The Climb (Empress Teta Coronation - Open)

[Ellie Mors]

The Iron Citadel

Spoiler

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rfSHisyHdc[/media]

'Well, this is it.' Lily thought to herself, looking out of the window that overlooked the vast majority of Cinnegar that was visible from the Iron Citadel. Unlike most every day, Lily wasn't at the capitol building for work related reasons. Rather, she was here for the coronation of Teta's newest empress - herself. It was several years coming, ever since her mother left the throne vacant and her father left it that way, and she had been preparing, if only minimally, for the day ever since her eldest sister, Lisette, refused to take any part in her mother's life.

Small, nervous, hands brushed down over the creases in her crimson dress as she tilted her head every which way, while turning her head to look at her wall-mounted mirror, to ensure there were no blemishes visible on her face or near it. This was an extremely important day, not just for her but for the planet of Empress Teta as well. 'I should have colored my hair darker.' She silently cursed inwardly, realizing that her hair was nearly the same shade as the dress she was wearing. She'd opted not to dye her hair, against the behest of her aide, and was starting to regret it now that she was actually wearing the red clothing.

"Miss Kuhn, are you nearly ready? The ceremony is set to start within the hour, you should mingle before your coronation - it'll make for good publicity." Came the voice of that very same aide. It had been a few years, most of which had the man working hard for promotions before he ever actually became her aide, but Emil was still trying to steer her publicity as positively as possible. Sometimes it sparked a fight between the two, but usually she opted to follow his suggestions anyways. He wasn't essentially her secretary for no good reason, after all. "Oh, hush, Em, I'll be right out. I thought I saw a pimple." She hissed, eyes rolling with enough force to turn the globe.

She took one last look in the mirror, and another out the window that seemed to give her a glimpse into her past, and then turned to cross the room with a frustrated sigh for the door. "It's not like you're the one who's going to be standing in front of a trillion people in an hour - I have to make sure I look the part!" Lily said as she opened the door, which led out into a hall which, in turn, would eventually lead her out to the main hall, where the start of the celebrations for the rich and influential had already begun. Even within the nearly sound-proofed building she could hear the noise of the celebrations outside, where the common rabble and the less well-off citizens of Teta were gathered for food, drink, and other mundane entertainment.

Part of her wished she was out there, though it wasn't exactly a very large part of her.

"You look gorgeous, now go out and celebrate your big day - you did say your family was coming, didn't you? Well go see them!" Emil countered, holding back the urge to smirk at her protestations. He knew, as well as she knew, that this was a day that she had been looking forward to for a very long time, and it hadn't gone without burying a few rivals, either. That wasn't to say it was anywhere close to public, or even private, knowledge that Lily had anything but a perfect image, but between those that did and her, it only showed her hard her resolve for taking the position from her late mother was.

Lily, of course, scoffed at his comment - though she did hurry down the hall at a somewhat faster-than-normal pace, the heels keeping her from running through the parts of the citadel that didn't have people to see her do something that really shouldn't be seen from royalty. The haste came from the fact that her entire family was to be here today, even her older sister. Plus handsome Krath nobles, despicable or not, still had faces that motivated her heart to race a bit.

Nearing the end of the curve of the hall, where the heart of the citadel lay, she could hear the music reverberating loudly and the, much quieter, sound of hundreds of people talking to each other. It appeared the party for before her coronation was fully underway, now she simply needed to find people to talk to before the actual ceremony began.

"This should be fun."

[member="Alric Kuhn"] [member="Danger Arceneau"] [member="Spencer Varanin"] [member="Tyrone Verd"] [member="Nikias"] [member="Darth Ophidia"] [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"] [member="Yarva Adisu"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Lily Kuhn"] | [member="Danger Arceneau"]

Today was a good day.

In truth, he'd never expected it to happen. That wasn't because he didn't have faith in his children, or because he didn't think they were up to the task, but just because he'd always thought they'd stay away from the position. The title of Empress of Teta had previously been held by Silara, Alric's now deceased wife and Lily and Rose's mother. He had thought that their mother's death, her vacancy would have pushed them both away from where they had spent the most time together. He'd thought both Lily and Rose would leave Empress Teta, move to brighter and newer things.

He'd been half right.

Rose, who now sat beside him within the front of the crowd had moved far away from her own world.

