Private Orbiter

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Mineral water, flat will be fine Astol."

"An excellent choice."

"Astol?"

"Yes, Miss Dashiell?"

"Ensure I receive the check this evening. Or you may give it to Zee."

"Would you rather have it go to your tab, Ma'am?"

"Either or. I'll let you decide. Can't let word get back to the family the bill I've been running up since my internship. They might end up deciding my allowance has been far too generous over the years."

"We can clear the tab this evening after your meal, Miss Dashiell. Speaking of family, how has Miss Arceneau and Mrs. Arceneau-Dashiell been? We saw your parents on a date more recently, but have yet to see your grandmother come through."

"Everyone has been busy working, Miss Arceneau more in the Core. Setting up some type of banking infrastructure if I remember correctly. My parents have been working as well, Corporate Sector but I am sure they will make their way down here sometime soon. Maybe when they come to see me on the last day of my internship." She paused slightly. "How about your family Astol?"

"Just fine Miss Dashiell. My son is nearly eight months old now. Eating us out of house and home."

Persephone chuckled.

"They say boys do that. Its been too long since we've crossed paths then."

"Been working the weekend shifts." Astol cleared his throat, realizing he should also take orders given Miss Dashiell was with a guest. "Can I get your usual starter of grilled balsamic seasonal stonefruit and nerf-milk burratta?"

"You know me too well."

Astol turned to Tavian Djo .

"For the Pal'da?"

 

[Tavian Djo]

A second ticked by.

The boy stared at the menu, lips shut, expression gone neutral. The apple of his throat bobbed as he swallowed. Thinking, wheels spinning.

Persephone’s exchange with the waiter fragmented his understanding of her and her interests and her place in the dreamscape of his mind. What coalesced in its place felt like one of those hard truths that left him feeling very foolish and, perhaps, out of his depths.

“The scallops, thank you,” he said, melodic Hapan accent hiding the undercurrent of confusion in his voice.

Tavian waited until Astol departed before speaking again.

“Arceneau…”

As in the name of the tower they sat in now. Arceneau Trading Company. The largest corporation in the entire galaxy, wealthier than entire governments and star systems.

The sudden shift in power balance did not bother the Hapan. His entire life he’d been around a society run by women. That Persephone Dashiell happened to be a scion of the galaxy’s most powerful tycoon made sense to him.

Tavian nodded to himself, “Well. Thank you for buying dinner. Think I’ll do the gamebird risotto for the main course. Looks good. Reminds me of the forest outside the palace.”

He pretended to keep his eyes buried in the menu for a moment, then glanced up at her. The previous attempts at conversation had been met with the most terse of remarks. Maybe if he gave her room to breathe…

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Anytime."

Not really 'anytime' as she didn't anticipate there being a second time, but what other sentiment would there be? Persephone wasn't one to pull the 'Arceneau' card often, if ever. Technically she was a Dashiell and the Arceneau portion of the family was just her adoptive mother and sister, along with Danger herself. Dashiell was nothing to sneeze at, but on a much lower level. Maybe if she was trying to buy salvage.

"You really can't go wrong here. Mushroom ravioli with a brown butter sauce is my go-to and will be tonight. Refined rustic, I believe it what the chef is going for. Something different in the heart of urban sprawl."

Cordial, but she wasn't going to offer up any information. A casual tense meal was easy enough to stomach for her, and since she was paying there would be no pressure or whining on his end in some odd power imbalance.

 

[Tavian Djo]

Tavian pursed his lips.

Poor communication skills. Right.

A dozen thoughts rippled through his mind at once. He was positive that faced with this sort of teeth-pulling conversation any of his friends would have told Persephone to have a nice night and left, message received.

She did not want to be here.

But… that wasn’t exactly true. Persephone seemed to Tavian like the type of girl who would not be somewhere she did not want to be.

So why were her walls so high? Had he ruined his own mystery by revealing too much? Was he just better as the mysterious Hapan boy in the ruins? Or perhaps when she thought she would never see him again she felt it easier to talk to him.

He could understand that.

Tavian determinedly trudged ahead in the conversation.

“That does sound excellent. You’ve been here a time or two, I take it,” he smiled weakly, “Are you close with your family?”

She had said she was adopted.

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Tavian Djo
​

"You don't really get a choice not to be close with the type of family I have, so yes. A little breathing room since I go to university so far away but still very involved on all levels."

