The Walker

[Hira Mitsae]

Tion Cluster​

Derellium​

Fortress of Internal Monologue​

~~~​

[member="Xenia Nastassia"]​

These days it seemed almost the common rule of the law to have as many estates all across the Galaxy as possible, almost as if it would show off some kind of superiority, not knowing that the only thing it did was make them seem like fools and pushovers. Darell Irani was different in this regard, because of the work he had done to support the Tion Cluster (and perhaps some money greasing here and there), the noble houses of Tion had granted him a title and land on the planet of Derellium.

It was here that the most of his estates were and where his biggest pride was located, a palace, fortress and castle all in one. It was a show of investment, that he had not forgotten those who had been kind to him and that he was here to stay.

Today was a day of meetings though, first up miss Nastassia. Xiangu had told him about her in the general lines, and he had decided to check her out for himself. Good droids, pretty and apparently she wasn’t an idiot either.

The first and the last quality would make her an asset to the Techno Union, the middle portion was just a beneficial addition. So an appointment was made, a discussion would arise and they would see where it would go.

Darell Irani wasn’t expecting anything to come out of it, but you never really knew.

The dance was the most fun part.

 

[Xenia Nastassia]

Tion Cluster Space;
Derellium;
[member="Darell Irani"].

"You're sure?"
"Yeah yeah sure, what'll he know?"
"Just... sounds a little risky is all, I might suggest a--"
"No, shh, look, worse case scenario we... say it's all part of the sale's pitch."
"Failing to inform a member of the Techno Union that you're bringing covert, armed, infiltration droids straight into his home!"
"Yeah, I guess it'll depend on the situation, but I'll figure out the words."
"Sounds a little difficult to... word out, if you would accept my opinion."
"And that's the best part-! If I failed in negotiations, which, let's face it, probably won't happen..."

Xenia's arms wrapped round and gestured at the droids as if to say "we'd be prepared!" Her smiles lasted only seconds before fading, focus falling back to something else as if her attention span couldn't tolerate much more. A hand already on the dashboard, she began sliding information across the Coronet's holo screen. Beside her was a man who looked to be about thirty. Dark hair, deep corellian features, a handsome smile. He wore a rather exuberant uniform of obvious Naboo nature, something derivative of Nastass-Tech higher-up. Two NN-K droids stood silently behind the two, stark in this naked form, yet uncloaked by holograms and falsities. The ship's bridge was rather massive, high ceilings made of decorated durasteels and desh. Hulking droids, heavily armed and fully battle ready stood in defense at each open doorway. Various models of protocol units buzzed around in shallow conversation with a neighboring Luxury type BD-3000.

"Yes, or we simply inform him that we're displaying active models of the NN-K units?"
"No fun, and you're missing the bigger picture."
"..."
"With your processing power, I could test out a little pet project of mine..."

The man, Lors Gallon by alias, seemed to really give thought to the question though she hadn't meant for it. "You're referring to..." Xenia snapped her fingers together and pointed at him. "Recall [member="Cryax Bane"]," and the man responded almost instantly, "yes, I recall. So then you wish to test his source code?" She pursed her lips a bit. "His? Not quite, I've made my fair share of tweaks, but I'll give him some credit; it sure toasted Republic firewalls." The clouds broke and her breath was temporarily stolen. Before her, stretched out along almost the entire visible horizon, was the Duke's fortress. Not property of the Techno Union, no this was something much more fanciful.

"Fracker--"
"--You'll of course mind your language around the Duke."
"The droids can deliver the virus, but we've gotta get em within range of a terminal system. We can deal with that, right...?"
"No point in arguing, by the looks of it you already have your mind set m'lady."

Teion Cluster;
Derellium;
Landing Pads.

Even the Coronet looked small in comparison to the bulk of this place. It's landing ramp fell under pressurized bursts of steam. The two NN-K which had accompanied them on the bridge now powered up their holo-projection motors to cast the appearance of Naboo based security personnel, bordering Xenia and Lors in their descent. In fact, they would look as convincing as Xenia's human appearing counterpart- of course not really human at all. Surprise enough to level the playing field against nearly any opponent should they show themselves. Her dress was simple and not overly expressive. A white, thin silky fabric of barely-translucent material lapped over her in gentle waves, under which she wore a white series of tighter fit garments and a sleuth of hidden tricks.