She was a prospector now, searching the edge of the galaxy and documenting what she found with a small team. Her coming back hadn't been too much of an issue, not when she'd heard the news anyway. The younger of the two Twins had come rushing back to Empress Teta using her VT-Momentum, nearly breaking the ships hyperdrive in the process. The rush had been amusing, at least for Alric, and the uniting of the two sisters had been a heartwarming event, albeit brief.

They would all meet with Danger later, and of course Myra who was hiding with the Trade Queen back at the apartment. A good thing really, considering the size of the crowd that surrounded them. Alric smiled as he looked down at Rose, the younger twin having dyed the tips of her hair an odd sort of purple color. He hadn't asked, though he assumed it had been done under the influence of the boy she'd come to like, something the Titan would address later.

For now however, he was here for one reason and one reason alone, to see Lily crowned.

It was her day after all.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

[member="Lily Kuhn"]

Silver-green eyes drifted lazily around the large chamber where hundreds appeared to be gathering in preparation for the coronation. The Sith Lord had dressed a touch more traditionally for the formal affair...which was an easy objective to complete seeing as he normally didn't even wear a shirt. For his part, Cameron was dressed in a fitted, three-piece silver suit over a black dress shirt. For the purposes of comfort, he had passed on the tie, leaving the collar of his dress shirt open down to the third button. The Sith Sword that was almost always at his side had been left secured on his vessel as well.

Upon receipt of the invitation, Cameron had known nothing of the sovereign-to-be outside of her last name. [member="Alric Kuhn"] was familiar to him through past interactions with [member="Danger Arceneau"], a woman he nominally assisted on an as-needed basis. Admittedly, their professional relationship was born much more out of former interactions during the days of the Moross Crusade. At any rate, Cameron had done his due diligence on Lily prior to arrival. There wasn't a terribly large amount to know which the Sith Lord regarded as a good thing. Besides, the One Sith seemed to be mostly benevolent in their interactions with planetary leadership. By benevolent he meant they mostly ignored them.

Actually, there was something he'd found about Lily that engaged his interest. She was a red-head. [member="Amorella Shamalain"] knew how much the Sith Lord enjoyed red-heads. She would probably take exception to the thought drifting through his mind, innocuous or not, however. In that precise moment, he wished she could participate, but his own invitation had been rather last minute. Cameron could respect that his wife had a busy schedule. It was simply nice to see her enjoying her professional life once more.

 

[Carbon]

You could blame it all on his roots, he'd shown up in boots, but perhaps with the sheer population of the ceremony for [member="Lily Kuhn"] he'd not utterly ruin the black tie affair. Just as [member="Cameron Centurion"] had his slight rebellion of 'showing the chest,' Yarva positively refused to give up his beaten leather duster. Looking like a private detective with the collared shirt, tie and khakis beneath, you couldn't hide the pointed tips of his boots sticking out from beneath his pant legs.

Hands clasped in the small of his back, violet eyes scanned the crowd, recognizing [member="Alric Kuhn"] in passing from a holo ad or some sort he'd seen in his travels. To say he was 'backwards' was putting it lightly. The Sith had utterly ruined Junction, turning it into a wasteland.

Yarva, new to the galaxy, was just now learning what 'civilization' was, and it wasn't a particularly attractive proposition. Brilliantly green skin was shadowed by long, carefully maintained raven hair, and his eyebrows were raised in an inquisitive fashion as he tried to figure out why _he_ of all people... had gotten invited.

Perhaps the red haired woman he'd met some time back, but if he was aware of how many credits his father's dubious business ventures had gotten put into his name... he might have known the real reason. While he'd never be a Danger, or an Alric, 'made to order' escort bots sold like hotcakes. Doppelbangers kept funneling credits into his accounts, and he still hadn't the faintest clue said accounts existed.

But others did, which was likely going to cause some embarrassment at some point or another. Fidgeting a bit, he sighed, green hand reaching up to rub at his forehead in what could likely be termed exasperation. This was... far more people than he'd seen in one place in quite some time.

 

[Ellie Mors]

Spoiler

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3UUGy5Hym0[/media]

The heir-apparent stepped round the corner of the hallway, walking into the large chamber-turned-ballroom, with a barely less-than-anxious look on her face. She'd ran the scenario through her head a trillion times over the last week, walking into a room filled of mostly strangers where many of the eyes would turn to her, and even with years of being the talk of town and a regular to clubs on Coruscant she wasn't prepared for the fluttering sensation that filled her stomach when she placed her hand onto the guide rail that ran along the staircase.