In other words, if she went missing someone would look for her. Although she didn't expect that now. It seemed the dear Pal'da had realized, in some small way, she was on just as much equal footing as himself. Personally she was still certain he had built some idealized version of herself back in those ruins he was clinging to, but maybe the night would say otherwise.

"What about yourself? Thirteenth in line sounds as if you have many first cousins....if I am remembering my succession rules correctly. Although it seems everyone does it slightly different and being a matriarchal society..."

 

[Tavian Djo]

“Succession is likely not the best word I could have used, maybe I was trying to impress you,” he admitted, frowning and looking out the window at the skyline. “No man can ever inherit the fountain throne. It passes to the first female in line.”

His fingers pinched at the stem of a fork on the table in a nervous tic.

“But I do have many cousins.”

Many, many cousins.

“On Hapes men are viewed as… breeding stock. If my friend Darien married one of my cousins he couldn’t ever inherit the throne. But his daughter might. And that would be appealing to his house. It’s complicated.”

He tapped at the fork, grimacing at the thought of being used as a bargaining piece in the houses.

“I’m glad you are close with yours. That sounds nice,” a note of wist in his voice, “Family is important.”

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"I'm distantly Hapan. Five generations removed, if I'm remembering correctly. So having many cousins must be a Hapan thing. There are a lot of Dashiells running around. So I am well aware of how the men are viewed."

Astol came with their starters and only then did she move to place her napkin in her lap. Even if the night went more sideways, which would be difficult but not impossible, she had every intention to eat her food. Fork was picked up and she speared one of the stonefruit.

"So what's your big plan then? Sit around, wait to get picked by some woman, impregnate her, then sit around doing nothing some more? Seems incredibly boring. I can see why my family left generations ago."

Never mind those who had escaped were indentured servants and the lowest of the low within the system. Through broken lore she had pieced together enough to know there was a lot of hard labor involved, so technically her ancestors had been doing something. Yet still restrictive.

Tavian Djo​

 

[Tavian Djo]

"That's-" his cheeks flushed a furious crimson, "No, absolutely not."

Despite being from a trade magnate family, she certainly had a mouth like a dockhand. He suspected his family would have made some untoward comment about the nouveau riche.

"I don't want to be a piece on their dejarik board."

Picking up a fork, Tavian ran through one of the three scallops on his plate, carved it in two with a knife, then took a bite. The texture and sauce was perfect and it caused him to momentarily close his eyes as he chewed.

"Mm. Wow."

He took a sip of his wine and washed it down.

"I plan to go into Naval Intelligence. If they are making me go, I will do it on my terms. Seems more interesting to me than commanding a ship."

Tavian took another sip, eyeing her over the rim of his glass.

"Your family isn't busy trying to play matchmaker for you?"

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Ah, I've found a subject that stops you in your tracks."

At his blushing she was thoroughly amused with the reaction. Especially since their first meeting back at the charity event he had all but bragged about dalliances with models and the like. Focused on her stonefruit and cheese, she listened as he didn't to be just a pawn. In her eyes, it sounded like he didn't have a choice.

"Naval intelligence will be good for you."

An implication getting out in the 'verse would maybe broaden his horizons beyond models and bothering people while at their internship.

At the mention of her family playing matchmaker, she shrugged. At this point her family wanted her to finish her time at Kalinda University and she was perfectly content with that.

"I went on a date with a Senator's son from Lunupa." She frowned, indicating it was horrible. "My family would rather me finish my education. After that I will merely seek an arranged marriage. Love is...love is pointless. I will let my parents decide on an appropriate match regarding personal goals and business needs."

Another piece of stonefruit was speared.

"My parents don't believe in divorce except for a very narrow range of reasons and I haven't had much luck on my own. Its best I just give up and find someone I can merely deal with."

Tavian Djo ​

 

[Tavian Djo]

"Pointless..."

Tavian stared at her, fork full of scallop stopped halfway to his mouth. He set it back down, silverware clinking.

"You don't really believe that, do you? Giving up and just letting them dictate your life?"

For a dreamer like Tavian this seemed utterly anathema. Although he couldn't help but feeling a touch relieved when she as good as said she had no other current prospects. Probably intimidated by her force of personality and family. Just a suspicion.

"Without love, I mean... what's the point of all this?"

The Hapan shook his head.

