The Hope That the Light Brings

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smirked as [member="Veiere Arenais"] spoke of how they met. Sure they pretty much bumped into eachother. But she didn't have to hire him, she didn't have to take him with her. But she did. She wanted him to be by her side as someone to advise her and look out for her, as they all knew her magnetism for trouble.

She leaned back in her chair, taking her hand from his as she sipped her tea. An eyebrow raised as he suggested some kind of middle ground. Her brows furrowed as he continued, expressing to have their government monitored by a Jedi. At first she was a little insulted, as though she was incapable of doing it on her own. But just look at what's happened? The Senate was made and failed. The Senate Hall was attacked, Yutan nearly left them, then was attacked. Veiere has questioned some of the people that she's hired and was friends with. Most don't listen to her and then bad things happen. Her staff don't respect her authority as well as Veiere would like. Maybe she did need some help.

Kay's expression softened somewhat as she reaffirmed to herself that Veiere's intentions were good. He'd never do anything untoward to her. The Jedi were his calling, not Commenor. She knew that and knew that he'd be gone a lot and fighting in battle where she could very well lose him forever. She had to be able to manage on her own, in case that day came sooner rather than later. "I'm not going to stop you from fulfilling your destiny. It's not with Commenor. We're just holding you back. The Jedi need you and your guidance, perhaps to join them all together as you've so often hoped. Go and answer your calling. You'll know where I'll be. Commenor isn't going anywhere, nor is our Alliance. We're safe from invasions given the strength of the allies that we have. So...you're free to take care of what you need to take care of." Keeping him near her was selfish anyways. It would only make him frustrated and miserable to have to deal with politics on a daily basis. That could make him grouchy. No one would want to be around a grouchy and snappy Veiere.

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere seemed to pause a moment, his head tilting a little as if to look back at [member="Lady Kay"] in partial skepticism and uncertainty; "I'm sorry my love, I think you misunderstood me here..." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze as they sat opposite one another with the quiet music and the warmth of the restaurant around them. "The only Jedi I would suggest watch over the way our Government works would be myself, as your Husband and King to the people. I've no intention of including the Order in Commenori affairs of State...", some how he had obviously misspoken for she had assumed otherwise. Truth be told, he wished for as many of his people to avoid becoming entangled within the discourse of Politics, however he had achieved a great deal alongside his loving wife and together there was still work that could be done for the betterment of their people. Something that he, despite not liking the prestige or entitlement that came along with being married to Kay, he missed the fulfillment that he often found going out of his way for his home-world and putting the people first and foremost before his own pursuits and desires. The Jedi Order for example, fit under both of those categories for Veiere, as beneficial as they too could be for a great many.

"I believe I can be both, Jedi and King to our people..." He reaffirmed and sought to assure her of his intention to return to her side not only as Husband and Wife but in order to help her sway the rising tides of politics that seemed to be keeping her down of late. "I've been too focused on what a Jedi should be that it's blinded me from what I could do for the people, as both a Jedi and their King. It's been a point of pride to steer clear of this course for so long, it's difficult for me to sometimes acknowledge and yet things need to change...-We've got a great long road ahead of us and I can't be there for you and our people while only half in"

"...I will however need to be filled in on what I've missed" He chuckled softly, tilting his hand with an open palm facing skyward as if to suggest there was no time like the present.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay just blinked. Did she really misunderstand him so badly? [member="Veiere Arenais"] didn't laugh at her though and she was thankful for that. There were a few people that she could think of that'd get a real kick over her being so wrong.

It took a moment for realization to kick in. Slowly she sat up straighter with each time that she repeated it over and over again in her head that he was staying. Veiere was staying. Her husband was going to be with her! She smiled then, obviously pleased with the very idea, making plans for outings, for eating meals together and for all intents and purposes, being a married couple. One with the possibility of a youngling of their very own along the way.

Veiere inquired on what he missed and to that she had to laugh. "Where should I begin? The Senate was a failure. Almost right away I nearly lost my position of Chancellor. Our first meeting was a shambles as they didn't approve of my knack for wanting to hear what they'd expect and how they'd like the Senate to be run. Instead they wanted more or less to be told what to do. So when I wrote up the Charter and laws, asking for everyone's imput, I only had the Senator of Yutan chime in out of over a dozen worlds. We were lucky that the Senate Hall was basically empty of them when it was attacked, otherwise there might've been more injuries, deaths, and more political backlash. As for Yutan, you know what resulted with that situation..." She didn't need to go into it any further, nor did she want to. It was a sticky situation and one that she wasn't entirely proud of. But at least the Alliance came out on top that day.