She wasn't terribly high up, only on the second floor of what was many - many - more stories tall, but as her eyes scanned the faces that she could see she felt like she was standing, perched, on the edge of an impossibly high precipice. Part of her even urged her to turn back around and scamper back to her room to continue playing with her hair and makeup until the coronation began, a part of her that she stomped out with a wave of resolve as her eyes saw a familiar face - or at least a familiar attire - that stuck out of the crowd like a sore thumb. Lily was lucky for that, too; it wiped away that anxious grimace and caused a happy, or at least relieved, smile to sprout.

Still taking things slow, as it wasn't exactly easy to walk in the dress and shoes she'd been made to wear for ridiculously stuffy ceremony, the older Kuhn twin picked up her pace slightly to hurry towards the backwater hick. Out of everyone in the room, he was probably the least dressed for the occasion, she doubted that even her older sister, [member="Lisette Kuhn"], was going to be showing up in more common wear than him. Him being [member="Yarva Adisu"], of course. He was rough around the edges, completely unrefined, and he had no idea what designer pants were. Or he hadn't, anyways.

Not until she tried to teach him.

The moment her heels clattered against the tiled flooring a number of people turned to look at her. Some of them smiled, some of them waved, and she could make out the occasional smirk or frown. None of them were paid any mind, however, as she walked directly towards the green-skinned Mirialan. She hoped he'd remember who she was, part of her wondered if he realized he'd been one of the handful of people that she'd hand-chosen for invitations (Emil had insisted on many of the rest for appearances). She unknowingly passed one [member="Cameron Centurion"] on her way to the leather-lover, a smirk growing on her face as she slowly forgot the reason she was here.

"Lost?" Lily asked, making sure to try to sneak up on Yarva from behind.

A few whispers circulated the room, probably horrified confusion as to why she was speaking to someone that belonged or had some kind of association with such a low-class company as Doppelbangers, but Lily was a bit more focused on having yet another chance at awkward conversation with the naive Mirialan boy. Last they had met it had been on Junction by total accident, he'd ruined her favorite pair of pants when he'd knocked her over, but there was just something about him that caused her to gravitate towards him. Maybe it was his complete lack of understanding of as to how the fashion industry existed, or why she'd spend more than a hundred credits on a pair of shoes - much less the thousands she'd spent on the pants he'd ruined - all she knew was that he was absolutely adorable in the way he acted. Not that he was the most handsome fellow, in her experience anyway.

"I'm surprised you came, my aide told me you probably wouldn't even know how to get here." She said with a smile, resisting the urge to try to rock on her heels - a practice that had broken more than one pair of shoes in the past. "Have you met my father?" She, of course, had meant [member="Alric Kuhn"], though she wasn't entirely sure where he or her twin were in relation to them. She made a note to try to drag the boy to find her family and introduce them. Lily could picture the look on her dad's face already.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

A soft exhale escaped Cameron's lips as the guest of honor came into view...and quickly bee-lined for a specific individual. Cameron recognized the look of tunneled intent before the girl had even taken one step toward [member="Yarva Adisu"]. As the fire-maned girl swept past the large Sith Lord, Cameron allowed his head to turn briefly to regard the interaction. His expression remained largely impassive, merely taking in the interaction. There were several reasons why Darth Ashmedai often regarded an judged the youth of the galaxy...harshly. For one, they almost invariably seemed unprepared for the roles and responsibilities that society thrust upon them for whatever reason. Two they were just way to bubbly and naive. This of course was not their fault, more often than not. It was a reality of being a child. However, decades of mental and physical torture at a very young age had shaped the man Cameron was today. If he learned one thing as a child, it was that it could always be worse and there was hardly a reason to feel sorry for yourself or wallow in weakness.

However, for [member="Lily Kuhn"]'s part, Cameron actually approved of her free-spirit. Whether by accident or design, she appeared to be completely indifferent to the weight of the responsibility being thrust upon her and the expected decorum of the day. Well...indifferent or ignorant, the Sith Lord certainly did not know the girl well enough to pass judgment. A number of his...people had asked me why he was even bothering to come. Information was the answer. It was easy to discern in the way people moved, spoke, and even observed. For instance, the Sith Lord's own lingering silver-green gaze indicated a level of interest. His facial expression may not have conveyed the nature of that interest, but it could certainly be of use if someone chose to take note.

For Lily's part, Cameron was relatively certain that if he ruptured the green-hued rogue's heart inside of his own chest, she would undoubtedly be upset, hurt. Cameron wasn't going to do that - games of that level rarely interested him these days.