"I think a passion that consumes you lets you know you're truly living. Whether that's a hobby or a profession or... a love. Something that gives you the highest peaks and the lowest valleys. How else are you supposed to know you're alive and this isn't all just some simulation of the mind?"

Eyes the pallor of seafoam studied her.

"You must feel passionate about art, no?"

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Persephone continued to eat her appetizer as he looked utterly flabbergasted. Listening as he made a fairly passionate plea regarding love, she chuckled lightly in between bites. She used to think the same but time and experienced had taken the rosy-glasses off her face regarding any type of love life. Tavian Djo had not experienced such harshness yet.

"I am extremely passionate about a great deal of things. Is a man a needed passion? Art. Fashion. Exploring new locations. These are all exciting and fresh opportunities I look forward to. That I enjoy and get excited for. That's how I know I am living."

Forking the last piece of stonefruit, Persephone was very clinical about the way she was approaching the situation. It was something she had mulled over many, many nights. Internal pro/con lists. The decision was not something she had taken lightly. She rarely went in to any situation without thinking it over multiple times.

"I'll need a very practical arrangement. A husband who can be independent and not needy. I'll need to continue my work. Open an art gallery. Continue my social duties in order to drum up clients and keep my name in the spotlight. I have no time for someone who cannot navigate the galaxy on his own, who needs constant entertainment."

Last bite entered her mouth and she mulled over the situation.

"A business deal, in a sense."

 

[Tavian Djo]

“A business deal. Right.”

Hurriedly, Tavian grabbed his glass and took a rather long sip of wine, draining half the contents before setting it back down.

“I enjoy art and fashion as well,” he echoed back at her, completely sidestepping her commentary on needing to find a business partner as a husband. “And archaeology, as you know.”

The way he’d crossed wits with her at the art gallery would be enough for her to know he was not lying about art. And they’d met in the ruins.

“There is an old Gree colony I’ve been wanting to go to. We should go together, I’m sure between the two of us we can get the archaeologists to let us have a peek.”

Tavian eyed her, thinking. Now that he had a better understanding of her, he could see how she might intimidate potential suitors. But beneath that business professional exterior…

Everyone wanted to be needed.

“Persephone, besides that senator’s son have you… have you ever been on more than two dates before with the same person?”

A pause.

“Have you ever been in love?”

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"If you give me the details I can reach out to my Professor. She may be able to pull some strings, she has in the past."

She wasn't going to deny anyone a chance to explore the great world of archaeology. There were so few who saw value in such things. If word got around a Pal'da, however minor, could increase funding and interest to the site. Persephone likened it to fashion. All it took sometimes was a celebrity or athlete's wife to wear something and it took off.

Fork was set down as she was finished, just in time to raise her eyebrow. Was Tavian Djo implying she couldn't get a second date? Difficult to tell. Seemed he just wanted to pry. Maybe size up the competition? It wasn't unusual for any scion inheriting a large fortune to have many suitors at once. The process would be narrowed down as time went on. Wise, it gave time for people to show their true colors.

"Yes and...yes, I think." Persie paused to take a sip of water. "Everyone I love either dies or walks away. Its better to just....be practical."

 

[Tavian Djo]

The waiter came by again and Tavian put in his order for the gamebird risotto. Sitting politely, he waited for Persephone to do the same. After the waiter left Tavian took the time to marshal his thoughts before he spoke again his same accented timbre.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I guess I might feel the same way in your shoes," Tavian acknowledged. "I'll send you the details on the dig site. Shall I call it a business trip for us? Assuming your family and employer don't have you leashed down."

That probably would make her more comfortable. After all, they hadn't even had the main course yet. She wanted to be practical, so... he could lean into her mode of thought. Tavian expected that it would take time to crack through her shell, but he had seen glimpses of what lay beyond shining through. A richness of inner life and emotion that he wanted to know more of.

Another of his melancholic smiles flitted across his face, as though he expected that destiny and the galaxy were conspiring against him no matter all the benefits and good fortune he had in life at present.

"What's your favorite color, by the by?"

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Business trip it is. I can use it as credit towards one of my classes I'm certain."

There was no guarantee they would be allowed in. Yet in her experience scholars normally were so long as the didn't cause any type of trouble. Neither of them would be doing such a thing.

Order was placed for her ravioli. Probably should have branched out but if it had been delicious the other three times this month, who was she to rock the boat.

