Junction Sun & Starlight: Evening Gala

[Adelle Bastiel]

Tags: Aselia Verd | Tessa Monroe
Wearing: [X]

“My my, don’t you clean up nicely.”​

The sudden touch at the small of her back startled her. Adelle tensed until a moment later when she heard Tess speak close to her ear. She exhaled slowly and softly, feeling her heart pound against her ribs as relief followed hot on the heels of panic and dread, then turned to face her friend. Her eyebrows rose appreciatively as she turned and took in Tess’ attire.

“I could say the same,” she said, one half of her mouth curling up in a mischievous smile she couldn’t help around the smuggler. “Where in the Nine Hells did you get a dress like that?”

It was by far the nicest thing Adelle had seen Tess in while at the same time showing the most skin she’d ever seen from her friend. Idly, Adelle wondered how Aselia would look in the same dress and in the same breath, dismissed the idea. Aselia would never touch a dress like that, probably criticizing it for “too much fabric” or being “too impractical.” Still, a girl could dream.

Adelle slipped her hand from Aselia’s, lighting brushing her fingertips against her palm, and stepped to the side.

“Aselia, this is Tess. I met her back before the Yaga Minor osik,” she said, looking back at her girlfriend. “Tess, Aselia. My partner.”

She tried to convince herself that saying ‘my partner’ sounded better, more mature than ‘my girlfriend’ but she’d be lying if she said it didn’t also feel safer.

“So.” Adelle flashed an impish grin at Tess. “Who did you drag here? Or did you get dragged here?”

 

[Sovereign Echoes]

[The Grand Vizier's entrance music for the event]

​

There was a moment, brief, almost imperceptible, when the room seemed to turn.

It began at the top of the marble stair, where the lanternlight pooled gold against the deco arches, and it moved outward through the crowd the way a change in the wind moves through a field: a head lifting here, a conversation faltering there, a hundred small recognitions rippling toward the stage. And the Goldleaf Orchestra, who missed nothing, felt it too. The number they'd been playing drew to its close, and then, with a conductor's knowing smile and a shimmer of strings, the band struck up something new. Something bright. Something with a wink built into its very bones: a lush, brassy, diamond-bright swing of a tune, all glitter and mischief, the kind of song that announced an arrival.

Because there was one.

They came down the stair together, and the room forgot, for a moment, to breathe.

Merryn on the left, dark-haired and luminous, poured into emerald silk shot through with threads of gold, a gown that caught the lantern light and held it, the deep green of it flashing bronze with every movement, cinched at the waist with a band of worked gold that gleamed like something ceremonial. She wore it the way she wore everything: as though it had been fortunate to be chosen. One hand rested easy at her wife's back. Her chin was high, her dark eyes moving over the crowd with frank and unhurried pleasure, a woman entirely at home in being looked at.

And beside her, Ivalyn. The Grand Vizier. Gold-haired and coral-clad, in a gown the color of the sunset the day had promised and delivered, chiffon that moved like water and caught the light in long liquid ribbons as she descended, a high slit flashing with each step, gold at her throat and wrists. Where Merryn was the held breath, Ivalyn was the exhale, a poised and gracious warmth, a small knowing smile playing at her mouth, the look of a host surveying a thing she had built and finding it good. This was her shore. Her sky. Her gathering. Ivalyn arrived simply as a woman walking into a room full of people she was genuinely, warmly glad to see.

The music swelled around them, glittering and playful. The lanterns swayed. Somewhere near the front the two lady singers had reappeared to lend the number their voices, trading the bright knowing lines back and forth with a laugh in them, and the whole terrace seemed lit from within.

At the foot of the stair the two women paused, together, unhurried, framed in gold, and let the room have its moment. From the microphone the singer, with his gorgeous baritone speaking voice announced them. "If all gentlepersons could direct their attention, please welcome the Grand Vizier Ivalyn Yvarro and her wife Merryn Sellek!"

Then the Grand Vizier of the Imperial Commonwealth of Dosuun stepped out onto the floor of her own party, her wife's hand in hers, and the night truly began. Music continued on, and transitioned as the next performer was announced.

​

 

[Allyson Locke]

//: Taiia Mataan //:
//: Attire //:

It had taken Taiia several minutes to convince the Corellian to leave the suite without her. Allyson knew the reason, but that didn't mean she was going to listen. Still, she found herself standing outside of the suite, her jacket in her hand and her tie still undone.