Rest assured. The largely enigmatic Sith Lord had arrived not to fluff his own ego or convey some form of useless approval of Ms. Kuhn's ascent to the throne. He was merely here to see what he might learn about the young girl and whatever other elements of her family arrived to celebrate the ascension. For now, Cameron turned his attention from the pair and resumed a casual pace through the throngs of decadently dressed supporters.

 

[Sera Inkari]

Throngs of crowds and other attendants, Senior Sith Military or other Officials invited made their way inside, murmurs of voices and formal laughter heard from among them. Sera uncharacteristically was off her metaphorical balconies today, head taken from her clouds and among the living. Ceremonies she enjoyed. Kintan’s priestess dressed in simple but expensive red robe that encompassed her athletic figure, gold flourishes subtly faded to match that of an eagle across her robe’s material, and decorating golden pearl tiara draped from her forehead to her right ear.

Exploring vast sways of knowledge at their libraries, so much understanding to absorb, left her little time to enjoy simple company. Which she was doing along one officer’s arm, no warmth shown to him, formalities of being escorted by a senior Sith military official she’d got her claws in. As always bettering her position.

Her deep blue eyes, showed through locks of fiery hair, which curled down her face. An almost flawless face, just that mark from Coruscant leaving scar across her cheek, covered with elegant golden flower attached to her robe and face masking her physical impurities. Perhaps her last Master had instilled some individuality in her before his demise, because she rarely dressed up, and never cared about her appearance times past.

 

[Carbon]

Trying to teach Yarva anything was a lengthy process. He'd grown up in the most backwards of ways, comparatively to [member="Lily Kuhn"]'s own upbringing. So it was with a modicum of surprise that wasn't hidden by the faint widening of his violet eyes that he noticed her cutting through the crowd. Straight for him. Rarely had he felt so hunted, but perhaps this was what she needed - a familiar face that wasn't family.

Even if 'familiar' only meant 'ruined an obscenely expensive pair of pants.'

She was lost in the crowd, only to reappear a moment later behind him, and he almost reached for a pistol he didn't have. Old habits. He hoped, anyway. Clearing his throat, he gave the woman a once over and then tipped his head in polite greeting.

I've got a death wish, her looks can kill.

"Ya'd be surprised, Lily, how easy it is to find your way around the galaxy. Might take a bit longer than ye'd like, but... ye'll get there." Flashing her a bright smile that reached up to lift the corners of his eyes, he nonetheless picked up on the general sense of unease that seemed to fester from their interaction. Not with her, specifically, but the others. But they were forgotten quite easily.

Nothing made one feel comfortable like a familiar face. "I'd like to think I'm lost... but no, I've not met your father."

And something told him he was about to be introduced. Perhaps as a 'screw you' to what was likely an extremely wealthy and privileged Count of some sort. The sort of individual who would sneer at him but never out-draw him. Poor [member="Cameron Centurion"] was going to have to watch this painful interaction.

 

[Ellie Mors]

Lisette had made her way into the citadel well before the festivities had began, although she had also kept to herself for much of that time. She knew that anyone familiar with a strike on Coruscant a year prior by the Galactic Alliance would probably be able to place her face with a woman wearing light armor, wielding twin lightsabers, at the same event. This meant shying away from the Sith that had attended, not as difficult task as many would like to believe, and staying well away from her sister for the time being - getting caught on a live holofeed that was broadcast over Sith space wasn't quite the best idea.

That didn't mean the rebellious step-daughter of Alric Kuhn was beyond seeing her father and other half-sister. Being rather good at stealth, even in this ridiculous black dress that Lily had insisted she'd wear, did have its perks. Like sneaking up on [member="Alric Kuhn"] unannounced and quite possibly unawares - though she never knew with Rose, the clever fox of a girl managed to surprise even her with some of the things she'd heard. The purple-tipped hair was an unexpected touch, to say the least, at any rate. "I think your daughter has found a boy." The Vahla piped up randomly, tapping the business magnate on the shoulder with an empty smile (she never was quite good at it, smiling, that is).

She didn't mean Rose, but she wouldn't put it passed her to have finally met someone she didn't scare away. In a way she was more alike than she was with her late-mother, though she had absolutely no urge to dwell on that. "Nice party. Surprised that security was so light." She added, making small talk as she looked through the throng of the thieving rich and corrupt Krath. Lis would have been lying if she'd said she didn't wish a special place in the seven Corellian hells for nearly everyone at the celebration - much like she had, at a time, hated her step-father and mother for much the same reason. An accumulation of credits, especially in excess, reeked of greed to her. Sure, she wasn't any fuddy-duddy Jedi Knight that carried a holy book around and wore her heart on her sleeve like some boring cliche, but she had been quite the teenage anarchist and still yearned to bring major governments that abused their powers to their knees.

