Elian Abrantes
Character
The muffled roar of the crowd seeped through the walls of the Theed Recreational Center, vibrating faintly through the floor beneath Elian Abrantes' boots. The air in the locker room carried the tang of metal, sweat, and that faint antiseptic bite that clung to all places where competition and bruises went hand in hand. Somewhere beyond the double doors, the ring lights blazed white over the gathered crowd Naboo's first official amateur boxing night and from the sound of it, Theed had shown up in force.
Elian sat forward on the bench, hands wrapped in fresh linen, the knuckles pale beneath the tension of his grip. A grin played at the corners of his mouth, equal parts anticipation and nerves. The faint hum of energy in the room felt like music to him the rhythm of heartbeats, shouts, laughter. Somewhere, a bell rang, marking the end of another round. The audience erupted again. He could almost feel it, the pulse of excitement rippling through the building like a current.
He exhaled slowly and leaned back, glancing at his reflection in the wall mirror a face that carried the unmistakable charm of House Abrantes, but none of its stiffness. His hair was slightly disheveled, his jaw set with the easy confidence that earned him his nickname. "Easy E." He smirked a little at that. The announcer had loved it. The crowd had loved it. Cassian would probably roll his eyes and call it reckless; Sibylla would scold him for risking his own well being. But here, under these lights, none of that mattered. This wasn't the Assembly Hall, or the vineyards, or the quiet gardens of Deeja Peak. This was sweat and rhythm and freedom.
He rolled his shoulders, testing the give of his muscles. The fabric of his robe brushed softly against his skin, the robe was well made. He'd told them not to but the tailor had insisted, and a part of him secretly liked it. A reminder that even here, even in a boxing ring, he was still one of them.
A knock came at the door. "You're up next, Easy E!" a voice called the ring marshal, grinning ear to ear.
Elian laughed, shaking out his arms as he rose. "Showtime." he murmured to himself, his reflection flashing a grin back.
As he walked toward the entrance, the sound of the crowd grew louder, swelling into a thunderous, rhythmic chant. The lights beyond the tunnel were almost blinding, but he felt it that sharp spark of adrenaline slicing through his veins. He bounced on his heels, shadowboxed once in the dim glow of the corridor. The adrenaline was real that heartbeat before the first step into the ring, when everything was possible.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer's voice boomed over the speakers. "In the blue corner representing our great City of Theed the daring, the dashing, the one and only… Easy E!"
The crowd roared, laughter and cheers colliding in waves that shook the rafters. Elian grinned wide, stepped through the curtain, and raised his gloved hands to the noise, letting it wash over him. The light hit his face, the roar hit his chest, and for that single moment, he was exactly where he belonged, not a nobility, not a student, but a dashing young man with something to prove and a smile that said he was going to enjoy every second of it.
This was working out so perfectly. Mother, Father and Cassian were off world, so that was covered. And in the smoothest way only he could do, the youngest coordinated a dinner for both Sibylla and Aurelian, right around this exact time. So there was no chance of anyone finding out about this.
Little did he know, that ten minutes prior to this, that Sibylla and Aurellian's dinner reservations had to be cancelled due to some unforeseen conflict.
Oh heads were gonna roll.....