"I would think we were past the favorite color small talk but pink. You?"

Persephone quickly moved on to what was more intriguing. Back to archaeology and ruins and ancient items long forgotten.

"Why are you so interested in the Gree site? Have you been studying their history or perhaps you have visited in the past? Just odd a Hapan noble would not look more towards his own system."

 

[Tavian Djo]

"Why is that odd? I know that there is more outside the cluster. And," he pulled his glasses from his face and rubbed at the bridge of his nose, "our own historical narrative is very tightly controlled. I have no interest trying to rock the boat there. Not at the moment anyway."

Tavian shrugged.

"Besides, the Gree are one of the oldest civilizations. Ever. I find them more interesting than Lorelli pirate relics. Just thinking about all the technology they had back then, most of which we still don't understand today. It's fascinating to me."

The wine was running low in his glass. He thought about asking for more.

"Just like your favorite color is fascinating to me when I haven't heard it before. They're silly questions, but we can't be past them when we haven't asked any of them. Mine? Mine is..."

He stared into her eyes, dark blue and deep as oceans.

"Blue."

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Pirates are bastards anyways." If she had to be solely focused on them in her studies she would probably jump out the lecture hall window. "Gree technology is fascinating. It says quite a bit we have not figured out the half of it."

Regulated history? To everyone or just men? Persephone had questions but in reality they weren't overly important. Her work was focused on the Ashlan Crusade, poking around sites long forgotten, even by Jedi. She found the fact the Jedi didn't acknowledge their wayward cousins or keep their old sites very well maintained. Only a few small crypts.

"Blue, huh? This wouldn't be a recent development would it?"

 

[Tavian Djo]

“No,” he said, eyes never leaving hers, “Why would it be?”

The smallest of smiles tugged at the corner of his mouth. She might disarm him on most occasions with her direct, blunt intellectual assaults, but Tavian had grown up in the court of the Fountain Palace. Dissembling was a way of life. He would never claim to have a beguiling, silver tongue, but he thought he could hold his own when the occasion demanded it.

He had just never enjoyed the games at court overly much.

“Pink. I’ll remember,” he nodded to himself, “I would ask your star signs, but something tells me that you find them absurd so we will skip that one. Let’s see, what other small talk did we miss.”

He mused.

“What would a perfect date look like to you?”

A totally innocuous question and not at all so he could attempt to replicate it.

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Just asking."

Persephone crinkled her nose at the mention of astrology. A pseudo-science for suckers, she respected the hustle of someone creating an entire hype around some constellations in the sky. Seemed he didn't take much stock in the belief either.

"Not a subtle question."

At all. She wasn't sure if it was meant to be subtle or not. Perhaps a small way of Tavian Djo indicating there would be a second time beyond the archaeology dig. Once she mentioned he would have to ask her father Persephone was quite sure he would run back to the mists. Just a hunch he wasn't quite serious.

Still oscillating if he was serious or not.

"Never really thought about it....something simple. Browsing the bookstore. Caf. Or maybe a day at the beach. Can't swim but the surroundings are always beautiful to be around. Grew up in the city so I'm less....nature, hiking orientated."

No need to tell him it was the underworld. Or the fact she never saw the sun until she was forced to leave. Mains arrived and she picked up her fork once again. Ravioli sat perfectly in a bowl, coated in brown butter sauce. She was going to have to learn to recreate the dish despite not being a cook.

"What do you do day to day? Just...exist?"

 

[Tavian Djo]

"Yes," he laughed, a genuine, gentle thing that rippled from him the way a creek softly babbles along pebbles. "That's me. Existing day to day."

Tavian tapped at his wine stem with a finger. "I do a few things. I read. I sketch what I see. I fence and shoot, of course," those were expected of him and often involved groups of his cadre. Longstanding traditions since the time Hapes first formed. "And I do, as you may have noticed, get out of the Mists from time to time with my friends for an event or three."

He might be a dreamer, but he was not a homebody. Though much of it involved Darien dragging him along to events.

Picking up knife and fork, Tavian cut into his roast game bird and took a bite. The flavor of the bird with the texture of the risotto was... transporting.

"Mm," he said involuntarily, "That is good."

Swallowing, he took a sip of his wine and frowned in thought.

"There are some ocean resorts on Hapes. Some beautiful lake ones as well. I would love to take you sometime... Do you really not know how to swim?"

Persephone Dashiell