Not that she hadn't tried.

"Any idea how long before Lily has her crowning-thing? I have a date with a spice trader, and I'd hate to let him off without a few broken teeth if I can help it."

 

[Sera Inkari]

Musicians played, her only point of reference was nobility, the way they sat, subtle decorum of excess but few around her participating in over extravagance, restraint even here, especially perhaps among their peers. Harsh judgement passed quietly to anyone who over indulged, akin to whispers at court. Lisette was to be an empress after all, drawing all types to look upon her happy event. Discussing art and politics with those around her, she bantered, often hostess for senior Sith's more political ends when needed.

Sera would add word or gesture when appropriate to better gain favour among these nobility, perhaps a king or queen were here, because someone important leaned over and they shared brief words. Had Sera chosen her position ahead of time? Always. Kintan’s priestess knowing just what to offer to his ear, just how to steer him toward her own preferences. The man smiled, and they shared a laugh together, to her escort's brief aggravation, but he was merely her ticket in, and he pulled her along with him, to claim her arm. Games of males, entertaining.

An important name to take for later, an important ear to pour honeyed words upon, until time to take what she wanted from him. Brushing red hair from out of her blue eyes, sera’s soft smile, and light gestures hid well her motives. Taking bite of fruit and resting toward their buffet, her fingers explored offerings, like spiders seeking out her next victim. Had she chosen her place to stand too, yes.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

There was a force my powerful than any in this galaxy as far as Cameron was concerned. It was an entity that held sway over him far and above any relationship he had past and present. With a measured, deliberate pace, the Sith Lord seemingly glided across the expanse of the large room in the direction of [member="Sera Inkari"]. Cameron didn't know the woman at all, but given her presence in his direct line of sight, he could see why the man she was seemingly escorting was oh so proud of the trophy he had on display this day.

Stopping within arm's reach of the woman's figure, Cameron permitted himself two thoughts. For one...he one hundred percent had to have what was stationary in front of him, infecting all those around him with a similar desire. For two...there really were markedly more red-headed women in the galaxy than he'd thought. The brilliant blue eyes of Sera actually reminded Cameron of Amorella. Did Esmae wear red?

Not important, Cameron. She's not here at the moment.

When the anticipation had subtly built to a point where the Sith Lord could no longer stand to be patient, he lightly tapped the alluring woman on her shoulder. The action was rather immediately followed by the even meter of his deep voice. "Excuse me... I need to know..." Despite his anticipation, Cameron's posture and facial expression were surprisingly calm as he stepped in closer to Sera. Given the height difference, it might almost have looked as if the Sith Lord were about to reach out for her waist...until his arm continued past her athletic figure to casually indicate the food on the table.

"How is the food here?"

Because that was what Cameron's life revolved around.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Lisette Kuhn"]

Despite what Lisette may have thought, there wasn't much need for security in a place like this.

Rather, no one was dumb enough to force anyone's hand.

Empress Teta was situated in the One Sith's heartland. That in it of itself was enough to deter most people from every venturing here, on top of that however the Krath, and even Alric himself employed some of the best soldiers in the galaxy. Attacking this coronation would have been foolish beyond all belief, though perhaps a fool or two would do it anyway. He frowned slightly, the thought of his daughters big day being upset causing him a slight bit of grief.

"Soon, I think." Alric finally replied. "I don't think they'll keep this many people waiting long."

That just wouldn't be respectful after all. "Have a seat, Lisette."

Rose dipped her head forward, looking past her father long enough to offer her sister a small wave of greeting. Lisette had never really been much for attending family events, though she had always been invited. Alric had made it a point to make sure the young woman had never been excluded, especially when it came to large functions. She of course had her own way of doing things and responding to things, but Alric had never really let that put him off.

It wouldn't do after all.

 

[Ellie Mors]

Spoiler

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WbCfHutDSE[/media]

While [member="Sera Inkari"] and [member="Cameron Centurion"] were busy getting to know each other, Lily was busy trying her best to subtly (or maybe bluntly, she wasn't sure, at this point, whether he would notice either way) flirt with the half-Mirialan boy that seemed to find common clothing acceptable at such a big and prim and proper event. Part of her even wondered if he realized that she was the one who was about to be walking up those steps to be crowned the planet's sovereign ruler. Part of her wondered if she should care if he did - all of her thought it was that much more cute.