Allyson turned the room's handle and found it locked; if she had wanted to, she could have maneuvered her way in. But listening to Taiia meant that she was on her good side.

"Fine, fine," Allyson sighed and looked at the ceiling.

The annoyances of being able to get dressed and ready faster than your wife. Along with the inability to deny temptations. Speaking of the temptations she often failed to deny, she pressed her eye to the peephole; maybe she could catch a glimpse… unfortunately, Taiia was smart and put the cover over the only way to look in.

"When did she get so clever…?" The Corellian groaned as she pulled on her jacket and buttoned it just enough to look presentable. As much as she wanted to wear her eyepatch, she decided against it. After the appearance of the man on the beach, Allyson didn't want to risk anything.

Slowly but surely, she headed down to the event. Music was already playing, and the woman entered quietly. To several people, she was just another face in the crowd, not one to turn heads nor garner any added attention. This was a good thing; the last thing Allyson wanted was attention. Her eyes filtered through the guests in the area, her gaze settling quietly on a white-haired Echani.

Kat was here; Allyson was surprised, but also not surprised. Like Allyson, Kat knew where to go where pretty women were plentiful, and the drinks always flowed. She thought about talking to her, catching up — but after their last encounter, she decided against it for now, since everything Allyson had caught her up on.

Instead, she waited till a waiter passed by and Allyson collected two glasses of champagne. One for her, and one for her wife when she arrived.

Time continued to pass as Allyson quietly sipped her drink till it was done. Handing off the empty glass, she reached into her pocket and continued to watch the attendees.

She didn't look, not yet, but Allyson could feel the moment Taiia drew near. It was the comfort of their bond, something Allyson had never shared with anyone other than Taiia. A hardline connection between them that spanned distance and time, something that Allyson often grasped onto like a lifeline in her worst times.

As much benefit as the connection had, there were downsides… Taiia could feel her pain and vice versa. Exhaling softly, she tried to put out the millions of times she probably had driven Taiia insane with the bond.

The moment Taiia's shoulder carefully nearly brushed against Allyson's — the Corellian's mind quieted.

"No, it wasn't that…" Allyson turned to face Taiia, and everything mentally short-circuited. They had attended events like this before, and Taiia was always dressed to impress, to the point that they once disappeared for several hours.

Still, tonight Allyson's heart stopped the moment her eyes fell on her wife.

"My stars… you're gorgeous." A rare blush crossed the Spy's cheeks as she let her eyes trail along the silhouette of the dark gown with crimson accents involuntarily. She also noted the casual confidence that had drawn Allyson to Taiia when they had first met.

Her eyes would slowly trail back to her wife's face, and she'd offer the glass of champagne in her hand. Stepping closer, her free hand would remove itself from the pocket and carefully snake almost possessively around her wife's waist.

"I'm going to have to pretend how to honestly behave at this event, even if you've made it impossible." Allyson sighed with amusement as the blush never left her face. Her eyes never leaving Taiia.

"Shh, Don't." Allyson would interject.

"I know, I'm staring. And I'm going to keep staring because I've seen you in armor, I've seen you covered in dust after a fight…"

She'd lean closer, her lips gently pressing a kiss on the woman's cheek.

"I've seen you first thing in the morning…" Allyson continued to smile.

"And somehow," she mused, "...you keep finding new ways to steal what's left of my composure."

 

[Taiia Mataan]

//: Allyson Locke //:
Attire: [X]​

Taiia accepted the champagne with a smile that lingered just a little longer than normal. She had noticed every stolen glance from the moment she stepped into the ballroom, the way Allyson's thoughts had simply ground to a halt the instant she turned around, the blush that had unexpectedly found its way to the Corellian's cheeks, and even through their bond, that brief moment where everything else in the room had quietly ceased to exist. It drew an almost imperceptible smile from her as she glanced briefly down at the gown before looking back up at her wife. "I was beginning to wonder whether I had been overly ambitious." A quiet laugh escaped her. "I spent rather a long time deciding whether I ought to wear it." Her eyes lingered on Allyson's face for another moment, warmth settling comfortably into her expression. "I believe it accomplished exactly what I had hoped."