"I do hope this Darell remains a friend of ours for as long as possible..."
"Then let's do our job well."

 

[Xenia Nastassia]

[[Double posted deleted.]]​

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Xenia Nastassia"]

In the grand scheme of things the Duke of Derellium was not a man who enjoyed the big things in life, he wasn’t an immense fan of the disproportional or the inappropriate, he enjoyed taste and a certain harmony when it came to the experiences in life. Which was not to say that Darell wasn’t not aware of what appearances could do to a person.

So the gargantuan and gigantic fortress annex castle annex estate which had been constructed by the command of the Duke? It was in essence a simple ploy, a play towards the manipulation of certain expectations people would garner from realizing where the Duke had his living. They would expect him to be lavish, they would expect him to throw his money around for the sake of it, they might even expect him to be slightly pompous in his interactions.

Darell Irani liked to play a good game, and today would be no different from that. As he leaned against the balustrade that overlooked the landing pad, he pondered for a little while, most of those ponderings came back to a question.

How would this meeting pan out?

In the distance he could make out the transport arriving, a gesture from him and an entourage started to enter the general area of the landing pad, they would serve as a welcoming host for Xenia. Darell, in the meanwhile, wandered back into his home.

There were still some things to do.

 

[Xenia Nastassia]

Teion Cluster;
Derellium;
Landing Pads.
[member="Darell Irani"]

Delay tactics. The landscape of her face fell into a confident hang, bitter winds whisping whatever fragments of cloud whirled like living fog around the metal platform. Even Lors stirred in recognition, he saw them too. A small, though somewhat dense crowd of a greeting party. Human formed protocol units layered in with the planet's native. She had no idea who they were, or what they possibly represented, but they weren't Darell. They were prey. She shined here. From the Coronet's open mouth, three or so small holocam-droids whirred on near silent repulsorlifts. Just in time to catch the smiles and humbled waves. Like she couldn't believe she was meeting these nameless distractions. Everything in her motions changed, the way she straightened her back and placed each step carefully. A confident swagger, but refined and perfected. Her voice, the accent, the specific tones used by natives of Naboo- the higher end natives, those belonging to important households.

"Welcome to Derellium, Xenia, Lors, it's an honor."
"Mm, you're too kind, the honor is mine. This is quite the estate, unlike anything I've seen before. Certainly anything on da'Naboo."

She joked, and Lors joined in, his own charisma winning the stares from a few women hovering behind. He- it pretended not to notice. Some of them offered trivial facts about the fortress, the symbol behind it upon construction. A surrounding of those who admired him, she was already piecing him together; at least, that probably what she was thinking. Each hand shake and well met bystander only furthered the falsity of who she was. No doubt meant to be uploaded in some promotional holo-vid down the line, anything to bolster her power of diplomacy.

"Your home world is a beautiful one, I admit I had no idea what to expect."
"Thank you, thank you."

Xenia was in the middle of her fourth handshake meet'n'greet, bearing pleasant white teeth at an older human woman when her focus became once again honed. "And Darell?" A rock thrown into the waters, instantly stirring the greeting party and forcing half of them to gesture inside all at once. "He's waiting just inside, we'll show you the way." Her 'security' remained silent, nondescript, uninteresting, built to surpass scanners of most any model and be impervious to visual perception. Their duty was to maintain that visage, thick chests plated with browned light-armor and a barely inviting dead stare. All the while capturing the likeness and facial patterns in every member of the crowd one after another. Draining them of each quirky movement which made them unique and converting it to digital information which could later be enacted.