[member="Yarva Adisu"] wasn't the most physically handsome boy, nor was he really old enough to actually trigger such a thought from her, but Lily, being Lily, was absolutely enamored with his silly habits and his fumbling choice of words. She couldn't put her finger on it, maybe she never would, but something about him was adorable, and she was on a potential war path to make sure that he'd be with her when he was a year or two older and slightly more mature. In the meantime, she could tell by the way he acted - which he was so sweetly bad at hiding - that she was at the very least physically attractive to him. The thought of that, and the desire she had to keep him as potentially hers, made her feel, well, different.

She must have been lost in thought staring at him while he was talking, though, because the next thing she knew he was already done talking and there was an awkward lapse in conversation that was almost palpable. "Right!" She said abruptly, her cheeks flushing almost as deep a rose-red as her ears turned as she realized she was staring, and pointed suddenly without looking towards the wall adjacent the stairwell that she had stepped down from earlier. "I was told he was going to be near the stairwell earlier, so maybe we can do some introductions?" Lily said, though by the look in her eyes and the tone of her voice it was more of a request than an offer.

Before she could let him answer, however, the girl seemed to realize that she'd skipped a step - or several - in their conversation that could lead to an introduction, or that was meant to lead to one at any rate. "What I mean is, uhm, when I was talking to my dad - my father - about this ceremony and who all I expected to show up, and those that I had, er, hand picked, to come, I may have specifically mentioned you - not by name! - as a friend that I wanted him to meet." She blurted out, mouth moving at a mile-a-minute. If he had his awkward, cutesy, habits, she had hers. Or, at least, he brought them out. Maybe.

"It isn't about the pants, if that's what you're thinking - I just - look, uhm, you're a nice guy, friendly, and - well he wants to meet you, so come on!" Lily said, shutting her eyes and internally cursing herself with every word and phrase she could think of as soon as she turned, red-faced, towards the general vicinity she had expected [member="Alric Kuhn"] and Rose to be waiting by. She grabbed for his hand, though she had gave thought to the idea of grabbing his sleeve to make it less personal, and started walking towards her family - or where she thought they were, at any rate. Maybe not looking at him would hide the wild blushing.

Probably not.

 

[Sera Inkari]

Smile colored across her soft features, slightest tilt relaxing her head and running her eyes along their buffet demurely, webs and games. Fingers tracing along her choices within their offerings ahead of her. Not plate for holding her selections, selections which lingered with delicate grape. Linen robe hanging from her wrist, lighter material along her arm, woven color, swirling golds let fabric touch upon her palms. Cloth spun around, Sera raising her hand to her lips gently, showing her fingers taking deliberate bite, and giving her food clear outline for him. Saying nothing while she answered him. Eyelids lowering, raising, blue eyes opening upon her admirer, parting wayward hair from her gaze with her free hand. [member="Cameron Centurion"]

Senses told her he was powerful. Others may have fawned over meeting lord's and ladies, Sera offering just enough teasing interest perhaps. Body resting against their buffet, slightest bend along her hip, she drew small step left, because her escort along her opposite held arm, was stepping with another party as they mingled. Led along by streams and currents, flows of music and voices of light laughter, always seeking position within.

Cameron's force technique, or presence, only raised her heart rate, mildest flush to her cheeks might betray his effect, or how much she already knew, dipping her head lightly. "Do you make your home here?" her voice gently reached, just before he might lose interest or think himself slighted. Hushed whispers at arrivals or movement spurring interest among those gathered. [member="Lily Kuhn"].

[member="Lily Kuhn"] | [member="Cameron Centurion"] | [member="Alric Kuhn"] | [member="Yarva Adisu"] | [member="Lisette Kuhn"]​

 

[Tarok Vassket]

[media]https://youtu.be/jYkeS7e3UTQ[/media]

Tilzi held the glass just a centimeter from her lip, taking the time to provide a half-hearted titter at the gentleman's joke. Some part or her Nightsister self raged impotently inside her. Had to keep up appearances. Her distant relatives had gone out of their way to take a wild creature in and prepare it for civilisation.

As she tipped the crystal flute back she considered how comfortable she'd become here. These large gatherings still unnerved her; back on Aaris one could walk a hundred miles and not find another soul. She did, however, almost look like she beyond. Simple, but elegant gowns were in fashion. She had a long dark turquoise dress on, fitted to the hips but a little float below the knee. She had a bold knecklace of twisted silver with dark green gems. Delicate jewellery simply didn't suit her frame, and the stones suited her hair.