Her hand rose almost absentmindedly to straighten the tie Allyson had never quite finished adjusting. It scarcely needed the attention, but that had never really been the point. Her fingertips lingered lightly against the front of the jacket before settling there for just a heartbeat. "You are blushing." There was the faintest trace of amusement in her voice, her smile growing ever so slightly as green eyes met Allyson's once more. "I cannot remember the last time I managed to surprise you. Have I ever?" A soft laugh escaped her. "I confess... it is rather satisfying."

As Allyson's arm settled around her waist, Taiia leaned naturally into her, the movement coming as naturally as ever. Her free hand smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from Allyson's lapel before resting lightly against her chest. "I thought you might enjoy the dress. I suspected you would stare." The corner of her mouth lifted just a little further. "I did not expect to leave one of the galaxy's most accomplished spies entirely speechless." She let the words linger for a moment before lifting the champagne to her lips, taking a small sip without ever quite looking away from Allyson. "I find I rather like this version of you."

Her fingers slipped naturally into Allyson's free hand as the orchestra drifted into the opening notes of another waltz. Taiia glanced briefly toward the dance floor before looking back at her wife, a familiar warmth settling into her smile. "Come." The invitation was gentle. "I know I can't keep you at bay for long." A faint sparkle of mischief found its way into her eyes. "Indulge me for a dance or two," she leaned forward before whispering into the Corellian's ear. "Then we can make an early exit." The words were barely above a whisper, meant for her alone.

​

 

[Lily Decoria]

​

Outfit: Echani Dress
Tag: Caelan Mataan

Lily giggled softly and shook her head, "very disappointing that you didn't see that one coming, I thought it was going to be too obvious." There was a soft tease to her voice as she turned on the dance floor and faced Caelan. "Hmmm... Well, plenty of Echani on Eshan for a Mandalorian like yourself to easily meet and spar with to get an idea." Lily's lips smirked as she enjoyed being a little flirtatious and teasing once again. It had been a while since Lily could do that.

"I never allow the bar to be set low, especially if someone wants to entertain my time more than just a single chance encounter." She took Caelan's hands and guided them to her hips, seeing that he was offering her the chance to lead. "And I get the sense that you don't want this to just be the only time we meet." Lily mentioned as she draped her arms around his neck. There was a warmth in her silver eyes as she slowly moved in step, letting Caelan a chance to follow and match her pace.

"Tell me more about yourself, Caelan." Lily asked, curious to know more about the man who approached her and was willing to dance with her. Her heels clicked softly on the surface as Lily demonstrated the grace and skill that she had as someone with ballet experience as well as experience in other dance forms.

 

[Kat Decoria]

​

Outfit: Dress Shirt and Slacks
Tag: Vaux Gred

Kat chuckled deeply and nodded her head, "both, nice. I pilot a bit myself, developed some ships and ship engines as well. Mechanic." Kat stated, it was a past that was something that she hadn't thought about in a long time but she always enjoyed that part of her life. "Nowadays, I tend to be doing more mercenary and occasional field medic work. If the pay is good."

Hearing that Vaux wanted a strong drink, Kat smiled. "Good choice, sounds like some more whisky for us both." As Kat gestured the server previously she talked to, she spotted Allyson and her stomach dropped. Of course the Shadow would be here. And even more, of course, she was looking amazing. Kat composed herself since she knew couldn't just walk over there. Allyson was not seeking attention from anyone else.

However, a mischievous thought crossed her mind. Whispering in to the ear of the server, he blinked wondering if she was truly serious which was met with Kat's firm nod.

Once he left, she turned her attention back to Vaux, "sorry. I spotted a friend and wished to send her a gift. Tell me, what is your favourite type of ship to pilot? I've always been a starfighter type myself."

A server arrived to Kat and Vaux with two glasses, "this should be a good strong drink for you." Kat mentioned to Vaux.

The server that Kat had whispered to arrived next to Allyson and Taiia, there was a slight hesitation in his voice before he coughed. "Excuse me ma'am, but I was requested to deliver this drink to you with a message from the Echani lady over there," gesturing over to Kat. "She wishes you a fine evening and wanted me to inform you that you look as delicious as this glass of whisky. Believing it should be more than satisfactory for your rules on Corellian whisky."

He offered Allyson the neat whisky on a plate for her to take.

 

[Colette]

Aoi Tanaka

Colette chuckled for a moment and took a sip. Aoi was sharp, if a bit reckless to say such things. Not that Colette herself was particularly un-reckless by being here. Dosuun did linger in Sith space, but she also had in fact been provided safe escort to the gala by those involved in holding it. As far as either of them talking ill of the Sith went, well, as long as they didn't get too loud they were probably still unlikely to get chopped up by a quirked up Sithboy.

