Private Political Ambitions

[Makai Dashiell]

ENARC

Wearing : X | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Dominic Praxon

Makai had planned the meeting out carefully. Even down to his appearance, taking a more casual look by losing his tie and dropping a button. Normally such thought did not go into a meeting with politicians. His father was more in that realm than himself. Yet today he had to give a look of quiet casual, a man of the people. Not a man who had grown up in wealth, not a man who had Danger Arceneau in his contact list on his datapad since the age of four. Appearances may make or break this day. This meeting.

Not that Makai considered himself a person that needed to put on a persona. He found too many did that in all walks of life. Yet in order to grease the wheels of progress, sometimes one had to do things that made them uncomfortable. Today would be no different.

Pushing into Royal Naboo Republic space, there was some pushback from the local governments. The local citizens. Some were smaller miners and gemstone dealers worried about being pushed out of favor. Others worried about environmental concerns. Noise. Aesthetics. The implication Enarc would become a filthy mining colony. That one amused him the most.

Aina Holdings had kept a close eye on the rumblings of the citizens of Enarc,as was done on any other planet they wanted to expand to or already had a presence on. Makai was here today to personally ensure the higher ups in government didn't feel the same way as their people. From what he had heard there was a re-election fundraising campaign for the Senator he was to meet today. While not his first choice, a small donation to the campaign could grease the wheels of progress. If it came to it. The half-Galan would have to feel out this Senator.

Legs crossed in the comfortable chair as he waited in the lobby, revealing a pair of jellyfish socks under his navy trousers. Couldn't be completely serious all the time, after all.

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Dominic had spoken to the assistant just outside the chamber doors, lowering his voice as he produced the sleek identification plaque nestled in the inner pocket of his jacket. The emblem of the Royal Naboo Republic glinted subtly beneath the polished transparisteel coating, accompanied by the personal sigil of Senator Calia Vonn. It was enough. The aide nodded and stepped aside, granting him entry.

He stepped into the waiting room with quiet, deliberate grace.

The man waiting, seated and clad in navy with socks that offered a splash of character, was unmistakably Makai Dashiell. Dominic had reviewed the dossier on the way over—half-Galan, heir to Aina Holdings, and known for being difficult to read. That made two of them.

"Master Dashiell," Dominic greeted, offering a refined but not overly stiff bow of the head as he approached. His tone was smooth, measured—polished without losing its sincerity. "I apologize for the change in arrangements. Senator Vonn is currently engaged with representatives from Aluride Prospecting and asked me to meet with you in her stead."

He extended a hand, gloved in dark synthleather. "Dominic Trozky. Official liaison to the Senator for external development affairs. I’ve been asked to convey the Republic’s position and to listen—carefully. Shall we?"

There was the faintest curve at the corner of his lips. Not quite a smile. More an indication of readiness—and perhaps curiosity.

Makai Dashiell​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

ENARC

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Dominic Praxon

Standing, Makai reached a hand out greet the aide who introduced himself as Dominic Praxon. He wasn't one for bowing, but it might have been a local custom he wasn't aware of. Or something held over from the man's homeworld. A handshake would be perfectly fine in his eyes.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mister Trozky." A small pause. "Please, take a seat."

It truly was. What was not a pleasure? Being pushed off on an aide. Liaison. Unpaid intern. It sent a clear message that Aluride Prospecting was more valued than Aina Holdings.

The half-Galan settled back into the plush leather. His back was against the comfortable rest, legs crossed once again, his gaze steady in the man across from him. Makai didn't know much about Mister Trozky but it didn't matter. His approach would be similar to that he was going to take with Senator Vonn until he knew more.

"Before we get into the Republic's official position on business, I'd like to know more about you. Married? Have kids? Whats your homeworld? What brought you into politics? What university did you attend? Just to break the ice. There is no need to make this a mere business transaction."

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Dominic met the handshake with a firm grip—controlled, confident. He eased down into the seat opposite Makai with the same quiet poise that preceded him, movements precise but unhurried.

"Dominic Trozky of House Praxon," he said plainly, folding one leg over the other. The name was not a flourish, but a weight laid carefully between them. Not a boast—just a reminder. One Makai, sharp as he was reputed to be, would not need explained.

A faint smile played at the corner of his mouth. Not warm, but not cold either. Simply knowing.

"I've found that personal disclosures, when offered too quickly, have a way of reshaping a conversation before it's truly begun. And not always to anyone's benefit." His tone was thoughtful, unbothered. "Some prefer to paint their own assumptions. It keeps things... educational."

There was a moment of stillness as he observed the man across from him. Makai Dashiell was not hiding his irritation—subtle though it was—and Dominic wasn't about to soothe it.

"You say you want this to be more than a transaction," he continued, eyes narrowing slightly—not confrontational, but focused. "That implies you suspect the Republic—or perhaps the Senator herself—has reason to treat it as one. You're not entirely wrong."

He leaned in slightly, elbows resting lightly on his knee.

"But then, sincerity in a suit this well-cut is a rare thing. So let's test the premise. You've got the floor, Mister Dashiell. I'll let you know which parts the Senator might want to hear."

Makai Dashiell​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

ENARC

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Dominic Praxon

"No."

If Mister Trozky didn't want to play the game, then he wouldn't be either. His tone was neutral, there was no malice or ill-intent behind his words. More the realization of what he was up against. Mister Trozky wasn't interested in forging a relationship to remain in place beyond today. Makai was merely being screened and then he would be released into the world, most likely with a generic call back weeks from now from another aide.

To be honest, he didn't need the Senator. It was his idea to go straight to the top rather than deal with local government. It appeared that he should have went to local government first, gauged reaction, and strategized from there.

"You aren't interested in this meeting, Mister Trozky. Its clear you would rather be anywhere than here. With that being said, why don't you tell me what the Republic desires from business organizations and I can give you an answer if I am still interested. Its clear there is no need to drag this any further than needed."

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Dominic didn’t react at first. He let the silence stretch, gaze level, as if weighing the merit of Makai’s bluntness rather than recoiling from it. Then—finally—a small nod, a soft exhale through the nose. A shift in the air.

"Good," he said at last. "It’s rare anyone calls the game early. Rarer still that they do so without storming out."

There was something almost warm about the way he said it. Not an apology—Dominic didn't traffic in those—but a gesture. Acknowledge the jab, offer a hand. The duel could end here.

"You’re right, Mister Dashiell. I’m not here to make friends or entertain small talk about bloodlines and boarding schools. But I’m not disinterested, either."

He leaned back in his chair, one leg still crossed, fingers folding loosely in his lap.

"Enarc is seated at a junction point on the Veils. Not a hub, not yet—but one tributary spike away from being something much more valuable. Senator Vonn knows it. So do I. And I suspect a man in your position does too, or you wouldn’t have risked coming here ahead of your competitors."

Dominic’s gaze sharpened just slightly.

"Which is why I’d prefer not to lose your interest. Nor see you waste time barking up a dead tree if your proposal doesn’t align with what the Republic needs."

He gave a slight tilt of the head, as if inviting Makai to take it seriously this time.

"The Senator has a vision—long-term, stability-minded, publicly defensible. That vision includes investment, yes. Jobs. Infrastructure. But not scorched earth. Not subsidies for disruption disguised as development."

His voice dropped ever so slightly—more personal now.

"And yes, she listens to me. On matters like these, very closely."

He allowed a moment of silence to linger.

"So. If you’re still interested... tell me what Aina Holdings sees when they look at Enarc. And what you're prepared to build that lasts."

Makai Dashiell​