Once they'd wrestled some decorum into Tilzi, her relatives had still been fighting a battle with her hair. It turned out that it wasn't fond of being controlled either, the typically braided wild locks refusing to conform to Tetan styles. The first one to come near her with scissors had literally been hissed at. It had, over time, succumbed to the various techniques and products used to tame it. Now the curly, fiery mane looked as if it had the intention of being fashionable at least. Her markings were a different matter. Passed off as traditional Zabrak ink. It was thought of as a little colloquial, but most had grown used to it.

Tilzi had been taken in just over three years ago. It had taken nearly six months of work before her aunt, Countess Fellia Marte, had felt it was appropriate to let her out in public. Adopting the offspring of less wealthy relations was still a common practise among the Tetan nobility and those at formal gatherings had been quite accepting of a relatively backwater new attendee to the social circuit. The Marte familiar were a relatively middling group. Powerful enough to appear here, but fairly low down the social spectrum today. They came from what the people here thought of as the ‘country’ districts.

Tilzi couldn't remember seeing many rancors roaming their streets. Or many trees outside the artifical biome within the Marte residences.

Of course she was half here for the training for the day time. Or perhaps the late evening. The small hours were for her other lessons. Nightsister magic had been quite a good grounding from which to launch into the teachings of one of the secret Krath sects still here on Empress Teta.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

There was only one real, definitive truth in that moment of interaction that passed between Cameron and the red-haired woman in front of him. It was the simple fact that [member="Sera Inkari"], in and of herself, was not the object of his desire or interest in that precise moment. However, he did allow an amused expression to touch his lips as he brushed along her side to make his own selection of food.

After placing one piece into his mouth and rather immediately disappearing it into his stomach, the Sith Lord reached for a plate to begin making multiple selections.

"Do you make your home here?"

A mischievous expression spread to the corner of Cameron's lips in a half-smirk as he slowly turned his head to regard the woman. For a brief moment, his silver-green gaze drifted to her escort for the evening. The Sith Lord's gaze lingered only briefly before returning to Sera, having passed a rather immediate judgement on her...friend.

Plate of food in his left hand, Cameron inhaled deeply, forcing his body to straighten with the shallow rise and fall of his chest. "Here..." With his right hand, Darth Ashmedai casually motioned to the spread which the three of them were definitely crowding. "Yeah. I definitely make my home closest to the food."

Cameron plopped another piece of food into his mouth, and chewed casually with his mouth closed. After swallowing what remained, he allowed his facial expression to neutralize slightly though a glint of amusement still remained in his bright gaze. "I exist wherever I deem necessary to execute the tasks which require my attention. Everywhere and nowhere, as it were." He had a home, yes. Multiple, in fact. He did not tend to frequent them very often these days, particularly with [member="Amorella Shamalain"] always being off on some crusade to save the galaxy.

One worthless system at a time. If Cameron had detested weak people that needed aid from others before, he was nearly homicidal towards them now, pulling the attentions of his wife at nearly every turn. Yet he remained genuinely supportive.

Love was stupid.

 

[Carbon]

[member="Lily Kuhn"]

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm5TZX5hz3g

The hard-faced Mandalorian boy gave the woman a cursory study, both bushy brows lofted high in apparent concern and surprise. He'd remembered her as being a bit more... eloquent than this, and for now she seemed utterly the teenage she likely was. He knew why she was here, of course, he wasn't quite that ignorant, but he wondered if perhaps the moment had gone to her head. Nothing quite stirred anxiety like staring down the fork in a path, knowing that once you chose there was no going back.

So lost was he in this apparent study of things that he almost didn't notice the awkward lapse in conversation or how quickly the pause was broken by her chipper voice and flawless skin turning a rosy shade of pink. But lost in that tumble of words flowing from her lips, he blinked at the overload that was her explanation and then began to laugh at 'it's not about the pants.' It really was the most hilarious, off-beat thing she could have said just then, and despite the anxiety that rolled off him in waves - egged on by her own - he outwardly attempted to seem collected.

Cool.

Calm.

In charge of himself and his surroundings.

Bluster, perhaps.

And then suddenly her hand was around his, and she was dragging the green skinned 'private detective' behind her on unsteady, booted feet. [member="Alric Kuhn"] you poor guy. Throughout this entire, baffling exchange he seemed caught between answering her and trying to steer the conversation elsewhere... but in the end wound up letting her do all the talking because damn was she good at it.