"Well, I-..." Strange. Colette's brows sunk for a moment. What did she do these days other than sit behind a desk or in front of a shelf? "Huh…"

"Usually I hunt, or hike, or spend as much time in nature as I can." She felt strange speaking about it as if it was a former hobby. It made her skin crawl. "It's usually hard to stay in just one place, but work keeps me in place I suppose."

"What about you? Given how you talk of our fellow, uh, esteemed guests, I'm sure you're also mercilessly tied up by work and a desk."

 

[Vaux Gred]

Tag: Kat Decoria

Vaux smirked a little. A mechanic? Medic too. And a pilot. Well that was a combo. And she made some ship parts and the like. Made Vaux wonder if CST ever acquired some over the years. Still, Vaux crossed her arms in intrigue, looking at Kat as she thought back.

“Ah…. Mercenary work honestly sounds nice if you can believe it. I’m a CAG on… I guess spacer vessel isn’t too far off at this point. Vanguard style fleet out there. Mostly patrols and paperwork, but a lot of chances to stretch my wings.” She said, then watched as Kat got some whiskeys, and sent a drink over to someone she called a friend. The Vaux gave a knowing look. She might’ve been rough around the edges, but this wasn’t her first rodeo. She wasn’t gonna bring it up, but it was fun to see.

On the point of favorite ships, Vaux smiled, then a hint of self consciousness. “Well, I’m more of a fighter pilot myself. Gotta admit, CST made some Twin Tail’s a while back. Might not be a Mandalorian original but that spaceframe…. Added a few micro thrusters and an armament boost. Probably the best fighter I’ve ever flown.“ She admitted before seeing the drink and smiling a bit, gladly taking the whiskey.

“Guess we’ll have to see. But looks good.” She said before taking the glass and holding it up. “Well…. To new friends?”

 

[Allyson Locke]

//: Taiia Mataan //: Kat Decoria //:

The last party that Allyson remembered them going to did not end as they had hoped, nor did they get to dance. Allyson thought quietly, wondering if their wedding was the last time they had been able to dance, to just be the two of them as music played. It made her sad momentarily, so many chances lost to time.

Her mind didn't linger as she smiled back towards her wife. The woman that stood before her, who teased and played at her desires, was who she remembered. This version of the Eldorai was the woman she remembered who put her on her back in a fight, made her slow down to see life in full, and had taught her how to love… how to fall and how to care. Everything that Taiia was and how Allyson remembered her was in the smile that only made the dress she wore more beautiful.

Not only did her mind stop mid-thought, but so did her heart as Taiia became her Taiia again.

Allyson held tightly onto Taiia's hand as she laced their fingers together. It was hard to believe that it had been thirty years of them being separated, when every day felt like this had been their entire lives. Allyson's eyes lingered on her wife's face as the woman's playful mischief lingered in her gaze.

"An early exit?" Allyson echoed as her wife led her towards the dance floor. "If that would make my wife happy, of course I will indulge her, but I will say I'm enjoying the jealous looks I'm getting because of how beautiful you are."

Allyson grinned as she kissed the knuckles of her wife's hand.

Before she could continue to compliment her date, a waiter stepped forward and cleared his throat. On the tray presented was a glass of whiskey, neat — just how she liked it.

The waiter spoke, delivering the message he was paid to say, and Allyson let her eyes trail for a moment towards the bar, remembering that Kat was there. Just like the last dance her and Taiia had attended, Kat was there at the bar. Allyson felt the tension in the back of her throat as she looked at the drink. The message was clear, even though Kat knew that Allyson had reconnected with Taiia.

She thought quietly, wondering if there was more to this gesture.

"Tell them I appreciate it." Allyson took the glass and sipped it — it was a good choice, but she didn't expect anything less from Kat.

Unlike her usual self, she finished the glass as if it were a shot and handed the glass back. She didn't look back, nor did she send a message back to Kat tonight. Her focus was on Taiia. Allyson had spent too many years chasing something fickle, when Taiia had been standing there the whole time.

Waiting.

She was patient, far more than she should have been with Allyson. Yet, someone, somewhere blessed the Corellian with this patient and loving woman.

"Sorry," Allyson apologized.

