Private You Win Some, You...

[Naria Prime]

Naria stepped out of the museum meeting room, a frown tucked between the line of her brows. She had done business with this new curator for months now and he had turned down everything she had brought in to date.

She half wondered if he just liked to spite her.

The private room was next to an exhibit, where curious faces could watch as new intakes were cleaned, examined, and processed by the museum. It was where her piece should have been heading, but alas... She sighed and closed the case she was holding, bits of vibrant color flashing as she managed the latch.

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

GALLINORE MUSEUM OF ANCIENT GALATIC HISTORY

Cutting her time between Joiol and Gallinore, Persephone was on a trip with her col'n termi, this time to a museum. Dressed in her more old credit aesthetic to fit into what was required by the school, they had just finished up a lesson from Head Mistress Desaint, where they had spoke to the museum curator. All part of her education to fit in high society. The lesson had circled around setting up a charity event for the museum and what would be expected by young men and women in her position. Not to mention a small tour of items not on display and some historical facts about the museum itself and its overall mission in preserving the history of the Inner Core and beyond.

After tea and a small social hour with the curator, Head Mistress Desaint, and nineteen of her fellow classmates, the teenagers were allowed to wander the museum unsupervised for the next two hours. This was to finish their day and provide the next piece of the puzzle ; an entire class project where they would be putting together a charity event for the museum. A capstone project, one that would determine if she would be stuck with the same boring lessons or if her time at the col'n termi would advance to more interesting subjects and experiences.

Right now she was alone in the pre-history artifact room, looking at ancient pottery and statues found in dig sites all around the Hapes Cluster. Extremely ancient given the look. As much as she had considered perusing fashion in the future, Persie wasn't sure if she wanted to ruin her love and hobby. Spending time interning for Danger Arceneau had shown how many gritty little details - fabric suppliers, skilled seamstresses, models, store distribution....all put a damper on the fun she experienced with fashion. Going to shows, dressing up, dressing others. That was fun, the little stuff wasn't. Yet if she was going to be successful, the little stuff had to be worried about.

Currently taking painting lessons from her adopted mother, she was slowly learning about art. It was like fashion in a sense but also not. Varied and complex. She was just beginning to scratch the surface.

She noticed a dark haired young woman with a box once she looked up, her ocean blue eyes catching something very bright and colorful inside. Despite the best efforts of her finishing school, Persephone was still Persephone, and she spoke up quickly.

"If you is stealin' that, you might wanna hurry. There's eight security holofeeds in here, but thats just the ones I noticed."

 

[Naria Prime]

"Stealing it?" Naria echoed, a snort catching in her throat. Her amusement caught on her face as she eyed the owner of the voice-- young, put together, clearly monied. Naria could see the contrast in her own rugged apparel and knew at once what was assumed.

Yes, well, she could have changed before taking this appointment...

"Let's say I am in business of theft," she allotted, a grin twisting her tone. "I wouldn't exactly be in the wrong, now would I? Museums rely on things being stolen. It is good for business." The latch snapped closed.

Persephone Ambrosia

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Persephone gave a tight, practiced smile. She was mentally debating on which direction to go. The woman didn't look like a worker. Nor did she look like anyone who would get her in trouble with her Head Mistress. Taking her eyes off the woman for a moment, Persephone looked around the room, craning her body slightly to the opening to the next exhibit. So far, it was only them.

Persie let the monied facade drop. Back was the Lower City street urchin, one who said and did what they wanted. If this vagabond wanted to challenge her, then so be it. She wasn't the average heiress one had to deal with. Shoulders squared and she moved a little closer, not wanting her voice to carry in case any adult was nearby.

"Yous can do whatever the hell you want, ain't no skin off my ass. I was tryin' to be helpful but I can see you're too dense to take it. If I were you, I wouldn't jump to the pious speech about stealin' next time. It's suspicious."

The teenager looked the woman up and down one more time before slipping the monied heiress facade back on. Persephone started to drift out of the room, not looking back.

"Have a good day Miss."

 

[Naria Prime]

Naria blinked, her lips pressing into a thin line that withheld any and all retort. Not that she was exactly given the chance to utter one. The brunette walked away with an air of gravitas. Naria broke the quiet with a laugh under her breath. "Well, alright then."

She slung the handle up her forearm and walked herself right out the front door, grabbing a pamplit of upcoming events as she went. She was going to have to put in some work with this place if she wanted the curator to warm up to her.