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

A man garbed all in red down to an ornate shoulder cape moved through the crowd with a confident, self-assured stride. Those around him did not know that the confidence was merely an affectation, a ruse to cover wounds unseen. He had spent years perfecting it, after all. Molded by a sense of shame and hate. The latter they might indeed sense, a dark pulsing, scarcely hidden in the Force. Yet perhaps more curious than all that was the mask he wore on his face. Bone white and extending to just above his upper lip, it hid the vast majority of his features save raven hair and a strong jaw.

So purposeful was his stride, so engrossed was he in the illusion of poise, that he nearly bumped into a couple. Golden irises rimmed in blood red swept them with an aloof gaze. A human girl, with a mirialan man in tow.

"Beg pardon," voice strong, words enunciated clear and fine as fresh powdered snow.

[member="Yarva Adisu"] | [member="Lily Kuhn"]

 

[Ellie Mors]

In consequence to what were three different things being done at quite nearly the same time - what with her hurried stride towards the stairs, which was quite a ways away from where she'd plucked [member="Yarva Adisu"] from, the sudden appearance of a man wearing a shade of red almost brighter than the dress she wore in a bone-white mask, and the nightsister-turned-noble [member="Tilzi"] catching her attention out of the corner of her eye - Lily nearly walked headlong into [member="Arkaitz Zambrano"], who, also, appeared to have nearly done the same to her himself.

While Yarva may, or may not, be quite used to discerning the auras of force sensitives, Lily had given up any form of training with the force right around the time her twin sister had lost her connection to it. At least beyond extremely limited applications of telekinetics and slightly enhanced sight and hearing. So, while there was an unnerving feeling that the Zambrano exuded as most of his family members did, the young Kuhn didn't quite place it to anything dangerous or even out-of-place. Call it arrogance, but she didn't believe anyone that would or could cause her harm was going to show up to this event - not in the heart of the One Sith in a holonet broadcast event, and certainly not to the daughter of one of, if not the, richest and most powerful men in the galaxy.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Lily said as she let her hand drop Yarva's and stopped, raising it instead to lightly gesture for the Mirialan to stop. She didn't want the younger boy to walk into her, after all. Being only truly familiar, personally at least, with the nobility that lived near her as a child or those she did business with on a daily basis, and not at all familiar with the entirety of the Krath's personnel, the Kuhn wasn't certain if he was a noble of Teta, a dog from the Krath, or both. Or, perhaps, a Sith - someone she wasn't too keen on making displeased, aware that many of their kind didn't care quite how important a "normal" person was if they upset them.

"Are you enjoying yourself...? I'm sorry, but, it seems I don't recognize you." She said, trying to be polite in her manner of getting to know the stranger. She didn't intend to spend the entirety of her time speaking with guests on the floor, but it was apparently important for her image. Image be damned, though, as she wanted to introduce Yarva and [member="Alric Kuhn"] before the ceremony could begin.

 

[Sera Inkari]

Cameron drew genuine smile from her, she enjoyed company who were mystery, shadows to hide transparency, refreshing from her usual transient experiences. Having less serious interest for those whom could be manipulated. Might she have wandered toward individual capable of matching her game? Sera would unloop her arm, with touch upon her former escort to match his questioning glance, just in case she found herself needing him again.

Everywhere and nowhere. “Might that be why you enjoy food?” Kintan’s seer offered gently, glancing toward him. Leaving just hints, men rarely appreciated being told, “giving permanence,” in an otherwise fleeting universe of possible futures. Her hand brushed hold of golden plate also, placing modest offering atop hers, and joining him.

As her hands lingered toward end of their table, her same grape was placed to rest atop cloth, hand brushing fruit out of sight, casually passing by. Nothing significant about her placing her piece of bitten fruit down to anyone watching, nothing in it, no substance or danger from within. Deliberately placed there to trigger passing argument between two nobles about cleanliness, two men behind them who didn’t seem keen on each other. In later days that argument would likely boil over into heated debate, resulting in one of their deaths, shifting power where their force intended. Smallest action, magnified result. Outward behind her warming smile, Sera searched to seek any other seers who might place themselves to upset her act, silent actions taken ahead of time behind their scenes.

Winding her body back to Cameron, “what draws your attention?” Hints, seeking his motivations, her voice gently lacing motive within their casual conversation.

[member="Cameron Centurion"]​