The inside of the fortress wasn't any less impressive. High walls and higher ceilings, stretched in minerals and stones from all across the galaxy no doubt. Harsh metals transformed into art work of an interior which ran along the architectural inseams, ebony in color stained dark through one process or another. Along the walls or perhaps inside of them must have been powerful technologies, trying and most likely failing associate Xenia's entourage as anything but Nas-Tech employed humans. Thick hallways finally lead her to a massive dome of transparisteel, the encasing to an entire room which hung out over the fortress' outer shell and stuck out above even the cloud layer. A sea of vapors below which bubbled and spat like waves on high tide. Inside, apparently, was Darell- though she knew not what kind of room it was, office space, industrial space, or something even more casual. The sliding hatch door remained closed, awaiting and collecting the attention of one of the crowd members. The door slid open and Xenia offered her last formal farewells before pushing into the new room's gut. Her security, however, fell behind, remaining hidden from the door's enclosure just long enough for it to close once more leaving only Lors and Xenia to continue forward.

For the Duke, she would appear elegant, though not at the cost of her fiery expressions and grinning thoughts of pre-conceived victory. Her smile would come attached to a modest bowing of the head and upper body. A show of respect in most cultures. Lors fell behind, understanding that he would speak only when spoken too. Xenia was the one he wanted to speak to, and she to him.

"A beautiful home you have here, and quite the lot of enthusiasts."
A cordial smile and shallow dip of the eyelashes.

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Xenia Nastassia"]

And while she was shaking hands, making herself as charming as possible? She was being watched, distance was really a matter of perspective. A thing that could be changed on the fly once you realized that the difference between there and here? Was only a single digit, a single letter that could exchanged for empty space without too much of a problem.

A blink, two.

Blue iridescent eyes stared through the abyss and saw the guard for what they really were, the technology was familiar to the same concept he had designed, it only underlined the fact that she could be an interesting investment.

Irani blinked, as his sight returned to the here and away from the there, just in time for Xenia and Lors to enter the spacious study. They would be treated with the sight of Irani’s back, as he was looking out of a window, studying his estates?

Perhaps.

Then the Duke turned around, she would be hit by just how… dignified he looked. Icy blue eyes almost looking past all her defenses and studying her soul directly, weighing her for all that she was worth and then some.

“Miss Nastassia.” Irani addressed her, calmly. “I am glad you have found this visit to be enlightening already.”

What did he mean by that?

“Would you like to share a drink with me, before we go into the business?”

 

[Xenia Nastassia]

Teion Cluster;
Derellium;
Landing Pads.
[member="Darell Irani"]

“Miss Nastassia...”
“I am glad you have found this visit to be enlightening already.”

Her head nodded, though she didn't quite comprehend his meaning. Lors, behind her, smiled and looked towards the flooring, then out to the windows behind. Xenia, in turn, stepped aside to bring Lors further into the social framework and bowing her head again so as to give him recognition. "An honor, you can be sure," gesturing toward her counterpart, "may I present Lors Gallon, vice president of Nas-Tech. A huge benefactor it's current success." He'd bow his own head, as she had done before, tradition of Nubian culture. Whatever recognition or silent formalities needed to transpire might do so casually, no doubt everyone in the room polished in the art of sociality. "greetings."

“Would you like to share a drink with me, before we go into the business?”

Already he was asking her for a drink. How flattering. The shallow movement of a smile only cast shade on her more natural intentions. A right eye developed under the careful hands of highly paid scientists probed everything. Staring through the man, into the walls, the wires, the very life of the whirring systems running through various outputs. She could see the heat in the man, each and every detail on the man's face, manipulating her prothesis with the blink of an eye.

"Well, I won't turn it down... I'm curious... why so big?"

As she spoke, Xenia wound in closer, barely followed by Lors who hovered behind; brow pushed together, less comfortable with the proposition. Her hands flicked fingers at the ceiling, the walls, the sheer gargantuan state of his surroundings. She owed him more, "this place," she started.

"This place is massive, military grade, is that a... theme, or built to serve a purpose. Derellium is a peaceful planet... is it not?"

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Xenia Nastassia"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Irani’s gaze stayed a little while longer on Lors Gallon, the Vice President of the company. An important function within any company and worthy of respect given, which is why it wasn’t strange that Darell gave an inclination of the head. [/SIZE]

“Welcome.”