 

[WolfMortum]

"Yutan was a mess, I agree..." Veiere knew well how badly Yutan had turned out, the worlds vying for Independence had forced [member="Lady Kay"] to take certain actions in order to deter a possible civil war. This of course had been kept off the books and even Veiere had only been left to his suspicions yet over the days since his confrontation with [member="Krest"] he had come to understand that there had been some sort of an agreement behind the two of them. "You still haven't explained to me what the Sith wanted in return for his cease fire...-Nor why the Systems Alliance never sought to retaliate" his right hand lifted partially to give something of a dismissive gesture. His Wife had told him that this wasn't a subject she was ready to discuss with him and he had come to the conclusion that some things were better left unsaid. If she really did have a Sith Lord in her pocket willing to go that far, the last thing they needed was for such a scandal to go public; "It cannot happen again" he finished, giving her something of a look that, between the bond in the Force that they shared, his wife would know exactly what he was and wasn't saying.

Things had worked better for them in the past when it was strictly Commenor that was calling the shots, a single government working to provide for the care of all. It would seem counter-productive given the change to move for a Senate and yet the democratic body had failed where there had been too much personal freedom for their people to follow on in their own ambitions. What they were trying to accomplish here went beyond the desires of one person and those working under them to accomplish this needed to work as a collective, not all trying to run in opposite directions in order to reach the same destination. "My suggestion to form the Senate has failed us and in my absence, we've been at a loss to properly guide them. You've done an amazing job my love but between the two of us, you were always one to please. It's a quality I love yet too one that others such as Viktor sought to take advantage of...-We need to dissolve the Senate and return to how things used to be. Treat Commenor for what it is, the heart of democracy, the heart of the Systems Alliance where the Government there will have full control, the world leaders who have agreed to support us can be offered permanent places here in Chasin City. They can advise us and for the most part we may even act like a senate...-Yet in times of great trial, we can ensure the Systems Alliance's interests are secure".

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay dropped her gaze the moment that @Veiere mentioned that they hadn't discussed what really happened in regards to saving Yutan from the Sith. But just as she hadn't told him about the deaths of the Elders, she hadn't been able to bring herself about to tell him about her dealings with [member="Krest"] . The Sith Lord had done favours for her and vice versa. Could she trust him? Partly. Though at times she knew that he took pleasure in holding certain secrets over her and using them to get her to do things that went against her true character.

It wasn't until he was silent for a moment that she looked up at him again, only to catch his warning. Well it wasn't so much a warning as it was a statement of fact. Desperate times called for desperate measures and she had felt as though everything was crumbling all around her. Kay gave him a little nod, letting him know that she understood. He was her husband and he was the King. Whether he was on planet or not, he deserved to have a say in major decisions.

Kay had another sip of her tea, letting the flavour and warmth bring her out of the heavy weight of guilt bearing over her. She kept quiet while Veiere spoke of the abolishing the Senate, of people taking advantage of her softness and of the kind of governance that will take it's place. "I tried to make it work, Veiere. I really wanted it to. But it all just fell apart before it could get started. At least...at least no one else was watching. I wouldn't want anyone to hold it against us. That's one advantage to us being so small. I just hope that the other world leaders agree to this. They could still have a voice, as you said. But maybe, just like the few Senators that would show up when summoned, the just preferred to be told what to do instead. I don't want to be an Empress though. Viktor used that like an insult. But I wouldn't be a Chancellor anymore. So...what would my title be? Or should we just not bother with titles at all?" She already had a few titles to her name. Replacing one with another wouldn't be too bad.

 

[WolfMortum]

"You told me much about the kind of support you received, people willing to stand with you and yet not fight for the harder choices that needed to be made. Viktor's dominance was allowed to happen as much due to these Senators as it was his aggressive political ethics. From what you described to me, this is the best move for the people. The others will see reason to agree to the change, the example that was set on Yutan has assured that..." the situation wasn't exactly positive though making the best out of bad times was usually what made or broke a government.