She pulled her wife close, a hand slipping carefully around her waist, guiding her even closer. The music played, and the rest of the room faded. Their hands remained laced as Allyson took the lead for the pair, each step, each sway, they moved together.

Allyson rested her forehead softly against Taiia's as she smiled, her voice low, just meant for the two of them.

"By the way, you make me speechless every time you look at me; I'm reminded how lucky I am." Allyson squeezed Taiia's hand gently, emphasizing the moment.

"I do enjoy the dress, but it's only because it's on the woman I love more than anything in this galaxy."

Leaning forward slightly, she brushed her lips gently against Taiia's and continued to smile.

"Thank you for waiting for me…"

 

[Taiia Mataan]

//: Allyson Locke //:
Attire: [X]​

Taiia returned the kiss without hesitation, lingering there for just a heartbeat longer than she otherwise might have. When they finally parted, the smile that greeted Allyson was softer than before, the orchestra fading into little more than a pleasant backdrop as everything else quietly slipped away.

She watched Allyson turn as someone approached, her attention following almost instinctively. The interruption was brief: a waiter, a few quiet words exchanged, and only then did her eyes settle on the glass of whiskey resting in Allyson's hand. It took only a moment to understand. She simply waited. Allyson offered her thanks, finished the drink, and, without another thought, returned to her side.

As Allyson's arm settled comfortably around her waist once more, Taiia leaned naturally into her. Their foreheads met, drawing a quiet breath from her before she even realized she'd taken it such a familiar gesture, one that no amount of time had managed to take from them.

"Sorry."

Taiia gave the smallest shake of her head, her smile never faltering. "You have nothing to apologize for." When Allyson thanked her instead for waiting, her thumb brushed lightly across the back of her wife's hand, where their fingers had remained laced together before. Almost absentmindedly, she reached up and smoothed the front of Allyson's jacket. It scarcely needed the attention. It had never really been the point.

"Always."

She simply let Allyson lead. Somewhere between Naboo and now, they had learned each other's rhythm so completely that dancing no longer required thought; one would move and the other simply followed, each step flowing effortlessly into the next. It had never mattered who led. Somehow, they had always found each other somewhere in the middle.

"By the way, you make me speechless every time you look at me; I'm reminded how lucky I am."

There was something wonderfully disarming about hearing those words from the woman who had always seemed larger than life in her eyes. Her hand lifted from Allyson's shoulder, fingertips brushing gently along her jaw before coming to rest against her cheek. "I know." The words were quiet, carrying the same certainty they always had. "So am I."

For a while, neither of them said anything else. They simply danced. The music carried them slowly across the ballroom, their movements unhurried and effortless, conversations continuing around them as crystal glasses caught the warm light and laughter drifted beneath the orchestra. It all seemed wonderfully distant. For the first time in a very long time, there was nowhere else they needed to be, no one asking anything of them, no destination waiting beyond the next dance. Just this.

A quiet smile found its way onto Taiia's lips as another slow turn carried them across the floor. "I had forgotten how much I missed this." Her green eyes lifted to meet Allyson's once more."Dancing with you... with nowhere else we have to be." Her fingers gave Allyson's hand the slightest squeeze. "It's so wonderfully ordinary." A contented breath escaped her as she rested her forehead lightly against Allyson's once more, the smile never quite leaving her lips. "I could become very accustomed to this." A comfortable silence settled between them before she smiled again, quieter now, happier than she had allowed herself to be in a very long time.

"And I have no intention of hurrying."

​

 

[Caelan Mataan]

Caelan smiled as she teased him, the expression lingering with easy amusement. "I'll have to do better." She'd managed to catch him off guard, and he was perfectly content to let her enjoy the victory. "Eshan does sound tempting, though." The corner of his mouth lifted. "I might have to see if Echani sparring lives up to the recommendation."

As she guided his hands back to her hips and settled her arms around his neck, he followed her lead without hesitation, spending the first few steps finding her rhythm, watching rather than anticipating, before it all began to settle naturally into place. She moved with the kind of confidence that made every turn look effortless, and before long, he found himself smiling as the dance settled into an easy rhythm between them.

Her observation drew a quiet smile. "I'd say your instincts are serving you well." The answer came easily. "I'd like to see you again." The corner of his mouth lifted. "Assuming I pass the test." That same easy smile was coming back to his lips. When she asked about him, he considered it for a moment, not searching for the right answer so much as deciding where to begin. "I've always liked exploring." His shoulders lifted in an easy shrug. "If there's somewhere I haven't been before, I'll usually find an excuse to go. New cities, markets... anywhere with a story to tell." The orchestra carried them through another measured turn. "I fly whenever I get the chance." A small smile returned. "There's something about watching the world disappear beneath you that never really gets old."