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Before offering both of them a glass with some Whyren's Reserve, one of the rarest and best Corellian whiskeys before the breaking of Corellia, but with the planet broken? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Heh.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Well, people didn’t see it on the market all that often anymore, that’s for sure. Irani walked back towards the window, looking over his estates and then finally gave a little shrug at the question asked of him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Some would say that it’s compensation for something.” that would be accompanied by a little smile flashed at them. “Others would say it’s a message to the world, that my company is committed to the Tion Cluster and all its splendors.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]A final shrug.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.”[/SIZE]

 

[Xenia Nastassia]

Teion Cluster;
Derellium;
Landing Pads.
[member="Darell Irani"]

Xenia's eyes never left the man's own, not when he was speaking at least. She had no issue upholding the gaze shared between them, felt no pressure or intimidation from a man of this prestige. Even as he felt out delicacy like it was nothing, the drink of a now crushed planet, more rare than a vein of cortosis and sharper to the taste buds than felucian dooga roots. It had been awhile since liquor like this had been offered to her, and she didn't much drink of her own accord. A non verbal nod of the head said thank you, though without hindering the man's own answer.

"Mm, I am forced into wondering... exactly what might you require compensation for?"

Xenia's tone was one which lingered, a tantalizing pondering more so than any real inquiry. Really, she knew that any man was one swollen from compensation. To an extend, they were all the same, money rarely changed that.

The first silent sip of her alcohol went down with a bit of a face, then she raised it, inspected it, looked back at Lors and giggled a bit. Lors rejected the notion of drinking while on business, as well as at too early an hour- such as this.

"Phew... s'been awhile."

She shook the amber liquids and smiled at Darell's back. It yet comfortable enough to join him in such an empty gaze into the sky. Her mind was still on business, trained on everything but her conversation, unnoticeably. Lors more than herself.

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Xenia Nastassia"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]A grin barely flashed his expressions, callback to a time when Darell Irani had not been Darell Irani, when things had been so much simpler, when he hadn’t been concerned about seeming dignified. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]When he had taken that which he wanted without regretting it for one bit.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]But times changes and Irani was no longer that man, which didn’t mean that he wouldn’t say exactly what was currently burning through his mind. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Play your cards right and you might find out for yourself.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]It was these little things that made him enjoy his life, to be able to poke and prod every once in a while, cause a scandal or two. Just play the game without worrying all too much.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Ardik would probably have been coughing and choking already because of the audacity displayed, but they had always been different kinds of people in these games. Just the way it was really.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Nas-Tech is an interesting company, miss [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Nastassia.[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] Interesting technology, a lot of opportunities to grow and expand further.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]The Techno Union was interested.[/SIZE]

 

[Xenia Nastassia]

Teion Cluster;
Derellium;
Landing Pads.
[member="Darell Irani"]

Oh, this would be easier than she had ever anticipated. She took another drink from the low cut glass and arched sideways. Whatever smile she had worn since flattened and stretched into something much closer to a grin. Casual intermingling of politics and friendliness. She had no issues, in fact, she thrived here. She could have replied, allowed for a short remark to grease the playing field a bit, but she refrained.

"Mm, oh is that so?"

It might be unclear to which comment she spoke to, though her words could easily be applied to both statements. The distance between them was ever shortening, hovering a comfortable proximity from the man.

"I'm honored to receive your praise, you may know it's undergone quite a few... alterations as of late."

Another sling of the alcohol from one side of her cup to the next. The sound of ice clinked pleasantly, but instead of drinking more she set her hand to her side. What she spoke of was common knowledge to anyone with much galactic tact. Xenia was one of the bigger appearances on the holonet, an ever present flash fire, always headlining here, or showcasing some new event there.

"Expansion... now that's a tricky game to play. You seem to have played it well."