As far as her becoming an Empress went, it caused Veiere to snort a dry laugh under his breath, leaning back into his chair and taking a brief sip from his glass before offering his opinion on the matter; "You are a Queen, before that a President of Commenor. Viktor was one man representing one world, no matter how biased he was, how many other worlds fell in line and got behind us in support...-There will be bias, there will always be argument to the things we are trying to achieve. A Place of neutrality for other governments who might seek to use us as a middle ground to avoid war and encourage diplomacy. One man is the least of our problems and Yutan has fallen in line since, they realize the error of letting him speak in their place...".

"Our titles aren't important. People know us as King and Queen of Commenor, let it stay that way. The Senators will be World Leaders or Representatives and we will all gather as you all have done so thus far, the only change is our right to overrule in times of greater emergency...-Our goals have not changed nor will they be put in a lesser place than they are now".

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded a little. In the brief days that they were able to share together after the creation of the Senate, she had spent much of the time complaining to [member="Veiere Arenais"] about her troubles and frustrations with the other Senators. It wasn't exactly what he was visiting her for, but he understood that she needed to voice it, not only to relieve the burden of the stress that it caused while keeping it bottled up inside, but also to gain some of his insight and advice on the matters at hand.

She had another sip of her tea as Veiere gave his point of view on what their place was, as well as the others. They had to get back to the basics, back to where it all began. He was speaking as a leader now, and a great one. Both Kay and Commenor as a whole were lucky to have him.

"I'll have to learn to be more stern, so that others don't walk all over me. But it isn't as though I always have the answers, or even the right ones all the time. That's why I take the time to listen. I think that I've always done that. It just hasn't always worked to my advantage." Maybe this was where his older age came into play. It gave him a different perspective, and more wisdom to react differently to intense situations. "You've always been my best advisor, my dear. It'll be fun to watch you in the future." Already she was picturing him as a father, laughing, teaching and protecting his own. It made her smile, her face showing a bit of a faraway look.

 

[WolfMortum]

"I hardly know what I'm doing half the time, you realize this right?" Veiere smirked warily as he replied to her, taking a moment for the truth to sink in before turning his attention to the menu's, passing on across the table to [member="Lady Kay"] before pulling his own closer his way; "I act on faith that rarely turns out the way I'd expect.." He cocked a brow, bobbing his head to the side in a moment of indifference. His being there in the moment was a testament to the way his life and outlook of such was going; happily married though they were, the pair of them were both caught up in matters of political sabotage one way or another. Her with the decline of the Senate and Veiere with the politics of the Jedi Order splintered across the galaxy. Whatever will the Force had for him, he felt lost now since having to tried to bring them together. He'd lost direction the moment he'd looked outside of his own to try to cater for the others, perhaps that was his last significant mistake before it fell apart as the Senate had.

Reaching for his drink, his brows furrowed, his expression tightening as he no doubt showed the strain that came with these feelings. Failure and guilt, doubts and insecurities. On the outside they weren't so easily recognized and yet between he and his wife whom he shared a bond within the Force with, she could read him like an open book and vice versa. "We had simpler times once, if you'll recall..." he remarked, finishing the last of his drink afterward and falling back into the comfort of his seat, soon raising a hand to gesture to their waiter before turning back to Kay to elaborate before the man serving them would arrive; "Aboard the Free Lady when slavers were your largest concern...-Now look at us".

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smirked after [member="Veiere Arenais"] did. He hardly knew what he was doing, and she was acting in the same way, always going on instinct. Maybe that was where she went wrong somehow. "If only governing worlds came with an instruction manual....It might've been a whole lot easier." She gave him a bit of a smile as she attempted to lighten the mood somewhat.

She looked down to the menu, although she didn't quite read it. She knew what she had wanted, having been to Plenty's before. Her eyes drifted to her loving husband as he remarked on their past, all the while signalling the waiter to come and take their order. "Times were different then. The Galaxy was different then too." Kay looked up to the waiter as he approached and handed him her menu. "I'll have a bantha steak, cooked well done, with some roasted veggies on the side." She looked to Veiere then so that he could place his order.

Kay leaned back in her chair and sipped her tea, keeping quiet until the waiter had left them again. "I don't think that we'll have simpler times ahead of us, especially with an expanding family. But amongst all of this complexity, we are living in the safest region of the Galaxy. That's far better than being hunted all the time."

