Private Simple things

[Cassian Abrantes]

Cassian listened, the faint play of light from around them glinting off his eyes as Dominique spoke of power, of standing firm rather than hiding. The weight of her words carried the kind of conviction only someone long accustomed to wielding authority could possess.

"You speak as someone who's seen the truth of it," he said quietly, almost more to himself than her. "No retreats. No moments of weakness shown. A noble house can fall on rumor alone, how much more fragile is a seat earned in commerce, where bloodlines mean less than perception?"

The thought lingered as he took in her almost wistful musings about Denon itself. A place of constant movement, density, light and shadow, yet she found beauty in its chaos.

"The city as art," Cassian mused, his tone carrying the warmth of an echo. "I can understand why that draws you. Denon never stops—every second something is happening, shifting, rising, falling. It's alive in a way palaces and academies never are."

His smile deepened, small but genuine. "And the acrobats…" He allowed the word to trail, his brow quirking with a spark of playfulness. "Discipline masked as spectacle. Precision turned to beauty. I can see why you would admire it. There's kinship there, years of practice before a single motion looks effortless." He leaned forward slightly, voice lowering a fraction. "It makes me wonder, when you let the city's vibrancy or an artist's perfection distract you… is it truly escape, or simply another form of mastery? A reminder that even leisure must be worthy of you?"

Dominique Vexx

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Dominique just smiled. Seen the truth of it? She'd lived it. Not that she felt like admitting as much. Displays of weakness and all. They were in public, and who knew what pests might be listening. Yes, such was the reason why in her re-ascension to power Dominique grabbed those "allies" by the metaphysical jugular and forced them to her bidding. After all, being just the Senator wasn't going to be enough the second time.

Polite laughter followed Cassian's innocent question. "Even a ruthless corporate overlord enjoys a little leisure, Cassian. Too much focus -- too much tension -- isn't good for the body or mind. Sometimes you simply need to relax. I admit, a good masseur helps." That was another skill knowing how to effectively find and release the knots in the body.

She reached out to lay a hand gently on his chest. "Something I hope you take to heart as well. A man of your position deals with any number of physical dangers daily, and commands countless men and women to imperil themselves for the benefit of the Republic. Not so dissimilar from employing CorpSec, or more recently CTRLd. It's a perilous galaxy, but that doesn't mean you can't take a little time for yourself now and again."

Cassian Abrantes​

 

[Cassian Abrantes]

Cassian's breath caught for the briefest moment at the light weight of her hand against his chest. It was a gesture calculated, of course, everything about Dominique was measured, deliberate, but that didn't diminish the effect. Her touch was warm, grounding, a reminder that beneath the armor of words and roles they wore, there was still flesh and pulse.

He allowed a smile to curve his lips, softer than before. "Relaxation is a discipline I've never mastered," he admitted, voice pitched low, almost confessional. "A battlefield doesn't leave much room for such luxuries, and habits learned there… linger. Even now, in halls far from the front, my instinct is to anticipate the next strike, the next maneuver. You could say I've grown used to living on tension."

His gaze lingered on hers, steady, though the weight of her hand seemed to anchor him in a way few things did. "But perhaps you're right. Perhaps it is time I learned something of leisure. To set aside vigilance, if only for an hour. I imagine you'd say that's as much a strength as standing firm."

The corner of his mouth tugged upward in the faintest smirk. "Though I doubt I'd ever find a masseur half as skilled at undoing knots as you are at tying them, Director."

Dominique Vexx