Not a single guard balked at her departure. A few even nodded their heads in recognition.

Naria wasn't a thief ... Today.

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

SEVERAL WEEKS LATER

​

Lucky for her, Persephone had been put in charge of the more mundane things regarding the charity event. One had been cold calling contacts to either attend the event or donate to the silent auction. Basically extended relations of those she attended the finishing school with had been prime targets. So naturally, there were a lot of 'blue hairs' in attendance to benefit the museum. Didn't matter, a good number of blue hairs had deep pockets. Yet, the party had to be balanced, so that also meant a decent amount of cousins and lawyers of so-and-so's father.

At least she didnt have to deal with foodstuffs or the wait staff. Given she had a pirate for a biological father, shaking folks down for money was practically second nature.

Cocktail hour and guests were milling about, placing their silent bets on items that had been presented. The hope was most were over bidding due to it being a col'n termi event and that it benefitted the museum. Gallinore had deep pockets, so it wouldn't surprise her if everything was bought well above retail prices.

Snagging a drink off a passing tray, this was the time where she could mingle. Head Mistress Desaint was no doubt watching her with the eyes of a hungry nexu. Not making the rounds would be seriously frowned upon. Glass in hand, she went table to table to start checking in on all the old blue hairs who were gossiping and sucking down alcohol.

Naria Prime

 

[Naria Prime]

Naria had more than one contact in this room, a fact which had her relaxing into her seat with a certain level of blasé that would surely make the Head Mistress Desaint frown.

And it had once, during her own year stint through the finishing school that had rounded off her entry into adulthood. Neither spoke of that now. There was respect between them now that had not been there 5 years ago.

They sat together passing casual conversation. Naria sipped her flute and pretended not to notice the way Mistress's attention flitted across each of the young faces in the room.

She felt a small bit of pity for them, but that pity ran dry when a familiar face rounded on their table. Persephone Dashiell

Naria's thoughts retreated into the crinkle of her eyes. Her cargo pants and mud-stained boots had been traded out for a silk dress and heels. The dark gray of the fabric complimented her eyes, and her peaches and cream complexation glowed under a subtle dash of highlighter and the event lighting. One might go as far as to say she unrecognizable. Her husky voice would give her away.

"Mistress Desaint," was her only greeting. "This is one of yours?"

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Head Mistress Desaint sat ram-rod straight, her hair piled perfectly on her head without a strand out of place. Drinking from her flute glass, her eyes never stopped moving, taking notes on the body language and actions of each of her pupils. An important part of finishing school was the capstone project. It didn't signal the end of their training, but rather increased visibility in society at large. Head Mistress Desaint viewed the project with great importance ; those who were ready to move on to more intense rules and responsibility. Those who didn't make it would simply continue at a lower level if their guardians so desired.

"Miss Prime, an expected pleasure."

Fine eyebrow raised.

"You're speaking of Miss Dashiell I assume? Yes, she has been with our program for a short while now. A little older than most of my beginning students, if that is what you are inquiring."

A sip from her flute glass.

"What brings you to our event this evening?"

 

[Naria Prime]

if that is what you are inquiring."

It wasn't, but Naria couldn't help but to think the account made perfect sense. If she had known Mistress Desaint was overseeing the urchin she might have gone directly to her that day. There wasn't much about her time in finishing school that Naria agreed with, but speaking down to others-- that was a sin of punishable offense.

She sighed and turned her attention back to the question.

"What brings you to our event this evening?"

"Curator Altran's predecessor is not fond of me. I would have just brought my business elsewhere but we have several open contracts and he is not making life easy on any of them."

She slid a gloved finger around the edge of her silent action card. She had donated three of the items listed there.

"I'm hoping to change that."

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Curator Altran's predecessor is not fond of me. I would have just brought my business elsewhere but we have several open contracts and he is not making life easy on any of them."

She slid a gloved finger around the edge of her silent action card. She had donated three of the items listed there.

"I'm hoping to change that."

"I'm sure I can speak to him for you. After all, Curator Altran should be able to make some exceptions for a former pupil. Our school contributes a fair amount to this endeavor. However, I will not intrude on your business unless asked."

Head Mistress Desaint left it at that, watching as Persephone made her way closer to their table. Watching like a shriek-hawk, the young lady finally made her way to the pair. At the very least there was progress, the teenager girl hadn't interrupted in the slightest.

