Loria's nerves and excitement. After all, her first role as a patron would shape opinions about her capacity to partake in the volatile world of the Nabooian nobility.

It mattered. To her. To her family. To those who would benefit from her patronage.

Blaire Sal-Soren

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[Blaire Sal-Soren]

Blaire had evidently snuck up on Loria Sorelle, who she found alone, her face buried in a book.

That's an encouraging sight
she thought as Lady Sorelle rose from her seat. Blaire tried to catch a glimpse of the title of Loria's holobook, per chance she had read it herself, not that she did much reading, but having something common to converse about would be a good thing. Alas, Lady Sorelle had put the thing away too quickly for Blaire to see the title.

'Lady Sal-Soren!' she offered a small curtsy, maintaining her polite smile as she did so. 'How nice it is to finally meet you, I've heard so much about you-' she continued as she gestured towards the seat opposite her. '-Please.'

Blaire returned the smile and the curtsy. She was a little out of practice but even from beyond, Blaire's mother would never forgive her forgetting her niceties.

"Good things, I hope." Blaire said warmly, taking the seat offered by lady Sorelle. Her mind flashed back to the society paper and its description of her as 'calculated'

'care for a drink before we begin?'

"Are my eyes open?" She asked leaning across their tiny table conspiratorially, making her joke like Loria was one of her academy friends. Blaire made her order, three fingers of Corellian black label, she'd acquired a taste for the spirit after sharing a bottle with a Jedi.

"What's that book you're reading?" Blaire asked.

Small talk would do to fill the time it would take for her drink to arrive and perhaps it would allow for the ice to be broken. Blaire got the impression of nervousness from Lady Sorelle. Blaire felt her nerves as well but a lifetime of performing had allowed her the practice of hiding those nerves as she pushed on through whatever endeavor.

She was still nervous though, no matter how skilled she was at hiding it. This was really and truly Blaire's first steps at making something of her own on her own.

Lady Sorelle would settle too after a drink and some light conversation.

| Outfit: xxx | Tag: Loria Sorelle | Equipment: xxx |​

 

[Loria Sorelle]

LORIA SORELLE
The River Club, Theed, Naboo

'Of course, of course!' she jested warmly as she returned to her seat.

As she straightened the folds of her dress, her mind momentarily wandered to the surroundings of the club: It was busy enough for the two to have some privacy yet not so busy that holding any form of conversation would be uncomfortable. Perfect.

A smirk manifested upon her lips at Blaire's musings. She would catch the attention of the waitress upon waiting for Blaire to make her order, 'make that two, please.' Her eyes then snapping to her new acquaintance in a way that illustrated she was perhaps laying the diplomacy on thick.

Though her polite smile quivered at Blaire's next question. Her book. She had no reason to panic, yet she did. 'Oh, uh-' she turned her book back over casually. 'It's a book on romance, drama and noble intrigue, it mixes poetry and prose quite nicely, in fact...'

She had omitted the name of the book on purpose, hoping that her explanation would suffice for now. Hoping that her nerves would be taken as her being nervous for their meeting.

Though she needed to turn the conversation, and quickly. Her eyes darted to Blaire's before she opened her mouth to speak: 'So, "three fingers of Corellian black label", that's certainly... unique.'

'Where did you find out about a drink like that?'

Blaire Sal-Soren

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