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Xenia Nastassia"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Was that an edge of amusement? Satisfaction? Perhaps it was neither of them, but the miss Nastassia should be on her feet, because regardless of Irani’s sexual appetite… he wasn’t one to let that get in the way of his business sense. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]It was his strong point, really. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Because they always expected him to follow his hydrospanner, never happened though. In the end the only thing that really mattered was how much profit the Techno Union would gain from this [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]marriage[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] and how much profit the Saiba Group would get.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Wasn’t mutually exclusive, but the question arose which one was more important to him. But seeing as he had asked for her presence here, perhaps it would be more beneficial to start of slowly in this relationship.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Not drag her into the Union immediately, but first see what she was worth.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Sometimes looks can be deceiving.” he answered to her observation, and now there was another answer that seemed to be vague, distracting and strange. What did Darell [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]mean? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“I am a man who is always on the look out for investments.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]He’d say frankly.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“I think Nas-Tech deserves an injection of capital.” Then Irani would turn around and she would get another good look at him, those blue eyes looking straight through her, expression dignified and yet… not entirely so.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]A man of paradoxes who wasn’t intimidated in the least by the presence of his guest.[/SIZE]

 

[Xenia Nastassia]

Teion Cluster;
Derellium;
Landing Pads.
[member="Darell Irani"]

Oh you don't even know, Xenia thought with a smile printed where only her mind's eye could see it. What actually rendered over those lips was once again mundane in comparison. The fusion of grins and pleasured contentment. But she didn't hold back much, letting cool air cycle in her nose and out her mouth, furthering her own relaxation.

"Some might advise me in caution from beyond this point."

Her tone was neither flirtatious nor concerned, somewhere mixed instead in the middle. Earnest to her 'intentions' without betraying all of herself. Holding the cup in one palm she let the pointer of her other hand run light circles around its edge.

"You've been appraised as my biggest competitor recently, seems we have stock in a lot of the same pockets."

This was her favorite confrontation. She didn't need a blaster to defeat opponents like this- though she had a sneaking suspicion a blaster wouldn't work well here either. Not against him, not against the forces he must surely keep locked away in such a gargantuan fortress.

"To join forces would be to create monopoly, surely you're aware- though it crushes the chance for continued originality from my company, Darell..."

Tipping her glass at him and flashing white teeth.

"And... rivalries can often be so mutually beneficial. In what form do you suppose this capital injection is then deserved?"

Certainly he wasn't trying to buy her out of her own company. Perhaps a white flag, instead?

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Xenia Nastassia"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Oh, but I do know, darling.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]In the grand scheme of things there were two kind of people in this Galaxy of theirs, there were those who enjoyed the game, thrived on it and kept on climbing and then… there were those that were anything but interested in those intricacies.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]But it seemed clear to him that Xenia was one of the former, perhaps slightly too [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]trusting[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] in her own capabilities- a common trait of the young. Years would perhaps soften out that particular edge and replace it with a healthy dose of sense. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Irani kept on listening, taking small sips from his own drink and pondering on the words spoken.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Competitor? Now that was an [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]interesting[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] word, because it suggested things. It suggested that the playing field was almost even, that a [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]rivalry [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]could be played out with a fair base. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]But the truth of the matter was… there was no even playing field. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Darell had been doing this for years, he had dismantled a company that had earned more in a day than Nas-Tech did in a month- just because boredom had told him to do it, just because he [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]could[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Which didn’t mean he wouldn’t play whichever game she was playing right now.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“I am a firm believer of [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]competition, miss [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Nastassia.[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]” a pleasant smile appeared. “It’s why I stimulate such endeavors at every opportune moment.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]The pleasant smile turned into a wicked grin, certain glint played in his eyes.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]An individual has the right to start up an enterprising operation, as much as I have the right to dissuade them from staying individual for very long.[/SIZE]

 

[Xenia Nastassia]

Teion Cluster;
Derellium;
Landing Pads;
@Darell Irani.

Mm, Xenia's lips curled upward and wrenched into a smile. With each passing second she could feel the indestructible wall of her ego drop and realization take its place. At first perhaps held back by denial and shock, it wasn't hard to see that this man, this Darell was someone in the highest echelons of society. Not because of inherited right, nor through an honorable appointment- but through piles and piles of credits. He had played each game she knew how to play, more than likely, worked every angle Xenia might try and work on him. In an odd way, an almost disturbing way, she could tell Irani's was a face holding memories and knowledge far beyond what any one man could obtain in a single life time. His aura was thick, like he was producing his own energy field, like oxygen itself was given weight. Xenia had not yet become attuned enough with the force to understand what it was she felt. She had no idea of recognizing or understanding this was what it all felt like. To her it was merely a musk, an intuition she had about people which left her leagues ahead of most ordinary competitors.