Another few steps passed before he continued. "And my family's important to me." The warmth in his expression softened just a little. "We've always found reasons to spend time together." He smiled. "I've never thought that was something to take for granted." For a few moments, he simply enjoyed the music, matching Lily's pace as they drifted across the ballroom in comfortable silence.

Then he looked back at her. "What about you?" His tone remained light, genuinely curious. "I know you're a Jedi. I know you're Echani." He held her gaze for a moment. "But who's Lily?" A small shrug followed. "That's the part I'm curious about."

TAG: Lily Decoria
​

​

 

[Lily Decoria]

​

Outfit: Echani Dress
Tag: Caelan Mataan

Lily tilted her head to Caelan, "you are doing better, that was my point. You aren't taking the more boring route, it is refreshing." There was a slight frown to her lips as she thought she had been clear when expressing her thoughts in that regard, "hmmm... well, need to make sure that you can keep up with their fighting styles. It is less about winning a fight when sparring with an Echani and more self expression. Hence why dancing is such an excellent comparison. Less about the brutalism you seeing in fighting pits and duelling rings."

Her fingers caressed the red hair at the back of his head gently as she listened to what he had to say, "hmmmm, always travelling and exploring new worlds, sounds like a man who would never be home. Very lonely." There was a coy smile on her lips, "pilot with his head in the skies, very nice. I have gotten some experience in flying though I would not say my skills were professional." Lily was getting more versed in piloting since she obtained her own ship and had travelled a lot more in order to offer her support and assistance in fighting the Sith.

"Family is very important, my own family is complicated, our path did not go the planned route and there were various bumps." Lily confessed, "I have my mother, grandmother and somewhat estranged aunt." It was sad to admit the last one since Lily had been so close to her aunt at one point, Kat having taught a lot of fighting skills that Lily had. "I tend to do my own thing, though inevitability I will have to take the mantle of head of the house more seriously."

It was a title that Lily actively avoided since it would mean switching paths completely onto requirements that Lily is not quite ready to take on.

When Caelan stated that he knew she was Echani and a Jedi but who was Lily, she paused the conversation, tilting her head as she moved to the music. Her silver eyes were glazed in thought as she considered who Lily could be outside of those terms. "Someone wishing to create a brighter future. Most of what I do nowadays is fighting and preparing those around me to fight. I have little freedoms to spend time doing the hobbies I once enjoyed, so much is happening out there in the galaxy and so many need help from the Jedi." There was a sigh from Lily, she knew how it sounded, someone so absorbed in her work that there was nothing else to her.

But the work she was doing required her absolute focus. Too many dangerous threats, powers that were only growing more powerful.

 

[Aoi Tanaka]

THE STARLIGHT TERRACE - GALA EVENT

Outfit: Link
Tags: Colette

“Ugh, don’t even get me started, who’d have figured that hiring people would involve increasing amounts of paperwork.” Aoi joked, an expression of playful annoyance on her face.

“When I’m not tied up by paperwork though, I’m usually either; doing a bit of extra work, likely catching up on something. Tinkering on a personal project, or taking my bike out to a long stretch of road or field and just letting loose.”

Aoi’s attention wandered a little as she spoke, getting lost in memories of the last time she was able to just go out on an impromptu ‘road trip’.

Only for it to get interrupted by the sudden sound of muffled beeps echoing from the depths of her purse.

“Oh! Please excuse me for a moment,” Aoi said, walking away from Colette some; maybe not enough to be entirely out of earshot, and pulled out a communicator. “Aoi speaking…”

The Atrisian tried to keep her expression neutral, but it was apparently she was annoyed. “You do know I’m at the gala right now, right?” Which completely failed to maintain barely ten seconds later. “Stop. Just…go back to the beginning and start explaining from there.” Aoi’s brow almost immediately furrowed, and became increasingly so the longer the conversation went.

“And let me guess, Elijah is currently losing it trying to figure out what happened?” She asked, the answer that followed eliciting a sigh from the woman. “Alright fine, I’ll go there myself as soon as I can.”

The conversation dawdled for a bit longer, before finally Aoi clicked the communicator off and muttered a curse under her breath.