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere's request was not at all unusual for those in the sector, a meat cut from an avian creation (chicken) alongside a platter of pasta's cooked and sprinkled with herbs cut from the farm lands known well to Chasin City for being to their East and popular for their many seasons and growth of agriculture and dairy. Finally, he decided that the evening would best go with a bottle as opposed to ordering a single second glass of whiskey and dipping his head in Kay's direction he suggested one of their finer wines that the two might share together. Served in typical restaurant style, the bucket of ice surrounding the expensive red wine would find its way to their table rather soon before their meals would be cooked and brought to them, a good way to loosen the tongue and warm the heart against the series of negative subjects they'd thus far discussed and knowing the pair, would continue to mull over in the privacy of their own company; fortunate that they could do so with the freedom of mind and open honesty among themselves as opposed to saving face before the public let alone the government around them.

Naturally Veiere would seek to pour them both a glass before hesitating upon revelation and glancing back across the table to Kay, his brows furrowing a little in both consideration and a mix of confusion before refraining from doing so and leaning back into his seat chuckling softly at his own expense. If she were pregnant, if this wasn't just some sort of prelude to their future that she'd experienced, then wine would be the last thing she'd want. Shaking his head momentarily he looked back to her finding her gaze on his and half smirking as he could already tell she knew exactly what had put the brakes on him.

"Not one of my finest moments" he admitted with a sheepish grin.

Their family, growing if it were, was however still missing a couple people. [member="Bradshaw Ku"] was spending his days out there somewhere hunting for his Sister, Rae-Anna, to what end of life that she walked they could only wonder and Veiere felt somewhat at a loss for how to go about the search. Between Kay and himself, they should've been out there doing the same and yet with the Systems Alliance, the Jedi Order and so many recent threats popping up across the Galaxy and seeking to reach out to them, the movements of a King and Queen would surely not go unnoticed.

"Raising a family here in the middle of the City doesn't exactly sound ideal does it..." He added, the thought being spoken as quickly as it had come to mind, "My place up on the hills was nice though isolated and distanced from the Capital. Perhaps we should consider making a home for ourselves somewhere out in the country, not far from the City yet far enough to afford us some peace and quiet".

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

The meal that [member="Veiere Arenais"] chose was very typical for his tastes, just as hers was very typical for ger own. He had ordered a bottle of wine, one of the finest vintages available in the popular establishment. It was time for them to unwind a bit, to forget their positions and just to be themselves. Kay took in a deep breath and as she let it out, she let her body relax, releasing any of the tension that she had felt earlier.

She had the same revelation that her husband did as he prepared to pur the wine, although it was a split second before him. His smirk was met with amusement. Wine wouldn't be good for her if she was carrying. That was fine as she wasn't much of a drinker anyways. The worst thing would be if she wasn't allowed to have any tea. Thankfully, as far as she was aware, she'd still be able to have her usual cups.

Speaking of which, she had a sip from her own. Veiere's thoughts on where their family should call home was something that she hadn't quite thought about yet. She had assumed at the Palace. However thinking back on Veiere's little Estate made her a little homesick for it. "Do you think that we could rebuild your Estate? It was in the perfect spot and the building itself was...very special." Her mind went straight to the memories of her first visits there with him; how he let her sleep in his bed while he spent the night in meditation, their training sessions that led to their first kiss, and even after her return from her abduction; she had gone there with every means to hurt him, but instead he led her to the path of recovery. The fact that it was destroyed by some young Sith, it just didn't seem right or fair that they had lost such a special place. "Let's rebuild it. Our own little sanctuary..." Perfectly peaceful for raising children as well, or so she thought.

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere smiled at the prospect of having his estate within the Eldritch mountains back again, though no doubt more modern than it was and far more flushed out given that it would suit as their home together away from all other distractions both Jedi and Political or otherwise. He had enjoyed working on the outdoor patio and the gardens themselves were a particular favorite to bide his time, giving care to the creation of natural life that he could watch it slowly flourish and strengthen the connection between the physical and the veil of the Force itself, it was a place that he longed to be once more; even in Exile, his Estate had been his sanctuary looking over Chasin City.