"I'd have to wonder who the Techno Union considers a true rival. Or you for that matter..."

As if a new idea dawned on Xenia, she turned her weight and let it all fall onto a single leg, green eyes lighting up brilliantly. "You must be a busy man Irani," she suggested, glancing sideways at the whirr of incoming and outgoing speeders. "But you invited me. Surely you can understand the curiosity you must've inspired by sending me such a public invitation-- out with it then." As she spoke, Xenia had moved back to the whichever surface area was closest to her and let rest the small cup, nearly all of the liquids already drained form it. "You don't believe me a competitor," she offered in challenge, "not you, not this," Xenia made an obvious motion to the surrounding glamor, "this is bigger than me, my company. Whatever you've worked out for yourself." Even in her abriasive honesty, she never bordered rude or brash. Always her voice came in the cool tones of a minx.

"What then, a purchase offer? Don't tell me I get to look forward to the part where we discuss the benefits of becoming one of your subsidiaries."

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Xenia Nastassia"]

“I do not doubt having you under me would be a pleasurable experience for the both of us.”

Stated in such a blanket and bold statement that once could wonder if Irani had stated in on purpose or if it was an oversight of speech - though Xenia would know better than that, because she had already seen that depth within him, a depth that suggested Darell always said exactly what he wanted to say; nothing more… and nothing less than that.

But what does it really mean then?

The Duke finished his own drink, letting the glass rest in his palm for a while before turning away from her and looking out his domain once again. Disengagement, followed by the giving of space or as much space as could be given in his presence.

“I did consider buying your company.” Darell would then say earnestly, perhaps the first truly open and honest thing spoken during this entire conversation. “But in the end I opted out of it for reasons that will become more clear in the future.”

There was a ponder, a lull in the conversation that was suddenly filled with a charming smile.

“What ambitions do you have for the future, Nastassia?”

 

[Xenia Nastassia]

Derellium;
Duke's Estate;
[member="Darell Irani"].

Xenia snorted in response to such a blatant regurgitation of thought, her own form pulling away and into concave at the predatory remark. But her lips pulled upward in a smile nevertheless, understanding more and more what kind of man this was and where his strings were. A coy nod marked the last throw back of her own alcohol, and again that same twisted face as the glass descended and finally found its place on the nearest counter space. It wasn't often that she accepted drink during hours of business, Xenia found it clouded her mind and merely wasn't a good idea. This occasion, however, was a bit different. The power of both suggestion and seduction were as deadly a tool as the Jedi's force or the Sith's saber skills. Verbally, at least to Darell himself, Xenia made no retort, only a friendly smile in the place of 'I know your type.' Though to the man who had accompanied her, she turned briskly and excused him from the room. Her words were minimal and it took little more than a shaking of the hand to send him into a polite bow, and rapid exit. Before he left, Xenia's lips silently worded 'I can handle this.' She knew he understood.

In turning back to attention Xenia looked as if she had been lightly punched in the side, though there was no resentment present. Instead, she looked shocked, though it wasn't an expression which lasted long. His arrogance blinded him, there was little Darell had with worth enough for Xenia to drop her father's company. Her company, now. But she chose to say nothing, only nod defiantly.

"Hmmm. Ambitions, that's a pretty powerful word, don't you think?"

But Xenia paused to give it legitimate thought. "And a hard question to answer. I guess anyone would want to live a happy life, die happy," she started, quickly growing bored of the monotone answer and seeking something more real. "I've had ambitions for my company, for my work, but they've since been reached. I've had ambitions for power, and for influence, but who hasn't. Credits, luxury, those aren't what I'd ask for." Her tone became plagued with the bells of feint laughter as she drug on through the stumbling response, more and more amused with it in tandem with her ridiculous words.

"... Why?"