As Persie made her way to the final table, she spotted Head Mistress Desaint speaking to the woman she had seen at the museum weeks ago. The same one with items in her bag and she had a tit-for-tat with. Why was she here? Perhaps to cause more of a ruckus? Either way, the Head Mistress seemed unconcerned and Persephone greeted their guest with a handshake.

"Thank you for coming. Head Mistress Desaint informed me you donated three items. The col'n termi and museum are grateful for your contributions."

 

[Naria Prime]

Naria inclined her chin gratefully at the headmistresses words. She had never made herself the favorite, in fact there had been times she had proven to be quite the opposite, but the woman's offer was a kind reminder that she was not that same girl anymore.

Good riddance. "I'd appreciate that."

Bodies swirled around them, dissolving into memories she rarely entertained. The colors were dashed by a sudden familiar voice and a hand being sent her way. Naria took it and blinked as the girl's face cleared before her.

"Bold," she commented cryptically. Her unreadable facade broke out into an amused smile. She sat up and pulled over the list, perusing it for her items. "It was my pleasure. Do you know much about them?" Something about her tone would tell Persephone she had no choice but to listen. When you got a scientist talking...

But of course, she wasn't that.

"This one is from," she started, listing the extensive history of one item after another. "And this one," she finished, a painted nail dragging along the paper, "This one's fascinating. This one has changed possession three times over the last decade-- always feared to be lost before it inevitably pops back up. Stolen, of course. Though not by me."

Her cheeky grin put them right back into that room, with no room for Persephone to so rudely storm away.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Persephone plastered on a false smile as Naria Prime dove into a detailed account of each item. Did she ask for an account of each item? Not in the slightest. She only found the last story interesting with an account of three different possessions within one decade. She could have asked more but from what Persie could tell this was some power play. A way to entrap her since Head Mistress Desaint was clearly watching over them.

"Very fascinating Miss Prime. I do believe you should give a speech then before the bidding starts with the same background information. I am sure the bidders and the pupils present would love a history lesson on the items sitting right before them. What do you think, Head Mistress?"

Unaware of the power play, the Head Mistress nodded. "An excellent idea Miss Dashiell. If you could please enlighten us about your work, its importance, and the artifacts Miss Prime. We have time built into the evening so you are more than welcome to take ten, fifteen minutes on the subject matter."

Game. Set.Match.

 

[Naria Prime]

Her smile faltered.

"Oh no, and distract from the purpose of your lovely event?" She tucked the list right into her lap, as if willing the list back into oblivion. "I couldn't. Perhaps another time-- a lecture for your students, or something more hands on for your more interested students," she offered.

She shot the girl a pinching look.

"Miss Penelope seems to have taken an interest in this work. Perhaps she would like to be my assistant for a day." Picking a fight with a teenager. Mature, Naria, mature.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Oh a lecture would be most excellent. How very generous of you Miss Prime. We will have to explore some hands on enrichment for the pupils."

Head Mistress Desaint was very pleased with the outcome of the evening, of the conversation. While the col'n termi was a finishing school focused on manners, etiquette, and high society, there was also an appreciation of offering experiences to the pupils. There was a focus on creating a well-rounded individual that would undoubtedly be in a certain strata of society.

"Excuse me, its Persephone. Not Penelope." A touch of irritation entered her tone. "While the offer seems generous, I am not sure my parents would approve. They have me in many activities, there may be a scheduling conflict. I will have to check with my droid."

If there was no conflict, Persephone was certainly going to create one to weasel her way out.

Naria Prime

 

[Naria Prime]

"Naturally," Naria murmured, hiding a smile behind her champaign flute as she polished off the last sip. She stood up and smoothed down the silky rivers of fabric, her attention diverting to a familiar face catching her across the hall.

"Well, you'll excuse me. I have other matters to handle tonight. A pleasure meeting you."

She dipped her chin at Persephone and departed, one word ringing clearly over her shoulder.

"Again."

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

She dipped her chin at Persephone and departed, one word ringing clearly over her shoulder.

"Again."

"For the final time."

Persephone gave a fake-sweet smile as Naria Prime departed to go chat with another adult at the charity event. The teenager was eternally grateful the woman had completely abandoned the situation. The more Miss Prime chose to talk to her the worse things could possibly get to slip up and get in trouble with Head Mistress Desaint.

With Miss Prime out of the way, Persephone continued her rotations for the evenings, thanking the donors and making general small talk. She had to pass the class after all - Miss Prime wasn't going to stand in the way of that.