"I would very much like that" He smiled, dipping his gaze if only to offer a simple nod before looking across the table back to his wife admiringly; "I can do much of the work myself, I'd rather avoid our privacy kept as well hidden as possible given who we are but it will also give me something to focus on when I am here and you are caught up in politics with the Systems Alliance. I think seeing this done would give us an escape from the lives we've become so used to working away, a place we can return to and enjoy our lives that are best spent together".

The original estate had been a property taken by the former owners for whatever reasons and placed into the hands of the government; for some time it had stood on its own isolated and empty before Veiere had come into Kay's employ as her advisor and bodyguard. His obvious preferences that so differed from her pleasure in living within the palace did not go hand in hand with his Jedi upbringing and thus she had gifted the place over to him; he knew not how the government had not asked questions nor come pestering him for answers behind [member="Lady Kay"]'s back yet in the end the two had ascended to the reigning monarchy and not it was easier for those whom might take an interest to simply ignore the plot of land that had last been attacked, not by a member of the Knights of Ren, under the premise of acting and for all evidence they could surmise, being a Sith Lord.

"There are a number of security measures we can put in place this time around, I think" he added with a faint hint of amusement. It had been a miserable thing to return to directly after the Sith Empires attack against Voss, to find that his home had been destroyed by none other than his former apprentice back from the dead. Nothing had come of it all since then, there'd been no further contact nor hint of Brennan's continued presence upon their world. Nothing to put that wound at ease. Nothing yet at least.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smiled as [member="Veiere Arenais"] agreed to rebuild the Estate. For all of the good memories that they shared there, there was also some bad ones. She wasn't entirely sure of which would stand out for him the most, and she was thankful that it was the good ones.

Rebuilding the Estate would be a great one for them both. Not only would it be a place of quiet and tranquility, but it'd offer them some hope as well. Kay could easily picture Veiere working on the gardens and working on the deck as she had seen him do before. There was something very humbling and fulfilling about manual labour like that and it made her wonder if that was part of what life was like at the Praxeum and other Jedi Temples. Maybe that was what drew Veiere to them so much. Places of peace were like that.

Kay smirked as he spoke of adding security measures. Indeed there would be, especially given that their child or children would be living there at times. "It'll be lovely. I'll get all the permits sorted out quickly and start to get a crew together. I'm sure that you have some designs in mind. Do you want me to give you the contacts for some of the architects?"

Their foid arrived. Kay set down her tea and sat up straighter. She picked up her utensils and with a small smile, started to dig into her steak. The first bites were always the best and she savoured it, being sure that she consumed the whole bite before speaking again. "I'm going to have to get this recipe so that I can cook it for us." It had been a while since she had cooked her own meal.

 

[WolfMortum]

The rest of the Evening spent between the pair would see matters of state and government dismissed, [member="Lady Kay"] amusing Veiere with her suggestion that she would indeed live up to his teasing and be the cook for the both of them when he in fact did enjoy some of his own; having been away for so long surrounded by fellow Jedi and distrusting of droids had required him to adapt and learn to better himself in certain aspects of simple living. Even as old as he was, he had forever been a poor cook up until the last year or so where he had decided that enough was enough, now having a wife to seek to please on a regular basis. There would be no shortage of cheeky remarks and jokes between them as they dined the night away and for the first time in a very long time, simply sought to enjoy the company of one another as Husband and Wife.

How long had it been since things were so simple, perhaps as far back as before a younger Kay Larr had opted to run for the presidency of Commenor and Veiere was naught but her body guard with mere aspirations of returning to the Jedi Order. Their future's had drawn them far and wide, weaving in and out of one another's path while they had maintained their relationship and strengthened their love for one another through thick and thin of it all. Against all desire to be put on the throne, they had married and Veiere had swallowed his pride in order to cement their lives together in matrimony, the pair doing their utmost to offer the people around them the best of standards in life that Commenor could provide. Stable economy, full and flush trade both import and export to and from the much larger powers out within the Galaxy and on that note, some rather surprising and none the less fruitful relationships built through their connections both Jedi and otherwise.

For whatever struggles they would face in the future, the trials thus far they had succeeded, survived and remained ever faithful to one another as they were to their pursuit for peace and prosperity for all within their reach. Anything within their ability to do so, to provide for others, they would continue to strive for...-And if there were any certainties between the pair of them, it was that they would continue to do so, together.

~ End of Thread ~​